True Aussie Adventurers: This is Our Australia

Mel, Pedr and their 3 year old daughter Chloe are on a 3 year adventure of a lifetime, spending quality time together exploring our beautiful country writing about their experiences on a facebook page called This Is Our Australia.

Pedr Francis, a qualified motor mechanic of almost 20 years has always been a weekend adventurer. Mel and Pedr’s first real off-road experience together was in 2007 when they took a 5 week adventure to Cape York in their LandCruiser and camper trailer. They both fell in love with the adventure lifestyle but weren’t in a position to make it a full time endeavor. They made a pledge to each other that some day they would hit the road full time.

In 2008 Pedr took the first step to making it a full time career by landing the co-host role on the TV show Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures, giving people mechanical advice on their vehicles.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience behind him, he then opened his own mechanical workshop specialising in 4x4 servicing and repairs. In 2016 after helping thousands of people get their vehicles ready for full-time travel Mel & Pedr decided that the adventure lifestyle was calling and sold their business, house and furniture to travel full time.

Melissa Schembri (Pedr’s wife), is a motivational speaker, life coach, former lawyer and best selling author who was also keen to live the adventurous lifestyle, so it was an easy decision to take her motivational workshops and writing on the road.

This Is Our Australia facebook page and website was originally created by Fabienne & Warrick Wintle who blogged about their 2 year adventure around Australia inspiring others to consider a lifestyle change. Mel & Pedr followed their blogs and through helping each other out became good friends. When Fabienne & Warrick’s girls reached school age they decided to settle in Agnus Water and Fab & Warrick decided that Mel & Pedr were the perfect choice to keep the ‘This Is Our Australia’ flame alive.

Mel & Pedr have just been to south East Queensland – Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and then inland to the Banana Shire of Biloela, Theodore, Baralaba, then Gladstone, Bundaberg, Agnus Water, Mackay, Townsville, Cobbold Gorge, Karumba, Gregory River, Adel’s Grove, Lawn Hill, Camooweal and are now on their way to Darwin.

Itinerary wise, Mel & Pedr like to head north for winter and south for summer. Sometimes their itinerary is dictated by Mel’s work commitments, but they will certainly get around the entire coast of Australia and all of the awesome in land places too. Tasmania is high on the priority list and where there is a brilliant adventure to be had, Mel, Pedr & Chloe will be there.

In order to get ready for the big trip, Mel and Pedr first decided on what caravan they wanted to travel in. As it would be their full time home, they wanted a full size van with shower, toilet, air conditioning, bunk bed for Chloe and all their creature comforts.

In preparing their vehicle for the trip, Pedr’s needs were: 

• rear draw system to keep his tools from floating around in the back of the Landcruiser, 
• fridge slide integrated into the rear draw system to accommodate their second 80L fridge/freezer,
• snorkel to keep the air clean going into the motor and the water out when crossing off-road rivers, 
• steel bulbar to protect against animal strikes and will also house a winch once fitted
• Rock tamer large mud flaps to prevent rocks damaging the caravan, 
• suspension lift kit for carrying extra accessories and caravan weight and for better off road clearance, 
• electric brake controller to operate the caravan brakes
• dual battery system to run the second fridge with a Redarc DC2DC charger, 
• Hayman Reece weight distribution hitch for safer highway towing,
• Anderson plug fitted for 12v power to the caravan fridge,
• quality air-compressor and tyre pressure gauge for re-inflating tyres after dirt road and sand driving, 
• tyre puncture repair kit for temporary repairs in remote areas,
• recovery equipment and first aid kit
• Cooper S/TMAXX tyres for travelling on outback roads and carrying extra weight of accessories and caravan
• 100L water bladder for carrying extra water in remote areas.

Make sure you keep an eye on our website and Facebook page to keep up to date with Mel, Pedr and Chloe's adventure of a lifetime. We'll be following them along the way and sharing their tips and advice on how they make it all work out on the tracks.