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Imagine stepping on a bus all by yourself to spend the following 19 days with 8 strangers, road-tripping through Western Australia. That might sound pretty daunting, and honestly, I would lie if I said I didn’t think the same at first. However, the famous quote by William Butler Yeats proved to be true:
“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t met yet.”
During my Perth to Broome Road2Adventure trip, I had such a good time that I decided to extend it. I embarked on the 14-day Broome to Darwin trip too. In this blog post, I – Lily, a solo traveller from The Netherlands – will write about my experience.
Driving by yourself vs. a tour
After being in Australia for more than half a year, I already had a pretty good sense of the country. No, snakes and spiders are not raining from the sky (for some reason, foreigners think this is reality!?). I decided how I felt about Vegemite, and my skills in decoding Aussie slang were improving. But something I didn’t feel comfortable with was the idea of traveling by myself in the outback. It is a vast country and especially in the west you’re able to drive for hours without seeing any sign of civilization. Breaking down with a 4WD on a deserted beach is not something usual to happen. Basically, I was looking for the best way to see this magnificent part of the country without risking my own life (and okay, I have to admit that I don’t have my driver’s license, which is kind of a crucial factor if you want to travel with your own vehicle). Luckily, I came across this Facebook post from a guy called Joe, who converted two school buses into driving hostels and is touring around Australia.
Gus and Gert the buses
The Road2Adventure buses are as ‘luxurious’ as they can possibly get for self-contained vehicles. Although you’re not going to have the shower of your life, it is pretty impressive there IS a good shower, toilet, kitchen with an oven, beds with privacy curtains, space for lots of luggage, surfboards, and the list goes on… Besides that, the bus is towing a 4WD, so there are many options for off-road adventures. Although the first trip was fully booked, I never felt like the bus was crammed.
The same for the itinerary. Road2Adventure might be a ‘tour,’ but it doesn’t feel like a tour at all. It’s more like traveling with a bunch of friends, not having to follow a certain time schedule. During the trips, I was able to actually enjoy the places and let them sink in, instead of hurrying from one viewpoint to another. Joe is not your stereotypical tour guide who will lecture you about all the special trees. But he does know all the hidden gems: the best places to surf and super idyllic campsites no one’s ever heard of. And alright, he’ll take you to the Pinnacles too. In 19 days, we went from the whitest, quietest beaches to the most gorgeous gorges with red rocks. We were able to see kangaroos, echidnas, native birds, dingos, and all kinds of marine life. It is even possible to squeeze in a whale shark snorkel experience or scuba dive if you want to. Although the east coast of Australia might be more popular (and seemingly more accessible) among backpackers, the wild west truly feels like a different planet—in the best way possible.
If you want to have a good time with the spectacular scenery of Western Australia as a backdrop, I’d definitely recommend checking out Road2Adventure. Besides Perth to Broome, Joe also offers kitesurfing tours, the South West loop, and Perth to Adelaide (or vice versa). Although most people on the bus are solo backpackers in their twenties, it doesn’t matter at all who you are, where you come from, and whether you travel alone or not. Just imagine stepping on a bus to spend the following 19 days with 8 soon-to-be friends, road-tripping Western Australia—and having the trip of a lifetime.
When I look back on the trips, my heart is very full. I met some amazing people with Road2Adventure with whom I still have contact. As you’re hiking, swimming, spotting wildlife, cooking, and camping under the stars together, bonding happens naturally. I’ll never forget the fun we had paddling through a Karijini gorge with six people on a single stand-up paddle board, or waking up to a double rainbow on my birthday, with everyone singing. And what about dance sessions on top of the bus… or how euphoric (and cold and tired) we were after summiting Mt Bruce before sunrise. And many, many more unforgettable moments.
