When to head East

brimhunter · Veteran Member

When to head East

Eaglemax · Guru

My only comment is to not get to Darwin/tropics before mid June. I got to Darwin mid May 2016 and fried.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes summer is wet season in NT . Some roads maybe flooded .

2-Smiths · Veteran Member

Eaglemax wrote:
My only comment is to not get to Darwin/tropics before mid June. I got to Darwin mid May 2016 and fried.

To be fair, Darwin has reasonably consistent temp. ranges throughout the year. As a guide, usual ranges are 22-23 lows, to 33-35 highs.

The big kicker is the wet season, including the "build up", which generally starts in September. That's when the humidity starts to really build up, without the relieving rains (which come later in the year).

It's why we had our wedding there in June (1996)...best possible time of the year. Still warm, but dry.

PeterD · Guru

2-Smiths wrote:
To be fair, Darwin has reasonably consistent temp. ranges throughout the year. As a guide, usual ranges are 22-23 lows, to 33-35 highs.

Darwin may have consistent temperatures throughout the year but most of the north does not. You locals in WA tell me not to go north of Carnarvon in months with an 'R' in them. likewise you are not wise to tour the southern states in winter. If you are heading off now then go east. If you are going after Anzac Day then go north.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Hi brim hunter, February, March, April is a great time to visit the NSW north coast and QLD if you time your run properly you should be able to hit the top end in the dry season and come down the coast of WA in the cooler months. You didn't say when you intended to leave or how long you were planning to take but personally I'd wait another month or so and hope that this current heat that we are experiencing backs off. We used to live in Karatha which was good for Mangrove Jacks but a little bit too far south for catching Barra.

Cheers
BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 24th of January 2019 08:55:45 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

PeterD wrote:
You locals in WA tell me not to go north of Carnarvon in months with an 'R' in them.

Good one!

jrg · Senior Member

You Haven,t given us a time frame so assuming long service 3 to 4 months I,d leave early April making the Nullabor pleasant then up the east coast doing the north both Qld and the NT May June and home early July makes the most of the seasonal weather patterns .On our 1st trip being in WA we high tailed it to Broome in-between we figured could be done later and concentrated on the east coast .

Bobdown · Guru

Recent Article in magazine..........time it with school holidays...... not
Avoid crowds and price rises
Cheers Bob

Whenarewethere · Guru

Head inland during school holidays. In NSW if spending some time it might pay to get a NP pass for the car, there are different versions, ie all of NSW except Kosciuszko NP is a good one, then you only pay for camping & it is still the honesty box mostly, the further west it is cheaper. High profile NP camping at the coast have a full time NP Ranger.

Bald Rock is worth doing, walk up the front & then down the back. If the camp is full there is another one back a few km towards Tenterfield which is nice. Point Lookout, & Cathedral Rock nearby are both nice with interesting walks lower down at P.L. but fairly hard work for us oldies.

Border Ranges NP is nice but watch your tyres, spoke to a garage in Kyogle & they replace 30 tyres a week, the gravel roads don't look that bad but stones tend to go straight through tyres so drive gently, ours being one of the casualties many years ago!

PeterD · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Head inland during school holidays. In NSW if spending some time it might pay to get a NP pass for the car, there are different versions, ie all of NSW except Kosciuszko NP is a good one, then you only pay for camping & it is still the honesty box mostly, the further west it is cheaper. High profile NP camping at the coast have a full time NP Ranger.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service - That page leads you to the NSW info on parks passes. Click on the link discount and concession annual passes and scroll down to the heading Pensioner and veterans concession annual park pass and apply for a free pass if you are an eligible pensioner.

villatranquilla · Guru

the weather on the south and east coast is usually best Mar, April, May

Stretch60 · Senior Member

Don't do it now like us, wanted to be in Victoria for new years and have travelled up the east coast as far as Gympie and now slowly making our way back towards Eyre peninsula for February. Home by March 2nd. Currently sitting in lightning ridge, 45c and aircon going flat out to keep us cool. Just so happened our trip coincided with a record heatwave. Have chosen to stay in CPs to utilise the 240v hence the budget has taken a hit.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Nov 17 to Jan 18 we did Lorne to west Eyre Peninsula, on the way back over New Year we were in North Flinders Ranges for a week, weather was great but we got out before the 45 plus heatwave hit. A week earlier we were at Sheringa Beach & unless you were actually in the water the heat was terrible.

brimhunter · Veteran Member

Thanks all for replies
Actually time isnt an issue Am waiting on some work done on BT50 ie Roof top tent, Dual Battery and finnish off Drawers in Tub.
Cant be done till end of Feb so once all work done i can chuff off wasnt going to do Eastern States but my brother planted the seed wit the suggestion.
Im in Pingelly WA so will head to Esperance then up to Norseman then accross.
Doesnt matter if im away 5 or 6 months just going to enjoy.
Thanks again for all the replies
Brimhunter

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I suggest that 5 or 6 months is insufficient for what you are planning, so skipping the east coast and leaving it for another time would be a good idea.
Cheers,
Peter