Stewart and Gwenyth have been happily settled at Oak Tree Martin Street since March of 2018, but their journey to finding a home base was a unique one. “Our family had been telling us for years that we needed somewhere to call home,” Gwenyth explains. But after living in their caravan for nearly 12 years, they hadn’t seriously considered it—until a fateful day watching the Bathurst 12-hour race. “We were in Inverell watching the race, and every ad break was for Oak Tree. It got us thinking, so we decided, why not go down and take a look?”

That spur-of-the-moment decision led to a whirlwind move. “When we toured the village, we instantly loved it, especially one particular villa,” Gwenyth recalls. “The fact that it was a gated community really appealed to us as we wanted to feel safe.” The deciding factor, though, was the ample parking space. “We were living in a caravan and had a big truck, so having parking for both was a must. Within the hour, we put down a deposit!”

Now, Stewart and Gwenyth enjoy the best of both worlds. “After so many years living on the road, it’s amazing to finally have a home base,” Stewart says. “But what’s even better is that we haven’t had to give up our love for travel. We still hit the road for 6-7 months of the year.” The convenience of village life has been a game-changer for them. “We can just lock up and leave, knowing everything is taken care of,” Gwenyth adds. “If there’s ever anything we need to address, our Village Manager will text or email us. And when we come back, it’s like we never left!”

When they’re not on the road, Stewart and Gwenyth fully embrace the social aspect of village life. “We don’t feel like we’ve missed any time at all. The moment we return, we just slide right back into the community,” Stewart says. “It’s so great.”

For anyone considering making the move, their advice is simple: “Just do it! We were lucky because, after all those years on the road, we didn’t have any furniture or belongings to downsize from. In fact, we actually ended up upsizing!”

Though they didn’t have any prior ties to Armidale, they chose it for its practical conveniences. “The town has everything—railway access, flights, a great private hospital, and access to specialists,” Gwenyth explains. “And from here, we can easily set off for our usual travels to Western Australia.”

For Stewart and Gwenyth, Oak Tree has provided not just a home but a perfect blend of stability, community, and the freedom to continue their adventurous lifestyle.