Ideas for a road trip/holiday.....

[coxy321]

Hi all. I've got a HEAP of holidays saved up at work, and I've been toying with the idea of heading off through/around/under/over australia for 4 or so weeks. I've got no idea where i want to go, but i want to see as much as possible (and have time to enjoy it) in the given time. We either do this, or save up another $5k and go overseas in a years time.

I've got a '91 Sierra soft top, which'd be great for touring around in. Its a simple machine, cheap to run, and easy to fix - although its nowhere near as spacious as the LWB patrol . I've just done the suspension, its got new MT / AT tyres, and has had a full major service.

Basically i want to do some offroading, but nothing thats going to cost me $5000 should we get stuck or worse, hurt ourselves. Probably more of a touring type thing, with plenty of blacktop that we can kick back and enjoy the Sierra's 80km/h top cruising speed. I've got about $5k that i can spend on the trip - but obviously, less is better.

We'll probly motel it most of the time, as there wont be enough room to fit my proper camping kit into the little rig too. Chances are i might end up leaving the missus at home, mainly do to her work arrangements, but also cause she doesn't like the outdoor/4x4/road trippin' stuff.

Any ideas, suggestions or ANYTHING would help.

Cheers - Coxy

[blackmav]

6th May I am leaving for six weeks.

Berrima
Cooper Peady
Ayres ROck
Alice Springs
Tennant Creek
Borroloola-Houseboat Fishing
Roper Bar
Darwin
Gulf Track
Cooktown
Cairns
Tully
Mackay
Brissie
Coffs
Home


Renting a camper trailer. $1300 for SIX weeks

[ZOOK92]

I did Sydney to the cape, over to Darwin, south to Adelaide, and then home via Melbourne. I too did it in a Sierra. We took our time and did it in around a month or so, and from memory it cost way less than $5k. we did swag it though, ratger than paying for hotels.

[coxy321]

blckmav, how many km have you roughly worked it out to be total???

I wonder how the 1.3 litre big block would tow a nice 30' or 40' tandem caravan.........

[blackmav]

Roughly 10k?
give or take a few thousand.

The camper wieghs 500 kilo plus gear so i don't think there would be much Zuk left by the time you got back.

[coxy321]

No doubt i'd have to invest in some bigger elastic bands
So is most of that done on bitumen, or gravel/unsealed??

I'm also a tad worried about security, being a soft top and all. I did opt for the kevlar top, WITH double laminated vinyl windows, and even the anti-theft clips, but still a bit stressed. On a serious note - they are bloody easy to pinch stuff from.

[juls]

Take the 180b You can probably fit more in and go further/faster in your 4 weeks

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

If i was you i would sell the zook, buy a bigger diesel 4x4 and go to fraser island or snowy mountains, even a trek up the nsw or qld coast.

[grimbo]

head up to Innamincka, Coongie Lakes then back down through the Flinders, across to Mungo, Hattah Kulkyne, border track and then home. All very doable in the Sierra, did quite a few years ago in a Sierra

[coxy321]

Dont laugh mate!! I was actually going to say i was thinking about taking the datto. At least its a little bit more secure, but the chances of getting a canary sticker would be fairly high though...

Coxy

[coxy321]

Has anyone got a rough idea on how many km's it is around australia? I know if you go anti-clockwise its about 20km less to travel than going clockwise....

[grimbo]

a long way to do it in 4 weeks in a Sierra. A girl in our club did an around Australia trip in her Sierra but I think she took 6 months+ to do it. It is alot of driving and long distance driving in a Sierra does get tiring.

Moose on here did a Melb - Cape York - Melb trip with my brother and a few others in a Sierra. That was a 4 week trip from memory. Might be worth shooing him a PM about it

[coxy321]

I organised a trip to the cape last year, but two of the guys ended up with a bun in the oven, one guy bought a house, and the rest pulled out without actually telling us. Nothing out of the normal for my crew .

I was chasing something more of an easy "tour" as such, the zuk would need a bit of tlc before heading to the cape (she'd be pretty un-comfy), and also there's a fair bit of personal responsibility, plus you have to be self sufficient in the case of emergency, recovery, and being able to supply the minister of warfare and finances with various necessary comforts.

I did also tinker with the idea of hitting tassie for a few weeks. Apparently you can knock it over in 10 days, but if you want to cruise about and enjoy it, its closer to 3 weeks.

Thanks for all the replies guys,

Coxy

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

If you can do around aus in a suzi in 4 weeks with 2 people, i would pay to see the movie.
you can only fit one change of clothes and another pair of shoes in the back for starters.(i know i had one)
and i just drove comfortably from perth to newy but it took 5 days to do it comfy but moving along.
i reckon in a zook you wouldnt sleep in the same place twice to get around aus in 4 weeks.

[dirtyGQ]

well when you have planned trips and have people pull out without prior notice or a worthy excuse it really peaves you off. People like that are best dealt with the old f++k off and never talk to me again especially if you know that they are just too lazy or pathetic to make the effort.....that is why you are better off doing a tag along tour ...yes they might be expensive but they are worth every cent because (unless bad weather) they will still proceed regardless of who decides not to go.

[coxy321]

If you can do around aus in a suzi in 4 weeks with 2 people, i would pay to see the movie.

hhhhmmmmm......that sounds like a challenge

I'm not exactly limited to four weeks, i could probably stretch it out to even eight if i wanted - just means i've got more work to catch up on when i get back. I'll most likely do a tag-along tour down the track, but atm, i just have to get away for a while before the next 4 years of all work/no play hits us. The last holiday we had was for 10 days in townsville, about 3.5 years ago.

Coxy

[dirtyGQ]

townsville......holiday

[coxy321]

Yeah, my older brother moved up there for work, we went to help him get his stuff sorted, plus it was a cheap/easy way to get away from work and all the other usual "goings on" that happens in my buzzing little country town. It was just nice to get away.

[dirtyGQ]

i was just joking mate,i haven't been to townsvilles since 91 was thinking about going north from airlie at xmas but decided to come straight home.

[coxy321]

I was surprised at how huge the place is. Big, flat, and goes as far as the eye can see. Things i enjoyed:

1. Many, many, many scantily clad women
2. Being able to get pissed off two bourbons (humidity killed me)
3. The vast amount of backpackers on maggie island that were clearly on a "sex only" diet.
4. Plenty of nice cars around there too. Cairns ARB was GOOD too.

I might go and see if i can get a book on 4x4 touring in Tassie tomorrow.

Coxy

[dirtyGQ]

I was surprised at how huge the place is. Big, flat, and goes as far as the eye can see. Things i enjoyed:

1. Many, many, many scantily clad women
2. Being able to get pissed off two bourbons (humidity killed me)
3. The vast amount of backpackers on maggie island that were clearly on a "sex only" diet.
4. Plenty of nice cars around there too. Cairns ARB was GOOD too.

I might go and see if i can get a book on 4x4 touring in Tassie tomorrow.

Coxy

maybe the sex only diet included some special lollies ?

[coxy321]

The words "shag" and "root" came up fairly often in conversation, so clearly the diet consisted of herbs etc., maybe ground root powder of the Shag tree??

[-Scott-]

Starting from Brisbane, racing to Cairns, then relaxing, we spent a little over 5 weeks on the Cape - and didn't see enough of it. And we struggled to fit enough grog into a shorty Pajero, so you'll have a harder time in a Zook.

Leave the Cape for another trip with more time (in a faster vehicle. )

I like Grimbo's idea - Innamincka, Coongie, Arkaroola, explore the Flinders - lots of Public Access Routes to flex your Zook. If you want to stretch it out, hit the Coorong and do the Robe - Beachport run. Zooks were MADE for that territory.

Unfortunately, you'll find yourself passing near/through Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra... Hmmm. You may need a trailer, too.

[coxy321]

Don't stress!!! It's okay, i dont really drink much. I'm more likely to fill the fridge with lots of nice steaks, roasts, and other goodies. I like to eat well when i go bush.

-Scott-, i'll see if i can sit down and have a look at that route you put up. Cheers all!!