The Driver has decided to tackle some of his bucket list, so we just got back from a 2 week trip to Darwin. This was a real departure from our usual caravanning travel mode, because we flew up, then caught Ghan back. The original hope was to Ghan one way, with the 4WD, and drive the other, but the Truck is too high for the train, dammit. He wanted to see Darwin in the storm season (we've spent time there in the dry). Overdid it a bit - storms are one thing, cyclones quite another. We got out on Wednesday, just as Cyclone Carlos was being declared, but the previous couple of days were very wet and windy - enough of a taste of that sort of weather for me. We were bussed from Darwin to Katherine, because the train terminated there, due to the weather. The bus trip was horrible, but we loved the train. I think the bucket list just grew again, to include the Indian Pacific train trip. The Centre is so lush and green - think it will make a great destination this year - in the last couple of decades of regular outback travel, I have never seen it like that.
Firefly, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the train trip, as normally I don't like "organized" travel of any sort. We had the ordinary Gold class cabin, which was quite comfortable - once the intricacies of the fold-away toilet in the en-suite were mastered We were actually rather lucky because I tried to book online, but got caught in a loop, and ended up phoning Great Southern Rail to book over the phone. They offered us a special deal that wasn't on the web site, so we got the train trip, four nights' stay at our choice of hotel (Sky City) and a day tour (we opted for the get-on, get-off Tour Tub bus) - for $400 less than I would have paid just for the train. So, I would certainly advise booking that way.
So glad you enjoyed the Big Wet and are here to tell us about it. You make it sound so good we are now checking the size of vehicles allowed on the Ghan.
Our bucket list has just grown again too! Goodonya Wendy!
Gert, vehicle dimensions are able to the found on the Great Southern Rail website. We tried very hard.....have Landrover Defender. Even with the roof rack off and the tyres let down to just about nothing, we still couldn't sneak in under the height limit. The vehicle carrier is a double decker one; if they just took a single layer, a lot more would qualify. I suggested we take my rather small, non-air-conditioned, elderly Barina, instead. The Driver didn't seem to consider that a suitable vehicle in which to tackle the outback.
Happy Wanderer, there are certainly some great deals available in the Wet Season, in Darwin. We had intended to go to Kakadu for a couple of days, but had to abort that because the highway out there was flooded. You do have to be flexible at this time of the year! We asked the reception manager at Sky City, where we were staying for 4 days (in one of the deluxe ocean view rooms) what sort of a deal he would do if we extended for an extra two days. $170 a night!! This is a top class hotel. If you have never been to Darwin, and can only see yourself doing one trip up there, I would suggest that a visit in May probably combines the best of the seasons. In a normal year, still water around in kakadu and the Litchfield waterfalls; country still fairly green. Seasonal tourist attractions open again. Before the real rush of the mid-year extended school holiday period that turns much of northern Australia crowded.
That vehicle dimension issue doesn't make sense when I know they carry loaded semis and containers. Maybe it's the double deck dimensions. I did the Ghan before it opened to Darwin. I flew to Alice from Broome, "Ghaned" to Pt. Augusta, and then caught the mail plane to Innamincka and other points in the outback of SA and Qld. It's a 2 day trip to stations, oil and gas fields, roadhouses and outback towns. Most of the train trip was overnight. I stared at the countryside out the window until it was too dark, and it was so dry out there in 2002. Just the opposite last year when I travelled down the middle from Cairns in Oct/Nov. I even drove through heavy downpours and minor flash flooding. So unpredictable is this country we live in.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
sounds great but we will be doing the road trip leave here ( Gawler SA) end of April going staight up the middle with a few stops here & there, have to be back home by December, do you think that will give us plenty of time haha, can't wait to be back on the road, will be asking you guys the best places to stay on our way up both free and caravan parks
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Chris & Joan toyta prado & traveller Belair home town Gawler s.a "Living the Dream"
That's a nice amount of time to have. You should be able to spend time at all the great bits up the middle. Given the time you are leaving and returning, suggest you naybe think about getting up to the Top End fairly quickly. Kakadu is best before the wetlands start to dry up too much. It starts to get pretty humid up there from about Sept on, into the build-up season, so that is a good time to be exploring the more southern parts.
We were actually rather lucky because I tried to book online, but got caught in a loop, and ended up phoning Great Southern Rail to book over the phone. They offered us a special deal that wasn't on the web site, so we got the train trip, four nights' stay at our choice of hotel (Sky City) and a day tour (we opted for the get-on, get-off Tour Tub bus) - for $400 less than I would have paid just for the train. 
