Part of your preparation should be obtaining a good set of maps. Most road maps fail to distinguish between public and private roads so be careful when venturing off the beaten track. Maps of pastoral areas are inexpensive and are available from the relevant State Department of Land Information. If in doubt, do not camp or fish without first obtaining permission from the owner whenever you come to gated or fenced boundaries and take notice of "Do Not Enter" signs. All Australian land is owned by someone, whether Government or private.

Consider these factors when deciding your route:

• reliability of information about the route
• quality of road surfaces
• the time of year at which you plan to travel (Summer in northern Australia means monsoonal rain, and some roads will be cut)
• fuel availability and distances between fuelling points (after establishing fuel consumption under both easy and hard driving conditions, work on the basis of getting only 80% of that distance in the outback, so that you give yourself a margin of safety)
• access to restricted areas
• whether pets are permitted
• whether you have a companion vehicle or if you are unaccompanied
• access to the attractions you want to visit
• access to the services you or your passengers may need
• the kind of vehicle(s) you plan on using
• your level of independence, experience and competence

Australia has established over 3,400 reserves, including 11 World Heritage listed regions to protect some of the most beautiful and unique landscapes in the world... Over 6.4% of the Australian land mass and 158 marine/estuarine areas have been set aside for protection. Australia's national parks represent almost a full range of wildlife communities, including rainforest, desert, alpine and marine reef regions.

Most national parks and reserves are within easy reach of Australia's main cities and towns... Many contain samples of Aboriginal culture such as rock art, paintings, burial grounds and ceremonial sites. In some cases the parks are leased from the traditional owners and managed by park rangers.

Some national parks are located in remote, isolated regions accessible only by 4WD vehicles. These parks often have fewer facilities but allow bush camping... Entrance fees and permits vary from park to park and state to state... see National Parks

Like other landowners in Australia, Aboriginal people have the legal right to grant or refuse permission to people wishing to enter or travel through their land... The permit system is also designed to help protect the privacy of Aboriginal communities, preserve Aboriginal culture, safeguard the natural environment and promote visitor safety... If you plan on trekking across designated Aboriginal Land, you must obtain permission.

In Queensland, notification of a route, time of travel and preferred camp site to the appropriate local Aboriginal council as you travel is all that is required... Aboriginal councils in other states issue a permit for a specific journey. It is best to telephone before taking to the road to find out exact requirements for these states... Permits can take up to 6 weeks to process, so pre-planning here will prevent frustration or disappointment.

There are three types of permits for Aboriginal land:

• Transit permit - This allows you to travel through Aboriginal land on designated roads. Camping and off road access are prohibited.
• Entry permit - This allows entry to a designated area of Aboriginal land or an Aboriginal community for a specific purpose and period of time.
• Extended entry permit - This allows entry for an extended period up to one year. (usually for work purposes)

see Aboriginal Land

At the present time, no person can enter a station without the pastoralists' or lessee's permission. All pastoral leases are private property and for your own safety, you must get permission from the pastoralist well in advance if you plan on travelling off public roads onto the pastoral station tracks.

Traveller's Atlas maps show the pastoral stations and their boundaries, so you know which pastoral station you are travelling through. The Dept of Land Information in WA also have regional maps at 1:1,000,000 scale for the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, etc., as well as some excellent tourism maps covering major regional destinations.

On arrival, you should introduce yourself to the owner and ascertain the UHF channel they use to avoid hindering their business communications. Be aware that facilities may be scarce, and should they be available, should be treated as a genuine business operation. Advice on what you may and may not do should be sought from the pastoralist as regards water supply, lighting of fires etc.

Maps and guides are an essential part of touring. Pack them so that they are easily accessible during a driving day in a waterproof, preferably clear plastic cover, with pencil, notebook, ruler and possibly a pocket calculator.

You should supplement these with local guides and most importantly topographic maps... National parks will help with specific maps and information for parks under their control... Tourism offices will usually post brochures and touring maps on request.

Topographical maps, which show largely unchanging geographic features, are helpful navigation aids. They are useful for outback and remote areas - the larger the scale the better... Australia is now covered by the Auslig 1:250 000 and 1:100 000 series, in printed maps and compilation sheets, and there is an excellent index sheet available showing the areas covered by each map... See Maps & Tour information.

You can purchase or hire your own personal, hand-held navigation tool to determine the latitude, longitude and altitude of wherever you are... It utilises the Global Positioning System, a 24-satellite system encircling the earth. The tiny instrument fits comfortably in the palm of a hand and it doesn't need fitting; the antenna however should be mounted on the car roof. There is a 12-volt power supply included... There are several brands available.

Weather conditions or the seasons are the next consideration. For example, Australia's north should not be attempted during the wet season (November - May)... Heavy rain during that period will raise creek and stream levels and may render them impassable... During winter (June-August) snow in the highland areas makes roads and tracks unsuitable and very hot weather during mid summer gives a good reason to bypass the deserts.

You must take Australia's weather and seasons into account when planning. The weather on a trip of any length will help you decide what you must take. Cold weather requires more gear than warm weather as bulky sleeping bags and extra clothing will be needed.

To allow you to review Australia's climate averages during the time you intend traveling, we provide you with a link to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Australian seasons are the following:

The general rule of thumb is: in summer, head to the coast or south, and in winter, head north to the tropics or inland to the deserts.

• Winter
  
  Most people who start their trip from the Eastern states in winter will travel in an anti-clockwise direction around Australia with maybe a diversion into the Red Centre from the Kimberley through the Tanami.
  
  From May onwards, you would travel the northwest region of W.A., this can be a spectacular time to visit places such as Mitchell Plateau in the Kimberley, accessed via the Gibb River Road.
  
• Summer
  
  Those who leave the eastern states in summer tend to head south and continue in a clockwise direction around Australia. If you commence your trip from W.A., there tend to be two main seasons for travel - Easter and summer. The far north of W.A. around the Pilbara and Kimberley is usually affected by cyclones from December to March, sometimes as late as April, so heading south is preferable... Because the southwest region can be dramatically cooler, it is popular in summer, particularly the Christmas school holidays.

The following are the Aboriginal seasons:

• Gunumeleng (October - December) This is the pre-monsoonal storm season. The build-up to the big wet, being very humid and with more thunderstorms. The many waterbirds disperse and mosquitoes are on the increase.
  
  
• Gudjewg (January - March) This is the period with the most rain. There are violent thunderstorms and an abundance of wildlife. It is hot and moist.
  
  
• Banggereng (April) Animals are caring for their young, and plants are fruiting. There are also violent, windy storms. (called "knock 'em down storms")
  
  
• Yegge (May to mid-June) Early morning mists hang over the plains and water holes as the air starts to dry out. Waterfalls are still full and most tracks are open.
  
  
• Wurrgeng and Gurrung (mid-June - August) Temperatures around 30°c and low humidity. This is the high season for tourists with birds crowding the receding waterholes.

Plant pests and diseases can spread from one part of Australia to another through the movement of fruit, vegetables, plants, flowers, plant products and soil.

Restrictions apply to each State and Territory to protect Australia's valuable plant industries from a range of pests and diseases and to maintain access to valuable local and overseas markets. These restrictions operate under State and Territory legislation.

A 'Traveller's guide to Interstate Quarantine' (PDF) is prepared for travellers by Quarantine Domestic. It clearly explains the checkpoint locations and what you can and can't take over the borders right around Australia.

If you have additional questions, call Quarantine Domestic direct on 1800 084 881.