Remote-area travel safety: communications, trip plans and emergencies

Our general outback safety guide covers water, fuel, heat and road trains. This page goes a step further for travellers heading onto remote tracks such as the Canning Stock Route, Simpson Desert, Strzelecki Track or Plenty Highway, where you may not see another vehicle for a day or more.

The principle is simple: someone should always know where you are going and when to raise the alarm, and you should always have a way to call for help that does not depend on mobile coverage.

Communications: have at least one off-grid option

Mobile coverage in remote Australia is patchy at best. Coverage usually exists in towns and some roadhouses, and fades within kilometres. Plan as if your phone will not work once you leave town, and carry at least one of the following.

Personal locator beacon (PLB)

A 406 MHz PLB is the last-resort emergency device. When activated, it sends a distress signal via satellite to search and rescue authorities, which in Australia are coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Choose a beacon with built-in GNSS (GPS) so your position is sent quickly.

• Register it with AMSA. Registration is free online and links the beacon to your contact details and emergency contacts. Update the registration with your trip details.
• Only activate it in a genuine, life-threatening emergency. A PLB is a one-way signal; it does not let you explain what has happened.
• Check the battery expiry date and test it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Carry it on your person, not in the vehicle, when you walk away from the car.

Satellite phone or two-way satellite messenger

A satellite phone or a two-way satellite messenger lets you talk or text to describe the problem, which is invaluable for non-life-threatening situations such as a broken axle, a medical question or a change of plans. Many travellers carry both a PLB and a satellite device. Newer smartphones also offer satellite emergency messaging in some areas; check what your device supports and practise using it before relying on it.

UHF CB radio

A UHF CB radio lets you talk to nearby vehicles, road trains and some stations. It is not a substitute for a satellite device because range is limited, but it is very useful on tracks and highways.

• Channel 40 is widely used by road trains and truck drivers on highways; use it to coordinate overtaking.
• Channel 5 (and its repeater input, channel 35) is set aside for emergencies. Do not use it for chat.
• Keep transmissions brief and courteous.

ACMA sets the rules for CB radio channels; see the sources below.

Leave a trip plan

Before heading onto a remote track, leave a written trip plan with a reliable person. Include:

• your route, planned overnight stops and expected arrival time;
• vehicle description and registration number;
• names of everyone travelling and any medical conditions;
• what communication equipment you carry (PLB, satellite phone number);
• a clear time at which they should contact police if they have not heard from you.

Check in as agreed, and tell them when you arrive safely. Some remote areas, such as the Simpson Desert parks, have permits and park offices; roadhouses and police stations can also be useful points to report your plans. Always follow the specific instructions of the land manager.

Vehicle and convoy

• Travel with another vehicle on the most remote routes if you can. A second vehicle can recover, tow or go for help.
• Carry two spare tyres, a puncture repair kit, compressor, recovery gear you know how to use, and basic spare parts such as belts, hoses and fuses.
• Lower tyre pressures appropriately on sand and corrugations, and reinflate for bitumen.
• Don't overload the vehicle; heavy roof loads raise the risk of rollovers and broken racks on corrugations.

See our 4WD guide and fuel, permits and road conditions page for more.

If something goes wrong

Breakdown or bogging

1. Stay with your vehicle. It provides shade and is far easier to spot from the air than a person. Many outback deaths have involved people who left their vehicle to walk for help.
2. Ration water from the start and keep activity to the cooler parts of the day.
3. Make yourself visible. Lay out bright items, use a mirror to signal aircraft, and keep a fire ready to make smoke (only where it is safe and legal).
4. Use your communications. Call or message for assistance with your satellite device. If life is at risk, activate your PLB and call Triple Zero if you have any signal.

Medical emergency

• Call Triple Zero (000); from a mobile you can also try 112. Use the Emergency+ app to read out your coordinates.
• If there is no mobile coverage, use a satellite phone or activate a PLB for life-threatening situations.
• The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides emergency aeromedical care across remote Australia, usually accessed through Triple Zero or local health services.
• Carry a comprehensive first aid kit, including compression bandages for snakebite, and consider doing a remote first aid course.

Heat illness

Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Warning signs include confusion, dizziness, nausea, stopped sweating and collapse. Move the person to shade, cool them with water and airflow, and call for help immediately.

Before you go: remote-area checklist

• PLB registered with AMSA, battery in date, carried on your person.
• Satellite phone or messenger charged, with a power source and tested.
• Trip plan left with a reliable contact, with a clear "raise the alarm" time.
• Road and park conditions checked with official sources the day you leave.
• Permits obtained where required.
• Fuel and water calculated for the route, plus a generous reserve.
• Spare tyres, recovery gear, tools and first aid kit packed.
• Offline maps downloaded and a paper map carried.

Practical information

• Emergency: Triple Zero (000); 112 from a mobile.
• Beacon registration: AMSA, free, online.
• Related: Outback safety guide, Outback tracks, Crocodile safety.