Jono Bleakley makes a living helping people get outside. While he doesn’t claim to have all the answers, his approach is simple: showing people how to get outside, have a great time, and not worry about being an expert.
Growing up around the waters of Lake Macquarie, about 150km north of Sydney, he naturally found himself working as a creator in the Australian fishing and outdoor scene. With so many options to choose from for an adventure in Australia, Jono just wants to encourage people to come out and get involved.
“For me it's about breaking routine. We spend so much of our lives in routine — whether that's studying, working, or just the rhythm you fall into with family and friends. Getting outdoors breaks that. Suddenly you're problem-solving again.”
Adventure means figuring it out
Behind the wheel of a fully kitted out Dometic Ford Ranger, Jono has everything needed for a few days of remote camping on North Stradbroke Island. The island offers plenty to explore, but the real draw is what might be waiting just beyond the shoreline.
“First thing we did was head down to the local rock face and try to catch dinner off the rocks. We ended up landing a tuna, which was pretty special.”
With a fresh catch stored in the Dometic Recon Hardside cooler (opens in new tab), the tyres were aired down on the Ford Ranger as we headed across the soft sand beaches. A suitable camp spot was soon found, which offered a place to cook and sleep with views that stretched far out across the Pacific Ocean.
Having the right equipment certainly helps get you out there, and bringing your thirst for exploration takes you that bit further. Behind the beach a secluded, glass-flat lagoon was hiding away.
“I won't tell you where, because you've got to find it yourself. We cooked another feed there, kicked back, had a few beers, and just let the day go.”
With no real plan, the flexibility of travelling with the car camping rig meant that Jono could enjoy being on the beach when the conditions suited the fishing, and elsewhere when he wanted to drive around and explore. Ultimately, this is the most fulfilling part of overland travel.
“It might be something as simple as working out where you're going to camp, or just exploring somewhere you've never been. It snaps the monotony of everyday life, and that's exactly why getting outdoors is so exciting.”
Camp is part of the adventure
With the Dometic enabled rig, camping isn`t just where the adventure stops. Being mobile, choosing where to take breaks, being able to make a snack and enjoy a drink on the road side - the activity of camping is the trip.
Food is certainly a core part to any great adventure, this one being no different. Loaded in the Dometic NRX fridge (opens in new tab) was everything from steaks to beer, enough for the entire trip.
“We cooked so much food on this trip. But the standout was the steak sandwiches. I love a steak anyway, but it was the whole package, the ingredients that went with it, and where we were eating it. Food just tastes different when you're sitting on a beach you drove onto.”
The Dometic Pico 2x2 swag (opens in new tab) combines the fun of tent camping, with the benefits of overland travel. Quick to set up and elevated off the island ground, the Pico swag lends itself perfectly for a good night's sleep. It completes the Dometic gear naturally woven into the vehicle configuration.
“Camp is where you spend most of your time and where you tell most of your stories. You still want to be comfortable while you're doing it.”
For Jono, being outdoors means connecting with the country he feels lucky to live in. While fishing is his number one passion, it isn't his only reason for wanting to spend time outside. Driving, swimming, cooking and hiking are all great ways to enjoy a place like Australia.
“Any day you can go and explore a new part of this place is an amazing day. And it doesn't really matter what activity you do, as long as you're outside getting lost.”
The scale of an adventure might look different for someone with years of experience outdoors, but Jono's message is that experience shouldn't be a prerequisite. You don't need to know exactly where you're going, what you're doing, or even what you'll find when you get there. Sometimes the best adventures start simply by packing the essentials into your car, and seeing where the day takes you.
