One of the biggest questions when planning your Big Lap is “What is the best vehicle to travel around Australia?”
The Big Lap of Australia is the Ultimate Road Trip. From tropical beaches, to the red dirt of the outback, mountains, rainforests, cities and small towns, this adventure has it all.
If you’re planning your own Big Lap there’s a lot to consider, how long you’ll go for, which route you’ll take (clockwise, anti-clockwise or even the “figure 8”) and how much money you’ll need. But choosing the right vehicle is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
In this post we’re going to run through the different options, and give you some of the pros and cons of each. This is based on our own experience travelling around Australia for three and a half years, and also chatting to friends and people we met on our Big Lap.
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Before you decide – Things to consider
Before you make your decision on a vehicle, there’s a few things to consider:
Your budget
How much do you have to spend on your vehicle set-up? We’ve seen people travelling around Australia in a rig that cost as much as a house, and we’ve also seen people doing it on the cheap, in a beat up old hatch back with a mattress in the back. Heck, we’ve even met people cycling or walking around Australia!
Don’t just think about the initial purchase price of your rig, but also the running costs. That beat up old hatch back might be cheap to buy, but if it keeps breaking down, it could be false economy. And that massive heavy caravan will kill your fuel economy, adding thousands to what you’ll pay for petrol or diesel as you drive around the country.
Are you planning to go off-road?
While it’s true you don’t NEED a 4×4 to drive around Australia – the main highway is sealed all the way, if you want to visit some of the more remote (and spectacular) places like Cape York or the Kimberley region, you’re going to need a sturdy 4×4.
Where will you sleep?
Do you like the idea of free camping out in nature, or do you prefer the comforts of a caravan park? It’s amazing the availability of “off-grid” gear these days, solar panels, portable power stations and quiet generators that will allow you to camp off-grid for several days at a time.
Parking (in towns and cities)
While driving and parking in Australian cities is certainly much easier than the cities and villages of Europe, parking an oversize vehicle anywhere requires some forward planning and consideration.
Your Best Vehicle to travel around Australia
So, once you’ve answered those questions, you’ll probably have a much better idea of YOUR best car to travel around Australia. Let’s look closer at each of the options, to help you make your decision.
Option 1 – The classic 4×4
A 4×4 is your best bet if your idea of the Big Lap of Australia includes beach driving, rugged outback tracks and river crossings. Think Toyota Landcruiser or HiLux, Nissan Patrol, or even a Ford Ranger. Built to handle tough terrain, these vehicles will get you where you want to go. Pack a tent, roof-top tent or a roof conversion and you’ve got a great vehicle to get you to all the off-the-beaten-track places.
The ultimate 4×4 vehicle for the Big Lap of Australia is the Landcruiser Troop Carrier (affectionately known as a “Troopy”). We’ve seen some amazing fit-outs in Troopys and know people who’ve travelled in them for years.
We did short trips around Queensland in a 76 series Toyota Landcruiser for many years before we set off on our big lap. Our camping set up continually evolved, but the Landcruiser was a brilliant work-horse of a vehicle. The “Landy” took us to some amazing places, like K’gari (Fraser Island) and plenty of 4×4 beach camps.
PROS
- Can go anywhere – soft sand, corrugated outback tracks, steep rocky terrain, river crossings
- Customisable – add a lift kit, suspension upgrade, snorkel, bull bar and your awesome vehicle just got even better
- Reliability and availability of parts – especially for the Toyota Landcruiser
CONS
- Smaller interior – you won’t be able to stand up or shower inside your vehicle
- Higher Fuel Economy – especially if fully loaded with all the optional extras
Option 2 – SUV/station wagon/ute and Roof-top tent
This is a budget option and seems to be the preferred choice of European backpackers. Just throw your backpacks, a couple of camp chairs and a camp stove in the back and you’re set for adventure.
Top picks: Subaru Outback, Toyota Rav4, Ford Ranger
PROS
- Affordability – with an older vehicle you could be set to go for less than $10,000
- Manoeuvrability – easy to get around and park, especially in the city
CONS
- Weather dependent – after a few days packing up the RTT in the rain, you’ll be longing for four solid walls
- Accessibility – you’ll need to be agile enough to climb a small ladder in and out of the tent – can you do that in the night when nature calls?
Option 3 – Car plus Caravan
This is the most popular option in Australia and each year you’ll see a steady migration of “grey nomads” heading north for the winter, where they’ll set up camp in a caravan park for weeks on end, enjoying happy hour with their new-found friends and neighbours.
The car plus caravan is also a popular choice for those doing the Big Lap and moving on every couple of days.
You can spend a fortune on a caravan, and we’ve seen some amazing set ups out on the road – perfect for long term travel with all the comforts of home. As prices go up and wait-lists for new caravans are long, many people are choosing to buy vintage caravans and renovating them for long-term travel.
Another cheaper option is the Camper Trailer – but we think these are better suited to stopping in one place for a while, as the set up and pack up time is so long.
PROS
- Comfort – with more space you can take more of the home comforts with you, spread out and relax
- Flexibility – unhitch the caravan at the campsite and go exploring in the tow vehicle. Ideal if you just need to pop up to the shops.
- Family friendly – Many caravans are designed for families, with bunk beds and larger seating areas.
CONS
- Fuel economy – The cost of your lap goes up exponentially once you are towing.
- Difficult to park in cities and towns
- Set up time – takes longer to get set up and pack up
- Towing restrictions – you need a vehicle that is powerful enough to tow your caravan
- Additional Expenses – two lots of registration and insurance (car and caravan)
Option 4 – Campervan or Motorhome
In our opinion, the best vehicle to drive around Australia is a campervan. You can have the space and comfort of a caravan, without the higher costs involved. The most popular campervans are the Toyota Hiace (smaller, but very reliable and easy to get parts), the Mercedes Sprinter, or the factory-built vans like Jayco or Winnebago.
We bought a 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter at the beginning of the pandemic and spent the lockdown converting it into our tiny home on wheels. This vehicle proved to be awesome for travelling Australia.
While it wasn’t quite up to the most gnarly 4×4 tracks like the Gibb River Road, we did plenty of corrugated outback gravel roads and beach driving.
Having our own toilet and hot shower inside the van, and being able to stand up to cook helped make our Big Lap of Australia that much more comfortable.
PROS
- Comfort – all the comfort of a caravan without having to tow
- Quick, easy set up – just park the van, swivel the seats and you are home!
- Fuel economy – much better than a 4×4 towing a caravan or camper trailer. We averaged under 13 litres/100km for our 80,000km lap.
CONS
- Having to pack up every time you need to drive somewhere
- Unless you have a 4×4 campervan (rare) you’re limited as to where you can drive
- Space – smaller campervans (like the Kombi or Hiace) can feel cramped for 2 people after a while
Other Important Things to Consider
Fuel capacity – if you’re going off-road you may need to consider a long-range fuel tank or to carry jerry cans.
Recovery gear – likewise, if going off-road make sure you have Maxx-Trax, a shovel and a snatch strap. We used our Maxx-Trax WAY more times to help other people who were stuck. In 3.5 years we only used them twice for ourselves.
Breakdown cover – make sure you have decent break down cover that includes towing. On our ONE break down we called on the RACQ who towed us over 100km, and gave us a hire car while our van was being repaired. Well worth the $400 a year we paid
Storage – where will you put your clothes, camping equipment, sports equipment (bikes etc), and cooking gear?
Insurance – you may need to go with a specialist insurer to make sure you have adequate cover. We chose CIL who covered our campervan build as well as the exterior vehicle.
Final Thoughts
The best car to drive around Australia is the one that is going to suit YOU the best. Whether you plan to spend time at the beach, tackling rough outback tracks, or driving from one caravan park to the next – its definitely a personal choice. Your budget, desired level of comfort and travel style will help you make that decision.
But remember, the vehicle is just the tool to get you around. Australia is a big, beautiful country. No matter what rig you choose to do the Big Lap, remember to stop and enjoy the sunsets, listen to the birds, explore those hiking trails and stop off and support the local pubs in small towns.
It’s not just about what you drive, but what you see, the stories you hear, the people you meet and the memories you make. Get ready for the road trip adventure of a lifetime!
Hi Nigel/Sue
I have watched many of your inspirational YouTubes.
I’ve ordered a LWB VW Crafter – about the same size a the Sprinter.
I’ll be lifting it 50mm to give 240mm ground clearance. We won’t be looking to do any serious off-road driving but will be on dirt looking for free camps and hiking spots etc.
I’m contemplating under body protection. I feel like it’s probably not necessary for us but would like to get your thoughts
thanks
Ken
Hi Ken,
Do you mean underbody in terms of rust? if so, our Sprinter came with that (I think it’s from the factory). There were a number of times our underbody got wet driving across creeks etc. But that would happen to any car in the rain. Will you be driving on the beach?
Coming from England, firstly, please, “Landy” refers to the Land Rover !
I travelled throughout Oz (!) in 1986/7, mainly off road, having driven from London to Singapore in my Land Rover 110 camper, (latterley the Defender) then by ship to Perth and had no problems of any significance during my 7mths driving around Australia, mainly exploring the off road tracks ,outback areas and sights. What a super country !!
In 2007 I drove across Russia to Vladivostock and on to Perth again, spending another 6mths approx..
I am getting on a bit now and probably will not do it again, despite two g/children going out there to live.
DO NOT DISMISS OR IGNORE THE LAND ROVER……..( Not maybe current new models though. Who Knows. )
Oh wow, that would have been quite the adventure!! Those old Landrovers are amazing aren’t they? It’s confusing in Australia, Landy can refer to both Rover and Cruiser. Glad you enjoyed Australia!
can a toyota hiace do the Gibb road
I would say only if it is high clearance, with good off-road tyres and 4×4.