The land down under has just about any activity for a variety of interests from surfing and bushwalking, to sipping flat whites and espresso martinis overlooking the beach. Aussie’s know how much time it can take to travel through the country’s vast landscape but if you get yourself a good map, pack your gumboots and thongs, jump in your car, van or ute, you too can master the Australian road trip.
The country’s eclectic cities offer a variety of things to do with excellent cafes and restaurants, the coastline is a beach bum’s paradise, and the mostly desert inland offers outback adventure for the more intrepid. With so much to see and do, it’s no wonder that road trippers often overlook the small stuff when preparing for an Aussie road trip.
Continue reading to discover some essential tips that can help you roll through your Australian road trip.
Be Road Ready
Always make sure your car can last the trip because there’s nothing worse than being unprepared for the small setbacks that can hold up your trip. A reliable vehicle that can stand all types of weather and road conditions can make the difference between a smooth ride and a rough time. If road tripping this year, take a look at Latitude car loans, who can fix you up with a reliable ride in no time.
Make sure your vehicle is road ready. If you are someone who travels frequently, joining a car club like RAC can help you get roadside assistance quickly. Finally, as mentioned earlier, preparation is key, so make sure you have a rechargeable battery, a jack and a tyre wrench, and other tools just in case of emergencies.
Be Prepared For The Australian Landscape
While Australia is simply one huge island, it has an incredibly diverse topography. Inland has very dry desert conditions while the closer you get to the beach in the north you will find more subtropical conditions, with the southern coast being more “Mediterranean” with hot dry summers and cool mild wet winters.
Whether travelling during the balmy summer months or during the mild Australian winters, keep the landscape in mind because bad weather can make for a rough ride, especially in the red centre where roads can wash away during the rainy season, so you’ll need a 4×4.
Consider Your Travel Time
Take into consideration the country comprises a great landmass. Australia spans three time zones, so when travelling, scale the distance between locations to get an accurate sense of the travel time. While the thought of travelling through the outback can be adventurous, even romantic, it can also be hard going to travel through this area, and it covers a vast distance.
Choose Where To Go
Those traversing Australia’s diverse landscape can find a number of places to visit. The east coast offers road trippers a variety of experiences. Hotspots to definitely check out include the Whitsundays, Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Road trippers can also enjoy a diversity of landscapes on the west coast, which offers travellers a chance to visit wild canyons and deserted beaches as well as the world-famous wine and surf region, Margaret River. You can find yourself feeding the dolphins at Monkey Mia or simply enjoying a swim at a beautiful, secluded beach in WA.
Road trippers travelling from north to south on the Stuart Highway will encounter famous landmarks like Kakadu National Park, the Devil’s Marbles, King’s Canyon and Ayers Rock in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the most iconic Aussie landmark. Finally, the south coast draws include the Great Ocean Road for those looking for epic coastal scenery and one of the most iconic road trip routes in Oz.
Pack The Essentials
The last thing every road tripper should do before heading out on the road is to pack the essentials. In Australia, there are often great distances between stops for food and water, so when travelling long distances make sure you have enough to last at least a day or two in case you break down and have to wait a while for assistance. When road tripping in the Outback it’s absolutely essential to pack these as well as extra fuel as the distances between fuel stations can be great.
Have An Epic Road Trip
Australia is one of the world’s most beautiful countries with so much epic scenery and a huge diversity of wildlife. Whether your journey involves simply taking in the scenery or stopping to enjoy activities, road tripping through the country is an experience like no other.