BIG LAP 2022 Planning

[Frankrhona]

Covid is forcing me into early retirement. So, I started planning a "Classic" BIG LAP for two of us in an old, but reliable, Patrol with Tvan in tow for an 11-12 month round trip, north in winter and south in summer. However, the route I had planned was 95% tar and better suited a stock standard ute and caravan. We have a Tvan! So, I have shelved that plan for later years.

I need your HELP:

• What is your recommendations for an extended trip of ~12 months?
• What is your top 5 journeys that criss-cross our country?
• Where you would not recommend going if travelling alone?
• Any other bits of helpful advice?

The greatest difference in planning this trip is you are planning to do it alone. You may meet and form convoys on the way, but predominantly you need to be totally self sufficient.

I am hoping this thread will generate many ideas to help us and others plan a "Big Lap" with their Tvan.

Cheers, Andrew & Clare.

[luke]

Hey Andrew & Clare,
  Where are you based, as I'm guessing you're looking at doing things further a field ?

I wouldn't say any of the below really need a tvan, but if you're going that way you might as well do them with a tvan while you can 😀
If I haven't mentioned other popular destinations (Canarvon gorge, kakadu, Bridle track, Strezlecki,etc), it's because you could do them with a jayco.

I'm also hoping someone else will chime in with all the iconic 4wd tracks.

If you plan on 'upgrading' to a caravan for your classic big lap, then the other consideration should be places caravans are forbidden. (There's a few tracks and national parks where trailers are ok, but no caravans)


QLD

• K'gari (Frasier) and moreton
• creb and bloomfield track, cape melville, and the cape OTL
• savannah way up to roper river
• bunya mountains (no caravans)
• blacdown tablelands (caravans are an issue)

[li]
[/li][/list]

NT

• West Mac ranges to merenie loop
• Arnhem land is still on my to do list

VIC

• big desert, little desert, wyperfield, Murray sunset
• high country

TAS

• Jefferies track (my wife might not hate me as much if someone else takes the 'shortcut')

SA

• Simpson, but some tracks are best without a trailer

WA

• Gibb and mitchell
• bungles if the road is bad
• every beach track up the west coast you can find

NSW

• Mt kaputar (no caravans)

Where you would not recommend going if travelling alone?

You've got a tvan, so go everywhere !
Pack emergency supplies, and a sat phone, beacon, or tracker / communicator (I reach)

[peter_mcc]

How adventurous are you? Aside from going off-track in the desert there aren't too many places I wouldn't go alone with an EPIRP and satellite phone.

My big suggestion it to plan your trip around the weather - if you get to the Kimberley too early everything will still be closed. If you get there too late it will be hot and dry (meaning you miss out on all the lovely gorges). It's going to end up being a balancing act because you can't be in two or three places at once.

When we had a 10 week trip we focused on the parts that were impossible to do in a normal holiday. Coming from Sydney that meant Perth to the Kimberley. We've got friends who did a lap and spent too much time going up the east coast, places they could easily do in a normal holiday. They then skipped most of North West Australia because it was too hot and dry - their loss.

[dt]

Fantastic suggestions chaps. we also carry a sat phone and PLB for safety. very reassuring.
I would add a few of my favourite routes for your consideration:
Anne Beadell Hwy. Isolated but relatively easy travelling. beautiful country. Don't think we used low range.
Gunbarrel Hwy. Rough but lots of traffic. We turned off and went up the Gary Hwy which is quite isolated.
Connie Sue Hwy. Another "easy" drive but again isolated.
The interesting point of the above is that you can link up roads and avoid more popular routes. For example, from the Pilbara head across to Marble Bar then Kunawarritji on the CSR then head south along the Garry Hwy, Gunbarrel and Connie Sue to the Nullabor. The Anne Beadell takes you from Kalgoorlie to Coober Pedy.

My only other advise it that we also carry a spare shocker, in addition to other bits, as I suspect one day corrugations will do one in. My sister blew one on the Anne Beadell (and AOR).

So much to explore!

all the best with the planning