Confused about caravan towing weights?

In this must-listen episode of Big Lap Chats, Annette chats with Brennan Raymakers from Know My Tow to demystify GVM, GCM, ATM, tow ball weights, axle loads, and more.

If you're planning a Big Lap of Australia, this episode is essential for understanding how to tow legally and safely.

Plus, discover how Know My Tow’s free and premium calculators can help you avoid fines, insurance issues, and costly mistakes. Perfect for new and seasoned caravanners alike.

🔗 Bonus: Save 25% off Know My Tow with our exclusive coupon—link in the show notes.

n this episode of Big Lap Chats, Annette sits down with Deena from Committed to Collect. A seasoned traveller who completed an unforgettable 8-month Big Lap of Australia with her young family and did it all without blowing the budget.

Deena shares her story from dusty red roads to driving with the caravan door wide open, and how that adventure sparked her new mission: helping other travellers save money using loyalty programs.

She breaks down exactly how to turn everyday spending into points (without a credit card!) and how those points can fund fuel, flights, and even whale-watching tours.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why less is more when packing for the lap

• How to avoid rookie spending mistakes

• Clever fuel hacks using apps like BP Me and 7-Eleven Fuel Lock

• Gift card tricks that can turbocharge your points

• Why the best memories don’t come from big budgets

🎧 Listen to the extended version by joining the BLC Crew!
Unlock bonus content, exclusive Q&As, and insider-only advice at: blccrew.allaroundoz.com.au

What happens when the kids leave home and you decide not to wait for retirement? You get Rob and Ange aka the Semiretired Travellers who sold it all and hit the road to live their Big Lap dream.

In this episode of Big Lap Chats, Annette sits down with Rob and Ange as they share how they turned an empty nest into a full-time adventure. From selling their house and buying a 31-foot motorhome to picking up jobs around Australia, they prove you don’t need to wait until “one day.”

- What it’s like living and working on the road
- Downsizing tips from people who’ve done it
- What they wish more Lappers knew before starting
- How to avoid expensive travel mistakes
- The 3 biggest money-saving hacks every Lapper should know

If you’ve ever wondered whether you could actually make this lifestyle work, this episode is a must-listen. Rob and Ange are the kind of real, relatable Aussie travellers who tell it like it is, with plenty of laughs along the way.

🎧 Want to hear the extended chat, including their favourite hidden free camps? Join the BLC Crew at blccrew.allaroundoz.com.au

Thinking about doing the Big Lap of Australia but feeling overwhelmed or unsure if it’s the right time? In this episode of Big Lap Chats, Annette sits down with Katrina and Cain from Hapnin Empty Nesters, a couple who turned a major heart scare into the ultimate full-time travel adventure.

They share how they hit the road in a 13-foot hybrid caravan, how they manage on a $500/week travel budget, and why communication is key when living in a tiny space. From medical challenges to favourite free camps, this is a must-listen for anyone planning long-term travel around Australia.

- Real talk about health, money and mindset
- Honest insights about van life as a couple
- Big Lap budgeting tips + off-grid setup must-haves
- Why not planning too much could save your lap
- How Cain's heart condition led to a new lease on life—and a fantasy book series

🎧 Perfect For:

• Empty nesters thinking about travelling full-time

• Couples planning their first lap

• Listeners seeking caravan lifestyle advice, budget hacks & inspiration

• Anyone who wants to hear real stories from real people on the road

🔗 Links & Resources

Full extended version + bonus content → BLC Podcast Membership
Show notes + free resources → https://allaroundoz.com.au/podcasts/the-big-lap-australia/

In this episode of Big Lap Chats, we sit down with Casey and Zane from A Few Laps Around the Sun—a couple who swapped intensive care wards and plumbing jobs for full-time caravan travel around Australia.

Now three years into their journey, they share how they made the leap into vanlife, the real costs of living on the road, and how working as a nurse and a tradie helps them fund their Big Lap lifestyle. From choosing the right off-grid setup to the one mistake that could break your entire lap, this chat is packed with practical advice and hard-won wisdom.

Whether you're planning your first lap of Australia, curious about remote work and travel, or just looking for honest, real-life stories from Aussie caravanners—this episode is for you.

We chat about:

• How they transitioned from traditional jobs to full-time travel

• Budgeting tips and money-saving hacks on the road

• Caravan weight safety (and why 80% of setups are overweight!)

• Choosing the right off-grid setup for long-term travel

• Fishing, free camps, and finding secret spots across WA

• Work-life balance while travelling Australia

🔒 Want to hear the full, extended interview—including their favourite free camps and biggest myths about vanlife? Join the BLC Podcast Membership at https://blccrew.allaroundoz.com.au and unlock exclusive bonus content.

Courtney and James from Tradies on Tour join Annette to share how they turned weekend getaways, and one big lap into over three years of full-time travel around Australia with their kids.

From budgeting tips and schooling on the road to running a mobile tradie business, this episode is packed with honest insights, laughs, and real-life advice for anyone dreaming of their own Big Lap and travelling Australia.

Download the show notes here 👉🏻 http://allaroundoz.com.au/podcast/james-and-courtney-tradies-on-tour

Maybe One Day” to Full-Time Road Life with Vet In A Van

Tanya and Marcus had a dream—to explore Australia with their family. But when someone offered to buy their house, they stopped dreaming… and hit the road.

🚐 Six weeks later, they were off—right before COVID hit. Years later, they’re still travelling full-time with four kids (including one born on the road!), homeschooling, working remotely, and loving the lifestyle they built from scratch.

In this episode:
✔️ What it really takes to transition from house life to road life
✔️ Working from the road as a vet & tech expert (yes, even from a tent!)
✔️ How to survive the tough first months of travel
✔️ Smart money-saving tips every Lapper should know
✔️ Why Instagram doesn’t show the real story—and why that’s okay
✔️ Vet-approved pet travel tips to keep your furry mates safe on the road

🎧 Listen now on Big Lap Chats—where real travellers share the truth about life on the road.

💥 Want bonus content, uncut episodes, and exclusive interviews?
Join the BLC Crew Membership—your shortcut to confident, stress-free Big Lap planning.

👉 Tap here to listen & join the crew → https://blccrew.allaroundoz.com.au/

From 12 Months to Forever—Why Liz & Simon Never Stopped Their Big Lap

What happens when a planned 12-month Big Lap turns into 4+ years of full-time travel? Liz & Simon from The Lifestyle Pioneers share how their dream became a lifestyle—remote adventures, School of the Air, and all.

🧭 Before the road: Liz was teaching, Simon was deep in construction. Life was busy, but something was missing. “We didn’t want to wait until retirement,” Liz says. So they packed up with their two boys—and never looked back.

🌄 Off-grid lovers: From vast deserts to empty bush camps, they’ve embraced Australia’s rugged beauty in ways few ever do. “Some places, you won’t see another soul for days,” Simon shares.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Raising kids on the move: With homeschooling, remote meetups, and organic connections with other travelling families, they’ve built a rhythm on the road that works.

✨ Whether you’re dreaming of your own lap or already planning, this episode is a goldmine of real talk—not influencer hype. It’s the raw, honest insight that only comes from living it day in, day out.

🎧 Listen now on Big Lap Chats—where the real conversations happen.

🔒 Want even more? Behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive episodes, and unfiltered advice are waiting inside the BLC Crew Membership. Don’t hit the road with regrets—travel with insider confidence. https://blccrew.allaroundoz.com.au/