Tolley

Darrell, Excuse me for butting in but June is the best month and plan to be out of there before the school holidays. Regards Colin

Hello Sue, My apologies for not reponding sooner. Thanks for the great advice, comments and recommendations. It's added to my collection. As you will see elsewhere in this thread I am only just at the beginning of this plan so every bit of information from people such as you is valued. Regards Colin

Thanks Russ for that good advice. Couldn't you just nick over to Winton and then return home with us? I am greatly encouraged by the reponse to date and will, after Christmas, start some serious planning. It is a part of the fun! Anything else that come to you mind would be much appreciated. Oh! We have a sat phone that we never leave home without! Cherie and Moet will keep the camels ay bay! Regards Colin

Enrich, the Outback Way is promoted as the Wold's Longest Geocahe Trail. Apparently there is 36 hidden caches! These are designed to encourage travellers to stop and enjoy the natural wonders of central Australia while searching for caches. You should look at the following link: />http://www.outbackway.org.au/2012-08-17-04-07-38/geocache-trail.html Regards, Colin

Mint sauce and lamb roast and a good red to celebrate in Laverton! Regards Colin

Hello Erich & Lesley, Yes, it would be a good trip and best done in company, I think. I have not begun the detailed planning as yet but here a a few comments. I think an early June departure from Winton is attractive. Winton is a good gathering point for everyone from the east coast. Winton has a couple of attractions such as the Waltzing Matilda Museum and the dinosaur stampeed. The CP's in Winton are nothing to write home about but there is a free camp area just south of the town. DAY 1 and 2. Winton to Boulia is 358 km, a days drive on a narrow but sealed road. Overnight there. DAY 3. Boulia to Jervois is 467 km on dirt roads. Big day but we could do it. Fuel stop along the way at Tobermorey. DAY 4. Jervios to Gemtree is 219 km on dirt. Then Alice is a further 135 km on a sealed road. That could be done in a day - Jervois to Alice. DAYS 5, 6 and 7. Three days in Alice to rest and have a drive around the West MacDonald Ranges etc. DAY 8. Alice to Yulare is 443 km on a good road. Could be a day. DAYS 9 & 10. Two days in Yulara. DAY 11. Yulara to Warakurna is 325 km. Day 12. Warakurna to Warburton - 225 km. Day 13. Warburton to Tjukayirla - 245 km. Day 14. Tjukayirla to Laverton - 303 km. So, it could be something like the above. Others who have already made the trip might like to comment. We could disperse in Laverton. Gayleen and I would probably go north through Meekatharra then north to Newman and onto Broome returning to Cairns via the GRR and Savannah Way back to Cairns. What a great trip that will be! Erich, as I have said I have not done any detailed planning. I am seeking interest and then contributions as to the best time and rest days etc etc. GHope the above helps. Regards Colin

Great Sue, Enjoy your time in the shakey isles. It is a beautiful country. Regards Colin

Hello, I am thinking of doing the Outback Way, from Cairns to Perth, next winter departing sometime in May and June. It is known as Australia's Longest Shortcut being 4,615 km from Cairns to Perth via Winton, Alice, Yulara, Warburton and Laverton. There is a good website, www.outbackway.org.au if you are curious. I thought it would be good, and safer, to do it in company with other Kedrons. I was wondering if there is any KOGers out there that might be interested. An alternative would be to join up in Winton and separate in Laverton in WA. That is only 2,720 km. The country out there is beautiful but it is remote. Looking at the pictures on the website, the roads look good. I think it would be a trip to equal the Cape or the Gibb River Road. You just have to do them before they seal them and while it is still an adventure. You only live once. Is anyone interested in joining together for a a trip? I will volunteer to be the co-ordinator for planning and permits etc. Regards Colin

Hello All, I can support Alan and Liz's experience. I am at present in the area around Winton in western Queensland. The temperatures have been around 39 degrees. We have a Yamaha 2.4 and it happily handles the Dometic air on for hours on end. Has not missed a beat. We have been on Carisbrooke Station which I can recommend. It's about 60 km north of the dinasour stampede which is also worth a visit. Regards Colin and Gayleen

Bondi & Jenny, Close your eyes and pick one! They are all great. Gayleen and I often contemplate what we would change if we had our time again. The answer.....nothing. Regards Colin

Hello and welcome I &D, The wonderful world of being a Kedron owner lays before you. Our's is just over three years old and it has faithfully followed us for 60,000 km around this wonderful country. I must support your comments on the wonderful service given by the team at Brendale (and Jan in Kedron). The service has been great for three years and, most recently, a week ago when I had the lights changed to LED's throughout. Ashley and Tom could not have been more helpful. It is the Kedron difference. Please accept our best wishes to you for many happy and safe adventures as a Kedron owner. Regards Colin and Gayleen.

Hello All, I can vouch for Tony's lamb and welcoming hospitality as I sit here by my van in front of Tony's house and dam. Tom Cruise? Hmmmmmmmm....... Anne and Tony have been just great! Our two poodles, Moët and Cherie have been graciously welcomed by Mardi, Tony's little tea cup poodle. Regards Colin and Gayleen

Hello All, We are in Gulgong near Mudgee in NSW. Planning to go through the Hunter wine region and then north up the NSW coast. We have never taken a caravan along this stretch of coast so I thought I would ask if anyone had any advice or suggestions as to great places and vice versa. Regards Colin

Hi Peter, Thanks for that. I guess my point is that Kedron have a great product supported by top quality after sales service so they deserve to do well. The "waiting list" is of interest to all of us as the demand helps keep value in our vans. Regards Colin

Oops! My last post on this thread was in the early morning. I must have been still asleep as my maths was wrong in relation to the number of vans etc., I do not have any inside knowledge of how many vans Kedron build. Just visiting the factory gives me the impression that production could possibly be 15 vans a month. In eleven working months that is about 165 a year. That means there are perhaps 165 people standing in the queue at any one time, not 50 as I surmised this morning! All the better for Kedron and it does speak loudly about the product. Regards Colin

Hello All, On the topic of Kedron Service I would like to support Colnden's initiat comment about the quality of Kedron's service. I had my van in there yesterday to have a couple of small items fixed. Ashley and Tom were just great, once again. To them I say "thank you". I understand that there is a wait of over one year for a van to be built. That is at least 50 vans which means that there is at least 50 people standing in a queue. That speaks volumes for the quality and desirability of the product and the after sales service. Regards Colin

Hello Greg and Cathy, As many KOGers know, Gayleen and I always travel with our two poodles, Moët and Cherie. We have nearly 60,000 km on our van and they have been with us for every one of those km. they have been up Cape York twice, around Australia once and just about everywhere inQueensland. We have not found their presence limiting. If you need to do something without them you will find that just about every Visitors Centre will have a list of local dog sitters. For example, when we were in Kalbarri in WA we had them sat for a day while we visited the attractions in the surrounding NP. This sitter groomed them as a bonus. Moët and Cherie have been into many NP's when we are just going to be absent for an hour or two. Providing the weather is moderate, we just leave them in the van where they have beds, water and food. No, they do not make a mess in the van. So many people are travelling with their pups these days many former "no pets" CP's have been forced to change their policy to "pets welcome". Actually, our main motivation in joining the caravan world was to have a system that allowed us to take the pups on holidays! King regards Colin & Gayleen

Hi Fieldsie, Great to learn that you had a great trip. It is a special part of the world, isn't it? Gayleen and I always feel a bit sad when we leave the Cape and head home. I did mention those idiot drivers in my posts to you back in March etc. It is such a pity as these idiots cause such damage to equipment and place us all in danger. I am on my fourth windscreen in under three years, all due to flying idiots. If you have written a trip report I would love to read it. Regards Colin

Hi John, My comment was really about straight street type GPS navigators, as opposed to navigators that also provide topographical map option, being not much use out in the bush. Frankly, I did not know that Navman now provided a topo map option. My point is that any navigator that provides the topo option as well as the street option, is the way to go. Regards Colin

Hi Chris, Yes, both are GPS navigators put out by HEMA, the map people. They provide both street navigation, just like a Navman or Tom Tom. In addition they provide navigation on the 1: 250,000 topographical maps. Both contain all the Camps 6 camp spots and the newer version, the HNi6, also has all the caravan parks in it as well. There is many more functions such as setting way points and so on. Chris, the best bet is to duck into an ARB store and get a demo. They are not cheap being around $600 to $700 or there abouts. The disadvantage of the Navman type of street navigator is that they are not much use in the bush. Mostly they just display a straight line vertically across the display with a voice command which says, for example, "proceed straight ahead for 250 kilometers and then trun left". So, using the HEMA topographical maps out there is just great. The device also lays a breadcrumb trail so you can always turn around and follow your exact track back out. But we fellows never get lost, do we? Hope this helps explain. Regards Colin

Lea & Rick, I have the Hema HNi5 which I have found to be great. I use it almost exclusively on topographic maps. Gayleen, thinks she is a better navigator than Matthew Flinders so she has the newer model, the HNi6. At least, having her own, stops her for reaching over and screwing mine around so that she can SE it!! They are not cheap, but, we love them. Mine has Camps 6 in it. Gayleen's has Camps 6 and all the Caravan Parks as well. Regards Colin

Hi Sue, Give me a call. I live on the beach at Clifton Beach, next door to Palm Cove and a couple of k's to Ellis Beach. Love to catch up with you. 0408 235 273 Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, Gayleen and I went for a Sunday drive today to visit Josephine Falls and The Boulders, both near to Babinda in FNQ. Josephiine Falls are really worth a visit and it is easy to get in there with a van in tow. You cannot lawfully stay overnight. However, next to the Bouldeers, a wonderful swimming and picnic area, there is a small Cairs Regional Council camping area. It is great and poses no access problems for a Kedron. 48 hour max stay, toilets and showers, no power and no potable water and no charges. There is a tap serving non potable water. While in the area I would recommend the kayaking down Babinda Creek. 9km trip and it is lovely country. Suitable for everyone from old farts like me to small kids. Even my two small poodles, Moet and Cherie, can do it! Lastly, we did an inspection of the CP at Fishery Falls which is between Babinda and Gordonvale. It is a beautiful park, extremely clean and great facilities and the best camp kitchen I have ever seen (not that we use them). The managers are lovely people who are very enthusiastic about their park. It really shows! They are developing a beautiful area along the creek that will be available for independent camping. I do not have any commercial interests what-so-ever in these places or activities. Gayleen and I were both impressed and I thought I would pass it on to my Kogger commrades! Regards to all Colin

Hello Ric, I have a telescopic ladder that I purchased from Jan when I ordered my van. I have used it once. I NEVER carry it on trips. Whenever I have needed to get up there I have just asked the managers of the cattle station, road house, CP etc if I could borrow theirs. Never had a refusal. I don't carry anything on the top of my Land Cruiser so I have considered putting a sturdy roof rack up there to use as a work platform to do work on the roof of the van. Just park the LC real close to the van. At my age, ladders are dangerous things! Regards Colin