Remote Highway Toilets Australia
You will come across public toilets at some roadside rest areas, town entrances, service stations, roadhouses and visitor centres on the more remote of Australia’s highways. Do not expect them to be open or in easy reach however; they are by no means evenly distributed. It is wiser to have each toilet stop planned in advance of losing mobile signal, it makes for a less frantic and altogether more comfortable long-distance drive when you need to make a call of nature.
My name is Georgia Wainwright. An Adelaide upbringing has instilled in me an appreciation for a bit of good planning, sensible shoes and now and then a reality check when one is travelling remotely. In these parts a dunny is something more than a convenience. It can be the deciding factor in where and how long you put in behind the wheel and whether what lies ahead of you seems like hard going or manageable.
Reliable Stops Are Best Found Before You Leave Town
Your most sure bet for a toilet is in a proper town, at a roadhouse or a sizeable rest area. A small pull-over bay might give you parking and a bin but little else in the way of shelter, water or a loo, so do not take it for granted that a rest area has what you need. The signage on the side of the road is of some use though it is more apt to point you to a rest area than to vouch for a functioning toilet. If you are in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales or Queensland, or travelling the geraldton to overlander roadhouse route, make sure you know the next confirmed stop before you put the last town with phone reception and fuel behind you.
What To Look For
Make a note of signs for accessible parking, BBQs, rubbish bins, covered seating or picnic tables. Where there is heavy vehicle access at a larger site you are better off for regular upkeep but there are no guarantees. Then there are the off-grid variety running on solar or rainwater and self-contained systems; their reliability is at the mercy of the weather, vandalism or a full tank.
The network is run by state government infrastructure agencies and local councils in different ways which is why one highway in a region can be worlds apart from another. One may have a well signed and clean facility, the next not so much.
Long Gaps Are To Be Expected
There is no national schedule to be had for outback routes. What you get in the way of a rest area and the space between them is dictated by the highway, the climate, traffic, road works and the towns in proximity.
Many a traveller has found the “I can wait an hour” approach wanting, often left in a queue with road trains on a bush track. So consider a confirmed toilet stop as you would something of value.
A Conservative Rhythm Of Driving
Before you set out on a remote stretch, see to your business in town, top up the drinking water and have the next two stopping points in mind. Factor in time for changing conditions, floodways, livestock, fatigue and the odd road work.
In northern Western Australia and the Top End the wet season is liable to cut off access and close roads. When it is dry the heat and dust and lack of shade are issues enough. And in the north a cyclone alert from November to April will put paid to your plans in short order.
On such long hauls as the Stuart, Great Northern or Kamilaroi Highways you should be planning for fuel and tiredness as much as for a toilet. It is a handy break from driving but no replacement for a decent night’s sleep.
The National Map
To build a route and find the details on a public toilet I would put the National Public Toilet Map Australia to use first. It will show you what is on offer at parks, town centres and public buildings. But it is an aid to planning, not an assurance that every remote toilet will be open on your arrival. A listing may be down for repairs or cleaning, or access seasonal.
Check Details Before Departure
Put in a search by landmark or highway and you will find notes on accessibility, baby change or showers. Make a record of the important ones or save them offline, mobile reception has a habit of vanishing. The map is good for spotting blackspots where you will be hard put to find a facility near the main road, but I would still advise checking in with the roadhouse and any local updates before you go. For those in need of reliable access, Continence Health Australia has some practical advice to offer. Whether one is dealing with a medical condition, has young children in tow or is otherwise managing continence, it is wise to make for more stops than the odometer might indicate.
Rest Areas: What to Make of Them
Do not be misled by the name; “rest area” is as much about intent as it is a guarantee of certain amenities. Out in the bush you will find everything from a gravel pull-off to a proper place to put in with truck bays, shade and tables. There are sites with good toilets, bins and covered seating, then again there are places where you are fortunate to have a safe spot to park. One should expect differences, particularly if off the well-trodden tourist track.
A look at what is on offer
| Location type | What may be available | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Town centre or service station | Flush and accessible toilets, food and water, and an occasional shower | Opening hours and the like |
| Large roadside rest area | BBQs, parking and rubbish bins | The state of the toilets or any closures |
| Truck or heavy vehicle rest area | Room to stop for longer | Noise and dust |
| Small pull-over bay | A place to put in a car and perhaps find a bin | Do not assume there is a toilet or water |
| Remote off-grid site | Own waste systems and solar power | Seasonal access |
Then there are the showers, which you are more apt to find at a roadhouse or caravan park than a highway rest area. Some remote facilities have an industrial air about them thanks to tamper-proof fixtures put in to withstand vandalism and hard use. It is not fancy but it is sensible when the next town is some distance away.
MLAK and Accessibility
Not every stop on a remote highway will have an accessible toilet up to standard. The doorway may be wide enough but there is no level path or grab rails to be had, let alone adult change space or adequate lighting. Those who require a sure thing would do well to have a few options in mind rather than put all their eggs in one basket. Allow yourself time at a stop if a wheelchair or walking aid is involved, or for the use of a baby change table.
Understand Access Key Arrangements
In the case of public toilets with MLAK (Master Locksmiths Access Key) provision, eligible users can get into locked premises. But it is no master key for every toilet; see if the site is a participant first. Have the key to hand in the vehicle and make sure the way in is not obstructed. With children along, a place might be accessible in theory but there is no room for a pram or a change table.
Heavy Vehicles
On the long stretches in remote country the only viable option may be a rest area open to heavy vehicles. Truck and road train drivers will be there and it can be a bit of a racket at odd hours. Stay in the bay designated for your vehicle, a passenger car has no business in a truck bay. And pedestrians would be well advised not to go behind a reversing road train; the blind spots are considerable no matter how careful the driver.
Parking with care
Make for the toilet by the shortest route that is safe. Do not cross the main lane and keep an eye on any reversing traffic. Children should be kept close. After dark put on something visible and take a torch, a phone screen is not enough. Campervans and caravans ought to appraise the surface and turning room before they commit to a rest area; a soft unsealed verge is not worth driving onto after rain to be nearer the facilities.
Check Facilities Before You Depend On Them
Do not put stock in online listings as if they were current fact. That is the error most travellers make. The toilet could be out of order or closed for maintenance, or down to flooding and the vagaries of heat and storms. Put in place a contingency before you are past the last service point you can trust.
When you are ready to depart:
- Have used a toilet at the roadhouse or in town.
- Put the coordinates of the next two likely stops on your device for offline use.
- See that you have fuel range and weather warnings in order, as well as the spare-tyre kit and tyres in good nick.
- And do not forget the basics: drinking water, hand sanitiser and toilet paper.
- Plan for driver-fatigue breaks, do not wait until the point of desperation to put in some miles.
- Have regard for passengers with medical conditions, as well as older and younger travellers.
- Report any damage to the council or road authority in question and see that facilities are left in a clean state.
Do not put nappies, wipes or sanitary items down a toilet unless the facility is designed to take them; servicing a blocked remote one is an expensive and arduous business. Should you find a toilet closed, heed the sign and make for the next safe place, there is no need to make an unofficial bush toilet of it by the side of a busy road.
Geraldton To Overlander: A Case In Point
The drive from Geraldton to the Overlander Roadhouse illustrates why one should plan for toilets in Western Australia. It is a long stretch of regional highway where once you are out of town services thin out, so fuel, water, heat and fatigue have to be considered in concert with toilet access.
Make a proper stop for food, water and a toilet in Geraldton to begin with. Before you set off, verify the status of the Overlander Roadhouse and any service points in between, especially when in charge of a caravan or travelling with children who require accessible facilities.
Two Backups Are Advisable
- Put in a reliable town or service-station toilet before you are out of Geraldton.
- Then put your eye on the next roadhouse or rest area to see if it has parking and the like.
- Have a third option up your sleeve for when there is a queue, a closure or some other delay.
- A break for the driver is best taken while concentration is still good, not once exhaustion has set in.
- And before you put the return leg on, check the daylight and the state of the road and weather.
One would be unwise to think a roadhouse is an all-hours solution without checking its hours of operation and access. The business may be open late but the toilets will be in a locked building after closing. Then there are public holidays, staff issues or emergencies which can alter what is available.
For those with only the day, a measured pace is to be preferred, so pick a route where you can be sure of fuel and facilities instead of a protracted detour for the view. This is the way for families and independent types, not for anyone ill at ease with outback conditions or short on water.
What You Expect And What Is There
It is easy to assume a marked rest area has a working toilet. In reality the signs and maps can be old and some places are basic. You might allot five minutes for a stop, but with a caravan to park, road trains to avoid and children to put right of, it will run to more than that. And while many remote toilets are free and public, operating hours and maintenance mean they are not always open. Check locally and have the supplies to cover an unforeseen gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
To clear up some of the legal and practical matters that come up on a remote highway.
Australian Standards For Public Toilets?
There are building and plumbing requirements but the age and design of individual facilities will vary. A remote toilet may have been approved as such and yet not have the features one is used to, so look at the actual details of the site.
Is a Council Obligated to Put In Public Toilets?
You will not find a national rule to that effect for every reserve or road. It comes down to the land and local or state requirements and who is managing the site, be it the council or a roadhouse operator.
Finding A Public Toilet
The National Public Toilet Map is the planning tool of choice in Australia. Make use of it along with any road-condition data and get word from the roadhouses directly. Be sure to record or download what you need to in areas devoid of reception.
Rules Of Use
Respect the other users and the fixtures. Do not block the toilet with things that do not belong in it or hold up an accessible cubicle if there is another way. Leave the place as you found it and put in a report to the authority if something is amiss. Keep an eye on the children.
Are They Open 24 Hours?
Not all of them. Some roadside ones will be, but a roadhouse or an accessible facility in a building may have limits on access. Have a backup and check the opening times.
Part Of The Plan
On a remote highway it is better to consider the toilet as part of the infrastructure of the route. Take your time, have your water and do not let it become a matter of urgency. It is a small thing to make a sensible stop but it will leave the trip safer and calmer for the driver and passengers and the road train operators.
