Preparing for the road trip
In anticipation of the scorching weather during this time of the year, we recognized the need to make thorough preparations Here are few things we did to prepare
- Removed the three way fridge
- 60 liters brass monkey dual zone fridge/freezer previously purchased to be used for storing food. Finding halal food was going to be hard after crossing Adelaide. I filled up the freezer section with the meat and vegetables.
- Portable air conditioner temporarily fitted in the space freed by removing the old fridge
- 200W Solar panel for charging the caravan
- 2200W Kings generator for running the AC on those really hot days a head.
- Emergency Tyre repair kit
- Tyre inflation compressor
- 2 way radio
- Radiator coolant concentrate
- Sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Bush Hats with Netting
- First aid kit
- Instant pot for cooking those curries on the go.
Our friend and his family joining us on the trip made the preparation a breeze. They accompanied us in a stretcher tent, which greatly facilitated the entire journey specially those long dives , making it more easier and enjoyable for all of us. Having good company does make a lot of difference.
You may have additional things to take consider depending on your circumstance
It is crucial to always take into account the weather conditions when preparing for a trip of this nature. Be sure to consult the local forecast and familiarize yourself with the typical weather patterns for that particular time of the year, so you can adequately prepare for any weather-related challenges that may arise during your journe
Melbourne to Green Hill Lake, Ararat - 2 Days stay
Drive from Melbourne to is just over 2.5 hours. We decided to stay there for couple of nights
Green Hill Lake offers a serene camping experience, where visitors can enjoy the tranquility of nature. However this can get quite busy doing peak period or in public holidays. This free camp relies on generous donations to ensure the maintenance of the site. The camping spot provides essential amenities such as cold showers and flushing toilets, ensuring a comfortable stay for campers. While there are bins available for disposing of rubbish, we make a conscious effort to minimize waste and keep the surroundings clean.
Things to do in Ararat.
There are plenty of things you can do in Ararat to keep you busy for at least a week or more. Unfortunately we could not go through all of these but recommend checking these out while you are in Ararat.
- The Grampians National Park
- Grampians Peaks Trail
- Ararat Regional Park
- Mt Langi Ghiran, Mt Cole, Mt Buangor
- Langi Ghiran State Park
- Mount Buangor State Park
- Pyrenees Ranges
- The Great Dividing Trail
Green Hill Lake, Ararat to Murray bridge South Australia - 1 day stay
Departing at 9am, we set out in the morning to ensure we reached the COVID-19 testing center in South Australia before it closed at 4:30PM, covering a distance of 455KM to Murray Bridge. Traveling in a caravan, our pace was slightly slower than usual.
The border queues were manageable, allowing us to cross without much delay. However, this limited our time for other activities, prompting us to opt for an overnight stay at a caravan park.
If you happen to be traveling via the Western Highway, make sure to make a stop at Pink Lake along the way. Arriving at the caravan park just before sunset, we were fortunate to enjoy some time by the river before retiring for the night after paying $60 for our stay and departing early the next morning.
Murray Bridge SA to Point Lowly SA - 3 days stay
Our journey commenced at 9am in the morning, covering a distance of 464KM. With no urgency, we took our time and made a few stopovers along the way.
Exploring the towns of Port Wakefield and Port Germein proved to be a delightful experience. These places offer numerous tranquil locations where one can take a break and relax.
Point Lowly SA is one of our favorite camping spots. There is a small donation per car per night. The site is not usually busy and has flushing toilets with cold showers. There are few bins for rubbish and as always we try to keep the rubbish to minimum.
City of Whyalla is a beautify place to visit. There are plenty of things to do to keep you busy for few days. Few things we loved were
- Whyalla Maritime Museum
- Hummock Hill Lookout
- Point Lowly Lighthouse
- Whyalla Jetty
We were camping near the light house and enjoyed the beautiful sunsets.
Point Lowly SA to Coober Pedy SA- 2 days stay
We left early morning to cover as much distance possible before the heat really kicks in. The distance is 624KM and we arrived in the evening just before sunset. There were plenty of cars abandoned on both sides of the road and served as a reminder to prepare well when traveling in this part of the country.
There is free camp at Coober Pedy is a large paddock with no amenities. There is no way we were going to survive the heat without power so we decided to stay at a camp site with all amenities.
Once you cross Port Augusta you will not see a fuel stations for quite some time. There is fuel at Pimba and Glendambo roadhouses at Glendambo which is roughly halfway so its a good spot to stop for a break and refuel.
Things to do in Coober Pedy
- Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Park
- Faye’s Underground Home
- Old Timers Mine
- Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest
- Tom’s Working Opal Mine
Coober Pedy SA to Uluru / Ayers Rock NT- 3 days stay
By this time we got used to of setting up the van quickly and leaving early morning. The distance between Coober Peddy, SA to Uluru, Petermann NT is 760Km.
Fuel is available at
- Marla road house
- Kulgera roadhouse
- MOGAS Homestead Roadhouse
Curtain springs has a nice camping spot for those looking for free camp. The sites are not powered but it has flushing toilets and 4$ for showers.
We were going to stay close to Ayers rock so we decided to keep going until we reach Ayers rock resort camp ground.
We arrived late and were we unprepared. We had insect repellent that worked on most insects but did not do much to the ants. The ants were everywhere on the camp site. We managed to keep the flies away during the day by using bush hats. We hosed down the camping area near the caravan.
Uluru, Ayers Rock NT To Alice springs - 3 days stay
We enjoyed out time in Uluru specially the sunsets and sunrises. Sadly it was the time to leave so we packed up and headed towards a relatively shorter journey towards Alice Springs NT. The distance traveled was 467KM. We arrived just after 2pm and found a nice shaded site at caravan park.
Due to Christmas period we were unable to go through most places because of the closures for holidays but we enjoyed exploring MacDonnell Ranges. If your times allows be sure to check check
- West MacDonnell Ranges
- Alice springs camel tour
- Alice Springs Desert Park
- Early Morning Ballooning
Our fuel stops were
- Curtin Springs
- Stuarts Well Roadhouse
Alice springs, NT to Coober Pedy SA - 3 nights stay
We had to stay a little longer than expected due to delays in Covid-19 results before we could enter in SA again. Luckily we got the results in time and were able to leave on the third day.
The distance from Alice springs to trip to Coober Pedy is 687KM. Remember to fill up your fuel tanks in Alice springs as this will be your cheapest fuel stop on your return trip.
- Stuarts Well Roadhouse & Caravan Park
- Kulgera roadhouse
- Marla road house
Coober Peddy SA to Adelaide SA - 2 days stay
On 30 December we traveled to Adelaide to spend the new year eve in Adelaide. The drive back was a bit long but went without any problem. We stopped at the same fuel stops at Glendambo, Pimba and Port Augusta. We managed to find the last spot at a caravan park near the city.
The kids got to spend another day looking for Opals and old timers mine the next day
