Your Ultimate Guide: How to Work Online While Caravanning Around Australia

Working online while travelling around Australia is a dream for many. Surprisingly, it is simple to achieve once you have a few ideas.

The biggest hurdles are:

• How do I start working online, and what do I do?
• How do I set up my caravan so I can work online?

We’ve been working online for the past 6 years, and travel for extended periods of time, so we can let you know everything that has worked for us, and what hasn’t!

For some ideas of the most popular ways, grab this free guide, but today, let’s look at how to work online while you’re caravanning around Australia.

Why Freelancing Just Works Well:

The traditional job model wasn’t built for a life of freedom and exploration. Freelancing, on the other hand, is practically tailor-made for it. If you’re not familiar with the term Freelancing, check out this article first. This is what Freelancing allows you:

Ultimate Flexibility:

You are your own boss. This means you can design your work schedule around your travel plans. Want to spend the morning hiking to a waterfall and work in the afternoon? Go for it!

Need to take a full day to drive across the Nullarbor? You can make up the hours on a rainy day… Sort of… we’ll get to the technical side of things shortly.

Location Independence:

Your office is wherever your caravan is parked. With the right setup, you can be answering emails from a national park, designing a website from a beachside camp, or taking a client call with a view of the mountains.

Leverage Your Existing Skills:

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The skills you’ve already built in your career can be your ticket to a travel-funded life. You just need to package them for the online world.

Top Freelance Gigs for Life on the Road

Think you don’t have “online skills”? You’d be surprised. Many professional and everyday skills are transferable to the freelance world. Here are some of the most popular and caravan-friendly options, many of which you can start setting up before you even leave!

Check out this article for a fun interactive quiz to get you thinking

How to Start Freelancing: Discover Your Perfect Role with Our 2-Minute Quiz

Freelance Writer or Copywriter:

Can you write? Businesses, blogs, and publications are always in need of high-quality content. You could be writing articles, website copy, or marketing emails. This is one of the most flexible options – all you need is a laptop and some inspiration.

Virtual Assistant (VA):

If you’re organised or have a background in administration, you can be a lifesaver for busy entrepreneurs. Tasks can range from managing emails and scheduling to bookkeeping and customer service.

Social Media Manager:

Love creating communities and have a knack for Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok? Many businesses need help managing their social media presence, creating content, and engaging with their audience.

Web or Graphic Designer:

If you have a creative eye and technical skills, you can offer design services from anywhere. Businesses constantly need new logos, website updates, marketing materials, and social media graphics.

Bookkeeper or Accountant:

If you have a background in finance, your skills are in high demand. Many small businesses and sole traders need help managing their finances remotely.

The easiest way to find work online as a freelancer is to set up a profile on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. If you would like the fast-tracked method to getting high-quality gigs using the skills you already have, come and join the course Freelancing Fundamentals For Travellers.

The Nitty-Gritty: Your Mobile Office Setup

Working from a caravan in Australia comes with a unique set of challenges, but with a bit of prep, they are easily overcome.

1. Connectivity is King (or Queen!)

Australia is a big country, and reliable internet is a must for any online work. Currently, there is only one reliable way to work anywhere in Australia. That’s with Starlink. Starlink have a few options depending on how much data you’ll use. I suggest getting the unlimited plan as you don’t want to either run out of data or pay huge prices if you go over. Have a read of the options available.

Keep in mind, you will have the choice between residential or roaming. We use our Starlink connection while travelling, then change to a residential when we’re at home for a few months. It is slightly cheaper if you do it this way, and something to check if you have the option with your plan.

The other option is mobile hotspot. This works if you only intend to travel close to major cities or big towns. We travel with an Optus and a Telstra phone – for no reason apart from those are the plans Tim and I are on. We found reception to be hit and miss even in the larger outback towns. Tesltra was marginally better, but not always.

2. Powering all your devices

You’ll be using laptops, phones, and other devices, so keeping them charged is very important. You’ll need to look into your 12-volt system to ensure it is adequate to run your gear.

Here are some things you’ll need to consider:

• Solar and Battery Systems: A sufficient solar system and large batteries. We use 300Ah batteries and found these were just sufficient for working at night time, paired with 500w solar panels.
• Inverter: An inverter is necessary to convert your battery’s 12V DC power to 240V AC power for your laptop and Starlink. Ours is the 1000W inverter, and it just works, but you need to be careful if running other devices at the same time.
• Generator: Consider a backup genny. We have the 1000W Yamaha Generator, and this was used a handful of times.

Typically, for most online work, you only need a laptop and Starlink. We did find that laptops can draw considerably large amounts of power. Check what your laptop draws when doing your power calculations. If you edit videos or use high-end graphic design software, chances are your laptop will chew through even more power.

Also, consider when you’ll be working. We do most of our work at night after kids are sleeping, and there is no sunshine at night! Same goes if you’re planning on working on the rainy days – your solar panels won’t be able to keep up. This is when having a back up genny is handy.

3. Finding Work-Life Balance

The temptation to either work too much or not at all is real. It’s vital to create boundaries.

• Set Work Hours: Dedicate specific hours of the day to work. For example, you might work from 9 am to 1 pm and have the rest of the day to explore.
• Create a Dedicated Workspace: Having a specific spot in your van for work, even if it’s just a corner of the table, helps you switch into “work mode” and then switch off when you’re done. I find it helps to store your laptop away out of sight when you’re not working.

Beyond Freelancing: Other Online Income Streams

While freelancing is a fantastic and direct way to earn, there are other online avenues you can explore. As a tip, it’s best to look into these before you depart, as they can take a while to build up and generate income.

• Affiliate Marketing: You can earn a commission by recommending other people’s products on your blog or social media.
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Brands will pay you to create authentic-looking photos and videos of you using their products.

Turning your dream of an Aussie road trip into a reality is more achievable than you think. By embracing the world of online freelancing, you can fund your adventure as you go, creating a sustainable lifestyle that blends work and travel in the most incredible way possible.

If you would like to find out more about Freelancing Fundamentals for Travellers, click here.