It’s not just about getting to Birdsville. Preparation is the key to any remote travel – whether it’s Birdsville or beyond. Are you ready for any eventuality?
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The essence of life
Early explorers were able to survive harsh Outback conditions because of the proliferation of inland waterways which meant they were able to travel vast distances… topping up their horses, camels and water containers as they went.
Rather than drinking from the Diamantina River though, carrying a minimum of 10 litres of extra water per person might mean the difference between surviving a vehicle failure or dying an uncomfortable death, isolated and alone.
If you do break down, remember to ALWAYS stay with your vehicle. It’s much harder to find someone in the Outback if they’re not near their vehicle; and carrying spare water will sustain you for days if you do end up stranded.
Extend your touring range
Depending on which route you take, it can be hundreds of kilometres between towns and fuel stations. As a precaution, carrying a little extra fuel in a 20-litre jerry can might be the difference between stressing over the last hundred kilometres and making that Outback town comfortable and relaxed.
Remember to carry your fuel in Australian Standards approved AS2906 containers too. If you’re carrying fuel on your roof rack, always transfer it into your vehicle’s fuel tank as early as possible because this lowers the centre of gravity, which can impact vehicle performance.
Where the rubber hits the road – spares, gauges, compressors and repair kits
Take some time to familiarise yourself with your tyres and their pressures; and gain a little understanding of how to repair and inflate a tyre before you head off. Once you do hit the dirt, you should be thinking about stopping and reducing the pressures in all of your tyres. A rule of thumb on the dirt is to drop tyre pressures by around 20%. For most people, this would equate to 28-32psi as a comfortable running pressure. This helps to soften the bone-rattling ride a little across corrugations by allowing the tyres to flex, and greatly improves overall ride comfort. A tyre gauge will come in very handy when dropping your tyre pressures – so remember to pack one.
Always carry a spare tyre in case of a puncture as some Outback roads can be particularly harsh on rubber tyres. If you do get a puncture, a tyre plug kit can often be used to repair the leak. Familiarise yourself with the use of a repair kit and, once you’ve fixed the tyre, your air compressor will be your new best friend.
The perfect atmosphere
There’s nothing better than sitting around camp after dark, the glow of the flames flicking across relaxed faces, creating that peaceful (almost angelic) feeling.
Many remote destinations and campgrounds are in areas where firewood collection is banned, but carrying enough firewood with you to create those campfire memories is relatively easy so long as you plan ahead.
River Red Gum and Mulga make for hot, slow-burning campfires and create wonderful coals for camp cooking. Add a little white cypress pine to your campfire to create an aroma unlike any other timber (I’m pretty sure it acts as a mozzie repellent, too).
Keep a couple of ratchet straps in the vehicle and you can quickly tie enough timber onto your roof rack or camper trailer for a terrific fire under the stars.
Communication is key
Your phone is really only good as an alarm clock in the Outback. One of the first things to disappear once you leave the cities and towns is mobile phone reception. At minimum, a 5-watt UHF radio is a must. Most Outback stations will monitor and communicate via certain channels and it’s worthwhile knowing which stations are monitored along your route of travel. Information centres often have lists of UHF channels used by local properties and stations. Remember though that UHF communication is only good for around 10-15 kilometres at best.
PLB/EPIRB emergency beacons have come down in price over recent years. In my opinion they should be high on the list of ‘must-haves’ for remote travel.
First aid kit
Whether you’re heading north, south, east or west, every vehicle should carry a first aid kit which is suitably stocked to cater for most common scenarios. From stings, bites, scratches and splinters to more serious injuries such as broken bones, burns, vehicle accidents and snake bites… your first aid kit will come in handy at some stage.
Having a first aid kit is important, but knowing the basics on how to use it is just as vital. If you’re planning a big trip with the family, then why not get yourself off to an accredited first aid course to learn how to use your box of basic emergency medical gear? A first aid course is actually a small investment in time and money – which could pay off tenfold if you ever need to use your first aid kit in anger.
Think about it…
Maps
Think you know where you’re going? It’s easy, right? Wrong! Outback roads can be challenging to navigate. Side tracks, detours, washouts and familiar-looking country can all combine to send you round in circles; and if you’re not careful can quite easily result in you getting lost – see Point 1.
At a minimum, you need to be carrying a detailed paper map which shows you exact routes, tracks and features to help you navigate your way around. For a relatively small investment, you can nowadays purchase off-line mapping software for your phone or tablet. Hema, Mud Maps and VMS are some of the most popular mapping products and they combine GPS positioning overlays with detailed off-road maps to help you understand exactly where on Earth you might be. As a fallback, always carry a paper version too.
Slip, slop, slap – it’s no fashion contest
Hats combined with fly nets make for an awful look, but gee they can be effective. In the warmer months, flies can utterly spoil your daytime enjoyment and literally force you back into your vehicle or camper trailer. It may not look the most fashionable, but a fly net might keep you sane just that little bit longer and allow you to stay outside and enjoy the view.
While you’re outdoors, your hat will help keep you free from a good dose of sunburn, too. Remember though that you also need to slop on some sun cream to prevent your face, arms, legs and neck from burning. Particularly in northern and central Australia this time of year, the daytime temperatures and radiation levels can be high… so remember ‘old Norm’ and slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat.
Take time to recover
Whether you end up stuck in a mud puddle or happen across some poor stranded soul that you can’t help but feel sorry for, carrying some basic recovery gear can be the difference between a few days alone or getting back on track with your trip.
At a minimum, think about carrying a snatch strap and a couple of 4,500kg rated shackles which will allow you to rescue someone (or be rescued from) the sand or perhaps that mud puddle that simply ‘looked shallow enough’.
It will be even better, if you have a winch which can be used for both self-rescue and recovery of another vehicle. Either way, remember to also use a winch rope and/or strap dampener and never, ever, ever attach a snatch strap or winch rope to a tow ball.
Be prepared for temperature fluctuations
Winter temperatures can vary by as much as 30 degrees over the course of a day, particularly in central Australia. Big sky daytime scenery can see temperatures in the high 20-degree region. The sun then sets and, before you know it, a thin layer of ice forms over the top of your swag or camper trailer.
Remember to pack for this variation – with comfortable daytime clothing and warm night-time jackets and beanies as well as bedding. Temperature-rated sleeping bags will keep you toasty overnight and a silk ‘inner’ can be a very welcome addition to your sleeping comfort if you don‘t have ‘minus’-rated winter sleeping gear.
Comfortable clothing and bedding will make your trip all that much more enjoyable… so plan ahead.