Thread: Coming to Australia - advice needed

G'day AndyK

Welcome to AULRO, I would advise you that when you get here to hook up with some of the Folk on here that live in WA and the Perth region, they will be able to advise you of what to take and what emergency equipt to carry, as some of these routes that you are planning are in VERY REMOTE areas, also some of these areas could now be under Native Title and restricted, with permits required, and some of those tracks are are longer that from Land's End to John O'Groats and there have been several near fatalities with under prepared tourists,be advised by the local AULROians


You will love Australia, and enjoy your trip if you are well prepared


cheers

Hi there,
wow - thanks for all the replies, please keep them coming if you think some thing is missing!

I've been posting the progress of Bluey's rebuild on this forum but I haven't posted for quite some time. Here's a run down of Bluey's spec:-

heavy duty,galvanised chassis
+2" heavy duty springs
6 x OME shocks all round(twin shocks on rear axle)
6 x Wolf rims with BF Goodrich AT tyres
Castor corrected front radius arms, cranked rear radius arms
polybushes all round
double cardon front prop
Discovery transfer box
Ashcroft reconditioned LT-77 gearbox
X-eng disc handbrake
uprated intercooler + hoses
snorkle + extended breather pipes
ProVent 200
Low Coolant/high temp/oil pressure alarm
Red and yellow top Optima batteries with Dualmate controller
60W Solar panel permanently connected through charge controller to aux battery
extra 45lt wheel arch fuel tank
45lt wheel arch water tank + 60lt internal water tank
passenger side locker with tool kit,air compressor, tow rope, warning triangle, bottle jack, wheel nut spanner.
drivers side locker with fuel jerry can,water jerry can
12T tow rope + kinetic recovery rope and shovel in twin spare wheels
Hi lift jack
Maggiolina roof tent
RV-2 Oz Tent
Wright Off-Road Mats
Exmoor Trim Modular seats with Isle of Arran Sheepskin covers
Engel 60lt fridge + remote temp sensor
Drifta Camp kitchen
Mobile Storage Systems : long line drawer, 6 x Stack&Stow drawers,T-chest, cooker housing, slim line chest
internal "roof rack" for coats ,hats etc
rear flood lights operated by reverse gear(powered by main battery) and by rear mounted switch(powered by aux battery)
12V outlet by rear door(aux batt.), 2 by passenger door(aux batt.), 2 on transmission tunnel(main batt)(Mud Tray), one in engine bay(aux batt)
Ipod ready stereo/DVD with 7" touch screen and reverse camera
3 x fire extinguishers, 2 x fire blankets
comprehensive First Aid kit ( my wife and I are both qualified First Aiders)
500W inverter
heavy duty jump leads(Anderson plug permanently wired in)
3 x internal fluorescent lights
ARB roof console( for UHF radio when we get to Perth)
Tirfor type hand winch
4 x spare shocks
camp chairs + table
Garmin GPS

errm thats it so far! still not finished.

My wife, Rosy, is Australian and has already done a 9 month trip round Oz in a Land Cruiser so she specced out the Land Rover and I built it.

All your advice will quite literally be taken on board so thank you very much.

Andy, Rosy and Abby

wow sounds like uv got a good well prepared vehicle!

Sounds like an excellent vehicle.
I wouldn't head out into the desert in summer though, unless you like being very hot. It's VERY remote out there if you get into trouble. There are cattle stations the size of the UK. Usually better to go south or stay on the coast at that time of year. The grey nomads usually don't head north untill about March.

All the best Andy, keep us posted

if you do head out to the desert in the summer dont rely on straight water for drinking get some advice from a doctor who is involed in athletes as to what would be the best fluids to drink, it will make the trip a little more comfortable and you will be more prepared if you break down

You better watch this item from an Australian TV show about adsvertising - particularly the second item.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfY7VzO0AFI]YouTube - The Gruen Transfer: The Pitch, Anti-Oz Tourism[/ame]

Cat food - Drop bears are the less common cousin of the koala bear. They look similar, so be careful. If you cant distinguish them, only pat a koala at a zoo so you know which breed you are approaching. The drop bear is unusually large, vicious, andcarnivorouskoalas that inhabit treetops and attack their prey by dropping onto their heads from above. If you get cornered by a Drop Bear, throw the tin of cat food at it. If your lucky, it will run away. Otherwise, it will likely be distracted by the tin. (best if you take label off so its shiny). Takes a while for their claws to get through the tin, and then they love the stuff. Should give you enough time to get you, the vehicle, and your family out of its territory. Remember, its claws can do to the Defenders skin what it does to a tin of food! Ive attached a picture of my cousin after his latest encounter with a drop bear. He lives "outback".

Fishing GAFF - For the hoop snakes. When disturbed theyform a rigid hoop by clasping tail in mouth and pursuing you silently and swiftly, using slopes and wind to gain terrifying speed. Out in the open desert, when its windy, those hoop snakes can get up to about 40mph! I kid you not. With a Gaf, you can dislodge their mouth from their "tail" as you sidestep it (they dont turn too well). At that speed, their head hits the ground hard, and they generally break their necks. At the very least, it should be disoriented enough that you can get out of their territory. Heres a picture of one just hatched. We had just hit its mother (or father, who knows). This was about 5 yrs ago when I was still in the Army, and spending lots of time in the desert.

and the damage to the car....we rolled it after the impact. The thing must have been trying to protect its young....



BGB - Bloody Big Gun - For the crocodiles.....obviously.

Remember, you are in these animal's territory, not yours, and all three species are protected wildlife...meaning you cant kill them. At least, not without a license. If you need a license, PM me and I will pass you the details.