PLANNING FOR AN EXTENDED CLUB TRIP.
By Laurie Finlay.
(267)
Map showing Laurie & Chris Finlays trips throughout Australia
This is how I go about planning for an extended trip of four weeks or more.
First I pick a destination and find out when is the best time to visit. I usually read about or hear
about somewhere that is of interest to me, I then set about finding out as much information about
the area as I can.
Then I get a large scale paper map of the area usually 1;250.000. Again using HEMA, as their
maps are usually quite detailed for that area.
Then I work out how to get there, again using HEMA maps to decide on the route to take and the
time required to travel that distance allowing for stops along the way. I like to travel on roads I
haven’t been on before if possible.
I then set about working out the intended itinerary. To do this I usually work forward from the start
date and work backwards from the intended finish date. This works because when you get to the
middle (of the itinerary) you either have a gap of days or they have overlapped. If there is a gap
you can shorten the trip, add more to it or stretch it out. If the days have overlapped you have to
cut things out or extend the trip.
If you are going to distant places it is much more enjoyable to do so if you have allowed a lot of
time. I think places like the Kimberly, Pilbara, Canning Stock Route and Southern WA shouldn’t be
considered in less than 8 Weeks and Cape York a minimum of 4 weeks. If you are going to these
distant places where there is a lot to see and do you need to allow time to see and do these things.
I know it is not always easy to get this amount of time away but any less will have you rushing and
you will have to miss many highlights.
About now you would submit it to the Clubs “Trip & Social” for posting on Team App.
Below are some extra points that I try to follow once I have my travelling group.