Meet the Wedding Family
Parents: Meg & Andrew
Kids: Ethan (9) and Oliver (11)
Rig: Safari Legacy Semi off Road 21ft van towed with an XLT Ranger
The trip: One epic adventure we'll never forget
Why did you decide to TAWK?
My husband and I were ready for a change after working from home and homeschooling during covid lockdowns. We felt like we wanted to do something entirely different, but it all felt so big. We had a house full of things, kids in school, and a mortgage to pay. And then suddenly, something we'd spoken about so often became closer to a reality for us and we jumped at the chance to set off on our great big adventure.
How did you get organised and how did you prepare?
We spent three months cleaning out the house and selling most of our things on marketplace. Getting the car ready felt like a never ending investment, but we managed to schedule it all in and left with a set up that stood up solidly for our trip.
For the car, we did a suspension upgrade, airbags, bullbar, UHF, second battery, fridge and slide, air compressor and roller shutter. We knew the kids wanted to take bikes and we didnt have room on the van so opted for these on racks on the ute tub.
We purchased our van second hand and this was the best – the family who had it before us had already travelled extensively in it so had thought of most things, and we were able to learn what we liked and disliked as newbies to caravanning. We opted to upgrade the electrical system before we left and this was such a good investment, it has been so reliable and efficient for us for nearly two years.
What has been your biggest joy?
I'd do it all again to watch our boys have the kind of childhood I remember.. climbing trees, being gloriously bored, building 'bases' in the bush. Watching them live something so rich was incredible. And the epic moments we shared, the ones I think we'll all carry forever, made every tough day worth it.
What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?
Practically speaking, we travelled during shoulder season, which had its perks (quiet parks, some epic days), but it also meant the weather was HOT, and we learnt a lot about keeping caravan fridges running in 48-degree heat. Google was our friend, and we all embraced having the time to slowly work through the problem and land on a solution. That meant a week parked in Geraldton, replacing some very hard-to-reach fans on the back of the fridge, and cycling frozen water bottles through the freezer and fridge to keep things moving.
Where did you enjoy the most, and where disappointed you the most?
The Gibb River Road was a massive highlight for all of us. We didn't know if we'd even attempt it, but once we got to Broome the temptation was too great, so we decided to wing it. Best decision we ever made. The waterfalls were epic, the stations and camps were unforgettable, and we met some amazing people to share it all with. It was a highlight for every one of us.
The beaches around Esperance were some of the most beautiful we saw on the whole trip, but the camping options let us down. We'd pictured pulling up somewhere quiet and wild, right on the coast, but instead found ourselves squeezed into cramped caravan parks. It was a real 'so close, yet so far' feeling, all that beauty and nowhere to properly sit in it. With a bit of hindsight, we'd do it differently and venture further afield, but we were still early in our trip, and it was one of those lessons you can only learn by living it. The weather wasn't amazing either, which didn't help.
How did you organise schooling on the road?
Our school were very supportive so gave the boys an exemption for the first year. We decided to extend our travels a bit longer, so we formally enrolled in Homeschool in our homestate of Victoria. I used a combination of a purchased curriculum with a fair bit of help from AI to put together the learning plans and we tried to weave their learning into our travels as we went.
What surprised you most about the trip?
That we all really loved it and didn't feel claustrophobic! We moved from a big house to a 21ft van, and I was sure we'd get on each others nerves.. but turns out we were too busy for that. It was only when we stopped to work and lived in the van that we started to feel like it was alot to have the four of us in one little space.
Three pieces of advice for future TAWKers
1. You don't need all the gear to start off with. Go with what you have and decide what you need as you go. Some things might surprise you.
2. It doesn't matter what car you drive, and what you sleep in. You all wake up to the same view.
3. You don't need to rush. Don't plan too far ahead and if you need or want to stop for a week and chill, do it.
How has this adventure changed your family?
Our priorities have shifted, and we value our time together so much more now. We went from all-consuming jobs to spending all of our time getting to know our sons, and that's been such a strong foundation for us as a family, especially as they head into the teenage years. It's also made us more curious about different ways to travel, and it's really made us more flexible, understanding that we don't have to commit to one way of living forever.
Final thoughts
We spent the first year of our travels truly embracing this way of life and loving every second of it. But you can't outrun adult responsibilities, and we did find that juggling remote work, homeschooling and travel life became a bit much for us at times. If you can go into it with a decent break where you're not juggling those other layers, I think it makes it easier to really enjoy it. Twelve months is such an incredible amount of time to have off and to adventure together, and it's something you can keep coming back to in different ways as the kids get older, whether that's school holidays, long weekends, or even joining you for stretches once they're old enough to travel as adults. Really, it's just about finding what works for your circumstances and making the most of it.
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