2 more sleeps!

Submitted: Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 14:30

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Member - Bytemrk(VIC)

Well we are off on Wednesday morning for a 4 week trip.

We are doing a loop from Melbourne - through Innaminka and Birdsville across the Plenty Highway to Alice. Then around Alice, down to the rock before crossing to Dalhousie and Lake Eyre on the way home.

The first half will be just me and my 12 year old son. Mrs Bytemrk and my daughter fly into Alice the day we get there.. ( I'll be very unpopular with the daughter if I'm late !.. she is already stressing about what they will do If I'm not there! Teenagers!! lol )

I'll try and pop in here and update road conditions etc..

My son's teacher asked if we could take some pictures and email them back to his class . We found a way to do one better than that and built this blogHere.

So when we can get NextG coverage we will be regularly updating that too.

And thank you to all the people that have helped us.. either answering my questions or just people who have supplied blogs and road reports etc here... they have all made planning so much easier.

Anyway... more packing to do!.... Can't wait to get out there!

Mark

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Reply By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 15:28

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 15:28

G'day Mark

Noticed your doing merenee loop (spelling) and making a stop at Palm valley.

Palm valley is one to see and bushwalk for sure, but in terms of a great bush camp IMHO Boggy Hole is a "magic spot" and beats the Palm valley campground hands down.
Have a great trip.

Cheers

AnswerID: 382273

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:12

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:12

G'day Ingo57,

Most of the camp sites are planned - but flexible - I find we are all more relaxed if we know where we are going.... but it's not a real road trip unless you make some decisions as you get there.

That sounds like the first potential change!

Thanks

Mark

FollowupID: 649824

Follow Up By: wendys - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:04

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:04

Agree that Boggy Hole camp is better than Palm Valley in some ways - less people. But - there is more to do and see at Palm Valley. The scenery there is spectacular, and there are at least 2 walks to do.
There is also the issue of whether the track from Boggy Hole south along the Finke, is open - and if so, is it better driving than the Meereenie Loop?
I think bytemark is better advised to do as per his original plan for this bit.

FollowupID: 649831

Follow Up By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 10:00

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 10:00

Wendys

That's why I put "IMHO" for a camp area??????

FollowupID: 649906

Reply By: Member - Megan and Kevin D (AC - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:25

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:25

Hi! Sounds like a great trip. I don't know if you realise it, but there are at least two car ferries (free) that cross the Murray one at Morgan and one not far east of Morgan. Your children might enjoy crossing the river that way. (Maybe they are old hands at it!)
Have fun.
Megan

AnswerID: 382283

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:09

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:09

Thanks Megan!

No I was unaware of those ferries.

The kids have been on a few including to Fraser Island. But it is infrequent enough.. I am sure they would enjoy it!.

I'll definitely plan to pass that way on the way home!

Cheers, Mark

FollowupID: 649832

Follow Up By: aka - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 08:13

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 08:13

the other crossing is at Cadell

FollowupID: 649900

Reply By: Rip64 - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:53

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 17:53

Great plans ,we will be following you're blog closely as we have a very similar trip to you're trip planned for March next year (Including Wilpena Pound,Palm Valley again and Haddon corner).(Going in opposite direction)
Have a wonderful time and "DONT BE LATE" !!! (to Alice)
A trip to the heart of this great country is something everyone should be lucky enough to experience.
Safe travels
Brian

AnswerID: 382286

Reply By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:05

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:05

G'day Mark, we had a similar trip 3 years ago with our 3 kids and had an absolute ball, looking forward to the trip report and heaps of piccies.

Safe travelling and enjoy,

Lance

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AnswerID: 382291

Reply By: wendys - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:07

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:07

If you continue east from Yulara to the highway, then go north for 99km on the highway, you could take the Hugh Stock Route to intersect with the Old Ghan track. This would then allow you to include the very special Chambers Pillar in your trip.

AnswerID: 382292

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:11

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 18:11

Thanks Wendy,

I am staying in Alice for 4-5 days.. I was intending to day trip down to Chambers pillar from there.

cheers, Mark

FollowupID: 649833

Follow Up By: wendys - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 23:05

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 23:05

Don't know that a day trip would do it justice. Sunset and sunrise really something out there. It is not just the Pillar, but other interesting rock formations there as well. Pleasant camping area there.

FollowupID: 649889

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 15:48

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 15:48

Thanks Wendys,

I'll give it some thought.... so many wonderful places .

Unfortunately some will have to be visited properly another trip, but hey - that means I have to come back again ;-)

Cheers, Mark

FollowupID: 649927

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 19:42

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 19:42

G'day Mark

Did a very similar trip in July. Consider a diversion from Bedourie to the Dimantina Lakes NP. Guess it will add 200km maybe to your trip, wonderfully remote waterholes and wildlife.

From Oodnadatta also look at going to the Painted Desert, staying o'night at Arckaringa Station. Some people say it is the highlight of the SA desert.

Mark

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AnswerID: 382306

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 20:28

Monday, Sep 07, 2009 at 20:28

Thanks Mark,

I'll see how we are going and may well wander out to Dimantina lakes.

We spend some time in the painted desert a few years ago after to very good advice from Willem.

I'd love to go again - but the pressure of school holiday timing means this time we will have to give it a miss.

I guess I'm not the only 40 something here who's really looking forward to getting to the time of life, I can wander the country as much as I want to @@

Mark

FollowupID: 649859

Reply By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 13:25

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 13:25

Hello,

I got back from a very similar trip about 4 weeks ago. It was fantastic, I'm sure you will have a great time. I hope you are going to drive out from Birdsville and have a play on Big Red?

Cheers,
Mike

AnswerID: 382383

Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 15:47

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 15:47

Absolutely,

To be honest I'd love to cross the Simpson rather than going across the Plenty Highway..

But pulling a camper trailer - 1 vehicle, 1 adult and 1 kid - unfortunately it will have to wait til I have company.

Anyway.... it gives me an excuse to go back!....... as if I need one!

Cheers,
Mark

FollowupID: 649926

Follow Up By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 17:42

Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 17:42

Its only a 1/2 hour drive on a good gravel road out there. Leave the trailer at the caravan park. Big Red is the first dune you hit and the view from the top is great.

Cheers

FollowupID: 649938