Hi, I am after some advice to help us plan our driving holiday at Christmas 2016. We are planning to drive from Gold Coast to Perth in a motorhome. We will leave Gold Coast on Xmas Eve and plan to be in Perth for New Year's Eve to celebrate with our friends. My Hubby wants to see the great ocean road but what is the best route including must see places on our trip to and from Perth. We are driving a 2WD motorhome. Best places to stop overnight etc. Any help or advice off anybody that has already drove from Gold Coast to Perth.
We really want to do some amazing sight seeing on our journey.
Looking forward to hearing from you all
Thanks Allyson Darren & Lauren
-- Edited by Awanty1 on Sunday 31st of January 2016 08:53:06 PM
Gee.....good luck planning that......personally to include sight seeing for that I would be thinking about three weeks minimun.
A motorhome gold coast to perth is 4400 k just doing highway1 and about 630 k a day about 7 hours driving each day dosent leve much tme for a look see.......
Looks like just a straight out drive.......... Sorry
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Hi Bushpie, Thank you for your reply. I didn't explain myself post properly so apologises . We are planning to do round trip in 18 days . It's just we need to be in Perth a week after we start then spend 2days in Perth and then make our way back to Gold Coast within 9 days
Hi Bushpie, Thank you for your reply. I didn't explain myself post properly so apologises . We are planning to do round trip in 18 days . It's just we need to be in Perth a week after we start then spend 2days in Perth and then make our way back to Gold Coast within 9 days
This will certainly be a quick trip with no time for sightseeing. Have you driven long distances before?
You are looking at 10,500km in 18 days @ nearly 600km a day every day.
Keep in mind that the Nullarbor can be very hot at Christmas.
Cheers Neil
-- Edited by Delta18 on Sunday 31st of January 2016 09:46:44 PM
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
As Bushpie said good luck trying to plan that. Still can be done if you don't sleep and drive fast. Of course that would mean higher fuel costs and the odd speeding ticket and depending on what type of motorhome you have. Use a video camera so you can see what you missed.
Pete
Hi Bushpie, Thank you for your reply. I didn't explain myself post properly so apologises . We are planning to do round trip in 18 days . It's just we need to be in Perth a week after we start then spend 2days in Perth and then make our way back to Gold Coast within 9 days
Now that is a "driving holiday"
Personally I think you'd be better flying and spending more time in the West, and around Perth, touring around in a hire car.
Sixteen days to do 8800 kilometres (as per Bushpie's 4400 klm) is going some, unless that is you just enjoy driving.
But I have friends who drive like that everywhere.
Hi Bushpie, Thank you for your reply. I didn't explain myself post properly so apologises . We are planning to do round trip in 18 days . It's just we need to be in Perth a week after we start then spend 2days in Perth and then make our way back to Gold Coast within 9 days
Try Qantas and ask for their best price. At least you'll do that trip safely.
Hi thanks Everyone, Looks like we need to go back to drawing board and allow ourselves 4 weeks . 2 weeks to get Perth and 2weeks to get back to Gold Coast. Will just scale down on the amount of sight seeing
We would still appreciate some advice of you all on must see places. And just plan to see a couple
-- Edited by Awanty1 on Sunday 31st of January 2016 09:57:34 PM
4 weeks is still cutting it fine but it's getting better.
Have you seen the west before? Will you come again?
Eyre Peninsula in SA is amazing, Port Augusta to Ceduna via Port Lincoln around tha coast is fabulous, could easilly ues 2 weeks there without hardly scratching the surface.
The south coast of WA should be done on the way or way back. Margret River, Augusta, Albany to Esperence, beautiful.
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
I don't think you will have much time to see much in 9 days each way , and it will be hot at that time of the year , A plane ride to Perth and do a motor home trip some time when you don't have so far to travel so you can enjoy it .
Hi, No we've never been west before , furthest we've been is up to port Douglas and down to Sydney. Thank you for the advice, we still have 11months to plan, so will definitely try and see some of the places you mentioned. And perhaps even do 5 weeks, if we can work it around our jobs.
Hi, No we've never been west before , furthest we've been is up to port Douglas and down to Sydney. Thank you for the advice, we still have 11months to plan, so will definitely try and see some of the places you mentioned. And perhaps even do 5 weeks, if we can work it around our jobs.
Now you are in with a chance if you can stretch it out to five weeks........ I gather beaches are good for you...... On your way over go down to Esperance do a nigt or two just to take in the coastline there....fantastic.... You can then make your way up to Perth ..."maybe do the tree walk in Walpole ...... So much.... So little time
I have crossed the Nulabor only twice .....both times camped out on the Great Australian Bight on the edge just follow the track in......
Because it is such a big trip perhaps do a couple days of driving then have a rest day at your chosen tourist points of interest. That will break it up and keep you fresh
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I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
I must agree with others - even five weeks to go Gold Coast to Perth and return would not be an enjoyable "holiday" - unless you really did just like driving and not sightseeing.
This snap from Google Maps gives some indication of the journey IF you took this shortest route. If you spent eight hours actually driving each day (probably 10 hour days) that alone would be six days @ 730-odd Km per day at an average of about 90Kph.
I would think that if you calculated fuel costs (and accommodation) for that trip, and compared it to a flight, motel, hire car you might find it is more economical (and far more relaxing) to fly.
I have been across the Nullarbor a few times - first time I took three weeks and enjoyed it thoroughly, once due to emergency back in Victoria I came back from Kalgoorlie to Ceduna in two days ... and the last time six days.
Cheers - John
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I must agree with others - even five weeks to go Gold Coast to Perth and return would not be an enjoyable "holiday" - unless you really did just like driving and not sightseeing.
This snap from Google Maps gives some indication of the journey IF you took this shortest route. If you spent eight hours actually driving each day (probably 10 hour days) that alone would be six days @ 730-odd Km per day at an average of about 90Kph.
I would think that if you calculated fuel costs (and accommodation) for that trip, and compared it to a flight, motel, hire car you might find it is more economical (and far more relaxing) to fly.
I have been across the Nullarbor a few times - first time I took three weeks and enjoyed it thoroughly, once due to emergency back in Victoria I came back from Kalgoorlie to Ceduna in two days ... and the last time six days.
Cheers - John
they wanted to go or come back via the great ocean road so you can add a bit
Thanks everyone for all your advice it is much appreciated. It definitely looks like we've been to ambitious with our planned trip We may have to rethink our trip altogether and just do half of the journey and back and re arrange to fly to Perth at a different time of year
Well you can fly to perth , Hire a motorhome there take it back to Melbourne ,Fly from Melbourne to Gold Coast , And take your time from Perth to Melbourne and see things like the Great Ocean Road
Well you can fly to perth , Hire a motorhome there take it back to Melbourne ,Fly from Melbourne to Gold Coast , And take your time from Perth to Melbourne and see things like the Great Ocean Road
this could be an excellent suggestion to start a plan
Hi Everyone, Just to keep you posted I've made an amazing discovery, one of my customers is a tour guide specialising in outback adventurers. He is going to help me plan our trip so we make the most of our 4- 5 week trip to Perth and back. We may even be able to meet up with him on our travels. He is also going to give us contact details of people he knows just incase he's not around or even if we need any help with anything. Feeling totally motivated and excited For ghis trip. As you sll know its not until Xmas this year but will keep you posted on our travels and will post some pics as well. Regards Allyson
