Hello Jane - trust me, if you have driven across Australia - whether north south or east west, you will have already experienced the vastness of the camino! You did it in a car and this will be (I am presuming) on foot, and no doubt they take about the same time, but you will have the opportunity to absorb every little thing that you see on the Camino:- the ants crawling along the ground, the slugs, the beautiful and stark Meseta, the grass silhouetted against a sunrise or sunset, the chatter (and the snoring!) of pilgrims in the albergues and so on. I could give you an endless list, and after your Camino you will have your very own list of the exciting, exhilarating, and interesting things you will have seen, heard and smelt!
Almost 30 years ago, when my husband died of a brain tumor, leaving me with two little babies aged 18 months and 3 months, I adopted as my motto "live each day as if it is my last" and also decided that I would try to never end a day without saying what I wanted to say to the people who are important to me. Of course in those early years I was terribly busy, but now it is my time for "adventure" My two wonderful sons just nod and raise their eyebrows when Mum announces which Camino she is doing next (and my youngest even walked with me on one for a week last time!)! We only have a limited time on this wonderful earth, and none of us knows how long that will be and so - yes we do have to grasp life with both hands and get out there and "do" (travelling / working / volunteering - and LIVING!)
Happy planning for your Camino. Enjoy and be exhilarated, regards, Janet