PERTH TO DARWIN
Aug 31st, 2003, 09:18 AM
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PERTH TO DARWIN
Has anyone done a driving trip from Perth up the coast to Broome and then over through Kakadu and up to Darwin?
Trying to plan out an itinerary and was wondering how much time to put aside for this portion of our trip.
The rest of our time will involve trains (Sydney to Perth) and planes ( Darwin to Melbourne ) finishing with another drive from Melbourne to Sydney.
This is how we are tentatively planning things at the moment. This would be our 2nd trip to Australia as we spent 5 weeks previously on a driving trip a few years back through the eastern half of the country and had a great time.
Any help would be appreciated. Also any comments on the Indian Pacific train ( Syd to Pth ) or accommodations for the driving portion of the trip. Many Thanks.
Trying to plan out an itinerary and was wondering how much time to put aside for this portion of our trip.
The rest of our time will involve trains (Sydney to Perth) and planes ( Darwin to Melbourne ) finishing with another drive from Melbourne to Sydney.
This is how we are tentatively planning things at the moment. This would be our 2nd trip to Australia as we spent 5 weeks previously on a driving trip a few years back through the eastern half of the country and had a great time.
Any help would be appreciated. Also any comments on the Indian Pacific train ( Syd to Pth ) or accommodations for the driving portion of the trip. Many Thanks.
Aug 31st, 2003, 11:52 AM
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Well, based on what I know the Perth to Broome trip is about 2 days straight through. There are places to stop along the way (Monkey Mia, Exmouth) for diving and you could probably easily make it a weeklong drive.
From Broome to Darwin would be about a 6 day direct drive. Many hostels do backpacker trips in about 8-13 days, depending on how long you stop. A "big" stop is Kununura.
From Broome to Darwin would be about a 6 day direct drive. Many hostels do backpacker trips in about 8-13 days, depending on how long you stop. A "big" stop is Kununura.
Sep 1st, 2003, 03:08 AM
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G'day DJE,
how long is a piece of string?
I usually when taking people on 4WD tours take 29 to 31 days from Perth to Darwin.
This of course includes lots of places along the way that most tourists never get to see. Trouble is that the best and most spectacular scenery is not close to the main route and side trips are necessary to get to them. Places like Kalbarri, Karijini Nat. Park, Geiki Gorge, Tunnel Creek, the Bungle Bungle, the Mitchell Plateau and Mitchell Falls and many more. We also travel along the Gibb River Road which is gravel and can be pretty rough. When we get to the Stuart Hwy. we visit Katherine Gorge, then Edith Falls, Mataranka Thermal Springs and after visiting Kakadu for a couple of days we make our way to Darwin via the Litchfield Nat. Park.
Many of those places can only be accessed with a 4WD. It's also important that you finish your trip before the WET ( Rain Season ) as even sealed Highways can be closed during the WET due to flooding.
How much time have you got for that part of your schedule?
The Indian Pacific is in my opinion a good trip, but do you really want to go all the way from Syd. to Perth? Maybe you could start that journey from Adelaide.
When driving from Melb. to Sydney go the coastal road and allow yourself about 6 days. There is plenty to see along the way, again some of the best places are not directly on the main road but a little inland. However a 2Wd is fine for that part.
Another note about the best time for such a trip: Perth to Darwin, August to October. The drive from Melb. to Sydney should be ok by late Sept. although it can then still be a little cool and windy along the south coast.
In case you are interested, my next tour from Perth to Darwin, 31 days, will be in August next year.
If you need more detailed info just let me know. You can also email me, but here is better as the Info can also benefit others.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers, Mike.
how long is a piece of string?
I usually when taking people on 4WD tours take 29 to 31 days from Perth to Darwin.
This of course includes lots of places along the way that most tourists never get to see. Trouble is that the best and most spectacular scenery is not close to the main route and side trips are necessary to get to them. Places like Kalbarri, Karijini Nat. Park, Geiki Gorge, Tunnel Creek, the Bungle Bungle, the Mitchell Plateau and Mitchell Falls and many more. We also travel along the Gibb River Road which is gravel and can be pretty rough. When we get to the Stuart Hwy. we visit Katherine Gorge, then Edith Falls, Mataranka Thermal Springs and after visiting Kakadu for a couple of days we make our way to Darwin via the Litchfield Nat. Park.
Many of those places can only be accessed with a 4WD. It's also important that you finish your trip before the WET ( Rain Season ) as even sealed Highways can be closed during the WET due to flooding.
How much time have you got for that part of your schedule?
The Indian Pacific is in my opinion a good trip, but do you really want to go all the way from Syd. to Perth? Maybe you could start that journey from Adelaide.
When driving from Melb. to Sydney go the coastal road and allow yourself about 6 days. There is plenty to see along the way, again some of the best places are not directly on the main road but a little inland. However a 2Wd is fine for that part.
Another note about the best time for such a trip: Perth to Darwin, August to October. The drive from Melb. to Sydney should be ok by late Sept. although it can then still be a little cool and windy along the south coast.
In case you are interested, my next tour from Perth to Darwin, 31 days, will be in August next year.
If you need more detailed info just let me know. You can also email me, but here is better as the Info can also benefit others.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers, Mike.
Sep 1st, 2003, 08:36 AM
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To Mike & PC,
Thank you for all that wondeful information and names of places to visit. We won't have the time necessary to see all those spots you mentioned so would definitely have to stream line the portion from Perth to Darwin.
The train from Syd to Perth only takes 3 nights so we thought it wouldn't really take too much time and still we could enjoy a few days of travel by rail.
What would the weather be like for our driving portion on the West Coast in May? I was hoping this was a good time and that the Kakadu region would be mainly dry by that time of the year with the weather still pleasant in the other areas?
Also if you are travelling and sticking mainly to the highways, is it necessary to have a 4wd or is this just the case for more offroad treks? How about in the Kakadu area as well?
We would take the coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney as we thought this would be the most interesting route.
Our time frame for the whole trip would be about a month.
Thanks again, DJE
Thank you for all that wondeful information and names of places to visit. We won't have the time necessary to see all those spots you mentioned so would definitely have to stream line the portion from Perth to Darwin.
The train from Syd to Perth only takes 3 nights so we thought it wouldn't really take too much time and still we could enjoy a few days of travel by rail.
What would the weather be like for our driving portion on the West Coast in May? I was hoping this was a good time and that the Kakadu region would be mainly dry by that time of the year with the weather still pleasant in the other areas?
Also if you are travelling and sticking mainly to the highways, is it necessary to have a 4wd or is this just the case for more offroad treks? How about in the Kakadu area as well?
We would take the coastal route from Melbourne to Sydney as we thought this would be the most interesting route.
Our time frame for the whole trip would be about a month.
Thanks again, DJE
Sep 3rd, 2003, 10:37 PM
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I'd suggest hiring a sedan rather than a 4WD and then taking a tour if you want to get into the really rough stuff. This means you will be with an experienced driver with radio backup and it is not your vehicle getting damaged, also your car rental rates will be a lot cheaper.
We've travelled right around Australia with a family sedan including into Kakadu. You can get into most of the sightseeing areas with a car and again, if you want to go to Jim Jim Falls and some of the more remote areas, it's better to go with a tour guide. The wet season will be over by May but still lots of water - make sure you do the Yellow Waters cruise in Kakadu.
We've travelled right around Australia with a family sedan including into Kakadu. You can get into most of the sightseeing areas with a car and again, if you want to go to Jim Jim Falls and some of the more remote areas, it's better to go with a tour guide. The wet season will be over by May but still lots of water - make sure you do the Yellow Waters cruise in Kakadu.
Sep 4th, 2003, 03:21 PM
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Marg,
Thank you for the additional advice and comments. We have been to Australia previously and did a driving trek through most of the eastern half of the country and were fine with a sedan. I was just concerned about the Kakadu region and unsure of the road conditions. Your suggestion of using a guide for the rougher areas sounds like a good idea. Thanks also for the tip on the cruise. I will look into it.
Thank you for the additional advice and comments. We have been to Australia previously and did a driving trek through most of the eastern half of the country and were fine with a sedan. I was just concerned about the Kakadu region and unsure of the road conditions. Your suggestion of using a guide for the rougher areas sounds like a good idea. Thanks also for the tip on the cruise. I will look into it.
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