My sophisticated friend is giving up the city for a van. He’s not alone

This is the time of the year when caravans, trailers and motorhomes toddle along our highways, to the irritation of impatient drivers.

It always seemed to me a marvellous thing, to be able to carry your home on your back like a snail. And not just at holiday time, but year-round.

I have a friend who has decided he wants the van life.

Highways to heaven - for some.

Sophisticated and urbane, he’s the kind of person who is very discerning about the aesthetics of his life. I can’t imagine him living in a motorhome.

And yet, he is making plans to hit the road and drive, alone, around Australia, perhaps indefinitely. He wants the freedom to choose where he lives without being tied down to confining rental leases.

Because he’s eternally curious, it suits his desire to see new places and meet new people, and because he’s self-reliant, he’s not concerned that he won’t have roots in one town or city.

As surprised as I was by his plan, it made a lot of sense. And I felt a moment of envy. Having the independence to go where your intuition (and need) takes you seems appealing. And right for the zeitgeist.

I’ve heard more than a few people say they would like to stop the world and get off – or find a corner of it that’s more peaceful, less fraught with division.

Perhaps taking to the road in a van is the 21st century answer to the ’70s mantra – “turn on (the motor), tune in and drop out”?

Gap year students in their Kombi vans, retirees in their motorhomes, surfers in their station wagons and itinerant workers in their campers have long been the backbone of tourism in regional areas.

In recent times they’ve been joined by a flourishing #VanLife movement, driven by young singles and couples, some with children, who say they want to have more control over their lives.

Motorhomes and caravans are no longer daggy.Credit: HireRetroPod.com.au

Many have given up traditional dreams of owning their own houses. Some are philosophically committed to living with less. Others want to travel while they’re young. Older nomads want to see more things before they die.

There are also those who have eked a sort of living out of blogs and social media, turning the renovation of vintage vans and a life spent roaming spectacular, deserted beaches into hearts on Instagram.

My stylish friend is just going with the flow. Motorhomes and caravans are no longer daggy.

According to Motorhome Republic, an international motorhome agency, searches for the iconic New Zealand route from Queenstown to Dunedin rose 89 per cent from 2022 to 2023. Hobart, Christchurch and Auckland were the top three pickup locations in our region.

Apart from satisfying wanderlust, van enthusiasts cite many advantages to bringing your home with you. If you’re retired or working from home, Wi-Fi and mobile data is readily available almost everywhere these days.

As with a cruise, you don’t need to pack and unpack. While there can be costs associated with camping grounds, motel and hotel tariffs can be stratospheric and even the inexpensive ones add up. Toting your own home, you can stay away for longer.

Some vanners have rigged up solar-energy systems so they can live cheaply off-grid. There are plenty of landowners who host vans on their properties for a small fee, especially if nomads have their own composting toilet and shower.

I was recently in Tasmania and someone told me that some country pubs with land attached will allow vans to park on the property short-term, in return for guests having the occasional drink or meal at the pub. There are apps like WikiCamps that let travellers know where to find campgrounds and free camping spots.

Negatives include fuel costs, safety issues, and living through weather that might bring flood or fire. It’s difficult to keep the small spaces tidy. But some people love the challenge of living simply and sustainably.

Van rental is also not cheap – in March it can cost almost $10,000 to rent a luxury Maui River Elite van for the month. No wonder people wanting to live this way long-term buy their own – some dealers have a buy-back guarantee.

For those carrying their home with them, it’s perfectly in tune with the times and the new mindset to travel at a snail’s pace, savouring everything slowly.