The Law family watch the sun rise at Uluru, NT
Our decision to travel around Australia was an easy one. In fact, so easy we made it on a whim as we were driving back from a family road trip.
We had spent five magical weeks living in our house on wheels, creating memories as a family of four and experiencing life off the beaten track. Now that it was coming to an end, the mood in the car was undeniably flat. That was when my husband and I looked at each other and asked: “Why not just keep going? Why does the adventure have to end now?”
At that very moment we decided to dust off our long-term dream and take off on a half lap of Australia. It was as if all the road signs we passed that day were reinforcing our decision. Stop. Slow down. Give Way. Take a break.
We needed to stop waiting for the right time, because the right time was staring us in the face. The connection and family dynamic were stronger than ever, the kids at seven and 11 years, were at the perfect age to travel.
It was that simple. No planning, no savings, no budget … just a feeling and an almighty hunch that we only have one life, we may as well live it now. That hunch was what led us down a great old dusty road into the unknown and on our six-month Aussie adventure.
A half lap of Australia was the perfect solution and is fast becoming a popular choice for Australian travellers as it is more accessible, affordable, achievable, and economical with over 15 million Australians now embarking on caravan and camping trips.
Upon making our decision, we returned home and allowed ourselves three weeks to get organised, pack up the house for rental, prepare the car and caravan, load the ‘rig’ and set off. This would be our time to explore our great motherland, connect as a family unit on the road and take a bite-sized chunk out of the Australian map, and areas we had never explored.
Awaiting us were orange-hued outback sunsets, white sandy beaches, remote outback towns, natural waterholes, hot mineral springs, cattle stations, epic stargazing and, of course, a whole lot of red dust!
Live life by a compass
In terms of itinerary, we were accustomed to ‘winging it’ and decided that worked better for us to allow for flexibility and spontaneity. We drew a rough map of which direction we would like to head (Victoria to SA, up to NT then WA and home) and decided the rest would take care of itself.
We wanted to ensure we had a combination of free camping and caravan park sites to mix things up a bit, and rarely did we have any issues finding a place to stay in each town due to not travelling during the peak time. A benefit of not booking ahead, meant that we could stay longer if we fall in love with a place or leave earlier if we didn’t. The only campsites we had to book in advance were in Ningaloo, Cape Range National Park WA as the WA Parks site allows you to book beachfront sites up to 180 days before arrival and they are fiercely competitive and hard to book.
Walking along the beach at Cape Range National Park
Financially, we have learned over the years that we spend a similar amount when camping as we do when living at home - often less as we are not dining out with friends, splurging on retail therapy, and paying for the kid’s extra-curricular sport registrations, gym memberships and the like.
The cost of living on the road and paying for fuel, groceries and caravan sites ended up costing us significantly less than our bricks and mortar living. The most expensive item is fuel as prices for diesel in outback towns were much higher than the capital cities, not to mention we were towing a 20ft van and covered a lot of distance.
In addition, we were both fortunate to be able to work on the road and rent our house out for the six months we were away which made it a financially viable option for us.
Choosing the right family caravan is a personal choice and incredibly subjective. With a myriad of choices available on the market it comes down to the fundamental elements each buyer decides are non-negotiables.
For us, that meant a toilet and shower onboard, double bunk, air conditioning, plenty of storage space (internal and external), ample solar panels, dual axle, and dual battery system.
Cosmetically, we were very drawn to the vans that were spacious but also light and airy with large windows and white interiors. After doing some desktop research, we attended a caravan and camping show and ironically, after looking at hundreds of caravan set ups, the first van we looked at ended up being the one we purchased that same day.
Camping under the stars in the NT
Enter the Snowy River SRC20F, our new home on wheels. This 20ft bunk bed caravan ticked all our boxes and the was perfect choice for our family's next adventure. Semi offroad capability and a tare weight of 2260kg, it was a great fit for us. The layout with the L shaped lounge and ample storage space made this caravan feel like home in no time.
Decking it out inside was even more fun as we chose new kitchenware from Daisy Graze and bedding from Meander Wild, both Australian family-owned businesses which have an eco-friendly focus with practical yet stylish designs.
Packing for the trip was no easy task, especially as we had to ensure we didn’t overload the van. Knowing that we were mainly travelling in warm climates made life a lot easier, however, being minimalist when it comes to travelling with kids is no mean feat. We were ruthless and kept reminding ourselves that if we forgot something then we can always go without or find it on the road in one of the major cities. As anyone doing a lap of Australia will testify, you always end up carrying more items than you actually use.
Before we hit the road, we also ensured we had the caravan professionally weighed to ensure we were being compliant and safe and for our own peace of mind. This was a gamechanger and very helpful in working out which items we could leave behind and how best to pack the van which were essential.
Towing the van, was our trusty 2012 Land Rover Defender 110. This 4x4 is the ultimate adventure vehicle which allowed us to explore off the beaten track on sandy beaches and on outback roads with ease. It doesn’t come with all the mod cons and is a little louder on the eardrums, but what it lacks in creature comforts, it makes up for in power, endurance, fuel efficiency and is quite the head turner. Not to mention, we didn’t have to worry about getting it sandy or dirty as it is built for all terrain and all conditions having been the chosen vehicle for the Australian Defence Force and other defence forces around the world. This classic car comes with a 2.2L diesel turbo engine and a six-speed manual transmission and is a solid choice for anyone wanting a spacious 4x4 to travel in.
Adapting to life on the road
It’s funny how much you can learn about your family when confined to a 20ft travelling home on wheels. Living in a confined space, you get to know each other, warts and all. But isn’t that what family is all about? Being unapologetically yourselves in your own setting, free from judgement?
It takes a while to adapt to van life after living in bricks and mortar. Being away from home and thrown into a situation where you must draw straws to use the bathroom, wait patiently to sidle past someone to get from the door to the bunks and be as organised as an army sergeant lining up your troops each day, certainly takes a while to get used to.
Hiking in Kings Canyon
But the benefits outweigh any initial frustrations as you remind yourself you are raising your kids as intrepid explorers, instilling a sense of wanderlust in them and raising their curiosity levels to new heights, making the whole adventure so rewarding.
Connecting with like-minded people while travelling is easy, especially when the kids show you how it’s done. Our youngest is always leading the way and as soon as we pull up at a new campsite, he leaps out of the van at record speed and hightails it to scout for a new playmate.
The cool thing about meeting people when travelling, is that there are usually no barriers, people don’t play a role, they don’t try to show a certain image of themselves. You see each other exactly as you are – usually in daggy camping gear or on the beach after a swim.
Your mind is open to meeting new people as your lens is wider and sense of curiosity is heightened. You all share a love of country and that can be generous and inclusive. Not to mention the fact you are all here with the same mindset, to explore and have new adventures and a good time.
Travelling exposes you all to new experiences and ways of life and instils a sense of adventure in kids from a young age.
It is also about the simple things. At sunset, we huddle together on the beach and watch the orange-hued glow set over the horizon, we play beach cricket and footy, dine outside the van under the stars, play Uno, trivia and board games on repeat, go snorkelling and body surfing and go on lots of family hikes.
During this trip, we have hiked new terrain at Kings Canyon, experienced the dawn and dusk magic of Uluru, joined in a family dot painting workshop with a traditional elder, watched the camels walk past at sunset on Cable Beach, floated down the natural hot springs in Mataranka, swam in an infinity pool overlooking Lake Argyle, seen wild crocodiles, pigs, horses, camels, eagles, emus, kangaroos, lizards, birds and more … and even stayed overnight in a traditional underground mining cave, known as a ‘dugout’.
Camel rides on Cable Beach, Broome
We have swum with whale sharks, snorkelled with the giant sea turtles at Ningaloo Reef, drove along the white sandy beaches at Cape Le Grand National Park, found dinosaur fossils, fished off riverbanks and rocky outcrops, seen natural blowholes and outback stations and experienced new, wild, and wonderful experiences.
Good old fashioned, wholesome family fun.
That saying about ‘home is where you park it’ could not be truer. Being able to pull up anywhere, put the legs down on the van and set up with ease wherever you want gives us the freedom to explore and go at our own pace. Instead of rushing to see everything, we get to wander and roam free and take it all in at our own pace.
Van life will be different for everyone, based on ages of kids, budget, expectations and personalities, but for us it is proved much easier than regular brick-and-mortar living, due to the appealing simplicity and freedom that comes with it.
When you travel with children you are giving them something that can never be taken away: experience, adventures, exposure, a simple way of life and memories to last a lifetime.
THE NEXT STEP
If you want to learn the latest caravan news, find the most innovative new caravans and camping gear or get inspired to plan your next road trip adventure to some of Australia's best getaway destinations, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. We promise to send you only the best content.
Related articles:
All-Electric Big Lap: Crossing the Nullarbor and heading home to WA
Tips for planning your dry season caravanning adventure
Adapting to caravanning life on the road