How to Plan a Big Lap of Australia — A Beginner’s Guide for Retirees
For many Australian retirees the Big Lap represents the ultimate retirement adventure — a complete circuit of the continent, often lasting six months to a year or more, taking in everything from tropical Queensland to the red heart of the outback to the rugged Western Australian coastline. It’s an enormous undertaking — but with the right planning it’s also entirely achievable, even for first time long haul travellers. Here’s a complete beginner’s guide to planning your first Big Lap.
What Is the Big Lap?
The Big Lap refers to a complete circumnavigation of Australia by road — typically following the coastal highway network in a large loop, most commonly travelled anticlockwise starting and finishing near home.
Most Big Lappers travel between six months and a year, though some take considerably longer, stopping to work seasonally or simply spending extended time in places they love.
When to Start Planning
Planning should begin at least six to twelve months before departure. This gives you time to:
- Properly prepare your vehicle and caravan or motorhome
- Research your route thoroughly
- Organise your finances and budget
- Sort out home arrangements while you’re away
- Build fitness and confidence with shorter trips first
As I wrote in how to travel Australia by caravan — doing a few shorter trial trips before committing to the full lap is one of the best ways to identify what you need and what you don’t before you’re fully committed.
Choosing Your Route and Direction
The classic anticlockwise route
Most Big Lappers travel anticlockwise — heading north first, then west, then south, then east, then home. This timing works well with Australia’s seasons:
- Autumn (March-May) — depart and head north, avoiding the worst of the wet season ending in the tropics
- Winter (June-August) — explore the Top End and Western Australia while the south is cold
- Spring (September-November) — head south through Western Australia and across to South Australia
- Summer (December-February) — finish through Victoria, NSW and home, avoiding the tropical wet season up north
Why timing with the seasons matters so much
Australia’s north experiences a distinct wet season from roughly November to April, during which many roads become impassable and the heat and humidity make travel uncomfortable. Avoiding the tropics during this period is one of the most important planning decisions for any Big Lap.
Budgeting for the Big Lap
Costs vary enormously depending on your travel style, but a rough guide for a couple travelling for six to twelve months:
| Expense | Approximate Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel | $400-800 |
| Caravan park fees (mixed with free camping) | $400-1,000 |
| Food and groceries | $600-900 |
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $100-300 |
| Activities and entrance fees | $100-300 |
| Insurance | $100-200 |
Total estimated monthly budget: $1,700 to $3,500 depending on how much free camping versus paid caravan parks you use.
Mixing free camps with occasional caravan park stays — for laundry, showers, and power — significantly reduces overall costs without sacrificing comfort entirely.
Preparing Your Vehicle and Caravan
Get a full mechanical service before departure A thorough service from a mechanic familiar with caravan towing setups — checking brakes, suspension, tyres, and towing components — is essential before a long trip.
Carry essential spares A spare tyre for both vehicle and caravan, basic tools, jumper leads, and key fluids should all be on board.
Consider your water and power setup Solar panels, a good battery setup, and adequate water tank capacity significantly increase how much free camping you can comfortably do — extending your budget considerably.
Test everything before you leave A weekend trial trip close to home reveals problems with your setup while you’re still within easy reach of help.
Planning Your Route Without Over-Planning
One of the most common mistakes first time Big Lappers make is over-planning every single stop in advance.
The better approach: Plan your general direction and rough timing — particularly around seasonal weather windows — but leave flexibility for spontaneous stops, weather changes, and places that turn out to be more special than expected.
Tools worth using:
- WikiCamps Australia — comprehensive database of camping spots, caravan parks, and amenities
- CamperMate — similar functionality with strong community reviews
- Hema Maps — detailed offline mapping particularly valuable in remote areas
What to Do About Home While You’re Away
Mail and bills Set up mail redirection through Australia Post and move as many bills as possible to automatic payment or paperless billing managed online.
Home security Arrange for a trusted neighbour, family member, or house sitting service to check on your property periodically.
Renting out your home Some Big Lappers choose to rent out their home for the duration of their trip, which can substantially offset travel costs — worth considering if you’re comfortable with the arrangement.
Health and Medical Considerations
Organise extended medication supplies Speak with your GP well in advance about arranging extended prescriptions or repeat scripts that can be filled at pharmacies along your route.
Research remote area medical access Some sections of the Big Lap pass through genuinely remote areas with limited medical access — understanding where the nearest hospitals and medical centres are along your route provides important peace of mind.
Consider the Royal Flying Doctor Service Many Big Lappers choose to make a donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service before departure — both as valuable insurance peace of mind and genuine support for a service that may be relied upon in remote areas.
Travel insurance Even for domestic travel, comprehensive insurance covering medical, vehicle, and caravan contingencies is well worth the investment for a trip of this scale.
Staying Connected
Phone and internet coverage Coverage becomes patchy or non existent in many remote areas. A dual SIM setup with both Telstra and Optus or a satellite communication device for genuinely remote sections provides better overall coverage than relying on a single provider.
Staying in touch with family Establishing a regular check in schedule with family back home provides peace of mind for everyone, particularly during sections with limited communication access.
The Mental Side of a Long Trip
A trip of six months or more living in a confined space together is a genuinely significant undertaking for any relationship, regardless of how strong it is.
What helps:
- Building in flexibility and downtime rather than constant movement
- Having individual space and time where possible, even within a caravan
- Open communication about pace, preferences, and any tensions as they arise
- Remembering that slower is almost always better than rushing to see everything
Most experienced Big Lappers report that their second lap is much more relaxed than their first, simply because they’ve learned to slow down and stop trying to see absolutely everything.
Common Mistakes First Time Big Lappers Make
Trying to see everything Australia is enormous — accepting that you won’t see everything on one trip removes significant pressure and allows for a more enjoyable pace.
Underestimating distances Distances between towns, especially in the outback and Western Australia, are often far greater than first time travellers expect. Always carry more fuel, water, and food reserves than you think you’ll need.
Overpacking Most experienced travellers report bringing far more than they actually needed on their first trip. Pack for genuine necessities and resist the urge to bring “just in case” items for every possible scenario.
Not budgeting for vehicle repairs Long distance towing puts genuine wear on vehicles — budgeting for unexpected repairs along the way avoids financial stress when something inevitably needs attention.
The Bottom Line
The Big Lap is one of the great Australian retirement adventures — entirely achievable with proper planning, realistic budgeting, and a willingness to slow down and adapt as you go.
Start planning early, build in flexibility, prioritise safety and health preparation, and don’t try to see absolutely everything.
The country will still be there for a second lap.
Are you planning or have you completed your own Big Lap of Australia? Share your experience and tips in The Good Years Club community — we’d love to hear about it 💙
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