Unplugged and unforgettable: Finding off-grid peace (with pets) on the Mid North Coast

For Rach McInerney and her partner, the call of the open road is more than just a passing fancy - it’s "like a bug in us now," she admits.

After recently completing the Big Lap of Australia, the couple were itching to get back to van life, but this time, they wanted to go off-grid with a little more comfort and their beloved Shoodle, Bobby.

We recently caught up with Rach, a social media creator and passionate traveller, who hired a campervan called Roaming Retreat through Camplify, Australia’s favourite van sharing platform.

She set off on a quick getaway to The Branch on the NSW Mid North Coast over the October long weekend, and her trip turned out to be a mixed bag of unexpected challenges (more on that later) and sheer RV luxury that convinced her to buy her own!

“I think the thing that this van taught us is you can do it with comfort. It doesn't have to be slogging it all the time. It can actually be quite comfortable” Rach says.

Roaming Retreat has everything you need for a comfortable camping adventure!

Choosing the perfect RV for a weekend off-grid

Having spent nine months doing the Big Lap in a compact slide-on camper, Rach knew exactly what she was missing. Their previous setup involved being "very small, very compact, very in each other's faces," with all living and cooking happening outdoors.

Their Roaming Retreat campervan, a spacious Mercedes Sprinter, was a completely different experience.

“It was so different to how we did our lap of Australia. This was so elite,” Rach enthused. “Having the van with the kitchen inside, there was a sitting area, there was a nice big bed, there was storage. We just couldn't believe it.”

The upgrade in comfort and luxury, including an indoor kitchen, comfortable bed, and the ability to walk straight from the cab into the living space, sealed the deal.

“Straight away we said, ‘Yeah, we need to buy one of these.’… that particular model, the Sprinter, was just incredible.”

Planning for pet-friendly adventures on the Mid-North Coast

A non-negotiable for this trip was bringing their adorable dog, Bobby. As Rach says (and we agree) "pets aren't just animals - they’re family," planning around Bobby was key to their success.

Bobby is LOVING van life! Just look at that happy face - how could you not want to bring your four-legged friend along?

Finding the right campsite:

Since traveling and van hire with pets often means navigating restrictions, Rach highly recommends doing your research first.

For this trip, they decided against the busy long-weekend crowds in Forster and instead headed to an off-grid location near Newcastle called The Branch, which they found on Hipcamp.

The Branch: Approx. 30 minutes west of Hawks Nest or 1 hour northwest of Newcastle.

“When searching for a camper van and for a campsite, that was the first filter we put on: dog friendly” Rach said.

The result was a secluded property with lush walking tracks and a river, perfect for relaxing and exploring with Bobby.

Search pet friendly vans on Camplify and start planning your next adventure - without having to leave your furry friend behind.

Local exploring and simply just enjoying the campsite:

Planning your activities ahead of time is essential for camping with dogs. If you decide to leave the campsite, chances are you need to bring your dog along, so choosing pet-friendly activities is a must!

For Rach and her partner, this trip was a chance to slow down, relax, and get off-grid.

“As much as we wanted to go out and explore, to be able to get off grid and chill and relax into that one space was really important for us. That was amazing.” Rach shared.

“Honestly, we pretty much stayed off grid the entire time. We did a little day of exploring and then we pretty much stayed at The Branch. It's completely out of reception.”

Take a moment to slow down, relax and enjoy the off-grid moments.

Explore the local walking trails:

The first day Rach arrived, they explored one of the local walking trails at the campsite with Bobby.

Unfortunately, come the next morning, they discovered a rogue blade of grass had made its way into Bobby’s eye, causing an irritation that made the next stop on the trip a visit to the local vet. Thankfully, Bobby was all sorted after her vet visit and they got right back into enjoying their off-grid weekend.

Visit Bennett’s Beach and spot the koalas:

Bennetts Beach is one of the best dog-friendly beaches on the Mid North Coast and is home to an array of wildlife, including some adorable Koala colonies.

“We also took recommendations from the camper van host. He's the one that told us about the Koalas at Bennett's Beach.” Rach shared.

“There was so much wildlife. My partner saw a goanna, he said it was the size of me. I'm not sure how true that was.”

Goannas can grow to over 2m long - we think he was telling the truth!

Prep and packing essentials for camping with dogs:

“It was just so nice having her there with us because she just makes the trip” Rach recalled.

Planning a road trip with your pet? Here are the best dog-friendly road trips from Newcastle.

Before starting your off-grid camping adventure, ensuring your dog is healthy and has current ID and health check information is essential. Plus, making sure you know where your nearest vet is can really come in handy in case of an emergency vet trip!

To ensure Bobby was comfortable in her temporary home, Rach made sure to pack all the creature comforts, like all of Bobby’s usual bedding, some familiar toys from home and plenty of treats and food.

Bonus tip: If your planning to go camping with dogs, make sure you have a seatbelt or harness designed for travelling in a vehicle, to keep your beloved pets safe along the way.

Rach’s top tips for RV hire and off-grid camping

Whether you’re a long-term van lifer or just looking for an easy weekend getaway, Rach has some practical advice from her extensive road trip and camping experience:

1. Go all out for a weekend getaway

If you’re planning a short getaway, why not go all out and make it a luxury experience?

“If it's going to be a weekender trip, go all out and pick the really comfortable van, make it a bougie experience, just have the best time” Rach recommends.

No need to rough it - Camplify has thousands of custom vans available to hire from local owners for your next Mid North Coast adventure.

2. Experiment with different van setups to prepare for longer adventures

“My biggest tip if you're going to do camping long term is to do a whole bunch of test trips, know your setup and what you actually need from it” Rach shared.

This helps you discover your non-negotiables: Do you really need an indoor shower? Is the sitting area comfortable for working? Will an outdoor cooking setup be suitable?

3. Invest in a reliable internet connection

“We said if we ever do it again, we would get

For digital nomads, and those working from a van, a reliable connection is key to avoiding constant trips to Maccas for Wi-Fi just to get some work done. Plus, the reliable connection offers peace of mind for emergency contact.

4. Embrace life in the slow lane

While their Big Lap was fast-paced, Rach now values quality over quantity.

“As much as it is great to see all these places, to actually spend time and explore properly is something I think we missed out on because we had a time limit. So if we were to do it again, we would just go so much slower and just really enjoy each place” Rach shared.

Wise words from Rach! Finding those moments to simply be in a place - with your furry companion - is what embracing the slow lane is all about.

5. Planning on buying a van? Use Camplify to try before you buy

Don’t be fooled - the van life bug is real. And after Rach’s trip to The branch, she was bitten, and has decided to buy her very own van.

“

If your love for camping has got you thinking about buying a van for a long-term trip like Rach, use Camplify to try before you buy. “Camplify was so useful to pick a couple of vans and do some tests” Rach shared.

Once you find your perfect van, Camplify still has you covered. When you're not out adventuring, it's the ideal platform to list your idle van, share the adventure, and turn downtime into income.

With thousands of custom vans available to hire from local owners, Camplify has something for everyone - including tow, drive AND delivery options.

Ready to find the perfect van for your Mid North Coast adventure?

Camplify makes dog-friendly camping easy. Whether you're a long-term van lifer like Rach or you're planning your very first getaway, Camplify offers thousands of pet-friendly, custom RVs to hire with drive, tow or delivery options.

Stop dreaming about your next adventure and start exploring today - your next great memory is just a click away.