Roadtrip in NTand WA

If you are basically heading south west from Darwin, I would give Kakadu a miss and visit Litchfield National Park instead. If you wish to go to Kakadu, you will need to travel eastwards first, then backtrack.

The rest of your itinery sounds doable in the timeframe.

Sandman ,
i agree with what you say about backtracking , but the guy is coming all the way from France and it would be a shame to miss seeing the art in Kakadu and going for a croc cruise on Yellow Waters .
How was your adventure on the high seas ?
Willie .

Hi Juan

It seems a bit ambitious.

You are attempting to drive about 10,000km in five weeks. That is around 300km per day non stop and it does not give you time to stop and look at some of the great places here in Australia.

I would suggest you do the Northern Territory journey from Darwin to Litchfield Kakadu, Katherine Gorge, Victoria Highway to Western Australia and your itinerary as specified. This route should be around 5000 to 6000km and it will give you more time to see the sites.

Cheers

Having driven one lightening trip around Oz a "few" years ago, yes it's do able. "Easily". However all you will see is the road and a few quick stops to take some pictures. My advice is don't try and do it all in the one trip. Cut down on your places and you'll actually see and enjoy more of what's there.

G'day Juan - you have listed a lot of wonderful places to visit - I've been to a few of them and the one thing I'm learning rapidly on bush holidays in Australia is to allow for "quality time" on these trips. You are coming a long way, and you of course want to max your holiday value while here, but your plan sounds too rushed to me - I'd definitley try to prune some distance out, so that you have more time to walk around some of these places, sit down and appreciate them fully. Nothing wrong with "making good time" through a region, but its very disappointing when you have to skip attractive places, because of a schedule that has to be kept. All you can do is come back later if possible. The danger with our long distances, gravel roads (some quite rough) and high heat levels (even in "winter") is that parts of the trip might find you feeeling like a transport driver delivering perishables ! Darwin to the red centre and then the Kimberly is great as a plan - and there are hoards of great places to experience ..........but even though its sealed, just check out the distance then down to Perth !........whatever you do, hope you strike good weather and have a fabulous time here.

I am really pleased and impressed by the number of response. I'll communicate the information to my family. I am sure it will help in our choice.

Many thanks indeed to all,
Juan

If like us you are traveller lovers, you may have a look to my personal web site.
http://juanmtz.free.fr/
Sorry it is in french but you'll find nice pictures of the Northern hemisphere - France, Sahara, Iceland.

Juan,
Like others have said, Ipersonally think that your planned itenary with a camper trailer and two kids is not realistic in the 5 weeks you have.Having been to all the places you mention I would personally forget about the trip through Tenant creek,Uluru,Kings Canyon and the Tanami and spend the time saved in the other places not forgetting Litchfield as well as Kakadoo.You will also find that there are many stops down the West coast that you haven't mentioned that the kids and yourself will enjoy at that time of year.Remember you are on holliday not a driving safari.

Hi; Juan,

I am living near to Paris as well.

Both of us , my wife Cathy and Me do like Oz and had some nice trips the last years (we are planing a new trip next August - Savannah way - see memlbers trip and gatherings QLD).

Last year, we had a 10.400 k trip within 4 1/2 weeks (without kids, with a well preapred car and with a lot of preparation - Darwin, Kununura, Gibb River road, Coral bay, Mt Augustus, Laverton Great Central Road, Uluru, Alice, Kakadu, Darwin). It was quite a hard job espescally for Cathy. Nevertheless, I understand ... you have to do it.

Have a look at "frenchies trip report" part 1 and 2 on the forum, and you will have an idea of what can be done.

If you are interested in more information, please let me know. I can give you a lot of advice from the point of view of a french guy who likes adventure and begins to know something about outback travel.

Cheers

Eric