A roadtrip along Australia’s endless coastlines or straight through the desert of the Outback is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have during your work & travel adventure.

But a roadtrip like this requires a lot of planning. Because in Australia you will often have to travel a long distance to get from one place to the next. On these routes, depending on your route, you may have to do without power, electricity, supermarkets, water and gas stations for several days. Especially for such cases you need to plan your roadtrip well and have everything important with you in the car.

If you have decided to travel with your own car and not with a rented car that is already equipped, you have a lot to think about. So that planning is easier for you and you do not forget anything, I have written down here what should not be missed on my six-month roadtrip through Australia:

Camping equipment

Water canisters

Especially in Australia, you should definitely not do a roadtrip without water canisters in your car. If you’re camping cheaply or even free of charge, the campsites usually don’t have access to water. So you always need enough water with you to drink, wash yourself and wash your dishes. We always had two 20-litre canisters with us. With these two we got off in the outback usually 2 – 4 days. You can refill the water either at large campsites or at public drinking stations in the villages.

Tents

The best thing you can do is to buy a roof tent. Especially the Kings roof tents are highly recommended. If you are on the road with your car for several weeks or months, a roof tent is much better than a regular tent, as you have much more space than a comfortable mattress. Furthermore, the thick walls of the tents keep you warm at night. There are also Swag Tents from Kings to buy, where a mattress is included. These tents and also the roof tent are a bit more expensive but also a lot more stable in bad weather. The Kings tents are also quick and easy to set up.

Mattresses

However, if a normal tent is enough, you will also need an inflatable mattress or an insulated mat on which you can sleep.

Sleeping bag

Of course, you also need a sleeping bag for the night. To make it a little more comfortable, we had bought blankets and pillows. A sleeping bag is also worthwhile for colder nights.

Gas stove & gas cartridges

To always be able to cook something for you, a small gas stove is worthwhile. It is also not really expensive and can also be easily transported. For the gas stove you also always need gas cartridges, which are also cheap. A gas cartridge is usually enough for 2 cooking times.

Cutlery & crockery

Since you usually do not have access to crockery and cutlery even on good campsites with kitchens, you need your own crockery and cutlery. Very important are knives, forks, spoons, kitchen knives, plates, bowls, a cooking pot, a pan and a cutting board. Furthermore, lunchboyes can also be useful to store leftover food.

Kitchen utensils

Not only do you need dishes and cutlery but also dishwashing detergent, drying towels and sponges with which you can keep the dishes and cutlery clean. You should also pack garbage bags, as in many cases there is not always a garbage can near your campsite.

Storage boxes

In order to avoid a huge chaos in the car, it is worth buying large storage boxes. We always had a total of four boxes. A box for our food, a box for our dishes, a box for our camping equipment such as air pumps and lights and a box for other things such as card games. If there is still enough space in your car, a cooler can also be worthwhile. This way you can keep leftover food cool, or you don’t just have to feed on pasta everyday.

Ventilator

A fan takes up a lot of space and also has its price, but on days when it is over 40 degrees it is much better to sleep in the tent. But as soon as the sun goes down, it can be endured outside. A fan is therefore not absolutely necessary.

Light

There is never light on the low-cost campsites in nature. As soon as the sun goes down, it becomes pitch black. Therefore, you should always carry flashlights with you in the car. To make it a little more comfortable in the evening, I recommend chains of lights and candles instead of a glaring flashlight. For the lamps as well as the light chains you need batteries.

Lighter

For a cozy fire in the evening, I recommend you to have a lighter with you. Lighters are also worthwhile for a campfire.

Camping equipment

You will also need a camping table and camping chairs for your roadtrip.

Car

Petrol canisters

Since petrol stations in Australia are often several hundred kilometres apart, you should always have a canister of petrol in your car on long journeys. We always had a 20 liter canister with us during our roadtrip, which was enough for another 200 kilometers. Especially if your tank is quite small or your car uses a lot of fuel, you should not be driving without a tank of gas.

In case of emergency

In Australia it is not mandatory to carry a warning triangle, a first aid kit and warning vests in the car. However, you should always carry all of this with you to protect your own safety. Furthermore, it is worth having a jack, a turnstile and of course a spare tire with you as well as a starter cable.

Other

Air pump

If you need an inflatable mattress for your tent, you will also need an air pump. An electric air pump that you can also connect to your car saves you a lot of time and effort compared to a normal air pump.

Powerbanks

Since you often have to go without power for several days, you should always have enough powerbanks with you to charge your phone. A slightly more expensive power bank is best suited, but it then also holds for several charges. During longer car journeys, it is worth charging your mobile phone in the car.

Card games

Since you will sometimes be without a net in the outback for several days and will not always be doing something, card games can take the boredom away. There are various card games such as Uno, Skipo or Rommè, which can be played with several people. We also always had a monopoly game in the car, which was also unpacked very often.

Mirror

A small mirror for 10$ can also be very worthwhile. Especially if you spend several days in the outback camping in nature instead of caravanparks. If you want to save space and money of course, then the interior mirror or the exterior mirror of your car will suffice.

Toilet paper

Toilet paper should always be in the car. Especially since one night in case of doubt also sometimes has to get by without toilet. Also for cleaning your car, a roll of toilet paper is always very helpful.

Clothesline + clothes clips

Not every campsite has a washing machine and a dryer. You may also want to dry your swimsuits. Then it can be handy to have a clothesline with you (a simple string is enough). Clothes clips can also be useful, as it can get very windy in Australia, especially at the sea.

You can find all these things at bargain prices at Kmart, Bunnings or in various outdoor shops. It may also be useful to look in Facebook groups beforehand, if maybe other backers are selling their used equipment cheaply.

Remember that you are always equipped with enough food, water and gas for long car journeys. In the Australian Outback there is often no net and you will not encounter another car for days depending on the route. So always be prepared for anything in the event of a car breakdown.