Brisbane to Darwin best route

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:15
ThreadID: 40963 Views:39825 Replies:8 FollowUps:4
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Hi,

Does anyone have a great alternative route to get to Darwin from Brisbane - and how long would it take. I only have a fortnight off work.

How long does the one way trip take via mt isa?
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Reply By: Sarg - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:42

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:42
Try here

http://www.
racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/racq_cms_production/hs.xsl/trip_planner_ENA_HTML.htm
AnswerID: 213846

Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:46

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:46
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.
AnswerID: 213848

Follow Up By: zha zha cruiser - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:46

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:46
Hi Norm
Thanks for that. Wish I could steal some more time off. But, can't. The driving days enroute home will help me dry out after 6 days with all my old friends in Darwin.I like that route
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Reply By: Mikee5 (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:27

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:27
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.
AnswerID: 213856

Reply By: datto311 - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:49

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:49
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
AnswerID: 213860

Reply By: Kev M (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:14

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:14
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
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He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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AnswerID: 213862

Follow Up By: zha zha cruiser - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:52

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:52
Hi Kev, with 3 kids, a camper trailer and a new leased land cruiser ( it comes with free petrol) flying would mean not enough money left for the holiday. Cheacking out long reach on the way sounds good, plus the kids will get to understand how far away things are. Cheers
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Reply By: cdc - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:11

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:11
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

AnswerID: 213893

Follow Up By: zha zha cruiser - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:55

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 07:55
Hi C
I have free petrol. I sorry I forgot to mention that. Plus all my kids. But I will fly up for a long weekend one day. I have so many old friends to catch up with...
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 22:42

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 22:42
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
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Follow Up By: zha zha cruiser - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 08:06

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 08:06
Thank you so much for your comments Doug. I will look fwd to taking that trip. (Don't knw about the 3 kids) I don't pay for petrol and ill pull the camper trailer. Did u eva get to check out bing bong, its just up from cape crawford.
7k plus klms, I usually drive that for work in a fortnight. Spose that's not going to kill me. June is usually cold at night but good through the day. Mataranka we will be swimming and rest before the darwin enslought.
Cheers lyndal.
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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 08:50

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 08:50
The depressing sign just west of Ipswich:



Andrew
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