The Best Australian Road Maps and Road Atlases for 2026

by Christopher O'Keeffe June 27, 2026

From compact glovebox maps to large spiral-bound touring atlases, Australia has a road map for almost every kind of journey. The best choice depends on whether you are planning a family holiday, towing a caravan around the country, exploring remote four-wheel-drive tracks or simply looking for a reliable paper backup to digital navigation.

Australia is a country made for road travel.

Its highways cross deserts, tropical savannahs, mountain ranges, farming districts and some of the longest stretches of sparsely populated country in the world.

A journey may involve:

• major motorways

• regional highways

• minor sealed roads

• unsealed roads

• four-wheel-drive tracks

• remote fuel stops

• national parks

• long distances between towns

Google Maps and GPS navigation are excellent for turn-by-turn directions, live traffic and locating individual addresses.

A good paper road map or road atlas does something different.

It provides:

• a broad overview of the journey

• regional context

• alternative routes

• road classifications

• distances between towns

• fuel and rest-area information

• a dependable reference without batteries or reception

For many travellers, the best system is not paper or digital.

It is paper and digital.

This guide compares the leading Australian road maps and road atlases available in 2026, including:

• the Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas

• the Hema Australia Handy Atlas

• the Hema Australia Touring Atlas

• UBD Gregory’s touring and motoring atlases

• folded Australia maps

• state touring maps

• regional four-wheel-drive maps

• paper and laminated formats

Browse Mapworld’s complete ranges:

• Maps of Australia

• Road Atlases

• Hema Maps

• 4WD, Camping and Caravan Maps

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The Best Australian Road Maps for 2026: Quick Recommendations

Travel need	Best place to begin
Best overall Australian road atlas	Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas
Best compact atlas	Hema Australia Handy Atlas
Best atlas for general sealed-road touring	Hema Australia Touring Atlas
Best large-format UBD atlas	UBD Gregory’s Touring Atlas of Australia
Best UBD atlas for regional towns	UBD Gregory’s Complete Motoring Atlas
Best single folded Australia map	Hema Australia Large Folded Map
Best folded map with capital-city insets	UBD Gregory’s Australia 180 Map
Best for caravan travel	Hema Road & 4WD Atlas plus state maps and a camping guide
Best for remote four-wheel driving	Hema Road & 4WD Atlas plus detailed regional maps
Best for travelling mainly within one state	A current Hema state map
Best for detailed regional exploration	A route-specific Hema, Westprint or regional atlas
Best for planning on a table or wall	Large folded or laminated Australia map
Best independent navigation backup	Current paper atlas plus relevant folded maps

No one map is perfect for every journey.

A national atlas gives the broadest practical coverage, while state and regional maps add the detail needed for the areas in which you will spend the most time.

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1. Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas

Best Overall Australian Road Atlas

For most people asking, “What is the best road map of Australia?”, the Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas is the strongest all-round answer.

The current 13th Edition combines national road mapping with practical information for touring, caravanning, camping and four-wheel-drive travel.

It provides 224 pages of full-colour mapping in a large, easy-to-read format.

Coverage includes:

• major highways

• minor roads

• sealed and unsealed routes

• selected four-wheel-drive tracks

• road distances

• national parks

• campsites

• rest areas

• caravan parks

• fuel locations

• roadhouses

• visitor information centres

• points of interest

The atlas also includes additional mapping for major adventure regions such as:

• Cape York

• K’gari

• the Kimberley

• the Pilbara

• the Top End

• Central Australia

• the Flinders Ranges

• the Victorian High Country

Why It Is the Best All-Round Choice

The principal strength of the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas is balance.

It provides enough detail for serious road touring without becoming a highly specialised topographic atlas.

It is suitable for:

• ordinary passenger vehicles

• caravans

• campervans

• motorhomes

• four-wheel drives

• extended interstate travel

• the Big Lap

• remote-area trip planning

The larger page size makes roads, place names and symbols easier to read than in a compact atlas.

Its spiral-bound format also allows the atlas to remain open on one page while being used in a vehicle, caravan or at the kitchen table.

Best For

Choose the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas when:

• you want one principal atlas for travelling Australia

• your journey includes sealed and unsealed roads

• you are towing a caravan

• you expect to visit remote or outback regions

• camping, fuel and rest-area information matter

• readability is more important than compact storage

Main Limitation

It is larger and heavier than a glovebox atlas.

Travellers with limited storage or those wanting a small backup reference may prefer the Hema Handy Atlas.

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2. Hema Australia Handy Atlas

Best Compact Australian Road Atlas

The Hema Australia Handy Atlas is the best option for travellers who want national coverage in a compact form.

The current 13th Edition contains 224 pages and measures approximately 248 × 184 mm.

That makes it much easier to store in:

• a glovebox

• a centre console

• a seat pocket

• a campervan drawer

• a day bag

Despite its smaller dimensions, it retains broad Australia-wide coverage and practical touring information.

It shows:

• major and minor roads

• sealed and unsealed routes

• selected four-wheel-drive tracks

• towns

• road distances

• national parks

• campsites

• rest areas

• caravan parks

• fuel

• roadhouses

• visitor information centres

• points of interest

Hema Handy Atlas vs Road & 4WD Atlas

The principal difference is not geographic coverage.

It is presentation.

The Handy Atlas places similar national mapping into a smaller physical format.

That creates an obvious trade-off:

Handy Atlas Advantages

• easier to store

• lighter to carry

• convenient for short trips

• suitable as a backup atlas

• less cumbersome inside a small vehicle

Road & 4WD Atlas Advantages

• larger pages

• larger text and symbols

• easier to read while travelling

• better for table-based trip planning

• more comfortable for extended journeys

Best For

Choose the Hema Handy Atlas when:

• storage space is limited

• you drive a smaller vehicle

• you want a national paper backup

• your travel is mainly on established roads

• you want an atlas that can remain in the car permanently

• portability matters more than large print

Main Limitation

The smaller page format means that the mapping is less comfortable to read, particularly for travellers who prefer larger type.

For a long caravan journey or the Big Lap, the larger Hema Road & 4WD Atlas is generally the better primary reference.

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3. Hema Australia Touring Atlas

Best for General Touring and Highway Travel

The Hema Australia Touring Atlas occupies the middle ground between the compact Handy Atlas and the more adventure-oriented Road & 4WD Atlas.

The current 13th Edition is spiral bound and designed for motorists undertaking:

• interstate journeys

• caravan tours

• family holidays

• regional travel

• conventional road trips

Its emphasis is on practical touring rather than the most demanding off-road exploration.

This makes it a strong choice for travellers who:

• primarily remain on highways and established regional roads

• want a larger atlas than the Handy edition

• do not need an especially strong four-wheel-drive emphasis

• value clear touring information and route planning

Road & 4WD Atlas vs Touring Atlas

The Road & 4WD Atlas is the stronger choice for travellers combining road touring with remote tracks, outback routes and four-wheel-drive regions.

The Touring Atlas is more naturally suited to:

• caravanners using established routes

• family road trips

• weekend touring

• interstate highway travel

• travellers seeking a straightforward national atlas

Both are useful physical companions to digital navigation.

The better choice depends on how far beyond the principal road network you intend to travel.

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4. UBD Gregory’s Touring Atlas of Australia

Best Large-Format Atlas for Conventional Road Touring

UBD Gregory’s remains one of the best-known names in Australian street and road mapping.

The Touring Atlas of Australia, 31st Edition, released in 2026, is a large-format 136-page atlas designed for national road travel.

Its particularly strong features include:

• large pages

• broad national road coverage

• clear conventional road cartography

• more than 1,900 highlighted rest areas

• rest-area classifications

• toilet facilities

• free and low-cost camping information

• visitor information centres

The large physical format makes it useful for planning around:

• a kitchen table

• a caravan table

• a motel room

• a vehicle during rest stops

Hema Road Atlas vs UBD Touring Atlas

This is one of the most common comparisons made by Australian travellers.

Neither publisher is automatically better in every situation.

They have different traditional strengths.

Choose Hema When You Prioritise

• four-wheel-drive travel

• unsealed-road information

• remote-area touring

• campsites and roadhouses

• adventure regions

• Hema’s field-oriented cartographic style

• compatibility with other Hema regional maps and guides

Choose UBD Gregory’s When You Prioritise

• conventional motoring

• large-format pages

• clear road-atlas presentation

• extensive rest-area information

• familiar UBD cartography

• highway and regional touring

For a conventional sealed-road holiday, the UBD Touring Atlas is a strong and economical choice.

For a mixed sealed, unsealed and remote journey, Hema remains the more versatile starting point.

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5. UBD Gregory’s Complete Motoring Atlas of Australia

Best UBD Atlas for Regional Town Maps

The UBD Gregory’s Complete Motoring Atlas of Australia, 10th Edition is a more comprehensive and substantial reference than the basic touring atlas.

It contains approximately 220 pages and is spiral bound for practical use.

One of its principal advantages is the inclusion of 116 regional town maps.

It also provides:

• national road coverage

• state mapping

• intercity routes

• visitor information centre locations

• distance charts

• fuel-consumption planning references

• regional touring information

This makes it particularly useful for travellers who regularly move between:

• highways

• regional towns

• larger provincial centres

• metropolitan approaches

Best For

Choose the Complete Motoring Atlas when:

• regional town mapping is important

• your journey includes many intermediate towns

• you prefer UBD Gregory’s cartographic style

• you want spiral binding

• you travel extensively but mainly on conventional roads

Compared with Hema

The UBD Complete Motoring Atlas is especially strong for towns, cities and conventional motoring.

The Hema Road & 4WD Atlas has the advantage for:

• remote travel

• unsealed routes

• four-wheel-drive planning

• camping-oriented information

• adventure regions

For some travellers, the ideal combination is:

1. a Hema national atlas for regional and remote context;

2. a UBD street directory for detailed metropolitan navigation.

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Hema vs UBD Gregory’s: Which Road Atlas Is Better?

Feature	Hema Road & 4WD Atlas	UBD Touring and Motoring Atlases
National road coverage	Excellent	Excellent
Remote and outback emphasis	Strong	Moderate
Four-wheel-drive information	Strong	Limited to moderate
Regional towns	Strong	Particularly strong in Complete Motoring Atlas
Metropolitan street detail	Limited	UBD’s traditional strength
Camping and touring information	Strong	Strong, particularly rest areas
Unsealed-road planning	Strong	Good for principal regional routes
Adventure-region mapping	Strong	Less specialised
Page readability	Excellent in large Hema edition	Excellent in large UBD Touring Atlas
Compact option	Hema Handy Atlas	Other smaller UBD atlases may be available
Best for caravanners	Excellent	Excellent for established routes
Best for 4WD touring	Hema	Hema generally preferable
Best for urban navigation	Pair with a city directory	UBD generally preferable

The choice can be summarised simply:

Hema is generally stronger for touring beyond the main highway network.

UBD Gregory’s is generally stronger for conventional motoring, towns and metropolitan detail.

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6. Hema Australia Large Folded Map

Best Single Folded Road Map of Australia

Travellers who prefer seeing the whole country at once should consider the Hema Australia Large Folded Map.

It unfolds to approximately 1000 × 875 mm at a scale of 1:4,500,000.

The map shows:

• sealed roads

• unsealed roads

• selected four-wheel-drive tracks

• national parks

• conservation areas

• World Heritage areas

• fuel stops

• roadhouses

• campsites

• rest areas

• terrain shading

• capital-city insets

• road distances

Why a Folded Map Is Different from an Atlas

An atlas divides Australia across many pages.

That permits greater detail.

A folded national map presents the entire country in one continuous view.

This makes it better for:

• planning the complete Big Lap

• comparing interstate routes

• understanding regional relationships

• seeing alternative corridors

• group planning

• gaining a permanent overview of the journey

It is particularly useful before departure, when the purpose is to design the journey rather than navigate every road junction.

Best For

Choose the Hema Large Folded Map when:

• you want to see all of Australia at once

• you are planning a long multi-state journey

• several people are planning together

• you want a lightweight glovebox map

• you already have digital navigation for local directions

Main Limitation

A single-sheet national map cannot provide the same road detail as a multi-page atlas.

It is best used with:

• a road atlas

• relevant state maps

• regional maps

• digital navigation

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7. UBD Gregory’s Australia 180 Folded Map

Best Folded Map for Capital-City Insets

The UBD Gregory’s Australia 180 Folded Map is another useful national overview.

It measures approximately 1000 × 690 mm when unfolded and has a scale of 1:5,800,000.

It includes:

• major and minor roads

• sealed and unsealed routes

• towns

• remote homesteads

• national parks

• reserves

• Aboriginal lands

• railways

• capital-city inset maps

• a distance chart

• time-zone mapping

• climate and rainfall maps

• a comprehensive place-name index

Hema Folded Map vs UBD Australia 180

Choose the Hema map when your priority is:

• touring information

• terrain

• fuel and roadhouses

• campsites and rest areas

• unsealed and four-wheel-drive travel

Choose the UBD Australia 180 when your priority is:

• a conventional road overview

• capital-city insets

• an extensive index

• distance, climate and time-zone references

• familiar UBD road cartography

Both are useful planning maps.

Neither replaces a detailed atlas for complex regional navigation.

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Folded Map vs Road Atlas

This is not simply a choice between two versions of the same product.

Folded maps and atlases perform different jobs.

Advantages of a Folded Map

A folded map provides:

• one continuous national or state view

• strong regional context

• easy route comparison

• low weight

• compact storage when folded

• simple group planning

• a useful emergency overview

It is best for seeing the journey as a whole.

Disadvantages of a Folded Map

• less detail than an atlas

• can be awkward inside a vehicle

• vulnerable to wind

• fold lines wear with repeated use

• difficult to keep open on one small section

• limited room for indexes and town maps

Advantages of a Road Atlas

A road atlas provides:

• more detailed mapping

• larger map scales

• clearer road labelling

• extensive indexes

• town maps

• touring information

• easier use on a table

• pages that remain organised by region

Spiral-bound atlases are particularly convenient because they remain open without needing to be held flat.

Disadvantages of a Road Atlas

• larger and heavier

• the complete journey is divided across pages

• less suitable for displaying an entire route at once

• can take up substantial glovebox space

The Best Combination

For a major Australian journey, carry both:

1. a large folded Australia map for the overall route;

2. a road atlas for detailed regional navigation.

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State Touring Maps

A national atlas is an excellent starting point, but it cannot show every useful road and local attraction.

Travellers spending significant time in one state should add a current state map.

Hema state maps are available for:

• New South Wales

• Victoria

• Queensland

• Western Australia

• South Australia

• Tasmania

• the Northern Territory

Browse Mapworld’s Maps of Australia collection or the complete Hema Maps collection.

State maps generally provide more detail than a national folded map and can show:

• secondary roads

• unsealed roads

• national parks

• rest areas

• campsites

• fuel

• regional attractions

• road distances

• metropolitan approaches

• town insets

When to Buy a State Map

Add a state map when:

• you will spend more than a few days in the state

• you plan to leave the principal highways

• you want to compare scenic routes

• you need a clearer view of regional roads

• the journey includes several national parks

• you are towing a caravan through unfamiliar country

For many trips, a national atlas plus one or two state maps provides the right balance between coverage and detail.

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Regional Touring Maps

Regional maps go another step further.

They focus on areas such as:

• Cape York

• the Kimberley

• the Pilbara

• the Flinders Ranges

• Central Australia

• the Red Centre

• the Top End

• the Victorian High Country

• outback Queensland

• outback New South Wales

• the Simpson Desert

They may show:

• minor tracks

• station roads

• camping areas

• water

• fuel

• permits

• access information

• national-park facilities

• track classifications

• detailed points of interest

Representative products include:

• Cape York Atlas & Guide

• Cape York Hema Map

• Great Desert Tracks Map Pack

• Top End and Gulf Hema Map

• Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas

Why a National Atlas Is Not Enough for Remote Travel

A national atlas must compress an enormous amount of information.

A track that appears as a simple line may involve:

• permits

• seasonal closures

• difficult crossings

• limited fuel

• long distances without services

• vehicle restrictions

• private land

• Aboriginal land access

Regional products can provide a much more useful planning framework.

They must still be used with current information from:

• road authorities

• national parks

• local communities

• visitor centres

• police

• land managers

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The Best Road Maps for Caravan Travel

Caravan travellers need more than a line showing the highway.

They need to consider:

• realistic daily distances

• rest areas

• fuel

• caravan parks

• free and low-cost camping

• road surfaces

• mountain roads

• town access

• alternative overnight stops

• remote sections

• seasonal conditions

Recommended Caravan Map Kit

A strong caravan setup includes:

1. Hema Road & 4WD Atlas

Use this as the main national reference.

2. Hema Large Folded Australia Map

Use it to see the complete journey and compare alternative routes.

3. State Maps

Carry a detailed map for every state in which you will spend substantial time.

4. Camps or Caravan-Park Guide

A dedicated guide adds more detailed accommodation and camping information than a general atlas can provide.

5. Offline Digital Maps

Download relevant areas before leaving reliable mobile coverage.

6. Current Road Information

Check road conditions before remote or weather-sensitive stages.

Browse Mapworld’s 4WD, Camping and Caravan Maps.

Best Choice for the Big Lap

For a full circuit of Australia, begin with:

• Hema Road & 4WD Atlas

• Hema Large Folded Australia Map

• relevant Hema state maps

• Camps Australia Wide or Caravan Parks Australia Wide

• region-specific maps for remote side trips

The national atlas provides continuity while the additional maps supply the greater local detail.

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The Best Road Maps for Four-Wheel Driving

Four-wheel-drive travellers require more detailed and specialised mapping than ordinary road tourists.

A general road atlas may identify a track without explaining:

• its condition

• its difficulty

• whether it is open

• whether permits are needed

• whether fuel is available

• whether a trailer is suitable

• whether the track is affected by weather

Recommended 4WD Map Kit

For serious four-wheel driving, carry:

1. the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas;

2. a relevant regional folded map;

3. a regional atlas and guide where available;

4. topographic maps for detailed terrain where required;

5. offline digital mapping;

6. current access and road-condition information.

Why Hema Is Strong for 4WD Travel

Hema has built its reputation around Australian touring and remote-area mapping.

Its product family allows travellers to move from:

• national overview

• to state mapping

• to regional touring

• to route-specific mapping

This consistency is valuable when planning complex expeditions.

Read Hema Maps Explained for a broader explanation of Hema’s mapping system.

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The Best Road Maps for General Touring

Not every road trip involves desert tracks or remote four-wheel-drive travel.

For ordinary family holidays, coastal journeys and interstate highway travel, a simpler combination may be sufficient.

Recommended General-Touring Kit

• Hema Touring Atlas or UBD Touring Atlas

• one folded Australia map

• state map for the main destination

• Google Maps or another digital navigation system

• downloaded offline areas

This combination provides:

• overall context

• turn-by-turn guidance

• an independent paper reference

• regional alternatives

• current traffic and business information

A smaller Hema Handy Atlas may be enough for travellers who:

• remain on principal roads

• take short trips

• have limited vehicle storage

• mainly want paper backup

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Paper Maps vs Laminated Maps

Road maps are commonly available as folded paper, flat laminated or pre-folded laminated products.

The right finish depends on how the map will be used.

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Folded Paper Maps

Advantages

• lightweight

• compact

• inexpensive

• easy to store

• ideal for gloveboxes

• suitable for occasional travel

• easier to refold than heavily laminated maps

Disadvantages

• vulnerable to water

• fold lines eventually weaken

• can tear in wind

• unsuitable for repeated whiteboard marking

• harder to keep clean

Folded paper remains the most practical format for many ordinary motorists.

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Pre-Folded and Laminated Maps

A folded map can be laminated while retaining its fold pattern.

Advantages

• greater resistance to water and dirt

• increased durability

• suitable for repeated handling

• useful in caravans, four-wheel drives and field vehicles

• can generally be marked with suitable whiteboard markers

Disadvantages

• thicker when folded

• heavier

• may become bulky in a glovebox

• repeated folding eventually stresses laminate joints

• more expensive than plain paper

This format is particularly useful for travellers who repeatedly use the same state or regional map.

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Flat Laminated Maps

A large flat laminated road map is best suited to:

• home trip planning

• caravan walls

• offices

• club rooms

• expedition planning rooms

• transport operations

It can be marked with:

• whiteboard markers

• map dots

• temporary route lines

• overnight-stop symbols

A flat laminated national map provides an excellent permanent overview but is not convenient to unfold inside a vehicle.

For travel, combine the wall map with an atlas or folded version.

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Which Map Format Should You Choose?

Use	Recommended format
Occasional road trip	Folded paper map
Permanent glovebox backup	Compact atlas or folded paper map
Long caravan journey	Spiral atlas plus folded state maps
Frequent regional touring	Pre-folded laminated map
Remote expedition	Atlas plus durable regional maps
Home planning	Flat laminated wall map
Group trip planning	Large folded or laminated map
School or club use	Laminated wall map
Detailed in-vehicle navigation	Spiral-bound atlas

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How Current Should a Road Map Be?

Road maps do not become useless the moment a new edition appears.

Most major highways, towns and geographic relationships remain stable.

However, current mapping becomes more important in areas affected by:

• new bypasses

• motorway extensions

• expanding suburbs

• changed road classifications

• new rest areas

• removed services

• altered park access

• renamed roads

• changing four-wheel-drive access

Before buying, check:

• edition number

• publication date

• whether a newer edition exists

• whether current road information is required for the journey

Mapworld aims to supply the current editions available from publishers.

Historical or superseded products should not be relied upon for current navigation.

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Can a Paper Road Map Replace Google Maps?

Not completely.

Paper and digital maps have different strengths.

Google Maps Is Better For

• live traffic

• precise address searches

• turn-by-turn directions

• urban intersections

• business opening hours

• estimated arrival times

• automatic rerouting

Paper Road Maps Are Better For

• regional context

• comparing broad routes

• spatial awareness

• group planning

• seeing the whole journey

• independent offline reference

• understanding what lies beyond the calculated route

The most reliable approach is to use both.

Read Paper Maps vs Google Maps: Which Is Better for Trip Planning? for a detailed comparison.

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Choosing the Best Australian Road Map

Ask these questions before buying.

1. How Far Are You Travelling?

For a short local journey, a state or regional map may be enough.

For an interstate journey, begin with a national atlas.

2. Will You Leave Sealed Roads?

For ordinary highways, a touring atlas is suitable.

For unsealed and four-wheel-drive travel, choose Hema and add regional products.

3. How Much Space Is Available?

A large atlas is easier to read.

A compact atlas is easier to store.

4. Do You Need Town Maps?

UBD Gregory’s motoring atlases are particularly useful where regional town and urban mapping matter.

5. Are You Towing a Caravan?

Look for:

• fuel

• rest areas

• caravan parks

• road surfaces

• regional route alternatives

• camping information

6. Will You Travel Remotely?

Add:

• detailed regional maps

• offline digital maps

• current road-condition information

• communications equipment

• topographic mapping where appropriate

7. Is the Map Mainly for Planning?

Choose a large folded or laminated map.

8. Is the Map Mainly for Use in the Vehicle?

Choose a spiral atlas or compact folded map.

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Mapworld’s Recommended Map Combinations

Weekend Road Trip

• Hema Handy Atlas

• destination state map

• digital navigation

Interstate Family Holiday

• Hema Touring Atlas or UBD Touring Atlas

• large folded Australia map

• destination state map

Caravan Journey

• Hema Road & 4WD Atlas

• Hema Large Folded Australia Map

• state touring maps

• camping or caravan-park guide

• offline digital mapping

Big Lap of Australia

• Hema Road & 4WD Atlas

• national folded map

• individual state maps

• regional maps for major side trips

• Camps Australia Wide

• Caravan Parks Australia Wide

• digital navigation and offline mapping

Remote 4WD Expedition

• Hema Road & 4WD Atlas

• route-specific Hema or Westprint map

• regional atlas and guide

• relevant topographic maps

• offline digital maps

• current road and access information

Urban and Regional Business Travel

• UBD Gregory’s Complete Motoring Atlas

• current city street directory

• state folded map

• digital navigation

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Why Buy Australian Road Maps from Mapworld?

Mapworld developed from Australia’s largest chain of physical specialist map shops into Australia’s largest online map shop.

The business has more than three decades of experience helping customers select:

• road maps

• atlases

• topographic maps

• nautical charts

• wall maps

• globes

• navigation equipment

Mapworld stocks products from major Australian publishers, including:

• Hema Maps

• UBD Gregory’s

• Westprint

• Cartographics

• Quality Publishing Australia

• Geoscience Australia

The difference between Mapworld and a general bookshop is range and specialist knowledge.

A general retailer may stock several bestselling atlases.

Mapworld can help combine:

• a national atlas

• a folded overview

• state maps

• regional four-wheel-drive maps

• topographic sheets

• camping guides

• navigation equipment

Browse:

• Maps of Australia

• Road Atlases

• Hema Maps

• 4WD, Camping and Caravan Maps

• Australian Topographic Maps

• Navigational Equipment

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Final Verdict

So, what is the best Australian road atlas for 2026?

Best Overall

The Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas is the best all-round choice for travellers who want one comprehensive national reference covering highways, regional roads, unsealed routes, camping information and selected four-wheel-drive tracks.

Best Compact Choice

The Hema Australia Handy Atlas is best for travellers wanting similar national coverage in a smaller format that fits easily into a vehicle.

Best for Conventional Touring

The Hema Australia Touring Atlas and UBD Gregory’s Touring Atlas of Australia are both excellent for highway-based road trips, caravanning and family holidays.

Best for Regional Towns

The UBD Gregory’s Complete Motoring Atlas is particularly useful for travellers who value detailed regional town maps and conventional road information.

Best Single Folded Map

The Hema Australia Large Folded Map offers the strongest combination of national overview, terrain and touring information.

Best for Serious Four-Wheel Driving

Use the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas together with detailed regional maps and guides.

Best for Caravan Travel

Use a large Hema atlas, a national folded map, current state maps and a dedicated camping or caravan-park guide.

The most important principle is not to expect one map to do everything.

A national road atlas shows how the country connects.

A folded map shows the whole journey.

A state map reveals regional alternatives.

A detailed regional map helps when the bitumen ends.

Digital navigation provides live directions.

Together, they create a far more complete and dependable travel-planning system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best road map of Australia?

The Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas is the best all-round national road atlas for most travellers. It combines sealed roads, unsealed roads, selected four-wheel-drive tracks, campsites, fuel and touring information.

What is the best Australian road atlas for caravanning?

The Hema Australia Road & 4WD Atlas is the strongest general choice. Pair it with state maps and a current camping or caravan-park guide.

Is Hema better than UBD?

Hema is generally stronger for touring, camping, remote roads and four-wheel-drive travel. UBD Gregory’s is traditionally stronger for conventional motoring, regional towns, city mapping and street directories.

What is the difference between the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas and the Handy Atlas?

Both provide national coverage. The Road & 4WD Atlas has larger pages and is easier to read. The Handy Atlas is smaller, lighter and easier to store.

Is the Hema Handy Atlas detailed enough for travelling around Australia?

It is suitable for national touring and use as a paper backup. Travellers visiting remote or complex regions should also carry detailed state and regional maps.

Is a folded map better than an atlas?

A folded map is better for seeing the entire journey at once. An atlas provides more detail, better indexes and more regional information. For major journeys, carry both.

Which map is best for doing the Big Lap?

Begin with the Hema Road & 4WD Atlas and the Hema Large Folded Australia Map. Add current state maps, camping guides and detailed regional products for remote side trips.

What is the best Australian road map for four-wheel driving?

The Hema Road & 4WD Atlas is the best national starting point. It should be supplemented with route-specific Hema or Westprint maps for serious remote travel.

Should I buy a paper or laminated road map?

Paper is lighter, cheaper and easier to fold. Lamination is more durable and water resistant. A laminated map is best for frequent use, while paper suits occasional touring.

Are spiral-bound road atlases better?

Spiral-bound atlases remain open on the required page, making them easier to use in vehicles and during trip planning.

Do I still need a paper road map if I use Google Maps?

A paper map provides regional context, alternative routes and an independent offline reference. It is best used alongside digital navigation rather than instead of it.

Where can I buy Australian road maps online?

Mapworld stocks national road atlases, folded Australia maps, state maps, regional maps, four-wheel-drive guides and touring products with delivery throughout Australia.

Does Mapworld stock current Hema maps?

Yes. Mapworld carries Hema road atlases, state maps, regional touring maps, four-wheel-drive products, wall maps and guides.

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