Simpson Desert Adventure: Episode 2 – Gear Guide

This is an obvious one, but one that needs plenty of consideration. Maps come in a variety of forms, and I recommend travellers carry some good old-fashioned paper maps. They’re hard-wearing, practical, don’t run out of battery, and can give you a good view of the surrounding countryside for planning and research.

And of course, you need to be prepared from a first aid point of view. Carry a well-stocked first aid kit with you on your travels, with something that can treat things like cuts, burns and snake bites. And of course, ensure you know how to use it before you go. If you don’t, enrol in a first aid safety course.

When packing your groceries, veer away from glass containers as much as possible, and pack in a way that protects more brittle packaging from one another. We used a sturdy space case as a pantry for our journey but did, unfortunately, have a milk blowout in the desert. It happens, and at least it was all contained in place rather than being spread around. 

If you’ve got a ute, you won’t have many issues carrying your spare fuels, whether that’s diesel, petrol or gas. If you’ve got a wagon, then you need to consider this a bit more delicately. It’s not a good idea to carry smelly, sloshing fuel containers inside the cabin, especially when there is a chance of leaking.