Home

We left the Gold Coast as planned, but due to the terrible rain forecasted we decided to go home via the inland New England Highway, rather than down the coast. This proved to be a very wise decision as all the way down the coast experienced terrible rain and wind, whereas inland we just had rain during the night.

We arrived home on 12 November, just in time for my birthday. More celebrations! Well, you don’t turn 60 everyday do you? J

Some statistics on our trip. I have compared the three major trips which we’ve been on.

This trip, The Savannah Way to Broome with the Kedron and LandCruiser, with our tinny and bikes.

Our 2^nd around Australia Trip in 2012, with our Kedron and Touareg, inflatable boat and bikes.

Our around Australia Trip in 2005, which we did with a Ford Falcon towing a 22' pop-top Jayco.

Distance travelled – Car 2013 = 15,035kms, 2012 = 25,678kms, 2005 = 19,978kms.

       Van 2013 = 12,807kms, 2012 = 18,852kms, 2005 = unknown.

Driving split was 25% by Jayne, 75% by me, & Jayne still is a real trooper to tow the van, even on the roughest of the dirt roads.  

Maximum distance we drove on any one day 2013 = 580kms, 2012 = 509kms, 2005 = 635 kms.

We have been away for 2013 = 89 days, 2012 = 219 days, 2005 = 109 days.

Maximum time we have spent in any one location was again Broome, 17 days, but not consecutively, 2012 was 30 days in Broome and 2005 = 6 days Broome and Darwin.

We were in NSW for 2 nights, South Australia for 8 nights, Queensland for 23 nights, Northern Territory for 19 nights and Western Australia for 37 nights. We obviously still like WA the best! The Western Australia coastline is just fantastic, and inland WA has lots to offer.

We have used in 2013 = 3,545 litres of diesel, 2012 = 4,441 litres of diesel, 2005 = 3,496 litres of petrol. That's an average of 2013 = 23.58 litres/100kms or 11.98 miles per gallon, 2012 = 17.30 litres/100kms or 16.33 miles per gallon, 2005 = 17.10 litres/100 kms or 16.52 miles per gallon. So you can see why I say the LandCruiser is a diesel guzzler!

Maximum petrol cost we paid was 2013 = $2.80/litre, 2012 = $2.09/litre, 2005 = $1.529/litre.

Lowest petrol price we paid was 2013 = $1.489, 2012 = $1.459/litre, 2005 = $0.945/litre.

Average petrol cost was 2013 $1.889/litre, 2012 = $1.69/litre, 2005 = $1.18/litre.

Average speed while we were towing our van 2013 = 95kms/hour, 2012 = 85kms/hour, 2005 = 100kms/hour.

Number of problems we have had with the car 2013 = 0, 2012 = 1, 2005 = 2.

Number of car flat tyres 2013 = 0, 2012 = 0, 2005 = 0.

Number of caravan flat tyres 2013 = 2, 2012 = 0, 2005 = 0.

Number of tyres we replaced 2013 = 0, 2012 = 0, 2005 = 0.

This is certainly good seeing we have 8 tyres.

Number of things we hit with our car 2013 = 0, 2012 = 0. Now that's very unusual for us when we are on holidays!

Damage to our car 2013 = 0, 2012 = 2, 2005 = 0.

Number of things we hit with our van 2013 = 0, 2012 = 0, 2005 = 1.

Damage to our van 2013 = 1 (we dinted it at Seven Emu Station), 2012 = 0, 2005 = 1.

Max time Jayne and I were apart in these 89 days = 30 minutes, 2012 was 199 days = 4 hours, 2005 = 20 minutes.

Number of disagreements between Jayne & me, of any magnitude 2013 = 0, 2012 = 0, 2005 = 1.

Number of times Jayne was wrong = 5.

Number of times she admits she was wrong = 0.

Number of times I was wrong = 0.

Number of times I admit I was wrong = 0.

Number of nights we free camped (without any payment) 2013 = 14 (16%), 2012 = 23 (7%), 2005 = 5 (5%).

Number of nights we camped in National Parks (without power/water) 2013 = 0, 2012 = 32.

Number of nights we camped without power/water (but we had to pay a small amount) 2013 = 7, 2012 = 28.

Total nights without power/water/toilet/shower (using all these in the Kedron) 2013 = 17, 2012 = 83.

Maximum fee we paid for camping 2013 = $43/night Gold Coast, 2012 = $49/night Darwin, 2005 = $42/night.

Minimum fee we paid for camping 2013 = $27, 2012 = $5.70/night Ningaloo, 2005 = $2/night.

Average fee we paid for camping 2013 = $35/night, 2012 = $25/night, 2005 =$18/night.

Best camping spot = too many to list, Middle Lagoon, Lake Argyle, Seven Emu Station, Lorella Springs.

Hottest daytime temperature 2013 = 44⁰C, 2012 = 47C, 2005 = 42C.

Coldest daytime temperature 2013 = 13⁰C, 2012 = 3.5⁰C, 2005 = 0C.

Number of rainy days in 2013 of the 89 = 1, 2012 of 199 days = 1, 2005 = 7.

Number of totally sunny days in 2013 of the 89 = 87, 2012 of the 199 = 198, 2005 = 80.

My summary on the LandCruiser is – it’s a beast of a car. If I wasn’t driving on dirt roads I wouldn’t have one. It really needs a modern gearbox, the art deco one it has really lets the vehicle down. I have it for another 2.5 years minimum or 4.5 if I can live with it. But I don’t think there is a viable alternate at present. I have 2.5 years to find one or for Toyota to gets their act together and puts a transmission in it from the 21^st century I might even end up with another Cruiser! Whichever comes 1^st!

We hope you have enjoyed our Blog. Stay tuned at this address for next year's adventure.

Our route: