Welcome to our AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP!
Background Story:
When I moved to New Zealand in 2018, a lonnnng time friend of mine (Alecka) said she would come visit. However, by the time she was ready and able to come, I was packing to leave for Australia.
So I said to her, “Why don’t you just meet me over there?”
She thought about it, then said, “Yes. Why not?!”
So we sat and devised a plan *cue mission strategy music*
When my NZ visa expired, I would fly over to Australia and she would meet me a few days later. We’d then have an epic adventure where we’d rent a camper van and trek from one major Australian city to the next! (Melbourne to Sydney) A camper van trip was on her bucket list so, why not?? (This seems to be a theme).
The whole idea was a bit crazy to me at first.
But, crazy enough to work. It was also crazy enough to be a great distraction from the fact that I was picking up and moving to a new country and city where I barely knew anyone.
I was nervous for that of course. But, I took comfort in knowing I’d have a chance to explore this new place, with a great friend of mine, before I would be alone to figure it all out.
Fast forward to the beginning of February 2019 and we were actually out there in Australia living a dream.
Here’s a little insight into what our days looked like:
Day 1 & 2
Our first official day was a “likkle rough” (T:” Little rough”) in the beginning. Alecka had an incident in the morning (dust and expired eye drops are not a good combination people!) that made one of our first stops, a trip to the pharmacy.
Once she began to feel better, we drove a little ways away to our first camp site. We settled in, then our logistics coordinator (Alecka) navigated us to a place where we could see a large penguin colony return to their beach nest at night. A worthwhile experience seeing 50-70 penguins rock up and pitter patter their way to their nest and families.
Needless to say, our first day was quite, eventful.
Day 2 & 3
The next day, Alecka’s eye was still recovering but she was a trouper all the same.
We drove and hung out in a national park, then went to ‘Squeaky Beach’. A beach where when you walked on the sand it actually made a squeaky sound!
Our chosen camp site for the night didn’t have a shower or cell reception, and had a porto poty as a toilet. We truly felt the campy vybe there. The following day, we drove to our next location. It was to be sunshine and beautiful views, but unfortunately they had only rainy weather so instead we stayed in our van and chilled.
We used the time to catch up with each other and read or listen to music. It was Bliss.
Day 4
By this time we arrived in a place called Pambula and were hosted by a lovely Australian family. We were SO happy to have a full bed, full shower and proper electricity. They gave us tips of places we should check out (like the best place to get an Australian pie!) and gave us some good insight into Australian way of life.
It was there where we saw Kangaroos casually grazing in the empty field in front of the house!
Day 5, 6 & 7
By now we were in the swing of things and had a great routine going. We woke up mid morning each day (8/9 am), cooked and ate (in the car) then drove a few hours to a beach. We then ate lunch and lounged on the sand or went exploring if we felt up to it. After a few hours, we drove to the nearest camp spot, ate dinner and chilled until bed time.
This was pretty much our daily life for 7 days and we alternated a beach for a national park every once in a while.
We quickly learnt that we were both on the same page, and just really wanted to relax and enjoy what Australia’s coast had to offer. We got along the ENTIRE TIME – it was no stress.
As we got closer to Sydney, the roads got busier and the towns got bigger but the views were still fantastic.
Overall, the whole trip was amazing.
It wasn’t just the fact that Australia’s coastal drive from Melbourne to Sydney is a likkle pretty.
It’s also because of how we did it – the vehicle we drove was essentially our house and land. The camper van was an all in one – drive where you want, sleep when you want, and eat when you want all whenever you want.
It might sound corny, but there was something special waking up in a new place each day, driving with no particular rush, with the simple goal to get to Sydney and enjoy ourselves along the way.
In the end, it was 8 days and 7 nights of chill beach vybz during the day and camping in our van at a new place night. Each location brought a new sight, sound and experience.
It was absolutely priceless.
Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t in the lap of material luxury. We were both on a budget and new to the whole ‘camper van thing’.
So, while others may have foreseen and prepared for certain things – camper van parks with no showers or the fridge in the van konking out half way through – we still made it work.
We did however have the luxury of these things – time, nature and new experiences.
And we were both eternally grateful to experience them in AUSTRALIA.
Here’s our mini agenda of our adventure for those wondering:
- Melbourne
- Penguin Colony & Kilcunda ocean view holiday park
- Wilson’s promontory National park & squeaky beach
- Lakes Entrance & Lake tyers beach
- Mallacootain inlet
- Bermagui blue pool & Pambula
- Cave beach, Green patch beach & Jervis Bay
- Sydney
Yours Truly,
Global Gyal
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