February was a month of river towns, long hot days, and a few surprises — including one very memorable moment involving Ernie and the wrong fuel bowser. We covered good kilometres, found some beautiful spots, and settled into a steadier rhythm after January’s chaos.
Here’s the quick snapshot before we dive into the details.
Where the Money Went 💸
One Sentence Takeaway: A hot month with long drives — but big savings once we left metro pricing behind.
Here’s everything we cover in this month’s wrap‑up.
February in a Nutshell 🕐
February settled into a gentler rhythm after the chaos of January. We wandered through river towns, found quiet bush camps, and finally felt like we were travelling rather than relocating. The heat, however, didn’t get the memo — several days pushed past 42°C, and even Sunny’s air‑con tapped out once or twice. Hard to believe, really, as I’m writing this now on 3 March, sitting inside the caravan wearing a jumper with the heater going at 8:20am. Australia keeps you guessing.
Of course, no month on the road is complete without at least one memorable mishap, and February delivered a beauty. Poor Ernie — our faithful Ford Everest — ended up on the back of a tow truck after I accidentally filled him with unleaded. One moment I was feeling proud of our smooth travel day, the next I was watching the RACQ truck roll in… just two days after we’d renewed our Ultimate membership. At least we got our money’s worth.
The rest of the month was kinder. We explored the Spanner Man sculptures at Boort, added Boris the plush mascot to the family, and enjoyed a mix of lakeside sunsets, paddle steamers, and quiet country roads. February wasn’t flashy, but it was full — full of kilometres, full of small discoveries, and full of the kind of stories you only collect when you’re out here doing it for real.
Monthly Spend by Category 💸
February vs January: What Changed 📉📈
February settled into a calmer rhythm, and the charts make that pretty clear. Accommodation dropped sharply once we escaped Melbourne’s prices and settled into quieter country towns. Dining out followed the same pattern — fewer “we’re too tired, let’s just buy dinner” moments and more simple meals in Sunny.
Fuel and transport jumped, partly because we covered more kilometres, and partly because of that day — the one where Ernie ended up on the back of a tow truck after I accidentally filled him with unleaded. Nothing like watching your tow rig being winched up to remind you that travel budgets aren’t always shaped by choice.
Health and medical also climbed thanks to a dentist visit and a bit of life admin that caught up with us. Groceries nudged higher as we cooked more and ate out less, while caravan maintenance stayed steady — a small but welcome win.
Overall, February was cheaper, steadier, and more predictable… except for the moment it wasn’t. But that’s caravanning life: mostly smooth sailing, with the occasional “Ernie moment” to keep things interesting.
Year‑to‑Date Snapshot 📅
After two months on the road, the YTD picture is finally starting to look like real life rather than relocation shock. January was always going to be the expensive one — city prices, setup costs, and the general chaos of getting moving. February steadied things, even with Ernie’s little fuel‑related detour, and the averages are beginning to smooth out into something more predictable.
What’s emerging now is a clearer sense of what it actually costs us to travel full‑time: the daily rhythm, the cost per kilometre, and how the big categories are settling into a pattern. It’s early days, but the trend is already taking shape.
Daily Averages So Far
January
- Cost per day: $316.69
- Cost per kilometre: $8.28
- Kilometres travelled: 1,186 km
February
- Cost per day: $275.03
- Cost per kilometre: $3.08
- Kilometres travelled: 2,501 km
Year‑to‑Date (January + February)
- Total spent so far: $7,178.38
- Average per month: $3,589.19
- Biggest categories YTD: Caravan Parks, Food & Drink, Fuel
- Most expensive month: January (city prices + heatwave costs + rookie mistakes)
- Cheapest month: February (country towns + fewer driving days)
- Key trend: Costs are stabilising as we settle into a rhythm
- What’s changing: Less city time, more regional stays, better planning and fewer surprises
With the first two months behind us, the numbers are already smoothing out and giving us a more realistic sense of what full‑time travel actually costs. March will add another layer — new places, new rhythms, and hopefully fewer moments involving tow trucks — but for now, the YTD trend is looking steady and surprisingly reasonable.
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February in Pictures 📷
February at a Glance 📋
|
Total Kilometres |
2,501 km |
|
Total Nights |
28 nights |
|
Total Spend |
$7,700.78 |
|
Top 3 Categories |
Groceries, Dining Out, Fuel |
|
Highlight |
Quiet river towns, silo art, and discovering some brilliant small‑town butchers |
|
Lowlight |
Filling Ernie with 60 litres of unleaded |
|
Lessons Learned |
Slow down at the bowser — and maybe treat pork crackling with more respect |
Unexpected Expenses 💸
February’s standout “you absolute dill” moment was entirely on me — not Ernie. While my brain was off daydreaming about where we were heading next, my hands were busy putting 60 litres of Ultimate Unleaded into a very diesel‑only Everest. By the time the bowser clicked off, the damage was done and so was my dignity. We spent the next few hours at a tiny servo in Robe watching a mechanic drain the tank and refill it, while I replayed the moment in my head wondering how on earth I’d managed it.
The only saving grace? We didn’t pay for the tow. Our RACQ Ultimate roadside care had been renewed two days earlier, which might be the most perfectly timed membership renewal of my life.
The other surprise expense came courtesy of a piece of pork crackling that could have doubled as a roofing tile. One bite, one sharp crunch, and suddenly I was booking an unexpected dentist appointment for a filling. Not dramatic, just another reminder that life on the road has a sense of humour — and it usually costs about $500.
If You’re Travelling This Route Soon 🧭
Country Victoria in February has its own rhythm — slower, quieter, and wonderfully spread out. A few things we learned along the way:
- Pick a hub and explore from there. Distances between attractions are bigger than they look on the map. Base yourself in one good spot for a few nights and day‑trip out — it saves money, saves setup time, and lets you actually enjoy the region instead of constantly moving.
- Support the small‑town shops. We had some of the best meat we’ve ever eaten from tiny butchers in river towns. Same with bakeries, fruit shops, and local cafés. These towns rely on travellers, and the quality is often far better than the big chains.
- Expect to drive — and enjoy it. Long, straight roads, silo art, river bends, and little towns that surprise you. The driving becomes part of the experience, not just a way to get from A to B.
- Summer crowds aren’t an issue outside school holidays. Every Murray River park we stayed in was 80% empty. February is hot, yes — but it’s also peaceful, quiet, and easy to book last‑minute.
- Heat is a given, not a surprise. February in Australia is hot no matter where you are. Plan your days around it rather than fighting it.
- Caravan air‑con is great… until it isn’t. In extreme heat, it’s more of a “slow down the melting” device than a true cooling system. Shade, airflow, and timing matter more than the AC button.
- Take your time with the attractions. The Spanner Man sculptures, the silo art trail, the paddle steamers — they’re all better when you’re not rushing to the next stop.
- For more ideas on things to do around northern Victoria, the official Visit Victoria website has up‑to‑date guides on walks, lookouts and local attractions.
Caravan Park of the Month 🏅
Wakiti Creek Resort
Wakiti Creek Resort – a quiet bush caravan park in the middle of nowhere.
Read our full review here.
Wrapping Up February 🧶
February was a month of long drives, quiet river towns, and one very expensive lesson in bowser awareness. It was also the month we finally felt ourselves settling into the rhythm of full‑time travel — slower mornings, simpler meals, and a better sense of what things actually cost once the “leaving home” chaos fades.
Country Victoria treated us well. The heat was relentless, the roads were long, and the butcher shops were unexpectedly brilliant. And even with the misfuel drama, we still came in more than $2,000 under January. That feels like a win.
March will take us into new landscapes, new towns, and hopefully fewer moments involving tow trucks. Here’s how March turned out.
Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear how your February went. Found any great spots? Had your own “Ernie moment”? Drop a comment below — we read every one and love hearing your stories from the road.
