Camplify Uncovered: Project Walkabout

We caught up with the brilliant minds behind Project Walkabout, champions of off-road adventures with their fleet of Land Rover Defenders. Having recently found a new home on Camplify, Phoenix and Corrina Lange chatted to us about off-roading, how to turn a dream into a fleet of vans, and where they love to explore themselves.

Tell us a little bit about your camping journey. Why did you decide to invest in your first van?

We moved to Australia 6 years ago in what was supposed to be a 2 year stint, absolutely falling in love with this beautiful land we get to live on. We had two kids and knew we wanted to explore more of what was around us, not with hotel stays, but with views that would take our breath away.

We stumbled upon a family who was showcasing a timeless Defender at a local festival; revamped into a camping Defender. That night we bought our first old-timer and started the transformation. It was a labour of love for 12 months and by then we had 2 Defender Camping Hires ready to go, with another 2 coming soon after.

Our vision was to share all of the amazing spots Australia has to offer with the many explorers who come to visit. Every single detail mattered to us; from picking brands like Stratus Outdoor for our cooking equipment, our Feldon shelter tents, our bedding partner, Pony Rider, installing Apple CarPlay, swapping out the engine and even which brand to swap out our car seats. We wouldn’t compromise on quality. We didn’t want to hold out on people, so we founded Project Walkabout- building trucks that we would want to rent. The brand is inspired by the famous Crocodile Dundee who goes on walkabouts, meaning he’ll be back in 3 to 6 months after he’s done exploring. We hope people will do the same; go off grid, create lasting memories, collect experiences and resurface when they feel like it.

Why did you decide to begin your journey with Camplify and how’s it going?

Camplify is a peer to peer van sharing service that was founded only 2 hours north from us. It was a no-brainer to list our trucks there as Camplify has created a platform for people to share their vans and motorhomes so people can explore with the comfort of some amazing vehicles. It was easy to set up and allowed us to reach thousands of people. A few months into our journey with Camplify, our rate of hire increased tremendously. One of our 4WD’s was even featured in a commercial shoot which you will see soon on TV!

How did you make the leap of turning Project Walkabout into a fully fledged fleet?

My husband has big dreams. He scales every small idea into a big one, with me trying to keep up half the time. He knows the Defender loving niche is massive and growing, and they will all want to hire our fleet. It gives them the opportunity to use it without the financial step of owning one. Only having two available would never satisfy the demand. It wasn’t a matter of if we will expand; it was a matter of when we will expand, with every truck needing to be unique and better than the next.

How is your van hiring business helping to support you financially?

For us it is a nice supplementary side income, which is also our passion project, that continues to grow month on month. We have big audacious goals and hope that perhaps in a years’ time or two, that this will be our primary source of income.

You can’t beat local knowledge - what are the top 3 attractions to visit near you?

The Blue Mountains, The Mid North Coast of NSW and Tasmania (which we are heading to in a few weeks to pick up a brand new addition to our fleet). We know you said near you, but there is so much to explore in Australia, it’s tough to name just three!

Project Walkabout’s vans are all built to handle off-road driving, what do you think the perks of off-roading are?

That moment when your tires hit the sand, you roll down your windows and feel the breeze through your hair while being only 5 metres away from the ocean, is unmatched. It’s an unforgettable moment because you kind of become one with nature. Everyone can drive on a highway or paved road, but it’s the moment when you feel your car on a completely different surface that creates butterflies in your stomach. Off-roading in the Blue Mountains for example, allows you to get to the most hidden parts of Australia and being only steps away from 200 metre cliffs is truly an unforgettable and exciting experience. Those are the postcard moments.

Tell us a bit more about the personal touches included in your vans.

When we were creating our brand, we wanted to make sure it was reflecting and representing not only the essence of this land, but also describing the spirit and values of our vision. Our logo has 4 dimensions to it:

• Uluru - a symbol of our deep respect for Australia’s Aboriginal culture and our commitment to preserving the land we explore.

• Sunrise - representing the endless potential for discovery. It embodies the excitement of every adventure.

• Pathway - signifies the adventurous journeys our clients will embark upon. The exploration of new horizons and the thrilling experiences that await.

• Kangaroo - representing the vibrant wildlife of Australia, symbolising the unique and diverse ecosystems that this country has to offer. This is why all of our trucks have Aboriginal names : Kutju , Kutjarra , Mara , Kutjarra-Kutjarra , and Marnkur. We have a 6th car joining our fleet soon and we have named this one Waakal which means ghost, representing the serpent which gives everyone their life (old sage).

Any advice for first-time campers?

Visit Camplify, pick a van/truck/motorhome that fits your lifestyle, download the Wikicamps app and pick a direction. Release the shackles of day to day responsibilities and go out and experience your walkabout and wherever it may take you. Don’t forget to buy the eggs and ramen noodles for quick dinner options when enjoying that late night swim as the sun goes down. To elevate your journey even more, select one of our Defenders that has a Starlink option so you can extend that holiday getaway. When you’re remote working and your Zoom and Teams backgrounds are real, you can fool anyone with your actual whereabouts!

Want to experience an off-road adventure for yourself? Click below to book two of Project Walkabout’s incredible vans on the Bilgola Plateau in NSW:

Kutjarra

Kutju