Tuesday Trippers - 02 - @sandy.campers

This week we talk to Nat & Cate of @sandy.campers

We are Nat and Cate and we travel Australia in our Jayco campervan with our 3 dogs, Pepper, Lily and Maple. We love to follow the coast with our dogs and enjoy relaxing in our campervan, sipping wine and cooking great food! At the time of posting they have more than 2500 followers.

1. Fitzroy Island | North Queensland

2. Vanlife afternoons in Victor Harbour | South Australia

3. Sailing the Whitsundays | North Queensland

4. Green sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef | North Queensland

5. Vanlife cooking in Normanville | South Australia

We asked @sandy.campers 5 key questions

Beyond the iconic landmarks, what's one unexpectedly amazing place you've stumbled upon during your travels that most people wouldn't know about?

Definitely Kangaroo Island in South Australia, it is so wild and stunning without massive crowds of people. Some of the best beaches we've ever seen.

Australia's a big place! What's been the biggest "learning curve" or unexpected challenge you've faced while on the road as a family, and how did you overcome it? You have the same challenges everyone does, whether one the road or at home.

Just to expect that some things will go wrong, when you are travelling long distances for weeks at a time, chances are something will break! So we've just learned to embrace it and take lots of cable ties, there isn't much that can't be fixed with a cable tie!

If your family's road trips had a theme song, what would it be and why?

So many songs come to mind it's hard to choose, probably Jungle by Somebody's Child, such a good track to listen to on the open road.

Looking back at all your adventures, what's one particular moment or story that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of your family's road tripping ethos?

Probably our big NT trip in 2021, we left Adelaide for the Whitsundays and the East Coast, and due to some last minute COVID border restrictions we ended up in Darwin! The journey was complete chaos as we had no idea from one day to the next where we would end up, and it ended up being so much fun, which is essentially what road trips are!

Knowing what you know now, what's one piece of essential advice you would give to another family considering embarking on their own extensive road trip around Australia?

Plan for bad weather, make sure your set up allows for all weather, because as much as you may try and plan your trip arounds certain seasons, it never plays out that way. Also, most importantly- take your dogs!!!! They give you purpose and makes your van or caravan feel like home!

THANKS FOR THE CHAT NAT AND CATE!