We've reached Australia!

[pheasant56]

My wife and I have reached the final country on this trip after travelling overland from UK for the last 10 months. We are in Australia after shipping our bikes air freight from Malaysian Borneo to Perth.

We are currently in Albany WA awaiting the delivery of our replacement Exped air mats after the valves failed and are looking into our route as we wait.

The current plan is to ride across to Esperance and then up to Kalgoolie before taking the Great Central road across to Cairns. From there we plan to ride down the East coast before shipping back to Europe.

Anyone done this or a similar route and have and tips or must visit places along the way? Would be good for some advice. We're still adjusting back to the rules and regulations of western civilisation after the madness of Asia for the last 8 months!

Cheers
Jaime & Michelle

[Squily]

Sent you a PM

[Bucket1960]

to the land of Oz

[Warin]

Welcome to OZ. Sorry but it is winter so nights will be cold. Expect the temperatures to drop below frezing at night away from the coast. Go north for warmth.

The Great Central Road can be;
sandy .. as in deep sand
bulldust ... as in Talc power ...
and it is a long way between fuel stops.

But it is a good short cut to Ayers Rock.
Try a visit to the Giles Met Station? You'll need to organise it ...
Giles Weather Station WA @ ExplorOz Places
Click on the 'description thingy there .. The 'exploroz' website is good.

It would be tempting to go north up to Darwin and do Kakadu NP ... a long way but your call. Then return towards Cairns using the 'Savannah Way' side trip to Lawn Hill NP.

Oh ... you will need to get used to the costs of things now your out of Asia. Free camping is a good possibility once your away from population centres .. and tourist sights. However other costs will take most of that away.

[navalarchitect]

Welcome to Aus. When you get to east coast I can offer accommodation and workshop in Newcastle (160km north of Sydney) if it's of any help. Any other travelers reading this also feel free to PM me.

Sent from my SM-P350 using Tapatalk

[Snakeboy]

Wikicamps Australia and Mapsme maps are great to find camp sites in Australia. Can be used offline too so great in that way too.

Those outback roads can be very rough and dull of heavy corrugations. So check your bolts and nuts before you start and consider locktite. And check during the ride as well...

[pheasant56]

Thanks Guys,

We have got the Wikicamps app and find it really useful. We have been using it to camp for the last week.

[Nigel Marx]

The only bit I don't get is where you say you're shipping back, without coming to New Zealand? What's the story?

[pheasant56]

Originally Posted by Nigel Marx

The only bit I don't get is where you say you're shipping back, without coming to New Zealand? What's the story?

Unfortunately time and financial constraints mean that we are unable to make it to NZ on this trip. We won't even get to see all the bits in Oz we want!

It just means that we will have to come back and do NZ and all the places we missed in Oz. We'll be back when we have more time, can afford western world prices and the weather is a little warmer.

[Tony LEE]

Some of your route may require getting permits to cross Aboriginal Lands. Normally available free of charge and some on-line.

ExploreOz web site has info.

Just watch for stock crossing the Great Central Road against the lights.

[Warin]

Originally Posted by Tony LEE

Some of your route may require getting permits to cross Aboriginal Lands. Normally available free of charge and some on-line.

Never had anyone ask for one?
I'd think you'd have to do something fairly stupid to be asked for it .. and even if you had one .. they'd want you off. I've had a few of them.... I don't bother for the Great Central Road any more.

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There is always more to see, even if you live in the place!