Australian Road Trip - Best Prep Tips

With its vast and diverse natural landscapes and rich historic heritage, there’s hardly a more attractive country for a road trip than Australia. If you’re adventurous, you can go round half a continent, and unless you strike for its red hot core, the ocean is never far away. Whether you follow the stretch from Cairns to Brisbane, connect the two largest cities of Australia’s on the Pacific Highway, or follow the lonely road through the heart of the country from the wave-swept Adelaide to the lush waterfronts of Darwin, an Australian road trip adventure promises a lot of fun and memorable moments. Although these trips should be spontaneous, many drivers and their companions underestimate the preparations needed for such a long trip. Here are a few tips. 

Match clothing and weather

So, Australia’s hot, right? Well, yes, but not everywhere, and not all the time. Unfortunately, the sun doesn’t shine 365 days of the year, so if you want to avoid whiny road hashtags like #whyraininghere or #howcomesocold, you better check the weather for each state and territory and pack appropriate clothing. There are some season/location combos that are not recommended, like Brisbane to Cairns from January to March. While still hot, this is the rainy season with lots of rain guaranteed. The same goes for Darwin between December and April, when flooded roads often limit access to National Parks. If you want to experience full Australian summer in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, October to April is the right time. 

Pay attention to security

If you’re traveling with your children, you need to be extra careful and make sure they’re safe during your trip. Check out the latest laws when it comes to driving children and follow all the rules. Make stops during the trip so all of you could step out of the car and breathe some fresh air and stretch your legs.  In addition to that, find a car seat with the best reviews that will keep your child safe and comfortable.

Pack the car essentials

The thing with Australia is that distances between points of interest don’t look that big on the map. The road from Brisbane to Cairns looks it could be covered in a day or two, but it’s actually 2000 km long. And even if you cover 800 km a day with drivers changing, you shouldn’t do it anyway, as there are many things to see in between. In case you decide to branch from the main road, make sure you have an emergency kit such as a couple of flashlights, a thermal blanket, lots of water and snacks. Also, make sure that your spare tyre is fully inflated and that your jack is on board. 

Have the right car

Needless to say, any road trip longer than 1000km calls for a quality car. So in case your car is not in a great shape you should consider renting one. There are numerous cheap car hire options that can provide you with a safe and durable vehicle that can whitsand the road trip route you have in mind. Just make sure you book the car you want on time and sit back and enjoy your road trip. 

Budget for road costs

Petrol is much cheaper in Australia than in Europe, but the prices vary greatly from place to place, and sometimes even hour by hour. As you move deeper into the outback, the prices start to rise, so you may have to rely on advice from your fellow travellers at rest stops on where to find the cheapest station in the area. The best advice, however, is to check prices for a specific area online or on local radio news and fill to the top. Also, if you spend over $20 or $30 on grocery shopping at Coles or Woolworths, you can shave a few cents off each litre at their associated stations, Shell and Caltex. In addition always have extra change at hand, since some caravan parks and campsites charge $1 or $2 for a shower. And a shower after a day’s drive is always welcome, AC or not. 

If you have prepared your car, yourself and your companions, any Australian road trip is bound to be an unforgettable holiday. Aside from essential supplies and petrol money, one of the most important things is to ensure your car is up to the challenge just as you are.