Flying across to WA for a summer road trip with the missus over Christmas. (Dec 20th - Jan 8th)

First of all.... Renting a campervan... I'm right to assume that one without air-conditioning would probably result in death and is worth the extra $1000?

Plan is to shoot up to exmouth.... Cyclone season worth considering at this stage? Obviously could be unlucky at the time but it wouldn't stop anyone making plans for that time of year would it?.... Bring the 7 just in case?

Other option is to head south from perth but man north looks awesome!!!!!!!

Any advice?

Select to expand quote

tomasjoad said..
Flying across to WA for a summer road trip with the missus over Christmas. (Dec 20th - Jan 8th)

First of all.... Renting a campervan... I'm right to assume that one without air-conditioning would probably result in death and is worth the extra $1000?

Plan is to shoot up to exmouth.... Cyclone season worth considering at this stage? Obviously could be unlucky at the time but it wouldn't stop anyone making plans for that time of year would it?.... Bring the 7 just in case?

Other option is to head south from perth but man north looks awesome!!!!!!

I hired a camper van with the misses. We had a large VW van that slept 2 which we booked through Britz, Get as big as you can otherwise you will knife each other. We headed up the coast all the way to Exmouth, we took a few days to get up there. Fantastic place Exmouth.

I would certainly try and book in advance. The grey nomads at the time when we was there had all the best spots at the beach camps. I think there are 4 or 5 and recall it's first come first in. There's the Big4 in the town and Yardie Homestead which are both good enough, You can book into these places too. Coral Bay is worth a look too if your into snorkelling.

Hasn't there been some recent floods that has damaged the roads up there? Somebody on seabreeze may correct me here...

There was a kite shop that used to hire camper vans too which is another option. Fly up and get a van.

Hope this helps

W

don't fly up youll miss some amazing kite spots, a 4x4 camper makes it even better, north of perth youll be one of a couple at each spot, the further north the stronger the wind, the Midwest this time of year will be in full swing, winds start at mid morning building throughout the day, ive kited a 17mtr to a six in the same day, generally your assured 25knts at least, with temps around 30deg and water around 25deg, bring kite spares as youll be limited once out of Geraldton, if youd like a list of some great spots let me know, tgcp has a kite school and along with turtlehunter will give you the rundown of Exmouth, the yardie homestead is a decent location to get to spots , the grey nomads will generally be heading south as itll be getting a bit too hot and windy, call in Dongara on your way up and join us on a regular downwinder,

The extra $1000 for the AC sounds a lot but you are correct - you are going to want it...

Hi Tomasjoad,

Christmas is a crazy time to visit Exmouth. VERY Hot, very dry, brown and dusty! Won't be any grey nomads up there at that time of year, they all bail around October/November due to heat. Call Scotty of Ningaloo Kiteboarding if you want the inside skinny 0427046376. You'll find him in Nimitz Street as you come into town on the left across from the caravan park.

Problem with aircon in vans etc is they take quite a bit of power to run them. Yardie Homestead ask you not to use them as they generate their own electricity and the added load causes problems for all guests with power outs. You cannot use generators in the national park so Aircon is pointless in there. It might be OK in town though (for aircon), but then you're in town. It may be your only respite from the heat so may still be well worth it.

If the missus is into kiting, great, I'd head to Yardie or the National park on the west coast of the peninsula, if not and she wants to be close to cafe's, food and shops, then she'll be far happier in town. There's a great little water park that will be 'busy as' in town. There is nothing for miles when staying at Yardie, everything is in town. You may or may not even get phone reception depending on your service provider at Yardie.

Personally, I'd go no further than Gero and head south instead. The South coast has even more beautiful beaches than up north, the water is much cooler, you can head to Margies and hit the vineyards and the local attractions. Good surf all along the southern coast and South west corner. No surf in the north at all over Christmas. If heading down south over Chrissy, you WILL NEED to book as it will be packed EVERY where.

WA is hot and windy in Dec/Jan, so going up north, you will need tiny kites as the further north you go, the windier it will get.

Enjoy WA, it rocks in Summer, a kiters paradise, but I'd be avoiding the North personally at that time of year.

DM

PS. If going up north in Summer, you will NEED fly nets! I Sh1t you not! Often times you can go up north and if the flies are bad (if you haven't been up north when they are bad you cannot even comprehend how bad, "bad" can be) no one will have fly nets as they can all be sold out! (Personal experience). Fly nets are more important than sunscreen in the north!

Words of wisdom DM

If you like the heat & flies (these flies love bushman +) & have your own shade then head North it's a beautiful stretch of coastline and at least on the coast you will get a solid relief from the heat with the seabreeze so long as there's not a cyclone moving down the coast or you cop a hot howling easterly.

I was at a spot just north of Gero last New Years, wind was cranking 1/2, swell was good 2/5, no need to go further North............Flies were a Killer until the SB kicked in.

PS. Don't forget your life jacket, flares, epirb and port starboard lights

Thanks for all the info boys!! Really helpful and really appreciate it....

Hmmm..... Got me thinking we should stay south now.... Save Exmouth for september/october...

Maybe do Perth to Albany or Esperance?

Whatever direction we go... I'm looking forward to seeing if it lives up to all your hype!!!!

there is no swell over dec/jan in exmouth. the last waves disappear in november. and the wind is not as consistent as it is earlier in the season- it can be nuking, or it can be calm if it gets too hot...