6 week itinery help

Hey shmick,
Wife n I did 8 week trip, to perth n back with detours, 10500km... Felt a bit rushed, would have loved more time, but not our choice.
We did a few big days behind the wheel, just to get the kms behind us, which in turn ment more time for site seeing, at the places we wanted to... and made it possible to be able to stay extra days, where we liked to.
Think it is all a bit of give n take, especially when restricted by a time frame.. Sounds like you have a plan, that's a start.
In regard to weather, best not to travel in to much heat, so won't be full on summer, with young ones on board anyway..
Hope this gives you a bit of help with your planning anyway..
All the best n happy travels. Cheers Odog

The first thing is the temperature.... it'll be pretty hot up there at that time of year. We visited Darwin and surrounds in September a few years back and i thought it was hot then, and i work outdoors in Brisbane daily, so a Victorian will feel it more IMHO. We stopped in at lorella springs and caught rhett shutting up shop and packing stuff away for the year, he told us the year previous he'd already closed up a week earlier then that, so not sure how roads will be weather wise at that time of year.
Time frame next...we did 5 weeks out Brisbane to Darwin and back again, that was a pretty rushed trip, so doubt i'd like to chuck another 3200 klms onto the trip getting from Melbourne to Brisbane and back again aswell. You really need to sit down and work out a route of where you want to go, then divide it by the number days you have for your holiday. Once you do that you soon realise how far you need to travel each day to do such a trip, and then chuck rest days into the equation or extra days stopped in one location, and then watch the klms jump even more on the days you actually are driving.

Too hot, Too wet, Too far in the time.

Far better in April after the wet or you may find you are stuck there till April anyway.

Know of one family that went to Darwin for Xmas and were still there on May 31st. No money, sick of the place and unable to go very far.

Was in kakadu early oct and I work in the Kimberly.. it will be hot... and humidity rising.
Things can vary but oct/nov is about the hottest time to visit

Be hot for the littlies at that time of the year, and not too comfortable for you AND your vehicle. Would give anywhere north of Adelaide a miss in SA & NT.

Why not head up through NSW & Qld, just west of Great Divide, Roma, Injune, Emerald, Charters Towers, Ravenshoe (highest town in Qld) and do FNQld, then back down the coast.

By doing this on way North, you are only a few hours drive from the coast at any point, and able to do a dash for the saltwater, and a cooling evening breeze, if you find the heat too unbearable.

Bob

Hi Shmick,

I really think 6 weeks is not long enough to do Melbourne to Kakadu and back via Qld coast. And as others have said you would be going in the build-up when its hot and humid. Melbourne to Alice Springs and the surrounding area and a side trip into the Flinders would fit reasonably well - but even then you wouldnt see all there is to see. But in Oct/Nov its getting pretty warm - average daytime temps over 30deg and about 20 at night. Check out weather conditions in the Places section.

I think Bob Y's suggestion is a good one - or head west and explore the WA coast west from Cape Arid and see how far you get before its time to go home.This blog here and the next couple might tempt you.

Central and Northern Australia is best enjoyed by us southerners during the winter months.

Cheers,

Val

You have pretty well answered your own question with your last paragraph "or just do our typical slow relaxed coastal holiday (fnq, whitsundays, byfield, fraser, noosa and a few other national parks) and save central oz for another time? And is oct pushing it on the temperature side of things thru SA/NT?". With little ones on board, all the more reason not to tour in hot weather.

Head in your chosen direction, sightseeing as you go. At the three weeks point, turn around and chose a different road with more things to see. You might not get far, but you will have enjoyed the holiday, not made it an ideal for all of you, including your little ones.

Thanks all for your feedback. Guess its settled then. Keep it to the coast.
We did inland dubbo, st goerge, roma, charters a couple years ago so I could see carnavon gorge. wife was too bored in between. I think this time ill just plan to stay just off the coast zig zaggging on the way up checking out the parks (wollemi, lamington...) and sights not yet seen (due to our 12 hour days we missed out on a lot)up to port, then come down stopping by some old time favourites.
thanks again all