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Travel Tips.
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If you have your own travelling tips that you would like to share with other travellers, or tourist, give us a yell and well included in it future issues. Before leaving
by Plane
Check out travel deals that are available on the Internet, It is a Good Idea to book internal airline tickets at least three weeks in advance for discount, Arrange for diabetic / vegetarian / vegan meals for your flight with your travel agent, Get vaccinations for other foreign destinations before leaving, Purchase some water purification tablets if you are planning a stop over in a country with suspect water sources, Find the suitable Insurance policy that covers money, medical and activities, Find out how many 'carry on bags' your airline allows - luggage 20"x15"x10" is average, Read up about your destinations before leaving so you can enjoy yourself straight away on arrival, Don't pack your passport in your rucksack - keep it in your hand luggage with your tickets, Pack essentials such as a toothbrush, clean underwear and money in hand luggage, in case your check in bags get lost, On the day of your flight call the airport to check that your flight is on time, Never let a stranger look after your bag - they may steal it or put something in there, Remove old destination tags to avoid confusion. During Journey, Try to drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated, Minimize jet lag by adjusting your watch to 'local' time along your journey, Walk around a little on the plane to help circulation. On Arrival, Avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room; it's likely to attract a huge premium, Make sure any taxi you get into is legitimate to avoid any shady goings on, If hiring a car, collision damage insurance/waiver is a good investment, If hiring a car carefully check it for dents, scratches, spare tire etc and insist the rental company makes a written note to confirm, Open a bank account at your destination if it is your intention to stay for more than a month, Use reduced rate phone cards to phone home,
Find out how many 'carry on bags' your Bus company allows - luggage 20"x15"x10" is average, Pack essentials such as a toothbrush, clean underwear and money in hand luggage, so you can refresh yourself along the way, On the day of your departure call the bus terminal to check that your departure is on time. Try to drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated, Walk around a little on the bus to help circulation and make the most of any refuel stops for a good stretch, Set your watch to your destination`s time so you wont have to worry about when you get there. Buy a map if you are planning on driving, Buy minor spare parts such as radiator hoses and
fly belts as well as the associated tools to perform the repair
to you vehicle in case you need to while travelling, Make sure that you have a good spare tyre and the necessary tools to change it, Pack a coat hanger because the wire might come in handy for repairs to exhaust systems, Make sure you carry adequate water of everyone including
your passengers, taking into account if you do somehow brake down, If travelling off the beaten track let people know where you intend going and for how long. If driving through a river or creek that your unsure
of its best to walk it to see how deep it is and the current but
you have to be careful as some of the NT`s waterway have Crocodiles If you find yourself lost it is important to remain with your car, Allow plenty of distance if you are over taking a road train and get over to the left hand side of the road as much as possible to either allow road trains to over take you or pass you going the other direction, Be care while travelling in the Territory as you may encounter livestock or wild animals that wander on the road, Lock your vechicle and do not leave valuables unattended in your car. In Australia it is compulsory to wear your seat belts.SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES. Fatigue Distances in the Northern Territory can be long and fatigue is one of the most frequent causes of serious motor vechicle accidents. The long distances aswell as the heat of the day can wear out the traveller so you should make sure you take a break reguarly to freshen up. Rest areas are provided along the highway. Speed The Northern Territory has an open road speed limit. However, drivers should remain at reasonable speeds that allow them to stop safely. When Driving remember that speed limits can vary considerably. Be particularly careful in residential and school areas. Seatbelts Seatbelts save lives. For this reason by law in the Northern Territory everyone in a vehicle fitted with seatbelts must be wearing a seatbelt. The driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers are wearing a seatbelt and fines are imposed if not wearing a seatbelt. Travelling with pets Dogs and cats cannot be taken into any Northern Territory Nationals Parks. Road Trains The Northern Territory is renowned for it`s road
trains, some of which can be three trailers Flooded Roadways Despite the great climate, it does rain heavily from time to time in the Top End. Unless you are sure of the water depth, flow rate and any road damage, do not attempt to cross flooded bridges or causeways. Stock and Wildlife Many roads sealed and unsealed, are not fenced. Stock often feed on road edges or wander across the road. Some stock stay and sleep on the road as the bitumen holds the warmth and is an attractive way for the stock to keep warm during chilly nights. Wildlife such as kangaroos, birds and occasionally cattle can also wander across the road, often without warning. Locals generally try to avoid driving at dawn, dusk and after dark. Dust Dust on Outback roads can pose a danger, obscuring vision of the road ahead. It is best to slow right down or wait for it to settle. Beware of cars that travel in pairs when travelling in dusty conditions. Lost or Broken down A missing vehicle is easier to locate than missing people, so never leave your vehicle regardless of the circumstances. Economise on water if you are away from a main road. If you intend to leave a main road let somebody trustworthy know of your plans, your intended route and your expected time of arrival. Importantly, let them know you have arrived safely. Off the Road Driving on unsealed roads and tracks requires additional care and preparation. Driving a 4x4 does not mean you will not get bogged or that you can climb a hill or rocky outcrops. It will mean that you will be able to drive further than a conventional vechicle. Braking distances on unsealed roads are longer and if you are driving a 4x4, the vehicle is most unstable than a conventional car, particularly at high speeds. Pastrol Property If you drive off-road, be sure you are using a public access road or that you have permission to travel on the property. When travelling on any road crossing a pastoral property, leave everything as you find it - if a gate is open leave it open, if the gate is closed leave it closed. Do not camp in a dry creek bed even if there is nothing in it. Especially during the wet season, Be aware of the fierce Territories sun - wear a shirt, use sunscreen, wear sunglasses and lip protection, Only swim in safe swimming holes, crocodiles move around during the wet season and can be found in any waterways, Check for hazardous currents / tides or dangerous
marine life before swimming/surfing etc, A small first aid kit could be very useful for minor injuries, Swiss army style knives are a good idea for peeling fruit, cutting toe nails etc, A wide brimmed hat or cap can be very useful for preventing sun stroke on very hot days, High factor sun cream will help to minimize the risks of sun burn and skin cancer, Good quality sun glasses will stop you from cooking your eyeballs, A lightweight showerproof jacket can be useful as
it does rain in the Territory, sometimes very hard, Wheel brace to undo car wheelnuts, A suitable lifting device, A small toolkit to perform minor breakdowns which should include a crescent, screwdrivers and Philips head screwdrivers with some misc spanners as well, A pack of cards to keep you and your passengers entertained in case you do brake down, Do not park in truck parking bays along highways. These are provided for truck and road train drivers to park their rigs safely off the road. They can also be noisey with the trucks comming in and going out so you might not get a good nights rest as well. The Northern Territory`s highways have plenty of other rest areas with shade, rubbish bins and tables for rest and fatigue breaks and there are camping and caravan park facilities at regular distances along the highway for overnight stopovers.
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