Angelica and Beau
It’s amazing how a travelling van-life couple can turn their experiences and adventures into a career! Travelling full time in their own self-built van ‘Botero’, Angelica and Beau produce some incredibly useful information and beautiful photographs that capture to true beauty of travel life in Australia.
Beau — IG: @quietachiever2
Angelica — IG: @angelicaladino and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelicaLadino
Introducing…
We are Beau and Angélica!
What is your city/town of origin?
Perth, Western Australia
What is your nationality?
Beau – Australian, Angelica – Colombian
Could you tell us about your previous/current occupation?
I have been working as a commercial photographer for the past 5 years, mostly in the real estate industry, however also selling my nature photographs as prints and for commercial purposes, for example, in calendars and books. Angelica was working as a baker at a chain coffee shop before we started the trip and she currently is earning a living from her social media accounts.
Tell us about your vehicle and travel set up?
We started our lap around Australia in a 2006 Toyota Hiace LWB which we lived out of for one year. We traveled in it from Perth via the north of Australia to Brisbane. Once we arrived in Brisbane we decided we would like to upgrade. We sold the Hiace and purchased a 2017 Renault Master L2H2 which we spent a few months converting into our current setup.
Have you made any vehicle modifications?
In our current van, Renault Master 2017 L2H2, we are running pretty much stock. I have added a GME UHF Radio and an LED light bar for safety while driving on those open roads over longer distances. On the roof we have 2 x 170w Hardkorr solar panels to charge up our 300Ah of lithium batteries which power our fridge, lights, and charge our devices, etc.
How many kilometres have you travelled?
We have traveled approximately 30,000km around Australia so far in the past 18 months.
What are the pros and cons of your vehicle?
A pro and con of our current van is it’s size. It is brilliant to have enough room to stand and walk around in the new van, however at the same time it does make it difficult to park at times. We cannot fit in many parking lots due to the 2.7m height of the van. With a bigger vehicle comes more weight, and less mobility, so we have had to skip some of those trickier, more remote places to reach.
Is there a specific reason for starting travels? Was there a deeper purpose for leaving a conventional lifestyle?
Mate, I have always loved living a simple life, and having a bit of freedom away from work and social responsibilities. As a nature photographer being able to be out in nature everyday was my main motivation. Luckily for me, I was able to convince my wife that this would be a good idea and she has really embraced it. We both can’t imagine going back to a conventional lifestyle in the near future and we constantly discuss continuing this lifestyle overseas when we complete our lap of Australia.
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When did you start your trip?
We started our trip in May, 2020.
How long do you plan to travel for?
We initially thought we would be able to complete the lap around Australia within 12 months however we soon realised that this was a bit ambitious. So far, we are 18 months into the trip and only about half way done. I imagine the second half of our lap will take another 18 months or so which will leave us at 3 years when all is said and done.
What are the Top 5 Bucket list items for you (whether you have visited them yet, or still waiting to)?
- Visiting Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park ✅
- Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef ✅
- Experiencing snow in the Australian Alps ❌
- Seeing the Aurora Australis in Tasmania ❌
- Spending a night underground at Coober Pedy ❌
Has it been easy for you to stick to a budget?
At the beginning of our trip we stuck to a much stricter budget as we were purely planning to complete our trip from savings we had accumulated over previous years. We were very selective with which tours we did, and how much we spent on accommodation and food. However, at this point, we are less strict on ourselves as we have turned my wife’s social media accounts into an income providing business which covers all of our costs and even let’s us save a little.
What has been your most difficult moment since your travels began?
The most difficult part is missing events with family and friends. We have met many wonderful people along the road, including yourself and your partner, however you do miss those people who have been a part of your life since you were younger. I have missed birthdays, an engagement party, and a wedding for example. Of course, the pandemic has exacerbated this problem as it hasn’t been easy to fly interstate.
What piece of advice would you give to those starting their trip?
Don’t expect it to be easy. Van life, overlanding, and travel in general, bring many challenges. It isn’t always easy to find a safe place to park at night. It isn’t always easy to find a shower. You’re very exposed to the weather, whether that is the heat or the cold. Or, perhaps you will blow out a tyre, or have unforeseen mechanical trouble. We have experienced all of these things along the way. It’s not always as glamorous as some people make it seem on Instagram and Pinterest. I’m not trying to be negative as there are numerous wonderful things about living this lifestyle while traveling around Australia, but you do need to be prepared.
You can follow this amazing couple on their social media .
If you want to be part of this interview series and help other travellers, send us a mail: additions@ultimateaussiebucketlist.com.
Happy Travels!!