Preparing For Outback Travel
Travelling the outback. It’s something many of us daydream about. Getting out in the wide-open spaces and exploring some of the less-visited places in our amazing country. For some, though, it can be a little nerve-wracking. And understandably so. But it doesn’t need to be. With some sensible research and careful planning, exploring the outback can be one of the most incredible experiences.
So what can you do to make sure your trip is memorable for the right reasons? We’ve included below our top tips to make sure you and your travelling companions stay safe and have fun.
Your attitude matters…
Our number one rule is to hope for the best and plan for the worst. Although it’s not guaranteed that something will go wrong at some point, there’s a good chance it will. In our experience, your ability to deal with a problem when it arises depends primarily on your attitude and expectations from the beginning. If you leave home knowing there’s a chance things will go wrong, but you’ve done your research and prepared well, you’ll be much better equipped and more able to deal with it. If nothing goes wrong by the end of the trip, that’s a bonus.
Before you leave…
There’s a lot to plan and prepare before you leave, but it doesn’t need to become overwhelming if you take it on bit by bit. Depending on the length of your trip, you might not need to consider everything we’ve listed below, but it’s a good habit to get into to prepare you for longer and more adventurous trips. Like most things in life, there’s a balance between being equipped for every eventuality and keeping your vehicle (and trailer if you’re towing) under its weight limits. If you’d like to understand more about weight limits, check out our YouTube video on understanding weights.
Where you’re going…
It probably is no surprise that the first item on your to-do list should be working out where you’re going. This can be anything from a loose plan and route to a thorough itinerary, but it needs to have room for flexibility. Whether for a mechanical break-down, a road closure (which can happen at short notice in the outback) or something else out of your control, flexibility in your travel plans is key to making sure you stay safe and have a stress-free life experience. If you’re like us, your travel plans are likely to be a little vague. But even in this case, it’s worth planning out where you will be able to re-supply with fuel, water and food, and locations for mechanical assistance should the need arise.
It’s also worth taking some time to consider what time of year to visit. Many parts of Australia can become extremely uncomfortable and even dangerously hot in the warmer months. Winter months can also see extremely low temperatures and not just in the alpine regions. The desert regions of Australia can see both extreme heat and extreme cold. Be prepared for the conditions you’re likely to encounter at the time of year you intend to visit.
While there are often ídeal times to visit certain areas, these can become very busy so consider travelling in the shoulder periods either side of the peak seasons. Although the weather might not be perfect, we prefer that rather than dealing with crowded campsites and busy towns.
Managing your resources…
While this will vary depending on where you’re going and how you plan to travel, resource management is important in all remote regions of Australia. Food, water and fuel can be difficult to find, and there are often large distances (and time) between re-supply locations. This is one area where we take our planning extremely seriously. Make sure you have enough food, water and fuel to get to the next location where re-supply is possible and then make sure you have strong reserves on top for when things don’t go to plan. That doesn’t always involve something going wrong. Having food, water, and fuel reserves means you can be flexible about how long to stay and allow for planned and unplanned detours.
What you’ll need…
We often compare getting married, your first baby and overland travel. While the similarities might not be immediately obvious, they all involve marketing and products that can make you feel like you ‘need’ way more ‘stuff’ than you do. It can sometimes be challenging to figure out what’s a necessity, what’s ‘nice to have’ and simply a luxury.
We’re massive advocates for buying and using quality products, even if that means paying a slight premium when purchasing. That being said, you don’t need to run out and buy the best of everything. With some careful research (like you’re doing now) and a little bit of common sense, you can equip yourself to travel comfortably without taking out a second mortgage.
Closing thoughts…
The Outback of Australia is a harsh and unforgiving environment. That’s a big part of the appeal for many travellers. While it’s desolate and sparse, it’s full of life and beauty under the surface. For centuries, travellers, explorers, and nomads have been drawn into the outback driven by curiosity and adventure. Never in history has the Outback been easier and more comfortable to access. With some sensible planning and preparation, it’s never been safer either. If you’re anything like us, the idea of discovering a remote campsite in the middle of the outback and having it all to yourself, with no one else for miles around, is paradise. We hope we’ve inspired you to get out there and explore it.
