I've mentioned a time or two that I'm in the planning phase for a 12-18 month road trip around Australia with my last post about it talking a little about the financial aspect in a very basic way which you can read here if you're interested. There's a lot to think about but for me it's even more complex as I'm planning some side-trips to reasonably remote areas and well-off established roads. This means services like mechanical workshops, spares parts, fuel, food and any kind of assistance is sporadic, far away or non-existent. It takes careful planning to go to such areas and that takes a long time.
Access to a lot of these places is seasonal especially in the top end of Australia where, in the wet season, they are completely under water and not accessible by road. I say "road" here, but in truth the roads are often little more than tracks and those are only accessible by four wheel drive vehicles that have been highly modified and which are wheeled (driven) by experienced off-road drivers. Even then it's incredibly easy to get into serious trouble and here in remote Australia that means costly repairs, possible loss of vehicle, injuries and possibly death if things go badly enough.
The locations are usually amazing once one is there but getting there (and back) safely can be a mission with the list of considerations, preparation and equipment being long (and expensive) however getting it wrong won't end well.
So currently I'm planning where I'm going - these are not areas a person can do randomly or spontaneously - planning when I'm going (as in the season) and am working on determining what equipment and vehicle modifications I currently have and what I'll actually require. Fortunately I'm pretty clued-up and know what's going to work or not so it's just a matter of piecing the pre-trip jigsaw puzzle together, adding a healthy contingency into it because things are certain to go wrong, and then paying for it...then heading off of course.
Over the course of my preparations I'll probably do a post or two with some of the stuff I'm getting organised although I don't think there's much interest in such things here on Hive, (most people don't give a fuck about anything other than the votes they get), but for posterity's sake I may do a post here or there.
For now, I thought I'd share three little videos that show a trip a group of people from 4WD24/7 took which comes directly from their YouTube channel.
These lads are serious off-roaders, it's their job as they create content and have businesses within and around the four wheel drive industry. In the videos they face crocodile infested water crossings in brutally tough terrain, experience many serious mechanical failures - how they fix them is worthy of a watch in itself - extreme temperatures, bush fires, food and water shortages and other things on their eighteen day four wheel drive trek over around 450 kilometres from Wyndham along the Oobulgurri Track to Kulumbaru (both in the massive State of Western Australia. I won't say too much because the three videos are self explanatory (if you care to watch them) and will demonstrate the difficulties travelling into remote areas of Australia can bring.
It's stuff like that, places like that, which get my motor revving and why I'm willing to do what's required to get the skills, vehicle, modifications and equipment required to reach such amazing and remote parts of Australia. It's not for everyone, in fact most Australian's will never see these places, but the lucky few will and that's why I've spent my life off-roading.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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Image(s) in this post are my own
What I can't get over is the magnitude of the journey itself. The scope of the prep neccessary is mind boggling. It's a good thing you are so meticulous in your planning stages as I suppose there isn't much wiggle room when considering what can go wrong and the ramifications of those mishaps. I hope we see a lot of good photos from your trip.
A lot can go wrong, that's for sure, so planning it thoroughly is pretty important. Of course, a trip like this isn't all in remote areas so it's not all hard. It'll be good though, probably not quite as full on as the blokes in the video links but I'll do some rough stuff because it's down those tracks where the best places are.
By the time I'm on this trip I'm not sure if I'll still be posting on Hive, but if I am I'll do some posts and images on it for sure.
Ihaven't watched the videos yet but will check them out after bit. Once you aren't tied down to a job and are cruising the country, you won't have much time to be posting here, but if you do I'll be sure to check out the pics lol
Possibly. I plan to do a lot more writing, for my own enjoyment and then there's that book of my life I have to keep writing with the intention of it being complete before I die and become a ghost, or cocoon up and become a butterfly. Not quite sure which way I'll go.
Oh, the possibilities lol. I can't see you as a butterfly. For one thing you wouldn't be able to tote your gear around. On the other hand as a ghost you could just float in and use anyone else's gear and maybe get a good laugh out of the scared faces!
I'd rather be a ghost to be honest; I'll be a good one, like Casper, and yet some people will rue the day I became a ghost.
👀 Peek-a-boo I see you??👀 lol
Here the main problem to contend with is mountains that people get stuck on but you have such a huge space it must be a logistical nightmare for people to get help that need it when they venture into the off road spaces. that won't be you obvs, you will handle it Titan style and have some amazing stories to tell!
I suppose it being colder there it'd be a double whammy. Being cold and stuck on a mountain sounds like no fun at all. Of course, when a Titan gets stuck on a mountain they just unstick themselves with comparative ease then stay warm in the process. (It's a Titan thing.) It's the same when a Titan gets lost...oh hang on, Titans don't get lost.
Seriously though, it's going to be a blast and the planning stage is fun too.
Planning for good things is always splendid!
Yeah, when Titans get lost on a rugged mountain range they just pick up the mountain and look through where it was to get their bearings :OD
Yeah exactly right, and then if said Titan feels like putting the mountain somewhere else they do...and woe to those who dare to complain. Titans really are...umm...titanic.
Titanicanity!!
Now where did I put that small hill?
Sometimes hills go missing. It'll turn up later...like that time I was looing for my sun glasses for 20 minutes. Turned up sure enough...were pushed up on my head.
Ha, I've done that. The missus is always giving me gyp for looking for things that I am holding and the like
It sounds and looks risky, from what I have seen in the videos, but it is what you are passionate about and what you have in mind to do, and you have a focused goal, so you will achieve it and enjoy the experience to the fullest. The bad thing is to be alone in those places, not with a big group that can support you in certain situations. You have to prepare yourself very well and I'm sure you will. I am worried about... dangerous animals, the most dangerous ones, for example a snake bite in those far away places, what to do in that case.
It can be risky but the planning helps mitigate that which is why it all has to be planned out so well.
As for snakes, yeah I'm not a fan of snakes; they give me the bloody creeps. But, I've lived with th m my whole life (I'm from the country, not a city) and know how to minimise that particular threat. I also have the right emergency equipment which I've written about here and there.
If you never hear from me again after I leave for my trip you'll know I fucken died. 🥴
Oh my God, don't even say that as a joke! You'll come back safe and sound and with more experience, that's what I'm going to think.
My sister always fancies doing an Aussie trip, not on a big lap scale like yours, but to see Alice Springs, which means a Darwin to Adelaide drive. She's been trying to get a few of us siblings to go together but it's an awful lot of planning and driving and I'm not sure I'd like to be stuck in the dessert if anything happens. The upside, we were joking, is that everyone can chip in to drive because there are hardly any vehicles around and even people like my sister who hasn't driven for years can manage it because it's unlike she will have an accident 🙃
Yep, Darwin to Adelaide is a fair hike with little in between but it's a good run, good roads and high speed limits so it doesn't take long. It's only just over 3,000km so it's done in no time. 😂
Seriously though, it's a great drive and there's some cool spots along the way. I hope y'all get to do it sometime. If you see a sign that says, Wolf Creek don't go there.
Some people may not be interested, but many of us are! Please keep us updated because organization is actually an important part of a big road trip. I would love to learn more about how it all works. I have no idea how to prepare for such a trip, especially since it’s more than a year-long adventure. Believe me, this is an interesting topic! 💪👍
I often find some interest learning about things I've not really been all that interested in previously; I'm inquisitive by nature I guess which keeps thing interested. So, I assume there may be some others out there like that as well, you probably.
Planning for a trip like this isn't the easiest thing but there's really a lot of information and with careful planning it can be done with safety...although it's not really a trip unless at least one thing is forgotten. (Hopefully nothing critical in nature.)
I mean, how could it not be interesting? I never do that, so at least I can read about it and feel a bit jealous that someone else is doing it! :) Maybe I’ll be so jealous that I’ll finally plan my own trip. We’ve been talking about doing a Eurotrip for years, but it’s always just been talk and never action. Seeing someone else do it gives us hope that we might finally go as well. And when someone gives you advice on how to plan it, make it easier. It might not be possible for me to go for more than a year, but a month of traveling could be doable. Oh yeah…don’t forget your phone…or your partner! 😂
I'd love a road trip through Europe, but that's sounds a little daunting considering I only speak English, Italian, French and a little German (and the language of love of course). All those other languages...and you buggers drive in the other side of the road! 🤔
Only four languages? 😂 That’s three times more languages than most Austrians or Germans! 😂 (I don't mean to be rude) I work with a lot of Austrian people, and I think only two or three of them understand English, and that’s it! 😂 They synchronize every movie, so how do they manage to learn? In Slovenia, we don’t do that, so we have to learn English if we want to watch movies. 😂 But really, with English, you can travel all over Europe. If you want to order a beer, everyone knows that word! 😂 The only country where I had a language barrier was Italy, and I really felt lost there. After studying the language for four years, the only phrases I know are asking where the bathroom is and saying I want a beer! 😂 And yes… we drive on the normal side of the road. 😂
Yeah, I'm not sure about Austrians, I've been there and few spoke English.
Most Australians (born here like me) don't speak multiple languages other than what they learn in school (and soon forget). I've travelled around the world and have not really had many issues with language, most people are accommodating and eventually the message gets through.
Exactly…few people 😂
In Slovenia, kids need to learn other languages…there are only 2 million of us…we need to communicate with other people, or we are f….😂 I went to school for tourism so I could learn 😂 but like you said…, the message always gets through. If not with mouth, then with hands 💪
Sound bloody exciting! cant wait to see where you go and what you get up too.
Will spend some time over your way...and a lot of other places too.
I am sure just planning is an exciting experience so I am willing to read all your posts about it.
I actually like the planning phase; not quite as exciting as being out there doing it, but still enjoyable. It's sort of like a trip without leaving home.
The itch to get going has got to be almost uncontrollable. I can almost feel it through the screen. I can't wait to see what you put together for the trip.
Yeah it's really hard not to spend every moment thinking about the next stages of my life and that makes it hard to concentrate on work...but I have to so I do. (Sometimes.) 😃
My dad was just talking to me the other day about how he has been watching videos on YouTube about these companies that have to drive out in the desert and rescue people when they get stuck in their 4WD vehicles. Apparently they have made a really good living off it. I think if I were to do something like you are talking about I would want to do it in tandem with one of my friends. That way I would at least have someone to have my back. If we both get stuck though...
Travelling in convoy is much safer for sure. To do the more serious stuff like the kads do in the videos I linked us actually essential. I'll be travelling solo though one vehicle), and that means some of the more challenging locations won't be attempted. It's a safety thing...and recovery (like you mention) is very costly.
That makes a lot of sense.
Hi @galenkp, I've seen the second chapter and my conclusion is that you're going to have a great time, I've seen a lot of laughter while the off-roaders got stuck in the water or in the sand. And out of jokes, it's clear that you can't stay incommunicado and you have to go well separated. And I have a question: what is the proportion of food you estimate will come from hunting and fishing?
I'm sure you will have an excellent trip and look forward to the resulting posts! It's certainly a lot different being out there by yourself or just one or two trucks vs. a whole support team and film crew like the guys in the video have.
Would definitely not risk most of those areas without the large crew. It's definitely no fun to be stranded out like that, and certainly could be life threatening.
Keep it safe and enjoy!
Great idea, do it before you change your mind, get going while the going is good. You have the knowledge, well equipped, capable of handling/planning a great trip.
I would enjoy going nowhere slowly trip around my own country... Much to see when wandering off the beaten track.
!BEER
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