Adelaide to Alice

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

Hey guys we are heading from melb to the GTG next year and needed some advise we have the Melb to Adelaide route calculated but needed some advise for the following

Adelaide to Alice

Reccomended stops and sights

Considerations

Only wanted to drive about 4 to 5 hrs per day
Will be towing a camper trailer for the first time so dirt roads only for diffuculty
Recovery gear is limited to basics and we will be by ourselves no winch.

Happy to tag along with any adelaide guys if a route is already being scoped

Cheers

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

Hey guys we are heading from melb to the GTG next year and needed some advise we have the Melb to Adelaide route calculated but needed some advise for the following

Adelaide to Alice

Reccomended stops and sights

Considerations

Only wanted to drive about 4 to 5 hrs per day
Will be towing a camper trailer for the first time so dirt roads only for diffuculty
Recovery gear is limited to basics and we will be by ourselves no winch.

Happy to tag along with any adelaide guys if a route is already being scoped

Cheers

So do you want to do something other than head up the tar? I think that some of the Adelaidians are getting together to do a scenic drive up. 4 to 5 hours per day is going to make a slow haul up to the GTG from Adelaide.

If you were to head up the tar then I would suggest leaving Adelaide around 1 pm and make your way up to Pt Augusta. There is a Big 4 caravan park near the Stuart HWY turn off. Then the next day would be Pt Augusta to Coober Pedy, you want to stay a day in Coober Pedy to have a look around then Coober Pedy to Stuarts Well (Jims Place). They have a caravan park with pool and spa etc, good meals. Jims Place is only 80 Kms from Alice but you do not want to be on the road after dark as there are too many roos. So next day it is an 80 km trip to Alice to resupply then out to the GTG at Ross River Resort which is 77 km out along the Ross HWY from Alice.

I have made a more detailed report on the Pt Augusta to Alice road in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4726

Just check the last post in that thread.

Cheers

Mav

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Adelaide to Alice

Hey Chester, we'll be leaving from MEL too and it will be our first time towing a camper a long distance as well. Maybe we can work something out, I have my winch fitted and recovery gear etc.

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

Hey guys we are heading from melb to the GTG next year and needed some advise we have the Melb to Adelaide route calculated but needed some advise for the following

Adelaide to Alice

Reccomended stops and sights

Considerations

Only wanted to drive about 4 to 5 hrs per day
Will be towing a camper trailer for the first time so dirt roads only for diffuculty
Recovery gear is limited to basics and we will be by ourselves no winch.

Happy to tag along with any adelaide guys if a route is already being scoped

Cheers

So do you want to do something other than head up the tar? I think that some of the Adelaidians are getting together to do a scenic drive up. 4 to 5 hours per day is going to make a slow haul up to the GTG from Adelaide.

If you were to head up the tar then I would suggest leaving Adelaide around 1 pm and make your way up to Pt Augusta. There is a Big 4 caravan park near the Stuart HWY turn off. Then the next day would be Pt Augusta to Coober Pedy, you want to stay a day in Coober Pedy to have a look around then Coober Pedy to Stuarts Well (Jims Place). They have a caravan park with pool and spa etc, good meals. Jims Place is only 80 Kms from Alice but you do not want to be on the road after dark as there are too many roos. So next day it is an 80 km trip to Alice to resupply then out to the GTG at Ross River Resort which is 77 km out along the Ross HWY from Alice.

I have made a more detailed report on the Pt Augusta to Alice road in this thread:

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4726

Just check the last post in that thread.

Cheers

Mav

I've stayed at Cadney Homestead, north of Coober Pedy. i thought that was pretty reasonable but not touristy at all BUT was only staying there so arrived late and left early.

I agree that 4-5 days would be a real slow drive. Last time I did the trip between Adelaide and Alice we did it all in one day and was about 14 hours I think, but some of that was NT speeds which you wouldn't want to do with a heavy load.

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

D4D we were planning on leaving Melb on the sat before the GTG 27th Juni think and then doing great ocean rd / coast rd to Adelaide then up to Alice have not firmed up where we will stay on the way so PM me if you want to work something out

That goes for anyone else heading from Melb or wants to meet upin Adelaide

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

...but some of that was NT speeds which you wouldn't want to do with a heavy load.

Just a reminder that the NT now has a 130km/hr speed limit on the Stuart Highway.

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

...but some of that was NT speeds which you wouldn't want to do with a heavy load.

Just a reminder that the NT now has a 130km/hr speed limit on the Stuart Highway.

They might now but not in 1996 they didn't. Only in the towns. Open roads was, well, open. We sat on about 135 which I would suggest would suck away any economy with a trailer or caravan.

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

They might now but not in 1996 they didn't. Only in the towns. Open roads was, well, open.

They didn't in 2006 either, but everything changed in 2007 due to having the nations worse road toll. We've also introduced demerit points in the NT as well. Sadly, despite some of these 'road safety' changes, the NT road toll has continued to rise almost reaching the highest level ever since records were kept in the early 80s.

Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is to drive at a safe speed to suit your style, vehicle and the conditions, always wear your seatbelt and take regular breaks to prevent fatigue (which catches too many tourists and visitors - often just falling asleep at the wheel).

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Adelaide to Alice

Were going down to Adelaide from Alice leaving on the Australia day weekend via Oodnadatta track (Marla, Oodnadatta, William Creek, Marree, Leigh Creek and Flinders Ranges) and come in to Barossa Valley then Adelaide for the Big Day Out 09.

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

Hey guys we are heading from melb to the GTG next year and needed some advise we have the Melb to Adelaide route calculated but needed some advise for the following

Adelaide to Alice

Reccomended stops and sights

Considerations

Only wanted to drive about 4 to 5 hrs per day
Will be towing a camper trailer for the first time so dirt roads only for diffuculty
Recovery gear is limited to basics and we will be by ourselves no winch.

Happy to tag along with any adelaide guys if a route is already being scoped

Cheers

Hi Chester,

we did the Woomera to Darwin drive last year and there are quite a few places to stop. I would also suggest staying at Port Augusta. From Port Augusta to Pimba (or Woomera 8km further) is only a few stops to take some pickies.

I would suggest stopping at Woomera and having a look at the old rocket speciments and museum in town. With photos stops, it's only about 3 hours from Port Augusta. If you are into seeing a mining operation, a further 80km detour will get you to Roxby and the you can take a plant tour from there.

From there you can either go north via the Borefield rd and take the Oodnadata track to Marla or head back to the main highway and onto Coober Pedy. If you take the track there are quite a few places to see and stay. I would definatelly have a good look around Coober Pedy if you take the main highway. Quite interesting history there. Most shops offer a mini museum.

When we drove to Darwin, it was a trip for a friend's wedding so we did 8hr days from the SA border to Darwin. But there are plenty of places to camp and lots to see. Unfortunatelly we didn't go off the main highway this time around until we got to Matarranka. Oh and all off this was with a camper trailer, 3 kids (including an 8mo) in a '96 Hilux diesel.

Peter

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

Re: Adelaide to Alice

They might now but not in 1996 they didn't. Only in the towns. Open roads was, well, open.

They didn't in 2006 either, but everything changed in 2007 due to having the nations worse road toll. We've also introduced demerit points in the NT as well. Sadly, despite some of these 'road safety' changes, the NT road toll has continued to rise almost reaching the highest level ever since records were kept in the early 80s.

Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is to drive at a safe speed to suit your style, vehicle and the conditions, always wear your seatbelt and take regular breaks to prevent fatigue (which catches too many tourists and visitors - often just falling asleep at the wheel).

I agree. Everyone should aproach safety as the number one concern. I also see that many people are heading from areas that don't have wondering stock. From Port Augusta onward you will find everything from Rabbits to big bulls wondering along the road and not just at night. Most stations are unfenced. Only last month we nearly collected a clan of Emu's about 100km from Port Augusta. The think to remeber is DO NOT SWERVE. That's how most people roll their vehicles. Drive to the conditions and if wildlife jumps infront of you, brake hard and minimise the damage.

I would also check the maximum tyre speed rating of your tyres if you plan to "test" your vehicle up to 130 in NT. I am a volunteer ambulance officer and just before christmas we had an audit and found out that our main vehicle has tyres rated at 140km/h fited, yet the F250 is capable of higher speeds. Although we don't drive it at that speed, there is always the potential someone may if an urgent call comes in.

Unfortunatelly we won't be able to make, but I hope you are all safe and have fun.

Peter