Looking for Road Trip partners (Australia)

[Snipewench]

Good morning all,

I am fast approaching my long service leave, and am thinking about doing a rather long road trip, something like across the middle of Australia, furthest point east, to furthest point west, and the border corners in between. A big trip.

Which had me thinking whether there'd be any other intrepid souls interested in doing a trip like this some time in the middle of next year, for between 4 and 6 weeks, so we have a fair bit of time for planning the route and such.

Are there any intrepid Grenadiers out there interested? You would need to be completely self-sufficient, as this isn't a guided trip, just some random girl wanting to do a long drive in an awesome vehicle, and curious whether others would want to tag along.

 

[TheDocAUS]

I travel mostly alone, but never actually alone. There are always few travelers you meet on the way. I have some suggestions (you are free to ignore them all):

1. Do not have a detailed travel plan, rather have a broad plan allowing you to make changes on the fly. For example, have a plan to visit the Flinders Ranges and list some places to visit (Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola, etc) and an expected timeframe. Not on day 1 I will do X, on day 2 I do will Y.
2. Try and plug into local knowledge, things like Wiki Camps App can help but talk to the locals at the roadhouses, other travelers, locals at the Country Pub. It is eye opening what the locals can tell you.
3. Make a diary of your travels. I just get a book with lines, common diary size. I keep dates, times, people and places visited.
4. Must have phone apps, Fuel Maps Australia, or Petrol Spy for the cheapest place to buy fuel. Fuel Charge to access some remote fuel browsers like iOR. I have saved many hundreds of dollars using these apps.
5. I allow 2 weeks from one side of the country to the other, even with minimal travel/exploring off route. Do not underestimate how far (and tiring) it is when you are doing all the driving.
6. In remote locations you may need permits to travel on certain public roads, make sure you know which ones like the Great Central Road (between Laverton and The Olgas), part of the Outback Way (Australia's longest shortcut). Check current requirements.
7. The Outback Way starts in Boulia (Eastern end, although technically it is Winton) and ends in Laverton (Western end).
8. From memory Ronny Dahl said you need extra fuel to get in and out of the most western point of Australia driving a Grenadier. Check.
9. Know how to drive outback roads (some tips here). In summary slow down, concentrate and know your wildlife.
10. Have a working UHF radio (in car install), PLB and a hard copy HEMA map as a backup (even if it is large scale map book).
11. Carry some basic spares, like a fuel filter, oil filter, cabin filter, diesel filter (if you are diesel), fuses, etc. The Grenadier has some very unusual fuses you cannot get in remote parts of Australia even if someone can replace the fuse.
12. Have a daily routine of checking the car, even if for just 5 minutes, tyres, any leaks, anything loose, etc. Some suggestions here.
13. Take needs, not wants, to keep the weight down. Most people take too much stuff.
14. Download and use the Rok Dr Guide here. Print out a copy and keep it in the car – vital if people are trying to help you.
15. Have a basic toolkit, the Grenadier has some unusual bolt and screw heads. Tool kits for the Grenadier/QM discussed here and here.
16. Do not travel certain places alone, like a Simpson Desert Crossing, be part of a group.
17. Remote communities that allow grog can be dangerous (like Warburton). Those that ban grog are much safer.
18. Make sure you are not too remote when critical services are due. As services come up plan around them, do not be in the middle of the Simpson Desert!
19. Have an emergency stash of water and food (muesli bars, meal replacements, etc) over the usual. You can be trapped by flood waters. I carry a lifesaver bottle if I need to filter my own water. Nothing worse than being trapped by flood waters and die of dehydration! This is the risk to stock right now in flooded Outback Queensland - stock will not drink muddy water and so they die of dehydration surrounded by water.

This stunning place is known as the Schwerin Mural Crescent along the Outback Way in the middle of nowhere, but close to the WA/NT border. Named by Ernest Giles on 22 May 1874 after the Princess of Schwerin.

 

[Steve.B]

To add to TheDocAus excellent suggestions, you may find people interested in joining you for parts of the trip, such as a Simson Desert crossing, but a suggestion when crossing the Simpson drive around all the salt lake crossings you can I always do, I have came across a few stuck vehicles in the middle of salt lakes, and there was always a drive around. The most memorable was an ultra capable Unimog, it took the older couple 6 hours of hard work to get themselves out they had a 4 cylinder powered winch attached to the front, and a massive anchor system, we did the more interesting and scenic 4km drive around and met them after they had got out, the Mog must of been carrying close to a tonne of mud.
We never saw them stuck, we would have helped, they were already out and exhausted.

 

[Snipewench]

Hey Steve, absolutely agree that people can join or drop off throughout the trip. The more company the better if people want to attempt one part.

I've watched a few YT videos where people do the "content thing" and drive straight across, rather than going around a salt pan. Sometimes I get why, other times I wonder what they were thinking... for content, right?

 

[globalgregors]

Hmm… could be back in Oz by then with a fresh windscreen to break. Please keep us posted.