In 2019 Paul and Katie, with their young son Jasper, packed their lives into a caravan and never looked back. Incredibly, they had never even owned a tent when they threw in their corporate careers, sold everything they owned and decided they were going to live full time in a caravan travelling Australia. However a commonality they did share was adventure. Paul had travelled the world performing alongside the likes of rock gods Queen, Australia’s queen of pop Kylie Minogue and the one and only Dame Edna Everage. And Katie had spent many years working alongside Australia’s ultimate wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, wrangling crocodiles and having regular once in a lifetime wildlife experiences.
Almost 5 years and 160,000km later, they have zig zagged their way across every state and territory and are thrilled to be sharing their travels and inspiring others to plan a road trip and immerse themselves in what they consider to be the world’s best backyard.
Being only 2 years old when they hit the road, Jasperoo, as he is affectionately known, has adventure in his genes and is immersed in the living classroom that is Australia.
The Feel Good Family has built a loyal following across the globe through their weekly YouTube series, television shows and travel podcast that is now listened to in 123 countries around the world. You can catch their most recent adventures "Feel Good RoadTrips" on channel 7PLUS.
Stratus Outdoors Q&A with The Feel Good Family ...
Q: How did it all start for you, this quest for a life less stationery?
A: After a 4 year IVF journey to start our family, our miracle baby Jasper arrived and our lives were busier than ever, with Paul working long hours in his General Manager role and missing out on the very thing we had worked so hard to create - family time. Our ah-ha moment came down like a sledgehammer and we knew we had to make a plan to make a change, before time passed us by. We were motivated by the saying “you only get 18 summers with your kids”, and set to work on a 2 year plan to get ourselves out of debt and on the road.
Q: What's your biggest camping fail?
A: A picture perfect day and a simple mistake. Our day trip on the beautiful Bloomfield Track in tropical north Queensland was cut short while reversing our Toyota Landcruiser 79 series and having it roll over. A potentially serious accident that we refer to as our lucky escape, and a perfectly timed reminder that life is fragile and the time you spend with those you love is the greatest value for your life.
Q: If you could be flown directly to any place in Australia right now, including remote secret spots, where would you choose?
A: Pumpkin Island on Queensland’s southern Great Barrier Reef is an absolute island paradise! Take us there now!
Q: What keeps you going and not giving in to the call of “sensible” suburban life?
A: Most of the travellers we meet on the road are either on holiday or in retirement. The holiday makers all wish they had longer, and the retirees wish they’d done it sooner or with their family when their kids were young. We tend to regret the things in life we didn’t do, more than the things we did do. Being able to work full time while travelling is a gift that we will never take for granted.
Q: Just saying yes and starting is sometimes the biggest hurdle. Any tips for families dreaming of this lifestyle but no idea where to start?
A: Life is not a dress rehearsal. Make a plan and set a date. There’s nothing like a deadline to get you off the couch and into action! We had a 2 year plan that seemed like an eternity at the time, yet in the blink of an eye we were rolling out of the driveway waving goodbye to our normal. The perfect quote from Paulo Coelho sums this up, “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello”. Investing time in your kids when they are young, ensures they will invest time in you as they grow older, build stronger family ties and lifelong memories.
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