The Start of Something Wild
- Morgane RGM
- Jul 21, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 26, 2025
I turned 27 not long ago, and as I reflect on the years behind me, I realise most of them were spent figuring things out, one uncertain step at a time. But somehow, that feels like the point. Every twist, every leap, every quiet birthday or spontaneous trip, it’s all brought me here.
This year, my birthday felt different. Not because of the wishes or the gifts, but because of who showed up. My sister flew halfway across the world just to be with me. No plans, no agenda. Just us, ready to explore, as if no time had passed.
We’re now setting off together; Andrew, Deborah, and me, on the kind of adventure we used to dream about: a road trip almost all the way around Australia.
A Birthday on the Water
This year, I swapped candles for a leaning sailboat. We set out into the deep blue, eyes scanning the horizon for any splash that might hint at whales. The wind was fierce, blowing 30 knots with gusts up to 40. Not ideal conditions for spotting wildlife. But Poseidon must’ve known it was my birthday, because he delivered.
We didn’t just catch a glimpse, we saw everything: breaching, tail-slapping, the full performance. The whales kept us mesmerised for hours, and just when we thought it couldn’t get better, a pod of dolphins joined the show, surfing our bow and playing in the waves like they’d rehearsed it.
As we sailed on, the wind carried us toward the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Bathed in perfect golden sunlight, they looked every bit as iconic as you'd imagine. We had our Anyone But You moment, minus the drama. And yes, we shouted Unwritten into the wind. It would’ve been a crime not to.
My Office, One Last Time
The next day the ocean was clear, calm, and bursting with colour. A perfect day to take my sister to my old “office”. Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, where I’d been working as a divemaster for the past six months.
As we swam, a curious blue eastern groper passed right beneath Deborah. I heard her enthusiastic scream through her snorkel, which made me laugh underwater. I even managed to show her a Port Jackson shark that had wandered into the shallows despite the high tide, its distinctive shape on full display.
The bay was full of life; mado, hula fish, morwongs, scads. Everyone showed up for our final dive. And as if the ocean knew this was goodbye, a playful octopus made an appearance at the end like it was waving us off.
It was the perfect snorkel. The perfect sendoff.
From Sea to Snow: A Blue Mountains Escape
We didn’t stay coastal for long. A weekend getaway to the Blue Mountains with our friends Hina and Marty brought a completely different kind of magic.
The air turned crisp. Snow dusted the eucalyptus trees. Yes, I brought my sister straight from a European heatwave into a freezing Sydney winter. Some say that’s brutal. I say it builds character. (Okay, I do feel a little bad.)
We hiked high into the mountains, wrapped in every layer we had. Kangaroos watched from a distance. A wombat gave us a death stare for interrupting his road crossing. A possum showed up just in time for dinner. Kookaburras laughed at us from above, and rainbow lorikeets darted between branches like tiny living fireworks.
The Small, Quiet Joys
Not every moment was grand or wild, some were just quietly perfect. Like sitting around the fire, playing cards in ten layers of clothing (à la Joey wearing all of Chandler’s clothes), slurping homemade spaghetti bolognese, and waking up to sunrises so colourful they looked painted on.
But that’s the thing about life on the road. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always alive. From whales in the ocean to frost on the van windows, from deep belly laughs to deep sleep after a long hike, every part of it feels like living, fully.
Chasing Horizons: Our First Kilometres
This is the start of a new rhythm. One that hums with open roads, sunrises, and the kind of freedom we were craving.
Let’s dive in.
Day 1 - Lithgow to Cobar
Distance so far: 803 km
Wildlife spotted: Deborah’s first dead kangaroo, fox, goats, pink cockatoo, green lorikeet
Highlight of the day: The wonderfully weird countryside letterboxes
Our first full day on the road felt like crossing into another world. As the pink cockatoos and green lorikeets made there final dance, the green forests of Lithgow gave way to dry earth, wide skies, and the kind of long straight roads that make your thoughts stretch. Somewhere along the way, we passed Deborah’s first-ever roadkill kangaroo. We were just truly satisfied in wasn't in that shape she saw her first one.
We counted goats like sheep, spotted a fox sprinting across the road, But it was the letterboxes that stole the show; stacked tires, rusted milk crates, and old bird houses acting as postal guards in the middle of nowhere. Each one a quiet rebellion against the ordinary.
Day 2 - Cobar to Broken Hill
Total distance now: 1260 km
Wildlife: Emus, goats (as Deborah quoted: “Emus and goats a volente!”)
Highlight of the day: A hot shower that felt like heaven
“Emus and goats a volente!” And she wasn’t wrong, they were everywhere.
Our drive was long, dry, and beautiful in a stripped-down kind of way. Endless red earth, big skies, and then; emus. Heaps of them, just strutting around like they owned the place. Morgane lit up every time we passed one. We’re talking full-body joy, to levels that might hurt some peoples hearing. Pretty sure there’s a new tattoo brewing. From now on, emu = Morgane.
But what we remember most? The shower. After a hot, dusty day in the van, that little burst of water felt like a five-star spa moment. Proof that life on the road makes you grateful for the tiniest things.
Day 3 - Broken Hill to Woomera
Total distance now: 1847 km
Wildlife: more goats and more emus.
Highlight of the day: crossing the border to SA
Slowly but surely ticking off the kilometres and feeling every one of them in the best way. We’ve been spoiled with wildlife along the way, but also… there's been a lot of roadkill. Kangaroos, wallabies, even the odd emu, it’s hard to ignore. A harsh reminder of how wild and unforgiving these stretches of road really are. It’s why we try not to drive after dark.
We hit a quarantine checkpoint crossing into South Australia. Luckily, the lovely folks at our campsite gave us a heads-up, so we managed to rescue some of the fruit. Sadly, a few pieces were sacrificed along the way.
The soundtrack of the day? Full-volume Disney singalongs. And yes, everyone was singing. Even our man Andrew.
Day 4 - Woomera to Cadney Homestead
Total distance now: 2395 km
Wildlife: Wild horses, dingho and wild cats
Highlight of the day: Deborah drives the van for the first time
As we head further out, the villages in between are getting smaller, older, and quieter. Like we’ve driven straight into the set of an old movie. Faded signs, weathered buildings, and that stillness you only find in places time forgot. It’s eerie in the most beautiful way.
Evening vibes were all about Cluedo around a cosy little campfire, followed by some incredible stargazing. Deborah gave us a guided tour of the Southern Cross, Centaurus, and the Milky Way like a seasoned astronomer. Meanwhile, Andrew accidentally set the camera to a 15-minute exposure… and didn’t quite have the patience to wait it out. The result? A very blurry masterpiece after all that effort.
Day 5 - Cadney Homestead to Mt Conner
Total distance now: 2890 km
Wildlife: wild cows, another wild cat and can we just say; it’s truly the middle of nowhere out here. Just desert, silence, and endless space, how do these cats survive?
Highlight of the day: We're so close to Uluru now, we can feel it in our dusty, red toes.
Almost 3,000 clicks on the clock, and each one takes us deeper into the wild.
The flies have officially declared war. We’re under siege, hiding in the van like it’s a bunker. The red dust is everywhere; on our clothes, in the van, probably permanently lodged in our noses. It’s starting to get the better of us, but hey, it’s all part of the outback charm… right?
Still, there’s something pretty incredible about the fact that, in just one week, we’ve crossed from New South Wales through South Australia and now into the Northern Territory.
Somewhere along the drive, the time changed, and you can take that pretty literally. We gained 30 minutes and lost all sense of schedule. And with that, we finally made it to the first big destination of our quest: Uluru.
We’re only one week in, and already it feels like a story we’ve been waiting to tell. Every day brings a new horizon, a new creature, a new view outside our tiny van windows.
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