First post. I am looking to retire June 2013, and have been starting to look into things RV for the last 6 months or so.. The more mags I read, the more I just want to pack up now and go !!
My Uncle & Aunt are my inspriartion, they have been ont he road for 5yrs or more, and have no intention of stopping anytime soon...
I was pretty set on a van, but maybe a 5th wheeler ? Not sure yet. I can see the advantage towing wise of a 5th wheeler, but losing the whole back on my Navara to the hitch is a bit of a turn off...
The other thing that has bothered me is the huge jump in fuel consumption once you hook a van up.. Holy cow... Like many of you I plan to use my pension for my travels, topping it up as needed with work...
I note my Uncle & Aunt break their travels up with house sits, which seems to be a great idea.
I have been most places in Aus except Alice Springs, but I plan to take my time this time around.. having travelled mainly on a motorbike, it will be nice to have some luxury to retire to at the end of the day.
Anyway, that's a bit of me... I am so looking forward to hitting the road,but hopefully not alone, would be nice to share the adventure.
You will learns heaps on this site, just navigate your way around. Techies corner is very helpful, wish you all the best, just keep it simple and enjoy.
Hi Shaughan, welcome to the planning stage of you're dream. It was three years ago we were at the stage you're at now and as you have already alluded to fuel tends to be out there in the front of most expenses. After lots of discussions with many people we decided to use my pension to try and cover as much as possible our fuel costs. I started putting aside $150 a fortnight into a separate fuel account and building it up to a reasonable figure. This when coupled to the fact that we put a sort of limit on the Kms travelled each fortnight we have been able to cover most of our fuel costs without touching our savings. There are times when it gets a bit low but once the pension comes around we build it up again. Remember if you stay in the same place for a week or two you start to get in front again. There you go that's how we do it
Trust you get it all together soon and start on what we think is the best part of our lives.
Brian
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You only live once, but if you live it right, once is enough !!!!!!
Hi Shaughan, welcome to our happy forum. I hope you find someone to go with and share the experiences with. If not, on the road you will find lots of friends you have not yet met. A whole new world is about to blossom for you. ENJOY. rocket n strop
Welcome Shaughan, we are about to begin our two yr. stint Big Lap. You will find so much Information on here. Just sort through it.and apply what suits you, and please ask questions if you wish to know something. It is also a fun forum at times, especially when the terrible three get going, no names mentioned . Kiwis are a very quiet, kind and placid creature.(if I don't say it nobody else will).
Welcome to the best part of your life.My wife and i started the big lap in November 2010.After 11 months in Tassie we are now back on the mainland.Finding work is not a problem as long as you are flexable.Neither of us had worked in the wine industry until last year.We both began grape picking in Tassie and i was then offered the job of pruning.Hard work but another job i can now put on my resume.We are now both doing the vintage in the Barossa valley.7 weeks work,7 days a week and 12 hour shifts !!!! But after that it's off to New Zealand for a three week break and then on our return we head North to the Gulf country for a few months fishing We have been offered to return for the next vintage too. Enjoy your travels John
Some good ideas... John, I think there is always work if you want it, just seems a lot don't.... It's good you have done Tassie before going to NZ from what I hear, if you do it the opposite way people tend to be disappointed in Tassie... I did a lap of Tassie on my m'bike with a group, loved it. Was really taken with the town called Penguin. Nice place.
Hi Shaughan, welcome to a really good forum, with lots of nice people and lots of good hints and tips on travelling etc. Lots of nice places to stay, get the Camps Australia Wide book to help you navigate your way round the freeparks and others.
As many have already said above, welcome to the forum, Shaughan. And yes, ask any questions you like, there will always be help offered.
As far as a rig is concerned - unlike so many who are wiser than us, and despite those who told us not to burn our bridges...we did just that. We sold house and land and most of our possessions (felt much better for it, too!), had a 25'6" 5th wheeler buit for us by Southern Cross in Qld, hitched it to a Mazda BT-50 and haven't looked back since.
It's now been over three years, and to ease the pressure on the pension, our only income, we house-sit on semi-rural and rural properties, usually for several weeks at a time and living in our own home-on-wheels.
It's a wonderful lifestyle - but that's just our (biased) view! ;))
Andrea
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Free-ranging, in a Southern Cross 5th wheeler, in between property-minding (to save money!).
Atlas
Welcome Shaughan, we are about to begin our two yr. stint Big Lap. You will find so much Information on here. Just sort through it.and apply what suits you, and please ask questions if you wish to know something. 
