Solo RV Road Trip - Melbourne to Uluru/Alice Springs - Need Advice

J4Jayden on 08/02/2020 - 21:24

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your help with my Trip to Vietnam. With the latest on Corona Virus, I have decided to delay that trip indefinitely. Instead, I am looking to do a Solo Melbourne to Uluru/Alice Springs Road Trip in a Hired Camper Van.

I have decided on the route and marked a few free camp sites along the way using AirCamper.

With so many OzBargainers here on this forum, it would be a sound thought to ask for your recommendation, tips'n tricks and places to visit on my trip. Or maybe best spots to park the Camper-van overnight?

Would love to park/camp for free to save money but not too stressed.

Any help, tip, recommendation would be much appreciated. I leave on the 21st of Feb for 10 days.

Thanks everyone! 🙏🏽

Travel

Comments

  • Hybroid on 08/02/2020 - 21:30
    +2

    Everyone advises against travelling the outback solo. Especially if you're hiring some old high mileage camper van that may not have been maintained very well. People do it but really not a good idea.

    • J4Jayden on 08/02/2020 - 21:36

      That makes sense. I am in a position where I can't really have people in. I managed to get time off work for my Vietnam trip but Virus scare got me good. Don't want to waste this break and pretty keen on doing it solo while taking all measures I can to avoid any issues.

      What would be your top 3 to dos and not to dos?

      • Muzeeb on 08/02/2020 - 21:59
        +8

        Don't travel solo in the outback x3

        • Agarwal on 08/02/2020 - 22:07
          +11

          Or if you do, make sure you watch the TV show 'All Aussie Adventures' which has plenty of tips on what to do in a survival situation.

          • J4Jayden on 08/02/2020 - 22:18

            @Agarwal: AH! Finally, someone willing to share a few words. Ta!

        • J4Jayden on 08/02/2020 - 22:21

          I understand the risk involved and I am trying to find a travel mate through backpackers pages and stuff! Hopefully I find some company.

          • HighAndDry on 09/02/2020 - 01:05

            @J4Jayden: The same isolation that makes traveling to the outback dangerous will also make traveling with an unknown companion similarly dangerous - not being able to get any help applies both to a vehicle breakdown as to being attacked.

            So vet any travel companions strictly.

          • TheBilly on 09/02/2020 - 07:45

            @J4Jayden: It's not risky. Just be smart.

      • AdosHouse on 09/02/2020 - 04:46
        +3

        Plenty of water. Have about 20L as an emergency backup.

        Plenty of spare petrol in an emergency tins. Never pass an outback servo without filling up, next servo could be many hundreds of kilometres away.

        Hire an emergency GPS beacon.

        Learn what to do in an emergency in the outback. DO NOT EVER TRY TO WALK FOR HELP IN THE OUTBACK SUN, you will be dead in 30 minutes. Stay with vehicle, use emergency beacon.

        Plenty more to do.

        • jjjaar on 09/02/2020 - 10:23

          “ Hire an emergency GPS beacon.”

          Excellent tip. +1

  • [Deactivated] on 08/02/2020 - 22:22
    +2

    If you must go invest in a GPS Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Get one with GPS functionality if you want to be found quickly. Prices start from $250.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/02/2020 - 23:42
    +2

    Take LOTS of water.

    • HighAndDry on 09/02/2020 - 01:06
      +1

      LOTS OF WATER.

    • jonagrah on 09/02/2020 - 07:28
      +1

      How much water?

      • jjjaar on 09/02/2020 - 10:23
        +2

        LOTS

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/02/2020 - 14:27

        More water than had you not taken enough and perished, that you would not have perished instead.

  • Cluster on 09/02/2020 - 00:23

    Take lots of water, pack a UHF radio ($20 online, can be handy for contacting truckers if your vehicle breaks down), plan plenty of rest breaks. Check mobile phone coverage maps for your provider. Bring lots of non perishable food. If the worst happens and your vehicle breaks down, you want to be sure you can stay at the side of a road for a few days. Before taking a rental vehicle, ask what the company would do if the vehicle broke down 300km from the nearest town.

    You'll be fine. Plenty of people do such trips all the time. Ignore the doom and gloomers saying you'll be attacked. Uluru is a fantastic destination well worth seeing, and the journey will be great too.

  • Mechz on 09/02/2020 - 00:24

    Get a diesel Landcruiser with a pop top instead of a camper van. Much more reliable and nimble if you want to take side roads to see the sights.

    • AdosHouse on 09/02/2020 - 19:28

      V8 diesel Landcruiser FTW. Basically unbreakable engines.

      • Mechz on 09/02/2020 - 20:07

        6 cylinders are better and cheaper on fuel but whatever is available is good really.

  • TheBilly on 09/02/2020 - 07:43
    +1

    1. Outline your trip with family and in that outline tell them you will send them a text on # day at xyz suburb. So they know you are on track. I regularly solo 4x4 through remote bush and you'd be surprised where you get reception.

    2. Get a prepaid Telstra SIM and use this number.

    3. Carry extra water as a backup on top of what the camper can hold. I.e. 10L jerry from Bunnings. Don't use this unless emergency (don't worry about alot of extra food - water is more important) few cans of something is fine for food.

    4. Get the camper 1 day earlier than departure so you can familiarise and determine how the thing works at the comfort of home rather than the bush. I.e. fridge, electronics etc.

    5. Purchase a hard paper copy of the HEMA maps for the red centre and cutback Australia.

    6. Ask hire company for jumper cables in case. Even better a battery pack jump starter.

    7. Make sure they give you a spare tyre.

    8. Check condition of tyres before departure and make sure they have good tread and not worn out about to blow.

    9. Check what road side assistance they give you.

    I'll add more as I think about it.

  • Ocker on 09/02/2020 - 10:49

    Are you sticking to the main (paved) roads or planning to go offroad?

  • ShannonN on 09/02/2020 - 12:31

    Given the recent long term downpours and wet season/flooding do you really want to try for uluru / Alice springs watched a old the leyland bros tv show in the 70s where they got bogged etc and they were in 4 wheel drives blah blah
    \

  • redforever on 09/02/2020 - 15:40

    are you sure 10 days is enough for a return rv trip?

    look into flying to Alice Springs and join a 10 days camping trip back to melbourne.

  • Hardlyworkin on 09/02/2020 - 22:26

    I did the round trip earlier this year. If you're staying on the main route then you're on some of the best highways in Australia. There might not be loads of cars though it's still a well travelled path.

    As above, take lots of water. We did the trip in a basic AWD with a tent and also did the red centre way. Other then getting the car serviced and stocking it well, I didnt do much more than I would with any other big road trip. Just a lot of common sense, not trying to drive too much in one day. Hitting the road early and never be in a rush to get somewhere.

    The only bad part was the flies, they are horrendous. Get a fly net! Otherwise such beautiful colours and landscapes. Kings canyon was the highlight. Start the loop walk just prior to dawn with the help of a headtorch. Best day hike Ive done in Australia.

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