Travelling on a whim to experience far off places used to be something reserved for gap year students, the rich and famous, and grey nomads.
But there’s a new wave of travelling enthusiasts packing their lives into boxes in favour of open-ended adventures.
Jackie Drake left Kalgoorlie with her family to travel in 2021.
And not only are they taking their kids and the dog, but some are keeping their usual jobs too.
Mandy Farabegoli launched WA-based advice website Travelling Australia With Kids in 2011 after she took off around the country in a caravan for two years with her three young children.
“COVID has played a massive part in the number of families choosing to travel around Australia now,” she said.
“They’ve realised they can home-school their kids and work remotely, so they’re choosing to do both on the road.”
“The kids grow up ... you have to do it now because if you keep saying later, it quickly becomes never.”
Mandy Farabegoli
Figures from Tourism Research Australia show travelling families now almost match the number of grey nomads on the road, with 30 per cent of campers and caravanners in 2019 attributed to families and 32 per cent to the older cohort.
The government research body said 4.4 million trips were made by families during that year alone.
Bianca Davey’s husband, Lee, was a group accountant for an engineering firm in Perth before they rented out their home in Atwell in July 2021 and took off in a pop-top caravan with their two children and their dog.
“[The best thing about travelling is] the feeling of freedom, exploring, adventures and learning together, plus the quality family time that comes with that,” Davey said.
Lee and Bianca Davey with their children Lana, 8 and Kai, 7.
“We also have so many more friends we have made along the way that we are sure will last a lifetime.”
The family have so far spent seven weeks in Tasmania as part of their trip, and have seen Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef.
Lee still works part-time for the same company, which helps fund the trip and Bianca has loved home-schooling the children, aged seven and eight.
“I have definitely seen a huge growth in them,” she said.
“It’s nice knowing where they are at with their schooling and identifying areas that need work.”
The Daveys, known online collectively as “5 Explore Oz”, have no plans to return to Perth any time soon, saying life on the road is a far more economical way to live.
“If you are able to find free or cheap camps, and not travel too far in a week (less fuel expenses) then it’s definitely cheaper living on the road,” Bianca said.
“Even better if you have some source of income, whether it be the rent from your house, or finding work on the road – then travelling is a much cheaper option.”
The Scott family have been travelling since October.
Lauren Scott’s friends and family thought she was crazy when she told them she and husband Adon were planning to take off for an indefinite lap of the map, as she had only just given birth to baby Alby.
But after Adon was made redundant as a site supervisor, Lauren decided to make the most of her maternity leave as a school teacher and they hit the road with Alby and six-year-old Arlee.
The family left Kalamunda in October and have already made it to Victoria with many stops along the way.
“We may never have this opportunity again and we have seen again and again in recent times how precious life is and that tomorrow is never promised,” Lauren said.
“It was empowering to throw out my 2022 diary in October because I had nowhere to be and nothing I had to be doing for the first time in as long as I can remember.”
Geoff Ditchburn was on a fly-in, fly-out roster when he and his family of five pulled up sticks for life on the road last August.
He initially continued working and flew in and out of wherever his wife Celeste and children Mylee, Kaide and Tyra were located, but has since decided to quit his job and the family are currently living off their savings.
“There’s no doubt it could be done on a tight budget and probably be cheaper than mortgage payments and running a house via the normal nine-to-five regular life, however there is a fair cost involved, especially when you take into account attractions, experiences and extra fuel,” Celeste said.
Geoff, Celeste, Mylee, Kaide and Tyra left Port Kennedy to travel last August.
But not everyone has the opportunity to save large sums of cash for such a trip or work remotely on the go.
Other families are using their adventures as a way to fund the trip through sponsorship, promotional deals and marketing.
Mark Whittle was a communications technician working in oil and gas when he left Singleton in October 2020 with wife Clem, three-year-old son Liam and their two dogs Costa and Kuri.
Now he’s a social media expert having developed the family’s brand, Our Whittle Adventure, into a money-making enterprise.
Their Facebook page and YouTube channel have more than 4000 followers who tune in for tips, updates and jaw-dropping scenic shots.
The couple sold their house and have no plans to stop moving.
“Our priorities and approach have definitely changed now,” Clem said.
“If we ever end up back in a house and full-time work, which I’m sure we will at some point, it will be a very different approach and doing very different jobs from what we used to be doing.”
Jackie Drake said many people dreamt of doing a lap of Australia but were scared of taking the plunge.
She and husband Steve, together with children Charlie-Rose and Oscar, left Kalgoorlie in 2021.
Steve Drake and his family left Kalgoorlie in November 2021 with no plans to return any time soon.
“The nerves are from a fear of change,” she said.
“Everyone gets comfortable with their everyday. Now our everyday is life on the road we will be nervous about settling back down.”
But the opportunity to make unforgettable memories with their children drives many to have a go.
“The kids grow up,” Farabegoli said.
“You have to do it now because if you keep saying later, it quickly becomes never.”
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