Researching the Nomad lifestyle

KevinJ · Senior Member

Researching the Nomad lifestyle

PetaSmall · Member

Hi Kevin, certainly no shortage of variety from the basic camper trailer to a massive bus and the forum provides so much experience. Caravans are by far the more popular although I prefer a motorhome with a bike on the back. Being conscious of safety it is very easy to be locked inside your motorhome and just drive away if necessary. I've heard of caravan owners waking from a quiet night to find their tow vehicle robbed, vandalised or gone. All that aside there is no better way to see our beautiful country than being part of it as you travel the lap. You will find however that 12 months is insufficient time although by then you'll have the bug so will not stop. Enjoy and travel safely. Peta

Possum3 · Guru

G'day Kevin,
Go to Caravan Council of Australia website www.caravancouncil.com.au/ you can download a lot of free information and technical articles to assist you with your deliberations.

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks Peta,

The next van will be off road, shower toilet, A/C and no setting up, no kids. Luxury!

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks for the tip.

PetaSmall · Member

Perfect. You are going to love it. Kids are great but the experience of leaving them behind when you and the plus 1 can escape is just so rewarding and enriching. Enjoy. Peta

MarkAC · Veteran Member

do a list of the things you must have and the things that you would like to have,

I have always had an off roader, wc/shr, and of course a/c in a van

i had a massive motorhome mainly for the stuff i could carry but they have their limitations

everything has pros and cons

someone mentioned a m/h over a van for safety. I had a bunch of hoons doing donuts around my van one night for 20 mins and apart from that, i traveled full time for 10 years without any problems.

Tony Bev · Guru

I hope that it is not too late for me to also say, welcome to the forum KevinJ

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks for the further feedback. I have been reading the forum topics quite a bit lately to prepare for the adventure. There's a tremendous amount of good tips to be had, many I had not thought of. My wife and I caravan'd for about 10 years with our kids, always at a different caravan park ranging from Tweed Heads down to Batemans Bay and inland as far as Mudgee. In all that time we never saw or had any security related problems. I am wondering when I read the security related posts how many simply relate to nomads preparing for the worst, hoping for the best versus actual negative incidents. It sounds like it is best to prepare securely though like insurance, is very rarely required. We plan to do a lot of free camping which we have never done, hence my research.

PetaSmall · Member

Hi Kevin, Ive travelled to a many places and only had some ocky straps stolen from my motorcycle cover in Port Macquarie. Opportunistic kids or fishermen with a greater need Id presumed, otherwise it has been fairly uneventful with regards to security. I am always careful though and it is most important when travelling north from Port Augusta where, if free camping, you are well advised to be at least 20ks out of Alice or Katherine. Id not free camp within town limits as even people within the caravan parks are often robbed. Not a pleasant experience but you certainly need to be prepared and careful. There are several free camps where Ive seen some locals drive through after dark with their headlights off just looking for easy pickings so erring on the side of caution with an eye on security is always good practice. Better to be safe than sorry. There is no way Id swap my nomadic lifestyle for anything these days as travelling this beautiful country is priceless. Im just aware of what some unscrupulous people will do. As you say. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Travel safe. Peta.