Travelling FAQ

What’s your caravan like? Our caravan is a 1982 Statesman Streamline pop-top. We purchased this caravan in July 2014, after our Millard bit the dust just out of Ceduna. We purchased this van for $5250 from Adelaide. Our old Millard had 4 bunks and a double bed (see more about it here). To see photos of our Statesman, see this post.

Why did you start travelling? We had lots of reasons to start travelling, one of the main reasons was to learn about this great country Australia.

How do you cope with five kids in a caravan? It has actually been a great lesson in learning to live together. Stronger relationships have been developed and it seems more bearable now that it originally did. True, we have found it harder up where it is hotter and the kids are less likely to disappear for hours on end exploring, but we have survived. Occasionally when it gets really unbearable, we are all sent off and the parents steal a few hours alone.

What do you tow the caravan with? We tow our caravan with a 2005 Transit Van, the main reason we selected this was due to its space, having 12 seats, and the fact that it can tow our caravan.

What do you do for work? Dad is a teacher, and while travelling he has been doing casual teaching. He will put his name in at a school and if he gets a call, he has work. Joel has had work at Home Timber and Hardware in both Kununurra and Derby, and has greatly enjoyed working. Josh and Dad also worked cleaning during school holidays in Kununurra, and Josh was glad to find a job in Woolworths. He doesn't like cleaning (but he did like the money better)!!

Where have you been so far? I have created a map of our travels so far: Our Travels

How long are you going to be travelling for? We are in our second year of travelling so far, and we would like to settle before the end of the year. But you never know what God has in store for you.

How do you live without a TV? Easily!! I did a post on it: Surviving (oh horrors) without a TV

Do you find it hard to find work? In both the NT and WA so far, we have had quite a bit of luck with casual teaching. In Victoria, we only had one day of teaching, but we survived.

What are the kids doing for school? We all do home schooling. We have actually done home schooling before the trip, so it was basically the same routine. Joel and Joshua (yrs 10 and 11) are doing distance education through OTEN, and I am doing Yr 9. Chloe is doing schoolwork, and is enjoying it gobbling up all the information she can get. Tahlia is still our little baby, and she is petted enough not to be in school.

Got questions about my homeschooling. Look All your homeschooling questions answered.

here

Have you ever felt homesick along the way? I do sometimes miss the space of a home, as it can get a little claustrophobic when we are all in there trying to find room. But, I only get homesick when I am in a really negative mood, because usually I am too busy enjoying the adventure.

What has been your best highlight so far? I can't pick one, but here are 3:

1. The station at Cloncurry. It was such an eye-opener to the outback life, and it was extremely fun to experience that.

2. The snow. It was awesome fun to have a few weeks just snowboarding and skiing. And the free camping was an experience. The caravan was like a fridge in the night, and we all almost froze......

3. The floods at Exmouth- Now that was an experience. An experience to always remember......

Feel free to ask any more questions. I'm happy to answer them.