Hi,
You'll have a hoot!!
We did Coffs Harbour, NSW to the centre and back.
We did Coffs to Lightning Ridge via Moree. Can recommend hot springs and opal fossicking. Then Bourke via Bre (the fish traps are worth a look) to do the Jandra paddle steamer. Wilcannia via Cobar. The Darling is a must see and Wilcannia is a great spot to find out all about it. White Cliffs (more fossicking) then to Broken Hill via Mutiwinji National Park - there is great camping here and good cultural and geographical stuff here too. We stayed in White Cliffs and just visited the NP for the day. I wish we did it the other way. Broken Hill, Silverton for the pub and good camping at Penrose Park (especially if you have kids). In BH go up the Line of Lode, head out to the Sculpture Park and be ready for wicked sunsets.
From there we crossed the border and headed to the flinders Ranges. Wipena Pound is great but we stayed at Brachina Gorge – perfect, cheaper, quieter and nicer! Next we headed up the Oodnadatta stopping at Lake Eyre viewing points and had a great nights stay at Cameron Springs. I think this is a must do! We stopped along the way and made the kids names out of sleepers. I wish I’d taken GPS co-ords now! We turned off at Williams Creek and headed to Copper Pedy. We took a tent and pitched it underground at the caravan park. They let us put the camper up too so we didn’t need to unpack everything. We stayed there to long but you never know when you plan these things. Not that mush to do.
Off to Uluru we stayed at Curtin Springs about an hr from Uluru. Cheap as (just pay for showers) and a good idea. Uluru camping area has a queue literally miles long to get onsite in the afternoon. We got there about 11am and drove straight in. Then we had the arvy to look around. You need at least 3 nights so you can do Kata Tjuta, sunset, sunrise, a walk or bike ride, the cultural centre etc. Then on to Watarrka. Book in advance - there are less sites in each caravan park. We headed out via the Mereenie Loop Road with no problems, picked up supplies in Hermansburg and then went into Palm Valley. The NT has NP camping sewn up. They put on info talks, gas bbqs, showers and charge reasonable rates. NSW could learn lots! Next, 8 days in Alice. You need all of it. We headed back out to the West MacDonalds and did all the sites. We overnighted with the tent to Chambers Pillar (another must see) and did bits of Alice. We were also there for the Camel Cup - a real hoot!!
We drove back east via the Plenty / Donohue Hwy with no problems and came home too quickly via Boulia, Winton, Longreach, Blackall, Mitchell and Goondi. It was too fast and I need to do this area all over. So much to see. But we managed a hot springs swim everywhere (Blackall is great) and the Stockmans Hall of Fame.
We were gone 5 weeks. We towed the Jayco Outback Eagle without a problem. We had some short and some long stays but we tried not to drive for more than half a day and especially not on the last leg home - Boulia to Coffs.
Must see for me in order Uluru!, Uluru!, Uluru!, Chambers Pillar, Flinders Ranges, well everything really.
Let me know if you need more info. I kept a diary including kms, prices, distances and other bits. Of course I have pictures too.
I can't recommend it enough.
Just do it!
J
