Toss the coin and work out if turning left or right from the driveway, make that turn and see where you end up. We had sorta worked out where we wanted to be roughly at what time when we left in jan, Been a couple of plan changes since then and another one coming up now. We need to do some work on our trip and where we are working now have made some offers nearly to good to refuse to hang around a bit longer. So I think if you plan be prepared to change and understand you wont really understand your destination if you dont spend a month at least in some major stop overs. We have noticed that to really meet the people in a park you need to be there a week. Best advise is to do it and enjoy the journey cheers blaze
Having done this a number of times, you need a rough plan of where to go and which way to go, weather conditions and what you budget can afford.
I always follow the weather and have a rough idea of where I am going. The plan should be flexible, ie; you may decide on route to stay longer at one place or not at all, or not as long as you had planned, play it by ear most of the way. Do not book too far ahead, although some places are booked out in the main tourist season/school holidays etc. Being locked in to having to be somewhere at a certain time for a destination a long way away can spoil your holiday and put too much stress on you for the trip.
If you do book ahead and haven't paid a booking fee, always as a matter of courtesy (either way) ring the place and cancel. Try to find out from others you meet up with what their highlights were if they are coming from the way you are headed, but a visit to the tourist info centre in the towns your arrive in is always a good thing. Remember that what is considered great by one person may not be so great for you, although generally is. Anothers experience with people/parks at a place may also be different for you.
Take on board everything others tell you but make up your own minds what you would like to do. In a nutshell, have a general idea of where you are going, but don't treat it like an appointment, play it by ear as you go and you will enjoy it a lot more. This forum is a good place to find out about different places from what others are experiencing, also a good place to ask questions like you have done on where you want to go and what you want to see etc.
Above all, make your travel experience a pleasurable one, not a task to be completed.
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
To me the most important thing to be considered is the crossing of the top end.
It seems that the best time to cross is in the dry season and that falls between May and October so I planned to be either in Cooktown or Broome by May.
If you are considering a speedy trip there may be time this year but for me the trip was planned so that I could be in Broome by next May.
Some idea of my planning can be found on the thread on the Solo Nomad forum "My 15 month Plan" and the preperation on "My 12 Month Plan" previously on the same forum.
John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Sunday 10th of July 2011 10:54:31 AM
We planned for Spring across the Nullabor & southern WA for the wildflower season as it makes the driving & walking in those areas a delight. Apart from that, try to avoid tourist & coastal areas during school holidays. Use word of mouth of fellow travellers & Tourist Info places. We also use the internet a lot to research areas to decide where to travel, where to stay & what to do there.
We keep a general direction, ie: N S E or W but apart from that we could veer anywhere at a moments notice.
Cheers
Jon
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Home is where we hang our hats - Home now in Yamba NSW
If you are considering a speedy trip there may be time this year but for me the trip was planned so that I could be in Broome by next May. John
Hi John, If it's any help and you haven't done it before, I went from Darwin to Broome last year via Katherine and free camped all the way using Camps 5. I had done this trip several times before so only needed short visits to stock up, fuel, showers, good mobile reception etc in the towns along the way.
Did stay at the new caravan park at the Broom/Perth junction for one night and then free camped down to Perth from there on except for a stay in a C/Park in Carnarvon for a week to meet up with others.
Please note that my trip above was a return to Perth for family reasons, so didn't dilly dally except for the break in Carnarvon.
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 10th of July 2011 11:48:29 AM
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
You are going to get as many answers as you have questions up the top Rip and Rosie. For me it will be Strict budget and stick to it, and head for the warmth at all times.
Thanks guys, What about the Nullabor? Best months for crossing? should we plan a quck crossing or spend time at various places?
Did anyone fit Tassie into this? How?
Google the Nullabor Link which will answer most of your questions and also BOM (Bureau of Met) which will give you the weather conditions, although I think this may be on teh Nullabor Link site too, haven't looked at it for awhile.
Winter/Spring is best as can be a bit hot in Summer, but still ok.
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
Thanks guys, What about the Nullabor? Best months for crossing? should we plan a quck crossing or spend time at various places?
Did anyone fit Tassie into this? How?
We did it in spring & had no regrets due to the wildflowers everyhere, we never expected so much colour on the nullarbor.
The winds will blow in any direction from day to day so it makes no difference to the time of year to travel.
On the South Australian side the road parallels the coastal cliffs for a long way & if you keep an eye out you can swing down one of the dirt tracks to the edge of the cliff & camp with the best view in Australia as your back yard.
Cheers
Jon
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Sunday 10th of July 2011 05:57:40 PM
Apart from that, try to avoid tourist & coastal areas during school holidays.
Jon
Oh! yes!! Big mistake to find yourself trying to get a site in Broome right in the middle of the July school holidays!!!! Its because we just wander, staying longer where we like a place, moving on where we are less impressed. We should have planned ahead better!
The good news is, we got a booking for next week for 3 days.
Rush. I would never rush a trip. I've taken my time most times, but I travelled from Cairns to Adelaide a bit quicker than I would have if I didn't feel the pressure from family to return. Lesson learned. I wasn't thanked for my haste. I regret by-passing a few places. But I'll be back!
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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.
Apart from that, try to avoid tourist & coastal areas during school holidays.
Jon
Oh! yes!! Big mistake to find yourself trying to get a site in Broome right in the middle of the July school holidays!!!! Its because we just wander, staying longer where we like a place, moving on where we are less impressed. We should have planned ahead better!
The good news is, we got a booking for next week for 3 days.
We hit Kakadu right on the start of school holidays without realizing it but we thought after 1 1/2 weeks there then a few days in Darwin we would at least have a quiet time in Litchfield Nat Park...then we found out the NT school holidays last A MONTH...bugger!
Cheers
Jon
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Home is where we hang our hats - Home now in Yamba NSW
