Aussie Finch Forum

I have been wanting to go to the Wyndham Gouldian finch Census for a while now and have decided 2012 will be the year.I have booked 5 weeks off work already and am saving my pennies.The finance department is not so lucky and can manage at most 3 weeks off and will meet up there after the census at this stage.
So for those either planning or been, I would apriciate some advice on how to fill in five weeks.Do I spend a week driving each way ( about 5000 kms) and three weeks up there looking around with the outback caravan ? Do I drive up and swag and tent it ? Or do I fly up and hire a 4wd for 5 weeks staying in cabins etc and fly back.What have people done in the past regarding accommodation and how long did they stay up there? How much $$$$ did it cost for either or both,bearing in mind I am not 100% sure of fuel costs that way. Any advice would be appreciated with about 9 months until the census I am starting to plan now.

I drove up towing 25ft caravan....fuel then (2yr ago) was in some places $1.86 a ltr for diesel....was averaging 6klm to the ltr except on barkly highway headwinds dropped that back to less then half that....

my opinion is that you will spend too much time sitting on your ars in a vehicle, worse towing a bloody fuel guzzling Cvan and increase your chances of something going wrong. driving straight up the guts from portland via the Stuart hwy is still 3800kms one way, and you want to make sure you have a reliable vehicle and plenty of patience and possibly ear plugs.

what about considering other options like:

flying ex melb to perth, then perth to kununurra with Qantas (1 day travelling). get to the lovely spot of Kununurra, stay in great accomm for an average price of $135/night, (negotiable for lengthy stays), hire a small vehicle that gets you round, see some magnificent country, ord river irrigation area, diversion dam, walk along the river and spot hundreds of bloods, and every thing else that is there. and in your spare time, count a few gouldians around Wynd.
Don't stay in Wyndham, its a shole.

ps, on the way back to Perth, drop off in broome to recover and treat the missus to a great WA holiday destination. why go all that way and not experience this great place.

yes, the kimberley is magnificent. I assume you would be going there in the non-wet period?

You could always talk to you friendly finch forum member who is a permanent resident of Kununurra Finch Census takes place about 100km down the road from me

I don't want to put a damper on your plans Gomer but don't get to hopefull about 2012 census being on as I have heard rumers there has been a change?? in the" Save the Gouldian fund" camp so there might not be a 2012 census.

To answer your question however I have been up there twice 2009 & 2011 both times driving as I live on the NSW south coast we done about 5000 klms each way (a few detours )taking 1 week to get there 1week there & 1 week back.by far the most economical way is to take tent .There are plenty of places to camp each night & I think the trip up & back the highlight of the trip.
To give you & idea last year the round trip 10,500klms in a Toyota Land Cruiser $2500 fuel bill.
But a great excuse to get to see AUSTRALIA

Hallo All.
I am currently translating the Save the Gouldian website into yet another language.
I received an e mail from Mike Fidler on the 11 January 2012 stating : * WYNDHAM 2012 CENSUS - BRIEFING ON SUNDAY 2nd SEPT
COUNT 3rd to 6th Sept ..... same agenda as last year.

So start planning.

Cheers, Case, Tauranga, New Zealand

Can someone post or PM me contact details for getting involved? This'd be just the ticket for my Big Year I rekon.

There is an email link and a phone number on this page
http://savethegouldian.org/AnnualCount.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dates have been decided and will be on the website soon. 2nd to 6th of September.As casehulsebosch stated.So if there is anyone interested in sharing costs a group of four would be good.I have already put my name down to do this so if anyone else is interested let me know.Mad hatter ?

Hey Gomer,
Expect to pay the best part of $2.00 dollars a litre for fuel once you get past Coober Pedy . If your coming through Alice i might be able to organise one night accomodation if you have a van or tents ect. My parents have 5 acres so theres plenty of room. Ring a few places where your going to stay and see if there are any deals to be had, tourism is very average at the moment due to the price of the dollar so there maybe people willing to discount a bit.