Fly...or drive? For me, a no brainer.

[GregMilner]

As I sit here at Sydney airport after a 36 hour business trip, waiting for my 5 hour flight back to Perth, I ponder this: I'd rather sit in my FFRR for four days driving here, then get back in and drive all the way back, than endure the sheer tedium of air travel.
Someone once called me old fashioned- I said 'fiddlesticks' - but every time I fly, I loathe it even more. And every time I drive north to Broome, friends say 'mate you're mad, you could be there in two hours on the plane.'
But they haven't had the pleasure of driving my car:)
Discuss.

[Mick_Marsh]

When time is not an issue, driving is a far more pleasurable experience.
I have read books written by people who have driven from Australia to UK or vice versa.
Far more interesting trip.

[sheerluck]

I'm the other way round. I used to fly "lots" for work (I used to subscribe to a website that kept track of the flights, and the length thereof) and the biggest week I ever had was 27 flights, the biggest year was 225,000 miles flown.

It gets to the stage where it feels like a giant bus with benefits.;)

All the flying also paid for a number of personal flights, plus hotel stays. So given the choice, flight every time thanks. :D

[GregMilner]

I guess each to their own Dave. I guess I might feel different if my daily drive was a beige Korean chook-chaser. Being a platinum frequent flyer has never been one of my ambitions. I grit my teeth at the prospect of a three hour flight to Bali.

[Roverlord off road spares]

. I grit my teeth at the prospect of a three hour flight to Bali.
It will never be a problem for me. I will never have any desire to go to Bali.:p

[87County]

I go to southern WA 2 or 3 times each year to catch up with grandkids etc - flying is cheap, quick, convenient. The SYD-PER flight is sometimes over Adelaide and the Bight, other times further north virtually over the railway route - either way it is enjoyable, but .....

When I look out the aircraft window and see where I could be, I would much rather be down there, driving - it adds two or three weeks to the trip (I know some people do it in much less).

If driving, one can always vary the route and there is so much more to see if you drive.

Yep, when time permits I would prefer to drive (it also allows me to avoid Perth).

[Laurie]

Greg I love doing trips when time permits :D
I recently did Canberra - Weipa in 2-1/2 days in my brothers Hilux. It took me about 5-10 minutes to straighten out when we stopped for a break:censored: Can't beat a Rangie or late model Disco for comfort on long drives.
I regularly attend the Avalon Airshow and have always driven, but at the last show we took a flight then hired a car. On a short stay we basically had a extra 2 days so we will be doing it again.

Laurie

[sheerluck]

I guess each to their own Dave. I guess I might feel different if my daily drive was a beige Korean chook-chaser. Being a platinum frequent flyer has never been one of my ambitions. I grit my teeth at the prospect of a three hour flight to Bali.

Don't get me wrong, there's also times when I'm more than happy to just kick back, pootle along, stop to smell the roses....hang on this place looks interesting.....and those times are also great. The old "let's nip down to the Hunter Valley for a weekend" kind of occasion. And before you know it, 4 days and a couple of thousand kilometres have gone by.

They are two sides of the same coin for me. This world is an amazing place, and seeing it up close and personal from the driver's seat, or from 45,000 feet, I don't really mind too much. :D

[BobD]

I think exactly like you, Greg, every time I fly. I look out of the window and try to find the tracks and stuff I want to be driving on or have driven on and just wish I was down there.


The time factor is a problem but it only took us four days and three nights to drive to Brisbane last year from Perth, stopping and camping every night at around 6 pm, so it is not all that much time really, if you want to do it. We had 16 days to drive to Caboolture, pick up my Kimberley Karavan and drive home via Birdsville, Coober Pedy, Yulara and the Great Central Road so we did the trip over as quickly as possible and then the return trip at a slightly more leisurely pace. We were only doing 100 to 110 because my son's D1 TDI300 won't go any faster and on the return trip I had the trailer!!

[GregMilner]

Well I guess the consensus is, if flying is for work - like almost all of mine is - then it's a pain in the posterior. I can *just" put up with flying for a holiday, but to be honest, I'd rather holiday in Australia anyway, and in that case, put me behind the wheel every time:-)

[RR44TDV8]

Mmmmmm........interesting one this one. I have been looked at strangely for the last 30 years when I explain my traveling theory but I have a basic rule of thumb and much to my chagrin, I have never fully convinced employees to understand it but basically, you just don't learn at 30,000 feet what you could learn on the ground if you put your mind to it.
I understand the theory of get there, get the work done and get out but I also understand the concept of just driving down a road to see what's there or being able to use your car as a mobile office with all the stuff you need when you need it. I really love the option of thinking through the deal you're on your way to complete or to catch up on lots of stuff that you just keep putting off because you are too busy.
My last business grew to have a very significant order book by driving long distances and knocking on doors........not suitable for every business and not suitable for everyone, but it worked for me.
I have been a platinum frequent flyer and I never got the thrill from jumping on a plane that I do from loading the Range Rover and setting off on a journey. Even now, when I think of going to Perth to see my grandson, I just think of loading the car........the thought of packing for a plane trip just doesn't float my boat.......the sad part is that I am now doing some consulting work and need to be available when I'm needed and not working to my own schedule and so my ability to drive and rive and drive is limited..........
Greg, I am with you.......steering wheel beats tray table every time!
Grant

[GregMilner]

Sorry I wasn't able to catch up for a beer while I was in Sydney Grant - if I'd been driving I would've had more time:)

[Tombie]

Running the company I did a decade+ ago was a world of aircraft, lounges and days away from my family...

It wasn't something I enjoyed as much as I wished I could of.

Now the fun is in a road trip.. be it to catch up with friends, get to work or just to go take a look.

[carlschmid2002]

I have flown a lot for work at different times. Give me a C17 ride with my helicopter in the back, rather than a three day chopper flght from Townsville to Perth, anyday. Flying in transport aircraft is the worst. I once hitched a ride in a Hercules from Townsville to Brisbane, little did I know they had to drop some parts off in Weipa on the way. I did have the whole back of the aircraft to myself. We once flew from Townsville to Dili in a Canadian Hercules jammed in like sardines. Most of the time on transport aircraft you can at least walk around. I did business class return to LA once, that was nice. When I fly with QANTAS I get my moneys worth at the club and try and sleep, or fly after 4pm weekdays and have free beer.
I do like driving long distances though. My ex-wife hated it. I can play my music as loud as I like. I can sing. I can stop whenever, wherever I want. I am trying to get my girls used to good length trips for a BIG trip in a few years.