Traveling to Uluru

Submitted: Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 20:32
ThreadID: 70591 Views:4381 Replies:8 FollowUps:3
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First Timers
As we are new to outback travel I would appreciate some info on the condition of the roads and tracks that we intend to use getting there. We live on the NSW Central Coast and are thinking of travelling via - Parks / Broken Hill / Cameron's Corner then out to the Stzelecki Track up to Innaminka on via The Dig Tree up to The Development Rd across to Birdsville, on to Boulia and across The Plenty Hwy to Alice. Back home is not decided yet any suggestions welcomed.
We have read and watched many interesting article's about setting up for travel in the outback, we have all the recovery gear we think we need just in case.
Will be travelling in a 2008 Pajero & Camper Trailer in late August 2009
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Reply By: A J - Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:13

Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:13
The Zogs - First point - is the camper trailer an off road model. Some friends of mine recently travelled the Plenty Highway with other people who had an on road camper and the camper did not fare very well on the road.

After you leave Broken Hill you will have dirt roads - most will be rough in places and you will need to reduce speed to the road conditions and your dirt road experience.

In respect to the dirty roads don't let the above put you off or you will never go - go but take it steady.


A J
AnswerID: 374105

Reply By: The Zogs - Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:34

Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:34
Yes AJ it is an Off Road Trailer but home built Its been on some not so good dirt roads before but not like I think it's going to be like I'm not in any rush either can take it ezy
AnswerID: 374111

Reply By: Member - John & Sally W (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:55

Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:55
Hi Zogs,
Lots of places. Maybe see the Rock and Olgas. Home via Painted Desert - Oodnadatta Track or Chambers Pillar - Dalhousie Springs - Oodnadatta Track. Then down through the Gammon and Flinders Ranges should round the trip off nicely. Unless you really want to see Coober Pedy and Woomera the O track has much more to offer in the way of scenery, history, camping spots. Sounds like a good trip. Protect your rear screen on the Paj and take it easy on the dirt roads with lower tyre pressures. Uhf radio and first aid kit.
Have fun, Sally.
AnswerID: 374115

Follow Up By: Member - John & Sally W (NSW) - Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:57

Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 at 21:57
Sorry, missed the heading, "travelling to Uluru"
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FollowupID: 641340

Reply By: Brett007 - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 08:05

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 08:05
Exactly 12 months ago did the plenty hw with family in a moderatly heavy laden Hilux 4x4 dual cab only. With very little dirt road touring experience. General dirt road conditions good, minimal corrugations and bull dust. Travelled E - W doing roughly 100 km /hr a lot of the way in 4wd (tire pressure 34front and 36back).
While out there I was told you should drop your tyre pressure still lower and would have better ride.? maybe . So when travelling back W - E I dropped each tyre 2psi.
Silly me maintained the my usual 100km/hr.
3/4 of the way across the plenty I had each of my back tyre side walls get a small split and leak. I was able to plug it with a repair kit and limp into boulia.

Luckily the new Yokohama A/T had a 1/2 tread life guaranty and they gave me two new tyres.

Probably drive a little slower
Don't assume all tyre walls will flex the same
Keep tyre pressure on this road around 38psi.


The whole trip was fantastic.



AnswerID: 374143

Reply By: Mandrake - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:09

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:09
Zogs ,

Keep your eye out for a Gold Jeep Cherokee with POD behind ..see photo below .

We will be around that area at the same time .. bring a glass and say hello !

Cheers

Steve
AnswerID: 374161

Reply By: Mandrake - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:10

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:10
Zogs ,

Keep your eye out for a Gold Jeep Cherokee with POD behind ..see photo below .

We will be around that area at the same time .. bring a glass and say hello !

Cheers

Steve
AnswerID: 374163

Follow Up By: Mandrake - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:11

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:11
Why does it do that ? I'm only going once ...
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FollowupID: 641368

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 20:06

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 20:06
Computer dumb animal only does what its told so you must have hit the button twice.



LOL


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FollowupID: 641457

Reply By: Family Friendly Oz Camping - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:18

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 10:18
Hi John and sally, my family did that trip from Victoria last July, here is the itinerary for it. Absolutely wonderful trip, follow the ideas from the the above campers and definetely take it easy. We went on the Ghan railway Track i would not recommend it when towing anything. We had a Hilux dual cab with roofrack and not towing anything and we tented most of the way except for the first few days.

Day 1- We live in Victoria and our friends live in Sydney so we met at Mildura and
stayed the night in cabins at a Holiday Park.
Day 2 – Left Mildura - We travelled to Hawker(SA) via Leigh Creek and Maree (fuel )
Stayed the night at Hawker in a cabin.
Day 3 – Left Hawker – We travelled to William Creek(SA) Stayed the night in the
campground behind William Creek Hotel in tents (fuel)
Day 4 – Left William Creek – Travelled to Mt Dare via Oodnadatta (fuel) and
Dalhousie Springs. Camped in tents in the campground behind the Mount Dare
Hotel.
Day 5 – Left Mount Dare Hotel (fuel) and travelled to Chambers Pillar Reserve via
Finke (NT) where the Finke Desert Race starts and the Old Ghan Railway and
stayed the night at Chambers Pillar reserve, camped in tents several hundred metres
from Chambers Pillar, a 5 minute walk.
Day 6 & 7– Left Chambers Pillar Reserve and travelled to Alice Springs (fuel)
Day 8 – Left Alice Springs, went north up the Stuart Hwy and then east on the Plenty
Hwy. Stopped at the ‘Giant termite mound’ and camped for the night about halfway
about 500mts of road down track.
Day 9 – Left our bush camp and travelled to Boulia (QLD). Purchased fuel at a
station several hundred kms before getting to Boulia. I asked the lady that was
selling the fuel how many acres is the station. She said they owned 2 properties both
500,000 acres each WOW! Arrived at Boulia mid afternoon and setup camp on
powered site to recharge mobile phones etc.
Day 10 – Left Boulia and travelled to Birdsville and camped for 2 nights (QLD)
Day 11 & 12 – Stayed at Birdsville, Visited the Birdsville Hotel, conquered ‘Big Red’
the first sand dune of the Simpson Desert, the Birdsville Working Museum and more.
Birdsville would be one of our favourite outback towns.
Day 13 – Left Birdsville and travelled to Innamincka, another very unique outback
town.
On the road to Innamincka we had just gone past ‘Cordillo Downs’ a sheep station,
we came across and man and his vehicle and trailer that needed help. He was
towing a rust bucket of a trailer that shouldn’t have left home and the leaf spring had
broken off. We did manage to help him by drilling a hole in the leaf spring and in the
trailer and wiring it up with ‘No.8’ fencing wire (we always carry a piece of this wire
when 4WDriving it’s the first time we have ever used it. He was then able to go drive
slowly to 'Cordillo Downs' and get more help.
Day 14 – Stayed in Innamincka and camped in tents on the bank of Coopers Creek.
This is the area where ‘Burke & Wills’ started their trek many years ago.
Day 15, 16 & 17 – Stayed in Innamincka for 5 nights to give us a break from the
constant travelling and moving camp. Innamincka is a fascinating area, there is a lot
of information anf places to visit regarding ‘Burke and Wills’ and the Innamincka
Hotel is very unique and has the general store next door that sells fuel and basic
foods, souvenirs and public showers are nearby.
Day 18 – Left Innamincka and start heading for home. We travelled to ‘Camerons
Corner’ where 3 states meet SA, QLD and NSW and travelled to Tibooburra and
camped for the night.
Day 19 – Travelled from Tibooburra to Broken Hill stayed in a cabin
Day 20 – Made it home and unpacked (never good). But we came home with some
amazing photos and we always look forward to the next trip
AnswerID: 374166

Reply By: The Zogs - Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 19:52

Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 at 19:52
That's a great response, we are lost in all the info that you have given us. It will be a great experience and the first of many that we will no doubt talk about for years to come BUT there is still 1 problem that we are having it is, should we lower or raise our tyre pres.on the stoney tracks of Central Aust. I'm having Cooper ATR's fitted in 2 wk's or should I go for the ST's we will only be using dirt tracks and sandy beaches in our next trips
AnswerID: 374232

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