90 days · 14,500 km · Self-drive

The Big Lap: Highway 1

A complete circumnavigation of the Australian continent on Highway 1, the longest national highway in the world at 14,500 kilometres.

The Trip

The Big Lap is the ultimate Australian road trip: a complete loop of the continent on Highway 1. At 14,500 kilometres, it is the longest national highway in the world, and it takes three months minimum to drive properly. Here is the framework for doing it yourself.

Highway 1, officially the National Highway 1, is the longest national highway in the world at approximately 14,500 kilometres. It is a loop, not a line: it circumnavigates the Australian mainland, linking every capital city except Canberra and touching the coast for much of its length. Driving the whole thing has become a bucket-list goal for retired Australian travellers (known as grey nomads) and adventurous international road trippers, and the cultural term for doing it is 'the Big Lap'.

There is no single correct route because the highway has multiple sections and you can go clockwise or counter-clockwise. Most Australian Big Lappers do it counter-clockwise (so Sydney north to Cairns, across the top to Darwin, south to Perth, east to Adelaide, up through Melbourne and back to Sydney), because this keeps the best weather in front of you as the seasons shift. Three months is the practical minimum; six months is more realistic if you want to actually stop and see things; a year is not uncommon.

This plan is a framework rather than a day-by-day itinerary, because the Big Lap has too many variables for a single prescriptive plan. It maps the major regions, suggested time allocations and the standout stops in each section. Use it as the backbone and fill in the detail based on your own travel style.

At a glance

Duration: 90 days
Distance: 14,500 km
Transport: Self-drive
Route: NSW
Stops: 7

Day by day

The plan.

Day

Start: Sydney heading north

explore Sydney hotel Overnight in Varies

Counter-clockwise from Sydney. Head north on the Pacific Highway to Byron Bay, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, K'gari (Fraser Island), the Whitsundays, Townsville, Mission Beach and Cairns. Allow 3 weeks for this section to see any depth. Major stops are Byron, Noosa, Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns.

Day

Cairns to Darwin via Savannah Way or Gulf

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The tropical crossing. You can either go via the Savannah Way (inland, four-wheel-drive, wilder), or via the sealed but longer route through Mount Isa, Tennant Creek and Katherine. Allow 3 weeks including stops in Kakadu and Litchfield. Major stops are the Atherton Tablelands, Karumba, Borroloola, Katherine, Nitmiluk, Kakadu, Litchfield and Darwin.

Day

Darwin to Broome via the Kimberley

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The Kimberley is the most spectacular section of the Big Lap for most drivers. Via the sealed Victoria Highway and Great Northern Highway, allow 2 weeks and include Kununurra, Purnululu (Bungle Bungle), Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, and finally Broome. If time allows, detour onto the Gibb River Road for at least 3 to 5 days.

Day

Broome to Perth via the Coral Coast

explore Perth hotel Overnight in Varies

South from Broome via Port Hedland, Karratha, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Kalbarri and Geraldton to Perth. This is some of the best coast in Australia. Allow 2 weeks. Standout stops are Karijini National Park, Ningaloo Reef, Shark Bay and Kalbarri National Park.

Day

Perth to Adelaide across the Nullarbor

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Six to seven days across the Nullarbor from Perth to Adelaide via Norseman, Eucla, Nullarbor Roadhouse and Ceduna. Detour onto the Eyre Peninsula to break up the drive.

Day

Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road

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From Adelaide via the Coorong, Mount Gambier and the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne. Allow 5 to 7 days and make time for the Twelve Apostles at sunrise.

Day

Melbourne to Sydney along the coast

explore Sydney hotel Overnight in Sydney

The final leg. Via the Princes Highway through Lakes Entrance, Merimbula and the NSW south coast back to Sydney. Allow a week to include detours to Wilsons Promontory, the Sapphire Coast and Jervis Bay. Close the loop back in Sydney after approximately 90 days and 14,500 kilometres.

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