An Adelaide couple packed up their life in a van to go travelling around the country instead of entering the ‘daily nine to five grind’.
Elise Taylor, 23, and Josh Kilner, 24, bought a 2005 Kia Preggio van when they graduated university to go on adventures with instead.
‘Van life is raw, it’s dirty, cramped, you can go for weeks without seeing a hot shower, and we don’t have AC,’ Elise said.
‘The toilet is nonexistent along with running water, we can’t stand up in the van and it may take a day to do the simplest task like washing our clothes.’
Elise Taylor, 23, and Josh Kilner, 24, had decided a straightforward working life wasn’t for them so bought a van when they graduated university
‘Van life is raw, it’s dirty, cramped, you can go for weeks without seeing a hot shower, and we don’t have AC,’ Elise said
‘But it’s rewarding, the people you meet, experiences you can’t get anywhere else, the places you see and the freedom you feel and the things you learn,’ she said.
The couple spent four months and $2900 AUD refurbishing the van while they worked five jobs between them in order to leave their hometown far behind.
‘I always dreamt of buying a van and going on an ultimate surf trip around Australia,’ said Josh.
‘In high school I would imagine where I would go and what the van would be like.’
‘I always dreamt of buying a van and going on an ultimate surf trip around Australia,’ said Josh
The couple spent four months and $2900 AUD refurbishing the van while they worked five jobs between them in order to leave their hometown far behind
‘A couple of years ago I brought the van for surf trips on my time off, however I had an inkling that one day, and hoped that after university, we would set off on a long term trip like this.’
Josh explained that in their final year of university the couple discussed what they wanted to do and agreed that they didn’t want to be ‘tied down’ by a job.
‘We had no reason to stay in Adelaide and it was the perfect opportunity to pack up and hit the road.’
‘We had no reason to stay in Adelaide and it was the perfect opportunity to pack up and hit the road’
Josh explained that in their final year of university the couple discussed what they wanted to do and agreed that they didn’t want to be ‘tied down’ by a job
Josh originally bought the van for surf trips but said he had an ‘inkling’ that one day it would be used for trips like this
The road-tripping duo have clocked up more than 16,000 kilometres so far on their journey.
Originally they had planned to travel in an anti-clockwise loop around Australia but drove to the north western tropics in order to avoid the winter.
Once the warm weather returned the couple headed south along the western coast, spending time along the Ningaloo reef and the coral coast.
The road-tripping duo have clocked up more than 16,000 kilometres so far on their journey
Originally they had planned to travel in an anti-clockwise loop around Australia but drove to the north western tropics in order to avoid the winter
Once the warm weather returned the couple headed south along the western coast
‘The ever changing window views are something else, your backyard could be a secluded beach one day, and then a mountainous range the next,’ Elise explained.
‘We’ve both always felt a deep connection with the outdoors, so living out of a van compliments this.’
Elise and Josh are aiming to continue their travels for the foreseeable future.
‘The ever changing window views are something else, your backyard could be a secluded beach one day, and then a mountainous range the next,’ Elise explained
Elise and Josh are aiming to continue their travels for the foreseeable future
At the moment they plan to continue south to further explore Western Australia, South Australia before going onto Victoria, Tasmania and the eastern states, eventually finishing in Northern Territory.
The couple then hope to leave their van behind and fly to Asia to backpack across the continent.
‘Van life is not for everyone, but if you can see yourself living out of a tiny space with the bare essentials of life then go for it,’ Elise added.
The couple hope to leave their van behind and fly to Asia to backpack across the continent
‘We love the freedom to do what you like, when you like and how you like. We have no set itinerary so every day is a surprise.
‘Also, travelling your own country is very rewarding. Most people are eager to go overseas with only seeing a fraction of their home country.
‘Australia is a big, beautiful place, with so much diversity and a lot to offer.’