The 3 Month Lap Around Australia: Sydney to Sydney by Van

This itinerary starts and finishes in Sydney, travelling clockwise: NSW North Coast, Queensland, NT, WA, SA, Victoria and home.

Before you go

A three-month lap works best when your van is set up to be semi-self-sufficient. You do not need to be completely off-grid every night, but you do want the freedom to stop at low-cost camps, national parks, showgrounds, beachside reserves, roadhouses and remote rest areas.

Use apps like WikiCamps, which lists campsites, dump points, water refill spots, caravan parks and points of interest across Australia.   Always check current road conditions before remote sections, especially in outback SA, NT, WA and western QLD. South Australia’s outback roads site, for example, publishes live road closures, restrictions and warnings. 

Some Important Gear:

• All Terrain Tyres
• Bullbar
• Power Station & Inverter  See Video Here
• Solar
• Kitchen & Sleep System
• Water Tank
• UHF Radio
• Driving Lights
• Awning
• Jerry Can
• Roof Storage

Month 1: Sydney to Darwin

Week 1: Sydney to Byron Bay

Route: Sydney → Port Stephens → Port Macquarie → Coffs Harbour → Yamba → Byron Bay
Distance: approx. 800–900km

This is the gentle start. Think coastal towns, beach swims, good coffee and getting into the rhythm of van life.

Key stops:
Port Stephens, Seal Rocks, South West Rocks, Bellingen, Dorrigo National Park, Yamba, Angourie, Byron Bay.

Free/low-cost camping tips:
Look for council-run showgrounds, inland rest areas and low-cost camps slightly away from the coast. The closer you are to Byron, the harder free camping gets.

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Week 2: Byron Bay to Airlie Beach

Route: Byron Bay → Brisbane/Sunshine Coast → Noosa → Hervey Bay → Agnes Water → Yeppoon → Airlie Beach
Distance: approx. 1,200km

This stretch is classic Queensland road trip territory. You can keep it coastal, but give yourself time for inland detours if the beach towns are busy.

Key stops:
Noosa, Rainbow Beach, K’gari/Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, 1770, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Airlie Beach.

Worth doing:
A Whitsundays day trip, Eungella National Park for platypus spotting, and a couple of slower beach days before the big northern push.

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Week 3: Airlie Beach to Cairns and the Daintree

Route: Airlie Beach → Townsville → Mission Beach → Cairns → Port Douglas → Daintree/Cape Tribulation
Distance: approx. 800km

This is one of the most tropical parts of the lap. The pace can slow down here because there is a lot to see in a short distance.

Key stops:
Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Babinda Boulders, Atherton Tablelands, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Daintree Rainforest.

Free/low-cost camping tips:
Use paid camps or caravan parks around Cairns/Port Douglas when needed, then balance the budget with low-cost inland camps around the Tablelands.

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Week 4: Cairns to Darwin

Route: Cairns → Undara/Lava Tubes → Mount Isa → Camooweal → Daly Waters → Mataranka → Katherine → Darwin
Distance: approx. 2,500–2,800km

This is where the lap changes. Distances get longer, fuel stops matter more, and you will want water, shade, good power and proper flyscreens.

Key stops:
Undara Volcanic National Park, Mount Isa, Camooweal, Daly Waters Pub, Mataranka Hot Springs, Katherine Gorge/Nitmiluk, Litchfield National Park, Darwin.

Tip:
Do not push huge days in the heat. Start early, drive in the morning, and camp before dark.

 

Month 2: Darwin to Perth

Week 5: Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield

Route: Darwin → Litchfield → Kakadu → Katherine
Distance: approx. 800–1,000km depending on detours

Give the Top End proper time. Litchfield is easier to access, Kakadu is bigger and more remote, and both deserve more than a quick drive-through.

Key stops:
Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole, Ubirr, Nourlangie, Yellow Water, Jim Jim Falls if accessible, Katherine Gorge.

Camping tip:
Many national park campgrounds require booking and may have basic facilities only. Check access carefully after rain.

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Week 6: Katherine to Broome

Route: Katherine → Victoria River → Lake Argyle → Kununurra → Bungle Bungles → Derby → Broome
Distance: approx. 1,900km

This is one of the best sections of the whole lap. Big red landscapes, long roads, warm nights and some truly iconic stops.

Key stops:
Victoria River Roadhouse, Lake Argyle, Kununurra, El Questro if budget allows, Purnululu/Bungle Bungles, Derby, Cable Beach, Broome.

Note:
Some Kimberley highlights are better suited to 4WD. A VW van can still do a brilliant Kimberley route by sticking to sealed roads and choosing tours where needed.

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Week 7: Broome to Exmouth

Route: Broome → Eighty Mile Beach → Port Hedland → Karijini → Tom Price → Exmouth
Distance: approx. 1,600–1,900km

This is a must-do section. Karijini is worth the inland detour.

Key stops:
Eighty Mile Beach, Karijini National Park, Hamersley Gorge, Tom Price, Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Cape Range National Park.

Best experience:
Swim with whale sharks in season, snorkel at Turquoise Bay, and spend a few nights near Ningaloo if you can get a site.

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Week 8: Exmouth to Perth

Route: Exmouth → Carnarvon → Shark Bay → Kalbarri → Geraldton → Jurien Bay → Perth
Distance: approx. 1,300–1,500km

This is where WA starts to feel endless in the best way. Red dirt, turquoise water, big cliffs and quieter towns.

Key stops:
Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Monkey Mia, Shell Beach, Kalbarri National Park, Hutt Lagoon, Geraldton, Jurien Bay, Lancelin, Perth/Fremantle.

Free camping tip:
WA has some excellent low-cost roadside stops and station stays, but popular coastal areas often require bookings. Plan ahead for Shark Bay, Kalbarri and Exmouth.

 

Month 3: Perth to Sydney

 

Week 9: Perth to Esperance

Route: Perth → Margaret River → Denmark → Albany → Bremer Bay → Esperance
Distance: approx. 1,300–1,600km

This section is a slower, cooler change after the north-west. Beaches, wineries, forests and dramatic southern coastline.

Key stops:
Fremantle, Rottnest Island, Busselton Jetty, Margaret River, Pemberton, Denmark, Greens Pool, Albany, Stirling Range, Bremer Bay, Esperance, Lucky Bay.

Tip:
This is a good section to reset: laundry, van clean, service check, restock and reorganise.

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Week 10: Esperance to Adelaide via the Nullarbor

Route: Esperance → Norseman → Balladonia → Eucla → Nullarbor Roadhouse → Ceduna → Streaky Bay → Port Lincoln → Adelaide
Distance: approx. 2,000–2,300km

The Nullarbor is not just a road you “get through”. It is part of the adventure.

Key stops:
Norseman, Balladonia, Caiguna blowhole, Bunda Cliffs, Eucla, Head of Bight, Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Coffin Bay, Port Lincoln, Adelaide.

Practical tip:
Fuel is expensive and distances are long. Fill up regularly, carry extra water, check tyres, and do not rely on phone reception.

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Week 11: Adelaide to Melbourne

Route: Adelaide → Barossa or McLaren Vale → Coorong → Mount Gambier → Great Ocean Road → Melbourne
Distance: approx. 1,000–1,200km

This stretch gives you a mix of wine country, limestone coast, forests and one of Australia’s most famous drives.

Key stops:
Hahndorf, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coorong, Robe, Mount Gambier, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Twelve Apostles, Lorne, Torquay, Melbourne.

Camping tip:
Beachside free camping is limited along the Great Ocean Road. Budget for a few paid nights or stay inland.

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Week 12: Melbourne to Sydney

Option A: Coastal route
Melbourne → Wilsons Promontory → Lakes Entrance → Eden → Narooma → Jervis Bay → Sydney

Option B: Inland route
Melbourne → High Country → Bright → Canberra → Southern Highlands → Sydney

Distance: approx. 900–1,200km

The coastal route is beautiful and beachy. The inland route is better if you want mountains, country towns and quieter roads.

Key stops coastal:
Wilsons Prom, Lakes Entrance, Mallacoota, Eden, Merimbula, Narooma, Tilba, Jervis Bay, Kiama.

Key stops inland:
Beechworth, Bright, Mount Buffalo, Canberra, Kangaroo Valley, Bowral/Mittagong.

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Free camping tips for the lap

Free camping in Australia is not as simple as pulling up anywhere. It is usually easiest in rural areas, rest stops, state forests, remote regions and designated low-cost camps. It is much harder in popular coastal towns, national parks and city areas. 

The golden rules:

Check signs before staying overnight.

Use WikiCamps filters for free camps, toilets, water, dump points and recent reviews.

Arrive before dark so you can assess the site properly.

Do not camp in “day use only” areas.

Leave no trace.

Have a toilet plan. A self-contained setup opens up more options.

Carry cash for donation boxes, station stays and small-town camps.

Use caravan parks strategically every few days for showers, laundry, power top-ups and a proper reset.

Check road conditions daily in remote areas, especially during the wet season or after rain.