How Long Does It Take to Do the Big Lap of Australia? (Realistic Timelines for Families)

If you start researching the idea of travelling Australia, one question comes up almost immediately:

How long does it take to travel around Australia with kids?

For many families, the answer to that question affects almost every other decision.

It certainly does for us.

Because the length of the trip doesn’t just determine where you go — it also affects things like:

budgeting for the journey
schooling for the kids
whether to rent or sell your home
how flexible your income needs to be while travelling

Personally, this is something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.

If we’re only travelling for a few months, perhaps we could arrange a house sitter.

But if we’re planning a year or more, then renting out our home might make much more sense.

So let’s look at the realistic timeframes most families allow when doing the ‘Big Lap’ around Australia.

How Long Is the Big Lap of Australia?

A traditional lap of Australia typically covers somewhere between:

15,000 and 25,000 kilometres

depending on the route you take and how many detours you make.

Most travellers follow the major highways around the coastline, but many also include inland detours to explore places like:

Uluru
The Red Centre
The Kimberley
Kakadu National Park

Once you start looking at the map, it quickly becomes clear that trying to see everything in a short time frame would mean a lot of driving and not much exploring.

That’s why most travellers choose to slow down and experience Australia at a more relaxed pace.

One Important Factor: The Age of Your Kids

Something that’s easy to overlook when planning a lap of Australia is how much the age of your children influences your travel pace.

Younger children usually need:

more frequent stops
shorter driving days
more downtime between destinations

Long stretches in the car can quickly lead to tired and unhappy kids.

And any parent knows that unhappy kids often lead to frustrated parents.

As children get older, their tolerance for longer travel days tends to improve. They’re often more comfortable with longer drives and may even enjoy the adventure of covering bigger distances.

This means families travelling with younger children often plan a slower lap, allowing more time to stop, explore and rest along the way.

Slowing down doesn’t just make the trip easier — it can also make the experience far more enjoyable for everyone.

The 3-Month Lap (Fast and Very Busy)

Technically, it’s possible to drive around Australia in about three months.

But this would be a very fast-paced trip and would involve a lot of time on the road.

Travellers attempting a 3-month lap often:

drive long distances frequently
stay only one or two nights in each location
focus on the major highlights

For families travelling with children, this pace can feel quite rushed.

It also doesn’t leave much room to enjoy the smaller places that often become the most memorable parts of the trip.

The 6-Month Lap (A More Comfortable Pace)

Six months is a much more common timeframe for people completing the Big Lap.

This allows travellers to:

slow down their driving schedule
spend more time exploring key destinations
experience different regions properly

For families, six months can sometimes be a good balance between adventure and practicality.

However, depending on your travel style, it can still feel like there’s a lot to see in a limited amount of time.

The 12-Month Lap (The Most Popular Option)

Many families planning a Big Lap aim for around 12 months on the road.

This timeframe allows you to travel more slowly and experience the seasons across Australia.

Travelling over a year also means you can:

avoid extreme weather
spend longer in places you love
reduce driving pressure
allow the kids to settle into a travel rhythm

For families with children, this slower pace often makes the journey much more enjoyable.

If you’re still figuring out the financial side of travelling for that long, this guide explains how families make it possible: How do families afford to travel Australia?

Why Families Often Choose to Travel Slowly

One thing I’ve noticed while researching the Big Lap community is how many families talk about the benefits of slow travel.

Travelling slowly can actually make the trip easier in several ways.

It often means:

lower fuel costs
cheaper weekly campsite rates
more time for the kids to play and explore
less time spent packing up and driving

In many cases, slowing down can actually make travelling Australia more affordable.

If you’re trying to estimate the real cost of travelling Australia, this breakdown may help: The Cost of Travelling Australia

The Timeline Question That Affects Everything

For many families, deciding how long to travel isn’t just about the itinerary.

It’s also about life decisions at home.

Questions like:

Should we rent out our house?
Should we arrange a house sitter?
Do we need income while travelling?
How will schooling work for the kids?

These decisions often depend on how long you plan to be away.

The longer the trip, the more likely families are to explore options like renting out their home or creating flexible income streams that allow them to travel longer.

If you’re curious about how people work while travelling, you might find this blog helpful: Can you work while travelling Australia?

Finding the Right Timeline for Your Family

Every family approaches the Big Lap differently.

Some people take shorter trips and revisit Australia in stages.

Others aim for a full year so they can experience the country more thoroughly.

For our family, working out how long we want to travel has become one of the most important parts of the planning process.

Because once you understand the timeframe, it becomes much easier to start planning things like:

budgets
schooling
housing decisions
income flexibility

And that’s when the dream of a Freedom Lap starts to feel far more real.

FAQ: Big Lap Travel Time

How long does it take to drive around Australia?

Driving the entire coastline of Australia without stopping would take around two to three weeks, but most travellers allow 6–12 months to properly explore the country.