Planning to do the Savannah Way next year, hoping for advice
Submitted: Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 18:05
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tridean
Hi All,
This is my first post on here (I think), I found this site after doing a search on the
Savannah way, then found out I was already registered LOL!
Anyway, my wife and I and our two youngest, 8 and 6 (ages next year) want to do the
Savannah Way from
Cairns to
Broome around May 2011.
We want to hire a 4WD from
Cairns and drop it at
Broome and then fly
home.
We have a lot of questions and I don't really know
where to start, but we are aware that planning early is essential (I know 16 months is a bit extreme lol! but anyway).
We have never done anything like this before, not with kids. Last May just my wife and I went to
Darwin, and then hired a small motorhome and did
Kakadu and
Litchfield for 5 days, staying at caravan parks, and we loved it!
But this trip we would obviously do a lot more
free camping too and mix it in with staying at some parks etc.
I'm just hoping to hear from others who have done this trip with kids especially, and how you found it, what you learned that you weren't prepared for, things you think we would not be prepared for being new to something of this nature. Costs etc. I recently saw someones post about doing around Australia and the cost for them so that was good to see, gave me some ideas at least.
I naturally have heaps of questions, but I think it would be great to just connect first with some people that have done it
Many thanks
Dean
Reply By: Road to Discovery - Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 18:24
Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 18:24
Hi Dean
Oh...so much to tell you about
Cairns to
Broome. It was the most expensive leg of our trip as far as caravan sites, fuel & food goes, but you see stuff you will see no where else.
Get a copy of "Free Camps Aust" for some great camping ideas. Take the bikes for the kids if you have room. Bathers are a must. It is really hot out there...we got up to 42C. Make sure you have airconditioning in the car.
Must see:-
Cobbold Gorge in Qld !! Also, Adele's Grove. We didnt do
Gibb River Road but I hear its amazing.
Wasnt prepared for:- the amount of rubbish on the roadside!! Really really really long days of driving between treasures.
Dont just go for the iconic stuff, sometimes it doesnt live up to expectations, those little out of the way
places you've never heard of are often the most magic!
And enjoy!!
R2D
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440998
Reply By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 19:36
Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 21:14
Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 21:14
Hi Dean.............
It could "possibly" still be to wet for some
places in May but you just never know .......
Around here i would certainally go to Adels Grove/
Lawn Hill and cut from there to Kingfisher
Camp, both
well worth a visit .. there are a few spots to
camp bettween Kingfisher and Booraloola and then head to
Roper River and cut accross
Broome "direction" from there, you can cut to Top Springs, (miss that place heaps) and up through Kalkarindji to
Halls Creek past the back of the Bungles ................
Good luck
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Johnw14+ - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 21:54
Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 21:54
We did the
Savannah Way in 2009. A good reference book is "Top End & the Gulf" - A Hema Outdoor Guide. As per above post Lawn Hill/Adels Grove and Kingfisher
Camp are a must. We stay at Fletcher River, King Ash
Camp,
Lorella Springs,
Roper Bar and
Elsey National Park. Plenty of other
places to
camp. Just depends on your timetable. Enjoy the trip.
AnswerID:
441301
Reply By: Road to Discovery - Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 10:46
Monday, Jan 10, 2011 at 10:46
Dean,
also keep in your memory that
Cairns, Mt Isa,
Darwin (if you go there) and
Broome all have FREE Water Splash Playgrounds. Really good and refreshingly cool fun for kids (and big kids).
Cheers
R2D
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