For six months, the Macintosh family enjoyed van life with their rescue dog, Brontie. And from dusty backroads to coastal campsites, her tail-wagging presence brought extra joy to every kilometre covered.

With everything they needed packed into their fully equipped Crusader Musketeer Palace Caravan, Nicolle set off with her husband, kids and Brontie to explore the beauty of Australia and reconnect as a family.

With no schedules to keep and their gentle dog close by, they discovered a slower, more meaningful way of living filled with great times, long days and sandy paws.

“Travelling with Brontie encouraged us to slow down and savour the small, meaningful moments we might otherwise have missed. Before we left, we were a little worried that she wouldn’t survive the trip since she is 10 years old, how wrong we were. Brontie became fitter and started acting like a puppy again.”

Nicolle Macintosh

Half a year of van life is a huge adventure in anyone’s book. But with a pet involved, it adds a new layer of responsibility and consideration.

We caught up with Nicolle to find out how her family made their trip such a success with a large dog in tow, and what advice they’d give other families considering van life with their pet.

How did your dog manage with the long car drives?

Brontie loves the car and would happily jump up into her spot in the canopy. Our longest drive was for six hours, but we stopped every two hours. We could tell when  Brontie had had enough driving as she would refuse to get back in the canopy.

To keep Brontie comfortable on a cold day, she would wear her jacket and lie on a padded mat and blanket. When it was hot, we had a cooling gel pad for her to lie on and a fan that would run while we drove.  If it were a really hot day, we would only drive early in the morning.

Did you need to get your dog used to the caravan before you left?

We picked up our van less than a week before we left, so there wasn’t much time for her to adjust, but she took to the caravan interior like a champ. Brontie was just happy to be with us.

“Brontie is a gentle mix of Mastiff, German Shepherd and Kelpie. Though she isn’t a small dog, she made herself right at home inside our caravan, comfortably sleeping on her bed tucked beneath the fridge, occasionally snoring her head off.”

Nicolle Macintosh

How much food did you bring and how did you store it with limited space?

It is very surprising how much food you can fit in a great van! We shopped weekly for food and we pretty much ate how we would at home. Brontie had a bag of dry food that was stored in the cupboard under the fridge, and we would keep some fresh beef or chicken breast in the freezer. She isn’t an overly fussy dog, so she was easy to please as long as we handed over enough treats!

Was the lack of space ever an issue for your dog?

You would think that a van packed with two kids, two adults and a dog would feel squishy, but we never felt that way. We always had the awning out, which gave us extra useful exterior space.

What did you do with your dog when you wanted to go out for a meal or to the shops?

I remember one night we went out for dinner to a restaurant in Seventeen Seventy, Queensland. The restaurant was dog friendly and Brontie spent most of her night with the table next to us stealing pats and sneaky treats. I’m pretty sure she planned on leaving us and joining a new family for a moment there!

With so many dog-friendly options available in Australia, there is usually always an option when it comes to dinner. If there is a place you really want to go that isn’t dog-friendly, make friends with your camping neighbours or check out Madpaws for a doggy sitter.

Have you encountered any caravan parks that don’t allow dogs?         

Yes, we did, but there are also a lot that allow them. We also chose to stay in low-cost or free camps. 

Did your dog ever get sick? What was your plan if vets weren’t nearby?   

Brontie actually wasn’t well when we were heading across the top of Queensland. We were staying at an Aboriginal camp in Talaroo and had plans to travel to Darwin, but reconsidered when the heat clearly became too much for her (43 degrees!) and she became dehydrated. Instead, we headed to South Australia, where it was much cooler.

Before we left, we made sure that all of Brontie’s immunisations were up to date and that we had packed some bandages, antihistamines, tweezers and gauze to tend to Brontie in the event of an accident or illness.

Thankfully, we didn’t need a vet during the trip, but if we had, we would have driven very quickly to the closest available help.

What doggie supplies do you recommend other camping families pack?

• A muk mat! We used one of these to wipe Brontie’s feet before she came inside. It was a huge help in keeping dirt and sand outside
• Multiple leads in case one breaks
• Two doggy beds (one for indoors only)
• A cooling mat for the hot days
• Battery-operated vacuum, because a broom only does so much when it comes to sweeping up dog hair!

Did you regret bringing your dog at any moment?

Not at all, Brontie made us feel safe. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without her. 

“Travelling across Australia with my husband, two kids and our rescue dog Brontie was more than just a holiday. Brontie helped us slow down, enjoy the moment, and find joy in every step. We created so many beautiful memories and can’t wait for the day we can explore more of Australia with Brontie by our side.”

Nicolle Macintosh

Have you ever travelled with your pet? Share your experience with us below!