Pat Callinans "The Gulf Country"

Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 15:43

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Pat Callinan's The Gulf Country

Pat Callinan takes you to one of Australia's most remote 4x4 destinations- the Gulf of Carpentaria.This is a land of crocodiles, big fish and amazing bird life and Pat shows you the lot.

Member - Rich

Hi
I just bought a copy of Pat Cullinans "The Gulf Country" DVD.

I was a bit disappointed. Lucky it was via gift card.

I am not going to slag off at the guy at all, I am envious he can make a living out of doing what many of us would love to do, so good luck to him.

I am thinking of going up that way next year so am trying to get as much info as I can.

As is with his and other presenters like him there is a lot of product presentation but I suppose that is OK,. If he says you need this thing or that thing I don't see it a problem if nominates a specific product. In fact for some of the inexperienced people like myself it is better. The other way around is sometimes worse as there is usually so many variations of products on the market it can be very confusing sorting them out not to mention finding where to get it if you don't have a specific brand name to go looking for.

My main issues with the DVD are
It is light on content, I was not expecting a detailed show like a book but had expected a bit more, I am sure there was a lot a room left on the DVD.

The structure was not good, he seemed to be popping up in places and name dropping places all over the place, he probably wasn't but it appeared that way to me. This may be good for a TV show but as a information source for future traveller it was not good. Just have a map showing progress and location!!would have been good to see, or may be I went to sleep during that part.
I know this is a DVD of his TV show but the DVD is being presented, i believe, as more than that.

The concept of a travel video is great, you can see some of the road conditions and the places to visit but a bit better structure and a bit more info would have been good.

Any way I have time and will keep looking around.

Richard

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Reply By: Michaeljp - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 16:21

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 16:21

G'Day Rich,
Although i haven't seen the show your talking about, i know exactly what your saying.
On Saturday afternoon i watched his episode on the Kimberley's on TV. Now Ive been there quite a few times and every time i go up there i always go to Mitchell Falls. Mitchell Falls would be the high light of everyone's trip to the Kimberley's. On this episode, I'd say he showed about 35 seconds of the area. A quick glimpse of Big Merton s falls, a scene of him crossing the Mitchell River and a few shots of Mitchell Falls and that was all.
He spent more time telling us of the facilities at Drysdale River Homestead.
Hi didn't mention the beautiful King Edward River crossing, the 2 awesum Art sites near the crossing, not a mention of Little Merton's Falls and the art sit there or the other Bradshaw art site on the way to the falls. No mention of the camp area at the falls and no mention of the helicopter joy flights available. Maybe they wouldn't give him a freebie.
Now like you said, good on him for doing what he's doing and showing us parts of this great country, but if your going to go to all the trouble of making a doco show us a bit more of the scenery.
Since the passing of the great Kimberley adventurer Malcolm Douglas, i dont think we will ever get to see the more remote parts of the area any more.

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Follow Up By: Member - Rich - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 17:22

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 17:22

What I was hopping to see was a documentary that showed me places that would be good to see to help plan my trip.

Unfortunately there was not enough of that, which is a pity. I will not buy another one that is for sure.

Rich

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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 21:05

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 21:05

I watched the same show and was disappointed with the way it flitted about and the 40 minute show didn't really do the area justice. His DVD's are in effect one huge infomercial so I suspect if the properties paid for content placement that is what you got.

I was interested to note the Horizontal Falls operation shown as it was by far a larger and more modern operation to the one we went on in 2006. At that time I was blown away with what we did, the one shown last weekend looked heaps better (& no doubt way more expensive)

Bottom line is though that I still enjoyed it and it was good to see places I'd been to through somebody else's eyes.

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Reply By: Member - Kevin S (QLD) - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 17:44

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 17:44

Callinan and people like him are doing advertorials for dreamers. Not much in his stuff for people who really get out and do it. Much better to buy one of Ron Moon's books if there is one that covers your area of interest.
Kevin

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Follow Up By: Member - Rich - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 18:31

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 18:31

Agree, now :).

I had only seen snippets of his stuff before, I guess I was "just dreamin".:)

Rich

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Reply By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 20:10

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 20:10

Hi All : I agree with a lot of this and more on thread 90543 as well . I think its a bit of a shame as he's a good presenter
cheers nick

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Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 20:24

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011 at 20:24

But he did get to wander around in a big hat and a Drizabone, driving a freeby 4WD with all the extras. I sat through a couple of them before deciding 'never again'. No info of any value, but it is all designed to keep the sponsors happy with little regard to content.
Jack

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Reply By: Rod W - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 10:29

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 10:29

I brought Ron Moon's DVD on Cape York a few years ago. It was the biggest load of c***. It was nothing but ads. I sent it back to them and wanted my money back... without any luck. Thus he's at the bottom of the heap.

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Reply By: Fab72 - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:53

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:53

If it's entertainment you want, watch Russel Coight or Troy Dann.

If it's products and accessories, get a brochure from your local 4X4 store.

If it's places, history and information....you can't beat a book.

Fab.

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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:55

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 12:55

Foot note: Some of The Leyland bros and Jack Absolom DVD's aren't bad although a bit dated these days.

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 13:50

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 13:50

Have to agree Fab. The internet can be useful too, and this site has heaps of info if you are prepared to search around a bit.

We are mindful too that when we go into a Visitor Information Centre that a lot of their information is commercially oriented, so we are very selective in where we source our info. Probably the best and most up-to-date info comes from fellow travellers out on the road, especially if you are interested in the less visited, off-the-beaten-track places.

Cheers,

Val

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Follow Up By: Fab72 - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 19:55

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 19:55

Agree Val.

Local knowledge is the way to go. I'm not shy of pulling over and asking a local who's walking down the street as to which is the best caravan park to stay at, which sporting/social club does the best meals, who's got the cheapest fuel and of course where the good sight seeing places are.

I also tend to preference local businesses who are off the main drag as they often miss out on the lion's share of the tourist trade and will bend over backwards to ensure word gets out about their business and hopefully attract new clientele or repeat customers.

Fab.

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Reply By: The Bantam - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 13:41

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 13:41

Cant stand the bloke, in my opinion he's just a big phoney.

I watched one of his shows on TV once..I felt like asking for my money back.

His shows are nothing but fairy floss.

So many times he proposes to show "how its done", and the producers don't make the slightest effort to do that properly.

The coat on the snatch strap incident was a joke...the coat was flicked off before the strap even got tight...

As for being a good prersenter.......he sounds like he did the first week of radio school.....only the first week.....he speaks like he is doing voiceovers for adds, all the time....which he is.

There is no light and shade in his voice, and you know every expression is scripted.

MR 4wd Indeed.

Now Jack Abslaom was/is the real thing..the leyland bro's, Ted Egan..hell even "Thommo" (a retired shearer) after network 7 got hold of him is more genuine and listenable.

Give me "Jase & Roddo" over that ponce anyday.

cheers

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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 16:18

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 16:18

gooday Bantam , you missed Rothy & his side kick alias" Russell coight protégé " LOL

Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: The Bantam - Friday, Dec 16, 2011 at 09:54

Friday, Dec 16, 2011 at 09:54

Yeh I like Roothy, but I didn't think it was polite to spruke him on this board, seeing as how he has his own.

cheers.

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Reply By: Crackles - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:06

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:06

" I just bought a copy of Pat Cullinans "The Gulf Country" DVD"
Sorry Richard but you may as well have just thrown your $15 in the gutter for all the use his series of video's are. There is no information you wont find on this site (& others like it) for free that Pat shows in his vids. While much of the gear he recommends is good quality, alot of it is a long way from the best & often not even reqired to see the country that you're told you must have it for. In my eyes anyone presenting infomercials like he does has a serious credibility issue.
Cheers Craig............

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Follow Up By: Member - Rich - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:43

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:43

Craig,
Thanks for rubbing it in :)

Rich

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Reply By: Member - Rich - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:47

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 17:47

I notice the Exploreoz team have attached an add for the DVD at the top.

Thanks guys,
Now Everyone will know what it looks like and not buy it :).

Richard

Ps any one want to buy a Pat Callinans DVD cheap , I can beat Exploreoz price ;).

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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 20:07

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 20:07

Richard,
We are always keen to present the real view on products offered on the site and the link above is bidirectional so anyone looking at the product in the shop can easily read your comments right on the shop page. You can put the DVD for sale in the Classified if you like you get unlimited free display ads in there these days so you can off load them there if you want.

Have a good weekend and xmas.
David

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Follow Up By: Member - Rich - Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 22:03

Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 at 22:03

David,

My comments about the ad appearing was meant to be a bit tongue in cheek, given I was critical of it. Hope you saw it that way.

I found the DVD a bit disappointing hence the thread. After mine and others comments I am not sure people would want to buy it now though :).

You get better info from this site.

Have a great Xmas
Richard

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Follow Up By: Steve M1 (NSW) - Friday, Dec 16, 2011 at 01:28

Friday, Dec 16, 2011 at 01:28

Must admit I bought one of these a while back and was disappointed in the content and infomercial overload, along with his sugary presentation. It's a shame there don't appear to be any good quality dvds around which is odd, given the popularity of travel these days. I too, still like Jack Absalom's dvds. Even though they are now a bit dated, they are still informative and he is a bit of a character who always puts a grin on our faces. Not sure it's his intention sometimes but still............;-))

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