8 WEEKS IN
We’ve officially been in Australia just over two months now. Some days it feels like it’s flown by, other days like we’ve been here forever. It’s been a bit of a shock to the system and the routine we knew before? Out the window.
Here’s how it’s gone so far:
We landed in Melbourne on April 3rd. Our mates flew in and joined us at 2am the following morning having spent the last 2 months travelling south east Asia. The first three weeks were spent recovering from jet lag, moving apartments twice (including getting locked out of one), and trying to find a campervan that would also double as our new home.
After what felt like a lifetime scrolling Facebook Marketplace and a few questionable meet ups, we finally found the one: a VW T5 Transporter. Something we’d always wanted back home. (Also way cheaper here than in the UK!)
To ease into van life, we headed slightly inland, north of Melbourne, and spent a week helping rescue baby kangaroos and injured wildlife. Evenings were spent round the fire, cooking on the BBQ, meeting new people and living a slower place of life - never did I think we'd welcome spending a week out of phone service so much.
Then came the mild existential crisis: had we jumped into van life too quickly? Should we have been more adventurous and bought a 4x4 instead? Something that actually has off road capabilities? I don't just mean a gravel road or fields, if you've been to Australia, you'll understand. But for anyone that knows us, you'll know that if it’s not a classic sports car, we like something big, boxy and shaped like a shoebox. And after a week with mates who collectively own eight Nissan Patrols… let’s just say the seed was planted.
Too late to turn back though, we’d committed to the Transporter. Fully converted. DSG. A proper setup. So we headed north with our mates, did the van thing properly - beach pull ups, makeshift dinners, and way too much coffee.
We crossed into New South Wales, caught up with family and friends, and then got hit with proper Aussie weather. Heavy rain, bad flooding, and feeling slightly fed up of being soggy. We pushed through, but after about 4–5 weeks, we called it. Van life: done. The Transporter was sold and handed over to its new owner.
Since then? We’ve taken up residence in a pretty lovely hotel. Actual running water, a kitchen, and a bed that doesn’t fold into a mini sofa.
Next up:
We’re now on the hunt for a 4x4. Turns out we do want that Crocodile Dundee life after all. And yes, we’re still drinking absurd amounts of coffee. Possibly even more than before.