Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Need help with Outback Adventure & Motorhome advice

Well, I have completely re-vamped our itinerary... but I'm hoping having it as it's own topic will bring more advice, particularly about the motorhome.

We are giving serious consideration to renting a Motorhome in Melbourne, driving to Adelaide & then crossing over to Kangaroo Island... Once we leave KI, we are considering the drive up to Alice with stops along the way. This would be next December.

Does anyone have any experience at all renting a motorhome? How good an idea is it? Or, is it simply not a good idea & our itinerary off the mark. I should say we are two adults, two young children (10 & 8) & we have been to Oz twice before (Sydney, Cairns, BNE were the destinations). We are skipping Tas as we will not have enough time to do our touring there... Here is our itinerary, it may be off the mark, and perhaps we should rent a car, not a motorhome & stay at motels or pubs (with rooms) along the way....
December 22 - arrive Melbourne (start driving to KI via Great Ocean Road)
Melbourne - Torquay
December 23 Torquay - Port Campbell
December 24 Port Campbell - Warrnambool - Port Fairy - Portland - Nelson - Mt Gambier
December 25 Mt Gambier - Cape Jervis
December 26 - arrive KI ferry, arrive KI early in the morning
December 29 - ADL -> Wilopena Pound -Port Augusta (6 hours)
December 30 - Port Augusta ->Coober Pedy (540km)
January 1 - Coober Pedy ->Uluru (500 km Ayers Rock Resort)
January 2 - Uluru -> Kata Tjuta-> Uluru (Ayer's Rock Resort)
January 3 - Uluru -> Kings Canyon -> Alice
January 6 - Alice -> BNE (flying via Qantas)
January 6-11 Surfers
January 11-16 Noosa

January 17th we leave any destination bound for BOS....

Great Thanks for all that have replied!
TIA!
Chris

Lots of miles you are going to make, that is for sure... ;)

Some stretches of your itinerary are going to be almost impossible for a normal motorhome. In my opinion a 4WD camper would be the best solution as these are much sturdier and allow bush driving. I don't know if they are at all available in MEL and what the conditions are regarding drop off.

But here is a homepage that may give you sufficient info:

http://www.autorentals.com.au/English/4wd/

Your itinerary is nice but I have the feeling that besides driving non-stop, you won't have very much time stopping anywhere. The distances you have chosen are awsome and some of the destinations ADL-Coober or Alice- BNE are going to be difficult in such a short time.

Have a good trip

Australia is big - roughly same size as continental US. I hope you are flying between Alice Springs and Brisbane - seriously large distance there and no direct highway.

Some distances from Alice Springs (http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/graphics/maps/Central%20Australia%20Map.pdf)

Thanks for the info (I think...) I should say, that Alice -> BNE we are flying... Noosa is only a three hour drive from Surfer's, we've definitely enjoyed both area's & I am almost willing to spend an extra night in both local's....

Anyhow, what I need to know from your experience, is, what part of our itinerary will be too difficult for a standard motorhome?

I adjusted our dates after searching around today... On our first day from Adelaide, I have us driving to Wilopena Pound, it looks to be about 400 kilometers I think.... 400 Kilometers is an easy distance for a day's drive IMHO, but I do not know the road conditions....

In a previous post there was reference to a good road that would take us to Kings Canyon but add 100 kilometers...

So, I adjusted so we would stop in Wilopena Pound on day 1, Coober on day 2... How far is the drive North to Uluru? I do want to spend some time in Coober, so I was thinking the morning of day 3 for Coober's Peddy, then on to Uluru the night of day 3? Is this possible? Please let me know which leg's of the trip are unreasonable due to distance or road conditions! This way I can adjust the itinerary accordingly...

TIA!

Australia is big - roughly same size as continental US. I hope you are flying between Alice Springs and Brisbane - seriously large distance there and no direct highway.

Some distances from Alice Springs (http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/graphics/maps/Central%20Australia%20Map.pdf)

Thanks for that website KiwiFlyer!! The distance from Adelaide to Alice is 1570 Kilometers... I think this is fine as we have driven from Boston to Orlando, FL before & we did that in two days... The unknowns of the highway conditions is what has me concerned & of course I want to see local sights along the way... I don't want to just drive straight for two days! I've allowed seven days to get from Adelaide to Alice.. I need to know if that is enough... should we take time from other area's in order to make that long trek?

Some more links (http://www.raa.net/page.asp?TerID=331) (has more maps).

841 km Adelaide to Coober Pedy
684 km Coober Pedy to Alice Springs so figure around 900 km to Uluru

Try to see sunrise or sunset at Uluru.
IIRC something like 50km each way to Olgas.
Main road Uluru to Alice Springs 440 km. Side trip to Kings Canyon about 150 km each way extra.

I have only driven over roads between Alice Springs and Uluru (incl Olgas and Kings Canyon. Main highway is good with towns few and far between (make sure check your gas level at each one!). Side road from highway to Kings Canyon was metalled in places (may be sealed now?) but not too bad. Between Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, 4wd only - unsealed with deep sandy stretches.

Some more links (http://www.raa.net/page.asp?TerID=331) (has more maps).

I have only driven over roads between Alice Springs and Uluru (incl Olgas and Kings Canyon. Main highway is good with towns few and far between (make sure check your gas level at each one!). Side road from highway to Kings Canyon was metalled in places (may be sealed now?) but not too bad. Between Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, 4wd only - unsealed with deep sandy stretches.

Thanks for the info KiwiFlyer, I'm writing it all down... Now, I thought there was a way to get to Kings Canyon without 4wd but it was further??

I'll review this all again in the morning to make sure that it is making sense! Thanks again, the help is absolutely invaluable!

Chris

Now, I thought there was a way to get to Kings Canyon without 4wd but it was further??

Yes. This is the side road from main highway to/from Uluru. Heading back from Uluru its on the left hand side (a long way before the main north-south highway). After some distance reaches cross-road, turn left. AFAIK it is all signposted (and you will certainly be able to pick up maps etc at Yulara - town by Uluru). Will need to retrace if not in 4wd.

The 4wd part is an alternate way from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs (if you dont retrace above but instead head out the other side of the resort area at Kings Canyon).

I have completely re-vamped our schedule, so any further info would be great!!!

Hi KiwiFlyer,

It seems to make sense to hit Kings Canyon (on the good road) BEFORE going to Uluru... so I adjusted our schedule above, is this correct? So we wouldn't have to back track? Or would we wind up backtracking anyways? Thanks so much... now I just need to find someone who has actually rented a motorhome?

I can assure you that you can reach King's Canyon with a normal motorhome by using the main road to Uluru but turn right before. You will have to backtrack to get back on the main road to Uluru. I did it myself, then drove back to Alice, rented a 4WD and came back to King's canyon.... I was just attracted like a magnet to the side road. Most of the drive was OK but there ARE very sandy portions that are tricky and I almost got stuck in the first one.... Once one gets the hang of it, it is fun, though. May I add that I rented from Budget for the 4WD and from Maui for the motorhome? I was satisfied with both.

Once one gets the hang of it, it is fun, though. May I add that I rented from Budget for the 4WD and from Maui for the motorhome? I was satisfied with both.

Magexpect, can you comment on further your experience with the motorhome, where you went with it, how long you had it, how useful it was? Where you stayed?? Many many questions for you!

Magexpect, can you comment on further your experience with the motorhome, where you went with it, how long you had it, how useful it was? Where you stayed?? Many many questions for you!

With pleasure.

I have been to Australia on holidays since 1979 almost every year until last year and will probably try again this year.

I have rented motorhomes almost half the time. I usually rented them for a week or so when I went to places where I was not sure there would be good hotels or motels, like between Adelaide and Coober Peddy or Alice Springs (that was in 2003) or between Adelaide and Perth or around Kakadu National Park where at certain times everything is fully booked.

I also rented the 4WD campers from Perth to the North and to Cape York Peninsula.

The motorhomes are very practical and easy to use, one can even do some pretty good cooking if necessary. I appreciated the one I had at King's canyon because it was well insulated against flies which can really be a plague at times.

If you have specific questions, I'll gladly answer them in detail but I am off for a few hours, it is carnival here and have to be ready in 10 minutes. I'll be back on later tonight or you can drop me a PM.

Regards.

Patrick

You dont need to backtrack from Kings Canyon to Uluru - ie continue on to Alice Springs in same day (there is a backtrack to the highway but turn left to head to Alice rather than right to go back to Uluru). That gives an extra day to spend somewhere.

I presume you have checked if Kangaroo Island ferry runs Christmas Day?

KiwiFlyer, you are right, the ferry does NOT run on Christmas....

We must make the 6:45pm Sealink on the 24th, or make the first ferry on the 26th.... Following the Great Ocean road, can we get from Melbourne 10am) to Cape Jervis the next night at 6pm?

OK, so head straight to Alice after Kings Canyon? Will do.... Thanks KiwiFlyer....

Magexpect, you have an email...

Thanks again!

hmm... Wilpena Pound is definitely worth visiting - I grew up in that area and love it.

HOWEVER ... to get from Wilpena Pound up to Coober Pedy, you need to go back to Port Augusta and then up the highway through Woomera. That's a total of 300km out of your way (150k there, 150k back to Port Augusta).

Don't try and take the "Oodnadatta Track" up from Leigh Creek through Oodnadatta to Marla - unless you A) have a 4WD, and B) have plenty of time, and C) are experienced with outback driving. It's basically a dirt road that can be quite rough and unsuitable for many vehicles.

Port Augusta is about 3 hours drive from Adelaide. Coober Pedy is a further 540km from Port Augusta.

Thank you Sime for that bit of advice, unfortunately I took Wilopena off the list & put Port Augusta (or is Woomera better) in it's place.... I was under the impression that Wilopena was more on the beaten path than what you've described. I knew of someone who had stopped there before & liked it, that's how it got on the list... but it sounds like I should take it off. Is there anything in or around Port Augusta for us to see?

I was born in Port Augusta ... there's not much there :rolleyes:

Woomera is an interesting place - Australia's contribution to the space race ... there's a couple of interesting museums there, including our own "rocket garden" - kind of our version of what they've got at the Kennedy Space Center :D

It's a very small town, not much there really, but then there's not much anywhere out there !

Given Port Augusta is only 3 or so hours out of Adelaide, I suggest you push on to Woomera that day - it's an easy 5 hour drive from Adelaide and the roads are good. I lived in Roxby Downs for a while (an hour further on from Woomera - off the highway though), so I know those roads pretty well.

It's a shame about having to miss Wilpena Pound - but it is out of your way. I really like that northern end of the Flinders Ranges - Wilpena, Arkaroola, Blinman, Parachilna, Brachina Gorge etc. Maybe you can spend some time there next time :D

It's a shame about having to miss Wilpena Pound - but it is out of your way. I really like that northern end of the Flinders Ranges - Wilpena, Arkaroola, Blinman, Parachilna, Brachina Gorge etc. Maybe you can spend some time there next time :D

Uh oh, if you're talking next time, maybe I'd better put Wilpena back! This is the ONLY time we'll make this particular trek... Next time we will travel from Ayer's to Darwin to Perth (maybe we'll include Broome)... then the time after that we will finally hit Tas!!! In all of those trips we will hit Brisbane/North/South for good measure... we really liked it there :) Perfect year round IMHO....

Sime, interesting you should have grown up in such a remote place, where are you now? Are you still in Australia? Or, elsewhere? What do you think of the rest of the trip North to Coober's & the to Ayer's/Alice?

Thanks again! :)
Chris

Just wanted to clarify my comments about Kings Canyon. In the excellent map (http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/graphics/maps/Central%20Australia%20Map.pdf) that Kiwi Flyer posted a link to, all roads suitable for 2WD vehicles are solid lines, while those where 4WD is recommended are dotted lines. Getting from Uluru/Olgas to Kings Canyon with 2WD is no problem, the only downside is that to get from there back to Alice Springs you have to backtrack to the Lasseter Highway, rather than taking the more direct routes. It's not too big a deal, though, especially since it sounds like you won't need 4WD elsewhere on your trip.

The main highways in the outback tend to be quite good, but freeways they ain't. One lane each way of gently undulating, well sealed, mostly straight roads. Traffic is very sparse, though the huge 'road trains' (trucks with several trailers) take a bit of getting used to (and make sure you have plenty of road in view ahead when overtaking them). The main concerns are wildlife (kangaroos are a real hazard from dusk onwards), the long distances between gas stations, and the extremely hot and dry weather (carry some water with you). Fun driving, though, and once you're in Northern Territory, no speed limits either. :)

Personally, I would be wary of going down the motor home route unless you are really sure that you will all be happy to be both travelling and sleeping in such a confined space over that length of time. A motor home will also be heavy on the gas and slower and more ponderous to drive over those serious distances you're contemplating. A full-size conventional car (like a Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore) would be my choice, and the cost savings would go towards paying for accommodation.

I never really considered Port Augusta "remote" ... certainly not in the class of Coober Pedy when it comes to "remoteness". My parents were school teachers in Blinman and Parachilna - just north of Wilpena - when they met. We lived in a couple of country towns around South Australia when I was growing up, and then I moved to Adelaide when I started Uni. I currently live in Sydney.

If you do go to Wilpena - I would allow an extra day or so in your intinerary - since you will want to do some walking to see the sights. It's a lovely area and well worth visiting if you can spare the time.

I can't really comment about Coober Pedy and further north - I don't know the area - sorry !

If you like - you could check out my personal blog (http://www.hampel.net.au/blog/archives/2003/12/) entries for my trip from Sydney to Adelaide before Christmas 2003 where I followed the coast road, including the Great Ocean Road.

Woomera is an interesting place - Australia's contribution to the space race ... there's a couple of interesting museums there, including our own "rocket garden" - kind of our version of what they've got at the Kennedy Space Center

Just as a side note, there was a story on Woomera on one of the travel shows last Monday. Here is the link to the story-
http://www.thegreatoutdoors.com.au/display.php?ID=8121

Hi Sime,

Thank you, I read your personal blog, and I must say thank you (it helps my planning greatly!) Anyhow, according to your travels, we should be able to travel the following schedule with ease (I marked what times you'd arrived for reference...)

Melbourne Airport - Torquay (how long a drive is this? just 67klms?)
Torquay -Port Cambell (visit national park w/12 apostles) leave 9am arrive 2:30pm
Port Cambell - Port Fairy for lunch- Mt GAmbier leave 9am arrive 3pm
Mt Gambier - Port Jervis day 3.... (this should be long...)

This should require 4 days & we get on the KI ferry the 5th morning... ?How's that sound?

I was looking at an actual map (such that it was) & it seemed to me, that we should be able to get back to the Barrier Highway & then take route 84 North to hit Wilpena... Does that sound right? I still haven't totally taken it off the agenda :)

Oh, I have been looking for car rentals, in case & the cheapest I have found was 750 usd for a full size car... but I'm unsure as to where to think about booking hotels, particularly along the Great Ocean Road the week of Christmas... I'm also a bit surprised that most hotels will run us 150 a night for the four of us... I guess it really is at least a wash car vs. motor home... I really don't know. Any thoughts or suggestions on hotels or B&B's that would be inexpensive for a family of four, I am all ears!

Thanks so much to everyone for all of your opinions, you have no idea how much I appreciate it.

A few weeks ago I found a website that listed last minute camper rentals and camper relocation deals. I forgot to note the website and now cannot find it. Does anyone here know of a company that has really cheap rates for moving the camper for the company?

Coober Pedy was the highlight of our 30 day experience in the outback. Try to get a tour with Sandy (one of the miner, she does them for APT tour buses arriving there). Need a full day to do the area...visit a mine, fossdick work, church, round of golf or a putt or two. See the race track. Search for stars from the costums of a movie shot there, "doing the underground. Touch the dingo fense. See some wild life. Get a glimps of some Abos.