Basic Principles

- Keep to the laws and regulations for 4WD vehicles (They may vary between States)

- Keep to constructed vehicle tracks. Do not drive "off road".

- Keep the environment clean. Carry your own (and maybe other people's) rubbish home.

- Obey restrictions on use of public lands. Respect national parks and other conservation areas.

- Obtain permission before driving on private land. Leave livestock alone and gates as found.

- Keep your vehicle mechanically sound and be as prepared and self reliant as possible

- Take adequate water, food, fuel and spares on trips. In remote areas travel with another vehicle.

- Respect our wildlife. Stop and look, but never disturb or chase animals.

- Respect other recreationalists right to peace and solitude in the bush.

- Obey all fire restrictions. Extinguish your fire before leaving. Don't let your exhaust emit sparks.

- Help in bushfires emergencies and search and rescue, if you are properly equipped and able.

- Join a 4WD Club and support 4WD touring as a responsible and legitimate recreational activity.

Camping

The following are extracts from the minimum impact code for the draft of the Code of Management for Wilderness Protection Areas and Wilderness Protection Zones. It provides a good guide for socially and environmentally acceptable camping.

No Trace Camping

- With modern camping equipment you can leave a campsite looking as if you had never been there.

- Camp in natural clearings or unvegetated areas. Never break down a sapling or live tree.

- Look for low impact campsites.

- Making unnecessary vehicle tracks around campsites should be avoided. Parking under trees should be avoided.

- Pitch your tent on ground that will drain naturally. Please do not dig channels around your tent.

- Respect others and keep noise to a minimum.

- Access to water is vital for most animals and birds. Make your campsite sufficiently far from any water sources.

Campfires

- Trees and vegetative litter provide habitats for many animals, birds and insects. Collection of dead wood should be minimised and the cutting of live timber for firewood should be avoided.

- Campfires kill the seeds which lie dormant in the topsoil. Use the site of a previous campfire if possible.

- Observe all fire bans.

- Check campfire restrictions before and always carry a stove and fuel

- Campfires should be small and limited to one per group.

- Campfire remains should be as unobtrusive as possible.

- Remove any non-combustable material from the ashes and take it with you.

- Be absolutely sure the fire is out.

Rubbish

- Make preparations for rubbish storage before you go - allocate storage space accordingly.

- Pack to minimise rubbish. Avoid carrying too many bottles, cans and wrappings.

- Do not bury rubbish.

- If fires are permitted, you may burn combustible material, but carry out the rest.

- Remove other people's rubbish.

Washing and hygiene

- If water is required for washing it should be collected in a container.

- Wash at least 50m from waterways

- Do not swim in any waterbodies unless permitted to do so.

- Dig a hole and bury all faecal waste and paper.

- If travelling in a large group dig a latrine.

- Many sanitary items and disposable nappies have plastic liners and do not burn (unless the fire is extremely hot) so it is generally better to carry these items out.

Firearms

- Many landowners are understandably sensitive about visitors carrying firearms on their land. If you need to take firearms, and particularly if you plan to use them, obtain the landowner's permission well in advance.

Pets

- Leave pets at home.

- Dogs and cats are not permitted in National Parks or Conservation Parks, and many landowners do not allow you to take pets either.

Heritage Sites

- Do not disturb sites, objects and places of significance

- Do not disturb, deface or remove objects from these sites

Flora and Fauna

- Wildlife and habitats should not be disturbed.

- Do not pick flowers or take other specimens