Advise on travelling from Adelaide to Rainbow Beach Queensland

A few years ago we went to fraser island via broken hill, wilcania, cobar then on to coonabarabran north into qld then across to dalby. We stayed at tincan bay but went on to fraser at rainbow beach.

If your car is well maintained you shouldn't have any problems. But get the van wheel bearings checked before you leave.

If you're not good at fixing stuff you need to at least be able to do the following;
- change a wheel
- replace fan belt
- replace a radiator hose and top up coolant. Never remove radiator cap while engine is hot. Take it from me. I suffered some nasty burns from this.
- Replace a blown fuse and light bulbs

Also make sure you have an appropriate means of communication in case you do have a breakdown and its outside your scope of knowledge.

Enjoy Rainbow Beach, don't get stuck on the sand! Have a look at the pictures on the wall in the pub to see why........assuming they are still there near the 8 ball table at the rear.

Belfastgirl - Well, the first thing I would do is find out the repair and towing facilities business names at each major town along your route, and keep their names and phone numbers handy.

Most travellers in the remote areas are willing enough to stop and assist you to some degree, if you've had a breakdown - but if they haven't got the tools, parts or expertise to get you going again - you're reliant on these businesses in these remote towns, that specialise in towing and repair in remote regions.

A "roadside assist" service from the State Automobile Club, or other organisation, usually doesn't extend to these more remote regions.

All I can recommend is to ensure you have your cooling system maintained with a flush out and fresh coolant - carry spare radiator hoses - and carry a few basic tools, such as pliers, an adjustable spanner, and screwdrivers.

Overheating is a common problem when towing at highway speeds, and cooling systems are the greatest source of problems with most vehicles once they get over about 6 yrs old.

Make sure also, that you keep your radiator free of bugs, such as grasshoppers and locusts, as these are often a big problem in country areas and remote regions. They will block radiators rapidly if allowed to accumulate. If you carry a mesh screen that can be affixed to the front of your vehicle, this will prevent the problem.

Cheers - Ron.