Have a plan, be flexible with that plan and don't think you will get rich.
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That's the best advice newly-minted Port Macquarie residents Jess Davidson and Andy Hoffman have for anyone wanting to "up stakes" and head around Australia.
The young couple, who called Melbourne home up until just over two years ago, have just completed about 14 months' travelling and selling coffee from their unique-looking caravan.
Despite confining their trip to much of the eastern seaboard, their advice remains relevant for anyone considering the trip of a lifetime.
Planning for the trip included mapping a basic route and then contacting the respective councils to gauge their particular regulations covering visiting coffee vans and tapping into events held in regional centres.
The couple said family and friends gave the trip their full blessing.
"We loved weekend travelling and loved camping but we also needed an income coming in," Jess said.
"I was training baristas in Melbourne while Andy was a high rise window cleaner and freelance graphic designer.
"The reaction from family and friends was also positive which helped with our decision.
"There was also that need to be your own boss too," she said.
The couple travelled extensively throughout NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Andy said the biggest hurdle was maintaining a healthy bank balance to fund the next part of the trip.
But you couldn't pick which place would be busy. We quickly understood that not everyone buys coffees, but the location (of our set-up) was the key.
- Jess Davidson
"We weren't making a killing but we always knew, no matter how slow it was, that we would be busy at the next place," he said.
"But you couldn't pick which place would be busy. We quickly understood that not everyone buys coffees, but the location (of our set-up) was the key.
"We were in Eden for the the summer holidays and ended up staying a month. It was the busiest booking we had over the entire trip," he said.
"It was successful because we set up where there were lots of young families who needed coffee to survive."
And then the couple arrived in Port Macquarie, where they set up at the break wall.
Their original plan was to stay a week but that was extended, Jess said.
"The climate is fantastic, the people wonderful and the traffic jams last for five minutes," she said.
"We had people giving us vouchers for dinner and one family actually took us on a tour around the hinterland and coastal areas.
"And you have some of the best beaches along with places like Ellenborough Falls. It is just a fabulous place."
Their original business plan was also a work in progress and would often change, the couple said.
When a booking didn't work out, they would identify a place that did not have a cafe and pack up the van and lob into town. This decision led to the couple meeting plenty of interesting and inspirational people.
Their day to day lifestyle would suit many people.
"We would work until midday most days and then go off exploring, swimming, hiking or walking, snorkelling and doing anything we wanted," Andy said.
Our quality of life was great. We were rich with adventure.
- Andy Hoffman
"Our quality of life was great. We were rich with adventure.
"But living in a camper van for 14 months does, eventually, take its toll and we started to miss a sense of community and of belonging.
"You do meet some beautiful people. But you are meeting them and moving on."
And living with someone 24 hours - while probably not suited to every couple - has only made their relationship stronger, the couple said.
When their trip eventually ended, the couple decided to make a permanent move to Port Macquarie.
"We felt that Port Macquarie had a really good community feel that we were needing and seeking," Jess said.
The couple negotiated a trial lease with National Parks and Wildlife Service and now operate their coffee van at Roto House and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
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