Life on the road offers a rare kind of freedom. Whether you’re touring the country in a small motorhome or living full-time in one of our luxury motorhomes, this lifestyle is all about slowing down, simplifying, and soaking up every moment of the van life adventure.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time on the road, whether you’re in it for a short escape or a life-changing journey around Australia.
1. Plan and Budget With Flexibility in Mind
Good planning is the backbone of any successful road trip. We recommend starting with a broad route and pencilling in key stops — national parks, coastal drives, free campsites — then mapping out a realistic budget. This should cover not just fuel and food, but also campsite fees, maintenance, and unexpected costs like repairs or gear replacements. Flexibility is the name of the game, so make sure you budget wisely and always build in a buffer. That way, you’ll be prepared if plans change; and they probably will.
2. Embrace the Art of Minimalism
If you’re just getting started with the motorhome, campervan or caravan lifestyle, you’ll quickly discover that living with less makes room for more. You’ll have more freedom, more flexibility, and more time to focus on what matters. Embracing a minimalist lifestyle makes packing, cleaning and moving around much easier. We suggest prioritising multipurpose gear, layering clothes, and focusing on what you’ll use daily. With limited space, every item has to earn its place. Less stuff means more time, less stress, and more room to enjoy your evolving living space.
3. Stay Organised (Even in Small Spaces)
Staying organised is key to enjoying life on the road. Use clear tubs, labelled drawers, and collapsible storage solutions wherever possible. Packing cubes are excellent for clothes, and stacking crates work well for pantry items. A place for everything and everything in its place helps prevent clutter from becoming chaos, especially when you’re moving between campsites regularly.
Organisation reduces stress, saves time, and keeps your mobile home comfortable, allowing you to stay focused on the fun parts of van life. This is especially important if you’re travelling in a small campervan, where space is at a premium.
4. Safety First, Always
Living on the road means taking personal responsibility for your well-being. This starts with having a fully stocked first-aid kit and making sure you understand how to use it. Safety gear might seem like a backup plan, but on the road, it’s part of the essentials.
Get your vehicle serviced regularly and carry emergency spares like a tyre repair kit, jumper leads, and extra water. Additionally, familiarise yourself with emergency contacts and road rules in each state you visit. If you’re travelling long-term, understanding how your solar panels, brakes, and gas fittings work is well worth the time.
If you’re one of the many solo travellers out there on the road, check in regularly with someone you trust.
5. Stay Connected, Your Way
Many modern motorhomes now come ready for remote connectivity, and we recommend making connectivity part of your setup from day one. Whether you’re working remotely or just like keeping in touch with family, a Cel-Fi booster can help strengthen your signal in fringe areas. If you’re heading into remote regions, consider a satellite phone or Starlink to stay in touch. We also like having maps and playlists downloaded offline for when we’re passing through remote areas, just in case. You don’t need to be online 24/7, but knowing you can reach someone if needed makes a big difference.
6. Look After Your Body and Mind
It’s easy to lose your rhythm and fall out of a healthy lifestyle when every day looks different, but looking after your health helps you keep your energy levels high and enjoy the journey even more. Having flexible but familiar daily routines helps you stay grounded while on the move. We try to keep moving each day, even if it’s just a stroll around camp or a quick swim.
Having proper cooking equipment makes it so much easier to maintain a good diet on the road, with the added bonus that cooking your own meals is far more cost effective, especially when you’re driving long distances and only have restaurants or roadhouses available to you. So long as you’ve got a fridge and some decent bench space, it’s easy to plan meals, cook fresh and even enjoy some unique local foods along the way.
Finally, don’t forget sleep: dark blinds, a quiet spot, and a good mattress setup go a long way to keeping you feeling rested and ready to tackle the next day’s drive. If you’re travelling in a drop down bed motorhome, you can be ready to enjoy a restful night’s sleep in moments. At the touch of a button your bed drops down from the ceiling, and you can wind down properly after a big day.
7. Leave Room for the Unexpected
One of the best parts of life on the open road is the freedom to follow your curiosity. Some of our favourite memories have come from turning down a dirt road, taking a local’s advice, or changing plans at the last minute. If something looks interesting or comes recommended by fellow travellers, go check it out.
Not every day needs to be mapped out, and some of the best spots are off the beaten path, so don’t be afraid to embrace spontaneity. The more flexible you are, the more the road will reward you. A campervan with shower and toilet gives you more freedom to stop wherever the view takes your fancy, no facilities required.
8. Tread Lightly
We believe in leaving places better than we found them. That means carrying reusables, sorting and reducing waste, and taking the time to dispose of our grey water and black water properly. We use biodegradable soaps and avoid harsh chemicals that could harm the environment, and carry a separate bin for organic waste and compost scraps wherever possible, which helps reduce our overall impact and makes disposal more environmentally friendly. Always check local regulations before camping or disposing of waste. Rules can vary across states and national parks, and doing the right thing keeps access open for everyone.
If you’ve got a solar motorhome or any form of solar power, even better, as it allows you to get off-grid more easily and reduce your environmental impact.
The natural beauty of Australia and NZ is part of what makes this lifestyle so special. For us, the goal is simple: leave each place a little better than we found it, so the great outdoors can stay great for generations to come. Sustainable travel starts with small, eco-friendly habits, and they all add up.
9. Connect With People
One of the best parts of joining the van life community is the sense of connection. We’ve found that the best travel tips and hidden gems don’t come from Google, but from the butcher in town or the couple camped next to you. Make time to chat, ask about the area and be open to swapping stories with fellow van lifers. These little interactions not only add colour to your trip but often lead to the most rewarding experiences.
10. Prioritise Downtime
It’s easy to burn out when the road keeps pulling you forward. That’s why you should build in time for rest and self-care: no plans, no driving, just space to breathe and enjoy the present moment. We like to read, journal, watch the sunset, or simply do nothing at all. You don’t have to be “on” every day. This lifestyle is about balance, and that includes travelling at your own pace and taking care of your mind and body.
The Road Is Yours. Embrace It With Avida
There’s no one right way to live on the road. Whether you’re travelling for a few weeks or embracing it full-time, it’s about finding what works for you and enjoying the freedom that comes with it. If you’re starting van life and feeling overwhelmed, take it one step at a time. We’ve met so many travellers who started small and found their rhythm on the road.
At Avida, we’re here to help you make the most of your adventure. Whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth, explore our range of motorhomes for sale and campervans for sale to find a setup that fits your lifestyle, lets you embrace van living, and travel with confidence.
