If you are planning your big lap of Australia, you probably have mixed emotions. You may be excited, apprehensive and a little stressed in the planning stage of what lay ahead. To help, and based on my own planning, I offer my 9 best tips for a hassle-free big lap of Australia. I hope they help to make your Australian travels easier.

What is the Big Lap of Australia?

Before I give you my essential tips for a hassle-free big lap of Australia I will provide a definition of what the Big Lap of Australia is. Basically, the ‘big lap of Australia’ refers to the journey of circumnavigating Australia by road. 

Lappers, as they are known, travel in all sorts of vehicles. They drive cars with rooftop tents or set up a tent, they tow caravans and camper trailers or drive in camper vans. There are so many different options to travel Australia in. Some people will do it in a yacht and sail around Australia, anchoring and hopping off and on their boat in places around Australia, but most do their big lap of Australia by road.

To help ensure your Big Lap is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, here are my best insider tips and secrets to help you.

My 9 Best Tips for a hassle-free Big Lap of Australia

1. Plan Your Route

There are so many roads you can take to travel around Australia. So my first tip for a hassle-free Big Lap of Australia is to plan your route. I suggest you make a list of your ‘must-visit’ and ‘must-see’ highlights of Australia. I usually get a physical map of Australia and mark-up the places I want to go to. This could be some of the capital cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Then I add destinations like Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and Wave Rock (to name a few). Perhaps add experiences like camping on Fraser Island, whale watching or going to a sporting event.

Once I have decided on the things I want to see, I plan my route. I draw lines linking the sites and then look at the roads that will get me there, and how long they might take to drive there. But there is no hard and fast rule to planning your route as sometimes road conditions, school holidays, weather and other unforeseen circumstances may change your plans. So keep in mind having some flexibility to your chosen route. As you travel you may take spontaneous detours to small towns and lesser-known gems.

Even though it is great to plan your route, be prepared to be flexible with it.

2. Budgeting Your Australia Trip Wisely

Let’s talk budget. After planning your Australian travel route, you will want to know how much it might cost you. The cost will depend on a number of things. In particular, the cost of things can vary from state to state and town to town, like petrol, as its price can vary greatly. But a well-planned budget can alleviate financial stress, so start budgeting for your Big Lap of Australia. 

1. Estimate your daily expenses, including fuel, food, campsite fees, and activities. 
2. Track your spending in a spreadsheet or with a budgeting app.
3. Have an emergency fund for unexpected costs like repairs or medical needs. 
4. Research free or low-cost campsites to stretch your budget.

Fuel, food and other essentials remain fairly constant in a budget. There are some things I just don’t want to give up, like wine and chocolate! I have found the only area where I can adjust my costs is with accommodation. This is where I find car camping at free camps or house siting in exchange for free accommodation come in useful.

On doing some research, I have found in 2024 the average cost for a family to do a 12 month lap around Australia to cost some $70,000. That’s around $1,346 per week. Now that is food for thought and one way to help with the cost is to work your way around Australia!

3. Choose the Right Mode of Transport and Accommodation

Choosing the right mode of transport and accommodation is essential to enjoying a trip around Australia. There are a lot of decisions to be made so you choose the right vehicle and accommodation. Accommodation being a caravan, van or tent. Things to consider:

• How many of you are travelling? Are you travelling solo, in a couple, in a group of friends or a family with kids travelling Australia. You need enough room for every person to store their things and a bed to sleep in.
• Type of vehicle? Most go for a 4wd so it can tow their accommodation but it is up to you – as long as it goes with your accommodation?
• Type of accommodation? Most take their own accommodation on a big lap of Oz. People tow a caravan, live in a camper van or take a tent to set up. What do you like? And what do you prefer? 
• Can your transport and accommodation go ‘off road’ meaning, can be driven on all sorts of roads including dirt. And will it be self-contained meaning, has everything you need to go off road including a shower and toilet. 

4. Regular Vehicle Maintenance

me checking the oil level of my car before a road trip

While travelling around Australia on your big lap you will travel on a variety of roads, some will be sealed whiles other will not be. Before starting your trip have a mechanic inspect your vehicle and caravan if you are towing one. While on the road, regular vehicle maintenance is a must as they can help prevent breakdowns which can lead to costly repairs which you may, or may not have budgeted for.

Before I leave on long drives I like to do a few car checks. These include checking tyre pressure and water and oil levels not only on the car but on the caravan as well. Having a basic tool kit will also help in case you have a flat tyre, need to tighten a screw or two or jump start the battery. One of the best tools in my car ‘first aid kit’ is my portable jump starter. It has helped me a couple of times.

TIP: Ensure to have insurance for your vehicle and invest in road side assistance.

5. Pack Smart and Light

So how do you pack smart and light for a 12 month big lap of Australia? Hmmmm…. Overpacking can lead to clutter and added stress as you fight for room in your vehicle. Focus on taking essential items with you. Look at what items you use now, and if you use them regularly, you will probably want to take them.

Some of my best packing tips:

• Use packing cubes to organise your clothes and toiletries.
• Pack clothes for the weather you will travelling in. If chasing the sun, you may never need a jumper again, though nights can be cool so I would pack one. And you can always buy clothes on the road when needed.
• Don’t use breakable every day items like glassware and crockery. Take plastic cups and plates.
• If you love toasties – take your sandwich maker – if you don’t use it, you can send it home or off-load it on the road.
• Only buy enough food that fits into your fridge.

6. Master Your Setup and Pack Down Routines

After driving some 500km on your first day, the last thing you want is for your set up to take hours to set up, particularly if you have struck rain. This is why it is advisable to practice setting up and packing down your camp before you hit the road. 

If you haven’t had time to do some trial runs before your Aussie big lap, then spend time at home perfecting your routine. This includes backing into your camp spot, connecting power, putting up the awning, setting up the table and chairs, getting the BBQ or fire pit happening so you can sit down and relax in your new surroundings. 

Tip: Mastering your setup and pack down routines ensures you spend less time fumbling and bumbling and more time enjoying your big lap of Oz.

7. Stay Healthy

Maintaining your health on the road is vital to your continued enjoyment of travelling Australia.

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Ensure you have plenty of reusable and refillable bottles.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. I know it is easy to pop into the take-away and apart from being expensive, can blow out your budget. Ensure to have nutritious food onboard that will last you until you have a chance to get to a store next. For some meal ideas check out my website Travellers-Fare – recipes for backpackers, travellers and campers.
• Carry a well-stocked first aid kit. You never know when accidents might happen so have some antiseptics, bandages, headache tables and definitely bug spray handy. 
• Take out travel insurance to cover you if you are from abroad, such as a working holiday maker, however, most Australians will rely on Medicare.
• One of the best ways I think to stay healthy is to plan rest days. Travelling constantly can lead to travel fatigue so having rest days here and there can really help you yo maintain your energy and enthusiasm. I usually have a few rest days together. I use these days to catch up on washing, do some maintenance checks and just relax. 

8. Be Social (Or Not)

sitting around a fire pit with other ‘lappers’ can be fun and informative

It is up to you whether you want to be social or not however, I found engaging with other travellers doing a big lap of Australia enriched my trip. I not only met other like-minded travellers who I enjoyed socialising with, but found many of them a wealth of information. Tips were swapped – some I used and some I didn’t. I also found chatting to the locals yielded some of the best information I received while travelling as I got to see many ‘underrated’ sites by taking locals’ advice.

9. Embrace the Unexpected

My last essential trip for a hassle-free big lap of Australia is to embrace the unexpected. Not everything may go as planned on your trip, and that’s okay. Unexpected moments can lead to some of the best memorable experiences you will have while travelling Australia. This could be a change in weather conditions where you might need to outrun a cyclone, or a site you wanted to see is closed for maintenance, or you might breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Some of these things can make you cry, but if you embrace the unexpected, things can only get better. And you just might find fellow lappers will give you a helping hand.

Are You Ready for a Hassle-Free Big Lap of Australia?

I hope my 9 best tips for a hassle-free big lap of Australia are alleviating any worries you have so you can have an anxious free and enjoyable lap around Australia. Maybe see you out on the road somewhere!