[Nullifier]

Well it's official the wife and I are going down under this august. We are going for 3 weeks and are planning to get our hands on an outfitted landcruiser to explore the outback. The trips we are looking at are about 8 days so we should get to see alot. After the outback we are going to dive the great barrier reef for a few days and go to this place called kangaroo island. AFter that we go to sydney. Hopefully get to attend a show @ the sydney theater. Any way can't wait.

Anyone gone down there to do any wheeling before? got any suggestions or contacts?

 

[U.P.TRD]

Exploring the outback in a Land Cruiser and diving the great barrier reef all on the same trip......Awesome!! That's a vacation I've been trying to plan for years but just haven't been able to pull it off yet.

Have a good trip and take lots of pics of the outback and underwater (if you can)

 

[J-Man]

i think those outfitted landcruisers have skinny tires, like 235-15's. Watch teh soft sand, those heavy beasts sink like a rock if your getting the fully outfitted ones. They also have those vans that are 4wd that you can sleep in too. sound like an awesome trip. good luck.

 

[REDMARLIN WITH SOUL]

Aussie run "Beyond The Black Stump"

Well it's official the wife and I are going down under this august. We are going for 3 weeks and are planning to get our hands on an outfitted landcruiser to explore the outback. The trips we are looking at are about 8 days so we should get to see alot. After the outback we are going to dive the great barrier reef for a few days and go to this place called kangaroo island. AFter that we go to sydney. Hopefully get to attend a show @ the sydney theater. Any way can't wait.

Anyone gone down there to do any wheeling before? got any suggestions or contacts?

VERY INTERESTING! In 1966 I boarded a German freighter out of New York City and worked my passage to Australia. I traveled the entire continent minus Darwin. I cut sugar cane, worked as chef (I was not), hunted rabbits at night, worked on cutting RR lines though Queensland rain forest, worked on sheep and cattle stations and was a "deckie" on a sportfisherman out of Cairns. I was in Australia for two years. Even though August is their winter season you need to be careful that you do not get too far out of pocket and get beyond the black stump. You could get yourself in trouble. There are a lot of things (snakes, spiders, cone fish, box jelly fish, and salty crocodiles) that can put a hurtin' on you if you are not aware. I do not know how much money you have or are planning to spend but if I were (and had the loot) going there I would want at least half my time spent with a professional guide that saves you a lot of wasted time and can take you to the action.
Captain Laurie Wright (and wife Julie) are personal friends of mine. They are out of Cairns (No. Queensland) and are into all kinds of guided tours. You should fish (if you are a fisherperson) while there as well as diving the G.B.R.
Here is there website: [email protected] Go there and see if some of that interests you. A really fascinating country and the true Aussies are just GREAT people and they love us Yanks. Good Luck. Richard

 

[Nullifier]

Hey thanks for the feed back. I will look into their service. I have grown up in the outdoors my whole life. I think I can handle most of what australia can throw at me... minus the giant salt water crocs of course. I have worked as an outdoor guide hear in the states for almost 15 years, leading all kinds of trips around the u.s. Hunting, fishing, hiking, rafting, canoeing, lead surival training courses etc.

I am so amped about this trip. It almost didn't happen and then 4 days ago we came into some more $ so we're going. I plan on doing a day of fishing when I am down there so I will look into your friends service since queensland is high on the list. We have Plenty of $ for the trip now so getting a guide is an option. I just don't want some guide who goes on only dirt roads. I want to really get out there if possibly. most of the really great trips are about 20 days or so but since we are going to try to go to someother places I can only do about 8 days driving the outback. That leaves me 12 more days for flying to other parts of the country and doing other stuff.

 

[REDMARLIN WITH SOUL]

Hey thanks for the feed back. I will look into their service. I have grown up in the outdoors my whole life. I think I can handle most of what australia can throw at me... minus the giant salt water crocs of course. I have worked as an outdoor guide hear in the states for almost 15 years, leading all kinds of trips around the u.s. Hunting, fishing, hiking, rafting, canoeing, lead surival training courses etc.

I am so amped about this trip. It almost didn't happen and then 4 days ago we came into some more $ so we're going. I plan on doing a day of fishing when I am down there so I will look into your friends service since queensland is high on the list. We have Plenty of $ for the trip now so getting a guide is an option. I just don't want some guide who goes on only dirt roads. I want to really get out there if possibly. most of the really great trips are about 20 days or so but since we are going to try to go to someother places I can only do about 8 days driving the outback. That leaves me 12 more days for flying to other parts of the country and doing other stuff.

Good. You are more than qualified. Are you going alone? Or with other vehicles? WHERE? are you leaving from (city or town) and where are you heading to? A lot of areas have what is referred to as bull dust and it is almost as fine as talcum powder. A large water skin (canvas) should hang on the front of your vehicle and two or three spare tires should be on the roof. Even in August the outback can get mighty hot. Laurie has helocopter service for remote locations and diving on GBR. In 1967 in NW Australia a gold searching team met some Aborogines that had never seen a white man. That is something for a civilized country. Get onto his website soon because if he has something that interests you, you need to make reservation before he is all booked up. In September he hunts for the GIANT BLACK MARLIN. It has been 38 years since I have been there and a lot has changed, mostly along the coast. Parts of the outback have not changed much in hundreds of years. Some of the dry creek beds still (or did) have saphires, agate and topaz to be found. Around Cooper Pedy you might still be able to find Opals.
Here is my email address, let me know about the questions I asked. I will be very interested in hearing about your trip. [email protected] Rich

 

[mudferret]

Still tons of alluvial diamonds to be found as well.