Canberra to Darwin - Fuel?
Submitted: Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:17
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beach40
I'm doing a work trip from
Canberra to
Darwin, driving a Mercedes diesel van.
My planned route is via
Bourke,
Longreach, Mt Isa, Three Ways,
Darwin.
The van gets about 1,000kms to a tank. Will this be enough to get me between fuel stops?
Cheers.
Reply By: Idler Chris - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:35
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:35
Easily
AnswerID:
600479
Reply By: Member - mechpete - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:36
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:36
there is plenty of fuel along the way no more than 2or300ks
apart ,you not going into the outback
cheers mechpete
AnswerID:
600480
Reply By: Hoyks - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:39
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 19:39
If you are sticking to the tar, then Yes. It is a well traveled route, so plenty of small towns to top up. A bit further between stops in western Qld, but 500km/tank would probably get you by.
AnswerID:
600481
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:12
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:12
Barcaldine,
Winton and Mt Isa usually have the most competitive prices along your route in central 'n western Qld. Did notice the roadhouse at
McKinlay had diesel 4c/L cheaper than
Winton..........get cheap fuel and a good feed at the same time.
Camooweal is quite a bit dearer for fuel than the Isa, as is Barkly
Homestead. But plenty fill up there just the same.
Make sure you keep your fluids up, water that is. The
Barkly Highway is littered with the remains of vehicles whose drivers couldn't hack the pace.......or distance!
It's a good drive, enjoy......
Bob
AnswerID:
600484
Reply By: beach40 - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:17
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:17
Thanks for the info. I don't think I will bother with an extra 20litre jerry.
Over night accommodation is also something I need to sort out.
Is Barkly
Homestead worth a nights stay?
AnswerID:
600485
Follow Up By: Bob R4 - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:34
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 20:34
Presume your accommodation is the van, so overnight is OK at Barkly HS. Cabins are expensive compared to others.
Meals are OK beer cold. There are 3 straight roads for you to look at for scenery, and little else.
Use it as a stop if distances suit you.
2 hours further is
Daly Waters and in my opinion more interesting.
Just my view.
FollowupID:
869859
Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 21:52
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 21:52
Have stayed at Barkly
Homestead a lot over the past 7 years, and I find it okay. Can't tell you what costs are as my employer pays for the room. They have a few cabins as well as motel rooms. Everything is a bit pricey there, but they have high overheads, generator fuel etc.
Usually plenty of rooms at the roadhouse in
Camooweal too. Not sure if they're too cheap either? We paid $85 for a twin room, but that was a "deal" we got through a friend.
Three-Ways was pretty good when we stayed there, 5-6 years ago, about 180kms further on from the Barkly. Had a great T-bone and a few sherbets, all good.
Bob,
If you can get from the Barkly to
Daly Waters in 2 hrs, you must fly a plane? :-)
Bob
FollowupID:
869865
Follow Up By: Bob R4 - Monday, May 23, 2016 at 22:02
Monday, May 23, 2016 at 22:02
Whoops. Misplaced myself on the Carpentaria.
I need to get back there again.
FollowupID:
869866
Reply By: Top End Az - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 08:25
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 08:25
There is fuel every 300 clicks or so. Best to just fill up at every chance though. We try to stay in cabins at caravan parks to keep the costs down compared to motels. Mt Isa to
Daly Waters is doable in a day and not a lot in between to see, negating the need to sleep at Barkley or Three Ways if you are pushing on.
AnswerID:
600502
Reply By: Alloy c/t - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:13
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:13
With a 1000km range fuel is not a problem for you , would be more 'worried' about actual travel time , Roos are in plague proportions to the point that round Barky -
Longreach -
Winton shares in a smash repair business is advisable , from just before dusk to an hour or two after sunrise the inevitable 'slam dunk'….
AnswerID:
600505
Reply By: beach40 - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:10
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:10
Ok so I'm feeling better about this now.
The van is full of work gear so accommodation is motels, etc.
My loose plan so far is -
Day 1 -
Canberra to
Bourke
Day 2 -
Bourke to
Longreach
Day 3 -
Longreach to Barkly Homestaed
Day 4 - Barkly to
Katherine Gorge.
If I can make
Katherine Gorge in four days I can have two nights there before I'm needed in
Darwin. (Got to take the perks when you can!)
The roo situation scares me as a bullbar is getting fitted to the vehicle but it looks like it won't be ready in time for this trip. Bloody annoying as we ordered it specifically for this trip and the supplier assured us it would be ready in time. Extra caution required on my part and no driving in the dark.
AnswerID:
600507
Follow Up By: wombat100 - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 13:56
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 13:56
Just for your information-
We fitted an ECB (East Coast Bullbars) to our Mercedes van and very happy with it.
Haven't used it on a 'Roo yet- Only a budgie and bugs !!!
(so I guess it's a 'Budgie Bar')
Cheers
David
FollowupID:
869880
Reply By: eaglefree - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 19:00
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 19:00
We've just done
Roma to
Darwin via
Longreach with our Hyundai i30 and van.
The guide mentioned eg drive between say 8am and 4pm is good.
There us still the odd roo and grazing cow but not too bad.
Barra and cuscus was to due for at Barkly
Homestead. Fuel was $1.65 though. Our friends drove a coaster camper with 550 km range and had no problem.
AnswerID:
600517
Reply By: beach40 - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 19:23
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 19:23
Anyone stayed at Knotts Crossing,
Katherine?
AnswerID:
600518
Follow Up By: eaglefree - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 21:47
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 21:47
Nope but I'm currently at the Riverview tourist village
Katherine. Been here 3 days waiting for car fix. Is a good park.
FollowupID:
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