Myles and Molly, a newly married couple, live in Banks Peninsula, Aotearoa, New Zealand are all in. Over the course of a decade, they travelled in everything from busses to vans to 4WDs with rooftop tents. Oh the places they’ve been! The things that they’ve seen! And how they’re living the dream!
Their skills as a builder and a midwife allow the couple to travel Australia doing contract work, off the beaten track and in a custom overlanding vehicle named Polly. Read on to discover their story.
What message do you want people to take away from your story?
Being city people, we have lived the pressures of fast traffic, urgent deadlines, the barrage of online content, and high expectations from all quarters. We have lived through life-changing earthquakes and survived Covid. We felt like it was now time to do that adventure! There’s no better time for us to ‘slow-travel’ and fill our memory banks with things that no one can ever take away. Experience, exposure and a way of life.
Tell us a bit about your 76 Polly.
Polly, a 30th anniversary Toyota Land Cruiser GRJ76, was imported new into New Zealand in 2015. She’s a Japanese domestic market model and has been in the family ever since. We inherited its wood panelled side-decals from my father as a tribute to the Jeep Wagoneers that he admired from the 60s and 70s. Polly’s uniqueness made her worthy of a full fit-out. The idea of fitting out a vehicle that wasn’t just another Troopy initially struck us, and when we saw that Alu-Cab was producing the Thor Roof Conversion , we were sold.
We were thrilled to be the first in New Zealand to install the Thor Roof Conversion. After completing it, we combined our personal experiences, countless hours of research, and the expertise of some talented friends to design and build a fit-out capable of full-time travel.
From our past experiences we’ve learnt that simplicity is key. We also wanted to do as much of the build as possible ourselves, so that we could fix any issues no matter where we are. After completing our fit-out we shipped the vehicle to Australia on a Carnet de Passage to give it a real world shake-down.
30,000 kilometers later and less than a handful of breakages, we’re very glad to say those hours of research are paying off.
What’s your favourite moment from the road?
After battling the crowds in one of Australia’s most popular coastal camping spots, we decided to escape the masses. A local kindly pointed us in the direction of a stealthy camp spot, which involved some technical four wheel driving. We pulled up to the location where we parked at the top of a sea cliff surrounded by turtles bobbing in the waves and a humpback whale splashing on the horizon. Interacting with locals, using our vehicle to its full potential, and immersing ourselves in the natural wonder of this incredible country made that moment so special.
How do you decide what’s worth sharing vs. keeping private?
If you’re truly in the moment, it will always be more important to savour the memories for your own enjoyment and to file them in your collective memory bank to enjoy later. However, traveling does turn you into a story teller, so inevitably you will find some things need sharing. Even if it’s to satisfy your parents and friends who want to know you’re still alive!
When deciding what to share, our priority is to inspire others to see for themselves, but also to treat the “armchair travelers” to sights they may never see for themselves. There will never be a substitute for actually being there.
What’s the most surprising way this journey has changed you?
Our tolerance for dirt. Sometimes a hot shower is a distant memory. It also taught us to live for weeks with nothing more than carry-on baggage. The outback does not judge your fashion choices.
Best piece of advice for someone who wants to start their own adventure?
Start small. Build your confidence. Adventure is right on your doorstep. It can be as simple as pitching a tent in your own back yard. You can take a camping trip for the weekend. Social media doesn’t know you’re only an hour away from home. You don’t have to be rich to travel well. Start living your life by a compass, not a clock. You can do it. We invested in a Garmin in-reach to have the security of emergency contact instead of Starlink, which chains you to the internet wherever you go.
How do you hope your content shapes how people see Australia?
Many of our friends think that adventure can only be found if you travel to Europe or Asia. We knew that Australia has it all and are here to prove it. You can find deserts and tropical rain forests, gentle green slopes and snowy hillsides. Cultures gather here from every corner of the world allowing you to sample all of their foods and customs. If it’s history you’re after, it doesn’t get more ancient than this. If it’s locals you want to meet, then everyone here’s your mate. There’s something for everyone. Come and see for yourself.
What’s one travel hack you’ve discovered that’s been a game-changer?
Bring your one-pan dinner mentality with you. You’d be surprised what sort of gourmet delight can materialise from a tin of lentils and a jar of marmite.
If you could only share one place in Australia with the world, what would it be?
Spinifex country. If not for its champagne colour and its effervescent quality, it filled us with a sense of belonging. Even though it was a scene so starkly different to anything we’d seen before.
What’s next for you? Any dream projects or uncharted routes?
We have a very exciting new project on board, a third traveller will be joining us. Aotearoa is calling us back so that Polly can be fitted with a baby seat. We haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on our list. Maybe we’ll start with the gravel roads less travelled in New Zealand. If traveling was free, you’d never see us again!