So, you are finally making that longed for trip to the Australian outback … here are a few tips to help you prepare for the sometimes challenging conditions. What many people don’t realise is that the most dangerous threat to their health is not venomous snakes and hungry crocodiles, but the heat, and the dehydration that can ensue if precautions are not taken.
Before you go
Update routine immunisations, most importantly tetanus. If you already have existing health concerns, then consult your doctor for the best way to deal with them while travelling. Investigate if travel insurance is necessary and ensure you have a well-stocked first aid kit.
General tips
Don't underestimate the power of the Australian sun. Sun block should be applied several times daily. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable cotton clothes, and sunglasses with quality UV filter lenses.
Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel particularly hot or thirsty. If you go for a walk, always carry a water bottle. Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are not enough to prevent dehydration, and may even cause it, so keep the beer for the campfire at night.
Apply insect repellent frequently, especially near water. Bushflies can be a nuisance, but they usually disappear as soon as the sun sets. Flies in general are annoying, so keep the repellant handy.
First aid kit
Take a first aid kit that includes general items like band aids, sterile gauze dressings, antiseptic bandages and scissors. Add two heavy-duty crepe bandages, 8 cm x 5 m, to immobilise a limb.
Highly recommended items to pack into your personal kit include: antiseptic cream, painkillers like paracetamol, activated charcoal tablets or Imodium to stop diarrhoea, antihistamine tablets eyewash phials for irritated eyes, tea tree oil - this native Australian remedy is my all-time favourite to treat insect bites. It is an effective antiseptic and helps to cure the itching. Use diluted tea tree oil as a gargle when you have a sore throat. Add a few drops to hot water and inhale to treat a cold. Be careful with tea tree oil if you have sensitive skin, and get the oil into your eyes.
A Leatherman Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife, a torch and safety pins are always useful. Last but not least, take a record of any health problems, prescriptions and personal medications.
These tips are only general advice. Please consult your doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary with someone, check in at pre-determined times and ensure you have functioning GPS navigation and a reliable phone or radio to contact help if needed. Contact your local motoring organization for tips on safe driving in the outback.
There are many wonderful places to stay and sights to see that are unique to Australia, and Holiday Inspirations has many articles that will be a great starting point for planning your outback adventure. Here are just a few:
Uluru-Ayers Rock Katherine-Tennant Creek & Mataranka Best of the Simpson Desert Queensland Outback Kalgoorlie-Boulder Kakadu National Park Alice Springs Flinders Ranges and South Australian ouback
About the author
Rita Amend is the owner and creator of Rita's Australian Outback Guide, a website full of tips for independent travellers to the Outback. She has travelled to Australia several times in the past 20 years. Her trips covered more than 30,000 km of lonely highways and bumpy outback roads.
Rita Amend wrote this article
