The van worked well pretty much everywhere we went across Australia however we did run into problems along the Oodnadatta Track in South Australia. The problem is that it had rained heavily the two days before we attempted it and we were well advised to hold off an extra day just to let it settle a bit so we did. The dirt and gravel track was definitely a little slippery in sections but the biggest problem is that the red mud clung tenaciously to the underside of our van and it hardened into super tough clay.

We were probably carrying hundreds of pounds more in weight by the time we arrived in Coober Pedy and it took a lot of work to get the majority of it off the camper van. 5 months later, when we sold the van, you could still find a chunk of that Australian red mud stuck in odd places.

So, other than the rainy season, I think it’s fine to drive most vans along Australia’s gravel roads however it’s never a bad idea to talk to a local if you’re unsure of the quality of the drive and leave your name and travel itinerary with someone in places that are off the grid so someone can track you down if you get lost or stuck. As we were told a dozen times, the Outback can be a brutal place if you aren’t properly prepared or outfitted, especially in the hot season.

Mathew, I would look now into the times you want to go and make sure it’s not busy or a holiday. If it is, it’s best to book in advance, otherwise you can wait until you get to Australia to book things and see if they’ll give you a better deal. If there’s 6 of you all together then you might be able to get an even better deal by contacting them directly rather than using their online forms.