Caravaning around Oz with two kids...any advice?

some advice before you go into it to deep .........
Do some "test runs", go away for overnighters at a caravan park, dont need to travel far as the driving part is simple, even if you know someone with a block of land, go and stay on it for a few nights and you will quickly find out what you need and dont need, every person is different and how and what they pack so go with a VERY open mind, in the caravan parks you will meet people that are doing it and talk to them face to face, look at there set-ups and even take piccys, you will see some really neat ideas and some dumb ones as well ....
It is worth it as once you are on the road it is VERY hard to change things...
Cheers

Hi Joe and Mel

Wow am I ready your post right, you have had 2 kids on the road??? How long have you been? We are looking at 2 years or more, depending on work, have you found it easy to find work?

Karen

We have 3..... THREE kids ...... when we say we travel we we basically left Tom Price 9 years ago with no set plans of where we were going and still have no set plans other than now to see QLD.................
We have mostly lived in compant provided accom but some has been a van just no wheels .....
As far as work goes if you cant get work out in the "bush" it will only be because you dont want to work, simply meaning there is heaps ............. but be WARNED, you must be flexable as to what you do, dont go in with tickets, degrees and so on as they mean nothing out here, experiance and more so willingness to learn quickly is what counts, there are of course some positions that will need a ticket simply because you will need it for insurance cover for the employer, that is a fact of life these days, a mechanic for instance needs the "ticket" but i worked on a Pearl Farm and was expected to do everything from Ali welding, boat driving, digging holes for plumbing, plumbing work ect.....
You also need to be able to make freinds quickly and be able to "get over" the ones you have left behind, you simply CAN NOT pop around and see old freinds when they are 2000klms away, stick to e-mails and dont get hooked on phone calls and be stubborn about it........
If you concentrate on what is around you and what you can see and do, you will soon forget about the "life" you left behind, some people will also NOT be happy with you but s#$t happnens so to speak ......
Another thing about work ...... dont rock up to the "popular" towns n citys and expect work, EVERYONE ELSE is doing that so you will get squat .... the real bush is just that, the bush .....
I am on "facebook" under "Joe Grace" or "Melissa Grace" so do a search and i am fairly certain certain you can see my photos, that is the way we live and love it...... at time it is HARD but well worth it ......
And finally....... if you have any doubts, just try it and if you dont like it DONT kid yourself, get out as soon as you can as you can get hurt out here and it can affect the kids more than you realise, do it for them not yourself, always remember that....... keep in contact, work wise i can most likely help

Hi thanks for the advice. I won't miss where we live now or the people we know, that sounds harsh, but over the years we have worked out who our true friends are!!....when you say "Bush" how far in are you? we aren't looking at spending time in major towns, but don't want to be too far "in" as my son has a severe allergy and although we carry medication once it has been adminisered he has to be taken to hospital so don't want to go too remote! We don't care what we do, hubby is a tradie so used to getting his hands dirty and can turn his hand to most things, we done fruit picking etc., when we were younger and would be fine doing that again....Our main aim of selling up is to find ourselves, enjoy the kids and to experience different ways of life, we would love to work on a cattle farm for instance......

Would I be able to have your email address, if you don't want to post it on here then you can email me, mine is above.

Cheers

You forgot the piece across its mouth

Hahaha!!! we would never have travelled with our three kids, they were terrible in the car and we would have ended up divorced I think..nope..we do our travelling now they have all grown up...so quiet!

Hi Caz

I've tried to email you but the address just bounces back! I was wondering how hard it was for you to find work? Hubby is a tradie, but willing to do anything.

thanks

Karen

We are heading off from Tassie in 2 weeks hopefully going for 3 months.
We are travelling with our 2 year old son.Car DVD player is a fantastic investment for the long travel sections.
Looking forward to meeting travelling families along the way.
Hope to find some warm weather soon!

Hi guys
We travelled around Oz for 17 months and then New Zealand for 3 months with our son who was 6 when we left.
We are so keen about inspiring other families to go that I have a website and blog to help parents plan their trip and get excited! I also interviewed every family we met while we were travelling and did loads of research which is now an ebook called Discover Australia Kids 'n' All.

Check it out at one of the sites below
http://www.familyroadtripaustralia.com.au
http://www.oztravelbug.blogspot.com

I know you will have a brilliant time and I wish we were about to head off again!
Contact me anytime for more info.

I've taken plenty of deep breaths but just cant bring myself to do it, What if it's the wrong choice for not only me but my family, The Australian economy is up and down all over the place and not quiet sure about finding decent work.
How did you guys go in the last 18 months they would have been the hardest, and what made you decide to go in the end.
What are you guys towing and using as a vehicle? We are looking at a retreat daydreamer 23 foot seperate toilet shower with double bunks? We have a new hilux tho will have to upgrade to tow the retreat.
Any do's and don't?
It's great to talk to someone that has experienced what we are going through.

Cheers

Brett, Tash & Xavier

Hi Brett Tash and Xavier

We are waiting for our house to sell, which is killing me!, but then we are off, we will have enough money for a couple of months, but hopefully hubby will find work, it's the old saying if you don't try you will never know and you will always live by if buts and maybes.

We left the UK 7 years ago with just our suitcases and our son who had just turned 4, we have no family here, had no job, enough money for a few weeks rent, but took the leap, we have had our ups and downs, but my point is you never know what is around the corner, sometimes you have to leave your safety net to live your life, you only have one. Its not going to be a ball, and you will wonder why you did it, but then you will have days when you think you should have done it sooner.

Hope this helps a bit

Karen

Hi Jacqui

Fantastic site, I will be buying your book once the bloody house has sold.......Thanks for sharing!

Karen