Member - Royce replied:

That's a 'how long is a piece of string' question.

and it also depends on what you mean by 'around the block'.

Our first trip was from eastern Vic, up to Broken Hill, the Flinders Ranges, up the middle.. Darwin and a fair bit of the NT across the Barklay Tablelands, turn left up to the Daintree and then back down the coast. We call this 'round Oz trip', but of course it isn't quite.

The next one was similar, but we did the West Coast. I've done several other variations.

Anyway, a quick think about it and I guess it would be around 14,000ks to do a loop. That's with about 3,500 across and back across and down the east coast and a bit less across the top.

Someone will have a calculator out and get back to you soon I'm sure.

CHeers Royce

Nomadic Navara replied:

Have not been right around the outside. We went from NSW Central Coast to Warwick - Mt Isa and Katherine. On the way home we travelled directly from Ceduna. The first time we toured from Katherine to Ceduna via Highway 1 as far as Perth and fairly straight home from there. The second trip we went from Port Hedland to Perth via the inland road and then to Ceduna via the coast route.

Both trips included around 14,00 km towing and 22,000 to 24,000 total driving.

PeterD

Aandy(WA) replied:

Dan yal,
May I respectfully suggest you get an Atlas and a calculator and add the distances that make up the route you plan to take. Decide how much sight seeing you will do and add that in too. Peoples estimates depend on their travel style. Some like to lock the car up at each destination. Others are in the car every day. Only you know which type you are!!

Member - Mark H (VIC) replied:

We did a 'half lap', from Vic across coast of SA, WA coast, up to darwin and back down the Centre in 6 months. We did LOTS of tracks off the main routes and ended up with 25,000kms!

Cheers,

Mark.

Member - Steve O (NSW) replied:

Hi Dan,

Just completed the following:

NSW Central Coast
Airlie Beach
Mission Beach
Palm Cove (Nth of Cairns)
Karumba
Kununurra via Dunmarra/Top Springs
Side trip to Bungles
Broome
Cape Leveque
Exmouth
Monkey Mia
Perth
Ceduna
Port Augusta
Mildura
Hay
NSW Central Coast

The short way round but still a total K's of 16,311.

More importantly 2,666 Lts of Diesel

Hope this helps.

Regards,

SteveO

disco driver replied:

Dan -Yal,

I was once advised to factor in at least 50% more than the map distances to allow for side trips.

Over my travels, I have found that is not enough, 65% would be nearer the mark but as others have said it depends on what you want to do.

If you just want to drive the blacktop or you want to see as much as you can obviously will make a big difference.

Whatever your plan is, enjoy the experience

Disco.

Hairs & Fysh (NSW) replied:

Google Maps
Is a great tool these days to help with this sort of thing.
Although not perfect it will give you an idea of what to calculate into a trip.

Member - Rodney B replied:

Hi Dan
Get the outback atlas and do the sums
A couple of years back we did the Block, Darwin , Broome, Perth, Nullabor, Adelaide, Melb, Sydney, Brissy, Cairns, Cooktown, Normanton, Borrolloola and back to Darwin and clocked up 26,000Ks. was a lot of sightseeing in that but I can't remember how much fuel we used. 60 series petrol cruiser.

Dan - Yal replied:

Thanks all for your help,
I was trying to get a ball park on the extra km that need to be factored in for "exploring" once you arrive at a destination. I appreciate that this will vary from person to person, I just wanted to know what others had experienced. From your answers it looks like another 50% on top of the distance from point to point might be a useful estimate.
We will be sticking to the coast as much as possible and travelling the whole perimeter of the country.
Thanks again

Dan - Yal replied:

Hi all,
If anyone else knows how many km THEY travelled on a trip around Oz, I'd be grateful to hear it. I certainly dont expect you to tell me how many I'll do. I'll let you know that when I get back from my trip.

Dunco (NSW) replied:

Just finished Sydney-Melb-Adelaide-Coober Pedy-Uluru- Alice Springs-Kakadu-Darwin-Broome-Exmouth-Perth-Nullabor-Broken Hill-Sydney

17,000km

Steve63 replied:

It depends where you go. We are doing this in a few years though the route is not on the outside (really ended up criss crossing the continent several times) and were allowing 100,000km.

Steve

Dan - Yal replied:

Thanks everyone for all your help. Your anwers have given me a good guide as to what to expect

Dan

ingo57 replied:

Gday Dan

We are planning to do the big lap in 5 years time, will be taking the kids out of school and taking a year off working life.
There are so many things to organise for a big adventure like this and I found expedition australia website excellent for Info on the things you may not think of....take a look!

http://www.expeditionaustralia.com.au/index.php

10 years ago I went from Sydney, Vic Alps, Melbourne, Nullaboar, Albany, Esperance, Perth, Derby, Darwin, Ayres rock, Alice, Mt Isa, Queensland home and It took around 17,000km from memory.


Cheers