what we use
This is a bit of a rundown on what gets us where we like to go, how we use it and why we’ve chosen it.
Everything plays an important part in our adventures from the laptop I’m typing on, to the cloud based programs we use to store our photos right down to the BBQ we have, the cameras we use, the cars we drive, the caravan that we tow and much more.
Vehicles
It is set up for touring and towing and is our ultimate tourer! The Chev enables us to tow our large off-road caravan safely and easily as well as being a total off-grid vehicle itself. We can unhitch the van and be very comfortable in just the Chev. We have the Alucab rooftop tent and awning plus all the gear inside.
When the time came for us to upgrade from our Hilux, Chris spent quite a while looking into what vehicle would be best. We almost went down the road of a chopped 200, but it soon became clear that an American Truck was what we needed.
These trucks have had the GVM downgraded to 4491 kg during the conversion to allow for Australian car licensing. It’s very simple to get a GVM upgrade without effecting the BTC and 9800 kg GCM. This does require an LR drivers license.
In regards to safety, reliability and vehicles that were built to do the job the HSV converted Chevy 2500 jumped out at us. We did test drive the Rams and F250’s but we both have a soft spot for the Chev.
The heart of the truck is a 6.6 ltr Duramax turbo diesel V8 producing 1245 nm and 450 hp all driving through a 6-speed Allison automatic transmission. It all makes for a bulletproof drive train.
HSV offers a great warranty and awesome after sales service with dealerships all around the country.
And to be very honest, all it took was 10 minutes on the road and we were sold. This truck feels like a limousine inside but the power and brute torque is class-leading when it come to towing and touring.
The size, weight and wheelbase makes for a very stable and planted platform. It tows our 3800 kg caravan like a dream and we often have to check the mirror to make sure the van is still there! We couldn’t be happier with our decision.
Accommodation
Taking it Online
APPS
- Hipcamp
- Fuel Map Australia
- WikiCamps (we plan our long trips this way)
- Campedia (pre-planned trips)
- TripAdvisor (great for researching places!)
- Waze when in cities/towns(the best map for smart phone (IMO) that gives you real-time traffic updates/road closures etc.
- Hema (the actual screen, not the app) for offline maps and trip planning
- DropBox (for storing photos and files)
Computers
Chris has a Windows Surface.
Photography/
Videography
DJI MAVIC AIR 2S Nikon D7500 PANASONIC LUMIX GH5
Iphone 11Pro GoPro Hero 9 (x2) GoPro (Max)
We have a variety of cameras that we like to use. Originally we started with a GoPro and iPhone and that was plenty! But we are always looking at ways to improve the quality of our content.
All our camera gear is housed in 2 bags. We have a GoPro Seeker backpackwith for all the GoPro’s and a large Tenba Axis 32L backpack for everything else. Usually it’s all plugged in and charging in the back of the Chevy though!
Our video editing is done in Final Cut Pro and photo editing is done using a variety of apps and programs (mostly Adobe). Of course if I stumble across something else that is amazing, I will use that too! 🙂
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Lightroom
- PS Express
- Pic Pro
- Enlight
- Lumyer
- Photo Editor
Toys
Mountain bikes, BMX bikes, cruisers, skateboards, surfboards, stand up paddle boards, canoes, the jet-ski … our list is always growing and changing! We are limited now that we live and travel fulltime in our caravan. and I have no idea what will be next, but I love seeing Chris’s eye light up when he finds something new and exciting to introduce to our collection. Stay tuned for the latest additions!
Mountain Bikes



We both ride Merida e160’s.
Chris’s passion for mountain biking stretches back far before we even met, and over the years his love of the sport has spilled over and started to toy with me a bit too: even more so now we have eMTB’s.
Chris’s bought his first eMTB (e-bike) quite a few years ago, while I still had the ‘old school’ NON motor assisted bike. This didn’t make our rides much fun at all! He was able to go much further and up much steeper hills than I was, and he was already right up there with his ‘King of the Mountains’ and even competing – while I was still learning to keep my elbows up, look where I was going and sit up straight!
Chris spends hours researching all the new bikes that are going to be released and when Merida announced the new e160’s – it was game on.
We are so proud to be partnered up with Merida and our riding has never been this good. Ok, well, Chris’s has always been good – but you know what I mean! These bikes have razor sharp handling, they are quiet, easy to manoeuvre for beginners like me and for riders like Chris who like to throw it around in the air, whip, scrub and hit all the double diamond blacks! (For the record, I’ve done a few black trails too – with Chris riding my bike down the crazy parts for me)
These are 160mm travel enduro bikes and the geometry is bang on for the type of riding that we like to do. They are extremely planted when thrown into tough rock gardens and high speed raw trails, yet so playful.
We love our eMTB’s and can’t wait to get out on some more pedal powered adventures! Not only do we aim to be hitting up Australia’s best trails (like Blue Derby) but these bikes are our ticket to exploring some incredible destinations that would otherwise take too long to reach or be inaccessible.
If you’ve not yet ridden an eMTB – get down to your local Merida dealer ASAP and give them a go. They are a game changer (and no, it’s not cheating!)
Cheers Merida. You’ve nailed it.
Surfboards
These boards come almost everywhere with us. They even made the trek all the way up to Cooktown 3 years in a row. Why? For the stop off at Agnes Water on the way up and back down. You’ve got to be ready for when the swell is just right 😉

SKATEboards
I ride a 38″ OBfive Em Carey Drop Through and Chris rides a 40″ Arbor Axis.

Mutonia Sculpture Park, Oodnadatta Track, SA
Is this the most bizarre park in Australia? It used to be a railway siding on the Old Ghan line. But no trains live here any more. Nope – this is all about planes. And a bus, a car, a windmill, a dragonfly … ok. It has lots of stuff – just no trains that we could see.
Mutonia Sculpture Park, Oodnadatta Track, SA
Is this the most bizarre park in Australia? It used to be a railway siding on the Old Ghan line. But no trains live here any more. Nope – this is all about planes. And a bus, a car, a windmill, a dragonfly … ok. It has lots of stuff – just no trains that we could see.
Dream Van Build
Let us share our brand new Titanium SS Hardcore Caravan with you!
Lazerlamps Giveaway!
Win a set of the best lights around – the Lazerlamps Sentinel Elite!
CRVC and DOMETIC Giveaway!
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED
Super Easy Thermomix Shredded Chicken
This is the easiest, tastiest and moistest (yes, this is now a word! lol) shredded chicken you will ever make. Try and see 🙂 Ingredients chicken thighs (bone out, skin off) seasoning Method Place chicken into TM bowl and add seasoning. Cook for 17 minutes, varoma...
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