Hi all, I'm kind of new to this...
my friend and I will be doing a road trip in my 74 pop top kombi from melbourne to uluru and back and i'm wondering if anyone can give me
suggestions/ideas/feedback on anything and everything about driving up there....what have other people's experiences been like etc...
Cheers D
Carry spares, water, food, be self sufficient. First Aid Kit.
Don't take it too lightly I guess. Then on the other hand with a few tools, oil, and I bit of know how you can get yourself out of most things. Time
of year might be an issue too. Get the engine and box checked first too might be an idea unless you know the kombi well
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As for route,
hopefully you are looking at Great Ocean road to Adelaide then up the middle? Although the road is pretty flat from Adelaide to Alice, I'd take it
easy along there. Lots of space (and I mean lots) between towns. Watch out for A. Roos, B. Cattle and C. Wedgetail Eagles (they'll stare you down if
they can or launch just when you are near them by jumping up into the air, extending wings at around 1.5m off ground, almost hovering, then
flap...flap.... and they are away).
I used to live in Woomera about 500 kms north of Adelaide so the road between there and Adelaide I know as pretty good. The road north of Woomera I
remember from driving down from Darwin (as well as a few side trips to Cooper Pedy). Its sealed and not too bad as far as roads in the middle of
nowhere go. Someone with a more recent recollection may correct me on this.
I just remember soemone telling me soemthing about the road out to Ayers Rock from the Hwy... not too sure if it was good or bad though.
how long have you had the car? better to know the ins and outs of it first before you take the trip, do lots of driving to get used to how it feels and sounds and smells so you can react quickly when somethign goes wrong. the drive isnt hard in a kombi, but it will be hot and probably slow. if you can, some extra guages would be a great advantage.
I've done it a couple of times from Wollongong.
Have the car checked over by a VW specialist, make sure everything that needs to be on the engine is on the engine.
You dont need to take excessive water, there is plenty of traffic. If you break down, you wont die.
You do need to take fuel. I battled serious headwinds on one trip north of Port Augusta and it took its toll. I only just made it to the fuel stop.
As mentioned, look out for wildlife, both alive and dead. Some road isnt fenced off to cattle. That would really ruin your day. Eagles will be all
over the road eating road kill, and they dont like being disturbed. They sit there until last minute, and with their size dont take off too well.
Kangaroos are stupid and wont jump off the road, they'll go parallel to the road and just when you think you are safe they will jump in front. I hit
the other side of the coat of arms though and launched an emu. They are curious critters and are attracted to any movement. $4000 damage! Invest in a
real truck style bullbar, one that bolts to the chassis rails not just the bumper mounting. The bent pipe versions will bend backwards and remodel the
front of your kombi if hit by anything substantial.
buy some no doze for the long and straight roads
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The roads are pretty sweet for the run up here. I drive between Alice and Adelaide at least once a year.
Only suggestion is watch out for bloody overseas tourists they just can’t drive. They are almost more dangerous then the roos but watch out for them
too.
Richard
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