50 Lessons From a Road Trip Criss-Crossing Australia

Driving across this big ol’ continent is a fast track to insights, big and small. Sarah has a whole bunch from 20,000km on the road with her family.

Our aim this year was to slow down, spend more time together and enjoy Country by travelling across Australia with our three young kids.

For our party of five, the previous year marked multiple milestones, but this often led to multiple ‘busy-ness’. The highs included the birth of our third child, starting a business, and completing the build of a small holiday cabin at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains where we reside.

We packed up our kids (yep, one was a newborn!) downsized our clothes to a 60cm drawer each, stacked a box of personal belongings into Tupperware, and condensed our home into a 10m² off-grid mobile camper.

Grab a guide book: Road Trips Australia (Enter WAE15 at checkout for 15% off!)

What we learnt from our time on the road exceeded anything we could’ve imagined or seen in an Instagram tile.

We clocked 20,000 clicks in six months, including the last stretch of 6000km across Australia’s red dirt on some of this country’s most remote tracks. The lessons from the road enriched our souls in more ways than expected and brought insight into how we can incorporate ‘life on the road’ sentiment into our everyday rituals.

Lessons From a Road Trip Across Australia

1. Get your bare feet on the ground, daily.

2. Live off the land. If you’re by the coast, catch fish. Collect rainwater and always support the grannies who make homemade relish from their backyard fruit trees.

3. Family is a strong travelling unit, ages don’t matter.

4. Playfulness always wins.

5. Bare feet = more prickles, but bindis are a rite of passage for young Aussie kids.

6. WeetBix go a long way.

7. Op shops can 100% dress you and your crew.

8. 30 seconds is all you need for a shower.

9. Strike up a convo with a local, listening to their story is always more interesting than knowledge from Google. 

10. Like birds that all fly together, encourage your group as a team. Keep everyone flying toward the same goal.

11. Defining roles within your group helps to share the load. Divide and conquer!

12. Imagination is golden.

13. Rise with the sun, sleep when it does.

14. Birds make very good entertainers.

15. Don’t eat after sunset, or before sunrise – it gives your body a rest.

16. Do less, do it mindfully.

17. You will never regret a swim.

18. Wash your clothes less, weekly is okay.

19. Disconnect to reconnect.

20. Smell your coffee before you drink it.

21. Get to know your neighbour.

22. Always take a walk in a new place.

23. A bug needs water once caught.

24. Don’t take what isn’t yours, karma will get you (we swiped a dish brush from a campground and ended up with a mouse in our camper, lesson learned).

25. Sit and eat meals together.

26. Don’t multitask.

27. Nature is a campus to learn from. Be curious outside.

28. Learn about Country and learn from the Elders.

29. Leave every place the same, or better than you found it.

30. Toilet paper needs to be buried deep.

31. Urinate away from pedestrian zones, it stinks.

32. Don’t just learn how to build a fire, learn how to keep it going.

33. Learn how to change a tyre.

34. Allow space daily for nothing, openness will grow.

35. Always take something to a guests house if invited. Even if it’s fresh-picked flowers.

36. BYO cups and dishes, always.

37. Capitalise on Happy Hour, then move on.

38. Cask wine is delicious.

39. Smell your goon before you drink it.

40. Invest in a good pocket knife.

41. Only stock your kitchen with enough dishes and cutlery for each person.

42. Learning history = learning empathy.

43. Treat our national parks with consideration and respect.

44. Outdoors, outdoors, outdoors 

45. Read before bed and leave your technology at the door.

46. Experience the wilderness

47. Don’t take the photo, close your eyes and memorise the details you enjoy.

48. Gaze up at the stars, your problems will seem smaller.

49. Don’t take a newborn baby…unless you want to be the most hated person at the campsite.

50. As cliche as it is…always take the road less travelled! 

Read more: Family and Adventure Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

@spindriftfamilyadventures

FAQs Lessons From a Road Trip Across Australia

What are the must-have essentials for a road trip across Australia?

Packing light is key! Essentials include a reliable 4WD setup and knowledge of how to maintain it, a first aid kit, plenty of water storage, and off-grid power solutions. Don’t forget a good coffee setup—trust us, it matters!

What’s the best way to find free campsites in Australia?

Apps like WikiCamps and CamperMate are goldmines, but some of the best spots are found by chatting with locals. National parks often have low-cost or free camping options—here’s  some of the best free campsites in Australia:

• Free Camping Spots Near Melbourne
• Best Free Camping Spots in NSW
• Best Free Camping Spots in Queensland

How do you keep kids entertained on a long road trip?

Nature is the best playground! Let them run outdoors on frequent breaks, climb trees, and spot wildlife. Audiobooks and storytelling help on long drives, and when in doubt, a simple game of eye-spy never fails. We’re big fans of the Spotto Books – there’s even a transport-themed Spotto book to liven up the hours spent in transit.

What’s the best route for an epic Australian road trip?

There’s no wrong answer! If you want outback adventure, tackle the Big Lap or the Red Centre Way. If coastal views are more your thing, the Great Ocean Road and the Lakes Way in NSW are stunning.

How do you stay safe when driving in remote areas?

Preparation is everything. Check road conditions, carry extra fuel, and always tell someone your route. Bush mechanics knowledge (like how to change a tyre) can be a lifesaver. Read up on essential outback driving tips before heading off the grid.