How to plan a successful road trip around Australia in a self drive recreational hire vehicle


Plan your road trip and see the local fauna and flora

Lets say you have booked a vehicle already



Plan Before The Trip
• Check you bills due while your away and arrange for a solution before you leave.
Advise the postie (postman) you will be away and if he could make sure no mail is hanging out of the box
Ask someone to come check on the mail and house
Secure all your valuables and couements in the house to a safe place in the house or elsewhere
Auto lights scare the heck out of me so that's up to you folks.
If you can get a realitive to stay a few new when your on that long haul trip that would show the neighbourhood in theory your still around
If someone is maintaining you garden (buy them a presie) outback-australian-slang-and-language leave a list of what water is required and what plants need special attention (I always lose plants if I'm away)
Leave a spare copy of your travel doc's with a trusted person and say drivers license.


Planning The Route
Try it first the old fashion way our parents did. Get a real map and measure and record a route based on say 3ool to 400 klm a day travel time with 3 to 5 stops for this distance. (Then google it) but the paper way is much more rewarding we find
Allow off days to rest or sleep and find thet bush hot Springs like The Douglas Daly or mataranka and just 'chill in hot water' as we say.
Also off days in case you meet new friends or want a side trip for a destination you just heard off.
Rule One: folks don't push your itinerary but enjoy it. There will be time to come back and redo it or a different section and after 25 year we turly know this is the case as we get may clients ringing as saying 'Hi remmeber us" (of course we remember them) and then they say they wan to do an extensoin of their last trip or something more adventurours like the Gregory National Park .


Allow time and spare days to relax and met new friends along the way.


Planning The Route (2)
If you have never been to the outback in Australia there are 3 main 1st timer choices we recommend.
Darwin to Broome on the Gibb River Road | Allow 10 to 14 days minimum
Alice Springs to Uluru then up the Suart and Katherine, Litchfield, Kakadu into Darwin | Allow 14 days minimum
Alice Springs to Uluru, Kata Tjuta Olags, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell Ranges return to Alice Springs | Allow 5 to7 days minimum

Planning The Route (3) |
The first school of thought on planning a road trip: The first is see as much as you can in as little time as possible. this is the general line of thought we see over 25 years for the younger travellers. An example would be a Darwin to Broome on the Gibb River Road for a 10 day road trip or include Cape Leveque 4wd 3 day side trip and a spare day in broome on a 14 day trip.
The second school of thought on planning a road trip: The second is see plan to see the major tourist iconic places and spend quality time at them and a few more isolated places but limit the distance and range of the trip. An example would be a Darwin to Broome on the Gibb River Road and loop back via the Great Northern Highway to Darwin on a 21 days trip




Insurance
Insurance simply check the fine clauses.
Make sure the policy covers you for cancellation, theft, accident etc
Make sure the policy say 4wd camper (if it says car only then you really have to get it in writing one of my clients advised me to tell all one this) - some of my client say Covermore Insurance was good.


Note: Just because you bought travel insurance it doesn't mean the 4wd camper company will waiver the bond.
The 4wd camper company or motorhome rental company still require the bond or bond reduction as the Insurance is between you and your insurance co and the rental is between you and the rental company.


Toilets
Folks I am like many of you I need a toilet facility like now and hate waiting and driving and some say we will be there in 300klm.
• So here is a link for you National Public Toilet Map -
Example on toilets in a remote place: I typed into Google Bungle Bungles toilet and it showed Kurrajong Duncan Highway, Warmun (Turkey Creek) Open: Open 24 hours - now I don't think it's 24 hr and I typed into Google 'Bungle Bungles Campround toilet' and I got this https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/purnululu saying yes a toilet there. So folks not everything is correct on the web and you just have ask a local or the tourist bureau once your in Kununurra, Darwin, Katherine or Perth 1st before you go (this was in regards to the Bungles)


Bring or Buy
An esky � that�s Australian for coolbox; even if you 4wd camper rental has a 32L Engel we suggest one for drinks and snacks and you can buy those small 3 colour ice freezer blocks from Woolworths lat I did it was Aud $20 for 3 Blue green red. This is so your meats in the car fridge./freezer maintains optimum effectiveness. Not a 3 hours cruising driving will charge a 32L Engel around 75% from my experience.
See our coverage on what to bring click here


The one things I really like about travelling in the outback is there is quiet good signage | Credits Jackie Speld thanks Jackie and Rob



When planning no matter how much time you allocate for a stop it is never enough and we know from 100's of feedback and Marg and myself and our trips.
So if you think a walk is 1 hour allow 1.5 hours and breaks remember the longer the break the more refreshed in theory you should be.
I find during a break to make sure you have some water nomatter how short the break is.


When planning a road trip on the Gibb River Road from Darwin to Broome or say the Savannah Way from Darwin to Cairns plan for rest stops, don't push yourself or the 4wd camper.

Planning For the Unexpected
Hmm forget that it's the Aussie outback something unexpected can and probably will happen but work with it. Say you left your groceries on the Woolwrthes counter well you judge forget or go back. If you go back then find a new spot on the way back to stop for a photo to make it worth while.


The locals are generally very freindly and helpful with a sense of of outback humour and tend to joke a fair bit | Graphic by Goholi Team �


10 Tips For Planning A Successful Road Trip; This was for an Amercian road trip scenario but some relevant points for Australian travellers.

Get ready to hit the open road. There�s nothing quite like standing at the top of a mountain, thousands of miles away from where you started, thinking back about how you got there.
Taking a cross-country trip with some of your best friends is the best way to see this beautiful land and all it has to offer!
That being said, it�s vital to plan for the unexpected and hit the road fully prepared. These ten tips will get you started in the right direction to the perfect road trip.

1. Pick A Time To Leave (And Stick With It) Committing to a road trip may be the hardest part of the whole planning process.
Committing to a road trip may be the hardest part of the whole planning process. You�ll have friends and relatives that will call you crazy, ask about your �long term goals� and shake their head at the idea of you living out of a car for an extended period of time. So set a date, and stick with it. Once you mark your calendar, everything else with fall into place. You�re committed and nothing is worse than backing out and your coworkers asking, �Hey, why are you still here? Weren�t you supposed to go on that trip this month?

2. Less Is More
Trust me on this one. The less you can start with the better. A perfectly packed car will soon turn into a collection of trash, dirty clothes and lost belongings that only a hoarder could love. The extra space will come in handy when you�re trying to sprawl out across the back seat or find that way-too-big souvenir you just have to have.

3. Buy A National Park
Pass If you�re planning on doing a lot camping and hiking, this is a must have. Not only will this pass get you into any National Park at no cost, but The Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation honor your pass wherever fees are charged!
For Australia same applies maybe go online and check first especially for Arnhem Land and Places like Koolpin Gorge in Kakadu National Park .

4. Snacks, Snacks, And More Snacks Snacks are a road trip must, and you should have the accessible at all times.
The best move would be to take a trip to Walmart with your road trip buddies and stock up. You could also hit up your local supermarket and pick up the ingredients to make some of these awesome (and healthier) snacks!

5. Make A Budget and Be Frugal
It�s tempting to buy and try everything you pass during your trip, especially during the first few days. You�ll see things you�ve never seen before and with all of this money saved up, you may feel financially invincible. That being said, spending can add up quick. Take some time to write out a budget and give yourself a daily spending goal. Finding ways to cut financial corners is incredibly important and may be the difference between having to cut your trip sort and realizing you can spend a few extra days, or weeks, on the road with all the cash you�ve saved along the way! While many parks cost $20+ per night, BLM, National Forests and National Grasslands are all free to camp in. Also, don�t forget about unexpected costs that could put an early end to your trip!

6. Do Your Research
Depending on your timeframe and budget, you may be only to spend a night or two in each place you stop. By doing your research ahead of time, you�ll be able to make the most out of your time in each location.

7. Get Your Ride Checked Out
You�ll eventually run into some car trouble along the way. It�s almost inevitable but can be avoided if you get your vehicle checked out before you hit the road. Make sure you have a spare tire, jack, etc. and have your oil changed as needed. It could save you lots of money and more importantly lots of time along the way.

8. Set Some Checkpoints
While it can be tempting to just go, it�s important to at least set a few checkpoints along the way. By doing so, you can have the freedom to explore some unexpected sights, but also keep the end goal in mind. If you don�t, you may find yourself scrambling at the end (and missing out on some more awesome stuff). That being said, it�s also important to be a little spontaneous, so don�t be afraid to deviate from the plan occasionally!

9. Pick Up Some Sporting Goods
And we�re not talking tents, sleeping bags, and hiking shoes (although you should already definitely have those). We�re talking footballs, Frisbees, and whiffle ball bats! While life on the road seems exhilarating 24/7, there is definitely a lot of down time. There�s no better time to throw the disc around or have an impromptu game of whiffle ball than when you�re in a random gas station parking lot in Montana or on the side of the road waiting for AAA in Louisiana.

10. Keep An Open Mind
While it�s extremely important to plan ahead for your road trip, keeping in open mind will help you get the most out of this experience of a lifetime. Don�t get too caught up in the plan and be willing to adjust and adapt as you go along. You�re about to drive across the country with some of your best friends! Enjoy it!
Credits: www.theoutbound.com

Get a instant quote now | email us | fill in a quote request | call us