Self Drive Information

Your vehicle must be in sound mechanical order, with good tyres to self drive in remote areas. Outback travel is tough on vehicles. Diesel's tend to be more reliable - less moving parts. Also diesel fuel is less volatile, safer to carry in jerry cans. The other advantage with diesels is they run cooler. The Western Deserts are littered with burnt out petrol vehicles due to Spinifex igniting.

And whilst on the subject of Spinifex, before heading into it, attach shade mesh to your front grill and under your radiator to stop Spinifex seed drilling into your core. This can usually be done easily with plastic cable ties.

Most of the Outback stations use Toyota Landcruisers. They have great availability of spare parts. We were once travelling on the Talawanna Track 500km east of Newman. One of the vehicles in our convoy was a 12 month old Nissan Patrol. Travelling at 40kph on a corrugated road the rear differential split in two rendering the vehicle inoperative. After hours spent haggling with Nissan on the satellite phone they refused to honour their warranty. Would make you think twice before heading Outback in a Nissan?

Long-range tanks are essential. If you don't have them you can always carry more fuel in jerry cans, but they are better stored low because of thier weight. If you are budget concious you may want to fill all your jerry cans and tanks prior to leaving to get a cheaper fuel price. Use this handy fuel price monitor to check fuel prices Australia-wide.

All four-wheel drives on the market are capable of outback travel, however clearance is often an issue. On clay capped roads, after rain roads can become deeply rutted. On many river crossings you need high clearance - even a snorkel. In rangelands many tracks are very rocky, and in dune country high clearance is essential.

We are always wary of vehicles with excessive electronics, as repair in remote areas is often impossible. Make sure your vehicle is in top mechanical order and recently serviced.

Travelling in a convoy of the same make of vehicle gives you the opportunity to carry fewer spares, as parts can be interchanged. It is handy to travel with other vehicles that have the same tyres - it is handy if the stud patterns are compatible. Have your vehicle thoroughly serviced prior to departure. Check levels daily. Pay special attention to your springs and clean your air filter regularly. The price of peace is eternal vigilance!

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Best time to travel
Information on the best time to travel, which season is best to get the most out of your Outback adventure

Toolkit
What you should have in your toolkit, with handy tips from experts in Outback travel.

Roofracks
How good are roofracks, how should you set them up and what should you put on them

Tyres
What tyres you should run, what pressure you should put in them and how to repair them on the road

Trailers
Important information on what kind of trailer you should take and how to modify it for the outback

Maps
Information and links to both paper and digital maps, what you need and where to get it

Communications
Modern communications are essential in remote areas. Find out the what, why, where and when

First Aid
In the outback you could be several days from medical help. The RFDS can't get everywhere. Details of first aid kit contents and medical training. Essential!