Safe Travelling in Australia: What a Modern Survival Kit Contains

Australia is one of the most interesting continents in the world. It’s full of fascinating wildlife, both plant and animal. It’s a perfect place to visit if you’re keen on seeing something that you’ve never seen before. However, because Australia is distinct from the rest of the world in terms of its unique environment, you need to take special care to prepare yourself carefully to avoid unpleasant experiences.

In this article, I want to talk about just some of the essential items for you to have when traversing the majestic Australian continent. So you’ll know when you’re ready to count.

What your survival kit shall have: First Aid

Accidents happen when you’re out in the Australian wilderness and testing your mettle against the environment. When you’re in Australia, the likelihood of an accident occurring is more likely to rise than fall, just because there are so many things that we aren’t used to here in the States.

Various species of poisonous plants and animals, and unexpected weather conditions (sunscreen is an absolute must) are just some of the things you’re going to have to worry about. Ensure you have the necessary means to treat minor wounds, cuts, abrasions, and irritations before seeking medical care.

Some first aid essentials include bandages, alcohol, sticky tape, safety pins, sterile eye dressings, skin rash cream and antibiotics. So make sure you have those with you before travelling to Australia.

Water Purifier

Another thing you need to worry about when travelling through Australia is freshwater. Fresh, clean water is generally a given anywhere in the United States. Still, since this is a continent that is not as “tamed” as ours, the water quality is often questionable.

For this reason, you should come up with a solution for sterilising and purifying your water wherever you can find it, and the easiest way to do this is to obtain a water purifier.

This might be an ordinary water filter, a UV purifier that uses ultraviolet waves to eliminate biological and chemical impurities in your water, or even chlorine bleach tabs if necessary.

Multitool

Wherever you are, if you’re out camping in the wilderness, it’s always good to have some multitool or a survival knife on hand, as you’ll end up needing one sooner or later.

You can use a good multitool for hunting, cutting food, driving tent pegs, and, of course, opening your beer. In all seriousness, though, having a multitool on hand is a great way to cut down on backpack weight (since you don’t have to carry all kinds of otherwise necessary tools with you). For around $50, you can get a device that will last you a lifetime. It’s an investment that I recommend making, as it will save you a lot of grief later on.

Paracord

A paracord is one of the most valuable items you can have in your backpack when going out into the wild. Here’s why: you can use it to secure a tent, make a tourniquet in the event of a severe injury, make a rope, a fishing line or even a hammock if you’re feeling patient and creative enough – and there are just some of the uses.

It’s always a good idea to have at least twenty or thirty feet of paracord along with you, especially if you’re going camping for more than a few days. At some point, you’re going to have to wash your clothes and dry them, and a piece of paracord strewn between two tree branches makes for a perfect clothesline.

Campfire Starting Kit

No matter how hot it is outside, never underestimate how chilly it can get during the night when you’re out in the Australian woods. In an urban area with lots of concrete and steel, the concrete acts as a thermal absorber that retains most of the sun’s heat throughout the night, so the temperature doesn’t drop that much even when the sun goes down.

It’s an entirely different story when you’re surrounded by nothing but trees and dirt, and it can get cold and speedy. Having the means to start a fire at any time is an absolute must, as a good campfire kit provides both heat and entertainment at night. Apart from your fire, the only light you’re going to see when the sun goes down is the moon, the stars and maybe the occasional firefly.

How to be prepared for the Australian Adventure

It’s essential to be prepared when tackling the Australian wilderness, but as long as you remember to bring the items on this list, I guarantee that you’ll be well-equipped. Remember to exercise great caution when dealing with dangerous animal life (lest you end up with a poisonous bite), and be wary of questionable water sources if you don’t want to end up with some stomach infection.

Apart from that, Australia is a fantastic place to visit as long as you know what you’re doing, so remember to have as much fun as possible and enjoy yourself.

About the Guest Author: Howard Scalia is a 37-year-old former scout leader from Austin, Texas, and one of the best and most trusted bloggers at prosurvival. When he’s not working on some new exciting article, he enjoys taking long walks in the woods with his dogs.

How to plan a safe trip to Australia

These are our recommendations for planning a safe trip to Australia, from hiring a car to booking your stay to purchasing travel insurance for your Australian Camping Adventure.

First published in 2017, last updated in April 2025

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