One of Australia’s most unique 4WD adventures – an epic road trip from Brisbane to Broome and back again

Last updated 16 February 2021

One couple’s classic Aussie 4WD adventure involved a 15,000 kilometre road trip from Brisbane to Broome and back

Explore more of Australia on a road trip

My friends Cyndy and David have become Australian explorers via their caravan and 4WD vehicle.

They love nothing more than planning a route, checking on the weather forecasts (Australia has its fair share of wild challenges including bushfires, floods and cyclones) then packing up the van and heading out on the open road.

These middle-aged explorers, along with many gray nomads, and let’s not forget the millennials too, are embracing an adventurer’s life, preferring to explore over sitting at home (obviously I’m not referring to lockdown periods.)

You only have to pick up a copy of a 4WD magazine or do a google search to find hundreds of websites catching on to this caravan, motorhome, and camping ‘phenomenon.’

And as I update this post in February 2021, the second year of the pandemic, with Aussies unable to leave for overseas holidays the non-van owners are in the hunt for caravans and camper trailers to explore the length and breadth of this great country. The industry is growing exponentially and in many Aussie states, unfortunately, demand is outstripping supply!

In the same article, Billy Falconer, marketing/sales and dealer development manager for Australian owned Company Avida Motorhomes and Caravans, said sales of their products were up by 100 percent on last financial year.

“Stock is a challenge, and I think it’s a challenge everywhere at the moment,” he said.

Adventures on the open road

The story I wrote in 2018 about my two friend’s 15,000 kilometre 4WD journey was published in Unsealed 4X4 Issue 52 Brisbane to Broome

(To scroll the pages, locate a small black arrow in the middle right of your screen and click on it.)

For those of you who are lucky enough to already own a caravan, campervan, or off-road vehicle which carries camping equipment, maybe my friend’s journey (and Cyndy’s stunning images) will inspire you to consider their journey.  The open road is waiting for you!

Road trips in Australia during COVID

With state border closures presenting challenges and uncertainty, you can plan to do parts of the journey. David and Cyndy broke it down into sections – and depending on where you live, you could do this too.

I love a good road trip and have done a few non-4WD ones myself over the last six months. Including discovering Yeppoon for the first time.

My road trip tips

For anyone planning on taking to the open road:

• Be patient. There is no place for road rage. And according to the caravan and motorhome sales reports, there are going to be many more recreational vehicles on the roads.
• Only overtake when it’s safe to do so. There are plenty of road trains sharing the highways with us and you want to be very careful when trying to overtake one.
• Take regular rest breaks. Always better to arrive late to a destination, than not at all!

We have a diverse and scenic-rich country just waiting for you. And the remote regions are looking for an injection of cash into their communities.

While we’re unlikely to be travelling overseas for a while, let’s make the most of what we have here in Australia.  Road trips are a hot ticket holiday – provided you do a little pre-planning!