Rising Fuel Prices and the Big Lap: Are Lappers Changing Their Plans?

Fuel prices are climbing again across Australia, and it’s quickly become one of the biggest talking points in the caravanning community. Fuel prices are one of the biggest costs of travelling Australia, so it’s no surprise many people planning a Big Lap are watching diesel prices closely.

For anyone planning a Big Lap of Australia, fuel is already one of the largest costs of travelling. So when prices start rising quickly, it naturally raises questions. Are people delaying their trips? Are they changing their routes? Or are most Lappers simply adjusting how they travel?

With tensions in the Middle East pushing global oil prices upward, speculation about fuel costs has been everywhere this week. Rather than guessing what might happen next, I wanted to look at what real travellers are actually doing right now.

Because through the All Around Oz community I’m in the fairly unique position of hearing directly from thousands of Lappers every day.

Quick Answer: Are Rising Fuel Prices Affecting Big Lap Travel?

Rising fuel prices are influencing how some Australians approach a Big Lap, but most Lappers are not cancelling their plans. Instead, many travellers are adapting by driving shorter distances, travelling slower, staying longer in destinations and planning fuel stops more carefully.

Feedback from the All Around Oz community shows that while a small percentage of travellers are delaying their departure, the majority are still committed to starting or completing their lap of Australia.

What Rising Fuel Prices Could Mean for Big Lappers

Fuel prices across Australia are rising again, prompting many Lappers planning a Big Lap to reassess their travel plans.

While some travellers are delaying their departure or reducing driving distances, most are adapting by travelling slower, staying longer in destinations and planning fuel stops more carefully. Feedback from large caravanning communities such as ours, shows that the majority of Lappers are still committed to doing their lap of Australia despite rising fuel costs.

The Size of the Big Lap Community

Australia has one of the highest caravan ownership rates in the world per capita. There are around 750,000 registered caravans and camper trailers in Australia, and some estimates suggest the number could be closer to 900,000.

Within the All Around Oz community alone we have more than 235,000 members across two Facebook groups:

• Planning a Lap of Australia – Hints and Tips

• Caravanning for Newbies Australia

Between those groups, emails, comments and messages, I’m speaking with Lappers every day who are either preparing for their lap, currently travelling, or have already completed one.

Which means when something like rising fuel prices starts affecting travel conversations, you notice it very quickly.

Why Fuel Is One of the Biggest Big Lap Costs

Anyone planning a lap of Australia knows that fuel will be one of the biggest expenses on the trip.

Most lappers towing a caravan average somewhere between 18 and 22 litres per 100 kilometres depending on their setup and driving conditions.

A typical Big Lap usually covers somewhere between 15,000 and 25,000 kilometres, depending on how many detours and side trips you take. That means many travellers will use between 3,000 and 5,000 litres of diesel over the course of their trip.

Here’s a rough comparison of what that looks like at different diesel prices:

At first glance that looks like a big jump.

But spread across a 12-month trip, many Lappers find the difference manageable by adjusting how far they drive each week.

What Lappers Are Saying Right Now

To get a clearer picture of what’s actually happening, I ran polls in both of our Facebook groups asking whether rising fuel prices were changing people’s plans.

Planning a Lap of Australia – Hints and Tips

Almost 400 members voted, and the results were interesting:

• 39% said they are still going ahead with their Big Lap

• 21% said they will travel slower

• 13% have delayed their departure

• 9% said they are reconsidering their lap

• 6% said they’re already travelling and nothing has changed

• 4% said they are adjusting their pace and staying longer in towns

• 7% said their main concern is fuel availability rather than price

Caravanning for Newbies Australia

In the smaller beginners group, almost 60 people voted:

• 32% said they’re still going

• 14% said they’ll travel slower

• 8% have delayed their trip

• 5% are reconsidering their plans

• 21% said they’re already travelling and nothing has changed

• 14% are adjusting their travel style

The clear takeaway is that most Lappers are adapting rather than cancelling their plans.

Fuel Prices Around Australia Right Now

Fuel prices vary significantly across Australia depending on location. Generally, the further you travel from major cities or refineries, the higher prices tend to be.

When Kev and I were in Darwin previously we saw some of the cheapest fuel on our trip at around $1.75 per litre.

This week there were reports circulating that diesel had reached $4 per litre in Darwin, but members of our community confirmed those reports were inaccurate.

To get a snapshot of what’s happening around the country right now, I asked people to report local prices.

These were some of the prices shared by the community as of Monday 16 March:

• Tenterfield NSW – $2.98

• Lismore NSW – $2.80

• Middlemount QLD – reports up to $3.99

• Tennant Creek NT – around $2.80

• Kununurra WA – around $1.99

• Gilgandra NSW – $3.05

• Kimba SA – $2.85

• Gold Coast QLD – around $2.70

• Tom Price WA – $3.95

The highest reported price came from Tom Price in Western Australia, although thankfully that’s not a common Big Lap route.

Fuel Availability and Rumours

There have also been rumours circulating online suggesting there was no fuel available on the Nullarbor. At the time of writing, that isn’t correct.

Lappers who recently crossed the Nullarbor confirmed there was fuel available at the roadhouses in both directions.

However, some towns around Australia are introducing fuel purchase limits.

For example, one member reported that in Ravensthorpe there were limits of 50 litres per vehicle, and jerry cans could not be filled.

Situations like this are exactly why talking to other travellers heading in the opposite direction can be helpful. They often have the most up-to-date information about fuel availability ahead.

How Lappers Are Adapting

One thing that stood out from the feedback was how quickly Lappers adapt.

Some Lappers are:

• Driving shorter distances each day

• Staying longer in towns and regions

• Planning fuel stops more carefully

• Avoiding long remote detours

• Delaying departure by a few months

Others are choosing to explore fewer states but spend more time in each region.

Which, for many travellers, ends up being a better experience anyway.

The Big Lap Mindset

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the Big Lap community is incredibly resilient. Anyone who has travelled Australia for a while knows that plans change constantly.

On the road you deal with things like:

• Flooded roads

• Cyclone season in northern Australia

• Bushfires

• Highway closures

• Caravan park availability

• Fuel shortages in remote areas

Adaptability is part of the lifestyle. Fuel prices rising and falling is just another challenge travellers adjust to.

What Kev and I Are Doing

Right now Kev and I are in Jurien Bay, heading north to Geraldton and Kalbarri.

Our plan this year is to travel the Gibb River Road.

Like many other travellers, we’re simply watching what happens over the next couple of weeks. If prices settle, we’ll continue heading north. If fuel shortages become a real issue, we’ll reassess and decide where to park up for a while.

That’s the reality of travelling Australia. Plans change, and you adapt as you go.

The Big Lap Dream Isn’t Going Anywhere

For most people planning a Big Lap, the real question isn’t whether they will go.

It’s when.

Fuel prices will always rise and fall. But what hasn’t changed is Australians’ desire to explore their own country by road. If anything, the feedback this week reinforced what many experienced travellers already know. Lappers rarely give up on the dream. They simply adjust how they travel.

Join the Conversation

If you're currently travelling or planning your lap of Australia, I’d love to hear what you're seeing out there. Are rising fuel prices affecting your plans? Or are you simply adjusting how you travel?

You can join the conversation in our communities:

• Planning a Lap of Australia – Hints and Tips

• Caravanning for Newbies Australia

And hopefully we’ll see you somewhere out on the road.