Thread: 4 whole weeks away from work, in the wet

Take a raincoat, change of clothes and mozzie repellent

Originally Posted by jeebuz

and i was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions apart from us being completely bonkers (we agreed on that a long time ago), on stuff that is a must for this little excursion, such as vehicle setup etc.

we have decided that the trip is melbourne to sydney via eden. then up the coast roads to cairns, cut across to darwin (this is the bit we are the most unsure on which way would be best) then down through the centre avoiding adelaide and back to sunny melbourne.

im sure plenty of you have more expirience on this excursion than i do. however i do want to do it as safely as i possibly can.

so any advice would be really appreciated

MB

Mate if you can handle the fact that it rains and it rains and it rains then you'll be OK. In actual fact just like you get a sunny day in the middle of winter in Melb you can also get days of sunshine in the Wet.

Really it is a great time of the year and if you come thinkin' you'll have a good time you will.

Can't say for Qld but the NT have a good road reporting system and you can check that on the internet or by 1300 number. Cops offer good updates too.

Haven't done the oozywhatsit trip from Burketown to Broome or whatever it is but most of that should be OK if the road is officially open.

Main thing in the Wet is that you can get 500mm rain or more in a day and that can shut roads overnight but with plenty of time up your sleeves you can work around that and go different routes if needed.

Trip prep is much the same as if it is in the Dry but you need to choose your route a bit better.

Have fun

hunt up my CCCCC random ramblings post

so long as you carry a light tool kit, a light recovery kit, and a medium first aid kit some spare fuel (dual tanks is the way to go) plenty of drinking water and have the vehicle given a thorough inspection, service and overhaul as required prior to leaving you should be right.

Generally it gets wetter firstly in the Kimberlies then moves across so the first part may be possible if you leave in early December.
If you take the top road from Burketown around to Borroloola the odds are it will be closed due to the Wet as there are quite a few causeways, not bridges. Depends on when the heavy rains come as to how soon the road is closed. The road from Cape Crawford to around Roper River has a long crossing of the Limmen Bight plus all the other creek crossings do not have a causeway or anything across the creek. 2 years ago after a normal Wet season this road was not opened until early June. Borroloola to Cape Crawford to the highway is sealed and only closed after heavy rains for a short period but there will be a lot of water in the crossings.
You should be able to go through Mt Isa across the Barkly highway, up to Cape Crawford then to the Stuart Highway near Daly Waters to Katherine. But if there is a rain depression (ex cyclone) around then any of these roads could be closed. You need to check the NT Road Report and change your plans at very short notice.
Katherine to Broome is a sealed highway, good quality but if there is enough rain to cause the Victoria River to rise then it has closed the highway for up to a month so bring along something to read.
Problems: finding somewhere to camp at night without sharing it with 6,000 mosquitos, 5,000 other flying insects, some creepy crawlies that want a dry area and an area that is not waterlogged. Also you will be serenaded by a choir of 6,000 frogs. You will need something solid to protect you from the rain, initially there will be thunderstorms which will be short but savage then the steady rains will start. Clothes: while you will get quite a few sunny days it may be awkward to do washing and in the humid climate you will soon smell and the clothes will start going green.

Have a good trip