Year 2, Weeks 22–25 – Brisbane Storms, Bribie Island & Sunshine Coast Adventures
The next few weeks in Brisbane flew by, mostly filled with work and some absolutely wild storms! Wow, this side of the country certainly knows how to put on a show. Lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds — a reminder that the tropics aren’t messing around.
Year 2, Weeks 20 & 21 – City Life, Birthdays & a Big Weekend Out
Well, we’ve been in Brisbane for just over two weeks now, and city life is certainly different! Our first week passed by in a blur of work and settling into our new spot.
Year 2, Week 19 – From the Tropics to the City
Saturday morning we left Townsville after having a very enjoyable three weeks there. With just one week to get down to Brisbane for our next work stint, we had quite a few kilometres to cover — starting the trek back down south.
Year 2, Weeks 17 & 18 – Island Escapes and Rockin’ Nights
The next few weeks were a busy time of work for Ryan. With the humidity slowly creeping up, it certainly made him work extra hard! Rachael worked from the van but managed to go for a walk up through the Jezzine Barracks and along The Strand most days.
A Week of Big Things, Bigger Views & Laid-Back Vibes in Townsville
We left Airlie on the Sunday and made our way to our next work stint in Townsville. Slowly working our way up the coast, stopping at all the Big Things we could find including the BIG Mango in Bowen, The Big Cane Cutters and Big Sardine Tin in Home Hill, and the BIG Python in Ayr. A day full of big things! Much to our niece Shaye’s enjoyment — she got big things photo spam all day!
Year 2, Weeks 15 & 16 – From Mackay to Airlie: Sea Breezes, Slow Days & Sunset Sails
Our final week in Mackay for work was quite uneventful. The caravan park cleared out quickly after the weekend, and we regularly found ourselves camped all by ourselves with no neighbours.
Year 2, Week 14 – More Time in Mackay
This week in Mackay went by quickly, with work being the main focus. The days slipped by in the usual rhythm, and before we knew it, the weekend had arrived.
Year 2, Week 13 – Mackay and Mates
We’ve settled into Mackay for our first week of work here. First impressions? Honestly, it’s not that bad! Before we arrived, so many people had less-than-glowing things to say about Mackay, but we stand firm in our belief: never judge a place until you’ve seen it for yourself. Everyone’s experiences are different, and it’s always better to make your own informed decision.
Year 2, Weeks 11 & 12 – From Moranbah to Finch Hatton Gorge
This blog post covers two weeks, as Week 11 was pretty uneventful! We rolled into Moranbah and started work for the next couple of weeks. Ryan ended up finishing his work quicker than anticipated, so we managed to leave early — which meant more time to go exploring before our next stint in Mackay.
Year 2, Week 10 – Gorge Walks, Free Camps & New Horizons
Monday morning, we hit the road in the direction of Carnarvon Gorge — about 470km from Gladstone. The plan was to find a roadside stop roughly halfway for the night, but that turned out to be easier said than done! Most of the gravel pit roadside stops were really overgrown and sitting right on the edge of the road. We’re not usually picky with our camps, but none of these felt right.
Year 2, Week 9 – Mud Crabs, Yachts & Goodbye Gladstone
Ok, I know you’ve all been waiting with bated breath… well, the suspense is over — we got mud crabs! 🦀 Woohoo! So many, in fact, that we actually hit double the bag limit and had to throw half back. Safe to say, we were pretty chuffed with ourselves.
Year 2, Week 8 - Seafood Galore & Sunset Beers
Still working in Gladstone this week, so the weekdays were pretty stock-standard. But when the weekend rolled around, things got a little more exciting!
Year 2, Week 7 – Rain, Repairs & a Stroll Through the Gardens
Week 7 rolled in and brought with it… more work. Nothing too exciting to report there. The Cruiser decided to keep things interesting though, flashing up an error to do with the DPF. Luckily, the car was already booked in for a service the following week, and after a call to Toyota, we were told it was still safe to drive — just not long distances. That instantly put a pause on any big weekend adventures.
Year 2, Week 6 - Back to Work and Slowing Down in Gladstone
This week marked our first week back at work, and the change of pace was definitely felt. Ryan settled into his new store while Rachael worked remotely from the van — although there wasn’t much on her plate this week, which meant time to sort out the wardrobe (still way too many clothes... some things never change!) and do a much-needed tidy-up of the van.
Year 2, Week 5 - Caravan Australia: A Mermaid Moment, a Birthday Bash & a New Base in Gladstone
This week began with salt in the air, sand in our toes, and a long-awaited rockpool dream finally coming true.
Year 2, Week 4 – Rum Tours, Repairs & R&R by the Sea
We kicked off Week 4 of Year 2 in the beautiful little coastal town of Woodgate — and wow, what a place. It’s small, peaceful, and still holds onto that classic coastal charm that so many places have lost. We instantly wished we could stay longer, but with our melted power point situation still unresolved, we figured we’d better move on and get it sorted!
Year 2, Week 3 – The Countdown Ends, Curried Sausages & Campfire Stories
Our final week of work (for now!) flew by in a blur of planning, packing and sorting, all while trying to enjoy our last few days in Dicky Beach. While work filled the weekdays, we still made time for a highlight: $25 steak night at Moffat Beach Brewery — an absolute win. You get a delicious steak and a beer for that price? Can’t say no to that.
Year 2, Week 2 - The Slow Lane Before We Hit the Road Again
Let’s be honest — not every week is going to be full of excitement, and this one definitely fell into the "just getting through it" category. We’ve been sitting still on the Sunshine Coast for a little while now, working, recharging the budget, and giving ourselves a bit of a reset before we head off again.
Year 2, Week 1 - Rodeo Time
Well, we’ve officially kicked off Year 2 of our big lap — and while it hasn’t been all go-go-go, it’s been a good reminder that not every week has to be wild and adventurous to be worth writing about.
Welcome to RnR Zone - Year Two Begins!
Hey there, and welcome to RnR Zone!
We’re Ryan and Rachael — a couple of Aussies travelling full-time around Australia in our Zone RV. What started as a dream to live more simply and soak up life’s adventures has now become our day-to-day reality — and we’re loving (almost) every minute of it!