Authored by Chelsea Antonieff

It’s time to go 4-wheeling, but you can’t just grab your day bag and jump in the truck. You have to prepare first.

Yes, this isn’t the most fun thing in the world to do, and it’s not very spontaneous. But, it could mean the difference between having a good time and a great time. It might also save your life.

  Don’t Travel During The Winter

The summer heat is a strong deterrent to traveling in the outback, but going during mid-winter has its disadvantages too. While the temperatures are cooler, it gets crowded out there.

Campsite during winter can become crowded very quickly.

A lot of people travel during this time of year, and you might not enjoy the trip as much. A weekend outback adventure doesn’t need to be taken during the middle of summer. You can go during the shoulder season or during the wet season.

Don’t underestimate the inconvenience and annoyance of having a lot of other people camping near you and getting in your way. It can ruin the whole trip.

Bring Lots Of Food and Water

If you’ve never travelled out west before, one thing you’ll notice is that it’s incredibly barren – there’s not a lot of places to stop and eat. So, bring food and water.

Non-perishable goods are perfect, but you can also bring some things like fruits that may keep for a few days. Dried foods will hold up nicely, like jerky, nuts, and dried fruit.

Bring several litres of water per person for a day trip. If you’re going to be out there for multiple days, consider bringing three litres per person, per day, per degree over 25 degrees, per kilometre on foot just for drinking.

Photo CC by GCNP

If you’re staying in your vehicle for the duration of the trip, you may still need at least 3 litres of water per day. During the winter, you can divide this number in half, plus one litre. You will be surprised how much water you can go through.

You might also want to bring a water filter that can filter non-potable water, just in case you run out of fresh water. The Life Straw is a good example of such a filter.

Prep Your Vehicle

Your vehicle will need spare hoses, clamps, tyres, wheels, and possibly even fluid out there if something goes wrong. It’s not uncommon for things to break when you’re travelling in such harsh conditions.

Fan belts and hoses are cheap, and they are absolutely necessary for your vehicle to run properly. If something breaks out there, you don’t want to be unprepared.

Also consider bringing at least 2 spare tyres and wheels. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to replace just the rubber tyre if you’re out in the blazing sun. It’s hard work, and best left to a mechanic.

Always remember to prep your vehicle should anything go wrong mid trip.

A tyre and wheel assembly, on the other hand, it simple to replace. Finally, before you head out west, have your vehicle inspected for any leaks, signs of wear and tear, oil and air filters should be replaced, and you should check and replace coolant too.

Bring Walkie Talkies and UHF Radio

Your cell phone will probably be pretty useless out there. Bring walkie talkies and a UHF radio.

Also remember to leave your travel itinerary with someone you trust.

Bring First Aid

If you get injured, you’ll want first aid, since it’s unlikely you’ll find a hospital within any reasonable distance.

Where To Go

The Savannah Way

This route starts in North Queensland and takes you 3,699 kilometres through the Northern Territory to Kununurra.

The trip will take you through or near 15 national parks and landmarks.

Gibb River Road

This is one of the better, and more famous, roads people travel on.

It’s 660 Km long and takes you between Derby and Kununurra. It’s only accessible between the months of May and October.

Gibb River Road. Photo CC by Stephan Ridgway

Canning Stock Route

This is the ultimate test of your ruggedness, and it’s the more remote stock route on planet Earth.

It stretches 2,000 Km from Halls Creek to Wilung.

Chelsea Antonieff is an avid outdoorswoman and travel enthusiast. When she’s not on the road, she’s sharing her experiences through her writings.

Look for her entertaining articles on various Internet blogs and websites.