2009 PP GTG In The Red Centre.

[Big Fella Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Big Fella]

Mav,

We would love to come........ but, we are going OS Nov08 - Jan09 so funds may be tight still. However if it is at all possible we will be there...... but, I do not know where I will be working by then so it may not fit in with the schedule, but I can always try really really hard.

So, here's hoping mate!

The itinerary looks really good.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

PradoPoint GTG Iterary 2009


Day 1

Everyone make their way to Old Andado Station to meet up for Molly’s Bash. Old Andado Station has its own website that has a map on it to show how to get to it. Please remember that Molly’s Bash is a self catering event so bring your camper trailer, tent or swag and anything you may want in terms of food and drink

http://www.oldandado.com/images/Old_Andado_1.jpg

Old Andado Station

Day 2

Molly’s Bash – PP GTG meet forum friends and check out rigs etc.

Day 3 and Day 4

Okay today we will break camp and begin the two separate PP tour groups. One group will head out to cross the Simpson Desert and the other group will head up to Chambers Pillar on our way to Ross River Homestead. There will be time for the obligatory photo stops along the way before arriving at Ross River homestead where we will stay for two nights.



Chambers Pillar





Ross River Homestead has had a chequered history and for a few years was closed to the public whilst in the possession of Troy Dan. Unfortunately during this period the homestead was left to deteriorate quite badly but has now started its return to former glory.



Ross River Resort


There is a bar and dining room for those that want to have a sit down meal. Check out the website for the Ross River Resort for more info on what is available.


Ross River is east of Alice Springs and there are a few gorges that can be stopped at along the way, however I am proposing that we might like to take a side trip out to Arltunga to see how life was for the prospectors of yesteryear. Arltunga lies approximately 35 km from the Ross River Resort.



Day 5

We head back to Alice Springs to spend the night, camp ground to be determined at this stage but most likely will be the MacDonnell Range Holiday Park, the rest of day 5 is free for doing your own thing. There is the Old Telegraph Station on the north side of town for those that want to do some more sightseeing or even the Royal Flying Doctors Visitor Centre in Alice. You may like to take in the Alice Springs Desert Park on the western side of town near Flynns Grave.



Alice Springs

Day 6

Okay now it is time for us to up sticks and press on to the west of Alice Springs following the Western MacDonnell Ranges out to Glen Helen Resort. On our way out to Glen Helen we will be doing some side trips to see some of what the Western MacDonnell Ranges has to offer such as Simpsons Gap, Stanley Chasm, Ellery Big Hole, and Ormingston Gorge. Once we arrive at Glen Helen Resort there will be time to wander down to Glen Helen Gorge or maybe take a helicopter flight from the resort to take in the spectacular countryside of the area, this usually incorporates a flight through Glen Helen Gorge.



Glen Helen Gorge

Day 7

Right now it is on to the Mereenie Loop Road where we will travel down to Kings Canyon NP. Once at Kings Canyon we can set up camp for the night and settle in around the camp fire. Unfortunately our hands are somewhat tied when it comes to camp grounds at Kings Canyon and we have to stay at the Kings Canyon Resort Campground which does have high fees associated with it compared to other camp grounds.


Day 8

We can see if we can do a Ranger guided tour of the Canyon Rim taking in the Garden Of Eden and the Lost City or for those with mobility problems then there is an easier walk along the canyon floor. I suggest we do these activities early in the day and then in the afternoon head for the camp grounds at Yulara. If we are there early enough there could be the opportunity to take in a sunset watch of Ayres Rock.



Kings Canyon







Day 9

Okay today is free to tour around Ayres Rock and The Olgas, if you wish to climb the rock then it is best to do so in the early morning before the temps start to rise and the wind starts to blow. The rock climb is closed on days of high temps or high winds.


http://www.eriksadventures.com/ayers%20rock.jpg
Ayres Rock




Ayres Rock Climb

This evening we can have a final GTG BBQ.

Day 10

Time to head back to Erldunda roadhouse on the South Stuart HWY. Here we can farewell each other and start our journeys home. Those heading south may want to make for Coober Pedy that night. Those heading to Western Australia may want to take the short cut through Docker River rather than go down the Stuart HWY.



Notes:

So that is one proposed schedule that is totally open to being changed to suite the wishes of the majority but it gives us a starting point.

I will point out that instead of going back to Alice via Chambers Pillar there is the variant whereby we could go back to Alice via Rainbow Valley.



Rainbow Valley
We can also extend or shorten this itinerary depending on the majority of the group wishes in this regard. You could also decide to only do part of the itinerary as you wish.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

OK, just posted online version of the literary with few amendments to pics to save time . Mav feel free to copy to your top post to make it easier....

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

OK, just posted online version of the literary with few amendments to pics to save time . Mav feel free to copy to your top post to make it easier....

I will put a link in to the above itinerary post in the initial post. I will still leave the word document online for those that want to download a hard copy.

If we are going to go with a school holiday timeframe then Molly's Bash is out of the question I'm afraid. However we can all still gather at Old Andado Station for the general GTG.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

OK, the itinerary needs to change a little...
I'll be going through the Simpson Desert (if there are enough interest)
on the way to PP meet - from Birdsville to Dalhouse Springs to whatever PP meet up location is going to be and
we are going to visit all the places listed except Old Andando and we are planning on visiting Boggy Hole as well.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

OK, the itinerary needs to change a little...
I'll be going through the Simpson Desert (if there are enough interest)
on the way to PP meet - from Birdsville to Dalhouse Springs to whatever PP meet up location is going to be and
we are going to visit all the places listed except Old Andando and we are planning on visiting Boggy Hole as well.

Okay if we dispense with Old Andado Station and make the GTG at Ross River Resort the starting point then that would accommodate most peoples desires. Boggy Hole is not high on my hit list of places to go to especially during school holiday times. However if people wanted to do a trip out there on the day in Alice itself then that would work I guess. But if you are thinking of continuing on from there to Kings Canyon then that may put some people off as it is 4x4 only tracks. Perhaps this would be a point which the two groups could split and then rejoin at Kings Canyon campground.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Okay in order to fit the GTG in to a restricted timeframe and allow as many people as possible to attend I have adjusted the itinerary to the one you can find on this download.

http://www.mediafire.com/?e4h0xyhzvdi

I am also working on another itinerary that I will make available in the next couple of days.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

I have posted the iternary for 2009 Simpson Desert Leg here:
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=2846

[travelman Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close travelman]

A great idea. Hard to make a definite committment at this time but keen to see how this concept evolves. Has the potential to be a great trip.
Travelman

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Okay I have adjusted the itinerary a little to give a couple of options that were not in the original. The main deviation option is on Day 3.

Both Day 3's have their pluses and minuses so it will be up to the majority to decide which they prefer.

The download for the revised itinerary can be found at this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?gzhjtzd1ws1

However the non glossy version is as below:




Day 1 & 2

Everyone makes their way to Ross River Resort to begin the PP GTG.

Ross River Resort has had a chequered history and for a few years was closed to the public whilst in the possession of Troy Dan. Unfortunately during this period the homestead was left to deteriorate quite badly but has now started its return to former glory.

There is a bar and dining room for those that want to have a sit down meal. Check out the website for the Ross River Resort for more info on what is available.

Ross River is east of Alice Springs and there are a few gorges that can be stopped at along the way, however I am proposing that we might like to take a side trip out to Arltunga to see how life was for the prospectors of yesteryear. Arltunga lies approximately 35 km from the Ross River Resort.

Day 3

We head back to Alice Springs to spend the night, camp ground to be determined at this stage but most likely will be the MacDonnell Range Holiday Park, the rest of day 3 is free for doing your own thing. There is the Old Telegraph Station on the north side of town for those that want to do some more sightseeing or even the Royal Flying Doctors Visitor Centre in Alice. You may like to take in the Alice Springs Desert Park on the western side of town near Flynn’s Grave.


Day3 Alternative Itinerary

Instead of spending a free day in Alice Springs we drop the campers etc at the campground in Alice and continue down to Rainbow Valley for a BBQ lunch then head for Owen Springs Reserve which will bring us out onto Larapinta Drive we will then head back to the Campground for dinner.

There are a few choices on offer for this night as you could head off to the Overlander Steakhouse for a meal and show or the if you would like you could do a Spirit Dinner show at the Milky Way Café. There are of course, any number of options even down to sitting around the campfire with a BBQ.

Or we could stay at one of the two camping areas on the Owen Springs Reserve this night, I would say Red bank Gorge would be packed but we might have better luck at Lawrence Gorge. This would be a totally self sufficient night if we chose this option and we would then need to head back into Alice in the morning to get provisions. Of course it would save money in that we would not be stopping at the MacDonnell Range Tourist Park.

Day 4

Okay now it is time for us to up sticks and press on to the west of Alice Springs following the Western MacDonnell Ranges out to Glen Helen Resort. Today we see those who wish to do the extreme 4x4 part of the tour, split off as they make their way to Boggy Hole and then on to Kings Canyon whilst the rest of us will continue on to Glen Helen. We will be doing some side trips to see some of what the Western MacDonnell Ranges has to offer such as Simpson’s Gap, Stanley Chasm, Ellery Big Hole, and Ormiston Gorge. Once we arrive at Glen Helen Resort there will be time to wander down to Glen Helen Gorge or maybe take a helicopter flight from the resort to take in the spectacular countryside of the area, this usually incorporates a flight through Glen Helen Gorge.


Day5

Right, now it is on to the Mereenie Loop Road where we will travel down to Kings Canyon NP. Once at Kings Canyon we can set up camp for the night and settle in around the camp fire. Unfortunately our hands are somewhat tied when it comes to camp grounds at Kings Canyon and we have to stay at the Kings Canyon Resort Campground which does have high fees associated with it compared to other camp grounds. This is where we will meet up again with our extreme 4x4 brethren and have a BBQ dinner and maybe a few cold ones whilst relating stories of the trip so far.

Day 6

We can see if we can do a Ranger guided tour of the Canyon Rim taking in the Garden of Eden and the Lost City or for those with mobility problems then there is an easier walk along the canyon floor. I suggest we do these activities early in the day and then in the afternoon head for the camp grounds at Yulara. If we are there early enough there could be the opportunity to take in a sunset watch of Ayres Rock.

Day 7

Okay today is free to tour around Ayres Rock and The Olgas, if you wish to climb the rock then it is best to do so in the early morning before the temps start to rise and the wind starts to blow. The rock is closed on days of high temps or high winds. Some people like to do a sunrise viewing tour.

This evening we can have a final GTG BBQ.

Day 8

Time to head back to Erldunda roadhouse on the South Stuart HWY. Here we can farewell each other and start our journeys home. Those heading south may want to make for Coober Pedy that night. Those heading to Western Australia may want to take the short cut through Docker River rather than go down the Stuart HWY.



Notes:

There is the variant to Day 3 whereby we could go back to Alice then do a daytrip to Rainbow Valley.

We can also extend or shorten this itinerary depending on the majority of the group wishes in this regard. You could also decide to only do part of the itinerary as you wish.

Unfortunately due to Molly’s Bash not coinciding with school holidays this event has had to be done away with for the PP GTG.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Sure looks enticing. and enough time to organize holidays.

I notice no WA ppers have replied to the thread yet.
It would be a trek just to get there but would be so good.

there are some great treks to get there or even by tar.
There is Gun barrel, tjukaruru road, or the nullarbor then googs track that could be combined with the SA ppers.

We could discuss this over the next few WAPP trips.

Good idea
Jeff.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

I'm certainly putting the GTG into the planning mix.

Be great to head over with a WA crew as well :lol:

Cheers
Chippy

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Sure looks enticing. and enough time to organize holidays.

I notice no WA ppers have replied to the thread yet.
It would be a trek just to get there but would be so good.

there are some great treks to get there or even by tar.
There is Gun barrel, tjukaruru road, or the nullarbor then googs track that could be combined with the SA ppers.

We could discuss this over the next few WAPP trips.

Good idea
Jeff.

Jeff there are definitely WA PPers that have indicated their interest in attending, I would be very surprised if there were none at the GTG.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

As a comparison the first ever FJ Cruiser Get together in Ouray, Colorado last year had 180 FJ's, This year it is capped @ 300. Next year it will have to be moved to Durango, Colorado or Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri so it can accommodate 500+ vehicles.

So, it looks like you have a good start.

-Ben

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

As a comparison the first ever FJ Cruiser Get together in Ouray, Colorado last year had 180 FJ's, This year it is capped @ 300. Next year it will have to be moved to Durango, Colorado or Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri so it can accommodate 500+ vehicles.

So, it looks like you have a good start.

-Ben

I do hope we get a good turn out but it will not be anything like the FJ turn out. Wow 500 FJs in one place there would not be too many parks that would be able to cater for that many would there?

I guess once we decide on an exact start date then we will have a better idea of how many will be able to attend. Stan and I have been in discussion about this and I think we are close to making a decision on this.

If we get enough players then I might see if Ross River Resort can do a christmas in July theme if there is sufficient interest from the group.