Travel & Holidays Is 'the lap' boring?

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by ellejay, 16th Sep, 2016.

Join Australia's most dynamic and respected property investment community
  1. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    So with the usual lack of pre planning we have taken the inland nsw and qld route from NE Vic towards Broome. A neighbour recommended this route, and we wanted to try a different route from last trips. We've been driving for 3 days solid though 'bush.' New criteria for selecting motel accommodation is manager has proven access to comb and toothbrush.

    I'm exaggerating a bit but glad we didn't fork out big $ on a rig. Anyone love or hate the lap?
     
  2. Colin Rice

    Colin Rice Mortgage Broker Business Member

    Joined:
    9th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    3,183
    Location:
    Perth
    Never heard of this "lap" but I love Broome. Lived there in the 90s for a spell.

    You going for a holiday there?
     
  3. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    I think grey nomads call it the lap, when you do a circuit around aus. We're going for 4 month work contracts and a big drive :)
     
  4. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    Probably it hasn't changed much since then.
     
  5. wombat777

    wombat777 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    3,565
    Location:
    On a Capital and Income Growth Safari
    I've only done a half-lap. Biggest road trip I've done. 17 years ago. 12,500km in one month.

    IMG_0327.PNG
     
  6. Colin Rice

    Colin Rice Mortgage Broker Business Member

    Joined:
    9th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    3,183
    Location:
    Perth
    I havent been back. I think the local population has doubled from 5k to 10k so probably hasnt changed a lot.
     
    ellejay likes this.
  7. Colin Rice

    Colin Rice Mortgage Broker Business Member

    Joined:
    9th Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    3,183
    Location:
    Perth
    Ah gotcha. I have done 3/4 of a lap excluding QLD.

    Sounds like an adventure :)
     
  8. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    That route through nsw and qld looks like the one we're on now. I thought WA was vast but so are these states. Seen many Emu. A route to test your conversational skills and tolerance of nothing much going on.
     
    Colin Rice likes this.
  9. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    14,742
    Location:
    Sydney
    Second that. How exciting :)
     
    ellejay likes this.
  10. wombat777

    wombat777 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    3,565
    Location:
    On a Capital and Income Growth Safari
    I drove the first 3500km with no passenger. Fortunately had CB communication with the one other vehicle I was travelling with. I remember how isolating that drive was.

    From memory, this photo is the desolate country north of Barkly Homestead heading north towards Eastern Arnhem Land.

    IMG_0328.JPG
     
    The Falcon, WattleIdo and ellejay like this.
  11. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    6,935
    Location:
    Lower Blue Mountains
    You're on a business trip so not very exciting. If your cruising along checking out the towns it's a bit different. We have just done this over the last couple of weeks. in broome now waiting for this magical staircase the next few nights :)
    Screenshot_2016-09-16-21-06-00.png

    We're on our way to Darwin and considering flying the wife and 1kidlet to brissy and I'll just smash it out. Done central qld before and just want to get back over east. The inland route has it's positives but if you had the time a summer holiday up to the sunny coast would have been nice, then cut across

    This will get us close to rounding out "the lap"... with lots of squiggles in between!

    Wa is ridiculously big! And the whole bloody country actually! Im looking forward to doing nz or europe in the future! Should smash it out after doing the km's over here!
     
    ellejay likes this.
  12. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    6,935
    Location:
    Lower Blue Mountains
    Get yourself the wiki camps app if you don't have it already
    WikiCamps Australia - Android Apps on Google Play

    Find some unique places to stay to make it more exciting. We've been staying at some great stations, not sure what they're like over easy nowadays .this photo doesn't do the dunny justice but you'd probably pay mega bucks for a resort worth a star lit dunny!
    20160912_091746.jpg

    Depending which way you're travelling try and get to Carnarvon gorge if you can. It's in my top 5 for qld
     
    ellejay likes this.
  13. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    We're in Winton, qld and looks like there's amazing stuff to see but rain has closed the roads. Would definitely come back here.
    Bob, shame I think you'll have left Broome by the time we get there in a few days. Would have been good to say hi!
     

    Attached Files:

    bob shovel likes this.
  14. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
  15. Nemo30

    Nemo30 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    31st Dec, 2015
    Posts:
    596
    Location:
    Somewhere
    Last year i drove canb to adelaide. Flew to perth then drove perth to adelaide. Then drove Adelaide to Canberra. All in about 5 days.
     
  16. legallyblonde

    legallyblonde Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    22nd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    858
    Location:
    TAS
    I have actually been to Normanton.... but I flew. Not much there.. The big crocodile? I flew as apart of an internship
     
  17. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    15th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    11,655
    Location:
    Newcastle
    Harry Potter?
     
  18. Jess Peletier

    Jess Peletier Mortgage Broker & Finance Strategy, Aus Wide! Business Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    6,673
    Location:
    Perth WA + Buderim Qld
    We did a lap a couple of years ago with the kids - we LOVED it. Only had 3 months so there were a few days of continuous driving but I'd go again in a heartbeat. We went from Port Hedland to Darwin, then down to 3 ways and headed to Qld that way.

    It would take zero convincing to get me to buy a van and go again tomorrow. Actually, that's sort of how it happened the first time - just decided and 6 weeks later we were off.
     
    Mick Butterfield, ellejay and Gockie like this.
  19. ellejay

    ellejay Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    2,192
    Location:
    Kimberley and NZ
    Done Sydney to Adelaide via Camberra then Perth. Loved it, lots to see.
     
  20. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    6,935
    Location:
    Lower Blue Mountains
    Impromptu meetup! :)

    I'll wave along the highway incase we pass each other i usually run the two finger steering wheel wave :D

    Just heard that Winton has had lots of rain from another family out there a few weeks ago, caravan parks couldn't get people in due to the mud.

    Will you do Katherine gorge or anywhere else along the way?

    Broome is a very unique little town. Good place to stop for work that's for sure. Could easily do a few months here