Fulltime Vanlife in Australia's Blue Mountains
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มิ.ย. 2024
- I've quit my job, moved out of my house and started living full time in my self converted Ford Transit campervan.
Here's an insight into what it's like being a fulltime vanlifer during winter in the New South Wales Blue Mountains.
I was in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, Australia, during a few days of heavy rain with the aim of taking video and photos of waterfalls in flood.
Stayed in Wentworth Falls, visited the falls (called Wentworth Falls) then drove to Katoomba for my first visit to Minnehaha Falls. Then tried to find a new place to park for the night but was interrupted by a group of people and had to move on to another location before settling down.
Look out for some of my van life tips throughout this video:
If you're interested in the challenges of running a microwave oven off battery power in a camper van, then feel free to skip to the appropriate chapter where I discuss my issues.
Come along as I fill up my water tanks. See how I do it and where I find free water while on the road...see the chapter list below.
0:00 Good morning....or something
1:21 Morning fog in the valley
2:57 Breakfast time
4:08 Door lock button in rear
4:23 Shower time
4:57 Return to the Lookout
5:21 Rubbish and drinking water stop
6:00 Visit to Wentworth Falls
7:39 Lunch at Minnehaha Falls Reserve
8:10 Cooking on the induction cooker
9:20 Microwave oven problems
11:56 Walk to Minnehaha Falls
13:13 Minnehaha Falls from the top
14:41 Base of Minnehaha Falls
15:56 Climbing down to the creek
18:03 Filling up the water tanks
21:01 Searching for a camp site
23:51 Need to move on
25:39 Settling in for the night
vanlife vlog
Nice to listen to an Aussie in an area I’m familiar with. 😀
Thanks. Appreciate you watching 😊
Blue mountains is one of the most beautiful places in Australia, used to live in Penrith and was up there every other weekend. Thanks for the video, livin' the dream I would say. Thanks mate.
My pleasure. Blue Mountains are certainly hard to beat!
Thanks for watching 😊
Thank you - great to see Auusie van life content 😊
Glad you like it! Got plenty more to come 😊
I just stumbled onto your channel today. It’s always wonderful to see how different people have arranged their vans/tiny homes.
Jeans are never the best clothing choice for a bushwalk.
I love the Blue Mountains almost as much as the Adelaide Hills.
Thanks for coming along 😊
I need to get over to Adelaide at some point. Never spent any time there.
Love the Blue Mountains! Gorgeous! Nice set up too!
I love it up there too but getting a little cold now!😁
The Blue Mountains are beautiful. I was there and in January. Thanks for the tips!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
I'm a Foresty Forest subscriber/viewer and this popped up on my feed...I think I may have found the Aussie version!
Nice! Great to have you following along 😊
hell ye mate love too see it, the dream!
Thanks mate. I love it! 😁
I live in Sydney and agree it’s been so wet lately, but the sun seems to be back for a little while. Nice video.
Thanks for watching! I think I'll head to the coast next while the sun's out.
This is the first video I've watched of yours and it seems you've got a dialled-in van setup. My friends and I used to regularly MTB Narrow Neck (& surrounding areas) For Narrow Neck we usually start from Katoomba Station and ride it till the end. And when you reach the end of the firetrail/track, you either turn back to where you came from, or climb down Tarros ladder with your bike in tow, to continue on to Medlow Gap and beyond. If you do this, I'd recommend bringing ropes. And as you've found out, Narrow Neck is also a very popular night hike trail. Enjoyed your adventure. Thanks for sharing.
That's some good info, thanks! It ended up raining quite a lot after that day so I didn't get to ride down there. Need to head back and do some more exploring.
Somehow was recommended this despite not searching about van life in aged. Nice video and curious how would go for summertime with the van. Can’t stand the heat but love that you wake up to the beauty of the blue mountains. Good vid!
Thanks for watching.
Yes, it can be hot. I try to stay by the sea when it's really hot but even there, it was over 40 degrees last summer. I actually like hot weather, but over 35 is really a bit too hot! At least it cools down overnight and the roof vents do a great job.
Algorithms have shifted and you came on my feed. What a treat to see the beautiful blue mountains. Thank you for sharing.
New subscriber from Qld. Look forward to watching more.
Thank you! Great to have you following along. 😊
Great video thanks for sharing your journey with us 🙌
Always my pleasure 😊
Well that was very special. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Love what you are doing from u.k ,
Thanks for coming along! ☺️
First video of this channel I’ve seen. Love the Blue Mountains. Some great camping to be had in Megalong valley (or there was in 2018) but apologies if you’ve done that already.
Thanks for watching! I did actually go down to the Old Ford Campground last week, but didn't record everyday. Megalong has only just reopened after the landslides, so I was the only one there 😁
Great video Jason really appreciate it. First one of yours I’ve watched and I’m very impressed. I’m saving to buy a van to travel and work.
Hope you can get on the road soon. Sometimes it's not easy, but definitely worth it!😁
Beautiful video Jason,thank you, always wanted to go to the blue mountains. Love your van set up & electric too ! Elaine , Queensland.
Thanks Elaine! I hope to get up to your part of the world one day too. 😁
Great video, this channel will get big for sure
Thanks for watching! Appreciate the support.
Great stuff! 👍❤🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘
Thanks for the visit
Hi Jason just watched this random video and really enjoyed it.. look forward to watching the rest.
That's great! Really appreciate the feedback ☺️
Living the dream. Good on ya 👍
Thanks mate! 😊
Enjoying your videos. Love your great attitude and laughing voice. I'm wondering if a different mic might give better sound. The volume varies quite a bit and you often sound like you are in a barrel (tinny) There are also a lot of background noises.
Thanks for watching, Monica.
I am playing with the audio quality to try and get it a bit better. Unfortunately I can't afford those Rode mic's that you see people using, but hopefully with a bit more effort during editing I can get it a bit better. See what you think of the Central Coast videos. Should be a lot better.
Another fantastic video with stunning scenery 😍😊
Thank you very much!
Yeah, so many beautiful places to visit. 😁
Subbed! Keep the videos coming, mate 💪🏽😎
Thanks! Really appreciate the support. ☺️
Hi Mate, I have a 750w microwave which I purchased from K Mart. Works well even when I have my induction hab on as well. Through a 2000w Renogy inverter. Haven't read all the comments so if this is old info, sorry for taking up your time. Also I've free camped at a lake near Lithgow, Lake Wallace I think.
Cheers Peter
Thanks Peter. Yes, getting a lower power microwave is definitely an option. Thanks for sharing your experience....the worst part is not knowing when you buy one.
I actually stayed at Lake Wallace for a few days after I filmed the Lost City video. Very nice spot!
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces get the Renogy inverter, they handle a microwave no problem
@ChucklesMcGurk I'd be interested to know what inverter model and microwave you're running. It is certainly getting annoying with mine! 😂
When last looking for a new microwave, I noticed that there are lower rated microwaves on sale. Now I know why. They are for people such as you. 🙂 Might as well buy leather boots and some shoe polish too. 🙂
Exactly...on both comments 😂
Waterproof boots and pants would be good!
A lot of Vans Camp Overnight at the Gully In Katoomba If your ever stuck you could try there , Council Don"t seem too Mind Always a Few Vans there Just across The Road from Me, Has been wet the Last Week hey
Thanks for the tip, will be worth checking out next time I'm up there.
Certainly wet 😂
So good to see an Aussie doing this. I love the Blue Mountains. Love the walks. Have you done Valley of the Waters? Pretty awesome.
Thank you! Yes, i have a short video on the valley of the Waters, might even be two videos in there as I went there a second time after some heavy rain. Beautiful place!
Not an easy walk, well done
Well worth it though! 😁
Love your set up, looks great. I too have been thinking of doing up a van.
Like to get you opinion, I've been thinking of getting the Mitsubishi Delica 4WD with teh aim to travel around Aust, thinking a 4WD would get to go to more places like beach front etc.
In your current rig because its a 2WD, have you ever feel you wish you had a 4WD ever now and then?
I used to have a 1998 Delica. The old 2.8 turbo diesel is very thirsty ...14.5L/100km compared to my big van that is around 10L/100km.
There is certainly enough to see with only a 2WD vehicle, but yes, I would like 4WD. Reality though is that you're not going to go on any more than wide fire trails in a van. 4WD will give more confidence and there has been one time I had to turn back due to loss if traction in my van. But that's why I also have a Mountain bike and am not afraid to walk....
I don't know....I think if you want to see a lot of the outback, it becomes more important to have 4WD, but still not essential.
Try a $49.00 small microwave from kmart. We have one in our Everest, works a treat!
Yeah, not a bad idea. At that price it's pretty low risk. 😁
Use to live in Winmalee in the mountains, now south west Tasmania, miss the blue mountains but it just got too overpopulated and pricey and was starting to lose its charm
Tas is so beautiful though. Far more things to see down there, but just a little cold 😁
my god the roof vent is noisy 😂
😂 yeah they make a lot of noise over the video! Opening and closing is very noisy, but once running on low speed, they're pretty good. I can sleep with them going overnight.
1:42 quite often these fire trails a re not really well built and rain washes them out with very little use
Very true!
I used to live in a van and on a bike in oz but i been in asia last 20 yrs. I toy with the idea of returning to oz and living in a bicycle camper rotating between nearby free camping spots. If its a 48 hr spot and u use it 5 days does anyone notice? If you leave every day does the 24 hours start again like leave every day stay every night. Im thinking about just having a route ie. Gympie to maryborough as theyre both major towns where i have supermarkets etc and just rotate between 4 free camp spots all within 100km of each other. What do you think? Would someone poke their nose in? Im not interested in travelling just avoiding rent and work. Do you think someone can get around it by living on a route. Do you think id get just as hassled living in a tiny bicycle coffin trailer.
I want to go live in Asia in the future...if I get sick being in the van.
It's hard for me to say if they enforce the 48hr rule as I rarely stay anywhere that long. There are some campsites I've seen that say you can only stay for a set number of days per month. Having said that, I've seen a lot of people living permanently in cars at some places and as long as they keep contained within their car, there is typically no issue.
Which comes to your other question....doing it in a bike may be an issue as you are then not in a registered vehicle. Being in a registered vehicle and obeying parking restrictions seems to be the get out clause for free camping. Having a bike trailer will be harder but you would probably get away with it....not sure.
Just come across your channel, I’m about to do exactly what you are doing…. Thinking about getting a transit van aswell, so I would be interested in your comments on the van & how it’s performing."
Thanks
Nigel
Hi Nigel. This is my second Transit and both have been great, though I bought both new. They're good value when you compare to other vans in terms of the features you get for the price. The blue one has the 10 speed auto trans which is fantastic. Goes really well. More than enough power and fuel consumption is still typically under 10 l/100km.
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces
Thanks, the transit i'm looking at is 2016 with very low K's... so Im hoping part's etc will be ok to source once I'm on the road.
regards
Nigel
Shouldn't be too bad for parts and the 2.2L is common with Ranger, so there might be some compatibility with parts at wreckers. My last one was a 2018 model, so essentially the same.
Do you do a fair bit of travelling through NSW, i live in an oasis dead centre of NSW
I do plan to get inland at some point, just not in winter. Just got so much to see! 😁
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces😅 , spring time is the best for inland travel
Sounds good! Might be a good plan for spring this year 😊
what about the rice you buy in a packet and it takes 90 seconds to warm it up in microwave?
Definitely easy, but very expensive. About $1.70 or so per serve whereas I buy a 1kg bag for $1.80. I save money everywhere I can. 😊
Isn't there a power setting on the microwave? It just means you need to run it longer, but at least you'll be able to run it without tripping your inverter.
Unfortunately when you reduce the power on a microwave, they just switch on to full power for a short time, then switch to zero power. Actually makes it worse as it is starting up multiple time.
I have actually bought an inverter microwave now, which I talk about in a later video. Works perfectly!😊
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces Ah yes that makes sense. Inverter microwaves actually do variable power output, just like inverter air conditioners.
Yeah, that's right. I figured buying the new inverter microwave was minimal risk as I could then run it at a lower power if needed, but it goes great on full power. Don't even need to turn off the fridge anymore 😂
Full van tour when?
I have a series of videos covering the build on my channel. I'm kind of waiting until I finish off a few things before I do a full tour, but that could take forever, so maybe I'll just do a tour anyway 😂
What made yu quit your job, leave your home and travel on the road?
Just something I've always wanted to do. I just love travelling and I love enjoying myself. I felt I was wasting my life working 😂
How many inverters do you have?
Just one...Giandel 2000W unit. I have considered getting a second one and having a dedicated fridge inverter. Won't solve the microwave start up surge issue though 🙄
Out of curiosity, what was your profession?
I was a Mechanical Engineer....which probably explains my personality 😂
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces We thought you seemed pretty cluey. Love your videos as we also live in the mountains and so recognise a lot of the place you visit. Travel safe.
Thank you very much, Jane 😊