Van Traveling Q/A

You asked and we answered.

What was the overall cost to fit out the van?

We spent around $7,000 fitting out the van to live in. Our biggest cost was the solar and battery setup. We decided to spare no expense and go with Redarc, as this is definitely something you’ll rely heavily on whilst on the road. We kept costs low by doing a lot ourselves (i.e building all interior, making our own curtains/ mosquito nets, we sourced our tap from second hand store.) Vin is an Ebay king, so definitely check out products on Ebay. We got our interior fan online and it works a treat. In saying that, it’s ok to spend more then what have. We’ve met people that have spent upwards of $30K and others only $1,500, it’s definitely a personal preference and depends a lot on your skills and who you know.

How long did it take you to fit it out?

It took roughly a year of juggling our jobs and working on the van to complete the build. This time could easily be cut down to a few months if we weren’t working full time to save for the trip.

Coffin Bay National Park, SA

What was the year and model?

Our van is a 2006 Toyota Hiace D4D LWB. The Hiace is held in high regard as the most reliable van in Australia and also has parts available at moments notice. Parts and their availability is definitely something you’ll want to consider when choosing a vehicle to road trip around Australia.

How did you save before setting off?

It is definitely a personal preference which depends on a few things like what food you eat, will you be staying in caravan parks vs. free camping and how long you intend on travelling for. We put $20k aside for this trip and that worked out well for us. The kitty is still going strong and it’s been 11 months on the road.

How did you find work?

Depending on the work you’re wanting to do there are a few options. For farm work, the app wiki farms is super helpful. We also called around and walked in to talk to people face to face. Some other jobs to consider are pool lifeguarding for great hours and fantastic money. Pearl Farms in NT/ Broome was a wonderful experience and also great money.

Shark Bay, WA

Do you have thoughts on traveling with a dog ?

We love the idea! We’ve seen countless people travelling Australia with dogs and all say they’re the best companion and don’t regret having a furry friend on the road with them. The main restriction is getting into National Parks and some beaches. The trick is plan ahead and book a shelter or organise a dog sitter. Many grey nomads are willing to look after your furry friend for the day, so definitely try asking around as shelters can be very expensive.

Darwin, NT

What is the cost of traveling in a van for a month?

On average, we spend $250 a week depending where we are and cost of food and fuel. For example, in the outback our average could go up due to isolation. Fuel and groceries will be your biggest expense and it is very hard to cut back. Canned food will be your best way to keep the cost down and an app called Fuel Map will help you avoid service stations that charge extra. To keep us on budget, we cut down on tours and always look for free camps.

How did you find travelling Australia in a 2WD?

It is challenging, but not impossible. We found that with the right recovery gear and driving skills, we were able to get to spots we never thought we would! We drove on countless beaches and through many marked “4WD track roads”. Personally you can’t always trust the signs or people's opinions. Many roads that said "4WD only" were accessible by 2WD and many roads people said we would be able to make it through, we didn’t. Sometimes you just have to check for yourself. Always take it slow and carry recovery tracks, also think about letting your tyres down if it’s soft sand.

The Great Ocean Road, VIC