WA. trip to GTG 4th july 09

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

Hi all WA PPers.
I know its a while off but thought I would start a thread on how you would be getting to this GTG.
Got some questions to get a feel for what people are thinking.
Im not putting my hand up as an organiser or trip leader but more of a discussion starter.

would you prefer to travel alone, or as a group?.
And what route if in a group?.

There are several ways to get there and back.
Would you prefer to go there and back the same route or make a round trip?
dirt as much as possible or tarmac as much as possible?.
Leave begining of school hols or it doesnt matter?
etc, etc...

Jeff.
(ps Moderators... can this get linked in the WA notification thread please?)

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Would love to be part of a group travelling there. Am currently in WA but may be in Qld by that time. Count me in for WA at this point..
Will be looking to get a camper trailer in Alice also.

Don't mind a bit of dirt!!

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

Definately want to travel across and back as a WA group.

This group has already enjoyed several weekends away and numerous road trips and its a great group of people to hang out with.

As for the route .... I would like to see the Great Central Rd ... that makes it a relatively qiuck trip across. Another route could be across to Ceduna and then up through Googs Track ... which would probably only add a day to the trip.

Saturday the 4th July is the start of the GTG .... its also the first day of the school holidays ... so a WA group would need to leave on the preceeding Wednesday.

There's a few thoughts for the pot :lol:

Cheers
Chippy

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

I'm definatley wanting to travel with the group. My preference would be for a round trip, figuring we may as well see as much of the country as possible. While I prefer to be off the black top as much as possible, I guess the route will be a function of the least capable Prado/trailer set up in the group and the time allowed.
We can leave Perth any time after June 29.

Leachy.

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

As a group on dirt. I must admit I know nothing about the googs track but I don't want to spend too many days getting there and be knackered when we do. I too assumed it would involve the great central road but open to group ideas. It does make sense to see the most of the country while we're out and about.
Is it true Googs track is one way south-north? Obviously would make sense to do it that way if we're going to do it. Just how hard is it? Is it like a desert crossing where I'd be rediculously underpowered or just remote travel? The remoteness doesn't bother me as I feel pretty well prepared.
I am just a bit scared of being the achilles heal of the group.
Matt

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

As a group, dirt prefered

We could do the Googs track and on the way home go down the Gibb switch over to the canning and hook up on the Holland just to finish off or do you think thats toooo much :shock:

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

Well so far a group is the preferd. Prefered for me as well.
Bit of fun, and safer to boot.

The googs from what I have read is sth to nth. Not law, just the accepted way? 2 days. 370.7 K's Ceduna to Glendambo in SA. classed as difficult.
A prado pointer has done this from memory.

The great central road, Also known on some maps as Tjukaruru rd. goes from laverton WA to yulara NT Via warburton. Anyone have info on that?
Recomended duration, fuel, services, permits, phone numbers etc?


There are others, like warburton to laverton via Neale junction on the Anne beadel and connie sue tracks.
laverton to Neale junction (380K)is Classed as moderate and 2 days. Neale junction to Warburton (300ish) , moderate, 2 days.

I have the Book "Explore Australia by 4WD" by Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage.
They dont do the Tjukaruru (great Central rd) but they do Googs, anne beadell and the connie sue.
so I have pretty good info on those. including the names of topo paper maps, GPS co-ords, fuel info with phone numbers etc. etc


A good round trip would be the nullabor, googs, stuart hwy to alice.
alice to Yulara, warburton, laverton kal. just dont know how long that would take.

I dont think anyone would be underpowered. and between us we would be able to have all the comforts as well.

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

As a group, dirt prefered

We could do the Googs track and on the way home go down the Gibb switch over to the canning and hook up on the Holland just to finish off or do you think thats toooo much :shock:

Wow thats a big trip. That would be awesome but a bit out of reach for us at the moment. but if it gains weight i might be able to push a bigger hole for holidays...

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

I wouldn't have thought the Canning was trailarable??? Like earlier, not too fussed on remoteness, as long as we aren't actually pushing through dry desert scrub for 100's of k's.
I would probably be limited to three weeks holidays and would be wrapped to do trip in about 2.5 to give couple of days each way to pack/ un-pack and recover.

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

[quote="MattWhite
I would probably be limited to three weeks holidays and would be wrapped to do trip in about 2.5 to give couple of days each way to pack/ un-pack and recover.[/quote]

I'm pickin up what your puttin down there Matt.
Me too.

I'll do my best to get time frames for a round trip.

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

link for the Googs track report, thanks Mick L
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic....ighlight=googs

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

Time wise i`ll have to play it be ear as my wifes employer is really busy around July as its end of year and they need all of accounts people on hand :roll:

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

Explore oz has a good page of info from their members about the Great Central Road.
I think Im alowed to post a link to that page. Full credit must go to Explore Oz members for the contained info.
http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/WDese ... _Road.aspx
Laverton to Yulara, 1147.06 km 15 hr 45 min of actual driving time.

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

Well done Jeff, great site 8)

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

I'm thinking along the lines of direct route there and explore when we arrive as there must be heaps of tracks and things to do.

I don't really won't to spend 3 weeks driving and none exploring.
Maybe drive out to the other side and meet up with the guys coming in on the Simpson Run.
Surprise we where here first :lol: :lol:

We could pick up a new route heading back to Perth via more off road stuff.
Russ