Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

[brickie in oz]

Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Im planning a two week outback road trip for mid 2013, I intend going to the Flinders ranges in SA mainly to get to Arkaroola a well know gem field and ending up in the Broken Hill area of NSW.
I like looking for gemstones, fossils etc, Ill intend ending up on the opal fields of Whitecliffs in NSW.

If anyone has any hits or tips on places to fossick or ghost towns to visit Im all ears.

I recently bought a camper trailer off ebay and have been modifying it to be totally self sufficient for the two week period.

For those that dont know the areas that I will be visiting it is unforgiving country, one mistake and you die, even in the milder winter time.

Ive added 12 volt power and internal water tanks to the trailer, it came with a water tank slung underneath but I feared it would get punctured.

Ive also made a hopper stopper for the front of my truck and fitted driving lights.

[Laurentius]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Hi Al,

English Translation of your license plate.
BYOOTY=Beauty?
BYOOTY=Bootie=curvaceous rear end of a (Sarah) woman?

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Hi Al,

English Translation of your license plate.
BYOOTY=Beauty?
BYOOTY=Bootie=curvaceous rear end of a (Sarah) woman?

As in Beautiful, Aussie slang Beaut or Beauty, said Beeauuuuty, meaning all is good.

[UtahBeehiver]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Nice outback rig. In one of you pics it looks like you have enough fire brick to build a couple more ovens. Have a safe trip.

[nissanneill]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

The roads to Arkaroola are almost dirt highways, often good for 110km/h.
Just around the corner from Arkaroola on the Copley road, is an aboriginal township called Nepabunna. Great people who have some great offerings and tourist deals into places that the general public have no chance of entering. I was trips officer for the Nissan Patrol Club SA for many years and we spent several trips with them working to help improve the township. They would then spend 2 days showing us around their traditional hunting grounds, some unbelievable gorges together with some unbelievable tracks ending up at an old mining place called Sliding rock. Copley also has a great bakery with quongdong (wild peach) pies.
There is plenty to see up, in and around the flinders Ranges, that's for sure.

Neill

[wotavidone]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Al,
The trailer looks the goods.
Your grasshopper catcher needs some bits wrapping around the headlights, and preferably scrub bars down the sides.
We have had a roo population explosion this year. (Good rainfall)
The roo bar will be used.
Mick

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

We have had a roo population explosion this year. (Good rainfall)
The roo bar will be used.

I wont be driving at night thats for sure, the Efee is already too over powering thats why I just protected the grill, Ill just have to make sure I hit them dead centre if at all.

Ive always found the dumb emus to be more of a menace.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

The roads to Arkaroola are almost dirt highways, often good for 110km/h.

Ive looked for SA road classifications on line but cant find it, are they same as the rest of Aus, ie, A B and C ratings?

[Laurentius]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Al,

You give new meaning to the phrase, "Its a small world" and after your voyage, we can indeed say that it's getting smaller. Bon Voyage and Godspeed.

[wotavidone]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

I wont be driving at night thats for sure, the Efee is already too over powering thats why I just protected the grill, Ill just have to make sure I hit them dead centre if at all.

Ive always found the dumb emus to be more of a menace.

Reminds me of the time my brother gave me a lift to Darwin in this little old Mack he used to pedal for some long forgotten freight company.
Coupla hours out of the Alice, middle of the night, the old Mack was bellowing along at 80 km/hr, flat as a biscuit with two trailers of general freight swinging around behind us, and he says, "Don't suppose you can steer this thing while I have a sleep?"
So we do a hot-seat changeover and there I am tramming this thing up the road, and just before he drops off, I ask "What do I do if one of these big black bulls steps out in front of me?"
"just get 'em dead centre", he mumbled as he drifted off.
Amazing how that piece of advice kept me focussed all night.

Anyway South Oz only has two grades of road: C-grade and Goat Track. If my ute ever saw a smooth road the wheels would fall off.

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Im still getting the trailer effe ready for the trip, I noticed today while under the yoot that the rear diff seal is wet and leaking, another chore to add to the list.

I put a bracket in the cab to take the ipad, I have the Hema map app installed on it.



I checked out Nepabunna and will passing right by their door so it would be rude not to drop in for a visit.

The trip has been planned and I intend going to the bottom tip of lake Eyre then back down to Broken Hill via Yunta.

Im hoping two weeks will cover it?

[deejayoh]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Sounds like a fun trip.
I think you need a few more power outlets on that dash!

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

I keep thinking I need more power outlets too.....

Ive put 4 in the camping trailer already and am about to put 2 more in the tub of the yoot, one to power the fridge and one for just in case.....

[nissanneill]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

Hi Al,
when we were working with the aboriginals at Nepabunna, they were planning on offering horse trail rides into their traditional hunting grounds but not sure whether or not that went ahead. Day and half day escorted tours were planned.
When/if you go through Copley, call into the bakery to sample some goods available only in a very few places, such as the wild peach (quongdong) pies and some other great feasts.
Only the outback bakeries do it best!

Neill

[brickie in oz]

Re: Al's world tour of New South Wales and South Australia.

I took my camping trailer to the detailers for a cut and polish, and here is what they came up with.
I pick her up next Friday arvo.