7 Lost in Oz

05/08/2024

When Aishah surprised me with flowers, it was a heartfelt reminder of how much she loves and appreciates me. Moments like these make my heart swell with joy and gratitude.

24/06/2024

As I watched our daughter, Aishah, prepare for her school ball, I felt overwhelming pride. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, a true reflection of her hard work and determination throughout her school years. This special night celebrates not just her academic achievements, but also the remarkable young woman she has become.

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24/04/2024

Giving thanks this morning to all our service men and women past and present for your sacrifice to make our country what it is today.
Thank you for your lives given, blood sweat and tears.
Too often people take what we have for granted.
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

26/02/2024

A huge happy 12 birthday to our youngest daughter.
Even though we weren’t able to do much due to surgery, she was over the moon to be able to have her dad home and be able to spend that time with him, because normally he was away at work.

20/02/2024

Only a couple more days til surgery for me so taking time out with Maali to watch Azaan and his swimming lessons was worth it.

Take time out to enjoy the simple things!
We are truly blessed to live in a beautiful place.

06/01/2024

Happy 36th birthday to my rock Maali!

You're a fantastic mum awesome wife and best friend without you we would truly be lost.

We Love You!

11/12/2023

Congratulations to Azariah today graduating from year 6!
This year you have grown more and more we are so dam proud of your achievements.

Bring on the big year 7 !

03/11/2023

This picture can mean multiple things for different people. Holidays,catching up with friends, a romantic getaway.

For me working away from my friends and family it's a reminder to never give up. Never stop digging no matter what's happening around you and keep working towards a better future.

Being that I know that with Enagic I can eventually give this FIFO life up and spend more time at home is a HUGE motivator.

Our story is only just beginning my friends , here's to the up and up!✈️
We are an open book when it comes to where we want to go with this business. Feel free to reach out for more info.

12/10/2023

🔋 Battery system upgrade. 🔋

One thing we have always planned on was to upgrade our battery system from AGM batteries to Lithium. After a bit of research we chose to upgrade with two of Itech world's 240xPro lithium batteries.

Many advantages as to why-

1. Weight, with such a focus on weight it's lighter to upgrade. Our 2x AGMs came in at 54kgs , our 2x lithiums 46kgs. ⚖️
2. Usage , our 2x AGMs @ 100ah each only has a combined safe usage of 50% so 100Ah. Our 2x lithiums have the ability to use their full 240ah capacity which makes them 480ahs. ⚡
3. Battery life. With proper maintenance our lithiums should get at least 10-15 yrs our old AGMs 5-7 years. ⏰

Cons-
💰 it is expensive to do a full upgrade including chargers etc , but with pre planning ( in a new build ) you can spec everything to lithium ready. However as more and more options become available prices will go down.

We will be testing these batteries to their absolute max over the next few months so we will report back on the good and bad. Can't wait to get off the grid more and see Western Australia some more. 🦘

12/10/2023

Fly out day again!🛫 Especially after an amazing week off exploring the turquoise coast and this beautiful coast line of WA.

My weeks off are precious to me, from van repairs, general house life , being a dad and travel they can get blown out from time to time.

Life for everyone gets full on , but knowing I only have 7 days to fit my home life can take its toll.

That's why we have been working in the background to build a life that has the potential to allow me the freedom to ditch the FIFO life and claim back my time.

If you would like to know more please feel free to reach out , send me a message so you too can start building the life you've been chasing.

26/09/2023

Gathering around the fire, roasting marshmallows over the crackling flames, and relishing their tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

What's your preferred level of marshmallow roasting perfection?

Among the seven of us, there's plenty we don't see eye to eye on, but one thing unites us – our shared love for marshmallows at an 8!

25/09/2023

Working away can be tough!
You are bound to miss out on big events, birthdays, Christmas etc .
But it’s times like this that boost me up and keep me going.
A simple FaceTime call from 1500kms away.
To see my son smiling and bursting with excitement after receiving a gift is a gift that keeps on giving.
Don’t take these moments for granted!

13/09/2023

Site Review- Noosa Habitat , Noosa Everglades Queensland
A place for kids and adults to unwind.

Located 30minutes from downtown Noosa you will find Noosa habitat eco camp. On the shores of the beautiful Lake Cootharaba. With catering for tents, caravans , motorhomes and even glamping huts this place caters for all both young and old.
For the young and young at heart the campground offers many water sport activities with kayaks, paddle boards, boating etc. Along with playgrounds, frisbee golf, walking trails you will have the kids worn out in no time.

For the adults they have there own eco brewery onsite. With a range of delicious food, beers, cocktails , ice creams, entertainment and wines from the renowned Coothara Bar. You will feel like you are in paradise. You can also go on the everglades tour from this location to go and see the flora and fauna of the local area.
This place offers all the amenities that you would expect from a large chain caravan park.
The only downfall that I had was with the midgees. Depending on the time of year make sure to pack your aeroguard and your complete arsenal of insect repellents. Mind you a minor bump in our stay experience.

Our rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To book visit - https://habitatnoosa.com.au

06/09/2023

Site review- Horse rock campground, Lincoln National Park South Australia.
Camping on the water front with views across the bay!

Located 4hrs south from Port Augusta is Lincoln National Park. We stayed at Horse rock campground at the recommendation of and we were glad we put this on our list to kick off our Nullarbor trip.

You can get to Horse rock via Adelaide via the Spencer Gulf Sea Road Ferry to Lucky bay or if your at Port Augusta Just head south from there.

Horse Rock had was very basic in regards to camp amenities so its advisable to be fully self contained including water. With the closest water facility in Port Lincoln, there township is a short drive for all your creature comforts and in our case a hospital thanks to a late night ear piercing emergency.

We had a go at catching razor fish but got unlucky as usual.The park offers multiple walks, 4x4 dune tracks, swimming (if not freezing),fishing and bird watching( we saw our first wild emu's)

Being a national park the pricing was family friendly at $21 p/n ( up to 7 guests)

We enjoyed our stay it was very peaceful and with the township close by we had the feeling of getting away from everything with the convenience of big town living.

We rate it at 3.5 stars.
To book visit -https://www.parks.sa.gov.au

30/08/2023

Site Review-Nullarbor fee camp. South Australia.
Sleeping on the edge of Australia with views to die for.

Crossing the Nullarbor we were always spoilt for choice. Free camp after free camp there is plenty to go around. This camp was a last minute end of the day decision and one of my favourite places so far.

This is a bare bones no frills camping spot with million dollar views, peace and quiet with zero road noise. The closest water and fuel available is from the Nullarbor roadhouse . With no other amenities at all you do need to be fully self contained.

Families please take note. You need to watch your kids outside, if you look at our drone shot you are parked literally on the edge of the country so please keep an eye out for your little ones.

The drive in is rocky and about 30-45mins off the main road (we had a very bumpy drive in so took it easy).Best bit of advice I can give is to use wiki camps to navigate the tracks and you will be fine.

We rate it at 3.5 stars.

27/08/2023

Let’s talk Van maintenance.
Recently we experienced very low water pressure when connected to mains. The root cause was our pressure limiting valve was doing its job too well, being clogged up with rust.
When I pulled it all apart I noticed our ball valve which redirected mains water to fill our tanks was extremely rusted and gross 🤮
Our original valve wasn’t fit for purpose of water. So when we replaced it we used a watermarked valve which is fit for use.
If you ever are in the same situation I highly recommend you look at the material used at the factory and just ensure it’s fit for use. .

24/08/2023

With next year's travel season fast approaching. It was time to sort out how we will be able to ensure wifi nearly anywhere we go.

So we decided to bite the bullet and go with starlink.
Being that we work online and will be home schooling this little dish will make it a little easier.

From an idea to completion our starlink mount is done and dusted. This gives us the flexibility to have dishy out of the way or we have the option to use the stand it came with if needed.

Send a message to learn more

23/08/2023

Site Review- Point Brown South Australia
Ocean views for $0!
We spent a night here instead of going to the popular Perlubie Beach due to the tides being high and the place being packed! When we got to this camp it was 95% empty , we had the whole place to ourselves!

As you would expect from a free camp, there are no ammenities so you need to be 100% self sufficient.

The tracks in can be sandy, tight, and challenging but that really depends on your driving skill and where you want to set up camp as the area is massive. We managed to fit Larry and our 24ft royal flair caravan through the winding tracks with ease.
Telstra reception is touch and go but we video called Mum and Dad from this location with no issues.

If you want to stay away from the Perlubie crowd and have some time to yourselves put this on your radar!

You can find this spot on Wiki Camps refer photos.
4 stars for value and location.

16/08/2023

Site Review- RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park.
Stunning Exmouth we can't wait to get back!

Last year in October we were lucky enough to spend a week in this paradise. Beautiful warm weather, great friends and laid back atmosphere were the biggest draw cards.

RAC has everything you would expect from a larger chain park and to this date is the best park in WA we have been to! With two pools, brand new rec room, play grounds and everything you need in walking distance there was no better place to settle in for the week.

At the time we were there the older toilet block was having plumbing issues which made them a little unpleasant but this was only very minor due to all the other pluses.

The kids were entertained by the friendly staff with school holiday programs and with various bars and breweries close by , the adults had heaps to be entertained by too! One word of warning though , there are wild emus that roam the park so please don't feed them and if you leave food out expect them to steal it.

With fishing, snorkelling , markets, cafes and restraints to name some activities to do Exmouth and the RAC park should make your to do list.

To book visit -
https://parksandresorts.rac.com.au/exmouth/
We rate it at 4 stars.

08/08/2023

Site review- CMCA Bundaberg.
Budget caravan site in the heart of Bundaberg.
This is a budget friendly option to stay at if you want to spend a couple of days in Bundaberg seeing the sights. The Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia or CMCA for short is an Australia wide club that operates in various locations throughout the country.
Condition of entry is that you need to be 100% self contained, including the ability to store your grey water. Amenities include dump point, potable water ( fill up on entry),pets welcome on a lead. We have stayed at this location twice and on both occasions we where welcomed as if we where club members even though we're not.

Its a very social atmosphere with happy hour happening every afternoon at the shelter. We used this site as an overnighter and also as a home base to see what Bundaberg had to offer.
Pricing-
$3 per site per night and additional fee of $2 pp/pn (CMCA members)
$15 per van per night non-members .

Even though this park isn't the flashiest out there, due to price and location its 5 stars.
For bookings visit-
rvparks.cmca.net.au

02/08/2023

Site Review- Helensvale Big 4 Gold Coast Queensland .
Fun for the whole family!
Located an hr from Brisbane and 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise this caravan park has a lot to offer the whole family regardless of age.
With all the amenities that you would expect from one of the big caravan park chains including, pools, bars, spas, water parks and petting zoos.

If you want to venture out all of the four major theme parks are in close proximity if your a bit of a thrill seeker.

If you make it on school holidays or long weekends / public holidays your kids are up for hours of activities to help us parents unwind and relax whilst our little ones are looked after.

Price wise being a big chain park your going to be paying a premium compared to camping or staying at a lower spec park but in my opinion if your there for a couple of days over the school holidays and your up for exploring what the Gold Coast region has to offer, its worth the cost.

We rate this 4 out of 5.
To book this park visit-
www.goldcoastholidaypark.com.au

26/07/2023

Site Review- Sandy Cape Recreation Park Western Australia.

Located 2hrs 30mins north of Perth is Sandy Cape Recreation Park. With the closest town being Jurien Bay (15-20 min drive) this is a spot that's far enough to get away from the hustle of the city but close enough to everything you need if required.

There is no power and water available so you must be self sufficient. Closest water points are Jurien Bay to the South and Green Head to the North. Toilets are around the park and are serviced regularly.

While you are there take advantage of the dunes that are close walking distance to the park . Hire a sand board from Jurien Bay Adventures at the park and test your skills and balance.

There are various 4x4 tracks too but if you own a large 4x4 like us expect some memory scratches to commemorate your off-road efforts.

Pricing-
$20p/n 2x adults 2x children (minimum cost)
$3 additional adult.
$2 addition child.

We rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

21/07/2023

I live a fantastic life with my little tribe and having the freedom to do things on our own terms!

Even though I'm writing this while I'm 1500 kms away from them working to provide for a loving wife and 5 kids who don't get to see me as much as we would both like. But things have seasons , times change and new adventures are always around the corner. Im glad that collectively as a family we are working towards better days , more time at home and making more memories together!

Live your life on your terms! Don't be told how you "should" be living!
Evan.

19/07/2023

Camp Review-Fernbrook Farm Stay.

Located 15 minutes from the town of Pemberton is one of the most scenic farm stays we have ever stayed at.

At $20 pn (incl 2 adults) kids under 16 free this was a gem. Even though there are no amenities we are fully self contained so this didn't seem an issue for us .
At the time of our stay we had fire wood available for use along with a fire pit by Fernbrook which in our 18months of travel we have never seen was a nice touch.

The location is perfect for exploring Pemberton and the surrounding areas which has attractions such as Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, The Gloucester Tree, Southern Forests Chocolate Company ( highly recommend), multiple wineries and an absolute tonne of state forests to explore.

Tanya was extremely helpful in the booking process.
If you would like to book they can be contacted via mobile-
Tanya-0429623550

If you are after zero noise at night apart from the friendly cows occasional moo, and stars as far as you can see , this place is a gem in the south west.

We rate this site 4 out of 5 stars.

Tanya was extremely helpful in the booking process.
If you would like to book they can be contacted via mobile-
Tanya-0429623550

15/07/2023

Who we are and how we started travelling Australia 🦘

15/07/2023

Sometimes travelling with 5 kids you just need some time out! Whats something you do to have that much needed break?🤯

12/07/2023

When the weather can’t make up its mind if it’s going to rain or be sunny we came up with a nifty little hack to help dry our clothes.
Maali found in Kmart a adjustable shelf that we use to store items up high in the shower , but we also use it as a clothes dryer!
We put our clothes on the rack , turn our exhaust fan to suck and then the draft flows over our clothes helping to speed up the drying process.
Yeah it’s no dryer but when you in the bush off-grid , anything’s worth a try.

Link for shelf-

https://www.kmart.com.au/product/adjustable-shelf-white-43098958/

10/07/2023

When your 5 year old would rather be "road kill" when you try to take a nice photo. 🤷

05/07/2023

Diesel heater repair day.

We have a Diesel heater in our van that I installed about a year ago. Ever since we first put it in we always get a rubber burning smell coming from the unit.

Turns out that with the kit I installed , we were supplied with a rubber sealing gasket instead of a better quality silicone one.

Thanks to an online tip I ordered one from a company in the UK , fitted it and bam smell be gone.

If you're having a similar issue have a look at this link to where I got mine from.

https://www.butlertechnik.com/eberspacher-heater-airtronic-d2-or-d4-base-gasket-252069010002-p1039?fbclid=IwAR3nfkXTuDEtJ8r5Fp7OJYvlff2nEmOcGRS6dltkQQAWbKD4RKKHS7lu-HE

03/07/2023

Monday memories!

Now that it seems that Perth has fallen into its usual winter gloominess, we cannot wait for the warmer days to come back!

One of our places to revisit next year is Warroora (warra) Station near Coral Bay.

We spent two days there on our trek to Exmouth to spend some time with friends last year and it was one of the highlights of places we've seen. Breathtakingly beautiful is one way to describe it!

Endless snorkeling, beautiful beaches,fishing and getting bogged on turtle beach ( don't recommend it) . If you're heading to Exmouth you need to see it to believe it.

If you would like to stay there visit- https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/warroora-coast