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The information below is written for both motorbike and campervan/car
hire. Most of it applies to both but some elements are specific to bikes.
Just choose the bits that relate to you! The information will be useful
to short and long term hires but is orientated towards a trip planned
mostly around camping/motels/hostels. Some of the advice may make you
wonder what on earth you are letting yourself in for but in reality
you'll be safe if you take a few precautions and use some common sense!
A
good book on touring Australia will help you get the most out of your
trip. It will tell you about tourist destinations, what to expect when
you get there, accommodation, places to eat and just about everything
else. There are dozens of books and web sites out there but many people
find the Lonely Planet and Rough
Guides literature incredibly useful.
Australia has two basic climate zones and the southern and northern
half of the country must be treated differently. In the northern half
it is warm/hot all year round but in the Summer (late November to April)
it is the 'wet' season when it is humid, extremely hot, very wet and
prone to cyclones (hurricanes). This is not a great time of year to
visit the 'Top End' as roads are sometimes impassable (even tarmac ones)
and it's just uncomfortably hot and humid! The Winter in the north and
middle of Australia is peak season as temperatures are typically high
20s and 30s, it is not humid and it's the 'dry' season. Bear in mind
it can get very cold in the desert at night.
Southern Australia is much more Mediterranean and even temperate in
the far south. Warm, dry Summers and cool, wet winters are the norm.
Spring through to Autumn is a lovely time of year to travel here. Winters
can be cold with temperatures typically between 5 and 18dC along the
south coast during the day. The Victorian Alps and Snowy Mountains in
the south east will be covered in snow in Winter and will be very cold
and icy - no fun on a bike!
Whenever you go, sun tan lotion, a hat and sunglasses are essential.
Australia is extremely well prepared for the traveler and is perfect
for the outdoors way of life. Campsites can be found almost everywhere
and are mostly clean and well kept. You'll pay anything from AU$3-20
per day for a two man tent. National parks and other remote areas often
have bush campsites. These are off the beaten track and provide useful
basic facilities such as toilets and an area for a fire (always check
fire restrictions before starting one). These sites are great if you
enjoy getting back to nature. You'll find birds and animals all around
and there's nothing better than sitting round your fire cooking dinner,
downing a beer and gazing up at more stars then you ever knew existed.
On those rainy, cold days when some comfort is welcome then motels
are a good choice and will cost AU$60-100 per night. Backpacker hostels
are also good value and make meeting other travelers easy. You can either
sleep in a dorm with a number of others (Approx. AU$20 per night) or
take a room on your own (AU$50 per night). Call if you are hoping to
stay in a hostel as they can be very busy. There are many books with
details of accommodation and a good one is invaluable. I've found the
Lonely Planet's guides to be excellent.
Flies can be incredibly annoying at certain times of year in some areas
but it's surprising how quickly you get used to a few hanging around!
When things get really bad invest in a hat with a fly net or save the
corks from your wine bottles and tie them on - it really works! Insect
repellant is a must. Even if you think there's no chance of mosquitoes
or sand flies (common in the tropics) there normally is and so make
it a regular routine to put it on in the morning and if you stop for
long periods.
Before you leave for Oz everyone will be telling you you'll end up bitten
by a snake, stung by a spider, chewed by a croc or shark or stung by
deadly jellyfish. The chances of this are very slim but a few sensible
rules should be followed. Snakes don't want trouble so walk heavily
as you go through the bush and they'll be long gone before you see them.
Always wear boots protecting your ankles and toes walking in the bush
and don't rummage or sit on sticks and leaves as that's where they live!
Don't leave your shoes and clothes outside the tent at night as spiders
may make them home and keep the mosquito net zipped up on the tent to
stop insects and spiders getting in. Pick up chairs and tables by their
sides and not with your fingers underneath as you may disturb a spider.
ALWAYS adhere to signs warning of crocs and "stingers" and
don't swim on tropical shores during the wet season when jellyfish are
about. It is reassuring to be acquainted with the procedure in the event
of a bite or sting and so a little research before hand may give you
some peace of mind.
Preparation before you leave:
Firstly, always prepare a detailed list of things to take and then
check it thoroughly before leaving home. Leaving your credit cards and
cash at home won't make for a good start to your holiday!
Don't forget to take your bike/car license, passport with visa, flight
tickets, booking confirmations, credit cards/cash, travel books etc.
We strongly recommend you obtain personal health and general travel
insurance before you depart for Australia.
The more you bring the heavier the bike and the more difficult it can
be to handle so think carefully about your list of items and minimise
them where possible. The bikes often include panniers but you'll probably
need a rucksack (not one with a frame) and large zip up sports type
bag as well. A small rucksack for everyday items is useful so that you
don't have to keep unstrapping everything to get at your camera for
example. Remember you will need to carry water and probably extra petrol
at times. On top of that you'll need room for your tent. Cargo net type
bungees are good and you'll need at least a couple of standard ones.
It may be a luxury but a cheap collapsible chair means you have somewhere
to sit outside your tent when you're eating. It's much nicer than sitting
on the ground and keeps you away from the ants! Make sure you pack dry
items in waterproof plastic bags because the rain can be very heavy.
Australia is often hot but it can also be very cold and wet. On a bike
you need to cater for these situations. Touring is no fun when you're
cold and wet and you're much more likely to make mistakes. A good pair
of biking gloves is essential as is an armoured jacket. Leather trousers
are useful if you are spending any length of time in the southern part
of Australia as the weather can be variable especially if you climb in
altitude. That means you'll need warm clothes too.
Proper bike boots are ideal but when you're trying to save space and
weight a good pair of walking boots will serve you on the bike and off
it. It goes without saying that an approved motorcycle helmet should
be worn at all times.
Useful extras include a small torch, headlamp, notepad and pencil,
self inflating bed roll, nylon chord or string.
Riding/Driving tips:
At some stage of your trip you'll probably spend a long time holding
the throttle in one place. It hurts after an hour or two and you should
plan to stop and stretch regularly. Some ingenious devices have been
invented to act as a cruise control for bikes making use of various
items such as radiator hoses over the bar end and throttle grip. It's
obviously very dangerous if your throttle sticks open so beware. It
also helps to develop a simple routine of stretches and muscle contractions
if you're trying to cover a lot of ground each day.
You'll see signs all over Australia warning you of the consequences
of falling asleep whilst driving. It is one of their biggest killers
and if you feel drowsy don't take chances.
Most cars and campers have air conditioning but you can also take advantage
of it on a bike. "On a bike" I hear you say! 40°C and
higher is common at certain times of year in much of Australia and so
you'll get hot. Tarmac reflects this heat and it's like riding in an
oven. An evaporative air conditioning system is easily available. Take
an old T-shirt, soak it at every opportunity and put it back on (don't
use your drinking water). Do your bike jacket up and as you go along
the water evaporates making you feel cool! It never stays wet for long
so control the amount of cooling via the zipper.
The rule for traveling at night, dawn and dusk is simple - don't! Animals
feed at this time and hitting a kangaroo, camel or wombat will hurt
a lot (or worse) and wreck your car/bike. They are bigger animals than
you think. You should watch out for large birds (often wedge tailed
eagles) on road kill. They don't like to leave their food and sometimes
fly off at the last second in your direction. An eagle with a wing span
of 9 feet will hurt and/or cause damage if you hit it! The same is true
of emus. When panicked they can run along the side of the road, turn
suddenly and run across your path. Whatever the animal, slow down and
make sure it is out of harms way before you pass.
For the most part Australian tarmac roads are in good shape and you
can get to the majority of the tourist sites without leaving them. Many
tourists want to see some of the less traveled routes and to do this
you'll drive on roads without the 'black top'. The condition of these
can vary dramatically and it's worth asking locals/the police what to
expect. Many of them require a 4WD car/camper or a dual purpose enduro
type bike. In the north the wet season makes many roads impassable and
it's best to avoid the area at this time of year. At other times the
roads range from smooth, firm gravel to deeply corrugated and very soft.
Beware of bull dust in large holes in some outback roads. It's difficult
to see and even more difficult to control your car/bike when you hit
it. If you've little or no experience off road just take your time and
drive within your abilities at all times. Don't try and be a hero. It's
just not worth the consequences of a nasty accident especially in a
remote location.
With the exception of some parts of the Northern Territory where there
are no speed limits the police are extremely rigorous when it comes
to speeding. Mobile cameras are used in many cities and if you are just
2-3kph you'll be in for a fine. This zero tolerance policy means that
for the most part Australians don't speed.
There was a day when distances were measured in the amount you could
drink between two places. One town to the next might be a six-pack or
a long journey could be a crate (24)! Those days have gone and drink
driving is just as socially unacceptable as it is in many other parts
of the world. If you do then one large, typically Australian billboard
I've seen sums you up…"If you drink and drive you must be
a bloody idiot!" No expensive marketing man needed for that succinct
slogan!
Water crossings can be dangerous so don't go rushing in. Look carefully
and walk your route first. Check for large boulders and holes. If on
a motorbike take your luggage off if necessary and carry it across first.
Push the bike through if it's safer rather than riding it and risking
falling off and sucking water into the engine. In northern Australia
in the wet season water levels can rise very rapidly and the force of
water can be stronger than you think. Storms are very heavy but often
short. If you get stuck between two rivers the best thing to do may
be to wait as levels go up very quickly but come down just as fast.
You may be there for a day or two but that's better than chancing your
luck in the water. Finally, keep an eye out for crocs if you're in that
region.
Don't take chances with these. In hot areas you'll drink much more than
you expect and if you reach the point where you are thirsty you're not
drinking enough. Plan for about 10 liters a day - more if you need it
for cooking or if you intend to walk in the bush or do other exercise.
Don't rely on other travelers to have spare petrol, oil or water - they'll
need it for themselves! Plan your route carefully and check that you
have plenty spare when you reach the next roadhouse or town. Be very
careful if you intend to go into remote regions - see sections below
on planning your route and preparation.
Always take a detailed map especially if you're in remote regions. In
these areas talk to local authorities about your intended trip. Always
plan your route carefully noting roadhouses and towns and work out the
distances to cover. Be aware of possible wrong turns - it can literally
save your life. Imagine traveling on a track when you unknowingly take
a wrong turn. You reach the point where you don't have sufficient fuel
to return to civilisation before realising you've gone the wrong way.
You may be stuck in a hostile environment for days before anyone comes
along - if you're lucky. It's no exaggeration to say that many have
died making this kind of mistake. Remote trips are incredibly exhilarating
but you must plan the distances and points of return properly. ALWAYS
let others know (local police for example) your route and estimated
time of arrival and be sure to check in as soon as you arrive. Buying
or hiring an emergency radio and/or beacon may be wise in very remote
areas.
A toolkit is often included with the bike/car but there's a couple of
extras you might find handy. Firstly, always carry a good knife. You
may only need it for opening beer bottles but it can also be put to
many other uses. Another handy item is a tube of "liquid metal"
or similar that allows you to mix two putty like materials together.
It cures to a solid and can be used to fill holes in sumps, repair petrol
tanks etc. Interestingly, soap can be used to fill a hole in a petrol
tank as fuel won't dissolve it. Another outback quick fix is putting
pepper into a holed radiator to stop the leak!
Australians are generally extremely friendly and will help if you've
broken down and are really stuck. If on a long term hire bike or car
then the toolkit and spares will cover spare levers, belts, inner tubes,
clutch cables and the like helping to deal with many common problems.
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Insects
and flies:
Luggage on a bike:
Animals
and travelling at night:
Water
crossings:
Planning
your route and daily preparation: