10000 km trip in 3 months

[NissPat]

Hey all,

Planing a Cape York trip next year and have a bit of a plan but not sure if we will have enough time.

The Plan:
Canberra-Majura-Port Augusta-Coober Pedy-Ularu-Alice-Tennant Creek-Mt Isa-Cairns-Weipa-The Tip - Cairns-Townsvile-Brisbane-Coffs Horbour-Canberra.

This is a rough idea of the way up with some main towns. I want to spend a couple of weeks up the Cape and take my time for the rest of the way and have a good look around.

My problem is I don't think 3 months is enough. Do I cut out NT and head straight up and take my time coming back?

Any one have any suggestions? Whos has done similar trip before??

And of course the Expanda will be behind the Patrol....I think we might get it up as far as Weipa

 

[BUSH PALACE]

WOW nispat thats one helluva trip personally id split toe two areas up as there is so much to see through the centre and having not done the cape yet (2013) is when were planning i reckon you could spend your whole 3 months up there and still need more

 

[PMK]

G'Day,

Thats a tough question, but a great trip. Over the years I have covered all of the places you mention but not on one trip. I usually had to fit my trips into 4 weeks. If I cut your trip into three I would have easily covered it in 3 x 4 weeks, but would have to return home each time. These would usually be pretty busy holidays in that we would stay the main places only 2 or 3 days & then move on to try & see as much as possible.
Seeing you have 3 months continuous I reckon you will cover it a bit easier than that & maybe spend a bit longer in each place.
One thing, I think you should take longer up Cape York. Maybe 3 weeks. Also you may need to check if it's possible to take the Expanda up there. I'm not sure about this as we were in a tent for that trip.
You also suggest you are heading east from Tennant Creek (Three Ways) via Mt Isa to Cairns. That would mean the ony main NT places you would cover will be Uluru, Alice Springs & Tennant Creek before you head out of the NT. You could probably cover that in 2 weeks easy, Others may argue this is not long enough but I have been there many times & learned how to fit it all in my limited time.
Without rambling on any more..... I would think you have plenty of time in 3 months. I know I would, but different people have different ideas about how long you will need.
Hope I have helped & not confused the issue, If you have any questions on specific places ask away.
Also I have mentioned before a site called "Exploroz" which has a lot of info on these sort of trips.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Matty4]

I agree with Paul that you will have plenty of time. We did 23000k's last year in 3.5 months travelling from Melbourne to Cape York then Darwin (Kakadu and Litchfield) to the Kimberley and Cape Leveque and then back to Melbourne via Katherine and the centre.
We tented it in Cape York after leaving the vans in Cooktown but knowing what I know now we could have easily got to the top with the van. If I was doing it again I would take the van on the PDR all the way to Bamaga (we stayed at the caravan park at Loyalty Beach) and then spent just 2 nights in a tent doing the OTT, rather than the 13 nights we did.

The longest we stayed in one spot was 6 nights, on the Dampier Peninsula.

Your sig doesn't say if your van is an OB, but if it is then you will have no problems with the roads to Bamaga, you just need to take it easy and drive accordingly.

Again, any questions feel free to ask, it seems there's at least a couple of us who have done similar recently that can answer most of your questions.

Cheers,
Matt

 

[NissPat]

Your sig doesn't say if your van is an OB, but if it is then you will have no problems with the roads to Bamaga, you just need to take it easy and drive accordingly.

Again, any questions feel free to ask, it seems there's at least a couple of us who have done similar recently that can answer most of your questions.

Cheers,
Matt

Thanks Matt, Yes it 's an OB with independent suspension.
We thought it will make it up to Weipa with out any dramas. We'll obviously check the road condition prior but pretty confident she'll be right mate.

Cheers

 

[NissPat]

Guys,

Most of this trip the roads are no problems except I am a bit concerned with the trip from Cooktown to Weipa on the PDR.

Has any one done this trip? Is the Expanda going to be able to make it there and back with out any issues? (I'm sure it will ") )

I'm not planning to take it on any other roads as I will travel without the Expanda from Weipa up to the tip.

Any one else with any comments?

Cheers

 

[Matty4]

NissPat,
the PDR is a well maintained road nowadays. As I said before, you could quite easily get an OB Expanda all the way to Bamaga and beyond.
We camped at Loyalty Beach. If I was to go again (I'm still trying to justify another trip...hehe) I would be taking it all the up.

I took our Expanda on far worse roads in the Kimberley than what we experienced in Cape York (obviously the OTT is a big no-no).

My advise would be to check local conditions, just in case of recent rains or the graders haven't been through yet. It was dry and recently graded when we went up there, the van would have survived comfortably. Just take some screws (1 size larger) just in case a door hinge comes loose, the screws supplied by Jayco are tiny.

 

[NissPat]

NissPat,
the PDR is a well maintained road nowadays. As I said before, you could quite easily get an OB Expanda all the way to Bamaga and beyond.
We camped at Loyalty Beach. If I was to go again (I'm still trying to justify another trip...hehe) I would be taking it all the up.

I took our Expanda on far worse roads in the Kimberley than what we experienced in Cape York (obviously the OTT is a big no-no).

My advise would be to check local conditions, just in case of recent rains or the graders haven't been through yet. It was dry and recently graded when we went up there, the van would have survived comfortably. Just take some screws (1 size larger) just in case a door hinge comes loose, the screws supplied by Jayco are tiny.

Mate, I appreciate your comments and I will take on the advice. Looks like the trip up the Cape is on...WoooHoooo

Thanks mate

 

[randl007]

Hi Nisspat we had friends do the Cape in the September holidays and said they would rather come back down the telegraph track than deal with the corrugations on the developmental road. they are supposed to be pretty bad. However saying that it would be a good test and driving to the conditions I think you should be OK. The friends they went with all took their Jayco Campers and had no big issues. Just thought I'd let you know.
Richard

 

[NissPat]

Hi Nisspat we had friends do the Cape in the September holidays and said they would rather come back down the telegraph track than deal with the corrugations on the developmental road. they are supposed to be pretty bad. However saying that it would be a good test and driving to the conditions I think you should be OK. The friends they went with all took their Jayco Campers and had no big issues. Just thought I'd let you know.
Richard

Thanks for that, The road conditions change every year I heard and I hope they change for the better next year...LOL

Thanks mate

 

[chartrock]

NissPat,
Just take some screws (1 size larger) just in case a door hinge comes loose, the screws supplied by Jayco are tiny.

Good advice Matty. I changed all the screws I could before we went away and had no problems. The ones in the door hinges could not be changed due to the curve on the edge of the doors. I tried one and the tip of the screw just appeared so it had to be swapped back.

Paul

 

[NissPat]

Well the dream trip has just about became reality.

We have been busy preparing the vehicle, the van and ourselves for the last few months and we are due to take off 9th July.
We haven't changed the route much but have decided against booking in to places as we don't want any time lines or time frames.....the approach is " go with the flow". The thing is if you like a spot then you stay longer and if you don't then you move on to the next spot.

I have since put a tinny on the roof of the Patrol so fishing will be a main part of this trip but of course having a wife and two young boys (6 & 7.5) a bit of sight seeing and fun parks are in order.
To tell you the truth we can wait!!! HAHAHAH

One question I would like to ask though is what is the thing/s you would always take on your trip and also what are the things you would be happy to leave behind on your next trip? I know everyone has different needs but I just want to gauge if we might be over catering or under catering for this trip.

I'm weighing the vehicle and the van tomorrow to see how we measure up to the weight limits.

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Hey nispat we just returned from up in the kimberlys and we were packed to the max so the first thing to leave behind would be the boat cos theres no fish up north trust me i tried also we took a small washing machine next time we wont if you need to wash mast c/parks up north have free w/machines forget any cold weather clothes you wont need em water is readily available make sure you have all your chergers/cables (we forgot) and when you weigh it all up only open one eye itll scare ya
all in all have a ball enjoy every moment our trip covered 9876 km in 5 weeks

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Ps take plenty of gaffa tape for the rear bed trust me it will leak on dusty roads !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NissPat]

Hey nispat we just returned from up in the kimberlys and we were packed to the max so the first thing to leave behind would be the boat cos theres no fish up north trust me i tried also we took a small washing machine next time we wont if you need to wash mast c/parks up north have free w/machines forget any cold weather clothes you wont need em water is readily available make sure you have all your chergers/cables (we forgot) and when you weigh it all up only open one eye itll scare ya
all in all have a ball enjoy every moment our trip covered 9876 km in 5 weeks

Ps take plenty of gaffa tape for the rear bed trust me it will leak on dusty roads !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaha, funny you say that, was at bunnings today and saw a special on duct tape so I bought 2 jumbo rolls of 100m.

I also hope the fish are a bit more accommodating when I'm up there...

Thanks for the tips

 

[cruza driver]

Some great tips BP !!

Very Jealous NissPat. :violin:
Are you taking spare wheel bearings, fuses etc? I would also maybe take a puncture repair kit that can be used on the Patrol and Expanda.

One thing to also take is plenty of Photos hoto:

 

[Moto Moto]

I have never embarked on a trip that big in my expanda, so have not much advice to offer.

Just wanted to say how jealous i am and hope you and your family have the time of your life!

 

[NissPat]

Some great tips BP !!

Very Jealous NissPat. :violin:
Are you taking spare wheel bearings, fuses etc? I would also maybe take a puncture repair kit that can be used on the Patrol and Expanda.

One thing to also take is plenty of Photos hoto:

Thanks for that, I do carry puncture repair kit and fuses with me everywhere I go but haven't thought of wheel bearings so I'll be getting on the blower shortly.
Not sure of the cost but I think 2 might do me for spares. Its a twin axle.

I'm taking a few different hose fittings, hose, pipe, clamps, screws, liquid nails...and other stuff like that as well

Pics are definitely happening, we have 2 cameras and video camera as well as two phones with cameras....yeah bit of an overkill but that one shot of the lifetime that comes up, the batteries are always flat...HAHAH

 

[NissPat]

I have never embarked on a trip that big in my expanda, so have not much advice to offer.

Just wanted to say how jealous i am and hope you and your family have the time of your life!

Thank you mate, we have decided to start doing these trips earlier in life rather than later so this is the first bigish one from many many more. My missus and myself have been brought up camping, so now it is our turn to show the kids what a beautiful place this country is.

We are taking them out of school for a while but we know they will learn a lot of life skills this way rather then 1+1=2....HAHA. The two boys are 6 and 7.5 yrs old so they are very excited.

Not long to go before the adventure begins...Will try and keep photos coming through to this forum.

 

[gspy4u]

wheel bearings from Jayco are $31.50 each if they are the ford slimline ones that is.