So you are now 10K from town. Here are ten helpful tips about outback travel:
1. Be prepared. Your vehicle is in good condition (especially the tyres) and you carry emergency water and fuel in your vehicle. A break down and help sometimes hours away, it's important to have a water supply with you in these unfortunate times!
2. Try and avoid driving at dawn and dusk: our native animals favourite times to hop, skip and jump are dawn and dusk. They are unpredictable near roads and can change direction very quickly resulting in a very unenjoyable encounter for you, your car and the animal!
3. Watch for cattle on the road: when the fences stop, cattle begin to freely roam the open landscape including the road! Not only do you need to be aware of wildlife but now cattle and sheep too. Do slow down when approaching a "Cattle on Road" or "Beware of Livestock" sign and be sure all livestock are clear of the road before speeding up again.
4. Drive to conditions. If you are driving off road, check the ground isn’t wet, or even damp, before driving on it. Soil in Cunnamulla, and the rest of the outback, when slightly wet can cause you to get bogged. If you are unsure its best to hop out of the vehicle and check if the ground is damp, wet or soft as you could sink. This also applies even if you are driving a 4WD, you may get further but you won’t be immune to the wet soil!
5. Beware the dust. When driving on dirt roads, don’t pull over and immediately open your doors! One of the first things you will notice when you start driving on the outback roads is the dust! When you pull over on the side of the road, let the dust cloud pass you before opening your doors! You won’t end up with dust in your car or mouth!
6. Be tree-safe. Don’t park your vehicle, camper or put your tent up under tall or older gumtrees: they are known to drop their branches frequently and unexpectedly so be sure not to set up camp under them or you might be in for a rough night’s sleep.
7. Put your camp fire out! It is important to always obey the rules when having a campfire, read the signs and know the fire restrictions of your area. Keep the area safe for the next campers and ensure the fire won’t continue to burn unsupervised when you leave.
8. Wear closed in shoes when hiking or in the bush. Yes, we have snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlies. While it’s not likely you will be bitten, it can happen, and wearing closed in shoes will help ensure our not so friendly friends won’t nibble on your feet!
9. Carry a First Aid kit at all times. It goes without saying! Also let a family member or friend know your itinerary before you leave and your expected arrival time at each location. Even though mobile phone service can be very scarce or almost non-existent between towns, check in when you can.
10. And finally, be prepared for THE FLIES! The outback has an abundance of flies - by the millions (and probably billions after the rains). And boy are they annoying!! Flies in your food, buzzing around your eyes, ears and often unfortunately end up down your throat! An entertaining experience for those who don’t swallow the fly but not so much when it’s you. The best thing you can do is be prepared. Don’t do the typical Aussie “I’ll be right” “I can just shoo them away” it doesn’t quite work (if you can’t tell I’m speaking from personal experience) BUY A FLY VEIL – your trip will be much more comfortable!!
The outback is a truly incredible place with beautiful scenery and an abundance of unique experiences, (including the flies). Hopefuly these ten tips cam help make your outback one of a kind! We look forward to seeing you in Cunnamulla - it's only 10K to go!