Planning your lap of the map is SO exciting! If you’ve just decided that you and your family will be hitting the road, then congrats, welcome to the close-knit community of Aussie travellers. And while adding awesome camping spots, events and attractions to your itinerary is a fun way to begin, you’ll probably soon realize that there is more to planning your trip than mapping out where you’re going.
That said, there is so much information out there, so much to know and so much to do, where do you even start? This guide seeks to make starting to plan your Big Lap of Australia a little easier.
Get Your Finances In Order
One of the first things you’ll need to consider is your finances if you want to travel this vast country of ours. For most of us, taking a year or more off can’t be done without some careful financial planning, so starting here will help you start to make realistic plans before you get too ahead of yourself.
Realistically, you only need to think about two things when it comes to your finances: getting on the road and staying on the road.
Getting On The Road
In order for you to get on the road, you need the essentials; your transport and accommodation are the two factors that will keep you from starting your big lap, so your first step is to think about how you’re going to finance them. Are you going to sell your home? Are you going to get a loan? Are you going to save, and if so, do you need to adjust your current lifestyle?
Next, you’ll want to save some cash so you can start your trip. Whether you’re planning to work on the road or not, you’re probably going to want to travel without worrying too much about money for at least a month or so. The amount of money you’ll need for those first few kilometres will depend on your travel style, where you want to go and how long you want to travel for. Many families say they save around $10,000 before setting off which usually lasts a few months.
Staying On The Road
If there’s one thing that cuts a trip short, it’s money! Having a plan to earn money while on the road is essential unless you’ve saved enough to have a full year off (or however long you’re planning to travel for). As with anything, there is no one-size-fits all formula. Some people travel for a while, then put down roots to work for a while. Those with specific skills, particularly tradies, pick up jobs here and there. Some people look for remote based jobs or start online businesses.
The good thing is, the world is becoming more and more set up for people who want to work from no fixed address. It’s also becoming easier for those who want to set up an online business to do so with ease.
This guide gives you a rundown of all the things you can do to make money on the road.
Or you could join The Big Lap Business Club and build your own business to sustain your travels.
Don’t Let Finances Stop You
If you truly want to do a lap though, it’s important not to let your finances get in the way (within reason obviously). Many people can put a lap to the hold, or completely put it to the back of their minds thinking that they probably can’t afford it. The truth is, for many lappers, living on the road can actually be cheaper than living at home. So, if you can afford to set out on your journey, you can probably afford to stay on the road, working your way around as you go.
Plan Your Route Around Australia
Planning your route is probably the most fun element of planning your whole Big Lap around Australia. From looking at the incredible beaches you’ll visit to dreaming of the tranquility of bush camping, this country has so much to offer and your lap gives you the freedom to explore it all.
But before you start picking random camping spots and committing to going to certain events, you need to think about when to go, just as much as where.
This guide will help you plan the perfect lap for you but there are a few quick pointers below that will help you.
Think About The Weather
Most people tend to chase the winter sun, staying south in the Summer months and heading north in the Winter. So if you’re setting off in January, the southern states are generally your best bet. That said, if you don’t mind the blistering heat of the north during summer (and if you’ve not experienced it before then trust us, it is HOT), then heading up north during summer might be for you. Doing this the way round will generally mean there will be plenty of availability at caravan parks since it is considered the off-season. You’ll usually get less chance to socialise and experience fewer events though.
Think About The Events You Want To Go To
The events you want to go to around Australia during your Big Lap may dictate where you go and when. If you’re looking to go to some of Australia’s key events, then take a look at when in the year they fall and plan your route accordingly. Many of these events fall in line with the weather as mentioned above so generally, you’ll be okay to chase the winter sun.
There are so many events around the country that can really enhance your trip. Many people don’t really think about the fact that events will give them something to do whilst they’re travelling. When you think about doing your Big Lap, you may just be considering how life on the road and life outdoors on the beach or in the bush will be exciting. But in reality, you may need something more to do than just be one with nature and that’s where events come in handy.
Many events throughout the country are free so they are definitely worth planning your trip around. The ones that aren’t free are still worth thinking about depending on what you want to do and the things you’re into. For example, heading to Mount Isa Rodeo or Birdsville Races might be right up your alley if you are looking for some outback fun.
If you’ve got children with you, thinking about the various children’s festivals which take place throughout the country all year round might be something to think about.
But don’t just limit yourself to the events that you know about. It’s worth doing some research into all of the events that happen throughout the year so you can plan your trip around then if you feel like there’s an event that you particularly want to go to. Be warned though, for the lesser-known events maybe do some more research into whether they are worth travelling for. You don’t want to plan your whole year around that event that sounded good at Facebook for you but it’s just a small and not very good event.
You can find all the information about the great events that are worth travelling for at this guide.
Think About Your Starting Point
Where you start your trip might determine when you begin your trip. If you’re going to chase events and chase the sun then when you set off might differ According to where you live or where you’re setting off from. If you’re setting off in January and you’re planning to start in Melbourne but you live in Cairns, you don’t want to drive all the way past all the places you want to stop on the East Coast just so you can start in Melbourne; you may as well start in May or June time so you can head down the coast for the summer.
If you have to leave at a certain time of the year, then you don’t worry too much about this. You might want to speed up the first part of your journey so you can catch up with the sun/events itinerary though.
Think about the direction you want to take
There is no right or wrong way to do the lap. Just as many people go counterclockwise as they do clockwise so usually people just choose where they want to go most first again this might be influenced by when you set off and where from.
Think About Your Travel Style
If you love the beaches, sticking close to the coast may be the best option for you and you might not need to go through the centre of Australia down the Stuart highway, if you’re not up for an outback experience. You may want to stick to coastal route instead of travelling outback dirt roads. Conversely, if you’re looking for a more off-road bush camping experience then doing all the inland trucks might be the way to go to.
Keep it fluid if you can
If you can be flexible with timeframes and not be so strict on where you’re going and when you need to be there, you’re more likely to have the lap of your dreams! The likelihood is, you won’t be able to plan your lap in its entirety. You may get to a town and realise you want to stay longer than you initially thought. You may come across an awesome campsite or free camp that you just don’t want to leave.
The best thing to do when planning is to think about your non-negotiable. For example, if you absolutely must be in destination A by May, destination B by September and destination C by October, you can make judgement calls along the way as to whether you can afford to spend extra time in certain locations.
And that brings up another point. You should have a list of must-sees and non-negotiables.
Plan Around Your Must-sees
If you plan around the things that you absolutely must see and have to do, then your plan will have flexibility and structure in equal measure. Your list of must-sees form a framework for your Big Lap around Australia, so it’s good to make a plan that is based on these. It also ensures you don’t forget about any of the things you really wanted to see along the way before you pass them!
Think about the kids
If you’re travelling with children, you need to think about them in terms of how the big lap might affect them or how your Big Lap might need to be tailored to their needs.
If your children are of school age, then you’ll need to think about how you are going to school them on the road. Many families take to the road every year while schooling their children. Luckily the Australian school system is set up to allow you to homeschool your children from the road quite easily.
Every year, people take to the road with school-age children who they are easily able to school from the road. There are a few different options when it comes to schooling your children during your Big Lap of Australia and which one you choose is down to your own personal travel style and teaching style. Some people prefer distance learning whilst others prefer the traditional homeschooling method.
You can find more about homeschooling your children whilst travelling Australia in this guide.
If your children or not of school age, your lap will still be affected (as with all things in life when you’ve got children, right!). While child-free couples may be be able to have a more flexible, and unplanned trip, parents may need to plan a bit harder.
Travel time is a big deal for small children. You might be fine with travelling long long distances but you children may not take to it too well. If you are taking a year to do your Big Lap, then this might not be too much of a problem because you probably won’t be driving more than a couple of hours each day on your travel days. But if you are planning to do a whole lap in less than 12 months, then you need to plan accordingly.
Long drives with young children don’t always make for the most pleasurable of journeys. So don’t plan long trips over at 4 to 5 hours each day. While your children may be okay with the occasional 4 to 5-hour journey or even longer, it’s likely that these long stints, if you continue to do the time and time again, may take their toll on not just your children but the entire family.
Think about the pets
With over 62% of Australian households having a pet, many people ask when planning their Big Lap, “Can I take my dog?”
The simple answer is yes, you can take your dog on your Big Lap, but you must be aware that taking your four legged friend can limit you on certain aspects of your lap. For example, Australian national parks do not permit dogs, or any other pets for that matter. So, if you want to visit one of Australia’s many national parks, you won’t be able to do it if you have a dog in tow. You will also be restricted by the caravan parks that you can stay at too, because not all of them are pet friendly.
For many people though, their pet is part of the family meaning that there is never a question of whether or not you will take them with you. If you fall into this bracket, then all you need to know is that your dog may slightly change your Big Lap experience.
This guide will show you everything you need to know about travelling Australia with your dog or cat
Pack up your old life
If you’re going to be away from home for a year or more, you need to consider what will happen to your old life. For example, where will your mail go? Will somebody rent out your house or will you sell it? There are many questions about your old life that will be unique to you that you will have to make plans for before setting out on your Big Lap.
Another important point is that you need to plan for when you get back. So don’t pack everything up and sell all your world possessions and then leave yourself high and dry when you return in a year. If you’re not selling your home, consider renting your place fully furnished. If you don’t own a home, make sure you have provisions in place to either store your furniture or buy it back when you return.
There are plenty of reasonably priced storage containers or storage facilities that will allow you to do this. One thing that you should bear in mind though, is that you should ensure that your costs of monthly storage fees don’t exceed the value of your furniture as you might as well just sell it all. If you do sell things make sure you have a budget to set up again when you get back.
This checklist will help you make sure you’ve remembered everything you need to do before you set off.
Think about your new
With your new life on the road, there are extra ‘life-admin’ type things that you’ll need to consider.
One thing that you do need to consider that is an absolute must, is insurance for your car and caravan. At the end of the day, these are your livelihood now; it’s your transport, it’s your accommodation. There are no ifs or buts about it, you need to have adequate insurance.
Getting some decent breakdown cover is also a good idea. Make sure your policy covers you for where you’re travelling to though; if you’re travelling through remote areas, you’ll want to have peace of mind that you and your family will be rescued no matter what!
Practice Towing
If you haven’t done any kind of towing before, this is something that you might want to get some practice at before you head out on the road. It can take some time to get to grips with towing a large van behind you.
And it’s not just the towing either. Reversing with your van or squeezing into tight spots is an art in itself. So once you’ve purchased your van, it’s wise to head out on the road for some small journeys to make sure you fully have everything you need to drive comfortably and safely. You’ll undoubtedly come across some hairy situations when you’re on the road full time but having the basics understanding of how to drive properly with a caravan will equip you with the knowledge you need to get all the way around the lap with relatively no problems.
Practice Setting Up
The other thing that you should practice is setting up your van. Now, this isn’t a requirement or something that is a dealbreaker that will stop you from doing your lap, but it will make life easier. Taking your van out on a few practice runs will help you understand what you need to do to set your van up, who does what and what you might be missing. While you can obviously buy things for your van that you need whilst you’re out on the road, it’s a lot easier to make sure you have everything you need before you go.
Furthermore knowing how things are set up and understanding what each person contributes to said set up etc will make for a quicker and less stressful experience when you arrive at the caravan park or campsite. It may not sound like the end of the world right now, but you’ll be thankful of it after a long drive when you just want to get set up and chill out
Learn About Living In Your Van
If you haven’t done any caravanning before, you’ll be surprised at the number of things you don’t know. There are a few special quirks about living in a caravan that you might not have considered. For example, do you know how a three-way fridge works? Do you know how the toilet is emptied? Do you know what grey water is? Seasoned caravanners have these things down pat and you’ll learn as you go, but as with anything, it’s good to be prepared.
This article will guide you through everything you need to know about living in a caravan full time.
Pack Your Bags
This is obviously one of the last things you’ll do before you go, but it’s important to mention. So many people take SO much stuff with them that they don’t end up using and discard within a few months. Try to limit what you take.
Clothes
You’ll end up wearing the same shorts and t-shirts over and over so don’t take crazy amounts of clothes. Furthermore, if you’re considering an item of clothing because ‘you might wear it’, don’t take it – you won’t wear it! And if we’re wrong and you do miss your favourite party dress, you can purchase new clothes as you go: you’re still in Australia remember!
Kitchen
When packing your kitchen, think ‘non-breakable’. You won’t want to take your best crockery with you. Instead, head to your local camping store and get some good quality plates and cups that won’t break on your journey.
Extra Stuff
Many people make the mistake that if they’ve got the room, they might as well fill it. And while it can be true that you should use the space you have, don’t just pack things unnecessarily. Everything you put in your van contributes to the overall weight.
This guide will give you a checklist of everything you need to pack for your Big Lap of Australia
Get The Right Resources
These days, there are so many resources that travellers can use to make sure their Big Lap is absolutely incredible. From apps that help you find the right camping spots to discount memberships, making sure you have the right resources will allow you to travel Australia the right way.
Get some inspo
When you begin your Big Lap, you’ll become a member of an exclusive community of travellers, all of whom want to share their stories! At Big Lap Bible, we love getting inspo from other travellers and Instagram is a great place to start.
This guide will show you the best Big Lap Instagram accounts to follow right now.
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