<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the surface, it looked like Dan and Naomi Toohey had it all.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple had bought and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/building" rel="" target="_blank" title="renovated"><span>renovated</span></a><span> the "perfect house" on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney's"><span>Sydney's</span></a><span> pristine Northern Beaches, they worked well-paying jobs and were raising three beautiful children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But something was missing from their lives.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-south-australian-couple-allan-mercer-jess-smith-ditched-mortgage-and-rentals-for-life-on-the-road/c46712f9-d91b-4600-80ae-621757bfed51" rel="" target="_blank" title="Jess and Allan chose a 116,000km trip over a mortgage and have no regrets"><strong><span>Jess and Allan chose a 116,000km trip over a mortgage and have no regrets</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We had all the stuff, the house, all the vehicles. Life was good," Dan told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But the kids were saying to us... We miss you guys. You're always at work.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/naomi-and-dan-not-so-grey-nomads-sold-house-in-sydney-to-live-on-road-with-three-kids/fa2ec527-99b7-4e6b-a161-d22627066385" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We never see you."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The hamster wheel of working six days per week to pay the mortgage had taken its toll.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After 27 years in the NSW capital, the couple were officially "burnt out".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dan and Naomi, aged in their 40s, knew it was time to abandon the rat race.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I came home one day and said to Naomi, 'I can't do this anymore'," Dan, who ran his own electrician business, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I got to the point where I felt trapped."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He had been quietly harbouring a dream of leaving Sydney behind to travel the country in a campervan full-time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All he needed to do was convince his wife that it was the right move for their kids.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was an easy sell for Naomi, a midwife, who also worked long hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I just said, 'Let's do it'," Naomi recalled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She could see that I was struggling," Dan added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She could see the burnout."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WATCH:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/olympics/milano-cortina-2026-womens-downhill-skiing-final-lindsey-vonn-crash-result-video-20260208-p5o0j6.html" target="_blank"><strong><span>Vonn 'absolutely devastated' as ugly crash ends legend's Olympics</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hecs-debt-reduction-what-do-after-paying-off-loan-how-to-stop-employer-deductions-explained/ad7cbd83-c97f-45b3-8ba6-fc37a159f10d" target="_blank" title="'Doesn't make any sense': Forgotten HECS detail delaying money in your pocket"><strong><span>'Doesn't make any sense': Forgotten HECS detail delaying money in your pocket</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Just two months later, the family-of-five had sold their home, put most of their belongings in storage and bought a caravan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everything just started falling into place for us," Dan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It all happened very quickly, within eight weeks we left Sydney. But we felt like we were making the right decision."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple set off on what was originally a 12-month lap around Australia with their children, aged 11, nine and three.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They joined a growing club of full-time young travellers known as the "not so grey" nomads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The proceeds from their house sale were more than enough to pay for petrol, food, campsite fees and experiences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are definitely spending a lot less than we were back in Sydney," Dan added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, the children kept up with their schooling by using distance education.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The first few months were tough," Dan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We did rip their lives from underneath them without any warning."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-australia-dual-citizen-passport-stuart-and-gwen-rayner-expensive-cruise-potentially-ruined/b0c3af93-c9d6-425d-a116-fe0a24d1a5c6" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland couple face missing $30k cruise over British passport rule change"><strong><span>Queensland couple face missing $30k cruise over British passport rule change</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thankfully, children are adaptable and the Tooheys have settled into a routine of full-time travel – if you can call it a routine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the past year, the family have ticked off every bucket list item on the 15,000km "big lap" of Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some of their highlights have been Ningaloo Reef in WA, Cape York in Far North Queensland and Kimberley region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The kids are learning so much more on the road than they would in a classroom," Naomi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On a Tuesday at midday, my daughter and I were snorkelling in South Leyfroy Bay, and there's all these turtles swimming around us, starfish on the seafloor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I remember looking at her and saying, 'All your friends at the moment are in a classroom looking out the window, wishing they were doing what we're doing'."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cherry on top of their blissful travels has been reconnecting as a family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dan and Naomi both agree: their relationship is stronger, and so is their bond with their children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/united-kingdom-eta-rules-for-dual-citizens-british-passport-questions-answered/7ba80087-0d88-43ae-8819-02a26a56afcd" target="_blank" title="Frantic dual citizens scramble to order passports amid major change"><strong><span>Frantic dual citizens scramble to order passports amid major change</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The plan was to settle down somewhere in Australia after one year of exploring the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the Tooheys have caught the "travel bug".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At this stage, we're committing to travelling to the end of this year. But it might keep going," Dan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Who knows where we'd end up? We're leaving things quite open."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is one condition: that they don't end up back in Sydney.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple recently bought a property sight-unseen in Noosa, which could be their next home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You could not pay me to go back to Sydney," Dan laughed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not the right place for us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Tooheys acknowledge their decision to leave it all behind was a risk.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In their opinion, it has paid off exponentially. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The majority of people have said to us, 'You're living our dream, but we're just not that brave'," Naomi said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>