Australia is a vast and magnificent country with a stunning, ever-changing landscape. Many people vow to see it in other ways, but the best way to see it is to take a good old road trip to get up close and personal with this amazing part of the world. When it comes to road-tripping in Australia, there is a lot you need to think about.
You need to choose the right destination, decide how long you’re going for, and know what to pack. All of these things are part of the excitement of planning a trip. In this article, you will find plenty of useful tips that will help you plan the best Australian road trip you could ever dream of.
Whether you’re searching for help with your road trip itinerary, advice on travel safety, or some general helpful hints, we have you covered! Let’s go!
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Planning Your Road Trip
The Best Time to Take a Road Trip in Australia
The temperature in central Australia can reach well over 40°C. This is especially true for areas like Alice Springs and Uluru. In summer, you are better off sticking to the coast in the southern states.
The hottest months in Australia are usually December, January and February. Even in southern cities like Adelaide and Melbourne, the temperature can exceed 30°C. During this time, Queensland, Northern Territory and Northern Western Australia are usually sweltering with temperatures almost always exceeding 30°C. Flooding is also common at this time of year. Especially in Queensland.
If you’re looking for a more generalised idea, it is best to travel the south of the country during the summer months (December, January and February) and the best time of year to travel the north of the country is during the winter months (June, July and August).
Pro tip: Australia has a very diverse climate and it is possible you may face floods, heatwaves or even cyclones. It is always recommended to do thorough research on the specific area you would like to road trip in.
How to Plan a Road Trip
When it comes to planning a road trip, there’s a lot you need to know and do. Put basically, here are some dot points on how to plan a road trip:
- Choose your destination and approximate route.
- Plan your road trip route on Google Maps or other navigation apps like Waze.
- Create a road trip budget.
- Plan things to do, where to stay, and make bookings.
- Prepare your vehicle, insurance, and other documentation.
- Follow a helpful road trip packing list.
Plan entertainment and food for the journey.
Pro tip: When planning your road trip, leave some room for spontaneity and a slight change to your plan! You may meet someone you really hit it off with on your travels, or perhaps one of the locals really recommends going to a hidden gem such as a waterfall or you simply love the town you are staying in and fancy an extra day.
Essential Items to Pack for a Road Trip
When on a road trip, you need to make a list of essential items to ensure that you have everything you need while on the road. To start with, make sure you always carry your driving paperwork such as your driver’s license or international drivers license if you are from overseas, car registration, a copy of your car insurance policy, a car manual, and your roadside assistance membership details.
Also, make sure that your spare tyre is in good condition in case you need it. For driving during the day, pack polarized sunglasses and pack anti-glare glasses for clearer night vision. It is also a good idea to keep a roll of toilet paper on you for emergencies. Make sure you pack a first aid kit and plenty of water on your road trip as staying hydrated and safe is essential.
Pro tip: Be sure to pack a power bank and an extra charging cable. Cables always seem to break at the worst of times and it would be a nightmare to be stuck somewhere with a dead phone.
How to Stay Safe on a Road Trip
Knowing how to stay safe on a road trip is crucial. Here are some of the best ways to stay safe on a road trip:
- Turn off your high beams around other vehicles.
- Pack lots of water.
- Drive with a well-stocked first-aid kit.
- Don’t attempt to cross flooded roads.
- Overtake only when safe and clear.
- Be prepared for bushfires.
- Keep your eyes peeled and avoid animal collisions.
- Cap your driving time and ensure you make regular stops.
- Make sure you’re prepared before leaving with our road trip tips.
Pro tip: Always let friends or family know your road trip plan including your estimated time of arrival at your next destination. If you breakdown in a remote area with no phone signal, it’s essential for someone to know where you are.
Budgeting for a Road Trip
Budgeting for a road trip is suggested to ensure that you can enjoy a stress-free and non financially limited holiday. First of all, you need to set an overall budget and estimate the cost per day of your essential expenses. From there, explore potential itineraries and finalize the route you’re going to take.
Then, add the cost of must-see activities. Then, make sure you allocate some of your budget to eating out if you think it is something you’d like to do. Lastly, allocate the rest of your budget to miscellaneous costs.
You can also reduce the cost of a road trip by sharing costs such as fuel and accommodation or car hire if you decide to go down that path. If you intend to do a lot of camping, you can share equipment such as tents and cooking stoves if one member of the party already has this gear instead of buying a brand new one.
Pro tip: While not common, it’s not unheard of road-trippers facing some kind of car maintenance issue on the road, especially on long haul journeys such as the big lap. For example, an alternator or a clutch can set you back hundreds. Try to have a buffer of $500 to $1000 in case of emergencies.
Choosing the Right Vehicle for a Road Trip
Choosing the right vehicle for your trip is absolutely key. There are a few different options available, depending on what kind of road trip you are planning. If you only plan to do city to city road trips such as Brisbane to Cairns where you will be driving on sealed main roads then it is perfectly acceptable to take any standard car. Ideally a car that is economical to cut down on fuel costs.
Perhaps you fancy yourself a road trip with a lot of camping as opposed to hotels and hostels? Then it may be a good idea take a campervan or a caravan which can also accommodate more people than a standard car. Of course there is nothing stopping you from using a standard car to go camping, but caravans and campervans offer you more luxuries such as better protection from the elements, comfier sleeping arrangements, more storage space and improved cooking facilities such a fridge, stove and sink.
For the more adventurous people out there who want to go off the beaten track, a 4WD is absolutely essential and can handle extremely rough conditions that most other vehicles wouldn’t. Some areas are even forbidden unless you have a 4WD. Important features of a 4WD is the high clearance to handle off road tracks, roof racks for extra storage and a dual battery system to power fridges and other accessories.
Pro tip: When selecting a vehicle it is important to plan for comfort while on the road. For example you would not want to squish 4 or 5 people into a standard car and then everyone’s luggage on top of that. In this case it may be a better option to rent a campervan and share the costs.
Apps to Download
Phones are a helpful tool to have on your road trip. Download some good apps, and you have a reliable road trip companion. Some of the top apps for your trip are:
Waze
Waze is a navigation and traffic app that can help you get from A to B in the quickest and safest way possible. Other drivers in the area can share real-time road and traffic information to show areas you should avoid.
WikiCamps
WikiCamps provides you with up-to-date camping options that show you live information on campgrounds, information points, hostels, day-use areas, caravan parks, and other points of interest. It works both online and offline.
Fuel Map Australia
This app shows you the fuel prices of virtually every fuel station in Australia. It is a popular app and is frequently updated by users.
Pro tip: As a backup, download offline maps from Google. This will allow you to navigate without the need of an internet connection.
On the Road
Accommodation Options on a Road Trip
There are plenty of accommodation options when on a road trip. These include:
- Rent an apartment, room, or house for the night (Airbnb, Stayz, Booking.com)
- Rent a car and camp (free and paid)
- Hotels
- Motels
- Hostels
- Rent a campervan
- Caravan parks
Pro tip: Book accommodation using cashback sites such as Cashrewards or Shopback to save money on your bookings.
Car Maintenance
Before you leave, it is a good idea to have your car checked over by a mechanic. You should also:
- Check under the bonnet for anything that looks less than ideal.
- Check your tyres to see if they’re underinflated or bald.
- Make sure all of your car lights and indicators are working properly.
- Make sure you check that your breaks are working.
- Make sure that your vehicle is still covered by insurance.
- Get the car serviced.
Pro tip: Take some basic tools with you and a box of fuses. A broken fuse can be one of those really small annoying things that ruin an otherwise fantastic road trip.
Staying Entertained on the Road
It’s an immutable fact that music is an essential part of any road trip! Remember to download your playlists before leaving for your road trip as there are areas, especially in the outback where signal can be hard to come by as it would absolutely suck if you couldn’t play music for hours until you reach an area with phone signal. It’s also a good idea to download some audiobooks and podcasts.
If you still have energy on an evening after a day of activities, other sources of entertainment can be found in travel sized board games such as chess, checkers or scrabble as well as a good old deck of cards. Downloading movies on your phone or tablet is another good way to settle in for the evening.
Pro tip: Purchase a multi-board game set. These usually have 10-20 different games all in one set which saves precious space in your vehicle.
Food and Drink Options
Now your budget definitely comes into play here. If you are happy to splurge, restaurants offer the most convenience. If you are looking for a more financially friendly option, cooking facilities at camps and parks are a great option. Some churches even provide free meals so keep an eye out for that.
You can also load up on snacks from any supermarket to keep your stomach from rumbling in between meals. Junk food is the usual go-to for road trip snacks but remember there are also so healthy options too!
Pro tip: Plan and pack your own meals in advance. This will save you money and also space as you know exactly how much food you need to take with you.
Showers and Laundry
If you’re not staying at a hotel, you may think showers and laundry days will be few and far between. Though, it doesn’t have to be this way. For a shower, you could consider a gym membership as most gyms offer pretty cheap monthly memberships where you can use any gym from the chain nationwide. State parks and campsites often offer showers.
Most truck stops also offer showers and are accommodating to travellers. Otherwise, beaches often have free cold showers, you will just need to wear a bathing suit. As for laundry, you could always head to a caravan park, or laundromat, or make some friends along the way and offer them some money for a few loads of clothing.
When all else fails, have a dip in a river, pop some deodorant on, or just have a shower with some baby wipes! You can even wash your clothes in the river and hang them up to dry.
Pro tip: Use WikiCamps to identify which camps, caravan parks and day use areas have showers and laundry.
Destinations
General Areas
When it comes to road tripping, some of the more general areas include coastal trips, in-land trips, and outback trips. However, as long as you’re driving and having fun, you can road trip anywhere!
Popular Road Trips
The Big Lap
The Big Lap is a big trip around the country. This road trip consists of a 15,000-kilometre stretch of Highway One which links seven of the capital cities in Australia. It skirts the stunning Aussie coastline between Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart.
The route allows you to enjoy sleepy coastal towns, big city lights, green rainforest, the red outback, remote waterholes, crystal-like beaches, ancient rock formations, and everything in between.
Cairns to Brisbane: East Coast
This road trip between Cairns and Brisbane is possibly one of the most popular road trip routes in all of Australia. This drive is very windy and hugs the coastline of Australia. On this trip, you can enjoy impressive natural highlights such as the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, and the Great Barrier Reef Islands.
It is a great introduction to beautiful Australia. Along the way, you can go skydiving, rafting, and even bungee jumping.
Brisbane to Sydney: Pacific Highway
This enchanting route runs between two of Australia’s largest cities, Brisbane and Sydney. Once you leave from Brisbane, you are essentially hopping from beach to beach along the stunning Pacific Coast. This drive runs parallel to the humpback whales’ migration route towards Antarctica, so you can stop along the way for a nice whale-watching trip.
If you want to head inland, make sure you stop in for a glass of Chardonnay and a vineyard tour before heading to Sydney and checking out the Opera House.
Melbourne to Adelaide: Great Ocean Road
As one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road is ideal for those who want to drive with a near-constant view. It weaves its way alongside the windswept Southern Ocean. It is home to some of the most famous surf meccas in the world.
You can also check out the 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park on your trip. You will also discover a completely unblemished coastline within a short drive from Melbourne. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also check out the rainforests full of kangaroos, koalas, and even a platypus or two.
Adelaide to Darwin: The Stuart Highway
This gorgeous route goes directly through the heart of Australia. On this trip, you will watch the scenery go from gorgeous, mountainous Flinders Ranges into red, dry rock in the central desert. With nearly 3000km of road to drive, you will love this ultimate road trip in the very heart of the Aussie outback.
It is a very culturally captivating experience where you gain the opportunity to learn about First Nations People. Ideally, you should spend 10 days on this trip as this will allow you to see everything.
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Destinations
General Areas
When it comes to road tripping, some of the more general areas include coastal trips, in-land trips, and outback trips. However, as long as you’re driving and having fun, you can road trip anywhere!
Popular Road Trips
The Big Lap
The Big Lap is a big trip around the country. This road trip consists of a 15,000-kilometre stretch of Highway One which links seven of the capital cities in Australia. It skirts the stunning Aussie coastline between Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart.
The route allows you to enjoy sleepy coastal towns, big city lights, green rainforest, the red outback, remote waterholes, crystal-like beaches, ancient rock formations, and everything in between.
Cairns to Brisbane: East Coast
Discover the diverse wildlife in the Great Barrier Reef. This road trip between Cairns and Brisbane is possibly one of the most popular road trip routes in all of Australia. This drive is very windy and hugs the coastline of Australia. On this trip, you can enjoy impressive natural highlights such as the Whitsundays, Fraser Island, and the Great Barrier Reef Islands.
It is a great introduction to beautiful Australia. Along the way, you can go skydiving, rafting, and even bungee jumping.
Brisbane to Sydney: Pacific Highway
This enchanting route runs between two of Australia’s largest cities, Brisbane and Sydney. Once you leave from Brisbane, you are essentially hopping from beach to beach along the stunning Pacific Coast. This drive runs parallel to the humpback whales’ migration route towards Antarctica, so you can stop along the way for a nice whale-watching trip.
If you want to head inland, make sure you stop in for a glass of Chardonnay and a vineyard tour before heading to Sydney and checking out the Opera House.
Melbourne to Adelaide: Great Ocean Road
Prepare yourself for breath-taking views along the Great Ocean Road. As one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road is ideal for those who want to drive with a near-constant view. It weaves its way alongside the windswept Southern Ocean. It is home to some of the most famous surf meccas in the world.
You can also check out the 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park on your trip. You will also discover a completely unblemished coastline within a short drive from Melbourne. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also check out the rainforests full of kangaroos, koalas, and even a platypus or two.
Adelaide to Darwin: The Stuart Highway
The Adelaide to Darwin road trip will take you through the red centre of Australia featuring highlights such as Uluru. This gorgeous route goes directly through the heart of Australia. On this trip, you will watch the scenery go from gorgeous, mountainous Flinders Ranges into red, dry rock in the central desert. With nearly 3000km of road to drive, you will love this ultimate road trip in the very heart of the Aussie outback.
It is a very culturally captivating experience where you gain the opportunity to learn about First Nations People. Ideally, you should spend 10 days on this trip as this will allow you to see everything.
