Half lap Australia: ultimate Big Lap itinerary guide

If a full lap of Australia itinerary isn't quite on the cards but you’d still like to see Darwin, Kakadu National Park, WA’s pristine coastline, Coober Pedy and so much more, then we’ve got you covered. This itinerary includes all of the top places you should visit on a half lap of Australia!

Use our 7-week (minimum) itinerary to plan your Western loop of Australia, beginning in Adelaide. As with all our itineraries, you can easily modify it to suit your available time frame and starting point while still taking advantage of all the best sightseeing and camping spots.

With some vast distances to be covered during your half-lap of Australia, we’ve made sure to list the best campgrounds to recoup as you explore the best in the west!

Half lap of Australia itinerary: 12 amazing places to visit

Total Distance: 10,221 km | Recommended Duration: from 7 Weeks - 3 Months | Best Time to Visit: Between May and September | Route on Google Maps

1. Adelaide, SA

Find a spot to set up at the local BIG4 West Beach Parks Campground, which is conveniently located along Adelaide’s pristine coastline and within a stone's throw of the CBD. Take the time to enjoy fresh food and produce at Adelaide Central Market or a spot of shopping at Rundle Mall.

Visit a man-made rainforest at the Botanic Gardens or attend the Art Gallery of South Australia to witness some of the country's best art collections.

And of course, a trip to Adelaide wouldn’t be complete without a short 1-hour drive to the Barossa Valley. Renowned worldwide for its production of quality wines, many cellar doors allow you to picnic within their grounds, making for a great lunch spot!

2. Coober Pedy, SA

Drive Time: 8 hr 50m | Distance: 848 km

Known as the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy is a quirky town of underground dwellings and a seemingly barren, lunar-like landscape. Despite its small size, there is plenty to see and do here!

Stop by the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, which is located entirely underground and learn about aboriginal and European settlement alongside the city's mining history. Explore the striking sandstone tablelands in Kanku Breakaways Conservation park or perhaps relax over a dusty round of golf at Opal Fields Golf Club. If you feel up to ​​fossicking for opals, be sure to include a stop at Old Timers Mine which also offers free camping sites for patrons.

3. Yulara (Uluru and Olgas), NT

Drive Time: 7 hr 30m | Distance: 734 km

The town of Yulara is situated just a 10-minute drive from the entry to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park making it the perfect base from which to explore. We recommend a minimum of 3 days spent camping at Ayers Rock Campground to ensure you can enjoy all the sights, which include Uluru and Kata Tjuta, at both sunrise and sunset.

Start your adventure at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and learn about the areas of cultural significance to the Anangu people. From here, you can choose to join a guided walk, ride bikes or camels, drive or skydive in the park to fully enjoy its magnificence.

4. Alice Springs, NT

Drive Time: 4 hr 33m | Distance: 446 km

Located exactly halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, Alice Springs is one of the oldest and most remote towns in Australia. Get in touch with local history by visiting Telegraph Station, the site of Alice Springs’ first European settlement. For the reptile enthusiast, Alice Springs is also home to an exceptional Reptile Centre.

Travel just 18kms outside of town to see the towering cliff formations and waterhole at Simpsons Gap. Or go a little further to the settlement of Hermannsburg, Central Australia’s first town and home of the famous Aboriginal watercolour artist, Albert Namatjira. Keen to explore the picturesque MacDonnell Ranges and Rainbow Valley on your half lap of Australia? Alice Springs is the ideal base for this too.

5. Katherine, NT

Drive Time: 12 hr | Distance: 1182 km

Known for Katherine Gorge, in the Nitmiluk National Park, and the Cutta Cutta Caves, Katherine is jam-packed with breathtaking natural sights. In addition to the gorge and caves, be sure to experience the Mataranka hot springs, Edith Falls, Jatbula trail and the Top Didj & Art Gallery.

There is a wealth of camping grounds to choose from, for the less experienced we recommend Discovery Parks Katherine. This park provides peace and quiet within nature and is close to the Katherine River without any dangers from the resident crocodile!

6. Darwin, NT

Drive Time: 3 hr 15 m | Distance: 317 km

Gateway to the spectacular Kakadu National Park, Darwin is a tropical oasis at the top of the Northern Territory. Enjoy a crocodile cruise in nearby Litchfield National Park, visit the Mary River Wetlands, learn about the bombing of Darwin on a guided tour and shop up a storm at Mindil Beach Markets.

Of course, no trip to Darwin would be complete without taking time out to visit Kakadu. Full of wetlands, waterfalls, spectacular cliffs, rainforest hideaways and more, you’ll need a minimum of three days to explore this vast park. Darwin’s Free Spirit resort is the perfect spot to relax following your days of exploring.

7. Kununurra, WA

Drive Time: 8 hr 23 m | Distance: 827 km

Experience the magnificence of the Kimberley region with a stop at Kununurra, home of the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and its beehive-shaped Bungle Bungle Range.

Enjoy visiting Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre, fishing for barramundi, hiking through pristine wilderness, swimming in Lake Argyle and shopping for your very own world-famous Argyle pink diamonds. Our choice of where to camp? The lush and tranquil oasis that is Hidden Valley Tourist Park.

8. Broome, WA

Drive Time: 10 hr 50 m | Distance: 1043 km

Sitting right on the Indian Ocean, Broome is the perfect spot to enjoy a well-earned rest on your half lap of Australia. And if the diamonds at Kununurra didn't quite catch your eye, the pearls in Broome just might!

Book a sunset camel ride along the white sands of Cable Beach, a tour of Horizontal Falls, or continue to explore the Kimberley from the western side. Visit historic Chinatown or the pearling port which is still in use today.

Alternatively, head just 50km north of Broome to James Price Point, the ideal spot for a day out with jaw-dropping scenery and stark colour contrast. The road can get a little bumpy so do your research first to make sure you have the right vehicle for it!

Should you have any dinosaur enthusiasts in your travelling party, then Gantheaume Point Beach is a must - during low tide its red rocks reveal ancient dinosaur tracks. Enjoy incredible sunsets and outstanding amenities at Cable Beach Caravan Park.

With a long drive ahead to Exmouth, we recommend an overnight stay in Port Hedland on the way to break up the journey.

8. Exmouth, WA

Drive Time: 14 hr 10 m | Distance: 1371 km

Located on Western Australia’s North West Cape, Exmouth is your entry point to Ningaloo Marine Park. Swim with migratory whale sharks, see spectacular coral reefs and a wealth of fish, turtles and more. For the keen fisherman, there are fishing charters galore to enjoy outside of the Marine Park.

If you prefer to stay onshore there are numerous white sand beaches to relax on or hiking adventures to experience in Cape Range National Park. Stay At Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park for a memorable and unique camping spot.

9. Perth, WA

Drive Time: 12 hr 50 m | Distance: 1253 km

Enter the hustle and bustle of Perth and experience a wealth of entertainment and experiences to be had. Head out to Rottnest Island, step back in time at Fremantle prison or simply relax at the Botanic Gardens or any one of the 19 beaches on the Perth shoreline.

If swimming with dolphins is on your bucket list, then be sure to head out to nearby Rockingham for a day too. For proximity to the Perth CBD and Swan River, you cannot go past Perth Central Caravan Park.

9. Esperance, WA

Drive Time: 7 hr 30 m | Distance: 697 km

Home to the famous Pink Lake, Esperance has no end of natural wonders to enjoy. Visit Cape Le Grand National Park to see the pristine Lucky Beach and Hellfire Bay. Climb Frenchman’s Peak, swing by the quirky reimagining of StoneHenge or enjoy a craft beer at Lucky Bay Brewing.

Camp on the beach for a more immersive nature experience or book in town at the recently updated RAC Esperance Holiday Park.

10. Ceduna, SA

Drive Time: 14 hr 30 m | Distance: 1404 km

This penultimate stretch between Esperance and Ceduna crosses the Nullarbor and brings you back within a day's drive of Adelaide. There are several camping locations dotted along this lengthy, somewhat monotonous drive with most travellers electing to break it up over three days with stops at the small towns of Caiguna and Eucla.

On arrival to Ceduna, located on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula, you’ll have five well-equipped campsites to pick from including a BIG4. Rest after your long drive or go whale watching (season permitting) at Head Of Bight, enjoy a meal on the foreshore or a long stroll on Ceduna Jetty.

Once you’re ready to return to your starting point of Adelaide , there’s a comparatively short 8.5-hour drive (775km) trip ahead. Should you have the time, we recommend an added stop in the seaport town of Port Augusta to finish off your half lap of Australia.

Want to see more and travel further? Check out our tips for the big lap of Australia!

Hire a van for your half lap of Australia

With your itinerary all sorted, it’s time to organise your wheels and the ever essential accommodation. Camplify makes planning your half lap of Australia streamlined and stress free. Our online platform allows travellers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals and find the perfect van or motorhome for their road trip.

Simply enter your pickup location and adjust the optional filters (e.g budget, berth, vehicle type, etc.). Within seconds, you can find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your half lap of Australia!

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