My Wicked Campervan at Maroochydore
I survived! LOL
I had been freaking out the last couple of days about this road trip because it’s the first time I’ve ever done a road trip on my own, and the first road trip where I would be the driver. Add that to all the other factors I mentioned in my previous blog post = uber-nervous me.
Oh man, you should’ve heard me cursing during the first hour because I kept turning on the windshield wipers instead of the signals (EVERYTHING is backwards in Australia). I got the hang of it by the time I hit the highway though and once I did…
I LOVED IT!!! I felt so FREE cruising along in my Wicked Campervan. 
It’s surprisingly a lot easier to drive a large van than a small hatchback because you’re sitting higher up and you get a better view of everything that’s going on around you. I think it’s probably safer to drive a large van than a small rental car if you’re going on a road trip.
Jackpot!
I drove non-stop from Brisbane as far as I could before it got dark (which ended up being Maroochydore — not very far).
I know Wicked Campers’ website says you can park just about anywhere and sleep in your van, but in Canada that’s illegal. I had a difficult time wrapping my head around the idea so I stopped at Cotton Tree Caravan Park to ask the woman at the reception desk. She said she had seen lots of Wicked Campers stopped along the sides of the roads and as far as she knew, nobody ever got a fine.
So, I drove down to a parking lot near a public washroom and got ready for bed. When I walked into the washroom and found that they had showers, I thought I really scored big time. I felt like such a hobo! Haha
I did keep expecting someone to start knocking on the window telling me I couldn’t stay there, but it didn’t happen. The mattresses that come with the van are really comfy so apart from getting a bit chilly at night (I left the side windows open for air), I had a pretty good sleep.
Tips for Road Tripping Travellers
- If you need to stop for the night and you’re travelling near a coastline, try to find a parking lot near either a look-out point, surf club, or beach entrance. They usually have free showers and washrooms that you can use.
- Buy one of those small hand-crank flashlights (<$10) before you leave. They come in handy when you’re fumbling around the back of your van trying to get it ready for bed.
Next Stop
The plan right now is to go as far North as I can, as quickly as I can, and then make my way down Queensland at my own pace.
Many thanks to Wicked Campers for sponsoring me on my month-long road-trip with a Wicked Van!
Hi Anny,
Glad your enjoying your trip so far and enjoying your time in the wicked camper. i was also surprised the first time i drove a van at how easy they were to handle. good luck on the rest of your trip.
cassie
wicked evangelist
Thanks Cassie!
oh and there is a reading van in the back of the van for when you are making your bed, just dont forget to turn it off, you dont want to drain your battery.
Ahh yes, I just discovered that this morning! LOL I think I’ll keep using my hand held light though because I’m already afraid of draining the battery by using the laptop. I’ve been turning the engine on every 15 minutes just in case.
ok…anybody know where Anny has got to??
“The mattresses that come with the van are really comfy so apart from getting a bit chilly at night (I left the side windows open for air), I had a pretty good sleep.”
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.….
I’m in Gin Gin now and leaving in about 15 minutes!
Thanks for disclosing such precious info as it will be of great use for my older daughter.