Darwin -Melbourne - Darwin

[Pauly85 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pauly85]

Driving from Darwin to Melbourne and back. I no alot of people would have done this. But has anyone ever done it in a week. ???
Im heading down to pick up my camper trailer and I have 8 days. Maddest or doable?

Cheers

Paulie

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Probably madness Pauly. Just you or two up?


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[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Hi Paul, will you be driving on your own? 8 days is doable it all depends on what you call a big day of driving. I drive for a living so 1000km+ per day is no problem. At 3800km each way you'll be doing this. Google maps is pretty good for kms and hrs between stops. Plan it out and see what your happy with doing. Have you looked at putting it on the train?

Scoota.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

7,500km? 10 hours+ of driving a day for 8 days? Doable but I wouldn't think it would be fun if you're not used to it. Easier if you have two drivers and swap every couple of hours.

A less stressful option might be to fly one way and pick up a one way hire of a tow vehicle via hertz or avis or similar?

When I was backpacking you could pick up vehicle relocation specials from the hire firms that were cheap but you only had a short time to do it. You might be able to find one of those

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

I drove to Melb from a Darwin a lot and normally I would drive Darwin to Alice Springs leaving about 6am in the morning and getting into Alice about 8:30pm. I would about 5km over the limit. Have a 5min stretch every 2hrs and half hr for lunch.

I would then drive Alice to Adelaide, Timings would be the same as above or similar.

Lastly I would drive Adelaide to Melb.

So you could do it 3 days down, one day for yourself in Melb and 4 days to get back.

Winston.

[Borec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Borec]

I drove to Melb from a Darwin a lot and normally I would drive Darwin to Alice Springs leaving about 6am in the morning and getting into Alice about 8:30pm. I would about 5km over the limit. Have a 5min stretch every 2hrs and half hr for lunch.

I would then drive Alice to Adelaide, Timings would be the same as above or similar.

Lastly I would drive Adelaide to Melb.

So you could do it 3 days down, one day for yourself in Melb and 4 days to get back.

Winston.

That sums it up pretty well, 3 days one way is doable without falling asleep while driving, try to do as much as you can during daylight.

[Toy4x4 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toy4x4]

I know road freight to Darwin is expensive prices anywhere from $380 - $880 for x1 2.4h pallet. As was suggested before I'd get a quote for the train, I'd be surprised if you were charged more than $800 - I'm only guesstimating though.

Even if the train is more weigh up and compare the costs, fuel/food/Accommodation (1 way) plus your time driving etc and the fact you'll be going back to work stuffed.

Another option is pick it up in Adelaide from the train and have an easier more enjoyable drive back home and enjoy your break and the best of what the country has to offer.

Good luck

Cheers

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Driving from Darwin to Melbourne and back. I no alot of people would have done this. But has anyone ever done it in a week. ???
Im heading down to pick up my camper trailer and I have 8 days. Maddest or doable?

You going the shortcut?

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

why bother for less than $2000 you can get car form Melbourne to Darwin. Just google freight Melbourne to Darwin. Only do it if you plan on having a bit of a holiday with it and take a few weeks.

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

It's not a car he's picking up it's a camper trailer. Might be difficult getting it to a freight yard and onto the train.


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[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

Pauly85 - Just out of interest, What Brand Camper is it and where is it to be collected from?

Stuart

[Pauly85 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pauly85]

Driving down on my own. And picking up, a mate down there and 2 of us driving back.
Heading next Tuesday after work and planning on been back in Darwin following Wednesday.
Its a Tru Blu CT. out in the Eastern Surburbs.

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

For all those who suggested putting it on the Train - It can't be done!
GSR (Great Southern Rail) Operators of the Overland, The Ghan and Indian Pacific, have stated on their wesbite that no Caravans or boats are allowed to be loaded on.

Pauly85 - You could do it in 4 days, but they are very long 12hr days, except the last day which will be 8 hours.

Darwin - Tennant Creek 990Kms approx (Overnight)
Tennant Creek - Marla 961kms or Cadney Park Roadhouse 1069kms (Overnight at either)
Marla - Adelaide 1081kms (overnight)
Adelaide - Melbourne 730kms

You other choice is if you know someone down here in Melbourne who can check over the camper for you and then arrange to meet you somewhere, like Port Augusta, this will save you 2 Days at least, but you might need to pay them some money for Delivery - Fuel Cost + 1 night accomodation ($700-$800)

Stuart

[Pauly85 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pauly85]

Cheers for that Stuart.
I take it u have done the trip before.
Im giving myself a hesd start and leaving tuesdsy night and hopfully stsy in katherine.

Cheers

Paulie

[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Pauly, if you can get to Katherine on Tuesday night you still have 8 days left, NT roads are good. Alice Wednesday night, Adelaide Thursday night, ya mates joint Friday.
He'll be fresh as a daisy and gives you over 4 days to get home. SA & NT roads you should easily do 1200km in 12hrs.
You won't do as well east of Adelaide.