Tips on preparing for our 5 week trip

Yes, good point. We are leaving Sydney 1 Nov (or thereabouts). Given the cost of hiring a trailer for a weekend, we were thinking it might be better to get a feel for it from going to the next camper/caravan show. I think there's one coming up in Penrith shortly..

Yes, the camping shows are great. We did that too, and we were sure we knew what wenwanted - until we tried it, luckily as a hire and not after buyng it. We completely went off it in a weekend.

Ok sure. Out of interest what was it about the trailer that you turned from yey, to ney?

We have an old soft floor camper. We were rea
Ly sold on th Cub, hard floor, kitchen inside etc. However when got the hired one into the bush and yried to set up on ground that had a little slope, it was impossible to get the hard floor level, or the roof taught. Since almost all of our camping is off road, bush camping we realise this type of camper is not for us. We still have th old soft floor.....

Thanks Bob. That's some sound advice there.
We'll be heading off early (hopefully 1st) November. It's a shame that the Simpson will be too hot but I'd rather hear it now, than from Amelie when it's too late!! And yes, being our first trip, I'm going to err on the side of caution.

Another thing I'm thinking is what to do around communication. I'm getting hold of a UHF though if something goes wrong/ we get stranded, what are my options? I saw satellite phones at $140 a week (?), so was thinking of a hiriing a PLB or EPIRB instead. I presume they'll get you rescued. Any advice on that front?

Heading off in November is hardly an ideal time for first time outback travelers. It will be starting to get HOT/HUMID where ever you head to the north or west.

If I were you I would be heading for some temperate zones at that time of year especially for first time travelers. I would be looking to do a loop around the north east of NSW. Plenty to see and do without the hard outback miles to contend with.

As to the PLB or EPIRB, personally we carry one 100% of the time ........just in case.

Chris,

Lyn has succinctly echoed my thoughts, when you said you'd be leaving early Nov. I'd give anywhere west of Longreach a miss at that time of the year.

I'm not going to tell you what to do, but would make a few alterations to your planned itinerary. Still head up the NE h'way, and at Toowoomba, either head out on Warrego h'way, to Roma, Charleville, Longreach(and maybe you'd better come to Winton!!!) then head up through Hughenden to Charters Towers, The Lynd, Ravenshoe, Atherton, and Mareeba. From there, came down to Cairns, Tully to Townsville.

Then on way home, come down either the Bruce h'way to Fraser Is. or come from Townsville, back to Charters Towers, then down to Emerald, Springsure, Biloela, Gayndah, Childers(loveliest town on the coast) and down to Maryborough, Hervey Bay and finally Fraser!!!!!!! Lot of road works on the Bruce H'way at present, and it makes for pretty ordinary travel, road rage, unsafe overtaking, etc etc.

From Toowomba, you can also travel north through Kingaroy, Murgon to Gayndah, rather than travel out to Longreach.

Travelling to the Atherton Tablelands(Ravenshoe, Mareeba etc) is a very mild climate, and you could well spend a week or two up there. Even use it as a base, for travel to Cairns, Tully, Undarra Lava Tubes. Plenty to see up there too, with lakes, rainforest and other interesting stuff. Not far to Kuranda either, where you can get on the Skyrail thingy, or do a train trip up to, or back from Kuranda to Cairns.

Now the weather.Longreach long-term average is 36'C for Nov, and minimum, 20'C. Days can be hot, and depending whether there's any humidity, nights might be mild. Now Mareeba has LTA of 31'C, and LTM of 19'c.Ravenshoe is the highest town in Qld so it has a pleasant climate all year round. Any humidity is going to be governed by any storms, or rain events.

That should be enough to keep you going for a while, Chris. Re travelling with Amelie, our 3 girls all travelled long distances, from birth onwards, and as long as they get regular breaks, they can handle it. Did have problems with motion sickness(each girl had her own ice cream container!!!) but once I fitted new shockies, that was an almost overnight cure. Something else to think about.

Bob.