we are looking to head off from Melbourne in April 2014 and need to be in Broome by late September 2014 and we cannot decide which way to go!
i want to head north, up thru rural NSW / Qld and over to Alice then up and around top of WA to Broome ... And Deb wants to head across the Nullabor to Perth and head up the coast. Either way ... We will be doing the big lap.
any comments and feedback would be very much appreciated.
I like Debs choice .. have crossed the Nullabor 3 times now (clockwise) .. Can take your time .. and once heading north in WA towards Broome, wait til you see the newly hatched little dragon-flies appear overnight .. this tells you that the "wet" is over .. then enjoy your time in Broome and move on comfortably across the top after that .. worked for me ~!
Should you decide to traverse the Nullarbor first and then head up the WA coast (or inland) to arrive in Broome for September, you will be sitting very close to the Tropics with the "wet" beginning from October through to February - hottest and very likely the wettest (and most cyclonic) time of the year. Therefore you would either want to head back south, re-tracing your steps, or stay in the north of WA enjoying the next six months until the "wet" ends. You could then recommence your lap after the "wet" has subsided.
Conversely, north from Melbourne, through NSW, QLD across to the Alice, onwards and upwards to Darwin, wander slowly down to Broome, arriving about September having enjoyed the best weather (usually) the tropics provide.
There is, of course, always a downside to all choices June to September in the 'northern climes' will be packed with travellers in the caravans, motorhomes, camper-trailers, tents all also enjoying the winter in the northern climes. If you don't mind crowds then this will not be an issue.
Then you could continue southward from Broome at your leisure and spend the summer in the gorgeous SW of WA.
As always with these sort of choices, it all depends on YOU ... only YOU know what you would like to do ... how much time you have (or want to take) etc.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
I have heard that it is better to drive from West to East on the Nullarbor because of the westerly winds - I am not sure if this is right or not as I haven't been fortunate to take that great journey as yet but it is on the bucket list.
Having spoken to a number of people who have made the Big Trip we are planning to go anti clockwise, mainly because of the winds, these can greatly affect the fuel consumption, also if we stay a bit longer up the top than planned, we wont be in the wet
We're starting our trip, in the clockwise direction, mostly because when we did it the other way we arrived in South WA in late August which was great for wildflowers but very cold around Esperence etc. Hopefully it will be warmer in Autumn when we get there this time.
Whichever way you go, enjoy! And try to find a spot to "Hide" in the NT/WA/Qld school hols in July!
we are looking to head off from Melbourne in April 2014 and need to be in Broome by late September 2014 and we cannot decide which way to go!
i want to head north, up thru rural NSW / Qld and over to Alice then up and around top of WA to Broome ... And Deb wants to head across the Nullabor to Perth and head up the coast. Either way ... We will be doing the big lap.
any comments and feedback would be very much appreciated.
cheers - Weg
Gday...
I agree there is not much difference going clockwise or anti-clockwise - except some reasons of personal preference.
However, the OP has stated they are leaving Melbourne in APRIL 2014 ... and needing to be in Broome by late SEPTEMBER 2014. That would suggest they will be in Broome at the beginning, or close to, the start of the "wet season" (October to February) - hottest, wettest, most cyclonic time in that area - and places north.
Therefore if they have left Melbourne in April heading clockwise they will have arrived in Broome in September and to proceed further in a clockwise direction would mean being up in the Tropic North during that "wet season". Not a problem I guess, they could hang around the top half of WA and soak up all the good sights etc and then re-commence the clockwise direction in February 2015 ... or head back anti-clockwise and re-visit other places - or if having gone up the coast, head south inland or vice versa. September onwards when inland is damned hot though at that time.
But ... if they leave Melbourne in April 2014 and go anti-clockwise then they will have enjoyed the top half of Straya in the best weather, arriving in Broome in the September and then can simply continue anti-clockwise, without backtracking, and going on to see the rest of that fantastic state of WA.
Just my thoughts I guess ... doubt if I would be going clockwise leaving Victoria in April and sitting out, or travelling through, the "wet season"
Each to their own I guess.
Cheers - John
__________________
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
June to September in the 'northern climes' will be packed with travellers in the caravans, motorhomes, camper-trailers, tents all also enjoying the winter in the northern climes. If you don't mind crowds then this will not be an issue.
