Two Years on the Road
After more than two years of full-time motorhome life, we’ve collected more than just dust on the dashboard; we’ve picked up a few lessons, too.
Some came the hard way, others with laughter, and a few were just plain obvious in hindsight. What started as a grand adventure has slowly evolved into everyday life filled with small rituals and unexpected hiccups
It’s been a journey that has reshaped our perception of comfort, home, and even ourselves. Here are some of the lessons that have stuck with us along the way:
👉 Want more stories from life on the road? Sign up for our newsletter here and follow along with our latest adventures.
Our Top 10 Lessons from Life on the Road
1. Your house doesn’t need to be big—just clever.
Space is overrated. Give us good storage, a comfy bed, and a kettle that doesn’t slide off the bench, and we’re happy campers. A small space nudges us outdoors, where the real adventures happen.
2. Laundry waits for no one.
We’ve become connoisseurs of laundromats, from the sweet-smelling, well-kept ones to the dodgy machines with sticky buttons and broken vending machines. Pro tip: Save your $1 coins and never unquestioningly trust a dryer.
3. Weather apps lie.
One moment you’re in sunshine, the next you’re bogged and muttering at BOM forecasts. We’ve learnt to roll with it. If the day’s a washout, we tackle admin, brew a cuppa, and wait for the skies to clear.
4. Free camps are a mixed bag.
Some are serene river escapes, others have you parked beside a bin or someone’s roaring generator. We’ve found that the further you park from the amenities, the greater the chance of finding a bit of peace.
5. Less stuff really is more.
If we haven’t used it in a month, we ditch it. Except wire ties—you always need wire ties.
6. Water is almost as important as fuel.
Solar provides power, but water is a precious resource. We top up whenever we can, even if we don’t need to. Bore water can be questionable, so we keep spring water on hand for us (and Zoe).
7. The Internet can make or break your day, or not.
We begrudge paying Elon for Starlink, but it keeps us connected wherever we are. Telstra alone just doesn’t cut it once you stray too far from towns.
8. A catastrophe will always happen at the worst time.
Usually in the rain, on a dirt road, with no signal. We’ve learnt to pause, put the kettle on, and then tackle the mess with fresh eyes (and sometimes a few swear words).
9. The best views come after the bumpiest tracks.
We’ve rattled our bones and questioned our sanity, only to find ourselves somewhere breathtaking. Worth it every time. The Jimny may not be comfortable, but it gets us off the main road to find the hidden gems.
10. Home is where we park it.
It’s not about four walls. It’s about who you’re with and the memories you collect.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that life on the road isn’t about perfection. Some days are tough, most are wonderful but nearly all are worth it. Our best advice? Don’t wait too long. Hit the road, rock scramble, climb the mountains, swim with sharks.
👉 Curious about full-time life on the road? Join our newsletter for more stories, tips, and behind-the-scenes moments from our travels.
Exploring the unbeaten paths of Australia, one adventure at a time! 🌿 Follow along as we uncover hidden gems, tackle rugged terrains, and head Off the Main Road to embrace the thrill of exploring offbeat destinations. 🚙💨
Other updates you may like…
A relaxed day trip to Renmark gave us river cliffs, quiet tracks, a friendly pet café and a stop for chocolate almonds. A simple wander along the Murray with plenty to pause for.
From buffalo chicken pizza to desert sculptures and Silverton’s donkeys, Broken Hill gave us art, weather, and classic outback humour in equal measure. It’s a place that surprises every time — dust storms included.
From rainforest pools to outback springs and shaded rockholes, these are the waterfalls and swimming spots that shaped our journey across Australia. Cool water, easy tracks, and quiet corners worth slowing down for.
From Nyngan’s riverside calm to Cobar’s quiet bush camp and the long road to Broken Hill, this stretch of outback NSW is a reminder that sometimes, the in-between days are the best ones.
Armidale gave us cool mornings, friendly markets, and the joy of finding real bookshops again. With gardens, heritage, and country calm, it’s the kind of inland town that makes you want to stay a little longer.
The NSW coast is busy, but not everywhere. From laid-back Woolgoolga to Bellingen’s Butter Factory and the mountain roads to Dorrigo, we found the quiet corners still holding their charm.
Everyone has a list of towns to avoid. We’ve got one too, except we went anyway. From Alice Springs to Port Augusta, these “tough” towns prove reputation isn’t always reality.
After braving Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Mullumbimby was an exhale. A leafy hinterland town of markets, vintage shops, and slow mornings at the showgrounds. Proof that the best stops aren’t always planned.
We came to Toowoomba for two nights and stayed four. Drawn in by gardens, markets, thunderstorms, and easy charm. A big city with a small-town heart, full of stories and surprises on the range.
From the old Rex Cinema in Monto to a four-kilo peanut haul in Kingaroy, this stretch of Queensland had everything—local tips, bush learning, and the stories you only find on the road.
Living full-time on the road means finding balance between connection and quiet. From calls home to campfire uploads, we’re learning that staying grounded matters just as much as staying online.
A weekend stop in Biloela for new windscreens turned into a laid-back escape. Between Heritage Park, Callide Dam, and country charm, this Central Queensland town proved that even repair days can feel like holidays.
Five hours of potholes, rattles, and questionable suspension from Charters Towers to Emerald reminded us that not every road is smooth.
Charters Towers caught us off guard — a planned two-night stop turned into four days of gold-rush history, quirky landmarks, tyre trouble and small surprises!
From chicken races to jetty-less jetties, Australia’s full of surprises. These offbeat stops are the ones that made us laugh, pull over, and remember why we love the road.
Blistering heat, long roads, and a sense of humour carried us from Julia Creek to Hughenden. Between dusty stops, cool lakes, and cranky tyre alarms, we found that real travel isn’t always picture perfect.
We’ve racked up a few extra kilometres chasing curiosity through Queensland. Side quests that started as quick detours and turned into full-blown adventures. A few wrong turns we’d happily make again.
From Dundee Beach to the Sapphire Caost, these five Australian beaches made us stop for a while. Real coastal favourites that are relaxed and worth the drive every time.
From drive-in towns to riverside camps, these are our hidden gems of Outback Queensland. Small places with big character, strung along quiet highways where the days stretch long.
From red cliffs to waterfall gullies, these are our top five Northern Territory favourites! A mixed of big names and quiet corners that made us stop, stay longer, and fall a little bit in love with the NT.
We’ve gathered a few favourite posts that still stand out on our travels — from Snake Creek and Robin Falls to Lightning Ridge and the RFDS airstrips. Simple stories, still worth revisiting.
We spent three days in Cloncurry, exploring its history, murals, aviation heritage, and dam. From the first Qantas hangar to the birthplace of the RFDS, this outback town surprised us with stories and charm.
Whether you’re dreaming of hitting the road or already knee-deep in maps and overdue laundry, we hope these tips resonate. Here's to many more years of life off the main road.
Croydon, Normanton, and Karumba gave us history, character, and Gulf Coast charm. From welcoming the Gulflander to cold drinks at the Purple Pub and sunsets in Karumba, this stretch of the Savannah Way was unforgettable.
We explored Cobbold Gorge after a rugged drive from Forsayth. Floating along the calm waters and hiking to the glass bridge, we were captivated by the towering cliffs, wildlife, and serene beauty of this Queensland outback gem.
Exploring the Undara Lava Tubes was like stepping into another world…towering underground tunnels carved by ancient lava flows, part history, part geology, and all awe. A side quest well worth the detour.
Soaked in Mareeba, charmed by Herberton’s historic village, waterfall-hopped around Ravenshoe, and finished with cheesecake and live guitar—our journey through the Tablelands mixed history, nature, and indulgence in perfect balance (with Zoe happily in tow).
Cooktown charmed us with laid-back days, sunset cruises, museums, and even a cheeky paddle for Zoe. We wrapped it all up at the iconic Lions Den Hotel—live music, hearty meals, and full hearts.
Camping at Newell Beach set the scene for exploring Mossman. We browsed markets, braved Mossman Gorge, detoured back to Cairns on a stunning coastal drive (with a giggle at Yorky’s Knob), before heading inland towards Cooktown.
Cameron is a travel writer, photographer, and freelance copywriter with more than fourteen years of experience crafting stories that connect people and place. Based on the road in a motorhome with his partner, he documents Australia’s quieter corners through Off the Main Road, a travel journal devoted to the towns, landscapes, and characters often overlooked by the tourist trail.
His writing blends observation with lived experience, drawing on a professional background in brand storytelling. Blending visual storytelling with a writer’s eye for detail, Cameron captures moments that reveal the character of regional Australia—from weathered towns and open landscapes to the honest rhythm of life across Australia.
Waikerie gave us ferry rides, silo art, bakery stops and an easy riverfront stay. A bright Riverland town with good food, calm paths and a few rituals we return to every time we pass through.