Kimberley preparations

Submitted: Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 14:36

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Sheza - Crookwell

We are new to 4WD & camping. Have a HiLux and Kimberley Kamper. Planing to head to the Kimberley's mid/end April 2013. Any tips and advice would be appreciated, like places to camp, which way is best to travel from Sthn T/lands of NSW to Kimberley, etc.
Have gas cooking in Kamper, do we camp oven, if so what is recommended, have read a bit about spun steel ones, but as we have never used one not sure if needed.

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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 14:55

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 14:55

Hi Sheza,

Thats a BIG question you are asking - there are any number of ways you could go to reach the magic Kimberley. Have a look at our blogs (we live near Canberra) for 2002 and 2008 for a few ideas. A lot will depend on how much time you have available though. If you have limited time the most direct route would be to head straight across to Port Augusta going through either Mildura or Broken Hill, then up to Alice Springs and then the Tanami Track (a wide dirt road) to Halls Creek.

You dont need a camp oven, but they are fun to use if you are able to have a campfire, and providing that you stop in time to get a fire going to make coals to put under and around your camp oven. ie for a quick meal use gas, but if you have time and opportunity you could use a camp oven. If you do get a camp oven try it out a couple of times before you leave home.

Also, you say you are new to 4wding and camping, in which case if you have not already done so make sure that you do a few short shakedown trips before you set off on the big trip. That way any little issues can be fixed before you leave home, and hopefully you can minimise on-road dramas, though the corrugations that you will encounter can take their toll. Make sure you have a compressor and good tyre guage so that you can adjust tyre pressures to suit the road and track conditions.

Cheers,

Val.

J and V
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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 16:52

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 16:52

Thanks Val, yes we have done a few short trips, and hopefully have it all sorted. We do have a compressor. I'll check out your blogs if I can find them (new to this site). At this stage we hope to be away 2 1/2-3 months so should see a fair bit it that time.

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 18:11

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 18:11

Hi Shesa,

There's a link to our blogs beside our signature photo.

Cheers

John

J and V
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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:45

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:45

Thanks, found it, printed now busy reading

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Follow Up By: Robyn R4 - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 20:22

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 20:22

Hi John/Val...
Looking at doing the same trip next year,too, and I'm very interested in your description of the Tanami Track. My only experiences of WA are by black-top and I'd heard of the Tanami Track...hubby mentioned it in our discussions last week and I scoffed and said something along the lines of "Don't be stupid, the Tanami Track is akin to the Simpson Desert's sand dunes and the Anne Beadell Highway..."
Ooops. Do I have to eat humble pie and admit to him that I'm wrong?
I thought it was a bit rugged for our beefed-up Kia Sorento and only in the league of Landcruisers...

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 20:46

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 20:46

Hi Robyn,

You wouldn't be the first one to be confused by that road being called a track. Its actually a wide gravel road, regularly used by trucks and tourists. It even sees a grader occasionally. So no, its nothing like the Simpson tracks, but can be corrugated like the AB "highway" (although it has recently had the WA section graded).

Depending on your fuel consumption I think your main issue could be that Rabbit Flat is now closed, so there are long stretches between fuel pumps. Reduce tyre pressure on corrugations, take your time and you should be OK though I have no experience of your vehicles capabilities.

WE travelled the Tanami again in 2009 so you will find another short blog about it in our blog collection from that year.

BTW did you realise that you can click on any underlined words and you will go to a relevant article on that topic?

Cheers,

Val

J and V
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Follow Up By: Robyn R4 - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 21:56

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 21:56

Val...you didn't actually say that I have to eat humble pie or that I'm wrong (LOL!) so I'll work out how to tell hubby I was wrong without actually using that word!!
A guy in Innamincka called our Kia a "Sorento on Steroids" (beaut shockies and lifted a few inches) and it has done Thargomindah, Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, Strzelecki Track and up to Birdsville -and it was brilliant at it, too.
I did recall the name "Rabbit Flat Roadhouse" and knew it had shut in recent years so fuel will be a consideration, whereas it wasn't on our Birdsville trip.
Hubby is very knowledgeable from his years in western NSW re when to increase and decrease tyre pressure. Me...I'm the "Gate Chick" and my major achievement was learning to wait for the dust cloud to pass before opening the car door...
I tend to look at outback tracks on maps and think "woah", which is safer, I suppose, than the people who look at outback tracks and attack them with a gung-ho "she'll be right mate" sort of attitude and sometimes come to grief.
Now that I have a few weeks off and time to poke around in here, I look forward to peeking into a few blogs etc.
I'm learning...and I thank you (and others) for adding to my knowledge of "where to poke around" in this forum!! I did wonder about the underlined words...!
:)

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 14:59

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 14:59

Had a chuckle at that one Robyn; no, of course you are not wrong, just thinking of a different track! Maybe the Talawana Track?

I like the "gate chick" label too, and yes its a good idea to let the dust settle before opening a door. I offer to drive when there are gates about - but then we have a couple here at home so are used to them.

You will enjoy poking around in this site. BTW the search facility, via the button in top RH corner is pretty good too.

Cheers,

Val

J and V
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Reply By: Kris and Kev - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 15:54

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 15:54

Yep, huge question. How long are you planning on going for? Remember, depending on the wet season some areas may still be closed in April. Last year the road to Mitchell Falls did not open until mid June. We spent 3 months on our Kimberley trip, went from Kununurra to Broome via the bitumen and back on the Gibb River Road. Brilliant country and so much to see. Lots of places to use a camp oven. Our oven is one of the heavy cast iron ones. Lots of different opinions of what to see and what not to see. Be careful what you take notice of as some of the best places we found were the ones people said to keep clear of. There are some great books you can get; the Hema Kimberley book was good. And naturally the ‘Camps’ books are a must. This web site link is helpful and you can download the free Kimberley Pocket Guide. Kimberley Australia Travel
Have fun with your planning. Kevin

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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 16:55

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 16:55

Hi Kevin, thanks for all the advice. I have ordered a few books from exploreoz. We hope to be away 2 1/2-3 months. It will take us a while to get to the Kimberley as my BH hasn't seen the outback we want to take our time to get over there, so the rains should be all gone by then hopefully.

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Reply By: PeteS - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 17:22

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 17:22

Hi Sheza

May I suggest both of you do a 4WD course with one of the larger training organisations. My wife and I did a weekend course with Out Of Town 4WD in Newcastle and we still use the basic rules and tips on every trip we do. If gave both of us a lot of confidence with our vehicle.

What we use differs on the camping trip. We often take things we didn't use one trip and use on another because of the trips vary with things such as the time we had or area we travelled to.

Probably stating the obvious here however the Kimberley have a real hot soaking heat. You'll certainly need hats, plenty of water bottles when walking etc. A good first aid kit and consider a UHF for your vehicle if you don't have one.

Best of luck, I'm envious.

Cheers,
PeteS

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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:48

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:48

Hi Pete
Thanks for the reminder. We did discuss a 4WD course and I had forgotten about that. We did look at one in the Newcastle region because of sand dune driving, but it's a bit too far from home. Looking in Sydney or Canberra area now. Yes have first aid kit, and am experienced bushwalker so know all about water, hats etc, but thanks for the reminder.

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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:50

Friday, Dec 28, 2012 at 19:50

Sheza,

If weight is an issue, then the spun steel, or "Bedourie" camp ovens are a good compromise. The lid makes a useful frying pan, while the base could be used for a curry, stew etc, at the same time. However being thin steel they are a bit harder to regulate the heat, and might need a little practice to perfect the perfect loaf of bread.

Also, if using to bake roast or bread, you need something to lift the lid easily. Either 2 pairs of pliers, or a pair of wire hooks(4mm, or 8 gauge wire, about 600mm long, and joined by a light chain on one end, say 200mm long). If my description leaves a bit to be desired, then I could provide a diagram later.

The Kimberley is a most charismatic place, with lots to see. My experiences from 40 years ago, were in the Kununurra, Wyndam, Timber Ck areas, so I were going back, I'd be starting there.Keep River National Park is definitely worth a look, just as an entree. There's something about the "light" up there, that gives the hills, outcrops and ranges a somewhat -pastel look, it's just magic. SIGH!!!

Enjoy,
Bob.

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 08:24

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 08:24

Thanks Bob, food for thought (no pun intended). Still don't know if I want camp oven. I'll mark Keep River NP on my map as a must see

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Follow Up By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 18:26

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 18:26

Sheza
Another vote for Bob's Bedourie oven.
We have a Kimberly Kamper as well. What I found handy was to fit a T piece after the pressure reducer such that I could run a separate gas burner ring (a 250-300mm diameter, 3 ring cast iron job which sits on the ground). This generates more serious heat if required over a wider area (good for camp or Bedourie ovens) than the smaller stoves on the pre wok burner KK kitchens
It gives you "more cooking space". We have travelled as a family, so perhaps if you are just 2 up you won't need as much burner space.
Camp ovens are designed to be buried in hot coals, I found the Bedourie oven more compatible with gas burner cooking, as Bob said above, the lid is a handy frypan. I find multigrips from my tool kit better handling devices than fencing pliers.
The only travelling camping advice I will give is that plan to pull into camp each night at least 2 hours before sunset/ darkness, don't drive til near dark. If you can afford the time, it makes camping just so much more enjoyable.

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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 19:42

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 19:42

Hi Mark,
That sounds good advice, will check out options with the camp oven. Yes I agree it's not a good idea to make camp at dusk could lead to a domestic, but I had thought we would only drive until 3-4 each day if possible

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Reply By: Kris and Kev - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 08:40

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 08:40

If you want a real treat, do the Horizontal Water Falls trip! You can do a day trip or an overnight stay trip. We did the overnight and it was definitely one of the highlights of our Kimberley trip. Kevin

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Follow Up By: Sheza - Crookwell - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 10:49

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 10:49

thanks I have heard about Horizontal Water Falls, will def mark on map as a must see

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:19

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 15:19

Agreed. There are so many special things to do in the Kimberley - the Horizontal Falls has be be right up there, along with Keep River NP, Bungle Bungles, Mitchell Falls (take the chopper at least on way), Mornington, Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge, Ord River and Lake Argyle cruise, 5 Rivers lookout. Not forgetting the wonderful boabs, so full of character.

Cheers,

Val.

J and V
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Follow Up By: Kris and Kev - Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 18:32

Saturday, Dec 29, 2012 at 18:32

Just watching ‘All 4 Adventure’ on TV and they are at Cygnet Bay. That reminded me; don’t forget to spend a few days up the Dampier Peninsula and Cape Leveque. Some brilliant places to stay up there, especially the ones owned by the local Indigenous communities. Our picks were at Gnylmarung Retreat and Whale Song. Kevin

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