Back to Van Life After 8 Years of Renting

Quick update as its been quite a few years :)

We left van life for Tutukaka 2018

The last time I wrote a blog was back in 2018—and so much has happened since then.

After living the van life, we settled into a beautiful rental in Tutukaka for two and a half years, followed by a move to Onerahi, Whangārei, where we were lucky enough to overlook the harbour until 2024. Despite moving into houses, my love for van and camp life never left me. Every holiday, I found myself returning to it—craving the freedom to just up and go.

Life evolved. My boys grew older. In July 2024, my eldest gifted us with a beautiful baby boy, while my youngest moved out for a time and has recently returned home. He's now 18, turning 19 this year. Their growth has opened up space for me to reclaim some freedom—weekends away, solo holidays—crucial time for my mental health, hauora, and overall wellbeing.

Emma, our beloved dog, is also aging. She’s turning 19 this year. Though she still enjoys the occasional trip, she’s begun to prefer the comforts of home and stays with her Nana more often now.

These days, I’ve returned to my caravan, which is stored at my mother’s place while my son stays in the whare. We’re currently on the lookout for a tiny home that suits us. In the meantime, I take every opportunity to get away—whether it’s tenting, car camping, heading off in the Combi Pop Top, or soon, taking the Bach on the road.

In the blogs to come, I’ll be sharing stories, dates, and destinations from my camping adventures between 2019 and 2025. I’m excited to reconnect and reflect on the journeys—past, present, and future.

The whare in Onerahi we moved to from Tutukaka from 2020 - 2024.


The move from the freedom of staying in a van going beach to beach was to have ensure we had a view of the water.  I couldn't go wrong with coming home to seeing the beautiful scenery daily.

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