Waiting to cross the Pentecost River at the eastern end of the Gibb River Road, QA (Image Allison Watt)
Dry season touring is a rite of passage among caravanners. Every year, like clockwork, vans are pulled out and packed carefully to make the migration northwards in search of the sun. But when do you have to start planning your trip?
Every caravanner should experience a trip to the northern reaches of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland at least once. And, from what we’ve seen, once is enough to get you hooked. But while these road trips might not seem all that different to any other long-distance caravanning holiday, there is a lot of planning and preparation that goes into a successful trip, and much of it has to be done months in advance.
And it all boils down to the fact there is only six months of the year that these northern regions are considered hospitable and caravan or camper trailer-friendly (although this is still Australia, and the regions will still throw a fair few challenges at you).
What is the dry season?
The northern areas of Australia don’t abide by the four-seasons rules due to their proximity to the equator. Instead, they have two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Depending on the region, this can be a bit oversimplified (the NT’s Top End actually has six seasons), but the wet and the dry seasons are the most commonly known and taken into account when travelling.
The wet and dry seasons last roughly six months, with the wet running from approximately mid-November to mid-April, while the dry season occurs from mid-April to mid-November.
As the name suggests, the wet season is when northern Australia experiences heavy rains or monsoons, causing flooding, storm damage, closed roads and the like. It’s not always impossible to travel during this season, but it can be a lot more hazardous, and many popular locations (such as national parks) and iconic routes may experience closures.
It’s for this reason, and to flee the southern Australia's winter months, that most caravanners tend to travel during the dry season when the weather is a bit more predictable, and temperatures can range around 28–30°C. But don’t be complacent — the nights can still get quite cool, so don’t leave all the layers at home.
Sunset in Winton, Qld (Image Allison Watt)
Start planning early
Chances are if you’re heading off on a dry season caravanning road trip, it’s going to be a long-distance trip, which requires plenty of planning and preparation to ensure you and your setup are up to the task. This means you should start planning your trip months before you intend to leave.
And, as we’ll get to in a bit, you won’t be the only one on the road wanting to tick off bucket-list items. Certain locations can get packed and booked out well in advance, and you may need permits to access certain routes, regions, communities and national parks.
So, don’t get caught high and dry and start your planning as soon as possible.
Are your vehicle and van up to the task?
Before you get too far down the planning rabbit hole, it’s a good idea to make sure your tow vehicle and caravan are both suitable for the trip and the environments you’ll be travelling in.
Familiarise (or re-familiarise) yourself with the weight limits of both your van and vehicle to ensure they’re a good match and you can carry everything you’ll need for what could be a long trip.
The road to Cape York, Qld, isn’t smooth so make sure your setup is up to the task (Image Allison Watt)
A lot of the areas you’ll head to in the dry season will be pretty remote and there are plenty of unsealed roads. Certain areas, like a trip up to the Tip on Cape York, will require a 4WD with good clearance and durable tyres (all terrains or better, ideally), so make sure you have a clear understanding of the route and road conditions and plan your trip or setup accordingly.
And don’t forget to take your van into account. A van designed for on-road touring isn’t going to do too well on heavily corrugated dirt roads. And we’re not just talking a few scratches and dents. Offroad vans are specifically designed for rough travel, including suspension setups, heavy-duty chassis, tyres, external protection and so on. If you put an on-road caravan in a similar situation you may cause significant damage that won’t be covered by that van’s warranty.
Pre-trip maintenance and upgrades
If your rig is up to the task, then it’s a good idea to book your vehicle and caravan in for a service and any required maintenance, such as wheel alignments. These may need to be booked weeks to a month in advance, so don’t leave it too long.
Consider booking your entire setup in at a centre like the Cruisemaster Towing Performance Centre, where your vehicle and van will be looked at individually and as a towing duo to ensure you’ve got the most optimised and legal setup for your travel requirements.
The Cruisemaster Towing Performance Centre will assess your vehicle and van separately and as a duo
If there are DIY tasks you can do yourself (checking wheel bearings, tyres, seals, trailer lights), or learn to do yourself, start ticking them off now so you’re not in a mad rush in the lead up to D-Day. (Check out our DIY columns for some inspiration and step-by-step guides.)
Check both your vehicle and caravan’s suspension components for signs of wear and tear, and if you have noticed any issues with your ride quality or feel, book them in to get checked over by a professional. Weight plays an important role when it comes to how suspension behaves, so if it looks like you’ll be overweight or putting too much strain on your caravan suspension consider getting an upgrade (check out our interviews with Cruisemaster and Tough Dog 4WD Suspension for advise for offroad driving and suspension setups).
Do you need to get your suspension setup upgraded? (Image John Ford)
Are your tyres in good condition? If you need to replace any tyres, and your vehicle and van tyres aren’t already a match then consider making them all the same. This can make things much simpler if you need to use a spare during your trip. And on that note, consider if you’ve got the space and weight capacity to have more than one spare tyre with you.
Think about whether you need any extra equipment or accessories fitted to ensure a safe trip, such as bullbars, stoneguards, storage racks, removable or permanent towing mirrors (MSA 4X4 Accessories makes ones specific to your tow vehicle), Starlink and so on. But don’t forget to take your overall weight into account — the more you add, the less payload you have, and you may end up going beyond your legal limit which might mean a GVM upgrade.
Consider your weights
If you’re coming from the east coast, heading into WA, NT or Qld might end up being a long trip which can entice you to pack a lot of stuff, but don’t fall into that trap. Always consider the weight limits of both your vehicle and van and keep your personal items to the minimum (check out our feature on planning an east to west coast road trip here).
As you start planning the gear you need, any modifications you make to your setup (such as adding storage, bullbars, extra water, fuel or solar power capacity), take your weights into account and make sure you remain legal and safe. Head to a weigh station if you’re concerned, or book into a centre to have your setup checked to ensure you’re within legal limits and weight distribution is correct.
Organise your permits
Certain roads or regions in Australia will require access, travel or camping permits, which must be organised in advance of your trip. Some examples include Arnhem Land, Cape York and the Great Central Road. Permits can take days or longer to be processed, let alone approved, and if you’re requesting any special considerations then we recommend getting the process underway as soon as possible.
The reasons for the permits can vary from the area being private or Aboriginal land to a way for the local government to or land council to prevent damage to the environment caused by too many visitors travelling through it at the same time.
Permits are required to travel some roads (Image Allison Watt)
Many Aboriginal communities will require a permit to visit them, even if you’re just planning on going fishing, bushwalking or camping, much like when you visit a national park. These permits are to not only manage and regulate access to these lands but also to ensure that visitors are aware of and respect that community’s property, privacy, practices and cultural beliefs. For example, many Aboriginal communities do not allow photography and will have sacred sites that can not be visited.
Some Aboriginal communities will need to be contacted directly for a permit to visit them. If so, it’s a good idea to contact them with plenty of time to spare, as some communities may only have monthly/intermittent meetings to oversee any permit requests and so forth.
Some major roads will also require permits, even if you’re just going in for a day trip or passing through. Some popular examples are the Gary Junction Road, Great Central Road and entry into the Kiwirrkurra community in WA (abutting the NT and SA borders). Other examples include Gary Junction Road and the Neale Junction to Warburton section of the Connie Sue Highway.
National parks and reserves will require a Parks Pass and/or access permits and camping permits, which can be organised online. While you may not need to organise these months in advance of your intended arrival, if you want to camp in a national park (especially popular) then it’s wise to organise your permit and/or Parks Pass and secure your spot early.
Permits are one of the more finnicky aspects of planning your trip, as there is no one place to organise them, varying from land councils, specific communities and the government. But here are some handy contacts to get you started:
Western Australia
The Western Australian Government website has information on permits required for travel through Aboriginal land.
For access and camping in national parks, head here.
Northern Territory
The NT has four main land councils that manage permits:
Head here for NT national park permits.
Kakadu National Park operates separately, and can be organised here.
Queensland
The main area of Queensland where you’ll require a permit is if you’re heading up to Cape York and the Tip (the northernmost point of mainland Australia).
The access permit is one of the easier permits to acquire and is provided when you get your ferry ticket to cross the Jardine River. You can book your spot online via the Northern Peninsula Area website.
But if you’re planning on camping in a national park or reserves on the peninsula, don’t forget to book your spot and organise a camping permit in advance. These camping spots fill up quick, so the sooner you secure your spot the better.
Heading up to The Tip is a popular bucket list activity, so make sure you book your campsites in advance (Image Allison Watt)
Insurance and coverage
Now is also a good time to review your vehicle and caravan insurance, make sure it’s up to date and check what it covers. For example, does it cover weather damage, theft, temporary accommodation if something happens to your vehicle or van, contents coverage, or removal and storage of the van if it’s in an accident? Does your car insurance any drivers who will be with you on the trip?
And if you don’t have insurance, this might be a good time to start researching what options are available and find one that suits your requirements.
If still relevant, check your warranty agreements. Not all caravan warranties will cover offroad travel.
Organise or check that your roadside assistance is up to date and will cover the areas you’re going to. Several insurance companies have extra recovery cover for remote areas, and this could be a good option.
Get your gear sorted for remote travel
While packing your clothes might be a fairly last-minute job, it’s a good idea to start reviewing your camping gear and travel tool kit now to avoid a mad scramble before departure. And the earlier you start looking, the better deals you might be able to get.
Get any spare parts you might need for your trip (such as shock absorbers — as John Ford learned on a recent trip along the Gibb River Road, losing one and not having a spare to replace it can impact your ride a fair bit and cause some internal damage to your van). Some items might need to be ordered in, so allow time to get it.
Chances are you’ll be driving in sandy conditions — do you have tyre pressure monitors, deflators and inflators? Consider a tyre pressure monitor with sensors so that you can make sure your tyres stay at the correct pressure while you’re travelling.
Make sure you’ve got the gear to reinflate or deflate your tyres (Image Allison Watt)
Do you have all the vehicle, caravan and camping gear you need for a big dry season adventure? Think awnings, lightweight barbecues, portable solar panels, water storage, recovery gear and camping gear. If you’re planning on taking a boat, kayaks, bikes or similar, do you have somewhere on your vehicle or van to secure them for travel?
If you’ve got all your gear, give it a once over and make sure it’s in good condition, including your hoses, tarps and so on. The last thing you want is to get well into the outback and then realise your outdoor sink’s water hose has sprung a leak.
When considering your gear, consider how much power capacity you've got and if you have enough water storage for the number of people coming on your trip. Many campgrounds and national parks will only have self-sufficient camping and grey water tanks may be required. In remote areas, dump points can be few and far between, so many people take an extra cassette. Composting toilets are a great way to save some water and mean you won’t be looking for a dump point every few days.
Make bookings well in advance
While it’s not impossible to find quieter campsites in the northern stretches of Australia, if you’re planning to tick off some popular attractions, want to stay in a central location in a major town or will be travelling during that area’s peak season, you’ll need to book well in advance.
Think Broome, Ningaloo Reef, Darwin, Lake Argyle, Cairns and Cape York. Most will recommend booking around two to three months in advance of your trip, but if you’re planning on travelling during a peak season, such as the June/July school holidays, or have a tight timeframe for your trip, it’s best to allow as much time as possible. Each area will have a slightly different peak season due to their holiday schedules and seasonal differences, so do your research.
Cars and camels on Cable Beach in Broome, WA — do you have the right gear for sand driving? (Image Allison Watt)
In some popular locations such as Lake Argyle in WA, there is as there is only one caravan park and if you can’t get a spot in the time frame that you’ll be in the region, you might just have to miss out or stay in the nearest town.
National park campgrounds likewise book out early. Most national parks will allow you to book well in advance (180 days in WA and up to 12 months for some parks in Queensland) of arrival, so book your spot and organise any required permits as soon as you have your dates sorted.
And it’s not just accommodation you need to book early. Start planning what activities or tours you want to experience in those areas so you can secure your spot. For example, some local wildlife, plane, helicopter and cultural tours will have limited spots, and these can sell out fast as the dry season approaches, so lock it in early. And if the experience or activity is more important than staying right in the centre of town, you can save some dollars by booking at quieter campsites or caravan parks further from town.
Sunset over Lake Argyle, WA (Image Allison Watt)
The Lost Cities of Limmen National Park, NT
Extra tips
Check quarantine restrictions:
Familiarise yourself with the quarantine restrictions in the areas you’ll be travelling to so that you don’t get caught out. Not all quarantine borders are state borders either. There are a number of biosecurity zones around Australia — northern Queensland has two — which are in place to protect Australia’s fragile environment and protect agricultural growers.
Legal requirements:
There are different rules for towing around Australia. Make sure you check the details in advance, including speed limits, licensing and weight restrictions.
Plan your trip route:
If you’re going interstate, then now is a good time to start planning the route you’ll take. Consider what destinations or towns you want to see along the way, any festivals you want to go to and plan accordingly. And once you’ve got a route itinerary locked in, supply a copy to your emergency contact and set up a plan for how often you’ll get back in contact with them during your trip.
Remote sign in outback Qld (Image Allison Watt)
First aid:
Travelling into the depths of WA, NT and Qld can mean heading into some fairly remote locations. Safety is key and it’s a good idea that at least one person you’re travelling with has undergone a first aid safety course. And if you have one, check if it needs to be updated (certain first aid courses such as emergency life support must be updated every 12 months).
And while you’re at it, make sure your first aid kit is well stocked and you’re familiar with how to use it. If you don’t have one, now is a good time to get one. Stock up on prescription medicines — even if you find a chemist there’s no guarantee they will have what you need and it’s a good idea to get e-versions of your scripts, so you have easy access on your phone. Check out our gear review of an emergency locator beacon in this issue — it might be worth carrying one.
Food:
As you head away from major towns and regional centres, the choice of supermarkets is going to get scarcer, fresh fruit and vegetables may be virtually non-existent, and you have to be prepared to pay more for the basics than you do at home. In the months or weeks leading up to your camping trip start creating a stockpile of nonperishable food such tins of fruit and vegetables, packets of rice and noodles, sugar, flour, condiments and the like.
How much food you take will depend on the available storage in your rig. Some form of refrigeration will be essential during your trip, whether it’s a big fridge/freezer combination in your van, a smaller slide-out fridge or a cooler with ice, you’ll need something to keep the basics cold.
Pre-cooking, vacuum sealing and freezing food before your trip is a good idea so you don’t get caught out in remote areas where there are no options to shop — think Bolognese sauce, curries and casseroles that only need to be defrosted and reheated. Then you’ll simply have to cook up some rice, noodles or pasts and hey presto, dinner is sorted. Vacuum-sealed and frozen packets of raw diced chicken, onion and capsicum are great for quick stir-fries or as fajitas in some wraps.
Also, be aware that in some remote communities there are bans and restrictions on alcohol purchases, so do some research and plan accordingly.
Happy Hour at Birdwood Downs Station, WA (Image Allison Watt)
Safe travels
The northern areas of Australia are home to some stunning landscapes, unique communities and unforgettable experiences, and it’s not hard to see why so many caravanners head off on an annual northern migration. But planning and preparation are key to a successful and therefore safe trip. So, if you’re planning a dry season adventure for 2025, don’t let time get away from you and start getting organised now.
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