Driving Across Australia - Is it Possible?

ashman · 2005-04-21T23:55:59+00:00

OK guys, here's the deal. I've almost finished my 76 Kombi project and after breaking it in on some small trips, down the coast, down to Melbourne, I am looking to take it for a bit of a longer spin: from Canberra to Darwin! According to whereis.com.au it's going to be 4161.70 km (that's via Adelaide) which is a hell of a long way to go. I've got all the basics down, take plenty of water, take some tools, food, entertainment, plenty of water, spare fuel and also some more water. So all that's fine, and it'll be at least me and another bloke, perhaps some chicks'll even come along for the ride. 🙂 But what is it going to do to my kombi? What should I look out for? How fast should I go? Should I fit a head temp guage, or extra cooling, or follow a strict driving pattern: 2 hours on the go, then 15 minute cool down period, etc etc... I'd love to hear anything from anyone, advice, personal experiences and good tips to ensure I survive the journey. Thanks, Ash [Edited on 22-4-2005 by ashman]

zac_smits Coolest Person Ever!

3,634 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 24 Apr 2005, 11:16 pm

#343373

amazer wrote:.

BTW there are no zombies but the yowies are quite fearsome.

[Edited on 24-4-2005 by amazer]

Yeh but what you really have to watch out for is DROP BEARS!

They are dangerous..yowies..pfft..i eat yowies for breakfast!

MOB: 0423890217

Herbie 53 Bugs are not nearly enough

764 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 24 Apr 2005, 11:34 pm

#343387

We bought a Kombie, It was Orange and was for sale at the southern most end of that road which goes from Darwin to Port Augusta,
it was priced to sell quick,
cant imagine why!
came with all the camping goodies too, tea bags, coffee, pots, pans, cable ties, sugar.
I reckon we got a bargain!

I KID YOU NOT:thumb

62 Ragtop Herbie with a little extra oomph.

ashman Casual Dubber

23 posts · joined Nov 2004 · 27 Apr 2005, 11:08 am

#345022

Sounds huge guys. Apart from all the yowie and drop bear threats, me reckons we can take em, we have a bull bar fitted (yes - sill pipe style one) and were planning on hitting the odd small roo for our dinner. Hmmm, we'll see how we go. 🙂

I was going to take extra fuel cans and tie them to the roof, but then that'll kill off the fuel economy, so it looks like they'll have to go inside with us.

Definitely up on the spares, those lists look quite extensive but I will end up with probably half of what's there: spark plugs, air filter, clutch/accelerator cables, spare oil, spare spare wheel seem like the basics, anything else I can get before I go will be a bonus.

We're planning on heading off next August, I'll let everyone know how we get on!

Kombi Project: http://ash.anu.edu.au/kombi

theverybigtallman Wolfsburg Wizard

405 posts · joined Aug 2004 · 27 Apr 2005, 12:26 pm

#345045

take some tourist chicks or cartons of bundy to attract drop bears.

take a cd player or something with you, 4000 kays at 80 km/h =50 hrs, which is a bloody long way to drive.

don't forget to phone ahead and give someone an eta. that mostly the problem when people die.

early 60s beetle for sale - ex bush basher - spares - $100 or offers

VWENVY More Common Than Most

379 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 27 Apr 2005, 1:16 pm

#345059

if you dont get the girlies to come along take some boxing gloves to safely beat the shit out of each other - when theres no grog, food, water, or women and other things dont go well - beat the crap out of ya mate!! thats what there for - just dont beat him round the ring if things get desperate!!

and for farks sake take some points with ya!!

winerot Custom Title Time!

1,340 posts · joined Aug 2004 · 27 Apr 2005, 3:47 pm

#345112

points good idea about a couple of months ago i was on the h/way & old couple at side of road with motor door open bay kombi from tassie so i
stopped to help, points were fused together lucky they had spares out
with the old in with the new & away they go loaded to the hilt.
today i was at petrol station & next to me brown bay camper loaded up
from tassie & as i pull onto h/way dark blue bay camper from sth aust fly
past loaded as well bikes camping gear in back jerry cans all over the roofrack you can obviously see both on big trips:cry:cry:cry:cry

http://mirrorimageweddings.com.au/

emma31 Seriously Crusin Dubber

122 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 27 Apr 2005, 4:05 pm

#345122

Good CD player and plenty of music and you'll be fine. My best friend and I drove from Perth to Brisbane in Sept last year over 2 & 1/2 weeks and we had a ball. If you have plenty of backup cash for emergencies and good phone service I wouldn't worry to much We still had phone reception for some of the nullabor and we filled up at every stop even when we knew we could make it to the next stop as a just in case. Hope you have great time take a good digital camera. Enjoy