Brisbane to Darwin drive

Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 23:34
ThreadID: 80500 Views:5383 Replies:11 FollowUps:6
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Hi,

I am moving to Darwin from Brisbane and decided to drive however i am not sure whether my car is drivable to to Darwin through Mt isa as it's very low clearance car and don't have any idea about the road.

Do i get bitumen road all the way or do i need to cross rivers.

Any information is much appreciated.
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 23:54

Tuesday, Aug 03, 2010 at 23:54
You will have 2 lane bitumen road the whole way. There will also no need to carry extra fuel, work out your fuel distances and just splash and dash at the more expensive places like Barkly Roadhouse.

PeterD
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AnswerID: 426125

Reply By: Joe Grace Doomadgee - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 00:04

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 00:04
just reading between the lines...... get ya car trucked up and fly up there... it's a very LONG drive, lots of BIG animals to hit and will be very boring...

If you have driven any "reasonable" distances between bigger citys it is identicial road conditions to that, you will not see a town or fuel stop for longer distances as it is "remote""" ..... only have water problems if you drive in the "wet" and that is mid Nov to around April ...
Cheers, enjoy Darwin and the heat :-)
AnswerID: 426126

Reply By: petengail - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 06:30

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 06:30
daughter and i did darwin to sydney via port agusta in her hyundai excell. have also done brisbane to darwin in the commodore and its easy enough its just a bloddy long way. take it easy, keep topped up with fuel and dont drive at night and make sure your car is mechanically sound before you leave. that would be my advice. cheers and good luck
AnswerID: 426129

Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 07:44

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 07:44
As you say it's "very low clearance" I'd say it's not suitable for the trip. SOme of the roads, ie Mt Isa to the border, allthough sealed are very rough.

Define "very low" and we'll have a better idea.
AnswerID: 426131

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:27

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:27
You don't even have to go that far John ;)

Dalby to Chinchilla will kill the undercarraige if it is very low clearance. It has even been flagged by the Nationals as an election promise to fix it :))


Cheers Kev
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 14:16

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 14:16
Not wrong. Broke a spring on my camper on the highway 20Ks west of Roma a couple of years back. Bloody rough!

Erection promise? I'd like to see that!
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FollowupID: 696735

Reply By: Calibrated- Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 09:20

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 09:20
Thanks very much for your opinions. I had a plan to send car in a truck but moving things will be a problem then, as i have lot of small boxes like computer, printer and personal stuffs. Obviously sending all these stuffs could be a pain.
Dont have any plan to drive at night anyway. Do i need to be aware about any kinda animals in the out back ?

My longest drive is from Melbourne to Brisbane through the center but i heard north is dangerous to drive as it's so isolated and active wild life.
AnswerID: 426137

Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 10:04

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 10:04
If you've driven this vehicle from Melb to Bris then getting to Darwin will not be a problem. The road is fine, just a bit long between stops in places.

As long as you avoid dawn and dusk, wildlife should not be an issue.
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FollowupID: 696712

Follow Up By: Moose - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:52

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:52
"Do i need to be aware about any kinda animals in the out back ?"

The usual suspects like roos, emus, sheep, cattle etc. Just drive carefully and you should be OK.

"i heard north is dangerous to drive as it's so isolated and active wild life."

Who told you that rubbish? Wildlife is active all over the place not just up north. And yes - there are some long stretches of bugger all. But that doesn't make it dangerous - unless you do something stupid like driving too fast or too tired.
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Reply By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 12:50

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 12:50
Gday
Just drive it. How do you get experience if you don't have a go.
Drive and enjoy. There is nothing there to be afraid of. Drive to the conditions.

Murray
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AnswerID: 426152

Reply By: Member - William H (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:13

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:13
In 1976 i drove my 48/215 series 3 from Sydney, to Brisbane, then up to Darwin via Bolua and Mount Isa,...and what a trip that was, i had two gerry cans for fuel and one for warter,the trip took ten days and it was on skinny tyres and a six volt system, if i can do it in an old holden you will be ok,just be carefull of night driving, have a safe trip............and enjoy it.
Cheers for now...Williamh...Bunbury...WA.
AnswerID: 426154

Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY(Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:33

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 13:33
Gday William
Three of us did the trip in the same car as you in 1965, but we started in Perth and finished my part of the trip in Sydney Enjoyed every moment . Skinny tyres and all, broke a spring in WA some where and did a roadside repair . I don't remember any tyre problems .
Murray
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Reply By: wendys - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 15:06

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 15:06
Have travelled those parts extensively, (with 4WD towing van). However, my "other" car is a little Holden Barina and I would have no hesitation in driving it from Brisbane to darwin, via Mt Isa. Just check your distance between each main centre to make sure you have enough fuel in the tank for the next stage. Do not drive at night (because there is more risk of hitting livestock or wildlife).
AnswerID: 426169

Reply By: Member - Wayne D (NSW) - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 15:18

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 15:18
Drivng from Kakadu to Darwin 2 weeks ago saw a dead pig on the road that was three quarters the size of the Getz. Would not like to meet that at night (or any other time in a car that size.)
Did not see any wildlife during the day, too hot I guess, that is if you dont count the biig salties suning themselves on the river banks
AnswerID: 426173

Reply By: kend88 - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 20:41

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 20:41
The road Brisbane/Mt Isa/Darwin is fine. It is a major route and is not at all isolated. Will have plenty of people going both ways if you have any mechanical problems.

kenD
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AnswerID: 426204

Follow Up By: kend88 - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 20:45

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 20:45
people have mentioned rough roads on the south western Qld route, and that may be so, but no need to go that way. Head up the coast, as far as Rockhampton if you like, then head west, and the roads are all fine.

KenD
Bris
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Reply By: Calibrated- Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 22:52

Wednesday, Aug 04, 2010 at 22:52
Thanx very much for all information. Now i am very confident to drive my Calibra 4x4 to Darwin. I will be starting on Friday morning from Albany Creek and my plan is to be there before Monday night.

I will update my experience soon
AnswerID: 426221

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