by Alain Hoffmann
ustralia
is a bloody big country -and four wheelers heaven. But it can turn to
hell quickly if you start unprepared. Sadly most travel agencies ignore
this and most books aren't made for four wheel drives or they assume you
have a fully equipped workshop in your baggage. Well, they are just fine
for the occasional travel on a graded dirt track but worthless if you
really venture into remote sites. And remote areas are easy to find- it's
a continent with the population of a large american city. So we try in
these pages to get you a better start for what may well be the experience
of your lifetime.
The Australian Drivers Licence
Are you one of those who fancy an licence issued somewhere in the Outback? Read here about the conditions and where to obtain it.
The Australian Weather Forecast
The
weather is very important for travellers. Here are some links to official
weather sites including satellite pictures. If I'd just figure out how
to access those while on the road...
Loading your 4 WD
Whether
you read the books, talk to "explorers" or rangers they'll all
have different opinions on what to carry and what to leave at home. The
only common point is that they all believe you drive an 40 tons lorry.
So we tried to compile our own list on essentials, established through
many years of Outback experience.
Before you go
So
here are the pearls of wisdom, the gems of experience... oh well, sort
of. Take what you want. We tell you about companies that ripp you off,
about the climate (wet, hot and stinkin' hot), the kind of cars you should
avoid and so on
Reading matter
Reading
about a region you will be visiting is an very enjoyable experience. Here
we collected a great number of books, 4-wheel guides and fiction which
we personally can recommend.
Fuel prices
Look here for some short indications of the prices of black gold Down Under.
Here's a selection of the most famous 4x4 tracks with pictures, maps and recomendations.
. You will find so many advices you won't know which one to trust. So here are some we tried ourselves and of which we are sure they work.
The last australian explorer
Len was one of the most colorful persons. He was a member of the army survey corps and appointed to the task of cartographing vast areas of unknown Western Australia. Read the tribute to one of the last explorers by Annette Flottwell.
The
Terrible Fruitfly Menace
Sure, those little insects are a treat to farmers but the way it's handled is sometimes a bit... well, let's be kind and say unusual.
The Skytrek in the Flinders Range
One of the most scenic 4x4-only trips is the Skytrek (above). For a closer look click here.