4WD Campervan Gibb river road
Submitted: Friday, May 09, 2003 at 19:15
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Kerstin
Hi,
My parents are visiting Australia & would like to travel
Darwin to Kimberlys via the
Gibb River road. They have made some enquiries via the internet but the cost seems high ($240 per day) for a 4wd camper. Can anyone recommend perhaps a smaller NT company that caters for this kind of hire vehicle.
Many Thanks
Kerstin
Reply By: Top End Operator - Friday, May 09, 2003 at 19:46
Friday, May 09, 2003 at 19:46
And what is so special about the
Gibb River Road? If it is dry a standard road vehicle will go along the
Gibb River Road. If you are lucky enough to go after it has been graded it is like a highway. Far more interesting
places to drive than the
Gibb River Road. Could not recomend you take a caravan along the
Gibb River Road.
AnswerID:
19532
Follow Up By: Allyn (Pilbara) - Friday, May 09, 2003 at 23:14
Friday, May 09, 2003 at 23:14
I'd like to see anyone get across the Pentecost in a standard vehicle if it happens to rain while you're halfway up the Gibb. Can't say as I recall Pentecost to
Kalumburu turn-off as being all that pleasant last year so unless someone has the benefit of (quality) prior knowledge then I think you're being irresponsible with your comments. I agree the GRR is not too hard but one decent rain and you could be stuck there for weeks in a standard vehicle.
As for interesting, I think most would agree that GRR offers a multitude of interesting
places to see (
Mitchell Plateau,
Bell Gorge, Lennard
Gorge to name but a few).
Beware of frshly graded roads as they are often more prone to puncturing your tyres than not.
I concur wholeheartedly on the caravan option.
FollowupID:
12360
Follow Up By: Indy - Monday, May 12, 2003 at 13:40
Monday, May 12, 2003 at 13:40
Top End Operator and Allyn,
Could you be a little more specific about not taking a caravan. What about the true off road vans. Could you tell me what would cause them problems because I was considering taking one of the off roads vans (16') along the road.
Regards,
Indy
FollowupID:
12547
Follow Up By: Allyn - Monday, May 12, 2003 at 23:01
Monday, May 12, 2003 at 23:01
Off Road van should be fine in the right circumstances and a 16 footer sounds about right to me. Don't know about
Mitchell Plateau but possibly could get to
Kalumburu. You'll get no sympathy if things go wrong I'd reckon but we had friends who left there van at
Bell Gorge in anticipation of rough going and stated that given their time over again they would take the van.
TE Operator possibly has a lot more experience than me with these matters and hopefully can enlighten you more
Hope this helps
FollowupID:
12597
Reply By: Member - Chris - Friday, May 09, 2003 at 20:44
Friday, May 09, 2003 at 20:44
Kerstin,
The advice above must be confusing to you. The GRR is, or more correctly can be, a challenging drive depending upon when you drive like the operator said. However, the scenery is far more interesting than the Victoria highway and there are some interesting characters to meet in the homesteads along the way. At the western end, there are quite a few good
places to see and if you have the time and the vehicle, the Bungle Bungles at the eastern end of the Victoria highway are worth a visit.
Unfortunately, I can't recommend a specific company in
Darwin, but I hope your parents enjoy the stay.Chris
<- 1996 Troopy, the best!
AnswerID:
19538