I'm looking at getting my Elan from Melbourne, and then driving back to Perth.
The trip is approximatly 3500km across one of the most desolate and uninhabited stretches of road in Australia (the world?)
Melbourne to Adelaide is an OK trip, and I have done it many times. About a 8 hour cruise along a very heavily policed route.
Adelaide to Ceduna is about another 8 hours, but its starting to get pretty thinly populated (I dont think people in the UK appreciate the distances between civilisation in Australia, unless they have been here, or driven across the remote areas of the US) Less cops, but more furry moving chicanes.
Ceduna to Eucla is a shorter day - 5 odd hours, but the Nullabour Plain comes next. It has the longest stretch of straight road in the world 145km - dead straight. Booooorrrring.
Eucla to Norseman includes the Nullabour and takes about 7 hours, also supprisingly heavilly policed. Its better to tuck in behind a semi and get a slip stream, and let them clear the wildlife. Hint - You dont drive in the country at night in Australia. Kangaroos, Emus, Camels, Sheep, Cattle, Wombats, Echidnas - each one big enough to destroy an Elan completly. During the day there are still Roos, Camels and Emus - but you have a better chance of seeing them. Wedge Tail Eagles can be a problem though. They eat the road kill, and at 2.5 metre wingspan, even though they only weigh about 6kg, it will still smash your Elan at 100kph.
You have to take EVERYTHING with you to cross the Nullabour - Spare fuel, oil, coolant, food, water, and a EPIRB. Just in case. The road has been cut off for days by rain, and you might have to wait some time to be picked up if you break down. Mobile phones.....can you hear me giggling hysterically, that stopped getting a signal 2 days ago. Fuel stops are better than years ago, but the longest distance between petrol stations is 200km (130 miles), and its a really good idea to fill up as often as possible.
- This is what it looks like - A LOT.
- 031_0005890L.jpg (157.75 KiB) Viewed 3763 times
Norseman to Perth is the last day of the epic journey. Still pretty desolate and uninhabited until you get to Northam, about 100km out of Perth.
Just imagine the distance, its like you driving from London to Palermo, Italy and back again in 5 days. Except a lot hotter. In January when Im going to be doing the trip, Nullabour temperatures can reach into the mid 40'sC (115F). The record is 49.8C (122F).
Does anyone have any advice on running an Elan in these conditions? Will the cooling system cope? (Hood up and A/C on) assuming its in good condition.
Whats the WORST fuel economy anyone has got? (I'll only be travelling at 100 - 120kmh due to cops and wildlife, but I'm taking a worst case scenario)
output.gif- Melbourne to Perth - it doesnt look that far on the map, but its the same as driving from London to
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