Thread: Australian Trip 2008

Originally Posted by leeds

.... Looks like will be hitting the shops in Aus for camping gear etc when arrive..

You should be able to get camping equipment pretty cheaply here, given the strength of your currency. Army Disposal stores generally offer better prices than specialist camping stores.

Another option is to buy stuff in advance on ebay and have it sent to an Australian address.

Yet another option is to go to the local backpackers hostels in the city where you arrive. These are normally in a central location and there are many tourists selling vehicles and camping equipment very cheap, as their planes leave in 2 days. It's probably been used by several tourists in the past, but it's cheap. A good way to get tents, stoves, etc.

It's lighter & faster and a lot less riskier to carry a credit card than to import all your stuff.

G'day Leeds

In regards to the 1st Aid Kit, I would respectfully suggest that you do a 1 day St John's First aid course in Australia and get one of their VERY good kits (might even be able to hire a Aust Traveller Kit which includes a SNAKE Kit) also MR Autos in Redcliffe Brisbane do a Aust Touring Kit of spares to suit your vehicle which you buy and get credited on what you don't use on return others on the forum have better knowledge than I do.

cheers

FIRST AID KIT

Normally a basic kit will suffice around towns, but in remote areas an ambulance can be several hundred kms away. So be better prepared.

Make sure you carry prescriptions for any medication you carry / bring in.

I don't normally advise people to put ointments and the like in First Aid Kits as they get out of date, or leak. But in remote areas you should look at getting stuff that can stop minor cuts becoming ulcers. This is a risk in tropical areas, especially when your body is not used to the local bacterial population.

Betadine is good, and you can get it as an ointment instead of a liquid. Also Medipulv, is an antiseptic powder in a small squeeze bottle that is clean & effective on small wounds.

Also consider non-adherent dressings (Melolin or Melolite) which are good for putting against the skin under heavier bandages. These will prevent the bandage sticking to the wound - good for burns too. Plastic cling wrap (from the kitchen) is also good as a "2nd skin" in the event of burns or gravel rash.


Throw in some Mine Dressings, and go for the h/duty crepe bandages that can be used both as a compression bandage (for snake bite) as well as an elastic support (for sprains).

For analgesia, carry two types - ie paracetemol (which works on the nervous system) and aspirin (anti-inflammatory).

You mentioned food in the vehicle, don't bring any, instead buy it all here, it will be alot cheaper and you won't have the hassles of declaring it to customs.

Also avoid travelling in the months between October to the end of Febuary, it gets bloody hot and humid, especially in the north.

Baz.

Originally Posted by Redback

.......

Also avoid travelling in the months between October to the end of Febuary, it gets bloody hot and humid, especially in the north.

Baz.

That is a bit of a blanket figure - I would stay in southern parts in that period - probably a good part of the year to spend in Tasmania, but also quite OK anywhere from coast to and including the ranges (but preferably not inland from the ranges) from Brisbane to Adelaide, and south of Perth on the west coast.

But definitely do not go into the tropics in that period.

John

Thanks for all the information. Please keep it coming.

The 110 that I will be importing I have owned for 10 years and I KNOW that it is extremely well maintained and equipped. In the last 18 months it has been on 3 long trips to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. OK conditions are different there to Australia.

My local LR independent garage lends me a reasonably comprehensive spare kits.

Thanks for tip on attending local first aid course. Will do it to refresh my knowledge and hopefully gain 'local' first aid
knowledge.

The trip will start in May 08 as a spectator of Outback Chalenge before meandering towards the north. Will ensure am in the southern part of Australia for the back end of the year.


Regards

Brendan

keep us updated on your travel plans, we are doing 4-5 months travel from June - heading North / North West and coming back home to Sydney.

LRH

Originally Posted by JDNSW

That is a bit of a blanket figure - I would stay in southern parts in that period - probably a good part of the year to spend in Tasmania, but also quite OK anywhere from coast to and including the ranges (but preferably not inland from the ranges) from Brisbane to Adelaide, and south of Perth on the west coast.

But definitely do not go into the tropics in that period.

John

I travelled Tassy a few years ago during February and discovered how ccccoooooolld it still can be in the SW! It was mostly very pleasant though and it wouldn't bother someone who's toured Scandinavia etc.