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Are you a first time visitor to the Australian Outback? You have come to the right place. Find out what to expect before you start your Outback Australia travel expedition. Be prepared, and it will be the trip of your lifetime. I am happy to help you plan your exciting dream journey.
I have travelled the tracks and highways in the southern and eastern regions of the Outback, and I am glad to share my first hand experience with you. You can explore the Outback on your own. It is not dangerous! Let common sense rule, and the Outback is the safest place on earth to go.
Outback Australia roads
single lane bitumen road (left) --- gravel road (right)
Explore the Outback on sealed highways without any problems. Roadhouses and small towns line the highways at intervalls of 150 to 250 kilometres, and traffic is frequent around the year. But even if you're "just" travelling the main routes, driving distances are huge. Be sure you have a reliable car, take plenty of water, and realise that it can get bloody hot in summer.
The tips on the Outback safety pages are essential if you're planning to travel on the tracks, and perhaps do some detours, in other words, if you really go "off the beaten track".
Plan your trip
If your time is limited it is a good idea to have a rough itinerary to make sure you'll be back at the airport in time. Australia is such a huge country, don't underestimate the driving distances outback. Speeding and Outback safety don't match. Plan your trip well ahead and know what is worth to explore along the way. Take your time. Read more about Outback driving and how to prepare your car for your Outback adventure.
Get good maps to prepare your itinerary, and take them with you (The maps and the itinerary). Westprint offers very informative maps for the tracks and areas in the Eastern Outback.- Don't make your schedule too tight. Allow yourself a few extra days, just in case somethings happens. A day of heavy rain, even 200 kms ahead of you, can cause a flash flood and road closure for a day or two. When this happens, sit back, relax, and explore the area where you are stuck. In the Australian sun it usually doesn't take long for a road to dry out.
- Avoid driving anywhere outside towns & cities in the dark. Kangoroos and emus love jumping across the roads, you won't see them in time at night. Arrive at your destination before dusk, and enjoy the stunning sunsets in the Outback.
- When you're going to very remote areas, give a reliable friend or family member your itinerary. Arrange with them intervals on which you're going to call them. If they don't hear from your they can hit the alarm button (alert authorities to search for you).
- Bush fires happen every year in Australia. Please don't be the fool who starts one. In hot and windy weather be extremely careful with open fire, even with your cigarettes. On total fire ban days it is not even allowed to use a gas stove outside. Fire bans apply in many regions from November to February, or March. Please get information from the media and the locals. Don't go bush-walking on days of high fire risk, it might be too hot anyway.
- Australian animals - Get some information, use common sense, and you don't need to worry about dangerous Australian wildlife.
Sunset at Marree, South Australia
When to go?
The Australian Outback is a land of extreme heat. Especially in summer temperatures can go far over the 40°C (104 F) mark. Avoid travelling during the Aussie summer months, that is December, January, February. Apart from the heat, traffic on the tracks will be next to nothing then.
Autumn and spring are wonderful. Even winter has mild and sunny days, but the nights can be freezing cold, a fact to consider if you are camping.
Lizard
Useful Telephone numbers & Services for your Outback safety
These phone numbers are helpful to obtain the latest weather report & road conditions. However, it is also a good idea to seek information from the locals before heading out to a track.
South Australia Outback Roads Report available by Telephone 1300 361 033
Desert Parks Pass Information Hotline - telephone 1800 816 078.
South-western Queensland road conditions - telephone Boulia Police on 074 746 3120
New South Wales N.R.M.A. Road Report - telephone 13 1122
Queensland RACQ 24-hour road service - telephone 13 1111
Do you have any questions regarding Outback safety? Please don't hesitate to contact me for any question. It is a pleasure for me to help you prepare your trip. Just fill in the form below, and I will reply to you as soon as possible.
Please double check that you type your email address correct. Sometimes I get messages and can't reply because of an incorrect email address. Thank you.
The following pages have more useful tips for your Outback safety.
Driving distances in the Outback
Driving distances between the major cities
Return From Outback Safety To Outback Guide Homepage
