Driving the Nullarbor...
#1
Driving the Nullarbor...
We've been invited to Brisbane in March, really looking forward to seeing my friends, started to look at the flights and so on. Went to a party last night and this guy said why didn't we drive it, plan it out, sight see along the way, see Australia's unforgiving territory... Has anyone ever done this, do you have any advice? What do you think?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
#2
Meow!
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Perth W.A.
Posts: 159
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Sounds like a fab Idea to me, I would interested to hear about anyone who has made.. I mean done it.
TF
TF
#3
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by TigerFeet
Sounds like a fab Idea to me, I would interested to hear about anyone who has made.. I mean done it.
TF
TF
I think it would be a great adventure, but we would only have four weeks for the journey, Perth to Brisbane, Brisbane to Perth... But I do enjoy driving, guess you would have no choice!
#4
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by honeybob
Would you do it? I mean joking aside and all of that... We've driven all through Europe and so on, I think it is the remoteness and sheer vastness of Oz that makes me nervous...
I think it would be a great adventure, but we would only have four weeks for the journey, Perth to Brisbane, Brisbane to Perth... But I do enjoy driving, guess you would have no choice!
I think it would be a great adventure, but we would only have four weeks for the journey, Perth to Brisbane, Brisbane to Perth... But I do enjoy driving, guess you would have no choice!
Make sure you're off the road (in a motel) each night. Not to avoid Deliverance characters/Bradley Murdochs but to avoid hitting kangaroos.
Otherwise it's a great trip that everyone should do once.
#5
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by honeybob
We've been invited to Brisbane in March, really looking forward to seeing my friends, started to look at the flights and so on. Went to a party last night and this guy said why didn't we drive it, plan it out, sight see along the way, see Australia's unforgiving territory... Has anyone ever done this, do you have any advice? What do you think?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
SQUEAL like a pig boy....SQUEAL..... :scared:
#6
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Yeh you have got to do it - experience everything in life at least once. But to make sure its a little more exciting buy a 15 year old car with no service history.
#7
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by honeybob
We've been invited to Brisbane in March, really looking forward to seeing my friends, started to look at the flights and so on. Went to a party last night and this guy said why didn't we drive it, plan it out, sight see along the way, see Australia's unforgiving territory... Has anyone ever done this, do you have any advice? What do you think?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
Perth - Kalgoorlie - Leonora - Laverton - Warburton - Olgas - Uluru - Alice - Tennant Creek - Camooweal - Quamby - Karumba - Normanton - across great dividing ranges to Cairns.
Took us 9 days in total in an old army truck, 40+ degrees in desert and it was the experience of a lifetime. Felt safe as houses. We didn't do any motels, just a sleeping bag on top of truck and maybe a tent if we had enough torchlight to put it up! Camping in the desert under the stars is something i will never ever forget...the night's sky is unbelieveable and the things we saw were out of this world. I felt privileged to have actually done it..
Obviously common sense for safety etc is foremost.
Good luck and go for it.
#8
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
I think I will give it a shot...
Just done a search on here about it, there's a brilliant post by Simone, it's huge with loads of fab info, should anyone else want to drive the nullarbor?
It's reassuring that it isn't as remote as I initially imagined...
Another concern is that my new car doesn't have a bar for the roos... Is this a necessity if we only drive through the day? Is this a stupid question more importantly?
Just done a search on here about it, there's a brilliant post by Simone, it's huge with loads of fab info, should anyone else want to drive the nullarbor?
It's reassuring that it isn't as remote as I initially imagined...
Another concern is that my new car doesn't have a bar for the roos... Is this a necessity if we only drive through the day? Is this a stupid question more importantly?
#9
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by Welshie
FANTASTIC ROAD TRIP!!
Camping in the desert under the stars is something i will never ever forget...the night's sky is unbelieveable and the things we saw were out of this world. I felt privileged to have actually done it..
Good luck and go for it.
Camping in the desert under the stars is something i will never ever forget...the night's sky is unbelieveable and the things we saw were out of this world. I felt privileged to have actually done it..
Good luck and go for it.
Just no deliverance people
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by honeybob
I think I will give it a shot...
Just done a search on here about it, there's a brilliant post by Simone, it's huge with loads of fab info, should anyone else want to drive the nullarbor?
It's reassuring that it isn't as remote as I initially imagined...
Another concern is that my new car doesn't have a bar for the roos... Is this a necessity if we only drive through the day? Is this a stupid question more importantly?
Just done a search on here about it, there's a brilliant post by Simone, it's huge with loads of fab info, should anyone else want to drive the nullarbor?
It's reassuring that it isn't as remote as I initially imagined...
Another concern is that my new car doesn't have a bar for the roos... Is this a necessity if we only drive through the day? Is this a stupid question more importantly?
hi we drove from sydney to brisbane then brisbane to townsville yes its a long way but it was worth it the scenery is fantastic just take your time and enjoy
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 355
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Hi
Have you thought about the train, you can then either fly from Adelaide or continue on the trains.
I would imagine you get all the good things of seeing the Nullabor, without the extreme heat and inconvenience of car travel.
Just a thought
Have you thought about the train, you can then either fly from Adelaide or continue on the trains.
I would imagine you get all the good things of seeing the Nullabor, without the extreme heat and inconvenience of car travel.
Just a thought
#13
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 191
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by honeybob
We've been invited to Brisbane in March, really looking forward to seeing my friends, started to look at the flights and so on. Went to a party last night and this guy said why didn't we drive it, plan it out, sight see along the way, see Australia's unforgiving territory... Has anyone ever done this, do you have any advice? What do you think?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
Husband is really up for it, me and my imagination start thinking about certain scenarios, car breaks down, peculiar characters not unlike those out of 'Deliverance' come to our aid... as you do after too much wine...
The guy at the party, I swear to god, his response to this was, 'nah, you've got nothing to worry about, the nullarbor's no where near Darwin'!
So what do you reckon, too much hassle or a fantastic road trip? What would you do?
You should not even have to have a second thought!!! We came over to Perth this year,end of July.After a month in Perth we drove over to Sydney via Wave Rock,Esperance,The Nullarbor Plain,Adelaide,Melbourne,Canderra and finally to Sydney.We did it in a motorhome and spent many a night just of the road listening to all the wildlife. Absolutely superb.Took us 11 days in total, but you could certainly do it a lot quick,really depends what you want to see.
Plenty of traffic on the roads through the day.Please DO NOT drive after dusk as this is when all the animals are attracted to your headlights.Unless you drive a 40m road train forget it.We saw absolutely loads of dead Roos, a dead Camel and actually killed 3 Parrots ourselves, totally unintentional as they seem to like to dive bomb vehicles!!!
If you go in a car, loads of roadhouses and fuel stops.I would certainly be tempted to give a tent a go at the side of the road a few times.
From Perth i would do the Nullarbor, round the bottom to Melbourne if you have time.Take in Sydney on your way to Brissy and then back straight across the middle via Alice Springs and Ulluroo (sp).
HAVE SOME FUN !!!!
Ian
#14
been there........
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Perth, WA
Posts: 349
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Can you extend the time you have for holidays? I've done the trip the other way round a couple of times and even with two drivers, it'll take 6 days - and that's going the "short" way, through the Western Plains of NSW.
But if you do decide to drive, continue North from Brisbane and drive the Top End, the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Then you really will have seen Australia.
Fabulous trip - the first time I drove it, it was still dirt road to the SA border.
Took half the fun out of it when it was bitumenised!
But if you do decide to drive, continue North from Brisbane and drive the Top End, the Kimberley and the Pilbara. Then you really will have seen Australia.
Fabulous trip - the first time I drove it, it was still dirt road to the SA border.
Took half the fun out of it when it was bitumenised!
#15
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 582
Re: Driving the Nullarbor...
Originally Posted by NIGENABBY
Hi
Have you thought about the train, you can then either fly from Adelaide or continue on the trains.
I would imagine you get all the good things of seeing the Nullabor, without the extreme heat and inconvenience of car travel.
Just a thought
Have you thought about the train, you can then either fly from Adelaide or continue on the trains.
I would imagine you get all the good things of seeing the Nullabor, without the extreme heat and inconvenience of car travel.
Just a thought
Would save you some time too, from Perth to Sydney it's 4352 km and the train takes 3 nights, work that out at 100km/h in the car factoring in stops and overnights along the way
There are even chances to get off for sightseeing trips along the way, see http://www.gsr.com.au/our-trains/ind...he-journey.php
If you haven't already done so read Bill Bryson's 'Downunder' he does the train journey and it sounds like one hell of an experience.