Planned trip to Lake Mungo and Alice Springs
Submitted: Saturday, Aug 20, 2011 at 23:22
ThreadID:
88592
Views:
2689
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Stanley D
As I am new to 4WD touring with a Toyota Prada (petrol), I am requesting members opinions about the ins and outs of such a trip as mentioned. I am endeavouring to be sensible and cautious with my preparations.
The time of year is from the 2nd week of November to the second week in December. Does anyone have reasons against this idea. I am particularly asking those that have the experience of 4WD in these areas. Your wisdom will be greatly appreciated. I do not intend to blaze trail across the Australian Great Divide or to follow in the tracks of Burke and Wills! The more accessible tracks will do me!
I have spoken to the
Ranger at Mungo (a great help) about the expected conditions at that time of year, and will again closer to the trip. Thank you,
Stanley
Reply By: Michaeljp - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 12:39
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 12:39
I went to
Alice Springs and a few other
places in central oz a few Christmas's ago. I was hot,
dam hot. But that would be your only concern. Oh and the flies too. I remember sitting in the ute with the air con going at N'Dhala
Gorge listening to the local radio and they said it was 44 degrees in Alice.
I went from Noosa across the Plenty Hwy to Alice. Then down to
Chambers Pillar, Eastern Mac's, Western Macs out to Gosses
Bluff west of Hermansburg,
Palm Valley, Ayers
Rock and
Rainbow Valley then south back to
Sydney. I did it in a '96 Hilux 4WD diesel.
AnswerID:
463158
Follow Up By: Member - Stanley D - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 15:57
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 15:57
Thanks for the reply Michealjp.
As I replied to Pat. I am prepairing for the heat- have lived in hot climates before so there are no real surprises about the weather or the insects. After
Lake Mungo I plan to continue on to the Centre. Your trip sounds very interesting. I may visit some of those spots as
well- dependent upon how adventurous I feel at the time. I may be overcautious about remote areas but I do not want to get into trouble out there.
Thanks again for your reply, regards,
Stanley
FollowupID:
737000
Reply By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 21:51
Sunday, Aug 21, 2011 at 21:51
G'day
Stanley,
As others have said at that time of your it is going to be hot - even though you sound prepared for that, it does also mean a lot less traffic in the more remote areas.
This can be good if you like a bit of peace and quiet, but can work against you if you need some help.
You don't mention in your post how long you are planning on taking for this trip.
There are a bunch of different options to get from Mungo to Alice, ranging from seriously difficult to Tar all the way.
I'd suggest you start looking at a route you like and let post it here..there are some great people here that have certainly helped me planning past trips.
One option you may look at, that would get you off the tar but avoid getting too remote, would be:
Mungo >
Broken Hill >
Peterborough > Maree > Up the
Oodnadatta track to
Marla > Then blacktop up to Alice from there.
If you have more time and a happy to get a bit more remote than that you could go around the other way.
My son used the following blog I built to document our last inland trip for his school mates.. There is probably a few things on that you may find handy...
2009 Trip
Some of the contact numbers etc may be out of date as it was a few years ago - so please double
check them rather than relying they are still current.
Good luck with it.. I am sure you will have a ball.
Mark
AnswerID:
463205
Follow Up By: Member - Stanley D - Friday, Aug 26, 2011 at 04:27
Friday, Aug 26, 2011 at 04:27
Dear Mark.
Thank you for the map and suggestions. I have been a little tardy in thanking you but I am currently on the dreaded night shift rotation so my routines are back to front. I must admit that I really amazed with all the replies I have received for my question.
I appreciate all the hard work you have done with your map. I will certainly use it as my reference, but the weather will actually dictate which way I can travel. I have read your marvellous Blog and it refreshed memories of my trip, a few years ago, to the centre, in a Piper six seater aircraft, from Essendon to Norwood Station,
White Cliffs,
Birdsville. the Alice and then to
the Rock,
Coober Pedy, over
Lake Eyre; yes it is spectacular from above- at that time the water was the colour of Raspberry and Vanilla ice-cream; then to
Lake Mungo,
Echuca and back to Essendon; in six days. You had a wonderful experience by 4WD track and lots of tyres. I exposed 26 rolls of film- about 1000 photographs in all- so it is really easy to do. (I should put them into a blog/gallery of my own.)
I am hoping to do the King's Canyon,
Palm Valley, etc route this time- weather permitting.
Thank you again,
Regards,
Stanley
FollowupID:
737357
Follow Up By: Member - Bytemrk(VIC) - Friday, Aug 26, 2011 at 22:35
Friday, Aug 26, 2011 at 22:35
No drama to the tardiness
Stanley... been a while since i was doing nights..but been there done that.... I understand!
As you get your plan in order, I'd recommend discussing them here.... there are many many users here that know far more than me, and I've been put onto some great spots by the helpful folk around here.
At Kings Canyon you have to do the
rim walk if you can... the fist big
hill is a killer - but if you survive that, the rest is simply awesome.
What ever you do , have a great trip..
Mark
FollowupID:
737435
Reply By: Member - Richard W (NSW) - Monday, Aug 22, 2011 at 06:51
Monday, Aug 22, 2011 at 06:51
Stanley,
As long as you are
well prepared with food, fuel, water, recovery,
first aid and communications gear you shouldn't have any dramas.
As others have said about the heat.
The latest I have done Central Australia was early/mid October and it got to 42deg at
Coober Pedy. But it was dry heat so not too bad.
Have fun.
AnswerID:
463220