What would u pick!!!! July or September

Submitted: Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 12:56
ThreadID: 6358 Views:2246 Replies:10 FollowUps:6
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Hi everyone,

Ok heres a little poll to help me pick the "better" month......

If you were going to Alice Springs from Melbourne, via the Oodnadatta track with a Patrol, camper trailer, hubby and three kids (9,7,2), and you had a travelling time of four weeks, would you travel in July or September.

Looking forward to your responses.

Thank you
Tania
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Reply By: bruce - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:01

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:01
July
AnswerID: 26750

Follow Up By: Tony - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:06

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:06
Reason?
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Reply By: bruce - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:18

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:18
The weather in July when we were in Alice Springs was just great , I would imagine that September would be a bit warmer/hotter , could be easier on the youngsters .You have lots to see in just 4 weeks ...cheers
AnswerID: 26751

Follow Up By: bruce - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:25

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:25
P.S. DONT MISS...The desert park at the Springs...brilliant
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Reply By: Member - Stephen (Broken Hill) - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:26

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 13:26
July......
Cold nights but cool clear days. Not too many flies.

September.....
Warmer temps but the winds can blow and blow that time of year for weeks at a time. Constant winds and dust can become very "draining" after a short time.

Cheers
Stephen J.
Don't die wondering !!
AnswerID: 26752

Follow Up By: Member - Rick - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:57

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:57
I have done both, and my vote is for JULY,
for exactly the same reasons as Stephen from Broken Hill.

CheersRick (S.A.) - ' It is better to travel hopefully than arrive'
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (Broken Hill) - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2003 at 13:29

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2003 at 13:29
Pity Stephen doesn't take his own advice :-P

I'm planning a trip across the Simpson in late September.

Unfortunately work commitments are the overriding consideration in the timing of the trip - not the season.Don't die wondering !!
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Reply By: Mixo - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 15:55

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 15:55
We did pretty much the trip you describe 2 years back in September - followed a wet winter in the region. Weather was damn near perfect throughout and the flowers in the outback blew us away - like a botanic garden. They have had reasonable rain this season I think - outback travel is always a gamble of course - you could hit paydirt (keeping in mind that the rain that produced our outback flowers bonanza would have stranded some travellers or at least cancelled their plans) ! Have a good ún.
Gotta have red sand on those boots !
AnswerID: 26765

Follow Up By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 16:55

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 16:55
Mixo we must have done it about the same time also did the Simpson .
Its sertanly is a spledid sight all those flowers and all the different colours of the desert . From memory we started in early September.
All the best
Eric
www.capeyorkconnections.com.au
4w4 Tag Along AdventuresCape York Connections
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Reply By: UB.1 - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 16:31

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 16:31
Hello Tania

Late July is better for most of the reasons already given as the kids usually travel better if its a little cooler, though this is mostly overcome with A/C these days.

Don't know if they still run it but the Gap caravan Park at Alice used to (1998) hold a free reptile and damper cooking show for campers and you could opt for the meal at little expense. My kids loved the show and got to hold snakes & lizards in a safe environment. Adults had a great time too.

Enjoy
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Reply By: Peter H - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 18:47

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 18:47
Not sure if this helps but I did a quick trip from Brisbane to Toowoomba and return on Saturday morning (2 Aug). Must have seen more than a dozen cars heading west set up for long distance "off tar" travel. Seems August is a popular month.
I personally prefer early September. I have crossed the Simpson in late Sept and it was starting to warm up (over 40 deg).
Peter
AnswerID: 26776

Reply By: Member - Bob - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 20:13

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 20:13
Tania, it also depends on the place you are leaving: Melb in July is a good place to leave, while in September you'd be at the footy. So I'd go north in July.
AnswerID: 26777

Reply By: Slammin - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:43

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:43
Some good thoughts above and really it's a case of 6 of 1....

For my money tho we prefer september because the 15mth old wants to be up and about at 6 (read 5 degrees or less), yes you can stay warm in bed etc at -2 but when someone who you can't reason with wants out of the tent, well guess who wins! It all results in reddish - blue hands and not a very happy camper!
Last year for a week in July it was -6 overnights.
AnswerID: 26805

Follow Up By: Slammin - Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:47

Monday, Aug 04, 2003 at 22:47
BTW the reptile show is done by Rex a top bloke he's always got a free show on somewhere at the moment he is in Yeperenye Shop centre but it is worth the bucks to visit his place opposite the flying doctors and also visit the Desert Park, all kids I've heard of or met love them both.

We only really had one days rain and it wasn't really widespread from what I can tell, but its always worth visiting the centre even in a 10 year drought, like when i first came here!
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Reply By: Member - MightyQ - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2003 at 00:06

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2003 at 00:06
G'day Tania,

My wife and I did the same trip in July, 2002, we had a ball. Watch it on the Oodnadatta Track, we towed a trailer and didn't have our stone guard on and it cost us(rear window). Apart from that we had one of our best trips yet, great time of year, you'll be surprised with the blooming vegetation ie Sturt Desert Pea. We had days of 24-26c most of the time, mornings were cold until 9am, after that glorious days.The Track was slow because of corrigations in some areas. 200kms a day was enough,and things to see.
Keep on the road
MightyQ
ps go for July it starts to get hot in Sept
AnswerID: 26813

Reply By: Nooka - Thursday, Aug 07, 2003 at 19:15

Thursday, Aug 07, 2003 at 19:15
Hey Tang,
we did the trip 9 years ago in september it got too hot then in 2001 we went in july, beautiful weather until we spent two days in Alice next day rained and rained we left that day didn't stop raining until just outside Erldunda (or howeva its spelt).
But July is the best pick!
have fun Nooka :P
AnswerID: 27076

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