Who Are Roam N Round?
I’m Brittany and together with my husband Shaun and our two little sidekicks, Max (5) and Allie (2), we are simply Roamin’ Round Australia and seeing where the road takes us.
Roam N Round began when we started our first lap of Australia with our son Max, who was only six months old at the time. Travelling has always been something Shaun and I dreamed of doing and we loved the idea of slowing life down, exploring new places and creating memories with our kids while they’re still little because time flies.
We spent two years travelling Australia in a 1980s Millard caravan that Shaun renovated himself (he’s a carpenter by trade). It was definitely a character building experience but ultimately taught us that you don’t need to buy everything brand new to have the same experience as other people travelling Australia with brand new cars and caravans.
Since our daughter came along, we’ve since upgraded to a second-hand 2017 New Age off-road caravan complete with a toilet and shower (absolute luxury compared to our old setup!). This time, we’re taking things a little slower, doing a half lap and exploring places we missed on our first journey. We don’t have a strict itinerary, we’re just seeing where the wind takes us!
What Caravan Upgrade Has Improved Van Life The Most?
Without a doubt, upgrading our fridge. Our old Millard had a 80L fridge, so when we were looking for our next caravan we knew we wanted something reliable and suited to travelling remotely.
We ditched the 3 way fridge and upgraded to a 200L 12V Dometic fridge in our new caravan. Having confidence that our fridge will keep running no matter where we are means one less thing to worry about when we’re travelling off the beaten track.
What’s Your Favourite Bit Of Gear & Why?
I actually have two favourites. First would have to be our Black Jack Mini. It’s an absolute game changer for a larger caravan and something we wish we had invested in sooner. It’s true what they say, the “poor man pays twice” because we went through two cheaper jockey wheels before upgrading, and the difference is huge. It’s safer, sturdier and being able to raise and lower the van with the push of a button makes setup so much easier.
What Advice Would You Give Other Families Travelling With Young Kids?
Parenting is hard no matter where you are, and travelling doesn’t mean you get to press pause on the challenges of raising kids. But doing it alongside your partner, exploring somewhere new and creating memories together is something you will never regret.
We’ve lost count of how many people have told us their once shy or quiet children have gained confidence from travelling, come out of their shells, tried new things and started making new friends because of their travel experiences. They are the real ah-hah moments for us.
So, if you’re waiting for the “perfect time” to travel with kids, you’ll probably be waiting forever…just book the trip!
What’s Your Favourite Destination In Australia?
Britt: This is such a hard question because Australia has so many incredible places, but I’d have to say Airlie Beach, Queensland.
It’s the gateway to the Whitsundays and holds so many special memories for our family including our 9 month stint living there; from exploring the islands, fishing, swimming to simply grabbing a meal at one of the many cafes and pubs. It’s one of those places where the location always feels like a holiday.
Shaun: Mine has to be the Ningaloo Coast! Towing our old on-road caravan on the beach and camping on the sand overlooking crystal clear water and fishing everyday was something I’ll never forget.
