I have set the plans for my next holiday in motion. Toyota campervan is booked to leave Sydney on 1/3/2012. I will be heading across to SA and the WA and back across the top to Queensland and then wander back home through Queensland. I plan on being away between 18-20 weeks
Lynnie said
03:05 PM Dec 31, 2011
Best wishes Clare.
It looks as if you may be bypassing Echuca, but if you change your mind I am sure that myself and other Grey Nomads from Echuca would like to catch up with you.
Lyn
Clare46 said
03:38 PM Dec 31, 2011
Lynnie
I have only done a rough outline as it is hard to get it exactly right but I do plan to go though Echuca so will certainly contact you when I know exactly when I will be there
Charming said
09:39 PM Dec 31, 2011
Hi Clare, I have just come across the Nullabore, I loved streaky Bay,did the mouth of the bight( it was great) Loved Esperance(Be sure to take a drive around the ocean Road it is magnificent),now I am loving Margaret River area. I will be here for approx 4 to 6 weeks before heading up the west coast and over the top. I don't really have a time frame, visiting a lot of friends and family on the way. Love the beaches here. Let me know when you are around Margaret River, and we could have a coffee. All the best, Charming
P.S I stayed at the bordertown Caravan park S.A so I could use all my food before heading across the border into Eucla, Bad move, I would have been better moving on to Eucla, Bordertown is a total waste of space, payed $25 for the night(powered) and then had to pay another $2 for a shower, what a rip off.
Elle on Wheels said
10:37 PM Dec 31, 2011
Looks like a fantastic trip Clare. Send me a PM if you want a place to camp in the Denmark area.
Evie n Rhys said
08:03 AM Jan 1, 2012
Sounds fantastice I wish you all the best, enjoy. Tess
Clare46 said
09:55 AM Jan 1, 2012
Ellen.
I have your name on my list, thanks
Charming
I was down the WA south coast last time but the weather was so bad I could not do anything much hence the reason I'm going back again. It will be about April when I get there so you will already have left.
ken thomas said
07:11 PM Jan 1, 2012
Hello Clare You will certainly be doing a lot of klms in that short period, double or triple the time available and go a bit slower
You will enjoy it a lot more and have time to relax with nomads between towns Ken
jonathan said
10:09 PM Jan 1, 2012
Enjoy the trip Clare .. I did virtually the same comfortably in 10 months ..
Jon
Clare46 said
09:36 AM Jan 2, 2012
I did a 21,000km trip over to NT and WA in 2009 in 18 weeks and did not feel rushed at all. Still had time to stop 3-4 night in some places and a couple of nights in others an had a good look around so am not worried. I would be nice to take longer and if I want to I can always ring the hire co. and extend my rental. Depends on how the finances go.
wendyv said
11:44 AM Jan 2, 2012
Clare, A couple of suggestions for "different" places to what you seem to have done on prior trip: but, firstly, are you allowed to go off the bitumen? If so, you may like to add Keep River NP - on NT/WA border. Only about 18km of gravel road to a very scenic little campground, with a very pleasant short circuit walk from it. Some wonderful scenery and walking a bit further along the track. Marble Bar is a great little town to visit - very scenic surrounds and some interesting history. You can get there on bitumen roads from Port Hedland. Barn Hill camp ground, south of Broome, is very pleasant. A few km of gravel station road to get in there. Ditto 80 Mile Beach, further south. Adels Grove/Lawn Hill NP is not to be missed! Can go via Cloncurry, Burke & Wills RH, Gregory Downs. I think there is about 45km of gravel road after the Century Mine. If you are going there, on the way through Mt Isa go to the Riversleigh Centre at the Info Centre, then at Adels, take the tour that goes down to the Riversleigh Site D - all very interesting.
Clare46 said
01:18 PM Jan 2, 2012
Wendy
Thanks for your input but Im not allowed to go off the bitumen although I sneak in a few Km of gravel to national parks or state forrests at times
scotia59 said
09:48 PM Jan 2, 2012
If you fancy meeting up for a coffee when you are in Perth just let us WA'ers know, I am sure there are a few of us would love an excuse to meet up.
Hope you have a great trip.
regards Jean
-- Edited by scotia59 on Monday 2nd of January 2012 09:49:37 PM
Clare46 said
02:07 PM Jan 3, 2012
scotia59 wrote:
If you fancy meeting up for a coffee when you are in Perth just let us WA'ers know, I am sure there are a few of us would love an excuse to meet up.
Hope you have a great trip.
regards Jean
-- Edited by scotia59 on Monday 2nd of January 2012 09:49:37 PM
Thanks Jean will keep that in mind
Joe said
05:20 PM Jan 3, 2012
I have to ask what you have against Victorians? You seem to be avoiding the place completely!
Then again, perhaps you're right! :)
Looks like a nice trip and from your previous trips you seem to know where you want to go, but if there are any areas that you are a little vague on just ask the question here and I am sure that someone will be able to help.
Enjoy!
Clare46 said
11:03 AM Jan 4, 2012
Now now Joe don't feel unloved I will be hitting Vic at Echuca and then travelling up along the Murray. I covered a lot of Victoria a few years ago when travelling by car and stopping in cabins. My son has lived in Melbourne a few times for work so I have spent quite a bit of time around there and done a few day trips.
Joe said
02:17 PM Jan 6, 2012
Clare46 wrote:
Now now Joe don't feel unloved .
I live in Darwin so I need all the love I can get!
Actually, I used to live in Geelong so I do have a soft spot for Victoria as well. Carn the Cats!
wendyv said
02:36 PM Jan 6, 2012
You might get away with Keep River, then.
I know that Britz/Maui used to turn a blind eye to their motorhomes going into 80 Mile Beach and Barn Hill, because of the distance between towns/caravan parks in that area.
Mergatroy said
03:43 PM Jan 7, 2012
Im in Loxton, SA so when your going to go through Berri, if you have time, we could meet up for coffe and a chat.
Cruising Granny said
06:45 PM Jan 7, 2012
If you go to Streaky Bay you might seriously consider doing the Eyre Peninsula, down to Pt. Lincoln. There are some great beaches and interesting spots to check out. The national parks are pretty special too.
Clare46 said
07:36 PM Jan 7, 2012
CG
I did the Eyre peninsula on my last trip so will probably give it a miss this time and take the Eyre highway from Pt Augusta
golivers travels said
05:07 PM Jan 18, 2012
Clare, Wendy mentioned Lawn Hill, yes a must. Also a wonderful free camp before Lawn Hill is on the banks of the Gregory River at Gregory Downs. Need to go over the bridge.
Glenda
dawa said
05:28 PM Jan 19, 2012
Now where do i get a map like that
dawa
dawa said
05:35 PM Jan 19, 2012
I am wondering where Lawn Hill is.
I shall be setting off a month sooner than expected.
i own my camper so i have no time restraints and i want to go slowly
dawa
Clare46 said
05:45 PM Jan 19, 2012
dawa wrote:
Now where do i get a map like that
dawa
Dawa
I googled maps of Australia and then used the snipping tool on my computer to cut it out and there is also a pen included in the snipping tool that I use to mark my route with. It is really very simple to do but is great to have a visual record of were I've been
wendyv said
01:16 AM Jan 20, 2012
dawa wrote:
I am wondering where Lawn Hill is.
I shall be setting off a month sooner than expected.
i own my camper so i have no time restraints and i want to go slowly
dawa
Dawa,
Lawn Hill National Park is in NW Qld, about 300km north of Mt Isa. The easiest way to reach there is to go north from Cloncurry to Burke and Wills Roadhouse, then west to Gregory Downs - all bitumen. Lawn Hill is another 90km or so, west of Gregory - some bitumen, some gravel. Road condition over the last 40km or so varies, depending on when graded, etc. To give you an idea about it, people from Mt Isa bring conventional cars along it at times like Easter and long weekends.
There is a NP campground at Lawn Hill. There is also a private camping and accommodation facility called Adels Grove, about 10km before the NP. We have both stayed there as tourists and worked there. Neither the NP nor Adels have powered sites, but Adels has an area where you can run generators. It has a shop where you can get basics - ice, frozen bread, tins etc. It is licensed and does meals too.
The main attraction at the NP is Lawn Hill Gorge - very speccy. About 99% of visitors hire canoes (or use own) and paddle through one or two of the three gorges. Very straightforward paddling, even for total novices. There are some lovely walks too. You can swim at the NP, and at Adels, in Lawn Hill Creek. Lots of birdlife.
I have set the plans for my next holiday in motion. Toyota campervan is booked to leave Sydney on 1/3/2012. I will be heading across to SA and the WA and back across the top to Queensland and then wander back home through Queensland.
I plan on being away between 18-20 weeks
Best wishes Clare.
It looks as if you may be bypassing Echuca, but if you change your mind I am sure that myself and other Grey Nomads from Echuca would like to catch up with you.
Lyn
Lynnie
I have only done a rough outline as it is hard to get it exactly right but I do plan to go though Echuca so will certainly contact you when I know exactly when I will be there
Hi Clare, I have just come across the Nullabore, I loved streaky Bay,did the mouth of the bight( it was great) Loved Esperance(Be sure to take a drive around the ocean Road it is magnificent),now I am loving Margaret River area. I will be here for approx 4 to 6 weeks before heading up the west coast and over the top. I don't really have a time frame, visiting a lot of friends and family on the way. Love the beaches here. Let me know when you are around Margaret River, and we could have a coffee. All the best, Charming
P.S I stayed at the bordertown Caravan park S.A so I could use all my food before heading across the border into Eucla, Bad move, I would have been better moving on to Eucla, Bordertown is a total waste of space, payed $25 for the night(powered) and then had to pay another $2 for a shower, what a rip off.
Tess
Ellen.
I have your name on my list, thanks
Charming
I was down the WA south coast last time but the weather was so bad I could not do anything much hence the reason I'm going back again. It will be about April when I get there so you will already have left.
You will certainly be doing a lot of klms in that short period, double or triple the time available and go a bit slower
You will enjoy it a lot more and have time to relax with nomads between towns
Ken
Enjoy the trip Clare .. I did virtually the same comfortably in 10 months ..
Jon
I did a 21,000km trip over to NT and WA in 2009 in 18 weeks and did not feel rushed at all. Still had time to stop 3-4 night in some places and a couple of nights in others an had a good look around so am not worried. I would be nice to take longer and if I want to I can always ring the hire co. and extend my rental. Depends on how the finances go.
A couple of suggestions for "different" places to what you seem to have done on prior trip: but, firstly, are you allowed to go off the bitumen? If so, you may like to add Keep River NP - on NT/WA border. Only about 18km of gravel road to a very scenic little campground, with a very pleasant short circuit walk from it. Some wonderful scenery and walking a bit further along the track.
Marble Bar is a great little town to visit - very scenic surrounds and some interesting history. You can get there on bitumen roads from Port Hedland.
Barn Hill camp ground, south of Broome, is very pleasant. A few km of gravel station road to get in there. Ditto 80 Mile Beach, further south.
Adels Grove/Lawn Hill NP is not to be missed! Can go via Cloncurry, Burke & Wills RH, Gregory Downs. I think there is about 45km of gravel road after the Century Mine. If you are going there, on the way through Mt Isa go to the Riversleigh Centre at the Info Centre, then at Adels, take the tour that goes down to the Riversleigh Site D - all very interesting.
Wendy
Thanks for your input but Im not allowed to go off the bitumen although I sneak in a few Km of gravel to national parks or state forrests at times
If you fancy meeting up for a coffee when you are in Perth just let us WA'ers know, I am sure there are a few of us would love an excuse to meet up.
Hope you have a great trip.
regards
Jean
-- Edited by scotia59 on Monday 2nd of January 2012 09:49:37 PM
Thanks Jean will keep that in mind
Then again, perhaps you're right! :)
Looks like a nice trip and from your previous trips you seem to know where you want to go, but if there are any areas that you are a little vague on just ask the question here and I am sure that someone will be able to help.
Enjoy!
Now now Joe don't feel unloved
I will be hitting Vic at Echuca and then travelling up along the Murray. I covered a lot of Victoria a few years ago when travelling by car and stopping in cabins. My son has lived in Melbourne a few times for work so I have spent quite a bit of time around there and done a few day trips.
I live in Darwin so I need all the love I can get!
Actually, I used to live in Geelong so I do have a soft spot for Victoria as well. Carn the Cats!
You might get away with Keep River, then.
I know that Britz/Maui used to turn a blind eye to their motorhomes going into 80 Mile Beach and Barn Hill, because of the distance between towns/caravan parks in that area.
CG
I did the Eyre peninsula on my last trip so will probably give it a miss this time and take the Eyre highway from Pt Augusta
Now where do i get a map like that
dawa
I am wondering where Lawn Hill is.
I shall be setting off a month sooner than expected.
i own my camper so i have no time restraints and i want to go slowly
dawa
Dawa
I googled maps of Australia and then used the snipping tool on my computer to cut it out and there is also a pen included in the snipping tool that I use to mark my route with. It is really very simple to do but is great to have a visual record of were I've been
Dawa,
Lawn Hill National Park is in NW Qld, about 300km north of Mt Isa. The easiest way to reach there is to go north from Cloncurry to Burke and Wills Roadhouse, then west to Gregory Downs - all bitumen. Lawn Hill is another 90km or so, west of Gregory - some bitumen, some gravel. Road condition over the last 40km or so varies, depending on when graded, etc. To give you an idea about it, people from Mt Isa bring conventional cars along it at times like Easter and long weekends.
There is a NP campground at Lawn Hill. There is also a private camping and accommodation facility called Adels Grove, about 10km before the NP. We have both stayed there as tourists and worked there. Neither the NP nor Adels have powered sites, but Adels has an area where you can run generators. It has a shop where you can get basics - ice, frozen bread, tins etc. It is licensed and does meals too.
The main attraction at the NP is Lawn Hill Gorge - very speccy. About 99% of visitors hire canoes (or use own) and paddle through one or two of the three gorges. Very straightforward paddling, even for total novices. There are some lovely walks too. You can swim at the NP, and at Adels, in Lawn Hill Creek. Lots of birdlife.
One of the best places in Aust, we think.