A Road Trip Planning Guide

One of the great benefits of living in a country like Australia is to be able to jump in the car and take a long road trip. Once you have had your car service, which should be the starting point of any long vacation on the road, it’s time to start planning to get the most out of your holiday time.

With so many choices available in this vast country of ours, it?s easy to overlook the basics. Choosing a destination is one thing but it’s quite another to make sure that the trip itself will be an enjoyable one.

Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of your time in the car so it’s a good idea to cover every contingency to make your trip even more enjoyable.

Here are some tips that will help you plan your trip more efficiently and help you get the most enjoyment out of your time on the road.

• Get your car serviced. As mentioned earlier, having your car serviced before a holiday is one of the most important safety steps you can take. Once your vehicle has been given a clean bill of health you can take to the road with peace of mind.
• Choose your travelling companions carefully. The saying goes that you don’t know somebody until you live with them. The same rule applies when you are going on a long road trip! Make sure your travelling companions are compatible in every way and that you take into account everyone’s needs and preferences.
• Take your own music. If you have ever tried to survive a long trip by listening to local radio stations along the way you will probably have already learned that the choice of music can leave a lot to be desired. It’s best to make sure that you are properly entertained when driving and that means taking a wide selection of music with you.
• Country roads in Australia are often long, straight and bright with sunshine. This might sound very attractive but don’t forget to take your sunglasses to protect your eyes from the constant glare. You can easily become overtired when exposed to too much sun on the road.
• Make sure you pay attention to advisory speeding signs wherever you travel. There is possibly no greater downer than to receive a speeding ticket while you are on holiday, so stay alert!
• Plan your refuelling stops. On long country drives service stations can be few and far between, so you need to plan carefully to ensure you don’t limp into the next fuel stop with the fuel gauge pointing below empty.
• At every fuel stop make sure you freshen up for the next stage of your journey. It’s good to take advantage of every stop by stretching and making sure your body keeps fresh. A quick visit to the bathroom to splash water on your face and wash your hands is a great pick me up.

At the end of your journey you will realise the importance of proper planning as outlined in the points above. It is also a good idea to have another car service to make sure your vehicle comes out of the trip unscathed.