Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Driving through WA

This has been going around and around in my head and I can't reach a decision ... so I'd like to invite informed opinion. :)

Mrs999 and I arrive in Perth in about ten days' time, from whence we will begin driving to Darwin. We've got plenty of time, about three weeks. I'm thinking we'll start by going up the coast to Geraldton. And later, from Port Hedland to Broome and the rest of the way, the path is clear.

But how do we get from Geraldton to Port Hedland? Stay on the #1 road along the coast, or go inland on the 123 to pick up the 95 at Mount Magnet?

Through the interior is, I expect, 'the road less travelled'. That can be good and bad. There is no place on either route that we have identified as 'must see' or 'must do' for us. We don't do off-road or deep desert stuff. We just like to go along and see what we see. And we're happy to stay in backpackers' hostels.

Advice? Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

cheers,

Henry

If you are renting a car be aware some rental car companies do not allow travel on gravel / dirt / non sealed roads (no insurance)

I'd go up the Great Northern Hwy through Mt Magnet, Cue and Meekatharra to Newman and then head back towards the coast. That way you get a bit of a sense of the desert but don't miss out on the spectacular coast.

One of the things I've bookmarked for future consideration is this trip, which is 56 days Perth to Darwin: http://www.moxon.net/journeys/australia_perth-darwin.html

That should give you lots of ideas, but as stated some car rentals would prohibit driving parts of this route, or require a higher rate.

I haven't been there for a few years now, but there is alot of nothing you travel through to get to something.

I did a fly-in fly-out tour of the Argyle Diamond Mine, that incorporated the Bungle Bungles. This was an outstanding highlight of my holiday to this region.

If you take the coast road, you can go to Monkey Mia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Mia).

I've done this drive up to Cape Ranges (crossed Yardie Creek in rental AWD). and back. Just a note that you don't see very much of the coast on the coast road at least up to Exmouth (off the main highway to Darwin anyway) unless you deliberately drive out to the coast.

... there is alot of nothing you travel through to get to something.I say 'Australia is full of emptiness'. Of course, that's not true at all because if you watch any of the nature programmes you know that even a barren-seeming desert is teeming with thousands of life forms, many of which only come out at night or when it rains or every 17 years or whatever. But, yes, it often seems like travelling through 'nothing'.

If you take the coast road, you can go to Monkey Mia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Mia).We did.

Route so far has been Perth > Geraldton > Monkey Mia > Carnarvon > Exmouth (two nights) > Tom Price (two nights) > Port Hedland > Eighty Mile Beach > Broome (three nights) and now, today, Hall's Creek. Just went over 4 000 km today.

Ahead we have Wyndham, Kununurra, Katherine and Darwin. Katherine and Darwin (and Kakadu) we've visited before.

Great fun.

cheers,

Henry

Just went over 4 000 km today.

:eek: You are a fast driver.

We have done this area of the country often and it is our most favourite part (Except for LDH maybe). So enjoy the second half of your tour.

Did you do Whaleshark diving at Exmouth?

:eek: You are a fast driver.Love those wide-open Aussie roads. :) Although what happened to the NT? When we were here last (2003), there was no speed limit on the rural highway. I used to set the cruise control to 150 or 160 and let it fly, steering through the curves and around the carrion. Now it's tightened down to 130, so I have had to be satisfied with 135 or 136; I like to drive fast but I'm really quite cautious and don't want to risk getting a large speeding fine.

cheers,

Henry

Just went over 4 000 km today.

That's about 165km/h for 24 hours without stopping. You've got to be nuts to be doing that in the Outback at night, unless you're trying to catch dinner.:eek:

That's about 165km/h for 24 hours without stopping. You've got to be nuts to be doing that in the Outback at night, unless you're trying to catch dinner.:eek:

I think he meant that his trip reached the 4000km mark today.

Love those wide-open Aussie roads. :) Although what happened to the NT? When we were here last (2003), there was no speed limit on the rural highway. I used to set the cruise control to 150 or 160 and let it fly, steering through the curves and around the carrion. Now it's tightened down to 130, so I have had to be satisfied with 135 or 136; I like to drive fast but I'm really quite cautious and don't want to risk getting a large speeding fine.

cheers,

Henry

Yes, like Montana the NT has introduced a speed limit again. Very sad. 150 was a good speed for a campervan.

150 was a good speed for a campervan.Well, I don't know about that. But it certainly was no challenge for the Camry.

cheers,

Henry

Well, I don't know about that. But it certainly was no challenge for the Camry.

cheers,

Henry

It was a challenge for the Mercedes Benz Campervan but you could get there. ;)