A 6 week trip planned from Perth to Darwin leaving in late July. Any advise?
Yappy said
11:07 AM Mar 15, 2021
Gday to all, My wife (Tania) and I (John) have recently joined your forum and are planning a 6 week trip from Perth to Darwin leaving in late July. We have recently purchased a Jayco StarCraft pop top ( air conditioned) for the trip. If anyone has some advise on where not to go and what to look out for, we would be very grateful.
Aus-Kiwi said
11:22 AM Mar 15, 2021
Visit farm stays .I was reluctant but when I did ? I totally enjoyed !! Port Lincoln , Shell beach , 80 mile beach the whole of WA is fantastic !! Take it EASY down the side roads . 35 to 40 kph . I tend to keep out of populated areas . Its a hell big place . Youll need to keep to schedule!! Dont push yourself . Stop Atleast 3 or 4 days to get total rest . Look around where you camped !! Its so hard to slow down and not think about next drive ! Then miss the area your at . As the locals for swimming areas etc . They appreciate you asking as long as your nice polite. Good safe travels
Possum3 said
01:30 PM Mar 15, 2021
Welcome to G/Ns Yappy, There are no real no-go places up the West Coast and along the top - The Starcraft is normally a capable unit if driven to conditions (which vary considerably). You will be going in the peak season of course so caravan parks will be booked out.
Suggest spending a few days down at Old Onslow along the river (free camp) and De Gray River in the Pilbarra (free camp). Of course get Camps 11 and WikiCamps to find other little gems.
Greg 1 said
05:50 PM Mar 15, 2021
As suggested you need to book now. Places like Exmouth and Broome get very crowded at that time of year and if you haven't booked you will struggled to find a spot.
Cape Leveque is worth a look. Kununnura and Lake Argyle are a couple of my favourites along with the Bungles, Millstream in the Pilbara and of course the gorges.
Tony Bev said
05:47 PM Mar 16, 2021
Welcome to the forum, Yappy
As Greg1, and Possum3 have already said, if you are thinking of using caravan parks, then you will have to book asap
I have been that way a few times, but mainly stayed at free camps, along the road
As we are all different, what I like to see, may not be what you would like to see
I do not go off the bitumen road, to national parks
I sometimes turn off the main coastal roads, and go to see the towns near the seaside such as
Kalbarri - Denham - Monkey Mia - Dampier - Broome - Derby - Wyndham
As you have to go through Kununurra, then you may as well go and see Lake Argyle
There are hot springs in Katherine, and if you go about 100 kilometres southish, there are also hot springs in Mataranka, which is a tourist resort
Turning off the Stuart Highway and going through Batchelor, will take you to many places (on the bitumen) within Litchfield Park
Turning off the Stuart Highway to visit Berry Springs, I thought was worthwhile
On the Stuart Highway, on the outskirts of Darwin, there is a Airplane measuem, they have a B52 bomber there, and it is big
Darwin has topless buses, which is an interesting sightseeing tour, as you can jump on and off, as you please
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:47 PM Mar 16, 2021
Yappy wrote:
Gday to all, My wife (Tania) and I (John) have recently joined your forum and are planning a 6 week trip from Perth to Darwin leaving in late July. We have recently purchased a Jayco StarCraft pop top ( air conditioned) for the trip. If anyone has some advise on where not to go and what to look out for, we would be very grateful.
6 weeks Perth to Darwin in a new van? Are you flying back from Darwin?
I suggest you go for about half of that distance. Maybe up the coast to Exmouth and back inland.
Cheers,
Peter
Yappy said
11:00 PM Mar 16, 2021
Thank you all for your kind comments and support. I have done just as you have suggested and have booked ahead a month ago knowing it would be very busy that time of the year.
I have booked some tours at Lake Argyle and hope to do a fly over if the prices don't go up any more, very expensive.
There are so many places to see and things to visit in NT and I intend to see as much as I can with time permitting.
I have been told Cape Leveque is very much worth visiting, I think we will try and drop in on the way home.
I am looking forward to the hot springs in Katherine, Mataranka and to visit Berry Springs if we have time.
Thank you all again for all the information, it was very helpful.
Cheers.
John.
Whenarewethere said
10:03 AM Mar 23, 2021
Karijini NP, but not in the school holidays, same as other key areas. If leaving via the east side there is a brilliant overnight place, Albert Tognolini Rest Area.
Whenarewethere said
10:32 AM Mar 23, 2021
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Yappy wrote:
Gday to all, My wife (Tania) and I (John) have recently joined your forum and are planning a 6 week trip from Perth to Darwin leaving in late July. We have recently purchased a Jayco StarCraft pop top ( air conditioned) for the trip. If anyone has some advise on where not to go and what to look out for, we would be very grateful.
6 weeks Perth to Darwin in a new van? Are you flying back from Darwin?
I suggest you go for about half of that distance. Maybe up the coast to Exmouth and back inland.
Cheers,
Peter
Agree, go for a few weekend trips to iron out bugs. Then a week or two to iron out bigger bugs & not too far from home.
You will soon find all the things you do NOT need to take to reduce payload.
Get TPMS, tyre repair kit & compressor & a couple of gauges. It's only once you have had a flat tyre, often destroyed if you do not have TPMS, out there you then realise how vulnerable you are.
In 2018 we destroyed 1 tyre & had 3 more flat tyres which we repaired ourselves.
If you can't repair a tyre & have no spares it makes one pretty nervous.
Whenarewethere said
10:36 AM Mar 23, 2021
I did a spreadsheet for everything we stick in the car, absolutely frightening how quickly it all adds up.
Gday to all, My wife (Tania) and I (John) have recently joined your forum and are planning a 6 week trip from Perth to Darwin leaving in late July. We have recently purchased a Jayco StarCraft pop top ( air conditioned) for the trip. If anyone has some advise on where not to go and what to look out for, we would be very grateful.
Suggest spending a few days down at Old Onslow along the river (free camp) and De Gray River in the Pilbarra (free camp). Of course get Camps 11 and WikiCamps to find other little gems.
As Greg1, and Possum3 have already said, if you are thinking of using caravan parks, then you will have to book asap
I have been that way a few times, but mainly stayed at free camps, along the road
As we are all different, what I like to see, may not be what you would like to see
I do not go off the bitumen road, to national parks
I sometimes turn off the main coastal roads, and go to see the towns near the seaside such as
Kalbarri - Denham - Monkey Mia - Dampier - Broome - Derby - Wyndham
As you have to go through Kununurra, then you may as well go and see Lake Argyle
There are hot springs in Katherine, and if you go about 100 kilometres southish, there are also hot springs in Mataranka, which is a tourist resort
Turning off the Stuart Highway and going through Batchelor, will take you to many places (on the bitumen) within Litchfield Park
Turning off the Stuart Highway to visit Berry Springs, I thought was worthwhile
On the Stuart Highway, on the outskirts of Darwin, there is a Airplane measuem, they have a B52 bomber there, and it is big
Darwin has topless buses, which is an interesting sightseeing tour, as you can jump on and off, as you please
6 weeks Perth to Darwin in a new van? Are you flying back from Darwin?
I suggest you go for about half of that distance. Maybe up the coast to Exmouth and back inland.
Cheers,
Peter
I have booked some tours at Lake Argyle and hope to do a fly over if the prices don't go up any more, very expensive.
There are so many places to see and things to visit in NT and I intend to see as much as I can with time permitting.
I have been told Cape Leveque is very much worth visiting, I think we will try and drop in on the way home.
I am looking forward to the hot springs in Katherine, Mataranka and to visit Berry Springs if we have time.
Thank you all again for all the information, it was very helpful.
Cheers.
John.
Karijini NP, but not in the school holidays, same as other key areas. If leaving via the east side there is a brilliant overnight place, Albert Tognolini Rest Area.
Agree, go for a few weekend trips to iron out bugs. Then a week or two to iron out bigger bugs & not too far from home.
You will soon find all the things you do NOT need to take to reduce payload.
Get TPMS, tyre repair kit & compressor & a couple of gauges. It's only once you have had a flat tyre, often destroyed if you do not have TPMS, out there you then realise how vulnerable you are.
In 2018 we destroyed 1 tyre & had 3 more flat tyres which we repaired ourselves.
If you can't repair a tyre & have no spares it makes one pretty nervous.
I did a spreadsheet for everything we stick in the car, absolutely frightening how quickly it all adds up.
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65110614/towing-weights-again/
The amount of stuff is incredible and required. Amazing.
Driving me crazy ATM. Its in the Garage, Spare Room and even Master Bedroom.