Brisbane to Ayers Rock trip advice

Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 20:35

ThreadID: 79010 Views:31080 Replies:10 FollowUps:9

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Plenty Highway

Part of the "Outback Way", the Plenty Highway is the most direct route from central Queensland across to Alice Springs in central Australia.

Plenty Highway

Section: Treks

Part of the "Outback Way", the Plenty Highway is the most direct route from central Queensland across to Alice Springs in central Australia.

Member - Danny R (QLD)

Hi All. I'm after some feedback on a trip that I am planning from Brisbane to Ayers Rock. We have a month for the trip, August acutally. It will be me, the wife and the two boys aged 3 and 18 months. We are travelling in a Patrol with a camper and the objective is to see as much of the country as we can between our stops. Both the Patrol and Camper have had enough money spent on them for the trip!

I am currently thinking of going via Rockhampton as we are dropping our dogs off to the grandparents, but they could be shipped if we change our mind. So Brisbane to Rockhampton then west via Longreach, Winton, and Mount Isa to the three-ways and then down to Alice Springs and on to Yulara. From there I am currently thinking of heading back to Brisbane via Port Augusta, Broken Hill, Narrabri, etc.

Stops are currently planned for Barcaldine, Winton, Mount Isa, Barkly Homestead, Wycliffe Well, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Coober Pedy, Woomera, Port Augusta, Broken Hill, Wilcania (?), Gilgandra, Goondowindi. We intend to spend three or four days exploring the Alice surrounds like the McDonnell ranges, Palm Valley etc. The same around Ayers Rock and a couple of days each around Coober Pedy, Port Augusta and Broken Hill. The rest of the stops will just be overnight.

Excel, OziExplorer and Whereis.com have been my friends in planning the stops. I have limited the travel to a max of 450km per day mainly because of the kids and that sees our trip starting ex-Brisbane on 1st August and arriving back home on the 25th of August. I have deliberately left a little time at the end of the month as a contingency. Total trip distance around 3800km.

Phew, now to my questions:
- The Plenty is more direct from Boulia to Alice than going via Stuart Highway and I would dearly love to do it, but 800-odd km's on the dirt could take much longer depending on the condition of the road. Anyone got comments around reasonable daily distances along the Plenty?
- Anyone got any thoughts on the route I have planned?
- Anyone got any thoughts on the stops that I have planned?
- Is overnight in Wilcania ok these days with a young family?
- Am I nuts or is the most direct sealed route from Brisbane to Yulara via Port Augusta in South Australia?!?!?
- Should I just go to the Cape instead? :-)

Cheers,
Dan.

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Reply By: Indigo Jones (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 20:49

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 20:49

The Plenty is in good order at the moment, it can be done in a day, but with young kids that's your call. There is good camping at Gemtree or Harts Range and you could consider an overnight there if you didn't want to do the whole trip in a day.

You might find it shorter to go via Roma and Blackall and out to Boulia than going to Rocky first

AnswerID: 419293

Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 21:05

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 21:05

Thanks mate. We would definitely be camping along the Plenty if we go that way so your suggestions are helpful.

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Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 09:53

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 09:53

We will be on the Plenty in early July. I hope it is still in good order then.

.

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Reply By: Noel W (Qld) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 21:15

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 21:15

Danny, I just spent 15 months working at Yulara and initially traveled via Port Augusta due to wet weather in Northern Qld in 2009. The distance to Yulara through Port Augusta is marginally shorter as well - only a couple of hundred klms different (nothing when you compare the distance you will be travelling).

I crossed the Plenty Hwy only last week and it was OK - approx 60klms of what I would call medium / rough corrugations and the remainder quite acceptable in a Nissan Patrol - the Qld side of the boarder being less maintained than the NT side. It was also very pleasant scenery due to recent wet season - the best the locals have seen for years. Average speed for the dirt was approximately 70klms per hr. Much of the road had been recently graded and we could have crossed the dirt in one long day, camping at Gemtree in the NT and Boulia in Qld. Good camping also available at Jervois.

In perspective, the worst road I travelled was the Bruce Hwy south from Calliope. I felt safer on the dirt and outback roads.

The recent wet has also made the East & West MacDonnell Ranges a picture. I would recommend devoting at least 4 days to check out all the major attractions, especially Trephina Gorge in the East. When in Standly Chasm, climb to the lookout (if you can manage with the "billy lids"). It's worth the effort. By all means, include Palm Valley as you mentioned. There is also a good camp site there. There are several good camp sites in the Western section.

If you are planning to travel the Mereenie Loop, it is the worst road I travelled on during our recent trip - severe corrugations at the moment. If you take your time, it is worth the trip. Drop into Gosse Bluff along the way and a permit is required to travel the loop.

A pass for the Uluru / Kata Tjuta National Park is valid for only 3 days. It's approaching peak season in Yulara so it might be wise to book ahead or at least make inquiries of the camp ground.

Good luck with your plans. It's a great part of the country you're planning to visit.

AnswerID: 419301

Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 13:04

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 13:04

Thanks for that great information Noel. Yes, you are right about the Bruce . . . Queensland roads in general are terrible!

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Reply By: greenextreme - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:01

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:01

Danny, along the Plenty, a good option to stay overnight is the Spotted Tiger campground. Turnoff about 1km west of the Harts Range Police Station heading south towards the Race Track and 2.5km past the race track is Spotted Tiger. A surprisingly good campground. If time allows there's good tracks further south into the Ranges with plenty to see and explore [gems, wildflowers, fauna, views].
Enjoy the trip.....it sounds like a great adventure.

AnswerID: 419307

Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:02

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:02

Thanks mate. I will have to look up the Spotted Tiger. We will definitely enjoy it! Can't wait.

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Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:28

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:28

Dan, I see you want to stop in Broken Hill and then your next 2 stops are Wilcannia and Gilgandra.
Not sure of your intentions at Wilcannia, but it is only 200 kms from Broken Hill then 550 kms from Wilcannia to Gilgandra.
If you want to limit your daily driving to 450 kms, then Broken Hill - Cobar would be the better overnighter for the distance you want to travel per day.

Dave

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Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:03

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:03

Thanks Dave. The trip home from the Rock to Brissie is still a little fluid. I check out your recommendations.

Cheers,
Dan

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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:29

Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 at 22:29

Danny

I did the Plenty last year, it was excellent. Much better than dull bitumen.
Diamnatina Lakes are worth considering out of Longreach, especially after the rain, then up to Boulia.
Last month I spent a week in the West Mac ranges, don't try to do all the gorges, too many, just concentrate on 1 or 2 at do them well, especially the western end, Ormiston and or Palm Valley.

We did the Meerenie Loop last year, was OK. Kings Canyon is worth seeing and I'd suggest staying at Kings Ck Station if you want local flavour Vs Kings Canyon resport.

If you are going to Coober Pedy, make sure you see Moon Plain about 20km north of there. Worth the half day drive & stay at Arckaringa Station to see the Painted Desert, it's better than Rainbow Valley at Alice.

Depending on your penchant for dirt Vs Bitumen, after Uluru from Kulgura (spelling?) you can head east to Finke, then down to Mt Dare, maybe Dalhousie Springs, then Oodnadatta, then Painted Desert to Coober Pedy.

Can't comment about Wilcania, only ever got fuel there, but we were broken into at the Big Resort at Pt Augusta, no gurantees anywhere. Many of the adverse comments about Wilcania seem to be from people who never have been "Outback" anyway. I've seen plenty worse.

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Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:07

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:07

Cheers Mark. I'm with you mate, much prefer dirt to the sealed roads. I wish I had more time to spend exploring but alas work will only give me a month. I'll check out your recommendations though. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. Just what I was after!

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Reply By: John and Lynne - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 11:56

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 11:56

It sounds a great trip but you might be pushing it to do it all ion 4 weeks with two littlies. Don't forget you will strike quite a lot of very cold weather. Take care to keep the kids warm, especially at night. If anyone gets sick that will spoil your trip. As Brisbane people we know how we feel the cold when it gets below about 20C! Small children lose body heat quickly. In Brisbane we hate the August winds. Last year we were in Port Augusta and parts of SA around August and and struck REAL wind - really strong and very cold! We had to buy the dog a Drizabone coat! And we were in an insulated caravan! I'd be very tempted to go north in August and do the Central Australia trip another time eg April/May.
Have a great trip whatever you decide. Lynne

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Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:10

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:10

Hi Lynne. I know what you say about the cold. We are pretty well prepared with our setup and regularly camp in the mountains in Northern NSW during winter. It can easily get down into single digits so hopefully we will be OK.

The Cape is another option, but I can hear the Rock calling me!

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Reply By: AnneMarie - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 12:44

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 12:44

Sounds like a good itinerary and lots to see in 4 weeks! I came through several of these parts myself in May last year with a girlfriend, travelling in her 80 series Landcruiser from Tom Price in WA to Rockhampton, Qld. through Alice Springs and Uluru. It was a fantastic trip but also very cold in some parts during the night so be sure to take thermals and warm bedding! If you are interested, this is my blog on our trip across Oz - read from the bottom up!!! http://acrossoztrek.blogspot.com/

The Donohue Highway was very good to travel on and the Plenty Highway was mostly very good with some spots of very deep bulldust... but you if you drive to the conditions (and whatever part of the road is best!!), you'll be fine. We spent 3 nights at the Gemtree Caravan Park - loved it! It is a great spot and very friendly. If you like a spot of fossicking, you won't be disappointed looking for garnets! I found several! Boulia is also a lovely and interesting spot - nice caravan park - the first bit of green after 100's kms of desert! Longreach is a very interesting place with the Qantas Founders Museum and The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame there. Might not be much fun for the little ones tho'!

All the best, be safe and have a wonderful roadtrip! Look forward to hearing about it on your return. :)

Cheers,
Anne-Marie

AnswerID: 419375

Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:13

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:13

Thanks Anne-Marie. That was some trip of yours! I've heard about the bulldust . . . sounds interesting. The Patrol is pretty tough like your old Cruiser and the Camper is built for the cape so hopefully we will be OK. A couple have recommended Gemtree, sounds like it will have to be a stop for us!

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Reply By: kend88 - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 16:52

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 16:52

Sounds like a great trip and the advice all sounds good. Would also add a stop at Woomera for at least a few hours, if not overnight. Would also suggest Cobar stop rather than Wilcania.

kenD
bris

AnswerID: 419404

Follow Up By: Member - Danny R (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:14

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 20:14

Thanks Ken . . . I think I understand re Wilcania. :-) Was planning on stopping at Woomera.

Cheers,
Dan.

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Reply By: happytravelers - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 21:39

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 21:39

Hi Danny
We're doing roughly the same trip as you, leaving at the end of next week from the Sunshine coast. Camper trailer and two kids 7 and 9 for four weeks. Roma, Blackall, Longreach, Winton, Boulia and then across the Plenty with a planned overnighter at Jervios. Two weeks exploring the Centre, then back across the Plenty and home via Birdsville and Windorah. Can't wait !!!
Hope you have a great trip, save the Cape for another year, after all the rain this is the year to see the outback.

All the best Jon

AnswerID: 419440

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 22:18

Thursday, Jun 03, 2010 at 22:18

Danny

Comments about the cold quite valid. When we were there last July we had two -3C mornings. I slept in a swag, rest in the camper trailer. But we weren't cold at night, we just layered up.
Make sure you wear beanies when you sleep.
Make sure the kids are up off the ground on a stretcher and maybe have a warm sleeping bag liner made out of old flanalette sheets.

You should be OK in a month, especially if you are on the bitumen, we did it in 3 weeks, but didn't have to go via Rocky, but still did nearer to 7000km.
Aim to make camp by 3.30 each afternoon and you will be relaxed. Ideally you need at least 2 hours of daylight to establish camp, cook & eat dinner. Then you can relax. Last thing you want to do is arrive in the dark.
Mac Range Caravan Pk in Alice though probably the dearest has plenty for kids about 3 and up to do.

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