It’s the time of year when most grey nomads are checking the temperature and heading north … but Queenslanders Jon and Leanne Chapman aren’t most grey nomads. The couple from Gympie are currently half way through their long-anticipated four-month trip to Victoria, and it’s working for them.
Back in 2022/23, they did an 18-month Big Lap but, due to family issues, had to miss the Garden state and they’ve been vowing to go back ever since.
When they finally decided it was time to spend four months exploring Victoria, they had to choose their departure date carefully.
“We thought summer is too hot and the risk of bushfires is high but winter is too cold, so we ended up deciding to leave on March 1,” said Jon. “I doubt there is ever a perfect time to do a trip over an extended period, so you just learn to roll with the punches.”
Jon and Leanne are loving life on the road
Jon and Leanne love the heritage of the country Victoria towns, and say the amount of street art they have seen blows them away. But it’s not all been sunshine and roses.
“We knew we would have to confront the cold at some stage and, at Mildura, where it never rains, it rained for three days,” said Jon. “At Portland we also had a couple very chilly days, and at Port Fairy it rained all day.”
Ready to roll! The Chapmans love country Victoria.
The couple say they find that, if there is no wind, the days are beautiful but the wind makes life painful and they had to endure a -7 wind chill factor in Ballarat. The plan is to be back home sometime in June to ‘endure’ the Queensland winter.
And Jon and Leanne are already making plans to do a Birdsville trip, and to visit parts of NSW they have yet to get to, including the South Coast. Having previously taken a caravanning trip with Jon’s parents, the couple says travelling on their own is probably a better way to go.
“We have had fellow nomads travel with us for a week or so without concern, but it would be rare to find couples that have the exact same plans,” said Jon. “I’ve always wondered if it would be a good way to bugger up a relationship.”
The Chapmans have always wanted to explore Australia, but are also keen to enjoy cruises and overseas trips while their health holds out.
“The nomad lifestyle has its pluses and minuses but life on the road is good most of the time,” said Jon. “Parking the caravan is still a challenge at times … but my doctor loves the amount of exercise I get when we are on the road.”
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