6 wk outback trip

Flora ,

I did a trip with my two boys when they were about 12 and 14 years old . We did Sydney , Flinders Ranges , The Rock and environs and the East and West McDonalds , Harts Range then up to Katherine Gorge , Mataranka , Kakadont , Litchfield and Darwin .

That took 4 weeks . then I put my wife and kids on a plane back to Sydney and I drove back in three days .

That was a fairly rushed trip and we wre only able to doit all because I flew them home . To much time in the car kills it for the kids .

Cheers ,

Willie .

It's a big trip in 6 weeks.

A good itinerary. We did much the same in 2004. Only a couple of Oldies though.

We took from 20 April at a Burke and Wills camp Site a free camp near Menindee
To May 27 at Devils marbles to this part of the trip. Now we are a couple of "Older Aussies" so we would travel a bit slower and stay a bit longer at spots.

Great camps sites. Burke and wills near Menindee. The stars are that bright out there you don't need lights at night.

Alpana Station Near Blinman was just starting out with camping when we were there but it was a beaut spot.

on the Oodnadatta Track

Farina Ruins was great.

Coward Springs nice spot to soak your bones.

Have to stay at the Pink Roadhouse

Kings Creek Station is a good spot to camp for a look at Kings Canyon

Great camping in Palm Valley

Banka Banka station on the way up to katherine is a nice spot.

Some of these you pay others not.

Enjoy

If you want to get away a little bit around Wilpena Pound try Rawnsley Park Station. You can set up amongst the other caravaners, or move away from the powered sights and there is a huge area for bush camping within reach of the van park where there is alittle general store, water toilets etc.. just note that Wilpena Pound campsite itself is very commercial, pretty much bitumen right up to the campsites. Rawnsley Park is just outsdie the NP boundary and frommenory only 15 mins to the step off pt for the Wilpena Pound foot track into the Pound itself. Good luck and have a ball you lucky buger

Laura, sounds good actually. make sure you don't go too late though as you say a 6 week trip in September - my calendar says 4 weeks and 2 days so start it early as it will be getting warmer up the North into October. Plenty of flies for you too.

You don't say how young your girls are but if they study geography at school there is plenty to bring the lessons alive in the Flinders and get the imagination going. It is one of my favourite places around the Wilpena area. Take a flight though to see it from above and get the perspective and as you say 'very young' even they would love that. Round Burra on the way too, near Willem.

G'day Flora,

You didn't say you were going off road but - a little late in the year to chance any off road up north I would have thought. There is the possibility of rain as you head into November.

Kind regards

Wilpena is too commercialized. As mentioned, try Rawnsley Park. Parachillna Gorge is also very nice (no facilities but a pub only 5kms away). Arkaroola (nth flinders) has great 4wding.
A very good spot also is Warraweena (need to book though as they book out the whole camping spot for just you so you feel very isolated and peaceful). Excellent 4wding there also but I would suggest leaving the camper at the camp spot if going there.
Doing a search on the internet will bring up the above mentioned places for more info.

have a great trip.

Yo Flora,

My wife and I are doing the same trip in reverse out of Cairns about the same time (once the tax cheque gets back) 6-8 weeks from Cairns - Charters -Isa- 3 Ways -Alice -Pt Aug - Broken Hill - Murray areas - Melb and the back to Rocky to C the son and daughter IL then home. Keep in contact and we may meet somewhere. As far as rain goes you should be fine up here in the northern areas up until about late Nov.

Hi Laura,

Sounds like a great route. One spot I would definately go to if you get close enough is Lawn Hill ( N/E of Cammoweal or N/W of the Isa). Plenty of other people will give great must see destinations so I'll leave the rest for them.

Have fun, regards Trevor.

Laura, a tip. The road from Three Ways through Longreach etc is pretty much the Grey Nomad happy trail. One side effect is that most of the roadside stops are small towns by afternoon and there's no room at the inn. Likewise the towns. If you find this happening then it may be wise to book ahead. Unless you really need to, I wouldn't bother with Charleville. The roos on the Longreach to Augathella run are legendary, take care.

Laura,

What you are planning definitely sounds doable to me.

There is some valuable information under the Trip Planning / Treknotes section that may be of assistance to you.

Despite Wilpena Pound being "touristy" it is definitely worth a visit. You can camp in the extensive Camping Ground / Caravan Park or anywhere else in the general vicinity such as Rawnsley Park, or Willow Springs Station. (home of Skytrek)

There is a good and easy walk from the Resort into the Pound, plus so much other short trips throughout the region that you will only experience a few in the time you have.

Kings Canyon. One of the true highlights of our trip to the Top End.

Wherever you go, you will pick up advice as you travel and if some "attraction" or route is not possible due to prevailing weather conditions, then you simply modify your plan and do, or go, somewhere else.

Good luck on your planning and travels. You will have a ball I'm sure.

Hi Laura

We did a 6 week trip in 2004, towing a van and with two kids then aged 4 & 3, we went from Melbourne, to broken hill, across to Peterborough, up to Maree, along the Oodnadatta track up to Marla then along the Stuart Hwy to Alice, a couple of days there, then to Katherine, Litchfield NP, Darwin, Kakadu, back down to Katherine, then back to Alice, onto Uluru, Coober Pedy, Clare Valley SA, Robe, and home....kids didn't get bored or sick of being in the car, we set up a dvd for them to watch on long stretches, they had colouring books and a couple of toys with them as well, last year, when they were 5 & 4 we went up to the Gulf on a 4 week trip, same deal- dvds, books to read, colouring books, and they both had their toy computers to play some "eductional games", they have not developed an aversion to being in the car, and understand that by mid afternoon we'll be at our destination where they can run around and have a ball, it's a great learning time for kids and they're like sponges when it comes to wanting to experience new things.

If you'd like to get more info about how many stops we made etc in the time we had away or places to visit [I reccommend Litchfield NP it's GREAT] just click on my rig pic and my email addy is there.

cheers

Lyn