Perth to Sydney

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Discussion

NSNO

Original Poster:

333 posts

151 months

Friday 21st February 2014
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I'm moving over to Sydney shortly with work from Perth and I'm thinking of driving over because I'd like to be able to say that I've driven across Australia and seen some of the country.

Work will reimburse me for fuel and I've got time on my hand before I start so I'm thinking that while I've got the opportunity to do this then why not.

Has anyone on here done this and if so have you got any tips or advice for me and particular routes to take or detours and overnight stops.

I'm looking at doing it over six to seven days so that I'm not rushing.

Thanks in advance.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
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Hey Ed, I've had an ask about, but not many people have done it.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

ezakimak

1,871 posts

235 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
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never done it. have done the trip from melbourne to the rock though.

could you make it through the barrosa? grant burge unknown age muscat from the celler door is good, might be able to catch an event at collingrove hill climb track whilst your there?

is broken hill on the route?, mad max museum?

Bathurst?

Lake eyre? if its got water in it is amazing.

my dads and my sister have both done the trip, ill ask what they did. i think my dad went looking form some rare flower as it was during its flowering season. had to go off the main road a bit to find it, but not far. you are practically driving right past it anyway. depends what you are driving i guess.

dont drive after dusk as the roos and other animals will be out by that stage. had a few near misses comming back from cooperpeady last trip. be carefull if you have a lowered car, removing roasted roo from the heat sheild around the cat converter is not fun and stinks after its been cooked for a couple of days.

Ryan

Hasbeen

2,073 posts

220 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
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Hi NSNO, I did it back in 1959 in a 36 Pontiac super chieftain roadster. Much of the road was dirt, so a very different experience from what you would have. I did not answer because of that, but perhaps I should have

I had an absolute ball, with people very friendly & helpful.

The car made it to Sydney, but not much further.

So really I have no idea of today, but I'd still say, go for it.

WE often only get the one opportunity at things like this. Better not to wish you had for the next 40 years.

Avagoodweegend

39 posts

169 months

Wednesday 26th February 2014
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Hi there,
I pretty much did this a couple of years ago when I came to Oz.

We imported our own 110 Land Rover into Fremantle and then spent 5 months travelling across to the East coast eventually ending up in Dubbo.

We didn't do the usual slog across the Nullarbor but used The Outback Way - look it up. It was a fantastic drive across the red centre of Australia, you may have seen it a few times on Outback Truckers! It takes in Lasseters Cave, The Olgas, Uluru, Alice Springs and if your car survives that far (ours didn't!!) Winton which is only 100kms from the dinosaur stampede site. on the way to the start of The Great Central Road you could also take in Wave Rock.

Obviously a very robust car or 4WD would be required, our radiator was shaken to bits by the constant corrugations, we got it bodged in Alice then limped all the way by sealed road to Toowoomba where we could get it recored.

Andy

jagsy

1,462 posts

250 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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Once you get across from WA you have a choice of Ocean road through Vic or inland through Broken Hill.

Done quite a lot of touring in NSW and some in Vic, let us know a preference of direction and can may be suggest some sites.

NSNO

Original Poster:

333 posts

151 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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Hi everyone thanks for your replies so far.

I'm going to be driving my car across which is a Mercedes E55 so I will be limited to sealed roads, although that outback way sounds pretty cool.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning with the first planned stop over at Kalgoorlie. I'm planning on stopping off at Adelaide and Melbourne on the way as well so could take in the great ocean road as well.

I've got a long journey ahead but I'm looking forward to the adventure.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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NSNO said:
Hi everyone thanks for your replies so far.

I'm going to be driving my car across which is a Mercedes E55 so I will be limited to sealed roads, although that outback way sounds pretty cool.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning with the first planned stop over at Kalgoorlie. I'm planning on stopping off at Adelaide and Melbourne on the way as well so could take in the great ocean road as well.

I've got a long journey ahead but I'm looking forward to the adventure.
Nice one Ed, have fun, and take pics and update us when you get to the other side!

Ginos

44 posts

137 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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I think I'm jealous and will love to hear the story and see the pics.

Good luck

jagsy

1,462 posts

250 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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NSNO said:
Hi everyone thanks for your replies so far.

I'm going to be driving my car across which is a Mercedes E55 so I will be limited to sealed roads, although that outback way sounds pretty cool.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning with the first planned stop over at Kalgoorlie. I'm planning on stopping off at Adelaide and Melbourne on the way as well so could take in the great ocean road as well.

I've got a long journey ahead but I'm looking forward to the adventure.
If you head north easy from Melbourne towards the NSW border you have lovely country which is Ned Kelly country. Beechworth, Myrtlefore, Bright and head up over the Snowy Mountains. Awesome around there. From there you could do Canberra them down to the coast and up to Sydney via the south coast which is also beautiful.

Or if you go north from Melbourne you could do Euchuca, up to Griffith (lots of wine) and then through central NSW Parkes (big dish) Orange, Bathurst, Ble Mountains.

Great road tripping.

creampuff

6,511 posts

142 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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I've done it twice, although I went via Melbourne both times so can't comment on outback of NSW. I'd recommend at least a week if you want to be able to stop and do stuff.

Detouring in WA via Esperance is good if you have the additional time.

Port Lincoln/Ayre Peninsula in SA is another good detour; you can sometimes see whales in the waters around there.

Borda Cliffs on the Gt Australian Bight, you have to take a short detour off the highway to see them, but recommended. Infact I took a tent and just camped near them off-road where nobody would notice me.

You can go as fast as you like most of the way, but slow down whenever you see a white vehicle going in any direction.

Hasbeen

2,073 posts

220 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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You can take a good road interesting route through NSW.

From Albury, on the NSW/Vic border, or Yass, a little further on towards Sydney, take the road to Wagga, then to Young, & on to Bathurst. Most of this is through lovely rolling grazing country, with areas of orchard & crop country.

Of course this brings you to Bathurst, where the race circuit is a public road. You can drive around it, & be amazed like everyone who does, when it is so much more difficult than it appears on TV.

The drive to Sydney is on excellent roads through the pictures Blue Mountains.

It is not much further than the highway, but is a more interesting & entertaining drive.

NSNO

Original Poster:

333 posts

151 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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Right folks just a brief update on where I'm at. Currently typing this in Adelaide, arrived yesterday and had a rest day from driving today.

Day one made it to Kalgoorlie after being pulled over on the way by the cops. Went to my first ever skimpy bar, was hard not to not stare at the barmaids breasts and derrière while she was serving me but I think that they should make it standard uniform for barmaids. Also went to see the lookout for the super pit which is absolutely colossal in size and had some interesting facts about the machinery that they use including the price and the horsepower. They looked like toys though when viewing from above because of the size of the pit.

Day two drove across the Nullabor on Australia's longest straight which was quite challenging trying to concentrate for such a long period on a perfectly straight road with not much to look at. Stopped off at Eucla which is just twenty kilometers out from the SA border.

Day three was a relatively short drive to Ceduna and had a dip in the sea there and then a Sunday roast at the local hotel for twenty bucks including soup, salad, three choices of roast, vegetables and dessert so great value. It was bloody cold though there at the evening compared to Perth.

Day four drove to Adelaide via a quick coffee break in Port Augusta. Had to chuck out some fruit at the SA border as well.

Day five rest day in Adelaide. It seems like a bigger city than Perth in its size even though it has a smaller population. Nice city but quite quiet.

The plan for the rest of the trip is to drive to Melbourne and have another rest day and then onto Canberra before the final leg into Sydney.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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Nice one Ed. Something to do instead of just catching a flight.

Hows the Merc holding up? Need a new g'box yet?

NSNO

Original Poster:

333 posts

151 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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Cars holding up well, wallet not so much after being relieved of $760 courtesy of SA's finest.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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NSNO said:
Cars holding up well, wallet not so much after being relieved of $760 courtesy of SA's finest.
What speed were you doing?

Jader1973

3,942 posts

199 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Bibbs said:
NSNO said:
Cars holding up well, wallet not so much after being relieved of $760 courtesy of SA's finest.
What speed were you doing?
And were they driving a white car? biggrin

Xaero

4,060 posts

214 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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I did it in 2009, I took 20 days although had a camper van which was impossible to speed in hehe. Did the coastal roads along the south wherever possible, and avoided night driving mostly.

I can't recommend anywhere in particular to stay, some days I just drove onto a nearby beach and stayed there unbothered by anyone. Wake up, cook some sausages or bacon and make a sandwich on a nearby free bbq, have a swim in the sea and carry on.

NSNO

Original Poster:

333 posts

151 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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I was doing 134 in a 110.

So anyway I finally made it to Sydney late on Saturday evening not before picking up another speeding ticket on the way to Canberra in Victoria. After that I just put cruise control on all the way to Sydney at the speed limit.

The drive to Sydney from Canberra was interesting driving through a torrential downpour, I was going to stop at one point it was that bad but thankfully it eased off and wa able to continue.

I went to the old and new houses of parliament in Canberra which are definelty worth a visit and the hotel gave you an electric bike to get around on which was fun and funny seeing peoples facing watching you drive along without peddling.

Bibbs

3,733 posts

209 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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hehe

Glad you did it though Ed?

I'd assume you'd not want to do it often.

Take any pics?