Life Update: a Failed House Sit and Back on the Road Again!

Tomorrow we’re flying up to Queensland to pick up a camper van for the next three weeks and I’m so excited! As adventurous as I’d like to think I am, I never really envisaged myself choosing to travel in a bake bean can on wheels, albeit one with a fancy little kitchen inside. I grew up camping every summer so I’m no stranger to the allure of the great outdoors but I didn’t expect to fall as wholeheartedly in love with van life as I have. Or as comfortable with weeing outdoors as I am (a skill I have now mastered thank you and your wet Havaianas very much).

It’s the fresh air, the freedom and the bedroom views that even the Shangri La can’t offer you. You just can’t beat it. Earlier this year when I was feeling a bit frazzled from travelling I reflected and realised I felt at my most calm and centred during our four different road trips earlier this year. It’s now an ambition of mine to buy and renovate a van and spend a year living in it full time around Europe (if Europe could just adopt Australia’s weather and New Zealand’s L&P supplies that would be great).

There’s nothing else quite like waking up and not knowing where you’re going to spend that night (in the most privileged, self-elected kind of way, of course). When morning washes become a swim in the ocean and your kitchen for the night overlooks the most incredible beach. Waking up and being immediately surrounded by nature as you decide where to head that day. Even the driving, which would probably normally be a bit laborious, is ten times more fun in a van.

I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to experience van life again for a while. I was meant to be completing a house sit in Sydney right now and for the coming weeks but it was frustratingly and unexpectedly cancelled last minute. I surprised myself with my ability to handle it with a positive attitude and was elated when my friend Sammy (aka RatPack Travel, aka Campervan King of Australia and New Zealand) suggested I made the most of the fuck-up the best way possible. Roadie style! Who needs to sit on a cat with weight issues when you can live your best life along Australia’s awesome east coast?!

RatPack Travel are an awesome small biz who are my go to for all things campervan. They are brilliant at finding the best one for you and offering a cheaper rate than any of the rental companies quote directly! It’s a total no brainer; you get more beer money for your journey and you’re supporting an indie business ran by kind, awesome people too. You can enquire here or WhatsApp Sammy here.

SO! The plan for the next few weeks is to begin in Airlie Beach and then head all the way down to Jervis Bay, south of Sydney. Along the way we’ll be stopping at a few favourite places such as Noosa and Byron as well as visiting plenty that we missed last time we did this journey! I’m especially excited to spend 2 nights on Fraser Island (on this tour here via RatPack Travel) and see those crystal clear lakes and crazy sand dunes with my own eyes. If you’ve got any must-see spots on the east coast then I’d love to hear them! Please do DM me on Instagram.

Van life is full of the highest highs and some errr…interesting lows (#kevinthespider) and I can’t wait to share more of those stories with you over the coming weeks and from my previous trips too.