WA. trip to GTG 4th july 09

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

Hi Russ.
I know what your saying.
I think the GTG is just that. lots of day trips in and around alice.
I know it starts 4th july but I dont think it has been given an afficial end date. That might not happen for months.

Its going to take around 5 days for us WAers to get there, same coming back. Thats with out too many detours. I guess 4 days would be the shortest time with out driving each of us into the ground. but still seeing the main attactions each route has to offer.

The date for the end of the GTG itinerary, and the date we all need to be back to work or school, will decide how many days we have to get home, exploring as we do it. we can always leave early. and if Ularu is the last stop, its the closest to Yulara and the great central road home.

I dont want it to be an iron but rally and do rediculous K's in rediculous hours. And surprising the easterners would be good too... They dont read this do they???? is the WA only decoder scrambler on??? :?:

I was planning on 3 weeks holidays. but I havnt put it in yet, and its still over 1 year away, so that might change.

Jeff.

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

Just had alook at Mav's post on the itinerary.
Day 7 uluru and then day 8 is heading back to stuart highway. This could be left up to the other staters and day 8 could be the first day for our return trip, if the way home is the great central rd
Day 8 would make it 12th july.

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

Sounds like a good plan Jeff :idea:

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

I'm looking at going via the Tanami Track.

Would then probably come back via the Great Central road.

(Holidays permitting)


Chuck

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

Jeff,

Starting the return trip on day 8 sounds great to me. I just found out we need to get back to Perth then jump straight on a plane to the US.

leachy

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

Just had alook at Mav's post on the itinerary.
Day 7 uluru and then day 8 is heading back to stuart highway. This could be left up to the other staters and day 8 could be the first day for our return trip, if the way home is the great central rd
Day 8 would make it 12th july.

That was the way I had planned it Jeff, I think I actually said in the Itinerary that the WA PPers could head back to WA on the morning of Day 8 from Ayres Rock going back through Docker River or which ever way you guys might want to go. I would only expect some of the Queenslanders and Eastern and Southern states to head back to Erldunda then head off on their merry ways.

The idea of the GTG is primarily to get to meet other members and have some fun along the way. The kick off point will be Ross River Resort. Day 1 will be the rally point day so there will be people arriving throughout the day and evening at the resort. I am looking at getting some kind of BBQ/Spit Roast happening on this day so that folks arriving after driving all day will have the comfort of a meal without having to cook it themselves.

Day 2 will consist of a day trip leaving from Ross River and ending back there in the afternoon. This is likely to include N'Dhala gorge, Trephina Gorge and Arltunga Historic Reserve. There is the possibility that we will do a big circle through Ruby Gap and this is all 4x4 tracks. However it may be that some folks will do that and folks who don't want to do 4x4 work all day will just do the N'Dhala, Trephina and Arltunga part.

Day 3 will see us head back to Alice with the rest of the day totally free to do what you want. There is a stack of things to do such as the Desert Park etc. I will be putting on a day trip to Rainbow valley and Owens Springs Reserve for those that want to do some more 4x4 stuff, that will see us back in at Alice in the late afternoon and the evening free to do what you want, either BBQ at the camp ground or take one of the many dinner outings that the area has to offer. I have suggested one example in the Itinerary but there are other venues available.

Day 4 will see us head out to Glen Helen taking in the gorges on the way out there. Some folks may want to head off with Stan and do some real 4x4 stuff by going through Boggy Hole and on down to Kings Canyon. This is a difficult trip and I think Stan intends to camp overnight at Boggy Hole or thereabouts.

We were at Kings Canyon this weekend, we only arrived back in Alice this afternoon and I took a rushed photo of this poster that was hanging in the reception area of the resort. It is the trip Stan is thinking of doing but this poster is talking about the trip in the reverse direction.



The folks that go to Glen Helen, which I expect will be a majority of people, will overnight there.

Day 5 This morning the Glen Helen folks will head off down to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop Road and all going to plan, Stans group will rejoin us at the resort at Kings canyon on the same day.

The loop road is a bit on the rough side with corrugations and we will have the opportunity to check out Gosse Bluff on the way if we get on the road early enough. I would like us to be at the resort just after 1 pm as allowing an hour to setup camp I am endeavouring to get a Ranger guided tour of the Canyon to start around 2:30 pm.

We will overnight at the Kings Canon Resort and I will be doing up a segment on the resort for the main GTG thread shortly.

Day 6 will see us off to the Yulara camp grounds, we should be there in plenty of time to set up camp and have time to spare before doing the sunset viewing of the Rock.

Day 7 wil be a free day to do as you want at the Rock ie climb it or go out to The Olgas etc. As this will be the last real day together I think we will try and organise a bit of a farewell BBQ etc to end the GTG and Day 8 will see everyone departing for their homes.


Hope that puts a perspective on what we are trying to achieve. I personally have been putting in some hard yards to get the resorts on side out here as it is their peak tourist time. I think I have made some head way and only have Yulara left to enlighten. :lol:

I have some other things up my sleeve that Stan is going to assist with but until we get some hard yes or nos from certain people we cannot say too much about this as it may not happen. But if it does I think we will all be happy.

Cheers

Mav

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

Mav ... you're doing an awesome job ... and the success of this GTG will be a testament to the amount of running around you are doing now.

The pics of the camping areas, and the whole relaxed itinerary, have helped to convince the family that this is a trip we cannot miss.

Yes .. I want to get out and drive around .... but I can also appreciate that families need a bit of relax time and don't want to spend all day bouncing around in a 4WD ..... and your itinerary allows for all of that.

Keep up the good work mate ... we're all looking forward to it.

Cheers
Chippy

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

That's awesome Mav.From a personnal point of view, I love that a couple of the days are loop days as in not moving camp. It gives people the opportunity to not move too much if it suits them. Eg- if I'm keen but Tam isn't we can do our own thing for the day and meet at camp for night.
Again, thank you for all your tireless work and look forward to meeting you all.

MT+E

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

alright! Time to stop this conversation....NOW!

I am part of the organising committee for an international conference in Perth that week so we can't go

so no more talkies about Perth PPers and the GTG - OK!

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

alright! Time to stop this conversation....NOW!

I am part of the organising committee for an international conference in Perth that week so we can't go

so no more talkies about Perth PPers and the GTG - OK!

Priorities Glenn, priorities!! :wink:

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

Going by what Mav and Jeff have said, I agree that heading back on the great central is the easiest option. I came back that way last year. A fairly decent graded highway now. Quite smooth, only a few corrugated sections at least it was then.

You can only legally camp/stop at the roadhouses as the surrounding land is aboriginal land. Warakurrna/Giles was good (weather station tour at sunrise is worthwhile), Warburton camping area is a dump, avoid it. Tjukayirla is a good spot to stop.

As for getting there, there's a huge number of options, depending on how long you have before hand. Googs track would be a good one to keep time down.

We went the long way. Perth, Norseman, Ceduna, Wirrula. Then on the dirt from Wirrula to Glendambo. Back on the blacktop to Coober Peddy. Then on the dirt to Oodnadatta, Dalhousie Springs, Finke, up the old Ghan line, into Chambers pillar, and then into Alice (7 days). Keep in mind though that I don't mind 1000km+ days on the blacktop.

John

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

Hmmmmmm, this could be an interesting prospect...

I'll have to have a chat to MUMSRIG herself and see what she thinks..

Mitch

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

Mav ,
keep up the awesome tour guide planning and you won't have to pay for any drinks at the bar.
We are all enjoying the slide shows and information you are compiling and I will agree the intinery looks fantastic .Well done.The voice over work needs some improvement thou. :lol:

Russ

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

Top stuff mav.
As Russ said. you wont need to buy any drinks. Cause russ is paying..
Just jokin. I'll get you one...

I have already told work that I wont be around in July 09.
I am happy to do what the group wants. And looking at the map it would be grouse to do it via chambers pillar. But 7 days.mmm. Not much more than the 5+ we are looking at. And if Dalhousie springs was included we could probably time it with the simpson crossing party.
That's the trouble with being so far away. there is so much that is on the way, but (relatively)so little time to get there. Would also be amazing to drive from Perth to birdsville to do the Simpson crossing as well. (tell me I'm dreaming).

And the return Via great central road. If it is smooth, and the average speed is up, it leaves more time to side track. Someone (moto?) mentioned the Holland track on the way back. If travel is easy down the GCR it could be within most peoples time frames.
When do you fly out leachy??

Decisions decisions..

[pearlie Member Find all posts View Profile Close pearlie]

Just contacted Johnno's Camper Hire and they have 2 campertrailers available from 2nd July 09 through to 16th so if you want to hire one, get in quick. The trailers cost $60 - $66 per day. They need a $100 deposit, non-refundable. 8)

Addit.. apparently Johnno's will have more camper trailers available for the time slot we need. Advise getting onto them or mav for more details.