Driving around Australia

Stanley D
Unless your friend intends to drive the Gibb River Road, you will find he has no worries at all, roads are sealed all the way, except for any road works that he may come across.
Baz

Hi Stanley,

Hi Stanley,

If he follows the main highway its all sealed road and plenty of traffic, both tourists and from mining. But that highway is at times well away from the coast, especially from Broome heading east to Cairns. If he does want to drive right around Oz staying close to the coast he will need a more robust vehicle as the more coastal roads are often gravel and sometimes can get pretty rough and corrugated - but they do go through more interesting country.

Get hold of a map of Australia and check it out.

How long does your friend expect to take for his trip?

Cheers,

Val

If he isn't a fool and has some nouse about him the old Falcon would be fine. I had a 1968 Kingswood and if I still had it I would not hesitate to do that drive. BUT the first dirt drive I did was back in the 60's so I have teeny weeny bit of experience.

Now you need to see if his experience means that he hires a sherman tank or a 4WD or a VW. We cannot answer correctly wothout knowing his real skills and knowledge. Does he know which end of a hammer to hold. Is he mechanically minded. I rebuilt the whole engine, gearbox and drive train and knew my car from every angle. Does he.

I am not making little of the drive just showing the two extremes with Val on one end and me on the other. She may win though.

It is hard to answer honestly.

Phil

I presume around oz on highway 1 all sealed its a sunday drive thousands do it every day as long as the vehicle is well maintained and the right time of year no problems now is the dry season in the north so relax the car will be in one piece on return with a very relaxed occupant onboard
all the best steve

I thinks it's quite funny that people from the east (i am originally from the east) think we are still many years behind the rest of Australia....we have sealed roads over here now.
Roads are fine...just big distances, so best to fill up when he can, and not drive at night.
He might just enjoy the world over here and stay a bit longer in a town that he may fall in love with.
Brett...

We've had bitumen on our roads in WA for some time now.

I would suggest the worst highways he will find are in Qld & Nsw, Bruce High(low)way comes to mind.

Cheers Neil

Not only are the roads sealed, they're arguably the best in Australia.

Cheers ........................... Kev.

I can't see any reason the Falcon wouldn't do it unless it is an unmaintained, poorly looked after basket case, it used to be called the 'great Australian road car' for a reason, my BA sedan and I have gone to hell and back over the past 7 years and 100,000klm and it still has plenty left to give. Endless hundreds of kilometers of corrugated unsealed roads may pose a problem but if he sticks to the blacktop...

Hi Stanley,

Have we put your mind at rest?

Cheers,

Val.

Well, I am really surprised at the responses to my question. Yes, I realise that WA is now the modern world, but I never doubted it for one minute!! Thank you all for your replies. As my friend is from Europe, I was just a little concerned, but now I am less so! He will be gone for two months on this journey and I would have liked to do it as well. Alas the salt mine, that I have sold my soul to, would not permit it.
I myself will over in WA this coming September and I am looking forward to the drive- in a Prado, with appropriate gear- and touring around the southern areas, as that will be all my one month will allow. Again, thank you all for the replies and wish you all happy adventures.
Regards.