Going to Central Oz
Submitted: Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 19:49
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Member - Tony Z (NSW)
As we are new this may be long but I am after answers using all your experience
We are heading off from the Central Coast via Dubbo then to
Broken Hill (we were going to
Birdsville first but the races are on and we're not into horses and 6000 drunk people) for a 2night stop to see the sights, then off to
Marree via Petersborough. We will be stopping overnight at
Coward Springs to relax in the spring, then out to see Lake Eyre (even if it don,t have any
water in it) if your out here you've gotta see it. Out to Cooper Pedy for a couple of nights then at least an overnight in
the Painted Desert On to
Oodnadatta and
Dalhousie Springs again an overnight. Then on to Mt Dare,we will either go to Finke on to Alice or through
Kulgera to Uluru/ Olga's ( our must see, at least 3days there) Either way we intend to spend some time in Alice 3/4days. Going to do the Merienne Loop and see as many Gorges till we,ve seen our fill. Heading home via the Plenty Hwy to
Boulia -
Birdsville through
Cordillo Downs to
Innamincka spending again 3/4 days seeing Coongie Lakes, Dig Tree and
Coopers Creek. The end is nigh Cammerons Corner and on home (may go to
St George if we make it but dont think so ) Any offering on road condition and travel plans welcomed we are open to any changes, travel time will be 4-6 weeks
Reply By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 19:51
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 19:51
Forgot to say leaving on the 31/8/09 driving a silver Diesel Pajero
AnswerID:
379225
Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 20:21
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 20:21
Just been to most of them
places but its just about over for us this trip.
If your going from Finke to
Alice Springs, make sure you call into
Chambers Pillar, one of the high lights of our trip.But be warned, the road between Finke and near to the turn off to
Chambers Pillar is horrendorus, the worst corrigations we have driven on.
Also if you go
Kulgera way, call into Lamberts Centre, a 20km detour off the road.Its the georaphical centre of Australia.
The
Oodnadatta is in great condition but the roads get abit rough out around
Dalhousie Springs.If you branch off near
Hamilton Station and go up past Dalhousie
Ruins, its quite rough once you get into the NP.
Also
Peake ruins on the
Oodnadatta is
well worth the 20km roughish track in.
Didnt do it this trip but have been told by a few people that the merienne loop road is shocking(has been both times Ive driven it).
Have fun.
AnswerID:
379238
Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:13
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:13
Thanks Nick I had forgot about
Chambers Pillar and Lamberts Centre, Chambers is the first option but will see road condition when we get there. Maybe a trip out from Alice. Merienne loop is a matbe but will still see some of the gorges even if they are return trips out of Alice we'll just add extra day if needed.
Again all this info is great just to know what we're up for, the wife is a bit apprehesive of all this dirt road/track travel but i'm prepared. I THINK as I said I've read alot and taken it all in.2 spares/tyre repair kit- spare parts-
water- fuel and food and of course maps and more maps +
UHF radio
FollowupID:
646610
Reply By: Warrie - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:34
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:34
Hi, we did a lot of what you plan so here's 2 bobs worth.
1. Stay at P'borough van
park on the
hill south of town - nice
views and facilities.
2. First van
park on right at
Marree has grass to
camp upon - nice!
3.Take the 100km each way drive from
Marree via Muloorina to reach lake Eyre - it's Magna friendly too.
4. Mozzies at
Coward Springs but the hot tub is a winner and fits 6.
5. Spend 3 nights at Dalhousie, its tub is an Olympic pool! Take a drive 220km return in a day and visit the first twenty dunes in the western Simpson.
6. Dalhousie to Mt Dare was the worst track in our 6 week trip.
7. 3 days at Olgas/
The Rock was a winner for us. Walk the
Valley of the Winds
8.Picking up your itinerary from The Alice; stay at Ormiston Gorge as it has hot showers and flush loo's for $6.60/head. Use as a base to visit other gorges. In late April the
Mereenie Loop was a corrugated shocker but if leave from Ormiston you get new tar from
the gorge until you hit
the Loop. Cheers, Warrie
AnswerID:
379254
Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:57
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 at 21:57
Again Warrie thats fab, the more info the easier our outback experience will be. All these
places to see we will need months not weeks but this is our first trek so here we go yeha! cant wait to get out there but not looking forward to those bumpity bumbity corrigations, but thats all part of it hey !
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Monday, Aug 17, 2009 at 02:24
Monday, Aug 17, 2009 at 02:24
Tony
We did similar trip in last month.
I will second the comment about Ormiston, forget about nearby
Glen Helen "resort". I'll second and third the comment about Mt Dare to Dalhousie, even the Rangers said it was particularly bad.
We found Dalhousie crowded and busy, but it was school holidays.
Finke to
Kulgera is "highway" condition,
Lambert Centre, worth the 30km detour just to say you have been there.
Uluru has 5-6 lane
IGA, you can restock with everything you need there, saves doubling up on Alice unless you want to see
Chambers Pillar which we didn't have the time.
We found Kings Ck Station wonderful, relaxed, spacious and with character, unlike nearby Kings Canyon resort. We found out about it through this
forum and glad we did.
When leaving
Boulia, consider going via
Diamantina Lakes NP and then out to
Bedourie, but check your fuel
reserves. The Lakes were an uncrowded gem, but relatively isolated.
Wishing you as good a time as we had.
Plenty Highway was much better than we were led to believe. There are many dirt roads in central & northern NSW worse.
Returning home and reviewing things, the best advice we got on road conditions and general preparedness were on the Mt Dare and
Oodnadatta roadhouse websites.
Mark
AnswerID:
379279
Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 19:42
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 19:42
Thanks Mark, this info is giving us a good platform for where to go and what to see. Sounds like we may give Mt Dare to Dalhousie a mis as we we'll be stopping at
Coward Springs on the way and stopping at
Coopers Creek going home. But will see when we get there
Thank Tony
Constantly looking at
Oodnadatta websites
FollowupID:
646855
Reply By: Allan JJ - Monday, Aug 17, 2009 at 20:57
Monday, Aug 17, 2009 at 20:57
All good stuff above
Go to
chambers pillar
Check out the art galery at maryvale (station)
Grab an ice block at fink
Take a chopper ride over kings canyon
Don't forget if you want to climb
the rock to get there early, have been there 5 times and it can get closed alot because of wind (it helps keep the people off
the rock:(So go there first incase you need to go back another day.
Also get the free permit to docker river.
When you turn up at the toll both for
the rock, just say you are heading straight through, showem the paper work and be on your way.
Def walk though olgas
Don't forget no
camping anywhere near
the rock or in the national
park itself.
MT conner is also a good walk to the top.
But I think they charge a bit for the privalage as its on private property (
curtin springs)
al
AnswerID:
379383
Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 19:48
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 19:48
Allan JJ big must do is climb rock (I did it in the 70's) before it's shut off to all
Can't wait to see the sunrise/sunset at as many
places as possible on our travels no point sleeping in when your out there!
Thanks again all info greatfully received
Tony
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Allan JJ - Friday, Aug 21, 2009 at 05:53
Friday, Aug 21, 2009 at 05:53
It ain't going to be as easy as it was back then :)
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Pezza QLD - Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:39
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:39
Hi Tony,
Go and have a read of this
travel report
I did it on two
wheels but it is everywhere you are wanting to go with heaps of photo's and plenty of description on the
places you are seeking information for.
Hope it helps and have a great trip, it's amzing out there.
Cheers
Pezza
AnswerID:
379520
Follow Up By: Pezza QLD - Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:41
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:41
PS. (an 'edit' button would be good) Most of the stuff you would be interested in starts on page two Tony.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Pezza QLD - Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:43
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 at 20:43
Ok, that one didn't work, try
this one .
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 at 21:11
Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 at 21:11
Nice pics and story Pezza looking forward to hitting the outback cant come quick enough 9 days till lift off
FollowupID:
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