G'Day Backpacker Jobs — Backpacker & Casual Work Australia

All road trips

National loop

The Big Lap of Australia

THE BIG LAP — a clockwise journey from Sydney back to Sydney. It follows the East Coast to far north Queensland, returns to Townsville for the sealed inland crossing to Katherine, explores the Top End, enters WA via the Victoria and Great Northern highways, follows the Indian Ocean and south-west WA coast, crosses the Nullarbor, then returns through South Australia and Victoria. Allow about 4–6 months or longer to travel slowly; this is an editorial duration range rather than a mileage-verified schedule.

Build a day-by-day driving plan

Suggested days
138 suggested days
Vehicle
Sealed highways. Optional 4WD detours are separate routes.

Stops, in order

  1. 1Sydney
  2. 2Hunter Valley
  3. 3Forster
  4. 4Coffs Harbour
  5. 5Byron Bay
  6. 6Brisbane
  7. 7Noosa
  8. 8Hervey Bay
  9. 9Agnes Water
  10. 10Rockhampton
  11. 11Mackay
  12. 12Airlie Beach
  13. 13Townsville
  14. 14Mission Beach
  15. 15Palm Cove
  16. 16Daintree
  17. 17Townsville
  18. 18Hughenden
  19. 19Cloncurry
  20. 20Camooweal
  21. 21Tennant Creek
  22. 22Mataranka
  23. 23Katherine
  24. 24Pine Creek
  25. 25Jabiru
  26. 26Berry Springs
  27. 27Batchelor
  28. 28Katherine
  29. 29Timber Creek
  30. 30Lake Argyle
  31. 31Fitzroy Crossing
  32. 32Broome
  33. 33Port Hedland
  34. 34Dampier
  35. 35Tom Price
  36. 36Cape Range National Park
  37. 37Coral Bay
  38. 38Monkey Mia
  39. 39Geraldton
  40. 40Cervantes
  41. 41Perth
  42. 42Bunbury
  43. 43Yallingup
  44. 44Manjimup
  45. 45Denmark
  46. 46Esperance
  47. 47Balladonia
  48. 48Madura
  49. 49Border Village
  50. 50Ceduna
  51. 51Elliston
  52. 52Port Lincoln
  53. 53Port Augusta
  54. 54Adelaide
  55. 55Mount Gambier
  56. 56Warrnambool
  57. 57Apollo Bay
  58. 58Geelong
  59. 59Melbourne
  60. 60Sale
  61. 61Eden
  62. 62Narooma
  63. 63Kiama

No driving time or distance is shown. A straight line on a map would be wrong for ferries, the Gulf, Cape York and the Kimberley.

13 chapters, clockwise from Sydney

Each chapter proposes its stops, things to do, and any farms named in the guide.

  1. 01 · 9 suggested days · Sydney to Brisbane

    Legendary Pacific Coast

    The classic NSW-to-Queensland road trip, balancing beaches, food and wildlife.

    Stops

    Sydney → Hunter Valley → Forster → Coffs Harbour → Byron Bay → Brisbane

    Also named on this chapter: Newcastle, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Yamba, Gold Coast.

    Things to do

    • Hunter Valley tasting excursion
    • Port Stephens dolphin cruise
    • Byron surf lesson

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Douglas Vale Historic Homestead & Vineyard (Port Macquarie, NSW)
    • Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries (Port Macquarie, NSW)
    • River Bend Meats (Hunter Valley, NSW)
    • MGF Meats (Hunter Valley, NSW)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in Coffs HarbourJobs in Port MacquarieJobs in Hunter Valley

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  2. 02 · 14 suggested days · Brisbane to Airlie Beach

    Sunshine to Whitsundays

    Subtropical surf coast, whale-watching areas, the southern reef and the Whitsundays gateway.

    Stops

    Brisbane → Noosa → Hervey Bay → Agnes Water → Rockhampton → Mackay

    Also named on this chapter: Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach, Bundaberg, Seventeen Seventy, Yeppoon, Airlie Beach.

    Things to do

    • K’gari guided 4WD tour
    • Hervey Bay wildlife cruise
    • Whitsundays sailing

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Ironbark Beef (Bundaberg, QLD)
    • Macadamias Australia (Bundaberg, QLD)
    • G'Day Farm (Bundaberg, QLD)
    • Red Rock Macadamias (Bundaberg, QLD)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in BundabergJobs in Mackay

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  3. 03 · 12 suggested days · Airlie Beach to Cape Tribulation

    Tropical Queensland

    Reef islands, tropical rainforest and the northern Queensland adventure belt.

    Stops

    Airlie Beach → Townsville → Mission Beach → Palm Cove → Daintree

    Also named on this chapter: Whitsunday Islands, Bowen, Magnetic Island, Ayr, Innisfail, Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation.

    Things to do

    • Whitsundays cruise
    • Great Barrier Reef snorkelling
    • Daintree guided ecology walk

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Stackelroth Farms (Bowen, QLD)
    • Mt Alma Organics (Jarvisfield/Ayr, QLD)
    • Golden Oak Produce (Atherton Tablelands, QLD)
    • Jaques Coffee Plantation (Atherton Tablelands, QLD)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in BowenJobs in AyrJobs in InnisfailJobs in Atherton

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  4. 04 · 8 suggested days · Townsville to Katherine

    Sealed Inland Link

    A practical sealed-highway link from coastal Queensland toward the Top End.

    Stops

    Townsville → Hughenden → Cloncurry → Camooweal → Tennant Creek → Mataranka

    Also named on this chapter: Charters Towers, Richmond, Mount Isa, Barkly Homestead, Daly Waters, Katherine.

    Things to do

    • Outback heritage tour
    • Katherine gorge cruise (after arrival)

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Red Diamond Beef Company (Dawson Vale/Charters Towers, QLD)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in Charters TowersJobs in Katherine

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  5. 05 · 10 suggested days · Top End Loop

    Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin, Litchfield

    Explore waterfalls, ancient landscapes and Top End national parks from Katherine to Darwin.

    Stops

    Katherine → Pine Creek → Jabiru → Berry Springs → Batchelor → Katherine

    Also named on this chapter: Nitmiluk National Park, Kakadu National Park, Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Adelaide River.

    Things to do

    • Nitmiluk cruise
    • Kakadu cultural tour
    • Litchfield day trip

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Prayer Farm Pastured Eggs (Darwin rural area, NT)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in KatherineJobs in Darwin

    Open the full chapter

  6. 06 · 9 suggested days · Katherine to Broome

    Kimberley Highway

    Follow the sealed Victoria and Great Northern highways into the Kimberley.

    Stops

    Katherine → Timber Creek → Lake Argyle → Fitzroy Crossing → Broome

    Also named on this chapter: Victoria River, Kununurra, Halls Creek, Derby.

    Things to do

    • Lake Argyle sunset cruise
    • Broome camel ride
    • Kimberley scenic flight

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (Dampier Peninsula / Broome region, WA)
    • Willie Creek Pearls (Broome /, WA)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in KununurraJobs in Broome

    Open the full chapter

  7. 07 · 12 suggested days · Broome to Ningaloo

    Pilbara & Coral Coast

    Red Pilbara landscapes meet coral-fringed beaches and Ningaloo Reef.

    Stops

    Broome → Port Hedland → Dampier → Tom Price → Cape Range National Park

    Also named on this chapter: Eighty Mile Beach, Karratha, Karijini National Park, Exmouth, Coral Bay.

    Things to do

    • Ningaloo snorkelling
    • wildlife cruise
    • Karijini guided hiking

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (Dampier Peninsula / Broome region, WA)
    • Willie Creek Pearls (Broome /, WA)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in KarrathaJobs in Broome

    Open the full chapter

  8. 08 · 10 suggested days · Coral Bay to Perth

    Western Australia Coast

    A long run of reefs, wildlife, national parks and WA’s photogenic coast.

    Stops

    Coral Bay → Monkey Mia → Geraldton → Cervantes → Perth

    Also named on this chapter: Carnarvon, Denham, Shark Bay, Kalbarri, Hutt Lagoon, Jurien Bay, Pinnacles Desert, Lancelin.

    Things to do

    • Shark Bay wildlife tour
    • Kalbarri scenic tour
    • Pinnacles stargazing

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Sweet Acre Farm (South Greenough / Geraldton Midwest, WA)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in CarnarvonJobs in Geraldton

    Open the full chapter

  9. 09 · 17 suggested days · Perth to Esperance

    Southwest and South Coast

    Wine regions, towering forests and southern beaches all the way to Esperance.

    Stops

    Perth → Bunbury → Yallingup → Manjimup → Denmark → Esperance

    Also named on this chapter: Fremantle, Rottnest Island, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Augusta, Pemberton, Walpole, Albany, Bremer Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park.

    Things to do

    • Margaret River wine tour
    • Albany whale cruise (seasonal)
    • Esperance coastal tour

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Vasse Valley (Margaret River /, WA)
    • Margaret River Farm Direct (Margaret River, WA)
    • Glenarty Road (Margaret River, WA)
    • Margaret River Organic Farmer (Margaret River, WA)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in Margaret RiverJobs in ManjimupJobs in PembertonJobs in Albany

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  10. 10 · 6 suggested days · Esperance to Ceduna

    Nullarbor Crossing

    Cross the remarkable Nullarbor with properly spaced outback stops.

    Stops

    Esperance → Balladonia → Madura → Border Village

    Also named on this chapter: Norseman, Caiguna, Eucla, Ceduna.

    Things to do

    • Nullarbor guided heritage experiences where available

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    No farm is named for this chapter.

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in EsperanceJobs in Ceduna

    Open the full chapter

  11. 11 · 10 suggested days · Ceduna to Adelaide

    Eyre Peninsula

    Small coastal towns, seafood, dramatic peninsulas and the approach to Adelaide.

    Stops

    Ceduna → Elliston → Port Lincoln → Port Augusta → Adelaide

    Also named on this chapter: Streaky Bay, Coffin Bay, Whyalla, Clare Valley.

    Things to do

    • Coffin Bay oyster experience
    • Port Lincoln wildlife cruise
    • Clare winery tasting

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    No farm is named for this chapter.

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in Eyre PeninsulaJobs in Port LincolnJobs in Clare Valley

    Open the full chapter

  12. 12 · 9 suggested days · Adelaide to Melbourne

    Great Ocean Road

    Southern Ocean towns and Victoria’s most famous scenic coastal road.

    Stops

    Adelaide → Mount Gambier → Warrnambool → Apollo Bay → Geelong

    Also named on this chapter: Victor Harbor, Robe, Portland, Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Twelve Apostles, Lorne, Torquay, Melbourne.

    Things to do

    • Great Ocean Road tour
    • wildlife/walking experience
    • coastal scenic flight

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Warrnambool Community Garden (Warrnambool, VIC)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in Mount GambierJobs in Warrnambool

    Open the full chapter

  13. 13 · 12 suggested days · Melbourne to Sydney

    Gippsland & Sapphire Coast

    A slower alternative to the Hume Highway via beaches, Gippsland and the Sapphire Coast.

    Stops

    Melbourne → Sale → Eden → Narooma → Kiama

    Also named on this chapter: Phillip Island, Wilson’s Promontory, Lakes Entrance, Mallacoota, Merimbula, Bermagui, Batemans Bay, Jervis Bay, Sydney.

    Things to do

    • Phillip Island penguin viewing
    • Wilsons Prom walking tour
    • Jervis Bay cruise

    Ideas only. There is no price, review or booking link until a real product is approved.

    Farms

    • Kingfisher Citrus (Sale, VIC)
    • Blue Sky Organics (Murrindal / Bairnsdale, VIC)
    • Picnic Point Farm (Bairnsdale, VIC)
    • Leadoux Turkeys (Bairnsdale, VIC)

    Names from the guide, matched by town. Not a job ad, and no phone or email is shown.

    Jobs in GippslandJobs in BegaJobs in South Coast NSW

    Open the full chapter

Optional detours

  • Red Centre

    Allow 5–8 days plus the drive to Alice Springs.

  • Gibb River Road

    Remote 4WD, typically 7–12 days, and only when the road is open.

  • Tasmania

    About 12–18 days. The Spirit of Tasmania or a flight is a separate sea or air journey.

  • Cape York

    Remote 4WD with permits. Suggested 10–16 days, never via a straight line across the Gulf.

Road, ferry and access

  • Cape Tribulation back to Townsville uses the Cairns and Bruce Highway corridor before the inland link. There is no direct sealed shortcut across the Gulf to Katherine.
  • Katherine to Broome follows the Victoria Highway and the Great Northern Highway. The Gibb River Road is a separate 4WD route, not the default connector.
  • The Nullarbor leg follows the Eyre Highway. Plan fuel, daylight driving and fatigue stops.
  • The Great Ocean Road leg is a scenic south-coast route, not the direct Adelaide–Melbourne expressway.
  • Tasmania, the Red Centre, Cape York and the Gibb River Road are optional add-ons. Ferries and flights are not drawn as roads.

Specified work rules: subclass 417 and subclass 462. This page is a travel guide, not migration advice.