SA members: trip planning to get to the 2014 GTG

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

I plan on heading out of little old Adelaide on Saturday morning. Haven't planned a route yet but it'll be slow and steady with plenty of scenery that doesn't include bitumen.

I'm free any night except Wednesday for a catch up.

good on you that's the way to do it, from reading here it looks like you & mlc have some planning to do.

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

+Just chatting about our plans for after the GTG.
Him: wants to stay on tour out of the Metropolis.
Her: let him do his thing, then hit the Metropolis for some shopping and Civilisation.
So a compromise will be thrashed out over the next few weeks.
Wish Me luck, Her: must have washing machine & hair dryer after camping adventure.
Him: must have more 4WDing & camping adventure.
Looking at heading out of the High Country and checking out the East Gippsland - Lakes Entrance region.
Recharged, laundered and with dry hair, would love to head into Wilsons Promontory N.P.
Then a spell on the Mornington Peninsular before hitting the big smoke.
After some time in Melbourne catching up with Family and the obligatory retail therapy for the Mrs. it will be more than likely the Western Freeway back to Adelaide before start of school term.
Only preliminary plans at this stage, will need to book a few sites etc. taking into account the Easter and ANZAC day dates.
Cheers
Troy

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

A bit of touring through the Grampians would be good on the return trip. I also thought of leaving on the Saturday for the trip over and taking my daughter along the Great Ocean Rd.
Not too sure at this stage what my plans are, plenty of time to decide. It all comes down to how much time I need to get everything ready.

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

I've managed to delay the start of some new projects at work so I'm now pretty certain we're going. The Mrs is sussing out her leave and it looks like we will probably leave on the Saturday now, as opposed to the Monday night (though I could actually leave the Wednesday before even). For those considering doing the great ocean road on the way there or back: I recommend you spend a few days around Apollo bay. The Otways is a beautiful place to drive around, and there should be plenty of tracks open in April. Most were closed when I was there in October. Forget the Otway Fly or whatever it's called. Waste of time. Make sure you visit the Koalas near Cape Otway. Bimbi Park was a good spot to spend a night with Koalas everywhere. It's a damn shame what they're doing to the trees actually. They'd make tasty pies but the activists will be upset about that....

Regards coming home: I need to be back no later than Easter Monday. So I don't really have much time on the way back.

I guess now that I bought a new ARB bar, snorkel, + IPFs etc at the camping show, I'm keeping the 1kz for a little while yet...

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

So, glad your joining me Ian.

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

So, glad your joining me Ian.

Gee, thanks Muppet Head. I heard you needed a drinking partner...

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Gee, thanks Muppet Head. I heard you needed a drinking partner...

Yes, I admit I have missed you on trips. Be good to have my bitch back. As an added bonus your lovely wife Jo will also be attending and can keep Lea company.

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

Gee, thanks Muppet Head. I heard you needed a drinking partner...

Just watch him Ian as far as the drinking bit goes. He is pretty loose with your beer,,, but watch him change when it's his turn to pay up.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Just watch him Ian as far as the drinking bit goes. He is pretty loose with your beer,,, but watch him change when it's his turn to pay up.

I'm easy going with everyone's stuff, not just beer. If its mine its a different story.

Rev, Coles has a special on XXXX, but its bottled under their own label being Coles brand toilet disinfectant"

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

I'm easy going with everyone's stuff, not just beer. If its mine its a different story.

Rev, Coles has a special on XXXX, but its bottled under their own label being Coles brand toilet disinfectant"

No doubt about you mlc, you never fail to spot the bargains, do you????

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

Just watch him Ian as far as the drinking bit goes. He is pretty loose with your beer,,, but watch him change when it's his turn to pay up.

You really have to question whether you want to drink with him at all. He's been caught with his pants down at previous GTGs. It's a personal safety issue really...

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

Just thought I'd revive this thread to ensure we are planning safe travels through to Mexico. At the moment my plan is to leave @11 on the sunday morning straight after my son's soccer game. We will head straight from adelaide through to Kiata Campground in Little Desert NP which is 400km. If we are making good time we'll look at Horseshoe bend Campground on the Wimmera River, but I suspect mosquitos will be a problem there... Wait and see re where exactly we stay. If we have company, we may hang around Little Desert on the Monday and explore some of the tracks. Then, on Tuesday, we will head from Little Desert to the heart of Mexico (aka Mansfield Caravan Park) for the Tuesday GTG arrival.

I haven't planned the way back. And the way there is still modifiable. It's not like I'm booking any accommodation or anything!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Well I really haven't thought about this much at all, but I got prompted today to have a look at a map. Grape Harvest looks like it will be knackered by the GTG so I think we will leave on the Sunday Morning.

Due to my intense dislike of bitumen I think I will have to suffer through the 3ks of it I need to do before hitting the dirt, as with our Trip to the 2011 GTG in QLD I think I can make it half way with little in the way of the black stuff.

Current thinking looks like heading out through Taplin into Sunset NP, take South Bore Track and head towards Big Desert NP, cross the Highway into Big Desert and get onto the Milmed Rock track which is supposed to be pretty deep sand and head towards Lake Albacutya. Camping somewhere along the track or around the lake. Then pick up some dirt roads through the farms heading due East and stopping around Kerang or Echuca.

From there probably pick up the blacktop if no other options present and rock into Mansfield Tuesday Lunchtime ish, give or take an ish.

If anyone else wants to leave from Loxton then sing out.

Cheers Andrew

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

AJ - do you have a reasonable idea where you'll get to on Sunday? We all might be able to meet there depending how far it is from Adelaide. Earliest we can get away is 11 due to morning sports!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Depending on whether I am on my own or not might determine how far we get. If on my own then I won't sight see through Sunset as I've been there plenty of times, so getting to lake Albycuta should be no problems. I should still get that far if people want to meet and I have someone else with me.

There are 3 campgrounds around the lake, no idea which one would be best for a group as I've not been there before. But my info says they all suit trailers.

Cheers Andrew