Darwin to Broome

Welcome to the forum.

I am buying a vehicle on Broome to travel around the country, first leg being Darwin to Broome.

Do you mean you're buying a vehicle in Darwin? But yes - some of those places are on the bitumen or decent gravel roads, but others do require a 4WD vehicle (for robustness and clearance, if not necessarily being in 4WD).

And if you're driving it to Perth, there are other opportunities where the 4WD capacity will be useful.

When is this trip - I would make sure I was in Broome by early September.

Oops, yes, buying the car in Darwin.

I'm actually flying to Darwin right now. Once the car is purchased we will begin the drive, stay in Broome until Sept/Oct, then head south.

Are there sights you know of that you say are 4WD only, or is it kjnd of show up and turn around if you can't clear it?

I would look closely at https://www.exploroz.com/ - it has a mine of information on 2WD / 4WD touring in Australia.

Don't delay your trip south too long - places like Ningaloo Reef, Karijini NP, and Monkey Mia are better in September than November. Have a great trip!

Ithink you ought to at east spend a few days in Darwin doing a bit of research of the places you have mentioned, the site mentioned by jingili being one forum where you will be able to read up on some locations, various tracks and peoples accounts of driving the tracks and to locations.

For instane you can find out about Edith Falls and the NP @ https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/nitmiluk-national-park and there are a number of sites where you will get information on the Gibb River Road - http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/gibb-river-road.html being one and you need to be looking at a 4WD and then considering a lot more - extra spare would be handy, additional fuel and water plus a few essential vehicle spares not to mention your food and communication requirements.

Do you have a bit of experience with vehicles to be confident enough to handle a few repairs along the way and also get yourself familiar with what we call road trains out here and know what you ought to be doing if you see a lot of billowing dust ahead of or behind you - a road train - http://www.roadtrains.com.au/Photos - like a big boat in water, they take a good distance to be stopped and they are not so manouverable so best thing to do is to get off to the side of whatever road you are on .

Have fun and maybe you will survive!

there are a number of sites where you will get information on the Gibb River Road

From their list they are not completing the Gibb River Road - just a bit around Windjana Gorge. They will be doing most of their travel via the bitumen highway it seems, with unpaved excursions to places such as Purnululu NP.

I agree about having some necessary spare parts, and knowing a lot about your vehicle ... before taking off. The local motorist association (AANT) could be of great assistance too.

Whatever bits of the GRR you do and for accessing some NPs, a 4WD is still recommended if not essential just for their ability to better withstand a bit of pounding.

An alternative could be to buy a 2WD and then hire a 4WD where you need to ( say in Kununurra ) but then you will have a bit of backtracking.

And yes, consider taking out Auto club membership for about $100 or so as then you will have reciprocal coverage throughout Australia to assist with breakdowns.

If you have a breakdown, always stay with your vehicle for dehydration can be a quick killer if you start walking. I'd also be putting some electrolyte tablets on your buying list.

I agree they should get a 4WD - a LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol (or similar) with a sleeping cabin on the back is the best.

Everything on the list from Emma Gorge to Windjana Gorge is off the bitumen, with some roads worse than others I expect (I haven't been to all those sites).

Thanks you very much for the feedback. I never saw that exploroz site before but it seems like such a good resource after scanning though it.

I think we are just going to suck up the cost and go with a 4WD since we do not want to be restricted!

You will use it, for sure. How far does the total trip take you ... when does it end?