Australia Vanlife – My Story My Mistakes
In December 2025, I purchased a Renault Master van with the intention of touring Australia with my wife and embracing the vanlife lifestyle.
Like many people starting out, I was focused on the excitement of the journey ahead. What I didn’t fully understand at the time were the practical realities, hidden costs, and physical challenges that come with vanlife—especially for retirees.
This is not a story about blame. It’s a personal account of what I learned the hard way, and what I wish I had checked before setting off on our first trip.
Unfortunately, I didn’t check a few important things before buying, and that led to a number of hard lessons.
What I Didn’t Check Before Buying the Van
I didn’t check if I could sleep comfortably across the van’s bed (I couldn’t).
I didn’t check if the air conditioner worked (it didn’t).
I didn’t confirm the on-road costs like third-party government charges and stamp duty.
I didn’t review the registration details because I was told it came with six months free.
I didn’t check the cost of my RACQ comprehensive insurance policy.
I didn’t check the RACQ roadside assistance coverage that travellers actually need when touring Australia.
I didn’t check if any tools were included with the van.
I made a big mistake by skipping these simple checks. As a retiree, I should’ve asked myself whether I could really afford the vanlife lifestyle.
The Hidden Costs of Vanlife in Australia
Six Month Third-party insurance: $2,200
Comprehensive insurance: $1,200
RACQ roadside assistance: $500
Van purchase price: $57,000
On-road costs: around $3,000
Total cost after purchase: approximately $60,000 AUD
Things I Still Needed to Buy
Tools and essentials: drill, air compressor, battery charger, multimeter, tyre puncture kit, trolley jack, jumper leads, bungee cords.
Van and camping gear: multi water tool for taps, garden hose, collapsible bucket and dish sink, table, two deck chairs, plastic storage bins, sheets, and pillowcases.
Extras: bug zappers, screwdriver and socket sets, yoga mats, reflective window covers, crockery and cutlery, 15-amp 10m electrical cord, tradie drawers (1.3m), toilet chair, liquid nails and silicone, Flex Tape, toilet tent, and a lot of painkillers.
Security: Starter Stopper immobiliser ($450 to install) and a tyre clamp (no longer needed).
More costs that stung:
Immobiliser installation – $450
Tradie drawers – $700
Plus all the small items from endless trips to Bunnings.
Preparing for My First Vanlife Trip
Preparing for our first vanlife trip took far more time and effort than I expected. What I thought would be a simple process quickly turned into weeks of research, purchases, and second-guessing. Like many first-timers, I relied heavily on online advice and trial-and-error rather than real experience.
Here’s what I had to do before we finally hit the road:
Find where to go.
Watch endless YouTube videos.
Buy travel and fuel apps.
Sort clothing and food budgets.
Replace the broken air conditioner.
Buy fans and mosquito nets.
Install the new tradie drawers.
Make more Bunnings trips for forgotten items.
Looking back, this was my first hint that vanlife involves far more planning than most videos suggest.
What Happened on Christmas Day — My Birthday
We left at 10 AM on Christmas Day after celebrating with family. It was our first vanlife adventure, but if I’d known what was coming, I might have turned back home.
We planned a six-day journey using the WikiCamps app, travelling from Walloon to Toowoomba, Roma, Winton, and back via Warwick, Clifton, and home. As we were getting ready to head north, we heard that rain was sweeping down through Winton and Emerald, so we decided to stop at a lesser-known free camp we found on WikiCamps.
Two hours later, we stopped at a rest area — and it was disgusting. The toilets were horrible, the smell unbearable, and the flies and mosquitoes swarmed us instantly. Thankfully, we had our own portable toilet.
There were a few campers further down a hill, but the van was heavy and short, and with rain expected, I didn’t risk going further and getting stuck waiting for RACQ to pull us out.
We pressed on, and after hearing “You have arrived” from the navigation system, I realised the supposed campsite was down a gravel road that dropped off a cliff. The GPS then told me to turn around and make a right turn in 15 km — classic! We kept driving, frustrated, with no internet and no idea where to go.
The Road Tested My Patience
Another thing that really annoyed me — I was constantly pulling over to let faster drivers pass. Sometimes, you’ve got less than 500 meters to decide whether to pull into a safe spot. Once you commit, they’ll overtake no matter what. Expect that all day, every day when driving a van.
Eventually, we reached Clifton. The town has a free camp behind O’Shanley’s Hotel, so we stopped for lunch. But of course — everything was closed, it was Christmas Day. So we parked near a small park, opened the fridge, and microwaved our Aldi burritos.
While checking under the bed for rattling noises, I found the tradie drawers had shifted. I climbed in with my drill to tighten them and — POP! — I slipped and popped a rib cartilage. The pain was excruciating; my wife heard words come out of my mouth she’d never heard before. Luckily, we had our retiree medications packed.
After a while, the pain eased enough for me to drive again, and we decided to push on to Allora, about 20 km away, for the night.
The First Camp Night A Disaster
The free camp by the creek was actually nice. We looked for water to refill our bottles (side note: don’t drink straight from your sink’s fresh water tank — keep a dedicated drinking container instead).
We installed the fly screens, but the Velcro didn’t stick well, so out came the duct tape! I even tried some metal detecting around the park but only found rubbish.
Dinner went smoothly using the microwave, but soon after, the mosquitoes attacked hard. We retreated inside. It was boiling hot, and the fan wasn’t enough, so I used cardboard and duct tape to redirect cool air from the van’s vent over us — and that finally worked.
The problem? I couldn’t stretch out on the bed — it was too short. I had to curl my knees, and my ribs started throbbing again. I ended up lying on the floor, but that was sticky from a spilled drink, and my knees locked up from the awkward space.
That was it. We’d had enough. I’m Going Home.
The Drive Home
We packed up early and drove straight home — fast. I didn’t pull over once this time. After that trip, it took me a week before I even wanted to look at the van again.
I’ve since extended the bed so we can sleep lengthwise, and I’ve contacted the air-conditioning company — which led to another story (coming in my next post!).
Vanlife Sucks For Me Right Now
What I Learned, Australia Vanlife Mistakes
Honestly? Vanlife isn’t as easy or glamorous as YouTube makes it look. It can be stressful, expensive, and physically demanding — especially for retirees like us.
But I’m not giving up. I’ve spent a third of my savings on this, and I still believe there’s potential to make it work. This journey is about learning, adapting, and sharing what really happens out here on the road.
Lastly, if you’d like to support my journey, you can “Buy Me a Coffee,” which helps fund these trips, or check out the RV LIFE Trip Wizard affiliate program in the USA — Starter Stopper Gets 5% Off their Kill Switches – every bit helps for those of us crazy enough to try senior vanlife in Australia. Look Up P.S Petrol Spy fuel finder its free. If you’re thinking about van life after 55, you might find the rest of our Senior Van Life guides for Australians helpful as you plan your own path. Shaun Out….
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The Starter Stopper I Use in My Vans Theft Protection Works Perfectly. (Classic Model)
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