JoelLife on the road looks glamorous, doesn’t it? Freedom, openness, adventures, awesome experiences, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, epic wildlife, flowing waterfalls, sleeping in, no job, no rush – can it get any better?
Well… let me tell you something. It has its unglamorous moments!
This article certainly isn’t meant to be a deterrent to travelling long-term. It is purely a reality-check on what can be expected on the road. Circumstances are different for everyone and each situation will be different depending on personalities, time constraints, finances, vehicles, accommodation type and individual outlook.Â
But it Looks So Amazing on Instagram!
Without a doubt, Australia has some of the most amazing places to visit on Earth. But with the advancement of modern technology – photos and editing programs have become incredibly… unreal. More than ever, the distance between expectation and reality has reached new lengths. Have we all been a victim to seeing a photo online that makes a place look more spectacular than it really is? This can sometimes cause a let-down when we see it for ourselves… and it is not healthy.
As a caveat, this isn’t diminishing the skill and effort in those who post photos online, it is simply something we need to be aware of.
If you were to place a percentage of photos or stories that show a beautiful landscape and swimming hole compared to bad weather, or a mechanical breakdown – it would be pretty close to 100% of the former.
So what challenges can you expect to face?
1. Finances and Budgets
Though this may not be an issue for some, I’d be safe to say that most people travel on a budget – whether it be $500 a week or $3,000 a week.
If planned out well, budgets are pretty easy to follow… until the unexpected arrives at your van door. A simple breakdown, accident or unexpected repair can chew into many weeks of your budget – and it always hurts to see the money go! Injury or serious sickness while you’re travelling is an unexpected event as well that can be costly.
Within a month of my wife and I leaving home, our two auxiliary batteries and charger became pretty much useless. We got to the point where we couldn’t even charge a phone properly! Plus we had to turn the fridge off at night to conserve power. With many months or years ahead of us, we knew it wasn’t sustainable. So one day we dropped in to the auto-electrician. We waited on a grassy patch with some of our gear in an industrial area for the work to get done (feature picture). $2,000 and 8 hours later, we were on the road again. It was a massive blow to the budget so early in to the trip – and it was completely unexpected!
Before we left, everything was working fine. It pays to have the whole electrical system inspected and tested before you hit the road. That was a horrible day for us. It dragged on and on and on and we knew that would be about 3 weeks of our budget gone!
With a new sense of freedom (and capitulating to the fact it might mean noodles for a couple of weeks haha) , it can be easy to disconnect from reality. The more you stick to a budget and be frugal, the more you’ll thank yourself in the long-run.
Over the months, we’ve had other issues with our van. Luckily for us insurance has covered the majority of repairs – but the inconvenience and mental strain is extremely stressful sometimes. We have been dealing with an insurance claim for two months now and our campervan has been through a dozen mechanics! There’s been moments I’ve wanted to give up, go home and feel sorry for myself.
2. Vehicle Breakdowns and Repairs
We’re constantly amazed at the set ups that people have while travelling. Many are buying new vehicles and vans and have all the luxuries you could think of while on the road. We aren’t one of those people haha.
Though some come out relatively unscathed from long-term travel, you should be fully aware that s**t happens. Punctured tires, overheated engines, oil leaks, water leaks, broken accessories, wear and tear – the list of possibilities is almost endless.
What we have realised is that the stress around it all is actually worse than the cost! Dealing with insurance companies, sorting out accommodation, changing plans, missing out on things – they all come with it.
3. Travel Burnout
I have a bad habit of going 110% for too long and then I crash… I don’t want to miss anything and if I’m resting, then that’s a waste of time because I could be having more adventures. It has it’s advantages, but it needs to be done in moderation. There’s been a couple of times we’ve decided to have a rest day, and I take off to do 30km+ hikes that could have waited a day or two!
Take a moment, slow down and enjoy the moment. Get a proper nights’ sleep and allow days just to chill out and hang around the campsite or caravan park. Those things we are so desperate to see will still be there another day.
Familiar to many travellers is the phrase: “I need a holiday from my holiday.”
Despite the temptation to have a “holiday diet”, try to eat healthy (but don’t forget the treats haha).
4. Uncertainty and The Unknown
Life is already an unknown. We don’t know what our life will be like in a few years, and in reality, we don’t even know what the next second will bring. But this is even more so on the road.
What will life be like when we get back to “normal” life? Will there be an emergency that will halt or stop travels? Will borders open or close? Is this the best investment of my time and finances? If I’m travelling with a partner and/or kids, is it the best for everyone? Will we get halfway and decide it isn’t for us? Will I still have the same friends around?
If we truly want to embrace long-term travel, we need to let go of many of these thoughts and concerns.
5. Been There... Done That...
Just like “normal” life, there becomes a familiarity in everything we do. Driving the same road to work, seeing the same people every day, shopping at the same store, coffee at the same cafe etc.
The travel life can actually cause the same effect. The things that excited us at the beginning tend to become the norm. It is important have reminders of how awesome the experience is. It can be trap when we lose excitement and forget the whole purpose of the lifestyle. Try to have the “first time” feeling every time.
If long-term travel becomes unexciting, then it could pay to stop for a little while to re-evaluate the purpose and goal. Mentally refresh!
6. Face to Face With Bad Weather
Australia has some pretty extreme weather. Humidity and heat are probably some of the biggest struggles. Some have air conditioning units in their vans and motorhomes these days and tend to stick to the caravan parks to overcome the heat.
Our campervan has nothing but a little portable fan. There’s nights where I have woken up completely covered in sweat and then unable to sleep again. We can open to the tailgate and sliding door, put up the mozzie screens – but not ideal if it rains as well haha.
My wife and I have been on multi-day hikes and it pours down rain!
Roads can get washed out, camp sites flooded and there can be massive delays in travel plans. Some activities rely heavily on good weather.
I recently hiked up the tallest peak in QLD – Mount Bartle Frere (you can read the experience here). It rained like crazy and over two days I pulled over 800 leeches off my soaked body. It was an adventure, but I definitely would have preferred good weather and a nice view at the top!
7. Keeping Up With the Jones'
This isn’t unique to life on the road – it’s been plaguing humanity since the beginning.
There’s been tough days on the road and during those days we have seen people in their new 4WD’s or caravans, seeming like life is perfect… but it’s wrong thinking on our part. It’s important for us to be happy for them, but not use it as a topic of comparison. While we sit under our awning in the north QLD heat, there are others who are inside their vans in the air conditioning. While others have new vehicles that are very reliable, I’ve fixed a fuel issue in torrential rain while getting muddy and soaked. We’ve been on the side of a corrugated dirt road with a broken ball joint and people have driven past in a cloud of dust.
But at the end of the day – we’re comparing apples to oranges. We’re having the time of our lives! Our vehicle choice has given us the ultimate flexibility in seeing so many places.
Whether you’re in a swag or a luxurious motorhome – you can see and experience the best of Australia. In fact, a simple set up will get you into some pretty tight places that big rigs won’t go. There is a special beauty in simplicity!
8. Long Drives
This is especially true if there is a time constraint. Australia is such a large country and there can be times when you’ll have a full days’ drive to reach your next destination. These days can be very tiring!Â
Some roads are in horrible condition too! Even a small distance can take hours and hours of dealing with corrugations, ruts and sand. Some epic locations require travelling 4WD tracks and corrugated roads that go for days!
9. Finding Work
If your travel plans and budget dictate that you need to pick up work as you go, it adds another factor into your plans.
It means searching job pages, Facebook groups, finding accommodation or a place to stay and sometimes it can be tough work (fruit picking, farm work, caretaking etc). Regular jobs are hard to get as employers are generally after people who will commit long-term.
For some, stopping their travels and staying in one place for a while can be a demotivator and momentum stopper.
10. Where to Sleep, Where to Eat, Showers and Toilets
Again, this is probably more for the #vanlife and #tentlife, but we’re all generally reliant upon water and power to a degree.
Unless you stay in one place for longer periods of time, you’ll be searching apps like WikiCamps on an almost daily basis seeing what is around. My wife and I never book ahead unless we know we have something special planned or go to an island.
Our campervan has an outdoor shower with a 40L tank that is heated while we drive, but we don’t have a toilet – my wife insists that wherever we stay, there must be a toilet even if it is just a long drop haha – fair enough.
We save a lot of money free-camping or going to National Parks (we can also be off grid for weeks). But some need caravan parks with power and water and also campgrounds that allow longer and larger vehicles.
For some, it’s literally a daily battle to choose a spot to stay and sleep for the night. If you’re into free camping – finding a place to legally park for the night is also a constant battle.
11. Animals Want to Kill You
More than ever, we have been face to face with Australia’s wildlife. We are hiking so much more now and I’ve had some pretty close calls with deadly snakes and spiders. My wife has saved me a few times from stepping on black snakes and I’ve been charged by a taipan.
Ticks and leeches have been bad in some places. On a two day hike I did up Mount Bartle Frere, I pulled off 880 leeches – including my face, neck and groin.
Some campsites will be plagued with mosquitos, sandflies and midgies that will drive you crazy!
March flies and regular flies can be horrendous! In some places you’ll need to wear a head net, close all gaps in your vehicle and even have to eat your food under a head net. At one place we visited I had to walk with a towel over my head as my whole shirt and shorts were covered in flies!
12. Working Remotely, Signal and Reception
If you have decided to continue to work from the road, chances are you’ll need reception for phone and signal for internet.
Australia is huge and mostly unpopulated. You’ll find a lot of places are a struggle to get these luxuries. Unless you plan on sticking to the tourist routes, expect to have days without phone and internet.
Working remotely (or working on the road in general) has its advantages like extended travel but also has the major drawback of – still working…
13. Road Schooling and Home Schooling
Chances are your kids would learn more about life and practical skills while being on the road… but for most kids, school is a requirement.
This means setting aside time and effort to set up a “classroom” environment. Many families that we’ve met during our travels said that initially it is a massive adjustment, but within a short time, they’ve found a routine and system that works.
14. Travel Isn't a Tool to Escape Life's Problems
Guess what… problems and issues don’t go away once you start travelling.
This can be a dangerous motivator and mindset – “if I quit my job, get out of the city, and begin to travel, my life will be so easy and stress free!” Well it isn’t quite the case. Yes, we can minimise the general stress of work and peak hour traffic haha, but you’ll get a new set of daily challenges. Personal shortcomings or weaknesses can actually be exaggerated in this lifestyle – there’s nowhere to hide and there’s more time to reflect.
Recently I read the following expression – “are you running away from life or towards it?” Good question – and food for thought.
15. Me Time
Solo travel doesn’t produce this potential issue (thought travelling alone comes with its own downside), but if you are travelling with a partner, friends or family, sometimes it can actually be hard to get some personal time.
I love my wife to the ends of the earth, don’t get me wrong. We travel together, sleep together, eat together, walk together 24/7. Some days – once every month or two, we have actually found it healthy to organise our own seperate thing for a day. It is usually the days that I’ll disappear into a rainforest or hike for 12 hours – I get some time for me, and my wife gets some time for herself. Personal development and mental space is important!
16. People Come and Go
You’ll have the opportunity more than ever to meet people from all walks of life. My wife and I have had the opportunity to meet some incredible people with amazing stories.
The only problem is, that people are coming and going all the time, that a substantial relationship usually doesn’t develop out of it. We have exchanged numbers with many people, (I’m so so slack with keeping in touch with people) but communication deteriorates very quickly as you’re both going seperate ways and focused on what’s next.
It is still important to meet people and share details because some day you may be crossing paths again or visiting someones home town – stop by for a drink or you might even score a place to crash for the night.
Ensure you don’t become numb to the goodbyes.
17. Going to a New Campground is Like the First Day of a New School
Can anyone else relate to this scenario?
You arrive at the new campsite late in the day. As you enter the property, others have set up already and are relaxing in their camp chairs. As you look for a place to stay, everyone looks at you and your set up as you do circles. You feel as though no one wants you to park next to them. They’re thinking – “oh, I wonder if they are the noisy type…”, “oh no, a campervan – they must be a whizzbanger…” or perhaps it’s a giant 4WD and Caravan and they are going to take up a lot of space and run a generator.
Am I the only one who gets paranoid haha?
Most of the time everyone turns out to be friendly and welcoming. Though it just feels like you’re the new kid at school.
18. High Cost of Living in Australia
We’re all too familiar with this concept – on and off the road… While some other continents around the world are relatively cheap once you get there, Australia is just straight up expensive.
Be prepared for fuel costs – it’s most likely to be more than you expect. Filling up a full tank and a long range tank at the same time is an expensive affair!
19. Travelling With Pets
It’s a bit of a sensitive topic for some, but it should be addressed.
Travelling with the family pet is a must for some people – and that’s great. For those who love their pets, leaving a dog (for example) is like leaving a child at home – not an option as the pet is a part of the family!
Be aware it can limit the places that you can go to unless you get pet sitters for times that you want to visit a National Park, special camp grounds, activities, island trips etc etc. It’s important to keep all these factors in mind when planning your trip.
This definitely isn’t a comprehensive list, and for sure, there will be unglamorous moments in life wherever the road takes us.
Don’t let this discourage you from a life on the road, but let it be a prompt or a reminder of the challenges that will present themselves. It can be a massive tool for personal growth!
