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Many Aussies have a dream about it to ride throughout the country in one camper.
But few do it with a new baby.
That didn’t stop Ryan Mumford and his wife Bec from heading out with Riley, who was just 18 months old.
They’ve just spent 16 months on the road, driving around 40,000km across Australia. And the parents told 9Travel that little Riley, who turns three in January, has adjusted well.
“People don’t believe us, but we have a great kid,” says Ryan, 42, adding that “an iPad and lots of snacks” were used to keep him happy when he needed it.
The family traveled in style in a custom-built $200,000 caravan combination, complete with solar power and a private shower and toilet. They also towed their own boat and buggy.
The Perth couple saved up for their getaway and rented out their home and packed up all their belongings.
Ryan, a miner, took a year off but also went to work on the farm towards the end of their trip. They also acted as caretakers for a caravan park in Queensland.
The couple posted about their trip online. Also tell them how much things cost for them. In total, they spent about $100,000
“We stopped budgeting after the first month,” Ryan says. “I knew $10,000 would get me home wherever we are, that was our fail safe.
“We had some pretty big bills along the way – we spent about $20,000 on repairs and maintenance, tires are expensive, that kind of thing.”
But putting it into perspective, the data shows that the average household spends $132,000 a year on housing costs, food and clothing – an average of just over $2,500 a week.
The Mumford’s spent about $1,500 a week.
They loved the trip so much that they plan to go again — and they plan to travel indefinitely.
They want to see more of the country, including their favorite states, Western Australia and Queensland.
“I still say west is best. There’s no better sunset in Western Australia, but we do love Queensland,” says Ryan.
They usually don’t plan their trips or book campsites, except in Western Australia, especially around Ningaloo, which is busy.
They also tried to beat the crowd whenever possible.
“We always made sure we left early,” Ryan says
One of the essentials along the way was Starlink internet coverage, so Bec could contact her family wherever they were. There was nothing else they missed or needed.
And for anyone thinking about doing the same, Ryan has one piece of advice.
“Just pack your things and go. People panic about the unknown and say, ‘What if?’
“If you become like this, there’s no point in going.”
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission found that Australians took more than 15 million caravanning, camping and glamping holidays last year, spending $14.3 billion.
Portable power retailer Outbax has seen a 60 percent increase in sales for portable generators, batteries and mini power stations so far this quarter.
The family used a 2.2 kW generator to power their trip and ensure they were safe during their off-grid adventure, which was enough to run a small refrigerator and appliances for eight hours.
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