Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Lower the bar from 5 star
You might think that you cannot manage a road trip around Australia without an expensive rig and all the creature comforts....
Okay, so you may not need something quite so luxurious but you don't need a new Landcruiser or late model caravan either. There are plenty of bargains to be found when buying a second hand caravan or camper trailer. Our caravan was a 70's vintage, old but still robust. We had it serviced and made a few upgrades but it was still very basic and small, 12 ft small! Our car was a '94 dual cab Ford Courier 2 wheel drive which proved to be very reliable. We added an annexe and a tent for extra space when setting up camp for more than a few days.
My point is, don't wait until you can afford the rig of your dreams, not if it means taking on a large debt or years and years of saving. Spend as much as it takes to get a reliable, fuel efficient vehicle that can tow a well looked after second-hand house on wheels and just go....
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Very inspiring post. I share the same opinion as yours. Whether you are driving a multi-million dollar RV or just an old campervan, what matters is that you have a reliable vehicle with comfortable furniture such as van seats to settle your family while you are traveling the vast Australian outback. Looking forward for your future posts!
ReplyDeleteWhile it is nice to dream about a flash rig, I agree that it is more important to do your trip, rather than spend years dreaming, saving and planning.
ReplyDeleteMy daughters and I travelled Australia in a homemade campervan. Prior to that our ‘homes on wheels’ have been car/tent and car/second-hand van combos. We have often camped beside luxurious rigs and I always look on them with a mixture of envy and pity. Envy because they have somewhere to escape out of the elements, proper chairs, beds and a shower. Pity because the occupants were often going through the motions of travel, rather than jumping in and experiencing life on the road.
Instead of cooking, eating and living inside a van, my kids have got up close and personal with nature. They experienced the elements and the beauty of their surroundings. And of course they learnt the art of eating under fly netting.
Like you I believe that safety, reliability, and affordability are the main things you need to look for when choosing a rig. In the end we all end up camped together regardless of size and cost of the setup. As you said – just go!
Well said Janelle, thanks for your message. I have checked out your blog, fantastic! I am also a philomath :)
DeleteThanks Jacqui, I am pleased to meet another philomath:) I am enjoying reading your blog as well. There are so many experiences and so much information to share when it comes to travelling around Australia. I am convinced travel and all that comes with is is one of the best experience we can give our kids.
DeleteVery nice post, i love it..
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! If we keep on waiting, then we might never fulfill our dreams. If you are really passionate about travel, then stop thinking about what's keeping you back! Just go for it, you will face some difficulties, but then in the end it will be all worth it! Be spontaneous!
ReplyDeleteWonderful inspiration. Road trip is always fun. I also loves it.
ReplyDelete