An Australian road trip is one of the great travel experiences — the Great Ocean Road, the Nullarbor, the Red Centre, the Queensland coast, the West Australian wildflower routes. But a great road trip depends on what's in the car. Here's everything you actually need for an Australian road trip, from a long weekend to a month on the road.
The Bag Strategy for Road Trips
Road trips give you more space than flights — you don't have airline carry-on limits — but overpacking still creates problems. When you're moving every 1–2 days, you need to find things quickly, repack efficiently and not be hunting through a 100L duffel every morning.
The best approach: each person has their own compression bag set inside a shared large bag. Everything stays organised and compression means you fit more. The Folding Weekender Duffle Bag is ideal for road trips — soft-sided so it fits in tight boot spaces, folds flat when empty, and is big enough for a week of clothing.
Navigation and Phone
Your phone is your GPS on Australian road trips. But charging it while navigating drains the battery fast, and Australian roads don't always have power points for hours at a time.
- A car phone mount for safe hands-free navigation
- A car USB charger to keep the phone powered while navigating
- The GlobeCharge™ Power Bank as backup power for when you stop the car but need your phone charged
- Download Google Maps for your route offline before you leave mobile coverage areas (essential for the Nullarbor, Red Centre and remote WA)
Hydration: Non-Negotiable in Australia
Australian road trips often pass through remote areas where the next town is 200–400km away. Hydration is a safety issue, not just comfort.
- The HydraFlow Steel Water Bottle keeps water cold for 24 hours in Australian summer heat — a proper insulated bottle makes a significant difference when you're driving through 40°C outback days
- Carry at least 4–6 litres of water per person if heading into remote areas beyond sealed roads
Day Bag for Stops
On road trips, you'll be in and out of the car dozens of times for lookouts, short walks, towns and fuel stops. You need a compact bag that you can grab quickly with your essentials without taking your whole luggage.
The MoveLite™ Cross Sling lives in the front of the car and holds your phone, wallet, sunscreen, snacks and keys for every stop. Compact enough that it doesn't get in the way, anti-theft for tourist town stops.
Security on Road Trips
Car break-ins at tourist lookouts and national park car parks are a known issue across Australia. Never leave valuables visible in a parked car. When you do stop, your RFID wallet, passport (if it's an international road trip) and cash should come with you, not stay in the car.
Comfort for Long Drives
Australian road trip legs are long. Sydney to Melbourne is 8–9 hours. Perth to Adelaide is 28+ hours across multiple days. Comfort in the car matters:
- NapMate™ Travel Pillow for passengers sleeping in the car between stops
- Noise-reduction ear plugs for long highway drives where tyre and wind noise is constant
- Eye mask for any passenger wanting to sleep while someone else drives
Toiletries for Road Trips
Road trip accommodation ranges from caravan parks to glamping to motels to 5-star resorts depending on the trip. A PackTidy™ Toiletry Bag with a hook lets you hang your toiletries from any bathroom rail — essential in compact motel bathrooms where bench space is minimal. The waterproof interior handles the inevitable damp towel and wet swimwear that end up in the bag.
Medications and First Aid
On remote road trips, the nearest hospital or pharmacy can be hundreds of kilometres away. A proper first aid kit plus a Travel Pills Organizer with pain relief, antihistamines, anti-nausea and any personal medications covers most common situations on the road.
Australian Road Trip Packing Checklist
✅ Compression bags (one set per person, in a shared soft bag)
✅ Folding Weekender Duffle or large soft-sided bag
✅ Water bottles — 1–2 litres per person minimum in the car at all times
✅ Compact day sling for stops
✅ RFID wallet and document holder
✅ Power bank (charged)
✅ Travel pillow + ear plugs for long legs
✅ Toiletry bag with hook
✅ First aid kit + medications
✅ Offline maps downloaded
✅ Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reapply at every stop)
✅ Snacks and a small cooler bag
✅ Emergency supplies for remote routes: spare tyre, jumper cables, emergency beacon