Not everyone looks at the same future: buying a house, paying off the mortgage, planning retirement.
Take Brydie and Bryce McKenzie, 16-month-old toddler Maeve and Chief the dog – right now they think there’s a lot more to life. They sold their house in Whanganui last October, the second home they had, and no, they didn’t buy another house – they bought a caravan instead.
Bryce left his job as an electrician; they pruned their belongings, left a few boxes in storage and then left, initially around the North Island in their big Canyon caravan.
DELIVERED
Brydie and Bryce McKenzie pictured with Maeve have lived a life in the caravan after selling their home in Whanganui.
They are not afraid to get out of the housing market. They say that a leap of faith can lead to the most beautiful adventures. And they love being free from all things homeownership.
READ MORE:
* No stress, no lawns, no maintenance – ditch your house for a caravan
* The grandmother who lives among the treetops in her son’s backyard
* Tiny house owners buy up land rent as soon as they appear online
They have thrown the wind to the wind and have stopped wherever they want to enjoy the scenery, or for Maeve to have fun at a playground. Being completely self-contained, they often camp in scenic spots in the most picturesque locations, sometimes stopping in caravan parks where they meet people. Often they do not have a plan where they will spend the night.
DELIVERED
This is the home of the McKenzies on wheels – they have been traveling since October last year but will now be running an Airbnb in Mt Lyford for a few months before hitting the road again.
Kirsten J Photography
And that’s what it’s all about: exploring the great outdoors.
Brydie McKenzie says that even when they had a home, they always loved traveling and doing things a little differently. “We went out camping and driving around every weekend so it wasn’t a big shock to make the decision to do that full time.
“But before we sold, I had my doubts – it was a scary decision and I panicked a bit. We wondered whether to rent out the house. But once you’ve made the decision, everything falls into place.”
“I grew up with the idea that safety is an asset, and that’s what we should strive for. But through our experiences, we discovered that it doesn’t matter or mean anything.”
Brydie says the lifestyle doesn’t come without its challenges. “We expect highs and lows, but these things can help us grow and adapt. We feel completely comfortable with all our decisions and confident that we can navigate whatever comes up.
Delivered
The Canyon caravan has met all their needs.
“We love being in solitude and doing things on our own time, but at the same time, we value communities and contact with other people. And we always listen to audiobooks, podcasts and work on personal development.”
Funding for their travels comes not only from home sales, but also through cryptocurrencies. “That has fallen, so our income has fallen. We’re still making money, but things are a bit tighter,” says Brydie. The couple is also setting up a new business, an online communication course for couples that will generate income.
Delivered
There is sufficient storage space in the caravan.
They had recently returned to Whanganui to meet up with family and friends, but soon hit the road again, to the South Island, to Picton and then to Hanmer Springs on their way to Christchurch. And it was in Hanmer Springs in March that they had a chance meeting with another Canyon caravan owner, Victor.
“We had booked a small log cabin on Mt Lyford for my birthday,” says Brydie. “On the drive from Hanmer to My Lyford, not far from the turnoff up the mountain, we passed Victor’s caravan parked in a paddock in the distance – he pulled down the driveway further on. We waved as we passed.
“We met later when we stopped at the bottom of the mountain road. It turned out he owned a piece of land just down the road from where we were staying.’
Delivered
Maeve and Chief have fun at the beach; the family takes a selfie at the door of their house.
Kirsten J Photography
“We expect highs and lows, but these things can help us grow and adapt,” Brydie says.
Long story short, Victor’s “beautiful log cabin” has become available and the family is about to settle down for three months and host and manage two private Airbnb rooms.
“I had never heard of Mt Lyford until we came across it on our travels here in March,” Brydie posted on Instagram. “And boy, it’s pure magic. We are so excited!!
“I’ve never been a big ‘mountain person’, but the place is so beautiful. We are about 15 meters from the ski area.” Chef has been in the meantime equipped with new tartan wool coats.
And the future? “Once we leave Mt Lyford, we’ll hit the road again to see the rest of the South Island. There is so much to see and always new things to discover.”
Let’s leave the final words to the travelers: “Selling everything and living on the road turns out to be far more rewarding than we ever imagined.”
The family can be followed on Instagram.
Professional photography by Kirsten J Photography
DELIVERED
Bryce and Maeve warm up in front of a fire.