I have been on the road as a solo nomad since the beginning of August and have traveled from the Gold Coast in Queensland to Esperance in Western Australia. I have traveled 8419 kms at a petrol cost of $1243 and paid for site fees 60 days with free camping 28 days at a cost of $979. My food costs have been $924.

I have had a variety of camping situations and the longest in one place was 3 weeks in Esperance and the greatest usage of petrol was across the Nullabor in 3 days costing over $250 with National Park fees at $6 per night and showground camping around $18 I have been able to average around $11 per night overall.

I am on the Aged Pension and had no difficulty in keeping within it's constraints, during the time on the road I have had single expenses of over $200 each pension and still survived. $259 Coleman Hot Water on Demand, second deep cycle battery $296, service to the generator $230 and 16 amp Smart Charger $215.

I had a small float saved up for emergencies prior to departure and had to dip into that for $1000 to buy an Engel fridge, the old one couldn't keep food cold over 32 degrees as I found out whilst camping in Lucky Bay when the temperature rose above that.

Fortunately I was able to install both the additional battery and the fridge myself thus saving quite a few dollars and also able to save the day when the wind blew up my pop top in Port Augusta.

So if you can get the opportunity to travel this great land seize it now whilst you can, you never know when health can play a huge part in your future. I am 74 and travellng in a 1979 Hi Ace because that was all I could afford to buy and with no home base to return to but I would not have it any other way.

John

AmandaJayne, ignore other peoples budgets as it is not yours.
As I said earlier my budget will be no more than 800 a month and I have to stick to it. I only have the pension and will manage. As others have said, if you get low find a nice river or lake to camp beside till next payday.

Give us a break wombat, aren't you already retired?? Or was that tired??

Some people can be very nasty

me, Sir Wombat