What starts as a four-year lap of Australia can very quickly become five… or six.
For Kevin and Michelle from Sydney, life on the road has become more than a holiday. It’s become their way of life.
For the past four years, their Retreat ERV has taken them approximately 70,000 kilometres around Australia, including around 12,000 kilometres of heavy corrugations and off-road travel.
Cape York. The Gibb River Road. The Nullarbor. Remote camps, long stretches off-grid and plenty of places in between.
As Kevin puts it:
“We don’t care where we go. The van goes with us.”
And perhaps the most impressive number of all?
They estimate they’ve spent around 1,000 days travelling without needing to plug their caravan into mains power.
From Tents to an All-Electric Retreat
Kevin and Michelle weren’t experienced caravanners when they started.
They were campers.
Over the years, the tents got bigger, the tarps got bigger and the camping setup continued to grow. Eventually, they decided that if they were going to spend years travelling Australia, they wanted something more permanent.
A visit to the Sydney caravan show helped make the decision.
With long waiting periods for new caravans at the time, one particular Retreat caught their attention.
It was available.
It had the layout they wanted.
And most importantly, it was all-electric.
No gas.
For Kevin and Michelle, it simply made sense.
A Layout Designed Around How They Travel
After four years on the road, it’s often the simple things that make the biggest difference.
For Kevin and Michelle, one of those things is being able to step into their ERV and immediately access the fridge.
Whether they’re pulling over for lunch or grabbing a drink, there’s no need to walk through the entire caravan.
Turn the other way and there’s direct access to the bathroom.
Again, simple — but incredibly practical when you’re travelling full-time.
The rear storage lockers have become another favourite feature, allowing their outdoor chairs and equipment to be quickly packed away and easily accessed when they arrive at camp.
Around 1,000 Days Without Plugging In
For travellers who love being away from caravan parks, power becomes one of the biggest considerations.
For Kevin and Michelle, it hasn’t been much of an issue.
Their ERV’s electrical setup includes a 5,000W inverter, allowing them to use appliances such as their air fryer, induction cooktop and microwave while travelling off-grid.
Kevin estimates they’ve now spent around 1,000 days without plugging into mains power.
That freedom has allowed them to stay longer in remote locations and choose their destinations based on where they want to go — rather than where the nearest powered site might be.
Water requires a little more planning.
They carry approximately 200 litres onboard, with additional water stored in their tow vehicle.
As Kevin explains, extended off-grid travel teaches you very quickly how to manage what you have.
Making Life on the Road Work as a Couple
Spending years together inside a caravan also requires teamwork.
Kevin generally takes care of the outside setup, while Michelle handles the inside.
But there’s an important crossover.
They double-check each other.
Michelle knows how to hitch and unhitch the caravan. Kevin understands what needs to happen inside before they leave.
That’s something Kevin believes is particularly important.
If something unexpected happens to the person who normally drives, the other person needs to know how to safely handle the vehicle or at least disconnect the caravan and get help.
It’s a practical lesson they’ve learned from years on the road.
And when it comes to maintaining a happy marriage while travelling?
They’ve learned that having your own interests matters too.
Kevin enjoys fishing, chatting with other travellers and helping people with their vans.
Michelle is happy to find a quiet spot and read her book.
They spend plenty of time together, but they also give each other room.
Every few months, they’ll even fly home for a couple of weeks to see their family before returning to the caravan refreshed and ready for the next leg.
Testing the ERV’s Safety Systems — The Hard Way
Kevin also believes there’s little point having safety equipment unless you know it works.
During one memorable drive through the Snowy Mountains, Michelle was towing the ERV in wet, near-sleet conditions.
As they descended a long hill and entered a bend, the caravan began moving from side to side behind the tow vehicle.
Before Michelle could manually activate the electric trailer brakes, the caravan’s Electronic Stability Control system intervened.
The system automatically applied braking to help bring the caravan back into line.
Kevin remembers hearing Michelle’s reaction as the system activated.
His conclusion?
The safety equipment definitely worked.
And, in Kevin’s words, he was “still cleaning the seat” afterwards.
The 18kg Shell Problem
Of course, not every challenge on a long-term lap is quite so dramatic.
After years of travelling, keeping the caravan within its weight limits is always front of mind.
Which created a slight problem when Michelle managed to collect approximately 18 kilograms of shells during their travels.
The solution?
Post them home to Sydney.
Michelle is now, according to Kevin, restricted to collecting feathers.
Although judging by the growing feather collection, that rule may eventually need reviewing too.
What’s Next?
Kevin and Michelle aren’t finished yet.
They’re heading north again before continuing their travels through Western Australia, where they plan to spend around two years in total.
Whether another trip along the Gibb River Road makes the itinerary remains to be seen.
And that is probably part of what makes their story so good.
There isn’t necessarily a finish line.
After 70,000 kilometres, thousands of kilometres of corrugations, around 1,000 days off-grid and four years living from their Retreat ERV, they’re still looking forward to discovering what comes next.
For Kevin and Michelle, their Retreat hasn’t just been a caravan.
It’s given them the freedom to keep going.
Watch Kevin and Michelle’s Full Retreat Owner Story
Watch Kevin and Michelle’s full Retreat Owner Story and discover what life on the road is really like after four years and 70,000 kilometres in an ERV.
