Our journey began in the 1990s with a life-changing moment. David’s cancer diagnosis and treatment brought everything into sharp focus, reminding us just how short life can be. It was the catalyst that led us to step away from our careers in
Sydney and choose a different path.
Soon after, as two
young adventurers, we set out on the quintessential “big lap”. With a 75-series Troopy and an off-road trailer, we explored coastal
routes and remote tracks, discovering the freedom and connection that only outback Australia can offer.
Out there, we quickly realised how little information was available. With only paper maps and early GPS, we couldn’t see what was around us or even pinpoint our exact position. When plans changed—as they often do in remote travel—we had no way of knowing where the next
camp might be. That experience stayed with us. We knew there had to be a better way.
That insight led to the creation of ExplorOz in 2000, as we came off the road and started our next chapter. What began as a website for pre-trip planning reflected everything we had learned from our own travels.
After relocating to Western Australia and starting a family, travel remained central to our lives. Over the next two decades, we balanced work, family, and extended trips—raising our children
camping across remote and coastal WA, including
places like
Ningaloo and along the
Canning Stock Route. These experiences became the real-world testing ground for everything ExplorOz would become.
As technology evolved, so did ExplorOz. The platform expanded from a planning resource into a comprehensive travel system—incorporating tracking tools, detailed mapping, and a nationwide
Places database. Today, it brings together maps,
Places, and
routes with full offline access through the
ExplorOz Traveller app—delivering the kind of information we once wished we had on the road. Now, as both developers and publishers, we focus entirely on our own products, maintaining independence and full control over quality and direction.
Today, we’ve come full circle. In 2024 and 2025, we returned to full-time travel, continuing to use the
ExplorOz Traveller app in the same way as our community. That same passion continues into the next generation, with our eldest now travelling full-time around Australia in a self-built bus.
More than 25 years on, ExplorOz has grown into a trusted platform for Australian travellers, built on real experience, real data, and a deep understanding of how people explore this country.
ExplorOz remains a family-run business, grounded in a genuine love for the outdoors and a commitment to helping others explore with confidence.