Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Australia

8 bytes added, 07:06, 25 November 2009
no edit summary
== The Outback ==
I don't know about others, but hitchhiking throughout the outback was easy. The people were friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in. I managed from [[Broome ]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin ]] and down to Alice. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the turn off to Batchelor, which while on the main highway, is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a long ways. Anyway, give it a go. If you're in the tropics, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone. Definitely make sure to carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If you can get decent water, all the better, but don't bank on it. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)
When going to the outback go to truck stops and talk to the truckies there (make sure the town you're going to HAS a truck stop, or you may be in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot of truck companies don't allow anyone but the drivers in their trucks but if you talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. For example petrol tankers, transporting more than one trailer of gas, etc. Not all companies have rules against taking passengers. Truckies will often take you long distances, for example [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]] or [[Darwin]] to Townsville, but if you want to get off the main road, then be prepared to wait awhile.
14
edits

Navigation menu