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Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:03 pm
by Moondog55
Cecile is buying a new, reliable, comfortable, economical to run vehicle.
We'll be heading off to Uluru within the next few weeks, taking 3 to 4 days for the drive there and come home slowly after at least 4 nites at Uluru and Kata Tjuta
We have a small [ 45 litre] Peltier module fridge.
My thoughts so far are to smash some chicken breasts flat and season them and shatterpack freeze them for quick chicken salad rolls on the grill and to pre-make good cheese and ham sandwiches for nite time grilling
If I freeze milk etc the car fridge should keep food in a reasonable condition for a week and at Uluru we will splurge on at least on fancy $300- dinner

If we manage to score or borrow a small trailer for the trip I can add in a proper portable fireplace and carry in firewood for at least one sausage sizzle

Suggestions for other quick and easy meals for the driving time.
Any favourite road houses or cafes between Geelong and The Alice??

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:06 pm
by Eremophila
Which way are you going MD? (between Geelong & Port Augusta, obviously)

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:16 pm
by Moondog55
Why? Do you need a lift?
Shortest distance to get there and along the coastal route coming home we thought after Adelaide, so Hamilton Hwy from Geelong. Actually we may be able to offer 2 seats Ride-Share if people had their own stuff and didn't mind a swag by the road for sleeping

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:22 pm
by Mark F
As you will be in the area a trip up to Kings Canyon is highly recommended - all sealed road. At the end of August I came back from the Larapinta though Kings Canyon and thought the rim walk there was as good as Uluru and Kata Tjuta. After 2 nights camping at Kings Canyon we camped 3 nights at Yulara allowing a full day to walk around Uluru and a full day for the two walks at Taka Tjuta. The is an excellent supermarket at Yulara and the camp ground there is good with everything you are likely to need.

I would plan on packing enough food for the drive to Yalara and then restock the stuff that needs to be kept cold for the trip home just before you leave.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:36 pm
by Moondog55
Good advice Kings Canyon is probably beyond Ceciles capacity tho

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 12:51 pm
by Eremophila
No, no lift required, thanks anyway! :lol:

Sure I'm preaching to the converted here, but anyway:
- stock up on any fresh food at Port Augusta, also casks of water. Yulara is awfully expensive and Kings Canyon even more so.
- don't forget if you take fruit & veg from home you'll need to eat or dump it at the SA border.
- the big roadhouses north of PA are obviously geared towards bus groups and quantity, not quality, and are mostly to be avoided.

We had a lovely dinner at Ian's Western Hotel in PA a couple of summers ago, also an awesome coffee at the Macca's there on New Year's morning. The hotel is handy to Shoreline Caravan Park if you're staying there.

Harry's Homemade Fine Foods at Nelshaby (just north of Port Pirie) is worth a visit, a huge array of pickles, jams and loads of specialty items.

It should be quandong season too. About 30-40km north of PA you can find loads of trees. I guess you won't have the facilities to cook them though.

If you're heading along the Hamilton Hwy, there's a nice café in Penshurst, Café Bagdad. Also an old-style 2nd-hand bookshop next to the pub, good for fossicking. I suspect it's only open on weekends though.

Nice free-camping area in Casterton on the river. And Dergholm State Park to the north of Casterton, pleasant campground there.

Then there's the wine-tasting if you're driving through the Coonawarra region..................

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 1:03 pm
by Moondog55
Ahhh Terra-Rossa soils and rich red wines
On the way home we will.
I no longer would consider this a true Outback tip but I'd always have 20litres of water in the wayback over and above
Thanx for the reminder 2 apples and 2 bananas only Shame that as I would have brought some sweet potatoes to roast in the ashes otherwise but they should still be a reasonable price in PA
I'm allowing 3 litres a day for cooking and hygiene and 4 * 4 litres in casks for emergency use
No way am I going to drink SA water if I can avoid it, even Geelong water is better and Geelong water is pretty bad these days

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 2:28 pm
by whitefang
Ham and salad rolls were my favourite on the road for lunch on my recent trip up that way.

Ian's Western in PA is the best pub meal in town and the Macca's does adequate coffee. Between PA and Alice I can't remember any decent places to stop, except for refuelling. The Underground Motel in Coober Pedy is a nice place to stay the night if you don't want to camp out.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 08 Oct, 2017 4:53 pm
by Eremophila
For quick and easy travel food, I don't mind the old cold chook / bread roll / salad combo. I prefer Red Rooster chook, they will cut it into eighths for you, some pre-made salads should keep in your fridge for a couple of days. Your roasted sweet potato would also go well with that.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Tue 10 Oct, 2017 7:46 am
by walk2wineries
Kings is my favourite.
You might go via Parachilna for the famous Road Kill Grill?!

Yeah, I can easily go for a week with sangers initially frozen then thawed, add salad as needed. I often freeze soup for car camping as well, just heat it. BTW do you have a car kettle? My best ever investment - takes about 30km to boil so when you stop you have boiling water for tea/coffee without having to get the stove out.

The free camping at Casterton is Ess Lagoon; still walking distance to the pub. The River/Island in the middle of town is lowish cost, pay at pub. Alternatively there is beautiful legal free camping at Wannon Falls, just off the Glenelg Highway East of Coleraine. Was looking at the falls a fortnight ago - Saturday during the school holidays and there was only one vehicle there & lots of room. Greenrise lake at Penola, or Ngarkat if you want peaceful camping with a fire. If you go via the Sturt Highway theres lots of places along Murrumbidgee then Murray of course.
There is really not much in Port Augusta other than the caravan parks and you have to book those ahead - really. They get booked out some weekends and most long weekends - heaven knows why. Mount Remarkable just south (Mambray Creek) has lovely camping but its a Conservation park which these days means having to book on line - you can phone from entrance I think but reception varies. Alternatively a bit further NE if you want a closer look at the Flinders, is Warren Gorge which I like - pretty 5km nature trail which only takes an hour if you want to stretch your legs; few years since I was there but it was about $5 a night. Council land not national park. Quorn, Hawker have supermarkets. So does Coober Pedy, with a choice of eateries and some aren't too bad. Otherwise, its just roadhouses.

IF you use facebook there is a group "Free and low cost camping South Australia" with lots of listings https://www.facebook.com/groups/348979758604802/

Have a lovely trip.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Tue 10 Oct, 2017 11:24 am
by GPSGuided
As we've learnt out of our Red Centre trip, food is expensive there. So it's great you are stocking up and budgeted for the expenses there. For a long road trip, we would bring some but also treat ourselves with some proper sit down meals at pubs or local eateries/take-aways. Otherwise lots of fresh vegetables and some bread rolls and tin cans. With a car and mobile fridge, virtually anything is possible. Shop along the way if needed.

For location, Kings Canyon is a must. Even if one is not keen on the main rim walk, there are alternate shorter and less straining short river/creek walk. To me, the rim walk is not that difficult (6km) and many young tourists do it. Weather will be the question as we move to the warmer/hot months, so things may be quite different to winter visits.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Tue 10 Oct, 2017 12:43 pm
by walk2wineries
but presumably you are going via Alice Springs? Coles and Woolworths, prices the same as Adelaide.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Tue 10 Oct, 2017 2:27 pm
by north-north-west
walk2wineries wrote:but presumably you are going via Alice Springs?


Why? The road into Uluru and Kata Tjuta starts well to the south. From Melbourne/Adelaide, Alice is a major detour.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Tue 10 Oct, 2017 4:36 pm
by ribuck
Unlike just about everywhere else near Uluru, the IGA at Ayers Rock Resort is not that expensive.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 10:47 am
by walk2wineries
I've only done it once and did the loop so I guess I was thinking Alice one way or another. WHile I'm thinking of it though - the "simply fresh" jars of sundried tomatoes and caremilised onions are inexpensive and a quickk way to add vagely salady stuff to a sandwhich or crackers; I like the Aldi tins of smoked trout . Jars of sprouting beans add fresh crunch to sangers and soups if you are car camping- -- soak them as you leave.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:20 pm
by Moondog55
It will be a quick trip so lots of ideas given already and taken on-board
What about while we are there tho??
Cecile is not a camper really so it has to be as close to "Real" food as I can get. I'm thinking that things that improve with age will work there.
Chicken wings with a lot of alcohol in the marinate and frozen should be right to go by the time we get to the campsite at Uluru, ditto sourdough bread in the Bedourie oven
For those who have been to Uluru recently what is the current situation with fires and fireplaces?

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:24 pm
by Eremophila
I stumbled across this website the other day: http://www.findacamp.com.au/

Much more informative than others of its type.

Edit: I would very much doubt you will be allowed fires anywhere in the National Park or in the camping areas at Yulara.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:34 pm
by Moondog55
Eremophila wrote:I stumbled across this website the other day: http://www.findacamp.com.au/

Much more informative than others of its type.

Edit: I would very much doubt you will be allowed fires anywhere in the National Park or in the camping areas at Yulara.


That is /was my initial thought too but I have just seen a u-tube video of somebody camping there and the group had a huge blazing campfire and on Getaway last month and BH&G last Friday ditto but I can't see any info online at the Yulara or NT National Parks site about it
I do remember tho 40 years ago when I lived in The Alice there were big signs up on the highway that said "Start collecting your Firewood NOW"

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:35 pm
by Eremophila
Were those people with a paid/guided tour group?

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:38 pm
by GPSGuided
At the Yulara caravan park/camp site, there were public BBQ arrangements. You won’t be able to start your own camp fire.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:49 pm
by Moondog55
Eremophila wrote:Were those people with a paid/guided tour group?

Yes they were and most probably staying at Curtin Springs because group fires are provided there My mistake
Shame that, as sour-dough bread cooked in the hot ashes is simply heaven

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:55 pm
by Mark F
IN the NT you are not allowed to collect firewood inside National Parks (plenty of signs say this) but you can collect it outside and yes there are still signs saying the equivalent of collect your firewood now. At Yulara there were a couple of fire pits in the unpowered section of the campsite. No fires unless in a provided fireplace. A few people did have fires, can't comment on the powered section.

Given that daytime temps are now getting into the 30s I would check on whether there are firebans.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 12:56 pm
by Eremophila
It could be a bit like the Larapinta Trail, where the paying/guided groups get to have a fire in their dedicated campsites.
If you were prepared to fork out for the "glamping" at Uluru you might have the luxury of a fire.

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Wed 11 Oct, 2017 2:39 pm
by Moondog55
I just got an answer from the camp ground manager

Here is copied and pasted

Hello,

AS of the 18th of October our fire pits will be removed for the Summer season. You can have a comfort/cooking fire if you have your own fire pit or fire burning ovens and your own fire wood is essential as long as there is not a total fire ban in place by the NT Fire service which we do not know until the day as it is due to weather conditions. But we do have free gas BBQ's throughout the Campground.

Kind Regards,

Kim Mulholland
Campground Manage
r

So given that it will be worthwhile taking the portable and some firewood

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Fri 13 Oct, 2017 10:54 pm
by Neo
Sounds delicious, got a spare seat?! :)

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 15 Oct, 2017 8:47 am
by Moondog55
Neo wrote:Sounds delicious, got a spare seat?! :)


Maybe

Re: Road trip Food For the trip getting there

PostPosted: Sun 15 Oct, 2017 5:22 pm
by Neo
Ha, was kidding but maybe.

Been to the Geographic centre (Lambert centre) then up to Alice. Skipped the rock for another time. I want to see Kings Canyon :)