Darwin To Adelaide

[Slade]

Planning on making the trip down to tassie this year from darwin on my busa and was hoping someone with some prior knowledge on the run from Darwin to Adelaide could give me a few tips as to good places to stop (overnight) would be.

I dont really want to ride in the NT at night if i can avoid it.
Want to make the trip in 4-5 days (to swan hill victoria).

Mainly after good places to stop, good intervals for accomodation. Being the NT i want to avoid ssome of the less desirble places for a full night and just maybe run thru them as quick as possible :)

[Heidi1]

DUDE! I'm so excited for you, I LOVE that road. First thing to ask is how many kms you intend doing in a day. Don't know if you like big kms, but it is damn easy to just let the clicks disappear beneath the wheels. My suggestion from Darwin would be spend the first night in Three Ways (950ish kms). If you do, DO NOT get fuel there, go the extra 27kms to Tennant Creek. Get fuel when you see it. DO NOT stay in Tennant Creek under any circumstances, or Alice, or any of the towns really (specially not Barrow Creek). Erldunda is another place with dongers out the back, a shorter day, but nothing wrong with it and it has a pool.

Don't ride at night, that road isn't fenced. The longest leg for fuel is into Glendambo (which is do-able), but keep an eye on the crosswinds and speed, that will chew your fuel up far quicker than you expect. Plan ahead carefully so that you are off the road an hour before dark if you can, there is camels, cattle, donkeys, horses, emus and dingos, all watching you go past from various viewpoints including the middle of the road. Watch the wedgetail eagles, they take off into the wind. If that is the way you are travelling, you have to change your undies the first few times they use you as a ladder to get lift.

Cadney Homestead has shit accomodation, but very safe, also the best damn steak I've ever eaten. When I've been on that road I've avoided towns and stayed at homesteads, and never felt unsafe (even on my own). Keep an eye out for the grey nomads, they all talk so they know the good spots.

I don't know if you know what a donger is, I didn't the first time I was offered one. It is a box out the back with no aircon and covered in red dust. It us often dirty but cheap. You're only sleeping.

Can I come too???

[Slade]

awsome,
I was chatting with a mate today from work who has done the run a couple times.
Slightly different run, going a short 1 of 300k's to Katherine his first day to test his load.
then 1200 to alice the next day
1200 the next day to port august.
then last day to finish the trip off.
Some big km's and I dont think it can be pulled off without leaving when its still dark in the morning though :|

His stay for accomodation in this places was always first plaace on the right apparently heh...

I kinda like the idea of pushing further into around 3ways . which will cut down other parts of the trip

I'll have to keep investigating, Im not leaving until the 12th of December, just getting in ahead, trying to sort out a tank bag and saddles atm also :o

And your more then welcome to ride with me :P

[Heidi1]

Three Ways is great fun, there is always someone to play with, but the booze is REALLY expensive (as is the fuel). Keep in mind that out there the roads are big and open, so MAY will be doing slightly more *cough* than the speed limit. That makes the time go a little faster. 1000kms is only 10 hours in the saddle with stops; up at dawn, 100kms to breakfast, lube your chain, check your gear, knock down a coffee and start your day.

You'll be amazed how you get into the groove. It is kind of hypnotic on your own. I so want to come, that road down the middle is one of my favourites. I want to do another half loop, along the Nullabor, up the west coast and down the middle.

I did a full loop with a sheepskin seat cover, made a huge difference. Big Kev does beautiful work at a reasonable price if you want one, you'll be surprised at the difference. I used a bagster cover and tank bag and that did a great job. For short trips I have an ALDI magnetic bag that I LOVE! I've heard they can get a little mobile at 270kms/hr plus.

Next year.

[Slade]

hah, dont plan on doing 270km/h during my trip to often, atleast not while loaded up.

may i ask what did you pay for your bag and cover?
i was quoted today $350 for the tank protector and the same again for the Impact bag. Sounded a bit over the top to me but I really not sure.
Thought I read soomewhere people paying around 250 mark?

thanks for the comments again, much appreciated. Thought maybe there would of been more people who had made this trip? :P

[Madmax]

may i ask what did you pay for your bag and cover?
i was quoted today $350 for the tank protector and the same again for the Impact bag. Sounded a bit over the top to me but I really not sure.
Thought I read soomewhere people paying around 250 mark?

Have you tried Fleabay for a bagster and bag?

[motoplast]

Slade, u will luv that trip, I know this place is just down the road from Darwin, but Bundy Station at Adelaide River is awsome and the Host, Sue, is a top lady. If u push on, Daly Waters can be a top o'nite stay, it is usually full of travellers, a night there can be a lot of fun, no good for ur kidneys though!. Less than 160k's south of Alice is Stuarts Well, home of Dinky, the singing, piano playing Dingo (& now Bundy's mate!) Accom' is dongers, the feeds are huge & the bar is open till .... . Plenty of great spots to stay at Coober Pedy, I know a few locals there very well, so if u get stuck mechanically around that area call me. Same for Alice, Desert Edge M/C's will help u out, tell them u know me. Pt Augusta has several places to stay and depending which way u go from there, no shortage of caravan parks.
As Heidi say's, watch out for Wedge Tailed eagles, hit one at speed and ur off. U live in the N.T. so I am sure u are aware of road kill and other animals trying to drag that kill off the road or wanting to be road kill themselves!. Hit the road around 0700-0800 and be off it around 1600-1800, u can cover a lot of distance in between these times, the trick is to keep at it at a constant fair pace.
Enjoy the ride.

Cheers,
Tex & Bundy

[Ward P]

Some big km's and I dont think it can be pulled off without leaving when its still dark in the morning though :|

Don't do it. Black cows in the middle of the road are totally invisible at dawn, and destroy 4wds. even with a bull bar (from experience)

Trying to ride out there at dawn or dusk is just STUPID!!
DO NOT DO IT.

Have a safe trip and enjoy it. Have ridden from Alice down. Had to carry extra fuel from Coober Pedy to Glendambo, just carried 5 litres in an old oil bottle that I picked up in CP. but this was some time ago, before the 'busa.

You'll love the trip.

[Slade]

Yer sorted, Wont be riding in dark or half dark.

ATM trying more to sort my luggage then my trip :o, better work it all out soon , 2 months to go before i leave

[Heidi1]

Leave most of your stuff on the floor of the garage just before you go, you don't need it. Don't take more stuff than you can carry in one trip, the last thing you want to do is to leave a set of gear on the bike while you carry the first set into the pub/hotel/camp.

Couple of t-shirts, two pair of pants, undies and a hat, you are done for clothing along with your riding gear. You must carry air canisters in case you get stuck, and a tyre pucture repair kit if you are feeling confident (I just carry the canisters, but others take the kit). PERSONALLY, I think the most important thing you can do is get a proper service and a good set of tyres before you go. Check you have heaps of brakes left (but you wont be using them on the trip down, but Tassy might require them), check you have good tyres and your chain is fine. Pack a few tools, but you probably don't need the soldering iron!

MAN I'm jealous. Can I still come?

[Slade]

Thanks again :)

Look since its out of your way, your invited for the trip back to darwin if you want. I'll be leaving victoria on around the 10th Jan 2010 :P

Be aware it will be wetseason up North

[Heidi1]

Ohhhhhhhhh...........

At least we'll have someone to stay with next time we're up that way. If I wasn't doing Tassy with the crazy damn Queenslanders, I'd take you up on that.

Thanks again :)

Look since its out of your way, your invited for the trip back to darwin if you want. I'll be leaving victoria on around the 10th Jan 2010 :P

Be aware it will be wetseason up North

[Slade]

well my trip is 3 weeks away to the day. Actually heading to victoria for a majority of my stay.
IF anyone see's a Black k9 with NT plates I expect to get a wave , or at very least a nod :P

Bike shoud have a r-55 fitted by then if it arrives in time.

ANyhow if theres rides going on around the swanhill/bendigo/melbourne area throw me a line and i'll see if I can make it along. The rides in NT are mainly straight and boring.... boooooo

[Heidi1]

Got your motorcyclist atlas yet? Best bit of gear you'll take. You are going to have the best time!

[Slade]

nah no atlas. Guess I better go checkout the bookshop :o