FIRST TIME trying Van Life in the Sunshine Coast, Australia! | Vlog | 🚚 

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Never be embarrassed that you need to learn to swim, only thing to worry about is if you don't try to learn.

I felt a bit Sad when you said you can't swim. My Dad was a swimming instructor. He would say you're never too old to learn. I think you can do it. Otherwise you're missing out on one of the great joys in life. Give it a go.

I came to Australia when I was 9. I cannot swim, for some reason it didn’t take for me. I was at an age where I was embarrassed so always made excuses why I didn’t want to go in anywhere. At 58 I now know that the embarrassment is only yours. You’re still young, please go for swimming lessons, no one there will care what you’re doing, they’re either having lessons or being busy swimming. Most people will be encouraging. Be someone who says I learned to swim in my 30s rather than 50 years from now saying you never tried.

Our local council pool (on the Sunshine Coast) offers free learn to swim classes for all migrants. Such an important skill, could save your life!

In South Australia there is so many freedom camping sites There are camping spots for truckers on main freeways

Similat volcanic mounts are found in Hungary on the north western part of the Balaton lake in the area of Badacsony.

I love the glass house mountains. If it works.. it works…Nothing like having new adventures 😀 and if you can save a few $$ on the way all the better. Also most Australians know how to swim, we are taught from an early age before we start school (at home or privately) and while at primary school to year 9/ 10 high school and also water safety and life saving are taught from an early age, my daughter was in a pool learning to swim before she could walk.

Rob, it's probably already been said and as such a bit late but I'll say it anyways, you don't have to stay in caravan/holiday parks. You can camp in state forests and I think you can also camp in national parks but check it out first. You wont have any amenities such as toilet or shower but if you camp near a river you can have a dip (waist deep in the shallows) to freshen up in the morning. I have done this more times than I can remember.

Ooh mate, take time when you get back home and learn how to swim . Don't be embarrassed but rather be excited at what this could mean you...imagine going to swim over our great barrier reef next time.

A brilliant vlog, I think a trial van life was a great idea 💡 Some good memories made on this adventure ❤❤😊😊

That Looks like a dog kennel on the back of ya truck😂😂😂😂

Rob, I know I tell you every time that the vlog was amazing... and they always are. But this one has to be the absolute best. I loved seeing you two on the road, behind the wheel, setting your own pace...it really suits you. Would absolutely love to see you invest in something like an rv back home and take us across the UK and Europe.

I think its a thing here that we all learn to swim at a young age (or it least it was when I was little in the 70/80s). Everyone had swimming lessons before they could walk, more swimming lessons every year during primary school, every week during summer getting on the school bus to the local pool to do school swimming badges. The high school had its on pool so for half the year at least once a week there was a pool session. Plus yearly swimming carnivals etc. I might mention this is in Qld so the weather was suitable.

Hi rob. You are both amazing in your videos. I loved this one. I am with Charlie I love campervans . Honestly I want to live in one in a hot country. Well done Rob , Charlie is so lovely. Alfie loves watching your footy videos. Places lesuire do swimming lessons all the time. My friend only learnt last year and she was 47years old nothing to be embarrassed about. Well done, lovely couple xxxx

Many aussie caravan parks have ensuite sites with your own shower/toilet. 👍

Good stuff, really getting out there, love the wildlife. Swimming in fresh water is harder than salt or chlorine because it is not as buoyant. Laurie Lawrence would like you to learn how to swim, he's a character to look up.

If you like van life, you should check out Max & Occy. They've settled recently in NSW but there's heaps of past content travelling around Australia and elsewhere. Great video. Love the Glasshouse Mountains. I'm a Gympie girl wayback. Im glad you're having so much fun.

How awesome video guys! So glad you had a bit of a swim at Bondi mate! 💪

love this idea your doing and would love to see you guys doing the van life around the uk and europe.

Good to see yas getting out of the city!

Seems you both had a great time. 👍

LOVE this one💜. And i guess it doesn't get much more Aussie than a Ute come (tiny) campervan lol. The sunshine coast is full of so much to do. Could easily spend a couple of weeks just there, between the hinterland and coastline and tourist attractions. As you know the Glass house mountains are one of my faves. I love that lookout 🙂. Nice drone shots there too. Mary Cairnscross reserve is great too. Another lovely area is Montville, with it's quaint little quirky shops and cafes. Rob, you are correct, we do learn to swim as kids. It's a mandatory part of the school curriculum through the school years. As it's should be. And parents also start us off young, often from literal infancy. Honestly it would be irresponsible for the school and parents NOT to ensure we can swim, to at least know the basics. We are surrounded by water, the vast majority of the population lives on or with in an hour or so of the coastline and a good chunk of the population have swimming pools in the backyards too. I was a real water kid but as I've gotten older, I don't go in very often now. I enjoy just dipping my toes in but enjoy walking along the beach or coastline more these days. The swing rope over the rock pool definitely reminds me of similar places I'd go growing up. Definitely wanna see more Charlie and Rob hashtag vanlife in the future! In the UK, EU and again in AU. (FNQ & the N.T await!). Lastly, it's never too late to learn to swim. So many people especially from your area of the world probably are in the same situation. There's lessons out there for adults. Maybe something to think about for a 2024 goal? I also think it's could be inspiring to others.🙂

Good luck guys!

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast. I loved the range of experience the place offered me during that part of my life. Like you, Rob, I also class myself as a non swimmer but it literally was sink or swim for me living there.

I spent a couple of years living in a camper. It was a whole thing that I won't go into detail with here. Suffice to say that, yes there are laws defining where you can and can't park your camper, however, the Police will generally turn a blind eye as long as you are not causing any other sort of problem. (e.g. littering, noise, vandalism, fires etc.) I parked up in National park areas, on the side of public roads, in carparks etc, with nary a problem. Sometimes I would get attention from the Police but they would move on generally with just a warning. Sometimes, yes they would insist that I move but usually it was all cool and the gang.

A bottle of wine how fancy. Hope it was red wine 🍷

You are right, we learn to swim at school here. I grew up in Hobart & had lessons in primary school at about 9 years old but I could already swim anyway. My husband grew up in suburban Melbourne within walking distance of the beach & he can’t swim!

A rubber ring!... The mind boggles

You'd be surprised on how many tourists drown in Australian waters because they either are very poor swimmers, or like you Rob, they don't know how to swim. Australian surf beaches are notorious for drownings as the undertows and rips can be extremely strong and difficult to handle even for stronger swimmers. So Rob, if you are intending on coming back to Australia and going to rivers, rock pools or the beach, please go to your local swimming pool in the UK....I am sure they cater for adults who want to learn to swim....swimming is a fantastic exercise, especially as you get older. Good luck! Cheers.

If you can be bothered, its worth springing for a porta loo and small tent. I camp in my car but l'd be lost without it. I know it's too late now, but Northern NSW there's a campspot called Corindi Beach. Just magic. Boardwalk to a magnificent beach.

Hey that is super cool ❤️

How much fun was that! Heat, mountains, waterholes, noodles. I think the reason one can't just pull up anywhere to camp are for hygiene reasons maybe. As a person of my vintage, we didn't have swimming lessons, for some reason we just knew how to do it 😊. Look forward to the next one, oh by the way a zebra at Zoodoo had a baby the other day, so cute 😍.

Just catching up now. It looks like you had a good time around QLD. There are always adults taking learn to swim lessons in Australia because we have people immigrating from all over the world who haven’t had an opportunity to learn before. We focus on swim safety here to prevent drownings. In NSW after lockdowns families were given learn to swim vouchers because so many young children had missed out on lessons and there was a concern that they might never learn. Rob I hope you are able to take lessons. Given issues with your calves it may offer a low impact exercise option for you.

We have something similar in The Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, with a crater lake where people go swimming. I love Lake Eacham, with its natural beauty. It's a great place for a barbie (barbecue) and a swim. But because it doesn't have a bottom, I'm too scared to try swimming too far into the middle of the lake. I usually stick to around the edges and the pontoon. I'm not alone in my fear. You guys are right about swimming lessons being essential in Australia. But there are people with phobias in every country. Personally, I suffer from Allegrophobia, which is the fear of being late. I'm a planner, so I rarely get panic attacks. I also am scared of insecure heights from climbing up ladders to long staircases. I also avoid show (fair) rides that turn upside down.

Would be great to see you guys traveling around Australia to be surprised that it’s not all about footy stadiums & big cities 🤔😁

Better to play it safe near water, even experienced swimmers can get into trouble. My Mum taught us 3 kids to swim from about 1 year old, as some kids near her farm where she grew up wandered into a dam and drowned, tragically. Probably it would be better to start at the beginning, in a pool with your feet on the bottom, first thing is to get your head under water, until you can do it easily. One step at a time! Cheers guys.

That’s a fuckin ball tearing unit. What a versatile tool. four and a half stars.

Hi guys. Check out UK photographer Thomas Heaton who travels all over UK in his van. Recently took his van to Iceland.

Usually its parents who teach the basics and most schools will do some kind of lessons at some point in primary school and again in high school. High school usually has a swimming carnival day, where we divide the school in maybe 3 or 4 colours or groups to compete against. So inevitably most who grow up in Australia can swim. Plus with so many great beaches,they try to teach kids about beach safety too. I grew up here n not everyone loves everything about the water. Some like pools over beaches. Some are scared of putting the head underwater. I personally didn't love my head in water til i was about 10. Couldn't open my eyes underwater for a long time either....But every year summer rolls around,you get a chance to work on the things that are difficult snd get a buzz when you achieve a skill. We'd all prefer people learn to swim than accidentally drown. So there's plenty of people who teach swimming to all ages. And there's lots of great places to swim.... definitely worth the feeling of embarrassment cos it only lasts til you realise you CAN do it!! And then you'll be even more excited to travel to lovely looking pools.

Most aussies do swimming at school and learn to swim. We mostly live pretty close to the beach or river so swimming is pretty necessary

I can't swim either, I've tried getting lessons i just freak out in water so i just stay away

I’m an Aussie and I’m not a strong swimmer! So I keep out of the ocean and stick to low flowing rivers that are safer for me. I prefer the bush rather to the coast so I’m golden! I urge you to at least learn to float. It could save your life!

I jumped in a few seconds too early before charlie stated they were remnants of old Volcanos.

How on earth did you sleep comfortably in that bed? I'm the same...I need my creature comforts 😅Nice vlog!

Mate next visit to oz get some swimming classes at any local pool, no better place to learn than in Australia. Also the dirty backpackers have stuffed it up for everyone parking for weeks wherever they wanted causing issues like leaving there rubbish laying around making lots of noise at night and just being pests so city’s and towns don’t allow these types of vehicles park for long periods of time

I am fairly sure the Glasshouse mountains are extinct volcanos.

Hmmm , yeah ,,, right ! 🤨🤔 Looks a bit …………. …. Interesting ??🧐🤔

Did you see any Joe Blakes on your travels , Rob ? ... Clue they like long grass 😂

Did you go to Inskip, that's a great area for driving on the beach and camping.

Dont worry, Im a swimmer from birth, my daughters cant swim no matter how much I tried. I sent them to swim school, one did well, the other panics in water. As she gets older she is getting better, but we are aussies, queenslanders now coming from sydney and its ok. U need to learn to walk in water first. I was a comp swimmer, i could hold my own but I had a few minor strokes which screwed my brain a little. Swimming was one. The first time I got in water at rehab I was scared. It was new to me even tho I knew it wasnt. So I was giving some floaties and a noodle and off we went. I learnt to walk in water, then I learnt to take my feet off the floor, holding the side and then sitting on the noodle, balancing, floating and kicking to keep me upright and moving. After several weeks I was swimming with a kick board. Learn to walk before learning to swim and do it at a local pool so u have lots of support around u. U'll be fine and u will need to as there is alot of waterholes for u to visit. Cant miss all the watering fun.

It must be really hard if you can’t swim, and I absolutely understand your reticence…Most Aussie kids learn to swim from very young..it is taught in schools..If you do Adult swimming lessons, everyone is the same boat …I would just paddle out, then paddle back , rather than jump in to the pool that is over your depth. Trust your gut instincts..you’re fine mate….

overnight campsite $59 a night not too bad

Not a Holden it is a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo just fake badges

Hey Charlie, do you watch "Lil and Jake"? They are hilarious !!! They drop a vid every Sat'd morning each week. Another great channel is "TIAV or Trip In A Van". They are a wonderful family and are on their 6th lap of Australia !!! They show all the good spots and now 6 years later they are even showing all the not so good spots, which are also incredible. Great vid and episode this week Rob. I think you call it Canyoning. Love the idea of you both doing this while you were here. Can't wait for your next instalment next week!

Wow! U guys are amazing. Doing all this different stuff! I’d have seen the colour of that water or spied some slimy crap on a rock there (u no - there - that place somewhere near Noosa … I like Noosa - yes said in that British comedians voice - can’t remember who) and have gone “NOPE!” Th swimming thing must be daunting but on the other hand, sometimes the whole Oz Culture and kids swimming thing can create childhood trauma. Imagine a skinny (proper skinny) female only child of maybe 10 years crouched in the start race position on the blocks waiting for the loud starters whistle (mind you late @ night with a cold wind blowing) with all other competitors being boys, and a smidge before the whistle, doing a false start. Stupidly, I hauled arse and got back up on block, before diving in to complete the race, but NOW LAST. Stays with you forever, so don’t worry re the learn to swim thing - the trauma from having done so is prob worse.

That’s pokey!!!! You need a motorhome for comfort!!!!

Sorry I missed where you stay on the Sunshine Coast before Cooroy?

Grab a few private swimming lessons in a heated pool somewhere for both of you. Charlie can get some refinement to her swimming and Rob should learn to tread water and do breaststroke....and that should be enough for Rob to feel confident enough to swim in pool and pond...but not enough for Aus surf. I grew up in Sydney during the 60s. There were swimming lessons each year and a competitive swimming carnival. I was the worst swimmer in my classes and in my family...but I as okay in non-challenging conditions. I felt more confident with the breaststroke because my head was always above water.

Dunno how van life that rig is. More like the abduction simulator. The shed on the back looks.... a 2004¿ rodeo also looks a little abductey.

Hi

You should've gone to "Robert Irwin's Wildlife Zoo."

My mum took me for swimming lessons but i shat in the pool so we never went back. Admittedly, i was 34 at the time.....

good on ya for getting out there, i was there at the end of my holidays in August this year. sorry i didnt catch up with you but it was a distance thing. enjoy your holidays in the Australian way!! Susie xxx

Do NOT camp next to a river - crocodiles will come out and take you.

Like me Rob, I don't think your parents gave you any confidence around water. I too am frightened off it, I love being near it, but not necessarily in it. Neither of my parents were swimmers. My husband is the brave one in our family, His dad was a great body surfer and my husband is a water baby around water, a great swimmer and has surfed when he was younger. Scenery: yes beautiful Sunny Coast

Mate ya gotta learn to swim, in Australia your surrounded by water. Adult classes do exist.