The Big Lap community lives online as much as it does on the road. Facebook groups are where travellers share campsite intel, road condition updates, and advice on everything from the best free camps to where to get a caravan serviced in Broome. And a handful of apps have become genuinely essential, replacing the paper maps and word-of-mouth that older generations relied on. Here are the ones worth your time.
Essential Apps
WikiCamps Australia ($8.99, iOS/Android)
The single most important app for Big Lappers. WikiCamps is a crowd-sourced database of campsites, caravan parks, rest areas, dump points, water refill stations, fuel stops, and points of interest across Australia. Users leave reviews, upload photos, and update information constantly, so the data is remarkably current. You can filter by facilities (powered sites, pet-friendly, free, toilets, water), save favourites, and plan routes. It works offline once you’ve downloaded the map data, which is essential for remote areas with no phone coverage. If you only download one app, make it this one.
Hema Explorer ($59.99/year, iOS/Android)
Where Google Maps shows blank space, Hema shows tracks, station boundaries, water sources, and campsites. Hema Explorer is the digital version of the legendary Hema paper maps and is essential for anyone venturing off sealed roads. The offline maps are detailed and accurate for remote Australia. The annual subscription stings, but if you’re doing the Gibb River Road, Cape York, the Savannah Way, or any outback driving, it’s non-negotiable. The free version has limited functionality; the paid version is worth it.
Fuel Map Australia (Free, iOS/Android)
Crowd-sourced fuel prices across the country. Particularly useful in regional areas where the price difference between two servos 50km apart can be 30-40 cents per litre. Over a Big Lap, that adds up to hundreds of dollars. Check it before every fill-up, especially in remote areas where fuel can exceed $2.50/litre.
BOM Weather (Free, iOS/Android)
The Bureau of Meteorology’s official app. Forget third-party weather apps; BOM is the authoritative source for Australian weather, and it’s especially important for the tropics (cyclone tracking, severe weather warnings), outback travel (extreme heat alerts), and coastal driving (storm warnings). The radar view is your best friend when dark clouds appear on the horizon.
CamperMate (Free with premium option, iOS/Android)
Similar to WikiCamps but with a cleaner interface and stronger coverage of New Zealand (handy if you’re doing both countries). The free version covers the basics; premium ($3.99/month) removes ads and adds offline maps. Many travellers use CamperMate alongside WikiCamps, cross-referencing reviews between the two.
Google Maps (Free, iOS/Android)
Still essential for navigation, restaurant and shop searches, and general route planning. Download offline maps for the regions you’re heading to before you lose coverage. Google Maps underestimates towing times (it doesn’t account for reduced speed while towing), so add 15-20% to any ETA it gives you.
Download offline maps for WikiCamps, Hema, and Google Maps before you leave home. Mobile coverage disappears quickly once you’re away from the coast and major highways, and you’ll rely on offline data more than you expect.
The Best Facebook Groups
General Big Lap Groups
Travelling Australia (500k+ members) is the biggest and most active general group. Road conditions, campsite reviews, route advice, and “where should I go next?” questions get answered within minutes. The sheer size means quality varies, but the search function is goldmine for researching specific destinations.
Big Lap Australia is more focused on long-term travellers specifically doing (or planning) a Big Lap. Smaller than Travelling Australia but the advice is more relevant if you’re doing an extended trip rather than a weekend away.
Caravanning Australia covers all things caravan-specific: van reviews, technical questions, modifications, and gear recommendations. Useful for “has anyone had this issue with X brand?” type questions.
Free Camping Groups
Free Camping Australia is the go-to group for finding and sharing free camps. Members post GPS coordinates, photos, and reviews of free camps that may not appear on WikiCamps yet. Also useful for checking whether a free camp is still open (councils sometimes close them with little notice).
Budget Camping Australia covers both free camps and low-cost options (under $20/night). Good for travellers watching their spending.
Specialist Groups
Travelling Australia With Kids is essential for families. Activity recommendations, kid-friendly camps, education on the road, and the reality of travelling with children at different ages.
Travelling Australia With Dogs/Pets covers pet-friendly camps, vet recommendations, heat management, and the challenges of national park restrictions.
Women Travelling Solo Australia is a supportive community for solo female travellers with safety tips, meetup coordination, and solo-friendly camp recommendations.
Working Remotely While Travelling Australia covers connectivity, Starlink setups, mobile coverage tips, and the practicalities of running a business from a caravan.
Other Useful Websites & Resources
WikiCamps website (wikicamps.com.au) mirrors the app data on a larger screen. Useful for planning at home before you leave.
Camps Australia Wide (campsaustraliawide.com) is the book and app that’s been the free camping bible for decades. The app ($7.99) is less user-friendly than WikiCamps but has excellent coverage of free and low-cost camps, particularly in remote areas.
National Parks booking websites vary by state. Bookmark the relevant ones: Queensland (parks.des.qld.gov.au), NSW (nationalparks.nsw.gov.au), Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au), Tasmania (parks.tas.gov.au), SA (parks.sa.gov.au), WA (parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au), NT (nt.gov.au/parks). Most now require online booking for popular campgrounds.
Road condition websites are essential for outback travel. Each state has an official road conditions site: QLD (131940.qld.gov.au), NT (roadreport.nt.gov.au), WA (mainroads.wa.gov.au), SA (dpti.sa.gov.au). Check before driving any unsealed outback road.
Quick Picks
If you only download three apps: WikiCamps, Google Maps (with offline maps), and BOM Weather.
If you only join three Facebook groups: Travelling Australia, Free Camping Australia, and one specialist group that matches your situation (families, pets, solo, remote work).
If you’re going off-road: Add Hema Explorer and check state road condition websites before every unsealed section.
- WikiCamps is the essential Big Lap app; download it and the offline maps before you leave
- Hema Explorer is non-negotiable for off-road and outback travel
- Facebook groups provide real-time intel that no app can match; join 3-5 relevant ones
- Download offline maps for everything before you lose coverage
- State road condition websites are essential before driving any unsealed outback road
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