Full-time caravanning couple reveal biggest regret of grey nomads they meet: 'It's been shocking'

Travelling the country and exploring Australia's regional communities and pristine beaches is no longer solely reserved for the occasional holiday and retirement, as more Aussies upend traditional work and lifestyle expectations to call the road home.

Bryce Connole and partner Chelsea Wood are among those who have eschewed traditional career paths as they've spent the better part of the past five years travelling in their caravan with their dog Juice.

"We have travelled to a lot of Australia now. It's amazing though, because there is so much to see," Chelsea told Yahoo News. "We are happy to 'rough it', we don't have a mortgage or any commitments holding us back."

Originally from South Australia, as kids they both did caravanning with their families and they actually met at a caravan park — so it's easy to see why they're among a growing number of young families taking life on the road.

And, according to Chelsea, it's something older Australians they meet on their travels regret not doing themselves.

"We have been surprised by how many grey nomads have told us 'We wish we travelled Australia at your age'.

"It's been shocking the amount of people who wish they did what we are doing before getting a mortgage, having kids and school commitments, while they are still young, fit and healthy," she said.

"It does make sense though, we are able to do all the hikes around Australia without fuss."

The couple don't plan on having any kids at the moment, but that wouldn't necessarily mean a change in lifestyle. "Home schooling on the road is something we would like to do one day," Chelsea said.

A big change has made caravanning life easier

Bryce is a plumber by trade while Chelsea works in hospitality — both jobs they actually maintain while moving around.

"Roughly once a year we will stop and work for a few months," Chelsea said. For the rest of the year they make money from social media, by primarily creating content for YouTube (where they have more than 34,000 subscribers) as well as other platforms.

The ability to work from remote locations around the country is something that "has changed a lot over the last few years".

"We used to only use our phone internet and posting content could sometimes take a whole day to upload," Chelseas said. But now, like a growing number of Aussies, they have embraced Starlink's portable internet dish which delivers high-speed internet via low-Earth orbit satellites to anywhere they need.

"It's a game-changer. It is fairly expensive but 100 per cent worth it," Chelsea said, adding that the reliable connectivity helps them feel safe during those times when they've travelled far off the beaten path.

The technology — as well as a new mini version which has just hit Australian shores — is popping up in campsites all over the country as people extend their holidays by taking work on the road while some Aussies pair home schooling with a more nomadic lifestyle.

According to data from the Federal Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australians took 15.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2023 — setting a new all-time high.

Do you have a story about home schooling on the road? We'd love to hear it: Nick.whigham@yahooinc.com

Hidden benefit of full-time life on the road

Due to the rising popularity of caravanning and the ability for more people to work remotely, popular sites are increasingly reported as being overrun, especially in peak seasons.

"Last year we got a quote of $100 per night at a caravan park in Noosa," Chelsea said. While she and Bryce try to keep costs down by finding cheap and sometimes free spots to set up, in more populated states like NSW it is "nearly impossible" to find designated free camping sites.

RELATED: Family breaks taboo to share true cost of epic caravan trip of Australia

When they do manage to reduce their spend on camping sites, they try to support the local community by buying coffee at a cafe, or food from local grocers or butchers. "If we spend $100 a night on a caravan site, then we don't have any room left in our budget for the small businesses," she said.

It can be expensive but a hidden benefit of being full-time nomads is taking advantage of the periods when there aren't other tourists about.

"We have been lucky enough to experience a few wet seasons. They are very tough but also fantastic because you see waterfalls flowing, you have tourist attractions all to yourself and don't need to pre-plan anything because there are no other tourists around," Chelsea said.

Advice on starting out

If you've ever dreamed of doing something similar, her advice is to give yourself a date, and tell your friends and family so you commit.

"Once you've got what you think is the right set-up for you, do a 'shake down trip'. Whether that be in a tent, camper trailer or caravan. It's best to take a trip to make sure everything works correctly and you're comfortable with what you have," Chelsea said.

"We always say 'you don't buy a caravan for the good days, you buy it for the bad'.

"We honestly think we have the perfect set-up for us and that's why we've have been travelling for the past five years full-time. It works for us and we feel so comfortable in our home on wheels."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.