3 tips to make friends on your self-drive holiday

Ask any Austrackian what they love about a self-drive holiday and you are sure to hear the phrase “the people we meet and the friends we make”. If you are new to the caravan and camping lifestyle but are keen to meet new people and make new friends, then try these three tips as you head out on your next adventure.

1. Connect before you go

Social media is a great way to not only find fantastic reviews, tips and tricks, and insider insights before you travel, but it can be an easy way to make contact with your fellow travellers. Austrakians are one big family of adventurers, so take a leap, connect online, and if you are feeling brave, arrange to meet your fellow travellers at a local cafe or pub as you travel to your destination.

You can also use apps to connect with local guides, find hidden destinations and connect with others who have the same interests and hobbies as you. Just by downloading and exploring a few apps you never know who you might meet, what you might see, and what you might learn as you travel.

2. Smile and take one step forward

When you were young, did your parents ever tell you that you won’t make friends by waiting for people to come to you? Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the same rule applies as an adult. Once you are set up in your caravanning or camping site, it is time to put a “smile on your dial”, put your best foot forward, head out and say hello to some of your fellow travellers.

As you bravely step forward, don’t forget, it is important that your body language indicates to others that you are open to meeting new people and making new friends. Make sure you keep your eyes up, your body language open, and put down your digital devices when speaking with others.

3. Share a meal (or a cooking facility)

Cooking and food are at the heart of many social gatherings and events. As you prepare your evening meal, why not strike up a conversation with your fellow cooks? Or, as the saying goes, “all happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast”, so why not cook a few extra eggs and a couple of extra sausages and share a coffee and breakfast with your fellow campers?

As you head out on your caravan or camping adventure, don’t forget, making friends and meeting new people is just as important and memorable as capturing the perfect photo or hiking through new territory.

Not sure where to go on your next adventure, or looking for more information about life on the road, why not explore some of the suggested adventures we have on our blog.