Stopped for a While

At the “peaceful place” on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, David and Michelle arrive from the Gold Coast for a five-to-six-week caravan stay focused on fishing, relaxing, and returning again next year. David shares his life story, from being born in High Wycombe, England, and migrating to Australia in 1955, through a long career spanning accounting and fleet car sales across Sydney, Port Macquarie, Toowoomba, and Queensland, including multi-brand dealerships and a key COVID-era 20-car phone sale secured through rapport. The episode also covers their lifelong camping evolution to a Jayco Outback built to Michelle’s long-planned floor plan, practical challenges like off-grid power for David’s CPAP, plus caravan-park reversing mishaps, a tidy-up turnaround at Kirra, and lighter tales featuring Scooby’s beach zoomies and Michelle’s travel herb garden.

From Accounting Offers to a Holden Dealership: David’s Unexpected PathDavid shares how he applied for five accounting jobs in Sydney and landed four offers, but missed out on his dream role at Qantas—placing fourth among 2,600 applicants when only two were hired. After a friend invited him into the “car game,” David made a surprise pivot into selling cars at a Holden dealership where his friend was the sales manager. He also talks about Michelle’s talent for design, explaining that the van’s layout today matches the floor plan she drew 20 years ago, and how it all came together perfectly—beautiful and exactly as envisioned.

At the “peaceful place” on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, Sam and Glen roll in from nearby Hervey Bay for a regular mini break, swapping camp yarns as the park buzzes with boat-ramp chatter and a crowd-pleasing boat-and-tinny launch setup. Glen, a retired tradesman with a life of mechanical, aviation, marine and major infrastructure work behind him, tours for blues music from Chicago to New Orleans. Sam, an artist and art therapy practitioner, describes her work running Living Art therapy, including neuro art therapy with older clients, grant-funded community classes, and potential hospice support. They also recount a frightening hill drive after a turbo hose blew while towing, a reminder of how quickly caravan travel can turn tense before the stories settle back into happy hour.Podcast art for this episode is from Sam, thanks#australiatravel #greyNomads #roadtripaustralia #vanlife #thisisqueensland #storytelling

Glen, a retired tradesman with a life of mechanical, aviation, marine, and major infrastructure work behind him, and his wife, Sam, an artist and art therapy practitioner.The cover art here is one of Sam's paintings exclusively for Stopped for a While

After a long Queensland drive into “The Peaceful Place” on the Fraser Coast, Dave talked about coming to the Peaceful Place over 65 years ago, who first visited the spot as a child 67 years ago when it was only a handful of fishing shacks, and who has since travelled widely, including to Perth, Cairns, and up to the Cape by cargo boat. He recalls stops at Nullarbor Roadhouse, costly fuel, shower tokens, and pump rules. Dave recounts work from warehouses to surveying as a chainman, then civil aviation and cartography, explains “flex routes” on long-haul flights, and tells of a crosswind towing crash near Grafton that ended safely. He and his wife continue north to visit their eight-month-old great-granddaughter.

Dave talked about coming to the Peaceful Place over 65 years ago, who first visited the spot as a child 67 years ago when it was only a handful of fishing shacks, and who has since travelled widely, including to Perth, Cairns, and up to the Cape by cargo boat, and more stories

At the Peaceful Place on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, travellers swap long yarns at that magic hour once tents are up and drinks are cold. A brief police visit to the park sparks rumours, and neighbours keep talking. A departing guest, Michelle, leaves Barry a note after missed meet-ups Renzo, waiting at the park while his over-50s lifestyle resort home is built, celebrates getting his keys and shares his journey from Mareeba.

Join us next week on 'Stopped for a While' as we delve into Renzo's remarkable journey from a life of farming to embracing the freedom of an RV lifestyle. Discover how this Italian-born wanderer found solace and adventure on the quiet roads of Queensland, and hear all about his uniquely customised motorhome and the delightful detours that shaped his story.

Join us next week on 'Stopped for a While' as I delve into Renzo's remarkable journey from a life of farming to embracing the freedom of an RV lifestyle. Discover how this Italian-born wanderer found solace and adventure on the quiet roads of Queensland, and hear all about his uniquely customised motorhome and the delightful detours that shaped his story.

At Serenity Caravan Park on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, the show celebrates the “Peaceful place” where travellers swap long yarns, share laughs, and lend a hand. Rob, the park owner, goes above and beyond—towing in a future guest, scrubbing a mate’s van for sale in the middle of the park, and helping broker a swap where a former guest buys the van and the seller ends up buying her camper. The park community also rallies to lift a dropped drawbar using a trolley jack and a self-powered jockey wheel, ending the night with a shared cool drink. The episode’s spotlight is on Brian (travelling with wife Leeza), who stopped for a while returning from a Christmas and New Year visit to family, balancing life working in the mines near Emerald with time on the road. Brian explains choosing this quieter park over bigger, busier options and scouting the wider area—from Burrum Heads through Hervey Bay—as a possible retirement spot, even after an unproductive fishing attempt. He details his off-road caravan setup (a 20’6" Koda Challenger with upgraded lithium batteries, roof solar, and 300L water), a custom bike rack he built to use dead space on the drawbar, and troubleshooting towing stability by replacing 13-year-old shocks. Brian also shares his long-running satellite/TV setup, including upgrades to Starlink, and walks through extensive modifications to his Ford Ranger—plus a comparison to his earlier GU Patrol with a 6.5L Chev diesel—highlighting how modern gearing and controls make towing quieter, easier, and less stressful.

Brian’s Big Build & Bigger Community Spirit | Stop for a While (Fraser Coast) Thats the next episode, released March 4th 2026

Buckle up for a wild ride in Ep. 7 of 'Stopped for a While'! 🚐 Dive into heartwarming tales of adventure, unexpected friendships, and even a key mishap on the Barrier Reef! 🌊 Listen now to laugh and reflect on life's journey. #StoppedForAWhile #Podcast #australiatravel #visitqueensland

Episode to be published on Wednesday Feb 18th about Barney's encounter with a travelling Gynocologist.

🚙💨 From quirky road trip stories to business success, Episode 6 of "Stopped for a While" dives into Rohan's adventures. Discover how a twist of fate on the Pacific Motorway turned into a tale worth sharing. Tune in to hear how wanderlust meets resilience! 🌟🎧 #RohanOnTheRoad #CaravanChronicles

Welcome to the Peaceful Place, a tranquil hideaway on the Queensland coast where relaxing and storytelling go hand in hand. In this episode, we delve into the unique tales of wanderers and the travellers that pass through. Our special guest, Don, shares his fascinating personal journey—from his roots in the Torres Strait and Cairns to his life of concreting and the adventures that led him here. Listen as Don recounts his experiences, challenges, and the quirky moments that make life on the road so memorable. Join us for a heartwarming and insightful chat, and discover the stories that make the Peaceful Place truly special.

In this episode, we meet Bernie, who escaped the chaos of a big family for a relaxing time at a small caravan park in Queensland, known as the Peaceful Place. Bernie shares her experiences with fostering, her love for the outdoors, and some thrilling moments on the road—including a wheel mishap that changed her travel plans. Discover the magic of storytelling and the serene life at the Peaceful Place. Tune in for captivating yarns and heartfelt conversations!

From garden centres to landscape gardening.When a casual holiday to the Fraser Coast completed a long-time dream, and the journey along the way.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:Park Growing Pains: The Art of the Reverse: Life on the Reef: Marie’s 30-year career in marine biology and how she now bridges the gap between government policy and First Nations' sea country programs.

We don’t often stop because we want to — usually it’s because something makes us. In this episode, Clint talks about what happens in that unexpected pause: when momentum fades, noise drops away, and you’re left with yourself.It’s not a lesson, and it’s not a fix. Just a few honest reflections from someone who’s stopped long enough to notice what quietly changes when you do.