Julija Posted on 18 March 2025

Preparing for dry season touring in Australia — part two

Words Amelia Mansell and Julija Zivanovic Pics Allison Watt and Supplied

With the dry season just around the corner for northern Australia, join us as we explore some of the best preparation practices for a successful ‘up north’ trip.

Horizontal Falls in WA Horizontal Falls, off the coast from Broome in Western Australia, is an iconic northern Australia destination (Credit: Allison Watt)

Last week we started giving you some advice and recommendations for visiting the northern regions of Australia, namely those that experience a distinct dry and wet season. If you missed that article, you can have a read here. Otherwise, welcome to part two where we’ll provide some tips for vehicle insurance, remote travel and how to beat the peak season by planning ahead. There’s nothing like the right trip preparation to help you have an awesome outdoor travelling experience.

Insurance and coverage

Now is the perfect time to review your vehicle insurance, ensure it’s up to date and check what it covers. For example, does it cover weather damage, theft, temporary accommodation if something happens to your touring vehicle and/or camper trailer/caravan, contents coverage, or removal and storage of the car if it’s in an accident? Does your car insurance cover any drivers who will be with you on the trip?

And if you don’t have insurance, this might be a good time to start researching what options are available and find one that suits your requirements.

Back on the bitumen near Cape York, Qld Back on the bitumen from Cape York, Queensland (Credit: Allison Watt)

And if still relevant, check your warranty agreements. Organise or check that your roadside assistance is up to date and will cover the areas you’re going to. Several insurance companies have extra recovery cover for remote areas, and this could be a good option for you while providing a bit more peace of mind.

Gear for remote touring

Now, we know packing some items — like your clothes — may be a last-minute job, but it’s a good idea to start reviewing your camping gear and travel toolkit well in advance to avoid a mad scramble before departure. And the earlier you start looking, the better deals you might be able to get. Heading into remote areas can mean rough roads, so get any spare parts you might need for your trip early as some items might need to be ordered in, so allow time to get it.

Also, if you plan to drive in sandy conditions, which up north is highly likely, ensure you have the right equipment such as tyre pressure monitors, deflators and inflators in your kit. Consider a tyre pressure monitor with sensors so that you can make sure your tyres stay at the correct pressure while you’re travelling.

Tyre pressures play an important role in sand driving Make sure to pump tyre pressures back up when going back onto sealed roads (Credit: Emma Warren and Sam Richards)

Do you have all the vehicle camping gear you need for a big dry season adventure? Think awnings, lightweight barbecues, portable solar panels, water storage, recovery gear (an essential for all 4WD adventures) and camping gear. And if you’re planning on taking a boat, kayaks, bikes or similar, do you have somewhere on or in your setup to secure them for travel?

If you’ve got all the gear you’ll need, give it a once over and make sure it’s in good condition, including your recovery gear, tarps and so on. The last thing you want is to get deep into the outback to discover some of your gear is worn out or broken!

Book well in advance

While it’s not impossible to find quieter campsites in the northern stretches of Australia, if you’re planning to tick off some popular attractions, want to stay in a central location in a major town or will be travelling during that area’s peak season, you’ll need to book well in advance … probably now.

Think famous locations such as Broome, the Ningaloo Reef, Dirk Hartog Island, Darwin, Lake Argyle, Cairns and Cape York. Most will recommend booking a couple of months in advance of your trip, but if you’re planning on travelling during a peak season — such as the June/July school holidays — or have a tight time frame for your trip, it’s best to allow as much time as possible. Each area will have a slightly different peak season due to several factors, so always do your own research.

Cairns, Queensland Far North Queensland's Cairns is a popular dry season destination (Credit: Bigstock)

In some popular locations — such as Lake Argyle in Western Australia — you need to be on top of your plans as there is only one caravan park and if you can’t get a spot in the time frame that you’ll be in the region, you might just have to miss out or stay in the nearest town.

National park campgrounds likewise book out early. Most national parks will allow you to book well in advance (180 days in WA and up to 12 months for some parks in Queensland) of arrival, so book your spot and organise any required permits as soon as you have your dates sorted.

And it’s not just accommodation that you need to organise well in advance. If you’re ticking some epic adventures off your list, start planning what activities or tours you want to experience in those areas so you can secure your spot. For example, some wildlife, plane, helicopter and cultural tours will have limited spots, and these can sell out fast as the dry season approaches, so lock it in early. Remember: it’s not just Aussies who are attracted to the northern temperate regions during this time; you will be fighting for spots with international tourists too.

Hema’s TOP tips

Check quarantine restrictions: Familiarise yourself with the quarantine restrictions in the areas you’ll be travelling to so that you don’t get caught out. Not all quarantine borders are state borders either. There are a number of biosecurity zones around Australia — northern Queensland has two — which are in place to protect Australia’s fragile environment and protect agricultural growers.
Legal towing requirements: If you’re towing a camper or caravan, be aware there are different rules for towing around Australia that you must abide by. Ensure you check the details in advance, including speed limits, licensing and weight restrictions.
Plan your trip route: If you’re going interstate, then now is a good time to start planning the route you’ll take. Consider what destinations or towns you want to see along the way, any festivals you want to go to and plan accordingly. And once you’ve got a route itinerary locked in, supply a copy to your emergency contact and set up a plan for how often you’ll get back in contact with them during your trip. Property changes hands often in Australia, and unusual weather events happen often — these can and will affect roads and whether or not you can pass through. Never underestimate how much time you can lose, or will add to your trip, because of an impassable road, and you definitely don’t want to be caught without fuel or extra fuel in the event of this happening.
First aid: Travelling into the depths of WA, NT and Qld can mean heading into some fairly remote locations. Safety is key and it’s a good idea that at least one person you’re travelling with has undergone a first aid safety course. And if you have one, check if it needs to be updated (certain first aid courses such as emergency life support must be updated every 12 months). And while you’re at it, make sure your first aid kit is well stocked and you’re familiar with how to use it. If you don’t have one, now is a good time to get one. Stock up on prescription medicines — even if you find a chemist there’s no guarantee they will have what you need, and it’s a good idea to get e-versions of your scripts so you can access them on your phone.
Food: As you head away from major towns and regional centres, the choice of supermarkets is going to get scarcer — fresh fruit and vegetables may be virtually non-existent, and you have to be prepared to pay more for the basics than you do at home. In the months or weeks leading up to your trip start creating a stockpile of nonperishable food such tins of fruit and vegetables, packets of rice and noodles, sugar, flour, condiments and the like. How much food you take will depend on the available storage in your rig.

Pre-cooking, vacuum sealing and freezing food before your trip is a good idea so you don’t get caught out in remote areas where there are no options to shop — think Bolognese sauce, curries and casseroles that only need to be defrosted and reheated. Then you’ll simply have to cook up some rice, noodles or pasta, and dinner is sorted! Vacuum-sealed and frozen packets of raw diced chicken, onion and capsicum are great for quick stir-fries or as fajitas in some wraps.
Camp side beverages: Please be aware that in some remote communities there are bans and restrictions on alcohol purchases, so do some research and plan accordingly. Further information on alcohol restrictions in the Top End of Australia can be found here.

Permits are required to travel some roads in the northern regions of Australia (Credit: Allison Watt)

Safe travels

The northern regions of our country are home to world-famous landscapes, unique communities and cultures, and contain some truly unforgettable bucket-list experiences. With all this, it’s easy to see why so many Aussies head off on an annual northern migration. It is the perfect road trip destination.

We at Hema Maps believe planning and preparation are the keys to a successful and safe trip, after all, we’re here to help you be prepared to explore. So, if you’re planning a dry season adventure for the 2025 season, don’t let time get away from you and start preparing now.

Good luck!

Preparing for dry season touring in Australia — part one

Free and budget campsites: Northern Territory

Outdoor adventure must-have: First aid kit