Are you ready to embark on an epic month-long off-road adventure? We recently took the plunge and explored the breathtaking Gibb River Road for a month, and it was an unforgettable experience. Here are some tips to help you plan your own adventure, including meal planning, water management, and essential gear.
1. Meal Planning Tips
When you're out in the wild for an extended period, meal planning is crucial. Here’s how we tackled it:
- Prep Ahead: Before hitting the road, create a meal plan for your main dishes. Prepare some meals that can easily be stored and cooked. We focused on staples like lasagne, steak & curries. We also opted for some veggie meals which are not only nutritious but also lightweight and don't take up space in the freezer and fridge.
- Pack Snacks: Don’t forget to pack plenty of snacks (especially if you have groms !) like nuts, dried fruits, and protein bars to keep your energy up while exploring.
- Plan for Variety: Rotate your meals to avoid getting bored. We found that mixing it up with different spices and cooking methods made a huge difference!
If you are feeling uninspired or need some help meal planning check out our 1 month meal plan here.
2. Water Management
Staying hydrated is essential, especially in the great outdoors. Here’s how we handled our water supply:
- Water Fill Points: Before heading out, map out potential water fill points along your route. This ensures you always have access to fresh water. Wikicamps is a great resource for this!
- Pump from the River: We set up a system to pump water directly from the river. Just make sure to use a high-quality filtration system to keep it safe for drinking.
- Separate Water Tanks: We also utilised separate water tanks for drinking and everythingto keep things organized. We installed an additional 90litre water tank to ur van in the build phase to ensure we could always have suitable drinking water in instances where bore or river water was all that is available.
3.Off-Grid Solar Setup
Having a reliable power source is a game-changer when you’re off-grid. We use an Enerdrive solar setup with a 400 amp battery system, which kept our devices charged and our fridge running smoothly. Here are a few tips for setting up solar:
- Positioning: Make sure your solar panels are positioned to capture the maximum sunlight throughout the day. This may mean setting up in a sunnier site.
- Monitor Usage: Keep an eye on your power usage to ensure you don’t run out of juice during your trip or using an additional plan to keep things running
4.Fuel Stops
Planning your fuel stops is just as important as meal and water planning. Research fuel stations along your route and keep an eye out for remote areas where fuel may be scarce. We recommend filling up whenever you can, especially before heading into less populated regions.
There have been a few times where fuel was suppose to be available at a location on our trip and turned out not to be. Having a long range fuel tank has been an absolute must for our travels. It also means you can fill up when fuel is at a good price and it will last you for longer. We have seen diesel prices in remote locations at $3.50.
5. Maps and Navigation
Navigating off-road can be tricky, so download maps for the area you’ll be exploring, including any hiking trails. We love using AllTrails for its detailed hiking maps. Ensure you have offline maps available, as cell service can be spotty in remote areas.
6. Campsites
Finding the right campsite can make or break your trip. We highly recommend using WikiCamps for reviews on campsites. This app provides insights from fellow campers, so you can find the best spots to set up camp. Don't be afraid to stay at a free camp - some of the best spots we have pulled up at have been free camps! You'll generally get a feel from a place and if its not a good one, move onto the next spot.
7. Toilet Canisters
When travelling for a long stint off-grid you need to consider your toilet needs... We have a fully self contained toilet which means we always have a place to do our business. Consider buying two toilet canisters if you have a self contained loo. This setup will ensure you don't run out of room to go when dump points aren't available. We we did the Gibb river there were no dump points! Use toilets provided at campground where possible and don't let little kiddos use the toilet unsupervised!
Final Thoughts
Planning a month-long off-road adventure takes a bit of effort, but with the right preparation, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience. From meal planning to ensuring you have enough water and power, these tips will help you enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
So pack your gear, hit the road, and embrace the freedom of off-grid living! Happy adventuring!