flying dog

Thanks Nev.

As you say: Never stop learning.

Yeah, ya not wrong.

I guess it sort of also brings home the saying "anything is better than nothing" so doing anything is better than nothing.

And probably helps for the next time it happens.

Of calling for help when:

- There may not be the infrastructure/processes needed there

- The "problem" is beyond your conceptual abilities

Gee, I bet that is going to be some interesting replies and questions put back to me.

Yeah, thanks.

So it may be:

Fly Darwin - The rock.

Look around.

Stay there and have fun.

Fly from the rock to Syd.

http://www.exploroz.com/

A good place to start for trip planning.

 

Note that most of the outback (the good spots via the scenic routes you described) is best done in a 4WD with a good deal of preparation. Think Toyota Landcruiser or Nissan Patrol, ideally a diesel, as a base vehicle, because if you EVER need parts (more than likely enroute) you will have difficulty sourcing parts for anything else in the outback.

 

Do not attempt this area in any of the modern SUV type vehicles. A 100 km drive along any of the roads out there will give you more than enough reason not to. (Dead vehicles on the side of the road - too much money to tow back home so they are insurance writeoffs).

 

Most hire companies will not hire to outback areas (ie, you bend you spend on REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT if taken there, as you are out of acceptable area of usage = NO INSURANCE).

 

From what you have described, your best bet would be to fly to Alice/Ayers, across to BNE then to SYD. Alice to Ayers can be done in a bus (~ 4 hrs IIRC)

Ok, hang on.

I am in Darwin. It is not yet determined how to get from there to Alice/the rock.

For now I'll say fly to the rock. I forget which is the "major" airport - the rock or Alice.

That's where most of the interest is.

Look around the rock for a few days and have fun.

Somewhere Alice may get a look in if it isn't the main/major airport.

Then fly from there to Syd direct.

Why go via BNE?

The distance from Alice to the rock is 437k one way, and a few less the other way.

(Got my Garmin Mapsource program running.)

The drive from there to Syd is not looking good simply for the distance. I knew it was a long way, but sheesh, that is a LONG way!

Other things will determine if it happens or not.

But thanks.

Yeah, it looks good.

Now we just have to work out the distance/s and time....

As much as I don't mind too much, spending a week on the road seeing the white lines may be just a bit too much.

The www is kinda needed. No worries though.

standbyrelocs.com

Doesn't work.

"Site under construction" is what I get.

:(

Ah!

www.standbyrelocs.com

Thanks very much agian Cooba.

So where are you in the scheme of things?

(Just asking)

Things that have since been learned:

Can NOT do Alice/Rock/Darwin - Sydney. NO ONE will let their cars enter/leave NT.

So the next idea is direct Adelaide DARWN - Gahn. Spend time there.

Then:

1 - Get Rent-a-car and drive Darwin - Alice. Look around there. Alice - Rock. Look around there. Fly Rock Syd.

2 - Fly Darwin - Rock. Look around there and Alice (dunno). Fly Rock Syd.

Ah, the fun of going on holidays.

Accomodation will be done before we go. The Darwin/Rock part may be left "in the air" and weather depending we either fly or drive.

Understandably flying we would "gain" a day (or two) in lieu of driving.

I was going to go to Emmkeytee and do a bit of flying, but they don't have a club and/or Jabs for rent.

I am not drifter endorsed and there would be two people wanting to go. Me and PAX.

So that is a bit of an annoyance.

Oh well.

Yeah, well Broome is just a bit too far from the intended track. The Gahn to Darwin is what IS happening.

Gettting back to SYD is under investigation.

Flying is obviously the cheapest. But depending on other things, driving would be nice.

Ok, sorry for asking here but I have heard of car rental companies wanting people to drive cars back because of other people doing "one way" journeys like this - but in the other direction.

Anyone know how to get info on that?

Just been studying google maps.

Cameron corner. NOT HAPPENING!

It would add a few squillion K's to the trip.

Thanks.

The trip will be in April/Early May.

So I hope a lot of the weather/rain problems are by then gone.

So you say keep going south from the rock.

Can't we go sout/east towards Cameron's corner? (NSW/QLD/SA border)

The rock is "included" only because "while we are there it is something to go and see" rather than needing to go back there another time.

Ofcourse $$$ and time do have a factor in the equation.

I am just looking for information about the things to see/do while in that part of the country.

Yeah, way off topic.

There is a POSSIBILITY of me going to Darwin and instead of flying back, driving is an option.

The only thing/s known at this stage are:

Stopping at "the rock" for a few days.

Cameron's corner - well, we are kind of going past it.

I honestly don't know the track from Alice to Sydney. Shall have to look at a map.

But I am interested in tracks from Alice (ok, I said Darwin, but I guess there is basically only one way out of Darwin if you are goin to Sydney, and that is pretty well via the rock.) back to Sydney.

It isn't that I want to spend too much time looking at too many things, but a list of "points of interest" would be nice.