Adventure type holidays/camping/4WD

KevinE

Does anyone else on here like to get off the beaten track when you go away on holidays? We did the Kimberley in August this year, from Adelaide via the Stuart Hwy. We've done Alice/MacDonnell ranges, Kakadu/Litlchfield/Darwin quite a lot before, but none of it compares to the Kimberley IMO. We're off up there again this year, but I'm getting a bit over the Stuart Hwy. I'm thinking of either the Gunbarrell hwy or the Great Central road, then up the canning stock route to Halls Creek. That way, we get to see the Pilbara too. We use the work D22 Navara with a tent & a Waeco 3 way fridge & cook on a 3 burner camp stove with a BBQ plate. What set-up's do others have, if any?

Tony Knight

G'day Kevin, tried the Oodnadatta/Old Ghan line through to Alice? Bit less hwy, alot more wear but a heap of fun. We were in the desert this year (Madigan Line), I'll post some pics when I get a chance. We have yet to decide whether 2013's trip will be Kimberly's or Cape.

Cheers

Tony

George Valentine

Well, I've done enough of "travelling" in my days and I don't stand being on a road or on a vehicle for any more than half an hour, now so, unless absolutely necessary, this person doesn't get on the roads but, if you like to go for a drive off the beaten track, you need to experience going from Adelaide to Kununurra through the "Duncan Highway"...!

Is only about 500 and odd kilometres of "nothing" but dirt, particularly in respect to service stations, rest areas or anything that could be of any help to you but, if you like the Kimberley's, that will give you an unique perspective of the place and its remoteness...!

Attached is a pic of the sign that is at the entrance of the Duncan highway, from the Kununurra end...!

Cheers
George

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KevinE

You have got me thinking Tony! We ran into a young family from Melb while we were up there camping this year & they had come up that way in a Sanyong 4x4 ute. Towed a caravan all the way up, through the mud (it rained in far north SA a lot this July) & stored it at Kununurra while they tented it through the rough stuff.

We'd been thinking Cape or WA too, I think my wife would prefer it really.

KevinE

I've been on the Duncan Hwy/Buntine Hwy George, have you? There's absolutely HEAPS to see Especially at the Lake Argyle end. Not really any need for a service station as it's only just over 400km's & you should be carrying extra fuel, water & food anyway. Those signs are on every dirt road in outback WA & a lot of dirt roads in the NT too. The sign below is at the Halls Creek end of the Duncan Hwy.

We did the Gibb River Road & the Kalumburu Rd too.

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Tony Knight

I know, 3 weeks June/July Vic SA NT QLD SA NSW SA VIC, few, its a mission just typing it, 8500 K with a solitude week in the simi (1100 dunes) we were only the second mob across for the year then a 1100K detour to Birdsville and the rain ahhhhh, I'm starting to get the taste for it again. Funny you started this thread today as we are having a big clean up and I am in the midst of stowing travelling, camping and recovery gear.

Cheers

Tony

Victor Lindsay

We go to Germany every other year and go camping when not in Germany. This year we're going mangrove snapper fishing every day for two weeks, starting Dec 22. When the kids are old enough I'll start taking them bouldering and rock climbing. Got to get the kids felling the adrenaline!

George Valentine

Oh yeah, I've been there alright, a few times indeed but, I went in and out through the NT way, as I was living in Darwin then (1993 - 1999).

I suppose may there is a lot to see for someone that haven't seen this type of stuff, over and over. You tent to get sick of it after a while...!

Talking about driving...!

Cheers
George

Tony Knight

A few of us in the Simpson (just to wet your whistle).

This is our waterski set up, its was to heavy for the desert so I am building a alloy offroad canopy.




And the dunes were relentless, like waves of the ocean. The vegetation was amazing, to this extent a once in 25 year event we were told.




Deflating tyres, as we got further in the dunes got bigger and steeper.




Steep and soft





About as remote as you can get these days



Kicking off after lunch




The crew (it was harder to get those vehicles up there than one would think)




And again the crew (I'm the one one with the stupid grin who is just having far to good of a time)



Our trip was amazing, some highlights, Finke River Gorge, Old Andado Station, Madigan Line and the Hay River Track North to Baton Hill Community.

We are heading to Mildura Skiing at Easter, leaving the boat and heading to Broken Hill then onto the Finke Gorge again this time for four days just in the Gorge.

Cheers

Tony

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KevinE

Post some pictures George. Tell us about your trips, give some details about where you stayed, facilities available, what your set=up was etc. What was there to see on the way from Darwin?

Why on earth would you travel that same road several times if there was "nothing but dirt"? Especially when there is so much more to see in the Kimberley!

By the way, I've been going outback since 1977!

KevinE

That looks sensational Tony!

Thanks for posting mate! Was yours a tag along trip, or did you go with a bunch of mates? Broken Hill to Finke Gorge at Easter sounds GREAT!

I like your set-up! How was the roof top tent? I've thought about buying one, but am concerned about the suspension & me rolling over all night lol!

Thanks again for posting!

KevinE

Sounds great! I went to Germany once, in 1973! Lovely country! I'm sure it's changed heaps!

George Valentine

Well, I wasn't even yet in Australia, (1987) when you started to go to the outback...!

I would say that 99.5% of the travelling I've done in and off the track in Australia, was work related with what I was involved with then, which is not relevant in here, however, it took me to the most remote and in many times under Aboriginal special permits to enter (white fella permits...!).

Living in the bush was my life for 13 long years, my camps always very basic and not that interesting, it was a very solitary life on my own for 99% of time.

It is a BIG difference in between going for a short, off the beaten track holiday trip with all the "good" gear and a bunch of other vehicles and people with you, than what I was doing, which was far from a holiday and a socializing time.

Many of these bush/camp/off the track holidays/trips, can become a nightmare, very quickly and having someone else travelling with you, I mean, other vehicles, can really turn a bad situation into a "situation" that will be quickly forgotten. And yes, in the right circumstances, these trips can be a great experience...!

Cheers
George

George Valentine

Great Pics Tony, and certainly the way to do it in style...!

The country looks very familiar to me but, I don't really miss it...!

Cheers
George

Drouin Tree Service

Great thread guys!

Heres a couple of pics of out the back of Wagga Wagga decided to follow the gps for the way home what a mistake that was but was quiet roads and a bit of scenery.

I love a good road trip!

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Jeff Darby

It is a good thread lads however keep the picture sizes to around 800x800 cause it's a lot of work resizing them all... I like my 4wdriving and have done some very challenging stuff, been a driver for the 4wd association at Oram park for Camp Quality and Rosehill 4wd and camping show...

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KevinE

Camp Quality & the 4wd & camping show sounds great Jeff!

KevinE

Tony Knight

Apolagies Jeff I thought it was 1025x1201, 800x800 is easier to remember anyway

Whats involved in the camp quality gig?

Cheers Tony

Jeff Darby

Alls good I sorted it out, There is or was a 4wdrive track at Oram pk and once a year we used to make up lolly bags for the littles ones that might not make christmas and we also took them for a drive around the 4wdrive track for a thrill...

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Tony Knight

The trip was for a mates 40th (O'Toole), the sign was carted up into the desert as a surprise and we bashed a track in from before camp 16 on the Madigan to the Hay River Track thus "O'Tooles" track, we are trying to get Hema to recognise it on the maps.

It actually not a roof top tent but a complete camper made by a mob called Trayon. Up the steps its a caravan inside including double bed, sink (Hot and Cold water), marine gas cooker, cupboards and draws, 12 volt deep cycle battery, inverter fully lite, stereo, 90 lt upright 3way fridge/freezer and dining table and seating, hard to believe but its true (I'll try and find a pic).
I bought it plain and decked it out with all the mod cons so as the boss is comfy whilst we are skiing (happy wife happy life).(As I said, to heavy for the off road like that).

I'll post some pics of the Finke Gorge, it was magnificent, untouched sand, 8 pristine river crossings as we made our way from the Earnest Giles Rd to the entrance to Palm Valley (the gorge was better than the Valley as no-one was there.

I'll get them pics up shortly.

Cheers


Tony

Tony Knight

Thanks George, each to their own.

My dear old dad spent alot of time in remote locations in the 60's, 70's & 80's. He was Chief Surveyor for the Commonwealth and was on jobs such as the new Ghan Line PA to Alice, the Space Base's and a whole lot more including time in PNG, Indonesia, NZ and Tassy (thats another country isn't it?). They used Landrovers with old Codan Scout HF's for contact (no sat phones back then). He has a heap of great B&W pics of "roughing it" I guess that might be where I get a bit of the explorer from.

I also lived in Alice for 6 years and worked as a RT operator which took me to heaps of places. I carted NitroPril from Alice to all the mines from the SA border Nth to Darwin, West to Port Headland, Nth West to Lake Argyle and East to MIM. When I lived their I only worked and did little recreational touring, I'm trying to get a bit done now.

Enjoy the evening


Tony

George Valentine

Absolutely Tony, and why not to use the new technologies/gadgets and a little comfort, when camping out. I know that for young kids, those sort of trips are a great adventure in their eyes, something that they will not forget easily...!

Of all things that can make camping/4x4 driving, a little uncomfortable scaling to unbearable, was the lack of sufficient fresh water and something to keep it cool...! A simple cold beer at the end of hot and hard day in the bush, would be priceless, ended I was all for the old Aussie saying, "Two can per day per man, perhaps...!"

Never had a Sat. phone nor a car fridge, couldn't risk to flatten the batteries, 2HF was useless and about 80 litres of potable water capacity tank, nor room for any more (Diesel, a tonne of working gear, etc, etc...), all in a modified 1984 Toyota ute (tough old girls, they were...!)

Cheers
George

KevinE

RT operator on those roads, my respect goes to you mate!

Not sure if you've heard, but Rabbit Flat RH has closed down indefinitely from earlier this year, which will make the trip up the Tanami in a 4WD a tad more interesting lol!

When did you live in Alice Tony? Do you play much sport? The reason I ask is that my sister in law was there for well over 20 years (which is why we were up there so often) & she is really into soccer/touch/basketball. So you may well know her if you are into those sports? In 2002 we headed up for a holiday & somehow or other got talked into the "king of the mountain" without any training whatsoever! I have a very bad case of competitive spirit & pushed it out too hard on the flat before we went up. End result; I made it up, but just! (read: hands & knees lol!)

Cheers,

Kevin............

KevinE

Tony, your set-up sounds great mate! It certainly puts mine to shame! My wife's biggest complaint is the time/effort involved to set up/take down the camp site (unhappy wife = a pretty ordinary trip lol! ). I have to admit that I get a bit over it after about a month too.

I really enjoy river crossings! Except the little ones like those on the way in/out of the Bungles! Too many knuckleheads use that road coz its only 54kms in to the NP office from the bitumen. Some of the soft roader, caravaner, jerks had dumped their vans at the CP at the bitumen & were hooning in/out at incredible speeds! I lost count of the number of DH's that over took me, showering my windscreen with stones! We were even passed twice while crossing water! One of them was doing about 80kph through the water with a camper trailer bouncing from wheel to wheel behind him. We passed him about 12k's later, he'd snapped the axle on the trailer! I waved politely as we drove on past him! The other one was in a Suzuki Vitara & after passing us, he drove into deep wheel ruts on the opposite bank at speed & bottomed out on the drive gear, all 4 wheels were off the ground! I waved nicely to him as we drove on past too! We drove upon a nutter in a petrol cruiser that had done the same thing, but had got half way across & the elecs had got wet & the car had stopped. He had kids with him, so we did actually stop to help him.

Tony Knight

In fo lunch, I love this thread its almost like I packing for a trip.

Thats exactly the reason for the camper, we use to tent it while skiing and worked out that 12 hours a trip (long weekend) was lost packing and unpacking. 3+3+3+3 and we weren't touring. The camper is set up in 15 minutes and packed up in 30 and I can still tow the boat. Without it I doubt the cook would have stuck (enjoyed) the skiing for long.
I am building an alloy canopy for these long off road trips, the lighter the better, we are carefully selecting the essentials based on our past experience (got a list going). One is a "OZ TENT 30 second tent (awesome bit of kit) and we'll keep the camper for the road trips.

Shame its so difficult to get away from the morons, but there are places the pussies won't go or don't know.


The start of the gorge.


First time wetting toes.


Stick to the hard stuff.


Girls day out.


The serenity.




Leaving the puddles behind.


Cheers


Tony

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Tony Knight

A couple more.

A womens work is never done.



Are there any arborists on this site that can save my tree?



Dingo's





Best camp of the whole trip



Cheers

Tony

George Valentine

Stunning pics Tony.

Shame the Tojo's getting bogged so easily with their factory diffs, ridiculous really...!

Cheers
George

KevinE

Nah, nothing worth seeing up there lol!

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Tony Knight

Yeah, I'll never go back.....
God I luv this country, I have no wish to venture outside its oceans (Tassie withstanding). Isn't water a magnificent site in these remote northern locations, "oasis's". I'm starting to work out the shopping list Kevin.

Thanks for the pics.

Cheers

Tony