In June this year, we finally did it — we bought our couple’s van.
We’d dreamed about it for years, waiting for “the right time.” But there’s never a perfect moment to start living your dreams, so we just did it.
Our Home on Wheels
This wasn’t our first caravan. Back in the mid-2000s, we owned one and took a half-loop around Australia with our four kids. That trip planted a seed. We knew one day we’d be back on the road — just the two of us.
When our September holiday rolled around, we swapped hotels for highways. It became our first real Victorian van life adventure — a proper shakedown trip. We’d done a short test run close to home, but this was the real deal: more than two weeks exploring coastlines, country towns, and old gold-rush history.
Over sixteen days, we covered 3,855 kilometres in total.
Our Island Star Concorde caravan, towed by our 2024 Mazda BT-50, stretched about 25 feet (7.6 metres) from bullbar to bumper. The ute averaged 12.1 litres per 100 kilometres, rising to 13.4 litres when towing. Not bad for our first long haul.
This journey ticked off a few long-held dreams — driving the Great Ocean Road and free camping beside the Murray River. We also revisited some old favourites, this time sharing them with our grandson, Alistair.
So grab a cuppa and settle in. Here’s the story of our 16-day Victorian road trip — where we stayed, what we discovered, and what we learned along the way.
Day 1 — Home to Wagga Wagga: The First Miles of Our Victorian Van Life Road Trip
Date: Friday, 19 September 2025
Route: Home → Cowra → Wagga Wagga
Distance: Approx. 410 km | Drive Time: ~5 hours
Leaving Home in the Dark
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hitting the road before sunrise. We left home in the dark, headlights cutting through the early-morning fog, hearts full of excitement. The first day of our Victorian van life road trip had finally begun.
Our first stop was Blayney, where we found a tiny supermarket open early. With no cafés nearby, we grabbed a ham-and-cheese croissant and a couple of muffins — not glamorous, but exactly what we needed. There’s something about that first roadside breakfast that makes it feel real: you’ve officially left home behind.
Cowra POW Camp and Japanese Gardens
Look out across the POW site
From there, we continued toward Cowra, ready for our first proper sightseeing stop. The Cowra POW Camp is one of those places that quietly makes you pause. It’s best known for the Japanese breakout of 1944, when more than a thousand prisoners attempted to escape — one of the most significant prison breaks in history. Today, the site is peaceful, with open paddocks, interpretive boards, and walking trails that tell the story of courage, reconciliation, and the human cost of war.
Cowra Water towers
Just across the way, I wandered up toward the Cowra Water Towers, now beautifully painted with mural art. I didn’t make it all the way up — the midday heat was creeping in — but even halfway, the view was worth the climb.
Loving the Japanese Gardens
Next came a complete surprise: the Cowra Japanese Garden. It’s one of the most stunning gardens we’ve seen in regional Australia — manicured, peaceful, and unexpectedly large. We spent nearly two hours exploring the bridges, waterfalls, and koi ponds, and even enjoyed lunch there before moving on.
A Sweet Finish in Junee and First Overnight Stop
From Cowra, we continued south to Junee, stopping at the Licorice and Chocolate Factory. It’s changed a lot since we last visited twenty years ago — now more chocolate than licorice — but it still carries that same handmade charm (and the smell alone is reason enough to stop).
Junee Licorice Factory
By the time we reached Wagga Wagga, the sun was fading and the excitement of the first day had settled into tired smiles. Pulling into Wagga felt like returning to an old home — because it was, nearly twenty years ago. We set up at the Wagga Showground, our first-ever showground stay. The host was friendly, the facilities spotless, and the site easy to park on.
Just before bed, we discovered a small leak in one of the front windows — thankfully, nothing major. With a quick stop at Bunnings the next morning, Phil had it sorted. (There’s no shortage of practical stores in Wagga — BCF, Anaconda, Kings, and Bunnings make it a van-lifer’s dream.)
After nearly 400 kilometres on the road, we fell asleep grateful, a little sore, and still smiling — day one done.
Camp at Wagga Wagga Show Ground
️ ️ Day 2 — Wagga Wagga to Benalla via Glenrowan
Date: Saturday, 20 September 2025
Route: Wagga Wagga → Glenrowan → Benalla
Distance: Approx. 360 km | Drive Time: ~4.5 hours
Wagga Wagga: A Familiar Start
Wagga Beach
After a lovely breakfast, we caught up with friends at Uneke Lounge Coffee Shop in Wagga, and we enjoyed one last walk along the river before hitching up and heading out late morning. The leak we’d found the night before was fixed — thank you, Bunnings — and with the sun breaking through, we were back on the road for day two of our Victorian van life road trip.
Leaving Wagga brought back a swirl of memories. Driving past the old church where we once ministered felt strange — familiar but disconnected, like visiting a chapter of life that no longer belongs to you. But the town has changed — in all the best ways. Down along the Murrumbidgee River, the area known locally as the beach has had a quiet transformation. There are new picnic areas, bigger playgrounds, and a whole riverside precinct that feels alive again. It’s the kind of spot where you could easily lose a few hours just relaxing under the trees.
Glenrowan: The Legend of Ned Kelly
In Glenrowan
The drive south to Glenrowan was smooth and scenic. It’s one of those small towns that wears its history proudly — this is Ned Kelly country, after all. For those unfamiliar, Ned Kelly was Australia’s most infamous bushranger — an outlaw who became a folk hero to some for his rebellion against authority in the late 1800s. Glenrowan is where his final stand took place in 1880, and where he was ultimately captured.
We spent a couple of hours exploring the Ned Kelly Discovery Walk, wandering between interpretive signs and historic sites. The Visitor Information Centre, shaped like Ned Kelly’s iconic helmet, honestly did my head in for a while — clever design, but unsettling when you keep catching glimpses of it from different angles!
By mid-afternoon, the air had cooled, perfect for walking, and hunger eventually won. The Glenrowan Hotel had technically closed its kitchen, but the lovely cook took pity on us and made a Kelly Burger — an open burger eaten with a knife and fork. Simple, hearty, perfect.
The Ned Kelly Helmet
Benalla: First Free Camp Feels
From there, it was a short drive to Benalla, where we set up at JC Island, our first free camp of the trip. A quick word of advice: don’t follow Google Maps — it’ll lead you to the wrong side of the park, not the lake. Use Camps Australia or WikiCamps instead, especially if you’re towing a long rig like ours (about 7.6 metres, or roughly 25 feet combined). Trying to reverse out of a narrow street with that much van behind you is not something I recommend.
Benalla at sunset
As we were manoeuvring our way back out, one of the locals strolled past on his way into town, smiled at Phil, and said, “Mate, you’re not the first caravan that’s been stuck there.” It was precisely the kind of encouragement we needed in that moment — the sort of kindness that makes small-town travel feel so genuine.
We didn’t even unhitch — just put the legs down, watched families wandering the lake path, and took in the peaceful surroundings. I walked into town (only about five minutes), planning to grab a few groceries, but ended up with pizza instead. It was a quiet, simple night — the kind you remember for its calm. After two long driving days, we finally felt like we were finding our rhythm again.
Day 3 — From the Country to the Coast
Date: Sunday, 21 September 2025
Route: Benalla → Epping → Phillip Island
Distance: Approx. 400 km | Drive Time: ~5½–6 hours
We left our peaceful free camp at Lake Benalla just after breakfast, enjoying the calm before what turned into a long but rewarding travel day. Getting the van out of the park was surprisingly smooth considering it was our first real “pack-up and go” morning, and we were back on the road by mid-morning.
The drive was steady until we reached Epping, on the northern fringe of Melbourne. We pulled into a BP Wild Bean Café service centre — the only place big enough to comfortably park the van — to meet our grandson Alistair and have lunch with our child. Saying hello (and later goodbye) was emotional, but it was a lovely handover moment. We spent about twenty minutes there, sharing food, laughs, and hugs before buckling Alistair in for the next leg.
From there, we pressed on toward Phillip Island, deliberately avoiding the city to spare ourselves the stress of Melbourne traffic. Even so, suburban streets around Epping and the outer ring roads were narrow and busy — not ideal when you’re towing a 21-foot van. Phil handled it beautifully, though both of us were ready for quiet by the time the landscape began to open up again.
Getting to Philp Island
Camp life with our little man
We reached Phillip Island late afternoon, around 5:30 p.m., after navigating the last stretch in drizzle and peak-hour local traffic. Setting up in the rain at Crystal Brook Caravan Park wasn’t our favourite moment, but the staff were welcoming and we managed to get everything sorted before dark. Our powered site (#57) was a drive-through, right across from the games room and a short walk to the beach — an excellent location for the days ahead.
By the time we’d unpacked and settled Alistair into the van, everyone was worn out. The heater still wasn’t cooperating and needed another round of Phil’s troubleshooting, but at least the water leak was finally fixed, and we could start to feel the rhythm of van life again.
It had been a long, stressful day on the road, but it also marked the start of a new phase of the trip — our family time on the coast.
Coming Soon: Victorian Van Life Road Trip Part 2
the beach near our van
Three days in, and we’d already clocked more than a thousand kilometres — from mountain mornings to coastal sunsets. The van was finally feeling like home, the road nerves were settling, and the adventure ahead was calling. Next up: Phillip Island, where our Victorian road trip shifted gears from travel days to family time, penguins, sea breezes, and plenty of laughter.
This marks Part 1 of our Victorian Road Trip Series — Mountains to the Coast. In Part 2, we’ll share our days on Phillip Island, our six-year-old grandson’s joy at the Penguin Parade, and what van life with a little extra travel companion really looks like.
