A Wish List Shaped by Real Experience
Peter and Ishla are based in Secret Harbour, south of Perth. When they began looking for their next caravan, they were living in Karratha and were already highly experienced travellers. Their previous van had covered approximately 55,000 kilometres in just two and a half years.
That experience gave them a clear brief. They wanted more comfort, more usable living space and a power system capable of supporting the way they prefer to travel. They did not want to compromise on the layout simply because their ideal combination was not available in a single floorplan.
A visit to the Perth Caravan & Camping Show changed the direction of their search. There, they met Tilly from Retreat Caravans and talked through the features that mattered most.
Three Floorplans Become One Retreat
The king bed was a major priority. So was the club lounge. Add two air conditioners and a capable off-grid power system, and the brief became very specific.
Instead of forcing Peter and Ishla to choose between competing priorities, Tilly worked with them to combine the best ideas from three layouts into one caravan.
“Tilly made it work for us.”
That ability to shape the caravan around their needs is what turned the ERV from another option into their dream Retreat.
Built for Off-Grid Comfort in Every Season
Peter and Ishla are not fair-weather travellers. They often head north in summer and south in winter, moving against the direction many other travellers choose. Their caravan therefore needs to remain comfortable through very different conditions.
The club lounge gives them a generous place to relax, while the king bed brings the comfort they were missing.
Their off-grid power setup supports everyday conveniences, including:
- Two air conditioners
- Off-grid battery system
- Breville coffee machine
- Comfortable living all year round
They keep the rest of their routine simple. Most cooking happens outside on an induction cooker or barbecue, and they rarely stay in one location for more than a couple of days.
A Four-Week Lap with a Family Purpose
The most remarkable part of Peter and Ishla’s travel style is the pace.
Every year, they complete a four-week lap of Australia to spend time with their children and grandchildren on the other side of the country.
The route changes as their family moves, but the reason stays the same: cover the distance efficiently, stop for the places that genuinely interest them, then spend as much time as possible with the people they have travelled to see.
It is not slow travel—and that is exactly the point. Their Retreat gives them a comfortable, capable base that can keep moving when they need it to.
Meet Ebony and Indie
No Peter and Ishla story would be complete without Ebony and Indie, their two French Bulldogs.
Ebony joined Peter after he experienced a stroke and has been a constant companion through an important chapter of his life. Indie arrived later and quickly became equally central to the travelling team.
Whether they are settled under the awning or ready for another day on the road, the two dogs make the ERV feel unmistakably like home.
Their Advice for Choosing Your Next Caravan
Peter and Ishla’s advice is refreshingly practical:
- Identify the things you can’t do without.
- Set a realistic budget.
- Research every manufacturer carefully.
- Prioritise comfort, power and water storage.
- Choose a layout that suits the way you actually travel.
If off-grid travel is the goal, focus on the systems that will genuinely support it—comfort, power and water storage—then make sure the layout works for the way you live.
Build Your Dream Retreat
Peter and Ishla did not choose one floorplan and learn to live around it.
They worked with Retreat to create a caravan around their priorities.
Ready to build your own custom caravan? Explore the Retreat ERV or Build My Retreat and create a caravan designed around the way you travel.
