First Trip to Oz -- planning & road questions!
Hello all,
I am doing my first trip to Oz!  I'm excited but I have loads of questions. Here's the plan: I'm shipping my '07 GS1200 Adventure with all my riding and skydiving gear to Sydney next month. I'm flying down to pick it up on Christmas eve. I plan on staying in the Sydney area for a week or so with one of my friends. Then I'm going to start riding. My plan is to visit as many friends as I can. They live in Sydney, Canberra, Melborne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Townsville, Brisbane & Newcastle. After consulting a map (several times -- my oz geography isn't much...), I'm considering riding the GS on that exact routing. Problem is, i don't know much about the road conditions or of any stops along the way. (specifically the stretch from Adelaide to Alice and Alice to Townsville).
I don't want to overplan, but I'd like to have an idea of what I'm looking at here. I've done 1000 mile days before, but that was in the US. (although I squeeked out just under 800 on an Aprilia Mille R a few years ago in the German mountains...) Sorry, i digress... I can put in a long day's ride (several in a row if need be). I usually camp when I travel by bike. I'm wondering:
What is the condition of the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Alice?
How long should I give myself to travel that distance?
Is there petrol available on the route?
Anywhere to camp/stay along the route?
(same questions for the route to Townsville)
I know that it will be hot and I need to carry lots of water, etc... What other tips/info can people offer me?
Thanks!
Ben
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