Hi forum,
I am now in a situation whereby my accomodation option's are very few, so my question is at 74, male, and with two small dogs is it too late to take up full time caravaning
Joda said
03:37 PM Feb 27, 2025
Depends on your mindset, health, finances, make 2 lists, one not nomadic and one for the road, list pros & cons of both, might make the decision easier, probably you will get better advice from people on this forum who are already nomads,
John.
Peter_n_Margaret said
03:59 PM Feb 27, 2025
Age is not measured in years.
If you think you are too old then you certainly are.
If you think it is a good idea, then go for it and you will have a great time. Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 27th of February 2025 04:02:40 PM
Paul said
08:37 AM Feb 28, 2025
I have just turned 72, have been living and travelling around for the last 24 years, it has its ups and downs with a few problems regarding medical situations and beauracratic idiots but, even though I am able to buy back into having a base I have no interest in doing so, maybe high care when I can't keep going.
Possum3 said
06:15 PM Mar 3, 2025
Mick, as advised by others age is only a number, if that's how you regard it.
If you have no medical issues, go for it.
It is a great lifestyle if you can afford to just do a few side trips to special places every so often.
StewG said
10:10 PM Mar 3, 2025
I endorse the comments above. You are only as old as you feel.
Inspector said
08:27 PM Apr 1, 2025
Hi No 74 is NOT to old to travel -I am a little older than that and I like the freedom and interesting people you meet
erad said
09:16 AM Apr 4, 2025
I reckon that the average age of travellers outback is well over 70 years. Of course, most of them are couples, but there is a surprising number of singles on the road as well. The vast majority of roads on the tourist routes are sealed and well serviced with regular roadhouses etc.
In the year 2000, my wife and I went from Cooma NSW to Gladstone Qld, we then turned inland, eventually finishing up in the far SW corner of Qld. We then went South to Tiboorburra. We left the caravan there and drove through Camerons Corner to Innaminca SA. Heading West from Camerons Corner there is a series of sand dunes. The road surface was very good. Coming over one dune we met a 4 year old Nissan Bluebird car towing a small back-door caravan. Since I didn't have my van on at that stage, I moved over to the far left to give the car/van combination as much room as possible. I was looking in the left door mirror as they went past. My wife said "That was a woman driving that, and she was alone". We proceeded on to Innaminca, and when we got there, the publican asked us which way we had come. He then asked us "Did you see a 74 year old woman driving a caravan on the way?" I told him where we met the rig, and he said that he was glad because they were a bit worried about her. When we returned to Tiboorburra a few days later, she was still in the caravan park. Talking to her, she had lost her husband a few years before, and ultimately decided to go see Australia. I can't remember where she had been, but it was quite a trip. She was able to do everything except reverse the caravan. She either got someone else to do it, or uncoupled the van and pushed it into place. Her family were aghast at the thought of her doing this, and gave her a mobile phone, telling her to call in when she had reception. She had been on the go for 4 months, from memory. So, Yes! it is feasible.
In Daly Waters NT, we camped next to a campervan driven by a solo woman. Again, she had been on the road for a while and was enjoying the trip.
There is nothing better than to sit around in the evening at a caravan park, chatting and socialiasing with fellow travellers. Many of the parks have resident bush poets and listening to their stories and poems in the actual environment - nothing can bet that.
Regarding dogs, a large number of travellers outback take their pets with them. Obviously there are places you cannot go eg National Parks, but even then I have seen people with dogs in them.
It all depends on the personality and the person's health and fitness. Sadly, my wide died 18 months ago, and I now 80 years old and have a serious disability. I am restricted to 125 km radius from my home, but am trying to get that restriction lifted. I still have my caravan, but the car I have is not suited to tow it. I will buy a smaller van and as soon as possible, head outback again. The lifestyle, the scenery and the people out there. If you are the least bit interested, go do it. You'll never know if you never go...
-- Edited by erad on Friday 4th of April 2025 09:18:54 AM
-- Edited by erad on Friday 4th of April 2025 09:25:54 AM
Possum3 said
03:02 PM Apr 6, 2025
Saw the van in For Sale page, pity it doesn't have an ensuite. like you we really love meeting new people out on the road. We've met many that have become close friends over the years, some we visit every now and again, the child bride is great at keeping in touch by phone.
Greg 1 said
08:15 PM Apr 11, 2025
Mick it is only too old when they are nailing the lid down on your box.
Go for it. You may actually find it will give you a new lease on life.
I am nearly 72 and I certainly don't plan to stop caravanning any time soon.
Burt65 said
11:36 AM Jul 9, 2025
Paul wrote:
I have just turned 72, have been living and travelling around for the last 24 years, it has its ups and downs with a few problems regarding medical situations and beauracratic idiots but, even though I am able to buy back into having a base I have no interest in doing so, maybe high care when I can't keep going.
This! +1
If your eyes are still good and your health allows it, go for it. Been on the road for 10 years and still love every minute of it. I could never go back to brick and mortar. My home is on wheels and I hope they will spin until my last day...
erad said
09:53 AM Jul 11, 2025
I "retired" from work when I was 51 years old. At the time, I was worried about the age, but was told by a medico friend that people who retire early generally live a lot longer. I was always going to retire at age 60 instead of 65 because I reckoned that by then, I would not be physically able to enjoy my retirement. My wife and I had done the sums and decided that we could live on the small superannuation I had and also our investments. As t turned out, I didn't fully retire - I did minor consulting jobs when they came up on 3 conditions: 1 The job had to be a challenge 2 The job had to be within my capabilities and 3 The job did not interfere with our planned travels around Australia.
Thirty years later, I most certianly have retired, and still aspire to be able to do another outback trip. Sadly, my wife died 2 years ago, and this makes is extremely hard toehad off alone, but th lure of the outback still calls strongly. My early retirement opened up the whole of Australia to me. I have no desires to go overseas anymore - Australia offers everything I could ever want. As the Nike ad says "Just Do it".
-- Edited by erad on Friday 11th of July 2025 09:54:51 AM
hokianga said
06:14 AM Jul 21, 2025
I am 64 and although I am not on the road full time (tried but a b double truck changed my plans when it rear ended me and another vehicle) I can't envisage not travelling. I get depressed at home but never feel that way out travelling. I like the idea of a modest home base to return to. After the accident because I had sold my home I ended up living with a relative, it wasn't great, so after 3 months I bought a modest little unit. I was lucky enough to be in the financial position to do this, after seven months my repaired van was back on the road. I am not trying to write the story of my life, but I feel it is better to do something you really like, I have never met anybody that said "I wished I travelled less".
Burt65 said
08:40 AM Jul 21, 2025
I have never met anybody that said "I wished I travelled less".
Age is not measured in years.
If you think you are too old then you certainly are.
If you think it is a good idea, then go for it and you will have a great time.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 27th of February 2025 04:02:40 PM
If you have no medical issues, go for it.
It is a great lifestyle if you can afford to just do a few side trips to special places every so often.
Hi No 74 is NOT to old to travel -I am a little older than that and I like the freedom and interesting people you meet
I reckon that the average age of travellers outback is well over 70 years. Of course, most of them are couples, but there is a surprising number of singles on the road as well. The vast majority of roads on the tourist routes are sealed and well serviced with regular roadhouses etc.
In the year 2000, my wife and I went from Cooma NSW to Gladstone Qld, we then turned inland, eventually finishing up in the far SW corner of Qld. We then went South to Tiboorburra. We left the caravan there and drove through Camerons Corner to Innaminca SA. Heading West from Camerons Corner there is a series of sand dunes. The road surface was very good. Coming over one dune we met a 4 year old Nissan Bluebird car towing a small back-door caravan. Since I didn't have my van on at that stage, I moved over to the far left to give the car/van combination as much room as possible. I was looking in the left door mirror as they went past. My wife said "That was a woman driving that, and she was alone". We proceeded on to Innaminca, and when we got there, the publican asked us which way we had come. He then asked us "Did you see a 74 year old woman driving a caravan on the way?" I told him where we met the rig, and he said that he was glad because they were a bit worried about her. When we returned to Tiboorburra a few days later, she was still in the caravan park. Talking to her, she had lost her husband a few years before, and ultimately decided to go see Australia. I can't remember where she had been, but it was quite a trip. She was able to do everything except reverse the caravan. She either got someone else to do it, or uncoupled the van and pushed it into place. Her family were aghast at the thought of her doing this, and gave her a mobile phone, telling her to call in when she had reception. She had been on the go for 4 months, from memory. So, Yes! it is feasible.
In Daly Waters NT, we camped next to a campervan driven by a solo woman. Again, she had been on the road for a while and was enjoying the trip.
There is nothing better than to sit around in the evening at a caravan park, chatting and socialiasing with fellow travellers. Many of the parks have resident bush poets and listening to their stories and poems in the actual environment - nothing can bet that.
Regarding dogs, a large number of travellers outback take their pets with them. Obviously there are places you cannot go eg National Parks, but even then I have seen people with dogs in them.
It all depends on the personality and the person's health and fitness. Sadly, my wide died 18 months ago, and I now 80 years old and have a serious disability. I am restricted to 125 km radius from my home, but am trying to get that restriction lifted. I still have my caravan, but the car I have is not suited to tow it. I will buy a smaller van and as soon as possible, head outback again. The lifestyle, the scenery and the people out there. If you are the least bit interested, go do it. You'll never know if you never go...
-- Edited by erad on Friday 4th of April 2025 09:18:54 AM
-- Edited by erad on Friday 4th of April 2025 09:25:54 AM
This! +1
If your eyes are still good and your health allows it, go for it. Been on the road for 10 years and still love every minute of it. I could never go back to brick and mortar. My home is on wheels and I hope they will spin until my last day...
I "retired" from work when I was 51 years old. At the time, I was worried about the age, but was told by a medico friend that people who retire early generally live a lot longer. I was always going to retire at age 60 instead of 65 because I reckoned that by then, I would not be physically able to enjoy my retirement. My wife and I had done the sums and decided that we could live on the small superannuation I had and also our investments. As t turned out, I didn't fully retire - I did minor consulting jobs when they came up on 3 conditions:
1 The job had to be a challenge
2 The job had to be within my capabilities and
3 The job did not interfere with our planned travels around Australia.
Thirty years later, I most certianly have retired, and still aspire to be able to do another outback trip. Sadly, my wife died 2 years ago, and this makes is extremely hard toehad off alone, but th lure of the outback still calls strongly. My early retirement opened up the whole of Australia to me. I have no desires to go overseas anymore - Australia offers everything I could ever want. As the Nike ad says "Just Do it".
-- Edited by erad on Friday 11th of July 2025 09:54:51 AM
What a beautiful signature right there...
