Ross and Rose are all smiles on a recent Australian trip.
For many grey nomads, the freedom to travel endlessly across Australia’s stunning landscape is something that is taken for granted … it is a birthright, something they always knew they could work towards.
However, not everyone whose heart lies in the Outback, who dreams of campfires and camaraderie, and who is only truly at home on dusty dirt tracks in the bush, is so lucky.
Ross Bickerdyke was born on the other side of the world but – ever since he first stepped foot in this country 40 years ago – he has felt this is where he truly belonged. Ross’s parents and sister emigrated Downunder back in 1970 while he was serving in the British forces.
In 1979, he and his first wife and young children came out to visit … and his life was never the same again.
“I instantly fell in love with the Australian people and the wide open spaces of northern Australia,” he said. “A life of boats, fishing, camping and the great outdoors in the Outback, a life it’s impossible to lead in the UK … I did not want to leave Australia.”
Ross and his wife went back home, planning to sell up and make the big move.
“We wanted to do it legally and we applied to emigrate from the UK,” said Ross. “However, we could not get the points … and finally our marriage dissolved over my frustrations.”
Ross eventually re-married and, in 1988, he returned to Australia with new wife, Rose, who fell in love with it here.
“By 1994 our kids were adults and we started coming annually for six weeks,” said Ross. “We would buy an old banger and set off camping all over Western Australia.”
The couple have since bought a succession of vehicles that they store with family while not here and, since 2004, they have been coming back for three months a year. They have been everywhere from the Gulf and Cape York to Mitchell Falls and the Nullarbor.
“Over the past 15 years we have travelled along the Oodnadatta, Tanami, Birdsville, Strzelecki and Holland tracks,” Ross said. “As we are now approaching 70, we recently upgraded to a single-axle Jayco Outback 16’ caravan which we tow with a 10-year-old Triton.”
In order to be able to afford their trips, Ross and Rose are confirmed free campers … and they love the bush.
“There is no better feeling than being in the middle of nowhere knowing if you were to walk a hundred yards you were more than likely the first person to stand on that piece of land,” said Ross. “The isolation from the outside world is wonderful … and something you just cannot get in the UK.”
We are uk residents, been to Oz 5 times so far, and planning a year of being grey nomads in 2020!!! We love it, also looked into emigrating but the timings didn’t work. Thank you to all Australians for sharing your wonderful country with us!
My wife and I are from The Netherlands and we have been travelling Australia every year for the past 19 years during our anual holiday. Last year we both retired and we bought a caravan and a ute. Since last year we spend six months of the year cruising around Australia and six months at home. My wife grew up in Adelaide and still has relatives there.
I’m a UK resident who has campervanned widely in Australia, keeping only to the sealed roads. In 2013 I travelled with a partner from Cairns, south through Brisbane, over the ‘bridge’ and west over the Blue Mountains and then followed the coast road and Nullarbor and north from Cape Leuwin up to Exmouth. Then In 2016 I travelled alone from Perth up to Darwin and down the Stuart to Adelaide and last year from Cairns via Karumba and The Gulf before picking up the Stuart and heading back to Darwin. Fantastic travelling, marvellous adventure, fantastic scenery and great people!!
Uk born and bred for 45 years…and then came out to Australia. Now live here permanently and just looking for my soul mate to become a grey nomad with me….love the freedom of the open road…..
I understand this very well. We are a couple from Finland, we have lived 10 years in Thailand and 5 years we have been some months in Australia. Now we have our own car and caravan in Melbourne area in storage and will be twice a year driving aroundAustralian outback
Were also POMS who would love to live in Australia. We have been seven times now. We took a year off work last year and bought a Van and a Colorado and did most of the big lap and absolutely loved it. Were back for 3 months in November. Cant wait to dust off the rig and get on the road again. Look out for us in our New Age Road Owl !!
Katy Drury, thank you to England for providing us with the great lifestyle that we have and enjoy. Who knows what we would be like and doing now if opened up by say, Spain, the Dutch or whoever.
Maybe at least the same, but hard to match and better what we have, unfortunately, too many of us Australians don’t appreciate what we have and are.
Good travelling Katy and all those that love to enjoy this wonderful country that we are blessed with!
All of these great and positive comments makes me realise how lucky I am to live in the best country in the world I hope it will always be that so my family can enjoy the same freedom. We cannot wait to get back on the road again and do another lap. Safe travelling to all.
We really are lucky aren’t we Max. I couldn’t imagine living in another country. Happy travelling to all of our overseas visitors.