Must-have apps on the road

Must-have apps on the road

Back in the day, you needed a Refedex and a computer to find out how to get from A to B. 

Then you had to decide where to stay and what to do once you got there. Now, with a few taps and a swipe on your smartphone, you can do all the planning on the go! So that your next road trip doesn’t compromise on any creature comforts, we have found three of the best Australian apps to support you through your next cross-country adventure.

Whether you need to know how to get to the next visitors centre, have to change a diaper or need to fill up the tank, use this guide and make your next adventure a little bit smoother.

NEVER BE WITHOUT A BATHROOM

One of the most frustrating parts of travelling (especially with kids) can be not having a bathroom when you need to go… Although nobody’s first choice, this handy app called National Public Toilet Map has the locations of more than 14, 000 of Australia’s public and private toilets on hand so you will know where to go, when you need to go.

This free app uses your phone’s GPS, to tell you the directions, opening hours and accessibility of the five closest public bathrooms. Thank us later (and wash your hands!)

NEVER BE WITHOUT PETROL EITHER!

With fuel being the lifeblood of a road trip, you wouldn’t want your adventure cut short by a blinking red light. Stay topped up and on the move with this fantastic free app called Petrol Now, the free version has more features than you probably know what to do with, including: being able to search for the specific brand of servo you like (the major 7 brands) by using markers on a map, as well as showing the estimated time to arrival, phone number and street address. 

You can also view the products for sale and services/amenities at each location, be sure to bookmark stations you anticipate using and you have the option to record your fuel expenses. By going pro for $2.49, you can search specifically by petrol station brand and increase the search radius from 5km to 20km.

SEE THE SIGHTS AND GET THE INFO

Tourism and Events Queensland has a great free app available called This Is Queensland, designed to help day-trippers and tourists alike, make the most of Queensland by providing useful information such as the location of visitor information centres, Wi-Fi hotspots, events, restaurants and things to do.

The app also sends you notifications about interesting activities to do in the area, you can bookmark things to see and do in the area, and the app will alert you when you are close to these locations. This app can make a town you might otherwise drive by, into a day of adventure and family fun

So what are you waiting for? Download these three great apps and start planning your next road trip!

(P.S. Don't forget, if you get into a prang – you can even report it on an app! Learn more about the Policelink app and don't waste any more of your time!)