Road trip from Bris to Darwin

Thanks Bob... I was thinking of going via rocky thru emerald but maybe I would be better off heading out via toowoomba, winton, mt isa way... I have previously driven to Cairns but I was younger then so will take my time and not take any risks. I like the chewing gum tip, haha. I do worry about roos on the road but I gather that's generally only a dusk or dawn problem? Do you know if people still let police know there chosen route and estimated time of arrival? Or is that old school now!

If you camped at Rocky, or Gracemere, it's a fair day then, through to Longreach or Winton. I was in Brissy in April, and went down Bruce H'way, roadworks all the way from Rocky to Maryborough, or thereabouts. Came back through Gympie, Gayndah, Monto, Biloela, Moura, Springsure & Emerald. Billo would be the only reliable place for accomodation, I'd suggest.

No one seems to advise police of their route, except maybe in remote areas, anymore. You'd need Telstra mobile for reliable, but sporadic coverage all the way to Darwin. Even Barkly Homestead has mobile coverage. I'd suggest you just SMS family/friends, as you travel along. Without being too accurate, the longest stretches without coverage would be 200 kms between Camooweal & Barkly Homestead, and Winton - Cloncurry. There could be similar distances going up the Stuart H'way too.

Roos should be right in daylight hours, though as you say quite active at dusk/dawn. Try to avoid hitting road kill, if you can safely, as it makes your car stink, and the bones don't do the tyres any good. A UHF radio can be handy to chat to other drivers, but not a necessity. I take an iPod for enterainment, when can't pick up AM radio. NT is light on for AM radio, and some FM in towns.

You'll be surprised at the amount of traffic on the highway out this way, especially at moment with all grey nomads. Plenty of road trains too, but many of them travel at night, and rest through part of the day, but they're a bit hard to miss. A lot of Landsborough H'way is 110 kph rated, so you can cover some miles if you want to blow the cobwebs out of your Crewman

Have a safe, enjoyable trip,

Bob.