Camplify Uncovered: Blaze Lopes

We recently managed to catch up with Blaze Lopes, one of our favourite van-lifers within the Camplify community. After completing a two year lap of Australia, she swapped her dearly beloved campervan Hurley for a taste of the Troopy lifestyle, hitting the road through WA to see just how good the view is from off the beaten path.

Hey Blaze! To kick things off, can you tell us a little about yourself and your travels across Australia?

Hey! I’m Blaze; a 25-year-old Aussie girl from Bondi & I’ve been solo travelling Australia in my van for the last 3ish years! Long story short, in 2020 I had a plan to graduate uni, wrap-up my full-time marketing job of 3 years and go backpacking around the world. Well alas, Covid hit, and like everyone else I had to adapt my plans - so I bought a van and hit the road from Sydney! Growing up, we’d go on the most incredible family road trips to some of Australia’s most desolate areas; e.g. The Red Centre, so I’ve always loved the idea of living a simple life in the great outdoors, especially after growing up in Australia’s busiest city! Here we are, 3 years and over 100,000kms later - same van with a new plan that will (hopefully) involve a bit more off-roading… watch this space!

So you’re just about to wrap up your trip through Western Australia, can you tell us a bit about the route you’ve taken?

After almost 100,000kms of exploring Australia, I hands-down agree with the statement ‘west is best’! I just can’t get enough! So this trip, we picked up the Troopy from Perth and drove north along the Great Northern Highway to my favourite place in the whole of Australia, Exmouth! This will be the 16th time I’ve done this 14-hour journey, and it gets more and more beautiful every time.

What are 5 places you would tell travellers heading to WA they absolutely have to see on a road trip?

Ahhh this is so tricky and depends on the time of year! If you’re heading over to WA in the cooler months, I’d recommend heading north and visiting places like Kalbarri, the Abrolhos Islands, Exmouth/Ningaloo, Broome and Karijini National Park! Whereas if you’re heading over to WA in summer, definitely head south from Perth and visit Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, Denmark, Esperance and Cape Le Grand National Park.

For this trip you’ve swapped your campervan for a Troopy, can you give us an insight into the differences between the two?

Vangirl goes off-road! This has been the absolute BEST way to experience the difference between vanlife and Troopy travel, and I am so grateful for the team at Camplify who have helped me make my dreams come true and explore the beautiful west in Australia’s most iconic vehicle! Let’s just say, I am HOOKED and definitely in the market for a pop-top Troopy! The main difference between the two definitely depends on each vehicle’s setup, but generally:

• Vanlife is usually more comfortable, with more storage, cooking facilities and room inside the van.

• Troopies obviously allow for off-roading adventures, so you get to see more of a place that may be off the beaten track.

• Generally, Troopies and 4-wheel-drives will be more expensive to run, with fuel and ongoing maintenance costs being the main factors.

What are the best features of a Troopy that would make you want to travel in one again?

After living in a hi-top van for all these years, my Troopy will definitely need to be a pop-top! Just having that extra headroom really makes a difference when it comes to feelings of comfort, spaciousness and hominess. Storage is a massive element that can’t be underestimated when it comes to living in a 4WD, so drawer systems and roof racks are a must!

You’ve recently completed an epic two year lap of Australia in a campervan, what tips and tricks would you give to future van-lifers planning a similar trip?

Australia is a BIG country and believe it or not, weather does play a massive part in each area - so if you’re a sun chaser like me, plan accordingly! To keep things simple, I’d recommend:

• Summer (Dec - Feb): Tasmania & South Aus

• Autumn (March - May): South WA & North WA

• Winter (June - Aug): NT & North QLD

• Spring (Sept - Nov): QLD/ NSW & VIC

You formerly travelled under the name Hurley and a girly, what was the reason behind the change to Barefoot Blaze?

Oh, my beloved Hurley! She’s not going anywhere, we’re still living full-time in that van so don’t worry! So, when I started the page in 2020, it was pretty much just an account so friends and family could see any updates from me and my van doing our lap of Aus. Now, 3 years and over 60 thousand followers later (pinching myself!),I feel like it’s no longer just me and Hurley, it’s now me and this inspiring community of travellers keen to explore and live life their own way! I just feel ‘hurleyandagirly’ no longer encapsulates what we’re doing anymore; my dreams have grown - from overseas vanlife to solo exploring Australia in a Troopy! Plus I’m pretty lucky to have an epic name like Blaze, but everyone thinks my name is Hurley which is hilarious, so just clearing the air on that one!

Finally, you’ve seen so much from the road already, where to next?

Ah yes, the question I ask myself every morning! Surprise surprise, I do see myself heading back over to the west coast, but I’ve also been thinking that it would be SO special to head on another family road trip to the Red Centre! Just need to let dad know the dates and finally buy myself a Troopy for the convoy! Watch this space!

*****Want to get out and explore off the beaten track, just like Blaze? We’ve got Troopys, campervans, motorhomes, caravans, and everything in between to make your outdoor holiday an unforgettable adventure. Head to Camplify to see where your next road trip will take you. *****