Van life Australia: Costs, ideas and benefits

Let's be honest, we’ve all dreamt of ditching our everyday jobs, throwing off the shackles of modern-day domesticity and doing a road trip around Australia.

Or is it just me?

Think about it. Travelling and living in a van, stopping where you want, car-camping where you want (where it’s legal to do so, of course), and living the life you want.

Ah, the unrestrained bliss.

But is van life worth it? As with anything, there are benefits and there are downsides.

Here is our guide to vanlife.

What is van life?

Van life is what you think it is: driving and living in your van home. Whether your mode of travel/accommodation is in a camper van, motor home, caravan or camper trailer, it doesn’t matter – it’s all a form of van life.

The ideas behind van life is a simple one: you travel during the day and stop for the night or nights, either at a designated free camping location or at a paid location (i.e. caravan park, national park campsite, etc).

Is it a popular way of living in Australia?

Yes, very popular. In fact, it’s so popular you might say anyone not indulging in van life at this point is more on trend than someone who is all about the #vanlife.

For some people, van life is more about the van life aesthetic or building an instagram-based business around their travels and lifestyle rather than about the actual travel and lifestyle.

Why is it gaining popularity?

Because van life – or at least the notion of it – is grounded in the idea of freedom: freedom of choice, freedom of movement, the freedom to live your life without limits (other than limits of the legal variety, of course).

In the aftermath of the global pandemic and with our world as topsy-turvy as it is at the moment in terms of geo politics, the idea of constantly being on the move and living your life is a very appealing one.

Who does van life often appeal to?

Everyone is embracing the van life lifestyle nowadays: grey nomads, singles, couples and families.

What are the costs involved?

The costs of van life in Australia depends on what type of van you get, how much work you do to it to improve the interior to better suit your planned lifestyle during the trip and how many accessories you add to the van.

Everyone has different ideas about the extent of the living arrangements in their van. Some vans have basic bedding and seating inside, as well as a cooktop, fridge, diesel-powered heaters and storage spaces.

Some camper vans have an outdoor shower. Some more expensive van life set-ups (such as motor homes and caravans) have toilets and showers inside.

What is Van Life actually like day-to-day?

While van life-related Instagram accounts would you have you believe van life is glorious every single day – beaches, surfing, beautiful sunsets, too-white smiles and tiny bikinis – the reality is somewhat different.

Van life can be difficult. You have no fixed address, you’re always dealing with changing circumstances (so you’re not sure where anything is in your new location and you have to get used to something new, including different people, all the time), you’re more vulnerable to weather, you’re away from loved ones, you may suffer a vehicle breakdown, etc, etc…

But those aspects are also all part of the fun, aren’t they?

What are some of the essentials for Van Life?

Van life essentials include a functional, comfortable van, as well as bedding, cooking utensils, extra shelter (tents, swags) just in case, safety gear (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc), tool kit, vehicle spares, (vehicle-recovery gear - if you’re going off-road), as well as roadside assistance membership, a solar panel and 12V battery charger, black-out curtains (you’ll thank me later) and more.

Just plan for van life as if you’re going away on an extended camping trip and you’ll work it out.

How important is the choice of van? What should you consider?

An old mate used to say to me “The best knife is the one you have with you”. And so it is that the best van for van life is the one you have right now or the one you can afford.

It doesn't matter whether your vehicle of choice is a retro-cool VW Kombi, a lightly-modified Toyota HiAce or Ford Transit, or a heavily modified long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, buy the van that suits your life and your travel plans.

Don’t ruminate too much over what to buy other than making sure it’s mechanically sound, rather than aesthetically pleasing, well insulated and has as few kilometres on the odo as possible.

You’ll see plenty of vans of all descriptions for sale – modified work vans (with a false floor, etc), stock-standard campervans, motorhomes, camper trailers and caravans, but there’s no need to rush into anything.

If you're looking for a top-quality camper van, then it's well worth your time to check out Trakka, a family-owned and -run boutique business established in Sydney in 1973. It specialises in the Australian design and conversion of motorhomes, campervans and special-purpose vehicles.

A great way to sample van or campervan life is to try before you buy. Hire a vehicle to see if you like the lifestyle. Check out a converted van hire business such as this one – https://www.carsguide.com.au/adventure/advice/finding-it-hard-to-buy-a-motorhome-or-caravan-how-about-a-diy-van-conversion-85761 – go away for a long weekend and get a decent taste of van life.

What are the legalities of Van Life in Australia?

Van life is legal in Australia, but there are restrictions in place (regarding where you may park/camp overnight and how you use public facilities) and those restrictions may differ from state to state/territory and even from one local government area to the next.

The best way you can ensure you’re always on the correct side of the law is to check the regulations of the state and local council areas you plan to visit/drive through/camp in before you go there, so you know what you can and can’t do.

Is Van Life worth it in the long run?

Of course, it’s worth it, but you have to be someone who enjoys challenges and changes every day.

Van life is just like life. There are some great days and some pretty boring ordinary days.

Some days will be all about the driving and some days will be all about the fun.

Enjoy every day.