Australia is such a magnificent, and huge, country that taking a road trip across it (in any direction) is something that everyone should consider doing at least once. However, because Australia is such a huge place, you will need to be completely prepared before you set off, or you run the risk of your road trip having to end too soon due to unforeseen circumstances which could have been prevented. Here are some tips on how to prepare for an Australian road trip.
Your Vehicle – Rent Or Buy?
One of the most (if not the most) important aspects of your road trip is the vehicle in which you choose to travel. Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to rent or buy a car or van. Buying is a nice option as you don’t have to worry about where you go, how many miles you cover, or dropping it back off to a rental place once you’re finished with your trip. The downside to buying is that it costs a lot more upfront than hiring a campervan or car, and that money could be more useful for buying food or finding somewhere to spend the night. Think about how much cash you’ve got spare, and what you’re planning to do with the vehicle once you’ve finished. You might be able to make some money back, or even a profit, if you want to sell it, for example.
Your Vehicle – Make Sure It’s In Good Condition
Once you have your vehicle, you’ll need to check it over to make sure it’s in perfect condition. You’re going to be driving for thousands of miles, and the last thing you want is to break down in the middle of the Outback. If you’re renting, then these checks should already have been carried out. However, if you’re buying, there is no guarantee that everything is going to be as it should be, especially if you bought fairly cheap. Take your vehicle to a specialist to get it checked out. Tyre Busters Kunda Park, can make sure your tyres are in top condition. It won’t hurt to have a fresh new set of tyres either, and it could prevent you from having to stop and change partway through your trip. Make sure you’ve got a spare in the boot too.
Who Are You Taking?
A road trip can be made solo, but it’s always more fun when you take someone along for the ride. Before you get your friends or family all excited about your long road trip, make some trial trips to make sure you can stand to spend hours at a time cooped up in a car with them. No matter how much you love someone, confined conditions can spark arguments over the smallest things! If you think you can do it, ask them. It’ll be great to be able to spend time with whoever it is you want to go with you, and you’ll be able to discover much more about them than you even realised. Whoever you take should be someone you can work with; you will have to figure out directions together, split costs, choose where you are going, perhaps even share a room and meals with, so ensuring you can get on with your companion is vital.
Navigational Tools
A satellite navigation unit (or sat nav, also known as GPS units) can be extremely useful on a trip such as this, and you can now find older ones for just a few dollars. However, make sure that you also have a good old-fashioned paper roadmap in the car too. GPS units can go wrong. New roads can confuse them, or inputting the wrong data can send you in entirely the wrong direction. It’s the same with any computerised device; they’re wonderful when they’re working, but when they stop, you can be in serious trouble. Having a paper roadmap in the vehicle with you means that even if your GPS unit does suffer a malfunction, or there’s no signal for it to hook up to the nearest satellite, you can still work out where you are, and where to go. That simple piece of paper, picked up for just a few dollars, can save you from having to sleep in your car, or stop you from driving around in circles wasting time and fuel.
Where Will You Sleep?
If you’re hiring or buying a campervan of some description, then your sleeping arrangement is almost set, although there are restrictions on where you can park up, and you should check these out before you set off. If you don’t have a campervan, or if you do and you want it to be connected to power and have a shower and so on wherever you stop, then you should try to book ahead into campgrounds. You don’t want to arrive somewhere and find that it’s full up. If you’re travelling in a standard car then booking into hostels or motels could be your answer. It depends on how much you value your comfort, and how much money you’re willing to spend. You don’t have to map out your entire trip in advance (half the fun is not being completely sure where you’re heading), but when you do know where you want to sleep, it’s best to book early.
Petrol Planning
Fuel costs can vary hugely from place to place, so when you see cheap petrol or diesel somewhere, and your tank is less than half full, take a moment to top up. Yes, it takes extra time, but when all those savings are added up, you’ll be pleased you did it. If you spot a supermarket that has a petrol station attached, see if you can get any money off your fuel by shopping there. You’ll need supplies anyway, so this can be an ideal way to save even more money.
Things To Bring
You don’t want to pack too much on your Australian road trip, as it will just get in your way and be a pain to lug around with you. There are a few things that make sense to take with you though including binoculars, a satellite phone, books and magazines, cards, board games, and chargers for your electronics.
Fantastic article and some beautiful photos.