Grey nomad success: ultimate tips to plan and enjoy your road trip

Whether you've been thinking about your trip around Australia for years, or you're new to the idea, an expert who is travelling the country shares her tips on how to get started - and what to do when you first hit the open road.

Digital nomad Annette Jones, 65, who has been travelling around Australia for the last two and a half years with her partner Kevin Walsh, 66, helps grey nomads' dreams happen by helping them plan their trip through her blog, podcast and social media posts.

"I help them actually get out the driveway. Because ... it can be a bit overwhelming, and there's a lot to do," she said.

Offering tips, advice and ultimately, inspiration on her website All Around Oz, Ms Jones has noticed the most common issues for grey nomads and wants to share exclusively with ACM (the publisher of this masthead) readers on how to overcome them.

Ms Jones said setting a date for your travels is the "biggest thing" because she has noticed many people say "I'd love to do that" ,"we want to do that" or "someday we might" but they never assign a date for their dream to start.

"If no date is set, then nothing happens," she said.

The digital nomad said people not setting a date is the most "common theme" with nomads, whether they want to do a lap of Australia or be on the road for a few years.

Ms Jones said once a date has been set, it is vital to break down the time you have before your departure into segments.

"Start working backwards. Break it up - if you've got 12 months, then break it up into four quarters," she said.

The nomad said it is important to have a timeline because it can help you not be overwhelmed, as there is often "a lot to do" - especially if you've decided to sell your family home.

"What do you do with all your stuff? There's a lot of stuff once you start packing up," she said.

Ms Jones said something many grey nomads don't think about until the last minute is packing and storage options and costs.

"The more we store, the more it costs [and] that eats into the budget on a monthly basis," she said.

Ms Jones said storage can easily cost at least $200 per month, which can impact a grey nomad's disposable income.

It's important to organise it ahead of time and research what will be the cheapest.

Because the lead-up to leaving can be so frantic and busy, many grey nomads make the mistake of not decompressing for the first few weeks of their adventure.

"They get on the road, they go hell for leather," she said.

"I'm recommending to people, that first port of call, wherever it is ... stay at least three days, even a week, because the lead-up to leaving is so big ... you tend to be exhausted by that stage."

Ms Jones said it's important to give yourself a break - and remember why you are travelling in the first place.

"Get out of that crazy mode and just enjoy it," she said.

The expert nomad said some people tend to over-plan their trip.

"They plan every single day. Some people ... get the spreadsheets out and they plan where they're going to stay for the next 12 months," she said.

Ms Jones said unless you are on the coast during school holidays, you don't "really have to book anywhere".

"We've been on the road now nearly two and a half years [and] we've never not been able to stay somewhere at night," she said.

By staying flexible, the expert says it can keep you open to experiences you may have missed by strictly sticking to your itinerary.

The travelling expert said it's vital grey nomads "don't forget to smell the roses".

There are "many things" to see on way to your destination and grey nomads should embrace these.

"There could be a fantastic lookout or a beach you could stop [at] for lunch," she said.

"Make sure you're not just sort of driving from A to B and seeing what's just in that area, that way you get more bang for your buck about the destination."

Ms Jones also wants people to know there's no point rushing from between destinations to chase an endless summer because the seasons don't "line up".

"One of the big bonuses for traveling off-season is there's not as many people around," she said.

"There's some fantastic offers off-season as well, if people want to stay in caravan parks."

Just make sure you have a good heater and are prepared for cooler climates.

The nomad, whose home base is Hervey Bay in Queensland but is currently exploring Western Australia, said grey nomads can fall into the trap of thinking they have to see everything, and forget to enjoy where they are.

"[Especially when] some people meet people along the way, and they get so caught up with, 'Oh, you 'gotta go and see this, and you 'gotta go and see that'," she said.

Ms Jones also has a blog post called How to Find Work While Traveling Australia and said there are three easy ways to find a job and pick up extra cash on your travels.

The digital nomad said wherever her and her partner have been, they see job ads in windows.

"Especially in country areas, walk the main street - we see that [ads in windows] a lot," she said.

Many regional areas and country towns find it hard to attract staff, so jobs can be easier to find.

Ms Jones advises going to the local pub - not just for a bulletin board where jobs could be posted, but because of word of mouth or meeting people who are looking for staff.

Even the pub itself might need some workers.

The experienced traveller said grey nomads should check with their accommodation providers if there were any vacant jobs.

"Caravan parks, especially in peak seasons, need a lot of help," she said.

"And it could be that you could exchange a few hours work a day for the site that you stay on."

Youi's Head of Product, Vehicle and Leisure, Marni Jackson said a road trip adventure is something more Australians are embracing because of affordability and "the desire to venture off the beaten track".

"Aussies have always had a strong appetite for adventure," she said.

Ms Jackson also has tips for what grey nomads should do before departing on their well-earned adventure.

"Planning and preparation is key to reduce the chance of unexpected costs and mishaps," she said.

"Consider the tow vehicle and the type of caravan you need and ensure it is built for the type of terrain you're tackling.

"Van setup, weight distribution and towing capacity are also important considerations so check state's regulations for your safety (and the safety of others) and avoid a potential fine."

Ms Jackson said grey nomads should make sure they have comprehensive caravan insurance so they are prepared for any "unexpected challenges".