Like just about every Australian, the Big Lap has been an adventure I’ve planned to do at some point in my life. I’ve got a bit more serious about it the last year or so, and have started doing some research on how best to tackle this trip of a lifetime. It occurred to me that I should turn what I find into a blog post.

I’ve read countless articles, joined a few Facebook groups on travelling Australia, and tried to pile it all into a coherent read to help you on your way. I hope you find it helpful as you realise The Big Lap in Australia is a very achievable dream.

What is the Big Lap in Australia?

The Big Lap is a full circuit of Australia usually following Highway 1, the world’s longest national highway (~14,500 km) that connects the mainland capitals—Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and back to Sydney.

But the beauty of the Big Lap isn’t just about ticking off cities. It’s about veering off onto hidden backroads and exploring remote wonders—think Nullarbor Plains, the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Ocean Road, and the rugged Kimberley.

The options are endless really. Do you want to incorporate a trip to Tassie? Head into the Red Centre and visit the big rock, Alice Springs and Kings canyon. This trip offers you endless options to personalise a dream holiday.

🌍 Why the Big Lap is an Aussie Classic

1. Jaw‑dropping diversity
   One minute you’re island-hopping Tasmania, the next you’re wandering ancient gorges in the Outback or diving the Great Barrier Reef .
2. Complete freedom
   Most people do the Big Lap by self-driving: caravan, campervan, hybrid—you name it. Live where you want, stop when you please.
3. Self-contained adventure
   No set plans. No schedules. Bring your home on wheels, explore township pubs, campgrounds, or pitch by a bush track.
4. The giant highway
   Highway 1 is legendary. As Australia’s rim road, it’s paved with adventure—and a few corrugations.

⏳ How Long Should You Take?

This is a bit like asking how long a piece of string is. The time you take to complete The Big Lap is entirely up to you, but of course will be dependent on factors such as budget, time you can spare from jobs and family, as well as how many places of interest you plan to fit in.

In 2017 the ‘Highway 1 to Hell’ team completed the lap in record breaking time of 5 days, 13 hours and 43 minutes. So if you’re up for a challenge, you’ll need  team of people, a good car and a few days off work.

Those who’ve done the drive often say 6 to 12 months is a good length of time. Australia is a vast land with a varying landscape and countless inroads to be taken. Allowing plenty of time to take it all in just seems wise.

A hardcore trip can be completed in 1-3 months. Just make sure you plan it well so you can cram in as many sights as possible. Some travellers prefer to take years—working, volunteering or simply living on the road.

The choice is yours. For a decent coast-to-coast trip allow 3-6 months. I think the best pace is to allow 6-12 months so you have time to explore the hidden gems of this Great Southern Land.

📅 Timing Is Everything

Thanks to Australia’s climate zones, you’ll want to follow the sun—or dodge extreme weather :

• May–September: Head north (NT, northern WA, north QLD) during the dry season.
• October–April: Explore the south (Victoria, Tasmania, NSW) in spring and summer.

Many travellers who’ve done the lap suggest that if it’s winter when you begin head north, and if it’s summer head south. This will depend on the direction you’re going and how long you plan to be on the road.

Just remember, summers up north can be very hot and wet. Some roads will be impassable due to flooding.

READ MORE: Ten Terrific Tips For Coping With The Australian Summer

🛠 What Vehicle Suits the Big Lap?

The Big Lap is sealed virtually all the way. There might be a few unsealed parts in remote areas. But it is definitely possible to do it without a 4WD. If you’re planning to dig deep and head off into the desert or off the beaten track, then a 4WD is probably a safer and more fun option.

So you’ve got choices.

• Van or Motorhome – comfy for families and ideal for caravan parks
• Station Wagon + Tent – budget-friendly and flexible
• 4WD + Camper Trailer – perfect for tougher backroads and remote camping

The very first car to circumnavigate the country in 1925 was a Citroen 5VC. Perth missionary Nevill Westwood, urged on by supporters completed the trek in 5 months. See link in references for his story.

So if a car made in the 1920s can do it, I’d like to think any recent model car could.

Some things to consider:

• Diesel engines handle towing better than petrol.
• If you want to tackle places like the Gibb River Road, go 4WD.
• Free camping is plentiful, but caravan parks offer showers, laundry, and peace of mind.

🗺 Must-See Stops & Detours

This list could be an entire blog on its own and maybe after my trip, it will be. For now I’ll just list a few of the main ones to tempt you. Do remember, you’re not just driving—you’re discovering Australia:

1. Nullabor Plain – vast horizon, endless views
2. Great Ocean Road & Great Ocean Walk – rainforest, coastal cliffs, koalas, 12 apostles
3. Kakadu & Top End – crocodiles, waterfalls, Aboriginal culture
4. Red Centre – Ayers Rock (Uluru), The Olgas, Kings Canyon
5. Kimberley & Gibb River Road – gorges, remote camps, stunning wilderness
6. Tasmania – Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur, wombats galore
7. The Great Barrier Reef – colourful fish & coral, best coastline in the world
8. Sydney Harbour – Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay
9. The Blue Mountains near Sydney – Scenic World, Three Sisters rock formation, Wentworth Falls

Plus, countless coastal towns, reef spots, mountain trails, and wildlife sanctuaries.

💰 Budget for The Big Lap: What It Costs

I’ve spoken to many people about this and the answers vary widely. I know of a couple that splurged $100,000 on the trip (don’t ask me how) and others who’ve spent $35,000. The variables are things like how often you eat out, your vehicles fuel consumption, length of trip and if you plan to work along the way.

My advice would be to work back from your budget. Be honest with yourself and work out how much money you can put into the trip (allowing something for emergencies) and work back from there.

Petrol prices are increasing but at current prices (25/6/25) a budget of $4000 for fuel seems likely.

I’d estimate a budget could be in the vicinity of $AUD15,000 -30,000

Money-saving Tips

• Carry a fridge and cook your own food.
• Book ahead in peak season
• Use free campsites instead of tourist parks
• Use Petrol Spy app to find cheapest fuel prices
• Tinned food such as baked beans and tuna can make quick easy meals
• Compare off-peak accommodation prices
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight, as this can affect fuel consumption

🛟 Safety & Essentials

As with any form of travel, common sense and situational awareness should be applied at all times. Good planning and wise choices can minimise your chance of getting into trouble.

Here’s a few tips:

1. Fuel strategy – remote areas can mean 500 km+ between roadhouses. Map your trip to ensure you have enough fuel.
2. Tyre care – corrugated roads need tyre-pressure adjustments. Always carry spare tyres.
3. Seasons & weather – avoid the tropical wet season in the north and extreme heat in the desert
4. Wildlife caution – kangaroos and emus are active at dawn/dusk. Hitting a kangaroo can write off your car and cause serious injury. Keep a healthy distance between yourself and wildlife as they have been known to attack.
5. Communication – carry maps. there are many options when considering communication. Most travellers would advise a UHF radio (essential for communicating with road trains and other vehicles in the immediate area), some form of satellite communication (Starlink, Zoleo etc.) and a Personal Locator Beacon.
6. First aid – Ideally each person traveling will have completed a first aid course. Travel with a full first aid kit.
7. GPS – know how to get your GPS location out of your phone. The EmergencyPlus app or the What3words app are a quick way to find it.
8. Keep phone charged – Outback locations often don’t have normal service. Keep your phone on flight mode to conserve power (it won’t drain searching for a provider) or turn it off. GPS work off-line so getting coordinates can still happen.
9. Have a detailed travel list written down – Closest hospitals, closest towns and their phone numbers or UHF channels. Channel 40 is most common but if on a station stay or property camp ask them on arrival what they use.
10. Grab book – Have a notebook with all your medical details, medications, vitamins, medical details. Take this with you everywhere so in an emergency everyone has access to life saving information.
11. Ambulance cover – It’s common sense and could save you a whole lot of money as well as your life.
12. Keep someone informed – Either leave a detailed travel plan with someone at home, and keep them updated as you go. Keep in mind side-trips will happen, but in an emergency someone knowing where you are could be lifesaving.
13. Purchase roadside assistance – You never know when your car might break down. Some plans cover towing, accommodation and car hire.

For further reading on this topic check out this article written by seasoned outback travellers Some Outback Crime Risks You Can Avoid

🧳 Tips & Tricks from Big‑Lappers

• Start slow—don’t bite off more than you can chew on the first week.
• Mix short legs (few hours) with long hauls for balance.
• Book ahead for popular tourists spots (Ayers Rock, Ningaloo, Bungle Bungles).
• Chase the dawn. Getting up early can help avoid heavy traffic—especially in city areas—but can also help avoid driving in the hottest part of the day.
• Bring layers—mornings and evenings can be chilly even in summer.
• Connect with other travellers; the road brings instant friendships—share stories, tips, laughter.

Are you curious about the outback? Read our blog post on How Empty Is The Outback to learn more.

Sample Itineraries for the Big Lap

There are as many ways to do the Big Lap as there are kangaroos bouncing across the Nullabor. Your itinerary will depend on your time, budget and preferences. Consider these as a foundation on which to build your own itinerary. Countless fabulous tourist destinations have been left off, as I simply can’t fit them all in.
Feel free to add your favourite ‘must-see’ destinations in the comments below.

🛣️ The Big Lap in 3 Months: The Highlights Sprint

Fast, focused, and unforgettable

🗓️ Ideal for: Travellers on long service leave or a sabbatical

🛻 Average drive time: 3–4 hours per day on travel days

🏕️ Best for: Couples, solo travellers, or small families who don’t mind a faster pace

Month 1 – East Coast & Top End

• Sydney → Brisbane (Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast)
• Brisbane → Cairns (Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays)
• Cairns → Darwin (Savannah Way, Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park)

Key Highlights:
🐢 Great Barrier Reef
🌴 Daintree Rainforest
🐊 Crocodile spotting in Kakadu
🏖️ Fraser Island 4WD adventure

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Month 2 – The Top & West Coast

• Darwin → Broome (Katherine Gorge, Lake Argyle, Gibb River Road option)
• Broome → Exmouth (Cable Beach, Karijini National Park)
• Exmouth → Perth (Coral Bay, Shark Bay, Kalbarri National Park)

Key Highlights:
🦈 Swim with whale sharks in Exmouth
🏜️ Karijini’s red gorges
🌅 Cable Beach sunsets
🐬 Monkey Mia dolphins

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Month 3 – South Coast & Inland Return

• Perth → Adelaide (Esperance, Nullarbor Plain, Ceduna)
• Adelaide → Melbourne (Barossa Valley, Great Ocean Road)
• Melbourne → Sydney (via coastal route or inland through Alpine region)

Key Highlights:
🐋 Whale watching at Head of Bight
🍷 Barossa Valley wineries
🛣️ Great Ocean Road
🏔️ Snowy Mountains (if winter)

READ MORE: Where Can I See Dolphins in Australia?

🚐 The Big Lap in 6 Months: Balanced & Beautiful

A true Aussie loop with time to breathe

🗓️ Ideal for: Families, retirees, couples with flexible schedules

🏕️ Best for: Caravan or camper travellers who want to explore more off-the-beaten-track

Months 1–2: East Coast & Top End

• Sydney → Cairns: Add in inland stops like Carnarvon Gorge
• Cairns → Darwin: More time for detours like Lawn Hill National Park and Arnhem Land (with permits)

Extra Highlights:
🌄 Outback Queensland
🎣 Fishing in NT rivers
🪵 Aboriginal culture tours

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Months 3–4: The Top & WA Coast

• Darwin → Broome: Add slow travel along the Gibb River Road
• Broome → Perth: Deeper stops in Karijini National Park, Coral Bay snorkelling, wildflower season (Aug–Oct)

Extra Highlights:
🚙 Remote Kimberley stations
🌼 WA wildflowers
🐠 Ningaloo Reef camping

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Months 5–6: South & South-East

• Perth → Adelaide: Detour to Fitzgerald River National Park and Nullarbor Caves
• Adelaide → Melbourne: Kangaroo Island side trip
• Melbourne → Sydney: Option to spend time in the High Country or Gippsland coast

Extra Highlights:
🦘 Kangaroo Island wildlife
🌊 Secluded beaches in SA
🏕️ Bush camping with views

🚐 The Big Lap in 12 Months (Including Tasmania)

The ultimate, slow-travel Australian road trip with every state and territory

🗓️ Ideal for: Grey nomads, families, digital nomads, full-time travellers

🏕️ Best for: Caravan, camper trailer, or 4WD setups

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Months 1–3: Eastern Australia

Sydney → Cairns (via coastal & hinterland NSW + QLD)

• NSW: Blue Mountains, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay
• QLD: Sunshine Coast, Noosa Everglades, Fraser Island, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Townsville

Optional inland detours:

• Carnarvon Gorge
• Atherton Tablelands

Highlights:
🌴 Daintree Rainforest
🐢 Great Barrier Reef
🏄‍♂️ Surf beaches + hinterland gems
🌿 Rainforest walks and hot springs

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Months 4–5: Far North & Top End

Cairns → Darwin

• Take the Savannah Way (for an outback adventure) or the easier Barkly Highway and Stuart Highway.
• Explore Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine Gorge, and Nitmiluk National Park

Optional Detour: Arnhem Land (permits required)

Highlights:
🐊 Croc-spotting in Kakadu
🛶 Gorge canoeing
🔥 Bush camping under the stars
🪃 Aboriginal cultural tours

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Months 6–7: Kimberley & West Coast

Darwin → Broome → Perth

• Via Gibb River Road (4WD), or the sealed highway for a more relaxed route
• Stay in Karijini National Park, Coral Bay, Shark Bay, and Kalbarri

Highlights:
🌅 Cable Beach sunsets
🦈 Swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo
🏜️ Hike Karijini’s gorges
🌼 WA wildflower season (Jul–Nov)

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Months 8–9: South West & Southern WA

Perth → Esperance via Margaret River and Albany

• Take your time exploring the coast, forests, and food regions
• Camp on white-sand beaches and hike along rugged coastline

Highlights:
🍷 Margaret River wine + gourmet trail
🌊 Esperance & Lucky Bay
🧙 Valley of the Giants tree walk
🦘 Kangaroos on the beach!

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Month 10: Across the Nullarbor into South Australia

Esperance → Adelaide

• Drive the Nullarbor Plain (look out for whales at Head of Bight in winter)
• Stop at Eyre Peninsula, Ceduna, and Port Lincoln

Highlights:
🚙 Nullarbor crossing
🐋 Whale watching (May–Oct)
🧂 Pink lakes and cliff lookouts
🥾 Hike Flinders Ranges

Month 11: Adelaide To Melbourne via The Great Ocean Road

• Drive east from Adelaide, stopping in:
  • Fleurieu Peninsula (Victor Harbor, McLaren Vale)
  • The Coorong National Park
  • Mt Gambier (Blue Lake, sinkholes)
  • Port Fairy & Warrnambool

• The Great Ocean Road section:
  • Warrnambool to Torquay, featuring:
    • 🌊 The Twelve Apostles
    • 🏞️ Great Otway National Park
    • 🐨 Koala spotting in Kennett River
    • 🛶 Lorne & Apollo Bay
• End the leg in Melbourne to prep for Tasmania

Highlights:
🛣️ Great Ocean Road coastal views
🌿 Waterfall walks in the Otways
🍷 Local food & wine in coastal towns
🦭 Seals, whales, and ocean cliffs

Month 12: Tasmania + Return to Sydney

• Catch the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to Devonport
• Spend 2–3 weeks exploring:
  • East Coast: Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, Freycinet
  • South: Hobart, Port Arthur, Bruny Island, Huon Valley
  • West/Northwest: Cradle Mountain, Strahan, Tarkine

Ferry back to Melbourne, then:

• Drive to Sydney via the coastal route:
  • Wilsons Promontory
  • Lakes Entrance
  • Eden & Sapphire Coast
  • Batemans Bay
  • Royal National Park
  • Canberra detour

Highlights:
🏕️ Remote Tassie campsites
⛰️ Cradle Mountain hikes
🦘 Wildlife encounters on the South Coast
🌄 Coastal sunsets to end the lap

READ MORE: Is The Tasmanian Tiger Extinct? As science considers using genetic technology to bring the Tassie Tiger back from extinction, many people claim they’re still around.

💭 Are You Ready to Tackle the Big Lap?

The Big Lap isn’t just a drive—it’s a rite of passage. It tests patience and flexibility, rewards with breathtaking sights, and offers opportunities to find unexpected friendships. You’ll return richer—in experiences, stories, and a deeper appreciation for Australia’s size, beauty, and history.

It’s real, it’s rugged, and it’s ridiculously joyful. Get planning today!

References

https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/citroen-tourer#:~:text=In%201925%2C%20Perth%20missionary%20Nevill,the%20Nullabor%20to%20Western%20Australia.