Mile0
Before you turn the key
What the Big Lap Around Australia Actually Involves
The Big Lap is a full circuit of the Australian coastline by caravan, motorhome or camper trailer. Most people take six months to a year and do it in stages, not one unbroken drive.
~15,000 km
Typical full-circuit distance, coastal route
6–12 mo
Common duration for a first lap, unhurried
2 seasons
North in the dry season, south in summer — timing is the whole game
- Choose your rig first. Caravan, camper trailer or motorhome — the right one depends on how remote you're planning to get, not just budget.
- Set dates around the seasons, not the calendar. Work backwards from the wet season up north, not forwards from when you'd like to leave.
- Sort the boring bit before the fun bit. Mail redirection, banking, home security, Medicare — it needs doing first, not on the road.
