Why are there so few young ppl travelling outback??

Hayley,

I am young as well and I envy you guys that you are able to do that. Most young people don't have the money to do a long trip in the outback and most young people don’t have the correct equipment and vehicles to go where they want to go. Fortunately for us we have the car we just need the time and the money now. A 4 week trip for us will cost around $3500 in fuel alone but hopefully next year we are off to do a big trip and will make up for lost time ?

How long are you going for?

Hayley,

Eftpos should work in most regional areas, as a safe guard I carry some cash as well.

We seem to do more short trips than long ones (average around 2 weeks). As Troll mentioed fuel costs are a killer as well as only having a single income with 2 young kids (2 and 5 yr old) it takes a while to save the $$ to do a long trip.

Cheers Kev

Interesting. I think a lot of younger people are caught up in the cycle. Mortgage, kids, working, etc.

We have always chosen lifestyle over working long hours, etc. We did lots of things when our kids were small but not that we are in our early 40's we don't get away as much as we would like, with 2 teenagers playing sport on Saturdays.

For example, our 13 year old son is in a football junior development squad with an SANFL club were he trains 1 night a week, plus 2 nights a week for his club. Development squad games are on Friday night, club games are on Saturday morning. Now that footy season is over he plays cricket - training on Wednesday nights and plays U14 and 3rd grade seniors on Saturday. So there's Saturday shot. (I play also because we are home).

#1 Daughter umpires netball, coaches netball, then plays junior and senior netball - all on Saturday. Last year she played representative netball for her association which took us all over the place on Sundays.

That's just our scenario. I'm sure many people have similar ones that stop them going away. Sometimes we drag the boat out for a day or weekend for something different. We try to have 1 good holiday a year. This Saturday we are heading to the Flinders Ranges for 6 days, then we're off on Friday morning with the family for the long weekend. This time last year we went to Fraser Island.

Sometimes you just gotta go away regardless. As for your mates not having any interest, diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks I suppose.

We used EFTPOS in Innaminka & Cam's Corner a few years back - no worries.

Years ago I met a couple of young blokes changing a tyre on the Holden, in the main street of Birdsville.
They had been up across the Top End, and were returning home to finish their apprenticeships. They didn't have anything fancy, had slept in the car most nights, and had replaced their windscreen with one from a wreck at the dump.
From the comparitive luxuary of my old FJ55V (!!) they loked decidely unprepared but blissfully happy about the whole experience.
When I offered them the use of a compressor, they said "No thanks, we need the exercise" and continued on with the foot pump.
I suspect that the lack of young adventurers is a sign of a change in values as well as opportunity.
Many are too busy trying to keep their heads above water or servicing credit card debt.
Some are not keen on being responsible for themselves.
Much of the romance of the bush has been lost to some through a lack of education or crappy curriculum at school.
And for the remainder, why would you go nowhere and suffer when you can fly o/s and enjoy the sights and sounds of a foreign country for the same or lower cost ?
I was asked by backpackers, where was I going at Uluru a few years back. I pointed west. "You're mad...there's nothing out there!"
Not "why" or "what's out there?".
Perhaps it takes a certain mindset to explore this country.

Yes thats true, not alot of families to be seen. Cost would have to be an issue, our recent simpson trip cost more than 2 weeks on the gold coast. The best part is that our kids, 6 and 8 reckon the bush is better than the wally worlds.
How often though do you hear parents moaning about little johnny not enjoying being in the car. You've just got to be motivated, load the kids and they'll love it.
Dean

We have been on the road 20 months now as I mentioned in an earlier thread. We have met a number of young people travelling with and without kids but mainly grey nomads. I think most people get into a routine and don't realise they can get out of it. People think you can't travel with young kids and then school gets in the way. We home school and they learn more on the road than in a class room. We are creatures of habit and that is hard to break. Sell your house, quite your job are you mad. I now say work hard just to pay bills - are you mad. Yes we still have bills-paying for animal parks, fishing trips ( got two Barra yesterday) museums, cruises, caravan parks ect. Heaps better than a mortgage and mowing grass every Saturday. If our grass needs mowing we move. There is more amazing stuff out there to see than you could ever see in a life time so don't leave it until it's to late to see or you may not get there.

Josh
Kidsandall

Yeah well

Young people are up their ears in debt...or so the statistics say.
House mortgage, the latest cars on finance and all the electronic gadgets you can think of. All on Tick.

With regards to EFTPOS. Just about anywhere in Australia. Even in remote places like Ilkurlka Roadhouse on the Anne Beadell Hwy or at Kunawarriji on the CSR. But it pays to carry a bit of spare cash with you just in case.


Cheers

Hayley

Being "outback" alot over the last 8 years
Simson Desert 3 times
Ayres Rock 3 times
The Gulf x1
Every other road out there a heap of times
There are 5 in your family nothing better than doing a "road trip"and if the road is dirt its heaps better.
I have talked to alot of young people around camp fires but most of them are from overseas they hire a "wicked camper" or "britz camper" and do Australia you will most likely find that "all young aussie" are going overseas which is silly yes fuel in the outback isnt cheap but have you looked at how much it would cost to get 5 people to England or the USA no contest and trust me nothing better than sitting up on a dune in the middle of the Simson watching the sun go down.
About EFTPOS i havent being to a place that doesnt have it but we take about $500.00 in cash just in case we mostly put it all on credit i put my holiday pay on it before we go so i guess im spending my money anyway im sure the Banks hate me but i dont care then you have one bill to pay then you get back and you dont get hit with fees for useing your card 10 times in one day
The first trip we did the kids (twins)were 5 that was the Ayers Rock they loved it my youngest 7months gets to go there next July but we had her camping when she was 5 weeks old and in 2 weeks we are going camping for the long weekend get them into camping younger the better i say lol
well have a great time im sure you will if you want any more advice get back to me happy to help a fellow 'outback" traveller

Glenn.....

There's a large percentage of that age bracket that don't have kids, have disposable incomes, still live at home but don't even consider travelling unless it is to somewhere like the Gold Coast to party. This is all they want to do; party, play computer games, ipods, fancy mobile phones, home theatre systems, hoon cars. There isn't anything wrong with these things in general, only when it is to the exclusion of everything else in life.

My hubby and I are one of those young people up to our eyeballs in debt with the mortgage etc.

We are choosing to break away from the expected routine of paying your house off and keeping the ideal job. Sick of supporting the banks!!

With three kids, 4yrs, 3yrs and 5 weeks old we have ordered a caravan and if all goes according to plan we are selling the house and travelling around oz on a working holiday for as long as we can. Kids are great campers, have been since they were born. Camper trailer is going into storage until this trip is finished, we thought it better to get the caravan (well I did anyway), easier with three kids but will have the tent and swags for off road 'outback' trips.

Mixed reactions from everyone we talk to. The majority think it is awesome that we have the 'guts' to do it and at the same time crazy for throwing in the mines job and the acreage property.

We are so excited about the whole thing but just can't wait till it happens.

Friends of ours, same age and same age kids, have a van and planning to do the same so looks like there are more young'ens getting out there to appreciate this beautiful country.

After all there is so much more to life than a nice house and a nice car. What's the point if you can't afford to do anything else.

Any advice or from people who have done similar would be appreciated.

Sue

Totally agree, im 24 and have seen pretty much every inch of the Kimberley, and parts of the NT. Absolutely love it, never get sick mof doing the same tracks and seeing the same places. Have lived here all my life and i still dont get tired of it. Every chance i get i head bush. Even planning a big Gibb trip next year with some mates who were extatic when i told them about the trip i done this year. I absolutely love it out there, give me a campfire and fishing with mates and the family rather then a nightclub anyday. There is no way my 6yr old son will be growing up thinking any different. He loves it too.

Hi Hayley, my wife and I did a big trip last year spending 4 months on the road in a 90s model Jeep towing a small 80s model caravan and loved every second of it, we are 25 and 23. We both worked full time for a couple of years and saved so we wouldn't have to work while away. While our vehicle and caravan cost under 10k all up, we found it very comfortable and camped next to older people with vans worth 10 times the amount and often had fantastic conversations with the owners. You're right, most of the travellers are older and the young ones are usually from overseas but don't let this stop you from having a chat with them, you'll meet heaps of new friends!

Since then we have driven to Perth from Sydney and explored the south west coast and plan on exploring Cape York next year.

Hi Hayley Me and my partner are 30 & 31 now with kids the ages of 5, 3 & 2 and when our first was born we already had planned to take off for six months around Aus so when he got to eight weeks old we headed off on our trip all of our friends and fam thought we were crazy. While we were away it is true there were not to many young people but everyone we met while we were away were the nicest people. We still keep in touch with one couple that we met who were doing the same thing with their young daughter.
Now every year we try to get out and see the outback for three to four weeks but next year we will be travelling to the cape with the fam.
None of our friends like to go bush they think camping is going to a caravan park less than two hours down the coast and sitting there for two weeks.
Don't let the low number of young people out there deter you from going bush as I think it is the best experience for young kids to get out there and enjoy.
Cheers
Clint

Hi Hayley,

We are doing it right now. 7 months off works and doing a lap of Oz with my 2 boys 4 and 2. We are loving it. Costs arent that bad. Fuel spent thus far for 12000klm is $3600 and accomodation is just over the $1000. We try to stay away form caravan parks and tend to stay in bush or beach areas. We have one the Tip, NT and are currently heading down the WA coast. We do alot of our cooking etc on camp fires which just adds to the fun. I have taken time out from a high paying job but was not getting to see my boys grow up. Working from 7 in the morning to 8 at night. I was getting caught in the rat race as a lot of people above had mentioned. My ambition was to retire by the time I was 40, currently 36. I am close now but just said one day to the wife stuff it lets go now. If I had my time again I would have done it years ago and just would have worked whilst going around. There is so much work it is amazing. I have been writing stories as we have been travelling to friends and family and if you would like to view let me know and I will email them to you.

Go on get out there

Goona

34 this end, no kids and no debt now except for a killer mortgage that eats up three quarters of my pay cheque and a PITA mother in law tied into it. And a sick husband which means travelling distances is way out of the question until he is well again. Next year, year after who knows!. Currently renovating the house to sell it, as much as it is nice having your own house, I am financially better off to rent than buy! (well for the time being anyway) I crave travelling, but everything keeps getting screwed by spanners being thrown in the works.
Enjoy your trip, totally envious!

Haven't managed to read all the replies, but seems a few picking up on the subject.
I have to agree with you a bit, most seem to head to the coast and the 'busier' places.
I'm 29 and I grew up in the Pilbara, spent my youth travelling WA with family for holidays and have already done 4 Pilbara 4WD drive trips in the last 4 years with 90% of the time spent east of the Gt Northen Hwy - best area by far. Is expensive but best option to escape a bit.
I can't complain though - for work I get to travel the Gunbarrel 2 or 3 times a year, been out to the Gt Vic Desert area about 7 or 10 times, Nullarbor a few times and even some roads in the desert areas not on the maps.
I only have a few friends my age who enjoy it and I really wondered what is wrong with the rest!!