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Byron Bay, Australia
Start your journey at the easternmost point of Australia. Catch the sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse and stock up on supplies at the Byron Bay farmers market. The town has excellent cafes and a relaxed surf culture to ease you into van life.
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Coffs Harbour, Australia
A laid-back mid-coast stop famous for the Big Banana and beautiful Muttonbird Island. Park up near Diggers Beach for great surf and easy van camping. The marina area has fresh seafood worth stopping for.
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Port Macquarie, Australia
Visit the Koala Hospital — one of the best free wildlife experiences on the east coast. Flynn's Beach is a favourite with van travellers for its calm waters and beachside parking areas. The coastal walk linking multiple beaches is not to be missed.
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Newcastle, Australia
A surprisingly cool city with a thriving food and arts scene centred around Darby Street. Nobbys Beach and the ocean baths are iconic spots for a morning swim. It's a great place to restock the van and do laundry before heading toward Sydney.
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Sydney, Australia
Use a campsite like Lakeside Caravan Park in the northern suburbs as your base. Walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail and catch a ferry to Manly for a different perspective on the harbour. The city is expensive but worth a few days to explore the Opera House and The Rocks.
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Wollongong, Australia
Drive the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge south of Sydney, one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads. Wollongong's North Beach is popular with surfers and van campers alike. The town has a relaxed vibe with good coffee shops and a lively weekend market.
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Batemans Bay, Australia
A beautiful estuary town on the Eurobodalla Coast with excellent oysters sold straight from the water. Mogo Zoo nearby is a fun detour, and the surrounding Murramarang National Park has stunning coastal campsites. Great base for kayaking and snorkelling in crystal-clear bays.
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Merimbula, Australia
One of the gems of the Sapphire Coast with a famous lake and ocean beach combination. The Merimbula Boardwalk over the lake at sunset is a highlight. Stock up here before crossing into Victoria as services thin out.
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Lakes Entrance, Australia
Gateway to the Gippsland Lakes, the largest inland waterway system in Australia. Hire a kayak or small boat to explore the lakes and spot pelicans and black swans. The ninety-mile beach stretching east is perfect for a windswept afternoon walk.
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Wilson's Promontory, Australia
The southernmost tip of mainland Australia and one of the country's most beloved national parks. Tidal River campground is a must-book-ahead site with wombats wandering through at dusk. Hike to Squeaky Beach for impossibly white quartz sand and turquoise water.
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Melbourne, Australia
Base yourself at a campsite in Footscray or Williamstown for easy city access. Explore the laneways, street art and incredible food scene — Brunswick Street in Fitzroy is a van traveller favourite for cheap eats. Don't miss the Queen Victoria Market for fresh produce to restock your van kitchen.
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Great Ocean Road, Australia
One of the world's great coastal drives, running from Torquay to Allansford through dramatic limestone cliffs and rainforest. Stop at the Twelve Apostles at sunset when the crowds thin out and the light turns golden. Lorne and Apollo Bay are both excellent overnight van stops with beachside parks.
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Mount Gambier, Australia
Home to the stunning Blue Lake, a volcanic crater lake that turns a vivid cobalt blue each summer. The Umpherston Sinkhole — a sunken garden — is a quirky and beautiful free attraction lit up at night. A great overnight stop between the Great Ocean Road and the Coorong.
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Coorong National Park, Australia
A unique and remote coastal lagoon system stretching 130km along the South Australian coast. Wild camping is possible on the beach with permits, making it a true van adventure highlight. Birdlife is extraordinary — hundreds of pelicans and migratory waders fill the lagoons.
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Adelaide, Australia
South Australia's capital is underrated — the Central Market is one of Australia's best food markets and perfect for restocking the van. Explore the Adelaide Hills and stop at Hahndorf, Australia's oldest German settlement, for hearty food and local wine. Glenelg Beach is a lovely spot to camp within easy tram distance of the city.
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Port Augusta, Australia
The crossroads of Australia where the highways to Darwin, Sydney and Perth all converge. Fill up your fuel and water tanks here as you prepare for the long Nullarbor crossing ahead. The Wadlata Outback Centre is a worthwhile quick stop to learn about the region's Indigenous and geological history.
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Ceduna, Australia
The last major town before the Nullarbor Plain — this is where you stock up on food, water and fuel for the crossing. Ceduna is famous for its oysters, sold fresh and cheap from roadside stalls along the foreshore. Check your van and tyres thoroughly before heading west.
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Nullarbor Plain, Australia
One of the world's great road trip experiences — a vast flat treeless plain stretching over 1,200km. Stop at the Head of Bight between June and October to see Southern Right Whales nursing calves in the waters below the clifftops. Camp under a staggering blanket of stars at one of the roadhouse rest areas and watch for wombats at dusk.
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Esperance, Australia
Often called home to Australia's most beautiful beaches, and it's hard to argue — Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park has white sand and wild kangaroos. The Great Ocean Drive loop around town is a stunning afternoon activity entirely free. Stock up and rest before the long drive north along the coast.
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Albany, Australia
Western Australia's oldest colonial settlement with a dramatic rugged coastline including the Natural Bridge and The Gap rock formations. The town centre has excellent craft breweries and cafes worth lingering over. Torndirrup National Park just south of town is a wild and windswept highlight of the south west.
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Denmark, Australia
A charming riverside town surrounded by karri and tingle forests in the heart of the Great Southern wine region. William Bay National Park nearby has the magical Greens Pool — a sheltered turquoise cove of absolute beauty. Stop at one of the local wineries for an afternoon tasting before parking up for the night.
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Margaret River, Australia
Australia's premier wine and surf region with world-class breaks at Surfers Point and Prevelly. The town itself has a great farmers market on Saturdays packed with local produce, cheese and bread perfect for van life. Explore the towering karri forests and the stunning cave systems at Mammoth Cave or Lake Cave.
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Busselton, Australia
Home to the longest timber jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at nearly two kilometres long — walk it at sunset for magical views. Dunsborough just north is a popular beach town with calm family-friendly waters. The Geographe Bay coastline here has some of the calmest and clearest water in WA.
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Fremantle, Australia
Perth's vibrant port city with a lively weekend market, great craft beer scene and a charming heritage streetscape. The Fremantle Prison and the WA Maritime Museum are both fascinating ways to spend a morning. E-Shed Markets and the fishing boat harbour make for a perfect final van trip afternoon.
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Perth, Australia
End your epic cross-country journey in one of the world's most isolated yet liveable cities. Kings Park offers sweeping views over the Swan River and is a brilliant place to reflect on the journey. Celebrate in Northbridge or along the beautiful Cottesloe Beach with a well-earned sunset swim.