Anyone driven across Australia?
Discussion
My son's currently organising his gap year (starting summer 09). He's getting one those 'round the world' tickets for about a grand! Anyway, I've always wanted to go to Australia but wifie never wanted to, so that was then end of that. However, I've currently got:
a) 200,000 Virgin Air Miles (which gets me to Sydney and back - Upper)
b) An excuse for the wife (accompanying son across a dangerous country
)
So, now I'm thinking that I'll do it. However, I have a few questions:
1) When is the best time of year to do it?
2) How long is it likely to take?
3) How much of the road is proper road (as opposted to dusty tracks)?
5) I'm thinking of driving from Sydney to Perth (where I have family) - is that doable?
6) Is it possible to hire a Land Cruiser (or some such) and take it from one side to the other - or will I have to buy one?
7) Will I need to buy cans of fuel and take them with me or are there garages at reasonable intervals?
8) Any other tips would be appreciated!
G'day!
a) 200,000 Virgin Air Miles (which gets me to Sydney and back - Upper)
b) An excuse for the wife (accompanying son across a dangerous country
)So, now I'm thinking that I'll do it. However, I have a few questions:
1) When is the best time of year to do it?
2) How long is it likely to take?
3) How much of the road is proper road (as opposted to dusty tracks)?
5) I'm thinking of driving from Sydney to Perth (where I have family) - is that doable?
6) Is it possible to hire a Land Cruiser (or some such) and take it from one side to the other - or will I have to buy one?
7) Will I need to buy cans of fuel and take them with me or are there garages at reasonable intervals?
8) Any other tips would be appreciated!
G'day!
Edited by srebbe64 on Sunday 31st August 21:46
Steve
It is 2,500 miles - give or take. john O'groats to Lnads end x 3.
Much fewer country pubs along the way.
It is a bloodt long drive - and you need spares, loads of spare fuel, loads of water etc. Did I mention loads of spares??
Anyway, I'd be more tempted to take the train that goes from Sydney to Perthg - can't remeber what they call it.
It is 2,500 miles - give or take. john O'groats to Lnads end x 3.
Much fewer country pubs along the way.
It is a bloodt long drive - and you need spares, loads of spare fuel, loads of water etc. Did I mention loads of spares??
Anyway, I'd be more tempted to take the train that goes from Sydney to Perthg - can't remeber what they call it.
Mate, however big you think Australia is, double it. And double it again. Sorry, no experience of going across, we drove down the Pacific coast highway (East side) from Cairns to Sydney - and we endured days on end of no view whatsoever apart from effing sugar cane left and right. The 'coast' highway wasn't even on the coast - it was about 20 miles inland so at the end of every day you had to head off on a different road to hit the coast.
It's a great experience though - although I'm not sure on the benefit of driving days on end through the middle of nowhere - Virgin Blue will fly you across mega cheap. You will only be there for a set amount of time and I wouldn't waste it on a massive road trip through the desert when there's so much to see. IMO.
It's a great experience though - although I'm not sure on the benefit of driving days on end through the middle of nowhere - Virgin Blue will fly you across mega cheap. You will only be there for a set amount of time and I wouldn't waste it on a massive road trip through the desert when there's so much to see. IMO.
Steve,
What a superb idea! I've never done the entire trip myself, but have driven/been passenger on large sections of the route.
You can easily cross the country on tarmac roads, although there are some fun routes on the dusty stuff!
You can either hire a Land Cruiser in Sydney and leave it at the hire company place in Perth or alternatively buy in NSW and sell in WA as there will always be a market for them.
I'd say it would take around 3-4 weeks with plenty of time to see the sights and experience plenty of the country. Plenty of travellers cross the country in camper vans so the infrastructure is definitely there and the route well travelled!
Watch out for the speed cameras and police especially in the Northern Territories if you go that way! The 'No Speed Limit' rule has sadly gone at least for the time being and the speeding rules out there make North Wales Camera Partnership seem pleasant!
There are enough petrol stations to get by, but jerry cans to be on the safe side I'd say!
Good luck and I'm very jealous!
Ben
What a superb idea! I've never done the entire trip myself, but have driven/been passenger on large sections of the route.
You can easily cross the country on tarmac roads, although there are some fun routes on the dusty stuff!
You can either hire a Land Cruiser in Sydney and leave it at the hire company place in Perth or alternatively buy in NSW and sell in WA as there will always be a market for them.
I'd say it would take around 3-4 weeks with plenty of time to see the sights and experience plenty of the country. Plenty of travellers cross the country in camper vans so the infrastructure is definitely there and the route well travelled!
Watch out for the speed cameras and police especially in the Northern Territories if you go that way! The 'No Speed Limit' rule has sadly gone at least for the time being and the speeding rules out there make North Wales Camera Partnership seem pleasant!
There are enough petrol stations to get by, but jerry cans to be on the safe side I'd say!
Good luck and I'm very jealous!
Ben
My friend Dave skateboarded across Australia!!!!
http://www.ekmpowershop7.com/ekmps/shops/outofyour...
http://www.ekmpowershop7.com/ekmps/shops/outofyour...
srebbe64 said:
My son's currently organising his gap year (starting summer 09). He's getting one those 'round the world' tickets for about a grand! Anyway, I've always wanted to go to Australia but wifie never wanted to, so that was then end of that. However, I've currently got:
a) 200,000 Virgin Air Miles (which gets me to Sydney and back - Upper)
b) An excuse for the wife (accompanying son across a dangerous country )
So, now I'm thinking that I'll do it. However, I have a few questions:
1) When is the best time of year to do it?
2) How long is it likely to take?
3) How much of the road is proper road (as opposted to dusty tracks)?
5) I'm thinking of driving from Sydney to Perth (where I have family) - is that doable?
6) Is it possible to hire a Land Cruiser (or some such) and take it from one side to the other - or will I have to buy one?
7) Will I need to buy cans of fuel and take them with me or are there garages at reasonable intervals?
8) Any other tips would be appreciated!
G'day!
I've done the route from Sydney to Perth, it is a looooooong way! In answer to your questions, the bit along the coast from Sydney as far as Adelaide is beautiful, but can be wet in the Australian winter. The Great Ocean Road is not to be missed - look it up on the net. With that part of the journey there is plenty to see and do, road trip is a fantastic ideaa) 200,000 Virgin Air Miles (which gets me to Sydney and back - Upper)
b) An excuse for the wife (accompanying son across a dangerous country
)So, now I'm thinking that I'll do it. However, I have a few questions:
1) When is the best time of year to do it?
2) How long is it likely to take?
3) How much of the road is proper road (as opposted to dusty tracks)?
5) I'm thinking of driving from Sydney to Perth (where I have family) - is that doable?
6) Is it possible to hire a Land Cruiser (or some such) and take it from one side to the other - or will I have to buy one?
7) Will I need to buy cans of fuel and take them with me or are there garages at reasonable intervals?
8) Any other tips would be appreciated!
G'day!
Edited by srebbe64 on Sunday 31st August 21:46
The road between the two is all tarmac from what i recall. Petrol stations are not abundant but there are certainly enough to mean you don't need jerry cans (uness you are going off the beaten track and/or for emergencies.
The bit just north of Adelaide is also nice, Flinders Ranges is great for hiking. There is a large stretch of desert towards Perth however. Its called the Nullabor Dessert. Lots of long straight roads (about 1500km, nothing much to see, or do but with a really long days drive/two moderate days drive you can knock that out.
The south west corner is beautiful with lots to do. Places like Margaret River(wine tasting) and Albany (whale watching) are well worth seeing. Far less explored. As for weather down there, can be cold and wet in the winter months but spring through autumn should be fine.
Other than that you will have an incredible time - don't be tempted to fly between the two if you have a sense of adventure. Some roads will be long and dull but you will miss ALOT if you fly!
Enjoy!
Have a look at the movie "Wolf Creek" 
I would suggest staying on tarmac, which you can do the entire way from Sydney to Perth. Just plan your fuel properly, I think the longest stretch between petrol stations in on the Nullabor. Forget any ideas about trying to cross it through the desert or via dirt roads in a Landcruiser - to do this you would need to really plan an expedition, have radios, emergency beacons etc. You don't have to go too far off the main roads to get into serious trouble and literally not see any other traffic for days or even weeks, and walking even 30-40km back to a main road in the desert is not really a good thing to do.
I would suggest staying on tarmac, which you can do the entire way from Sydney to Perth. Just plan your fuel properly, I think the longest stretch between petrol stations in on the Nullabor. Forget any ideas about trying to cross it through the desert or via dirt roads in a Landcruiser - to do this you would need to really plan an expedition, have radios, emergency beacons etc. You don't have to go too far off the main roads to get into serious trouble and literally not see any other traffic for days or even weeks, and walking even 30-40km back to a main road in the desert is not really a good thing to do.
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!Umm, Nullarbor means "No trees" in Latin, so that pic is slightly wrong! Certianly the last couple of times I drove it, there was absolutely fark all apart from dust, more dust and dead kangaroos. Oh and Road trains.......
The Great Ocean road from Melbourne to Adelaide is stunning and if you are heading East to West, then until you leave Adelaide, then you are in civillisation nearly all the way. However, once out of Adelaide it all changes.
You need to be prepared. Spare fuel, Lots of water. (Not just a couple of bottles of Evian) and make sure you keep people updated with your progress and ETA's at different places. Don't be tempted to go off-road "for a laugh" if you get into trouble, quite simply you'll probably die. End of story.
I was involved in a couple of search and rescue efforts out there and even though in one case the people were only 10 miles from where they said they would be, it took a week to find them. They were dead, as it was a helicopter that crashed and burned, but there were over 40 a/c up looking. Think how long you'd last in a landcruiser!
Don't drive at dawn or dusk out in the outback, you will hit a kangaroo and the big ones will destry your car and often come through the windscreen.
The best bit of advice I got was that if you are going to drive at this time, then find a road train set the cruise control and sit 10 ft off his rear bumper. They don't stop or slow down or even sleep and they'll clear the road of the kangaroos for you. You get better fuel consumption too!
Most of the big hire car companies will do one way trips, though the surcharge will be fairly large.
You don't need a 4X4 as it tarmac all the way. The first time I did it was in a knackered old Ford Falcon estate car with no air con. Great...............Mind you I bought it for $500 and sold it for $750, so I wasn't that fussed!
Next time was in a whacking great landcruiser with every emergency aid imaginable. All utterly uneeded, but it made you feel better. Cost a bit more though!
Seriously, it is a fantastic drive and superb fun. just do it, you'll love it. If you stop by the side of the road, the next car will stop and check you are OK. Just make sure you do the same. Prepare and it'll seem a breeze.
The Great Ocean road from Melbourne to Adelaide is stunning and if you are heading East to West, then until you leave Adelaide, then you are in civillisation nearly all the way. However, once out of Adelaide it all changes.
You need to be prepared. Spare fuel, Lots of water. (Not just a couple of bottles of Evian) and make sure you keep people updated with your progress and ETA's at different places. Don't be tempted to go off-road "for a laugh" if you get into trouble, quite simply you'll probably die. End of story.
I was involved in a couple of search and rescue efforts out there and even though in one case the people were only 10 miles from where they said they would be, it took a week to find them. They were dead, as it was a helicopter that crashed and burned, but there were over 40 a/c up looking. Think how long you'd last in a landcruiser!
Don't drive at dawn or dusk out in the outback, you will hit a kangaroo and the big ones will destry your car and often come through the windscreen.
The best bit of advice I got was that if you are going to drive at this time, then find a road train set the cruise control and sit 10 ft off his rear bumper. They don't stop or slow down or even sleep and they'll clear the road of the kangaroos for you. You get better fuel consumption too!
Most of the big hire car companies will do one way trips, though the surcharge will be fairly large.
You don't need a 4X4 as it tarmac all the way. The first time I did it was in a knackered old Ford Falcon estate car with no air con. Great...............Mind you I bought it for $500 and sold it for $750, so I wasn't that fussed!
Next time was in a whacking great landcruiser with every emergency aid imaginable. All utterly uneeded, but it made you feel better. Cost a bit more though!
Seriously, it is a fantastic drive and superb fun. just do it, you'll love it. If you stop by the side of the road, the next car will stop and check you are OK. Just make sure you do the same. Prepare and it'll seem a breeze.
srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!We did our aussie mega trip back in 2000/2001, started in Perth and up the coast to Darwin, back down the middle and then up the other coast to cairns, Six weeks in total including a week on the beach in broom and another on the reef and in cairns. Have to say though the empty roads of western Au's and the northern territories were the best.
Yes there is a lot of the picture above but then you also get to experience things that are totally unexpected, like the swarm of butterfly's that all got caught up in our windscreen wipers, or the road colored locusts sunning themselves on the road in WA that leap up about 10m in front of us as the car approached and we thought we were hulucinating that the road was breaking up and leaping in the air.
We hired a britz 4x4 that had 2 fuel tanks and you never drive by a petrol station, only had to use the second tank a couple of times on the really long stretches in the north where a days drive was from one town to the next. One way drop fees were minimal.
Cant comment on the nullabor as we drove around the long way but would certainly recommend the drive up from Perth to Darwin, there is something interesting to see on nearly every leg, monkey MIA, Pinnacles, kilbari ningaloo reef, broom, bungle bungles lake agile Katherine gorge etc
Yes there is a lot of the picture above but then you also get to experience things that are totally unexpected, like the swarm of butterfly's that all got caught up in our windscreen wipers, or the road colored locusts sunning themselves on the road in WA that leap up about 10m in front of us as the car approached and we thought we were hulucinating that the road was breaking up and leaping in the air.
We hired a britz 4x4 that had 2 fuel tanks and you never drive by a petrol station, only had to use the second tank a couple of times on the really long stretches in the north where a days drive was from one town to the next. One way drop fees were minimal.
Cant comment on the nullabor as we drove around the long way but would certainly recommend the drive up from Perth to Darwin, there is something interesting to see on nearly every leg, monkey MIA, Pinnacles, kilbari ningaloo reef, broom, bungle bungles lake agile Katherine gorge etc
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
mybrainhurts said:
srebbe64 said:
soprano said:
This is all you will see for 1500km crossing the Nullabor apart from the odd station/truck stop!
Maybe I'm weird, but I think that's pretty cool!Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff