Welcome
Florence Falls, Northern Territory
One life. One road. Just go.
I'm Shazzy. Solo traveller, chronic illness negotiator, and someone who's stopped trying to make everything look perfect.
This isn't about selling you some glossy version of life on the road. My version involves a 1970s camper trailer held together with duct tape and determination, questionable toilet situations, and the occasional existential crisis in a Bunnings carpark.
This site is for anyone who still wants to get out there, even if it has to be slower, messier, or done completely differently than the Instagram version. Especially if your idea of "roughing it" now includes a decent pillow and somewhere to charge your phone.
You don't need perfect gear. Mine's a vintage beauty with character (and structural suggestions), and we're having a bloody good time.
You don't need to be fearless either. I'm scared of reversing in front of an audience and crying in Bunnings carparks, but that hasn't stopped me yet.
You just need to start where you are, with what you have. The road doesn't care if you're ready.
– Shazzy McKenzie
Meet Shazzy
Let's Explore
This site isn't about selling you a fantasy lifestyle or chasing those perfect moments that look good in photos but have nothing to do with reality. It's about working things out on the go, making spectacular mistakes, learning from them, and then laughing at them.
It's about adapting whatever gear you have until it sort of does the job, and enjoying the independence that comes from doing it your way - even when "your way" involves a bit of creative swearing and discovering all of the 'how to' videos on YouTube.
One trip at a time, one lesson at a time, one minor breakdown at a time.
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find:
This is where I write about the wins, the spectacularly wrong turns, the flat tyres that happen at exactly the wrong moment, and those unexpected moments when everything just feels right (usually right before something breaks).
These stories are part journal, part therapy session, part hard-won lesson.
These articles are for anyone who wants the real version of what it's like out there - including the bits where you argue with your GPS, question all your life choices, and then remember why you're doing this in the first place.
This is all about life with Odyssey, my 1975 pop-up camper trailer who has strong opinions about my reversing skills (spoiler: she's not impressed).
From towing nerves that make you grip the steering wheel like you're hanging off a cliff, to DIY repairs that work until they don't. There are setup tricks I wish someone had mentioned before I spent all that time wrestling with a gazebo in a dust storm.
If you are renovating an old camper trailer, or just want a laugh, head on over to my Camper Trailer stories.
This is where you'll find the practical stuff that actually helps, as opposed to the gear reviews written by people who've never left the suburbs.
It's what I've learned from spectacularly stuffing things up the first time around, the gear I'd buy again (and the stuff I wouldn't), plus the apps I rely on when there's no reception and you're starting to wonder if you've made a terrible mistake.
If you want straightforward tips that might save you some hassle and a bit of money, this is where to start.
Some things are easier to show than explain (and some things are easier to laugh about when you can see my face).
My YouTube and TikTok channels cover life on the road, gear setups that actually work, and practical solo travel insights - plus the occasional moment where everything goes wrong and all you can do is film it and hope someone else learns from your misfortune.
Watch the chaos unfold:
My story
After life shrunk to bedroom-sized proportions, Shazzy hit the road with Odyssey, a 1970s camper trailer that makes suspicious noises and probably shouldn't still be roadworthy.
She's here to share what happens when chronic illness meets wanderlust, optimism meets reality, and your trailer makes sounds that definitely aren't in the manual.
destinations
I’m still figuring out exactly what this newsletter will look like — probably a mix of road trip updates, things I’ve learned the hard way, and useful tips I’d tell a mate.
No pressure. No spam. Just the occasional note from me when there’s something worth sharing. Drop your email below if you’d like to stay in the loop...
Forget perfect. One life. One road. Just go.
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