Family Trip

Hi Malcolm,

Sounds like a good trip.

To my mind Wilpena is a bit over-rated so 3 days seems high. I assume you are looking at it as 3 days in the Flinders Ranges rather than 3 days at Wilpena?

The Flinders is bigger than imagined if you haven't been there before. 3 days is warranted but I would suggest you don't base yourself at Wilpena for all of it.

I suggest a night at Willmington perhaps with a visit to Alligator Gorge (allow about 1/2 day), then perhaps Rawnsley Pk for a couple of nights (not far from Wilpena but much less commercial ..... you can do a visit into Wilpena from there). Some good bushwalks from Wilpena if that is what you are into (full days, half days etc)but if not you can call in, have a look and then move on. I suggest time is better spent in some of the other areas of the Flinders if you are not into walking (my opinion only...others will no doubt dissagree).

With regard to the radio, it doesn't sound like you are getting too much off the well travelled routes.

Not sure if you want to bother to stop in Maree. Good for a beer at lunchtime but not sure it is worth an overnighter. You could do William Creek with a reasonable days drive from the Flinders (perhaps your itinerary wasn't listing iovernights so much as route markers?). There are a few things to look at along the way but it would still be an easy days drive. Equally your listed William Creek, Lake Eyre, Marla wouldn't need overnights at all of them in my book, depending on side trips. Perhaps I just like driving so others will probably jump on me but that is my 2 bobs worth.

No doubt you will have a ball whatever you decide
Trevor

Hi Malcolm

Sounds like a good trip, if a bit rushed. But as you say, school hols dictate the time available.

For Uluru you have to buy a 3-day pass to get in - there is no 1-day option and the 3-day pass costs an arm and both legs. If you can only afford 1 day out of your schedule, you might feel ripped off (depends how much you want to go there this trip.

I'd recommend a UHF radio, as it gives you the ability to talk to other road users on the trip, and call for help via repeaters if you get stranded. On the roads around Oodnadatta, if you can talk to the road train drivers, they can let you past if they know you're there and tell you if the road is clear ahead.

If you plan to stop overnight in Oodnadatta, the Pink Roadhouse (08) 86707822 has cabins for hire, and the Transcontinental Hotel (08) 86707804 has rooms.

Trailer will be OK for all of the route you have indicated, but take spare bearings and grease with you. Even if you aren't mechanically inclined yourself, if you have the spares some bushy like me can fit them for you if needed.

Cheers
John
Oodnadatta

malcom
Some protection for the rear windscreen if towing a trailer maree-william creek etc
Alternatively take a plastic emergency one and some race tape
Take the time to have a look at the old Gahn railway and the "mound springs" along the way
Enjoy the trip

Jaap

G'Day Malcom,
Just an idea but if it is only the kids holidays determining the length of your trip and not budgetry or work restraints then pull the kids from school for another week or 2,3,4....... if you are concerned about them getting behind then there teachers could prepare a bit of work for them to keep them in the loop. But remember the will probably learn more life usable information and skills on the trip than at school anyway . We head of for 3 months from july1 with the kids. we are all looking forward to it immensly. And remember you only live once!!!

Happy Travelling & Good Luck Troopytrek!!!!

Malcolm,

I tried to post this late last night but for some reason it wouldn't go.

As others have said your plans seem a little rushed. Depending on the age of your kids a few weeks off school travelling through the areas you have listed will do more for them than the classroom. I have one doing the HSC so understand the constraints that senior years put on you, but if they are in primary school take the whole term.

If you want to see Lake Eyre I would recommend you access it from both Maree, through Mulloorinna Stn and from the track east of William Creek. If you stayed in Maree you would need two nights to do a day trip to L.E. and back. A day to travel to William Creek and the same there (2 nights day trip in between). In both cases it is over 120km each way from the town to the Lake and it aint no expressway. Teh lake is very different at these two places andit is worth seein both, time permitting.

We stayed in an underground motel in Coober Pedy, which the kids really enjoyed.

There are cabins at both Uluru (Yulara) and KIngs Canyon. They are a bit exe but provide good comfortable accomodation. Also consider three days at Uluru it will give yo a better chance of climbing the rock and there is plenty to see anyway.

Two days in Alice won't scratch the surface. But the McDonnel ranges CP has nice cabins and evening activities to entertain both you and the kids. (Join Big 4 and Top Tourist CP clubs).

Alice to Coober Pedy in a day is possible but you won't see much. Take your time and check out Rainbow Valley then spend a night at one of the roadhouses, Cadney Park looked pretty good. You could then probably have a look around Coober Pedy. Spend the night and go from there to Burra with a look in at Woomera on the way.

If you are not camping do you really need to take the trailer. You will be doing a lot of miles and the trailer will slow you down, at least a little. I tow a camper everywhere but if I didn't need it it would stay at home. I also have missgivings about anything other than a purpose built 4x4 trailer out in the bush. Particularly the Oodnadatta Track. I'm tipping it will be as rough as guts at the moment. I met a guy in William Creek who was in the process of recovering his "tradesman" trailer from the Lake Eyre track. I passed the trailer later that afternoon and stopped to look at it. Well built and in good condition, but the suspension was never up to the task and had torn out. This had then bent the axle like it was a coathanger. He had come from Melbourne and the trailer had only been on the dirt since Lyndhurst, less than 300km of anything other than bitumen. It put an end to his holiday. If you need it then by all means but go and check out some purpose built trailers and see how yours compares before making the final decision.

The UHF would be a good idea but you should be OK without one. As has already been said you are not really going anywhere really out of the way.

Finally be prepared to change your plans. You have a very full schedule, don't sweat if you can't fit everything in. See the things you can see properly and skip some others. If we had camped at Coward Springs on the way west we would have stayed longer and left something else out. If you enjoy this one you will go again. Pick up what you missed out this time then, but if you rush it won't be fun and you won't do it again.

Hope you the Missus and the kids all have a great time
Duncs

Just a note on the Radio.

Anything is better then nothing. Something as simple as a cheap handheld from Tandy or Dick smith (2 for about $100) , would do. Can talk to vehicles around you.

Normally limited to about 1km or so , but , you aren't exactly in the mountains.

they are also handy around the camp , the kids (depending on age obviously), can go for a bit of a wander , and still be in contact with you back at camp.

Malcolm,

Not really a comment on the journey - although out of interest we'll be travelling from Perth to Ayers Rock to Alice to Simpson Desert to Flinders range to Adelaide to Perth in four weeks over same July holidays. Talk about rushed!

When we've travelled long distances with three kids, the most useful thing we found for peace and harmony in the car was to regularly rotate all occupants. Parents need to get in the back seat, and if you've got the mindset back seat is for kids then this won't work. But if you're able to replace pride for peace and quiet, then rotate the kids through the front passenger seat.

Adults take turns driving and sitting in the middle rear seat to separate the children. Kids rotate around the seats and each seat has it's own toys and responsibilities. Front seat is plum seat, and they get to choose music, but also have to pass food etc from the floor in the front.

Believe me it really helps cover the long distances when the dynamics in the car change each few hours.

Enjoy your trip.
Tim