Where To Find Laundromats Across Australia

Finding a laundromat on the Big Lap is rarely a problem in populated areas, but in remote stretches, forward planning prevents the dirty clothes pile from becoming a crisis. Here’s where to find laundry facilities and what to expect across Australia.

Where To Look

Caravan parks. The vast majority of caravan parks have coin-operated washing machines and dryers in a shared laundry. Quality varies from modern front-loaders to ancient machines that barely spin. Typical cost: $2-5 per wash, $2-4 per dryer cycle. Most accept coins only, so keep $1 and $2 coins handy. Some newer parks have card-operated machines.

Town laundromats. Most towns with a population over 3,000 have at least one self-service laundromat. Major regional centres often have several. Cost: $4-8 per wash (larger capacity than park machines), $4-6 per dryer. Opening hours are typically 6am-9pm daily, though many are unmanned and accessible 24 hours.

WikiCamps. The WikiCamps app is the best tool for locating laundry facilities. Filter by “facilities” to see which camps, parks, and towns have laundry available. User reviews often note the condition and cost of machines.

Google Maps. Search “laundromat near me” for the nearest option. Reviews and photos give you an idea of quality before you commit to the drive.

What To Expect In Remote Areas

Between Alice Springs and Darwin, across the Nullarbor, and through outback Queensland, laundromats are scarce. Roadhouses and remote caravan parks sometimes have a single machine, but don’t count on it. Plan your laundry around the major towns on your route: stock up on clean clothes before hitting remote stretches, and hand-wash essentials in between.

The longest stretches between reliable laundry access include: the Nullarbor (Norseman to Ceduna, ~1,200km with limited options), the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Tennant Creek (~500km), and Cape York north of Cooktown. Plan accordingly.

Tips

Arrive early morning for the best machine availability, especially at popular caravan parks. Bring your own laundry liquid (concentrated, in a small bottle). Don’t leave clothes unattended in shared laundries; they can be moved or mixed up by the next person in line. And always check that dryers actually work before paying; regional laundromats aren’t known for reliable equipment.