Travelling in the Outback is certainly not for the faint-hearted … or for the phone addicted!
While most grey nomads will be well aware that driving in remote regions often also entails a journey into a communication black hole, others can find it a bit of a shock.
An image of a sign on an Outback road warning travellers that they will have no phone reception for 630 kilometres – about six hours of driving – has sparked plenty of comment after it resurfaced on social media this week.
The sign is on Diamantina Developmental Road, which runs from Charleville in the south-central part of the state to Mount Isa in the north-west. It is one of Australia’s longest roads (1344km) and is mostly sealed, although there are some long dirt sections.
Many found the prospect of being in a vehicle for hundreds of kilometres without being able to check their phone absolutely shocking.
“Is there any civilisation in the Outback?” asked one commenter. “Like are there remote towns out there? Every time I’ve seen one of those ‘light maps’ of Australia it looks like literally the entire country is on the coast and the centre is just a giant barren desert.”
Another said the sheer distances involved on trip like were ‘disturbing’.
“It’s so hard to fully grasp the enormity of this country’s remoteness,” the poster said.
However, others thought it was all part of the experience of travelling in the bush.
“Gosh imagine how some of these people would have survived 25 years ago when we didn’t even have mobile phones,” said another commenter.
And yet another said he had driven plenty of Outback roads that have no signal and it wasn’t a problem.
“’I have a satellite phone for backup emergency communications,” he said. “Wow, people need to get out more … this country is a big place.”
Just make sure you are not a problem to the authorities (or loved ones) if you intend venturing into “non signal” area’s. Carry a PLB (Personal Location Beacon).
Anyone travelling this great country without a PLB is a FOOL! Even satellite phone batteries can go flat.
In the past pre-covid, I could be away for at least 6 weeks in the outback, on my bicycle with my dog. But I have a Sat. Phone and a Spot Gen 2, so it is neither a worry or a fear, to be out that long. The biggest problem being out that long on the bike, is carrying enough food and water although I have a water filter/purifier so that helps, I managed it the first time only just, but now limit my extended outback trips to 3 weeks at the most.
Carry a Garmin Inreach satellite tracker as we do, and you have text messaging capability to any phone or email address in the world – as well as two way SOS facility as well. In addition, your family and friends will always know where you are if that is what you want.