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High school cuties Justin and Carissa Morgan are living the life many only dream of.
The couple and their two daughters – Charlotte, six, and Mac, four – may look like any other young family, but they’ve been on the ultimate road trip with their caravan. touring Australia.
The two ditched the 9-5 life and sold their home for a “quiet adventure” with their kids — chasing sunsets, snorkeling with turtles, hiking through stunning canyons and waking up somewhere new every day.
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The young family from Mackay in Queensland has already covered 15,500km.
And it will be around an impressive 35,000km by the time they complete the Grand Tour around the country.
“Living in a ‘tin can’ teaches you how little you need to have a wonderful life – less is definitely more,” says Carissa 7 Life.
The couple met at a high school party and started dating when they were 16.
They started camping in their 20s, but have been “caravaning seriously” for around two-and-a-half years, having gone full-time since January this year.
“We didn’t want to be working for travel in our 60s when we retire. We wanted to do this now while we’re young and healthy … and our kids can come with us,” Carissa says.
Karissa, 34, is a videographer and photographer, which means she can work while traveling, and Justin, 35, is a diesel engine fitter who worked in management before hitting the road.
But he is currently enjoying “a well-deserved break after many years of looking after the family”, Carissa says.
Before living on the road, the couple toyed with the idea as they had close friends and family who did it for short periods of time and loved it.
However, the catalyst for this was really the death of Justin’s stepfather.
“He was running out of time doing what he loved most in life, and we just thought, ‘If not now, when?'” Carissa says.
To finance the trip, the couple sold their home.
They were then lucky enough to live with Justin’s mum for a few months after getting rid of the mortgage to “really relax and save as much as they could”.
Carissa says those six months have been hard work, “but it’s all worth it now that we’re living here!”
While some might think that life on the road is cheaper, Carissa says it really isn’t.
The couple say diesel “is a big killer” and that “everyone seems to be eating a lot more food than at home and we also love a hidden pub meal somewhere new or exciting with an epic view”.
Each month, the couple spends about $1,300 on fuel and the same amount on accommodation, with groceries being their biggest expense at $1,600.
One thing the couple has changed their mind about since living on the road is downsizing their next house.
“We’ll buy a smaller house when we eventually settle down again,” she says.
As for belongings, the family likes to keep them relatively light.
But Justin can’t “live without his fishing rod,” and Carissa says that even though she likes to think she’s “struggling” a lot of the time, she likes to have one thing.
“If I can’t use my straightener once a week, I start to get grumpy,” she says.
What they lack the most is a flush toilet.
“It looks like something small,” Carissa says.
“But when dealing with your own ‘waste’ is a daily chore, you quickly wish you could press the magic button on the wall and watch it all disappear down the pipe.”
Sometimes life on the road is not without its challenges.
“There’s a saying among travelers, and it’s that good days are REALLY good, but bad days can be REALLY bad, too,” Carissa says.
But she says she has an amazing “traveling community” on the road, with someone always willing to lend a hand to anyone having a tough day.
Fortunately, Carissa says, they haven’t had many mistakes because Justin is vigilant with the preparation, maintenance and ongoing inspections of their tow vehicle and caravan.
“On any (given) day, you can expect anything from a flat tire to a sand track getting stuck,” she says.
“But if you’ve done all your preparation and have the right equipment, hopefully you’ll be fine.
“However, living in a small space with your spouse and two children 24/7 can be fulfilling.
“We love each other passionately, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get under each other’s skin at times.
“Deep breaths, recognizing when someone needs time apart, and being open and honest usually helps.”
Although life on the road with the kids it can be a little chaotic at times, Carissa says that “watching their whole world get bigger is one of the reasons we’re here.”
“I want to say how lucky our kids are,” she says.
“They see this amazing country before most adults and are little sponges — soaking up every new terrain they cross.
“We do a bit of schoolwork with our six-year-old, mostly reading, English and maths.
“Our youngest hasn’t started school yet, but she’s already learned to write her name, dive with turtles, go around gorges, dive to the bottom of the pool… you get the idea.”
The family’s day begins before sunrise and usually with a run.
Then there’s school work for their older daughter, Charlotte, before they head off to explore, making sure they get back to camp to catch an “epic sunset”.
“Being able to watch the sun rise and set most days is something we don’t take for granted living life mostly ‘outdoors,'” says Carissa.
“We are forever on the threshold of a new opportunity, a new place to explore and a new view.
“It’s never dull, never dull, always new and exciting.”
The family will return home before the start of the 2025 school year to return the two girls to formal education and “reload their bank account”.
Carissa and Justin’s advice to others young families who want to travel but they don’t know where to start, is to ask themselves: “If not now, then when?”.
“If it’s something you’ve been dying to do but have no idea how or how to afford it – just jump in,” the couple say.
“100 percent you will make it.
“Everyone here does it differently, finances it differently and makes it their own.
“Set a date, commit to it, and go.
“It really doesn’t get any simpler than that.”
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