Treks: Downloading Trek Note Routes and Waypoints

ExplorOz currently has 164 trek notes (as of April 2010) covering some well known (and lesser known) regions all over Australia. Trek notes listed on ExplorOz can only be downloaded by ExplorOz members who are logged in to ExplorOz.com

Currently we provide two types of file formats for download and they are: OziExplorer (plot .plt and waypoint .wpt file types), which is a popular PC-based GPS navigation software also used in the HEMA Navigator 5 series, and GPX (.gpx), which is a popular format for Google Earth users. Note: The latest ‘Pro 7’ version of the GPS navigation software called TrackRanger can now convert OziExplorer Plot files (.plt) to TrackTrace files for use in TrackRanger.

ExplorOz Members who login can click into a trek note such as the Canning Stock Route and click the Download Trek link in the right hand pane of the mapping window. If you use OziExplorer, unselect the GPX radio button and select OziExplorer; download the zip file, unzip the contents and load the plot (.plt) and waypoint (.wpt) files into Ozi. Of course you would need to load some digital base maps into the program first. ExplorOz has a great range of digital maps, including the HEMA GDT map collection, the Greg Harewood Topo series, and the ever-so-popular Natmap Raster Topo 250K maps.

OziExplorer users can still download the GPX (.gpx) file format and then import the file into OziExplorer. Although doing so, the route will be broken up into individual route sections between the waypoints. In other words, if you were to download the Canning Stock Route, you will get all the mini route sections between all the wells. This can make it a little difficult to save and import into your GPS device such as a Hema Navigator. It is therefore best to choose the OziExplorer file format since the plot route is kept as one section and thus one file.