Member stories
Adventure dads: meet the Bartlems from Western Australia
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Western Australia is an adventurers paradise. With so many amazing destinations, untouched beaches and crystal clear water, it's easy to see why so many of our Camplify members love getting outdoors and exploring it all. For this special Father's Day member story, we hear from Scarborough locals, the Bartlems, as they give us a peek inside their ultimate camping setup - their Patriot camper trailer!
Who we are:
Hi! I'm Michelle - happy, busy mum of three young, energetic and kind humans - Flynn (8), River (5) and Banjo (4). I'm also married to the most caring, funny, smart, generous bloke I know - my husband, John! We live in the vibrant beach suburb of Perth, Scarborough - loving life with full hearts amongst friends & fam, and a wonderful community here.
Why did you join Camplify?
We originally just had one of the amazing Patriot campers for our own personal use which we purchased to be able to get to those off-road beach camp spots. We had several friends ask to borrow our Patriot on the weekends we weren't using it - some were thinking of buying one and wanted to test it out, while others just wanted to hire one for the weekend! From there the idea came to us - a lot of people were interested in the Patriots due to them winning the camper trailer of the year for so many years in a row, so we could make some money on the side by renting it out on a platform that did most of the work for us! That's where Camplify came in! We listed our Patriot X1 on Camplifyin October 2019, and our Patriot X3 in December 2020.
Why are camper trailers the perfect adventure vehicles?
My husband, John, just loves going away camping and finding these hidden spots that are usually pretty hard to get to. A lot of these camp spots require scaling sand dunes or heading down an overgrown bush track that no one has been through in years (which sometimes means I'm holding on way too tight and shutting my eyes!). The beauty of camper trailers is you can easily get to these places, whereas a caravan would struggle. I heard someone say that they are like 'transformers' - more than meets the eye. They're so compact, contain everything you need and are very lightweight. They are also super low maintenance which makes it easy to clean and keep up to scratch between hirers!
What makes John the best travel buddy?
John is always up for an adventure, in all aspects of life - be it a hard to get to camp spot, a new money-making idea, registering for a full Ironman or Avon descent challenge! He grew up in the North of WA and really wants the kids to grow up with an appreciation of the outback and the adventures it brings. From teaching them how to catch fish for the BBQ that night, taking us on bushwalks to find that isolated swimming hole or just learning how to get a campfire started. They're all such great experiences for us all as a family, not to mention he does the hard yards setting up camp while I open a bottle of wine.
What's your favourite camping memory with John?
I think it might have been when we picked up the new Patriot X3. We decided that very same day, out of the blue, to head to Ningaloo station for a week! From one minute doing the normal household tasks to the next day being surrounded by the most turquoise water, with an entire beach to ourselves. The kids spent all week swimming, getting to see the turtles swim by and exploring the sand dunes. It was amazing...take me back!!
Have you experienced any special Camplify moments as a family?
We have hired caravans through Camplify before when we were staying at a Coral Bay Caravan Park over Xmas and wanted those extra creature comforts, (i.e. air con!!). We rented out our camper for the same time on Camplify, so the costs were pretty much even. It was an amazing holiday and the kids loved trying out something different.
What's your top three local family getaways:
Winderabandi campground on the Ningaloo Coast - the clearest flat water, spacious sites, love the beach life there! We didn't want to leave!
Mandalay Holiday Resort and Tourist Park - for a quick getaway to Busselton, only two and a half hours away. Great spot to set up next to the beach and the caravan park has an awesome pool slide and bouncy pillow for the kids. Busselton is perfect for families - ride your bikes around town, visit the brand-new, pirate-themed park, plus who could forget that iconic jetty and train! As an added bonus, there is a new beachfront brewery for the parents!
Sandy Cape - Only two hours north, just past Jurien Bay, a sheltered bay perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and sandboarding!
We are planning our next adventure - doing the Gibb River Road - we have had two hirers take our camper trailers up there and it didn't disappoint! The gorges, the river crossings, some hiking, and amazing sunsets - can't wait! The beauty of the hirers going first is they have shared their itineraries with us and a few hints n tips! Love our camping life!
Keen to explore WA for yourself? Why not book one of John and Michelle's Patriot Camper Trailers for your trip!
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.