Free Maps of Australia

The Mud Maps Group

MudMaps

Mark Phillips

Founder & Chief Executive

MudMaps is the brainchild of Mark Phillips who launched the travel company MudMaps in 1990, building it, and its associated brands, globally to provide superior travel experiences for adventurous, curious and nature minded travellers.

Over the years Mark has been fortunate to meet thousands of interesting travellers not only in his business but also in roughly 80 countries he himself has visited around the world.  He has enjoyed also assisting the development of the Australian travel industry over 20 years and today mentors start-ups around the world. 

You can follow Mark Phillips here.

 

'mud map'

MudMaps is named after the Australian term 'mud map'. 

You can read more about what a mud map is here

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about Mud Maps

Your Free Topo Maps of Australia

from Mud Maps

IN EARLY 2014 GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA SHUTDOWN THE FOLLOWING LINKS.

NEW FREE DOWNLOADABLE MAPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT

http://www.ga.gov.au/cedda/maps/1058

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

The Australian Government (through GeoScience Australia) has made available a large range of free topographic maps of Australia for download.

They are colour 250,000:1 topo maps for all of Australia.

Better than Google Australia

By using Google Australia you can find many mapping systems, most of which require you to be online and in range.  By virtue of the fact that these Geoscience Australia maps are pdf format, you can download them, print them, or take them with you, using them online, offline or otherwise out of network range.

mud map

Getting your Topo Maps

Follow this step by step guide to download your free topo maps of Australia.  With one downloaded you can proceed to download nearby maps one by one.

Stage 1 - Find the complete list of near maps

  1. Go to https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=DEFINE_PRODUCTS
  2. Click on "Topography" in the "Select product type(s)"
  3. Click "show me results"
  4. This will bring up all maps from Australia in alphabetical order

 

Stage  2 - Choose the actual free map(s) you want

  1. Look for the area you want to get and click its "download" box
  2. Click the "continue to file selection" button
  3. Click "Georeferenced PDF map, xxMB"
  4. Choose a "Sector" and "Industry" for GeoScience's market research
  5. Click the "Continue to file download" button

 

Possible Stage 3 - Complete Registration

  1. Click "Continue to Registration"
  2. Click "I'm a new user/My details have changed"
  3. Complete registration form with your details
  4. Click " I have read, and agree to the LICENCE AGREEMENT"
  5. Complete "Proposed Use of Data" form
  6. Click "Continue to Download"

Stage 4 - Download your free map(s)

  1. You're now on the  "File Download" Page
  2. Click on the highlighted name of your map in the Product Details column
  3. Choose "Save File" and "OK" to begin the download of the free topo map onto your computer

Stage 5 - (Optional) Download further nearby maps

 

Stage 6 - Copy to your GPS, iPhone, iPad or smartphone

Use your existing techniques to copy the maps to your GPS unit, iPhone or smartphone for use offline. You don't need to be online to use these maps now.  Quick Tip: take nearby maps as well just in case.

And that's it your done!

You can now transfer them onto your GPS, iPhone, netbook or other pieces of technology and take them with you. If you know how to calibrate your GPS you can even set these maps as your primary mapping information set.

More Maps

mud maps bush hut

Free iPad Maps

Australia

We've recently discovered another great app with easy to use free maps built in.
Although its designed for pilots OZRunways is a really great to use and has a heap of ground maps including the free ones from OpenStreetMap.

One of the great discoveries was to find the walking tracks through my nearby national park which I've never seen before.  Motorbikers and 4WDers will also find this useful.  An even better that its free.  OZRunways is available in the AppStore http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ozrunways-efb/id404403989?mt=8

Another new iPad App - NatGeo World Atlas

While the National Geographic Map is not free (I just got it on special for $0.99) it is fantastic!

Starting like an old fashioned globe you can zoom into your chosen area.  You can see road maps, satellite maps, terrain maps and a range of options from all around the globe.

It doesn't look like it caches the zoomed maps at this stage but I hope that changes.

gang gang

Motorcycle Maps

Australia

If you're into motorcycle riding and are looking for some great trails that others have specked out already then we've found a few sites with heaps of free maps that are worth investigating further.