Trip to Ayres Rock from Melbourne

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

You can, and should, easily visit Rainbow Valley. Stay overnight if you get the chance so that you can see the colours at sunset and dawn. Spectacular.

[Melbo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Melbo]

but don't you need another vehicle in order to use the straps? I'm going to be travelling solo so don't know how much I'm going to need them. The boys can push me out if I get stuck

It would still be in your favour if you have the snatch straps so that any capable passing vehicle can snatch you out if in trouble. I see good people everywhere :-)

[voyager4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close voyager4x4]

You can, and should, easily visit Rainbow Valley. Stay overnight if you get the chance so that you can see the colours at sunset and dawn. Spectacular.

Agree! Great place.
Also, if you want some other great camping spots then try and fit in Palm Valley off Larapinta Drive. Great camp ground with showers with a bit of 4wd to get there - nothing too challenging! When you are there you can take a day to trip to Boggy Hole which is a bit more fun. You could also consider Redbank Gorge camping (the top section) which has some great views.
The old dilema - so much to see and so little time!! We took four weeks just in this area 2 years ago and still didn't see it all.
You will have a great trip

[chester ver 2.0 Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester ver 2.0]

Mate sound like a good trip we did a similar route to the GTG in 09 only change i would make is go from lake eyre right through to coober pedy as the william creek hotel is good for a feed but you will be bored in about an hour.
Also check out roof rack city in melb they also rent out gear so you may just be able to rent a basket

[nige Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nige]

Hey Lorenzo.

bf's were $310 each. I got 5 so all were matched. The compressor and dual battery is getting fitted on 20/6. Compressor is going under the bonnet. There's plenty of room and it would be too noisy under the seat.
Only 20 sleeps to go....

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

Lorenzo, I really think that 2 weeks from Melbourne limits your options. As per my previous post, going to Alice Springs will add a minimum of 2 days (1/2 day there, 1/2 day back and time spent there). If as many people suggest you go to East and/or West McDonnells, then this will add at least 2 to 5 days as a minimum (if you want to see anything). With the time frame you have, I would suggest not going north of Kings Canyon. A more realistic minimum trip from Melbourne would be 21 days and really up to the 28 days that most people from Sydney do on trips to Central Australia. If interested, have a look at my report of our trip to Central Australia last year Central Australia 2010 Trip and it will show some of the places you plan to visit.

[mark little Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mark little]

Consider the Overlander and the Ghan

Im posting from Ireland.

I travelled from Melbourne to Darwin last year on the train. I got the Overlander from Melbourne to Adelaide, spent a few days, there and then the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs, stopped off for a few days to visit Uluru.

I did notice that the last carraige on the train carries vehicles.

If time is short, an idea might be to put the prado on the train from Melbourne to Alice and then start from there.

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

Hey Mark,
That's thinking outside the square. I would suggest driving to Adelaide and then using the train, as the drive over is pretty easy and you can time the arrival to marry up with the train's departure (Sunday midday). The cost per person to Alice is $375 (that is sleeping in a seat) but if you want a decent night's sleep then that will cost $710p/p and the Prado will cost $599. You arrive in Alice at 1:45pm on Monday.
Having said all that it is probably cost prohibitive to save a day's traveling :P

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

Hey Mark,
That's thinking outside the square. I would suggest driving to Adelaide and then using the train, as the drive over is pretty easy and you can time the arrival to marry up with the train's departure (Sunday midday). The cost per person to Alice is $375 (that is sleeping in a seat) but if you want a decent night's sleep then that will cost $710p/p and the Prado will cost $599. You arrive in Alice at 1:45pm on Monday.
Having said all that it is probably cost prohibitive to save a day's traveling :P

Why the heck would you suggest that plan? It would be far cheaper to fly to Alice and hire a car. Driving is the only way to go and pull your camper or hire a camper trailer and enjoy the many gorges and billabongs, Olgas, Rock, Hastes Bluff, etc.

[lockedup Member Find all posts View Profile Close lockedup]

Why the heck would you suggest that plan? It would be far cheaper to fly to Alice and hire a car. Driving is the only way to go and pull your camper or hire a camper trailer and enjoy the many gorges and billabongs, Olgas, Rock, Hastes Bluff, etc.

I'd suggest telaporting to Alice - cheaper and quicker than train

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

Righto guys, more things to add to my wishlist:

Train
Teleporter
Plane

How bout a boat? I can get on it in Melbourne, get it to take me to Darwin and then backtrack back to melbourne via the red centre!

I think the whole point of touring is to actually drive the bloody thing. It's the journey not so much the destination IMO.

Today I had one of the boys pull out of the trip He has been offered to start a PHD degree in October so has to spend the previous month with his nose in the books... NERD!

No problems though, have quickly recruited another mate and hopefully going to get another mate of mine in a seriously kitted out xtra cab Hilux to come out as well.

I'm taking notes on all the places you guys are suggesting and I think I'll do a trip like ########## is suggesting. It will be my first serious tour (before that I did Melbourne to adelaide and back for a 1 week holiday in my old Commodore (if you can call that touring).

I want to see as much as I can of the main attraction and just enjoy the good drive. Then from there take notes and go and explore more on the next trip around. I'm still young (24) so got plenty of time to explore Australia, I've done my 6 months backpacking through Europe and through work I spend 2 weeks in the US (1 work/1 holiday) and 2 weeks in Germany (1 work/1 holiday). I've just got to build up more annual leave at that bloody work place

Mike and Kelly, I've got to say... impressive website and write up! You guys are true professionals, even mapping down temperatures and times to the minute

I don't know wether my report will be that accurate but my trusty old camera will be by my side the whole trip and take as many pics as possible.

One thing I wanted to ask... is there billabongs along the way you can go for a swim in? Is there dangerous things living in them I should look out for?

Cheers,
Loz

[weasal4x4 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close weasal4x4]

I did the same sort of trip back last year but i tried to keep off the bitumen. As mentioned above i had about 28 days planned and travelled just over 7000km's and that was still pretty quick! We could have spent more time at some places but you can always go back at a later date. Check out http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...June-July-2010 you might get some stuff out of it. Have a safe trip. You'll love it!

[Brettstar Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brettstar]

Might see you on the road, we head of from Blue mtns July 1, for 3 wks.
Same trip mostly.

We are in a white 2011 VX as it came from the shop. Mostly sleeping in car, fitted it with a mattress, few motels as needed,
Brett

[nige Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nige]

Hey Lorenzo and all.

Just got back from the big trip. Absolutely awesome!

Here’s how we went.

30 June – Mel to Murray Bridge. Took it easy as its first trip with 13 year old son.
1 July – Murray Bridge to Port Augusta.
2 July – Port Augusta to Coober Pedy. Met up with sister and family who we travelled with. (Diesel $1.66 per litre)
3 July – Coober Pedy to Uluru. (Diesel $1.80)
5 July – Uluru to Kings Canyon. (Diesel $2.20!!!!! + 1% surcharge for credit card) Also, Mouse Plague. Mice everywhere.
8 July – Kings Canyon to West Mcdonnel’s (Camp ground near Hermannsberg. Woodlands camp ground)
9 July – Run into Alice Springs to re stock, then to Palm Valley camp ground. 4x4 only, but easy going at this time of year.
11 July – Palm Valley to Boggy Hole. Great track at this time of year. 4x4 only. Plenty of creek crossings, soft sand, rocks. A few scratches down the side of the Prado from close bushes. Hope they come out when washed!
Pissed down with rain. Flooded tent. Camp ground turned to red mud. 2nd night booked a “budget room” at Outback motel/resort…$260 per night.
14 July – Uluru to Coober Pedy. More red mud. Tried the Breakaways but road closed due to rain. Tried a backway, but too boggy. Had trouble with centre diff lock light coming on faintly even though lock not in. Faded away after a while. (Any idea’s anyone?
16 July – Coober Pedy to Port Augusta
17 July – Port Augusta to Mel. Did it in one day. About 1050km’s. Left Port Augusta at 8.30am, stopped at Port Pirie, Port Wakefield. Re fueled at Horsham at 5.30, home at 10.00,

Tips: Take a heap of cash, or a debit card where you press savings not credit. All area’s in NT mentioned above charge 1% surcharge for credit. It all adds up if you do touristy stuff, fuel and camp fees.

Glad I did suspension upgrade and under bonnet compressor. Road from Kings Canyon to West McDonnels very corrugated. Enough to shake your fillings loose!

Will attach some photo’s when I learn how.

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

Road from Kings Canyon to West McDonnels very corrugated. Enough to shake your fillings loose.

The mereenie loop road... Experience it while you can as NT Govt intend to seal to allow more caravaners to use it.