Travel Australia Podcast by The Feel Good Family

SPECIAL EDITION! - Off Road Off Grid AUSTRALIA - what you need to know before you go!

• Paul Guerin & Katie Guerin • Season 2025 • Episode 3

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Uncover the joys and challenges of off-road, off-grid living in Australia. We discuss essential preparations, such as education, water management, power systems, communication devices, and relationship dynamics during travel. 

• The importance of education before embarking on off-road adventures 
• Key considerations for water management in remote areas 
• Importance of reliable power sources while camping off-grid 
• Essential communication tools for safety and coordination 
• Relationship dynamics and strategies for travelling couples 
• Resources available for further learning, including a free audiobook 
• Free tickets for Australia’s largest Caravan and Camping Super Show

Before we sold up our life on the Gold Coast, we had never even owned a tent. Fast forward 180,000km, three different vans, two vehicles, and a few “well, that was a bad idea” purchasing decisions—we’ve learned a thing or two.

From the highs of remote sunsets and campfire cook-ups to the lows of vehicle rollovers, split heads, broken ankles, ribs, and the occasional tyre blowout, we’ve lived to tell the tale. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” … or at least a whole lot wiser!

The first couple of years we cruised the blacktop, but for the last three years, we’ve gone full send into the off-road life. Cape York, Oodnadatta, Meerenie Loop, Plenty Highway—if it’s remote and rugged, chances are we’ve driven it. In fact, our first year with our ZONE RV and Toyota Landcruiser 79 was spent entirely off-grid—unplugged, self-sufficient, and loving it!

If you’re planning on heading off road and off grid, survival is great, but thriving is even better! Here’s what you need to master:

  1. Water
  2. Power
  3. Communications
  4. Waste
  5. Food & Beverage
  6. Essential Gear
  7. Emergency Plan

Plus, for our Victorian listeners, we’ll be presenting at the upcoming Caravan and Camping Supershow from the 19th-23rd February 2025, and have a fantastic BUY ONE GET ONE FREE ticket offer for you! Thanks to our friends at Caravan Industry Victoria, use our CARAVANSHOW_FEELGOOD code to pay only $20 for 2 adults to attend the show. Plus kids under 15 are free! Get your tickets here - https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/ee778850-bc0d-4e71-b814-93cd859769cd?accessCode=caravanshow_feelgood

 Get your hands on our free Tow Vehicle and Caravan Acronyms Information downloadable here - https://shopthefeelgoodfamily.com/products/free-tow-vehicle-caravan-acronyms-information-sheet

 And as a massive thank you to our podcast listeners we’re offering a 25% off discount code on our best-selling eBook bundle! That’s over $200 in value, for only $60! Use discount code PODCAST25 to take advantage of this awesome offer -https://shopthefeelgoodfamily.com/products/eofy-e-book-bundle



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Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].


Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Travel Australia podcast. We're Paul, Katie and Jasper from the Feelgood family. Join us as we explore this great country, Australia, its people, places and cultures.

Speaker 2:

Yes, it's the Travel Australia podcast, where we share the latest in RV industry news road trip travel, caravanning and camping, product reviews, guest interviews, where to go, what to do, and so much more Thanks for joining us.

Speaker 1:

This week we have a special edition episode that's right, it's Off-Road, Off-Grid Australia where we discuss everything you need to know before you go, plus how to get your hands on some tickets to Australia's largest caravan, camping and outdoor super show, yes, and not just any tickets.

Speaker 2:

Paul, free tickets. Who doesn't love a freebie?

Speaker 1:

Oh, I love a freebie. I remember as a kid, you know, as soon as someone up there on stage or whatever it was said right, who wants the free stuff?

Speaker 2:

I don't need it, but I want it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you just used to stampede to the front of the stage to get your free choppa, choppa, whatever it was.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. And look, they're not just free tickets. Of course, it's the opportunity to come and catch up with us, so we will talk all about that, but I think there is so much good content that we want to share with you as far as this Off-Road, off-grid Australia Special Edition goes, so let's jump straight into it.

Speaker 1:

Paulie, fantastic Katie. Look, it is a trending hot topic and you know, as you will have probably followed our journey over the last five and a half years 180,000 kilometers. We weren't always off-road or off-grid, but certainly in that first two and a half years we realized that we wanted to be.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Look, we, you know, as you know, if you've been a part of our feel-good community from the beginning, you would know we were totally green, we weren't campers. We were totally green, we weren't campers. So those first couple of years for us were all about finding our feet, you know, really understanding this incredible lifestyle that we now had at our fingertips. And we did that while we were, I guess, really easing ourselves into this lifestyle, sticking to the bitumen, really, you know, enjoying those caravan parks and not being too adventurous. But something happened for us and we kept seeing all of these other campers turning off and following these incredible remote tracks to incredible remote places that, you know, we could only conjure up in our minds. And so we decided, okay, the time has come, two and a half years in, it's time for us to get more adventurous. And so we did. We upgraded our vehicles to enable us to be able to do that, not only safely, but securely as well, comfortably, comfortably, knowing that what we were towing and the vehicle that we were towing with were fit for purpose, and that's a whole other podcast we can talk about.

Speaker 2:

But we started to get out there and, look, we have not looked back. This country is amazing. It is full of incredible places and many of those are a little more remote than what you'll find when you are sticking to the bitumen that we have picked up over the last couple of years and, I guess, accumulated into seven areas of consideration that we want to share with you for anybody who's thinking I'd love to explore some of those places. Or you know what I really want to stick it to the man. I want to get off grid. I want to be self-sustainable, you know, be my own person and not rely on anybody for my power-sustainable. You know, be my own person and not rely on anybody for my power, for my water. You know all of those resources that we need when we are out there exploring this amazing country.

Speaker 1:

Awesome, perfectly said, katie. I do have to say one thing, though. Sure, you do make it sound rather romantic. We watched them turn left onto that, you know dusty dirt. You forgot to mention the endless corrugation, your teeth chattering out.

Speaker 2:

Yes, Well, look, hey, I am not the one who just surprised me on stage the other day when we were speaking at the let's Go Gold Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo with a hey, let's do the Cape again this year. I mean, we've had no discussion about doing the Cape again since we left the Cape last time and we said, well, that was amazing, but do we really need to come back and do that again? No, probably not. There's other places to explore. You dropped that bombshell on me in front of hundreds of people.

Speaker 1:

When I was younger, I heard this phrase you dry clean your memories.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And when it comes to corrugations you do, you really do. But what goes up must come down. So, yeah, you've reminded me. Oh yes, the Cape is a one road in, one road out kind of adventure, as many of these places are. And yeah, what goes up must come down. But, look good, suspension. That's all I'm going to say. Going to spend some money spend it on suspension.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, that is a great hot tip. So if you are wanting to get to some of these really remote off-road places, definitely make sure you've got the vehicles to get you there safely.

Speaker 1:

And another thing you know, when we're really now doing our talks around the country at the super shows and the expos and the off-road, off-grid chat. We weren't always this way, as you mentioned, katie, but our first year in our off-road van we spent off-grid. That is, that we did not plug into shore power and, as you said, that was quite. You know, it was a self-challenge, but it was quite rewarding for us to be able to achieve that Absolutely.

Speaker 2:

And boy didn't we feel like totally legitimate campers every time we'd rock up to a campsite and know that we were able to manage all of our resources by ourselves, without needing to plug in or rely on anybody else.

Speaker 1:

Okay, now let's get into it. But first things first. Okay, we said there were seven areas for consideration for off-road, off-grid touring in Australia. Okay, now we, obviously we're full time. Okay, but you can be a weekend warrior, you can be. You know the gap year, you could be the long service leave whatever version.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, school holidays.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, look, this is going to add value. Okay, but first things first is educate yourself.

Speaker 2:

Yes, we are big on the education and coming. You know, we've had that journey ourselves, you know, from not knowing anything, and so really educating ourselves was a big part of our journey to get us to where we are today. And so we would say to anyone, no matter what level of experience you have, education is, you know, when you think about the costs that you pay for these educational resources versus the value that they're going to add to your lifestyle, it just is an absolute no-brainer. So let's run down these quickly. Paul, Obviously, if you are towing a caravan or a vehicle of any sorts, we would recommend you go and do a towing course, tick, do it together, and a real expert telling you and your do a towing course, tick, do it together.

Speaker 1:

And a real expert telling you and your wife what to do.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. Look, we joke about this. It always gets a great response when we're doing our live presentations. But for the ladies, you know, if you are planning to mostly be the passenger, going and doing a towing course with your spouse absolutely, going and doing a towing course with your spouse absolutely. I just can't reiterate enough how important it is for you to know the basics. Even if you never get behind that steering wheel and tow that caravan, you need to at least have the basics under your belt if a situation arises where you do need to step into that role.

Speaker 1:

And how good to be encouraged by the instructor Absolutely, instead of yelled at.

Speaker 2:

By your hubby.

Speaker 1:

I was going to say by your wife, you're not doing it right.

Speaker 2:

Yes, whichever way it goes. You know, having an expert who is outside of your immediate relationship, no matter what you're learning, is always more beneficial and, I think, more conducive to a really open and encouraging learning environment.

Speaker 1:

Love it. I broke my ankle twice in our first six months of travel and Katie had to take on that responsibility, which I had absolutely took on as mine.

Speaker 1:

Yes, because I love to be in control, probably but, you know I was the primary driver and you know the man of the house and I felt like that was what I was, my role. But look, in many cases that is the case, yep, you know the hubby's going to be the one driving, and so to have that skill set delivered to you so that you had a little bit of an idea but a lot of confidence to go, I got this.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and what's actually come from that now, Paul, is that you know being, I think, thrown in the deep end really early on in our journey, where, you know, I gripped that steering wheel so tight and I had to remind myself to breathe, and every time a truck came towards me I, you know, wanted to close my eyes, and of course you can't do that because you're driving. But what's come of that now is that anytime we're remote and off road, I say to Paul righto my turn, Let me get in that steering position. I want to take the wheel. I love it, I thrive on that. I still don't particularly like towing at 90 kilometers on the highway when there's plenty of traffic and trucks, but get me out there on those dirt roads and I am in my absolute element. I would never have been in that position had we not done that original educational towing course before we set off. So definitely do that Again.

Speaker 2:

If you're towing, go and get your vehicles professionally weighed. There are so many services around the country now. They will come to you or meet you somewhere. It takes about an hour maximum and the information that you get from this is so valuable. Not only will you confirm whether you are legally within your vehicle's limits, but you'll also really understand what those different compliances mean and how they impact your setup.

Speaker 1:

Look, six that you need to really be concerned about three for the tow vehicle, three for the caravan. The acronyms are like a rap song. Yes, the GCM, the APTC, you know, gvc, gee, what's the other one?

Speaker 2:

I don't think you even said any of them other than GCM doll. It's a GVM TBC.

Speaker 1:

Anyway, look, let's just say you should give up your career as a rapper right now. Okay, dear mama, now listen. If you want to understand these and get a bit of you know comprehension of what these acronyms mean. We have a free downloadable on our website, along with loads of other free resources all the W's thefeelgoodfamilycom. You can download that for free. Thank you to Dave Lewis from WaitCheck.

Speaker 2:

Excellent. And now, paula, we'll just jump in and while you're talking about our website and resources, and say we are going to fly through this information in this podcast today, however, as a gift to you we love you guys, we appreciate your incredible support we have our number one audio book. It is Off-Road, off-grid, australia. It is an hour and a half plus of our dulcet tones where we delve into this information in absolute detail. So we want to gift that to you and say thank you. And again, you can jump onto our website. A little pop-up will come up. You pop in your details there, give us your email address, and you will get an immediate download link to download that audio file Totally free.

Speaker 1:

Yes, okay, it's not a discount code or anything.

Speaker 2:

No, it's a gift from us.

Speaker 1:

It is our number one audio book. Yep, go for it. Just you know, bootleg it no don't do that.

Speaker 2:

No, don't do that.

Speaker 1:

It'll only be available free till the end of March 2025. Okay, so there's what's that, katie? Four or five weeks.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely yeah, and we would encourage you to get on and get that, because we do go into a lot more detail than we'll be able to cover off. We do go into a lot more detail than we'll be able to cover off. I mean, goodness me, we're already 13 minutes in and we haven't even talked about the content.

Speaker 1:

Okay, six weeks actually, it's available, all right. The other things is a first aid course? Yes, a full drive course.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Okay. And if you can do them with your better half, yes. If you are traveling as a duo or if you've got older teenager kids, get them involved with all of these or many of these courses. We do have our own version of all of this coming out in the next couple of months, called RV First Aid. Oh yes, watch this space.

Speaker 1:

Very exciting 10 industry experts, over 10 hours of video content at your fingertips. We'll explain more about that as it unfolds in the next couple of months. Rv first aid watch this space. Okay, let's move on to the top seven areas of consideration for off-road, off-grid touring here in Australia. Number one is water, two, power, three, communication, four, waste. Five, food and beverage, six, essential gear and number seven, emergency plan.

Speaker 2:

Awesome, paul. Now, look, we're not going to get through all of these on this podcast, so we would encourage you to please do get on and grab yourself that free audio book. As I mentioned, we will go into detail on all these seven areas, but let's talk about probably the most important one, which is water. It is obviously the thing that keeps us alive. We all need it and we need it for everything, and when you're going remote and off grid, it's no different. You really need to be prepared, and preparation really is the key across every area when you are going remote and off grid, to really reduce the stress and yes, you would know we're all about reducing the stress. This is camping right. It should be fun, not stressful.

Speaker 1:

I love it. As we said a couple of episodes ago, camping is cheaper than therapy.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

All right so far as water goes. A couple of really key points here. If there's a way for you to, if you're towing a rig and you've got a few water tanks or even two, dedicate one as a drinking only water tank, and the reason is, then you can manage that tank. You won't cross, contaminate it with bad water. You know from bore water. Look, not all water has been created equal here in Australia.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, that's so true and we've certainly experienced just about every end of that scale, from you know your town water when you're sticking to the East Coast, to incredibly stinky, yellow-looking water that comes up from underground that you think, oh gosh, do I really have to shower in this? I mean there, it varies widely, but being prepared, particularly with your drinking water, is so important, because you certainly don't want to get an illness from a water-borne bacteria. That is something that nobody wants to go through.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly, I mean you can go without food. Certainly, depending how much extra Christmas pudding you ate, depending on your girth, For weeks you can go without food, but water very different story. Yeah, it can be three, four, five days and you're done.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, that's a really good point, Paul, and for our international visitors. We hear countless stories of you know the underestimations of how much water actually is required when you are setting off into these remote areas, and it is far more than what you may think. In some of these remote places in Australia, we are known as the hottest, driest country on the planet, and so being prepared with enough water is absolutely crucial.

Speaker 1:

Yes, exactly, don't perish in the impact. Okay, now, a few key products that we would talk up. Is purification tablets A few bucks from the chem. We'd also suggest that you check out a product called Soya. Is purification tablets A few bucks from the?

Speaker 2:

chem. We'd also suggest that you check out a product called Soya yes Squeeze the Soya Squeeze Filtration System. This is a new product for us, but boy we're loving it. Tiny little water filter has an incredible lifespan and can turn creek water into beautiful drinking water. So this one's a great little one to have in your kit if you do like to leave your setup to go for a hike, or you are going to be doing some overnight hiking as well, or you know that you're traveling to remote places where you know you want to really know what that drinking water quality is going to be.

Speaker 1:

Look, even with the bags to support the system. It weighs, I think, under 500 grams and can filter, in its lifetime, 450,000 litres of water, which obviously is going to outlive your drinking capacity. Yes, it's quite a remarkable product. Again, we're not affiliated with this product. We hopefully one day will be, because we think it's amazing. But, yeah, get your hands on that. I think it's 120 bucks, you know? Fantastic, no brainer. Another piece of kit that we'd recommend is the Adventure Pump. It's a 12-volt fully submersible water transfer solution. Love this product. Again, you can go to our website and you can check this out and get yourself a 10% discount using the code FEELGOOD. Great piece of kit. We would recommend it. Let's move on to power, katie.

Speaker 2:

Okay Now, almost as important as water. When you are getting off grid and really remote, I mean you need to be able to stay in these places for as long as you want, right? There's nothing worse than getting to this incredible campsite and then realising a couple of days in that you need to hitch up and go and find somewhere to plug in to recharge those batteries, because you just don't have enough power.

Speaker 1:

Exactly so an area that we would recommend that you do invest in as far as setting up your rig whether you're, you know, on a rooftop tent or your toe on a big rig or a camper, trailer or a swag even but really consider your power management system, whether that's just having a little portable power bank. Uh, you know, there's a great system calledCO, which not only is a jump starter for your vehicle In fact, ours is a 2000 amp NOCO jump starter. It could jump start our V8 Land Cruiser 40 times off one charge. It also has SOS light function. It has the ability to charge any device. Basically, it can run that little 12-volt submersible adventure pump. It's lightweight. We can carry it in a backpack. Fantastic, love this device.

Speaker 2:

What's really great when you're caravanning around Australia is finding products that are multi-use, and this little NOCO is definitely one of those.

Speaker 2:

It fits the bill. Now, a solar blanket is another great addition, particularly if you are light on in your setup or you are, as Paul mentioned, swagging it, or in a rooftop tent and you need that additional power. Coming in, a solar blanket is a great idea. Now, as Paul mentioned, we would say, if you are caravanning or motor homing or getting one of these incredible, you know Iveco trucks to travel around the country, the areas that we would say to you invest your money in is your power management, your battery and your solar setup and, of course, your suspension. Without these two, you'll really struggle to get to these remote places and stay off grid for any length of time. So we've learned, you know, through our experience, haven't we, paul, and you know, when we first started, we didn't have the lithium battery set up, and then moving into that and then switching up our vehicles as well, we've really had that journey of evolution, and now we just know, you know, for this style of travel, it's the way to go, and these are the two areas.

Speaker 1:

Lithium ion batteries. They're in everything. I've got a talk coming up around the safety of this technology, the incredible advancement in this technology. The price is coming down, the weight is coming down.

Speaker 1:

It is amazing, but there are some absolute risks with this that are user error based through the charging and the way you charge and when you charge and how you charge and correctly charging. So I'll share that information that's come out from the peak bodies here in the Caravanning Industry Association and the Police Department here in Australia. That's coming up in another episode. But the main thing to know is that it is an incredibly safe technology when you follow the instructions. Don't try to install this gear yourself. Get it professionally done, get it signed off and you will be absolutely fine.

Speaker 2:

Great advice, Paul. Okay, now let's move on to communications. Now we'll touch a little bit on communications between your traveling party, but we also want to give a shout out to some of the incredible gear that we would recommend that you definitely don't go without when you are heading into these more remote places, and the first one would be the UHF radio.

Speaker 1:

Look, we left here on the Gold Coast as our home base the first two years without a UHF in sight. We look back on that time now and just think what were we thinking? We didn't know.

Speaker 2:

No, that's right and well, you don't know what you don't know.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and now it is the most essential piece of safety equipment if you're planning to tour Australia, whether that's in convoy, as a rooftop, as we said, or towing a big rig, especially if you're towing something fairly heavy for you to be able to communicate clearly your intention with other travelers, with the truckies that are, you know, on a schedule generally when we're traveling and other vanners you're not really on a schedule they are being able to communicate and let them move on and get on with their job is essential to yours and their safety. Being camp, being able to show your kids how to clearly communicate on a UHF radio is essential. It's also lots of fun. There are chatter channels, there are dedicated emergency channels, there are dedicated highway channels, convoy channels, camper channels, and you can learn all of this online. As we mentioned, our rv first aid uh digital product is coming out, so that'll have all of that in there as well.

Speaker 1:

But an incredible device and we'd say get multiple versions of this. We've got a hardwired one in the cab of our 79 land cruiser. We have a few portable devices. Some are two watt watt, some are, you know, waterproof. Five watt that can get you know, 17 kilometer distance in the right range. So these are an incredible device to be able to communicate a problem and get help as well.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and a great Aussie product that we'd love to give a shout out and again, we don't work with these guys, we'd love to is GME, so check them out. They do the UHF radios. They also do some personal locator beacon devices, and this is another essential piece of kit that we would say every traveler needs to have. It's hard to believe, but there are plenty of places around the country that still don't have mobile phone or cell service, and so you want to ensure that if you do find yourself in some of these remote places and in need of help, you can get that quickly and easily. Starlink is another great option in the communications, not only for keeping you connected with friends and family, keeping you connected with the latest Netflix series, but also on a safety and security wavelength of, you know, being able to be connected if you are somewhere remote, if something does happen and you need to make an urgent phone call or, in our case, we've FaceTimed our mechanic a number of times around the country when we've had something going on with the vehicle that we don't know how to fix, and he's been able to talk us and walk us through how to solve those issues.

Speaker 2:

It's incredible, isn't it? We live in an amazing age of technology and it's going to only improve and get better and quicker and lighter and smaller. And you know it just is remarkable and it blows my mind to think about. You know when Jasper is older and what this whole landscape is going to look like. Beam me up, scotty, exactly.

Speaker 1:

Matter of time, really, isn't it? Okay, another couple of real pearlers as far as communication go is around your communication with each other.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

We often say the number one thing or advice that we could give to any couple out there is to like each other before you roll out of the driveway.

Speaker 2:

Look, it's very funny, but it is very important. And this is a common theme that comes up when you talk to any couple or family who are out there traveling Australia for any length of time. I think living in such a small space together 24-7 brings up its own issues. You know everything is compounded. Emotions can feel bigger and more heightened. There's only one door to slam. In some cases that can be a good thing and in others maybe not Slam it a few times.

Speaker 2:

You can struggle and a lot of people do particularly in that adjustment period. It's like bringing home a brand new baby and then trying to figure out what to do with it, so communication between yourselves is super important. Now a couple of gems that we learned along our way that I know have absolutely enhanced our relationship together when it comes to being a married couple, travelling together and relying on each other, and a lot of times they're stressful situations, particularly when you're reversing into a campsite. Now we all know you know you don't want to be the afternoon entertainment, and there's nothing more than Aussies love than to have a good look at what's going on over there with the neighbours. You know we all love a bit of a sticky beak, and so that adds pressure as it is. So a couple of gems we would say to you is the acronym GOAL Get out and look.

Speaker 1:

We love this one. We have to thank KYD. Keep your daydream from America. Love this family. They were our inspiration when we were binge watching a family, but they were from the States. We weren't looking for travel inspo, but we were looking for inspiration and they provided that for us. Highly recommend that family and there's a couple of things here that we got from them in those early days and get out and look or goal was one of them, and that really is dedicated to the driver. To look or goal was one of them, and that really is dedicated to the driver. To get out before you reverse and have a good look behind you and see what is there, so that when you then communicate with your partner, you're able to understand what they are talking about.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, look, and we do this every single time, without fail. And it wouldn't matter whether we're in a cramped caravan park or whether we are out in the middle of the outback and there's not another caravan or traveler in sight. Paul will still hop out and that way we both know we're on the same page from the get-go. There's not going to be any confusion here. Now, while we're talking about avoiding confusion, we don't talk to each other using left and right or right hand down or left hand up when we're trying to maneuver the caravan.

Speaker 2:

When Paul is reversing in, it doesn't matter where I am outside of that vehicle helping to guide him in on comms, of course, uhf or mobile phone. I will say to him push the back of the caravan to the driver's side or push the back of the caravan to the passenger's side, and it doesn't matter where I'm standing, whether I'm at the front of the tow vehicle or whether I'm at the back of the van. He knows exactly what I mean, because you cannot confuse the driver's side and the passenger's side of the vehicles, and this will save you every time, it will save arguments, it will save stress. Believe us, try it, you will thank us, and this is something that we really, you know. If there's one piece of advice that we would say to you to do, it is this one.

Speaker 1:

I love it. And again thank you to KYD there for those two gems, because they're marriage savers.

Speaker 2:

They absolutely are, and they will also save you from being that afternoon entertainment, you know, shouting at each other in front of all of the other campground occupants.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you just end up shouting into the void, don't you?

Speaker 2:

Yes, no, never a good look, no, okay.

Speaker 1:

Just end up shouting into the void, don't you? Yes, no, never a good look, no, okay. Now, as we mentioned, there are four more areas for consideration. They include waste, food and beverage, essential gear and emergency plan. We're going to save those for you to enjoy. On that free audio book, did I say it was free?

Speaker 2:

Our number one audio book.

Speaker 1:

Did I say it was free, our number one audio book and we have decided to do this over this period of this next five or six weeks. I think it is because we are speaking at all the major shows and it's an easy way for us to give back and really add value to that experience that we struggled with. When we started, we were searching the internet and you can find a lot of this information, but you have to find it from multiple places and it can get a little overwhelming. Well, hopefully this will ease the overwhelm and really give you that confidence through our encouragement that, honestly, if we can do it, then so can you. So we'll leave really the Off-Road, off-grid segment there with lots more to really get across through that audio book. And, yeah, get on and get yourself that copy.

Speaker 2:

Just awesome. Love talking about this. We could talk about this topic all day long.

Speaker 1:

All right, I think we have to quickly give a thanks to our podcast episode sponsor. This week's podcast is brought to you by Nakey, home of the world's first 100% recycled hammock, made from 37 plastic post-consumer water bottles and weighing less than one kilo. Nakey products will not only make you feel good see what I did there but they make the environment feel good too.

Speaker 2:

Love it Nakey, relax wherever you go. Seriously, what are you waiting for? We love the Nakey products so much. We have so many of the Nakey products and they are all awesome. Look, if you want to get your hands on some Nakey products, jump on over to our website and take advantage of the awesome 15% feel-good discount code that our good friends at Nike have provided for our awesome feel-good family audience.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, team Nike, gee. We love you guys All. Right Now the takeaway for this week. I love Take away for this week. I love collecting moments, not things, because the best souvenirs are stories.

Speaker 2:

So true, it's so true. And look, we've been guilty of being collectors. In fact, we were awesome collectors once upon a time. You know you, particularly Paul, with your little antique wares that you loved the time you know you, particularly Paul, with your little antique wares that you loved and we had some incredible pieces that we cherished you know so much. And then really deciding, when we, you know we made that decision to throw it all in and buy a caravan and travel for a couple of years we made some hard decisions on what are we going to box up and keep as our absolute precious items. And we still have about six boxes in a storage shed that has God knows what in it. I really can't remember what we saved and what was important to us at the time. That'll actually be an interesting exercise, you know, to unbox those boxes and really get a grasp on who we were back then, because we've changed as people and as a family and in our relationship so much and what matters to us.

Speaker 1:

I'm sure has changed.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I reckon we'll be like why on earth did we keep this? It'll be interesting. You know it will be interesting, but really living this lifestyle, you know, reminds us every day of what really is important when you break life down, and it is the time that you get with the people that you love and the memories that you get to make with each other. And look, we had an experience recently with our little man where we went to a funeral of a family member and the outpouring of love at this particular event and then the discussion that ensued afterwards with Jasper, at only eight years old, was the perfect reminder for us, paul, that nothing really matters other than the connections that you make with the people that you love and the experiences that are going to live on with you. You know past all of this and we can't help ourselves. We get woo-woo every podcast and this is probably going that way, but we really. This takeaway is so awesome and so poignant at this time.

Speaker 1:

And again, as far as funerals go, it was a very moving and beautiful experience. That was an incredibly sad time for our family. However, it reminded me when we were in the chapel that it's not what is left on your headstone at your grave that matters. It's the impression that you leave on people's hearts, and it wasn't that evident in that moment.

Speaker 2:

Incredibly so, incredibly so, and something for us all to aspire to as well. I think you know when we think about our own legacies and our own journeys and the impact that we're making on other people's lives, and you know that's what drives us, and we love sharing our journey with you as well, because we wholeheartedly believe that if you know, these two absolute novices from the Gold Coast, who didn't know anything about this lifestyle can make an incredible change for their lives and their family, then you know, if we can do it, anybody can.

Speaker 1:

All right, katie. Now we are speaking down there at the Melbourne Super Show from the 19th to the 23rd of February, and I call it the two for one. But basically, how to get a free ticket to this huge event?

Speaker 2:

Oh, and this is. This is the biggest event on the Caravan and Camping calendar across the year. It is on from the 19th to the 23rd of February 2025, and we will be there. We are so excited. We've never been at this event before. We'll be guest speaking twice daily on the RV Master Stage and also at the let's Start Caravan and Camping Area. We're so excited about that. We've got meet and greets and plenty of other things planned during the days while we are at the show and we want to see you there. So if you are in Melbourne, geelong, victoria or interstate and you are headed that way, international Katie.

Speaker 1:

International. Yes.

Speaker 2:

Come on down. You know we should have prizes for who's come the furthest, but look, the event organizers have given us a discount code to share with you guys, which is fantastic. It's not an affiliate code, it is a genuine discount for you. They understand that budgets can be tight and so this is honestly the best value ticket you can get to one of these events. It is a buy one, get one, so adults are $20 tickets If you use our code. Okay, you've got this. Listen, clearly it's a big one. All capital letters CARAVANSHOW. One word underscore FEELGOOD one word. We'll put it in the description of the podcast with a direct link. Go in there, order yourself one ticket and, boom, like magic, you'll have another one added to your cart. Two adult tickets for $20.

Speaker 1:

Not an affiliate link. Genuine discount for you out there if you're coming to the show.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. And look if you've got kids, kids under 15 are free or 15 and under are free. So you know, aren't they all 15?

Speaker 1:

Yes, you know, growing up with seven kids in my family, my mum and dad would take us to the drive-in and they'd put four of us under a blanket and then the three older ones I was the third. We would all sit with our feet then on top of all the other kids and dad would roll up to the window and go three kids, mate. Yeah, and two of them are under, you know, six. Yeah, so you're paying for one Exactly.

Speaker 2:

That's seven. I don't know why some of your younger siblings maybe have a few family issues going on, you know, having feet on their backs the entire you know growing up period. But anyway, no, look, seriously, guys, we'd love to see you there. So please do make use of that awesome discount code and get yourself along to this fantastic show.

Speaker 1:

Can't wait to see you there Now next week. We share two of the best beach locations in Australia. In fact, it's Queensland versus New South Wales, both bordering each other, one just there at Burley Beach, the other there at Kingscliff. We can't wait to share that with you Beach. The other day at Kingscliff, we can't wait to share that with you. Plus, we have a special guest from Getting Lost Down Under. Can't wait to be inspired by these guys. For now we'll say dream big, look after yourself and look after your family and happy trails. Oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh.

People on this episode

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Katie Guerin

Host
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Paul Guerin

Host