Travel Australia Podcast by The Feel Good Family

The pool bar is calling: Our stay at Australia's luxury RV destination + special guests Our Australia Trip

• Paul Guerin & Katie Guerin • Season 2025 • Episode 7

Share episode

Send us a text

Luxury meets adventure at Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, where traditional camping transforms into an all-inclusive vacation experience that's dividing the caravanning community. We dive deep into what makes this Queensland destination arguably Australia's most expensive campground, with sites reaching a jaw-dropping $1,669 per week during peak periods.

From the moment you arrive, you're immersed in a resort atmosphere that prompted our nine-year-old son Jasper to declare, "It's not a caravan park, Dad. It's a theme park for caravaners." The facilities are genuinely extraordinary – swim-up bars, water slides, splash zones, pump tracks, recreation areas, and a unique wristband system that serves as both your access key and wallet throughout the resort.

While the price tag might cause sticker shock for traditional campers, we explore whether the value proposition makes sense for families seeking a complete holiday destination where kids can play endlessly and parents can relax poolside. Our midweek visit (30% discount applied!) gave us the perfect opportunity to experience the luxury without the weekend crowds.

We also catch up with Brad and Hayley from Our Australia Trip, who share their journey of turning a planned one-year adventure into three years of full-time travel. They offer practical advice on working remotely, with Brad securing truck driving positions and Hayley working as a relief teacher. Their key suggestion for aspiring nomads? "Set a date and just go – you can always come back for special occasions."

The couple shares insights on their favorite Australian destination (the Ningaloo Coast), hints at an exciting vehicle upgrade in their future, and discusses how they're transitioning from a short-term adventure to a sustainable traveling lifestyle that might eventually include children.

Whether you're dreaming of luxury camping experiences or seeking practical advice on how to make long-term travel work, this episode delivers inspiration and real-world strategies from those living the dream. What's your take – would you splurge on Australia's most luxurious campground?

📍 Watch the full tour of Sandstone Point on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/60DB0nHIkDk?si=gSB-QJjfSm-Wy9QC

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

Be sure to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and join us for all of the road trip adventures! Check out the footage from our latest episode on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily

Check out the Gear we love on our website - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/gear-and-discounts/

Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw


Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Tuesday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com


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 are Paul, Katie and Jasper from the Feel Good 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 and so much more.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for joining us this week we stay at arguably Australia's most expensive campground, ouch. Plus we catch up with the dynamic duo Brad and Hayley from our Australia trip.

Speaker 2:

Oh, so much good stuff in this week's episode Paulie, and even a little bit of controversy. I think this particular campground will have you divided.

Speaker 1:

And saving your pennies to actually stay there. Yes, this is true.

Speaker 2:

Well, we should say we are talking about the one and only Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, located there on the Sunshine Coast, at the gateway to beautiful Bribie Island.

Speaker 1:

Look in Jasper's words this place isn't a caravan park, dad. It's a theme park, it's a caravan.

Speaker 2:

It actually is. It's like you know the places that you see in the movies over there in the USA, paul, and you would know I mean your family, as we heard from your mum and dad last week on the podcast. And, just as an aside, if you haven't listened to that awesome special episode with Lynn and Peter Guerin, paul's parents, my beautiful parents-in-law, jasper's granny and granddad that was last week's podcast do jump on. That will inspire you no end. But you guys traveled the usa and you stayed at these massive resorts over there.

Speaker 1:

Look and and in you know the term of jasper saying it's a theme park. He really isn't far from that and, as you say, it reminds me so much of what you do see in america Incredibly well planned out, massive sites, incredible facilities. It's a destination in itself in that you go there and they do their utmost to make sure that you stay and play and spend your dollars in-house.

Speaker 2:

You can never leave. That's what goes through my head. Hotel California Well, they tempt you.

Speaker 1:

From the minute you start to roll around to your site, you get a text hey, by the way, happy hours, cocktails, swim up bar, come on down First. You know one is 50% off. Or hey, did you think you should have a night off? Or deliver fresh Firestone pizzas to your van? You don't even have to leave, like it's constant.

Speaker 2:

It is Well. Look, there are a few caravan parks around the country that we've stayed at that, we think, do it really well, but none like this. They've taken that model to the next level.

Speaker 1:

Now you'd probably ask well, if it's arguably the most expensive caravan park in Australia or campground, why would you stay there? Look, they had a 30% off midweek special. That's a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday night. Because, let's face it, you can't get in there on the weekend because they're fully booked. And I said to Kate Bing, look at that on my socials, Book it, baby, Roll the wheels, let's go.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and we were looking for accommodation in this particular area anyway. So we jumped at this 30% off deal. I mean, it's still an expensive stay, we're not going to lie about that. Even with 30% off, our site was still up there, I think for the three nights. In total, we were somewhere around the $270, $280 for three nights of parking our nine meter home on wheels, on a fake grass slab, you know, and having that little bit of space to ourselves. But honestly, that's not what you're paying for.

Speaker 2:

No, obviously that's not what you're paying for no, and you don't come to this place to hang out at your site, nobody does. You come to this place to immerse yourself in the resort facilities and then, at the end of the day, when the kids are absolutely buggered because they've been playing all day and in the pools and on the slides and mum and dad have had too many cocktails, you stagger back to your site and you get a good night's sleep and that's pretty well, I think, for the majority of people who come to Sandstone Point, how they would roll. And to your point, paul, they are fully booked just about every weekend, certainly every holiday period, school holiday period, and look, if you are thinking of you know this could be a good destination for us to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Then be prepared to pay.

Speaker 1:

Now, we did inquire for the 2025 Christmas period. They had a site available. May have already been booked out, but they had a site available the week leading up to the big red man in the fat suit come and visit and drop his presents off. And it was $1,669 for one week for a powered site For our family of three. That's right, two adults and one kid. So that gives you an idea, and it only goes up from there, goes up from there, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

So yes, be prepared to pay if you are coming in holiday time. But do you know? What was interesting was when we were having this discussion around it, and obviously since releasing our YouTube episode on this incredible destination, there's been lots of comments on both sides of the camp. You know those who are completely against paying these sorts of ludicrous prices. To those who would totally agree that if you are a family looking for a holiday destination, then this is up there with going on a cruise or having an overseas holiday, which we would totally agree with. But there certainly are plenty of people who love coming and staying and playing at Sandstone Point.

Speaker 1:

Well, katie, you've got a couple of million people in a two-hour drive radius. You can see how they've absolutely nailed this and they've obviously priced it at a point that people are just willing to pay. But let's talk about their facilities. Okay, so you've got. They've absolutely nailed this and they've obviously priced it at a point that people are just willing to pay, you know, but let's talk about their facilities. Okay, so you've got all your swim up bars.

Speaker 2:

Yes, as Jasper said. When we said to him, what's there to do there, mate? Weirdly the swim up bar was on the top of his list.

Speaker 1:

There's a pump track for the kids with all their scooters and their pushies. There's basketball courts, tennis courts, mini golf, petting zoo.

Speaker 2:

Pedal cars. There's an arcade room that take it from us. You can easily spend way too much money.

Speaker 1:

Do not go in there.

Speaker 2:

Yep absolutely.

Speaker 1:

You will be poorer for the experience. Yes, 100%.

Speaker 2:

There's trampolines for the kids. Outside of the swim-up bar there's a hot jacuzzi style pool area. There's also a massive, massive main pool area with a younger children and, I guess, toddler pool area that connects into that. Then there's the incredible splash park that has one, two, three, four, five water slides. You know the big bucket that tips everywhere and more guns and water codes that are just there to just order your cocktail or your mocktail, or your pizzas, or whatever it is that you desire All there, other than their 160 to 200 sites?

Speaker 2:

is that about right.

Speaker 1:

Yes, as in powered sites for caravanners and campers motorhomes, there are also about 60 other. Two three bedroom cabins, double story apartments.

Speaker 2:

Yes, glamping tents, you name it. Any style of accommodation is on offer here, and they even have a stunning new addition to the main accommodation area, which is the Lagoon exclusive overwater cabins.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you'll need a back line for that one.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you will. But, gee, it's beautiful and, as you said, paul, the standout really is the landscaping and the tropical gardens and the way they have created a complete holiday resort. It feels like you're on a cruise ship and you're not on a cruise ship. It is just everything that you could possibly want, for it's there, within easy walking distance and, when you check in, very different to anywhere else we've been. But the adults get a wristband that's got a chip inside the wristband. You use this to be able to access the boom gates, to be able to get in and out with your vehicles. But then you can also, way too conveniently use your wristband to order your drinks and your meals when you're at the pool bar. You don't need to take your wallet anywhere with you when you are staying here. It's far too easy.

Speaker 1:

Don't let the kids get the wristband. That's all I'm going to say.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, there's a reason they give the kids paper wristbands and not the same ones as the adults, that is for sure. Something else unique about Sandstone Point is that it is connected to the Sandstone Point Hotel, which in itself is an incredible venue, serving breakfast, lunch and dinners right on the water there, overlooking Palmerstone Passage, of course, towards Bribie Island, and this venue, which was actually built first on the site here and then the resort followed a few years later. It's just superb, isn't it?

Speaker 1:

Paul, I love that. We rocked in 5, 36 pm and you know you've only even done a well, we were sitting on the m1 traffic so it was a few hours drive, but we were done. The last thing you want to do is even fire up a barbie, or you just really want to be fed and watered and the kids just, you know, get their chippies and there's no complaints exactly and so we did that.

Speaker 1:

we walked across to you know what is maybe 500, 600 metres away to the Sandstone Point Hotel. The food's fantastic, the service is next level. We cannot fault it, you know, but you do pay for the privilege of attending a resort-style complex like this. We will go back. I don't think we'll go back at Christmas, but we will go back.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely, and I would think that any family who has children would be of the same thought. It really is somewhere where the kids can just absolutely go nuts, have an incredible time, wear themselves out and to go and do a three-night stay. Midweek it was beautifully quiet as far as the number of people camping there. When we were there the weather wasn't the best, but we did certainly have moments where the sun came out and, you know, really made it that perfect holiday vibe when you were sitting on your lilo beside the pool drinking your cocktail. But that was lovely to have, not a jam-packed campground. But I tell you what, when we were leaving, the amount of campers who were rolling in van after van after van ready for the weekend buzz that is every single weekend was astounding.

Speaker 1:

I think that's it. That would be our pick. Take advantage of the midweek special and a little bit of a quieter time. You won't have a problem getting service and a cabana and the kids feeling safe to run around and for you to do as little or as much as you like. Absolutely our special guests. Our Australian trip. This podcast is brought to you by our great mates Stratus Outdoors, creators of the toughest and eco-friendly outdoor equipment designed to last a lifetime.

Speaker 2:

Oh, I love their camp gear, especially the all-day chairs. They're not only comfy, they are lightweight, super stylish and they're made from recycled materials.

Speaker 1:

So good, all right, their entire range is made for Australia's environment and the best part is that you are helping protect the environment with every purchase.

Speaker 2:

These are people that actually really do care about the environment. And to take advantage of your 10% feel-good discount code with Stratus Outdoors, head over to our website on the gear page Stratus Outdoors. Head over to our website on the gear page Stratus Outdoors. Protect the adventure.

Speaker 1:

Okay, it is time for that favourite part of the podcast for me. Katie, I love off the beat and chat, and we've got some local Gold Coasters our hometown as well. We've got Brad and Hayley, better known now as Our Australia Trip. Welcome to the podcast guys. Thanks for having us.

Speaker 4:

Thank you, good to be here.

Speaker 1:

Fantastic. Now I have to ask where are you at the moment?

Speaker 3:

Up in the VQI country, a little known town called Mount Beauty.

Speaker 1:

Oh just the name sounds good doesn't it, kate?

Speaker 2:

I know I'm a bit envious. I have to say we, as you know, are parked up getting a new tow vehicle build underway, so we're just itching to get the wheels turning and get back out travelling. And then you know, chatting to you guys and keeping across your socials. I'm like, oh gosh, we've got to get out there.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, no, sorry to rub it in, but we've literally just done a, got here today and had a look around town.

Speaker 1:

Sorry, we're not laughing. We cannot believe it.

Speaker 2:

Can you hear that in the background?

Speaker 1:

That is the ice cream man.

Speaker 2:

Oh my God, it's the home ice cream man.

Speaker 1:

I didn't know that the home ice cream man even still operated.

Speaker 4:

It's like he's just pulled up.

Speaker 2:

Oh my God, it's like he's literally just pulled up at the front of our caravan. Jasper's like looking out the window like can we get some?

Speaker 1:

Listen mate.

Speaker 2:

I'm so sorry guys.

Speaker 1:

Do you? Know that that sound is actually him letting everyone know that there's none left.

Speaker 2:

That's why he rings the bell. Sorry, none left. No, that's so random, like seriously, we've been parked up here for a week and a half and, uh, we have not heard that sound at all except for now with you guys on the fine ice cream man.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so back to you guys now. Listen, you've been traveling australia now, I think, full time, for is it three years already?

Speaker 4:

we are almost at three years. Yeah, we left in the july, so yeah, it won't be long before we've been on the road for three years. It doesn't feel like that long, hey, like time really has flown by. Yeah, it's crazy to look back and think at how much we've done and all the places we've been in that time, but it's cool.

Speaker 2:

It does certainly fly, doesn't it? I know we are constantly just pinching ourselves at where the time goes and you know how much you can actually jam into that time, but you guys weren't setting off originally to be on the road full time, were you?

Speaker 3:

Not really. No, we always had the when the whole idea come about that we wanted to travel Australia. It was both like a passion that we both had shared and we're just going to do it for a year. And then one day we thought, well, why don't we sort of make it to? We knew we wanted to concentrate a lot of time around Western Australia. So, like I just said to Hayley one day, what if we, like, stopped and worked in Western Australia and sort of had that experience too, which would sort of push out our travel window? And I think, yeah, then we did that and the whole YouTube thing started and it sort of has just snowballed.

Speaker 4:

And I think, for so many people who are traveling like regardless of whether you're doing YouTube or not, like you see so many traveling families and traveling couples they start with a kind of a time frame in mind, but then, once you're on the road and you just fall in love with the lifestyle and you just kind of extend it and it becomes a real ongoing thing and I think, yeah, that's definitely happened to us. It's not so much a trip anymore, it's a lifestyle.

Speaker 2:

Oh, a hundred percent. We totally agree with that. It becomes addictive, doesn't it? This lifestyle and the freedom that it affords you across, I think, all facets of your life, not just escaping the traditional nine to five.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's right, and I think, for people that are listening out there too, though this didn't just happen for you guys. I mean, you did your research, you went to the shows. It was a couple of years before you actually picked up your 79 and you hit the road, is that right?

Speaker 4:

Yeah, absolutely. It's funny you mentioned the shows because I think the first show that we ever went to you were speaking there, like during one of your presentations, and that's the first time that I'd ever heard or seen of like a traveling family, which was really cool, heard or seen of like a traveling family, which was really cool. But yeah, we spent about four years I think it was from the time that we came up with the idea to do a lap until when we actually took off. So it was four long years of saving and putting away every penny for, obviously, the setup and then the you know year's worth of living expenses. So yeah, there's a lot that goes into it.

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely, and you know it's such a popular topic for people who are in that stage of you know, maybe not even planning, but still dreaming or wondering whether they can take that leap and live this lifestyle for themselves. And the how did you do it question in terms of the planning and the saving and being able to afford it, and then also the working on the road question. You know they're such hot topics, so can you guys maybe expand a little bit on? You know you stopped in WA, you worked there, what were you doing? How long did you do it for? And then how did that really impact being able to then hit the road again?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, well, I think the number that we'd come up with, that we wanted to save for 12 months, was like 50 grand, I think. Hey, for like 12 months of living expenses.

Speaker 4:

At the time I think that was a pretty common recommendation to save up about that much. So that's what we did. But then we got on the road and we quickly realized that that wasn't enough money. So, yeah, we did stuff and work a little earlier than what we planned to.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so we yeah. Their first work stint was in the southwest of Western Australia.

Speaker 2:

There's definitely worse places, guys, to park up and get work.

Speaker 3:

We sort of definitely tried to pick a spot that was lifestyle orientated and also had a good broad range of work available. We didn't realize how much we would actually be working to make it happen. But yeah, we stopped there about eight months in a little town called Bunbury, which is on the southwest. I have like truck driving tickets and crane tickets and all that sort of stuff, so I find it not too hard to pick up work, although it is hard to pick up temporary work. I would say like we had to lock in for my job as a truck driver. I had to lock in for three months. They really wanted me like more, like six months, but that was sort of where I got the job and then we worked highly around that as a school teacher, because she can.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, it was easier for me to be able to work anywhere, so we just focused on finding Brad a job and then I would just contact the local schools in that area and be able to get work there as well. So that worked well for us. But even like we were lucky in that, we stuck to our trades. I guess you could say, however, you know you talk to so many people and as soon as you mentioned that you're planning on working on the road, like we were constantly getting job offers or like being told insights like oh, if you go to this town, this person's looking for work and oh, you drive trucks, if you speak to this person in this place, they'll be able to get you work anytime. So we definitely found that the more we put out there that we were looking for work, the more opportunities we had come our way.

Speaker 3:

And we still get those offers, still today.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that is so cool, and I mean, the community is amazing, isn't it? And certainly that's been our experience too. We haven't ever stopped and worked in different jobs to, I guess, running our feel good family business, but everywhere that we travel, whether it's in a coastal location and particularly in those more regional, remote areas of the country, everywhere we go we meet people who are screaming out for workers.

Speaker 2:

And even to the point where they've said to us we meet people who are screaming out for workers and you know, even to the point where they've said to us, we really don't even mind if they don't have the skills that we're looking for. We're just after good people who have the willingness to work and you know, we'll just get stuck in and do a good job and the pay is incredible. So I think you know when you're in that planning or dreaming stage and you're worried about all of the things that you just don't know because you just don't know them. Work is a big thing, but we just try and assure or reassure people that there's so much of it out there to not let the fear of not being able to get work stop them from taking the leap to travel.

Speaker 3:

Right, 100% yeah. The leap to travel Right, 100% yeah. And I think that that goes. That same sort of mantra goes for just leaving a normal life and doing this because, like, there's so many uncertainties but you've just got to do it. And it's funny, like life finds a way, like it's, there's really opportunities in every aspect of life. You've just got to be willing to get up and go. That's just the way that we found it to be.

Speaker 1:

I love that, mate, what you just said life finds a way and on that too, your motto that you guys have really built your lifestyle, but also your brand and your business, around that to live an extraordinary life. And you're doing just that.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I honestly I can't believe that we're here and we're doing it, but like we're making it work. So, yeah, I can't see any reason. And anyone that asks us a question like how do you do it? Like there's so many questions about you know, like work and travel and family, but like, yeah, you just sort of figure it out, you just sort of got to let go of the anxiety of not having a go and like, yeah, everything just sort of works out. Well, it certainly hasn't been simple or straightforward, but like, yeah, you just keep following your nose and it all works out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah. Look, we've spoken a lot about this community across our podcast and then, katie, earlier in this conversation with you guys. That it amazes us still. You know, after now five and a half years, that people are just good people. Like the best thing you could do in your life. If you're planning on doing anything you know that's out of your comfort zone, like you know, packing up and travel in Australia for a year or taking a gap year or pulling out of your career for a minute just to explore Oz, is that it really will work out because good people are everywhere. Just turn the news off. You know really.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's such good advice, Paul, and I think, brad, you just touched on this in what you were just speaking about. But one of the questions we wanted to ask you guys was you know what is the best advice that you could offer for others out there who are, you know, considering, you know taking their own leap of faith or getting out of their comfort zone? And I know you just rattled off so much good advice there, but do you have anything else, any other gems that you would share with people to really encourage others to get out and travellers?

Speaker 4:

I think a big one would be if you've decided that or thought about this is something that you want to do. I think a great starting point is to actually set a date for when you'll leave, because what we've found, and a lot of people have spoken to us about, is that there's always things that will come up. You know, someone's birthday or a wedding, or if you kind of just have that mentality of, oh, we'll just wait for this and then we'll go, or we'll just wait until I get this sort of point in my career and then we'll go and whatever, you're always going to be waiting for the next thing, whereas we always tell people like, just set a date that works for you and then just go, and you can always come back for that wedding, you can always make plans to visit home or whatever, but just set the date and go and then you'll be on the right track and it will all work out from there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. That is such great advice, hayley, and there really is nothing like a deadline to really get you motivated to work towards that goal.

Speaker 1:

Now you guys have had some pretty epic road trips and really off the beaten track along this last three years of journeying Oz. What's your favourite so far?

Speaker 3:

Goodness.

Speaker 2:

It's a hard question, isn't it?

Speaker 4:

I think we are very big supporters of the Ningaloo. I think that is definitely the Ningaloo area as a whole would be our favourite area that we've travelled so far and obviously there's so many little gems and places within that I think anyone who loves the water, like us.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's a natural attraction, but it would really be hard, like when we have a top 10 camped like sort of sites in our head that we always talk about and it's forever changing. Even up until the last few weeks, it has changed. I just the thing, the main thing I love about traveling Australia is that I love Australia. I love every landscape that Australia has to offer, whether it be the desert, it'd be the ocean, it'd be the high country, like there's just so much alpine areas. It's just there's so much that excites me about, yeah, the Australian landscape and traveling through it is like the best bloody job or the best experience that I think any Australian can have. We love that.

Speaker 1:

Totally agree. I have to give you guys a good shout out too to your website there Our Australia Trip and that you have an ebook there on the Ningaloo coast that really highlights the best of what to do, where to stay, where to play, et cetera. Yeah, encourage anyone out there that's dreaming of the ultimate WA getaway. That'd be our pick as well, hey, katie.

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely. It's one of those places that you arrive to and you think how can we just stay here forever, Like we? Really don't need to see anything else, this is it. Yeah, can we just stay here forever.

Speaker 4:

We really don't need to see anything else. This is it? Yeah, absolutely. I think that's what led us to writing that e-book, because we went to the Ningaloo for the first time for six weeks and just had an absolute blast. It was all of our favorite things remote camping, beach camping, fishing, diving, snorkeling, all the rest of it. So then we were like we have to come back here, but with a boat. So then the following year we came back there with a boat in tow, and that time we stayed for three months, I think it was. So we really felt like we experienced the best of what the Ningaloo had to offer over that time and we got so many questions about it. So it was a great opportunity to put everything that we know into that little guide, and I'm glad that it's able to now help other people plan their trips to the Ningaloo, because it truly is such a special place.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, amazing guys. Yeah, encourage the listeners out there to really check out that as well. And yeah, awesome guys, now you've got your Peregrine Zone RV. You guys are proud ambassadors, as are we, in the incredible vans that they are producing. You know, australian made as well.

Speaker 2:

Love that.

Speaker 1:

Talk about loving Australian and supporting Australian businesses, but the tow vehicle now you're in your single cab 79 there. Is there any plans? What's next for you guys?

Speaker 3:

Yeah Well, actually funny. You mentioned that this whole trip was supposed to be a year or two. It's turned into an open-ended sort of thing. So the car that we bought was definitely fit for purpose for a year's lap or two years lap, but we found ourselves dreaming, probably well pretty early on, maybe like 18 months ago.

Speaker 4:

I guess that, yeah, as soon as we realized that this was not just a short-term thing anymore, this was our lifestyle, then our attention changed to being like okay, our current cruiser is great, but looking long-term, we do need to upgrade that. You know, we want to have kids one day if we can and travel Australia with kids. The single cab is not going to allow that. So yeah, we definitely started looking at options to future-proof our setup.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, is it a secret?

Speaker 4:

And it's been a bit of a journey.

Speaker 3:

We have something coming guys.

Speaker 1:

Okay, let's leave it at that, then we have something coming guys.

Speaker 3:

Okay, let's leave it at that. Then we have something coming. We've been screwing away the pennies for like the last 12, 18 months and we're finally getting close. That's exciting.

Speaker 1:

We love that. It's an incredible. We joke about this. You know it's an incredible problem to have trying to work out a new table isn't it yeah it's been a real headache. Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey. And speaking of kids, are we talking an upgrade to a Sojan family bunk van?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, absolutely that's the dream. That's the dream. We've experienced so much of what this lifestyle has to offer and we just see so many benefits, especially for young kids, to have those same experiences that we've had. We're sort of getting our selfishness out of our system and we just want to show our kids that sort of lifestyle as well. So it'd be an awesome progression for us. And, yeah, that's the ultimate dream, eh.

Speaker 2:

Definitely Fantastic guys and what an absolutely gift. And it's the. I think the thing that keeps us on the road. You know, even after all of this time is that family time that you get to spend with your kids and to make these memories and have these experiences together. You know it does something to you as individuals and then also as a unit. It makes you realise that that really is the most important thing about life. You know, the material things can come and go really quickly, but having the opportunity to watch your children through these experiences around as you said, brad, like we think it's the most amazing country in the world. You know the world's best backyard and we've got it all here. So to do that as a family is just such a blessing and we're excited for you. I mean, you're still plenty young enough, so you guys have got plenty of time to still be selfish and you know, worry about that.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, we're talking a little bit in the future, but yeah, no, so good.

Speaker 2:

We're excited to keep across your journey as well and watch you guys as you do come into that stage of your life.

Speaker 1:

Now listen before we let you go, though. Give us the selfless plug, oh plug. Where can people find you? Because they want to follow you on YouTube and socials. Give us the wrap up.

Speaker 4:

I think the number one spot would be our YouTube channel, our Australia Trip. That's where we post our videos of our travels and a really good in-depth look at where we go and what we do and all that. But then, of course, we have our Instagram and Facebook, our Australia Troop, as well, which has more of that up-to-date content too.

Speaker 1:

Fantastic. Well, congratulations, too, on everything that you guys have worked towards and to see you succeed and that your journey continues.

Speaker 2:

It's only going to get better from here we think Thanks, guys, and really looking forward to seeing you in person too. I think we'll do a little bit of a crisscross over as you're making your way up the coast.

Speaker 1:

Babysitters. Katie, you can have a practice with us.

Speaker 3:

Do you really want me rubbing off on Jasper? I don't think.

Speaker 1:

I'm the best role model. No, you've got to get the practice in. It's all good.

Speaker 2:

He's a bit of a strong personality, Brad. I'd be worried about him rubbing off on you, to be honest.

Speaker 1:

Well, thank you so much, guys, for joining us, and we will catch you around a campfire soon Sounds good, we look forward to it.

Speaker 4:

Thanks for having us. Cheers guys.

Speaker 1:

So good to talk to Brad and Hayley. And we did get to catch up with them down there at the Melbourne Caravan and Camping Expo or Super Show, but always lovely to speak with those guys and an inspiration, I think, to other young couples out there to think you know, look like what we say, if we can do it, anyone can do it.

Speaker 2:

Oh, 100%. Don't you just love hearing their stories?

Speaker 1:

though from their perspective of not traveling with kids Sounds like it's a matter of time. Yes, Now the takeaway is jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.

Speaker 2:

Just love it. And isn't that the truth? And more and more, as we continue living this incredible lifestyle that we are so grateful for, we are reminded every single day that it's not about the material things that come in and out of our lives. It really is about the experiences that you get to share together.

Speaker 1:

Love it, katie. Now next week we stay at a Christmas tree farm, cue the carols and it's time to officially say goodbye to the 79 series Makes me want to break out in song. For now we'll say dream big, look after yourself and look after your family and happy trails.

Speaker 2:

I love you.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Katie Guerin

Host
Head Shot

Paul Guerin

Host