12 Days in a Van

3700km. 5 states. 12 days.

My best friend Jade and I wanted to spend a few weeks in Melbourne, but instead of flying directly from Brisbane we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get in a road trip and explore more of Australia.

We travelled in a Jucy Compass Van which was such an experience in itself, going to sleep and waking up in a new location every morning. 

One of my favourite aspects of the trip was being able to cook our own meals in the van. A question I hear frequently asked is, “How do you stay healthy whilst travelling/on the road?” I know how hard it can seem to maintain a healthy lifestyle on the road and wanting to opt for the easier takeaway option, but in this case Jucy made it so simple for us; there were no excuses!

The van comprised of all the necessary cookware and utensils including a gas cooker, kettle and pots/pans, that we needed to make breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jade and I are very health-conscious and enjoy plant-based meals. They can also be very affordable – another good reason to cook your own meals whilst travelling! One of the dishes we made, which lasted us a couple of nights, was a classic “Mexi Beans”. This is a super simple recipe that doesn’t take long to cook and is also super filling and delicious.

Ingredients:

(Serves 2)

2x 400g four bean mix

1x 400g diced Italian tomatoes 

1x taco seasoning mix

Taco sauce

2x servings of rice

1x avocado

*Optional: Wraps or corn chips

1. Drain and rinse beans well.

2. In a pot, add beans, diced tomatoes and taco seasoning and cook on a medium temperature until heated through.

3. Take beans off the stove.

4. In a separate pan, add the packet rice and a splash of water (normally the rice is heated in the microwave so we had to improvise).

5. Stir rice in with bean mixture.

6. If you are having a burrito, you would then add the mix in with taco sauce and avocado, or you can enjoy as a ‘burrito bowl’ with toppings.

Overall our #vanlife experience was one we’ll never forget. It allowed us to experience and explore so many new and hidden places we wouldn’t normally be able to if we were flying. If you’ve been considering doing a road trip or exploring more, I highly recommend you do. You can’t fully appreciate the beauty out there until you see it with your own eyes.

Make sure to keep an eye out on my Instagram @rhiannonbronte for more posts of our trip!