When we roll into camp, Jasper’s not “just a passenger” — he’s part of the team. He gets jobs: pegging the tent or swags , finding firewood, or rolling out the sleeping mats.

It turns setup into a game, keeps him busy, and means he feels proud of “his” camp. Also, it buys me enough time to figure out why I can’t find the stove.

After a day on the track, our routine is simple:
First, we give the Jimny a quick once-over — tyres, fluids, and anything that might rattle itself into another postcode. This inevitably leaves me covered in a fine blend of dust, grease, and “mystery smudge.”

Then it’s our turn to clean up. Wet wipe session, maybe a quick bucket shower if we’re fancy, and into the clothes we plan to wear tomorrow. Yes — tomorrow’s clothes. Underwear and all.

Why? Because when you wake up on the Canning and it’s -2°C, the last thing you want is to wrestle freezing fabric over goosebumped skin.
Instead, we just roll out of bed, add a jumper, jacket, and shoes, and we’re ready to roll. No shivering, no swearing.

When you’re driving across the Outback with kids, the playlist can make or break the trip. In our Jimny, there’s only one rule: only songs both J’s like are allowed. That’s it. No “but it’s my turn” or “just one track” — because we both have to live with it.

The challenge? We don’t exactly have identical taste in music. Finding the overlap is like negotiating a United Nations peace deal in a moving tin can.

The requirement? It has to be long. We’re talking “Outback long.” Because after day three of the same 12 songs on repeat, even your favourite track starts to feel like psychological warfare.

So we build a mega-playlist before we go, test it on a few drives, and ruthlessly cut anything that gets skipped more than once. By the time we hit the Canning Stock Route, we’ve got hours of music we both genuinely enjoy — and no one’s reaching for the “off” button in despair.

It’s not just about entertainment — it’s a sanity saver, and the soundtrack to the stories we’ll be telling years from now.

PS: Don’t forget to download the songs to your device. Don’t ask me how I know…

When you’re on the road for days at a time, snacks are more than just “something to nibble” — they’re peacekeepers, morale boosters, and in some cases, bribes.

With snacks, I’m trying to limit the pure sugar stuff. The sugar rush is one thing, but the crash afterward? That’s the real problem. A hangry kid in the middle of the Outback is… memorable, let’s put it that way.

Luckily, Jasper’s a fan of beef jerky and biltong — our go-to. High protein, long shelf life, and you can pretend you’re eating like an explorer.

For the sweeter cravings, dried apple and dried mango are big hits. They’re both easy to store, last well, and disappear faster than I can restock them.

Now, I’m not without sin. Sometimes, when we pull into a petrol station, I’ll grab a bag of snakes to share. Because sometimes, you just need a bit of sugar to get you to the next stop.

Food is one of those topics people love to overcomplicate. Some travellers wake up to full English breakfasts, sizzling pans, and Instagram-ready camp spreads.
But food is also extremely personal — what works brilliantly for one person might be totally wrong for another. The most important thing is keeping it as healthy as reasonably possible and making sure everyone actually likes what they’re eating.

Mornings: Powered by Caffeine (Me) and Nut Bars (Jasper)

I don’t do breakfast. My perfect morning is black coffee and silence while the desert wakes up.
Jasper, on the other hand, gets a nut bar to keep the early-morning hunger gremlins away while we pack up camp.

Our mornings usually start early — pack up, boil water, caffeine, move on.
Our little burner isn’t fond of the cold and to be honest, neither am I, so fancy breakfasts aren’t happening.

Brunch: The Real Start of the Day

Once the sun has warmed things up and we’ve found a quiet spot, it’s brunch time — usually bacon and eggs for Jasper.

It’s simple, fast, and the smell of bacon drifting through the bush is one of life’s underrated joys.

Snacking Through the Day

We graze more than we feast. Our day-pack snacks look something like:

• Biltong / beef jerky

• Dried fruit

• Mixed nuts

• A corn cracker with Nutella when morale needs a boost

It keeps energy steady without needing to unpack half the kitchen.

Dinner: The No-Fuss Zone

By the time the sun dips, the last thing I want is a 12-step recipe with three pots.

Most nights, dinner is:
Instant noodles + something protein-y
— tuna
— chicken
— Spam (don’t judge, it works)

On our 2.5-week shakedown trip, this routine worked perfectly, and Jasper was never hungry (which, as any parent knows, is the true measure of success).

CSR Adjustments: No Roadhouses, No Meat Pies

On our shakedown trip, we could grab a meat pie or something fresh every few days.
On the CSR? Not happening. No roadhouses for nearly three weeks.

So we’ll add:

• Dehydrated hiking meals (1–2 weeks’ worth)

• Some vitamin/veggie powder to avoid turning into scurvy pirates

It’s still lightweight and simple — just a bit more nutritious than living exclusively on noodles and biltong.

This plan is still being tested on shorter trips, so if you have suggestions or tips, please reach out — always happy to learn from others.