Comments on: Explore Australia – Part Two http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two exploring the world for the first time Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:57:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Natalie http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two/comment-page-1#comment-8992 Natalie Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:42:52 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1911#comment-8992 Leah thank you for all of your wonderful insight and advice. It is great to get a realistic view from someone who has lived in Australia and traveled extensively while growing up. I really love your last advice on not leaving your car, if it breaks down. I guess our instinct is sometimes to leave and get help, but it would be best to stay with the car patiently. Thanks for your insight! Leah thank you for all of your wonderful insight and advice.

It is great to get a realistic view from someone who has lived in Australia and traveled extensively while growing up.

I really love your last advice on not leaving your car, if it breaks down. I guess our instinct is sometimes to leave and get help, but it would be best to stay with the car patiently.

Thanks for your insight!

]]> By: Leah http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two/comment-page-1#comment-8958 Leah Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:45:10 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1911#comment-8958 I would suggest the long over-land distances are not actually that 'dangerous' in regards to fuel. Growing up I travelled extensively around Australia with my family, and only once did we almost have a fuel emergency. This was driving from Norseman towards South Australia across the Nullabor Plain, and we only encountered the problem because the fuel station had no been re-fuelled (the tanker had completely bypassed them, and boy was the owner of the fuel station angry. He was starting legal proceedings against the tanker company). We knew we were approaching a long strip of road without any fuel stations, and we stopped at one station where we were told the next fuel station (which would be the last for a few hundred km) had cheaper fuel. So on we went - only to discover, of course, that they had no fuel left. We didn't even have enough left in our tank to go back to the last station. Fortunately a passer-by sold us some of his fuel that he siphoned into a jerry can, which got us back to the previous station to fill up. Otherwise we would have been stuck at that fuel station (which also had accommodation) for two days til another tanker came through. So unless you have the misfortune to come across a dry fuel station, you should not have any fuel problems in Australia (unless of course you're irresponsible and do not pay attention to the signs warning you of long, fuel-station-less strips of road, and fail to fill up your tank.) Kangaroos are also not a major threat except at dawn and dusk when they are most active. Knowing the condition of your car is important. Don't drive a bomb across the centre of Australia. The worst car-related incidents we had was once when our gear box blew out near Emerald in central Queensland. Fortunately for us they had just the right model in the shop and were able to replace it for us, meaning we were only delayed by one night. The other 'worst' car-related incident was when our air-conditioning failed on a trip to the Northern Territory in October! We spent the rest of the trip driving with the windows wound down. And if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR. Your car is far more visible than you are - both to passing by vehicles and search helicopters. It also offers you protection from the sun (very harsh in Australia). I would suggest the long over-land distances are not actually that ‘dangerous’ in regards to fuel. Growing up I travelled extensively around Australia with my family, and only once did we almost have a fuel emergency. This was driving from Norseman towards South Australia across the Nullabor Plain, and we only encountered the problem because the fuel station had no been re-fuelled (the tanker had completely bypassed them, and boy was the owner of the fuel station angry. He was starting legal proceedings against the tanker company).

We knew we were approaching a long strip of road without any fuel stations, and we stopped at one station where we were told the next fuel station (which would be the last for a few hundred km) had cheaper fuel. So on we went – only to discover, of course, that they had no fuel left. We didn’t even have enough left in our tank to go back to the last station. Fortunately a passer-by sold us some of his fuel that he siphoned into a jerry can, which got us back to the previous station to fill up. Otherwise we would have been stuck at that fuel station (which also had accommodation) for two days til another tanker came through.

So unless you have the misfortune to come across a dry fuel station, you should not have any fuel problems in Australia (unless of course you’re irresponsible and do not pay attention to the signs warning you of long, fuel-station-less strips of road, and fail to fill up your tank.)

Kangaroos are also not a major threat except at dawn and dusk when they are most active.

Knowing the condition of your car is important. Don’t drive a bomb across the centre of Australia. The worst car-related incidents we had was once when our gear box blew out near Emerald in central Queensland. Fortunately for us they had just the right model in the shop and were able to replace it for us, meaning we were only delayed by one night. The other ‘worst’ car-related incident was when our air-conditioning failed on a trip to the Northern Territory in October! We spent the rest of the trip driving with the windows wound down.

And if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR. Your car is far more visible than you are – both to passing by vehicles and search helicopters. It also offers you protection from the sun (very harsh in Australia).

]]> By: Hunter Valley Accommodation http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two/comment-page-1#comment-5854 Hunter Valley Accommodation Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:47:11 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1911#comment-5854 Travel Insurance is very benefecial for those who travel regularly as it give lot of benefits to them. <a href="http://www.emmascottage.com.au/">Hunter Valley Accommodation</a> Travel Insurance is very benefecial for those who travel regularly as it give lot of benefits to them.

Hunter Valley Accommodation

]]> By: Natalie http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two/comment-page-1#comment-2736 Natalie Sat, 16 May 2009 16:03:53 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1911#comment-2736 It's true Brian! Working for your lodging is a perfect compromise. Save money and experience the culture in a way most travelers miss out on. It’s true Brian! Working for your lodging is a perfect compromise. Save money and experience the culture in a way most travelers miss out on.

]]> By: brian from nodebtworldtravel.com http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/05/11/explore-australia-%e2%80%93-part-two/comment-page-1#comment-2712 brian from nodebtworldtravel.com Fri, 15 May 2009 23:41:55 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1911#comment-2712 The work for accommodations is a good deal. And for a slightly more expensive country/continent like Australia, it could be the way to go for many of us. Thanks for the post. The work for accommodations is a good deal. And for a slightly more expensive country/continent like Australia, it could be the way to go for many of us. Thanks for the post.

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