350 days, 43000ks around Aus trip... Ask Me Anything

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

Hi PP'ers

Having been home for a few days I thought I'd throw a few stats up from our journey. I can't believe we were gone for 12 months it only seems like last week we departed on our trip of a lifetime. Australia is a large and beautiful country and we feel like we only scratched the surface.

I did heaps of research from the info posted over the years and would like to give a little back, so if you have any questions about our experience that could help you, ask away!

We departed Brisbane 7/1/14 in a 150VX V6 Prado and 'bitsa' 9 ft soft floor off road CT.

Days on the road: 350
Total Klm's: 43,000
Number of separate camps: 129

Days in:
QLD: 17
NSW: 43
ACT: 4
VIC: 38
TAS: 30
SA: 46
NT: 47
WA: 120

Accommodation type:

Commercial Caravan Parks: 90
Private Camp Grounds: 45
Council Parks: 37
National/State Parks: 100
Free Camps: 59
Family and Friends: 20

Budget:

Average daily cost of:

Grocery Food and Booze: $55.63
Fuel: $39.54
Accom: $18.67
Entertainment: $5.26
Takeaway / Counter Meals and Drinks: $17.02
Camp Items (Gas refills, Laundry etc): $4.58
Total Daily Average: $140.70 (Budgeted $135)

Vehicle Repairs:

4 x Prado Tyres (new)
2 x Prado Tyres (2nd hand)
3 x Trailer Tyres (2nd hand)
4 x UHF Aerials
3 x Trailer wiring plugs

Favorite Places:

Trev: The Olgas NT, Cape Range WA, Cape Leveque WA
Bec: Karajini NP WA, Tunnel Creek NP WA, Great Ocean Rd VIC
Sam: El Questro Resort WA, Bell Gorge WA, Grampians NP VIC
Olivia: Windjana Gorge WA, Litchfield NP NT, Adelaide Zoo SA

Trev

[blueprado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close blueprado]

some pics of the trip???

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

some pics of the trip???

Yeah about 14000 Blue. All our pics and blog posts were on FB - Cummings& Goings

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Nice work!!

I'm glad Vic got a mention, a few of us were lucky to enjoy a bit of the go road today on the way back from an otways trip.
Go = great ocean.

Looks like w.a is the place to be.
Too many questions, so I'm not going to hassle you, I will let others do it :-)

Glad you enjoyed it.

One question, when r u doing it again?

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

#### we could have kept on driving past Brissie and gone around again!
It's a fantastic lifestyle that really agreed with us and we got into the groove very easily. I came from a pretty stressful work environment and embraced the freedom of life on the road.
We have no regrets but would like to spend a bit more time around the high country at some point, camped around Lake Eildon and did Craigs Hut etc but really only scratched the surface.

I see the Port Campbell Pub is for sale, hmmmm if only.

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

Nice work Trev. Back too reality soon I'm sure? Look forward to catching up for yarn over an ale & a chop at the next Norman Steak night perhaps...

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Good to see & hear that u had a successful trip and sounds like a fairly Trouble Prado-free Trip

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

350 days, 43000ks around Aus trip... Ask Me Anything

Welcome back Trev. What a fantastic life changing adventure you had. Even though I am not a FB user, I did follow your trip as an exception. Great photos and running commentary. Many people dream it, so few do it. My hat off to you.

You put a few Km's on the v6 old girl, Seems like it all ran fine and the smart bar worked well. Three weeks of washing and polishing and she will look good as new

Once you have a shave! and get the monkey suit back on, let me know and we can catch up for lunch at work. Do you remember where the office is?....
Cheers
Robert

[rorza Member Find all posts View Profile Close rorza]

Sounds awesome but bloody expensive. I know it's a year long trip, but 49k? I suppose if you're gonna do it, you gotta do it right.

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

Whats the fastest land animal?

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

Nice work Trev. Back too reality soon I'm sure? Look forward to catching up for yarn over an ale & a chop at the next Norman Steak night perhaps...

Ready to tie the feedbag on whenever you are. Would love to head out for a weekend once the school holidays are over.

Good to see & hear that u had a successful trip and sounds like a fairly Trouble Prado-free Trip

Yup the car went well, tyres and aerials the only dramas.

Welcome back Trev. What a fantastic life changing adventure you had. Even though I am not a FB user, I did follow your trip as an exception. Great photos and running commentary. Many people dream it, so few do it. My hat off to you.

You put a few Km's on the v6 old girl, Seems like it all ran fine and the smart bar worked well. Three weeks of washing and polishing and she will look good as new 

Once you have a shave! and get the monkey suit back on, let me know and we can catch up for lunch at work. Remember where the office is....
Cheers
Robert

So pleased we took the plunge and headed off - was great to reconnect with Bec and the kids and we have a lifetime of shared experiences to reflect upon.

Yeah the V6 did well, she's pretty thirsty but talking to diesel owners along the way she wasn't too bad at a trip average of 18.9L/100, towing 1400kg and roof rack loaded. Smart bars are everywhere in the Pibara and was by far the most common bar in the area - main thing was we didn't get to 'use' it which I'm please about.

The monkey suit won't be getting pulled out of storage, I'm having a career tree-change and leaving corporate life behind - more will be revealed in due course.

Looking forward to catching up with the SEQ crew.

Trev

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

What's the etiquette: clockwise or anti-clockwise?

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

Sounds awesome but bloody expensive. I know it's a year long trip, but 49k? I suppose if you're gonna do it, you gotta do it right.

And we weren't extravagant at all. Sure on paper you see $17/day on takeaway/pub meals and drinks and think that's heaps, but a beer each in the pub of a new town, or occasionally treating ourselves to a pie or a meal after 20 days on the Gibb and it adds up pretty quickly. We did practically no touristy things and don't regret it.
Supermarket food and booze will always be there whether you're at home or on the road, so yes $50k is a lot but 50 weeks is a long holiday and there is supposed to be plenty of work around if you want it.

Whats the fastest land animal?

Possu....no just joking.
African swallow, unladen of course.

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

.......

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

What's the etiquette: clockwise or anti-clockwise?

Figure 8 for us. Brisbane to Tassie then up through the centre to Darwin to Broome to Perth to home is the very very short answer.
We were surprised how long we were in the NT - loved most of it - spent a week just at Buleys

Can't remember how to post a pic but check out the map here:

https://www.facebook.com/cummings.vagabonds?fref=photo