Planning tips for your next trip
Ensuring safety on the road and being prepared for emergencies
Whether you’re someone that loves to travel with a detailed itinerary in hand or you would rather fly by the seat of your pants, there are several things to consider before you take off on your next trip.
They say that being prepared is half the battle, and the same is true when it comes to travelling, especially offroad exploring in a motorhome, caravan or camper. The luxury of taking your home with you warrants a bit of preparation to make sure everything goes smoothly on the road. There are all kinds of unknowns in the Aussie outback and no matter how prepared you are, some will always catch you off guard, but being prepared gives you a better chance of taking those setbacks in your stride.
The shakedown
A term taken from nautical circles, a shakedown is where a brand-new ship is taken out prior to any serious adventures so that the particulars of that vessel can be discovered and solved before embarking on a long journey away from home. If you’re lucky enough to have a new RV (used or brand new), it’s advised to do a shakedown prior to any long trips, especially if going offroad. It’ll be easier to fix mechanical and/or cosmetic problems at home rather than in the middle of the desert thousands of kilometres away.
When you do your shakedown, it should be more than just a lap around the block. To get a real feel of the van and all its limitations, it’s best to load it up with all your usual gear and head off for a night. This will allow you to discover how everything works in practice, the best way to pack things, the vehicle’s limits and any extra items you may need to add to your kit. Remember to bring a notebook to write down any issues encountered along the way.
Route mapping
When it comes to route mapping, there are no hard and fast rules as everyone has a different style of travelling based on their set of circumstances and desires. Some people like to just load up the rig and go wherever the wind takes them, but if you’ve only got a set amount of time or kids on board, it’s best to have a bit more of a plan before heading off.
Once you know the direction you’re heading, it’s good to ask around for advice from friends and family who have done similar trips. It’s also a good idea to have a look online and find out what’s popular, what to avoid and all those other little tips that come with experience. Be wary of potential seasonal road closures and understand how road conditions may vary at different times of the year.
These days it can be as easy as plotting your intended route into a sat-nav device, such as Hema’s HX-2 Navigator. This makes it a lot easier for both the driver and passenger in the thick of it and will hopefully prevent most map-related quarrels. Paper maps are also still a great backup if your sat-nav runs out of battery or something similar. A paper map with a pen-drawn route is a satisfying way to view your progress and travels. It also facilitates a certain degree of curiosity and spontaneity — and will likely become a precious souvenir when the trip is over.
Itineraries
Once you have your route planned out, you can start making daily itineraries. When planning your travels, you must take into account the facilities available along your chosen route, considering the appropriate campsites, fuel stops, dump sites, points of interest and so on. Remember not to get to caught up in the itinerary — the hallmark of a good itinerary is knowing you can break it. Some days you might want to push on to the next site and some days you might love a place so much that you want to stay much longer. As long as you have a good itinerary and you know what’s ahead, you can always shuffle it around and enjoy the freedom.
Campsites
Like with picking your route, choosing a campsite is a largely subjective process. Some people enjoy camping for free in the peaceful and picturesque bush, while others enjoy the amenities offered by a caravan park. If you’re doing a long trip, you’ll likely do a bit of both, and some days you’ll need access to power, water and sullage (just remember to book in advance). There are tools online to help with planning and you can also pick up a guide with comprehensive information about the sights at a glance. Hema’s Where to Camp Guide is a good example of this.
Fuel
Running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere can be one of the most frustrating experiences simply because it’s so easy to avoid. Find out how far you can go on a tank with a full load and look for larger gaps in the route. There are even apps these days such as Fuel Map Australia which make this a breeze. And remember it always pays to load up a couple of jerry cans and to have a bit more than you think you’ll need.
Communication
If you’re not heading off-grid, a mobile phone is usually enough provided you’ve got reception. However, if you’re going out bush, you’ll need a radio or a satphone (satellite phone). Radios are more expensive to set up but work out cheaper in the long run as they don’t incur ongoing costs.
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio is the most common method of on-road communication. You don’t need a licence to purchase a UHF, however, it is not suitable for communication over long distances. Satphones can be used to make phone calls just like a regular phone, but they communicate directly with satellites rather than cell towers. They’re simple to use and better for private conversations than radios, however, call costs can be high. It’s therefore usually recommended to use them for emergencies only. Keep in mind that satphones don’t often work in areas of heavy tree cover or in deep gorges, they prefer wide-open sky.
Handy tip
It’s always a good idea to share your plans with a responsible loved one. Arrange to stay in contact with this person and should you fail to make contact as expected, they will be able to seek assistance on your behalf. This may include alerting emergency services if they suspect you’re in trouble.
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