outback trip

Submitted: Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 10:42
ThreadID: 6938 Views:3067 Replies:3 FollowUps:3
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just completed an outback 10 week trip from melb. through, Hay, Eulo, Toompine, Richmond, Lonngreach, Normanton, Lawn hill Nat. Park, Wallagorang, Borraloola, Roper Bar. Materanka. Kakadu, Darwin.Litchfield Nat Park, Kunnanunarra. Wyndam, Gibb river rd. Mitchell Plateau, Kalumbaru, Derby, Broome, Cape leveque, Bungle Bungles, The Tanimi track, Alice Springs, The Oodanadatta Track, and the Murrayville track back to Melb. IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE WITH FUEL COSTS / ROAD CONDITIONS OR CAMP AREAS, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO.
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Reply By: basecamp15 - Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 12:33

Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 12:33
Apart from the start point, that's almost exactly the trek I want to take, just need 10 weeks!!!! well done you lucky bugger
AnswerID: 29698

Follow Up By: bigred - Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 13:11

Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 13:11
yes I was lucky ,long service plus a bit had a great trip travelled with good friends(although trying to organize / co-ordinate and meet some kind of time frame with 4 couples can be a giant drag) saw a heap of OZ still not enough though was hot /sunny most of the time 1 day of rain until we started to travell sth from Alice then the cold started to set in now im freezing. have a great trip if i can help with info don t hessitate to ask
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FollowupID: 20802

Reply By: Will - Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 19:02

Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 19:02
Hi, well i'm about to leave perth heading up to do the gibb river road, up to mitchell plateau, el questro, Wyndam-Kununurra-Halls creek and then cape leveque. Any advice on road conditions, tourist numbers, weather, and what to see/avoid would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Will.
AnswerID: 29725

Follow Up By: bigred - Monday, Sep 01, 2003 at 18:53

Monday, Sep 01, 2003 at 18:53
The Gibb River RD is generally good,there are patches of rough corrigations ,but we travelled over most of the rougher stuff at around 60-80 km without any trouble( I drive a Nissan diesal GU, other vehicles included a troopy ,80 series towing a c/trailer,and a Prado all with mod suspension except the Prado) duration maybe patches of 10-15km.Ellebrea station appeared a nice place to stay El Questro is alright although is tourist city the charge 25.00 per couple (plus 12.50 camp fees,p/p)to enter irrespective of whether you camp there or not ask for a private camp which cost the same and are quite good.Wyndam is a little bit ordinary although down by the port is good and the lookout is great,Kunanurra is good we stayed at the Kunanurra caravan park good facilities friendly people ect not far out. Halls Creek is also similar to Wyndam although the most people seamed friendly enough (there is an indigeanous element which hang around the main shopping area didnt give us any trouble though) Derby is good the locals seem to keep to themselves mainly on the outskirts of town we found the place had good facilities ,The rd to MItchell Plat is very rough we are used to crap and this was!we camped at King Edward on the way in which is free and very pleasant (we were told the rd was to be graded the week after we headed out so by know it could be good ?) Cape Leveque is lovely the rd is pretty good although there are again corrigated patches and plenty of sand(watch out for the local drivers they arent on holidays and as the rd is narrow can be a bit interesting, dont be scared ps and any rented britz type vehicle they have got absolutly no clues at all !!) you had to book to camp at the very top (Cape Leveque)we stayed at middle lagoon windy but nice you are right on the ocean they do have cabins (shade cloth walls) I would advise a phone call to arrange a booking even if you are camping and make sure you use dates not tomorrow,or the next day etc(stuffed ours up) we got a bit gorged out if I was to say what dissappointed me it would be GIEKE gorge all the others although similar ie water fall, gorge, lovely swimming holes, etc they are all spectaculer you may also need to book for bell gorge we didnt and stayed at silent grove we set up late morning went and played came back to be surrounded the booked sites are private camp areas further up towards the gorge Weather we had one day of rain at broome the day we went to cape L. temperature was around high 20s -- low,mid 30s.tourist wher plentiful in the built up poular touristy areas otherwise not to bad hope this is helpfull I had no real idea of any required time frame rd condition info was varied etc(we found the rd conditions passed on info was dependant on what heo person is used to and what they drive )when i started to plan our trip if you drive carefully and at a spead YOURE comfortable with I suspect you will have a great time as we did ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!
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FollowupID: 20873

Reply By: Martin - Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 22:57

Sunday, Aug 31, 2003 at 22:57
Bigred one big question - did you go over that pinnacle of 4wheel driving - bigred?? There's a place on this site where you can put your fuel consumption figures for all to see. Click on Trip Planning then Fuel Consumption. What sort of vehicle and what was your overall consumption?
AnswerID: 29753

Follow Up By: bigred - Monday, Sep 01, 2003 at 19:00

Monday, Sep 01, 2003 at 19:00
YES of course although not this trip I drive a 98 Nissan GU 4.2 non turbo diesal (red) fully loaded with out a roof racknever needed to use one in my opinion not required and more of a problem (having said that my kids are well grown and pilot themselves and i foolishly didnt take the tinny bugga) average overall fuel approx 8.3k/l it varied from tank load to tank load from as low as 7.2 on the harder stuff to 9.1 on the highway(yuk) with a nice tail breeze
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