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Melbourne to Darwin, which way to go? Melbourne to Darwin, which way to go?
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  #1  
Old 28 Mar 2015
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Melbourne to Darwin, which way to go?
Hi Everyone,

this the first leg (not counting Wellington to Auckland for shipping) of our NZ to Germany trip. We will be 2up on a 2008 Transalp.

We have two fixtures: We want to visit Melbourne and leave Oz from Darwin to go on to Dili. Arrival in Melbourne is around the 20th of August.

Given the time of year and that my partner has already done a road trip up the east cost, we are considering to ride the Stuart Highway instead.

We are pretty relaxed on sights, but 'that rock' is something we will probably do one way or the other. That means that going round the east coast will be considerably longer, which makes heavy rain in Indonesia more likely.

I have not done much more research into either option, so I still have to consider accomodation, costs for fuel and food, what to do and what to see ...

Now - opinions?

Cheers,
Florian and Nina
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Old 28 Mar 2015
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Dirt or tar roads ???
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Old 28 Mar 2015
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We are not against some solid dirt roads. Not too experienced, but here in NZ we got about 1000km of gravel and dirt under our wheels. But the lust for adventure ends pretty much where the impact of a 450kg piece of metal, gear and humans begins.

So, packed dirt, gravel and the occasional water crossing are fine, but real off-road or longer passages standing up, not so much.
Last edited by SatanasOz; 28 Mar 2015 at 04:58. Reason: add s
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Old 28 Mar 2015
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Depending on your time frame, budget & desires, there is plenty to see & do.
Great Ocean Rd, Barossa Valley wineries, up to Flinders range for a bit of dirt.
Oodnadatta via the dirt is very weather dependent though.
Across to Coober Pedy for some opal mining, then head up to Uluru

Even on the tar only, it's a great ride
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Old 28 Mar 2015
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We are not in any real hurry, but budget is a concern for us. And any western country will likely burn through our funds faster. Maybe 30 days for that?

Depending on when the ship sails in Darwin, we might spend another week or so with friends there.

Thanks so far, I am warming more and more to the idea ...
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  #6  
Old 29 Mar 2015
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G'day Florian and Nina,


I did this route for a friend travelling in the opposite direction a few days ago maybe you can add or alter it to your liking?


https://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=Darwin,+Northern+Territory&daddr=Floren ce+Falls+Campground,+Litchfield+Park,+Northern+Ter ritory+to:Katherine+Gorge,+Nitmiluk,+Northern+Terr itory+to:Mataranka+Thermal+Pool+and+Rainbow+Spring s,+Mataranka,+Northern+Territory+to:Ayers+Rock,+No rthern+Territory+to:Coober+Pedy,+South+Australia+t o:Port+Augusta,+South+Australia+to:Flinders+Ranges ,+Hawker,+South+Australia+to:Barmera,+South+Austra lia+to:-35.71514,140.8018816+to:-36.7020289,140.9537991+to:-36.7196819,142.20495+to:-37.1444626,142.4484837+to:-37.8794568,141.3844617+to:-38.1174887,141.2305156+to:Port+Fairy,+Victoria+to:-38.7728594,143.4252961+to:-38.4279243,144.1648301+to:-38.3381364,144.3147121+to:-38.3191635,144.3372868+to:-38.2451681,144.3328595+to:Melbourne,+Port+Melbourn e,+Victoria&hl=en&ll=-33.504759,149.0625&spn=17.549801,31.289062&sll=-37.867265,141.420822&sspn=0.26019,0.750504&geocode =FRXVQf8dsXzMByk_BFmf_KDALDEgfCQqqBcCAw%3BFfgYOP8d nLHLByHgpngcqRcCHSlxt4f45A-_LDHgpngcqRcCHQ%3BFVSHJf8dbI_kByHiLmsyUqQ-FimHqpbeOJq6LDHiLmsyUqQ-Fg%3BFWVMHP8dYHXvByHO5Si3MYyV4SmJ84vMnbOvLDHO5Si3M YyV4Q%3BFW4mff4d-WzPBynVqmJJLWwjKzGCjbf494sjpg%3BFQRLRf4dsjAICCk3EE INt0fNKjGw045iVDYDBA%3BFWg0EP4dAhg2CCnPgQMO6uC8ajE QAI9iVDYDBQ%3BFehvGf4dMSpACCl9nVm4IBOWajHA2I5iVDYD BA%3BFc1a9f0dR1VfCCkp4IJP9TDHajFQ0Y5iVDYDBA%3BFbwH 3_0dWXdkCCmxcUIA34zIajFHQsZM_2Qrqw%3BFbT4z_0dx8hmC Cl9Ytw7Md_LajGQXZtJVDYDEw%3BFb-zz_0dFuB5CCl_n5wOR0XOajFwphEOpHkFEw%3BFXI4yf0dY5d9 CClzdgkIHwzOajFT-O1cYbIbyw%3BFWABvv0dDVttCCnlKSTRXqjMajFQKjYOpHkFEw %3BFZBfuv0dswFrCCndZF-gD-OdqjEhaJMOpHkFEw%3BFdNNtv0d-lx6CCmdG6LACC3NajHwy6AwpHkFBA%3BFYVfsP0dEH-MCCk1p0Gh0irTajGBHJwOpHkFEw%3BFeyitf0d3seXCCnDL5Ff EX7UajFhl2TsdFYEEw%3BFagBt_0dWBGaCCltP0g7bm_UajFQc BbsdFYEEw%3BFcVLt_0dhmmaCCmRbi-Z127UajGV2ZBe4J9PSw%3BFdBsuP0dO1iaCClVDPH-iGzUajEQ0RTsdFYEEw%3BFYKnvv0dpq2jCCn3Me-4P2bWajFA6IwhdVYEBQ&oq=port+melbourne+ferry+termin al&mra=dpe&mrsp=13&sz=11&via=9,10,11,12,13,14,16,1 7,18,19,20&t=m&z=5
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