UK to Australia
 

Hi All,

I'm looking to do a trip from the UK to Australia, at the moment its just a dream. But I am trying to find out as much information as needed to help me fulfill the dream.

I looking for route information, costs etc. Pretty much any information will be useful at this time.

I have a XT 600 Tenere (1990) at the moment and I am looking to use this if I go ahead. Is this a good choice?

Thanks

Scott Barrow

Scott

I am thinking of the same thing but not all the way to Oz and only beginning to plan.

My route plan is all over the shop, but something like leavinging Istanbul on the 27th April and going to Georgia across the Caspian Sea, Iran, Paki, India, Nepal, India, China, Thailand then going to Laos and Vietnam, back to China and Trans Sib back to Europe.

I am told that China and Burma are problem areas so I am trying to get Chinese Authorisation and bypassing Burma.

Alot of Visas but alot of fun.

Any advice would be great and I'll pass like wise.

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email address removed by Grant - see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/faq.shtml#notify for why.

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 22 January 2002).]

I'm also planning a trip to OZ but like you I'm in the very early stages. I've done alot of travelling and have also heard of dificulties in burma which I'm looking into. My other big concern is getting the bike from Thailand to Australia, which I'm also looking into.

I'm looking to leave around June/July so keep in touch and we can possibly arrange to meet up and discuss possible routes.

Hi guys

My friend and I are planning to set off for Aus November 2001 and get to India for New Year. Our route is still vague, maybe turkey, iran, pakistan, india. From there I believe that flying the bikes to Thailand maybe the most effective method. Aeroflot? Don't know how to get from Singapore to Aus yet. Any ideas appreciated?



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Sean

Hi Scott and all,

Two friends and I are also in the planning stage of a trip from UK to Oz, but we're not thinking of going until March/April 2002.

The reason for leaving UK at a bloody horible time of year is so that we miss the really hot weather in Iran/Pakistan and India, but also we'll hopefully have good enough weather going up the Himalaya's. We're trying to reach Oz by Aug/Sept so will again miss the wet season up North and the really really hot weather!!

We're also thinking of using XT600's and if you look around the sites it seems as these are the most popular choice of bike's - I haven't bought mine yet though!

As for the route we're thinking of taking, it looks like Delhi or Katmandu are the best places to depart for SE Asia (probably Bangkok) - I originally wanted to go via Tibet but it's looking very difficult.

All the best............Mark

thinking of doing the same trip, starting late summer 2001. ural with sidecar and my mediumsized dog "bebelman". will wait until the new 750cc. Ural will be on the market. hope to hear from you guys once something materializes. Keep your spirit !

Hi Guys

Still planning, but our route so far:

Start in UK, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, fly bikes to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, ship bikes to Darwin, Sydney and fly home. Rough timescales, 2 months getting to india, 2 months in india/nepal, 1 month in Thailand and 1 month in Aus.

Key question is when? Chris Scott suggests heading east in the Autumn (we won't be ready by then) but I also take Mark's comment about setting off in March. And I really don't want to leave it until Autumn 2002! Anybody got any good ideas?

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Sean

As you seem to be ahead of me so far, I still haven't got round to doing much planning.

What do you reckon the cost of such a trip will be?

Well.. Somewhere between £6K and £10K I guess, depending on the indulgence level. I've just started collecting estimates of shipping costs for the various sections as a part of the planning process. I'll just put my finger in the air for the other likely expenses.

Also, I believe that there is a ferry from Venice to Istanbul which might be of interest and cut out some of easter europe. Anybody got any info?



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Sean

We are doing this trip in reverse and are at present in Thailand organising air freight to Katmandu. Have been advised that it is the safest way. Will give out all the details once we have completed the 'transfer'
To get from Asia to Australia is the real easy part. E mail Geoff Lock, a biker who works for Perkins Shipping on geoff.lock@perkins.com.au or
fax 61 8 89410991
Who ever is considering going to Australia for a month really needs to re think or trade his/her bike in on a helecopter. Just not practical to attemt to do Australia that quick.
We have been gone 6 months and did the center road of Aus. We live north of Sydney, so rode south to Adelaide then up the centre to Darwin, shipped to Singapore,then on to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, back to Thailand and now ( if its meant to be) on to Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey etc. Forget Burma. Even from Thailand we could not get our bikes in, even for a day trip. And China is not ready for us motorcyclists yet either.Spend a good amount of time in Thailand. The road that follows the border between Burma and Thailand from Mae Hong Son to Pai and Chiang Mai is wonderful bike country. As is the Ranong area in the south. We are taking longer than we intended ( and spending more money than intended) because it is better to go a bit slower. I dont mean miles per hour,I mean take the time to look around.
And even buying fuel takes longer than at home. People want to look and talk about you, your bike, and what you are doing. As we have 2 Honda cruisers and we are in our 50"s we tend to draw crowds for 2 extra reasons. Not only are we old, but one is an old female. . . . . We call ourselves a moblie tourist attraction. Take the time to talk to the people. We have good memories of the people we have met along the way. But however you do it, make sure you do it.
Life is way to short to just dream about it and read reports from others who have done it. You are a long time dead, and there are no lolly shops in heaven,so we are told.

Hi Dave and Cheryl

I made contact with Geoff Lock and he has been very helpful with information, thanks for the tip. Also, be very interested to hear how you get on with shipping the bikes from Thailand.

I take your point entirely about sending time in Australia, but we really are on a whistle stop tour. We'll just land in Darwin and ride down the coast to Sydney before flying home. I can only negotiate 6 months away from work, so it's either that or nothing....

Maybe I'll leave the BMW and take the R1.

Best of luck with the next phase of your trip.




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Sean

We could well be home in Australia by the time you all get here. Keep in contact with us our e mail is
(in the link above)
You just may need a free bed by the time you get here. We are on the beach 3 hours north of Sydney. Will give you the details of Thailand to Nepal when we have completed it but can warn you now that Nepal insists on a Carnet and not all carnets have Nepal listed on then. Napal can be added so make sure that is how your carnet is. We had to get ours endorsed and it was a bit of a hassle. Muck better to have it from the start.

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email address removed by Grant - see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/faq.shtml#notify for why.

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 22 January 2002).]

Hi

Thanks for the offer, we may well take you up! And best of luck with Nepal http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif


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Sean

I keep flogging this one, but what the heck, I really do want to work out the best time for us to set off!

I have managed to get the following weather info for our route UK to Aus, based on a whistle stop schedule and leaving in November. (I've created an excel spreadsheet with principle towns en route and weather summary for each month if anyone wants a copy. Can't vouch for its accuracy as I pulled the info from all over the web)

Basically:

November : Hungary, Cold 4-13C, Wet
November : Bulgaria, Cold 4-13C, Quite wet
November : Turkey, Cool 14-18C, Very wet
December : Iran, Cold 4-13C, Fairly dry
December : Pakistan, Warm 19-23C, Fairly dry
January : India, Warm 19-28C, Fairly dry
February : Nepal, Cool 14-18C, Quite wet
March : Thailand, Hot 29-33C, Fairly dry
March: Malaysia, Hot 29-33C, Very wet
April: Darwin, Hot 29-33C, Wet
April: Sydney, Warm 19-23C, Very wet

Can anyone add any real life experience to travelling in these countries at these times of the year. Given that we've only got 6 months and India should be nice January/February perhaps there's not much choice for our particular 'off' date.

Any flesh to the bones much appreciated

PS Anybody going to Bernd Tesch's thing in Belgium this April?

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Sean

Scott,
my girlfriend and I are planning to go back to Oz via Africa, middle east and Asia,leaving around August. I've collated a fair bit of info so far, in particular on Burma which is a no no and China which is a major hassle. Shipping the bike from Nepal to Bangkok is, allegedly, a fairly stress free encounter as is shipping from Singapore to Darwin. I'm quite happy to mail you everything I've got if you want it.

Goose.
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[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 22 January 2002).]