Car Camping From Darwin to Victoria: Planning and My First Solo Camping Trip
Before I even picked up my camper trailer, I had to get myself and my Honda HR-V from Darwin to Melbourne. That meant a solo car camping road trip straight through the centre of Australia. I'd be sleeping in the back of my car, staying at powered sites, and hoping my setup would hold up in the summer heat.
I wasn't out to prove anything. I just needed to get there safely, on a budget that didn't stretch much further, and without losing confidence in myself or my gear.
Here's how that first solo journey unfolded: what worked, what didn't, and what I'd share with anyone planning something similar.
Planning the Basics
For me, the essentials came down to three things: shelter, security, and cold drinks. Everything else I could figure out along the way.
The First Purchase: A Brass Monkey Fridge
I knew my 1975 camper trailer had a fridge, though it was original (read: old), and I wanted something more accessible while driving. I needed cold water and food on hand during long stretches through the Outback - not tucked away in the back of a van I hadn't even picked up yet.
After trawling through Facebook camping groups and reading what real people said, I went with a Brass Monkey fridge from Jaycar. I was torn between two sizes though went with the larger option in the end. I figured I'd always need plenty of water, and that extra space was worth the extra $50.
How it worked: It's not top of the line, though for the price, it's solid. It kept my food and drinks cold, even driving through 40°C+ heat. It runs off the car's 12V cigarette lighter and also plugs into a standard 240V outlet.
To keep it running overnight, I booked powered campsites along the way, which meant I didn't have to worry about battery levels.
The Inverter Setup
I picked up a 150W inverter from Jaycar at the same time. This meant I could power and charge my fridge, phone, speaker, laptop, and portable fans while driving, though the setup looked pretty amateur.
I plugged it into the cigarette socket and ran an extension cord to the back of the car where the fridge sat, with a power board connected. Very DIY, though it was functional enough for what I needed.
shelter: KMart Gazebo
My shelter? A $115 gazebo from Kmart.
It was cheaper than others on the market, which made me nervous, though I figured it would do the job - shade during the day and somewhere to cook and sit after long drives. Turns out, I couldn't do without it more than I expected.
I also bought two OzTrail shade walls to clip to the sides for extra sun protection, especially during early mornings and late afternoons. The best price I found for these was at Bunnings, though they weren't exactly cheap add-ons.
Booking Powered Sites
Because I didn't have a dual battery setup or a solar panel, powered sites became essential rather than optional. I planned my stops around powered campsites, so I could plug in the fridge overnight and charge everything properly.
It took a bit of coordination though made a huge difference to the comfort of those first nights camping solo.
What Worked, What Didn’t
The fridge, inverter, and gazebo were all decent purchases - affordable, reliable enough, and just enough to make the trip work. I'd absolutely do it this way again, especially for a short-term setup.
That said, in future I'd like to upgrade to a portable solar power system for more flexibility. Though now that I have the camper trailer, I see it like this:
The camper is better for longer stays - it's more spacious, better equipped, and worth the setup time if I'm staying put for a few nights.
Car camping is perfect for overnighters - especially when I'm just passing through and don't want to set up and pack down the van for a single night. It's quick, easy, and gives me the freedom to move when I'm starting to feel ordinary.
That combination works well for me now.
Advice for Anyone Thinking of Solo Travel
If you're just starting out, especially as a solo woman, here's what I'd say:
Start with comfort. You don't need to prove anything to anyone. Swags are fine, though so is wanting a mattress, a fridge, and some shade.
Buy during sales. I picked up most of my gear during the Black Friday sales in November. Big discounts also happen at EOFY in June, though the stock can be picked over by then.
Sign up for newsletters. Brands often do surprise deals that are sometimes better than the big sale days.
Look beyond YouTube and TikTok. Sometimes the best tips come from niche Facebook groups or comment sections where people are just quietly sharing what works for them. That's where I found the real reviews that mattered.
