Australian Information About Your Caravan Trip

For ten years, our family lived in the Cape, in North Queensland. We lived in a mining town that was also a final destination for many 'grey nomads' and other caravaners on their journey north. Like most rural and regional areas of Australia, the road conditions there, can change quickly. For those that have little knowledge of these remote areas, the journey can end abruptly in the middle of nowhere.

I often went out to buy groceries and ended up bringing home a stranded couple and their caravan. My husband would say, "can you get bread and if you find any homeless people, remember to buy two loaves'.

What was clearly evident, was that these senior travellers had always started out with all of the bells and whistles. This preparation, however, did not protect them from some of the most demanding conditions any driver of a large vehicle could experience. Most of these couples were exhausted, sleep deprived, suffering consequential health conditions and regretful that they had loaded their vehicles with so many unnecessary items.

All of our surprise visitors had ample stories to tell. They shared their life histories and quickly took the opportunity to share the scarier moments on the road to our little town.

These days there is no excuse for not being prepared. There are a lot of resources out there for people travelling to remote areas. For those who want to make sure that the information they use to plan their trip, there are services that will find, verify the information and help plan for the road ahead.

Caravan users can subscribe to caravan clubs and newsletters.  The Division of General Practice Queensland also has a site that includes information for senior caravaners.  This website has information about maintaining their health and resources to support trip planning.

Reading, buying the most up to date caravan and road maps will not help people when they are confronted with torrential rain and unexpected road deterioration.

Yes, it is important to take healthy risks and half the fun of a trip to the bush is the unknown. But there are some basic steps that we discovered made a difference to those travelling in unfamiliar territory.

· Verify all the information below and don't rely on websites, word of mouth or books

· Let people know when you are going and when you will be in touch

· Contact local shops, local councils, local people in the areas throughout your trip

· Ask locals about any new road conditions, certain hot spots, weather, phone reception

· Locate garages, caravan parks, car and neighbourhood services in the local area

· Get advice from other experienced caravaners about the trip and what you should take

· Check the medical services in the area and alternatives for contacting them

· Find out if there are ATM's along the way or where there are alternatives for banking

· Map out the petrol stations and verify the times they are open

· Find out about any road works along the way and any changed traffic rules

· Check if your GPS, phone, computer and other equipment will operate at all points

· Plan your trip to suit your health and lifestyle so that you can enjoy yourself

· In certain areas, you may need permission from local indigenous leaders

· State Government agencies will advise about quarantine and access to crown land

· Check your smoke alarms are working and check your other equipment is travel ready

· Verify any events, public holidays or special local holidays before you visit each town

· Find out about any groups, services, sporting and community events before you go.

This list is not exhaustive.  Let us know if you have any other ideas or experiences