The ultimate working holiday: Meet the Aussie who is redefining 'hybrid work'
We've all heard of van life. And we all know about the concept of working from home. But what if you combined the two?
Introducing: 'working from campervan'.
With 72 per cent of Aussies working in hybrid roles, more and more are taking advantage of this flexibility - living and working out of vans when they don't need to be in the office, and exploring Australia while they're not on the clock.
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Why work from home when you can work from your van? Getty
Kim Robinson is one of these adventurous workers, who traded in her regular WFH lifestyle for an office on wheels, which she sets up each day by beaches, lookouts, rivers, gardens, libraries, and markets.
She tells 9Travel that it was a decision she made after a particularly good holiday in her campervan.
"One vacation I decided not to return home," the 34-year-old says, "and logged on for my first day back at work from the camper. That stint lasted a month and proved the concept for this lifestyle to get momentum."
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Kim sometimes sets up her desk in local libraries. Supplied
Now, she does a mix of long trips and short coastal road trips - depending on the days she needs to make an appearance in the office - all the while, working from her van.
"The opportunity to see new places, get outdoors more and meet new people (while still getting paid) has made the days feel so much more valuable," she says.
Setting up for success
Even ten years ago, the thought of working from a campervan would be near impossible, but today's tech makes it easy, without even being too cost-prohibitive. With the right set up, you can park in the middle of a national park or at a secluded beach, and have the exact same connection that you'd have from a desk in your living room.
Some remote workers fully kit out their vans with dedicated workspaces and wall-mounted monitors. Some just use a laptop and a hotspot.
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Some people have set up offices in huge motor homes. Getty
Kim says it took a while to get her set up right – there were a few times she had to rely on libraries or hotels for working spaces. But once she had the basics down, she says, she can now camp pretty much anywhere, for free.
For her, "the basics" are a laptop, a second screen, mobile Wi-Fi, and a battery system with an inverter. Kim says it's very much worth investing in good equipment to save yourself time and money down the line.
"Without the same level of equipment that I would have in an office or at home," she says, "it's easy to be unproductive."
Kim has embraced a simple set up. Supplied
Kim works in project management, which she says is a balance of documentation and stakeholder meetings.
As for a desk, she just uses her dining table and couch, which can be moved outdoors. She keeps all her work supplies in a crate, which gets packed up at the end of the day to keep things minimal.
Find your work-life balance
Sure, #WorkFromCamper (WFC) life isn't going to work for everyone - but if you have the ability to work flexibly, Kim says you may as well give it a go.
She says that it's important to take the time to map out both your working hours and your exploring hours, and block these off each day.
"The last thing you want to do is get on the road and feel like you're in a rut with no creative freedom or time to explore in daylight hours. The opposite can also be true if you overcommit to travel and don't keep on top of your work. So it's a delicate balance."
Kim usually works from a scenic spot in the mornings. Supplied
Kim logs a few hours in the morning, working from a campground or lookout, then takes a longer lunch to explore or move on to another town. Then she will log back on for a few hours in the afternoon or night.
Turning a van into passive income
When Kim needs to be home for an extended period, she rents out her van on Camplify, to make a little extra money and fund future trips.
The campervan booking site is also a great way for people to test out van life for themselves before jumping in the deep end, whether you want a compact 4WD to take offroading or a spacious van with room for two desks.
Using a van that's already been kitted out by a keen van life enthusiast will allow you to figure out what you need - and what you don't - says Kim.
You can't beat the NT for a road trip. Getty Images/iStockphoto
So, where to first?
Kim reckons WA or the NT should definitely be on your list, especially if you love the outdoors.
Conspicuous Cliffs, a secluded coastal area in southern WA, is a "breathtaking" must-see. And "the scenery of the NT is so authentically Australian," she says.
