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Safe Outback Travel

The Australian Outback offers spectacular scenery and the chance for great adventure. But it is important to be ready for the rigours of travelling in isolated areas.

Unfortunately, up to a quarter of the emergency medical evacuations that we carry out each year are the result of city travellers who get into trouble on their Outback adventure.

Preparation

get good quality maps and plan your route
be careful of how much you pack on your roof rack; a heavy load on top increases the chances of a roll-over
store water in small containers instead of one large tank; check all water containers for leaks; if you’re unused to the Outback, you may need one litre of water every hour; if active (eg walking, climbing etc) you will need to consume additional water at regular intervals (remember: don't wait to feel thirsty before taking a drink!); most towns have water but, at some places, you may not be able to get drinking water; we recommend that in very hot conditions you carry 10 litres of water per person per day; don't rely on waterholes, dams, bores, mills, tanks or troughs; soap or detergents should not be used in any natural water course or stock watering point
carry enough food for each person for two days
bring matches or a lighter
pack a fire extinguisher
carry an HF radio compatible with the RFDS (mobile phones and CB radios will not work in remote areas); you can buy an HF radio from most two way communication centres
get a summary of your medical history and bring all medication and repeat scripts with you
do a first aid course and pack a first aid kit
take a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent
wear clothing suitable for the climate; wear good walking shoes; take warmer clothes for the evenings
don’t travel in the hottest part of the year
overseas visitors are encouraged to take out adequate travel insurance when travelling in Outback Australia

Roads

Roads around Australia vary from first class, all weather, sealed roads to unsealed and four wheel drive adventure routes. The good news is that 95% of the major tourist spots are accessible by sealed roads.

Safety on unsealed roads

reduce speed on unsealed roads because traction often decreases and braking distances increase
beware of hidden dangers (dust filled holes, soft and sloping edges); when overtaking, beware that dust obscures vision and dangers may be hidden
slow down before making a turn to avoid sliding
check road conditions before travelling; the condition of unsealed roads varies according to weather, usage and grading; to check on road conditions, closures and restrictions contact the nearest tourist association or Parks and Wildlife office
watch out for animals, particularly at dawn, dusk and night
engage 4 x 4 if travelling in a 4WD which has a high centre of gravity and control can be affected by strong winds

Road rules

always wear seatbelts; by law, the wearing of a seatbelt by everyone in the vehicle is mandatory in Australia if seat belts are fitted to the vehicle; fines are imposed on those who don’t wear them, and it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers belt up
do not drink and drive; Australia has a 0.05% blood alcohol limit for drivers holding open class licences; to determine restrictions on other classes of licence, contact the police in the State in which you are travelling
international drivers should be aware that vehicles are right hand drive and we travel on the left hand side of the road in Australia
check that your licence is valid

Dangers

fatigue: driving long distances can cause driver fatigue; stop, revive, survive every two hours
speed: speed limits vary from State to State; in some areas (the Northern Territory), this is no speed limit on open roads, but you must drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely
stock and wildlife: beware of sheep, cattle, kangaroos, emus and, in Central Australia, the odd camel; dawn, dusk and night driving are the most dangerous time to travel
road trains: always give trucks and road trains (which can be up to 50 metres in length) plenty of room; if overtaking, allow at least 1km of clear road ahead
floods: never attempt to cross flooded bridges or causeways unless you are absolutely sure of the depth and road damage; most flash floods recede within 24 hours
dust on outback roads can obscure your vision; do not take risks; stop and wait for it to settle
lost or broken down: never leave your vehicle because a missing vehicle is easier to locate than a missing person; economise on water
itinerary: to ensure that an alert can be sounded if you get into trouble, you must advise someone of the estimated time of arrival at your intended destination (especially if you intend to leave the main roads)

General information for Outback travellers

Aboriginal land: if you are planning to travel through Aboriginal land (other than on designated highways), you must obtain a permit; tour leaders will organise permits for their tours; it is the right of Traditional Owners to refuse entry permits
Sacred Sites: there are a number of places or objects that hold special significance for Aboriginal people; visitors are welcome but respect must be shown for these sites; some are protected by law and there are penalties for trespassing; permit applications and general enquiries must be directed in writing to the relevant Land Council in each State
truck parking bays: never park in truck parking bays which are provided exclusively for the use of trucks and road trains; these rigs need room to manoeuvre their trailers and often need to run noisy refrigeration units
rest areas are provided for regular fatigue breaks and there are camping and caravan park facilities for overnight stops
pets: dogs and cats cannot be taken into National Parks

Exploring on foot

Before you set out anywhere, get local advice about conditions and what you should know about where you intend to go. Advise people of your intended trip, where you will be going, when you'll be leaving, when you think you'll be back, so if you're not back, they can sound the alarm. Remember to:

carry ample food and water
take notice of signs at ALL times
follow the advice of tour guides and rangers
always wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a reliable insect repellent
wear good walking shoes and be prepared for extremes of temperature
carry a detailed map, compass, whistle and lighter
if it’s hot, take a little salt or a salt tablet

In an emergency

If well planned, your trip should go smoothly and safely, but, if you get into difficulty, there are a few key things to remember:

if your car breaks down or you become lost, never leave your vehicle; use it for shade and shelter and remember it is easier to locate a missing vehicle than a missing person in the vast Australian Outback
if you become lost while out walking, sit down and study your maps; determine where you came from and slowly take that route back; if you can't find the way back, move to higher ground
distribute food and water sparingly
if you hear rescuers, signal with three torch flashes and with your whistle
light a small smoky fire with green leaves during the day and a small bright fire with dry materials at night
be prepared to wait

Watch for the signs of exposure:

heat exposure - an affected person becomes pale, clammy and breathes rapidly and should be sponged with cool water: drink water with a little salt dissolved in it and rest in the shade
exposure to cold – an affected person may become slow, irritable, develop cramps, shiver, stumble and have blurred vision; attempt to find shelter from wind and rain, wrap up as warm as possible, share a sleeping bag and drink warm fluids

Snake bites

Of the world's 25 most deadly snakes, Australia is home to 21 of them! The perceived threat of snake bites is one of the most common fears for people planning to travel in the Outback, however, contrary to popular belief, snake bites are not a major cause of death for people in Australia. However, it is important for everyone to know what action to take after a real or suspected snake bite. The action taken immediately is crucial for the patient's recovery.

First aid for snake bites

if you are able to identify the snake that bit you, then the doctor can select the correct anti-venom quickly, but if you don’t know for certain, ask the doctor to use a venom-detection kit because administering the wrong anti-venom could have disastrous consequences
stay still and apply pressure; do not apply a tourniquet but rather, splint the area and apply bandages (as tight as for a sprain) to immobilise the bitten area; do not remove bandaging until you reach medical care (or it reaches you) and the anti-venom is ready to be administered
do not remove clothing as the movement involved could help the venom enter and travel through the bloodstream
do not try to force the venom out of the bitten area because this will only push the venom further into the bloodstream

Symptoms of snake bite

Australian snake bites are often not painful, and you might not realise you have been bitten. If you develop the following symptoms, follow the directions above and seek medical assistance:

continued bleeding from bite site
tender or painful regional lymph nodes
headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
sudden and perhaps transient hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) causing partial loss of consciousness
blurred or double vision
facial paralysis
muscle weakness
paralysis of the diaphragm

Seeking medical help

If you are travelling in Outback Australia and you are bitten by a snake, contact the Flying Doctors as soon as possible. They will give you advice and make arrangements to fly in to provide medical assistance.

In many parts of Australia, access to adequate health care can mean long journeys by road. The RFDS not only provides general health care and emergency services to local communities, but also to travellers.

Disclaimer:

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED BY THE RFDS FOR ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE.