vehicles for cross-country camping trips

If you’re tackling cross-country camping in Australia, you want a wagon or ute that shrugs off corrugations and doesn’t mind smelling faintly of campfire and bug spray.

Shortlist the usual suspects: Toyota LandCruiser/Prado, Ford Ranger/Everest, Isuzu D‑MAX/MU‑X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and for milder trails, Subaru Outback or Forester.

Prioritise proper 4WD or clever AWD, decent ground clearance, recovery points, and room for a fridge, water, and the 47 “just-in-case” items you’ll swear you won’t bring next time.

All‑terrain tyres and a sensible suspension upgrade beat shiny snorkels; roof loads are handy until your fuel bill starts doing performance art.

If towing a camper, check braked towing limits and your GVM/GCM, then weigh the whole circus—guesswork is how you become a cautionary yarn at the roadhouse.

Bonus comforts: dual‑battery or DC‑DC charging, modern infotainment for offline maps, and adaptive cruise to survive those never‑ending outback straights.