Where to go?

Hi Marnie,
Appreciate your dilemma, You could spend nearly 3 months going across to Perth & still not see it all. Your doing the right thing asking here, fathom through all the info. When on the road speak to fellow travellers. You don't talk of your vehicle or trailer/caravan a little more info will will encourage more positive replies.
Have a wonderful trip

Marnie, do you really like looking at cities and towns or have you listed convenient way points to give us an idea of where you want to go? To give you much advise we need to know what you are interested in. To do the trip you have specified by almost the shortest route is 11,500 km. If you add even another 1/3 extra for side trips you will average 165 km per day. There will be days in which you do way more that that but if you use areas like crossing the Nullarbor to make up distance and don't stop to look around you will miss so much of what Australia is about.
We did roughly what you are suggesting in 09 in 4 months and we missed so much that we have plans to go back for much longer. WA alone needs at least 6 months if visiting from the east, in my view.
Why don't you look at doing the Centre, Darwin, Kakadu and the adjoining areas.
But what ever you do make sure that you have fun. And as you probably know, with children of the age of your children you can't do too many consecutive long days.
Cheers,
Kevin

Hi Marnie

All good advice given so far Marnie. Make sure you include something for everyone's interests - including the youngest. You could start out with the plan to go tour say the Centre - lots to see in and around Alice Springs, and say if there is time, we will go on to Kakadu or Litchfield (or both depending on how well you family is travelling) Take it easy, enjoy what you see, and almost half way through your time frame, look at the turn around point. Depending on you and your family's interests, it may take you three months to reach the Northern Territory! Better to stop, see, enjoy and participate all along the way than drive and drive and feel frazzled.

Motherhen

Hi Marnie,

First, good on you for taking your children on a trip like this - they will get a lot out of it. However I do think that your proposed route is a bit ambitious for a 3 month timespan.

Im with Motherhen in thinking that going to Alice Springs and spending time there, then Kakadu and other places around Darwin would be more than enough to fill the time. Perhaps go up via the Flinders Ranges for some great scenery and good walks, and if you want to do a loop go across to Mt Isa and home via central west Qld and NSW where there is still plenty to see and do.

Starting in March it could still be very hot so you would need to be prepared for that. Conversely coming home in June it will be pretty cold no matter which way you go!

Our blogs may give you some ideas as we have been along your proposed route and also to Alice and Darwin areas.

Cheers,

Val

It's not too far.
We did the reverse in 1994. Myself and two kids. Boy 11 Girl 10. Loved it.

The distance will cost you a lot in fuel... and hours on the road, but you will get a great feel for the immense distances and size of our country.

I'd not make any real plans. Pack carefully and head off with a loose idea of where you will go.

Chat to other travellers, particularly those travelling in the opposite direction. Apart from this being one of the greatest pleasures of travelling, they will tell you the best places to go and things to see ahead of you.

Have a great time! Royce

Around 12,000 ks in 3 months looks OK when you are reading a map at home in comfort. However it could become a hard slog with a van and young children. I would suggest you would all have more fun and see more if you cut the distance a bit and left some of it for future trips. Up the centre and western Qld could work for you. I don't fancy kayaks and crocodiles though!
Another suggestion you might consider is just going to southern WA via the coast - Ceduna to Esperance and around the coast to Perth and perhaps a bit north. You would see some wonderful country and the weather should be good. Anzac Day in Albany is great if you make it. You could spend time around Perth and the Swan Valley then return via Kalgoorlie where there's lots to see. This would involve crossing the Nullarbor twice but, especially if you are set up for camping, there are some great places to see. You might be in time to see the whales at Head of Bight on the return trip. This trip would give plenty of time to see and do a lot, even if it would be less heroic than whizzing around half the continent. Have fun with your planning! Lynne