Travel Deserts

Dan,

I've had the good fortune to have travelled much of our remote deserts with a couple of crazy Cannucks I met out on the Canning 10 years back. Have also covered a few of your back paddocks as well including the Dempster and canoeing down the Yukon from Whitehorse. They keep a car here in Oz and are out every second year for some adventures about the wide brown land.

I don't know how far your planning is advanced but these guys would be great to talk to in regards to your intended travels around Oz. Scott and Gaby are in Ontario a bit south west of London. Flick me an email to mickolsen13@gmail.com and if desirable, we'll look to hooking you up for a chat with them.

Regards

Mick

.
Hello Dan,

This site of ExplorOz is not a "club" as such, but in the Home Page words of the proprietors.........
"You've arrived at the leading reference for outback Australia. This website is an active community of people who love camping, four wheel driving and caravanning and is full of unique resources to help you plan your trip."

It offers a forum open to all, and many resources available to subscribing 'Members'.

The forum you have posted on is the popular communication tool and one of our 'Elder' members, Mick O, has already provided an excellent reply to you.

I can suggest an alternative to you. A commercial tour business, Beadell Tours", offers escorted 4WD tours to the deserts you are interested in. They escort small groups of maximum six vehicles at a leisurely pace with professional guidance.
The proprietors/guides are Connie Sue Beadell and her husband Mick Hutton. Connie is the daughter of Len Beadell, the surveyor who headed the team that created the roads that provide access to the Western Deserts. Mick is a historian of the early explorers of these regions and an extremely competent bushman.
Read about Len Beadell here.


The Beadell Tours site is here and their proposed tours for 2018 are here. The "Beadell Tracks & Western Deserts" of 26 days in June 2018 would fit your proposals. It would cost about $3600 per vehicle.

I have travelled with Mick and Connie and enjoyed the experiences.

I will second Allan's recommendation of Beadell Tours. Great expertise and very friendly and helpful couple.
I would further recommend reading Len Beadell books on the building of the desert roads.
He was a true modern day explorer.
The Connie Sue "Highway" is named after his daughter who with her husband does the tours so the things you learn on tour are priceless.
I did a trip a couple of years ago and will try and be on one of the 2018 tours.
I have no connection or commercial interest in Beadell Tours, just a satisfied customer
Regards
Ross Nielsen

Gidday Dan, my 2 bobs worth. Since you have experience why not chose your route and head off and do it. You are bound to run into others and we are a friendly bunch of 4WDers. There's a cameraderie out there.

But if you only have a month max that will be a limiting factor if you leave from Sydney, assuming that is your likely entry point. 3 months would be better. Tell the boss you'd like some extra time off etc Negotiate if you can. LOL. The airfare is the same whether its a week or a year for that matter. Sydney to just Cape York and back is a good 2 month trip for 60 year olds. Similar distance - 10,000 km with side trips - if going to the Red Centre.
Plenty of Swiss buy an older 4WD and spend 3 - 6 - 12 months. Those Britz rentals are not cheap!! There will be difficulties with being non-residents of Oz but they seem to manage. Use a backpacker hostel as an address........ W

Dan, you are getting some great advice on here - but where are you? This website might be of use https://www.4wdtrip.com.au/ Cheers Toni

Hi Dan I would recommend you keep in touch with MickO. The knowledge this bloke has of the Australian outback and the trips he's done and the vehicles he's got surpasses the majority of tour groups. Keep in touch with him.
Cheers
Outbackjack