Motorhome Around Australia in 125 Days

 Motorhome Around Australia: Our 125 Day Adventure

Our trek around Australia was more than 14,000 kilometre over 125 days

The Dream Begins

How long have I dreamed of travelling around Australia? How about "Forever"?

Lynette thought (and still thinks) I’ve been brainwashed by those Australian primary school Social Studies lessons. Maybe she wasn't entirely wrong—they did leave a strong impression. I still recall tidbits like Marble Bar being the hottest town in Australia, something important happening at Daly Waters, and gold being discovered in Kalgoorlie. And then there’s the Indian Pacific that spans the land.

Wait, hold up! “The Indian Pacific spans the land.” That’s not from Social Studies, you hick—that’s Slim Dusty!

Convincing the Reluctant Traveller

Getting Lynette to leave her grandchildren for months was a challenge. How could she be away from the little ones for so long? But logistically, we were set. Adieu was in peak condition, especially after finding an auto electrician who finally made the REDARC power management system sing. With 300 amp hours of storage, we were ready to go off-grid for days.

We’d already decided that Adieu needed a separate shower and toilet when we bought it—crucial for the agreement that I’d handle all toilet management duties. Lynette’s one non-negotiable about any travel? No public toilets or  bathrooms.

Getting ready to hook up Suzi to the Adieu. We don't tow Suzi anymore because I blew up Suzi's motor towing motorbikes up Cunningham's Gap. It was going to cost more for a motor than Suzi was worth.

I was eager to hit the road ASAP. If I waited until we had "enough time" and "enough money", I’d be looking at the grass from underneath.

Then, I caught a break! Little Lola, who spent every Thursday with Nana, was off to Spain for a year with her Mum and Dad and sister Eva. Suddenly, the negotiations to get Lynette on board could begin in earnest. I was dead keen to have her come and live my dream with me. 

 Done deal!

Gathering the Crew

With the motorhome sorted, we needed to get work arrangements in place and prepare the house for a long vacancy. We made a special effort to get our lawn cared for because we'd be away over winter. Our travel companions, Russell and Karen (a.k.a. Rusty and Kaz), were already on board. They’d left just after Christmas and were biding their time in South Australia, waiting for us. Their only must-do? Swimming with whale sharks at Ningaloo.

We felt guilty about the delays—they were marking time in South Australia while we sorted out endless logistics.

We've got the Band Back Together! The Crew at Horizontal Falls in full Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures T-Shirts. We bought the old ones being run out at half price at the airport. L to R - Rusty & Kaz and Lynette & Bill

And We’re Off!

Finally, on March 13, 2023, after a month of delays, we set off. The first leg of our journey was a dash to Ceduna to meet up with Rusty and Kaz and kick off our Around Australia Adventure. We needed to be back in time to organise my 70th birthday bash in August, but for now, the adventure had begun.

Tips and Lessons Learned

Here are a few key takeaways from  our journey:

• Book Early for Ningaloo: Swimming with whale sharks is a must-do, but you need to book early or risk missing out.
• Yard Care Matters: We left our yard with arrangements but the arrangement fell over, and our lawn died. We had to start from scratch when we got back.
• Choose Tolerant Travel Companions: Our need to work on the road tested Rusty and Kaz’s patience, but they were champs about it.
• Consider the Climate: Western Australia has a different climate, and we hit the WA wet season. Plan accordingly.
• Think About Timing: We missed the whale migration on the Great Australian Bight because of our schedule. Timing is everything.
• Be Flexible: Life happens. We had to cut the trip short in the middle to return home for a funeral.
• Don’t Underestimate the Wind: A strong headwind almost left us stranded without fuel. Always carry extra fuel just in case.
• Enjoy the Nullarbor: Don’t be scared by the hype. If you’re prepared, the Nullarbor is an amazing experience.

The Back Yard Restoration Project: We are starting from Ground Zero with the back yard. Before we left in March 2023, there had already been some issues with weeds that had taken hold over our previous shorter trips. But when our yard guy didn't come even once while we were away, it was a complete write-off by the time we were back home. After 6 months of trying to get it back, I poisoned the lot and here we have our own little Tanami Desert in our own back yard. This is at the date of publishing this post - a long way to go.

What's the budget if hired Adieu for this trip?

If you were to hire for this same journey, Adieu's hire rate goes back to $130 per day after 90 days, so the motorhome cost would be $130 by 125 days. We hire through Camplify, so the insurance cost would be $16 per day with a $3,500 excess and $41 with a $500 excess. Then there's fuel and the cost of caravan parks. We found it was around $45 a night for most nights we used them and of  course $0 if you free camp. A travel budget would come to around $26,000.

Hire Adieu: $130 x 125                            $16,250

Insurance: $16 x 125  (3,500 excess)       $  2,000

Fuel: @ 12 litres /100  x 14k x $2            $ 3,360

Caravan park fees: 100 nights @ $45      $  4,500                     

What’s Next?

Our journey across Australia has only just begun. In the next 11 posts, we’ll share the highs, lows, tips, and stories from each leg of the trip. Here’s what’s coming up:

1. The Big Run to Ceduna: Reuniting with the Jacksons
2. Crossing the Nullarbor: Endless Horizons
3. The Southwest Corner of WA: Hidden Gems
4. Perth to Carnarvon: Coastal Wonders
5. Carnarvon to Karijini: From Seafood to Gorges
6. Tom Price to Broome: A True Outback Adventure
7. The Broome Odyssey: Pearl Luggers, Camels and Flying boats
8. Broome to Batchelor: Tropical Trails
9. Batchelor to Adelaide River: An Historical Detour
10. Adelaide River to Winton: Journey through the Never Never
11. Winton to Home: The Sprint to the Finish

We can’t wait to take you along on this epic journey. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!