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Exploring Australia in Her Volkswagen High Top Transporter


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Maddi’s former job had her traveling all over the world, but she hadn’t seen much of her home country of Australia. It was time to change that, so Maddi turned to van life.

She’s been on the road enjoying all kinds of adventure activities — from spearing fish to scuba diving — ever since. Her Volkswagen high-top transporter is her home on wheels. Read her story in her own words below!

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Maddi’s Amazing Adventure Sport Van Life

Van life began after my eagerness to get on the road and explore my home. I have travelled the world with my previous career and realised I had seen more of overseas than my own backyard.

Knowing the best way to see the hidden gems of Australia was via roadtrip – I began my van conversion on my Volkswagen high top transporter, now known as Tilly.

I purchased Tilly as an ex Linfox Tabacco transport vehicle and converted her into my home on wheels.

Initially I was going to do everything myself, then slowly realised I had no idea what I was doing so I got some help on the electrical and cabinetry.

Tiny living has allowed me to see so much of my beautiful country and explore some really secluded parts of each state. It’s also converted me to a minimalist (which my mother is so proud of) and I have a lot less sh*t in my living space than I originally thought I needed.

One hard thing about tiny living is when I’m on the road, I’m solo. Whilst I’m super independent, it does get lonely! I think social media is great in the sense that it’s connected me to so many like minded people and I feel I have a great Van community to reach out to when times are tough.

Also whilst the lack of space allows for minimalist living, the storage is always an issue when I have so many hobbies! There’s only so many surfboards, snowboards, dive buckets, hiking gear and fishing gear that I can take.

But the best part is the freedom. The freedom to explore very much ANY PART of the country you want. I work on the road too so I certainly have the flexibility to see places at their prime time with weather and season. I’d say I’m lucky but I’ve also worked my ass off to get the freedom I have today.

If you want to go tiny, you’ll have to make sacrifices, but the rewards definitely outweigh the bad. I wish I did van life sooner and I’m so excited for all the places I’ll be visiting in 2023.

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.
{ 4 comments… add one }
  • W
    January 28, 2023, 5:49 pm

    Why no pictures of the interior?

    • Marsha Cowan
      January 28, 2023, 8:06 pm

      That’s what I was wondering :/

  • vee
    January 28, 2023, 6:18 pm

    Yes! Where are the pictures???

  • Liz
    January 28, 2023, 8:19 pm

    Yeah! Sure did take plenty of pictures of yourself though.

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