Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 08:28
Hi Gert and Emmelle,
As Footie has said, this sounds a great trip and is not too challenging. You will see some very attractive country.
A few thoughts -
(you might care to have a look at our "Destination Kimberley" blog on this site for some information on our recent trip through some of the areas you're planning on.) Shopping - there isn't much opportunity to buy food away from the "major" towns. Around
Adelaide,
Alice Springs and
Yulara no problem, also
Coober Pedy and
Leigh Creek, but options are pretty limited elsewhere.
When are you planning on coming to Australia? Not in summer (November to February) when it's very hot in central Australia?
A good place to stop for the night is
Farina (an historic abandoned town) - great for rough inexpensive hospitality.
Another good overnight option is in
the painted desert - we stayed some years ago at Copper Hills, and there are other stations there who welcome visitors too. Very spectacular country and the warmth of the hospitality is something special.
Dalhousie Springs is a must. Very special place and expect to spend some time in the water. Mount Dare is an essential fuel stop and a chance to buy an ice cream, or even a meal or to sleep in a bed!
From Mt Dare, you might consider travelling to Alice via Old
Andado, rather than the more obvious track through Fink. (The Fink track which will take you more directly to Ayes
Rock.) Suggest ask the folk at Mt Dare about the condition of the Old
Andado track; the southern part was very heavy going (rutted and lots of bulldust) when we were there 6 months ago. Travelling by Old
Andado will give you a small taste of the red sand dunes of the
Simpson Desert. If you did travel this way it might be worth travelling with another vehicle (it's not unusual to team up with someone else for the more lonely stretches. It's good for both groups to have the security of the second vehicle). Overnight at Old
Andado to meet other travellers and enjoy a hot shower (there aren't a lot of these out there!)
As you leave
Coober Pedy heading north, do a loop around through
the Breakaways. this is a minor detour through some awe inspiring country. (Get details from the local tourist bureau people.)
Allow time to explore the country to the east and west of Alice.
Just a final comment - Footie has mentioned the need to carry water. Carry lots, enough for a week is good practice, though you will probably not need it. Communications - mobile phones do not work away from the bigger towns. A cheap handheld
UHF radio will allow you to talk to other travellers over a few kilometres. Possibly your hire vehicle will already have one fitted. The other options are
well covered on this site, though hiring a satellite phone (expensive) is probably the obvious option for a visitor. You will be spending some of your time in fairly remote areas, so please make yourself aware of the safety issues which are dealt with very
well on this site and numerous other
places.
And above all - have a great trip.
John | J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
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AnswerID:
342189
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 11:39
Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 11:39
"When are you planning on coming to Australia? "
"We are planning a trip to Australia and are planning to travel during the third week of April from
Adelaide to
Alice Springs with a 4WD vehicle through some outback tracks. "
FollowupID:
609904
Follow Up By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 12:19
Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 12:19
Thanks Hairy - marvelous how I can miss the obvious. I had this vision of our friends arriving in the heat of summer and suffering. In fact their timing is excellent.
Cheers
John | J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
Lifetime Member My Profile My Blog Send Message |
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 12:26
Friday, Jan 02, 2009 at 12:26
Yeah mate...I think its an automatic assumption. LOL
Cheers
FollowupID:
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