Which way do we go????
Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 14:57
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OzCamper
My partner and I have finally purchased our Jayco Eagle On Road Camper Trailer which we get just before Xmas :-o)
We live in
Melbourne and plan on touring around Australia at the end of February. I have been buying books to try and find which is the best way to head to follow the warm weather. I believe it is best not to enter certain areas during certain months due to bad tropical weather, etc.
Can anyone put us on the right track as to which direction to go, ie: WA way (clock wise) or NSW way (anti clock wise). And then there is Tassie hehe...
Also what maps are the best one's to buy? We won't be 4wd'ing. Will be sticking to the roads. I don't want to have numerous maps to contend with. Was hoping we could just have one or two to get us by or am I dreaming?
Any help would be great as we are first timers.
Cheers
Chell
Reply By: Member - Melissa - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:39
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:39
Hmm...Chell I've been pondering your question for a few minutes now and for the life of me I can't think of a single significant argument for or against going clockwise or anti-clockwise. Leaving
Melbourne at the end of Feb means you'll still enjoy plenty of nice weather in the southern climes and gives you plenty of time to make your way north to avoid the coolest months.
You don't say how long you plan on being on the road so time may not be an issue for you. If it was me, I'd decide whether I wanted to explore NSW/southern Qld or southern WA/SA the most then head in that direction. Reason being that many, many travellers I've spoken to often tell me they spent more time than they anticipated here or there and end up having to make a run for
home, missing many of the things they'd hoped to see on the last leg (good reason to go back someday anyway, LOL). Even if you plan your itinery down to the last day, its inevitable that there'll be
places you'll spend a day or two or more longer than you planned and/or visit
places that you never planned on in the first place.
:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper
http://www.users.bigpond.com/flatdog
AnswerID:
36850
Follow Up By: OzCamper - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:53
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:53
Melissa
Well....we originally were only going to go for 12 months. But we have since realised we have no reason not to go for longer. So we aren't really setting a return date, we are going to stay for as long as it takes to see the things we want to see and still have money to do so.
I guess our main issue is where are we more likely to get work first off, as we plan on working straight away to see us through for a bit. We have no itinerary as such as far as how long we stay somewhere. It will really depend on our situation as far as work goes, what we have seen, etc.
I did read somewhere to head south first if you are leaving from the east.....just wanted to hear other people's view.
Cheers
Chell
FollowupID:
26653
Follow Up By: Member - Melissa - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 16:02
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 16:02
Ahh, what luxury to have no set return date. Lucky you! Didn't realise you were intending to work along the way. Apart from going where you think there is the most chance of finding work, I still can't think of any particular reason to go clockwise or anti-clockwise. Enjoy your trip!
:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper
http://www.users.bigpond.com/flatdog
FollowupID:
26657
Reply By: OzCamper - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:40
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:40
Have already purchased a couple of books....discover australia sounds awfully familar. Have looked at so many, I forget the names of the books I have lol.
Oh please don't mention the GPS! If my partner has a say in it, we will have every contraption known to man on our trip!
Thanks, but think I will stick to maps.
Have used the GPS on a few business trips and Mary (what we call her) has sent us on a few wild goose chases due to road works she doesn't know about.
Its all fun :-)
Chell
AnswerID:
36852
Reply By: Notso - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:47
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:47
Hi,
We did it a couple of years back and went anti clockwise. The reason for that was the
wildflowers over in WA are out around Aug Sept so you get to see them as you come down the west coast.
If you do it that way don't miss the
Western Flora Caravan Park
Brand Hwy
Eneabba WA 6518
Telephone: (08) 9955 2030
Rating: **
You get your nights caravan park accomodation and a free wildflower talk and tour by the owner. And I don't get commissions
great value
AnswerID:
36854
Follow Up By: OzCamper - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:57
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 15:57
lol thanks for
the tip! I will make sure I have taken my vaccines against the
wildflowers before I go on the tour though ;-)
Cheers
Chell
FollowupID:
26655
Reply By: Steve - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 16:54
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 16:54
Hi OzCamper,
Best thing I have ever done was to pack up & start travelling. Great also not to have a deadline (I planned on 3-6 months, it is now 2 years later and still going).
For work fruitpicking have a look at:
http://www.jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx?WHCode=0&TextOnly=0
or google search for Harvest Trail. I have done a bit of fruit picking on the way and have to say I wouldn't rely on it for a good income, it is not hard work, it is damn hard work especially grapes in the heat of summer.
I think you will find that if you have the right attitude/friendly you can pretty much find work anywhere if you give it enough time. This is the case for both major cities (I am contracting in
Perth for another 5 months), or small towns (working on a duck
farm in Nhil).
As for the direction, going for more than 12 months negates the argument about missing weather etc as you can stay in south for summer then head north for a warm winter either way... though I decided on clockwise for a summer through S.A. into W.A., a Winter travelling in north W.A. across to
Darwin and North QLD, then a Summer heading
home to Sydney/
Melbourne. Though if that is the hardest choice you have at them moment life is pretty tough ;-)
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: OzCamper - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 17:03
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 17:03
Steve,
Thanks for the link, shall give it a looksie.
You are making me envious and very eager to hot tail it off right now. But will be doing it soon enough so shall have to learn to be patient.
Actually the hardest decision I have at the moment is what to do with my cat!! But that is another story lol.
May even decide to flip a coin to see which way we go. My partner is pretty keen to go the way you have so might let him win at something ;-)
Cheers
Chell
FollowupID:
26664
Follow Up By: Steve - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 17:10
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 17:10
Don't do that, if he is anything like me, he has built his foundations on the solid
rock of never being right with the girlfriend (sorry Kel, just kidding).
P.S. Don't miss the Eyre Peninsula, the South coast of W.A. and Sth Coast of N.S.W. (can't comment on north W.A. yet.....)
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 19:15
Tuesday, Nov 11, 2003 at 19:15
These questions are raised every six months or so on this
forum. Go in to the archives and have a look. Also search the internet for Australian weather patterns using Google.
I am still amazed that many people are somewhat unaware of our climatic conditions.
Drive anti clockwise around Oz otherwise you will constantly be driving into the wind and use mega litres of juice.
Hema Road maps etc are the best of a bad bunch. No map shows you enough detail unless you take a laptop and digital maps.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Willem
Always going somewhere
AnswerID:
36893
Follow Up By: OzCamper - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 10:56
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 10:56
Willem
I had already searched archives actually but couldn't seem to locate something to directly answer my question.
When travelling overseas, I find it is very easy to locate details on the climate for that particular country. But I have found it is not so easy for Australia. Since I have not travelled around Australia before, I am not aware of what the climate is like, particularly in WA, SA, NT.
No laptop at
home and limited use at work makes it very hard to spend much time searching the web for this info, hence my asking people that have been there and done that.
Thanks to the helpful people that have answered my questions, I can now search for books, maps, etc to aid my research.
Cheers
Chell
FollowupID:
26745
Follow Up By: Willem - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 17:22
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 17:22
Chell,
I assumed that as you had access to a computer to access EO you would have acces to the internet which has a trillion answers to so many questions. How long have you lived in Australia? And do you watch the news on TV from time to time...hence my perky observation...no offence intended.... just a stir.
Cheers,
Willem
Always going somewhere
FollowupID:
26768
Reply By: Tony - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 07:57
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 07:57
I did the round the block a few years ago starting off the same time and went clockwise. No winds and warm
weather all the way, finished the trip in Tassie for Xmas and New Year
SA inc Kangaroo Is Feb, Mar
SW WA Ap, May.
West Coast May, June
Kimberly June, July
NT Aug, Sept
NQ Sept, Oct
East Coast Oct, Nov
& Tassie in Dec, Jan
34000k later done the lap. The only time it rained was in the SW of WA the rest warm and dry, but getting a bit hot up the Cape in October.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: OzCamper - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 11:01
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 11:01
Tony
Wow, that is alot of k's lol! Good on you, you lucky thing.
It will be my turn soon enough ;-o)
Shall have to put some thought into where I want to spend my 30th!!
Cheers
Chell
FollowupID:
26746
Follow Up By: Tony - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 11:46
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 11:46
Yep done a lot of side trips off the black top, but mainly stuck to the coastal regions. All this in a HJ 47 Troopcarrier, swag and tent. Replaced two
tyres, two battries and rear shock mounts & one rear wheel bearing (carried as a spare) otherwise normal services.
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