Travel
Your Big Lap: 10 essential tips for planning your travel adventure
Are you ready to make your dream of exploring Australia a reality?
By Karen Bleakley
There’s something magical and exciting about planning a journey around Australia’s vast and breathtaking scenery. From the red outback dirt to the clear turquoise lagoons and pristine white beaches, embarking on the Big Lap is a dream for so many of us (myself included!).
With almost 15,000 kilometres of road ahead, thoughtful planning is the key to making sure your journey is rewarding, memorable and, most of all, fun. Whether you're cruising up the lush East Coast, crossing the epic Nullarbor or winding through rugged national parks, there are so many epic experiences to look forward to.
A lot goes into moving from the dreaming stage (where I’m happily immersed right now) to the planning stage, to eventually hitching the caravan and hitting the open road.
Want to wake up to soft pink desert sunsets, gaze at the swathe of the Milky Way across a clear night sky and enjoy boundless Australian landscapes? Let these tips guide you as you plan your own Big Lap adventure.
1. Know when and how to go
Your first decision is whether to travel clockwise or anticlockwise.
Annette Jones and her partner Kevin are enjoying the adventure of a lifetime, exploring Australia in their caravan. From planning tips and gear reviews to comprehensive travel guides, Annette shares practical advice for long-term travel on her website, AllAroundOz.com.
Annette explains the importance of considering the weather when route planning:
“Most lappers chase the sun. The weather will determine whether you head north, south, east or west because certain regions are only accessible during certain seasons. For instance, the Top End is best visited between May and October outside the wet season. Likewise, central Australia is so hot to visit during summer, so winter is the best time.”
If you love snow, you’ll want to plan your winter adventures in the south, so tailor your route to suit your interests.
2. Choose the right vehicle
Caravans, motorhomes or camper trailers all have different benefits. A caravan or camper gives you the flexibility to explore with your car unhitched, while motorhomes provide an all-in-one solution but come with parking challenges in busy areas.
This might help: Your must-have caravan-buying checklist
You could also choose to travel by car and book accommodation along the way, or even take a tent. In other words, there’s a style of travel to suit every lifestyle and budget, so keep your options open. A Big Lap doesn’t necessarily need to involve an enormous motorhome.
3. Plan your budget
Factor in expenses like fuel, food, camping pitches and tours, and make sure you have a contingency for repairs and unexpected events.
When it comes to your budget, how much you spend is down to you. How many of you are travelling? How often will you eat out and go on tours and day trips? How often do you buy takeaway coffee? Will you stay in free camps or caravan parks? How far will you be driving each week?
Your weekly budget could range from $500 to $1500 (or more!), depending on your lifestyle choices.
That said, there are lots of ways to keep costs down while travelling:
- Use free or low-cost campsites with the WikiCamps and Camps Australia Wide app
- Instead of eating out, cook healthy, homemade meals with these camping recipes
- Explore house sitting opportunities – find out how to become a house sitter
- Find the cheapest fuel by using apps like Fuel Map, Petrol Spy or Motor Mouth
- Invest in a compact coffee maker so you can make your own – AeroPress and Wacaco offer great options
- Take advantage of cashback deals and discount codes for groceries, tours, trips and accommodation
- Generate off-grid power using solar panels – they’re probably more affordable than you think
4. Safety first
Staying safe as you travel should be your highest priority.
Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy by doing regular servicing – carry tools if you’re handy and can do basic maintenance on the road.
Make sure you carry emergency supplies, including water, food and a first-aid kit – especially when your journey takes you to remote locations. It’s also helpful to do a short first aid course before you leave so you know what to do in an emergency.
5. Pack smart
Finding the balance between travelling light and taking the essentials is an art! Less is more – you can always pick up extras on the road.
Consider the climate where you’re travelling (winter in a caravan can be COLD!), and embrace space-saving solutions and savvy packing hacks.
Melissa Kiely, a proud Queenslander, shares her love for her home state through travel itineraries, reviews and in-depth destination guides on her website,QueenslandTravelGuide.com.
Melissa shares her tips for packing wisely:
“For your big trip, it’s a balance between packing lightweight, multipurpose items while leaving room for comfort. Less is often best, and quality clothing designed for travel rather than fashion means getting more wear out of clothing and makes for quicker drying.”
6. Stay connected
Share your itinerary with someone back home and check in regularly. If you’re going for a hike or snorkel, make sure somebody knows where you’re going and when to expect you back.
Before you leave, compare mobile network coverage using your provider’s coverage checker. Input your locations to see the level of service available. Make sure you’re going to have adequate coverage and, if not, switch providers to one that does.
If you plan on spending time in isolated areas, consider renting or buying a satellite phone. Although expensive, this can give you so much peace of mind on remote road trips. Again, do your research as different brands offer different coverage.
7. Be flexible
It’s important to plan your journey, but it’s just as important to stay flexible.
You may encounter road closures due to bad weather, find a place you want to stay at for a while, or learn about a hidden gem (or two or three) out of your way that you want to explore.
These kinds of detours or unexpected opportunities will add so much value to your trip.
8. Health and wellness
Avoid the stress that comes from rushing The Big Lap – slow down, cook wholesome meals with local ingredients, make the time to exercise, soak in nature and practice mindfulness.
If you need a break, stay put for a while. Staying mentally and physically healthy will help you enjoy the adventure so much more.
Annette has some practical advice about medical appointments on the road:
“Before you leave, ask your doctor if telehealth appointments are available at the surgery, should you need one. We have the occasional telehealth appointments with our doctor in Hervey Bay to update scripts. An e-Script can then be sent via text and email.”
9. Join the community
Make the effort to meet people along the way – from tourists and other lappers to the friendly locals. It’s a great way to swap stories, get some tips and be inspired.
There are lots of ways to meet people on the road:
- Make new friends and arrange meet-ups in travel Facebook groups (like Annette’s Planning a Lap of Australia – Hints and Tips group), caravan club groups or in interest-focused Facebook groups.
- Cook in the communal kitchen at caravan parks so you can meet other lappers.
- Book day tours so you can mingle with other travellers.
- Check local council and tourism 'What’s On' pages for shows, festivals and activities and check out events on Eventbrite and Humanitix for everything from beach yoga to art shows. You never know who you'll meet or what adventures await!
The important thing is to be friendly and strike up a conversation whenever you get the opportunity.
Caravanning bliss: 6 tips to ensure your campsite becomes a neighbourly haven
10. Capture your memories
While your trip may have a start and end date, your memories will keep the experience alive.
Take photos at every opportunity, not just of the ‘big stuff’, but the little, everyday moments too. Capture the tiny details of life on the road because you’re likely to forget those faster than you’ll forget seeing the 12 Apostles or a Broome sunset... or any of these other unforgettable natural wonders.
You could also keep a scrapbook, journal, blog or Instagram account to document your experience so you can look back on your adventure.
Not quite ready for the whole lap?
If the Big Lap seems like too much adventure right now, why not start with an epic road trip closer to home? This will allow you to see how you enjoy life on the road. Melissa explains:
“Here in Queensland, you could easily spend weeks or months exploring the stunning coastlines, lush rainforests, vibrant towns and outback adventures. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree and the red sands of the west, there’s no shortage of incredible sights and experiences to be had right here without even leaving the state.”
Start here: 10 great Australian driving destinations
Embrace the adventure
Dreaming about and planning your Big Lap is an adventure in itself, but nothing compares to the freedom of hitting the open road. Turning your travel dreams into reality can be life-changing, opening the door to unforgettable experiences, breathtaking landscapes and lifelong memories and friendships.
If you’ve been thinking about this dream, take this as your sign – the open road is calling. Happy travel planning!
Feature image: iStock/Simon Skafar
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