The Australian outback offers spectacular scenery and the chance for great adventure. But it is important to be ready for the risks of travelling in isolated areas. Unfortunately, up to a quarter of the emergency medical evacuations that the RFDS carries 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
- Bring matches or a lighter
- Bring a compass and a whistle
- Carry enough food for each person for two days
- Do a first-aid course and pack a first-aid kit
- Take a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent
- Carry a high frequency (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
- Store water in small containers instead of one large tank; if you’re unused to the outback, you may need one litre of water every hour
- Wear clothing suitable for the climate: wear good walking shoes; take warmer clothes for the evenings
- Don’t travel during the hottest part of the year