Karstan and Maxine: Wanderlust

THE STORY OF ONE FAMILY AND A VAN

As we settle down into the beat-up Kombi that has taken Karstan and Maxine around the country, it immediately transports me into their carefree mindset. This is their home. The number plate may read “NO GOOD”, but as the pair fondly recalls favourite memories from the past eight months on the road, it becomes apparent that this old van is anything but. Zuri, now just over one year old, has been with her parents every step of the way, from Cameron Corner to Cape York, and the couple’s Instagram @karstanandmaxine beautifully documents every destination.

“The past 12 months have been the best of our lives… we've just been on a massive adventure, which has completely changed our lives,” Maxine said about the whirlwind of new experiences between being new parents and their Outback travels.

“I've discovered more about who I am and as a family we’ve grown and become one unit,” Karstan said.

We've just been on a massive adventure, which has completely changed our lives.

After travelling through Europe and Asia in their 20s, Karstan and Maxine realised one country they were missing – Australia. So in 2009, the pair bought their first Kombi van and have been living on and off the road ever since, including this recent trip through the arid Australian Outback and lush rainforests with their 1968 panel van.

“It [overseas] made us realise that we live in one of the best bloody countries in the world,” said Maxine, as we recount their early travels through Spain. “Why do we have to go overseas to have an experience when you can just drive?”

Though Australia is known for its beautiful coastlines, Karstan and Maxine were both ready to venture off the beaten track and experience the vast terrain of the Outback. The couple beams as they reveal just a few of the beautiful sights they have seen over the years and the people they have been lucky enough to meet along the way. They talk about other travelling families they connected with, small rural towns full of people with stories to share, about feeding crocodiles and seeing wild native animals. And then there’s little Zuri, taking all of it in with her parents.

“Zuri was a dream,” Maxine said.

“Her brain is a sponge and she's constantly being stimulated with new experiences and people and seeing animals and hearing different things. I feel like the past 12 months for her has really helped with her development and shaped her into this beautiful little girl that is just a little ray of sunshine.”

But, how do they manage to travel with such a young child? It’s all about routine… or lack thereof. The couple will map out their bucket list destinations and just drive and see where each day takes them. And because each day is a new adventure, every trip is full of highlights.

Of course, like all travel, van life does not come without its challenges, but Karstan and Maxine believe the experience relies entirely on your mindset.

“I had to pull the engine out twice!” Karstan said. “But that's not a biggie… stripped it down to nuts and bolts, put it back together… on the road in 24 hours.”

“If you want it to work, you'll make it work,” Maxine said.

As well as being excellent savers, owning the van saves the young family from spending on transport costs. Affordable accommodation can also be found around the country between beautiful free camping spots, farm stays, pubs and caravan parks. With a weekly budget for the necessities, Max and Karstan also keep money to the side for those special experiences they feel are worth splurging on.

For this couple, the challenges added to each adventure; obstacles they had to overcome as a unit allowed them to thrive. And as for Newcastle? Nothing has changed, and that’s just the way they like it.

“After this big trip that we felt really fortunate to do, especially, considering the times. We were rolling in to Newcastle, seeing the coastline, and the place where we grew up, we both got emotional,” Maxine said. Spending their weekends back at home taking in the fresh beaches and warm sun, they’re enjoying a rest and are focusing on simplifying their lives and spending time together as a family. However, it is the wanderlust that drives this family and the desire to seek out the unknown.

“We could pull out a map right now and point at all that we experienced at every single place,” Karstan said.

And looking at the stickers that adorn the walls of the Kombi and Karstan’s own shredded shirt from the Outback town of Betoota, it’s easy to see Karstan and Maxine live life to the fullest and live in the moment, pushing their little Kombi to its limits.

“We want to turn this thing into an unstoppable unit,” Karstan said. And they would like nothing else than for others to follow in their footsteps.

“We would love to see a lot more young people seeing and experiencing some remote places,” Maxine said.

It is all about the love of adventure.

If you want it to work, you'll make it work

“Just get a pin and pick a spot… You can do it. Anyone can do it,” Karstan said.

As for what you need to pull it off just like they have? For the kind of travel Karstan and Max love, knowing your vehicle is a must.

“We’ve often gone days without seeing people,” they said, so they carry plenty of water, fuel, a first aid kit and UHF radio for when they’re out of range. And, above all: “Pack light! You’ll be able to buy anything you forgot on the road.”

And if you need any inspiration, take just one look at the couple’s Instagram and you’ll get a sneak peek of all the adventures that lay ahead of you.

Writer Nadene Budden