30 essential Australia road trip tips: complete guide

Australia is full of amazing sights and unforgettable experiences. But its sheer size, intense weather and lively wilderness can make road trips a little daunting at times. Use our Australia road trip tips below to ensure that your adventure is as safe, comfortable and exciting as possible!

This advice covers everything you need to know when taking an Australian road trip, from packing your campervan to picking your campsite and so much more. Soon enough, you’ll be ready to tackle the best road trips in Australia!

But remember, the key to a remarkable road trip is comfort. Camplify makes it easy to find affordable and comfortable campervan hire in Australia!

30 tips for an Australian road trip

1. Travel in a comfortable van

When it comes to an Australian road trip, the most important thing is to be comfortable. You want a vehicle that is spacious and well-equipped with features such as a kitchen and bathroom. So when it comes to finding the right van rental, be selective!

Camplify is a platform that makes it easy to find affordable and comfortable campervan hire in Australia. From couples campers to family motorhomes and even luxury caravans, you’ll be able to find the perfect option for your journey.

Plus, all Camplify rentals come with comprehensive hire insurance, NRMA roadside assistance and 24/7 customer support. All the makings of a worry-free road trip!

2. Don’t count on caffeine

It’s perfectly natural to reach for a cup of coffee before a long day of driving. But, remember that caffeine is a diuretic, which means you’ll end up dehydrated if you drink too much of it. This is the last thing you want duringlong road trips!

In the morning, fill a 2-litre bottle with water and sip away throughout the day. Stainless steel insulated bottles are best as they can keep your water cold for up to 12 hours. This will help you hit your required daily water intake and keep you hydrated and alert whilst driving.

3. Embrace the “healthy” sugars

A little bit of sugar can help the driver get through a long day on the road. For a quick energy hit, turn to healthy snacks such as bananas, oranges or fruit poppers. For a more gradual release of energy, pair a salad with your lunch.

4. Don’t drive at night, sunrise or sunset

This is one of the most important Australia road trip tips. Kangaroos and cattle are very active at night and during the early hours of the day. They often crowd around the roadside where the grass grows thick. Naturally, this results in a lot of collisions, the evidence of which can be seen along the edges of the roads in Australia…

So it’s best to avoid driving at night, sunrise or sunset. If you do have to drive during these times, take it slow.

5. Don’t swerve around animals on the road

Speaking of kangaroos and other wildlife - if you do come across an animal on the road and don’t have time to stop, do not try to swerve to avoid it. You’re likely better off applying the brakes, hitting the animal head-on and damaging your car.* If you swerve, you could lose control of the vehicle.

6. Roll the window down

Winding down the window and letting a fresh breeze rush over your face will help keep you alert. It’s simple but one of the most effective road trip tips!

7. Plan the most scenic route with Google Maps

Whilst you’re arranging your Australian road trip, you can use Google Maps to work out the most scenic route (or the fastest route if you’re in a rush!). Read our guide on how to plan a road trip with Google Maps for step by step instructions on creating the ultimate route plan.

And use the road trip guides and itineraries on the Camplify Blog to research awesome attractions along the way!

8. Use offline navigation

Whilst Google Maps is great for creating customised road trip routes, it can’t always be relied upon for navigation in areas with poor mobile coverage.

If you know you’re going to be travelling through remote areas, download an app such as Maps.Me which allows you to download maps for offline navigation. Alternatively, you can use or hire a GPS.

9. Get plenty of sleep

Don’t forgo a good night’s sleep just because you want to cover plenty of ground on your road trip. Hire a van with a comfortable bed and enjoy a full 8-hours each night. Driving tired is just as deadly as driving drunk.

10. Buy National Park passes

National Parks are an affordable way to see some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery. Whilst many National Parks are free to enter, the most popular parks usually charge an entry fee. If you plan on spending a lot of time in paid National Parks, you might be better off investing in some of the following park passes:

• NSW Park Pass - $65 for 1 year (without entry to Kosciuszko) or $190 for 1 year (with entry to Kosciuszko).

• Kakadu Park Pass - lasts 7 days and costs $40 per adult or $100 per family during the dry season (lower fees apply during the wet season).

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - costs $38 per adult for 3 days of entry (children enter free).

• WA Park Pass - $60 for 4 weeks or $40 for 2 weeks.

• SA Park Pass - $48 for 2 months.

11. Put together a group playlist

Music is one of the best ways to keep everyone upbeat on a long Australian road trip. Create a shared playlist on Spotify or Apple Music and get all your travel companions to contribute some of their favourite songs. Whilst you’re at it, brainstorm some driving games and other fun things to do on a road trip!

12. Find great deals on paid campsites

Whilst National Parks and free campsites are great if you’re on a tight budget, they don’t always have the best facilities. After a few days on the road, you might want to stay at a caravan park or holiday park that offers better facilities such as flush toilets, hot showers, a swimming pool and laundry.

But staying at a paid campsite doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget. Find the best value deals by reading our guide on how to find and book a caravan park in Australia and utilise comparison sites like Campstay.

13. Keep your vehicle clean

Whether you’re taking a road trip around Australia in your own vehicle or a rental van, try to keep it as clean and comfortable as possible. Start by avoiding the temptation to overpack and fill the van with all your comforts from home.

As you head off on the road trip, make time every couple of days to do a big clean out of the inside. Get rid of those chip wrappers and gum containers and make room for more memories. This will save you from driving around in a tip by the end of your trip.

14. Keep your campervan fridge stocked

Chances are that you’ll have a fridge or cooler in your campervan. Before you leave town for a long day of driving, head to the local supermarket and stock it with snacks and drinks.

This means that you don’t have to worry about how far it is to the next rest stop. It will also help you save some money, as supermarkets tend to be cheaper than roadside service stations.

15. Save money by cooking your own meals

One of the best money-saving tips for an Australian road trip is to cook your own meals. This is a lot easier if you’re camping in a campervan with a fully-equipped kitchen.

Many of the campervans for hire on Camplify include a stove, sink, fridge and more - perfect for cooking up these Australian camping food ideas.

16. Abide by the Australian road rules

If you’re unfamiliar with the road rules in Australia, spend a few minutes getting to know the basics so that you can avoid hefty fines:

• Always drive on the left-hand side of the road.

• The driver and all passengers in your campervan must wear a seatbelt whilst travelling.

• Always stick to the speed limit that is signposted.

• It is a criminal offence to drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol in Australia.

• When approaching a roundabout, you must give way to the right.

• Only overtake on dotted lines or in passing lanes when it is safe to do so. Don’t overtake if there is a solid centre line.

• It is illegal to use your mobile phone whilst driving.

It goes without saying that brushing up on road rules is one of the most essential Australia road trip tips!

17. Download your music and podcasts

Before you leave on your road trip, download your favourite playlists and podcasts to your phone. This will save you from travelling in silence on those occasions that you’re passing through remote regions of Australia without mobile reception!

18. Learn some basic mechanics

Before you head off on your Australian road trip, watch this video guide to basic automotive maintenance and pick up a few handy tips. At the very least, you should be able to change a tyre on your van in case of a puncture. It’s a bonus if you can do some other simple stuff such as checking your oil level.

Remember though, every Camplify rental includes Nationwide NRMA Roadside Assistance - simply call our 24/7 support team and we’ll have someone come out to help you!

19. Make a pitstop every two hours

Don’t wait for one of the kids to yell out that they’re desperate for the bathroom. When planning your road trip, add rest stops in little towns along the way. Many Australian towns and villages have something to offer, even if it’s just a quaint park or a tasty bakery!

20. Stay overnight in National Parks and free campsites

There are around 700 National Parks on mainland Australia that offer affordable overnight camping, with fees ranging from $0 - $20 per adult and $0 - 10 per child. Usually, the campsites with higher fees have better facilities such as hot showers and flush toilets, whilst cheaper sites normally only offer basic facilities such as drop toilets.

Free camping sites also exist in many places around Australia, such as roadside rest stops and community campsites. However, these free campsites usually only provide basic facilities such as drop toilets. Only camp in those areas where signage indicates that it is legal to camp overnight.

For more money-saving tips, please see our article on [how much does it cost to travel around Australia?](https://www.camplify.com.au/blog/how-much-does-it-really-cost-to-travel-australia# :~:text=an%20unpowered%20campsite-,(a%20total%20of%20%244%2C185%20for%20a%203%2Dmonth%20trip),location%2C%20season%20and%20facilities%20provided.&text=%240%20%2D%2010%20per%20child.)

21. Share the driving

Another safety tip for long Australian road trips - bring a partner along so that you can keep each other entertained and rest every couple of hours whilst the other person drives.

If you don’t have someone to share the driving with, then make sure you plan even more stops along the way to break up your road trip.

22. Get insurance and roadside assistance

You don’t want to head off on a major Australian road trip without a comprehensive insurance policy and roadside assistance. If you have a collision or break down in the middle of nowhere and can’t get help, it’s going to be a costly exercise and add a lot of stress to your trip.

Book through Camplify and get comprehensive hire insurance included at no additional cost. Plus, you’ll also receive Nationwide NRMA Roadside Assistance as mentioned above. Enjoy total peace of mind knowing that you’re covered if anything goes wrong on your adventure.

23. Let traffic overtake

Keep an eye out for frustrated motorists queuing behind you on highways and motorways. Where possible, keep left and pull over to let traffic pass. This is particularly important if you’re towing a caravan, which can make it harder for other motorists to overtake you.

24. Carry a satellite phone in remote regions

If you plan on taking a road trip into the remote Australian Outback, it may be wise to hire or buy a satellite phone or EPIRB (a personal locator beacon). This is a particularly important tip if you want to go camping off-road, far from civilization.

Be sure to also check out our other Outback camping trip ideas and tips!

25. Avoid the wet season in northern Australia

Try to plan your Australian road trip around the seasons.

If you want to travel to the Tropical North of Australia, you might want to head there in winter or spring (the dry season) rather than summer or autumn (the wet season). However, if you do travel to northern Australia in the wet season, prices tend to be cheaper and there are fewer crowds!

Similarly, most people tend to travel around southern Australia in summer and autumn when it’s warm by the coast. However, taking a road trip around the south of Australia can be great if you follow these tips and tricks for winter van camping!

26. Pack or buy a first aid kit

Don’t head off on an Australian road trip without first buying or packing a first aid kit. You never know when you might need a pair of tweezers or a plaster. And in a worst-case scenario, a first aid kit may even save your life.

Every Camplify van should include a first aid kit. Confirm where it is and what it includes with the owner before you set off on your adventure.

27. Use a packing list

It’s a lot faster and less stressful when packing your Australian road trip if you use a packing checklist. We’ve prepared a few checklists that you can use when packing, including our ultimate road trip packing list, cross country road trip checklist or winter camping essentials.

28. Fuel up as much as possible in major cities

One of the best money-saving tips when taking a road trip around Australia is to fuel up at petrol stations in major cities and towns.

Also, if you are hiring a campervan or motorhome, be sure to fully refill the tank before returning it to the owner. This is usually cheaper than paying the fuel fee.

29. Invest in a solar shower

Want to camp off-grid but don’t want to miss out on hot showers? If you don’t have a van with a shower, buy a portable solar shower that you can hang up at your campsite.

The Coleman PVC camp shower is an affordable and compact option that can provide up to two hot showers when full!

30. Download the best camping apps

Check out the best camping apps for Australia, some of which are super useful on a road trip:

• WikiCamps Australia is great for finding campgrounds, caravan parks, day stops, attractions, points of interest, dump points, toilets, showers, water taps and information centres.

• Fuel Map Australia provides the location of nearby petrol stations and the latest fuel prices so that you can find the best deal at the bowser.

• Star Walk 2 helps you to identify stars and constellations in the night sky.

Even more Australia road trip tips

Whilst you’ve got a heap of Australia road trip tips here to get you started, you can find even more on our Camplify Blog. You’ll also find a tonne of Australian road trip guides and itineraries loaded with information on the best campsites and attractions.

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Hire a van for your Australian road trip

Before you can set off on your Australian road trip, you’ll have to arrange your wheels (and accommodation)!

Camplify is a platform that allows holidaymakers to quickly search through hundreds of privately-owned campervan, motorhome and caravan rentals all around Australia.

Simply enter your pickup location and adjust the optional filters and within seconds, you will find the perfect van rental for your Australian road trip!

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be Australia’s largest private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing 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.

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