Norwegians going down under ....

[ruj]

Hi everybody!
Could you give us some tips regarding offroad adventures in South Australia?
Me and an college are going to AU on a radiology congress taking place in Adelaide. The "boring" stuff is going on from 19-25 march. We are planing on going a couple days earlier to enjoy your country (never been there ...!). Since we are in to offroading on 4 and 2 wheels we have ambitions doing this since your country seems to be "gold standard" on offroading. We got lots of restrictions here in Norway.
How would you plan a trip, 3-4 days, starting of from Sidney or Melbourne going to Adelaide. We have to rent an vehicle and leaving it in Adelaide. Alternativ renting it longer an driving it back to the rentalplace. Whats the "insiders tour"? Do you know of an rental firm in 4wd? Maybe even somebody knows of an offroad motorcycle tour operator in the area. Places you have to see being down there?
Help us out please! Going to Norway? I ll help you !!!

Greetings from snowy and freezing Norway!

Jan
j-rundf@online.no

[Gildo]

From Sydney to Adl is some of the most boring driving in the whole country, unless counting Trucks or road kill interests you.
From Melb to Adl has either some just as boring highway miles, or some Scenic costal roads and undulating farming country.
Not a great deal of Offroading to do between the 2 cities but the Great Ocean Road in Vic is worth a drive, with some side detours through the Otways and The Wine regions in SA its probably the most interesting route for you and could take 3-4 days if you just want to cruise. Any of the larger rental companies Budget, Hertz, Europecar should be able to help, for this trip a Nissan X-trail or similar softroader would suit for 2 people.
Any more questions, feel free to ask.
Try these-
www.visitvictoria.com
www.southaustralia.com/home.asp

[wizbang]

The way I would probably do it would to fly straight into Adelaide and hire the 4wd there and do some decent 4wding with the locals.

Alternatively, fly into Sydney doing some drving around Sydney with the locals and then fly onto Adelaide.

The distance between Syd and Ad make 4wding on route a bit more time contrained and therefore less enjoyable.

Hope that helps.

[ruj]

Tnx for quick and informativ answers! Forums are a good thing ....
We are probleby going to fly directly to Adelaide and go from there.
Thought of going north: Vine valley, Flinders range and up to the Saltlakes. Somebody mentioned that there starts the "Outback" ...
Does anybody know of an recomendable 4wd rental shop? That is in Adelaid or nearby?
Some tips on what Route to go? We got 3 days (17-20 march).
Precautions?

Tnx again!
Jan
When going to Norway ... mail me! Ill give you some tips!

[Steve]

It's too bad you didn't have more time to fly to the Kimberely region of North Western Australia. There is a two week 2 wheeler tour through some of the best and most remote countryside in the world. You ride motorcycles all day and someone goes in front and sets up camp and food each day. All you do is ride. But it's expensive! From memory about $4000 Aust dollars for the two weeks. But it does include everything. Maybe next time you can do this! Anyway enjoy your stay in Australia. It's a wonderful country!!!

[Tonto]

3 days !! Not a lot of time ... you may see a bit of it, but you won't really be able to take it in. Flinders Ranges are about 6 hours north of Adelaide. Northern Flinders or Gammon Ranges more like 8 to 9 hours.

What to recommend depends a lot on whether you want serious 4x4 (hard to find) or sightseeing.

A few to think about:

Prairie Hotel in Parachilna (that's all there is in Parachilna) is a top spot - mixed grill of camel, kangaroo and emu is a specialty. Worth calling in.

Warraweena (www.warraweena.com) is a private homestead near Blinman (north of flinders) offering some reasonably rugged (not extreme) offroading - ridges, rocky creek beds and scrub - and spectacular views. Run by a great bloke called Stony. Give him a try.

Wilpena Pound - very touristy, but great walking, good facilities. Lots of info on the internet.

Rawnsley Park (www.rawnsleypark.com.au) - good access to Flinders, good range of accommodation. Lots of "pay-to-drive" tours nearby, but pretty tame. Willow Springs/Skytrek is good for views, easy (4WD) driving.

Arkaroola - (www.arkaroola.com.au) - some good 4WDing around their many tracks and out to the nearby salt lakes. They also have a ridgetop tour that they'll only drive you on - you can't drive yourself. This is a fair hike from Adelaide - but a good destination if you're keen.

Bendleby Ranges (www.bendlebyranges.com.au) is a pretty good spot much closer to Adelaide if you decide time is limited - it's near Orroroo. (Also some pics at http://www.adelaidejeepclub.com/repo...y_June2005.htm)

Info on travel times and distances at www.travelmate.com.au

As for hire places - most don't really want you going off-road - any won't insure you for offroad damage. Try Budget for Landcruisers (http://www.budget.com.au/vehicles_4WD.php), and they certainly have Xtrails, etc.

Mount Barker 4x4 (www.mountbarker4x4centre.com.au) are just out of Adelaide and can fit you out with some ARB recovery gear, air compressors, etc that you can take home after as a souvenir !!

Or come across a few days early (11-13 March) and head down to the beaches and sand dunes at Beachport with the Adelaide Jeep Club (www.adelaidejeepclub.com).
The website also shows some of the kind of driving you can expect (www.adelaidejeepclub.com/reports.htm)

Finally, the following website has some other options and some good tips on precautions and safety. Depending where you go, it can be very remote.
http://www.flindersoutback.com/traveltips.htm

http://www.4wdhire.com.au/leisure/indexlt.htm

Try this company i see a lot of there vehicles around. No idea of what they are like though.