true. you might wanna consider replacing your 23mm tyres with 25mm. pays to avoid pinch flats out there

but seriously, get a rough idea of road conditions by flicking through this massive collection of photos:
http://www.ozoutback.com.au/postcards/nt.htm

on road trains, there was a post in previous incarnations of the Aussie Thread about a retired US police officer who was sucked into the path of a road train on a solo trek between the Alice and Darwin. I'll see if I can dig it up (the article that is!)