Comment: Making Your Itinerary

Are you sure of your timing. It is going to be very hot at that time of year and a good chance of getting caught in the wet with flooding roads.

Winter is usually the time everyone goes north??????????

Alan

Hi Narina,

I have to agree with Allan H about your timing. Suggest that if at all possible reverse your direction and go north first to avoid the summer heat and the possibility of running into an early wet season. Even so, coming home across the Nullarbor could be rather warm.

You would also need to tell us what sort of things interest you - there is so much to see, but also long stretches where many find it "boring" - though not everyone would agree with them.

My best suggestion is to become familiar with the Places section of this wesite (just click on the underlined word and you will be directed there). You can use the map (expand it to full screen) and cruise your proposed route to see accommodation, points of interest etc. Just click on the icons for further info. That may not cover all possibilities but will at least get you started on planning your trip - and in my opinion planning is half the fun so why ask others to do it for you? Use Google for further info about particular areas of interest. Once you have a framework of a plan then come back and ask for advice on significant things you may have missed. Another option is to wing it, but go in to tourism centres for information about local things to do or see, or better still ask other travellers about places of interest.

I hope that hasn't come across as negative but there is just too much out there to list, and in any case much the info you need is already on this site. Which reminds me that there are thousands of blogs on here that will also help to guide you, including over 100 that we have written about our travels that have covered much of your proposed route.

Cheers,

Val.

Not a good time to travel due to very hot weather and also the start of the wet season, at least you won't have any trouble getting accommodation as nobody travels at that time of the year. Good luck, you will need it!!

Same advice from me, everyone (most) leaves after Easter to go where you are going and is back south by end October. Accommodation won't be a problem, but heat, rain, water, and flies sure will.

Narina , do listen to what the experienced people say.
If you lived in the North of Australia, no-one would try and give you advice because you would know what to expect. If the cyclone season hits while you're in Broome for example, you could be in the bleep - literally
Look up cyclone Tracy. It hit Darwin one Christmas Eve.
Give it a lot of serious thought .
Rob J

Sorry, couldn't think of another word that would impact as well.
Rob J

Narina

I live in the north and love the heat. I love the wet season. Expect temperatures 35+ and high humidity.
Some roads do get cut due to the rainfall so I suggest that you reverse your trip.
Go to the NT first and then WA, south to Perth and then back to Sydney.
The wet is only just starting in October so unlikely any roads will be closed that time of year.
Places to stay and see. Of course I would recommend the Katherine Gorge, Litchfield, Kakadu, McDonnell Ranges (East and West), Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kimberley, Karijini, Gibb River Road, Mitchell Falls, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, etc. That is the start of thousands of places.

Definately agree with going north first. I'd go Sydney, Broken Hill, Port Augusta via the Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy, Uluru, Alice Springs, Katherine, Kununurra, Halls Creek, Broome, Karatha, Coral Bay, Monkey Mia, Perth then back along the Nullabor with the wind behind you. We did it about 8 years ago and it was around 15,000 kms from memory. There are great things to see and do in all the places I mentioned, too many to list really. If you are time poor like us, you gun it between the towns for an 8-10 hour stretch and spend 2-3 days in each place. If you haven't seen any of the places before then you won't care how hot it is, we did it in January, we're Aussies, flies and heat are normal. On a safety note, I would swap drivers every few hours if you are doing long hops. The garages are a few hours apart out there so make use of them and break the monotony.

Thank you everybody for your prompt replies, all your comments are very welcome & appreciated. This will be the first seriously long road trip we have contemplated. Our previous longest has been about 3 weeks.

To be honest, we didn't even consider the possibility of an early wet season and the more extreme temperatures. When we have previously driven through FNQ & NT it has been in the cooler months. Originally we choose October because we were interested in seeing the WA wild flowers in bloom.

We are considering postponing the trip for another six months (May 2017) or going late August 2016 and heading North initially, before driving West and back home.

On the list of places of interest are : Broken Hill, Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound, Lake Eyre, Coober Pedy, Tennant Creek, Kununurra, Broome, Kalgoorlie. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

Hi Narina, I created the attached excel doc for our 2009 trip, instructions are in document. This will help you to estimate your travel time between towns (and in total).

Sorry unless I wrong, all you will see is a white line, no time to stop and smell the roses.
Cut the trip in half and see the country.
PeterH