Jess chats about Caravan Life with Two Little Humans
There’s something quietly courageous about packing up a family home and swapping it for wheels — especially when those wheels are towing not just a caravan, but two small children, a dog, and a life still very much in motion.
In this episode of Travel With Us a While, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jessica Moloney, who — along with her husband, John Moloney, two young children, Jack 4yo and Georgia 2yo and their border collie, Ruby — is currently living full-time in a caravan while following work around Queensland.
No glossy promises. No fixed end date. Just a family figuring it out one day at a time.
From a House in Victoria to a Home on Wheels
Jessica and her family became full-time caravan dwellers in July 2025, leaving behind their home in Victoria when work opportunities shifted north. Her husband works in road construction — an industry that ebbs and flows with budgets and borders — and Queensland offered opportunity where Victoria no longer could.
Rather than sell up and start again, they chose a different path: keep the house, hook up the van, and follow the work.
Their setup is solid and well-considered — a 200 Series LandCruiser (with over 300,000 km and still going strong) towing a 23-foot Wonderland RV they’d originally built with “maybe one day” in mind. That one day arrived sooner than expected.
As Jessica put it, “It’s amazing how such a big van can feel very small when you’re in it every day.”
Especially when that “every day” includes a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and a dog who comes everywhere.
Small Spaces, Big Feelings
One of the most honest parts of our conversation centred on the children — particularly Jessica’s four-year-old son.
He’s bright, curious, and social… but also sensitive. Noise, crowds, and the lack of personal space can be challenging, especially in the close quarters of caravan life and busy parks.
At home, he could retreat to his bedroom and tinker quietly with his trains. On the road, that kind of solitude is harder to find.
Jessica spoke openly about those moments — the agitation, the overwhelm — and the gentle problem-solving that comes with parenting on the move. Their solution (at least for now)? A simple 3×3 tent, set up as a personal retreat: toys, shade, fly-free space, and a sense of ownership.
Sometimes, the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference.
Rhythm Instead of Routine
Life on the road doesn’t lend itself to strict schedules — and Jessica doesn’t force one.
When her husband is working, days begin early. There’s a morning walk with the dog, an outing with the kids — botanical gardens, beaches, zoos — and then a retreat back to the van during the hottest part of the day.
Afternoons often mean the pool, cooling off, and burning energy before dinner. It’s a rhythm shaped by climate, children, and place — not the clock.
And yes, Queensland heat waits for no one.
Favourite Places & Secret Corners
When asked about favourite destinations, Jessica didn’t hesitate — though choosing was hard.
Gregory Downs, tucked away in north-west Queensland, holds a special place in her heart. A pub, a river, shade trees, and crystal-clear water perfect for floating. Simple. Beautiful. Memorable.
Then there’s the Flinders Ranges — vast, ancient, and quietly breathtaking. A place she hopes to return to one day, intentionally.
Like so many travellers, Jessica understands that some places don’t reveal themselves quickly. They ask you to slow down.
Fraser (K’gari):
Dirt, Water, and Childhood Freedom
One of the joys of this episode was hearing Jessica talk about K’gari (Fraser Island) — where they camped with the kids over Christmas.
Yes, they took the van.
Yes, it raised eyebrows online.
No, they didn’t get stuck.
More importantly, the kids thrived.
Floating down Eli Creek. Playing in the sand. Catching tiny fish, building makeshift ponds, getting dirty, and losing track of time — the way childhood is meant to feel.
Jessica said it best: “If you can take your beautiful home on wheels somewhere like that, why wouldn’t you?”
Community, Kindness, and Local Knowledge
One of the themes that keeps surfacing in my conversations — and in my own travels — is the power of connection.
Stopping at local pubs. Chatting at information centres. Asking questions. Listening.
Jessica shared a wonderful tip for travelling with kids: Australian travel “passports” you can buy cheaply and have stamped at visitor centres along the way. A small thing — but a powerful way to turn movement into meaning for little travellers.
And then there’s house-sitting, farm stays, and animal care — ideas Jessica is now exploring as a way to slow down, save money, and give the kids a taste of different lives and landscapes.
Cooking, Creativity & Making Do
Living small means choosing tools wisely — and for Jessica, the Thermomix has earned its place in the van. Bread, yoghurt, curries, spices — one machine doing many jobs, freeing space and time.
It reminded me of making bread aboard our yacht years ago — the motion of the boat kneading the dough for us. Different wheels, same ingenuity.
No End Date — Just the Next Turn
There’s no fixed finish line for this family. No bold declaration of “the lap”. Just thoughtful choices, practical decisions, and a willingness to adapt.
Jessica was honest about the hardest part — that three-to-four-month mark, when the novelty wears off and the kids start asking when they’re going “home”.
But home, as it turns out, is something you carry with you.
And with a little more space carved out for quiet, a few more places yet to explore, and the confidence that comes from doing something brave — this family is finding their way.
One campsite at a time.
What Jess did not mention in the podcast that she often drives and sets up camp alone when Jack is working and they change locations. She laughed and said she often got a few astonished looks from fellow campers when she does this.
GO GIRL – I love a woman who can do anything!
🎧Listen to the full episode
Travel With Us a While — Jessica Moloney: Full-Time Caravan Life with Kids
