Kimberleys during Dec and Jan
Submitted: Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 10:18
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zac_sprint
Hi all,
Planning a trip for the Kimberleys during the wet season via NT and then down to Margaret River way for some surfing before crossing back to VIC via Nullabor.
I need some
information about the
Gibb River Road and
Mitchell Plateau 4wd track. Are these roads drivable during this time of the year or am I taking too much of a risk with one 4wd? Eg: Getting stranded, flooded etc...
Regards,
zac_sprint
Ps: Was considering the
Adelaide-
Darwin motorail: talk about expensive! I suppose they have to pay for the executive salary of safari suit man somehow.
Reply By: Member - StevenL - Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 10:50
Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 10:50
Totally agree with your thoughts on the motorail thing. To get a sleeper and have your car onboard ADL/DAR/ADL is nearly $5k. The same trip driving will cost about $900 of diesel plus any accom along the way.
I looked at this as a quick way to get the 4by from
Adelaide to the interesting bits up north on a shorter holiday but having seen the price I think I'll wait to take the longer holiday and drive up and see all the bits i would have missed while asleep on the train.
StevenL Prado GXL TD Manual
It's on order, Delivery in April '04.
This
pic will have to do till then. Can't wait!!!
AnswerID:
44077
Follow Up By: zac_sprint - Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 11:06
Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 11:06
Hello StevenL,
Problem with the Stuart Hwy is that there isn't much to see. Have done the trip up and back three times in a 2wd and unless you veer from the bitumen, there is not much around until you get to
Mataranka. Actually used motorail once (Alice- Adel), and it cost about 200 all up (was a student back then which made it worth it-plus car broke down when I got back to Melb). Only thing I wasn't happy about was being stuck in a compartment full of chain smokers for the entire journey- hope they have now got rid of that carriage.
The Indian-Pacific is actually cheaper although there is a 200km travel difference, but still I don't think it justifies the high price of the Ghan. Like I said I think safari man is getting his cut, after all he got about 200 grand for those quarantine ads. Nice pay for half a day of work!
Pajero Di-D owner to be,
zac_sprint
FollowupID:
306320
Reply By: zac_sprint - Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 10:51
Friday, Jan 23, 2004 at 10:51
Apologies, my misreading,
BB is itslef closed, it's only the track from
spring creek turnoff from the northern hwy to
the entrance to BB NP that is open to 4wds.
zac_sprint
AnswerID:
44078
Reply By: Member - John- Saturday, Jan 24, 2004 at 00:46
Saturday, Jan 24, 2004 at 00:46
Sorry folks, but don't bother about the
Kimberley during the wet ... it's virtually all closed except the bitumen (and that gets closed for short periods too). All the interesting tourist spots are closed or inaccessible. The locals will get mighty $#@^ off with yoos if you start getting adventurous and cutting up tracks in
places you shouldn't be. The west
Kimberley happens to be still dry with a very slow opening to the wet season, but that can change big time as soon as a cyclone parks itself in the Indian Ocean for a week. In fact we are praying for more rain right now ... but the barras are biting in the Fitzroy and you can still get in there (that's why the tourists are discouraged 'cos the locals are quietly fishing without the tourists about)
I caught nothing last weegend but I did land a nice freshwater croc. Bit of excitement !!
JohnS
Derby, WA
AnswerID:
44174