Thread: Carrying wine when outback driving

Socks.

There is one section on a track that I do regularly that is called, Fish Sauce.

You can guess why.

Cheers
Simon

Originally Posted by Scallops

So you reckon bottles rather than a cask(s)?

Cannot say I've ever tried red in a cask

My first post to this forum. If you carry bottles, put the bottles in you spare socks and that will stop them from rattling and protect them.

Scallops
mrs ho har here
I to don't mind a drop or two but I prefer White and no ho har does not drink either. I have always had a good quality cask wine on board and in all these years of driving off road have never had any breaks or leakages. Sometimes it can be hard to buy your prefered brand in remote areas but usually there is an OK one. In most restricted areas you can only carry 2ltrs of wine so the big casks are not practical. Most communities carry onlyt 2ltr casks in the bottle shops. To to get off this subject when are you leaving we are going on 24th May for 6 weeks Alice, Tanami. GRR etc

It seems I'm the only one who has had trouble with cask wine.

Years ago I had one in the Series III on a trip up to Innaminka and across to the Birdsville Track through Lake Blanche and Lake Gregory.
It was slow, but not particularly rough. The half full wine bladder managed to develop a small hole. I think it rubbed against itself.
We didn't have a suitable alternative container, so we had to drink it all that night.
It wasn't as bad as it sounds though. There was another couple to help us.

However I have never had it happen since. I think It was a bit of a one off. Possibly being half full was worse than full or almost empty.

First off, watch the dry communities issue, fines can be in excess of $10,000, jail and confiscation of vehicle and all equipment!

Secondly, under the fedral government intervention laws invoked last year it is illegal to transport more than 1350ml of pure alcohol (equivalent) through aboriginal land or any alcohol that has been opened. A 10L wine case at say 14% Alcohol content would = 1400ml of alcohol and exceed the 1350ml limit.

In some communities - Alice Springs, Boraloola, Nhulunbuy and others - there is now a permit system for the purchase of alcoholic drinks. Permits are free and easy to obtain from NT government offices. But there are also other community specific laws being enacted, I know Alice Springs has different laws to Nhulunbuy and I did hear Katherine was trying to go to a dry zone.

If you are going through aboriginal land areas don't carry alcohol, that's the simple way of avoiding the issues.

I'm sure others forum members from Alice and other parts of the NT and remote WA can add to this information. The fedral government intervention, I believe, only applies to the NT. The dry areas and aboriginal land issues are applicable across the country with varying penalties.

Originally Posted by ho har

Scallops
mrs ho har here
I to don't mind a drop or two but I prefer White and no ho har does not drink either. I have always had a good quality cask wine on board and in all these years of driving off road have never had any breaks or leakages. Sometimes it can be hard to buy your prefered brand in remote areas but usually there is an OK one. In most restricted areas you can only carry 2ltrs of wine so the big casks are not practical. Most communities carry onlyt 2ltr casks in the bottle shops. To to get off this subject when are you leaving we are going on 24th May for 6 weeks Alice, Tanami. GRR etc

Thanks for the advice everyone - We'lll be careful to respect the limits in aboriginal lands.

mrs ho ha - we are leaving on the 26th May for 12-14 weeks - first stop Roma/Carnarvon Gorge. Itinerary attached - would love to hook up if possible at some stage.

Sorry...off topic but this is killing the curiosity in me.

You have 'dry communities' in Australia? I thought the nation was founded on booze as a center focal point!
I lived in Saudi Arabia for ten years...alcohol is banned and fines are severe. But Australia for gods sake!

Can you explain how you know where the dry areas are? Would it be possible to drive through one by mistake or is it well advertised that booze is forbidden? We have a dry Emirate call "Sahrjah"..but everyone just knows it's a dry place because we simply just know.
Sorry for diverting....

Regards.

S.