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Photo by Danielle Murdoch, riding to Uganda - Kenya border

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Danielle Murdoch,
riding to Uganda - Kenya border



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  #1  
Old 30 Jun 2010
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Australia - Darwin to Sydney Route Reccomondations

Hi there,

I've travelled overland from the UK on my KTM 640 Adventure. I'll be flying to Darwin in the morning and waiting for my bike to arrive, servicing then setting off to Sydney.

I'm looking for recomendations on a route. One idea is to go straight down the middle via Alice Springs and Uluru - the boring route.

The other idea is to head West from Darwin through the Kimberlies, South towards Perth and Wave Rock, then somehow cross through the middle towards Uluru. Any suggestions for a track or otherwise for this? I can manage 500km a tank @ 80kmh but plan on taking extra fuel aswell.

Just looking for general advice and recomendations really.

Cheers

Duncan

KTMDunk.co.uk
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  #2  
Old 30 Jun 2010
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Darwin NT to Sydney NSW - Google Maps

there's a start.

Let me know what ya want to see.
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  #3  
Old 30 Jun 2010
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If you decide to take the west, Uluru route through the middles, then you may be interested in what you may be in for.

I rode from WA, Laverton which is the end of the pavement through the desert until the Olgas(near Uluru) where the pavement started again, around 1400km. This was done just recently during March, you can read and learn about it here

If you do this road, which was a bit difficult at times, you will be travelling through Aboriginal land and will need to get transit permits, easy to do and you just need a few days notice.

If you really like the dirt, you can then head to Alice, and after that across to Boulia via the Plenty Highway, a crappy dirt track that was closed when I attempted it due to rain at the QLD border.

I have electronic maps and other info if this is your choice, it depends on how much time you have. Let me know if you need any more info.

I also did the full loop around from Darwin, Broome, Albany, Nullabour the other year and I have links and blog entries for that as well.

Cheers
TS
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  #4  
Old 30 Jun 2010
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Thumbs up Kimberlies for sure!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DuncanCarwright View Post
Just looking for general advice and recomendations really.

Duncan

KTMDunk.co.uk
I can HIGHLY recommend the Gibb River Road thru the Kimberlies. Definitely stop at El Questro and Mt. Elisabeth Station . Then work your way to Kalgoorlie/Laverton and the Great Central/Gunbarrel to Uluru. From there, numerous ways to Sydney. Just sayin!
Rick
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  #5  
Old 1 Jul 2010
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You'd be mad to miss the Centre after all the rain - its a once in 10 year event.

So. why not do the number one ride in Australia - the Simpson Desert?
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  #6  
Old 4 Jul 2010
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Thanks for all your input guys, I've taken it all onboard and am labelling your suggestions on a map as we speak. I'll then join the dots and see where I end up!

Any information on minimum required milage for popping through the centre? As I mentioned I can squeeze over 500km a tank but planned on taking an extra 10litres of petrol too.
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  #7  
Old 4 Jul 2010
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Welcome to Oz Duncan, fuel requirements and refueling options are route dependent. 500k's from a tank should seeya right on most routes, add a tenner of fuel, and you'll be pretty safe.
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  #8  
Old 6 Jul 2010
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The only long section around the middle from north to south is from Cape Crawford to Barkleys Homestead in the Northern Territory. The fuel is expensive on both ends of this road, but you should have no problem as it is only 385km, but this road will take you via pavement to Queensland or back to the Stuart Highway.

Take a 5lt can mimimum.

The main point about riding through the Central Desert road is you will need to take water, very hard to find out there.

We took a 10lt container of water, each, and filled it at Giles Weather station half way along the track. This was for drinking, cooking and for a wash. This is the only section where you will need water, from Laverton WA to Uluru NT. There is an excellent campgound at the servo at the Giles WS, very cheap, good showers and a nice camp kitchen which is insect screened with a TV and free WiFi Plus you can organise a tour of the weather station and get to see a weather balloon filled and released at certain times. There is some great history along that road, check out my blog for some tips.


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  #9  
Old 6 Jul 2010
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Lake Eyre

It's been kind of mentioned but, Lake Eyre at the moment is chokers, they are having sailing regattas on it at the moment. Off the Oodnadatta track, beautiful this time of year.
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  #10  
Old 7 Jul 2010
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go west

hi id head west south of perth has some awsome beaches prob close to the best in oz i started there at xmas on my africa twin and rode across to adelaide then followed the coast up to townsville.im working in darwin now if your still around for a few bevies
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  #11  
Old 9 Jul 2010
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Yes, I'm still in Darwin. Bike should be out Tuesday hopefully so I have all weekend free. Let me know where and when.
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  #12  
Old 14 Jul 2010
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Darwin to Sydney
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