starting out

terry and leanne · Newbie

starting out

Basil Faulty · Guru

Welcome!! I guess I will be decired as a sceptic but the head wind debate dosen't hold air as far as I am concerned. "The airmass generally travels from west to east in Australia and it dosent matter which way you go you around the country you will at some stage strike headwinds". The Met Beaureau gets this question 3 times daily and the answer is the one I cut and pasted in here. Please don't dob on me for plagerism.

Bridgee · Senior Member

Hi Terry & Leanne, we are also from WA and just doing our first caravaning trip around Oz, we are now in Queensland as for the headwinds, obviously they've had so little significance, we've never thought about it. As Basil said wind comes in all directions at different times and at varying speeds, it might affect the ETA of planes at airports but very little impact on caravans. The only wind that has caused our 24 foot van to rock a little is some very strong sidewinds near Orange NSW.

It's a bit like worrying about the best way you can go around Australia where you can drive on more downhill roads than uphill ones!!

In other words pack the van, plan your route and go and enjoy!!

jandas fun · Guru

Bridgee wrote:

It's a bit like worrying about the best way you can go around Australia where you can drive on more downhill roads than uphill ones

gee. i like that, applies to a lot travelling.

think i'll borrow it for my collection., if you don't mind.

John

Vic41 · Senior Member

Happy Travelling Terry & Leanne, the last trip we did over the Nullabor, the winds were coming from the North, don't ask me why, nearly blew us over the Bight, lol. Rather than worry about the winds, I would follow the weather, as a rough guide North for winter, south for Summer wherever you are in Oz.

At the time you are leaving WA I would go East as you are on the brink of the Wet season up north and cyclone season. Better to do the south east in Spring/Summer, then head north around April/May, although this year April would have been better considering the floods in the south east states etc.

Whatever you do have a safe and enjoyable trip,

Vic

mike and Judy · Guru

Hi T & L
weeeeell the theory is as Basil says, and I have heard a lot of people go that way, when I went that way I had headwinds most of the way across the Nullabor, and was held up by bloody big loadloaders hauling machinary to the Tamani Mines with lots of police escorts, also across the north during the winter the winds is very little so it dont make a lot of difference, plus the Sturt Hwy north and south breaks the journey
have a ball

chezgo · Senior Member

When we did it on the bike everyone said we were going the wrong way as we went east to west then north. The headwinds across the nullabor were terrible it was June and felt like I was at an ACDC concert with all the head banging I was doing in the wind. When we went up through the centre a few weeks ago the main flow were people going north but that would be more likely due to the end of the wet season rather than wind and it was calm weather and no wind. And welcome terry and leanne. chezgo smile

Cruising Granny · Guru

Well Terry and Leanne, let me also welcome you to The Grey Nomads' Forum.
At this time of the year the Kimberleys experience E to SE winds, but prodominantly easterlies.
SE is the prevailing wind up the east coast.
Those horrendous hot, dry northerlies across the Nullarbor and SA happen in the summertime before a cool change. And God knows they're due for a cool change after 3 or 4 days of hot, dry northerlies. Vic also gets them when a change is due.
The wet season in the tropics is supposedly over, but someone forgot to tell the "weather man". It's been raining in Cairns - again - for the last 2 days. It's not cold - just soggy underfoot.
The wet season beings to build up in the tropics from the end of September. The humidity begins to kick in, with some spectacular thunder storms across the country. It doesn't always rain with those storms. Darwin seems to lead the rain race, while in Broome and Cairns most of the rain falls after Christmas. There are no rules about that. Cyclones can form from December, but once again, no rules.
All I can suggest is watch the weather on the internet "BOM" site to try to anticipate where the monsoonal low pressure systems will be in the wet season.
If all else fails, ask a local.
Safe and happy travels. Cheers Chris

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Hi terry and Leanne,
Welcome to the forum. After doing much travelling around Australia with postings with the Defence Force - it doesn't matter which way you go or when.
As Bidgeesays - plan it and pack the van and go.
Enjoy your time out on th road.
We are planning for the day that we can close up the house and ------- wander at our own pace smile

Bidgee - whee abouts in Qld are you?

Barb and Darryl

-- Edited by BarbandDaz on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 01:33:32 PM

Bridgee · Senior Member

Hi Barb and Daz, glad you agree with us and just pack the van and go,the more you worry about what might happen you will never get away! We have travelled the Nullarbor 3 times and never had a problem with wind or anything, even in 1974 when half of it was unsealed. Our message to all considering the trip is.... just do it!!

Well our precise location is Cruice Park rest area camp 509 camps 5 book. near Caboolture, then heading further up the sunshsine coast for a week or so. We had to bypass north east NSW and the Gold Coast due to the floods.

Our animal loving daughter - who takes after mum! said we HAVE to go to the Australian Zoo so who are we to argue!

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Hi Bidgee,
Sorry you had to miss the Gold Coast but at least you were able to get around the flood devistation. We have been to Australia Zoo 3 times in the past year - well worth the money and 'really' need more than one day to see and enjoy all of it.
Enjoy your trip
Barb

-- Edited by BarbandDaz on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 06:58:29 PM

Bridgee · Senior Member

Yes we would have liked to have gone to the Gold Coast but have been there twice, the last time was in 1997 when we took our children to the theme parks which were great, I loved Movie World and I also felt we needed more than a day there, bit like the Australian Zoo, will have to make sure we are there when it opens.

Probabaly stay in a caravan park near the Glass House Mountains so we can go and visit Buderim, Nambour, the Zoo and anything else that may be worth a visit.

When do you plan to close up the house and wander at your own pace?

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Hi Bridgee,
that depends on the Doctors.
I have been told that I am an enigma - as they cannot tell me exactly what is wrong.
So once the make p teir minds whether this condition will go on or be short term - we will make the final decision.
Enjoy the Glass house mountains - there are a few nice van parks in the mountains
Sorry for the delay in reply but have spent the weekend at Christmas Creek out past Laravale and Beaudesert
Barb

-- Edited by BarbandDaz on Sunday 31st of May 2009 06:52:59 PM