Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
Aussie road trip...
Good luck to my son, George. He and his mate, along with a French couple they have teamed up with, are about to set off on what I hope will be a great adventure.
He went out to Australia (Tasmania) in January, and has been working on a farm picking apples. They accrued enough funds and have bought a 2003 Commodore station wagon, kitted it out with some neat carpentry work in the rear, and a home made roof rack/box.
Plan is to get the ferry from Tas next weekend, and spend a couple of days in Melbourne, then head off along the Great Ocean road, and heading up to the West coast. They have set an end date of July , and hope to get up as far as they safely can.
Good luck to them, it’s something I wish I could do. To do it when your young and free from too much responsibility, on a shoestring budget will be a great life experience for them.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
20th Apr 2018 9:41 am
BrettKaz
Member Since: 11 Nov 2013
Location: Canberra
Posts: 209
Warn him the ferry to the mainland will exhaust accrued funds and will need to pay off residual ushering cars off ferry at Melbourne to continue further.
20th Apr 2018 10:26 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
I think he’s more worried about the fuel consumption in the Commodore. 3.8 litre V6 auto petrol.
20th Apr 2018 3:22 pm
xcentric
Member Since: 01 Apr 2015
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 1081
should be fun - reminds me of the old days driving Brisbane - Adelaide - Alice Springs - Perth - Darwin - Cairns.....
no idea of fuel consumption, but the tank took 180l so it wasn't cheap filling it up..... IIRC we did it on a budget of $30 (US) each for 2 of us. And went diving on the Barrier Reef, too.
Tell him to have fun, not to rush, and avoid driving the main highways at dusk/night if he can help it as the roos come onto them to keep warm in the evenings....
20th Apr 2018 5:33 pm
Leesbay
Member Since: 20 Dec 2011
Location: rainford
Posts: 1581
Brilliant, awesome times ahead for George ....................................................................................................
If my wife ever sells my stuff for what she thinks I paid for them, you lot are gonna get some bargains!
20th Apr 2018 11:37 pm
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
Gareth wrote:
I think he’s more worried about the fuel consumption in the Commodore. 3.8 litre V6 auto petrol.
They are actually very good on fuel if driven sensibly 30mpg is easily achievable on a trip like that - parts available anywhere. Not the most inspiring car but a good choice.
If driving up the west coast means going all the way to Western Australia and up the west coast then a 4wd would have been a better choice but if just up the west coast of Victoria then no issue.
Garry
21st Apr 2018 2:32 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
I’m sure the Commodore is as much as they could afford. I suppose 4x4 comes at a premium price?
21st Apr 2018 7:37 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72786
Looks like a fantastic trip, looking forward to updates and pics. You can’t beat a good Road Trip, the more exotic the location the better.
21st Apr 2018 7:39 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Wish I'd ditched my first girlfriend off and done stuff like this
21st Apr 2018 9:57 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
I think that’s what George has done! Sacked the gf, job, everything. Just him, a rucksack and a rusty Commodore!
21st Apr 2018 10:10 am
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
Its Oz not the UK - cars of that era generally do not rust.
21st Apr 2018 10:18 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72786
Any update?
12th May 2018 6:43 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
Yes loads! He has just left Alice Springs headed for Darwin!
In true back packer style they met up with some folks who were driving the Stuart Highway, and persuaded them it would be better than the west coast route.
Got a few pictures to post when I get decent signal, but they have climbed Ayers Rock, got stuck in a big bog, and had loads of wild camps in the desert!
Commodore is still running well.
12th May 2018 7:55 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72786
Excellent, looking forward to the pics. Got the Stuart Highway on the to-do list for The Big Trip that’s in the planning stage.
Click image to enlarge
12th May 2018 8:10 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
Some pictures from George, Ocean road and Stuart highway upto Alice Springs and Ayers Rock.
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