How can I safely explore far away from my spawn point?

Question

I originally built a nice fortification just up the hill from my spawn point for convenience (yes, I do die every once in a while), but now that I've used efficient mining to clear out a good chunk of the adminite-level directly below I need to move to a new base so I can start fresh. This means surface exploration!

Basing myself somewhere far away from my spawn point seems pretty dangerous. It could easily take me five minutes to walk back to a remote base/death if I was far enough away - that is, if I could find it. Even longer if it is dark out when I respawn.

How can I explore the surface safely? This may include keeping track of my location, speed of travel and, of course, maximizing awesome scenery.

Answer 1

Well, you could build a minecart system to go to/from your spawn to wherever you want to go. It could get expensive in powered rails though.

Or you could mark the way using torches, structures, or by burning down trees. Make heavy use of signs.

If you do get lost exploring, building a compass will point you back to your original spawn point.

By far the easiest way is to use portals though, go to the Nether, erect another portal a short distance away, and you will be hundreds of blocks from your original spawn point!

Answer 2

I keep my bearings by constructing lookout posts. Build them atop hills and within sight of each other. Make each look unique, perhaps by inserting rows of a different block to the rest of the tower. Place torches at the top, and ladders all the way up.

Build a defensible hut around the base of the lookout tower. This hut doubles as a lodge for staying the night far from home base. Place a door from the outside. Monsters can climb ladders, but cannot open doors. You can expand your hut by digging downward into the ground.

You can build roads out of spare cobblestone. This is more cost-effective than minecart tracks.

Answer 3

I throw down a line of torches from base to base at first. It doesn't protect an unarmed person, but knowing where you're going is really more important -- it's mostly easy to avoid the mobs. Later, I replace them with straight-line 1-wide tunnels.

You can also position a ware-depot next to your spawn point so that when you do appear there, you can grab a new bow, sword and armor out of a chest and then carry on in relative safety. Just make sure you refill it as you respawn over time.

Answer 4

You could "plant" incongruous blocks at intervals along your path. So if you're travelling across grass lay down a pattern of sand blocks every so often. On a beach put down earth.

Another approach could be to make a set of signs and position those, with suitable text, at intervals along your path.

If you are worried about travelling at night try a line of torches to act as street lights. Though I did read somewhere that in a future update torches will burn out.

Answer 5

When I explore, I make sure that I move in a straight line in a cardinal direction on my first trip. I make markers as I go with cobblestone and torches indicating the direction of home. As long as you can keep some kind of marker in sight, you will have no problem finding your way back home.

Mine cart tracks can be expensive to build, but a cobblestone road is cheap and quick. If you plan on making the trip often, it can be a very useful investment. It's not as fast to travel from one side to the other, but at least you'll know where you're going. I have all the major points in my world connected by these roads.

And, of course, if you just want to live dangerously, build a compass on your way out. Then, as you're heading back, if the spot you found was interesting, build landmarks on the way back so you can find your way there again. I always bring at least a full stack of dirt and cobblestone with me everywhere I go just in case I find something interesting I want to look into later.

Answer 6

One thing I've done that takes no prep is just to start out at day break running along the coast line. (I live right on the coast) This lets me find clay, cactus, reeds that occur by the coast and I don't have to pay attention to direction since I always know how to get back.

On the trip back I usually stay slightly more inland in case there is something cool up there. If I find something like a cave I want to explore later I make a pillar or something and put a torch on top by it.

Answer 7

If you are willing to hack you can change your spawn point although there is some speculation of a bed to change your spawn in-game

Answer 8

BlueRaja's minecart idea was the first thing I thought of, but you could also create protected paths by creating ground-level walkway tunnels (preferably out of glass for visibility). You could also create paths high above ground - this is relatively easy and safe if you use the sneak ability, but still pretty time consuming.

Also, all of these options are better if you already know where you're going - you probably don't want to make dozens of paths to nowhere.

If you want to explore safely, I'd suggest grabbing a compass, several boats, and some building supplies and coal, and traveling the nearest ocean coastline. In a boat you can see a lot quickly. You can always hop out and explore interesting areas. When night falls, you can just sail out away from shore and be perfectly safe. You can even travel without worry at night.

Personally, I like to set up bases near coasts, and exploring shores allows you to find semi-rare resources like clay and reeds. Iron ore and coal often show up in the sea-side cliffs as well.

If you want to get back home, your compass will guide you. Getting from home to the new base will be harder, so you'll want to set up some torch beacons or other means of marking the way.

Answer 9

Press F3 and note down the x,y and z coordinates of your house/castle, then you'll always know where it is, and how far you are from it.

Answer 10

I build tall "poles" near any point of interest (house, cave to explore later, etc.) that I can see from very far away.

Collect 64 dirt (or any quickly destroyable block) and build a single-stack tower straight up. To avoid fall damage, stack 3 under you, then 3 to the side, then 3 more under you, then 3 more to the side. When you are 32 blocks high, "climb" down one of the two stacks by destroying the blocks under you. The entire process takes under a minute, and you can do any height that suits you. Goes a little faster if you have a shovel.

Answer 11

If you have a compass or map, you are free to explore anyway, but with just a compass, I recommend you to have your spawn IN your house. If you have a map, feel free to explore.

Answer 12

Build a chest. Put all your valuables inside the chest. If you have the materials, build a compass. If you don't, build lots of ladders, and I mean lots. Then get lots of wood and build a high tower. After that, find flint and make an iron ingot, then create a flint and steel. Light the tower on fire at the top.

Use this website to find how to make things.

You probably will need a furnace (coal as well) and crafting bench.