Fly or drive to Perth?

[ryeman]

Cheap package deals beggar the question, is it better to do it by fly/ drive or enjoy(?) the experience of the long straight road assuming time is not a factor.
It's just one of those thing I imagine should not be missed but it seems so much more exy.
What makes the drive so compelling, is it just the fact that you've done it?

[zilo]

fly every time....the road trip to perth is mostly boring

[05_ENFORCER]

If you haven't done it and you are one of those types of people that get all jiggly about doing those types of things, then do it.

Once you've done it you will fly every time.

.

[71cop]

I've driven over a couple of times over the years (1983 & 2008 & a passenger in 1972 ) leaving from central Queensland & I loved it, yes I did find it a bit boring at times but overall I loved it & I would do it again tomorrow with no hesitation. I think it depends on the indiviual & the only way you will ever know is drive it yourself. If you don't like it you can fly next time.

Dave.

[ryeman]

Ta, for me it's always been about the 'romance of the open road' but I don't know about the o'night stops and stone damage, you know, the realities.

[Vincenzo]

Got back two months ago from Perth to Canberra then Canberra home to Darwin. Stone chip damage is not a problem. I would suggest overnight in Port Augusta (lots of choice) then overnight in Eucla(comfortable clean and well appointed). Next stop overnight in Norseman (several choices).

Most i paid for fuel was $1.98 for 98, same place was selling 91 for $1.93.

Make sure you stop at the head of the Bight and take it all in, absolutely beautiful.

Cheers Vincenzo

[Jastel]

Time is the major factor, 3 days vs 3 hours to Eastern states...

Flying would be cheaper than driving but hiring a car for a week or so in Perth levels it out again.

Driving the Nullabor is on many people bucket list, but breaking down on it or hitting a kangaroo is not....

[ryeman]

Thanks Vincenzo, stops on the way are one of the things you miss apart from the feel of the size of this continent.
My old man did it in a Morris 1100 3 adults pack rack and suspension pumped up...the road wasn't sealed for a looong way, massive potholes filled with bulldust. Only issue was a hole in radiator caused by rubber shroud making hole on radiator top tank fixed with bars leaks! But that was 30 years after towing his caravan over Mt Hotham during the 39 bush fires!!!

[big_landau]

if you want to tour australia and see everything on the way and take your time drive,if your going to just go to perth and for a short time fly everytime.

[Dauphin]

I want to do it one day. What I remember as a kid going from WA to NSW is lots of long straight roads, truck stops with showers, big trucks that harrass you and police that pull you over for a random check. Don't remember seeing any wildlife. Everyone waves to each other as they pass each other on the road and I remember a local gang of kids throwing rocks at our car for no reason as we drove away from a small outback town (it was just a petrol station!).

[TC200six]

As much as I like driving, the first time I flew down to Sydney, it felt so quick and easy I thought why would you bother waiting forever driving down via car.

Unless you want to do a bit of free roaming at your destination, flying would be better

[mcnews]

It is purely a time thing if you are not bringing money in to the equation. I have done it a dozen times on bikes, only once in a car, Would like to have the time to do it again. But then I find the open road a great form of mind emptying therapy...

[danmc]

Advertise on Gumtree for someone to share fuel, maybe get a couple cute backpackers! There seem to be a lot trying to get to Perth at times.

If I have the time I drive long hauls. I like to stop and mess around in creeks etc, have a fish. Catch a marron. I've driven all night at 60 kph just because it was a nice night for cruising and I got to see lots of wildlife (Yep I pulled over for traffic). Depends on what you feel like doing or have the time to do.

[cortinagt]

I have also done it a few times Melb-Perth.
Leaving Adelaide last time I stopped at Ceduna then Kalgoorlie then Perth. Ceduna - Kal is a big day but that's the Nullarbor and there isn't so much to see other than the Great Australian Bight and the loonies riding push bikes across.its 1400 ks in one day that the two of us managed ok. Share the driving and don't be a hero like some of the West Aussies over here that drive Perth - Ade straight without stopping by themselves.
On the plus side you can see Kal going one way and Esperence on your way home

[ryeman]

Thanks, I remember the Wheels mag hero s doing it Sydney Perth in 36 hrs ...pointless to me

[big_landau]

almost forgot,if your going to drive it go from autumn to spring.its not a nice trip in the middle of summer if something goes wrong,its also hard on your car in the middle of summer.

[ozrunner]

Done it 12 times so far and love it and hopefully will be off again in Sept. But I like driving. But I reckon its something you should do at least once but as said you need to pick the right time of the year.

First time I went in Aug and ran into a massive thunder storm right in the middle with lightning hitting the ground yards away, thunder that shook my 4wd nearly off the road and rain that I couldn't see my bullbar. It was scary and I thought I was going to be a piece of burnt ash like Charlie Coyote but it was an absolute hoot after I eventually got through it and changed my undies .

The actual term crossing the Nullabor is a bit of a misoner as whilst you do, IIRC its only about a 30klm stretch of actual Nullabor traversing the Nullabor roadhouse. There are some very basic stretches but all up in the right vehicle on a cool day its a cruising blast.

Stopping at various roadhouses and having a coffee, burger etc adds to the trip.

[ryeman]

I'm looking for the passion of the drive, definitely in mild wx, and the detours eg ' head of the bight' etc.
My dream is dooin' it in a T'Bird hahaha....aahhhhh

[cheap]

I drove my XW Phase 1 from Sydney to Perth in 1984 for the America's cup.

EXPENSIVE exercise, sometimes very BORING but with a couple of good mates it was a great road trip, I'm a tad bit older now with a family, my mates and I have all moved on.

But if you're young and have a good crew - GO FOR IT and don't let anyone talk you out of it!

Did I mention how EXPENSIVE the trip was

[TATT2]

Did it august last year, one of those things you have to do at LEAST once, i loved it

[ryeman]

[QUOTE

Did I mention how EXPENSIVE the trip was [/QUOTE]

So we're both cheap....

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by cheap

?...
But if you're young ....

If only, Sigh

Did I mention how EXPENSIVE the trip was

LPG all the way probably ??

[mik]

as mentioned don`t miss the bight, 70 metre high cliffs and tons of ocean, was a few good rest area`s along the way when i went years ago, if your doing the hotel falcon thing or whatever your travelling in, nothing like getting up for brekky and a stretch in the early morning for a walk around and listening to absolute "dead quiet", now that`s something you don`t get much of in these modern times.

[ryeman]

.....and listening to absolute "dead quiet", now that`s something you don`t get much of in these modern times.[/QUOTE]

Aaahhhhh, I know what you mean...:-)))

[JoeDaleyN98]

if you decide to drive, make sure when going across the bight, you stop at all the stop overs,some beautiful sights including whales at the head of thebight. my girlfriend and i did it last year, very great drive, wouldnt do it again though.

[JoeDaleyN98]

price wise you will spend far more driving to

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by JoeDaleyN98

price wise you will spend far more driving to

Yep, a couple of weeks in Tuscany would be cheaper with $A where it is...

[JoeDaleyN98]

My Subaru liberty was running 7.5 litres per hundred and from Perth to Sydney it cost is 650 in just petrol

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by JoeDaleyN98

My Subaru liberty was running 7.5 litres per hundred and from Perth to Sydney it cost is 650 in just petrol

I wonder how much to send it back by rail and fly back, just a thought.

[JoeDaleyN98]

I have that answer, I got quoted about 2K.... Cheaper to drive. My girlfriend was moving to Sydney with me, and we looked at all the options, freighting her liberty was 2000 ish plus 200 each single flight to Sydney. We decided to drive, we bought ourselves a tent and camped at sites rather then lodging, which saved a lot of
Money and was a lot of fun took 6 days, four of those were driving for atleast 8 hours