Travelling in Australia with a car or campervan – the ultimate (working) holiday Part 2 – Life on the road

It had been my dream for six months: buying my own car and feeling the ultimate freedom of road tripping through Australia. After weeks of searching, adjusting expectations and eventually building my own setup (for more on that whole adventure, see Part 1), it was finally time to hit the road.

The car wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t a classic backpacker car, it didn’t have a rooftop tent or solar panels, and everything I owned was squeezed into a space that suddenly felt very small. But it was mine. And that made all the difference.

Leaving Perth felt strange. After months of working, routines and familiarity, there was suddenly nothing fixed anymore. No shifts, no deadlines, no clear plan, no friends. Just a direction, a car and the question that would become part of daily life: where am I sleeping tonight?

Road tripping through Australia: freedom, flexibility and reality

That question turned out to have many answers. Travelling through Australia by car or camper van is incredibly freeing, but it also means dealing with practical realities every single day.

Sleeping on the road in Australia is surprisingly doable, especially outside cities. Some nights I stayed at free rest areas along the highway, other nights at bush camps near the ocean or in national parks. Near the city, I chose a paid campsite. Those nights felt almost luxurious with hot showers, picnic tables, sometimes even power.

Not everywhere welcomes overnight car sleepers. In some places it’s illegal, in others it’s tolerated, and sometimes the rules are simply unclear. Sleeping in your car in Australia is often about reading the situation rather than following strict rules. I learned quickly to arrive late, leave early and trust my gut. If a place didn’t feel right, I moved on.

Where to sleep during a road trip in Australia

Free camping is one of the biggest advantages of road tripping Australia. Rest areas, bush camps and free designated camping spots are common, especially along long-distance routes. A bed in the car is helpful, as some places won't allow you to pitch a tent and sleeping in the car is a bit more inconspicuous. 

Paid campsites are worth it every now and then. Not just for the facilities, but also for the mental break. After a few weeks of improvising, a hot shower can feel like pure luxury.

Sleeping in the car itself took some getting used to. One of the best things I bought, and something I’d recommend to anyone travelling Australia by car, were mosquito covers for the windows. Being able to sleep with the windows open without being eaten alive made an enormous difference, especially near water or in warmer areas. The second-best thing - a car charger.

I don't have one, and haven't needed one due to mainly travelling through WA and SA at the end of winter, and going towards Tasmania, but some people have these handy little fans in the car for hot nights.

Showers, toilets and daily life on the road

Showers became an adventure in themselves. Most of the time there were ocean swims and cold beach showers. Sometimes the occasional hot one. Google Maps and Wiki camps were very helpful in finding these places. Sometimes there was simply nothing at all.

Those were the days of ocean swims, water jerrycan showers and accepting that road trip hygiene looks a little different. Luckily, Australia has an impressive number of public toilets, even in remote areas, which makes travelling by car far more comfortable than you might expect.

Cooking on the road was simple and repetitive, but grounding. Most days I cooked on a two pit gas stove at free campsites or rest areas. Pasta, rice, vegetables, salads. Nothing fancy, but after a long day of driving or hiking, cooking dinner outside while watching the sun go down felt deeply satisfying.

Fire bans were luckily something I haven't had to deal with due to the season, but in other seasons it's something to stay constantly aware of, especially in warmer or drier regions. On some days, cooking simply isn't allowed, and those are cold-meal or takeaway days in small towns.

How far can you drive in Australia?

Australia is vast. Distances that look manageable on a map can feel endless behind the wheel. Some days I drove only a few hours and explored along the way. Other days were long, straight stretches where the goal was simply to keep going.

I learned quickly that driving all day, every day, wasn’t sustainable. Fatigue is dangerous, especially with wildlife around dawn and dusk, and there’s no reward for rushing. Slowing down and sharing the wheel with a road trip buddy made the journey far more enjoyable, and safer.

Crossing the Nullarbor: the famous Australian road trip stretch

The Nullarbor road trip has a reputation for being long, flat and boring. I've met many people who said they would never do it again. But it surprised me in the best way.

Yes, it’s vast and open, but there’s much more to see than expected. The Western Australia part of the Nullarbor is beautiful and green. When you enter South Australia it becomes a bit more boring. However, along the way there are caves right next to the road, dramatic coastal cliffs, wildlife sightings and a strange sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing it. The roadhouses become milestones and provide a peek into the past. And every stop feels earned.

It wasn’t something to rush through. It actually became one of the most memorable parts of the journey, especially because I had friends (in their own car) to share the adventure with.

Taking a break from the road: Couchsurfing and Workaway

As much as I loved road tripping through Australia, there were moments when I needed a break from the constant decision-making and sleeping on my cheap and thin mattress. That’s where Couchsurfing and Workaway came in.

Staying with hosts meant a proper bed, a real shower, laundry and conversations that didn’t revolve around car setups and routes. Those short breaks helped reset my energy and made it easier to enjoy the road again afterwards.

Taking your car to Tasmania: what to know

If you want to road trip Tasmania with your own car, you’ll need to take the Spirit of Tasmania ferry. There are a few things worth knowing before booking.

The cost depends on:

• the length of your vehicle

• the height (roof racks and tents matter)

• the season you’re travelling in

Booking early is recommended, especially in peak season. If you haven't booked yet, you can call and get on a waiting list. People often cancel, so there's still a chance a spot might open up. The ferry is not cheap, but having your own car in Tasmania gives you access to remote areas, hikes and campsites that are difficult to reach otherwise.

Is road tripping Australia with your own car worth it?

Looking back, choosing to travel Australia by car wasn’t the easiest or cheapest option. But it was the one that suited me best and gave me the experience of a lifetime.

It gave me freedom, flexibility and access to places I wouldn’t have reached any other way. It forced me to slow down, adapt and trust my decisions.

I didn’t have the perfect setup or a fixed plan. What I had was a car, a direction, and the space to figure things out along the way. And in a country as vast and varied as Australia, that turned out to be exactly enough.