We are Richard and Catherine, early retirees with a shared passion for travel, photography and a good coffee. This is the story of us, our plans and our big Australian adventures.

We both met, literally, in the middle of nowhere way back in 1992 while traveling in separate groups through the North American mid-west with travel group Trek America. During subsequent years we have hired various Recreational Vehicles exploring many of North America’s and Canada’s spectacular National Parks. But now retired and free from the daily toil of work, it is time to explore closer to home, our own vast country, our ‘Big Lap’ of Australia.

Update 2023

Our plans for our big lap of Australia had to change 10-months in due to a family illness in the UK, which left us stranded from home when Covid-19 arrived. But 3-years later we’re back and this time we’re doing it big in Tasmania – home to some of the last untouched wilderness on this planet.

Update 2024

During our Big Lap around Australia in 2019/20 we only headed north as far as Rockhampton on Queensland’s coast before turning west and inland towards Western Australia.

It was time to make amends and head north along the coast and beyond Rockhampton. And what an eventful trip it was catching up with friends to explore Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays from the ground, from the air and by sea. Continuing north we visited Mackay, Townsville and Cairns before reaching our most northerly point at Port Douglas.

Eventually, though, it was time to turn south passing through the sugarcane fields of Far North Queensland and the brilliant white plumes of steam from the sugar processing mills. Passing between rainforest covered mountains, skirting pristine sandy beaches and giant granite boulders, our route home took us along some of the worst condition roads we’ve experienced in Australia but amidst some of the most dramatic scenery too.

Some places we had visited previously but it was mostly new territory – a few to cross off our yet to visit list and more fridge magnets to adorn the caravan fridge door – both a talking point and a reminder of where we have been and space left for places we have yet to visit.

In the meantime Japan beckons while we plan our next Australian adventure.