Dozza: Listen, for the most part, it’s been very positive. I travel on my own so I think that makes me seem a bit more approachable and I’ve had some amazing nights spent chatting to older travellers. I find it really interesting hearing their stories and am really inspired by the way many are still getting out into remote country despite health challenges. And people are also really interested in my story and they pretty much universally say ‘good for you’.

Grey Nomads: So, no negativity then?

Dozza: Listen, I’d be lying if I didn’t sometimes sense some grey nomads looking out anxiously as they see my little van ‘Seb’ pull up near them in some free camp or other, or I get my yoga mat out. And I get that. It’s important to get a sense of who you’re camping near to.

Grey Nomads: So, talk of a Grey Nomad V younger traveller divide is nonsense then?

Dozza: I wouldn’t quite go that far. I think to some extent there is a rig divide. Without putting a label on younger travellers, I’d say that the majority travel in vans that don’t have full ensuite facilities whereas most, but not all, grey nomads do. I’ve had random nomads approach me and say ‘I hope you’re not going to spit toothpaste in the bush’ and things like that. That sort of thing annoys me a bit, especially as I am incredibly passionate about the environment.

Grey Nomads: But have you seen badly behaved younger travellers?

Dozza: Of course. And I’ve even spent the evening with some. Yes, things can get noisy and things can get late and people can get carried away. But I think these really are exceptions. The same as the grey nomad who runs his or her generator all night or runs their 4WD engine for half an hour at 5am is the exception.

Grey Nomads: And we must ask … do you really try to open and close those ‘whizzbang doors’ as loud as you can?

Dozza: OMG. I knew that ‘would come up! I get it. It’s an infuriating sound, isn’t it? Trust me, I’ve tried WD40, opening and closing slowly … but I’m afraid it is what it is. I just try to limit the number of times I do it, particularly into the evening.

Grey Nomads: So, there are lot of misconceptions around?

Dozza: 100%. No-one – young or old – should judge a book by its cover. The fact that we are all out there proves that we have so much in common despite the different ways we dress, the different vehicles we drive, and the different music we like. Let’s talk more.

• Have you been guilty of unfairly stereotyping young ‘whizzbang’ travellers? Comment below.

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