Lapping Oz next year
Submitted: Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 14:47
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jeep cherokee
Happy New Year to all.
My wife and i are going to sell the house,quit our jobs and semi retire to go around Aussie for however long it takes early next year.We have a great semi offroad camper (wind up, push out bed ends,type) and have been bush and caravan park camping since 2002.Our plan is to get work as we go but to start off with a 4-5 month holiday initially.Can anyone out there give us a few hints that they can pass on that could help make this trip enjoyable.We will be investing the majority of money from the sale of the house in a fixed account and keeping another ammount aside should we need it when work is not avaliable.I am 51 and my wife is 57.We are also both qualified in our respective trades.
The plan is to leave
Adelaide around March 2011 and head up the Tannami track to N.W.Aus and slowly work our way South in an anti clockwise direction.Any hints from past or current experiences would be really welcome. We have also just purchased the Camps 5 book to do some
free camping from time to time.
Reply By: Wilk0 - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:06
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:06
Hi Jeep,
My advice is to pack a sense of humour and try to
bush camp when ever possible. Take your time and enjoy.
Cheers wilko
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:15
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:15
Cheers Wilk0,
Sense of humour already packed, and i will have a lot to give out the day i quit after 16 years at the same place.Have also purchased a lap top to keep everyone up to date on our travels :)
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Reply By: True Blue - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:39
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:39
Happy new year to you 'Jeep cherokee'.
Can't give you any tips from our experiences but can only pass on best wishes for the trip.
My wife and I are of a similiar age, both qualified as well and are thinking of doing the same type of thing. Very envious of you both.
Hopefully some of the people who frequent this
forum and have been there/done that will pass on some of their knowledge.
Happy travelling and look forward to your updates.
True Blue.
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397591
Follow Up By: Karen & Geoff - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:52
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:52
Hi Guys. Our house settled 3 weeks ago and we are doing exactly what you are planning. We had a departure date of March 2011, and then we thought, why wait another 12 months, lets do it now. Our house settled 3 weeks ago and we are now living in our new 25 foot van, with all the luxuries too I might add. I cant give you any tips yet, but in a couple of months I will be able to.
All I can say is enjoy yourselves, talk to lots of people, and
free camp as much as you can. We thought about it for yours, and now we are finally heading off in about 3 weeks. We are middle 40's and like you want to travel for a few months before finding work.
Have a wonderful time as I am sure you will.
Karen
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:52
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:52
Cheers True Blue
I hope you too can make it some day. However,don't wait too long.We have learnt from recent experiences that life is too short and you should get out there and "Just Do It" as the Nike expression goes.
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:56
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 15:56
Karen&Geoff,envy is the first word to come to mind. As we have already made plans for this year (NZ for my Mums 8oth in June and Tassie with friends in October) we HAVE to wait. But im sure this year will fly past as did last year :)
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Follow Up By: Karen & Geoff - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 16:02
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 16:02
You will be suprised how quick this year will go. In the meantime, browse the net and start writing down points of interest if you know roughly which way you will be heading off. I have writing things down for different towns and attractions that people mention. It is all great fun.
Karen
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 16:19
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 16:19
Will do,that is another reason for getting a lap top, to do some reasearch as we go and before we go.
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Reply By: Kanga1 - Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 19:22
Monday, Jan 04, 2010 at 19:22
Howdy Jeep Chookee, food for thought, but if you don't need to sell the piece of Australia you worked all those years for why not rent it out while you don't need it, then you will have it to return to if travel or caravan life doesn't suit, Cheers Kanga1.
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 09:26
Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 09:26
Hi Kanga 1.
Good point, however the house is too big for us and there are some bad memories there.We have also been considering living in another state for a while now, been in SA many years and there are some beaut spots in other states.
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Reply By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 12:04
Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 12:04
Hi there
We are doing the same thing, however we have 3 kids in tow (I am 40 and Matt is a few years younger - yes I am a cradle snatcher!!!) We have just celebrated our 2nd Christmas on the road!!!! We have no regrets about selling the famiily
home ect. We work a few months, then travel a few months, we are currently doing the travel bit and will look for more work in Feb/March.
We have a website (
http://www.travelingoz.webs.com) It took us about 8weeks to get used to living in a van, we are all aware that we all need "alone" time and most of the time we all respect that and it all works, (there are some UGH!!! days though)
Free camping is great especially in Tassie. There is always work out there just depends what you want to do.
Cheers
Caz
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 16:25
Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 16:25
Hi Matt&Caz.
I have actually been following your website for a few months now,really sounds like you were having fun on the camels in
Broome.I did leave a comment earlier.How did you get the webpage looking so good, i have joined webs but have no idea how to do all the fancy stuff like maps,the way you have.
We are really looking forward to next year and now have a year to get the house ready for sale.Take care and who knows we might catch up
on the road sometime.
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Follow Up By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 06, 2010 at 20:35
Wednesday, Jan 06, 2010 at 20:35
Hi,
Its fairly simple - I have NO computer skills!!!! You just need to make sure you shrink down any pics and I can email you the map of OZ if you like (Sharon from Exploreoz sent it to me originally & I just use paint to do our tracks)
Cheers
Caz
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Thursday, Jan 07, 2010 at 10:12
Thursday, Jan 07, 2010 at 10:12
That would be really appreciated Caz
Many thanks.
Our email address is hangerbangers@adam.com.au
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Follow Up By: luckymum - Saturday, Jan 09, 2010 at 16:20
Saturday, Jan 09, 2010 at 16:20
Caz, Ive been following your blog too. We are planning to leave in August after my husbands birthday. We are only planning a 6 month trip but as we are not working along the way I think thats all we will need. I would want to go for longer but hubby can only take 6 months paid holidays. Anyway your website is great and Im really learning alot (especially about W.A, its the only state we havent been to and its where we want to really spend some time).
Anyway keep enjoying......
Jeep Cherokee....good luck with your trip too.
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Reply By: Gary5167 - Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 21:04
Tuesday, Jan 05, 2010 at 21:04
We pick up our new van on Saturday and head off middle of Feb to do the big lap. Did a 6 month trial run earlier this year, and loved it.
Both early 50's and have had enough of working full time but will look for the occasional bit of work.
We have decided to rent the house out for 12 months and then see how we feel after that.
No set time frame just meandering along enjoying the views and smelling the roses.
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Follow Up By: jeep cherokee - Wednesday, Jan 06, 2010 at 09:35
Wednesday, Jan 06, 2010 at 09:35
Luck you Gary,still one year to go for us,enjoy,and if you can pass on any tips to us please do so via this website, they will always be welcome.Safe travels :)
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