Great experience or crazy idea?
Nov 29th 2010, 3:37 am
#16
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: High up in Joondalup.
Posts: 4,228
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
When else would you get the opportunity to do something like that all expenses paid? . . . Go for it, it's a once in a lifetime experience . . . unless, upon arrival in Perth, you got that nasty uneasy feeling that you'd forgotten to switch the iron off and felt the need to drive back again . . . just to check . . .
No worries, give it a go. Those long drives are the one thing I still enjoy about driving. It's a lot easier than you think.
I'd take off in my 12 YO Ford Falcon SW tomorrow, if I could.... I'm sure its still capable of going around Aus a few times.
How are you getting back... Because I reckon 6 weeks isn't enough time to do it comfortably both ways.... you would be exhausted IMO.... Maybe just enough time, but not in what I would call a decent comfort zone. I'd like at least 6 days to get to Perth. I know you can do it easier in less, but I wouldnt want to rush a decent trip like that these days. Then I would want quite a bit of time off of driving.
I've driven from Melbourne to Cooktown and back in the past.... that took about 10 weeks.
.
I'd take off in my 12 YO Ford Falcon SW tomorrow, if I could.... I'm sure its still capable of going around Aus a few times.
How are you getting back... Because I reckon 6 weeks isn't enough time to do it comfortably both ways.... you would be exhausted IMO.... Maybe just enough time, but not in what I would call a decent comfort zone. I'd like at least 6 days to get to Perth. I know you can do it easier in less, but I wouldnt want to rush a decent trip like that these days. Then I would want quite a bit of time off of driving.
I've driven from Melbourne to Cooktown and back in the past.... that took about 10 weeks.
.
Sparty I thought an iron was something that you play golf with?
Nov 29th 2010, 3:41 am
#17
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: High up in Joondalup.
Posts: 4,228
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
I'd give Dubbo a miss in favour of Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Cobar and Broken Hill. Dubbo is a decent sized town but thats all it is. The Ridge is fascinating, Bourke is...........well its just Bourke and the road from Bourke to Broken Hill (via Cobar on the bitumen or via Louth on the dirt) is full of camels, roos, goats, emus and really beautiful at the moment due to the rainfall we've had. I can recommend places to stay in all of them once you've worked out which way to go. 
Nov 29th 2010, 4:28 am
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2004
Location: Birkdale QLD
Posts: 7,642
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
When else would you get the opportunity to do something like that all expenses paid? . . . Go for it, it's a once in a lifetime experience . . . unless, upon arrival in Perth, you got that nasty uneasy feeling that you'd forgotten to switch the iron off and felt the need to drive back again . . . just to check . . .
He has driven north to south, and west to east, and across the simpson desert. He has a Landrover which has 2 batteries in it.
But his advice to me was to always carry a spare fully charged car battery, and about a gallon of water, and about a months supply of colouring books for the kids.
And obviously a Camera with a 16 Gb card in it so you can bore people endlessly with pictures of deserts who've never seen a desert before.
"Look it is all sandy and dry, hot and no vegetation", "here is another one, look not an animal in sight and it's all sandy and hot and dry".
JTL
Nov 29th 2010, 4:55 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,600
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
I have a mate who does things like this every holiday, and he has 2 young kids with him too!
He has driven north to south, and west to east, and across the simpson desert. He has a Landrover which has 2 batteries in it.
But his advice to me was to always carry a spare fully charged car battery, and about a gallon of water, and about a months supply of colouring books for the kids.
And obviously a Camera with a 16 Gb card in it so you can bore people endlessly with pictures of deserts who've never seen a desert before.
"Look it is all sandy and dry, hot and no vegetation", "here is another one, look not an animal in sight and it's all sandy and hot and dry".
JTL
He has driven north to south, and west to east, and across the simpson desert. He has a Landrover which has 2 batteries in it.
But his advice to me was to always carry a spare fully charged car battery, and about a gallon of water, and about a months supply of colouring books for the kids.
And obviously a Camera with a 16 Gb card in it so you can bore people endlessly with pictures of deserts who've never seen a desert before.
"Look it is all sandy and dry, hot and no vegetation", "here is another one, look not an animal in sight and it's all sandy and hot and dry".
JTL
my old landy
I actually needed two spare batteries . . . AA if my memory serves me . . .
Last edited by spartacus; Nov 29th 2010 at 5:03 am.
Nov 29th 2010, 5:04 am
#20
Account Open
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 4,298
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
go for it ! sounds like it could be a fun trip !
Nov 29th 2010, 5:20 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Riverland, SA - Beds/Cambs/Nhants was home in UK
Posts: 1,503
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
I have a mate who does things like this every holiday, and he has 2 young kids with him too!
He has driven north to south, and west to east, and across the simpson desert. He has a Landrover which has 2 batteries in it.
But his advice to me was to always carry a spare fully charged car battery, and about a gallon of water, and about a months supply of colouring books for the kids.
And obviously a Camera with a 16 Gb card in it so you can bore people endlessly with pictures of deserts who've never seen a desert before.
"Look it is all sandy and dry, hot and no vegetation", "here is another one, look not an animal in sight and it's all sandy and hot and dry".
JTL
He has driven north to south, and west to east, and across the simpson desert. He has a Landrover which has 2 batteries in it.
But his advice to me was to always carry a spare fully charged car battery, and about a gallon of water, and about a months supply of colouring books for the kids.
And obviously a Camera with a 16 Gb card in it so you can bore people endlessly with pictures of deserts who've never seen a desert before.
"Look it is all sandy and dry, hot and no vegetation", "here is another one, look not an animal in sight and it's all sandy and hot and dry".
JTL
And Kelli - defo do it! Some bits are a little boring but still a challenge and you'll look back and say Wow! I did that!
We did home to Darwin and back with two kids included - took 3 days to get up there and 3 to come back. Biggest day was 1400 kms and we loved it all, well accept Tennant Creek but that's another thread!
Nov 29th 2010, 7:12 am
#23
Brisbane's friendly cop
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,766
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Yeah do it! We did it a few years ago, it was fun. The kinda thing I don't think I'd feel the need to do again, but as a one off, something different, it was great! Certainly makes you appreciate the size of Australia - it's on a different scale to the UK that's for sure!
Do it...
Do it...
Nov 29th 2010, 7:21 am
#24
Tribu dei Chihuahua
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Port Kennedy -near the dolphins
Posts: 1,414
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Wow Kelli - go for it! even if its on behalf of those of us who'd love to but cant (at the moment) just think then you can have a thread of what music to take on your ipod. Great Southern Land by Icehouse is a reason to go on its own! 
Nov 29th 2010, 7:21 am
#25
Random Member
Joined: May 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 769
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Yay, do it!! We drove Melbourne to Adelaide and back the other weekend, it was great!! Very hot though, I spent most of the way home driving in my pants!!! The only thing I wouldn't be keen on is whacking 5000 on to my own car mileage - maybe a hire car?
Nov 29th 2010, 9:40 am
#26
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: High up in Joondalup.
Posts: 4,228
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Love it!!!
And Kelli - defo do it! Some bits are a little boring but still a challenge and you'll look back and say Wow! I did that!
We did home to Darwin and back with two kids included - took 3 days to get up there and 3 to come back. Biggest day was 1400 kms and we loved it all, well accept Tennant Creek but that's another thread!
And Kelli - defo do it! Some bits are a little boring but still a challenge and you'll look back and say Wow! I did that!
We did home to Darwin and back with two kids included - took 3 days to get up there and 3 to come back. Biggest day was 1400 kms and we loved it all, well accept Tennant Creek but that's another thread!
If I'm not now I will be by the time I get there.
Yeah do it! We did it a few years ago, it was fun. The kinda thing I don't think I'd feel the need to do again, but as a one off, something different, it was great! Certainly makes you appreciate the size of Australia - it's on a different scale to the UK that's for sure!
Do it...
Do it...
Nov 29th 2010, 9:44 am
#27
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: High up in Joondalup.
Posts: 4,228
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Might not be such a good idea for me if it's that hot I forgot to take my pant's with me to Brissy last week!
Nov 29th 2010, 10:36 am
#28
Shiny Arse Know All
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Adelaide, somewhere
Posts: 14,180
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Sounds like a bloody good idea, especially as all paid for DO IT
make sure you plan your stops around decent watering holes
400km is a piece of piss, used to do 800km on a friday from guzz to jockland and then back again on the sunday every weekend with no stops on either leg, ah the joys of diesel
make sure you plan your stops around decent watering holes
400km is a piece of piss, used to do 800km on a friday from guzz to jockland and then back again on the sunday every weekend with no stops on either leg, ah the joys of diesel
Nov 29th 2010, 11:23 am
#29
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,446
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Can't go over the top, I will be doing it sometime in January and most of the roads would be closed off. It will be inland passing Gayndah, Dubbo then down to Adelaide across the nullabor up to kalgoorlie and into Perth.
I have 6 weeks hols max but I don't want to take that long maybe just 2 weeks. The car is new so it should be ok it's only a little one though.
I would be reimbursed all my expenses as it would be part of relocation cost's so fuel, accomodation and meals would all be paid for.
I have 6 weeks hols max but I don't want to take that long maybe just 2 weeks. The car is new so it should be ok it's only a little one though.
I would be reimbursed all my expenses as it would be part of relocation cost's so fuel, accomodation and meals would all be paid for.
Nov 29th 2010, 11:34 am
#30
221b Baker Street
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Miles from anywhere, Victoria, Australia.
Posts: 14,125
Re: Great experience or crazy idea?
Go for it. Tell us about it aftewards! (Or during if you can). How many drivers? Just you?
600 ks a day is easy on the empty roads.
I did Alice Springs to home (having gone up on the train) - it IS NOT boring. It's a part of living here that I love. You can average 100 kph easily without breaking the speed limit. Why not do 800 ks one day and then take a day off and stop over somewhere?
We plan to do Perth and back one day soonish......
600 ks a day is easy on the empty roads.
I did Alice Springs to home (having gone up on the train) - it IS NOT boring. It's a part of living here that I love. You can average 100 kph easily without breaking the speed limit. Why not do 800 ks one day and then take a day off and stop over somewhere?
We plan to do Perth and back one day soonish......