travelling from Melbourne to Coober Pedy Advice?

Hi Kim. We stayed at Riba's in 2010 and had no complaints. The tour was great and the bloke running it was very friendly and welcoming. The only issue I had underground was that all the girls /women spraying deodorant and hairspray in the morning thought I was going to choke to death.

We didnt worry about setting up the tent just rolled out a tarp and slept on that.

Things we did around Coober Pedy were
The Breakaways
Dingo Caves
Old Timers mine tour
Played pool and drank beer at the Desert Cave

Anymore than a couple of days might be too much time there unless you wanted to a day trip out to William Creek (big day trip)

On the way up make sure you go to Woomera to see the old rockets, little and big kids will enjoy that.

Have fun
Ian

G'day Kim
How are you working out your travel times.
Melb to Adelaide is 700km or so depending on where you start and finish and because you won't average 100kmh then it will more likely take 8hrs or more without stopping for breaks.
If continuing through Adelaide then unless going through. late at night or before 4 in the morning add 1 more hour and then it will be about 1 1/2 hrs before your get to PW. All this without stopping. Add the stop times and it will be dark start to dark finish.
Just travelling the length of Portrush road in Adelaide sometimes takes 30 min or more.
If towing something the times could be more.
Be aware of personal item security in Coober Pedy. Been there driving interstate coaches and often unwanted visitors take a look through anything they can force open eg coaches during the night.

I have often travelled in a car from Bendigo to Adelaide and the trip, point to point is 609 km. Taking the shortest possible path and travelling relentlessly at the speed limit or a little above I have averaged 90kmh and that includes the 110kmh in SA.
If you have a navigation device, go for a typical drive and see what the average times are when you have to slow down for all the signs and towns during the trip. This will give you a more accurate rate of progress attainable.


Ross M

Hi Phantom,

Pity you have to rush the trip but if you hafta then you hafta.

Those are long driving days, maybe longer than you have estimated but I maybe you can do it. However getting through Adelaide suburbs will take longer than you might think (add at least 2 hours) so unless you planned to visit li'l 'ol Adelaide then suggest you give it a miss and bypass it.Adelaide may be small as capital cities go but it is about 50km in the North-South direction that you are travelling.

You could save some time if you branch-off at Bordertown and head via Pinnaroo, Renmark and Port Augusta, stopping overnight somewhere after Renmark. Nice country.

Sleeping underground is a good experience. Drop in to the Visitor Centre (Dead ahead as you enter town) and pick up a brochure then select from the many attractions. Or take a browse here.

Hi Kim,

I suggest going straight up the Calder to Mildura and then a stay around Remark (Maybe Plushes Paddock free camping). Then the following day some where around Port Augusta. Arriving at Coober Pedy on the 3rd Day. Don't forget to stop at Woomera on the way.
We plan to take the same route as above mentioned late in June. Last year we took a similar route and after 2 days travel we finished at Hawker at dusk.

Cheers and enjoy your trip.

Steven and Kerry

Hi Kim,

My first instinct is to say woah, slow down.. what is the rush! You are starting a journey of 9 weeks - with the emphasis on the journey not the destination. You say you have never been anywhere "up this way" but you have your travel time down to minutes. Well there are so many amazing things to see up that way that you will regret it if you rush past driving 7 to 9 hours in a day.

I'm another who would suggest giving Adelaide a miss (its relatively close by for a visit at another time) and what do you achieve by just driving through. Go via Burra, there is a lot to see there (have a look at Stephen Ls blog). Any reason not to go via the Flinders, Maree, Lake Eyre south, William creek, Coober Pedy? - this will all be real eye popping country for you.

North of CP you can have some long clear runs up to Uluru if you are concerned about pacing yourselves.

9 weeks is enough to get a good feel for the places you propose to visit. We did a trip of similar time and distance last year (and on several previous occasions too), and from our experience, while you wont see everything, you do get a pretty good spread of amazing sights and experiences. Strongly suggest try not to drive more than about 400kms a day and you will have an enjoyable and rewarding trip.

Cheers,

Val

Have a look at some of our blogs for some more detail on the places you propose to visit.

2 nights in Coober Pedy was enough for me. We stayed at the underground hotel . Not sure of the name but it was good.
Scott

I do it regularly, and I find that the Calder Hwy and across to Burra is the best way, and safer than the Western Hwy.
ian

Any excuse to drive through the Flinders Ranges is a good one. Cheers.