Planning a Trip

Thinking about running a trip? These resources will help you plan your trip and submit your trip plan for the trip calendar; and help you ensure that your trip is both enjoyable and safe.

Thinking about running a trip?

The Trip Leader Guidelines is a comprehensive resource published by the club’s affiliating body (4WD Victoria) to help you safely plan and lead a trip. The first thing you should do is read and familiarise yourself with the guidelines and make sure you’re equipped and comfortable in leading a trip.

Prior to advertising the trip

1. Read Trip Leader Guidelines and Trip Planning Considerations
2. Research and plan your trip in advance using the guidelines and the below resources
3. Work out proposed dates and check what else is on the trip calendar
4. If you’re running a trip to somewhere you haven’t been before, consider a recon trip or get a member who has been there before to assist you
5. Discuss your trip with a committee member

Advertising the trip

1. Submit a trip plan using the Online Form
2. Create a Facebook event in the Members-Only Facebook group
3. Talk about your trip at the next club meeting, complete a trip form / envelope
4. Try to advertise at least 3 months in advance

Before going on the trip

1. Taken inquiries and liaise with members wanting to join the trip
2. Make sure people joining the trip will meet the vehicle and experience requirements to participate in the trip safely
3. Make sure everyone has recorded their details on the participant list and completed a Personal Details Form
4. Make sure non-members complete a Temporary Member Participant Form

On the trip

1. Follow the Trip Leader Guidelines
2. Be safe, considerate & encourage trip participants to do so
3. Take lots of photos and videos for the website & encourage trip participants to take photos

After the trip

1. Report any incidents using the Incident Report Form
2. Upload photos and videos to the dropbox, or take them to the next meeting on a USB / memory card (URL for dropbox is in the members only Facebook group)
3. Hand over any paperwork at the next club meeting
4. Submit a trip report for the club website using the Online Form

Key Resources

• Submit a Trip Plan (online form)
• Submit a Trip Report (online form)
• Trip Planning Considerations
• Trip Leader Guidelines
• Trip and Track Difficulty Ratings
• Personal Details Form
• Temporary Member Participant Form
• Incident Report Form
• Parks Victoria 
• DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning)
• Bureau of Meteorology (Weather and Warnings)
• Four Wheel Drive Victoria
• CFA – Fire Ban and Ratings Forecast

Title photo: “Trip Planning” flickr photo by JenGallardo https://flickr.com/photos/notoriousjen/7744211982 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license