Driving to Geraldton

[LNYMRKO]

Hi guys, I have to drive to Geraldton next week for work.. I know it's not exactly the biggest journey but it's definitely the furtherest I have driven before.

Just wondering if anyone had any do's and dont's or tips etc. I'm with Telstra, I'm assuming I should have phone coverage along the way in case of emergency? Car is getting serviced this week to make sure all is good beforehand etc. Cheers.

Google maps says ~430km/5 hour drive.. accurate?

[evoeata]

its not that far mate and all highway there basically. some of the road is in pretty shit condition from the roadtrains that do that run all the time. found the worst was around dongara when i last drove to kalbarri. apart from that its a pretty easy drive. a fair bit of it is bush so keep your eyes open for roos at dusk and dawn.

[d1_drifter]

It's a pretty easy drive hey. Didn't drop coverage with Telstra either.

Stop at Cataby if you need break/piss/food and drink, pretty sure that's the last 'civilised' stop until Gero, otherwise it's side-of-road spec...

[DISTRBD]

Hi guys, I have to drive to Geraldton next week for work.. I know it's not exactly the biggest journey but it's definitely the furtherest I have driven before.


Dont drive tired and dont sit up ass of trucks at night thinking your safe from roo impact :)

[31-EVO]

Prepared to be bored.
Don't expect much.
Cataby for a food and drink stop/fuel.
Carry on being bored.

[Steppo_GT]

did that drive up that road personally two weeks ago. You'll have no problems just make sure if you go through the swan valley up great northern hwy turn left onto the brand hwy (where the new traffic lights are) and not go straight through them and up to whoop whoop lol

[family guy]

just got back from doing that run 3 weeks ago. Got stuck behind a oversize load. a road train overtook us and the oversize load on double white lines. Just keep an eye out for idiots.

[Steppo_GT]

oh and bring a lot of C.D's ipod whatever to keep you entertained if you go alone you will be bored as fuck there is no doubt about that!

[Bomber]

Pretty much what everyone has said so far. Used to do the drive from Perth-Eneabba-Perth and Perth-Cataby (Cooljarloo)-Perth and also Perth-Gin Gin-Perth.

Brand Hwy is my bitch now. 5 hours is being very generous, more like 4 to 4.5hrs. Candy cars patrol quite reguarly and mix it up with unmarked so best bet is to set cruise control to $1.15ish, pass road trains and caravans when you can safely and make sure you have plenty of music.

[DanWA]

its like the forrest highway drive only longer and gero aint much different to bunno besides a better beach

[-Luke-]

take food/water with you. beware of the grey nomads.

[gerrin]

dont speed

[LNYMRKO]

Thanks guys!

[Steppo_GT]

all the people saying don't speed. On the way up to kalbarri didnt even see one cop car anywhere till we got into the town itself! Only saw one set of cops on the way back even though it was australia day... They must've been where the big bucks are at holiday periods.. Down south!

[AGIT8D]

If a road train slaps on his right indicator he is giving you the wave past. They can see a lot further ahead than you, so if you can't see around him and he does this, it's the go ahead. Don't rush, you'll only pass 15 trucks to stop and get a drink then pass them again. Wait for overtaking areas unless you've got plenty of room ahead. I don't buy into the don't speed crap. As long as you aren't going through a town it's okay. At some points I was ramping the barina up a fair whack over the limit to get the momentum to pass road trains, using the descent of hills to help me etc. Just keep your tyres away from the edge of the road, the gravel will suck you in.

[mitchy]

all the people saying don't speed. On the way up to kalbarri didnt even see one cop car anywhere till we got into the town itself! Only saw one set of cops on the way back even though it was australia day... They must've been where the big bucks are at holiday periods.. Down south!

i used to live in gero, so i've done that trip about 30+ times... definitely see cop cars more often than not.

usually they are within ~100km of perth/gero, but i have seen a multinova smack bang in the middle of nowhere.

[Bomber]

i used to live in gero, so i've done that trip about 30+ times... definitely see cop cars more often than not.

usually they are within ~100km of perth/gero, but i have seen a multinova smack bang in the middle of nowhere.

Usually South of Badgy before it starts getting really hilly.......

Also make sure the spare is inflated and you have all the tools required to change a flat tyre. Don't ask LOL

[Thodd]

I always keep an emergency toilet roll in my car. Is great for post curry dumps when you can't make a roadhouse.

[shifted]

Def don't drive tired, and if you are feeling sleepy, pull over and take a quick nap. Does wonders, well worth it.

[5ltrs of fun]

half way between dongra and greenough has a decent s bend be carfull with that and like agitated said wait for the truckies to wave ya past and if you really want do the left right left right with ur indicators and thats to wave thanks cataby and dongra feed wise and if ya get an oversize loads come at ya move over and make life easy for them

[mr_rotary]

I used to do the Perth - Kalbarri quite reguarly in my stocker 808. Just be prepared for the frustration of seeing new cars unable to pass a truck at 90km/h quite frequently. Passed 3 new cars and a semi once all in one go on a straight stretch.

As for safety, bring along 20L of freshwater (for drinking or radiator), torch, tool kit (screwdriver, ratchet with a few bits etc) spare tyre inflated and a jack that works and you'll be right. Check your rubber hoses and belts and make sure no cracks. I used to do it in 6 hours and the stops where: Perth, Cataby (breakfast), Eneaba (piss), Geraldton (fuel & piss) and then Kalbarri.

[ossie_21]

Make sure your tyres have decent tread so after you do a few fucking burnouts on the country roads they will still be legal. <3

[ben351]

lol dont be a fag lenny .... me and my missus drove to Broome n back

take bulk tunes

youll be right !!!

[S133LTR]

dnt speed through the 90/70 zones in Dongra.

[Fukushima]

cars like long runs... so i wouldn't be too concerned

take a piss break at least every 90 mins if you are new to long trips

[-Luke-]

back when i was a (young} terry tuff cvnt i used to bust out a 12 hour night shift then jump in the car for the short 11hr trip from newman to perth (1240k's) i used to arrive at ruffly the same time i got up for night shift the day before. From Wubin to perth was always a bit fuzzy. It true what they say about fatigue affecting you like alcohol.::zzz:

Coral bay to perth after an all nighter at the village used to be a bit of an effort. You normally sober up around carnarvon:eek3:

[Sully]

cops are around but not all the time. perth to gerro i've never seen one, strangely enough the trip back i always seem to find them. last trip back i got done for 130 in a 110, the coppers told me that if i'd been clocked at 120 they wouldn't have bothered pulling me over so watch your speed but don't be staring at your speedo the whole time.

the roads aren't really that bad compared to some of the shit you get down south. visibility is good (ie, boring) for most of it although the surface does get a little rough in some places. not really worth worrying about though. there's plenty of safe overtaking places along the way so don't go getting impatient and doing something silly. you can easily pass 2 road trains in 1 go with a not underpowered car.

[Ryan1080]

all the people saying don't speed. On the way up to kalbarri didnt even see one cop car anywhere till we got into the town itself! Only saw one set of cops on the way back even though it was australia day... They must've been where the big bucks are at holiday periods.. Down south!

Agreed. Went to Kalbarri a year ago, and up to MOnkey Mia, all up did around 3K kays in a week. Didn't see one popo car anywhere on the highways. Just in the towns. Did a steady 160 km/h at most places, with occasional 220 boosts when I felt like it. And that was in the christmas holiday period too when you'd expect cops to be there.

If you do see a cop, and they're either on the side of the road, or heading in the opposite direction, go crazy. Very unlikely for there to be another popo car in the next 50-100 kays :)

Other than that, the trip to gero is no brainer.

[Sully]

If you do see a cop, and they're either on the side of the road, or heading in the opposite direction, go crazy. Very unlikely for there to be another popo car in the next 50-100 kays :)

wouldn't be too sure on that one. that trip back that i got done on, i saw 5 cops in 2 hours going the other way AFTER i was pulled. this was between gerro and badgingarra

[vrocious]

2 points

S Bend

Grenough (spelling) Flats

slow the fuck down! cops love it there!

[Saf]

dont speed

Bingo. That hwy has some grumpy arsed cops on it.

[matty12]

Watch the Eneabba Cops before and after Eneabba,keep an eye on the speed.

There is more overtaking lanes than there used to be but still not enough.

[Skitzo]

http://www.highcountrypress.com/buz_spotlight/buz_spot_06/2006_photos/sm_photos/11-09_8ball_BW.jpg

should keep you stimulated if feeling tired.

[AGIT8D]

Yeah those s bends can sneak up on you if you've adapted yourself to the relatively straight trip, but they're signed at 80km/h I think so it provides an opportunity to have a bit of fun if there's no old grannies holding you up :)

Agreed slow down through all towns, and once you hit Grenough (where my old man lives) it's not worth speeding thru to Gero. I make up any time I need to by sitting between 130-150 out in the open and doing the 70 limit when you hit towns. It's easily to get sucked in to speeding above 70 after going so fast though, and that's why the cops are in the bushes thru the towns waiting.

[Turbo2.6L]

Coral bay to perth after an all nighter at the village used to be a bit of an effort. You normally sober up around carnarvon:eek3:

You drove back after drinking all night or were passenger?

[AGIT8D]

I wouldn't ask the question you don't want the answer to!! Hope the flame suit is on.. Anything goes up that way.. Most of the contractors who came to Plutonic Gold would always pack a slab for the road and stop into Meeka tav or whatever on the way out to grab a few 6-packs. It's game, that's for sure..

[Turbo2.6L]

Don't care what roads it's on & how remote the area is. pingpingpingpings that drink drive should be shot!

[Ryan1080]

Don't care what roads it's on & how remote the area is. pingpingpingpings that drink drive should be shot!

+100000