Thread: Lap of Oz - Timings and must do's

Would at the very least be driving up to Cooktown via the Bloomfield. You're also driving straight past GRR and Mitchell Falls! If you aren't keen on the GRR, you can get to the El Questro entrance without even leaving the tarmac.

GRR can be done in 4 days if you must rush it (including a night in El Questro for the hot spring in the morning and a gorge walk. Emma Gorge is amazing over to road too.

Add atleast 1 night in Lake Argyle too, you drive straight past it otherwise.. amazing.

Not too sure why you've got 20 days down the coast of way. I'd allow 14 MAX. We included 3 nights in Gnarloo station (base of ningaloo reef) 3 nights in Exmouth (you will lover the snorkelling off the beach but bring rashies, at the very least. You can drive from Perth to Karratha in one day (14hours) to give you an indication, and there's really only handful of stops. I'd add in Karijini too, well worth the detour. (allow 3 nights in Karijini as it's a days drive in and a early morning leave if you go from exmouth to karijini then to Port Hedland via Hamersley Gorge, past Wittenoom back to the main highway.)

Really if you end up in W.A at the right time of the year, you want to be spending a good 2 weeks between getting to Broome and leaving Lake Argyle to experience the Kimberleys.

Just the way I'd do it if and when we go again.

Anyway, if you find yourself short on time for whatever reason in W.A I'd say my must see locations where:
-Camping a night above lake argyle (make sure you book).
-Karijini (although that's because we went in June, weather dependent that place, you want just after the wet season).
-The gorges in El Questro (make sure you see Emma Gorge over the road in the morning, and the hot springs before 8am plus the camp grounds here are great).
-Mount Barnett gorge/fall was up there IMO an overall equally good experience as Mitchell Falls was, Exmouth (amazing snorkelling).
-Coral bay for one night.
-Gnarloo Station for the location + snorkelling. (Not much else to see between Perth and Exmouth unless you go to Steep Point but that's a 4 day trip) Maybe Monkey Mia if you have time?

Originally Posted by Russrobe

Would at the very least be driving up to Cooktown via the Bloomfield. You're also driving straight past GRR and Mitchell Falls! If you aren't keen on the GRR, you can get to the El Questro entrance without even leaving the tarmac.

GRR can be done in 4 days if you must rush it (including a night in El Questro for the hot spring in the morning and a gorge walk. Emma Gorge is amazing over to road too.

Add atleast 1 night in Lake Argyle too, you drive straight past it otherwise.. amazing.

Not too sure why you've got 20 days down the coast of way. I'd allow 14 MAX. We included 3 nights in Gnarloo station (base of ningaloo reef) 3 nights in Exmouth (you will lover the snorkelling off the beach but bring rashies, at the very least. You can drive from Perth to Karratha in one day (14hours) to give you an indication, and there's really only handful of stops. I'd add in Karijini too, well worth the detour. (allow 3 nights in Karijini as it's a days drive in and a early morning leave if you go from exmouth to karijini then to Port Hedland via Hamersley Gorge, past Wittenoom back to the main highway.)

Really if you end up in W.A at the right time of the year, you want to be spending a good 2 weeks between getting to Broome and leaving Lake Argyle to experience the Kimberleys.

Just the way I'd do it if and when we go again.

Thanks for the tips....the 20 days on the WA is because if we find a nice bit of beach with no one around we will park our backsides there until we get low on water, or the fish stop biting.

I'll add Karijini to the places list.

Cheers

Beware of Darwin Many have intended just to visit and have been there ever since, You will see what I mean when you get there
Have a great trip

I may see the world differently, but after many years of journeys across this continent, my advice is slow down and focus on one side, west, or north, or east, or centre, or south.

Your plan is very ambitious for the time you have IMO. Others will differ no doubt but that's my advice. Slowing down is better for vehicle, soul, mental health, and wallet.

...Go anytime and just rove (wander), follow your nose, don't have an itinerary, make it your own journey of discovery.

All the best

Originally Posted by Zeros

I may see the world differently, but after many years of journeys across this continent, my advice is slow down and focus on one side, west, or north, or east, or centre, or south.

Your plan is very ambitious for the time you have IMO. Others will differ no doubt but that's my advice. Slowing down is better for vehicle, soul, mental health, and wallet.

...Go anytime and just rove (wander), follow your nose, don't have an itinerary, make it your own journey of discovery.

All the best

Sound advice...I have to somehow reconcile the trip to Brisbane and 1770, which is long overdue, with the desire to spend all our time exploring the west coast.

Originally Posted by Fubar

Sound advice...I have to somehow reconcile the trip to Brisbane and 1770, which is long overdue, with the desire to spend all our time exploring the west coast.

Agree with taking your time. You could spend two weeks in the southwest of w.a alone and your missing it entirely with your current route. Best part of W.A is going from one extreme to the next by doing a top to bottom... The Karri Forrest down to the beach is stunning.

Your plan is a good start.....and there is flexibility

You like many of us with kids and limited time it’s about fitting in as much as you can with the time available.

Have a cracking trip.......

Gday! Great ideas on your trip. Russrobe has the drum on it, but defs do SW WA at some point in time. To me that was some incredibly beautiful and different country.
GRR is also amazing - there are so many waterholes and rivers to see & swim in; Manning Falls probably being my highlight - stunning walk in, followed by a massive waterhole with nice big jump off the top of the falls. Mitchell Falls was good too - but nowhere to jump.
I could go on & on - just writing this, I've said 'that was the best place' about 10x in 10 mins!
BUT as Zeros said 'less is more'! We travelled for a whole year and it just went too fast! It would probably be a good idea to break things up and 1/4 (at the least) the country. Do 3 months in each 1/4, then, when you've done that, you'll spend the rest of your life planning trips to revisit the best places and the places you missed that the locals raved about.
Whatever you do in this amazing country we live in, it will be such a great adventure that your family will share and talk of for life.
Happy rovering!

Col