Our ,1st Trip into Outback

Tony,
you seem to have a lot covered re set up & route, I would suggest that on your way to Glen Helen you take a side trip into Palm Valley, (south turn off opposite Hermannsburg) leave the trailer in the camp grounds and drive the last couple of K,s into the valley car park and go for a walk down the Valley and up the escarpment back to the car park, a must see, it is a special place, my favourite place in the West MacDonnall Ranges, a true oasis in the wilderness.

Note: go in shorts and be prepaired to wade through the crystal clear water at times and you will be rewarded with a rare site in the otherwise arid desert.
Colin.

Just got back last weekend from near identical trip in reverse with same vehicle (07), tyres and KK camper Trailer. We effectiovely would have done your trip in a touch over 3 weeks. It was too rushed, but we were limited by school holidays.
We had not a single problem, bar smashed Anderson plug on CT. If your tyres are all fairly good and you are pushed for space, I don't know if I would bother with 3 spares, only 2, but suppose it will stop "Murphy's Law" being invoked.
Make sure you have a good stone guard on CT and for additional security, back window of Paj covered.
Roads were far, far better than I expected. Worse is the 100km either side of Dalhousie, then the 70-80km Meernie loop from Grose Bluff to Kings Canyon.

Stay at Kings Ck Station not Kings Canyon resort. I didn't think Dalhousie was worth the punishment on the direct road in from Mt Dare, so if you are going there take the longer way in from Eringa(?).
Arckaringa Station between Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy (Painted Desert) was great and only $10/ adult (no charge for kids).
Glen Helen was a bit of a disapointment to us, may want to investigate some of the NP around region instead, especially if you have just resupplied from Alice.
You could spend 3-4 days properly exploring all the gorges on the road between Alice and Glen Helen, so if your time is limited be selective. Serpentine was good, wished I had time to go a few km up it.

Onlly carry fuel if you reckon you are doing legs more than what your 88L tank will let you @ 17L/100km (my worst 100km stretch) Contact me if you want any further details.

Gidday Tony

There are a couple of sections you mentioned that I haven’t been down, but your trip sounds pretty easy to me.

Just keep an eye on the weather.

A lot of the Shires close the dirt roads after 10mm of rain.

Slow down on the Gibba, which you'll find on some parts of the trip.

Have a good trip


Regards

Kim

G'day Tony,

Hope you have a great trip and suggest if you get the chance, as you will be going via Finke etc that you might want to detour into Chambers Pillar if you have a bit of time to spare.

We found it was best to camp there overnight so that you be up early in the morning to get the good photos (if you're interested in that sort of stuff).

Cheers

Roachie

Thanks for all the info seems that we have been a bit overly worried about this trip but as you all know the unknown will getb the adrenalin going.
We will try to see all we can in Central Aust. and I am sure it will be the start of a wounderful experience. I will be getting all the info I can when we camp off fellow travellers .IWe CAN"T Wait
I give the wrong date of setting off it's 1/9/09 not Aug.

Hi Tony,
Looks like you have got plenty of good advice, I have been to most of the places you mentioned. Ormiston Gorge on the mereenie loop is worth seeing also. Have a great trip.

Sounds like a great trip, you've got the gear, go and enjoy.

Have you thought about remote area comms? Would suggest taking either HF or satphone if something should go pear shaped.



.

We'd like to thank you all for your response and hope we meet on the road some day. It'll be a great first adventure, the start of our ongoing road trips in this vast changeable country of ours