Sydney to Darwin in Jan

[Blue One]

Afternoon all,
                  I will be driving up to Darwin in Jan on a one way trip.

As it will be hot the Missus will meet me there courtesy of QANTAS.

So via Alice or Isa and what are the main attractions for the trip. 

I'm thinking about Bourke, Charleville, Boulia, Harts Range and then up the Stuart, though I am open to suggestions.

Cheers

Steve

[4runnernomore]

Hi Steve,

depends on the weather.

Safest option so you don't get flooded in at that time of the year is to come up through the middle.

Cheers, Chris

[TOPNDR]

I'd agree with Chris. Even the Stuart Highway can go out if there's enough rain and according to BoM reports here in Qld the prediction is for probably a wetter than average wet season. 40º+ in the outback doesn't really make foe enjoyable travelling, I reckon.

[TOPNDR]

And, just read this on the ABC News web site:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-21/la-nina-explainer/2902456?section=qld

[Spurio]

G'day Steve,

Depends on what you want to see ??

Coming from Sydney it will be hot !!! bloody hot !!

There is a fair amount of road works going on the queensland at the moment.

its normally only the locals travelling on most of the roads over xmas. You will see a fair bit of the inland countryside and the mitchell hwy through bourke is pretty straight and boring.

I'd suggest:

sydney-scone-narrabri-moree-st-george-mitchell-morven-augathella-barky-winton-clonckers-three ways-darwin

This route has a service station roughly every 300 kms or so.

I leave sydney at 2am and make somewhere between tambo to barky by 6pm. The night section of driving is mainly on through the hunter. Be careful of the miner traffic jams - the cops love to patrol these sections.

If you are travelling between dusk and dawn, expect to hit a few roos north-west of Moree.

[RichardNT]

Hi Steve
I havn't done the via Alice run but have been via Isa to E QLD and S QLD several times, but the road can get cut from both directions, there is a good size floodway between Three Ways and Tenant Creek that regularly shuts the road but not normally for much longer than 24 - 36 hours. I have been stuck at Cloncurry once (earlier this year), after crossing the Barkly at times driving for 5km of submerged road.
I  would play it by ear as to where the weather is at the time before you choose you route, and take something to while away the time if you are pulled up.
Most of the touristy things to do in the NT on the way up will be shut.
But it is a great time of year to do the drive not much traffic 

Richard

[Blue One]

Thanks all

Up the guts it is.

Cheers

[chester ver2.0]

Mate i hate to be a smart ass but the only attraction you will want to see is a fully functioning air conditioner at that time of year

[TOPNDR]

If you've never slept underground, in Coober Pedy there's a swish motel (or it was 10 odd years ago when I stayed) with an excellent restaurant, where rooms are entirely underground.  No windows, no plaster board....

[Desert lover]

I love the summer up in the Centre but please....just remember to carry water (lots) with you... firstly so that if you get stuck somewhere while the water subsides you have something to drink and secondly because it's pretty hot the radiator might need a top up (hopefully not). 
Have a safe trip

[speewa158]

Stick a kodac out the window as you go 

[Barchy]

If you get the chance stop in at the Mataranka Homestead and have a dip in the hot spring fed pools.