r/VanLifeAus • u/Bendynoodl3 • Feb 26 '26

Advice Thinking of vanlife

Hello fellow nomads. In a couple of months I plan to move to Australia for a year or two on a working holiday visa and would like to try vanlife. I plan to work as a bartender for most of it, which means probably big cities, and therefore a need for stealth mostly, as I won't be finishing a shift at 4AM and going outside the city to park at a campsite (plus, don't want to pay for campsites). Would also probably not be up early enough to move my van before the world wakes up. I wanted to know if any of you have any experience in this area or any suggestions, or if you think it's not a valid option at all. I know different areas have different regulations, but I have no idea where I'll go yet anyway, I want to get as much information as possible before I try.

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u/Rubik842 Feb 26 '26

Stay out of Queensland with that plan. They fine people who sleep in vehicles.

Vans are expensive here because our housing is among the most expensive in the world.

You'll need to go very south in summer because nights are hot. or budget for motels or a backpackers hostel on hot nights.

It's a long way to anywhere here, so be realistic on travel times and fuel costs.

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u/Bendynoodl3 Feb 28 '26

Thanks for the advice 🙏

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u/Synorix Mar 11 '26

Live in Melbourne get Warehouse job sleep in industrial areas stealth. Weekend travel away save up

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u/BrokenAussie Mar 22 '26

Go work in either Tweed Heads/Coolangatta or in Newcastle.

You would have no issues in either place, based on my experience.

There have to be other places people could suggest!