The Big Lap | Tackling Australia’s Most Unforgettable Road Trip

Driving around Australia is often called undertaking The Big Lap, and it’s the ultimate road trip and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The journey circumnavigates the mainland of Australia, and it’s a chance to discover every corner of our country’s diverse landscapes, from wetlands and desert fringes to lush rainforests and snowy highlands. But it requires a lot of preparation and planning so your epic RV adventure is memorable, comfortable, and most importantly, safe.

How many kilometers to drive around Australia?

Australia’s Highway 1 is the world’s longest national highway, and connects seven of Australia’s eight capital cities and other key locations. It travels through Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, and a separate section hops across the Bass Strait to Hobart, Tasmania. If you follow the Highway 1 “ring road” around Australia, you’ll travel a distance of about 14,500 km. Add at least another 1,000 km for detours to Darwin and other destinations off the highway, and in total, your road trip around Australia will cover a minimum distance of 15,500km.

How long does it take to drive around Australia?

In terms of how long to drive around Australia, some may complete it in as little as six weeks to a couple of months. However, travelling at this pace means you’ll only be able to spend a maximum of one to two days at any given destination. You should plan a minimum of a three-month road trip around Australia. This will save you from having to drive long distances every day, so you can relax and enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. If you can, why not spend a year or more on the road - life is too short for regrets, right?

The Big Lap Australia map.

Australia's Highway 1, “The Big Lap”, is a network of highways that circumnavigates the country, joining all mainland capital cities except the nation’s capital, Canberra. Source: Wikipedia However, there are many more ways to road trip the country, and planning your own mapped journey is challenging but ultimately rewarding. Google “Big Lap Maps” and there are so many road trips to explore!

Source: Wikipedia 

Destinations to consider on your Big Lap itinerary.

If you are planning on exploring The Big Lap in Australia, here are top ten highlights worth considering:

1. The Blue Mountains (NSW). A UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, and the world’s steepest railway. 
2. Kosciuszko National Park (NSW). An Alpine region famous for its ski resorts, Snowy River, and Australia’s highest peak. 
3. Sunshine Coast (QLD). Highlights include Noosa National Park, the Glass House Mountains, and World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. 
4. Cairns (QLD). Known as the adventure capital of Australia and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. 
5. Kakadu National Park (NT). A UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the Yellow Water wetlands, Katherine Gorge, and Ubirr Aboriginal rock art. 
6. Broome (WA). This is Australia’s pearling capital and famous for sunset camel rides on the beach. 
7. Coral Coast (WA). Famous for Ningaloo Reef, Kalbarri National Park, and World Heritage site, Shark Bay. 
8. South Western Australia (WA). Famous for the Margaret River, the Valley of the Giants and beachside towns like Albany and Denmark. 
9. Nullarbor Plain (SA). This is Australia’s longest stretch of straight road with cliff-top views over the Great Australian Bight. 
10. Great Ocean Road (VIC). A historic road with world-famous attractions such as the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and London Bridge.

What is the best time to do the Big Lap?

The best time to do the Big Lap of Australia is between June and February. Most of the Australian continent is subject to four seasons — summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August) and spring (September to November). However, the tropical north of Australia is subject to two seasons — the wet season (November - April) and the dry season (May to October). The wet season is hot and humid and roads often become impassable due to heavy rainfall. So, the best time to travel around the top of Australia is between June and September (which is well within the dry season). This means you can then travel around the rest of Australia between September and February (spring and summer) and make the most of the cool coastal climate during the warmer months.

What direction should I go for the Big Lap?

You can do a Big Lap drive around Australia in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The direction you take will depend on what time of year you are travelling. It’s ideal to be in the tropical north of Australia during the dry season (May to October) and the south of Australia during spring and summer (September to February). If you leave in winter, head north and make the most of the dry season. If you leave in summer, head south and make the most of the cooler coastal climate. Driving the Big Lap of Australia in an anticlockwise direction may maximise tailwinds and improve fuel efficiency.

Things to consider when planning your Big Lap adventure.

Have a realistic and achievable plan.

Allow yourself a realistic timeframe to plan, save and implement the necessary steps towards reaching your goal. Do your research, make lots of notes, and put them all on a big whiteboard that you can add to. Map out your plans and action items, and count down the weeks to your departure. Make your dream front and centre of your daily life!

Become a conscious consumer.

Your budget can play a big role in your travel plans, so you may have to stop spending and start saving. Becoming “conscious consumers” means assessing the need and worth of items you think you want. It also means asking yourself whether those dollars spent would be better invested into your “big lap of Australia” savings fund. If you’re planning a trip long-term, it might also involve selling up to travel, or placing items in storage for the duration of your adventure. If this involves downsizing, you could start by culling items of little worth or sentimental value. Next, determine what sentimental items you’ll keep and can be packed away, and finally, work out what items you will travel with. At the end of the process, you’ll realise how little “stuff” you need to survive but also thrive!

Work out a budget.

Everyone’s travel experience is different, particularly when it comes to costs and a budget; there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A good start is to map out your anticipated travel costs, including accomodation, vehicle repayments, fuel, and living expenses, and an extra contingency amount to cover unexpected costs. You can then determine how much you’ll need before hitting the road. The Queensland Government’s Smart Money website has a great budget planning resource to get you started.

Get educated.

Before you hit the road, it’s worth doing a towing tuition course, especially if you’re new to caravanning. It can teach you all the basics of towing and reversing your RV and provide important safety information around hitching and unhitching. You will then feel much more confident when you get behind the wheel, and confidence when driving goes a long way towards staying safe when you’re on the road.

Plan your route.

There are so many variables to consider when planning for the Big Lap — seasons, weather patterns, your departure location, travel timeframes, your budget, your travel style — the list is endless, so it’s worth spending a decent amount of time and energy on planning. You also want to keep your plans flexible to allow for lingering in favourites spots, exploring local recommendations, discovering hidden gems, and dealing with any setbacks. It’s all about finding the right balance, making minor adjustments, and ultimately, enjoying the ride!

Be ready for emergencies.

When driving around Australia, emergencies can occur at any time on the road, so having the right tools and supplies is vital. Some of these include breakdown cover, emergency funds, vehicle insurance, a First Aid kit, an emergency and fire plan, spare tyres, and many more depending on how, where, and when you plan to travel. You should also be prepared for weather changes, traffic and travel delays, injuries and health issues, and the closure of sites, attractions, and national parks.

Super-charge your trip with apps.

In today’s digital world, there are so many useful apps for travelling the Big Lap of Australia. Here are some of our favourites: 

• Google Maps. Provides detailed information about geographical regions. 
• WikiCamps. This is Australia's largest database of campgrounds, caravan parks, points of interest, dump stations, visitor information centres, water taps, toilets, showers, and more. 
• Petrol Spy. It can help you find the cheapest fuel prices in your chosen location. 
• Borrow Box. Save space and read on your iPad instead, with hundreds of free books, magazines, and more. All you need is your local library log-in. 
• Willy Weather. For information about weather, wind, rainfall, UV, tides, and more. 
• Spotify. Music and podcasts galore. 
• Altitude. This app is great for those keen to know how high up you are (hello, geographically-interested kids), especially in Australia’s high country and alpine areas. 

References:

Camplify Team (4 February 2022) ‘9 tips for tackling the Big Lap of Australia’, Camplify article, accessed 12 July 2024. 

Michelle Gilmore (29 February 2024) ‘BEST Apps for Aussie Laps and Camping in 2024’, Camps Australia Wide article, accessed 13 July 2024.