A Northern Beaches family sold their renovated “perfect house” to fund a life on the road – a property pivot that mirrors a growing cohort of Australians eyeing caravans and motorhomes as a cheaper address in the cost‑of‑living crunch.
Their move, and a recent survey pointing to rising interest in van life, suggests “home” is being redefined as prices and rents bite.
On the surface, Dan and Naomi Toohey had it all: the “perfect house” on Sydney’s pristine Northern Beaches, well‑paying jobs and three children.
“We had all the stuff, the house, all the vehicles. Life was good,” Dan told nine.com.au.
“But the kids were saying to us…We miss you guys. You’re always at work. We never see you.”
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The mortgage grind – six days a week to meet repayments – wore them down.
After 27 years in Sydney, they were “burnt out”.
“I came home one day and said to Naomi, ‘I can’t do this anymore’,” Dan said.
“I got to the point where I felt trapped.”
He’d long dreamt of leaving Sydney to travel full‑time in a campervan; Naomi, a midwife working long hours, didn’t need much convincing.
Dan and Naomi Toohey decided to take their three kids on a “dream” trip around Australia. (Supplied)
Within eight weeks they sold the family home, stored most belongings and bought a caravan. “Everything just started falling into place for us,” Dan said.
The plan was a 12‑month lap with their children, aged 11, nine and three, joining the “not so grey” nomads.
The proceeds of their house sale covered petrol, food, campsite fees and experiences.
“We are definitely spending a lot less than we were back in Sydney,” Dan added.
Schooling moved to distance education.
“The first few months were tough,” Dan said.
“We did rip their lives from underneath them without any warning.”
The family found a rhythm and, over the past year, ticked off every bucket‑list item on a 15,000km big lap — from Ningaloo Reef in WA to Cape York and the Kimberley.
The kicker has been family reconnection.
he couple sold their home and bought a caravan to embark on a big lap of the country. (Supplied)
Dan and Naomi say their relationship is stronger, and so is their bond with their kids.
They’d intended to settle after a year, but the “travel bug” has taken hold.
“At this stage, we’re committing to travelling to the end of this year. But it might keep going,” Dan said.
“Who knows where we’d end up? We’re leaving things quite open.”
There’s one non‑negotiable: not returning to Sydney.
The couple recently bought a property sight‑unseen in Noosa, a possible next base.
“You could not pay me to go back to Sydney,” Dan laughed.
For the Tooheys, trading a Northern Beaches mortgage for the open road has delivered lifestyle, learning and a pathway to a new home base – proof that, for a growing number of Australians, the best property move might be hitting the highway.
Aussies ready to swap homes for caravans
According to a recent survey by money.com.au, this certainly appears to be the case with 21 per cent of homeowners currently considering downsizing all the way into a caravan if expenses kept rising.
A further 13 per cent said they’d happily swap bricks and mortar for a permanent life on the road.
Gen Z led the charge toward van life, followed by Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.
Money.com.au’s Finance Expert, Fi Ahlstrom, said soaring house prices and rents are forcing people to rethink what ‘home’ actually means.
A new money.com.au survey shows the couple are not alone when it comes to swapping bricks and mortar for life on the road. (Supplied).
“With housing so expensive, especially in our capital cities, people are looking at options once seen as just for holidays, like living in a caravan,” she says.
“For some it’s a short‑term fix while the cost of living is so high and for others it could become permanent. And with no real relief on the cost‑of‑living front, we’re likely to see this trend grow.
“But, it’s worth keeping in mind that caravans still come with costs like site fees, utilities, maintenance, registration and insurance, but for many they can still work out far cheaper than traditional rent or a mortgage.”
Ms Ahlstrom said younger Australians’ openness stands out.
“It really highlights how tough the affordability crisis is for young people and points to a generational shift toward more flexible, minimalist living,” she says.
“For some, it could even be a stepping stone, an alternative to moving back in with mum and dad, while they save for a house deposit. But I think it’s also part of a wider rethink of how we live.”
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