A practical checklist for a first multi-day outback drive

Australian outback road with modern GPS navigation

Your first outback trip does not need to be extreme. It does need a plan. This checklist is built from Australian Government, ARB and WorkSafe WA guidance, and is arranged by when you will use it.

Two to four weeks before

  • Choose a route that matches your experience and your vehicle. Check that the roads you plan to use are open to the public and suited to your vehicle.
  • Book a service, and ask your mechanic to look at suspension, steering, wheel bearings and the cooling system.
  • Check your tyres, including the spare, and make sure you know how to change a wheel and use your jack on soft ground.
  • Check your roadside assistance cover and insurance. Confirm the terms, including any limits or exclusions that may apply to unsealed or remote roads.

The week before

  • Check the weather and road conditions. Many outback roads become impassable after rain. Obey road closures; entering closed roads may attract penalties, which vary by jurisdiction.
  • List the fuel stops on your route and the distance between them.
  • Decide how you will communicate: check mobile coverage, and consider a satellite phone, UHF/HF radio, GPS tracker, PLB or EPIRB.
  • Give a relative or friend your itinerary and agreed check-in times. If you are leaving major roads, consider telling local police.
  • Pack current maps, and a GPS if possible.

The day before

  • Do a pre-start check: oil, coolant, tyres and pressures, lights, belts and hoses.
  • Pack water, food and spare fuel with a margin for delays.
  • Pack your first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and your basic tool kit and spares.
  • Charge everything: phones, lights, power banks, radios.

On the road

  • Run low-beam headlights during the day so other vehicles can see you.
  • Fill up whenever you can, rather than waiting for the tank to run low.
  • Keep to your check-in times, and tell your contact if the plan changes.
  • Reduce speed on unsealed roads, and follow your vehicle or tyre manufacturer's guidance, or qualified advice, for tyre pressures on the surfaces you expect.

If you break down

  • Stay with your vehicle. It gives shade and protection, and it is easier for searchers to see.
  • Use your communications gear to call for help.
  • Stay hydrated, minimise unnecessary exertion and use your supplies carefully while waiting for help. Rescue can take several days.

This checklist is general information, not safety advice for your specific trip. Conditions change, so check current advice from the road authority and local services before you go.

Sources and further reading