Tassie to Perth and back - 5 weeks with the Wife and Kids

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

For all those interested, I have been back through my posts and added photos relevant to the text (as much as possible).

It was an epic 6 week family holiday, and tomorrow it is back to the real world with school, work, etc. Gotta pay off some bills.

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

Great pics, looks like an awesome adventure. Nice work fitting all that gear into or onto the Prado

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

Hi Smithy, fantastic photos especially Coffin Bay National park ,I love that place I have been going there regualary since the late 70s.
The photo of the pedestrian crossing on the Nullabor looks like markings for a emergency airstrip maybe?
Thanks for sharing your trip it was great to read and your photos are excellent.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

The photo of the pedestrian crossing on the Nullabor looks like markings for a emergency airstrip maybe?.

He, he, he, yeah, we thought we'd have some fun with the air strip markings along the Nularbor.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Great pics, looks like an awesome adventure. Nice work fitting all that gear into or onto the Prado

Cheers D4D, 5 people loaded in a Prado for 6 weeks wasn't going to leave much spare space, but i had spent a lot of time planning for the trip, and everything has its special place in our on the vehicle.

The tent can be tedious, but means we aren't restricted by towering a trailer, so suits our current needs, especially if i want to tow the boat for a camping holiday.

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

great read and a fantastic trip and yep Drosey they are emergency airstrip markings (RFDS or Police) and there's another one heading south just
past Nanutarra roadhouse something the WA state govt got right.

cheers,
Chappy.

[bunyipbait Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bunyipbait]

I have enjoyed reading this thread and seeing that I'm not the only cwazy wife who thinks that this type of family touring is not a bad idea.

You started your trip just before we returned from our 6 week adventure - 2 adults and 2 kids camping (Sydney to Darwin and back through Corner Country etc). I thought our plan was an ambitious one! With another child I don't think that I would have seen it could work. You are right though about a place for everything and everything in its place.

So waiting to see whether you all enjoyed your trip. So glad that all went well and that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed ours. Kudos to you and to Mrs Smithy. Oh, and to the fuel tank too

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Thanks bunyipbait. I reckon if you can do it with two kids, a third won't make much difference. We managed to keep our sanity, thanks to the dvd played on the headrests, and the kids each having their own cheap tablet to occupy their minds. All in all, the kids did exceptionally well, considering we are from Tassie, and an hours drive its considered as long way.

Yes, we all had a ball, and would have loved to stay out longer. It has given us all a taste for adventure, and we have discussed where to next. Maybe the Flinders Ranges, Simpson Desert, or other, we're not sure yet. Just need to work up some more time of, and build a travel budget back up first...

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Over the 6 weeks, we travelled a total of 11,855km, and managed an average fuel consumption of 13.6 litres per 100km, which i think is quite good considering the load and UN aerodynamic shape of the truck.