V & C Impressions

Almost Grey Nomads caravaning around Australia

Author: Vincent

  • Australian Caravan YouTube Channels – 2026

    Australian Caravan YouTube Channels – 2026

    Australia is one of the best countries in the world for caravanning, and YouTube has become a valuable resource for anyone interested about life on the road. Whether you’re a seasoned grey nomad, a weekend traveler, or just starting to think about doing the big lap, there are plenty of creators sharing their experiences across the country.

    In this list, I’ve put together a collection of active Australian caravanning YouTube channels. These cover everything from caravan park reviews and free camping spots, to off-grid setups, travel tips, and honest insights into day-to-day life on the road. It’s a great way to discover new places, learn from others, and pick up ideas for your own travels.

    You can use the table of contents below to jump around the list.

    YouTube Channels

    Here’s a list of the channels I could find that are still active, in no particular order. Each one includes an image from a recent video, along with the channel’s own description from their About section on YouTube.

    Enjoy

    Aussie Nomad Destinations

    We are Bec and Ed, from Aussie Nomad Destinations, we are traveling around Australia in our Jayco Silverline Caravan and Next Gen Ford Ranger, and we have been travelling now for two years. Are we grey nomads? You bet we are, we have now been doing the lap for over two years, fulltime camping, mostly offgrid, in lost cost-free campground, National Parks, and budget campgrounds as we caravan Australia, we love to do bush walks and hikes, fishing and crabbing where possible,

    Beyond the Grey

    G’day folks, we are Paul & Wenda travelling around Australia in our 23′ Evernew caravan and out Toyota LC200, since 2020. We love to document our adventures here on YouTube and share some of the amazing experiences and places we visit. Come and join us and see Australia through the eyes of a semi retired couple with a youthful sense of adventure!

    All Around Oz

    All Around Oz is where Australians plan their Big Lap. Led by Annette Jones, long-term caravanner and founder of one of Australia’s largest Big Lap communities, this channel is dedicated to helping you with planning a Lap of Australia the smart way, before you hit the road. This isn’t just travel inspiration. It’s real-world planning intelligence from the road.

    Happy Campers Australia

    Travelling Australia full time since 2018. We like Nature, History and free camping but not adverse to Caravan Parks.

    Caravan Adventure Aus

    Bryce & Chelsea – Caravan Adventure Aus 5 years living a minimalistic, nomadic lifestyle. Travelling in our Network RV Caravan and Next-Gen Ford Ranger.

    Good Different Adventures

    TRAVELLING AUSTRALIA FULL TIME ! We are a travelling Aussie couple Amanda & Dave or also known as (Mr & Mrs B) We left our home town the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia, to live full time in our little home on wheels. We are excited but we have no real plans let’s just see where we go and what we find on our adventures.

    Just Vanning It

    Welcome to Just Vanning It, our travel channel about caravanning around Australia. We are travelling around Australia in our 2024 Chevrolet 2500 + rooftop tinny towing our home which is a Titanium S3 22 ft rear club lounge or also known as a centre bathroom. Our new caravanning and camping lifestyle allows us to explore new destinations, free camping and low cost camping around Australia to save on our budget! We hope to share our travel experience, sharing beautiful Australian travel destinations, our experience of living in and travelling with a caravan full time as a lifestyle choice, camp cooking, 4×4 ing, fishing, photography and droning, hiking and exploring all Australia has to offer. Just a couple and a French bulldog, road tripping around Australia.

    Livin Like Kings

    We’re Grant and Bianca – two travel enthusiasts who have been exploring and camping across Australia since 2017. Our dream was to caravan around Australia, and when Bianca was made redundant, we saw that as the perfect opportunity to pursue our dream. In March 2021, we hit the road in our Ford F350 American 4×4 Truck, towing our 2003 Bushtracker Off-Road Caravan with our 2 Dogs Frank and Baxter.

    Come See With Us

    We’re travelling Australia in our Toyota Prado and Jayco Crosstrak Caravan We enjoy everything from adventure to a beer in a brewery, from 4wding to relaxing in the water.

    The Feel Good Family

    Travelling full time around Australia for 6 years – Zone RV Sojourn caravan and Toyota Landcruiser 300 series. G’day! We’re Katie, Paul and Jasper 👋🏻 If you’re planning on travelling Australia, dreaming of tackling your own ‘Big Lap’ or are just looking for inspiration to get out there on weekends, we’d love you to travel with us and experience the best this country has to offer!

    Wild Touring

    Welcome to Wild Touring. I’m Cam. I live in Western Australia. This channel features family caravan travels with my wife and two kids, as well as solo trips, tinny missions, 4x4ing and fishing. In 2025 we are hitting the road and ‘doing the lap’ around Australia!

    Vanlife Australia

    I made this change for one simple reason: to make the channel easier to find and grow. The old name “Stay Awesome” was shared by a lot of channels on YouTube, which made it harder for new viewers to discover our vanlife adventures.

    Elnick Adventures

    Welcome to Elnick Adventures! We are a young family of SIX travelling Australia Full-time and have been for 8 years . Mum & Dad with 3 energetic little boys & a newborn baby girl. Join us as we completely switch our TRAVEL SETUP and Build OUR OWN!

    Vet in a Van

    Vet in a Van is a mobile veterinary service travelling full time around Australia providing veterinary care for families travelling with their pets. Dr Tania is experienced with dogs, cats, small mammals, birds and reptiles. We will be vlogging our adventures and we travel this amazing country trying to capture the natural beauty of the environment and maybe some tips and tricks for keeping your fury loves ones safe while travelling.

    Jack & Megan

    Life on the open road 🛣️✨

    Traveling Campers

    We’re Josh & Mikayla! We’ve built an online business based around our lifestyle and travell Australia full time with our golden retriever Jorja in our Lotus caravan and Ram TRX!

    We’re Svedos Trippin – Brett, Mel, Kaylee and Owen – a family of adventure seekers with a love for the open road, wild landscapes, and the freedom that comes with living life on our own terms. What started out as weekend escapes soon turned into a full-blown lifestyle, and now we’re on a mission to explore the best that Australia (and beyond!) has to offer.

    Our Australia Trip

    We’re Hayley & Brad! Travelling Australia full-time in our Landcruiser and Caravan. Follow along with our big lap and subscribe to our channel to come along on the journey with us. Cheers!

    Now or Never

    Hey Guys! We are Alex and Erin, together with our 2 kids and dog we are living the caravan lifestyle, exploring new and exciting places off the beaten track. We like to get off grid in our brand new Essential Ranger and show you some of the best spots our beautiful country has to offer! Our channel also features 4x4ing, fishing, camp cooking, and tips and tricks to caravan living easier! We’d love you to join us for the adventure!

    Wingin it Downunder

    Full-time caravanning around Australia Woohoo!! G’day. We are Steve and Dena and together with our Alexandrine Parrot, ‘Yummy’, we are Wingin It Downunder. Follow us to get an insight of what it’s like to live full-time and live this adventurous lifestyle as we explore and experience all that Australia has to offer.

    Our Salty Life

    We’re Lee & Daz — travelling full-time around Australia, chasing salty air, surf, fishing spots and unforgettable memories. Living the van life in our caravan, one off-road challenge at a time!

    Trip for two

    Join us as we embark on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling**FULL-TIME around Australia in our caravan**! From stunning coastlines to rugged outback landscapes, we’re exploring every corner of this incredible country, one road at a time.

    The Cartwrights

    Adventuring Australia in our 6.5 tonne 4×4 truck + 22 foot 6 caravan Jackson, Kyla, Eavie, Ellis, Wilder, Aurora & Rogue Find us over at instagram @thecartwrights

    Journey Unknown

    Our Life. Our Story. Our Home. Welcome to Journey Unknown! You may be asking, why the name? Well that’s because we don’t know what we’re doing, where we’re going or how long for. It could be a weekend getaway, a partial lap or even an overseas trip.

    Kingdeano Adventures

    Hi! I’m Deano, with my partner and cavoodle. We are a Victorian-based family that travels Australia one town at a time in our converted Ford Transit campervan, and we occasionally pitch a tent for a getaway. We visit cities and towns of Australia, to explore what our diverse country has to offer (and sometimes an airbnb treat ourselves!). Australia really does it all! We share our adventures, camp cooking meals, recipes and travel tips – all while having fun along the way! Come along with us on our adventures and Subscribe to become part of our community!

    Roaming Coastlines

    Living on the Road! Travelling Australia in our Troopy & Vibe caravan. Ben, Ash, Emmy & Noah

    The Getaway Zone

    Join us — Paul & Deb — as we travel around Australia in our Zone RV caravan 🇦🇺 We aim to discover the best free camps, stunning landscapes, and those magical locations across this amazing country. We’re a retired couple who love caravanning, photography, and exploring off the beaten track. Deb’s a travel blogger and photographer, while Paul captures birdlife and Aussie adventures on film. Our journey began in January 2025 with an epic four-month trip through Tasmania and continues as we explore Australia’s outback roads, coastal escapes, and national parks.

    Sarah & Keelen Travels

    We are young, full time travellers from Australia that love overlanding, camping and off-grid living! We are over 4 years into our adventure around Australia, travelling in our Landcruiser 200 series and Urban Caravans 18’9 Xtreme. Fishing, surfing and having a good time is always on our mind as we cruise around showing you the must see areas, remote tracks and destinations!

    Brandiscape Adventures

    We are Brad and Mandi sharing our adventures of Caravanning, Camping, 4WDing, Fishing, Fossicking, Prospecting, Bush Cooking, Exploring, and so much more across South East Queensland and soon to be Australia, with lots of laughs along the way.

    The Lifestyle Pioneers – Off Grid Adventures

    The Lifestyle Pioneers are Simon and Liz Bailey, who, along with their two young sons, traverse Australia in their Landcruiser 76 & Titanium Caravan, sharing their adventures and travelling advice online.

    Artzone Travels Off-grid Ventures Australia

    We’re Peter & Tania, travelling full-time around Australia in our Ford Ranger and Zone RV off-road caravan. We linger in remote places – wild Western Australian beaches, the Pilbara, Kimberley, outback South Australia, country NSW and beyond – sharing the real side of off-grid caravan life.

    NextlevelOZ Big Lap Gap Year

    Like many we’ve worked hard for 40 years but we’re too young to retire. So we took a gap year, bought a new van and car and did a lap right around Australia. And it changed our life. Now we’re trying to find the best balance between life, van travel in Oz and ticking off bucket list items overseas. Join us as we travel away from the rat race. 100% of any YouTube ad revenue goes to charity.

    Our Outback Journey – Caravanning Australia

    G’day, we’re Bridie and Jamie and we’ve been caravanning Australia full-time since 2024. We’re travelling in our 76 Series LandCruiser and off-road caravan, sharing great free and low-cost camps, points of interest, and caravanning and travel tips.

    Thanks for reading Australian YouTube Channels. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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  • Big Valley Campsite – Review

    Big Valley Campsite – Review

    We arrived at the Big Valley Campsite – Margaret River in the early afternoon, we had the usual greeting, and then we were guided to our site, which was in the Rear Paddock, a quieter area.

    We stayed here for 6 nights, it turned out there is a lot to see and do, and 6 nights is not enough.

    Camp Details

    • Website: Big Valley Campsite – Margaret River
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $48 / night
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Flakey
    • Starlink: No problems
    • Generator: No
    Me walking into reception
    Me walking into reception

    Our Experience

    We had a powered site with water, with grey water draining directly onto the ground. We were placed in the “Long Paddock,” which offers large sites but no protection from the wind. Fortunately, the wind was coming from the opposite side of our awning, which worked in our favour.

    If you’re placed in the Long Paddock, expect plenty of space. Most sites throughout the park appeared reasonably level, though a bit of adjustment may be required. In terms of safety and security, this is about as good as it gets, being out of town certainly helps.

    The park caters to a wide range of setups, from rooftop tents through to large drive-through sites for big rigs.

    Closer to the amenities block, things become noticeably more crowded. It seems the rooftop and tent campers are generally positioned in this area, which makes sense given their reliance on facilities.

    The amenities were consistently clean and well stocked. The layout is a little quirky — for example, the wash area is outdoors — but it adds to the overall camping feel of the place.

    Location-wise, it’s hard to beat. You’re within easy driving distance of Augusta to the south and Busselton to the north, and only about 10 minutes from Margaret River. This makes it an excellent base to explore the entire Margaret River region.

    The park is very dog friendly. While many attractions in the area don’t allow dogs, there is a local lady offering dog-sitting services at a reasonable cost — which worked out well for us, with Shadow spending a couple of days there. There’s also a nearby off-leash dog area, which is a great bonus.

    Activities & Attractions

    This is a working farm, so if you’re travelling with kids, they’ll enjoy visiting and interacting with the animals.

    For everyone else, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in the region:

    • Wineries & Breweries, too many to list, enough to keep the most enthusiastic wine connoisseur happy for a month, there is that many.
    • Food, Chocolate, plenty of boutique food type places to try,
    • the small historic towns, each with their selection of shops to check out.
    • Lighthouses, one at
    • Caves, we went to Jewel Cave, we thought it was excellent value, one of the bigger caves we have been through. there are others, we saved those for next time.

    Some Pics

    Summary

    We would stay here again. It’s well positioned for exploring the lower south west of WA, and you could easily base yourself here for a month or two without running out of things to do.

    It’s a popular spot with Perth travelers, including families. In summer and during school holidays, it gets busy, so booking ahead is a must.

    Thanks for reading Big Valley Campsite – Review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

    If you enjoy this kind of content, you can sign up for the newsletter. You’ll get an email when a new post goes live (usually around 4–6 a month), plus a monthly wrap-up.

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  • Discovery Parks – Woodman Point, Review

    Discovery Parks – Woodman Point, Review

    In this Discovery Parks Woodman Point caravan park review, we cover our 10-day stay and what travellers can expect when visiting the park.

    We arrived at Discovery Parks – Woodman Point just after midday, with an easy run through the outer edges of Perth to get there.

    Check-in was quick and friendly. We were given the usual welcome, along with a park map and a brief rundown of where everything was located.

    Our site ended up being only a few metres from reception, which made things easy when it came time to set up and settle in.

    Camp Details

    • Website: Discovery Parks – Woodman Point
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $55 / night
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Pool: Yes
    • Fire Pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Flaky
    • Starlink: Depends on trees
    • Generator: No
    Our campsite
    Our campsite

    Our Experience

    Our site was level, and since we were staying for 10 days we decided to set up the annex. For those who don’t have one, an annex essentially doubles the living space of your caravan, although it also doubles the setup time.

    The campground appears to be divided into several sections. Most sites looked reasonably flat, but as expected in a park this close to the city, the sites are fairly close together.

    The amenities were usually clean and require a code for entry. As this is a busy park, there were times when the facilities could have been a little tidier, but overall they were acceptable.

    Location-wise, it’s hard to beat. The park is close to the ocean and within easy reach of Fremantle, which is a great place to explore.

    For us it was also very convenient. The workshop for the car was about a 15-minute drive away, and the airport for Cathy was roughly 45 minutes away, this was the main reason why we were here.

    Behind the park there is a great walking and cycling path that runs for kilometres, and along the way there is a nice family park as well. Unfortunately the nearby beach is not dog friendly.

    Telstra reception was surprisingly poor. You would expect good coverage in a metropolitan area, but we were often lucky to get more than two bars, and at the caravan park it was sometimes barely functional.

    We were also given a notice at check-in warning about opportunistic theft in the park. The advice was mainly not to leave items lying around. We kept this in mind during our stay and had no problems.

    Some Pics

    Summary

    We would stay here again. While there may be some potential for opportunistic theft, taking a few simple precautions should keep you out of trouble.

    You really can’t beat the location — close to the ocean, Fremantle, and everything else you might need while staying in the Perth area.

    This park would suit travelers wanting a convenient base near Perth and Fremantle, especially those planning to explore the city while still being close to the coast.

    Thanks for reading Discovery Parks – Woodman Point, Review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

    If you enjoy this kind of content, you can sign up for the newsletter. You’ll get an email when a new post goes live (usually around 4–6 a month), plus a monthly wrap-up.

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  • Woodanilling Pool – Free Camp Review

    Woodanilling Pool – Free Camp Review

    Free camps can sometimes be a bit of a gamble — you never quite know what you’re going to find when you pull in. Woodanilling Pool, however, turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, especially for a free camp.

    Located roughly halfway between Perth and Albany, it makes an ideal overnight stop if you prefer to break the trip rather than tackling the whole drive in one go.

    Camp Details

    • Website: N/A
    • Fee Category: Free
    • Booking: No
    • Powered Sites: No
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: No
    • Dump point: No
    • Pool: No
    • Fire Pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Yes, a bit patchy at times
    • Starlink: Depends on tree cover
    • Generator: Yes
    At the other end of the campsite
    At the other end of the campsite

    Our Experience

    On Google Maps this location may appear as Martup Pool Rest Area. If you are traveling south from Perth along Albany Highway, it is about 1 km past Robinson West Road on the left-hand side. The entrance is easy to miss, so it’s worth keeping an eye out as you approach.

    When you first turn in there is a day-use parking area, and from there a number of tracks lead further in towards a small lake. The second area has rubbish bins and several tracks branching off to different camping spots.

    Along these tracks you will find a number of places suitable for camping. Caravans of most sizes should be fine here, although the very large rigs may need to pick their way in a little more carefully.

    Facilities are very basic which means you need to be self contained, own toilet etc, there are rubbish bins and that’s about it but there are plenty of areas to pull into and set up for the night. There are also a few fire pits around the area, although when we stayed it was fire-ban season so we didn’t have a fire.

    Being close to Albany Highway, there is some road noise during the day, but we found it died down quite a bit in the evening and it didn’t bother us.

    When we visited the area was clean, with very little rubbish around, and we didn’t encounter too many flies or bugs either.

    The camp is well sheltered by trees, which helps protect you from the wind. However, on a hot day the lack of breeze could make it feel a bit warm.

    After walking around the area we found plenty of reasonably level spots to set up. We also found the place felt safe, with a few other campers pulling in nearby during the evening — something that always provides a bit of reassurance when staying at a free camp.

    Some Pics

    Summary

    Overall, Woodanilling Pool is a handy and quiet free camp that makes a good overnight stop when traveling along Albany Highway. It’s nothing fancy, but there are plenty of places to set up and the area is reasonably sheltered by trees.

    If you are looking for a simple place to break the drive between Perth and Albany, this is definitely one worth keeping in mind.

    Would we stay again? Yes — it’s a convenient and peaceful spot for an overnight stop.

    Thanks for reading Woodanilling Pool freecamp review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

    If you enjoy this kind of content, you can sign up for the newsletter. You’ll get an email when a new post goes live (usually around 4–6 a month), plus a monthly wrap-up.

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  • Panorama Caravan Park – Review

    Panorama Caravan Park – Review

    We arrived at Panorama Caravan Park early in the afternoon and were welcomed at reception by friendly and helpful staff. One of the staff members walked us over to our site and showed us the connections and facilities, which made settling in straightforward.

    We stayed here with friends for part of our visit and found the park to be well run, quiet, and a comfortable base while exploring Albany.

    • Website: Panorama Caravan Park
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $40
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Yes
    • Starlink: No problems
    • Generator: No
    Campsites by the water
    Campsites by the water

    Our Experience

    Panorama Caravan Park is located a little out of the way, about a 10-minute drive from Albany itself. That bit of distance does give the park a quieter feel compared with some parks closer to town.

    It is an older park with a number of permanent residents. The park appears to be split into two main sections — the short-term visitor sites are closer to the water, while the longer-term residents are set a little further back.

    The facilities were clean but a bit dated, and there seemed to be several amenities blocks spread throughout the park.

    The waterfront sites have a lovely outlook over the water and are reasonably level, although you do need to watch out for the wind, which can be quite strong at times.

    The sites further back from the water are set at an angle and have concrete pads, which give the left side of the caravan some protection from the wind. These sites also vary in size — we even saw a very large fifth-wheeler set up here. One thing we liked was the spacing between sites, as you are not sitting right on top of your neighbour.

    We found the park to feel safe and secure during our stay, something that’s always important when you’re travelling with a caravan. We had no hesitation leaving the van with the windows slightly open while we were out exploring.

    One interesting feature of the park is that you can hire electric bikes for $25 per day. We thought this was pretty cool and decided to give them a try. It was our first time using electric bikes and we were pleasantly surprised at how easy they were to ride. Maintaining around 26 km/h was effortless, even on the slight hills around the area.

    There is a good walking track next to the park which is great for walking the dog, and there is also access to the beach. The beach itself won’t win any awards, but it’s still a nice place for a walk, especially at low tide.

    Things to do around Albany

    There are plenty of things to see and do while staying here, although many of the attractions in the area are unfortunately not dog friendly.

    Some of the main attractions include:

    • The Wind farm – impressive views, but not dog friendly.
    • Albany’s Historic Whaling Station – from $36 per adult, well worth it.
    • Lots of lookouts around Albany – many not dog Friendly.
    • walking trails – heaps around, most NOT dog friendly.
    • Albany itself – A decent sized town with everything you need.
    • National Anzac Center – well worth a visit $25 / adult.

    Traveling with Shadow

    As many dog owners will know, traveling with a dog sometimes means adjusting your plans. With a number of attractions in Albany not allowing dogs, we occasionally leave Shadow in the caravan if we can’t find a suitable dog sitter.

    Temperature is the main thing we consider when doing this. We avoid leaving him on hot days as we don’t like relying on the air conditioner to keep the van cool.

    Shadow is now 13 years old and mostly spends his time sleeping, but we still like to keep an eye on him using a remote camera in the caravan. The camera also lets us talk to him if needed.

    We never leave him all day — usually around four to five hours at most — and we spread activities out over several days so he’s not alone for long periods.

    Some Pics

    Summary

    Overall, this is a quiet park with great views and easy access to Albany. If you’re traveling with a caravan and want somewhere relaxed with water views, it’s a good option, just be prepared for a bit of wind.

    NOTE: Albany is a very popular location, you will likely need to book months in advance, especially in the summer months.

    Would we stay again? Yes — particularly for the water views and the peaceful location just outside Albany.

    Thanks for reading Panorama Caravan Park. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

    If you enjoy this kind of content, you can sign up for the newsletter. You’ll get an email when a new post goes live (usually around 4–6 a month), plus a monthly wrap-up.

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  • February 2026 – Travel Expenses

    February 2026 – Travel Expenses

    February was one of those months you would rather forget when it comes to expenses.

    This is the reality of life on the road, something a lot of YouTube videos don’t really talk about. There are always the overheads of life — costs that exist whether you live in a house or travel full time. Insurance is usually somewhere in that mix.

    February 2026 expenses
    February 2026 expenses

    Below is a breakdown of some of the costs that popped up this month.

    • Bills: A general category, but in this case it mainly covers insurance for the car and caravan. We don’t have a particularly expensive setup, with the agreed value of both vehicles being under $170,000, but it still shows how costly insurance can be. Last year I spent some time shopping around for better prices, and in the end our current insurer still came out on top. That’s even with the car excess set to the maximum. The caravan excess unfortunately can’t be changed.
    • Car repairs/Maintenance: This one that hit harder than expected. Late last year we had the rear lower control arms replaced for a GVM upgrade, all seemed fine until we got over the Nullarbor. It was there that I noticed the rear tyres where almost worn out. Once we got to Perth I booked the car into a workshop to find out what happened. It turns out that somewhere along the way the rear wheel alignment was knocked out. The result was 2 new tires, wheel alignment and a service. Those tyres were only 10 months old!
    • Accommodation:At first glance this category looks fairly reasonable, but it’s worth mentioning that a lot of our accommodation was prepaid back in December and January. During summer we have mostly been staying in caravan parks, mainly because air conditioning can make a big difference during the hotter months. That will likely change soon as we start heading north again. In the south-west of Western Australia, getting into caravan parks during the summer period also requires a fair bit of forward planning. Many parks book out early, and travelling with a dog can sometimes limit the number of lower-cost or free camping options.

    Expenses – Sumary

    MonthTotalAcommodation
    (avg/ay)    		Per day
    December$8,211$87.5$264
    January$4,090$20.8$131
    February$10,309.54$16$368
    March$11,303$61$364
    April$6,123$37.2$204
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    Monthly avg$7,007$44.5$266
    A running totals and averages for the year 2026

    Summary

    If you take the two large bills out of the equation, our spending comes back to roughly the figure we often talk about — about $1,200 per week. That’s travelling comfortably, but without spending heavily on tours or big experiences.

    I keep a running spreadsheet of all our expenses (above), which also tracks things like our average accommodation cost per day and our overall daily spending. Over time this gives a much clearer picture of what full-time travel actually costs.

    Months like this are a good reminder that while the weekly averages are useful, there will always be the occasional bigger expense that comes along.

    If you’re interested in what it costs us to travel full time, you can see all of our monthly expense reports here.

    Thanks for reading February 2026 – Travel Expenses. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

    If you enjoy this kind of content, you can sign up for the newsletter. You’ll get an email when a new post goes live (usually around 4–6 a month), plus a monthly wrap-up.

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  • Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park – Review

    Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park – Review

    We liked this park. It was well sheltered from the wind, which is a big thing around here, and it’s also close to town and a few great spots to visit.

    At approximately 4.5 hours drive from Perth, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular spot for a weekend away or a summer holiday.

    • Website: Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $48 / night
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Flakey
    • Starlink: Depends on trees
    • Generator: No
    Looking down Denmark river from the walking trail bridge
    Looking down Denmark river from the walking trail bridge

    Our Experience

    Our site was close to the amenities, which was a bit of a bonus. Being on a corner site also meant we only had one neighbour.

    The amenities block we were near was always clean, and the building itself looked relatively modern.

    Next to reception there is a cafe with a nice selection of food, and of course coffee. It looks like you can hire kayaks and paddle boats if you are keen.

    The on-site dump point was one we haven’t come across before. It’s basically a concrete square with the pipe sitting a bit proud of the base. In my mind it could get messy with solids, if you know what I mean.

    We didn’t book a riverfront site for one main reason, wind. After spending the past couple of months along the WA coast, one thing we’ve had plenty of is wind, wind and more wind. So in my mind a riverfront site was a bit of a no-go. I’d rather be tucked back in the park and walk down to the water if I want to see it.

    As it turns out, many of the riverfront sites have trees and bushes in front of them anyway, so you can’t actually see the water from quite a few of them, and you pay extra for them.

    The sites themselves were level and well sheltered. We had some windy days while we were there, but it didn’t affect us at all.

    The park is a short walk to town — I’d say about 15 minutes at a brisk pace, with a slight uphill gradient.

    There is also a great walking loop just outside the park. It follows one side of the river into town, then you cross the river and walk back along the other side. The full loop would take around 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace.

    Denmark itself is a pleasant town with all the basics covered — two IGAs, a decent butcher, bakery, pub and plenty of other small shops. It’s easy to see why it’s a popular spot with people from Perth.

    There’s also a boat ramp just outside the park for the boaties, so handy if you’re into fishing or other water activities.

    What to do close by

    • Wineries & breweries
    • Elephant Rocks
    • Green pools
    • Walks & Trails
    • Beaches

    Some Pics

    Looking back up Denmark River
    Looking back up Denmark River
    A notice board outside Denmark information center
    A notice board outside Denmark information center
    Denmark information center
    Denmark information center
    Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park campground
    Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park campground
    Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park reception/cafe
    Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park reception/cafe
    Road leading into Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park
    Road leading into Denmark Rivermouth Caravan park
    Looking down Denmark river from the walking trail bridge
    Looking down Denmark river from the walking trail bridge
    Walking trail sign
    Walking trail sign
    Looking down the the Denmark river from Denmark town
    Looking down the the Denmark river from Denmark town
    Denmark hotel
    Denmark hotel
    Little tree houses along the walking path
    Little tree houses along the walking path
    Walking path
    Walking path
    Elephant rocks
    Elephant rocks
    The Elephant in the rocks
    The Elephant in the rocks
    Swimming at Elephant rocks
    Swimming at Elephant rocks
    The Green Pools
    The Green Pools

    Thanks for reading Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park – Review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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  • Cranbrook Caravan Park – Review

    Cranbrook Caravan Park – Review

    The caravan park and the town itself makes for a quiet place to spend a week. Cranbrook is small — just two shops, a 24-hour fuel station and a single hotel — but that’s part of its charm. It’s an excellent base to explore the surrounding region.

    We stayed for five nights on our way to Denmark and found it a relaxing stopover.

    • Website: Cranbrook Council
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $20 / un-powered
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: Yes
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: Flakey
    • Starlink: No problems
    • Generator: Check with caretaker
    Our campsite
    Our campsite

    Our Experience

    We found this to be a pleasant park. The amenities were very clean — a little dated, but well maintained. Sites are reasonably level, requiring minimal adjustment, and there are a few drive-through options available.

    The caretaker was friendly and helpful. As the park was quiet during our stay, we were invited to choose our own site. Just note that office hours are observed — after hours there is no staff on site.

    Although the park is not fenced, this didn’t feel like an issue. Cranbrook is a very small town with little through traffic, and it felt safe and peaceful.

    While we were there, occupancy was around 30%, making it especially quiet.

    Cranbrook is approximately 3.5 hours from Perth and about 30 minutes from Mount Barker, which has an excellent (and very busy) bakery, a quality butcher, and a well-stocked IGA.

    Things to do around Cranbrook

    For ideas on exploring the area, the Shire of Cranbrook website is a good starting point. During our stay we visited:

    • The Pink Lake – about 12Km out of town
    • The Wildflower Walk
    • A wander around town
    • A local coffee shop

    Cranbrook promotes itself as “The Gateway to the Sterlings”, referring to the nearby Stirling Range National Park. The park is heritage-listed and well worth the short drive.

    We would stay here again if passing through.

    Cranbrook, WA

    The town started life as a railway siding. As such it was named Cranbrook by the Hon. J. A. Wright, Commissioner of Railways and Director of Public Works in 1889. The rail line connects to Albany region.

    The current population is estimated to be about 1100.

    The town promotes itself as ‘The Gateway to the Sterlings’, it’s a small town for the surrounding sheep and cattle farms. It has a single pub, some wheat silos and grain loading facilities. It is an ideal starting point for an exploration into the Heritage Listed Sterling Ranges National Park, also a 1/2 hour drive to Mount Barker.

    Some Pics

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  • Australian Wine Regions

    Australian Wine Regions

    What grows best where — and why

    Australia is one of the world’s great wine-growing countries, not because it grows one style well, but because it grows many styles exceptionally well. From warm inland valleys producing bold, full-bodied reds to cool coastal and high-altitude regions known for elegant whites and sparkling wines, Australia’s diversity is its greatest strength when it comes to wine making.

    Whats good about this if you are are travelling around Australia and you like the occasional wine, you get to try everything from the source, the various styles, also great food and it is an enjoyable way to spend a day or two.

    What grows best in any wine region comes down to a handful of fundamentals: climate, rainfall, soil, altitude, and proximity to the ocean. These factors influence how grapes ripen, how much flavour they develop, and ultimately the style of wine that ends up in the glass. A Shiraz grown in the Barossa will taste very different from one grown in a cooler region like the Yarra Valley, even though it’s the same grape.

    Understanding where different grape varieties thrive helps make sense of Australian wine labels and regions, and it also adds a new layer of enjoyment when travelling the country. Whether you’re visiting cellar doors, planning a detour through wine country, or simply choosing a bottle at the local store, knowing what grows best where turns wine from a mystery into a story of place.

    Tasmania vineyards
    Tasmania vineyards

    Wine Regions

    Below is a list of what each region is best known for regarding wine types/taste.

    Australia wine region map
    Australia wine region map

    Western Australia

    • Margaret River – Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay
    • Great Southern – Riesling, Pinot Noir

    South Australia

    • Barossa & McLaren Vale – Shiraz
    • Clare & Eden Valley – Riesling
    • Coonawarra – Cabernet Sauvignon

    Victoria

    • Yarra Valley – Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
    • Mornington Peninsula – Cool-climate Pinot
    • Macedon Ranges – Sparkling & aromatics

    New South Wales

    • Hunter Valley – Semillon & Shiraz
    • Orange – High-altitude cool climate wines

    Tasmania

    • Tamar & Coal River – Sparkling, Pinot, Chardonnay

    Queensland

    • South Burnett – Semillon, Shiraz
    • Granite Belt – Chardonnay
    Barossa Valley Vineyard
    Barossa Valley Vineyard

    Our Experience

    We are not wine experts, but maybe could be described as budding wannabe connoisseurs.

    We enjoy our wines especially in the cooler months. I am primarily a Shiraz guy, while Cathy is a Sauvignon gal. We also like the occasional Gewurztraminer and various other types of wine.

    We have spent time at Stanthorpe wineries in QLD over the years. It’s a popular area to visit from Brisbane. We would often go home with boxes and boxes of wine meant to last 6 months and only lasted a month or two. It is certainly a great place to visit with plenty of places to stay.

    Added to our list recently is Clare Valley in SA, where we picked up a few Shiraz wines, which is not what they are known for. Cathy feels that the Clare Valley has nicer red wines than Stanthorpe. She is not a red wine fan.

    We stayed at Brinkworth about 20 mins north of Clare Valley and an excellent spot to camp. You can stay closer however we couldn’t find anything dog friendly at the time.

    Our review of Brinkworth RV Park

    We went to Auburn and the first winery we came to had 4 sites for camping and dogs allowed. We had a chat with them and turns our they hadn’t selected dog friendly in WikiCamp. All fixed now. Lesson here is to call and double check cause you just never know.

    Port Lincoln also had a few wineries and although they were nice, Clare Valley, in our opinion, is still a winner.

    We have just started our journey in WA coming across the Nullabour and looking forward to trying out a few Western Australia wineries.

    Thanks for reading Australian Wine Regions. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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  • January 2026 – Travel Expenses

    January 2026 – Travel Expenses

    Life on the road

    Well, we’re into February now, which means it’s time to look back at how we went financially in January.

    Overall, January turned out to be an okay month money-wise. It was also a fairly quiet time of year for us. Most of the campsites we stayed at had already been prepaid in December, which helped to keep January’s numbers looking a bit healthier.

    The Numbers

    Expenses January 2026
    Expenses January 2026

    Explanations

    • Accommodation– We’re still spending a fair bit here on bookings. Down in the south-west of WA, and at this time of year, we tend to prefer caravan parks — mainly for the facilities like power, water, and decent amenities. With the occasional heatwaves coming through, having access to air-conditioning has been a lifesaver.
    • Takeaway / Alcohol– This category covers coffee and cake, meals out, pizza, and the occasional drink. We’re in a wine region at the moment, with plenty of wineries, breweries, and natural food spots around, so we’ve taken the opportunity to enjoy what’s on offer.
    • Groceries– We’re still spending a lot of time in smaller towns where IGA is king. We’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the range at IGA Denmark — lots of natural foods and pre-made meals. Not cheap, of course, but the convenience and choice have been good.
    • Mobile Data (Starlink)– Starlink has now been put on pause for this period. We use a combination of Telstra and Starlink, and when we’re close to towns or have reliable mobile coverage, we tend to pause Starlink. Doing this saves us a noticeable amount of money and works well for the way we travel.
    • Subscriptions– There was a yearly subscription payment in here. Subscriptions remain an area of contention for us, and something we continue to review.

    Summary

    Expenses – Sumary

    MonthTotalAcommodation
    (avg/ay)    		Per day
    December$8,211$87.5$264
    January$4,090$20.8$131
    February$10,309.54$16$368
    March$11,303$61$364
    April$6,123$37.2$204
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    Monthly avg$7,007$44.5$266
    A running totals and averages for the year 2026

    As you can see, the daily averages can swing around quite a bit. Accommodation bookings and the distance travelled are usually the biggest factors. Food, drinks, and eating out tend to stay relatively consistent from month to month.

    Now that we’re into February, our attention will start shifting north for the winter months. During that time, we generally do a lot more free camping, which usually brings accommodation costs down quite a bit compared to the summer period in the south.

    Thanks for reading January Expenses 2026. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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  • Hopetoun Beachside Caravan Park – Review

    Hopetoun Beachside Caravan Park – Review

    We stayed here over the Christmas and New Year period, and it turned out to be a great choice for that time of year. The park is nicely sheltered from the wind and is close to both the beach and the town, which has most of the basics you’d need.

    • Website: Hopetoun Beachside Caravan Park
    • Fee Category: Paid, from $37 / un-powered
    • Booking: Yes, phone, Internet
    • Powered Sites: Yes
    • Dog Friendly: Yes
    • Amenities: Yes
    • Dump point: No
    • Pool: No
    • Fire pits: Yes, fire-restrictions
    • Telstra: ? We used Starlink for our stay.
    • Starlink: Depends on trees
    • Generator: No
    Sunset, looking down the main entrance drive
    Sunset, looking down the main entrance drive

    Our Experience

    We didn’t really know what to expect when we booked this campsite. We’d never even been to Western Australia before, so everything was new to us.

    The campground itself sits behind the sand dunes and is surrounded by plenty of trees. That turned out to be a big plus because it was windy most days while we were there. The park is well sheltered, which often caught us out. We’d step outside the van, feel barely a breeze, and think, “Let’s go to the beach.” Once we got there, it was a different story. More often than not, it was blowing a gale.

    The beach itself is quite nice. It’s sandy, with some seaweed washed up along the shore. The water was clean, clear, and generally fairly calm, although definitely on the fresh side.

    The beach near the campsite sits on a point, which means you can usually find a more sheltered spot depending on which direction the wind is coming from.

    The facilities are adequate. They’re not the flashest we’ve seen, but considering how busy the park was, they were kept clean enough and did the job.

    One of the best things about this park is how close everything is. The beach, the shops, and everything you need in town are all within a five-minute walk. We stayed for a month, and there were times when the car didn’t get started for a week.

    Another pleasant surprise was the lack of midges, mozzies, and flies. There were some flies around, but nothing even close to plague proportions. Coming from Queensland, that was a definite bonus.

    The weather was great for most of our stay. We didn’t use the air conditioning at all, even though Perth and much of WA experienced a few heatwaves at the time. Looking at the weather maps, Hopetoun seemed to sit just south of the worst of it.

    If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay over the busy Christmas and New Year period in the south-west of WA, at a reasonable cost for the area, this should be high on your list. The campground itself was busy, but despite that, we still found it to be surprisingly quiet.

    Some Pics

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  • Starlink Roaming Plans Update in 2026

    Starlink Roaming Plans Update in 2026

    Starlink has updated its limited Roam plan in late 2025, replacing the old 50 GB option with a new 100 GB plan. While the headline change is the larger data allowance, there are a few important functional differences travellers should understand:

    What’s changed:

    • High-speed data doubled: 50 GB → 100 GB per month
    • No more paid top-ups: The old per-GB high-speed data add on are no longer available
    • Automatic fallback: After using the 100 GB high-speed allowance, the service continues on unlimited low-speed data (around ~1 Mbps) instead of cutting off

    In practical terms:
    You now get more usable high-speed data each month, and when it runs out, you’re not disconnected, the connection simply slows. Everyday tasks like email, web browsing, calls, text, and podcasts should still work, while video streaming is limited to very low quality unless you upgrade to the unlimited plan.

    With the old 50GB plan you could get more high speed internet by buying extra data, and so long as you kept your data usage low enough for the month, then it could work out cheaper than the full unlimited plan. This is not the case anymore.

    The fact still remains, if you like watching videos, Netflix, YouTube etc, then 100GB will not last long.

    Summary

    For a couple travelling full-time, the 100 GB plan can work well if video streaming is not part of daily use. For general internet tasks like browsing, email, social media, podcasts, admin, and trip planning, it’s practical and usable.

    For families that treat the internet like home broadband — with streaming, video calls, and background data use — 100 GB is unlikely to last a week, let alone a full month. In that case, the unlimited plan is the more realistic option.

    Thanks for reading Starlink Roaming Plans Update in 2026. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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