Australia has 7.7 million km2 of terrain to cover and it’s filled with incredible sights such as rainforests, red ochre gorges, beautiful ocean vistas, and cultural artefacts. Australia, by many accounts, is best explored via road – with stops along the way in quirky and colourful towns, there’s always something to delight everyone. If you’ve never done Australia by road, here are some tips about road-tripping around Australia.
Plan your trip well
Australia is a vast continent, with much of it being rural or unpopulated. When venturing into remote areas, plan pitstops, accommodation, and suitable vehicles. If your car breaks down, ensure you have water, food, first aid supplies, and survival gear, as rescue may take time.
On the brighter side of planning, your trip length and destinations depend on how much time you have and what you want to see. Sometimes sticking to a certain region such as the Daintree in Queensland or the Mid-North Coast in NSW can scratch that road tripping itch just as much as a “big lap” around the coast. Need a bit of help? Australia.com has some great suggestions.
Where you’ll sleep – the many options
You can stay at many different places in Australia – or you can take your accommodation with you such as renting or buying a caravan or recreational vehicle such as a motorhome or campervan, which we’ll discuss later on.
Set yourself up at one of the many caravan parks around the country which may or may not have power and additional facilities such as kitchens. You could also look into home rentals such as AirBnB or Stayz. Most regional towns and cities will have some kind of hotel or motel accommodation – but the latter two can get pricy if you choose to stay for extended periods.
Buying or renting recreational vehicles
You need to decide if you want to buy or rent a car, a van, a motorhome, or a car that can pull a caravan or camper trailer. Remember are extra costs like stamp duty (which varies by state), registration, and third-party insurance that you have to pay for. Renting can also add up, though you might get a discount if you rent for a long time. You need to think about how much it will cost and how much you can reasonably afford. Don’t forget to think about availability, car loan repayments, fuel costs, and possible repairs (some unpaved roads can be especially bad!) You must also have insurance.
Working holiday or pure pleasure?
With Working from Home now becoming the norm, many people opt to keep working during their extended road trips. Working at motels, cafés, or hot desks is feasible, but smaller towns may lack business support services. You’ll need your own mobile internet connection via SIM card or 4G/5G hub. If you’re looking to just relax, sit back and let the road take you on an incredible Down Under adventure.
