Where to start - A trip to the red centre

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

Hey guys,

This thread is to go along with my other one but are both very different and that's why i have made them seperate.

In August 2014 my partner and i are planning on doing a bit of touring. Leaving from the NSW Central Coast we are planning on heading up to Alice Springs. My Partners aunty is a Police officer in a remote town a couple of hours out of Alice so that is our ultimate destination but getting to and from there is where i need some help.

We have never done any big trips like this before so are unsure about where to start, what would you suggest be the best way to plan this out and can you recommend some good maps to use? My Prado that we are touring in has the factory GPS so this may help but again i don't know what the best option here is.

The only thing we have though about is that we would like to head across to SA and see the likes of Cooper Pedy etc and as many other small town along the way. We aren't concerned about staying on major highway but in saying that we will be on our own and the Prado does not have a winch to assist us.

We of course want to see the rock and other iconic places and after Alice we plan on heading up to Darwin and were then thinking about heading across to QLD and back down to NSW from there.

Any recommendation on how/where to start planning or work out the best route for that time of year taking into account road closures etc will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Josh.

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

What/how do you plan to sleep in on the way?
Do you want an adventure or bitumen?
I would budget to fit new tyres and suspension a month or so before the trip.
In the dry you will be fine, if it rains you'll have some fun. Typically there is nothing to winch from so a set of Maxtrax or similar will get you out of trouble.

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

D4D, Definately should have mentioned that.

Sleeping in the roof top tent, Once we hit NT we can sleep at the local Police station and shower etc so its just finding sleeping spots in NSW, SA and QLD.

The suspension is not even 12 months old yet and the tyres are about 2 months old so i would think the suspension will be fine for the trip and the tyres will be a matter of if they are nearly gone then i will replace them but if they have meat on them they will stay.

I have a set of TRED's already so hopefully they will be all i'd need. I do have a tow and a snatch strap in case so i guess if i get stuck and someone comes along they can hopefully help using my own gear so their isn't damaged.

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

Just read your build thread so tyres/suspension good to go although I'd take another carcass just in case. Depends on how bush you want to go. I'd go via the dirt there and bitumen back. You could do Oodnadatta or Strzelecki track. You need to work out how you are going to carry water, at least 20L. Fuel you should be ok as you won't be that remote. If it is just the 2 of you, rip the 2nd row seats out and use that area for extra storage rather than the roof. You'll need a 40L+ fridge. UHF etc.

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Plenty of great ways to get to your destinations, you could add oodnadatta track, with some great spots to camp.

For mapping I use the in car gps, but also camps Australia has a great road atlas in it and also lots of campsites and caravan park numbers.

Most of all enjoy it!

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

Thanks guys, Any large fold out maps that anyone knows of that we could layout and plot the route?

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

My Partners aunty is a Police officer in a remote town a couple of hours out of Alice so that is our ultimate destination

Where is your final destination?

And how long have you allowed for travel? There are large distances involved o it depends on how much time you have.

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

These are great and come in a handy travel pack!

http://www.exploroz.com/Shop/Hema+Gr..._Map_Pack.aspx

I also just bought Camps 7 for my last trip because I just can't see the point in paying caravan parks money if your self sufficient. It also has the full Hema Atlas with the campsites located on the maps.

http://www.exploroz.com/Shop/Camps_A...spx#rqc_tabs=1

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

I would do the Oodnadata track. Places to visit / stay on the way would be coward springs, Lamberts centre of Australia (just to say you've been there, Chambers Pillar. The Strzelecki is great too if you've got the time.

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

Looks like i need to go get my self a nice big map ASAP and start plotting it and the Oodnadata track certainly sounds like the best route to go.

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

Also see this thread for some ideas & pics.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...a-and-Flinders

Don't hesitate to PM if you're after more details about the NT in particular.

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

hi there...if u do take the black top u will not have to worry to much about carrying extra fuel as there are a few road stops to camp at along the way between SA and NT and bout every 500 km there are places to stop n get fuel from.some fuel stops are open 24 hour or untill 11 ..the only thing u will have to think about is the cost of fuel as u get closer to the NT.at this point diesel is bout $1.80 .all so the speed limit on the highway in SA is 110 then u hit the NT bored then its 130..Ayers rock is 500km out off alice springs,if u like u can head to ayers rock and kings canyon and take the mereenie loop in to alice..but u will need to get a permit for a small part of that road and there are some nice places to stop of n look at along the way..all so at that time off year is the best time to see alice couse it has nice days n still cold at night..if u head head to darwin will let u no that u should make tennet creek on one tank and servo open 24 hour and should then make katherine but the the fuel stops close around 10..there are a few things to see in tennet creek and have been told there is heaps off thing to see in katherine..

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

Thanks NTP and Skity, very helpful indeed!