Different routes to Darwin
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 21:56
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Westcoast
I'm leaving
Kalbarri on boxing day and I need to be in
Darwin to start work on the 5th of January. The plan is to check out the forecast and make a decision about heading up the coast through the
Kimberley or, if it looks like it there might be a cyclone or a river might flood, head inland through
Warburton to Alice and up from there.
Is this central road likely to get wet and close too at that time of year, especially if there's a cyclone? If we head north, and if it's not a cyclone that's stopping us, at least I can fly to
Darwin and the co-driver can drive the rest of the way when he can.
Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:12
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:12
Westcoast
Summer rains have a tendency to fall in a broad area from
Broome down to latitudes near
Adelaide and if there is a cyclone off the northwest coast then even more so.
In years gone by I have travelled from
Darwin to
Kununurra and beyond in January with the
water lapping at the bridges but the climate has changed a bit and it all depends how good the 'build-up' to the wetseason is. The big rains normally come around February through to early April. They could be early and they could be late. It is in the lap of the gods.
I would take my chances via the bitumen as
water flowing over the highways tends to drop after a few days whereas on a gravel road it may be closed for a time and you could be stuck between large areas of ponded
water for a week or more.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Westcoast - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:53
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:53
This was my thinking Willem. I used to live in
Wyndham and it was rare for the highway to be closed for extended periods, but I read earlier that they're expecting up to 7 cyclones this season, hence the thought of going East first. Doing that might be an even bigger risk though..
Thanks.
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:22
Reply By: Member - Corio - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:23
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 22:23
Westcoast,
Did the same thing in1997.Left
Geraldton Boxing day and travelled up the coast .Luck of the draw in regard to cyclones etc.
The drive through the Kimberleys in particular around Kununarra and through to
Timber Creek is spectacular this time of the year ie.,wet season.
Water was just under the bridge at
Victoria River Roadhouse.
Bear in mind temps at
Overlander Roadhouse was 40 degrees at 7am and at Nanutarra Roadhouse 47 later in the day.Very humid further up.I would not travel the inland route at this time of the year dry or wet.Better to be stranded or held up at a town or roadhouse than in the middle of nowhere in
the desert.I strongly discourage any travel in
the desert at this time of the year.Leave that to the emergency
services rescuing someone or people that live there and have no choice.
Hope this helps
Cheers
AnswerID:
331334
Reply By: Kroozer - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:26
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:26
Yeah mate you should be right to travel the coast up there mate. Most of the low level bridges that flood between
Broome and
Wyndham are all being built up bigger and better as we speak. Its really only the Vic thats stopping you though thats getting redone also.
PS- How long ago did you live in
Wyndham mate?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Westcoast - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 11:08
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 11:08
I was there for just over a year, either side of 2004 working out at Argyle Diamond
Mine. I also went to primary school there for a bit when I was a kid, and have visited there often throughout my life, visiting family. It's a great spot.
This move to
Darwin is to go through some necessary training that will allow me to work in the
Kimberley in a few years.
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Follow Up By: Kroozer - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 15:09
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 15:09
Awesome, i reckon i would know your family there mate, lived there for 23 years. Top spot, only moved cause i wanted to see somewhere different for a while. Will definitely be heading back there though someday. Barra fishing just aint the same anywhere in Australia.
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