Lake Eyre

[Dougld]

Hi All
Is anyone going or have been to Lake Eyre this year as the water is flowing in & it should have a good cover according to what i can gather we would like to go but we were wondering when will be the best time.
Regards
Doug

[discoveraus]

Hello Doug,

I am planning to visit Lake Eyre and beyond shortly, leaving Melbourne mid July. I was told by my daughter that the lake is currently full and the surrounding landscape is very wet, especially along the Oodnadatta track which I intend to travel along.

My daughter abandoned her Lake Eyre visit on the way up to Darwin and drove straight to Alice Springs via Port Augusta 1 week ago and will try to visit the lake on their return trip when they gets back to Port Augusta in 2 months, we may be forced to do the same if the Oodnadatta Track is still unpassable or messy or even difficult.

I have been there in the dry via William Creek and it is awsome to visit and stay overnight as it is so very isolated and quiet at night. We were the only people within 100 km. This trip, I will be ringing the Marree Police for a road report before we leave for the latest local info. and then decide on our final route outwards bound.

regards

Ross

[Dougld]

Hi Ross
Early July was when I was thinking of going as there is a few things on at that time One is the Camel Cup in Marree and Lake Eyre Yacht Club is holding a Regatta on Lake Killamperpunna, Cooper Creek, from the 5 - 9th July 2010.  http://www.lakeeyreyc.com/Regatta/RegattaFlyer.pdf
We were there in 04 but the lake had minimal water in it then and we would like to see it in all its glory.
Regards
Doug

[discoveraus]

hello again Doug,

I posted that we were going in mid July, I meant to say mid June ie 8 days time.

My daughter rang today and said that they are in Katherine with heaps of other travellers. Apparently all national park camping grounds in the NT are currently closed because crocodiles are wandering through the parks following the recent high rains. Until the rangers clear the crocs nobody is allowed to camp in a national park. This could take at least another week according to the rangers.

The result is Katherine and Darwin 9and probably everywhere else) are full of stopped tourists with nowhere to go.

Many roads are still closed in the north of NT so my daughters plans have changed again and now Darwin, kakadu and Lichfield have been added to the "do next time list " along with Lake Eyre and the Oodnadatta Track. Early travel in the north is a risk it seems.

We are now reassessing our plans and may now go clockwise instead of anticlockwise.

Have a great trip when you do get to go, hopefully I will make it also.

regards

Ross

[Dougld]

Hi All
Well we have been delayed for a few weeks as the Disco needs a few things doing to it. But we will now leave in the 1st week of August and be gone for the rest of the month. Still looking forward to it with great expectation.
Regards
Doug

[discoveraus]

Hello Doug,

We are in Port Hedland now and changed our trip to clockwise intending to see the lake on our return trip.

Check your front tailshaft Double Cardan Joint before you go. We broke one bigtime near Kalbarri WA and had to freight one up from Perth. I checked it carefully before we left and thought it was fine then.

We also had the engine ECU die, the fuel pressure regulator fail, oil in the injector loom and a water leak, all on this trip.

I could easily change to a Toyota at the moment. The D2 had better perform from now on or it will scrapped.

regards

Ross

[Dougld]

Hi Ross
Sorry to here about your repairs and i hope that the Disco runs well from now on. We are now leaving on the 5th of August Disco just about ready to go just waiting for a injector loom and maf sensor to arrive. Al roads in the area are open at the moment we will just play it by ear once we arrive.
Regards
Doug

[discoveraus]

Hello Doug,

Havge a great trip.

regards

Ross

[Winaje]

Hope you guys have a safe and enjoyable trip.