Driving to Darwin

**Barra1** · 17th November 2013, 09:46 AM

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** · 17th November 2013, 10:45 PM

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** · 20th November 2013, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by NT5224

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** · 27th November 2013, 03:32 PM

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** · 27th November 2013, 06:12 PM

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** · 27th November 2013, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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.

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