Linda Lee Rathbun - 4WD Australia. The Best Short Getaways

Key map indicates the location of the starting point for all the tours.

A short summary of the tours, distance and time you should allow for each.

Introduction Each chapter starts with a general overview of the tours in the area.

Overview map shows the tours and the location of their detailed maps.

In brief provides information at a glance how far to the start of the tour, thelength of the tour, the best time of year to go and the road rating. Further informationis given in the Tour information section.

Information for travellers Visitor centres, useful offices and websites.

Introduction Each getaway begins with an overview of the route covered on the tourand more specific description of what the area offers.

The more detailed maps for sections of each route show the waypoints (location markers)on the journey as well as the distances between waypoints.

Tour information provides further information about details of the tour, includingdistances, road ratings and conditions, vehicle requirements and where to stay.

Planning and preparation covers what you need to do before you go, including usefulmaps and guides for the area, what permits are required and what to take.

Town information and Campsites tables provide information about their facilitiesat a glance.

Highlights contains lists of particular highlights on our route and popular activitiesavailable in the area.

Cautions Vehicle and road cautions as well as local information you should note.

The Route notes section lists the waypoints (location markers) on the journey, providesinformation about attractions along the way, specific directions and latitude andlongitude coordinates and distances in kilometres to the next waypoint.

The Hospitals and clinics section provides information about medical services onor close to the route.

Linda Rathbun has been writing about travel in Australia for the last 20 years. Herarticles have appeared in numerous publications worldwide.

Steve Miller has been photographing Australias stunning scenery and wildlife forjust as long. He is represented by six photo agencies around the world and his imageshave appeared in hundreds of publications.

Steve and Linda share a deep love of nature, and they enjoy nothing more than roamingthe more remote regions of the country in search of adventure. Their trusty 4WD,CC, has taken them off-road to destinations where the beauty of the natural habitatsis unparalleled.

They hope that through their travels and enthusiasm for Australia, others will discoverand enjoy some of the seemingly endless range of journeys on offer. A word of caution,though: once you start travelling, you may never want to go home again! Luckily,Australia offers several lifetimes worth of sights to see. Steve and Linda intendto spend the remaining part of their present lifetime returning to all their favouriteplaces and finding new ones on each journey.

Please visit them on their website (www.naturalwanders.com).

While Steve and I had the fun of travelling, writing and photographing for this bookof short 4WD getaways, the truth is that it takes a team of talented people to pullall the material together and make it look great. Therefore, we would like to acknowledgetheir essential contribution. We would like to thank everyone at Hardie Grant Explore,especially Melissa Krafchek, Lauren Whybrow, Bruce McGurty and Emily Maffei, ourfreelance editor Clare Coney and typesetter Megan Ellis.

We would like to dedicate this revised edition of 50 Short Getaways to Eric Oldfield.We first met Eric in 2000 when we were driving the Oodnadatta Track. Eric was retired,after a lifetime of droving on the Birdsville Track (at one stage of his life, heowned Mungeranie). The history of the Birdsville Track is closely tied to the Oldfieldfamily and we spent many happy hours listening to Erics droving stories when westayed at his caravan park (Drovers Rest) in Marree. Eric loved animals, and sincewe had helped him treat his pet brolga, Big Bird, for a broken leg, Eric always rememberedus. When we would turn up in Marree again, he would fill us in on Big Birds latestantics, and we would sit down for a long chat. We especially enjoyed his tales ofbeing the boss drover on the 2002 Great Australian Cattle Drive. On our most recentvisit, to work on this book, we spent a few extra days in Marree, just to be withEric. We were greatly saddened to hear when Eric died, and passing though Marreewill never be the same for us without Eric Oldfield. We will miss him always.

CAMPSITE AND TOWN TABLES LEGEND

TOWN INFORMATION

Caravan park	A caravan park with tent, camper-trailer and caravan sites.
Accommodation	Motel rooms or caravan park cabins are available.
Meals	There are restaurants or cafes serving meals.
Police	The town has a police station.
Chemist	There is a pharmacy able to dispense prescriptions.
Post office	There is a post office or Australia Post outlet.
Shopping	Shopping is available, but in smaller towns this may be limited.
Internet	There is wifi or internet access; a fee may be charged.
Bank	There is at least one bank.
Telephone	There is a public payphone.
Mechanic	A mechanic is available at a garage, though services may be limited.
Tyre service	There is a tyre repair service, new tyres might, but not necessarily, be available.
Fuel	Fuel is available, though in some remote areas this might only be diesel, not petrolor autogas.
Gas	LPG bottles can be refilled or exchanged.
Ice	Ice is available.
Dump point	There is a facility to dispose of caravan toilet waste; this might be at a caravanpark or other town site.

CAMPSITES

Toilets	There is a toilet at the campsite. It may be a pit or composting toilet.
Showers	Showers are available at the campsite; these might be cold showers or might requirecoins to turn on the hot water.
Laundry	Washing machines and dryers or clotheslines are available.
Dump point	There is a facility to dispose of caravan toilet waste.
Rubbish disposal	Rubbish bins are provided.
Caravan access	Caravan sites are available, though not necessarily for larger rigs.
Power sites