5 Things you WILL need for a trip to Western Australia

1️⃣ WA National Park Pass

Carefully check which National Parks you are visiting and if they have an entry fee. Go to the Explore Parks WA website for this.

At the time of writing, the entry fee for National Parks in WA is $17 per vehicle, per day. So if you leave and come back the next day, you’ll have to pay the fee again.

If you plan on visiting 2-3 national parks, that fee can build up fast, so look into the park passes! 

You pay a one-time fee and have unlimited entry during a period of time (5 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or annual).

2️⃣ RAC Ultimate cover

RAC Ultimate Cover has got us out of some really sticky situations when our car broke down. They have put us up in hotels and paid for many tows. This is ESSENTIAL if you are doing a lap of Australia!

3️⃣ Travel insurance or private medical (yes, even for Aussies)

Regardless of how you’re moving around WA, consider getting domestic travel insurance. 

It can save your butts! From cancelled flights to adventure cover. The rental excess cover alone can be worth it.

We use Cover-More

For medical insurance, Australian residents have Medicare. However, we usually travel with some kind of private medical insurance too. This is entirely up to you. Thankfully, we haven't had to use ours.

4️⃣Telstra eSIM, satellite phone, Starlink

Telstra has by far the BEST reach in regional WA. But it is more expensive, so getting it depends on your budget.

If your current provider piggybacks on Optus or Vodafone, consider grabbing a prepaid Telstra eSIM just for the trip, especially if you’re heading remote.

You can grab a Telstra eSIM via their app! More info here.

BUT if you’re going remote remote (Gibb River Road, deep in the Pilbara, Cape Arid National Park, etc) consider having a sat phone instead. There are several providers available in Perth!

Our favourite coverage of all time is Starlink, though. We had fast internet in the middle of nowhere which really helps us with our online work.

PS: It might seem obvious, but don’t forget to download your maps before going on the road! Reception literally drops from one moment to the next. 

5️⃣Necessary supplies and toys

You will need your own snorkelling/diving gear, a sunshade and quick dry towels (we recommend Will and Wind).

For Australia's north west consider investing in a small boat (Tinnys are around $5k and you can resell when you leave). You won't regret it.

Other toys we recommend: kitesurfing gear, surfboards, fishing gear, hammock, overnight hiking gear.