Which way to go?

If time is no problem, why not do both Gladstone and Rockhampton? I am sure that SA may be a bit more comfortable at the height of summer than the NT may be.

Jack

The main problem with being in north Qld and NT during the Wet is that you are likely to get heavy rain, floods and road closures. Early this year large areas were cut off and many places you might like to visit were inaccessible due to road closures. It would not be great fun to spend a month or so stuck in a caravan park in the rain. Also mosquitoes might be a problem if your kids have sensitive skins. If you plan to stay on the bitumen you would possibly be OK until Christmas up there but it could get wet even then and you might miss a lot. Check the figures on the Bureau of Meteorology web site.
Outback SA can also be extremely hot in summer. Once you get to school holidays all places along the east coast become crowded and heavily booked - as well as expensive!
If you are still in NSW or southern Qld what about heading west to see how lovely the country is after recent rains then down to Broken Hill and spend summer in southern SA and WA - the best time to be there and lots to see. Then head north for the winter and perhaps down to Alice before the very hot weather hits. This is assuming you plan to spend about a year or 18 months on the road.
Have a wonderful trip whichever way you go! Lynne

Hi,

We are also starting our big trip next year with three kids, aged 1, 5 & 7. Hope you're having fun.

We live in the Adelaide Hills at present, and I just wanted to point out that it is NOT a nice place to be in summer! The heat may be dry, not humid, but we usually have the worst heat waves in all of Oz, every summer we will have at least one heat wave lasting over a week. From memory, we've broken a record the last two years. If your caravan does not have air con and you're planning on being in South Australia for summer, make sure you stay near the coast where it's much cooler.

I also look forward to seeing the north in the wet season, however, we've decided to leave that until we are 'grey' and travelling without the little ones. I think it would just be easier without kids in tow, with the rain, not being able to access some places unless we're 4wding, etc.

For this trip, we're sticking to bitumen roads and nice weather - all the stuff we miss we'll do again later. :) Our summer will be in Tassie.

Have fun! See you on the road sometime. (P.S. We leave in March. Feel free to message me with any tips you discover about travelling with kids!) :)

Chell,
it doesn't matter whether you go from Rocky or Gladstone both roads are good.

Personally I would turn south as heat, humidity and rain could make you life miserable, you could be flooded in for a month or 2 if you go north of the Curry or Isa. Maybe this could happen and maybe it won't, just easier to stay away.

Has been cool out that way but we got the first taste of heat a couple of days ago + a plague of grasshoppers to boot.

Have a good one