Hire options for the Kimberley
Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:15
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Member - Jo Q (NSW)
Hi All,
I am thinking about flying to
Darwin in late Sept. next year, hiring a 4WD camper and doing
the loop down to
Broome & back, including the
Gibb River Road. What has astounded me so far is the hire cost of 4WD campers! I'm looking at a 3 week period and only need to accommodate 2 people - myself & 7 year old daughter.
I realise that 3 weeks would be better off being a lot more & that Sept. / Oct. is not the best time to go - but due to work constraints this is all I have to work with. Has anyone ever hired 4WD campers in the region & has any recommendations? Quiet happy to
camp basically, but also don't want something that is going to fall apart 50km's out of
Darwin!
The frustrating thing is that I have to hire when I have a camper & 4WD at home, but unless I want to wait until I retire - I can't see me driving all the way up there any time soon! (live in
Sydney)
Look forward to any input & wish all Explor Oz'ers a safe & happy Xmas wherever your travels are taking you :)
Reply By: Member - Syd R (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:17
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:17
Try Discoveroz.com.they do the Oddessy from Australian Off Road Campers.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:19
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:19
I didn't expect a response that quick!! Thank you - I will look into it :)
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Reply By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:35
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:35
Hi Jo,
I see you can really only travel Sept/Oct due to work, however we have just spent 5mths at
Kununurra with 3 kids (we left and headed to
Broome on the 27th November) it was SO HOT....... even with A/C in the van. Also a lot of
places like
El Questro,
Emma Gorge and The Bungles are closed at that time of year due to the heat and the storms that come through.
You gotta love the top end its an amazingly beautiful place with all weather extreme's, we are currently sitting here watch TC Laurence - said to reach us on Friday....... Perhaps Christmas will be further down the coast this year, as we plan to leave tomorrow if its course doens't change, oh
well all part of the experience.
Cheers
Caz
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:49
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:49
Thanks Caz. Starting to think that it may not be the road trip of 2010 due to the only time of year that I can do it?
I'm envious of the 2 of you & the kids! Happy & safe travels.....
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Follow Up By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:54
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:54
Thanks Jo, its a totally different life on the road, the top end is wonderful, perhaps you can organise it for 2011 during the cooler months. I grew up in
Sydney some of the national parks are lovely and would be cooler than up here at that time, or perhaps make your way up to QLD the sunshine coast not too far to go and won't be too hot for you guy's.
Cheers
Caz
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:05
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:05
We did a month long trip this year up to the
Daintree & back - loved it - but are looking at somewhere different? Victoria the year before & tassie year before that - problem is the time constraints! Wish I was old enough - or rich enough to retire!!
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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:29
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:29
Hi Jo,
In 3 weeks Sept/Oct you could take in
Lake Mungo,
Flinders Ranges,
Oodnadatta Track and even up to Alice OR slip across to the National Parks along the south western coast of WA for a fill of whales,
wildflowers and big trees, and some good walks. Either option would be a memorable trip without being too rushed.
Just a thought for "something different"
Cheers,
Val.
| J and V
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FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:44
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:44
Thanks Val - will start looking into it! Open to all suggestions......
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:43
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:43
Another thing to check is the conditions of hire.
Some Hire Companies won't let you drive the vehicle off the black top.
Meaning that if you drive the GRR and its off shoots you may not be insured as they are unsealed roads and tracks.
Hot time of year to be up there and as said above lots of areas are closed.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:47
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 12:47
Thanks for the input John. Most hire companies have to supply a written agreement that states that you plan to take the vehicle on the
Gibb River Road & that it is permitted. Some don't allow it at all. Some charge an additional fee of $500 to use the road?
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:03
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:03
So long are you have asked the question and got the matter sorted, nothing worse than having a prang and finding your not covered.
I came across a pair of 76 Series Britz hire Toyota's at Durba Springs in June this year being driven by a bunch of very large Kiwi's who admitted that they did not have permission or insurance cover to be on the CSR.
Not a risk I would have undertaken.
I guess they were very rich Kiwi's also??
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:08
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:08
Agree with you 100% there! Murphy's law - not covered have an accident - pay extra for 100% cover - no accident!
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Follow Up By: Top End Explorer - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 03:51
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 03:51
Most hire car companies will take $7500 off your credit card if you wreck it on the Jim Jim road, and there is a few each year that have their holiday ruined for that very reason.
I don't see why it wouldn't be the same on the GRR.
Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: Member - Donks1 (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 08:43
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 08:43
Hi Jo
As for the insurance issue, as TEE said above, the hire company will hit you anything from $2500 to $8000 if you wreck it. But just do what we did for our cape trip. A few mates had hired a car out of
Cairns, with a $5000 dollar excess.
So we took out a Travel Insurance policy which covered that, for $85.00. That way if we put it in the bottom of the
Jardine, It wouldn't cost us.
Steve
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 09:04
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 09:04
Thanks Steve - a great alternative!
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Reply By: vk1dx - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:14
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:14
When you hire a 4WD say to go to the Bungle Bungles etc they cannot guarantee that you are allowed to take their car there until the day before hiring.
What if you flew to
Darwin and hired a car to go down to
Broome up to
Cape Leveque and as a finale something you have been dying to do ages, to go to the Bungle Bungles. You pick up the car and they say "Sir I hope you realise that although the road to the Bungle Bungles is open our management have decide that it is too rough to take our car there.". What do you do then??
There are several other
places as
well. Such as the
Gibb River Road, The Karunji Track and The
Mitchell Plateau and the Mithchell Falls.
Most do not carry puncture repair and air pumps so if you are used to letting the air out of the tyres for rough road (recommended) you have not got a way to pump them up again. So be extra vigilant for sharp rock etc on dirt. We met a bloke at Turkey
Creek. Three flats since
Perth. Wasted days getting them fixed!!! "Not happy Jan".
Just keep this in mind. Its a great place to go and we will be back. You are assured to enjoy it. And no. We didn't hire we bought a Toyota.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:25
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:25
For starters I hope they don't call me "Sir"! Lol, but i had thought about that, what would happen if the road was closed? Definately not an ideal situation to be in!
Reading through everyones posts here & their opinions, I'm starting to think that it may have to be a desitination that might have wait :(
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:40
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:40
You make sure you keep it on the list if you don't go. You may also be able to go earlier say in May to July.
Phil
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:45
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 13:45
Thanx Phil - it will definately stay on the list - along with a lot of other
places! Problem is - work gets in the way!
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:19
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 at 14:19
We are off to
Cape York next July. Two of our sons with their families in their own cars as
well. Doing att the off beat tracks as
well as the OTL and CREB.. Bit of mud work coming up we think. Luckily we don't use trailors as
well. Should be excellent.
In the meantime lotsa trips in the
Vic High Country.
Enjoy and merry Christmas
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Reply By: Kelvo - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 00:31
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 00:31
Hi Jo,
Try
Camperworld
I have used them about 3 years ago, their head office is in
Perth but they did have a depot in
Darwin. We hired their 'Bush Cruiser', 4 berth but they do a 2 berth 'Bush Camper' off-road use on 'named roads' was permitted, but use on certain roads - GRR included - requires written permission before travel.
No affiliation, just a (happy) past customer
Regards
Kelvo
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jo Q (NSW) - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 09:07
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 09:07
Thanks Kelvo I will look into them. But it is looking like we'll be doing a road trip somewhere else - judging by everyone's comments it is far from the ideal time to go & with no guarantees of the roads being open - hiring is a difficult option? Looks like I'll hook the camper up to the x-trail & head off somewhere a little less complicated for that time of year - just not sure where yet!!
Have a great Xmas.......
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 17:22
Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 17:22
I don't think there is any problem taking a hired KEA Troopy camper to the GRR and
Kimberley generally.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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