In previous essays on Grey Nomadism in The Wanderer, I have discussed all manner of issues in a rather light-hearted fashion. This chapter strikes a more serious note by revealing the cost of the GN lifestyle, as recorded by the author over a period of almost eight years. It might help you to determine whether you can afford to join the exalted ranks of the GNs or whether you should simply book in to the nearest nursing home now (actually this “Plan B” option is almost certainly less attractive financially).

It turns out that the GN lifestyle is one of the least expensive ways to travel, as you will note from the comparisons that follow. Not only that, but it may be cheaper than staying at home! It is true that you will be restricted to travel within Oz.

Others have written in this magazine about all sorts of novel ways to save on costs while on  the road, so in this document I will address just one key idea we have adopted. This is volunteering, an activity which offers myriad opportunities to help others and contribute usefully to society while also providing satisfaction and very often reduced living costs. More details on that appear at the end of this discussion, but firstly let us examine some travel costs.

The first view of Kata Tjuta; Near Carnarvon Gorge, Qld

Here are the relevant statistics for travel by this GN over eight years:

• About 1100 days on the road (about a third of the eight years).
• 125,000km travelled.
• $50,000 to purchase the rig.
• $38,000 spent on diesel (about 23,000 litres).
• $10,000 spent on licence and insurance costs for the rig.
• $50,000 spent on maintenance, repairs and upgrades. This figure may seem startling; but this includes some serious equipment upgrades and also reflects regular repairs and other expenses such as many mangled tyres resulting from extensive travel on Australia’s iconic but rugged Outback tracks. Most Grey Nomads would not incur anything like this level of maintenance expenditure.
• $100,000 spent on daily living expenses on the road, such as food, booze, campground costs and tourism. We do not spend any more time than is necessary in caravan parks. Most of our campground costs are national park campgrounds. In WA we often volunteer in NP campgrounds and when doing this are not required to pay camping fees. While in transit from place to place we generally free camp.

Analysis of this data reveals the cost of being on the road to be a total of about $200 per day for a couple of old GNs (note that this does not include the cost of maintaining a house as a base – but you will probably sell that anyway to fully plunge in to the “permanently on the road” GN lifestyle). An allowance has been made for depreciation of the rig. Those of you choosing shiny new $200,000-plus rigs had better build in a massive additional allowance for depreciation.

Compare the cost of $200 per day to other possibilities:

• As former owners of a 12m launch, we spent about $800 per day of use (including depreciation) and used the toy for perhaps 30 days annually, while also being restricted to travel within a short distance of Perth.
• The expenditure for a NZ motorhome holiday was $500 per day for two people.
• The cost of a short Pacific cruise was also $500 per day for two people.
• A recent three-week safari in Africa cost more than an eyewatering $1000 per day for two old grey nomads who are self-funded retirees. Ouch!

Shark feeding near Horizontal Falls, WA

There are also some important benefits to the GN lifestyle which are not recognised in this analysis:

• Firstly, while on the road, there are far fewer opportunities to spend money at Bunnings. This saves the author up to $100 a week while travelling.
• Secondly, there is little call for expensive new clothes. Any clothing requirements will be available at the Salvos for a very modest cost.
• Thirdly, in the author’s case, the cost of running a motorhome is partially offset by his car sitting in a garage at home, not incurring any serious running costs.
• Fourthly, if you travel slowly– i.e. stay longer in each location and keep your speed down – you spend a lot less on fuel so your daily costs can be reduced further. Many GNs also save money in other ways (for example, volunteer work often provides free camping) or subsidise their travels with occasional part-time work.
• Finally, if you are at home you will still be spending money on food, booze (probably more because you wish you were on the road), electricity, gas, clothes, entertainment, and so forth. Not only that, but your rig is costing you money even when parked at home – so it makes sense to use it. In the author’s case, it is cheaper to live on the road than at home!

Fortescue Falls, Karijini National Park

Of course, you might also consider some other, non-financial benefits to the GN lifestyle:

• Your children do not have to suffer your company as often (or vice versa).
• Many worrisome issues loaded on to you by friends and relatives seem quite inconsequential when you are thousands of kilometres away enjoying a crisp cold wine on a warm beach.
• You are more active and both your physical and mental health improves because you spend less time thinking about your health and more time having fun.
• Friendships made on the road  can be fostered or dismissed simply by either moving on or not – how wonderfully uncomplicated!
• You are not likely to watch the nightly TV news as often, so depression about politicians, overseas disasters, terrorism, starving and stateless people (you can still choose to help), and the other negative material fed to us every day by the media simply disappears.
• You may enjoy developing new skills, such as how to change a radiator hose or, in the case of the author, how to bake a very tasty banana and walnut cake.

Volunteer Rod pulling weeds at Cattle Pool, Mount Augustus

Most people keep delaying retirement and travel because they fear they cannot afford it. Unless you really can’t afford it, just do it anyway – you will get by and you do not need a gold-plated lifestyle to have fun and be happy.

There are many near-new, practically unused rigs available for sale – testimony to the fact that people wait too long before deciding to retire/travel. They then find that deteriorating health quickly restricts their opportunities and kills off the dream.

Be like the author – a grumpy old man with health issues but still in love with the joy of the open road ahead and the mystery of what is around the next bend. The money does not matter. With an ounce of luck, by the time I spend it all, I will be sitting in my nursing home chair, living on the age pension and my memories.

Sir John Gorge all to ourselves for the day

VOLUNTEERING: DOING GOOD AND SAVING MONEY

Volunteering some of your time towards a worthy activity is one way to minimise costs while travelling. In many cases this will directly reduce your costs while also adding a new dimension to the benefits of travel. The possibilities for volunteering are almost endless.

Perhaps the highest profile of these at present is BlazeAid, the organisation which brings together teams of people to assist those, generally in regional areas, who have suffered loss from bushfires. One of this organisation’s most significant activities involves rebuilding fences on farms. Very often this physical work has the equally important side benefit of restoring the mental health of farming communities. Volunteers typically camp on the properties at which they are working, so of course accommodation costs are minimal.

The Parks and Wildlife Service (part of the cumbersomely titled Dept of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions) in Western Australia operates perhaps the largest volunteer campground hosting program in the country. It is this voluntary activity which has been a part of our travel experience over a number of years. The role involves supporting rangers in national parks by managing campgrounds and providing an information service to campers.

In many cases, hosts also do all sorts of other work, depending on their interests, skills and the requirements of the particular park. As parochial Sandgropers and lovers of our many fabulous national parks we have revelled in this activity, which helps campers make the most of their visit.

The most important benefit to the campground hosts is unquestionably the  positive feedback we receive from visitors. However, there are also other, more tangible benefits. Although the role is unpaid, campground hosts do not pay camping fees and are supported in other ways, depending in part on the remoteness of the location. For example, gas bottles are refilled by the rangers, water is supplied, often some fuel for the host’s vehicle is supplied, and there may be other rewards such as a supermarket voucher at the end of a month’s hosting. Facilities for hosts vary (hosts are generally expected to live in their own rigs) but there may be exclusive ablution facilities or occasionally even a house for the host to use.

Volunteering as a campground host provides very satisfying work whilst still allowing time to enjoy the national park. It is an excellent way to enjoy our great outdoors and share knowledge with others whilst minimising travel costs.

Category: Unknown
Written: Mon 01 June 2020
Printed: June, 2020
Published By: