‘We sold everything to raise our daughter in a bus and travel the country’

“We’ve had so many adventures already, and we’re completely mortgage and debt free,” the Queensland couple reveals.

Tyson and Georgina thought they needed a house to be happy.

The Queensland couple were raising their daughter Elaura, and like many young families, they had the Australian dream of a house with a yard.

But they quickly realised the thing that would give them true happiness was their freedom – freedom to travel, from expectations, and most of all, from debt.

During the pandemic and lockdown they realised that being penned in by four walls wasn’t the kind of life they wanted for themselves or their daughter.

Browsing on Gumtree, Georgina thought she’d found a solution: an old Mitsubishi minibus being sold off by a charter company.

“It was love at first sight for me, but Tyson is more practical,” she told 7Life, explaining that it took a trip to the Gold Coast to see the bus in person before Tyson came around, and “Rosa” was theirs.

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The converted bus before and after are incredible. Photo: Instagram

Couple sells everything and lives in bus with daughter

The young couple documented their journey on social media, gutting the 24-seat bus, installing storage, a kitchen, sleeping nooks and a lounge area.

The transformation is incredible, with the bus looking better than most people’s bricks and mortar homes.

Tyson’s skills lie in mechanical work, so he got that sorted while Georgina focused on the layout.

She called on her parents’ unique knowledge of off grid living as they had a container home build under their belts.

The priorities made sense for a family of three: a king-sized bed, off-grid air conditioning for hot days and nights, and a big kitchen.

The only thing they didn’t have was a shower, but Georgina says they make do, using showers at caravan parks and pools, or in a pinch setting up a shower tent outside.

It took nearly two years to complete the project. Just before Elaura turned four, the Rosa was ready for adventure.

Georgina and Tyson were ready to adventure with their daughter Elaura. Photo: Instagram

Family-of-three hits road in renovated bus

Life on the road with a four-year-old has been a dream. There’s little pressure on the couple to earn a lot of money, although Tyson picks up jobs and contracts along the way. Because the bus is mostly self-sufficient, they’re not paying for utilities, and they don’t have any mortgage debt.

“Living in a bus made us realise less is more and how little you actually need to be happy,” Georgina said.

The most important thing was family time, and travelling around Australia, from Airlie Beach to Far North Queensland to the centre of the country, they’ve got that in spades.

The old Mistubishi bus has taken them across the country. Photo: Instagram

Couple reveals struggles living in bus with child

As expected things don't always go smoothly when living on the road with a four-year-old. 

Georgina shared a post to Instagram, revealing a period that was the "most stressful time in our lives. 

"Those following along would know Elaura has had seven UTIs in the past two months. We've been to almost every hospital in WA," she wrote.

"The cause of the UTIs has been a case of salmonella that's gotten into her urinary tract that she can't shake.  It's extremely frustrating, but she's finally been referred to a private urologist where we hopefully get some answers."

The family also suffered a tragedy during that time.

"On top of that we've just had a pregnancy loss at 12 weeks. At the same time Tyson's family arrived here in Perth, but I'm so glad they were here for us and without them Tyson wouldn't have been able to be by my side. 

"Definitely one of the downfalls of being so far from family. Multiple times through all of this I've said, 'It'll just be easier if we go home'."

Despite some health issues, Elaura lives her best life on the road. Photo: Instagram

Van life couple expecting baby

In July the couple shared an exciting announcement: later this year they’re expecting their second child.

Their loyal followers were over the moon about the news.

“Oh yay! Congratulations guys!” one person wrote.

“Congratulations! What a cute announcement,” said another, referring to the time lapse video of a polaroid photo developing to show Georgina’s pregnant belly.

In another video, the couple celebrated their new life, asking the question, “Where is home to you?”

A follower summed up Georgina and Tyson’s sentiments. “Wherever I park the bus,” they wrote.

Home is where the bus is. Photo: Instagram

Originally published as ‘We sold everything to raise our daughter in a bus and travel the country’