The Apps You Need
For Your 4×4 Adventures
There was a time when the only way you would carry a phone on a 4X4 trip was if you ripped the rotary dial clunker from the wall to use as a paper weight for keeping maps
flat on the camping table.
We can now phone home from some fairly remote spots (Telstra and other carriers willing), plus our phones or tablets carry encyclopedias of information – some is even useful. Your favourite app will depend on your own sense of off-road adventure, but here’s some top tools to download to your iPhone or android phone.
Packing up
Ultimate Checklist
For the organisationally challenged, this simple app has checklists for 52 different occasions from camping to kayaking, (plus first aid, boating, hiking and every other event you’ve never planned). The developer is a list maniac who can speed up your own list creation for editing, exporting and emailing. You can even plan a baby shower while chilling at the campsite.
Cost: $2.12 (Google Play) $2.49 (App Store)
Getting There
Memory Map
No need for a separate GPS! Download on the fly or copy maps from your PC. Once the app and maps are loaded to a GPS-enabled phone, you don’t need a network connection for real-time navigation. Comes with a Topo250 map of your current location; additional maps can be purchased in app with a free trial to make sure it works on your device.
Cost: Free (Google Play)
$1.29 (App Store)
Photographers
Golden Hour
There’s an ideal time of day to take photos – when everything is perfectly lit and even an instamatic can capture a great image. This easy-to-use app helps you to know when to get out of bed to catch perfect sunrises and when to set up camp to ensure your camera is waiting on the tripod for the last rays of sunshine to bathe the rocks in fire.
Cost: Golden Hour $2.49
(App Store) or Exsate Golden Hour $Free (Google Play)
Ecotourists
Fauna Field Guides
Ever spotted a shy critter and wondered what it was? Identifying the birds, animals and reptiles you see and knowing a bit about them makes a hike more interesting than ever – especially if you spot the rare Greater Galumphing Galoot. The Australian Museums are a credible source of beautifully photographed fauna guides for each state.
Cost: $Free – a neat spend
of our cultural tax dollar
Hikers
bushwalking apps
From the paid Australia Bushwalking app by passionate bushwalker and travel writer Melanie Ball to free apps released by state and national parks services, it’s much easier to take a hike and reliably reach your destination. As well as trail description you’ll get a range of info such as climate, best times to trek, or flora and fauna identification.
Cost: Australia Bushwalking $3.82 (Google Play)
and $4.99 (App Store)
Wildwalks (1000 walks in NSW) $Free (App Store)
60 Great Short Walks
Tasmania $Free (App Store)
Explore Grampians $Free
Inspiring Gippsland Walks $Free (App Store)
Tackling
the track
Eureka 4WD Training
Perfect for 4X4 newbies; or as an instant refresher for rarely tackled tricky situations. This app includes 20 instructional videos of professional 4X4 trainers in action plus around 40 pages of instructional tips and techniques from sand driving to water crossings. Expert advice is always on hand.
Cost: $2.49 (Google Play)
$2.49 (App Store)
Beach Bunnies
Tide Times
There are lots of apps for local tidal information – depending on your phone species. Free apps are basic and others have fancier graphics. Great for when to go fishing, drop in the dinghy or drive along the beach (and back!). Most download information for a year so there’s no need to have a network connection to check local info.
Cost: Australian Tide Times Plus $2.49 (App Store)
AU Tides $Free (Google Play) or AU Tides Pro $2.49 (App Store)
Stargazers
Star Chart
Most camping addicts know the allure of a starry sky. Kick back from the campfire, point your GPS-enabled phone at the sky (or manually enter your location) and get facts like distance from home and whether it’s a star or a planet. You can even locate your own star sign – how cool is that?
Cost: $Free, but there are optional in app purchases for extra functionality
Also check out free apps from state tourism authorities for inspiration and information on local attractions and activities
Medical drama
First Aid by Australian Red Cross
One app you hope you’ll never need but should not be without. Get instant access to simple interactive step-by-step advice on common first aid emergencies from asthma to burns, bleeding and broken bones, plus CPR. It’s professionally produced and could save a life – and it’s free from Google and Apple. Download it NOW.
I’ve gotta go
Show That Loo (iPhone)
or Busting!/Aussie Loo (Android)
For times when it is not appropriate to duck behind a tree with a shovel. These neat little apps have all the info on public toilets in both major cities and remote townships. The map function shows the closest toilet, including opening hours. What a relief!
Cost: $Free
Words: Ray Cully
