We would be grateful for your assistance in solving our dilemma ...

The bride and I have just completed a fantastic guided four week 4wd trip from Darwin to Perth via the Canning Stock Route. This was our first excursion outside the "Australian metro hotspots" and we have both been bitten by the bug to travel further afield.

We would love to be able to take a year out, purchase our own 4wd vehicle and caravan and travel around and through Australia using proven camp grounds. However we have a business in NZ that requires our hands on attention for at least nine months of the year.

Our journey through the CSR was made easier as a result of advice gained through this forum, and we again seek your wise council as to how we can best see more of Australia bearing in mind the constraints outlined above.

The sixty four dollar question is this:

"How does an early 50's couple living in NZ with 6 - 12 weeks annual leave achieve their goal of travelling around Australia, and how do they best do it?"

Q. Can such a trip be planned and completed (say) "State by State", or similar over a period of years, what suggestions do you have?
Q. What is the best means of travel and accommodation, eg purchase a 4wd and caravan (but what do we do with it in our absence), or hire same?

We hope you can understand our dilemma and be able to provide some positive feedback and advice, and maybe some of you have also faced and overcome this situation.

We would be grateful for your thoughts.