How Safe in the Outback

It depends on whether he intends to really go bush or stay on the roads. If he stays on the roads and he is doing all the right things, carrying spares and water etc its no problem. We used to live in the Pilbara and I would often travel down to Perth on my own and I knew plenty of other women would did the same. I quite often will travel out to Tom Price via Newman and Karajini towing the van so that I can pick up my husband from work - saves him coming home when we are going that way anyway -= more days holiday!!

If you do strick a problem - flat tyre, car problem etc you usually dont have to wait long before someone asks if they can help. People are pretty good and I know I would always stop if I thought someone needed assistance.

When I camp out overnight on a long trip - I dont really think twice about it. I have a bit of a scan of who is around if others are camping and would move on if I was in doubt but that has never happened in the remote areas yet. Probably more of a worry nearer a city or large town.

Cheers

Sue

I'm not saying I would do it by myself but there are precations you can take to stay safer. When we (me,wife and 2 kids) headed over west then up north we had heaps of people telling us how unsafe the nullarbor plain was to camp on. When we saw someone else pulled over we would camp near them (safety in numbers). Never had any trouble at all. Same up north, everyone told us how dangerous it was. We never felt unsafe but we were careful where and when we camped. Yes there is always the chance something might happen but that chance is everywhere. The only trouble we had in 3 yrs on the road was in a caravan park in a major town.

Josh

Damien

I reckon its pretty safe. Never had any problems either by car or 4X4. The more remote the safer. Never had anything stolen or vandalised, not like in the cities.

If travelling alone I think there is an advantage to being in a trayback. Sort of gets assumed it is a work vehicle passing through and gets left alone.

Have had a few graziers check me out when camped but no problems at all.

Flynnie

The main aspect of travelling Australia no matter if it in a populated area or remote is to inform someone (next of kin or a good friend) of your itinery, dates of places that you will be arriving at & most importantly is that if you deviate from this is to update your plans with that person.
If you plan to visit remote areas then the usual precautions such as good communications (HF radio/satphone ect), vehicle in good condition, & good supply of water & provisions incase of emergency.
There is an abundant of information on this forum with more detailed items when travelling in remote areas.l

Cheers

Topcat.

Damien,

I travelled on my own for three months starting at the end of May last year. I travelled fromMount Gambier in SA up the middle to Katherine, across to Kununurra, The Gibb River Road, Mitchell Plateau, Cape Leveque back to Darwin, Alice Springs, Boulia, Birdsville Innamincka and home and never had a moments worry. I camped in free camps, bush camps wherever possible and met some wonderful people.

Regards,
Bob

Hi Damien

read my Blog about my solo journey through the outback this year.

NSW QLD NT SA NSW

Didn't have any problems anywhere.

:-)

The only problems i can envisage would be breakdowns in remote areas. Will your friend carry a satellite phone for such emergencies? If it is a road with some traffic , everyone will stop and offer help when in a remote area.

We have camped along the Nullabor 'on our own' - however nobody would know if there was one or two people in a caravan or camper anyway. Overnight stopping places have included near the cliffs and in clear view from the road (not in one of the viewing parking bays which usually have some campers in them) as well as back from the road a little way almost hidden in the bushes. On the WA section, we were usually not alone, but well away from other campers in some of the larger rest areas - the ones with tracks running back being our preference. We were never disturbed.

We know a lady whose marriage broke up last year so she purchased a small motor home van and she and her little dog went off. She had no experience of this type of travel at all, and is not young. A couple of days ago she called in briefly, almost home, to say "I did it - I drove right around Australia in seven months".

Motherhen

Damien,

we are fortunate to live in one of the friendliest countries on earth. Travel by its very nature will always be a mixture of the planned and the unexpected. Thankfully, because we live in Oz, the unexpected is usually benign or easily managed. Like most things common sense plays a key role. In the middle of the Canning I once met a man who frightened me. It was a concern but a situation that was managed one analysed and grog identified as the culprit. What do they say on the ads these days...be alert....not alarmed. When travelling you are sharing the road with a lot of like minded individuals be they 19 year old back packers or Grey nomads with a 19 year old mind set. You will always meet good people and you will always learn a heap. Best to get out and do it.


Mick.

Damien,

In really remote areas I travel with at least one other vehicle or give it a miss. In not so remote areas I have travelled alone on many occasions and have not had any dramas.

Damien

I haven't had any safety issues due to dangerous people (other than those in my party ;-). Plenty of times we have been lucky to have had more than one vehicle in very remote situations due to incidents, failures etc.

I'd never go really remote solo. Sure I could radio or phone for help, but how embarrassing and expensive?

Perhaps your friend should watch Wolf Creek, read up on Joe Falconio, and Ivan Milat, just to get him in the right frame of mind.

If he stuck to the main drags he should be fine.

G'day all, I have emailed John to read all this information. Thanks for all your replies. Wolf Crk was one of his concerns. He will be carrying a sat phone and will only be going off track a little bit. He said he has travelled a bit throughout NSW.
I myself will be doing the big trip in 2012 with a friend, not all states but across the top half of Oz.
Thanks again all for your good advice, one can always expect from this Group.

Damien

Hi Damien,

IMHO you are safe as houses when your in the outback. I personally dont camp closer then 10 kms from a town but that more to do with lights interfering with the view of the stars then worrying bout someone mugging me.

I know some people worry a bit but You are a lot more likely to run into trouble in the city then out in the outback.

Just relax and enjoy the best country in the world.

Cheers Wilko

Damien
I am a lone female traveller and earlier this year completed a 18 week trip from Sydney to Melbourne, Broken Hill, Adelaide then up the centre to Ayers Rock, The Alice then on to Darwin. From Darwin I went across the top to WA, down the coast and around the south of WA, across the Nullarbor and home via the Eyre Peninsula, Great Ocean Rd and back to Sydney.
I traveled in a campervan, did a bit of free camping in the north of WA, it was too wet in the south. At no time did I feel any concern about being on my own but I am used to traveling on my own.
I did not have any trouble not even a flat tyre so consider I was lucky. My only complaint is that I wish I had unlimited time but work called
Clare

Having someone along with you can be a PITA because you have to consider what the other person wants to see/do rather than just do your own thing, you also need to know the person 'very' well and have similar wants/needs/expectations from such a trip. I've camped around the entire Aussie coastline (with the exception of the bit from Roper River Bar to Lawn Hill Gorge because the 4 letter 'W' word got in the way), then through the centre, and lots of NSW and Vic, and half a dozen trips to Cape York and never consider taking anyone. Sure it would be nice to have company 'sometimes' but many times on my trips I've met people who took along a 'best' friend as a travel companion and they had a falling out and one departed for home from the nearest airport/coach terminal/etc.

My SIL is one such example and contacted me from the west coast some years ago for help in getting home to the east coast because she and her friend had a huge disagreement about travel plans and all sorts of things. A short notice flight from Perth to Sydney and beyond cost her heaps. These two ladies had been friends for many years and had done quite a few caravan trips together in the past but on this trip it all hit the fan and they still don't speak to each other, years later!! Sad eh??

To be honest I feel the outback is safer than being in suburbia as the only people out there are other campers doing the same as you. A few times I've met lovely people along the way and travelled in convoy with them for a few days but am always pleased to revert to solo travel.

Having said all of the above, when I get a chance to do the CSR I will have to travel with a group because I'm not so stupid as to attempt somewhere this remote, as a solo traveller in a solo vehicle.

A satellite phone has been suggested but I've never bothered. If he is so inclined, he can set up his mobile phone for Google tracker....make sure his plan will cover it.

Bronwyn ;-)

The only "man eaters" we have in Australia are crocodiles - so careful camping and walking, and absolutely no swimming in croc country.

Cities are where all the nasty stuff happens.

Mh

As long as you stay clear of Melbourne you should be safe.

Personally the further I am to Melbourne the safer I feel

Generally as safe as houses unless your talking breakdown related issues off the track.

But give him a copy of wolf creek anyway .

Safer than you would be in a city.
the sooner I get the wheels rolled out and away from the coast the safer I feel, get away from the black top idiots the safer it gets.
I do take precautions though carrying ample fuel, water, food, you know all the common sense sense stuff. Just in case I have UHF HF (VKS 737) and also keep in touch with family with Email when available. Carry an old Sat Phone as well.
Never had to use any of it for help yet.
If there may be snakes, crocks and them other things that might jump up and bite you in the leg I take care, not so sure about muggers and idiots on the road though.