While it is certainly true that the vast majority of grey nomads travel in caravans and motorhomes, there are other ways of hitting the open road.
Long-term adventurer Eve G is one of a small but growing band of grey nomads  who chooses to stay in cabins, cottages, motels, stations, roadhouses or pubs, rather than bringing their  home on the road with them.
“We’ve crunched the numbers and although we spend more with accommodation and meals, we come out way in front financially,” she said. “Fuel is cheaper sans towing or driving a motorhome and we can travel a little faster.”
Eve says that, when possible, she checks comments on websites to find out what others think of the place before she goes there.
“We prefer self-contained so we can prepare meals but it’s often not possible to find in out of the way places,” she said. “On stations there is a camp kitchen if staying in shearers’ quarters and sometimes there is a cottage available.”
She also says that having an expensive motorhome would deter them from getting off the bitumen … something they love to do.
“There is nothing more enjoyable to us than being in the Outback, and we prefer to hit the tracks in our 12-year-old tough 4WD,” she said. “It’s well-equipped for most situations and we carry spare parts, knowing that even if we can’t do the repair, someone else will come along who can.”
While saying that her travel mode is perfect for her, she acknowledges that it wouldn’t suit everybody.
“We don’t want to live on the road, we just go out to play a couple of months a year and know we all have different budgets and preferences,” she said. “We respect the choices of others and all grey nomads should do what they want and enjoy it while they can … we all sure worked hard for this time.”
Good on you Eve G you are still out there doing it, not sitting around waiting to die.Dont matter how you do just do it.Stevo.
A very interesting item Eve G. As someone who will soon retire, I don’t want to spend all year on the road and the true cost of a van or motorhome makes them an unnecessary luxury if only used a couple of times a year. However having to rely on accommodation in out of the way places is also a bit daunting.
How do we find these places? Is there a recommended list or is it just “explore but don’t wonder too far from civilisation”?
Wikicamps app and other travel apps and information centres are good places to start looking
Sorry, my error. Eve G….not Gwen. Apologies Eve.
Met a couple doing the lap in a XTrail. Same thing, had a tent for times when they couldn’t get accommodation.
We have been on the road since 8th January travelling this way and love it. Cook our own meals 90% of the time. Stay mainly in cabins, but as a last resort ww pitch our tent. Best time of our lives.
Very interesting article. A woman after my own heart. My husband and I have been doing this for a few years now and are really enjoying it. I, too do lots of research and read reviews before I book places. We do not want to be away for months at a time either and financially this is better for us. Love travelling.
Hi Im Connie..
This is all new for me I brought my motorhome..
I would like to meet up with motorhome traverses
Where do I find them.
Kind regards Connie
Caravans are far to expensive in this land I go where I want and stay in motels or cabins I am way out in front when it comes to costs if I purchased a $60,000 van I estimated that I could stay in motels for a month every year for 30 years just to break even when you take into consideration the ongoing costs of owning a van
Short term holidays i would agree. But for a lot of us who escape the southern winter for 4-6 months or even more, cabins and motels are too expensive.
We have travelled by using cabins and motels but enjoy our caravan travelling most of all. We have everything in the van access able and don’t need to take it in and out plus we know the beds are always comfortable which is not usually the case especially being grey nomads
Hey don’t forget a campervan. I paid 8k for mine and its a ripper low Kms with a small economical diesel motor. Can stop where we like, rego it for 3-6-9 or 12 months if I want or If I want some peace from the wife I can sleep in it in the yard with a bottle of port.. It will pay for itself. You dont need an expensive motorhome.
I am thinking of purchasing a campervan and you have spurred me on. Any more tips on what I should look for when making my choice? Single retired female and a greyhound. Thinking about one to three week stints away at a time
Connie, there are many caravan/motorhome/ clubs all over Australia. Suggest you use Google. Most clubs have state and national bodies
with websites that list the clubs and contact details. Most clubs hold regular monthly rallies from 2/3 days to maybe seven days. Personally we are a members of a caravan club and we just love it. Maybe not for everyone, but for us to be able to travel to different places for club rallies every month with the occasional roving rally for 2/3 weeks – the lifestyle in retirement is wonderful.