Caravanning family's 'epic' shortcut road you need a permit for: 'We got so lucky'
The Tildesley's were thrilled by the large mining trains chugging along just metres away from them when they travelled the exclusive 110km road.
As more and more Aussies spurn city living and speed off in their caravan, one Aussie family says life on the road can be "boring" on days when they face kilometres of an endless road. But then there's days like this.
The family shared their recent experience on an outback road that requires a permit to access, describing the exclusive ride as nothing short of "epic".
Alissa and Tyler Tildesley travelled along Rio Tinto Access road in Western Australia with their two children as a "shortcut" between Millstream Chichester National Park and Tom Price. For stretches of the 110km road, they were within "five metres" of a large mining train at work.
"We got so lucky, we passed about four trains... some of them can be up to two and a half kilometres long," Alissa told Yahoo News. "The kids were absolutely in awe. They couldn't believe it... I don't think our daughter Indie got the smile off her face."
Why do you need a permit for the outback road?
Rio Tinto Access road is owned by a mining company, and therefore, a permit is required for access. Drivers opt to travel on this road to shave off 100 kilometres from their journey, which is the only alternate route, if they want to get between the two points.
"It's owned by the mine so for safety reasons, you need a permit and induction. You're not allowed to stop unless it's an emergency, that's obviously for safety in case anything goes wrong... you're literally only metres away from a train," Alissa said.
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The permit doesn't cost anything but driving on the road without a permit can incur "hefty fines", according to the Visit Ashburton website.
"It's worth doing it, it's quite an easy road although it's all dirt... just do your research, it can flood," Tyler said.
Aussie family have no plans to 'go back' to city living
After living on the road for three years, the Tildesley's have no plans to "go back" home and live in a house. Instead, they intend to keep travelling around Australia in their seven-metre caravan until it doesn't make sense for them anymore.
They currently work with farmers during harvest season, between eights weeks and three months of the year, to fund their lifestyle on the road.
"It's really good because the farmers need help with the harvest, and it's really good for us because it's only a short-term period... it's really rewarding," she said.
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