Driving a Lap of Australia – solo – is my greatest accomplishment to date. I spent 338 days on the road, and slept in my vehicle for 158 nights. This was my year in Australia: on the road in my Nissan X-Trail, driving and road tripping, living my best life and having incredible adventures. Living in a car for almost a year isn’t easy, though. There are a lot of challenges – and I learned a lot.

Your setup might not be perfect to start with, but that’s okay – you’ll adjust things as you go

For the first few months in my car, I had no platform – I didn’t have a stove, either. I literally just threw my Ikea mattress in the back, and started driving. Over the course of my 11 months on the road, I changed a number of things with my setup. I built a platform; I bought a camping stove; I reorganized my luggage. Don’t stress too much about your vehicle setup at the beginning, because you’ll be adjusting and tweaking things as time goes on.

You will become obsessed with other people’s setups, vehicles, and how they’re traveling in it

I say this as someone who doesn’t know shit about cars, but has bought and kitted out two. I will be that person who asks all the questions. You’ll be judging and admiring every vehicle you see – it becomes a natural habit. This is the easiest way to learn new tricks of the trade: looking around and asking! My favorite moments have been when other people (particularly other solo female travelers) come up to me at a campsite and ask about my setup. Of the many people I met traveling, I became friends with two different girls named Marie (one from France, one from Germany) because of how much we chatted about our setups at a campsite!

Even if you know nothing about cars (like me), you will learn a LOT about basic mechanics and car maintenance over time

I still don’t know how to change a tire (please can someone teach me?!). But holy hell, have I learned an unbelievable amount about cars in the last year. I know how to repair a burst tire with a puncture kit and an air compressor. I can fix a chip or crack in a windscreen with a DIY repair kit. I’m much more knowledgeable about the necessary maintenance you should do to keep things running smoothly. No, I don’t know everything and I’m certainly not a mechanic. But I’ve learned a lot after living life on the road, where you are completely and totally dependent on your vehicle.

You do NOT need as much stuff to live as you think you do – you can and will manage to live on less

Everything I owned and needed fit into my X-Trail. Living in my car forced me to pare back to the absolute bare minimum. I didn’t have the space for unnecessary items, and prioritized what I actually needed on a day-to-day basis. And then when I got ready to leave Australia and sell my car, I realized I actually had way more stuff than I needed! We really don’t need as much “stuff” as society tells us we do.

Plugs, toilet, shower, and a fridge will become true luxuries – don’t even get me started on an oven, wifi, or a washing machine

I took a lot of “basic necessities” for granted before I started my Lap of Australia. People don’t really understand how little you can life off of, until you actually do it. Having somewhere with plugs to charge my devices, a toilet and – praise the good Lord – a shower were treats. A fridge brought tears to my eyes. Cooking a frozen pizza in an oven was my favorite things about my housesits. These everyday facilities weren’t available in my car – and when I had them, I felt like I was living in luxury.

You will never take anything for granted, ever.

Good weather, clean sheets, a safe place to sleep, reliable transport, a healthy body, windows that work in your car… you will appreciate it all. I drove 18,000km around Australia without a working radio, using a tiny speaker I got at a blogging event and my iPod Nano from 2010 to listen to my music. When you have so little, you become so grateful for what you do have. I appreciate all the little things in life so much more after this experience.

Finding a toilet, shower, and drinking water will become a regular battle

Yes, Wikicamps makes it much easier. But you will be thinking about these facilities on a consistent basis – particularly if you’re driving long distances in remote areas.

Getting mail when you have no fixed address is an absolute NIGHTMARE

I can’t put into words how stressful this was during my Lap of Australia. I had no address as I was literally living out of my car, so I struggled to receive important mail. A huge thank you to my friends who have been my mailmen (mailwomen) in Sydney, Townsville, Perth, and York over the year – I couldn’t have made it without you all!

If you roll your car when you’re living in it and it’s written off, you will become legitimately homeless

I definitely didn’t expect it to happen to me! While I don’t regret it, as I ended up actually making a profit on the vehicle thanks to my car insurance, it was one of the most stressful experiences of my entire life. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no phone signal, was my worst nightmare – I’m very grateful it wasn’t worse, and that I had savings to help me get through the interim waiting for insurance payouts. Have an emergency fund and backup plan in case of a totaled vehicle!!

If an overnight spot feels sketchy or there are people giving off weird vibes, leave

It’s not worth the risk or the sleepless night. If it doesn’t feel right, just go. There will be somewhere better, where you might actually sleep.

Some people will think you’re crazy and will be very judgmental. Some will think you’re awesome and will be inspired!

I got a lot of feedback from people I met while on the road. Some people genuinely couldn’t understand why I wanted to spend my year in Australia living in an X-Trail driving around. Most people thought it was awesome, especially when I told them I was doing it on my own – solo female travelers going for a Lap aren’t very common Down Under. Don’t dwell on other people’s feelings – they balance each other out.

The kindness of strangers is second to none

I can’t even start to list the number of people in Australia who helped me at some point while I was driving my Lap. From the guy who pulled over for me after I rolled my car, to the German couple who fixed my punctured tire in Tasmania, to all the amazing friends and travelers I met who shared a beer or a bottle of wine after just meeting – people are so good. Thank you to all the people who have helped me or looked out for me while I’ve been on the road!

I never planned on driving a Lap of Australia – it just happened over the course of my year. A massive part of this was that I could sleep in my vehicle, and travel on a budget. I never could have done a Lap if I’d been staying in hostels or motels every night! There are things I will never take for granted again for the rest of my life, thanks to this experience. It’s a different lifestyle, a different way to live; challenging as it was at times, I absolutely loved it. Whether you’re on the road, considering a lengthy adventure (like a Lap), or just curious about what life is like when you live and travel in your car – I hope you found a new perspective here.

Have you ever traveled long-term in a vehicle? What was your setup like, and what did you learn? Share your experiences in the comments!

You might also like my posts:

I Drove a Lap of Australia – Solo!

I Rolled My Car and Almost Died: Homeless in Australia

Moving to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life in Oz

My Top Solo Road Trip Safety Tips

A Backpacker’s Guide to Buying a Used Car in Australia

All of my Australia posts!

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