Dreaming of a lap of Oz !!!

[SteveandViv]

But you do need to factor in things like repairs and general services. I needed a front CV in Alice for EG. And while I carry spare engine and diff oil I don't have transfer case oil or ramps so I tended to use a servo. Just all little things that add up.

We also used distance ED and found it very good. Just ring ahead and go pick up the next Months work as the PO

[speewa158]

The comon therad to all of this is the 3 plans  Plan A if it all goes well . Plan B almost as good as plan A &  of course     Plan C the combination of A & B & a whole new direction
If you fail to plan you plan to fail .

[Joff]

I left Melbourne in 1995 on what I planned to be a 12 month round Aussie holiday, never paid anything like $1,000 week   ended up travelling till 2OO8  

Kids?

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Nothing would have gone up since 95 either I guess. Milk, bread, fuel, insurance, access ?

now to assume is not the best decision to make, your assuming I took the numbers I've used from my 1995 dairy, when if you look I used $1.50 per Litre for fuel as an average in a 60,000 Klm trip, and fuel was nowhere near that price in 1995, so maybe, just maybe it was my 2008 fuel dairy  

How many Grey Nomads would be travelling with "kids" they travel to get away and enjoy their own company and also the company of like minded people, they leave their (40 yo) "kids" at home looking after their own kids (grandkids)  LOL

(that's not politically correct to change your post like that)

[D4D]

How many Grey Nomads would be travelling with "kids" they travel to get away and enjoy their own company and also the company of like minded people, they leave their (40 yo) "kids" at home looking after their own kids (grandkids)  LOL

Unlike yourself most people who have responded to this thread have kids and are not grey nomads. If you're looking for nomads try http://caravanersforum.com/

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Unlike yourself most people who have responded to this thread have kids and are not grey nomads. If you're looking for nomads try http://caravanersforum.com/

D4D, Yes however I was responding to Joff's post about the grey nomads and their "kids"

he then went and "modified" his post by removing most of it, so my post does look a bit out of context now

[Joff]

D4D, Yes however I was responding to Joff's post about the grey nomads and their "kids"

he then went and "modified" his post by removing most of it, so my post does look a bit out of context now

Mainey, I never said anything about grey nomads and their kids??

I modified what I did write because in reflection, I thought it a bit terse.. If I had thought anyone would have read it in the 30seconds between when I posted and when I deleted it, I would have left it there.

Did you travel with kids in 2008 (or even 1995)? If not then your assersion that $1000 in 2009-10-11 is high has no base.

[GU Rich]

We travelled with 2 kids for 20 in weeks in 2010 and our Av. Weekly spend was approx $850. Like I said in my first post that things from a coffee from a roadhouse to car servicing and insurnace etc were all included in this, This does not include the cost that are ongoing at home whilst on the road that needs to be taken into consideration also.

Was it money well spent? YOU BETCHA!!


Rich

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Just a question, and it's not aimed at any one person at all

What does the $800 - $1,000 per week get spent on, when travelling round Australia ??

How is it broken down, as in fuel, food, accommodation, insurance, repairs/servicing the vehicle etc.

This will give people who have the desire to travel a much better idea of how much they really do need when travelling round Australia 

[GU Rich]

Just a question, and it's not aimed at any one person at all

What does the $800 - $1,000 per week get spent on, when travelling round Australia ??

How is it broken down, as in fuel, food, accommodation, insurance, repairs/servicing the vehicle etc.

This will give people who have the desire to travel a much better idea of how much they really do need when travelling round Australia  

I'd love to answer this for you but about a week after we returned the book that hat had all our costings on everything you mentioned above was misplaced, I think it ended up at the school for a charity book fair.....We even went on a hunt to find it but I think it had been thrown out.
yes I'm pretty happy about that too......

We covered approx. 21500km, from Vic up through the centre to Darwin, through the Kimberleys, the Pilbara, and all the way around the west coast back home.. This total is approx, We dont use a GPS or mapping software so this is just off the patrol odometer This was also towing a camper trailer, with a full length rack fitted that had the 2nd spare and space case and kids bikes on top so there was a bit of drag.

Food and Alcohol,
We bought only 2 counter meals, 2 macca's meals and maybe a maximum of 10 lunches for the 120 days We bought a max. of 4 six packs of alcohol between me and Mrs GU Rich. (we dont mind a beer but this was a decision we made at the start of the trip to keep costs down)

Attractions
If we wanted to go to an attraction we would EG, Crocodylus at Darwin, Camel Rides at Broome etc. We were careful with our money as were on a budget but if there was something we wanted to do we would.

GU and Trailer
As for problems with the GU and camper we had very minimal, Lost a dust cap of the camper wheel bearing cover heading up Cape Leveque,dirty fuel in Port Hedland cracked windsceen and thats all I can think of at the moment. We came home on stuffed MTZ's that needed to replaced when we got home which I guess could also be a hidden cost.

Accomodation
We would free camp as much as possible or behind roadhouses and rest areas etc. but like Joff mentioned at times we would prop in a C/P for a few days and refesh and explore from there. We met a couple that only pais $8 in accomodatrion in 8 months, thats good but they were on no time frame and could sit and prop in a free camp for weeks on end.

The Little Things
Small things like an ice cream for the kids when you fill up could be easily $10 then add a can of drink etc for me and your have already added $15 to a fuel bill, or things like a new pair of thongs, loosing a towel then having to replace it, Parks passes,a new singlet from Broome

Hope this helps a little.

Rich

Mainey, We might have even crossed paths when I was in Busselton WA.

[meimarocu]

the wife and i have had the $$$$ conversation a few times
and agree that to allow $1000.00 per week would be close.
when we travel food is the same as if at home.
So at a guess...
Food $ 300.00 and to allow for some treats.
fuel  $300.00 give or take.
Van parks..?? well firstly its about $25 per night for two.Then they charge us
$9.00 per child and bang $55.00 per night. so 2 or 3 night = $100/$150 per week.

So with out sight seing or running costs we are at $750 per week.

We will keep trying and planning and are looking at the end of 2011(not set yet.)
WE have a plan "B".
Thanks again.
Ian.

[Joff]

Just a question, and it's not aimed at any one person at all

What does the $800 - $1,000 per week get spent on, when travelling round Australia ??

How is it broken down, as in fuel, food, accommodation, insurance, repairs/servicing the vehicle etc.

This will give people who have the desire to travel a much better idea of how much they really do need when travelling round Australia  

It's an average thing Mainey. You don't spend $1000 every week. Some weeks you spend less, some you spend more.

Food, Fuel or Accom, entertainment, misc was the general order.

You're taking the kids around Australia so sometimes you're in the boondies chasing wild life and sometimes you find yourself in the big smoke taking your own wild life to some zoo, or dropping a few hundred clams at the local Rodeo.

We had weeks where we literally spent nothing. The 10 days between Wiluna and Kunawaraji were like that. But the week before we spent heaps gearing up for 3 weeks in the desert. Then at Kunawaraji we dropped $400 on 80ltrs of fuel and misc stuff that fit in two shopping bags.

Then there were weeks when we took the kids to 2 zoo's, a circus and I needed new tyres not to mention the night out at the local fair.

Stuff adds up, you can do it on a shoestring if you please, or you can do everything that is on offer.. Everyone needs to find their own level of enjoyment somewhere between those two. We certainely didn't do everything because if we did, our number would have been $2k+/week. As i said, the general consensus around the campfire from travelling families was $1000 per week. I'm sure there are plenty of people hiding down some track living off the land (or sea) that spend much less but do nothing else.

BTW, you still haven't answered the question! did you at any time have kids with you during your travels?

[Maîneÿ . . .]

BTW, you still haven't answered the question! did you at any time have kids with you during your travels?

were no kids, just 2 young adults LOL

Ummm, for a month over the xmas periods back in late 90's I did have my 2 daughters with me 

[Joff]

were no kids, just 2 young adults LOL

Ummm, for a month over the xmas periods back in late 90's I did have my 2 daughters with me 

2 young adults, alone,, in a tent,,, are very cheap to entertain 

[Moto Moto]

2 young adults, alone,, in a tent,,, are very cheap to entertain 

Ha Ha Ha, thats a classic Joff. Pretty sure thats how our first born came about, 2 young adults, on holidays, in a tent.................................
KC

[graylyn]

Joff, you're a classic!!

[Joff]

Ha Ha Ha, thats a classic Joff. Pretty sure thats how our first born came about, 2 young adults, on holidays, in a tent.................................
KC

I can guarrantee you it was how our first came along 

[BMJTI]

Hi All,
We have just finished our dreaming after 2.5 years and leave for a 12+ month trip next week!!!
We have 3 kids (10,8,5) rented the house, neighbours have the cat and have a budget of 1000 per week however are not planning to stay in many camp grounds as have a full solar setup. Might need to get some washing done every now and again though...
you can follow us on http://malpassadventures.wordpress.com/
we are doing distance edu with the kids...
Cheers
Ben

[D4D]

Good luck and enjoy yourselves, we're all envious!

[Moto Moto]

Hi All,
We have just finished our dreaming after 2.5 years and leave for a 12+ month trip next week!!!
We have 3 kids (10,8,5) rented the house, neighbours have the cat and have a budget of 1000 per week however are not planning to stay in many camp grounds as have a full solar setup. Might need to get some washing done every now and again though...
you can follow us on http://malpassadventures.wordpress.com/
we are doing distance edu with the kids...
Cheers
Ben

Hey Ben,

Just bookmarked your link and look forward to following your travels. You must be very excited! Have a great trip

KC

[BMJTI]

thanks KC and D4D, yes just need to get through packing the house this week and then we can start to relax...you can subscribe to the site to get updates if you are interested. Thanks again and will keep swaggers up to date.

[blaze]

We depart tassie on the 27th of january for our back by chrismas trip, off to WA for a start as the daughter graduates from uni on the 12 of feb and after that, who knows. I reckon we will head south of Perth somewhere for a few months and then start heading north. Young bloke (27yo) still lives at home so he will rent t5he house and feed the pets. Money, dont know what it is cause I always spend it on trips, 6 weeks solo in 2008 and 2009. My budget for those was $1 a km. So in 2008 I did close to 7000km and spent about 6500. My biggest expense on those trips was fuel.
cheers
blaze

[sassenach.girl]

Hi All,
We have just finished our dreaming after 2.5 years and leave for a 12+ month trip next week!!!
We have 3 kids (10,8,5) rented the house, neighbours have the cat and have a budget of 1000 per week however are not planning to stay in many camp grounds as have a full solar setup. Might need to get some washing done every now and again though...
you can follow us on http://malpassadventures.wordpress.com/
we are doing distance edu with the kids...
Cheers
Ben

Just bookmarked your site too and left you a message. We're off for a 7 month trip in June 2012 so are in the planning stage!

Good luck
Sass.

[JCOJ]

You people doing the lap are to be admired and we are certainly envious and wish you all the best.

Ben - we have also subscribed to your blog and look forward to following your travels.

[whitey1]

We are leaving to do "the lap" in late June this year. After a year or so of battling breast cancer for my wife, we decided now that shes all good to just go and do it! We have no kids, own our house which we will rent and just need to get ourselves a sea container to store all our belongings in on my parents block.
Our only plan is to head north and see where we end up. When we need some money, we will look for work and thats about it. Who knows how long its going to take us? Or even if we will be back at all!
We have travelled a fair bit in WA and there will be a few places we wish to revisit before working.
One question I have is whats it like working while living out of a camper?(Especially in the heat). Thats the only thing I'm not so sure about. I guess we'll find out.
Cheers,
Michael