EV road trip essentials down under: What to pack for your next Australia adventure

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as embarking on a multi-day road trip in Australia. With the countless array of national parks, picturesque towns, and natural biomes found between Australia’s waters and the Outback, the sights in the land down under are truly not to miss.

And if you want to cover the miles on the road with the least amount of carbon emissions possible, driving with an electric vehicle (EV) is a viable option. Coupled with the fact that Australia’s EV charging infrastructure covers a fairly wide grid, EV road trips are becoming a more popular option each year for road-tripping enthusiasts.

That said, planning a road trip journey can be quite overwhelming, especially for first-time EV owners. Not only do you have to plan your route to hit charging ports throughout the way, but you also have to do some rigorous packing beforehand to ensure a smooth and seamless adventure.

If you need some assistance on what to bring along with you on your next road trip, we’ve got you! This article will give you a comprehensive packing checklist that will detail all you need to bring in your upcoming journey.

Let’s jump right into it.

Categories of things to pack for an Australia EV road trip

To simplify packing for a road trip, it’s beneficial to divide the items you plan on bringing into different categories. This approach allows you to organize your packing more effectively and efficiently. You’ll also be less likely to make errors or miss out on key items.

Here are these categories:

EV essentials

Unlike gas cars that can easily fuel up in service stations, electric vehicles, as you’re probably well aware of, use batteries to operate.

You wouldn’t want your EV’s battery to be at zero percent in the middle of the road trip without a charging port in sight. You need to plan your route ahead and have the right things in your EV kit to minimize the risk of being stranded.

Here are some EV-specific essentials that you should bring on your road trip. Take note of this especially if your car’s maximum range is below the distance coverage of your upcoming road trip.

• Portable EV charger
• Roadside emergency kit
• Spare tires and jack
• Fire extinguisher
• Charging cables and adapters
• Extension cords
• Charging station finder apps like PlugShare

You may also consider bringing an EV power bank, although this is optional as they tend to provide only a small jolt of extra power that translates to about 5 to 10 miles. 

As much as possible, you’d like to spend less time charging and more time hitting the road, so ensure that you leave your garage at 100% battery and optimize your route to hit fast-charging, Level 2 charging ports.

Toiletries

Unless your road trip only lasts a day, it’s highly recommended that you bring a fair amount of toiletries along with you. These hygiene products help you feel clean and comfortable for the entirety of the trip, which can help augment the overall road trip experience. 

These toiletries don’t take up too much space. Here are some of the items you should bring:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Towel
• Face wash
• Sunscreen
• Moisturizer
• Hand sanitizer
• Rubbing alcohol
• Insect repellent
• Hairbrush
• Razor and shaving cream
• Lip balm

The list above should cover most of the essentials to stay clean and picture-ready during your road trip. For lady passengers, bring along your feminine kit, clips, make-up kit, and a make-up remover alongside most of the things above to cater to your specific needs.

Clothing and accessories

If there’s one thing you likely won’t forget when packing, it’s definitely your clothes. For some people, planning their outfits is just as important as planning their road trip. 

It’s important to have a rough idea of the activities you’re setting out to do before you embark on your road trip. This way, you can prepare the appropriate clothes to bring for each situation.

A good rule of thumb is to have outfits equivalent to the number of days of travel plus one. This way, you’ll have a spare outfit in case of emergency situations. 

That said, if you’re planning a road trip longer than a week, you can downsize your number of clothes and just put them in the laundry regularly.

Here are some articles of clothing you may consider bringing along on an EV road trip:

• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Rain jacket
• Swimwear (if you plan to swim)
• Hiking clothes (if you plan to hike/trek)
• Pajamas
• Socks
• Undergarments
• Sunglasses and hats
• Laundry bag

The list above is more relevant for when you’re traveling in moderate to warm temperatures. If the weather is cold out, consider bringing light jackets, scarves, and winter coats to keep you warm.

Travel documents and ID

It’s important to keep your important documents close to your body at all times, like in a shoulder bag. You’ll never know when you may need them. 

Here’s what you should bring:

• Wallet and contents like ID and bank cards
• Passport (if you’re from overseas)
• Car registration and insurance
• Health insurance card
• Printed copies of accommodations

When hopping from territory to territory in Australia, you’ll also want to bring a fair amount of cash with you, or at least have a balance in your credit and debit cards. 

You’re very likely to spend a handful of your savings during the trip, like when you’re eating or charging your electric vehicle.

Read more here to familiarize yourself with the cost breakdown of public EV charging.

Australia oriented outdoor items

One of the most popular activities during an Australian road trip is exploring the great outdoors. With a plethora of stunning hiking trails and coastal beaches, Australia offers world-class, natural getaways for people looking for some fun under the sun.

These are some items you should bring to ensure that you enjoy your outdoor experience:

• Camping gear (tent, neck pillow, and a sleeping bag)
• Portable stove and gas canister
• Pots, cups, plates, and utensils
• Flashlight and headlamp
• Hiking gear (trekking poles, backpack)
• Picnic blanket
• Multiple water bottles
• Multi-purpose tool like a Swiss knife

By having these items, you can enjoy your camping excursion and truly immerse yourself in Australia’s unique wilderness.

General comfort and convenience items

While the bulk of the experience is outside the car, you’ll be spending long hours driving your EV on the road. You want to ensure that you’re comfortable throughout the journey.

Here are some things you should pack to help you achieve a high level of comfort:

• Travel pillows and blankets
• Aussie snacks and drinks
• Windshield cover and sunshade
• Trash bags
• Wet wipes
• Phone charger and power bank
• Books or tablets
• Camera bag, camera, and lenses
• Portable fan or heater
• A ready-to-play music or podcast album

By having these items, you’re guaranteed to have a pleasant time inside and outside your vehicle. 

Emergency gear

When out on a multi-day road trip, you’re exposing yourself to a fair amount of risks. You can never really predict when risky incidents will occur, so it’s important to pack for it just in case.

Here are some things to pack before you set out on your electric vehicle road trip adventure:

• First-aid kit
• Whistle
• GPS locator
• Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Spare charger
• Printed maps
• Dashcam
• Extra bottles of water
• Emergency contact information

By having these items with you, you’ll be less likely to encounter any dire emergencies—or at the very least, you’ll be equipped with items that can help you during these incidents.

We hope this list has helped you learn what to pack in your upcoming Aussie road trip. Take care and drive safe!