Big Red Tour: How to travel by 4WD in the Australian Outback

Heading west from Yulara on the Great Central Road towards the Gunbarrel Higway

B I G R E D T O U R

How to travel by 4WD in the Australian Outback

WHERE TO GO

DISCLAIMER
The outback can be a very harsh and dangerous place for the the unprepared and ill equipped. Over the years there have been some tragic accidents. Typically the following happen:

• Car break down, tourist have not told anyone of their plans.
• Tourist have not brought enough extra food and water.
• Tourist gets desperate in the heat.
• Tourist starts to walk for help.
• Tourist die a gruesome death from thirst.

BRING EXTRA WATER = 5 LITER PER PERSON AND DAY AND NEVER EVER LEAVE THE CAR! OK?

Some other stupid things to do:

• Camp next to crocodile rivers.
• Go swimming in crocodile rivers, preferably at night time when you are drunk.
• Drive on rough outback tracks in a conventional petrol driven car.
• Drive on roads that have been closed due to rain.

I'm sure there are at least a thousand other idotic ideas, but few of them spring to mind right now. I guess you get the message anyway?

At the end of the day, it is your own responsibility if you go and kill yourself because you behaved stupid. Don't blame me or the advice on this web site if you find yourself in trouble somewhere out in the sticks! OK?

WELCOME TO THE MAGNIFICENT AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK!
In 1997 I traveled over 30.000 kilometers in the outback in two old Toyota Landcruisers, Fidelity and Innocence. One month I never slept under a roof once, the stars were my ceiling every night. I cooked my food over open fires and struggled with dirt tracks that looked more like dry rivers than roads.
Some of the things I experienced is beyond belief, for example drinking sessions with rogues in mining towns, the rough desert roads, the amazing nature and wild life and above all, all the friendly Australians and Aborigines I met.

DREAMTIME
My journey sort of started in 1987 / 88 when I worked as a computer programmer in Melbourne. Then, I visited the big cities like Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, dived on the Reef and did normal tourist things. Friends took me out camping and thus my longing for the outback was born.
Back in Sweden I read Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines about 14 times and dreamt of a place where the sky always is blue, the earth is red and the beer always is ice chilled.

A POM WHO HAPPEN TO BE A FAIR DINKUM AUSSIE
Eventually I had paid off the mortgages on my apartment and could start to save money for this trip. Through the Internet I got in touch with a friendly and helpful English doctor, Nigel Buxton. Nigel has worked as a forensic pathologist in the outback. He has worked with Aboriginal trackers and know the bush better than his own pocket.
Nigel voluntered to drive from Perth to Yulara (Ayer's Rock resort) to pick me up and drive from Yulara to Western Australia via the very rough Gunbarrel Highway. He and his family gave me a crash course in bush traveling. During the rest of my journey they acted as my lifeline and as a moral support. Whenever I was about to set out on a dangerous desert track, I phoned Nigel, got heaps of advice and I knew someone would alert the Flying Doctors in case I did not turn up in a couple of days time. Truly amazing.

MY SECOND FAMILY
Back in Melbourne my Greek / Australian "brother" Con and his family functioned as my Australian base. Without them, this trip would have been much, much harder. There's really no way of thanking them for the friendship they have provided me with over the years.

Ok, so now when the sentimental part is finished, I can only wish you a safe and pleasant journey in the most magnificent landscape on the Earth, the Australian Outback.

Have a good trip mate!

:-) Jens