We have visited Australia three times: a 2016 campervan road trip from Adelaide to Sydney, a 2017 trip covering the Northern Territory and Queensland, and a 2022 Western Australia road trip. Between the three trips we have covered most of the country’s highlights with kids.
2016: Campervan Road Trip (Adelaide → Sydney)
- We flew into Adelaide and rented a 2002 Toyota Hiace with a rooftop layer — small enough to drive like a normal car, big enough for four to sleep.
- The route took us along the coast to Sydney over 5 weeks, with stops at the Great Ocean Road, Jervis Bay (dolphins from the beach), and eventually two days in Sydney before flying on to Hawaii.
- Camping in a van with kids demands flexibility: some sites are cramped, wildlife encounters are unpredictable, and rainy days test everyone’s patience in a small space.
2017: Northern Territory and Queensland
- The NT is one of the most extraordinary places we have visited as a family: Yellow Water cruise (crocodiles, birds at sunrise), gorge hikes, and a sense of scale unlike anywhere in Europe. Distances are vast — build in full driving days.
- Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef: book reef trips carefully — we changed our pre-booked date twice because of unpredictable weather. Conditions (wind, waves) matter more than the brochure suggests.
- The Atherton Tablelands and Fitzroy Island added genuine variety around Cairns without the reef-tour crowds.
- The Mareeba Rodeo was an unexpected highlight — local events like this are consistently among our best travel memories.
2022: Western Australia Road Trip
- Coral Bay and the Ningaloo Reef: we did a whale shark tour from Exmouth — one of the best wildlife experiences we have had with older kids.
- Karijini National Park: deep red gorges with challenging hikes. Demanding but one of the most dramatic landscapes in Australia.
- Perth makes a practical base for the start or end of a WA trip, but the highlights are all north of it.
What We Would Do Differently
- Give Western Australia more time — it is genuinely its own country in terms of scale and scenery.
- Book whale shark tours well in advance; they fill quickly in season (June–August).
- With young kids, the campervan suits better if you stick to drive distances under 4 hours per day.
Related Reads
- South Australia destination hub
- Queensland & Cairns hub
- Northern Territory hub
- Western Australia 2022 hub
- Whale shark tour at Ningaloo
FAQ
Is a campervan holiday good for families with young kids?
Yes, with caveats. It gives flexibility you can’t get with hotels, but a small van with energetic children over several weeks requires patience. Having a van with a proper roof space (like our Toyota Hiace) made it much more liveable than a basic conversion.
When is the best time to visit Western Australia?
June–August for the north (whale sharks, cooler temperatures). The south (Perth region) is pleasant year-round but best in spring and autumn.