Tweet
Just back from an 8 week trip with the camper-trailer from Adelaide up to the Tip of Cape York, through outback SA, NSW and Queensland.
Total km: 10,783
Total fuel: 1563 litres
Average fuel consumption: 14.5 L/100 km
Cheapest fuel: $1.27/L at Mt Isa on Sept 2
Dearest fuel: $2.22/L at Archer River Roadhouse on August 8.
Paj performed very well. Only problem was a wire to the windscreen washer pump snapping. Easily fixed except to get at the little bugger I had to remove the entire airbox and the under-bonnet part of the snorkel.
Ultimate camper also did well, except the 40amp relay directing traffic into/out of the Redarc BCDC charger decided to give up the ghost in Bamaga. Took 3 days to get a replacement up from Cairns.
Our route was from Adelaide to Mt Gipps Station outside Broken Hill, then up to Cameron Corner. From there we went to Eromanga via Noccundra Hotel, then to Welford National Park and Bladensburg NP, doing the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede as a day trip. Then Longreach and Winton, and Porcupine Gorge NP, before doing the Lava Tubes at Undarra. Then up to the Tablelands, Mossman Gorge, the Daintree and Cape Trib, and the Bloomfield Track to Cooktown, stopping for an atrocious cup of “coffee” at the Lion’s Den. Day trip out to Elim Beach, then over the Battle Camp Road to Kalpower Crossing in Lakefield NP. Spent a few days at Chili Beach (windy but beautiful) and Portland Roads before cutting across to Weipa on a very ordinary Peninsula Development Road. Cut back across Batavia Downs to rejoin the Telegraph Road, and into Bramwell Roadhouse. Went out on a very rutty section of the OTT to see people winching themselves up and out of Palm Creek. Took the Southern Bypass up to Fruit Bat Falls, then joined the OTT for the run into Eliot Falls across a deeper than expected Scrubby Creek. Glad I had a snorkel. After 3 days at the Falls, did the crossings of Canal Creek and Sam Creek (neither was deep, but both required a bit of a recce to see the best route for the camper and some careful wheel placement), before taking the exit track west onto the Northern Bypass. After the Jardine, went out to Mutee Heads for a night, then to Loyalty Beach and finally Punsand Bay and the Tip. Did the 5 Beaches Run, no drama, but there were a few steep rocky bits that saw the Paj’s auxiliary fuel tank bottoming out. Back to Seisia to wait for the replacement relay. Then south down the Bypass Roads to Laura to see the Quinkan Aboriginal Art, then onto Chillagoe Caves. Took the Burke Development Road (quite an adventure) across to Karumba, then down to Mt Isa for a minor Paj service before staying a couple of nights at Diamantina Lakes NP. On to Birdsville, to do the iconic things: pies at the Bakery, dinner at the pub, spotted Barnsey driving his fork-lift at a decent clip around town, and an easy up and over Big Red (14 psi, 2nd and 3rd gear low range). Finally down the Birdsville Track to Maree and back down to Adelaide.
The roads on the Cape were very corrugated in parts, no doubt reflecting how late in the season it was. Main problem on all outback roads,especially the rocky ones, is that the majority of drivers will not slow down as they approach you. Am I the only person who has ever had a broken windscreen and knows that the closing velocity is a critical factor? Anyway, I still give a wave to such drivers, but it’s just with a single finger.
I've now done 3 of the 5 main long distance trips I had always planned to do: The Kimberleys, Pilbarra/Coral Coast, and the Tip. Next year, it’s Arnhem Land, and sometime later the southwest of WA. For now, the big clean-up and major services for both vehicles.
I’ll put up a few pics in the next couple of posts.
Total km: 10,783
Total fuel: 1563 litres
Average fuel consumption: 14.5 L/100 km
Cheapest fuel: $1.27/L at Mt Isa on Sept 2
Dearest fuel: $2.22/L at Archer River Roadhouse on August 8.
Paj performed very well. Only problem was a wire to the windscreen washer pump snapping. Easily fixed except to get at the little bugger I had to remove the entire airbox and the under-bonnet part of the snorkel.
Ultimate camper also did well, except the 40amp relay directing traffic into/out of the Redarc BCDC charger decided to give up the ghost in Bamaga. Took 3 days to get a replacement up from Cairns.
Our route was from Adelaide to Mt Gipps Station outside Broken Hill, then up to Cameron Corner. From there we went to Eromanga via Noccundra Hotel, then to Welford National Park and Bladensburg NP, doing the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Stampede as a day trip. Then Longreach and Winton, and Porcupine Gorge NP, before doing the Lava Tubes at Undarra. Then up to the Tablelands, Mossman Gorge, the Daintree and Cape Trib, and the Bloomfield Track to Cooktown, stopping for an atrocious cup of “coffee” at the Lion’s Den. Day trip out to Elim Beach, then over the Battle Camp Road to Kalpower Crossing in Lakefield NP. Spent a few days at Chili Beach (windy but beautiful) and Portland Roads before cutting across to Weipa on a very ordinary Peninsula Development Road. Cut back across Batavia Downs to rejoin the Telegraph Road, and into Bramwell Roadhouse. Went out on a very rutty section of the OTT to see people winching themselves up and out of Palm Creek. Took the Southern Bypass up to Fruit Bat Falls, then joined the OTT for the run into Eliot Falls across a deeper than expected Scrubby Creek. Glad I had a snorkel. After 3 days at the Falls, did the crossings of Canal Creek and Sam Creek (neither was deep, but both required a bit of a recce to see the best route for the camper and some careful wheel placement), before taking the exit track west onto the Northern Bypass. After the Jardine, went out to Mutee Heads for a night, then to Loyalty Beach and finally Punsand Bay and the Tip. Did the 5 Beaches Run, no drama, but there were a few steep rocky bits that saw the Paj’s auxiliary fuel tank bottoming out. Back to Seisia to wait for the replacement relay. Then south down the Bypass Roads to Laura to see the Quinkan Aboriginal Art, then onto Chillagoe Caves. Took the Burke Development Road (quite an adventure) across to Karumba, then down to Mt Isa for a minor Paj service before staying a couple of nights at Diamantina Lakes NP. On to Birdsville, to do the iconic things: pies at the Bakery, dinner at the pub, spotted Barnsey driving his fork-lift at a decent clip around town, and an easy up and over Big Red (14 psi, 2nd and 3rd gear low range). Finally down the Birdsville Track to Maree and back down to Adelaide.
The roads on the Cape were very corrugated in parts, no doubt reflecting how late in the season it was. Main problem on all outback roads,especially the rocky ones, is that the majority of drivers will not slow down as they approach you. Am I the only person who has ever had a broken windscreen and knows that the closing velocity is a critical factor? Anyway, I still give a wave to such drivers, but it’s just with a single finger.
I've now done 3 of the 5 main long distance trips I had always planned to do: The Kimberleys, Pilbarra/Coral Coast, and the Tip. Next year, it’s Arnhem Land, and sometime later the southwest of WA. For now, the big clean-up and major services for both vehicles.
I’ll put up a few pics in the next couple of posts.
.. Now Where to go Next..
MITZY . 97 NL 3.5 GLS AUTO (Formally owned by geopaj
)__ Snorkel ,2 Uniden Uhfs , Roof Console, 2"lift, TT Suspension, Dual bat, Redarc System, BFG KO2's All Terrains, 55L sub tank, Pioneer sound, Milford cargo barrier, Extractors, SS exhaust, Rear camp light, Free Wheel Hubs, Improved Rear Storage unit, Alarm, Led interior lamps... 
Comment