Wheels across Australia

[JohnM]

Early Saturday morning I'm in the car to drive to the Hunter Valley on a mission to house sit chez Bindibuys until early November while the BB's flit around the world in F .

The plan is to take about 10 days getting there to take in some sights, especially in SA, and to visit friends in Canberra on the way before the final run into the Hunter.

Here's the planned route:



Not the most direct route, because I'm wanting to check out some new places and take it fairly cruisy.

A slightly unconventional route out of WA on the dirt 'Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail' road from Hyden to Norseman. The good winter rainfall in SW Australia this year should make it pretty, albeit a tad early for the best of the wildflowers that far S.

Then into the Eyre Peninsula for a few days before going briefly to the Flinders Ranges and then on to Mildura and Canberra.

I'll aim to post a few pics along the way.

 

[RB]

Looking forward to another great read. I had a bit of a reaad about Rawnsley Park Station & suggested trips around there. We did the Parachilna Gorge walk when we had a short time in the broad area & found it worthwhile

 

[Buzzard]

Looking forward to you (road) trip report JohnM.
What type of vehicle are you doing the trip in?

 

[Mogul]

Be careful on the Hyden to Norseman road as it can be very busy with trucks using it as a shortcut between Perth and Norseman. It is actually a quicker way to go than via the Great Eastern Highway.

 

[JohnM]

Looking forward to you (road) trip report JohnM.
What type of vehicle are you doing the trip in?

Audi A4 2.0T Quattro.

 

[jb747]

I presume you've checked on availability of high octane fuel. Take some octane boost perhaps.

Wildlife is an issue, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Rawnsley Park Station is a good spot.

 

[JohnM]

I presume you've checked on availability of high octane fuel. Take some octane boost perhaps.

Wildlife is an issue, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Rawnsley Park Station is a good spot.

IME 98RON is widely available in regional and outback areas. The recommended minimum 95 not so.

I'll avoid too early and too late in the day. Taking it pretty steadily.

Yes, looking forward to Rawnsley Park, albeit briefly.

 

[Steady]

Audi A4 2.0T Quattro.

I had formed the opinion that you didn't own a vehicle from previous comments about public transport

 

[JohnM]

I had formed the opinion that you didn't own a vehicle from previous comments about public transport

Public transport is essential when I go out with you lot....

 

[Steady]

Public transport is essential when I go out with you lot....

as a visitor I have been the one out with the locals.... :shock:

 

[JohnM]

Slight detour through Kulin on the way to Norseman yesterday to scope the 'Tin Horse Highway', a whimsical promotion of the local annual races. Driven along it many times when working, but this time I stopped at every one for a closer look .

Just a small selection:







Struggling over 3G at Eucla. Will try again later with a few more.

 

[JohnM]

Back on track... So to speak.

 

[JohnM]

Can't resist a few more...

 

[JohnM]

Enough of the whimsy.

Brief lunch stop at Hyden's Wave Rock before hitting the very nice 300 click run through to Norseman. I highly recommend this route. Dirt road is very good.



The road ahead - filtered by insect splats...



The rather pretty Breakaways.

 

[JohnM]

Overnight at Norseman and then hitting the Eyre Highway.

IIRC three of these in WA and two in SA.





Sigh... To floor it or not to floor it - that is the question...



Resisted the temptation to cruise at hoon speed (where is an Autobahn when you need it, dammit...). But, ahem, let me just say, that when overtaking, acceleration was still happening at 185 - or so . I am now confident that there are no more cobwebs in the turbo...

Madura Pass where the road drops about 100m onto the plain that is barely 15m above sea level.



Are we there yet?!

 

[jb747]

Not sure I can reconcile a nice Audi on dirt....

 

[JohnM]

Not sure I can reconcile a nice Audi on dirt....

It's very easy..! Actually, the loaner they gave me a few weeks ago when mine was having its second service was an A4 Offroad. Funnily enough, I had a few hundred click trip to the country arranged that day (by complete coincidence, the same thing happened last year when they loaned me a Q5...) .

The only problem was that both of those had 2L diesel donks . Handled nicely - but gutless. I pointed out to the service concierge on my return from a day's (reasonably) enjoyable driving that they had mistakenly not given me the R8 that was parked at the door .

Try again next year...

 

[jb747]

I got a run in an R8 a year or so ago. My licence wouldn't last long...

 

[JohnM]

I got a run in an R8 a year or so ago. My licence wouldn't last long...

Nor would mine!

 

[Daver6]

Reminds me of my drive across to Canberra taking the scenic route in an old Holden Apollo wagon with no cruise control!