Around Australia road trip

[Allan_L]

Hi guys.
Well after years of planning, Jo and I are actually into day 5 of our long awaited road trip around Australia.

After talking to a few travellers, we finally bought a Telstra connecter thing, so we can get the internet now (where signal exists). This is my first go at using it, and it seems OK.

After a wet start and a few (major and minor) running rerpairs, we are now camped by the side of a beautiful stream in south west Queensland.

Half way between Miles and Roma.

Our plans include a further trek west through Charleville and onto Coopers Creek, then up to Longreach before diverting to Boula then up to Mt Isa, Tenant Creek, Darwin.

After that it is over to WA, Kimberleys Broome, then south, without any set plans.

I will check this thread occasionally to see if anyone in the area wants to try to catch up.

In particular I am looking for an auto electrician, as the fan (heater) seems to have died, and checking the fuse to find it OK was the end of my expertise.

Unfortunately, I could not fit in both the wife and the DOB, so I am scopeless, (yes I choose the wife ... :shrug: ) so I am particularly interested if anyone from IIS is viewing when we pass near so I can come and get a fix of fuzzies.

Hope everyone at the Pony Club had a good night last night.

Jo is cooking the BBQ so I had better go and help.
Bye for now.
al

[GTB_an_Owl]

thanks for the update Al

hope the repairs did not bite too hard on the trip money

look forward to more reports and pics

geoff

[xstream]

Al,
If you happen to make it over to Emerald give me a yell!

[supernova1965]

If in Mackay I am ready for a visit

[iceman]

Sounds great, have fun!

[Ric]

Have a great trip Allan

It sounds awesome, you should see if you can find a small refractor to take along. Some of those outback skys are to good to miss.

[leon]

Nice one Al, well I can see you are heading toward Darwin way, Alice and I have been traveling for about 3 years now and are presently in Darwin for the second time, and will be for some time to come, probably another six months or so.

We have been the way you are coming, and the entire Coast of OZ except the top of Queensland from Townsville up, but will get there one day, enjoyed it immensely, a lot of open space but a great drive.

Just watch the roads in that area of Queensland mate, :scared: they are the worst in Australia, but once you hit the NT, smooth as silk.

And when you venture toward the West you will wonder why you had not done this earlier, just a beautiful place, runs rings around the East Coast any time.

Have a safe one, and when you get closer to NT drop us a line.

Leon :thumbsup:

[graham.hobart]

If you get down to Tassie, give us a yell, should have my obs running by then and you can enjoy some fine tassie wines with some refractor action!
All the best
Graham

[Allan_L]

Hi Guys,
thanks for the kind feedback.
Today we reached the Tropic of Capricorn.
We are free camping just outside Barcaldine.
Tomorrow we hit Longreach and Winton.

Having a wonderful time.
The night skies are to die for.
And I think they may even improve as we travel West.

Hi John,
I think we are pretty close (302km?) from you, but not quite close enough to drop by for a cuppa. Maybe next time. :thumbsup:

Funny coincidence, the camp we are in is located in Pony Club Rd.
Time to crack out the Binos.

[RobF]

Sigh. You don't know whether to laugh or cry when you cross a state boundary and suddenly the road is like night and day :)

[leon]

Its all good mate just have to take it a bit slower, that Tropic of Capricorn is a top free camp been there myself,

Love the free camp experiences.;)

Leon :thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Well, "that smell" that Jo noticed (and I tried to ignore) has turned out to be a major show stopper. :help:
So, We will be here for 5 days until parts arrive from Brisbane.

But taking in the local attractions, and a forced rest from daily travel may be good timing. :shrug:

John,
We will be in Barcaldine for a few days if you want to come over for a cuppa.

The van had lost a pulley for the fan belt and slightly chewed the belt.

Lucky Joanne insisted we get it checked or it could be 5 days in the wild outback on the side of a road somewhere.

To be continued ...

[AstralTraveller]

It looks like it's worth a butchers. :D

[leon]

Not sure what that means David, :shrug: please explain.:question:

Leon :thumbsup:

[mithrandir]

butchers -> butcher's hook -> look
It's rhyming slang. Another version:
cook -> captain cook -> look

[leon]

Ah Ok, thanks Andrew, yea, I get it now and have heard of those expressions before, just had a mind block i expect. lol

Leon

[AstralTraveller]

Sorry for being obscure. It's a tenuous play on words. There's a butcher bird in the third photo.

[Allan_L]

Still stuck in Barcaldine on the Tropic of Capricorn.
...looks like another night in paradise.

Starting to look like we may have to cut back on our opromistic travel plans.

Looking now to be in Darwin by 1 August.
Any Darwin residents here want to rent out their front yard for a camper van site?

Staying positive and taking the adventure one day at a time....:thumbsup:

[leon]

That's no good Allan, hope you are on the road real soon.

Leon

[brian nordstrom]

:) Cool Allan , let me know when you hit Darwin and if its still the dry season maybe we can catch up and have a small star party ?;) Leon may still be around as well ?
I look forward to meeting you and your wife .
Brian.

[leon]

Yep I'll be here. :D

Leon :thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Thanks Brian,
Will do :thumbsup:
Sounds like a great idea :thanx:

[Inmykombi]

Hi Allan,
I hope things get better with the Van really quick.:D
I also wish you both a pleasant trip.
Give all the Ice-in-Spacers up that way a g'day from all us down here.

Cheers

Geoffro.

[Allan_L]

Thanks Geoff.
Yes we are moving again.
arrived at Katherine today.
Doing the Katherine Gorge cruise tomorrow.
Then off to Darwin on 1st August.

Brian,
Where can I catch up with you?

Leon,
Where are you staying up here?
Any recommendations for affordable site for a week or so?

Allan

[leon]

Sent you a PM last night Allan.

Leon

[Suzy]

Hi Allan,
It sounds like a fabulous trip.
Enjoy your holiday, as I'm sure you will. :)

[Allan_L]

We hit Darwin today.
Booked in at Winnellie Shady Glen for 5 days.
At these prices, that will have to be long enough.

We cruised Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) yesterday.
Shopping and auto repairs tomorrow.
Kakadu maybe Friday.
Lichfield Saturday.
Sunday YTBD

If repairs go well, off to WA on Monday.
We will see.

Darn this Full Moon, not good observing time.
Still if anyone wants to catch up, we will love to meet you.
PM for a mobile number and a date,.

Cheers to all.

[Allan_L]

Hello to our reader,
Today we crossed the border in WA.
We arrived in Kununurra a half hour before we left our overnight campsite.
(You gotta love time travel).

Booked a sunrise flight over the Bungle Bungles tomorrow.

Not sure where after that.

Any locals up for an observing night?

[Liz]

Sounds great Allan. :thumbsup:

Sunrise flight over the Bungle Bungles, I would like to do that. :D

[Allan_L]

Hi All,
crossed Fitzroy Crossing today.
Cruised Geikie Gorge today.
Heading towards Broome.
Weather fine and hot.
Skies clear.
Hope you are experiencing similar.

Regards
Allan

[GTB_an_Owl]

keep the reports coming Al

and, of course - you will tell us about any "short cuts" you take - won't you!

geoff

[Allan_L]

Been out of coverage a while now.
Been to Derby, Broome, Port Hedland,Karratha, Dampier (saw Red Dog), Carnarvon, Kalbarri, Geraldton, and now on road to Mullewa. Tonight at pioneer well just one other van.
Tonight should be good sky, no lights anywhere.
Tomorrow starts the wildflower leg of our journey .
Hope all the Pony Club gang is well:)
Al

[brian nordstrom]

:sadeyes: Bugger I would have loved to Alan , but I was in NZ .
Brian.

[Allan_L]

Just north of Perth.
Looking forward to dark skies over the Nullabor.
Anyone in Perth with a spare scope, or one they want transported to SA, or Sydney?;)

[Allan_L]

I had no idea Perth was such a beautiful city and on probably the worlds best Harbour.
Amazing.
Fremantle was great too.
Today we went further south through Mandurah, I though that was in India:)
And are staying in Bunbury.
Again a great place to see.

Tomorrow off to Busselton Margaret River and Augusta.
Greetings to all IIS members here in the South West.

Cheers for now:thumbsup:

[Liz]

Gosh, you are certainly zipping along Allan!! All sounds wonderful though. :thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Sounds like you're having a great time. Nothing quite like an Aussie road trip :) Stay safe on the roads :thumbsup:

[Allan_L]

Hi all.
Yesterday we travelled to the most south westerly tip of Australia, cape Leeuwin near Augusta.
Today we set our compass Eastward for the first time this trip and it feels as if we are drawing close to the end of our adventure.

We are staying at a camp site at parry beach near Denmark.
Soon we will be on our Nullarbor trek And home.

[midnight]

Glad you enjoyed the SW Allan! Unfortunately I've been away on work so haven't been home much. If the weather's good, you'll love the trip across. Assuming you're heading up to Norseman and then straight across, there are some fantastic camping spots along the way. My favourite is about 60km east of Norseman on the left. Plenty of room and you're never alone but you still have good distances between campers. And yes the skies are dark there and many transcontinental flights crossing over around 7 to 8pm too!

Don't forget to stop off at Bunda Cliffs which is where the highway meets the edge of Bight.

Esperance is lovelly too.

Enjoy your trip and when you get home, you'll probably want to do it all again!!!

Darrin...

[Allan_L]

Thanks Darrin
Always looking for recommendations.
Esperance is beautiful.
Cheers

[Allan_L]

Beautiful one day, cyclonic the next!

Currently being tossed about in very high winds in Esperance.
scary stuff!

[AstralTraveller]

Ahh ... memories. We camped in Fitzgerald River NP just behind the beach - but on the seaward side of the dunes. I remember lying in the tent wondering how long before the top half of the tent departed the bottom half. It wasn't just the strength of the wind - it was the change in air pressure. One moment the tent walls were collapsed inwards then they would pop out with a bang. In - out - in - out, for hours. We laugh about it now but it's one of those stories that's better in hindsight.

[Allan_L]

Quick Update
Nullarbor was brilliant.
Eyre Peninsula was a nice detour.
Canberra was -2 degrees
But we are back home again on the sunny Central Coast again.

Wrap Up:
So after...
diving 15,000 kilometres
visiting 7 states/territories
over 3 months (10 weeks {68 days} )
2 bus tours
3 scenic flights
3 river cruises
1 jet boat ride
2 deserts
9 gorges
20 salties
50 freshies
3 pods of dolphins
1 sea lion
passing: kangaroos emus possums wallabies lizards cows skinks and one camel (all living at the time) on the road
plus much the same as road kill (no camels but)
taking 10,000 photographs (mostly by Jo, of rare and unusual native plants and flowers)
making 2 RAC calls
waiting for 4 mechanical "emergency repairs"
but luckily, having no flat tyres :)
managing temperatures that ranged from 42 in the shade to minus 2 at night
going through 650 teabags
laughing at innumerable funny moments
and having the experience of a life time

we are back.

we had no TV or radio.
no news
we totally missed the Olympics
missed half the footy season

and we enjoyed (almost) every minute of it.

Boy! This is one big country, and we have only seen a small portion of it really.

Oh well, time to start planning the next one.

[TrevorW]

When is the next one planned 3 months was quick so I assume you have done this one on long service

My in laws have done this twice the first time in a car and caravan which took them nearly 3 years the second in a camper van.

I hope to do similar when I retire (but I'll definitely take a scope)