Blog Done The Big Lap? Try The Outback Way

Karen Perry, 6 July 2025

The Big Lap was the grand adventure of your lifetime – or one of them – but now you’re home and feeling blue.

For months, you were skirting clear blue oceans, venturing deep into mist-enveloped forests, crossing scorching red deserts, and toasting each sunset with a cold beer.

Now you’ve finally pulled into your driveway, back to the familiar comforts of home, and you feel…a bit flat.

Post-Big Lap Malaise has got you in its grips, and the only way to shake it off is to get moving again!

Australian Map by NordNordWest, GrandEscogriffe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.     The Outback Way mark up by JAWA.

What is Post-Big Lap Malaise?

Post-Big Lap Malaise is a nasty sort of inertia affecting those who’ve just returned from The Big Lap. It turns your recently energetic, adventurous self into a sad sort of creature, prone to moping around the house, unsociable and lacking the capacity to make decisions of any sort.

Epic adventures like The Big Lap are thrilling and challenging in equal measure. Having to make so many decisions whilst on the road can lead to travel fatigue. But when you return home, it’s quite common to feel that day-to-day life lacks excitement.

When things at home seem endlessly dull, you know it’s time to pack the camper and hit the road again. And the good news is that these adventures can help delay the effects of aging, keeping you feeling sharp and active while you’re on the move.

So, where to next?

The Outback Way

If you’re looking to take your off-road camping adventures to the next level, The Outback Way is an invitation to get up close and personal with Australia’s Red Centre. Also known as “Australia’s Longest Shortcut”, this trip is steeped in history at every stop.

The Outback Way is a 2700 km journey from Winton, Queensland to Laverton, Western Australia. Dirt roads account for almost half of the journey, so you’ll need to be an experienced driver with an off-road caravan and be well set up with food, water and fuel.

Check whether permits are needed for your planned route and organise these in advance.

Planning for a safe trip is paramount, as you’ll find yourself more isolated than most spots on The Big Lap.

If you’re looking to upgrade your camper for the next journey, you can view our Aussie-tough off road caravans in Perth.

Starting your journey in Queensland? You can view JAWA’s off road caravans in Townsville, the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane showrooms.

Unmissable Stops on The Outback Way

Australian Age of Dinosaurs

Right at the start/end of the journey, Winton was once home to an impressive array of giants that walked the land millions of years ago.

Take some time to wander in the footsteps of these behemoths by day and take in the stunningly beautiful Outback skies with a stargazing activity by night.

Alice Springs

If you’re travelling The Outback Way, a visit to Alice Springs is essential. Take in the scenery from a hot air balloon or from the back of a camel.

Make the most of your proximity to the West MacDonnell Ranges and East MacDonnell Ranges while in Alice Springs for more spectacular Outback scenery. Your off road caravan will come in handy as you explore this land of rock art, natural swimming holes and ancient landscapes.

Field of Light Tours, Uluru

With over 50,000 stems of coloured lights, Field of Light is not to be missed. The scale of the exhibition, called Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakunytjaku (‘looking at lots of beautiful lights’ in local Pitjantjatjara), is truly epic, with lights covering an area bigger than seven football fields.

There are several Field of Light tour options to choose from.

Get your boots on and take in a few of the walking tours around the spectacular Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.  Just remember to purchase your park pass and to keep to the marked tracks.

Tjulyuru Regional Art Gallery, Warburton

Immerse yourself in ancient culture with a visit to the Tjulyuru Cultural and Civic Centre. It’s home to a stunning collection of contemporary Aboriginal art influenced by the rich history and stories of the Ngaanyatjarra lands.