The Travel Vlogging Gear I Use to Film Solo Adventures Around Australia

My Complete Travel Vlogger Gear Setup (What I Actually Use on the Road)

If you've ever wondered how I film my travel content solo and while living on the road, this guide covers every piece of gear I actually use.

Over the years I've tested plenty of cameras, accessories and gadgets. Some were worth every dollar, others ended up collecting dust in a drawer. The gear below is what I currently use to film YouTube videos, Instagram Reels, TikToks and travel photography while exploring Australia solo.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to upgrade your setup, these are the tools I rely on every day.

My Philosophy on Travel Vlogging Gear

Before we jump into the gear list, here's something I wish someone had told me when I started:

You do not need the most expensive camera to create great content.

Good storytelling, audio and consistency matter far more than having the latest equipment. Most of my favourite clips have been filmed with simple, lightweight gear that allows me to capture moments quickly while travelling.

Camera #1: DJI Osmo Action 5 

Why I Use It:

After using GoPro cameras for years, I made the switch to the DJI Osmo Action 5 about a year ago and honestly, it was a game changer.

What I love most about this camera is how versatile it is. It's small enough to fit in my pocket, lightweight enough to carry around all day, and makes it easy to capture those spontaneous moments while travelling. The image quality is incredible, with vibrant colours, excellent stabilisation, and crisp 4K footage that looks fantastic straight out of the camera.

When I first switched to DJI, I was a little sceptical about the magnetic mounting system. I worried it might not be secure enough, especially for the kind of adventures I film. But after attaching it to my 4WD on rough tracks, taking it snorkelling and diving, and using it in all sorts of conditions, it has never once come loose.

In fact, the magnetic mount has become one of my favourite features. Being able to quickly move the camera between different mounts saves so much time when you're filming solo and trying to capture multiple angles.

At the moment, this is actually the only action camera I use. Could I make filming easier with multiple cameras? Absolutely. But if there's one thing I've learned as a content creator, it's that you don't need every piece of gear straight away. It's easy to get caught up thinking you need the latest equipment, but the reality is you can create amazing content with the gear you already have.

If you're looking for a reliable, versatile action camera that can handle everything from road trips to underwater adventures, this would be my top recommendation.

DJI OSMO Action 5 

What I Use It For

• Walking shots
• Travel vlogs
• Campsite content
• Daily adventures
• Instagram Reels (when cropped down from Youtube) 
• B-roll

What I Love

• Compact and lightweight
• Excellent low-light performance
• Built-in stabilisation
• Easy to set up quickly
• Some of the best quality underwater shots

Camera #2: iPhone 16 Pro Max

Believe it or not, one of the most-used cameras in my setup isn't a dedicated camera at all - it's my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

While I use my DJI Osmo Action 5 for the majority of my travel videos, my phone is what I reach for when creating short-form content specifically for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Pinterest. If a reel hasn't been repurposed from my YouTube footage, there's a good chance it was filmed on my iPhone.

One of the biggest advantages of using your phone is that it's always within reach. When a beautiful sunset appears, wildlife suddenly pops up, or you spot an incredible view while driving, you don't have to dig through your camera bag, you can simply pull out your phone and start filming.

I also love using my iPhone for zoomed-in shots. It allows me to capture details that would be difficult to get with my action camera, helping add variety and depth to my content.

And of course, it's not just for video. The camera quality is incredible for travel photography, making it easy to capture high-quality photos for social media, blog posts, and memories from the road.

If you're just getting started with content creation, this is probably the most important thing I can tell you:

The best camera is the one you already own.

Before investing thousands of dollars into cameras and equipment, learn how to tell stories, frame your shots, and create engaging content using your phone. Some of my best-performing content has been filmed on my iPhone, and it's proof that you don't need expensive gear to get started.

But please remember to clean your camera! It can really make or break Iphone footage! 

Why I Love It

• Always on hand

• Perfect for short-form content

• Great zoom capabilities

• Incredible photo quality

• No extra gear required

• Beginner-friendly

Camera #3: DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone

If there is one piece of gear that completely transforms my travel content, it's my DJI Mini 4 Pro.

There's something about drone footage that tells the story of a destination in a way ground-level shots simply can't. Whether I'm camping on a remote beach, driving along the coast, or exploring isolated stretches of 4WD track, the drone helps capture the scale and beauty of a place from an entirely different perspective.

As a travel creator, I rely heavily on drone footage for establishing shots. It instantly gives viewers context of where I am and helps create that cinematic, story-driven feel in my videos. Some of my favourite clips are captured at sunrise and sunset when the light hits the landscape just right and everything feels a bit more cinematic from above.

Lately, I've also started filming my drone footage in D-Log, which has been a bit of a learning curve but honestly a game changer for my editing workflow. Shooting in a flatter colour profile gives me so much more flexibility in post-production, especially when it comes to colour grading. At first it felt intimidating, but the more I practice, the more control I have over the final look of my videos and it's really elevated the overall quality of my content.

One of the reasons I chose the Mini 4 Pro is because it's compact and travel-friendly. Space is always limited when you're living and travelling on the road, so having a drone that packs down small without sacrificing image quality is a huge advantage.

That said, I don't think a drone is essential when you're first starting out. While it can definitely elevate your content, I'd always prioritise learning how to shoot consistently and tell good stories before investing heavily in extra gear. Once you've got the basics covered, a drone becomes an incredible tool for taking your content to the next level.

What I Use It For

• Establishing shots

• Beach and coastline footage

• Campsite overviews

• 4WD adventures

• Scenic landscapes

• Sunrise and sunset content

• "Follow me" function is perfect for solo photohraphy

Why I Love It

• Incredible image quality

• Compact and easy to travel with

• Great battery life

• Beginner-friendly flight features

• Cinematic aerial footage

• Helps showcase destinations from a unique perspective

• Ability to shoot in D-Log for more advanced colour grading

One of my favourite things about drone footage is that it allows me to show just how remote and beautiful some of the places I visit really are. It's often the shot that ties an entire story together.

DJI Mini 4 Pro 

Camera #4: Sony A7III

This is my go-to camera when I want to slow things down and focus on more intentional shooting.

I mainly use the Sony A7III for still photography when I actually have the time to set up a shot properly, think about composition, and create something a bit more polished. It’s not the camera I grab for quick, on-the-go filming, but when I do use it, the image quality is absolutely worth it.

It’s also the camera I use for cooking segments in my YouTube videos. There’s something about the depth, colour, and overall look it produces that makes food and close-up shots feel really cinematic and professional.

That said, I want to be really clear: you do not need this camera to start travel vlogging. This was a personal upgrade I bought for myself as a bonus once I was already creating content consistently. In fact, I actually use this camera the least out of all my gear.

When I’m travelling and filming day-to-day content, I rely far more on my smaller, more portable cameras. This one is reserved for more intentional shoots when I have time to slow down and create something specific.

Why I Love It

• Incredible image quality for still photography

• Beautiful depth and colour rendering

• Perfect for food and cooking content

• Great for more intentional, cinematic shots

• Produces a more polished “hero shot” look for YouTube segments

If my other cameras are for capturing life as it happens, this one is for slowing down and creating something more crafted.

Sony A7iii Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with 28-70mm Lens

My Favourite Travel Accessories

Tripod

I personally use two (full sized) tripods in my setup, one compact travel tripod for hikes and quick setups, and one extra-tall tripod for more controlled filming like cooking segments or static shots.

The compact tripod is what I take with me when I’m hiking or moving around a lot. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and perfect for those quick moments where I want to set up a shot without carrying extra weight.

The full-size tripod is what I use when I need more stability and flexibility with angles. It’s especially helpful for cooking content on my YouTube channel, where I want a higher, more controlled angle and a stable frame for longer filming sessions.

One thing I’ve learned over time is that you do not need expensive tripods. I’ve honestly broken more tripods than I care to admit, and what matters far more than the price is whether it’s sturdy enough to hold your camera securely.

If there is one tip I can give you, it’s this: get a tripod with a hook underneath the centre column.

This has saved me so many times in windy conditions. When I’m filming outdoors, especially along the coast or in exposed camping areas. I’ll hang my bag from the hook to add extra weight. It makes a huge difference in keeping the tripod stable and stopping it from tipping over in strong wind.

ARTCISE Camera Tripod for Camera, 159 cm (compact) 

Camera Tripod 190cm Lightweight (Tall) 

Compact Tripod / Selfie Stick (Osmo & Phone) 

This is one of my most-used “quick setup” pieces of gear when I’m filming on the go.

It’s a phone tripod and selfie stick combo that I mainly use for fast, lightweight setups where I don’t want to carry my full-size tripod.

What makes it so useful is how simple it is. It folds down compact enough to easily store in my bag or car, but extends tall enough to get proper filming angles for both phone and camera content. It also has a small pop-out base stand, which makes setup really quick when I’m stopping briefly to film clips.

One of the biggest advantages for me is that it works with both my phone and my DJI Osmo Action camera. I can switch between devices without having to constantly change mounting heads, which saves time and makes filming a lot more seamless when I’m moving quickly between shots.

Downsides (Being Honest)

As much as I use it, it’s not perfect.

The main limitation is that the base doesn’t fully adjust for uneven surfaces. So if I’m on rocky ground or uneven ground, it can be a bit unstable compared to a proper full-size tripod. In those situations, I’ll always switch back to my sturdier setup.

Overall, this is one of those “grab and go” tools that makes solo travel filming much easier. It’s not meant to replace a full tripod - but it’s perfect for quick, flexible content when you don’t want to overthink your setup.

Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick

SD Cards & Storage

This is one of those behind-the-scenes parts of travel vlogging that no one really talks about, but it’s absolutely essential.

For my main storage, I use the SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD. The biggest reason I switched to SSDs over traditional hard drives is durability. When you’re constantly travelling, bouncing around in a 4WD, and filming in remote locations, gear gets knocked around a lot. SSDs are much more resistant to movement and impact, which gives me a lot more peace of mind when it comes to storing footage.

I also learned this the hard way, I've accidentally wiped hard drives before, and losing footage is one of the worst feelings as a creator. Because of that, I now prefer using multiple smaller 1TB drives instead of one large drive that holds everything. It just feels safer and more manageable.

For SD cards, I typically use SanDisk Extreme cards (around 100–200GB) in my cameras. They’re fast, reliable, and handle 4K recording without issues, which is really important when you're filming a lot of high-resolution content on the road.

My workflow is pretty simple:

* Film on SD cards
* Regularly transfer footage to my SSD
* Clear SD cards and reuse them

This rotation system keeps everything backed up and reduces the risk of losing entire trips worth of content.

One thing I’d strongly recommend is never leaving footage sitting only on your camera cards for too long. It only takes one mistake, corrupted file, or damaged card to lose something you can’t replace.

At the end of the day, storage might not feel like the exciting part of content creation, but it’s what protects all the footage you’ve worked so hard to capture.

Audio: DJI Mic Pro + DJI Mic Mini

There’s nothing worse, in my opinion, than watching a YouTube video or listening to a podcast where the wind or background noise completely drowns out what someone is saying. More often than not, I’ll skip straight past the video if it’s consistently hard to hear.

That’s exactly why audio became such an important part of my setup.

I actually use two different microphones in my setup, depending on what I’m filming and how much control I need over the audio.

DJI Mic Pro

This was my original go-to mic for everything - YouTube, podcasting-style content, and more structured filming setups.

I bought the DJI Mic Pro because I wanted more control and flexibility over my audio, especially for longer-form content. One of the biggest advantages is that it allows me to record on separate channels, which gives me way more options when it comes to editing and balancing audio later on.

It also has more advanced audio settings compared to simpler setups, which is really helpful when I want more precision in post-production. I can connect it easily to my camera, phone, and DJI Osmo, which makes it quite versatile across different types of shoots.

DJI Mic 3 (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case)

DJI Mic Mini

This one was actually gifted to me, and I didn’t expect to use it as much as I do but it quickly became my everyday mic.

What I love most about the DJI Mic Mini is how simple and lightweight it is. It’s small, compact, and incredibly easy to use when I’m filming day-to-day content on the road.

It connects effortlessly via Bluetooth to my phone or DJI Osmo, and the smaller receiver makes it much less bulky compared to more advanced setups. When I’m travelling, hiking, or filming spontaneous moments, I naturally reach for this one more often just because it’s so quick to set up.

The DJI Mic Mini doesn’t typically connect directly to your camera via Bluetooth. Like most wireless camera mics, it generally works through its receiver, which then plugs into your camera (or phone / DJI devices depending on setup).

DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 Mobile RX)

My Honest Take

If I’m being completely honest, the Mic Pro is what I use when I want more control and a “polished” audio setup. But the Mic Mini is what I actually reach for most of the time because it fits better with my travel lifestyle and its the more budget friendly option so for most, this would be the clear winner! 

It’s a good reminder that the most advanced gear isn’t always the most useful in day-to-day content creation.

Final Thoughts

Travel vlogging doesn't require a massive budget or a suitcase full of equipment.

Start with what you have, focus on telling great stories and upgrade your gear as your skills grow.

The best camera is the one you actually use.

I hope this guide gives you a realistic look at the gear I use to create travel content while exploring Australia solo.

Sarah Rose Foster x