Camping guides
Complete guide to remote work while travelling Australia
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Looking to escape the rat race of the 9 - 5? Want to take your career on the road and see the world whilst earning an income? Make all your dreams come true with our guide to remote work while travelling Australia!
Use this ultimate guide to discover:
How to work remotely while travelling.
Tips for remote work while travelling.
Convert a campervan for remote work on the road.
Hire a campervan for remote work on the road.
Digital nomads need comfort and convenience - use Camplify to find campervan hire in Australia !
Remote work while travelling Australia
How to remote work while travelling
A digital nomad is someone who works remotely whilst travelling. Today, it is easier than ever to become a digital nomad. All you need is a laptop, internet access, a campervan and remote employment.
There are two types of employment that typically suit digital nomads:
Remote work (i.e. hired by an employer but with the freedom to roam)
Freelancing (i.e. hired by clients so you can work where you like)
Remote work is when you are hired by an employer and work for their business. Many employers in Australia now allow their staff to work remotely (outside of the office). If you want to work remotely while travelling, ask your employer if this is possible. Alternatively, use websites like WeWorkRemotely and Remote to seek remote employment opportunities.
Freelancing is when you work for yourself (i.e. your own business) and are hired by clients. Most freelancing roles are performed remotely and require minimal interaction with clients. If you want to begin freelancing, the best way to start is by creating a profile on freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr.
Some common remote work roles that suit a travel lifestyle include:
IT and software development
Sales and marketing
Writing
Online teaching
Accounting
Customer service
Project management
Graphical design.
Tips for remote work while travelling
1. Packing list for remote work and travelling
__ Image: Bondi Serenity_ on Camplify.
If you want to remote work while travelling Australia, these essential items will keep your working environment stress-free and comfortable:
A laptop
Laptop sleeve or case
Rechargeable Bluetooth mouse and keyboard
A collapsible laptop stand
Noise-cancelling headphones
Laptop chargers
External hard drive
A reading lamp (12V if possible)
Diary (optional)
There are also some awesome camping apps for Australia that will help you find campsites and caravan parks with WiFi suitable for working.
Not sure what else you need to pack in your campervan when travelling around Australia? See our ultimate road trip packing list.
2. Hire a campervan with a power source
Most digital nomads travel in a campervan because it can be used as a rolling office in the most stunning locations. Just make sure that your campervan hire or conversion is fitted with a 12-volt (battery) or 24-volt (mains power) source, so that you can power your laptop and internet access.
A 12-volt power source can be recharged whilst you drive or via solar panels. This allows you to power your remote work equipment at the most isolated of destinations (e.g. National Parks and beach campsites).
A 24-volt power setup allows you to plug into the mains power supply at powered campsites (e.g. caravan parks and holiday parks), meaning you do not have to worry about draining the battery.
3. Ways to access the internet for remote work while travelling
There are four main ways that digital nomads can access the internet for remote work while travelling:
Mobile data and hot-spotting: Use a provider that offers steady coverage across Australia and plans that include large data allowances. Many digital nomads use Telstra mobile network because it provides the best mobile coverage (see this coverage map).
Public or free WiFi hotspots: Free internet access can often be found in places like libraries and cafes. This is an affordable option but may not always be reliable. Many hotspots also limit data download. It may be better to pay for WiFi access at holiday parks and co-working spaces.
Portable wireless routers: Using a portable wireless router is a popular option for van lifers. They offer a larger hotspot range and can sustain multiple devices on the same system. Major mobile providers such as Telstra and Optus offer prepaid portable routers. However, RVWiFi is a popular option for travellers.
Mobile broadband dongles: These standalone devices can plug into your computer to create a small local hotspot. They have a special inbuilt SIM that runs on a prepaid plan. Major mobile providers such as Telstra and Optus offer mobile broadband dongles.
4. Save all work documents offline
There may be rare instances where you cannot access the internet when trying to remote work while travelling. Use software such as iCloud, Dropbox and Google Drive, which allow you to save and work on your documents when offline.
5. Create a comfortable work area in your campervan
__ Image: Glamper Camper_ on Camplify.
Working from bed or the couch is the quickest way to dull productivity and damage your back. Instead, hire a campervan that has a comfortable dining area that you can transform into a work desk.
On the table, raise your laptop to eye level by placing it on a stand. Then set up your Bluetooth mouse and keyboard so that you have the correct desk posture when working throughout the day.
Your campervan hire may also include an outdoor table and camping chairs. Pull out the awning and you can create an outdoor office when the weather is nice.
6. Create a remote work and travel schedule
Minimise distractions and create balance in your day by making a remote work and travel schedule.
It is up to you as to how you arrange your remote work and travel schedule. Some digital nomads choose to start work early or late so that they can enjoy the morning or the evening. Others work a part-time schedule so that they can spend the rest of the week travelling.
Once you know which schedule works best for you, plan for the coming days and weeks by creating a to-do list. Every evening, spend five minutes writing down the tasks that you need to do tomorrow, this week and this month.
Some of the best software for scheduling includes Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Asana and Notion.
7. Spend some time in coworking spaces
Image: Savannah Campervan_ on Camplify.
If you want to take a break from working out of your campervan, you can always work from a coworking space.
Coworking spaces allow you to hire a desk, meeting room or office space for a limited number of hours per day or month. You can now find coworking spaces in all the major cities around Australia.
WeWork offers coworking spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Alternatively, Servcorp offers coworking spaces in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Hobart.
8. Maintain communication with colleagues and clients
Don’t fall out of the loop when working away from the office. Make sure that you stay in touch with your colleagues or clients regularly. This is the best way to ensure that you are up to date with all the tasks at hand.
Some popular pieces of software that are great for both work communication and task management include:
Microsoft 365
9. Visit the best remote work destinations in Australia
Image: Cupid_ on Camplify.
There are a few cities and towns around Australia that are particularly popular for remote work while travelling. Digital nomads love these places because of their high-speed internet access, laidback lifestyle and proximity to other travel opportunities:
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart
Byron Bay
Noosa and the Sunshine Coast
Cairns.
10. Know your budget
One of the first questions that digital nomads always ask is how much does it really cost to travel Australia?
It may cost anywhere from $15,000 to $80,000 or more to travel around Australia. Naturally, the cost varies depending on your mode of transport, accommodation, activities and dining.
Calculate your own budget by accounting for:
Campervan conversion or hire
Transportation costs (tolls, fuel, etc.)
Accommodation costs (campsites, holiday parks, etc.)
Activity costs (national parks, attractions, etc.)
Dining costs (eating-in, restaurants, etc.)
Ensure that the income you are earning from your remote work is more than enough to cover your travel expenses. Whilst you’re at it, try to cut down on unnecessary expenses (e.g. unused subscriptions, gym memberships, etc).
Convert a campervan for remote work while travelling
Image: Remi_ on Camplify.
One of the most convenient and comfortable ways to remote work while travelling is to invest in a van and convert it into a campervan with a dedicated working space.
After the initial investment, a campervan can help you save money whilst travelling. This is because it is more affordable to camp at holiday parks and campsites than at hotels and motels. It’s also a better way to see the country and stay at scenic campsites!
Want to get started on your dream of remote work while travelling Australia in a campervan? Read our beginners guides to campervan conversion:
And don’t forget, once your journey comes to an end, you can make money by hiring out your campervan. Each year, heaps of Aussies earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their campervan through Camplify.
If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year by renting out your unused campervan!
Hire a campervan for remote work while travelling
Image: Wickster Campervan_ on Camplify.
Don’t want to invest time and money into converting a campervan of your own? No worries - hire a campervan through Camplify instead!
Many campervans for hire on Camplify come with features you need for remote work while travelling around Australia - a power supply, a comfortable table and more!
Use Camplify to arrange:
All the rental vans on Camplify are privately-owned and offer a unique experience. Plus, every booking comes with a range of extra benefits…
Why Camplify?
We are proud to be Australia’s fastest-growing private caravan, motorhome and campervan hire community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:
Comprehensive hire insurance
Nationwide NRMA roadside assistance
24/7 customer support
All members are verified
By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across Australia in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.
Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.