Touring Australia: What Actually Matters on the Road

After six years travelling Australia full-time, we’ve learned that a lot of the advice new travellers receive focuses on the wrong things.

At the recent Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow, we presented a session called What Matters Most When Touring Australia, sharing the lessons we wish we’d known before we started.

In this episode of the podcast, we unpack that presentation and talk through the three areas that genuinely make the biggest difference to safe, confident and enjoyable travel.

We chat about:

• Why education and preparation before you leave is more important than buying more gear

• The communication tools and apps that can make travel safer and easier

• Why awareness beats accessories when it comes to staying safe on the road

• The simple checks and habits that experienced travellers rely on every day

If you’re planning your first trip around Australia—or you’re already on the road and still figuring things out—this episode will help you focus on the things that actually matter.

We’ve also just released our new Touring Australia for Beginners Guide, which expands on everything we discuss in this episode and brings all the essential information together in one practical digital guide.

You can grab it here, HALF PRICE LAUNCH SALE ONLY $9.95!

👉 https://shopthefeelgoodfamily.com

🎧 If you’re planning a big trip, thinking about hitting the road, or simply want to travel with more confidence, this episode is for you.

As a massive thank you to our podcast listeners we’re offering a 50% discount on RV First Aid! Use discount code FEELGOOD to take advantage of this awesome offer - https://www.rvfirstaid.com.au/

 Check out the Gear we love on our website - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/gear-and-discounts/

 Watch our TV series Feel Good RoadTrips on the 7Plus streaming platform - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/feelgood-roadtrips-channel-seven-tv-series/

Listen to our Feel Good Road Trip Spotify playlist here -https://open.spotify.com/playlist/47S2LkmpBxztMEH8sw6Frt?fbclid=IwAR0Xk2BwpoAhbk5Xvl1cwadO2FzPVl2PHboIWNDPmtzW_F-1-4fKfw4AalU

 Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw

Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Thursday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com

Our Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].

Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw

Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Tuesday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com 

Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:05

Welcome to the Travel Australia Podcast. We're Paul Katie and Jasper from the Filbert family. Join us as we explore this great country Australia, its people, places, and cultures.

SPEAKER_00 0:18

Yes, it's the original Travel Australia podcast where we share the latest reviews, road travel, and reviews, get interviews. So much more. Thanks for joining us.

Australia’s Biggest Caravan Show Highlights

SPEAKER_02 0:31

Next week, what matters most when coming and touring Australia? And how you can get 50% off the guide you need to get you there and beyond. Wow. Sunny Melbourne comedy.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

I was gonna say it's so good to be joining you all from beautiful Melbourne in Victoria. We are, of course, down here for the huge. It is, as they say, Australia's biggest caravanning and camping super show hosted by Caravanning Industry Victoria. We love these guys. They do put on a cracking show over five days at the Melbourne Showgrounds. This year, Paul, over 215 different brands on display. I mean, we've been getting around, I tell you what, we've been getting our steps up, and we just cannot believe the different amount of caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers, you name it, no matter what style that you want to do to get out there and travel Australia, there is something for you.

SPEAKER_02 1:36

Yes, the evolution of the traveller in Australia. The swag, the tent, all the way up through the trailer, the camper top, the rooftop, the huge caravans, the huge vehicles. I love seeing it all on display, and we've had such a good sticky beak. In fact, we've run around and we found the five most innovative ideas and designs. And uh, we're putting a a YouTube and TV show together for that episode.

Our Backstory With The Irwins

SPEAKER_00 2:01

Yeah, that'll be fantastic. And look, we've been up on stage daily presenting on this very topic. What matters most when towing and touring around Australia? And gee, it's been such a popular topic, Paul. Loads of questions at the end and really fantastic information that, you know, I think it doesn't matter what level of experience you have, there are little gems in here for everybody.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Yeah, well, I mean, you know, 200,000 plus kilometres now for our six and a half years, completely green when we started. I love what you say in the show there.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

We had no idea.

SPEAKER_02 2:38

We'd never even slept in a tent together.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

That's true.

SPEAKER_02 2:42

And uh, you know, from our corporate lives. In fact, Katie and I, as a quick backstory for those that are new, and welcome to, you know, the countless people now that are tuning in from all over the world. We're blown away by that. And thank you for joining us.

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

Uh we met working for the the late legend, the famous Steve Irwin. Mm-hmm. And Katie was his uh executive assistant to he and Terry Irwin and the kids, and looking after the family's business and life matters. And I was engaged to do a TV show with Bindy and Steve. Yes performing alongside them, singing.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Singing and dancing, swinging those hips back.

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Oh, singing about the elephants of India.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Mm-hmm. That's why I fell in love with you, honey. I d uh look, it's ingrained in my memory, sweetheart, and it's the reason I fell in love with you. So there we go.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

You're only human. Do not blame you. Uh look, it it it is. That's a you know, it's it's hard to believe uh 20 years ago this year that that we lost Steve. Uh and for me, um, you know, it's the the best memories of our our life and and the start of our journey, Katie.

Why This Topic Resonates

SPEAKER_00 3:49

Oh, look, absolutely. And um a couple of quick things before we we move on with the podcast, Paul. But I must say uh on the main stage where we've been presenting at the Caravan Show across the week, the Gaday Parks have sponsored this particular area, and Robert Irwin is their current ambassador, and so they've been playing their adverts and seeing Robert's beautiful head up on the big screen uh m multiple times a day, and in particular just before we head up on stage is is quite an interesting feeling, you know. It was such a long time ago that we were at Australia Zoo and Robert was only three years old when uh when we were there, and so to see him now as a grown man, the spitting image of his father, and to to hear that voice, you know, being projected out across the showgrounds is it's goosebump stuff. And look, it's it's quite incredible timing because today is not only my birthday, but also Steve Irwin's birthday as well. So it's quite uh special that we're talking about him and Robert and the family on such a special day.

SPEAKER_02 4:57

It is it's beautiful and happy birthday. Oh my beautiful wife.

SPEAKER_00 5:01

We won't talk about what age I am, but that's all right. Let's move on to more important matters.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Look, you you're giving some some hints there. How long ago? 20 years, eh? Oh yeah. When when you're at this show and the the screen behind us is uh six by four meter LED wall, Robert Irwin's head is huge.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

It is b it's a lot bigger than when I was working with him, that's for sure. But uh no, it's been it's been absolutely fantastic. And as Paul was saying, look, we were so green. We had no experience in this industry at all. We weren't caravanners, we weren't campers, we weren't four-wheel drivers at all. And so to have that evolution in ourselves and that learning journey that we have had over these past almost seven years this year, which is remarkable. You know, we just love sharing all of this information that's not only impacted our journey, but we know as we've traveled and we've picked things up from other travelers and we've shared things with other travelers as well, that it's impacted their journey as well. And there's nothing more exciting for me, Paul, than looking out into our audience when we are up on stage presenting and seeing people taking notes, either, you know, in their notebook or in their phone, it gives me goosebumps because straight away you know, well, there's somebody in the the dreaming planning phase.

The Guide And 50% Offer

SPEAKER_02 6:23

Absolutely. And as you said, even if you're rolling down the road already, you're out back or on the bitumen, there's so many good nuggets in this this talk. So that is what we're gonna absolutely get into right now. Uh, as I mentioned in the opener there, the guide you need to get you there and beyond has been created around this. What matters most when towing and touring Oz. And Kate has put this incredible guide together, as I like to say. It's the guide that we wish we had before we hit the road. Or even a couple of years in, this would have been helpful.

SPEAKER_04 6:58

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 6:59

Uh, and so we we've launched that and it's$20, but it's not actually it's only$9.95, it's 50% off, as I mentioned. So uh you can find the details and the link directly in the show notes, or just visit the feelgoodfamily.com and you'll see that and 20 plus other digital products that we do, uh, all our best-selling ebooks. But look, you want the the most bang for your buck, yeah, uh, grab this one. Don't take notes. Uh you can come back and listen to this podcast just to reaffirm stuff. But also in there as a bonus, Katie's added in all of the emergency preparedness.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Yes, really super important information to know and and lots of uh, I guess, templates or printables that you can actually add your own personal information to and have these documents at hand.

Preparation Beats Fancy Gear

SPEAKER_02 7:52

Fantastic. That's even emergency contact list, emergency checklist, evacuation plan, hitch and unhitch list. I mean it's i it is all in there done for you. Uh yeah, bit of a no-brainer. Anyway, enough of a sell on that, but we just think everyone should have this guide. Let's get into it. The very first segment that we want to talk about.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Yeah, what matters most is the preparation before you leave. I think one of the biggest lessons for us that we've learned about touring Australia safely is that it doesn't it's not about, you know, it's not about having the biggest rig or all the fanciest gear. It's actually about knowing what matters and that most of it happens before you even roll down the driveway, Paul. So preparation is a massive thing.

SPEAKER_02 8:39

I tell the audience, you know, the number one thing to take away from this talk is that you should try and like each other before you roll down the driveway.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Yes, it's uh very, very important.

SPEAKER_02 8:52

And if you're not quite there, at least know each other's triggers. Katie, geez, you can bite my head off some days, honey.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_02 9:00

Not not on your birthday, obviously.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

But never on my birthday.

SPEAKER_02 9:04

But no, knowing each other's triggers, uh, yeah, it's a good tip.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

It is a good tip. Look, everything is compounded when you're living in a shoebox together, so emotions can run high. Uh, but uh that is a good piece of advice. Look, even better than that, I think, Paul, is that the safest travellers are educated travellers. So, you know, before you start thinking about your solar upgrades or your suspension, we would recommend that you soak up the knowledge, education first. If you were towing, absolutely go and do a towing course. And if you are traveling as a couple or as a family, go with the person who will be, you know, perhaps in the passenger seat and occasionally in the driver's seat, but do it together.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

I love this. And you know, it's it's having an expert that isn't your hubby. 100%. Like a real one.

SPEAKER_00 9:53

Oh, that was the best part about it.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

And Wayne, who we went with, and there is a hundred of these companies out there now. Uh might be a bit of an exaggeration, there might be fifty. But up and down the east coast of Australia, where ninety-five percent of our population live, that there's plenty of these. So just Google it, you'll find one. We had Wayne, the guy was such an encourager.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

You know, you've got this, Katie.

SPEAKER_00 10:16

Absolutely. There was lots of high fives and pat on the back.

Training Together Builds Confidence

SPEAKER_02 10:19

Yeah, and you felt ten feet tall.

SPEAKER_00 10:21

Oh, look, 100%. I did. I'd never towed anything before. Nothing, not even a little box trailer. So I had no idea how to manoeuvre the vehicle to make whatever it was behind me manoeuvre the way I wanted to.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

Look, I broke my ankle three months in. Uh anyone who's been following our journey would know that. And uh and three months after that I broke it a second time. Clear clear snap. Most painful thing, I tell you.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

Hopeless style.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Yeah, up there with childbirth. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 10:50

Oh god, look out. Okay, you tried that one on stage the other day, and did you hear the rumbling in the audience from the women?

SPEAKER_02 10:57

That lady in the front row is gonna throw her pin at my at my eye.

SPEAKER_00 11:00

I think so.

SPEAKER_02 11:02

Look, jokes aside, Katie did have to step into the driver's seat because I broke my ankle, and because she'd had that prior education, a little bit of a pep talk, she she not only had it, but she managed it uh with a a starting amount of confidence.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Oh, look, definitely. I mean, I won't lie, I still gripped that steering wheel hard and you know held my breath every time a vehicle was on coming or overtaking. But I definitely was okay enough to hop into the driver's seat. And look, a a really quick tip would be to if you're not the the number one driver, do make sure that you do get in that driver's seat as often as possible to get a little bit of confidence up and try towing on different terrains and different environments as well. Because look, you just never know what's going to happen and when you will be required to step into that role.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

We are seeing so many more people out there towing, and the rigs are getting bigger, the vans are getting bigger, the weights are getting a lot higher. We would encourage you to to know your weights, uh understand the weight distribution. Towing-related accidents and fatalities are definitely on the rose rise because of this popularity.

SPEAKER_03 12:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:09

Uh so get across that and uh you you will just oh gosh, you you'll just have that that confidence.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

Absolutely, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Through that education. Uh so get your vehicles weighed. If you haven't already done that, book into one of these mobile guys. Again, another three, four hundred dollars, incredibly well spent as far as spending money on yourself and your skill set.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

Absolutely. The education there is priceless. Look, if you're heading off-road, again, go into a four-wheel drive course or go to one of those great four-wheel drive parks. We've got them scattered around the country where you can test out your rig and your capabilities in a safe environment with somebody there who can guide you and help you if you need that assistance. Learn recovery basics. This is a massive one. You want to have the confidence to know that you can get yourself out of a sticky situation if you get yourself into one. And look, let's face it, if you're out four-wheel driving around the country, no doubt you're going to find yourself in a sticky situation. We have plenty of times.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yeah, you definitely will. And it's it doesn't need to be panic stations. What happens in these heightened moments is that we make poor decisions. We have poor judgment.

SPEAKER_00 13:19

Yes.

Weights, Weigh-Ins And Safety

SPEAKER_02 13:20

Because you just pressure's high, right? You just don't think clearly. So to have something to call on and to fall back on, uh priceless.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 13:28

Life savers sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

Definitely. And learning how to use your four-wheel drive gear correctly. We cannot underestimate the importance of this. And tyre pressures, Paul, is something that we get loads of questions around all the time, particularly on different terrains and when you are heading off-road. So really make sure that you understand specific to your setup and your tyres.

SPEAKER_02 13:51

Look, I'll just jump in. We were very fortunate during COVID round one. Uh we had set off about six months prior to COVID shutting down the world, and we ended up in Tasmania. Probably the safest place on earth, actually. Cleanest air, cleanest water. What a what a journey that was. And we were camped in Heuen Valley for the taste of Hewan.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

25,000 people, a hundred different crafters of the finest uh fresh produce, food, apple ciders. Yeah, like every ciders. Every other store was an apple cider producer. So you can imagine 25,000 people running around, all of a sudden the world shuts down, everyone starts stealing toilet paper, trying not to sneeze on each other. And we were camped next to the chief fiery from the Hobart firefighting department and uh his family and Adam, his n his name, a unit of a man, aka Yogi, they call him, Big Yogi, said, Oh mate, this will blow over in two weeks. It's just a little flu. Why don't you come and camp in our driveway, plug in and you you'll just wait it out. Yep. So, you know, three and a half months later, we're now still waiting it out. We well, we we'd migrated to their living room.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

We had actually. It was awesome.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

Yes, we we drank all their wine and uh yeah, I put on became very good friends, obviously. Yeah, again, I put on ten ten kg each. Uh and uh Jasper had two older brothers suddenly and and it was a gift, you know. We we understand it wasn't so good, particularly here in Victoria. The most uh shut down, lockdown place on earth, actually. Uh so we uh had a lot of education, a lot of time to to really mull over the fireies and what they do and uh devices that we could have included in our van and that should be regulated through the industry that aren't. And it was uh you know, amazing amazing education for us. And the best thing he gave us was the four C's on tire management, which is a system that the firefighters use every single day on their vehicles. And the four C's are check when cold, check the caps, check the contents, and check the condition.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 15:57

Absolutely brilliant, and we now have that embedded and a regular part of our checklist when touring us.

SPEAKER_00 16:03

Well, Paul, something Ad said to us was that the only thing between you and the road are those four bits of tire. And when you really, really think about that, you know, it makes you think, okay, I need to be checking these things every single day.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Absolutely. Thank you, Adam.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

Yeah, awesome.

Recovery Basics And Tyre Pressures

SPEAKER_02 16:20

Okay, uh look, the other thing to consider with understanding your weights is that there are six compliance uh really legal uh areas that you need to absolutely understand and know. And it can seem like an absolute alphabet zoo when you start to look at this like a rap song, G VM, ATM, G C M, T D T. You know, it just goes on and on. But it's actually only three for the tow vehicle and three for the vehicle that you're towing, whatever that is. Uh so get across them, understand them, get the education, stay safe.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

Yeah, and I think more importantly than just understanding them too is understanding how they relate to your actual setup. And again, if we didn't mention when we were talking about getting professionally weighed, Paul, one of the best pieces of education that came out of that was learning how to distribute the weight within your caravan or whatever it is that you're towing, so that you can maybe shift some weights around and you know, just simple things like that are just priceless education. So make sure that you go and do that. Now, look, one of the most important things we would say is get yourself across first aid.

The Firefighter Four Cs For Tyres

SPEAKER_02 17:29

Hard to believe. Uh the stats that we have have read across uh the World Wide Web, less than five percent of Aussies actually know first aid. Uh it's one of the lowest rates in the world. Uh, you know, people have done or current first aid, you know, they've done a little bit here and there in the office or whatever, just to tick a box. Uh having relevant information around touring and traveling Oz First Aid would be the way to go. Uh we are uh been involved in an incredible product. We've spoken about it on this uh podcast before called rethefirstaid.com.au. You can find it. Uh just do yourself um a favour and research that. Uh bringing together not only a professional you know, decades-long instructor on first aid topic, he's an incredible guy, Anthony Cassane. Uh we've also then got uh another eight industry experts that cover off four-wheel drive instruction, mastering sand driving, self-recovery, uh pet responsibility and pet first aid, keeping your kids safe at camp, towing and weights masterclass, all of this digitally at your fingertips. It is a knowledge hub that will absolutely give you that level of skill and information to forward, on forward, Katie, each kilometer with confidence.

SPEAKER_00 18:51

Absolutely. Look, and the fact that it is digital, you can have it on your phone, in your pocket, you've got access to it no matter what. Look, for anybody traveling and touring Australia, we would say this is an absolute no-brainer. And if you are interested in it, make sure you use our feel good code for a nice little 50% off discount on that.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

And I again another link there in the show notes. Yeah, that's a that's another 50% error. That's bloody brilliant. Okay, what else matters most?

SPEAKER_00 19:20

Communication.

SPEAKER_02 19:21

Sorry?

SPEAKER_00 19:23

See what you did there.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

What we have here is a failure to communicate, Kate. Yeah. We're gonna talk about a couple of things here. Let's just go through the gear first. This is what we think is essential. A UHF radio, a PLB, yeah, personal locator beacon for remote travel, reliable internet option.

SPEAKER_00 19:40

Yeah, Starlink or equivalent.

Compliance Terms Made Simple

SPEAKER_02 19:41

Yeah, definitely. Let's start with the UHF. Uh this is is not optional. This is a non-negotiable, in our opinion. We travelled the first two years, Katie, towing three and a half ton, or actually 3.2 tonne at that stage. A 23-foot van. Yeah. We were overweight, we had our head in the sand and we did not have a UHF radio. So now, once we got a UHF radio, gee, didn't that make the communication and our our even our peace of mind around our safety and what was behind us and what was about to pass us or what we were coming up to, or was there a problem ahead? This comms uh information on channel 40 is a national highway number channel for us. Uh there's convoy channels, there's a the regular caravanning channel of 18, but we literally sit on channel 40 when we are uh heading around the National One Highway.

SPEAKER_00 20:33

Oh, look, it keeps you connected not only with the truckies who are out there doing their job, and look, in some places around Australia, these trucks are huge. These road trains, just unbelievable. You want to be able to have contact with them. It also keeps you connected with other travelers out there on the road. If you are traveling in convoy, it's absolutely essential. Also for around camp, we use the UHF radios when we're reversing the caravan if we don't have our mobile phone service. We also have taught Jasper, and this is a massive tip for anybody who's thinking of traveling Australia with children or grandchildren, teach your kids how to use the UHF. Let them know, obviously, it's not a choice. And around camp, they can have the UHF to have some fun with, and there are dedicated, as we call them, chatter channels. But teach them how to use it in an emergency situation. If Paul and I were unable to call for help or reach a radio, we know absolutely 100% that Jasper could pick that radio up, know how to use it, know how to get it onto the emergency channel and how to speak clearly and call for help.

First Aid And Digital Learning Hub

SPEAKER_02 21:40

And we'll include um here, and it it is in the guide, the four P's. Mm-hmm. Okay, so we had the four C's for your time management. This is the four Ps for any type of emergency incident. And giving this knowledge to your kids uh and and to your family is absolutely essential. Alright, the four Ps are the person, the problem, the position, the progress. As a quick quick example that Jasper uses when he does this, he gets the radio, he calls it back to camp and he says Johnny has been bitten by a snake, we are behind the jumping pillow. Please grab the first aid kit and call triple zero.

SPEAKER_00 22:25

And he's doing okay.

SPEAKER_02 22:27

Exactly. So there you go. Who was the person? What was the problem? Where were you located? What's the position? And what was the progress? And he it it's just embedded in him. And uh yeah, use that and again in those heightened situations, then when you are muddled, you can call on this knowledge.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Yeah, definitely, definitely. And look, at the end of the day, we honestly believe that your communication protocols actually matter more than the devices. Obviously, there's three bits of gear there that we have listed as what we think are essential, but you really do need to know how to call up when overtaking or make contact with the truckies when you're out there or if they're wanting to pass you, and also how to coordinate and communicate safely in convoys. And something that we love to talk about is reversing the caravan.

Essential Comms: UHF, PLB, Internet

SPEAKER_02 23:17

I will give a very quick version of language that I use when I have a truck barreling up behind us because we sit on 90 kilometres an hour. That like 90 to 95 max is the safe uh sweet spot for us towing our, you know, in combination 7.2 tonne. Okay. And so they're gonna pass me at some time. I see him coming up in my rear vision mirror. I've got a monitor, actually a safety dave monitor. 400 metres back, I get on the radio and I use this language. G'day mate, I'm northbound towing the zone RV. Let me know when you want to come round. He says, Thank you, mate. I might stick my head out now, eh? And he comes around, I maintain my line, I maintain my speed, I keep very firm on the steering wheel. There is always a little bit of a vacuum when he comes up beside me. Only when he's completely up beside me do I just let the accelerator off slightly, and you're straight past me, Katie. Straight back in. In Australia, we've got those blinkers. Thank you very much. He goes, right, left, right, left, right. And have a great day, mate. Safe travels. You too. Thanks, mate. Keep the family safe. That's it. That easy, simple, clear, concise. It's the clarity in my communication that makes a difference.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Yep, absolutely. So let's talk about clarity in communication when you are reversing the caravan in Paul.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

Okay, the acronym here to takeaway is GOL, as in Kick a Goal. G-O-A-L, get out and look. This is an absolute gold mine, this one. Uh and for the driver, this is for you. Before you reverse ever, get out and look. The time I did not get out and look, we rolled our vehicle.

SPEAKER_00 25:02

Yeah, it just puts you on the same page straight away. Generally, we find that there's one person in the driver's seat, one person who is outside of the vehicle responsible for directing that person into position safely, obviously without hitting anything. So if the driver gets out, then straight away you're both on the same page. You're looking at exactly the same thing. There can't be any confusion between what you think is there and what they think is there. Eyes in the back of your head.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

And exactly what that is. That perception, that visual reference point, all of a sudden, that picture makes all the difference. Uh I always do a little right angle, like a reverse L on the ground, especially when we're out back. And I say to Katie, this is where I want the back of the van, the driver's side back corner. I want it to be in this position. We're on the same page. We've got a we've got a goal.

Radio Protocols With Truckies

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Yeah, absolutely. We know what we're aiming for. And then as far as the language we use uh over the radio to give direction to pull in which way to push the van or turn the vehicle, we never say right or left, left hand up, right hand down. We don't do that. It can become very confusing very quickly. And this is uh this is one of those things that, you know, if you can avoid confusion and stress and have nice clear communication, you're gonna avoid a heightened situation, yelling at each other. I mean, we we've seen it all in our early days. We certainly, you know, had plenty of frustrations uh while we were learning this process ourselves. And now we just find that keeping things clear and on the same page is gonna save you every time. So we say instead of left and right, we use the terminology driver's side and passenger side.

SPEAKER_02 26:53

It is such a good tip. These two, goal and driver's side and passenger side.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

Yeah, it's so good. The best thing about driver's side and passenger side is that it doesn't matter where the person who is outside of the car is standing and directing from. So you can be at the very front of the tow vehicle looking back towards the person reversing the van, or you can be behind the caravan, directing them in towards you. The driver's side is always the driver's side. So I would say to Paul, you need to push the back of the van to the driver's side. It's a no-brainer. He knows exactly what I'm talking about, and honestly, it will save the day.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

Definitely. These good comms communication would prevent 90% of campsite chaos.

SPEAKER_00 27:39

Oh, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 27:40

Yeah. 100%.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

Yeah, good comms all the way. Okay, let's talk about some of the apps and resources that we recommend, Paul.

Reversing Without The Arguments

SPEAKER_02 27:49

Okay, obviously, weather. Aussies, don't we love talking about the weather? Your dad's a weather dog. Okay, we love the willy weather as an app. Um, it also has access to the bomb weather kit, which is uh quite questionable in this country. Uh but Willy Weather, if you're out back and you're you're in the agricultural belt of Australia, there is Elders Weather app, which is great. Uh other ones would be the state road condition website, state emergency service websites, but they have apps as well. The the the best ten dollar app, you know, as far as money spent is WikiCamps app for knowing where you're going. We love WikiCamps.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

Yeah. Uh the Emergency Plus app is a must-have. This is an offline app uh Australia-wide, and it will give you your exact coordinates no matter where you are around the country. You can call Emergency Services Direct through the app as well. And also What Three Words is another great version of that as well, when it comes to emergency preparedness. Uh, and a really good one for navigation, Paul, that we found uh through a a pretty big mistake of our own when we were trialling, we actually hired a motorhome and we were in Sydney and it was peak hour, and we found ourselves at a low clearance bridge. And that was quite terrifying, to be honest. So we found this great navigation app called Psygic S-Y-G-I-C. And what's so good about this particular app is that you can put in the parameters of your setup. So if you are towing, you can put in your complete length, your width, your tonnage, you can put in your height clearance, you can actually select whether you want to avoid dirt roads or whether you love dirt roads. Um, it's really fantastic. It is used by truckies around the country as well. And we just find this a little bit more reliable than say you Google or Apple Maps because they really don't know that you're towing a big rig behind you.

Apps And Navigation That Prevent Drama

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Absolutely. And get that visual reference as some encouragement of Katie screaming at me, me screaming at her, Jasper screaming in the back because he's crying, and we're half a meter too tall for this bridge, this train bridge, and we're about to take out the Luton bed on top of our motorhome. Wow, how was that?

SPEAKER_00 30:16

It was stressful. That was before we knew about good communication.

SPEAKER_02 30:20

So psychic. And again, all these apps, maps, resources, all of these uh nuggets are in that ebook guide on what matters most when touring and towing Australia.

SPEAKER_00 30:31

Okay, Paul. So let's move on. So we've spoken about, you know, communication and essential gear, and we've spoken about education, but also awareness. Once you're on the road, awareness is everything. So let's talk about some of the daily checks that we do.

SPEAKER_02 30:46

I do one that I learn off Tony Davies, who's the legend full drive instructor and tour operator. He does tag-alongs all across Australia and New Zealand and booked out most of the year as well, but you can check him out. Uh, we did a tag-long tour with 10 other vehicles up there to Cape York, and he gave me this one, and it's called Under Bonnet, Under Body. And really starting up on the roof racks for us is making sure everything's secure. Nothing's come loose because you're out there on these corrugations and things just rattle loose, don't they? Even your teeth can rattle out. Uh, I come down under the bonnet and I'm really just checking all of those fluid levels. I go over to the battery terminals, I give it the battery shape, make sure the terminals have all haven't rattled off. We've seen that out at King's Canyon. We met that couple who completely rattled their battery loose. Uh, under the vehicle, I'm looking at the suspension, the drivetrain, anything that's hanging down, anything that's loose, uh, and then the tyre condition. I'm going through that. Okay, and that really is my daily check when we're out there, off-road, off-grid, out in the middle of nowhere. As Tony says, you know, get this caught before you're out there in the middle of nowhere. If you're at camp, you can possibly do something about it. There'll be other people that might have tools or some instruments or something that can help you. Uh, it is absolutely a must to do these daily checks. As far as tyres go, if I'm going to check the torque of the tyres, we do that based on the recommendation that is out there in the industry, that is every thousand kilometers. Okay, so just depending on how often you travel, that might be every few days. But yeah, at least for us, once every two weeks on checking the torque of those tires.

Daily Checks: Under Bonnet, Under Body

SPEAKER_00 32:39

Yeah. And look, the other thing to be aware of when you are out there is obviously the environment around you, your situational awareness, checking the weather systems, the road conditions and closures. This is a big one, particularly if you are traveling in these more remote places. Any fire alerts, you know, we are a country of absolute polar ends where one part of the country can be in incredible bushfire and it's snowing somewhere else, you know. So keeping across what's happening with the weather and also the travel distances between towns. Because again, in some of these more remote places, you know, there could be hundreds and hundreds of kilometers between towns, making sure you're aware of where the fuel stops are, the rest stops, so that you are actually taking the time to rest and recharge. It's super important.

SPEAKER_02 33:34

Look, Australia is vast. It it is uh, you know, one of the largest continents on earth. Uh, we were told that there's you know, you take the UK, for instance. You can fit 35 UKs in Australia.

SPEAKER_00 33:47

Yeah, it's incredible.

SPEAKER_02 33:48

We're only a third of the population. Yes, yes. We're out there on the plenty highway, you don't see a car. No. We saw one car. One other vehicle, toe vehicle. That was right.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

Yeah. Amazing. It is quite amazing. So distance and environment do matter more than accessories ever will.

SPEAKER_02 34:04

And finally, is the personal and property safety, Katie. That's one of the biggest areas that we were concerned with when we left. You know, uh are we going to be safe? Is our property gonna get stolen? Uh and and so we'll got a a little segment in there on that as well with the guide. But in a nutshell, know the fine print in your insurance.

SPEAKER_00 34:27

Yeah, yeah, look, that's a a great tip, Paul, because not all insurance policies created equal when it comes to touring around Australia and making sure you know exactly what your tow vehicle and the vehicle that is being towed is covered for. Again, particularly if you are wanting to explore these uh lesser known or more remote campsites. So really do your research there.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Yes, and uh we are not allowed to give insurance advice. No, nor would we want to. No, we aren't experts. No. But we are insured by Club 4x4.

Situational Awareness On Remote Roads

SPEAKER_00 35:04

Yes, and they are fantastic for us and our vehicles as we travel around the country. Okay, so a quick reset, Paula. What really matters? And the freeing part is you don't need the biggest band, you don't need the most expensive suspension, you don't need every accessory on display. Although look, gear envy is real, and we do suffer it from time to time when we pull up next to somebody who's got amazing gear and we think, ooh, maybe we could use that. And look, you don't need to tackle the hardest tracks either. We would say to you, travel within your capability because your confidence grows gradually. And that's something, you know, we had people say to us, geez, you guys must have been so confident to actually make that decision to hit the road. And we were we were everything but confident.

SPEAKER_02 35:49

Oh, absolutely. We earned it over every kilometer.

SPEAKER_00 35:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 35:53

That's that's it. You know, you you've got to have that courage to take the first step, but you don't have to take a leap.

SPEAKER_00 35:59

No, that's right. Well, experience is what creates the confidence as well, definitely. As you say, every kilometer. So if we boil it all down, prepare before you leave, understand your weights and your limits, invest in education before you hit the road. Have a clear communication plan. Sorry. How did I know that was coming? Stay aware on the road and adapt as required and check your vehicles regularly. That is really what matters most when towing and touring around Australia.

SPEAKER_02 36:34

Yeah, look, we've got the best backyard in the world. By far, the diversity in not only the landscape, the topography, the people, the cultures, the tracking authentic characters. We love it all, and and they love you back when you're out there. Uh bit of respect goes a long way. Uh the clear communication goes a long way. Yeah, and just looking out for each other. Look, most people out there are on holiday or they're retired. These are people in good moods.

Personal And Property Safety Essentials

SPEAKER_00 37:08

Yes, we love that. We do love that.

SPEAKER_02 37:11

We we do love the community and um and it's a good one to be a part of. So I think we've all got a role to play in this. Hopefully, this information has absolutely added value to you and your travels, your journey, your planning, your preparedness. Get yourself a copy of that ebook guide, and uh we're sure that it will impact you and your journey positively.

SPEAKER_00 37:32

It will. Well, it'll keep you calmer, it'll keep you safer, and it'll keep you out there having an incredible time.

SPEAKER_02 37:39

All right, we are gonna go back to an oldie but a goldy as our takeaway for this week. And this one is really valuable for those out there that have kids that are going, Oh, you know, I don't know if I can do it. Do we, don't we? We've just interviewed Sam Newman. He's just I think he's eighty now and out there traveling with Sue in a caravan and a, you know, a Silverado four-wheel drive. They've just done a lap year, some great content um from them. And then our other interviewee was the badger, the honey badger, Nick Cummins.

SPEAKER_00 38:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 38:16

And he and his wife Alex, that beautiful young family, have three kids under the age of three and they're out there towing their titanium van around us.

SPEAKER_00 38:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

Love it. Inspirational. You know, if we can do it, if they can do it, you know, if Sam Newman at 80 can do it, you know. Yeah, you can too. Yeah. All right, here's my takeaway. You only get 18 summers with your kids.

What Really Matters For Confident Travel

SPEAKER_00 38:39

Yeah, it's an oldie butty-goody, as you say, Paul. And in fact, we've had a number of people this show actually recite that back to us and say, you know what? It was that quote that you guys said that actually got us off the couch and taking action to get out there. So thank you.

Next Week: Hamilton Island Tease

SPEAKER_02 38:54

Love it. And we have to thank KYD, keep your daydream over in the States for giving us that nugget. Now, geez, eight years ago when we were planning. Yeah. So there you go. What comes around goes around, guys. Uh I think we'll leave it there. Next week, we are going to take you to the island paradise of Hamilton Island.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

Is it an escape only for the rich and famous? Expensive. Make me rich and famous and take me there, baby. From now on, say, dream big, look up to yourself and look up to your family.