Category Archives: Pre trip planning

Well after 5 years talking and thinking about our trip, we are now only down to just 6 days. Nik finished up working at Christmas, whilst I finish up on the Wednesday before we go. Nik has been busy ferrying the kids around to all their goodbye plays as well as the beach, nippers, life saving carnivals andContinue reading “The final countdown.”

After we left Mooloolaba we planned to do a few overnight stops in order to spend a few days down at Tathra. We left on the Sunday and had decided to drive to Byron Bay to have lunch and a quick look around. Unfortunly we had overlooked the fact that it was a long weekend in NSWContinue reading “Northern NSW Coast down to Tathra”

So after our false starts we decided to drive for a few extra hours and change our overnight destination from Dubbo to Wagga Wagga. We arrived in Wagga Wagga a little after 8pm and used our Wikicamp app to guide us to a free camp close to town for a quick overnight stop. The freeContinue reading “Mooloolaba, here we come!!!”

Finally September school holidays has arrived which means it is time to take the van away for a shakedown trip, and after we eventually got going, boy did we sort some stuff out!!! Now instead of boring you with a long post, I have managed to stretch the trip out into a few posts toContinue reading “I think I can, I think I can…………..nope, yes, nope, damn it yes!!!!”

The 4×4 show was held over the weekend at the Melbourne Showgrounds and as we aren’t able to make the ‘Leisurefest expo’ in October we decided to go along and grab some big purchases and hopefully some big savings!!!! Surprisingly we found out that ARB were not going to be there, so Nik spoke to his contact,Continue reading “Self suffiency, safety and sanity……….”

At the moment while we are wishing the days and months away, we are having fun joining travelling groups on facebook and I am following a few blogs of fellow travellers that I have not met before. I have found their blogs via many of these facebook groups. Which brings me to the point ofContinue reading “Our blog, privacy and internet security”

Ok we do have a plan…………we know when we are leaving (give or take 2 weeks), we have the rig, we have our home, we have a guestimated route. Surely we just sit back now and wait till January?? Alas my bubble has burst and I’m struggling with where to actually begin. As a wholeContinue reading “The 3 P’s – Planning, preparing and procrastinating…..”

Without too much discussion or research we have decided that we would like to head west first. At this stage NSW and south QLD can wait awhile till we come knocking on their door. Starting in January 2014, we plan to meander our way to Lorne and the Great Ocean Road, then head to SA.Continue reading “Any which way but East”

After the initial shock of discovering we will be travelling indefinitely, the next question we get asked is why so long???? Generally if I answer them properly we end up having an hour long discussion about the how and why of today’s life, so I have started using the KISS method and simply reply ‘BecauseContinue reading “Why, our reasons for wanting to do the ‘big lap’”

We have had many different reactions from family, friends and strangers when we tell them we have sold up and are heading off around Australia indefinitely. The majority of reactions are positive, with the comment, ‘really with four girls………..gee your game’. Many people initially think it’s great until we tell them how long we are going for.Continue reading “Your doing what……the good, the bad and the happy reactions of others.”

After much thought and research we have decided to upgrade to a Jayco Outback Swan. A trip to the Camping and Outdoors show in Melbourne, and a few phone calls backwards and forwards between 3 different Jayco dealers had us sign on the dotted line in early April, 2014. The estimated time for our camper to beContinue reading “Another Piece of the Puzzle”

SOLD!!! It is a very exciting time at the moment for the “Smiths”. Approx 3 weeks ago we accepted an offer and sold our house which is another big tick in our list of getting prepared for our epic journey. Whilst we still have 10 months until we leave, we had always planned and wanted toContinue reading “Another step closer”