Driving to Darwin

[d2dave]

Later this month my son and a couple of his mates are going to Darwin to play footy. We have just purchased a new(SH) car for SWMO. My son and his mates are going to buy our old one to use in Darwin.

However they do not want to drive it up, so I am going to take it up and fly home. I am going to do this as fast and as cheap as I can. I was planning on throwing an old cheap mattress in the car and just sleeping on the side of the road beside the car. I have done this on numerous occasions in Vic but was wondering if this would be safe in SA/ NT?

I don't want to end up like Peter Falconio or get eaten by anything.

[newhue]

Can I ask why they don't want to drive? Wouldn't it be an adventure in itself. Something that youth live for and carry on through the rest of their life.

Life is full of challenges, risks, and rewards. Like a football game.

[Eevo]

Adelaide to alice, 2 days, boring
Adelaide to Darwin, 4 days, very boring
Melb to Darwin, 5 days, bloody boring.

I can think of better ways to spend 5 days.

[Eevo]

but was wondering if this would be safe in SA/ NT?

I don't want to end up like Peter Falconio or get eaten by anything.

Have you seen wolf creek?

[BigJon]

Adelaide to alice, 2 days, boring
Adelaide to Darwin, 4 days, very boring
Melb to Darwin, 5 days, bloody boring.

I can think of better ways to spend 5 days.

What are you driving?

Adelaide to Darwin 4 days? 3 if you are going slowly. 2 if you are serious. And it is all interesting.

If I had the time available I would gladly take a car from Melbourne to Darwin for someone, it is a great roadtrip.

[rangieman]

What are you driving?

Adelaide to Darwin 4 days? 3 if you are going slowly. 2 if you are serious. And it is all interesting.

If I had the time available I would gladly take a car from Melbourne to Darwin for someone, it is a great roadtrip.

x2 I did it driving a D Rodeo towing a car in 3 days easy peasy from Melb seeing as your closer to the boarder you will do it easy . When i did my trip i got warned not to stay near Tennant creek , Kathrine , Elliott ,Cooper Peady. You will be ok if you listen to all resonable advice

[Eevo]

Driving for 8 hours a day it takes 4 days.

[d2dave]

Adelaide to alice, 2 days, boring
Adelaide to Darwin, 4 days, very boring
Melb to Darwin, 5 days, bloody boring.

I can think of better ways to spend 5 days.

You must be doing it in a defender. I plan to do it in three days.:)

No I have not seen Wolf creek. Do not even know where it is.

Boring for some maybe but I love driving, especially if the car is decent.

Bigjon. It is a Fairlane.

Newhue. A couple of reasons why they don't do it themselves. My son is not mad on driving. He goes to Uni at Ballarat which is three hours from our place and he hates doing this. The other reason is time. He turns 21 this month and party combined with Uni exams, he flys into Darwin and plays footy the next day.

I thank you all for your input but no one has yet answered my question.

Is it safe to sleep out side the car?

Also, any one in Darwin want a catch up for a beer? I am going to be bloody thirsty when I get there.

[carlschmid2002]

Later this month my son and a couple of his mates are going to Darwin to play footy. We have just purchased a new(SH) car for SWMO. My son and his mates are going to buy our old one to use in Darwin.

However they do not want to drive it up, so I am going to take it up and fly home. I am going to do this as fast and as cheap as I can. I was planning on throwing an old cheap mattress in the car and just sleeping on the side of the road beside the car. I have done this on numerous occasions in Vic but was wondering if this would be safe in SA/ NT?

I don't want to end up like Peter Falconio or get eaten by anything.

I often crash in a swag on the side of the road. My only rule is I tend to find a side road and then try and park in the scrub a bit. That way if I am sound asleep I am less likely to have unwanted visitors. One night I did this and was asleep in the back of the car parked in the scrub. Some dude must have seen the car and was peering in with a torch. I don't know who was more scared when I sat up. I don't know if he thought the car was abandoned and if his intentions were to steal. He didn't hang around though.

[GlennWA]

When travelling, my wife and I have done it on numerous occasions. Just get off the road a little.

End of the month will be doing it again. Defender and a horse from Melbourne to Darwin.

I would not be worried and never had an issue. Most people out there are doing the same thing. Truckies are sleeping out there every night too.

Glenn

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[strangy]

Is it safe outside the car? Yes with sensible precautions as anywhere. IMO snakes are your biggest concern this time I year. Don't pull up near a "local" community 30km at least. Plenty of places / rest stops for you to pull in and share with the Nomads and vast number of back packers if you felt safer in numbers. Safety in the NT isn't an issue but you still need to be sensible about it. I do Adelaide Alice in a tedious day ( keeping speed limits) and Alice Darwin in an easy day. With time on my side I'd take 4 days for the whole trip and do Adelaide - Cadney Homestead and camp there ( good food etc) then Cadney Alice. Then Alice -Helen Springs or Daley Waters- Darwin.

[Ean Austral]

When you planning on being in Darwin Mr Whippy ? I am going 2 up in a road train this friday and back the following tuesday, but after that will be around.

You will notice all the road side stops that have water will have people camped, there has been a migration of backpackers out of darwin in the last few weeks , and they normally camp on the side of the road, as said not to close to any communities, and you should be fine. I always found that you can hear the cars/trucks coming anyway, and when you hear them slow down or stop you generally wake up and check. Its the one that goes past then slows down you worry about.

Make sure you stop and check out Wycliff well on you way, just south of Tennent creek.

Cheers Ean

[workingonit]

Wet season now=sweat. Intermittent rains at the moment. Mossie net (forget pup tents) in NT a must unlessyou want to risk viral infection (remote but possible). Mind you the heat is probably only a problem from 3 Ways to Dwn - you can do that in a day easy. Camp with grey nomads - only danger is long discussions about fuel and tyre economy :)

[Eevo]

most of us here on the forum like driving.
there are plenty of people who would find driving from adel to darwin, quite boring. there isnt much to look at, and if you're just transiting, flying is a much better option.

[BigJon]

Is it safe to sleep out side the car?



It is fine. I have done it more times than I can remember.

[BigJon]

there isnt much to look at

You must go a different way to me.

[PAT303]

It is fine. I have done it more times than I can remember.

Same here. Pat

[d2dave]

When you planning on being in Darwin Mr Whippy ? I am going 2 up in a road train this friday and back the following tuesday, but after that will be around.

You will notice all the road side stops that have water will have people camped, there has been a migration of backpackers out of darwin in the last few weeks , and they normally camp on the side of the road, as said not to close to any communities, and you should be fine. I always found that you can hear the cars/trucks coming anyway, and when you hear them slow down or stop you generally wake up and check. Its the one that goes past then slows down you worry about.

Make sure you stop and check out Wycliff well on you way, just south of Tennent creek.

Cheers Ean

I will be there around the 23rd of this month. No time for sight seeing, although I might have a day or two in Darwin. Probably watch sons first match.

Once I am asleep I hear nothing. I was many years ago asleep in a car that rolled(driver decided to join me in a snooze) and slept through it. Woke up when we hit a tree.

On another occasion in a hired motor home my top bunk collapsed onto my friend below. I did not wake up.

So after a 16 hour drive I don't expect to hear cars coming in to my camp.

[d2dave]

It is fine. I have done it more times than I can remember.

What about snakes as someone else mentioned?

[BigJon]

What about snakes as someone else mentioned?

I am still alive :D. I have never had a snake in my camp.

[workingonit]

Was told a cattle station story, mechanic on his back under a vehicle, brown snake across the shed floor and straight down the neck of his overalls...

[joel0407]

I'm heading Dariwn to Brisbane, Wednesday morning. I'll be just sleeping in the back of the Disco. It'll be one of very few times I'll actually have a bed to lie down in. I'm usually just stopped in the table drain with the drivers seat reclined.

Best I have done is Bathurst to Perth (3800km) in 42 hrs on my own.

I have to be in Brisbane before 4pm Friday so this one should be a easy trip.

Happy Days.

[digger]

When travelling, my wife and I have done it on numerous occasions. Just get off the road a little.

End of the month will be doing it again. Defender and a horse from Melbourne to Darwin.

I would not be worried and never had an issue. Most people out there are doing the same thing. Truckies are sleeping out there every night too.

Glenn

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app


you'd be much quicker if you put the horse in a float.:twisted:


There is common sense required in camping locations but really I think you'll be right. Take it easy.

[GlennWA]

you'd be much quicker if you put the horse in a float.:twisted:


There is common sense required in camping locations but really I think you'll be right. Take it easy.

Thanks digger for the advice:eek: Now where to find a float:banghead:

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[Gumnut]

Hi,

The last few months I have done Canberra - Bundaberg and return, Canberra - Darwin, and Canberra - Adelaide and return and have just pulled up and zonked beside the road on each trip.

I try to get off the verge a bit in case of errant road trains or hoons, and a few trees for morning shade are good. ( not many trees between Hay and Balranald!) even on a quick trip I do not set the alarm, and rely on the body letting me know how much sleep I need after pulling up late....

All of the roadhouses in NT seem to have a reasonably priced campground with a bar and shower. And expensive diesel. Apparently the cheapest fuel in NT is in Katherine.

Cheers,

Gumnut

[joel0407]

I just did Darwin - Brisbane - Darwin. Left Darwin after a night shift at 7am on Wednesday 6 November, Arrived Brisbane about midday on Friday 8th. I pickup up a roof top tent on the Friday afternoon and dropped my wheels at the tyre joint and then bummed around Brisbane. I left Brisbane about 1pm on Saturday 9th and got back to Darwin about 10:30pm on Tuesday 12th November.

The whole time I just slept in the back of the Disco. I took the rear seat of to give me a bit of extra length and I was able to stretch out full length on a slight angle in the back.

The only place I was a bit concerned about sleeping was out the front of the tyre joint in Coopers Plains, Brisbane. It's a bit of an industrial estate and there aren't many people about during the night. I just thought it looked a bit like the kind of hang out for unsavory people during the night.

Apart from the night in Darwin, I wasn't concerned about where I slept at all. I try and stay out of the way of the road trains but I often pulled up in truck parking areas. I never heard any of the trucks coming and leaving while sleeping inside the Disco and I like the fact there were people about.



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/740.jpg (http://s560.photobucket.com/user/joel0407/media/Disco/photo4_zps59651239.jpg.html)
[IMG]http://www.aulro.com/afvb/<a href=http://s560.photobucket.com/user/joel0407/media/Disco/photo4_zps59651239.jpg.html target=_blank>https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/740.jpg
Happy Days.

[marko66]

Hi All

Mr Whippy I would be more concerned about the state of the cooling system of the car than sleeping in or near it. With the buildup in full swing, the high ambient temperatures and the very high bitumen temperatures find a way to test vehicles that aren't very healthy. :):D

Have a safe tip and check out the Christmas thread in territory chat, hope to see you in your travels

Regards Mark

[joel0407]

Hi All

Mr Whippy I would be more concerned about the state of the cooling system of the car than sleeping in or near it. With the buildup in full swing, the high ambient temperatures and the very high bitumen temperatures find a way to test vehicles that aren't very healthy. :):D

Have a safe tip and check out the Christmas thread in territory chat, hope to see you in your travels

Regards Mark


I can tell you the air up here isn't as bad as you'd think for cooling. I had higher temps around Blackall, Longreach and Winton in the mid afternoon.

I have a madman gauge and I'm very conservative with my temp alarms. My EGT is set at 650 which limits my time at full acceleration and then my water temp alarm is set at 95 degrees.

I think the issue with my Disco is more related to the Autotrans cooler than the engine cooling. My auto never gets over 75 degrees so I think the cooler is working well but the problem is that cooler is putting all the heat infront of my intercooler and radiator and thats what puts the water heat up.

When my water alarm goes off over 95 degrees, I just kill the A/C for 30 second or so and it comes back down to 93 - 94.

Worries me a bit what the temps hit before I owned it and installed the gauge.

Happy Days.

[d2dave]

In summer where I live we get temps that Darwin can only dream of. Even the fruit pickers that come from Qld to do our fruit season whinge about the heat.

[Michael2]

Driving for 8 hours a day it takes 4 days.

What do you do for the rest of the day? If you're sleeping in the car, and hence not setting up and breaking camp, that's a lot of idle day light.

From Melbourne, I find Port Augusta is a reasonable first day destination. The car is already packed, leave at 0400hrs, get breakfast at 0800 at a bakery, lunch at Tailem Bend (or Adelaide if there's no road works) and dinner at Pt Augusta. That gets all the city and small town speed limits out of the way in one day.

It's another 1,200 to Alice, and if you like driving at night, you'll get another 400km after dinner.

From Alice it's another 1,200 to Katherine, then in Darwin for lunch on the fourth day.

If you can squeeze a bit more into each day, then I suggest camping at Douglas Hot Springs, half way between Katherine & Darwin. Unwind after two long days in the hot springs, and then it's a short jaunt to Darwin.

If you look out the window as you drive (beyond the road), you will notice that the landscape changes totally every half hour, it's quite interesting. If the boys do the trip, in the years to come, they'll probably remember the trip with greater fondness than the destination.

[BigJon]

If you look out the window as you drive (beyond the road), you will notice that the landscape changes totally every half hour, it's quite interesting.

I agree with this 100%.

[workingonit]

Regarding temperatures in the north. Regularly getting 38 to 40 c in the coolest part of the house!! No aircon but fully louvered.

Regarding temperatures up here and Disco 1 - secret seems to be in the condition of the radiator. So far have not had overheating problems with the standard radiator, even when towing 2 tonne. Having said that, I did experience about one eigth drop on the temp guage when I got one of the vehicles re-cored. Done at Berrimah Radiators for about $400 a few years ago. The business owner said expect a slight drop as the tubes he uses are wider than those used by LR which tend to get blocked if not well maintained.

[Barra1]

Just arrived back home today from Bynoe Harbour (an hour's drive from Darwin).

Three blokes and we camped off the road on the way up which is something we have always done. However, just today we were discussing that usually there are two vehicles and boats and more often than we would like, vehicles have slowed, probably seen two vehicles and accelerated away.

The journey back we stayed in caravan parks but mainly for the showers and facilities. We are getting on in age I suppose.

Would I pull-up and stop "anywhere" whilst travelling alone? No. The primary reason is that I reckon I would not sleep too deeply and therefore grow increasingly tired as the trip went on. That is something you need to consider.

Stops? Renner Springs is fantastic. Good facilities, friendly atmosphere and fire wood is even supplied for a small fire.
Stuart Range Caravan (Coober Pedy) is another great place. It even has pizzas available.
Erldunda is also a good place as is the Hi-Way Inn.

These places charge $10 per person per night and worth every cent.

We take 3 nights to make the trip from Albury to Darwin.

Someone made comment regarding the scenery and I wholeheartedly agree. It changes every few minutes and I have not yet become bored with the trip even after countless trips up the centre.

The only good coffee I have found is in the bar at Erldunda.

Tucker at Hi-Way Inn is good. Renner Springs is also good. There is a cafe in Tennent Creek, Top of the Town Cafe I think, is also clean and good eating. Hayes Creek Pub also serve up great barra or thread-fin salmon burgers.

Enoy the trip, stop frequently but briefly to re-charge your batteries and I reckon you will have a ball.

[Ean Austral]

Did you stay at crab claw island in bynoe?

Cheers Ean

[Barra1]

Did you stay at crab claw island in bynoe?

Cheers Ean

Yes:D

Wonderful camping, great staff and totally enjoyable. New owners take over next week and I'm led to believe they intend taking it back to the ideals of a fishermen's village rather than a "resort". I'm all for that;)

[joel0407]

I suggest you dont watch Wolf Creek (the movie) before you go. You might not sleep at all and just drive straigh though.

Happy Days.

[Cobber]

Adelaide to alice, 2 days, boringYou need better company ;)

I did this drive not that long ago (in my Defender) and it was one probably the most enjoyable drives I've ever done, anywhere :BigThumb:

[Ean Austral]

Yes:D

Wonderful camping, great staff and totally enjoyable. New owners take over next week and I'm led to believe they intend taking it back to the ideals of a fishermen's village rather than a "resort". I'm all for that;)

I have been going there for 20 yrs on and off, but was disappointed about 2 yrs ago that the place was trying to turn more into a resort than a fishing camp so haven't been back. Might go for a burn 1 weekend as see if its changed for the better.

Cheers Ean

[Barra1]

I have been going there for 20 yrs on and off, but was disappointed about 2 yrs ago that the place was trying to turn more into a resort than a fishing camp so haven't been back. Might go for a burn 1 weekend as see if its changed for the better.

Cheers Ean

I'm with you on that;)

When Bill Briscoe owned it, I reckon there no better place. He was an extraordinary host and just a damn good bloke.

The resort style is lost on me but like you, i'm looking forward to the return of a "fisherman's village".

The outgoing staff told me of the change so I'm hoping they are on the money.

Met a bloke there who was driving a silver TD5 Defender - short bloke with a big beard. Only got his first name - Neil. He is not on AULRO but was going to have a look at it.

Met a chick at the Litchfield Pub - she was in a metallic red Defender - and she insisted it was HER Defender. She was there with her two teenage sons and they were not letting Mum out of their sight!!!

Once again she will look into joinging the NT Mob of AULRO.

And Mr Whippy - sorry about hijacking the thread. You might look into spending a night a Crab Claw Island.:D

[bob10]

I'm with you on that;)

When Bill Briscoe owned it, I reckon there no better place. He was an extraordinary host and just a damn good bloke.



Sorry for the hijack, but this Billy Briscoe, was he ex-navy, Indigenous? knew a B.B. back in the day, good bloke, lost track of him, Bob

[Barra1]

Very large and boisterous red-headed bloke. Ex NT Copper, he never mentioned the navy so I can't help you there. He had a young bloke who was the spitting image of his Dad in every way. The young bloke would be about 25-26 now.

I don't know what happened to Bill after he sold Crab Claw.

[NT5224]

If the OP hasn't already left on his road trip...

mate, you'll be fine. Most folks in the Territory pull over at the end of a days traveling.

Its a great drive (although I've never myself ventured south of Alice) and a constantly changing landscape.

As suggested consider whether you have aircon in the vehicle and you'll be wanting mossie protection after dark in your bedroll.

Given recent showers in the Top End - remember that water can briefly rise over some sections of 'The Track' north of Katherine. No worries to a Defender with snorkel but a sedan might need to sit it out a bit. So check 'NT roads' if you can, or drivers coming the other way.

Don't worry about 'snakes' but DO worry about hopping dogs if driving around dawn or dusk -especially if not wearing a steel bullbar. Driving into town I regularly pass sedans and SUVs decommissioned after nudging skippy.

Enjoy your trip.

Alan

[d2dave]

If the OP hasn't already left on his road trip...
Enjoy your trip.

Alan

No not yet. Leaving tomorrow. A slight change of plan. I now have a passenger so we will book motels and share the cost.

Leaving tomorrow about 1400 hours and driving to Mildura.

Day two Cooper Peddy
Day three Tennant Creek
arrive Darwin on Sunday night.

[d2dave]

Mission accomplished. Got home midday today. All went good. The 15 year old car clocked over 390,000 km and never missed a beat. (probably because it was a Ford:))

Although I had a passenger I did all the driving. If I was going to Darwin again and cost and time were not an issue, and I had the choice to drive or fly, I would take the drive any day.

For any one interested, below is my trip itinerary.

Day One
Tatura
Mildura 449 Km 4 Hours 40 Minutes
Fuel price. LPG. 77.9 per litre.

Day Two
Mildura
Cooper Pedy 1082 Km 10 Hours 15 Minutes
20 Minute stop at Port Augusta for fuel and ice.
Fuel prices. Pt Aug. LPG. 83.9 per litre
Cooper Pedy LPG. 109.9 per litre

Day Three
Cooper Pedy
Tennant Creek 1189 Km 10 Hours 20 Minutes
20 Minute stop at Alice Springs for fuel and ice.
Fuel Prices. Alice. Petrol $1.77.9 LPG. $125.9 per litre.
Tennant Creek Not sure, forgot to write it down.

Day Four.
Tennant Creek
Darwin 998 Km. 9 Hours.
20 Minute stop at Katheraine for fuel and ice.
Fuel Prices. Kath. LPG. 109.9 per litre.
Darwin. LPG. $1.15.9 Petrol $168.9 per litre.

Total Km’s 3,718 Km’s
Total Driving time(including 20 min fuel stops) 34 Hours 15 Minutes
Total Fuel Cost $600 aprox.

[Hardynice]

Just got back from Darwin to Toowoomba in a road train. Sat on 82 kph the whole way and did it in 3 1/2 days, doesn't really matter where you sleep it as safe as a bank. Most people stay in a powered site in a Caravan Park, gives you toilet, shower and food, somebody to chat to at the end of the day. If I was you, treat yourself to a Caravan Cabin or Motel, you only live once so enjoy the trip. Most indigenous persons live near towns and a surprise to you all - - - Tennant Creek now has a RED ROOSTER store - - - but beware you won't get near it from 5 pm till 7 pm for obvious reasons.
As for being boring, its only boring if you want it to be.
In Darwin, the Highway Inn has nice rooms for $105 a night and the Hidden Valley Inn serves GREAT Crumbed Barra, Chips and Salad.
If I can help you any more PM me and I'll send you my phone number.
p.s. I am going back up there next Tuesday, may meet you along the way

[d2dave]

Just got back from Darwin to Toowoomba in a road train. Sat on 82 kph the whole way and did it in 3 1/2 days, doesn't really matter where you sleep it as safe as a bank. Most people stay in a powered site in a Caravan Park, gives you toilet, shower and food, somebody to chat to at the end of the day. If I was you, treat yourself to a Caravan Cabin or Motel, you only live once so enjoy the trip. Most indigenous persons live near towns and a surprise to you all - - - Tennant Creek now has a RED ROOSTER store - - - but beware you won't get near it from 5 pm till 7 pm for obvious reasons.
As for being boring, its only boring if you want it to be.
In Darwin, the Highway Inn has nice rooms for $105 a night and the Hidden Valley Inn serves GREAT Crumbed Barra, Chips and Salad.
If I can help you any more PM me and I'll send you my phone number.
p.s. I am going back up there next Tuesday, may meet you along the way

Thanks Hardynice but I have just finished the trip. What I just posted was what I have done, not what I plan to do. I drove up and left the car for my son and flew home. As for the Red Rooster at Tennant Creek I had tea there last Saturday night. We were the only one eating in there, a few came and and got take away but it was not busy at all. This was around 6ish.

It was far from boring, as I posted I would do it again in a flash. I have done some interstate truck driving (single trailer) and every time I passed a road train I was thinking how I would love to drive one of those.