I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere man, I've breathed the mountain air man, of travel I've had my share man, I've been everywhere....
Sounds like a song....
I'm coming over to Adelaide (in the Mini and a half) for Minis by the Bay (13 March at Pelendrome town).
This will be about the 20th trip to Adelaide from Melbourne/Geelong for the Mini, and I've done it a few times by Moke as well.
The route I take varies and I've tried most ways now - but there's always a new way if you look.
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the most boring bit from Tailem Bend to Keith, except via an equally boring bit along the Coorong, or via dirt roads (if you are so inclined). However, from Keith you can head South to Naracoorte and visit the caves (if you have time). From Naracoorte you have a few choices. Most direct way is East via Eidenhope, Harrow, Balmoral, Cavendish, Dunkeld, Skipton, Ballarat, then freeway all the way into Melbourne. This usually takes me about an hour longer than the highway all the way, and when it is a full day anyway, what's the problem with an extra hour? Also an interesting route is less likely to put you to sleep at the wheel!
Have you got a GOOD map?
Around Melbourne, Melway is best and it includes good scale maps of everywhere from Adelaide to Sydney (so you can use it to get to Minis on the Murray, no probs) It is my bible in the car.
Melbourne is actually fairly easy to get around. As the Orange said, laid out like a grid. That's because, like Adelaide and Hobart, it was planned right from the start. Not surprising as Collins and Batman who designed it came from Hobart!
Enough of the history lesson. Back to the directions...
If time permits, head South from Naracoorte to Mt Gambier (Blue Lake is spectacular on the right day), then East along Princes Hwy to Heywood, back roads through Bessiebelle and Woolsthorpe to Warrnambool, then along the Great Ocean Rd. So many choices and far more interesting than the highway and all the traffic and trucks!
Will your car break down? Everyone above has pretty well answered that, but if you are prepared for it, know how to fix it and don't have any time restrictions, you will have an enjoyable experience (and you could write a short piece for the Mini Experience magazine when you get home!) BUT, if you take one of the back ways (and all that I have mentioned are bitumen the whole way - but sometimes narrow) you will not see a lot of other cars. That's great for the driving bit, but not so good if you do break down and you aren't prepared.
I've driven my Mini on virtually every major road from Adelaide to Bundaberg, including all over Tassie, and the Moke to Cape York, Darwin and Perth. (See my website at
www.autofan.com.au and click on the 'our cars' link to see the maps of where I've been)
Remember, we don't drive Minis because they're practical. We drive them because they're fun.
Watto.
