Explore how the pandemic reshaped work and travel, creating opportunities to earn money while travelling in your RV.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us many things. The most significant social change that emerged was how we live and work. We quickly learned that we can work remotely and effectively without needing to attend a workplace between set hours on particular days.

Domestic travel skyrocketed, and the caravan and RV industry boomed. More frequently, new words entered our lexicon — ‘bleisure’ and ‘digital nomads’.

Bleisure

Bleisure — mixing business and leisure travel — is an emerging trend in the caravan industry as many customers explore creative ways to customise the layout and features of their caravans and RVs that will enable them to work and earn a living on the road.

Sales of caravans and RVs have continued to rise in the years since COVID-19, and the industry says there has been an increase in customers looking to mix business and leisure, whether by working remotely from a laptop or creating a (mobile) face-to-face business model.

Digital Nomads

Being a digital nomad isn’t a new concept, but these kinds of travellers are growing. They are people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet — which is far more accessible than ever before. Whether wi-fi, smartphone or mobile hotspot, the internet is widely available across populated areas of Australia. If remote travel is your thing, Starlink provides access to the internet from anywhere in the country, no matter the location.


Most digital nomads are programmers, content creators, designers or developers. Digital nomad jobs include freelance writing, web design, virtual assistant work, social media consulting, or even day trading. You might start a blog that sells affiliate products and ad space.


Some digital nomads are permanent travellers, working their way around Australia or even overseas, while others only maintain the lifestyle for a short period of time.

Other Jobs for Earning While Travelling

But what if sitting on a keyboard and being ‘digital’ is not your thing?

Don’t worry — there are plenty of opportunities for enterprising folks who have some skills and are prepared to give it a go. I saw some of these on a recent 10,000km trip from Melbourne to Far North Queensland. So, let’s dive into some options that might intrigue you.

Barista 

Most people love a good coffee in the morning to kick start their day, and if you haven’t packed your coffee-making equipment, you’ll yearn for a good brew while you’re on the road. In many campgrounds, showgrounds and free camps, you’ll come across a coffee van — an enterprising barista providing a community need from a small caravan or the back of a van while they live on the road. On a recent trip north, we camped next to a couple at the showgrounds in Moree, NSW, who had a terrific set-up in the canopy of their dual-cab ute and were doing a roaring trade.

Hairdresser 

If you’ve been on the road for a few months, you’ll probably need a trim at some stage. I’ve seen a few hairdressers offering cuts in local caravan parks — quite an easy way to make some money on the road if you’ve got the skills and qualifications.

Dog Sitter

So many people travel with dogs these days, but your beloved pooches will restrict the places you can go (national parks, for example) and limit the number of touristy activities you can participate in while you’re out and about. Offer to sit and walk dogs in your campground so the owners can head off and see some sites or even go out for dinner one night.

Mobile Caravan Repairs

Regardless of where you travel in your RV or caravan and how careful you are, at some point, almost everyone will require some type of repair or fix — even if it’s very minor. And in many parts of Australia, it’s a very long way to the nearest repairer. If you have some trade skills or are an experienced caravanner, consider charging a fee for your services to earn a little pocket money.

Mobile Caravan Weighing

Overweight and overloaded RVs and caravans are among the most significant road safety issues. Mobile caravan weighers will travel to you so you can be sure your rig is legal before you head off.

Caretaker

Caravan parks, showgrounds, motels, cattle stations, pubs — so many businesses look for caretakers to either help out during busy periods or to give the permanent caretakers a break during the downtime.

Crafts

Many crafty folks sell the goods they make while they’re travelling. Watch the knitted beanies get snapped up if the weather turns cold! If you’ve got a creative streak running through you, this might be an easy way to make a few extra dollars while travelling.

Tradie

If you’re a current or retired tradie with valuable skills, there will always be someone who can use your help around the place. Before you set up any business at a caravan park or camping ground, check in with the owners/managers to ensure it’s OK with them.

If you don’t want the hassle of setting up your own side hustle, there are hundreds of jobs across the country that are explicitly targeted at travellers, from fruit picking on the harvest trails, driving forklifts and equipment, helping out on remote stations, tutoring, cooking – the list goes on.

Groups, Communities and Resources

There are several websites and Facebook groups that regularly advertise available positions:

  • Australian Sugar Cane Farming/Harvesting
  • Jobs for Families Travelling Australia group
  • Working On The Road In Australia
  • Australian Rural and Remote Jobs
  • Harvest Jobs Australia
  • Short-Term Bush Jobs For Travelling Tradesmen
  • Farm Work Australia
  • The Farm Army
  • Bush Recruitment
  • Workabout Australia
  • Grey Nomad Jobs

Employment Agencies

There are several employment agencies that can assist those who are travelling to Australia:

  • Programmed Employment — recruit for a variety of jobs
  • Rural Enterprises and Harvest job seekers — harvest and farm work
  • Caretakers Australia — Caravan park and motel relief
  • AgriLabour and AG Workforce | Cultivating Careers in Agriculture — websites advertising rural positions

Ready for Adventure? 

Find your dream van online at OnlyVans.com.au!  We have great deals on caravans for sale including used caravans and caravans from private sellers. You can also find motorhomes for sale, camper trailers, and pop top caravans. No matter how you like to travel, we've got you covered. 

 

This article was written by the Editorial Team at TradeRVs.com.au, now powered by OnlyVans.com.au.


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