Darwin trip - July 2001
Trip Leader: Dwayne ("Mudslide")
Start date: Saturday July 6, 2001 (1st day of school holidays)
Duration: 3 weeks
Distance: 9000k approx.
Trip Summary: Drive from Perth to Darwin via the blacktop, then return via similar route.
Rough plan: This AWESOME trip is a big 9000k trip, travelling north via Newman to Broome (2 nights), then East to Kununurra (2 nights), East to Darwin where we will spend a week, and do trips to Kakadu and Lichfield parks (camping in the parks). Then back via similar route, except also taking in Tunnel creek, Winjana gorge, Wolf creek crater, Bungle Bungles etc..
Distance estimates - Entire trip:
|
Date & Time |
Travel Description |
Km Between |
Total Daily Kms |
|
6 July 0400 |
Depart Perth Skips House |
|
|
|
|
Travel via Great Northern Highway to New Norcia |
137 |
|
|
|
Dalwallinu |
120 |
257 |
|
|
Paynes Find |
174 |
431 |
|
|
Mt Magnet |
144 |
575 |
|
|
Cue |
80 |
655 |
|
|
Meekathara |
116 |
771 |
|
|
Kumarina |
255 |
1026 |
|
|
Newman (may camp on side off road before Newman) |
166 |
1192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 July |
Depart Newman head to Nullagine |
190 |
|
|
|
Shy Gap Turn Off to right (Marble Bar to Left) |
100 |
290 |
|
|
Shy Gap |
70 |
360 |
|
|
Sandfire Roadhouse (Back on Grt Northern highway) |
120 |
480 |
|
|
Broome (Stay at Habbitat Resort for two nights cost 145 per night per couple) |
240 |
720 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 July |
Explore Broome |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 July |
Depart Broome for Fitzroy Crossing |
355 |
|
|
|
Halls Creek |
296 |
651 |
|
|
Turkey Creek |
161 |
812 |
|
|
Kununarra (May camp before Kununarra on side of road) |
198 |
1010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 July |
Depart Kununarra for Timber Creek (cross border into NT) |
228 |
|
|
|
Victoria River |
91 |
319 |
|
|
Katherine |
125 |
444 |
|
|
Darwin |
321 |
765 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 July - |
Explore Darwin |
|
|
|
12 July |
Sites to see Berry Springs, Howard Springs, Mindle Beach Markets (Thursday night) |
|
|
|
|
Crocodile Farm, Fish Feeding at Darwin Harbor etc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 July |
Depart Darwin Head to Litchfiled National Park |
96 |
|
|
|
Sites to See Pethricks Rainforest Camp? Wangi Falls, Blyth Ruins, Mt Tulmer |
|
|
|
|
Lost City, |
|
|
|
|
Tjaynera Falls (possible camp) |
|
|
|
14 July |
Explore remainder of Lichfiled including Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole, etc |
|
|
|
|
Head out of Litchfiled to Bachelor |
23 |
|
|
|
Darwin |
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 July |
Explore Darwin Further |
|
|
|
16 July |
Sites to See East Point Military Museum, Gunn Point reserve, |
|
|
|
|
½ day Barra fishing tour (approx. cost $60 per head or hirer own Dingy) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 Jul |
Leave Darwin head for Kakadoo National Park (entrance) |
178 |
|
|
|
Explore sites to Jabiru visit Jabiru visit centre |
83 |
261 |
|
|
Explore Malabanibanjbanjdju, Burduba, Muirelia Park & Sandy Billabong to Jim Jim Falls turn off |
52 |
313 |
|
|
Jim Jim Falls & Twin Falls 4 x4 only approx 2 hour drive (Camp Overnight) |
57 |
370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 July |
Visit Coolinda and yellow waters (have to travel 57Km back up 4 x 4 track from JJ falls) |
71 |
|
|
|
Barrumundi George |
50 |
121 |
|
|
Gunolm Falls |
89 |
210 |
|
|
Koolpin George (possible camp or continue out of Kakadoo) |
18 |
228 |
|
|
PS Dwayne Birthday Hee Hee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 July |
Leave Kakadoo head to Pine Creek |
86 |
|
|
|
Katherine |
91 |
177 |
|
|
Continue to Mataranka |
105 |
282 |
|
|
Head to Mataranka Thermal Springs for swim and lunch |
10 |
292 |
|
|
If left Kakadoo on 18 July can camp at Elsey National Park 2km east of Mataranka |
|
|
|
|
Head back to Katherine optional visit Cutta Cutta Caves on the way |
115 |
407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
20 July |
Explore Katherine, do Katherine river George tour etc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 July |
Depart Katherine head to Victoria river |
194 |
|
|
|
Timber Creek |
91 |
285 |
|
|
Gregory National Park See Limestone George |
25 |
310 |
|
|
Leave Gregory National Park and continue to Lake Argyle (camp in caravan park) |
228 |
538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22 July |
Depart Lake Argyle head to Warmun (refuel) |
267 |
|
|
|
Bungle Bungle turn Off |
53 |
320 |
|
|
Bungle bungle camp (all 4 x 4 will take approx 3 hours) |
55 |
375 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 July |
Explore Bungle Bungle National Park |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 July |
Leave Bungles head back out to highway |
55 |
|
|
|
Halls Creek |
110 |
165 |
|
|
Turn Off to Wolf Creek Meteorite |
16 |
181 |
|
|
Wolf Creek Crater |
141 |
322 |
|
|
Head back out to Great Northern highway |
141 |
463 |
|
|
Turn Left towards Fitzroy Crossing (either camp on side of road before |
272 |
735 |
|
|
camp on side of road before Fitzroy ? or stay in Fitzroy crossing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25 July |
Leave camp head to Geikie George |
21 |
|
|
|
Explore Geikie then head to Tunnel Creek |
131 |
152 |
|
|
Explore Tunnel Creek then head to Windjanna George |
35 |
187 |
|
|
Camp at Windjanna George |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 July |
Leave Windjanna head to Derby |
140 |
|
|
|
Willare Bridge |
42 |
182 |
|
|
Roebuck Road house, head back & turn right to Sandfire Roadhouse |
130 |
312 |
|
|
Sandfire Road house |
285 |
597 |
|
|
Pardoo Road house, Turn left towards Shay Gap |
138 |
735 |
|
|
Shay Gap |
60 |
795 |
|
|
Eginbah |
60 |
855 |
|
|
Nullagine |
150 |
1005 |
|
|
Newman (stay in caravan park? Or on side of road before Newman |
190 |
1195 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 July |
Leave Newman head to Kumarina |
166 |
|
|
|
Meekatharra |
255 |
421 |
|
|
Cue |
116 |
537 |
|
|
Mt Magnet |
80 |
617 |
|
|
Paynes Find |
144 |
761 |
|
|
Dalwallinu |
174 |
935 |
|
|
New Norcia |
120 |
1055 |
|
|
Perth |
137 |
1192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL DISTANCE |
|
9013 Km |
Fuel Cost
Estimates...
WARNING: You may consume
even more fuel than these estimates when your vehicle is fully loaded and also
when driving off road! These estimates are based on the following assumptions:
1. Average price of fuel is
$1.10 per litre (but may be a bit higher at some of the remote stations!)
2. Total distance of 9000k
3. Fuel economy average of 20% lower than normal round town driving.
| Vehicle (manual transmission) | Avg MPG |
Litres /100k |
Total Litres |
Cost $ |
| Hilux T-Diesel | 24 | ~12 | 1080 | $1188 |
| Landcruiser / Patrol Diesel | 17 | ~16 | 1440 | $1584 |
| Mid-size V6 Petrol 4wd (Jackaroo, Pajero, 4Runner) |
15 | ~18 | 1620 | $1782 |
| Landcruiser / Patrol Petrol | 12 | ~23 | 2070 | $2277 |
Required: Must be fully self sufficient. All camping gear, adequate quantity of water and food, first aide kit, spare tyres and parts, etc. UHF CB Radio is a must (we use channel 10). Vehicle must be capable of more than 500k between fuel stops (fully loaded off-road driving!). You WILL be required to carry at least 1 x 20L jerry can. More details soon. Each vehicle must have a minimum of 2 occupants.
Recovery & safety gear: We already have snatch straps, air jack, ropes, shackles, shovels etc, but we still encourage everyone to bring whatever tools and recovery gear they have. We have an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon). Skip's vehicle has a CDMA phone with long-range antenna which will have coverage for a large portion of this trip. We will not need a Sat phone of RFDS radio on this trip.
Starters:
Dwayne "Mudslide" & family (Pajero V6)
Alan "Skip" & family (Hilux turbo-diesel)
Cameron & Devra (Jilux surf turbo-diesel)
Paying deposit
& Cut-off-date:
NOTE: This trip
is by invite only. Accommodation for this trip in units and caravan parks has
already been book, and so entry to this trip is now closed. If you are able to
organise your own accommodation, then you may still be able to participate,
providing you and your vehicle are able to meet our requirements for vehicle
preparation (see below) and driving stamina! If interested, then please email
Dwayne on dkuipers@tycoint.com
. At this stage, no deposits are
required.
Scrutineering:
Vehicles will be subject to scrutineering, to make sure they are in top
condition for this trip. The club reserves the right to refuse entry to
this trip if the scrutineering conditions are not met. These conditions have not
been finalised yet, but are likely to include such items as:
Adequate storage location for extra fuel
2 rolling spares (inflated tyres on rims)
Tyres to have at least 50% tread
Suitable spare parts
UHF CB radio
Adequate spare water
Fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tyre repair kits etc...
Adequate recovery gear, tools, and spare parts
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This page was last updated on 21 Oct 2003