Help me plan the off/road trip of a lifetime

apsilon

apsilon

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
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Location
Sydney
With about a year to go I thought I should start fleshing out the details for a little trip I'm planning. The basic outline of the trip is:

Starting from Sydney and heading up along the coast towards Cairns and ultimately on towards Cape York. From the Cape back down and around to Kakadu. From there down to Alice and surrounding sites then back home but I'm undecided as to how. Either I head down towards Adelaide before coming inland to Broken Hill and on through to Sydney or do I attempt a Simpsons Crossing and visit to Camerons Corner before heading home inland?

:eek: Yes, it's a big trip. Probably some 15,000km give or take a couple of thousand. I'll have 8 weeks (longer if I have to resign from work) but I'm still not sure if that's enough. Many of the roads are apparently only passable around Jul to Sep so that's the window I'm working towards.

So you can see why I'm starting to plan details now. I don't need suggestions on what to take etc, I'm covered in that regard but I'm interested in hearing about any sites I should see, routes I should take or avoid, camp sites I should plan for my nightly stops, pie shops I should visit etc etc. As I haven't been to any of these areas I'm also interested in hearing from anyone who has been there in regards to permits that may be required for certain areas or anything else someone who hasn't been there may not know but would find useful. Broad I know.

I'll also take this opportunity to extend an open invitation to anyone who wants to come for all or just a section of this trip. I won't have the Forester by then but don't hold that against me. If things continue the way they're looking I'll have a kitted out new SWB Pajero towing a full offroad camper trailer.

So, thoughts, suggestions, ideas and constructive criticism are all welcome. I'm hoping to make this thread an itinerary of sorts with the route and stops all planned out along with an approx time frame. I'll of course keep a journal along the way and if all goes well I'll be able to take my work supplied mobile internet connection and notebook so I'll even be able to post occasional updates when there's coverage and of course once I'm back I imagine there'll be a massive trip report.

Let the planning begin.
 
First and foremost, talk to Kevin when he gets back. He's done the Cape and he's apparently just negotiated the Savannah Way.


There was a great article in 4wd action mag last issue, where people went around oz and did what you are contemplating. I'll dig it out for you.
 
That'd be great if you could find that article.

I saw Kevins post on the other forum that he was heading off so hopefully he'll ahve some tips when he returns.
 
Well Ive done Syd - Broken Hill - Adelaide - Alice - Darwin - Cairns - Sydney
Of cause you can go offroad, but I did it in a lowered Nissan that couldnt even get up a curb.
16,000km for me. And it was pretty easy driving. Took 6 weeks (but did manage to watch 2 whole cricket Test matches!)
The only "big" drive I did was Darwin to Cairns in 3 days as that was all the time I had between the cricket matches.

So I cant help you with any of the dirt stuff, but the rest of the driving is easy.
 
Thanks mate. I expect msot of the trip will be just cruising on road but I still want to hear about worthwhile sights, detours and stops.
 
I would recommend you take the coast road from Cairns to Cooktown - a beer and a steak sandwitch in the shade of the big old tree at the Court House hotel at Port Douglas should be the first stop. Then on to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation on the way. A stop at the Lion's Den pub is mandatory. Spend a bit of time at Cooktown (I didn't and have regretted it.) Keith Moons book on the Cape is worth getting. Exploring for the WW2 airfields and wrecks around Bamaga is good. Make sure you leave a day spare to take the ferry over to Thursday Island - better on a weekday because everything shuts around lunchtime on Saturday and is closed on Sunday.
Weipa is interesting on the way back - take a tour of the mine.

Cheers

Brian
 
Great stuff, thanks Brian. I just ordered that book and some other maps etc.
 
A friend is trying to convince me to go to the Wolfe Creek meteor crater (yes because of the movie). Anyone been there? Worth seeing in person? If I were to include it I think it'd make the most sense to go fron Kakadu to there (re supply in Darwin) before then heading down to Alice. Anything else worth seeing along that route?

I did some rough browsing of maps and trek notes today and I'm thinking I can do this trip in 45 days assuming no problems and not staying in any one place more than a night. That'd give me another 15 days to play with. Sound reasonable/realistic?

No doubt I'll cross into SA at some point on the trip so if I could find a way to cut throguh VIC and stop at a mates in ACT on the way back I'll have done every state and territory on the mainland in one tour LOL.
 
just_bj said:
I would recommend you take the coast road from Cairns to Cooktown - ... Keith Moons book on the Cape is worth getting ... Brian
Click to expand...
Second driving the coast road, second having a look at Cooktown.

Now Keith Moon's book would be interesting, but maybe not as useful as Ron Moon's!

While I have not driven the coast road myself, I have been driven both ways in a Paj, and it was, um, interesting. Very steep in parts. Stop at the lookouts, stop at Cape Tribulation even if it is wet.

In Cooktown have a feed or even just a coffee at the wharf, likewise at 'Natures Powerhouse' at the botanical gardens. And speaking of gardens, the one at Cairns is a good introduction to tropical plants.

You could do both a Simpson crossing/Cameron Corner and Broken Hill, just run down along the Darling from Bourke, or down the dirt from Tibooburra. Camping on the banks of the Darling is a nice experience.
 
Pies?

Did someone mention pies?? ;)

The pie cart at Cardwell is a must for any traveller in FNQ.

A bit like a "rite of passage" - theres nothing like sitting by the water's edge, gazing out over Hinchinbrook Island and chomping a pie on a warm winter's morning.

Its probably the most visited pie cart in Oz from the trucking , 4X4 and Grey Nomad community.

The B doubles, caravans, 4X4s with off road trailers start gathering around 9am every day and it is a steady stream until he runs out.

Bloody good tucker. :biggrin:

A couple of suggestions on parts of your Queensland legs.

When cutting across west from the cape, maybe go via Mt Surprise and check out the Undara Lava Tubes. Mt Surprise is also the home of Joe and Jo's Bedrock Van Park - known throughout the outback as one of the most friendly places to stop. Joe is a Savannah Guide and can arrange tours of the Lava Tubes.

From Mt Surprise head across to Croydon then up to Normanton. From there you can take the Great Top Road [if you want some dirt] across the base of the gulf and then on up to Hell's Gates and into NT.

Two good side excursion along that way Qld would be a visit to Gregory Downs and the Gregory River [fast flowing spring fed], followed by an overnight at Adels Grove to checkout Lawn Hill Gorge [an amazing place].

Just a note on the Gregory Downs pub. It is the local watering hole for several surrounding cattle stations and there are some fairly "excitable" ringers spending their pay packets there on a Friday and Saturday nights. :lildevil:

Heading up that part of the world myself tomorrow. If I get time I'll add a few more ideas, but looking at the input from the mob so far, I think you will get lots of great ideas.:)

A word of caution on the "Development" roads of Qld and NT.

These are also known as beef roads, and ribbon roads - ribbon because where they are bitumenised it is a thin strip of ribbon bitumen with room for only one vehicle.

These type of roads have seen more people towing caravans and trailers come to grief than any other roads in the country. They have [rough] shoulders of varying heights and if you have to get off the bitumen in a hurry it can cause problems [and rollovers] if towing a van or trailer.

Remember you are in cattle country and you will meet many road trains coming towards you. These blokes quite often have well over 40 wheels and do not like leaving the bitumen for obvious reasons.

If you see one coming towards you in the distance slow down, get off the bitumen on your terms and let the road train pass. It also helps to give him a call on channel 40 to call him through.

Most of the road train drivers are good blokes and if you can help them, they will appreciate it. You will also keep your vehicle in one piece as well.


Enjoy the bush.
 
I figured out it wasn't written by a member of The Who when I started looking LOL.

Sounds like Cooktown and the coast road is a must.

Thanks for the tips on the Cape to NT section Nick. That's one area that I haven't found much info on yet. I get the impression not too many do the Cape and immediately head over to Kakadu etc.

Trucks won't be a problem. I have no problem pulling over for a few minutes and waiting. I'm sort oif interested to see a road train first hand. I've worked in manufacturing industries the past 10 years so I've seen more B doubles than I can count but nothing bigger.

I'd rather have to drop a few destinations than try and rush through and risk an accident. That way there's always a next time for the stuff missed.
 
If you want to see the Wolf Creek meteor site you have to spend some time at the Bungle Bungles on the way. I haven't - the trip I did went from Alice Springs up the Tanami Track to Halls Creek then west to Derby and Broome.

Wolf Creek is pretty spectacular. There is a camping area close so I would plan to be there for sunset and sunrise as the long shadows accentuate the crater shape. The Tanami Track is quite a good gravel road because there is a gold mine which is serviced by road trains. Not a lot to see but the old Granite gold mine is worth a stop to look at the machinery ruins.

I've only done part of the top of Northern Territory but would recommend Ubbir Rock, the Yellow Waters cruise (again plan to be there for sunset), Kathrine Gorge and Edith Falls, and Lithchfield National Park.
 
apsilon said:
Trucks won't be a problem. I have no problem pulling over for a few minutes and waiting. I'm sort oif interested to see a road train first hand. I've worked in manufacturing industries the past 10 years so I've seen more B doubles than I can count but nothing bigger.
Click to expand...

Trucks arent a problem when you have some visibility.
But I got a huge shock when I went from NT into Qld. Went from long straight flat roads to having rolling "dippers" with terrible visibility. Over each crest you are worried there is something coming that you didnt see on the last crest. You look out for dust, but its hard when you pass someone and now another vehicles dust wont be so noticable (even if the road is sealed you can see dust pulled up off the sides)
The road was also poor and you need to move to the shoulder for trucks.

It was just such a change coming from no speed limit, sitting on 160, and trucks were no problem in either direction. Then Im doing 100, slowing to more like 80 on the dippers and having to be ready to slow and pull off if someone is coming towards me.
 
True, it's something you need to be wary of but really it's not different than driving anywhere. Just as one example I've driven the Old Pac more times than I can count and similarly more times than I'd like to think about I've had a car or bike come around a bend hanging over the centre line onto my side of the road.

Yes it's more dangerous when the road is even narrower and when you're towing but you just have to be aware and prepared as best as possible.
 
Will do, thanks. I mostly likely won't make it to Adelaide this trip. I'm going to either try the Simpson crossing or I'll have run out of time and hence just make a beeline from Alice to Sydney Once this one is out of the way I'll be planning a similar trip covering VIC, SA and WA.
 
When I catch up on everything I can give some details, itinerary etc. Kakadu, Lawn Hill, Litchfield etc all worth a visit for sure.
 
That'd be fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing a trip report and pics from your recent journey as well.
 
Hi Apsilon,

Two weeks until I leave on my Big Trip: Sydney, Flinders Ranges, Ularu, Alice, Tennant Ck, Normanton, Longreach, Sydney. Planning on about 10,000 km. I'll let you know what I find...

I'm planning on doing part of the Oodnadatta Track, but it will depend on weather and fuel consumption. Hopefully we'll go as far as William Creek, the cut back across to Coober Pedy. Sooo looking forward to this! Can't wait to post some pics.:newmulti:

The single biggest thing I've discovered so far is you need about six months more income than you budgeted to get the vehicle ready:p
 
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