Family Big Lap Australia: How Katie and Pete Went From Beginners to Life on the Road

When Pete first suggested they buy a truck for their Big Lap, Katie thought it was completely over the top. It didn’t feel realistic, it didn’t feel necessary, and it definitely didn’t feel like something their family would ever actually do.

Now they’re travelling Australia full-time with three kids, towing a caravan behind that same truck, and figuring it out as they go.

If you’re planning a family Big Lap around Australia and wondering whether you’re ready, their story will likely sound very familiar because they didn’t start with experience, they didn’t grow up caravanning, and they didn’t have a clear roadmap when they began.

What they did have was a decision to try, a willingness to learn, and a plan flexible enough to change along the way.

How Their Big Lap Started (Before They Had Any Experience)

Like a lot of people, the idea didn’t come from a plan. It came from a moment. Katie saw someone she knew travelling Australia with their family and had that feeling that stops you in your tracks. She looked up from her desk and thought, what am I doing here?

That thought didn’t turn into action overnight, though. It sat there for years while life kept moving.

When they finally started seriously talking about doing a lap of Australia, they realised just how far they were from making it happen. They had never caravanned, never camped, and didn’t even understand the basics like caravan weights, tow vehicles, or what setup would actually work for a family of five.

So they did what most beginners do. They researched, asked questions, spoke to people who had done it before, and slowly started piecing it together.

The Setup That Changed Everything

Originally, they thought they would be travelling with a LandCruiser like so many others. But once they started looking at weights and what they actually wanted to take with them, that plan fell apart pretty quickly. They wanted bikes for the kids, they wanted to take a boat, and they wanted enough space to make long-term travel comfortable.

That’s when Pete came home with the idea of getting a truck, and even though Katie thought it was over the top at the time, it ended up being the solution that made everything else work.

Their setup now includes a Taurus RV caravan with triple bunks, a Fuso Canter truck, and a rooftop tinny, which gives them the flexibility to travel the way they want rather than trying to squeeze into something that doesn’t suit their lifestyle.

What stands out here is that they didn’t just follow what everyone else was doing. They worked backwards from how they wanted to travel and built their setup around that.

Starting the Big Lap as Complete Beginners

They openly admit they were rookies when they started, and that’s exactly what makes their story so relatable.

Instead of rushing straight into full-time travel, they took a smarter approach that a lot of people overlook. They bought their setup about a year before leaving, took it on several shorter trips, and then lived in the caravan for two months before actually hitting the road.

That last step made a big difference because it meant they had already adjusted to living in a small space before adding the pressure of travel, distance, and the unknown.

By the time they left, they weren’t trying to figure everything out at once.

What the First Six Months Really Looked Like

One of the biggest surprises for them was how smoothly the first six months went. They had been told to expect a tough adjustment period, and while that can be true for a lot of people, they didn’t experience that same level of stress or second-guessing.

Part of that came down to how they prepared, but part of it was also giving themselves an out. They planned their first six months as a loop that brought them back home, so if things didn’t work, they had a natural point to stop and reassess. They never needed it, but having that option made the decision to leave much easier in the first place.

If there was one thing they would change, it would be packing less, which is something almost every traveller says once they’ve been on the road for a while.

Travelling Australia With Kids and Schooling on the Road

One of the biggest concerns for families is schooling, and this is where their experience is really useful. They chose distance education rather than homeschooling, which meant the curriculum, lessons, and structure were all provided for them.

The kids receive their work in term blocks, and everything can be completed at a time that suits their travel days, which removes a lot of the pressure that people worry about.

More importantly, they have seen their kids grow in ways that go well beyond schoolwork.

Their confidence, their ability to talk to other people, and their independence have all improved simply because of the environment they are in and the experiences they are having every day.

What Surprised Them Most About Travelling Australia

Before they left, they assumed the coastal areas would be the highlight. Instead, inland Queensland completely changed their perspective.

They found themselves staying in places they hadn’t planned for, soaking in hot artesian baths, camping in wide open spaces, and enjoying a slower pace that they hadn’t experienced before.

It is a good reminder that some of the best parts of travelling Australia are the places you didn’t originally plan to go.

Budgeting for a Lap of Australia With a Family

Travelling full-time as a family does come with costs, and they are very aware of where their money goes and their budget. They aim to keep their travel expenses around five to five and a half thousand dollars per month, not including things like their mortgage at home.

They make this work by choosing free camps and showgrounds over caravan parks where possible, cooking their own meals, stocking up in larger towns, and being selective about paid experiences.

They don’t try to do everything, which is one of the biggest mindset shifts when you’re on the road long term.

When Plans Change (And Why That’s a Good Thing)

Like any long trip, things don’t always go to plan. A blown tyre forced them to change direction and head inland, which ended up leading them to one of their favourite stops in Kenilworth.

That’s a pattern they’ve noticed more than once, where the unexpected detours often become the highlights of the trip. It’s also where you learn to let go of rigid planning and start embracing the flexibility that this kind of travel allows.

What They Would Say to Someone Hesitant to Do the Big Lap

If one partner is unsure or nervous about taking the leap, their advice is simple.

Give it a timeframe.

They started with the idea of doing six months and seeing how it went, which removed the pressure of committing to something long term without knowing if it would work. That approach makes the decision feel manageable, and once you’re on the road, you can adjust as you go.

Why This Lifestyle Is So Hard to Walk Away From

When you ask them what the best part of the trip has been, it isn’t a specific location.

It’s the time together.

Mornings without rushing, days without strict schedules, and the ability to decide what they want to do as a family without the constant pressure of work, school, and routine. That’s the part that keeps them going.

What started as a 12-month plan has already stretched to 18 months, and they still aren’t sure when they will stop.

Listen to the Full Episode

This is just a small part of Katie and Pete’s journey.

In the full episode of Big Lap Chats, we go deeper into their setup, their biggest lessons, and what travelling Australia with kids really looks like day to day.

If you’re planning your own lap or even just thinking about it, this is one worth listening to whether you are travelling Australia with kids or not.