What is possible in 6 weeks....

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 17:59

ThreadID: 4595 Views:2050 Replies:6 FollowUps:3

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Al

Hi,

Travelling north next year for a period of up to 8 weeks, perhaps only 6, from Melbourne. Is trying to get as high as Katherine and enjoying a holiday that is not full of driving possible? We also want to take in as many sights as we can...and we are travelling with 3 small children. Or should we set our sights a little lower. Thinking about going up through NSW, OLD across to Tennant creek, and then perhaps north to Katherine or South to Alice..Uluru..etc, down through SA to Flinders Rangers and home....

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Reply By: Member - Cocka - Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 20:34

Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 20:34

A few questions first :
1. What time of the year
2. What kind of accomodation do you have/want
3. How old are the kids
4. Do you want to do just the inland ie. no coastal
5. What kind of vehicleCarpe Diem

AnswerID: 18523

Follow Up By: Al - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 07:27

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 07:27

1. What time of the year - March/April
2. What kind of accomodation do you have/want - Caravans
3. How old are the kids 2-4
4. Do you want to do just the inland ie. no coastal - at the moment just inland
5. What kind of vehicle - Landcruiser 80 series, Triton Dual Cab Ute

FollowupID: 11590

Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 20:57

Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 20:57

1) dont try and do too much first time out. You will miss more than you see, its a fact.
2) are you set on NSW first, as there isnt much to see. head to South Aust, and head up north from there towards Birdsville etc etc..

\and then theres bleepas questions too... all very valid.

AnswerID: 18524

Reply By: Andrew - Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 22:57

Sunday, Apr 27, 2003 at 22:57

Al

The best advice I can give you travelling with children is to choose a worthwhile destination and stay at each spot for about 2 - 3 days if you can.

Continuous travelling and sightseeing all the way will make the kids crazy and ruin your trip. Everyone ends up on edge. So, if you can, choose the locations that are good for you and good for the kids (where they can swim etc) Do short day trips to major attractions and return to your already set up camp.

Breaking camp every day or so can also be a mungrel.

Just my 2cents worth.

AnswerID: 18544

Reply By: Al - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 07:31

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 07:31

Thanks for all the responses...it's been very helpful in our trip planning

cheers

Al

AnswerID: 18563

Reply By: Member - Cocka - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 08:43

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 08:43

I might suggest getting hold of some National Parks books for the States you are visiting. Most towns, especially the big ones have tourist info centres and most probably a WWW if you do a Google search. Just set out with a good idea of where you want to travel and if time starts to run out save the rest of the trip until next time, there's plenty of years ahead to see it all. If you get to the area of Longreach, the Stockmans Hall of Fame will blow you away. Nth of there you have Lawn Hill N/P worth a check out for the kids.
The c'vans probably the best thing for the kids and easiest on Mum, just make sure the truck and van are in good nick and strong.
The kids are a bit young to take it all in yet but they will soon all be saying "Are we there yet"

AnswerID: 18566

Follow Up By: Al - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 14:11

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 14:11

thanks bleep...sound advice...

The kids are already saying "Are we there yet" we are seriously thinking about installing an incar DVD player....which would also support a GPS system...

FollowupID: 11608

Follow Up By: Member - Cocka - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 16:06

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 16:06

When we were littlies it took 2 days to go Syd - Melb. A two lane h'way (road), no such thing as seat belts and we carried 3 gerry cans fuel as there weren't a lot of servos.
Certainly no such things as DVDs, tapes & Cds. But my u'beaut parents would stop at bridges and give me a penny if I could say the name of the river, or the first one to spot a rabbit or roo, or I spy, we would sing and we would look at picture books, we would stop to pat a cow. Sometimes Mum would read us a story. For lunch we would stop up a side lane and boil a billy for a cuppa and sandwich. We never got bored, but I bet we said "Are we there yet"
These days your good local library has music & story tapes and CDs plus heaps of kids books, they call it brain fodder, stimulating.
It doesn't matter if you get the books back late, pay the fine, it'll seem cheap in the long term, certaintly a lot cheaper than a DVD.

FollowupID: 11615

Reply By: GOB vic - Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 16:42

Monday, Apr 28, 2003 at 16:42

al we have done the alice trip once with 3 grandchildren at that stage 2,4,& 5and they had an absaloute ball they camped they stayed in the van slept under ground at rebas at coober pedy it is marvellous how much they can learn while travelling 6-8 weeks would be great to go allthe way that you want and maybe even to darwin although we went straight up the guts and then did side trips if you wanted a rough copy of our itinerary send me a email to sdann@relax.com.au
89 nissan looking foward to august and more travelling

AnswerID: 18604