We are on the road.

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,


The campers on the back of the D3 and we are headed south. Not really sure where we are going, but rough plan is to head to Victoria. We have 4 weeks so not in a hurry, and may just do a pub crawl down the stuart highway yet.


So if you see the silver D3 with BULLETS number plates , give us a wave or wonder over and say Gday.


Cheers Ean & Louise.

[LandyAndy]

Enjoy the trip Ean.
Hanging to get out of Williams myself,a week to go:(:(:(:(:(
Got to get rid of this bloody flu,was hoping to take the boat up to Perth and take my bro out fishing before Albany.
Too crook at the moment:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad :
ENJOY
Andrew

[UncleHo]

Have a safe trip Ean Austral,seems you are going south at the right time as looks like it will get a tad wet up Darwin way ;)
Yake your time enjoy the scenery, and try to keep us posted :)


BTW. Happy New Year in advance :D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

gees.... when do you ever work???
so, from 100% humidity to just plain old 100.
sounds like fun:D

[Chucaro]

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Update us about good (and cheap spots) for ON stay ;)
Let us know if you cross the pond and come to Hobart .

[wrinklearthur]

You have the perfect kit for a long sticky beak around the country, make the most of it and safe travels.
.

[Treads]

Have a safe trip and enjoy yourselves :)

[Ean Austral]

gees.... when do you ever work???
so, from 100% humidity to just plain old 100.
sounds like fun:D


Cmon Pedro,


Got to stay in the warm weather, the amber fluids just don't go down as well in the cold climate for me.




Cheers Ean

[mick88]

Have a safe and enjoyable journey!




Cheers, Mick.

[wrinklearthur]

And if you can get your gear on the ferry, Tasmania is at the present is warm enough for a enjoyable beverage and cool enough for a Barbecue. :twobeers:
.

[GMK Disco2]

We just drove my D2 TD5 from Nuriootpa to Darwin and back this year.


Daly waters is good, Aeirleron ( hope I spelt it OK) is a great place to stop.
Do youself a favour and take a small very easy dirt road detor down from the highway 30kms above Glendambo down to Kinggoonya (pub and hotel where all the railways meet up - run by 2 ex army guys) and then back onto the highway at Glendambo.


Have a safe trip and let me know when/if you pass through the Barossa - have some nice Home Brew on Tap :-)

[Tombie]

Kingoonya pub is currently run by a couple from Darwin...

[Tombie]

Better still, Kingoonya then My Ive on to Iron knob...

[MarknDeb]

Have a very safe trip mate and hope you enjoy

[Hugh_D]

Picked up my 110 Defender from Humpty Doo, then a quick trip back to Perth. Would like to see your trip notes as missed all the fun places on my run.


Enjoy.

[Tombie]

Or from Coober Pedy take the old Highway :)

[Ean Austral]

Well 2nd day and only made it 400ks from home, currently at territory manor in mataranka and the only people here so enjoying the relax .

Thanks for the tips, just got to see how far we get by new years eve first.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[d2dave]

Enjoy your trip Ean. Hope to maybe catch up when you are down my way.

Plenty of hot weather and cold beer here:twobeers:

[Chops]

Have a good safe trip dude, there'll be plenty to see along the way I'm sure.

And when you get down this way, sing out, we'll organize a BBQ, or a day trip or something. I'm sure there's a few here who'd like to meet you guys.

[alien]

Have a good safe trip dude, there'll be plenty to see along the way I'm sure.

And when you get down this way, sing out, we'll organize a BBQ, or a day trip or something. I'm sure there's a few here who'd like to meet you guys.
A camp out weekend could be planed at short notice if you make it as far as Melbourne:)

[Ean Austral]

Well we are in the Alice and pull up here for the night, decided Aures rock looks like a good spot to see in 2014.

Some places that are worth stopping if doing Darwin to Alice
Aileron stayed last night top spot
Renner Springs, neat and tidy and great steak sandwich.
Dunmurra neat and tidy and great breakfast, plus he will negotiate his fuel price if you ask.

Of the more strange things we seen we past one of those smart cars about half way between Alice and Tennant creek. They looked pretty cramped to.
Also they need to teach people from SA to drive with their lights on .

Other than that enjoying a nice cold one in beautiful downtown Alice springs.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Cobber]

I wish I was home I'd call in and have a beer with you! :BigThumb: I'll be heading home (from Adelaide) on the 2nd so if you see a white Defender coming the other way it will probably be me! :D

Not sure if you were hoping to climb the rock but given the high temperatures I'd say the climb will be closed ... still, the rock itself is quite spectacular. I recommend doing the 'sounds of silence' sunset/dinner/star show thing while you're there. It's a bit pricey but worth it IMO and the tucker is sensational to boot :BigThumb:

[Ean Austral]

I wish I was home I'd call in and have a beer with you! :BigThumb: I'll be heading home (from Adelaide) on the 2nd so if you see a white Defender coming the other way it will probably be me! :D

Not sure if you were hoping to climb the rock but given the high temperatures I'd say the climb will be closed ... still, the rock itself is quite spectacular. I recommend doing the 'sounds of silence' sunset/dinner/star show thing while you're there. It's a bit pricey but worth it IMO and the tucker is sensational to boot :BigThumb:

Thanks Cobber

If its on we are up for it, keep us posted as we are headed south so may be able to stop along the road and say g'day .

Plan is leave the rock maybe mid morn on the 1st after seeing the sunrise at the rock the maybe stop at marla if we get that far. Then track south each day from there.

Cheers Ean

[Cobber]

I'll pull up at Glendambo on the afternoon of the 2nd for the night so it's not unlikely that we'll run into one another :BigThumb:

[Ean Austral]

Just watching the sunset on Uluru.... SPECTACULAR ..

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Ean Austral]

G'day All,

Well after a great time at the rock welcoming in the new year we are headed south so hopefully be in the cooler parts of SA tonight after a couple of days of 45 out in the red centre.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[spudboy]

Hi Ean,

If you make it down to Adelaide and you want a place to park up for a day or two give us a shout. We're up in the Adelaide Hills & have plenty of space & shade & water.

Cheers
David

[Tombie]

G'day All,



Well after a great time at the rock welcoming in the new year we are headed south so hopefully be in the cooler parts of SA tonight after a couple of days of 45 out in the red centre.



Cheers Ean & Louise


Nothing cool until you get past Pt Augusta at the moment...

Coober will hit 45°c
Roxby area about the same...

[numpty]

G'day All,

Well after a great time at the rock welcoming in the new year we are headed south so hopefully be in the cooler parts of SA tonight after a couple of days of 45 out in the red centre.

Cheers Ean & Louise

I should have looked at this thread earlier, as we could have had a beer to see the New Year in. I was at the Outback Hotel until just after midnight.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Perry

[Ean Austral]

Hi Ean,

If you make it down to Adelaide and you want a place to park up for a day or two give us a shout. We're up in the Adelaide Hills & have plenty of space & shade & water.

Cheers
David

Cheers Spudboy

Thanks for the kind offer, not sure what or where we are going yet but will be sure to look you up if we do.

On another note haven't passed 1 Landrover whilst on the road. Seen a few in Alice but that's it since Katherine.

Oh well we are happily to fly the L/R flag. It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Hymie]

When you get to Victoria, if you end up in Gippsland give us a shout.

[Cobber]

On another note haven't passed 1 Landrover whilst on the road. Seen a few in Alice but that's it since Katherine. i saw you guys at about 2 o'clock north of Pt Augusta, gave you a wave and got on the radio but got no reply. Just shy of Glendambo I thought to myself 'geez it's been a quiet drive ... ' looked down at my handset and realised it was on Volume 1 :angel: so sorry if you tried to get me on the radio :(
Not long after I saw you I overtook a very slow Defender pulling a trailer. You wait for ages to see a LR them you see them all at once! Always the way! :D


Nothing cool until you get past Pt Augusta at the moment...

Coober will hit 45°c
Roxby area about the same...correct, I've pulled up at Glendambo and it's currently 45. Hopefully the cool change they are talking about eventuates :cool:

[Ean Austral]

Cobber was that you we passed just north of port Augusta? We passed a 130 towing a trailer and then a another white defender. The only 2 landys we seen on the highway between Katherine and Pt Augusta.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Ean Austral]

i saw you guys at about 2 o'clock north of Pt Augusta, gave you a wave and got on the radio but got no reply. Just shy of Glendambo I thought to myself 'geez it's been a quiet drive ... ' looked down at my handset and realised it was on Volume 1 :angel: so sorry if you tried to get me on the radio :(
Not long after I saw you I overtook a very slow Defender pulling a trailer. You wait for ages to see a LR them you see them all at once! Always the way! :D

correct, I've pulled up at Glendambo and it's currently 45. Hopefully the cool change they are talking about eventuates :cool:

Must've typed at the same time, yep did call but no biggie, we stopped about 10mins before seeing you for a truck that had the bonnet up not sure if he was still there.

Anyway safe travels might catch up in Alice on the way back .

Cheers Ean

[Tombie]

So where are you now Ean?

[Ean Austral]

So where are you now Ean?

G'day Tombie

Just arriving at Burra , have some friends who are at Barmara that we havent seen for ages so pop in and surprise them.

Cheers Ean

[Ean Austral]

Driving thru these rolling hills is just awesome the D3 is just taking them in its stride even with the camper on the back.

Cheers Ean

[Tombie]

G'day Tombie



Just arriving at Burra , have some friends who are at Barmara that we havent seen for ages so pop in and surprise them.



Cheers Ean


Lovely area...

Enjoy your trip..

[Cobber]

Must've typed at the same time, yep did call but no biggie, we stopped about 10mins before seeing you for a truck that had the bonnet up not sure if he was still there.

Anyway safe travels might catch up in Alice on the way back .yep the Defender without the trailer was me :) gotta say that bus of yours looks great coming down the road with the camper behind :BigThumb: yeah I stopped for the truck too, I wonder if anyone else did? :confused:

I won't be around Australia Day weekend but otherwise definitely give me a shout on the way back through :twobeers: safe travels :BigThumb:

[Ean Austral]

yep the Defender without the trailer was me :) gotta say that bus of yours looks great coming down the road with the camper behind :BigThumb: yeah I stopped for the truck too, I wonder if anyone else did? :confused:

I won't be around Australia Day weekend but otherwise definitely give me a shout on the way back through :twobeers: safe travels :BigThumb:

Thanks Cobber , the boss reckons her car looks good too.

Funny gone from 45 plus around the centre to being in a van park in Morgan SA and 19 and raining. Don't ya just love this country.

Haven't seen this many ski boats for a very long time .

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Ean Austral]

Well spent a great day around Berri, Loxton and Barmera , and a few of the wineries lightened the wallet a bit.

Anyway spend a day or two around Mildura then head for Ballarat.

Great to see all the orchid and vineyard country makes a change from the brown desolate country driving down.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[mick88]

I would have caught up with you in Mildura for a beer and a yarn, but I am away with work at the moment. Enjoy Mildura, there is a lot to see and do around here and make sure you check out Trentham Estate winery and restaurant. Also Mungo National Park is worth considering!

Cheers, Mick.

[Ean Austral]

Well after 3 great days in and around Mildura we are headed for Melbourne tomorrow and will likely stay till after the weekend.

We are keen to see Melbourne itself but if anyone would like to catch up later in the week would be more than keen. Maybe lunch at a good pub or something, but not knowing the area we are not sure how spread out people are.

Anyways we would be happy to hear any suggestions , just remember we still have to drive home so not to keen on any hard 4wd trecks. I know soft but realistic.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[d2dave]

What route are you taking to Melb?

[Ean Austral]

What route are you taking to Melb?

I haven t really looked there is just a sign up the road that saysMelbourne so was going to follow that. Would Calder hwy sound right.

Cheers Ean

[d2dave]

Yep, Calder highway. Wasn't sure whether you were going direct or planning sight seeing along the way.

[Ean Austral]

Yep, Calder highway. Wasn't sure whether you were going direct or planning sight seeing along the way.

We were going to but will mock Melbourne over then likely head north east from there.

Cheers Ean

[Mick_Marsh]

We were going to but will mock Melbourne over then likely head north east from there.

Cheers Ean
Yep. Many people mock Melbourne.
If you go into Melbourne via the Calder, it turns into a toll road. At some stage it might be an idea to head south and go in on the Western highway. If you don't mind a little detour. At Castlemaine head to Daylesford. Not long after Mt Franklin before Hepburn, the Chocolate Mill is on the right. Call in to Hepburn to visit the springs. Have a bit of a poke around Daylesford.
Get on to Alien. He might be able to show you an interesting way through Wombat to the Western Highway. If not, head off to Ballan through Korweinguboora. Just before you get to Ballan, turn left on to the Western Highway.
Now that I've typed that, where are you heading to in Melbourne?

[Chops]

Might pay to head down towards Warnnambool ('s) and head to Melb via the Great Ocean Rd, to Geelong, then head over Mick and Aliens way for a sightsee. Nothing like seeing the ocean in all it's glory.

[ramblingboy42]

What route are you taking to Melb?

reminds of an old Dad'n Dave story.

Dad was going on a trip to Melbourne and Dave asked him "what route are you gonna take Dad?"

Dad replied, " I suppose I'll take the missus Dave, she stood beside me during the drought."

[alien]

If your coming down the Sunraysia Highway there is a nice camp site at Tedington Reservoir.
To get to it turn west at the signs in Stuart Mill.

If you get to Daylesford try camping in Mount Franklin(opp the Choci Mill).
The camp site is under Poplar trees in the base of the volcano.

If your going to be around Bacchus Marsh sing out if you want to camp in our drive.
Your more than welcome to drop the trailer and site see in Melbourne with out it.
Also a night at the pub for dinner would be doable for some of us.

If your around on the weekend end please yell out.
We can do a forum camp in Wombat(between Ballan-Bacchus Marsh-Gisbourne).
I'm also up to take you for a easy-medium trip around some of the Wombat gold sites(@1850's-on) including a hut on Sunday.

Cheers, Kyle.

P.S.
I'll PM my number if you want to contact me.

[alien]

Might pay to head down towards Warnnambool ('s) and head to Melb via the Great Ocean Rd, to Geelong, then head over Mick and Aliens way for a sightsee. Nothing like seeing the ocean in all it's glory.
Like Ean hasn't seen enough ocean in his past life Chops.
Maybe it looks different from land than from the bridge of a boat:p

[Ean Austral]

G'day All

We did the GOR last time we were down so don't need to see it again along with all the other tourists down along there.

A Sunday tour around the gold areas sounds great.

Anyway the boss has the next couple of days planned so after that am open to suggestions.

As long as I do the MCG tour, see the Anzac memorial , and visit the meuseum then I'm happy. The boss should be able to visit 1/8th of the shops by then.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Ean Austral]

G'day All,

Well I must admit Melbourne was an eye opener, but enjoyed our time there.
We are now in Ballarat and have seen more D2 than I have ever seen in 1 place.

We are catching up with a few Aulroians on Sunday as Alien has been kind enough to spend a day showing us around.

We are then heading home as our youngest daughter is off to Burma with her work , so we will just have to head back down this way next year and finish off out trek.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Pedro_The_Swift]

sounds like its been a good trip Ean,,
Remember to take some PICS on Sunday,,,:angel:

[LandyAndy]

Sounds like a great trip had Ean.
I have been down in Albany for a week with Deb,Lindsay and Taylah(Lindsays girlfriend).Graz(a WA AULROian) and his wife also came down for a few days.
The weather was crap for boating for 3 days,got the family out for a fish and got nothing,took Graz out deep the next day with great weather and the boat broke down on the way back in:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:.Made it home very slowly under our own steam.
Was a great week away despite the weather/boat issues,heading home tommorow:(:(:(:(:(:(
Andrew

[Ean Austral]

sounds like its been a good trip Ean,,
Remember to take some PICS on Sunday,,,:angel:

I will do Pedro, and yes it's been a great trip.

Cheers Ean

[digger]

G'day All,

We are then heading home as our youngest daughter is off to Burma with her work
Cheers Ean & Louise

Ean,

My sister works in Burma (Myanmar)

Shon Campbell (Manager at Myanmar Information Management Unit / UNDP) not sure why your daughter is headed there but if its anything to
do with reconstruction etc etc after the tsunami and all the other probs, she may run into her...

Can PM you details if it helps... (and send my sister an email!)

cheers
Digger

[Ean Austral]

Ean,

My sister works in Burma (Myanmar)

Shon Campbell (Manager at Myanmar Information Management Unit / UNDP) not sure why your daughter is headed there but if its anything to
do with reconstruction etc etc after the tsunami and all the other probs, she may run into her...

Can PM you details if it helps... (and send my sister an email!)

cheers
Digger

Thanks Digger,

She is an apprentice aircraft avionics tech and the company she works for is going up to repair several planes.

Not real sure how long she will be gone, but head home and see her before she goes and find out all the details etc,

Thanks kindly for the offer.

Cheers Ean

[Ean Austral]

G'day All,

Well after a great time in Ballarat , including a great day out with a few forum members we are leaving in the morning for Loxton SA to visit Zilzie wines, then off home.

With a tropical low north of Darwin and expected to pass tomorrow then cross the coast in the Kimberley's could make for an interesting trip home. Might get to see how the D3 likes water crossing.:o

Would like to thank Alien once again for the trip, and hopefully on our next journey meet some more Aulroians.

Will keep you updated on our progress home.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[digger]

PM sent!

[Ean Austral]

Well you wouldn't believe it, driving into Waikerie get waved down by a cop car coming the other way , so pull up a bit further up the road and wait for him to arrive.

Lucky for me he was a good bloke and even better still he was a Landy fanatic, so after a good chat we said thanks and continued on our way.

It was great to meet you Digger, thanks for taking the time to catch us up, and enjoyed meeting another Aulroian.

Cheers Ean & Louise

[Bundalene]

What a classic!! Hope we get to meet Digger .. (on the right side of the law...!) when we go through S A in a couple of months time:D

Have a safe trip home Ean...sorry you didn't make it around our way. Can fully understand you wanting to get back home to see your daughter ...hope all goes well for her.

Hopefully neat time you are down this way we can catch up.

[Tombie]

Yes, I've met that digger bloke!
He dropped in to say g'day once - and pick up some stuff...

Great fella.

[Cobber]

It's nice when you meet reasonable officers :D

Hope to see you on the way back through :BigThumb:

[Tombie]

It's nice when you meet reasonable officers :D



Hope to see you on the way back through :BigThumb:


No one said Digger is reasonable :)

[digger]

No one said Digger is reasonable :)

At least no one that met me :)

Tombie supplied me with a schmicko bull bar (winch capable) for bear and I got in and fitted it the night before we left to the snow and melbourne and back!!

I have since "tested" the bar on the way home from work one night and it is completely roo capable.... and must soak up a lot of the impact as:
1) no dent or mark to bar or car:angel:
2) no airbags went off:twisted::twisted:

Thanks Tombie (and mrs tombie! :) )

Thanks also to the "travelling australs" great to meet you guys too!

Always happy to meet people --dont be surprised esp if you are ina series or defer and you get stopped my way.... it is likely for a vehicle check :)
(but if coming this way PLEASE go slow through our villages....)

cheers
Digger

[bob10]

At least no one that met me :)

Tombie supplied me with a schmicko bull bar (winch capable) for bear and I got in and fitted it the night before we left to the snow and melbourne and back!!

I have since "tested" the bar on the way home from work one night and it is completely roo capable.... and must soak up a lot of the impact as:
1) no dent or mark to bar or car:angel:
2) no airbags went off:twisted::twisted:

Thanks Tombie (and mrs tombie! :) )

Thanks also to the "travelling australs" great to meet you guys too!

Always happy to meet people --dont be surprised esp if you are ina series or defer and you get stopped my way.... it is likely for a vehicle check :)
(but if coming this way PLEASE go slow through our villages....)

cheers
Digger


I'll be the one with the Qld Reds sticker on....... doesn't mean I'm a Qld communist. But I am a law abiding citizen, ask Chucaro Bob

[Ean Austral]

G'day All,

Well we are in Katherine tonight and only 300ks to go home tomorrow, spent last night at Wycliffe well but didn't see any aliens, but did have a look.

Lots of water from there north and lots of cattle on the road so it was slow going today. Seen a couple of wrecks that had been rolled that weren't there on the way down, we stopped at 1 pajero thinking that it may have just happened, but no sign of anyone.

Anyway 9500 done only 300 to go.

Cheers Ean & louose

[Tombie]

You forgot to drop in... Turn around!

[Ean Austral]

Ahhh Home sweet Home...


lots of water coming into Darwin, was over the road in a couple of spots, but nothing of concern. Its unreal to see how green it is up here, change from northern SA where its just brown.


Just under 10,000ks, D3 went great especially considering the temps we drove it in for long periods towing the camper.:D


Time to sit down and have a cold one on the lounge infront of the telly.


Cheers Ean & Louise

[LandyAndy]

Trip report has been a great read.
Thanks
Andrew