Tooley's new van.

[tooleyau]

Just thought I would post this.

We went to Birdsville for the Big Red Bash (www.bigredbash.com.au)

Vintage vans can go anywhere. We travelled 600k on dirt roads from Windorah to Birdsville , out to Big Red (and back)

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[Franklin1]

Does this mean ANY vintage van could get there, or only vans fixed up by tooleyau??

[tooleyau]

2017 Trip - To Ayers Rock and Back - part 1

Canberra to Pimba.

May 1 2017 we headed North and stayed at the following Caravan Parks and saw the following. The plan was to visit Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon, then head north to three-ways, turn right to the coast and then home. It took us a month and we could have stayed longer. The Mitsi performed faultlessly as did the caravan. We had many people show interest in the van and it was a starting point for many conversations.

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We Stayed at Renmark Caravan Park on the river - Very Nice

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Then to Peterborough in SA





Pimba Roadhouse near Woomera (Worth a visit)

[tooleyau]

2017 Trip - To Ayers Rock and Back - part 2

Pimba to Mt Ebaneza

Then on to Coober Pedy. Nice place to visit but would not want to live there. Just check that your van is always secure.

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The scenery is amazing out at the breakaways.



Then onwards North.

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We had a good run and made it to Mt Ebaneza Roadhouse, only 250K from Ayers Rock.

[tooleyau]

2017 Trip - To Ayers Rock and Back - part 3


Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon.

Then onto Ayers Rock where we stayed at the Yulara Resort caravan park for 2 nights and did daytrips to Ayers Rock and the Olgas. Even did a Segway tour around the rock. Saves walking. :=).

Ayers Rock is Big. You really don't appreciate it until you stand next to it.
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Then drove to Kings Canyon. Worth the trip.

We got up early and had breakfast up the top.

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The scenery is amazing. We took lots of photos.

[tooleyau]

2017 Trip - To Ayers Rock and Back - part 4

Alice Springs to Tennant Creek.

On to Alice Springs where we stayed 4 nights. Did the Western MacDonnel ranges. Amazing

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Then drove North to Tennant Creek. A really sad town. The caravan parks gates are locked at 6:00pm. You need a code to get in. You could hear the local drunks screaming at each other all night.

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[tooleyau]

2017 Trip - To Ayers Rock and Back - part 5

Tennant Creek to the Coast.

From Tennant Creek we journeyed North to three ways then turned right and headed East. We stopped at Barklerys Homestead for Fuel, Stayed overnight at Camerweal , then Winton, Emerald, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Gold Coast then Home to chilly Canberra.

Can be lonely out here.

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But the next turn can show some different scenery. It certainly changes as you head east. Interestingly enough I would have expected desert out near Ayers Rock but it is "semi arid" which means trees can (and do) grow. If you look at any pictures of that area then it is quite scrubby. The most arid part we saw was the northern part of South Australia which was gibber desert (desert strewn with small round rocks) but when you turn a corner near the lakes area you come upon a wonderland of forest???

We stopped off at McKinley.  The town where they filmed part of Crocodile Dundee. The pub used to be in the main street (which was used for the out door street scenes, but when reno0vations needed to be done it was moved to its current location beside the highway (for tourists).

When the bar manager saw our van she wandered over and gave Anne and I the cooks tour. It appears that while the pub is the one they used in the movie (from outside) but the inside was too small for the actors and crew. To overcome this they built a replica bar in a sound stage at the Gold Coast and used that for both movies. A few years back they donated the replica bar back to the pub owners and its set up out the back. John Cornell then donated "Wal's" Valiant ute and the truck they used in the movie . It has no engine or gearbox and is full of rust. a real restoration challenge

We stayed at Emerald and then Rockhampton where we stayed two nights, but could have done with one.


We only stayed 1 night in Bundaberg. It seemed a much more interesting area. Next time we will stay longer.

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All in all an excellent trip. Many more photos on the computer but I shall spare you the hours of tedium of the Toole Family Album. I have focused mainly on Caravan related pictures, but am willing to share my experiences over a beer (or bourbon) at any of our upcoming vintage caravan events.


Michael

[bobandjacqui]

Great pics, thanks for sharing.


That first climb up Kings Canyon is a feat in it self

Cheers Bob and Jacqui.  

[Mustang]

Seems the rain gods were kind to the bondy. I think Renmark is a lovely park.

[Koala]

Hey Mr Toole, I am pleased that you agreed with my positive comments and ramblings following our adventures with the 69 Franklin on this trip a couple of years ago. I believe that this trip is a must for the bucket list and gives you a insight into Australia a bit outside of your usual comfort zone.
There is plenty to see and do and better taken over a few months if you can spare the time.
So you will be a starter for The Savannah Way to Katherine etc in 2019??

Koala

[tooleyau]

Savanna way seems like a good Vintage Caravan Convoy. We are in. Any more interest from fellow vintage van enthusiasts.

[tooleyau]

Jun 29, 2017 16:53:07 GMT 10 Mustang said:

Seems the rain gods were kind to the bondy. I think Renmark is a lovely park.

We were lucky as we did not get rain once. However it was really hot in Tennant Creek, which was a bit of a laugh as our kids were freezing in Canberra.

All parks were good. Some better than others. None that I would not go back to.

Hay and Renmark were on green grass and close to water. Further north the grass turned to dirt. Then as you got near the coast the dirt turned green.

[firefighter]

Jun 29, 2017 20:10:24 GMT 10 tooleyau said:

Savanna way seems like a good Vintage Caravan Convoy. We are in. Any more interest from fellow vintage van enthusiasts.

Put us on your list.....BUT will have to check your dates

f/f

[tooleyau]

Jun 29, 2017 20:14:01 GMT 10 firefighter said:

Jun 29, 2017 20:10:24 GMT 10 tooleyau said:

Savanna way seems like a good Vintage Caravan Convoy. We are in. Any more interest from fellow vintage van enthusiasts.

Put us on your list.....BUT will have to check your dates

f/f

Koala, seems we may have started a thread for a convoy - see firefighters note. We may need to get together and discuss this over a bourbon. May I suggest we hold the initial  Savanah Way Convoy meeting at Shellharbour.

All suggestions for dates, routes and timing will be considered.

[tooleyau]

Jun 29, 2017 20:22:16 GMT 10 tooleyau said:

Jun 29, 2017 20:14:01 GMT 10 firefighter said:

Put us on your list.....BUT will have to check your dates

f/f

Koala, seems we may have started a thread for a convoy - see firefighters note. We may need to get together and discuss this over a bourbon. May I suggest we hold the initial  Savanah Way Convoy meeting at Shellharbour.

All suggestions for dates, routes and timing will be considered.

Here's a link.

www.australia.com/en/itineraries/qld-savannah-way.html

[Mustang]

This trip appeals, all but the gravel on day 4 ??

[tooleyau]

Jun 30, 2017 17:56:19 GMT 10 Mustang said:

This trip appeals, all but the gravel on day 4 ??

Gravel roads are usually not an issue provided they are main roads. By that I mean they usually all weather roads and are looked after by the council as traffic has to be able to travel these roads. All you need to do is to take it slowly where necessary.
Last year we did Birdsville along the Birdsville developmental road. 290k of dirt roads in and out. Let those who are in a hurry pass you by and just trundle along at your own speed.

Here is a video of the dirt part of the trip. We left Windora, travelled 100k on single lane tar roads then turned left onto the Birdsville developmental road.

youtu.be/F1UcccWunfc

Dust. Yep it does get in.

[cster]

Lovely looking van, great pics a great story. Enjoyed that.