Brisbane to Darwin best route

Try here

http://www.
racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/trip_planner_ENA_HTML.htm

Zha Zha, with just 2 weeks, I'd probably go via the airport, but that probably doesn't help much.

Probably the shortest route would be via Dalby, Roma, Augathella,Longreach,Cloncurry, Mt isa, Three Ways and up to Darwin. We did the Cloncurry south part of this trip on our way back in August last year. Distance Darwin to Brisbane via this route is approx 3430 KM. Good roads all the way. 38 to 40 hours of driving. Minimum of 4 long days of driving, seeing nothing but the road.

You will get about 6 days in Darwin, then turn around and do it all again. Spend one day less in Darwin and you could come back via Charters Towers and down the coast. Also good roads, but longer and a lot more traffic.

Only you can decide, but it doesn't sound like my sort of fun.

3500 kms x two = 7000kms. Even at 1000 per day you only get a week in Darwin. Allow for heat, rain, floods, animals on the road and road trains. Having done the trip many times I reckon you don't have enough time for it to be pleasant.

Three and half days is about the quickest, each way. Brisbane to Longreach, then Longreach to the Barkly Homestead, then Barkly to Katherine and then 3 hours to Darwin.

Remember they now have 130Kmh speed limit on the Barkly and Stuart and 110 everywhere else

Noel

Why not fly and hire a vehicle when you get there, it would allow you a shed load more time in Darwin for about the same money as fuel on the trip there.

Kev

Best I've done - 2 drivers prior to speed reductions - 2.5 days - in a Honda Euro. Darwin to Mt Isa day 1, Mt Isa to Augathela day 2, Aug to Bris Day three.

Forget it, early starts, late stops, roos, cattle, pigs - check out Virgin - $139.00 to $189.00 one way. Rental cars cheap enough, but leave till after the 'Wet' - getting to the TOO Bluddy Hot and Wet stage, you cannot move anyway - flooding, road closures etc.

Have also done the 5 + day trip. Still all day driving in a real vehicle (Tojo) with trailer in tow, but leaving apres and stopping pre skippys to travel.

Fly and hire - the only way.

Ta

C

Been on that trip so many times m most direct is via Mt Isa, as a truckie 2 days, as a tourist you need to look at things so make it 3 days ,when you get to Barkly Homestead turn right onto the Tablelands Hwy and go via Cape Crawford to Daly Waters then onto Darwin. on your return go via Three Ways to Mt Isa but then go to Boulia and then to Winton , Longreach,Barcaldine, Alpha, Emerald, Rollston , Injune, Roma , Brisbane = 7218 klm from Ipswich Rd to Darwin and back to Granard/ Beaty

The depressing sign just west of Ipswich:



Andrew