Thread: Best route Melb to Mt Dare SA

I did Coober Pedy to Mt Dare via painted desert and Dalhousie Springs easily in 1 day in July.

We did Melbourne to Hawker (via Mildura) in one day - 17 hour drive - in a SIII.

I've done Melb to Pt Augusta (via Adelaide) in a day - stopping one hour out of three to feed & change a baby - in a Range Rover.

For a rush trip, I'd be tempted to follow the Western Hwy out to Adelaide [refuel], Pt Augusta [refuel], then either the Highway and cut across the Painted Desert (may as well see something interesting on the way), or up the Oodnadatta Track.

A workmate often goes through Mildura and the Dangali Reserve, but I think that's only good for areas East of the Simpson.

In planning a similar trip, I've proposed an early (4am) start in Melbourne to avoid all traffic. Morning tea at a Bakery en-route, lunch in Adelaide, out before the traffic and into Pt Augusta before nightfall.

Try Google maps 'directions' to crunch some numbers for distance & travel time.

We are doing a similar trip next year around the same time ( after Easter ) so watching this thread with interest. We'll be taking a whole school term though and doing Flinders Ranges and other places as well.

We intend doing a separate trip to the Flinders at some stage

If you looking for a stop over, theres plenty of room. As we are only 40km out of Pt Augusta "Wilmington".

Wayne

I'm planning to do the same trip in July 2010 - also only have 3 weeks.

The actual travel time required to go from Mt Dare to Timber Creek is quite low, but there is a lot I want to explore along the way - particularly in the East Macdonnell Ranges and Gregory NP.

I have driven from Newcastle to Mt Dare in 2-1/2 days via Broken Hill, Port Augusta and Coober Pedy.

To save some time, I would go up the Stuart Hwy. If you haven't been to the Painted Desert, I recommend you go that way, from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta - it won't add that much to you journey and is worth it if you can time it right.

Last time we went to the Flinders we went Mel > Berri > Hawker, some good caravan parks in Berri.