There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road. Windows down, wind in your hair, landscape whipping past.. All you need is a few good friends or your family and a general idea of the direction you’re heading. Hang on, we missed something. Marshall’s essential road trip tips for a long road trip!
At Marshall Batteries, we love the open road, just like you do! For over 75 years, we’ve been empowering Aussies to embrace their wanderlust and explore the breathtaking landscapes our country has to offer by providing top-notch batteries and roadside assistance services to support it. To make planning easier for you, we’ve outlined five essential road trip tips for Australia.
So keep scrolling as we guide you through all the steps needed to prepare for the perfect road trip.
Table of Contents
Have a solid plan – include landmarks and driving limits
It’s a good idea to have basic landmarks figured out. These include things like knowing where you’re going, roughly how long it will take you to get there and key stops where you can spend the night.
Our advice is to do no more than eight hours of driving per day and alternate between big driving days and some with only a few hours. Once you have these in place, let the real fun begin!
Research the sights you would like to see, a few activities, and then allow a few extra days for the unexpected. The road can take you anywhere! Be open to whims, last-minute discoveries and slight diversions from locals’ suggestions. You never know what you will find.
All our guides on the best off-road drives across Australia have outlined essential facts like duration, trip highlights and location details, including nearby towns and roadside assistance providers to make it easier to plan your trip ahead.
For 4WD road trip ideas, consider these guides:
- Off-Road Drives in New South Wales
- Off-Road Drives in Western Australia
- Off-Road Drives in Victoria
- Off-Road Drives in South Australia
- Off-Road Drives in Queensland
Road trip packing tips: pack a trusty car battery!
You thought packing for a flight was tricky? Packing your car for a road trip is on a whole new level!
Packing right is often overlooked, but it’s high on our list of road trip tips. It’s important to pack all the essentials, such as clothing, toiletries, medication, emergency supplies and a reliable car battery.
Pack light so you can fit in souvenirs, but remember to bring something for all weather extremes! Here are a few more essentials to pack;
- A first aid kit (bandages, gauze, ointment for cuts or stings, pain-killers)
- A portable charger
- Warm blanket
- Rain ponchos
- Hand warmers
- A few days of food and snacks
- A deep cycle battery – if you’re camping during your road trip, a deep cycle battery will be a lifesaver for keeping your lights, devices and portable appliances running.
Our final piece of advice on packing well? Bring a spare car key. This has the potential to save you hours of stress. Trust us.
Follow This Car Prep Checklist
You’re going to be spending long hours in your car. So, one of our big road trip tips is to make a checklist of everything to make sure your car needs to function effectively;
✓ Check if your car battery needs a replacement: if yes, Holler for a Marshall at 1300 627 742,
✓ Car is clean and properly serviced
✓ Car horn is working
✓ Windscreen wipers are in good working order
✓ Transmission fluid, coolant and oil levels are good to go
✓ Check the tread of your tyres and make sure they’re at the correct pressure
✓ Check your indicators, headlights, interior lights and brake lights.
Set a budget and use these tips to stick to it
If you’re smart about it, road trips don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg! Sit down and work out a basic budget for accommodation, food, petrol money and activities and try to stick to it.
Add it all together and set this amount aside – if you can go under, great! If not, at least you have a rough number to shoot for every day. To save money, try limiting dining out and only buy meals for special occasions.
For a budget-friendly adventure, consider packing a tent and stopping at campsites along the way. Take a deep cycle battery with you to power up lights and portable appliances like a mini fridge so you can stay comfortable without breaking the bank. Explore our deep-cycle battery range here.
Another great tip for sticking to a budget is to keep the weight in your car to a minimum. The lighter your car, the less petrol you will chew through and the more money you save!
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Have an emergency plan – Know the local roadside assistance provider
Batteries go flat, tyres wear out, and roadside breakdowns happen. Make sure you have a backup plan. Marshall Batteries has an Australian-wide network of roadside assistance, so you can look up the battery store that’s closest to you or Holler for a Marshall at 1300 695 717 to get your car up and running again.
Safety is key, so update your friends and family with your location every day or so, and always drive safely. If you’re tired, pull over and have a nap. Always have a general idea of the road you’re taking, rotate drivers and have somebody who can help on speed dial.
So there you have it. A list of our best road trip tips! For more travel guides and info on car battery maintenance, check out our expert resources here. Happy travels!