Top 10 family outback touring tips

Taking the family on any extended road trip presents its own set of issues, with back-seat boredom among the most common.

But that's nothing compared to the potential hazards of touring with the family in remote Outback regions, where the lack of facilities, services and communication options give you more important things to worry about, like safety and survival.

Apart from having a suitable vehicle for the job, usually a big four-wheel drive that can comfortably carry the family and all your gear as well as handle the rougher tracks, you have to be prepared for the worst – tantrums as well as tyre-busting terrain.

Following a recent lap of the Kimberley, here are a few tips to help you survive a family Outback adventure...

Be self-sufficient
Take everything you need as well as items you think you might need in case of an emergency, when no-one's around to help you. Even everyday items like band-aids can be hard to source outside of regional towns. Also, make sure it works and you know how to use it; for example, you don't want to discover the jack is broken as the family waits around in sweltering heat for you to change a tyre. A sat phone, EPIRB or UHF radio are also necessities when there's little mobile phone coverage.

Long stints behind the wheel are often unavoidable when touring vast Outback regions, but it's still important to stop for breaks and a stretch; even more so if your kids are young and less patient. It's also a good idea to have everything close at hand, like games, pillows, books, etc. Packed lunches as well as a range of snacks can also save the day; even if you do pass a roadhouse the options can be pretty dodgy, unless you like two-day old, deep fried food...

Consider the kids
Trying to squeeze in that extra bush walk, or taking a few risks on the road to get to that last attraction before sunset, isn't worth it if the kids suffer or something goes wrong. Think about leaving a bit early in the morning to beat the heat on those longer bushwalks, or make sure there's something to look forward to at the end like a refreshing swim. Obviously, the older the kids are, the more they can do, but ultimately you want to make it fun for everyone.

If you're in the Outback there's a good chance you're camping, and depending on your rig, setting up or packing down camp is a lot easier if everybody pitches in and helps out.

Depending on their capabilities, get the kids involved by blowing up mattresses, making beds or helping prepare dinner. Even little ones can do an important job like handing tent pegs to Dad before he tries to bang them into the rock-hard ground!

Keep 'em safe
It's no fun getting burnt or bitten, so a few daily precautions will help keep the grumblings to a minimum. Make sure they lather on plenty of sun protection, even when in the car, as well as bug protection at night. Every child should have their own drink bottle, wide-brimmed hats, head torch and a warmer jacket for night, plus good bushwalking boots if you plan to go on hikes.

Outback holidays help instil independence and develop confidence, so if the kids are old enough, encourage them to go to the shower block on their own or with a sibling, or go explore with the other kids. It also gives the parents some time-out, after being cooped up in a car for hours...

Lighten up
Because there's more things that can go wrong, you need to stay relaxed and keep your cool. Even lighten up a bit when it comes to normally important things like a healthy diet. Sugary treats like soft drinks are a good way to revive flagging spirits, particularly when dad's sipping away on an icy cold beer watching the sun set!

Too much screen time shouldn't be a problem in the Outback, with the lack of wi-fi, although most kids will still enjoy listening to music or watching videos on an electronic device while in the car. However, encouraging activities like writing a daily journal, or making a video of the trip, will make them engage more with what's around them. Collecting small mementoes, like gathering shells along the Kimberley coastline, is another way to get them to interact with nature.

Keep it fun
If you undertake an activity or go on a tour, try and make it as much fun for the adults as the kids. On a tag-a-long beach tour we did in the Kimberley, while the kids learnt how to spear fish and hunt for mud crabs the adults listened to stories about the local indigenous history and culture. Everyone was happy!

Even if you're on a tight schedule it's important to have 'down' days, where you can relax and recuperate from the early starts, long drives and increased physical activity. Young kids often don't cope well with tiredness and lack of sleep, and you want them to end up with fond memories so they look forward to the next Outback adventure.