We set off on a trip around Australia in 2020: A Journey of Family, Freedom, and Memories made to last a lifetime.

Written by: Kylie – Sunny Bliss

What inspired our decision to travel Australia?

As a family we have always had a shared passion for camping and a thirst for adventure. My husband worked long hours during the week leaving us with only weekends available for quality family time. It became clear that we needed to do things differently and craved a change from the daily grind.

Hubby always had a desire to explore Australia, so the decision was easy for him, he had been waiting years for me to finally say “yes”. Saying “yes” was hard for me, it made my stomach turn thinking about leaving our beloved family home, the financial implications and uprooting our son from his school and routine. 

With our son fast approaching teenage years and high school. I knew that if we didn't take the leap then, we may never of had another chance. Our house although it was a home, was just a possession. We were talking about creating family adventures, experiences and memories, so when we grew old, we could look back on our life and really feel we gave it our best and had no regrets. 

I can honestly tell you, travelling Australia was one of the best decisions we ever made! My only regret is I wish we had of done it sooner!

What was our most favourite destination we visited?

We have been fortunate to explore many amazing places in Australia, but East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory would have to be the most unforgettable destination for us. Initially planning a short visit, we ended up staying for six weeks. The unspoilt landscapes, crystal clear blue waters, its remoteness and the people of the country captured our hearts and cravings for adventure completely. 

Arnhem Land is one of Australia’s last unspoilt tropical paradises. Today, it remains one of the largest Aboriginal owned reserves in Australia. It is home to the traditional landowners, the Yolngu People. The rich culture and traditions left us with a lasting impact and allowed us to gain a deeper appreciation for their way of life.

By chance, I was able to join in on a special tour at the local Art Centre. I met the Elders & other beautiful people of Yolngu. The stories, the love and artwork left me with constant goosebumps, and close to tears at times. Everyone works together and are all connected, not only with each other but with the land, water and animals. 

Beginning our journey during the Covid Pandemic.

We began our lap around Australia in January 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic very first began to impact the world. Our house already had tenants living in it and we refused to give up on our family dream after planning it for so long. 

It was quite challenging at first with Caravan and National Parks being closed and travel restrictions being put in place. We spent a lot of time in QLD at the start of our travels due to border closures and sadly missed out on visiting Western Australia. 

In March we were camped up over on Fraser Island, QLD and had just been told we had to leave due to COVID-19 restrictions and lock downs. We were so disheartened and almost made the decision to give up travelling completely. We were sitting down by our campsite when a young bloke pulled up in his 4WD and started talking to us, he hopped out and shook our hands. We just kept thinking how unusual it was to shake hands these days given all the COVID talk. It turned out he had been full off grid camping at the Cape of Fraser prior to COVID-19. He had absolutely no idea what COVID-19 was or what was going on in the world until we filled him in on the news. 

It reminded us of how life was prior to COVID-19 and that this was just a little bump in our chapter and to keep on pushing forward. Instead of focusing on the negatives, we focused on the positive side of things, like how lucky we were being able to have some amazing places all to ourselves, without the usual tourist crowds.

Living off grid & getting back to basics.

Rather than travelling in a caravan like most do, we chose to do our lap in a small Hybrid Camper. We wanted to embrace a self-sufficient lifestyle relying on the resources available in nature as much as possible. This meant steering clear of busy cities and towns and venturing towards incredibly remote destinations. Our Modcon Hybrid Off-road Camper allowed us to easily access these remote areas. Our Camper had a pull-out outdoor kitchen, a queen and single bed inside, and a shower tent that extended from the outside of our camper. This is where we set up our portable toilet and a gas-powered shower. My husband managed the car and solar power arrangements. 

Phone reception was a rarity during our travels, we spent most of our days making a conscious effort to soak in nature and its surroundings living off the land when possible.  Our son's passion for nature and fishing proved invaluable, providing us with delicious seafood meals of fish, oysters, and mud crab.

What did we love most about travelling Australia?

The part we loved the most was having the feeling of freedom with no commitments, being able to take every day as it came. The family experiences and memories made. And meeting like-minded people along the way. 

Our advice for other families wanting to travel Australia.

If there’s any advice, we could give to other families thinking about living on the road full time, or even just doing a lap is “don’t just think about it, make it happen, life is too short!”

There is, and never will be, a “right” time. You just find a way to make it work. It really is such an amazing lifestyle and the opportunity to do it as a family is something you won’t regret!