Tell me where to go!
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Deep in the country
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Tell me where to go!
Hi,
I thought this might be a good place to canvas the forum readers and help me decide where to go. Let me explain - I am new to Australia so am looking for the expertise that I know is out there. I have had a chance to see a little of the major cities of Oz but know there is far more to visit that would take years to appreciate properly.
However, I am putting together a plan to see the continent by way of a flying round trip of about 60hrs over 4-6 weeks, probably in a C172. I can read all the books and tourism websites I like but there is nothing quite like first hand experience and advice. So I would be most grateful if anybody wants to make a comment on must-see sights or just great places for flyers to pop into for lunch or overnight.
To give you a starting point, my trip would follow very broadly the following route, with a couple of ideas for me to see:
Melbourne - Adelaide (via Great Ocean Road + Grampians)
On towards Coober Pedy, then thought I might branch across to Birdsville to see Lake Eyre and the Simpson Desert and then back to Alice Springs.
A visit to Uluru of course, then continue north towards the Top End.
Probably as far as Darwin then across to see the Kimberly highlights, routing via Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing before stopping in Broome (catching the Bungle Bungle enroute).
Probably as far west as I would go on this trip due to time constraints but would venture down the coast as far as Barrow Island if people thought it was worth it.
Otherwise reverse direction and follow the coast north east to see Mitchell River Falls and Darwin if I missed it first time then see Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
Then keep going east towards Cairns maybe via Cape York if time allows.
Once on the east coast I plan to work south in lots of short hops to catch as many of the favourite places as practical. Ventures inland would be based on the sights I would like to see. Once at Sydney / Wollongong, I would be heading back to Melbourne via Canberra or if the spirit is still willing, follow the coast route back.
Phew...
Anyway, there must be plenty of people who have either done this before or those that want to do some or all of this route. What places did you think were worth the extra mile to see or gave great service and would definitely go back. Was there anywhere that you would avoid (not worth the effort or too difficult). I plan to break this journey up into manageable chunks so an indication of good lunch stops or 1-2 day visits would be icing on the cake.
I also thought this might be a good topic for future reference for anyone planning a similar venture. It may also have been covered before so a pointer to a similar forum topic or external links would be just as useful.
So go on. Tell me where to go !!!!
Many thanks.
I thought this might be a good place to canvas the forum readers and help me decide where to go. Let me explain - I am new to Australia so am looking for the expertise that I know is out there. I have had a chance to see a little of the major cities of Oz but know there is far more to visit that would take years to appreciate properly.
However, I am putting together a plan to see the continent by way of a flying round trip of about 60hrs over 4-6 weeks, probably in a C172. I can read all the books and tourism websites I like but there is nothing quite like first hand experience and advice. So I would be most grateful if anybody wants to make a comment on must-see sights or just great places for flyers to pop into for lunch or overnight.
To give you a starting point, my trip would follow very broadly the following route, with a couple of ideas for me to see:
Melbourne - Adelaide (via Great Ocean Road + Grampians)
On towards Coober Pedy, then thought I might branch across to Birdsville to see Lake Eyre and the Simpson Desert and then back to Alice Springs.
A visit to Uluru of course, then continue north towards the Top End.
Probably as far as Darwin then across to see the Kimberly highlights, routing via Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing before stopping in Broome (catching the Bungle Bungle enroute).
Probably as far west as I would go on this trip due to time constraints but would venture down the coast as far as Barrow Island if people thought it was worth it.
Otherwise reverse direction and follow the coast north east to see Mitchell River Falls and Darwin if I missed it first time then see Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
Then keep going east towards Cairns maybe via Cape York if time allows.
Once on the east coast I plan to work south in lots of short hops to catch as many of the favourite places as practical. Ventures inland would be based on the sights I would like to see. Once at Sydney / Wollongong, I would be heading back to Melbourne via Canberra or if the spirit is still willing, follow the coast route back.
Phew...
Anyway, there must be plenty of people who have either done this before or those that want to do some or all of this route. What places did you think were worth the extra mile to see or gave great service and would definitely go back. Was there anywhere that you would avoid (not worth the effort or too difficult). I plan to break this journey up into manageable chunks so an indication of good lunch stops or 1-2 day visits would be icing on the cake.
I also thought this might be a good topic for future reference for anyone planning a similar venture. It may also have been covered before so a pointer to a similar forum topic or external links would be just as useful.
So go on. Tell me where to go !!!!
Many thanks.
PPRuNeaholic
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Cairns FNQ
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Like the man said in the song "I've been everywhere", I can't tell you where to go. All that I feel is worth saying, at this stage, is... make sure you can get fuel everywhere you need it! The weaving around, all over the country, is going to chew up the fuel in that slow C172 and you'll be going into some fairly hostile country, from the perspective of surviving after a glide landing. 
Agreed, make sure you have organised your fuel well in advance. As much as operators like to help other pilots out, at the end of the day if they need their drum of fuel thats sitting there (even if not for another week) and it will take 3 weeks to get more trucked in, you're plane will be sitting there for a while.
b4igo, have you considered an a/c with higher TAS? Oz is a BLOODY BIG place. When you do the sums, TAS vs dist vs cost per hour can often mean that a more costly per hour a/c may well be more economical per mile flown.
As posted previously, ensure fuel will be available for YOU, not just listed as available, not forgetting that sometimes you must pay for the whole drum regardless of how much/little you actually use. Ensure a satisfactory means of payment has been arranged for each fuelling point.
Consider survival equipment - without adequate water you will die fairly quickly in the outback.
As posted previously, ensure fuel will be available for YOU, not just listed as available, not forgetting that sometimes you must pay for the whole drum regardless of how much/little you actually use. Ensure a satisfactory means of payment has been arranged for each fuelling point.
Consider survival equipment - without adequate water you will die fairly quickly in the outback.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Cockatoo Australia
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In a C172 I wouldn't plan on legs longer than about three hours. You will, at some time, get unfavourable winds that can add to your leg times. Don't leave any airport without the tanks full, unless you're hopping somewhere to get fuel. And ring ahead to check before you depart. Anyway, back to the fun stuff. Try these places:
Rawnsley Park at the south end of the Flinders Ranges or Arkaroola at the north. Don't try to go Adelaide - Coober Pedy direct with a refuel at Pt Augusta; it's too bloody boring! Plenty fuel at Leigh Creek (say g'day to Rosie the Refueller).
Kings Canyon rather than Ayers Rock. The landing fees at Ayers Rock are astronomical, so don't bother.
There's not much at Birdsville on a non-race weekend. If you want to see Lake Eyre, make your stopover at William Creek to the west or Mungarannie to the east.
My thoughts
Walrus
Rawnsley Park at the south end of the Flinders Ranges or Arkaroola at the north. Don't try to go Adelaide - Coober Pedy direct with a refuel at Pt Augusta; it's too bloody boring! Plenty fuel at Leigh Creek (say g'day to Rosie the Refueller).
Kings Canyon rather than Ayers Rock. The landing fees at Ayers Rock are astronomical, so don't bother.
There's not much at Birdsville on a non-race weekend. If you want to see Lake Eyre, make your stopover at William Creek to the west or Mungarannie to the east.
My thoughts
Walrus
Many, many years ago the Missus and I did Warwick-Rochhampton-Mackay-Brampton Is-Clermont-Longreach-Roma-Warwick in a PA28 Warrior. No autopilot - hand flew the whole trip. I have never done such a trip in anything slower than a Mooney 201 since. One of those things that you only to once.
If you can get your hands on one of the new C172s, with a decent AP might be OK.
Walrus - I gotta disagree with you on Birdsville and Ayres Rock. Birdsville is one of those places you have to go to once - if only to say you have been there. Plan to do it for lunch and a fuel stop. The flight from Birdsville to Alice Springs is worth doing also (once!).
Same with The Rock - you gotta go there. The landing fee will be a negligible part of a 60 hr flight around Oz.
I have flown around much of Queensland and some of the rest of Oz - it is a big place. Cape York and the Torres Straight is really interesting - but a long way from anywhere. Not much to see in the Gulf Country unless you are into Barra fishing. Interesting to fly over - on the way to somewhere.
Alice Springs is interesting. Litchfield National Park is better than Kakadu. Kings Canyon. Ayres Rock and the Olgas. I really enjoyed flying into Broome - and up around the Kimberley - horizontal waterfall.
IMHO, Wolf Creek Crater is a must see.
SW WA is beautiful and interesting. The rest of it is just a big sandpit dotted with mines.
The "Skimpies" at the pubs in Leonora are worth a look - aren't they Jaba!
Flight across the Great Ozzie Bight and the Nullabour Plain is really interesting.
Coober Pedy is a sh*t hole - but a sh*t hole worth visiting.
Flight over Lake Eyre is interesting - should be even better with water going into it.
It a BIG COUNTRY and to get around you have to fly over some very wild and unforgiving country.
BE WELL PREPARED!
Dr
If you can get your hands on one of the new C172s, with a decent AP might be OK.
Walrus - I gotta disagree with you on Birdsville and Ayres Rock. Birdsville is one of those places you have to go to once - if only to say you have been there. Plan to do it for lunch and a fuel stop. The flight from Birdsville to Alice Springs is worth doing also (once!).
Same with The Rock - you gotta go there. The landing fee will be a negligible part of a 60 hr flight around Oz.
I have flown around much of Queensland and some of the rest of Oz - it is a big place. Cape York and the Torres Straight is really interesting - but a long way from anywhere. Not much to see in the Gulf Country unless you are into Barra fishing. Interesting to fly over - on the way to somewhere.
Alice Springs is interesting. Litchfield National Park is better than Kakadu. Kings Canyon. Ayres Rock and the Olgas. I really enjoyed flying into Broome - and up around the Kimberley - horizontal waterfall.
IMHO, Wolf Creek Crater is a must see.
SW WA is beautiful and interesting. The rest of it is just a big sandpit dotted with mines.
The "Skimpies" at the pubs in Leonora are worth a look - aren't they Jaba!
Flight across the Great Ozzie Bight and the Nullabour Plain is really interesting.
Coober Pedy is a sh*t hole - but a sh*t hole worth visiting.
Flight over Lake Eyre is interesting - should be even better with water going into it.
It a BIG COUNTRY and to get around you have to fly over some very wild and unforgiving country.
BE WELL PREPARED!
Dr
