I wonder if there is anyone on this site who has circumnavigated Australia in a 4 x 4? My husband and I are going to Australia next year and plan to hire a 4 x 4 and spend +/- 3 months driving round. We lived in Australia for 20 years so have a good understanding of the country and distances involved but have to confess we spent most of our time in "civilisation"! Just thought there might be some folk here who have done this trip and could stop us re-inventing the wheel with some handy advice and, perhaps, a chance to meet up with other 365ers on the way round?
We are travelling around Australia with our Landcruiser pulling our 25ft caravan 'our home' since 2009. It took us 5 years just to do the eastern states now currently in South Australia.
3 months is not long enough to do a round trip you wont see much, just alot of driving. Remember Australia is nealy big as Europe.
Our motto is around Australia in 20 years.
This is my 3rd year here and upload my travel photos here when i can.
Good luck with your travels and I will follow you.
@leestevo Lucky you, what a fabulous lifestyle. Unfortunately we only have a short period of time in which to see as much as possible and catch up with old friends around the country. We lived for many years in WA and also in Queensland so have some areas that we know well and will perhaps bypass but since the top of our bucket list were FNQ, Northern Territory, the Great Ocean Road and the Nullabor it seemed obvious to drive right round. Mad I know, but it'll be fun!
Do you use Tripadvisor? https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ForumHome
I use it for every trip I do, the information from other travellers is really invaluable. You can search the travel forums or ask questions of your own. The travel forums are under the heading "more".
Hopefully I will see you if you pass through here... when are you planning on coming over?
@bella_ss Thanks Sheralee, a brilliantly useful website. I keep trying to stretch our time over there and we may be able to stretch to 4 months, time will tell. However, that website shows it is certainly doable and also gives lots of extra ideas, hints etc. We would certainly love to look you up when we are in Qld, just depends on our final route. We will be leaving from Perth in August next year.
I haven't done the 'big lap' yet.
But if you mainly stick to the coastal roads you can get around in 3 months. Maybe just pick the main places that you want to go to and try not to take too many detours.
It took us 8 weeks in total just to drive from Perth to the top end if WA along the Gibb River Rd and then back to Perth. We had a ball.
If you get to Perth give a shout out and Im sure theres some 365ers over here who would love to catchup for a photo outing.
@judithdeacon Fantastic! I look forward to seeing your travels. I've done many overseas trips but never been the whole way round Australia. I have friends that did it twice taking twelve months each time.
We did the "loop" in 6 months, when our kids were little and but it was really only a glimpse.
I'm not far from Debbie and would love to catch up for a photo outing if you are inclined and have the time.
@leestevo@bella_ss@deborah63@merrelyn Thanks for all your responses and ideas, we are now seriously looking at renting out our place in the UK and trying to make it six months, each time we look at the map we see somewhere else we want to include. Watch this space!
In 2003 we did what we called our pre retirement recce - 17,000kms in 6 weeks. We didn't do the full lap, more like a half lap. We had previously done the coast from Adelaide to Cairns plus Brisbane to Darwin including Kakadu etc but not the rest. Left Brisbane; then Moree; Bourke, Wilpena Pound, Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Katherine, Kununurra, Broome, down the coast to Perth, Margaret River Albany, Esperance across the Nullabor to Ceduna then back up through Broken Hill to Brisbane.
We managed to see all the big ticket items staying 2-3 nights in a number of places as required. We were travelling in a large sedan (not 4x4) and stayed in cabins in caravan parks. The only places we booked in advance were Uluru, Kings Canyon and Wilpena Pound. The rest of the time we winged it. We didn't feel as if it was overly rushed although some may disagree. There are many places you wouldn't want to spend more than 1 night. LOL!!
Based on our experience, I think it is quite possible to do the lap and see the main attractions in 4 months.
Hi Judith. Just found this discussion and wish you well on your journey over here! I've only flown to each capital so have no idea about driving around - but it's certainly a big beautiful country. I live in Warrnambool at the end of the Great Ocean Road - which is a definite must to do! Please contact me when you head this way. I will follow you to keep track :)
@888rachel@gilbertwood Thank you all for your contributions. Thank you @terryliv for your input especially, lots of people seem to be negative about doing it so quickly but we can only use the time we have available and, like you, we plan to stay 2-3 or 4 nights in certain places and then camp or whatever at overnight stops on the way. I know there are going to be lots of places we are going to say "I wish we had more time" but ce la vie, we'll have to come back and do it again! We will certainly keep in touch with everyone we have met on 365, would like to try and catch up with as many as possible on the way round - another 365 challenge to meet!
However long you stay I'm sure you will have a great time. We zipped around Iceland in ten days when it should have been double that but we don't always have the luxury of extra time so have to make the most of what you can allow :)
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Hiddins
3 months is not long enough to do a round trip you wont see much, just alot of driving. Remember Australia is nealy big as Europe.
Our motto is around Australia in 20 years.
This is my 3rd year here and upload my travel photos here when i can.
Good luck with your travels and I will follow you.
I also think three months is not long enough. Here is something that might help and does support the fact that it's doable. http://www.outbackcrossing.com.au/Touring/How_Long_Does_it_Take_to_Travel_Around_Australia.shtml
Do you use Tripadvisor? https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ForumHome
I use it for every trip I do, the information from other travellers is really invaluable. You can search the travel forums or ask questions of your own. The travel forums are under the heading "more".
Hopefully I will see you if you pass through here... when are you planning on coming over?
But if you mainly stick to the coastal roads you can get around in 3 months. Maybe just pick the main places that you want to go to and try not to take too many detours.
It took us 8 weeks in total just to drive from Perth to the top end if WA along the Gibb River Rd and then back to Perth. We had a ball.
If you get to Perth give a shout out and Im sure theres some 365ers over here who would love to catchup for a photo outing.
I'm not far from Debbie and would love to catch up for a photo outing if you are inclined and have the time.
We managed to see all the big ticket items staying 2-3 nights in a number of places as required. We were travelling in a large sedan (not 4x4) and stayed in cabins in caravan parks. The only places we booked in advance were Uluru, Kings Canyon and Wilpena Pound. The rest of the time we winged it. We didn't feel as if it was overly rushed although some may disagree. There are many places you wouldn't want to spend more than 1 night. LOL!!
Based on our experience, I think it is quite possible to do the lap and see the main attractions in 4 months.