The Joy of Taking the Long Way Around
Rediscovering the Scenic Route
When was the last time you chose the longer route on purpose? Not because of traffic, not because your GPS glitched—but because you genuinely wanted to. In a world obsessed with shortcuts, efficiency, and getting from A to B as fast as possible, the idea of lingering on the road feels almost rebellious. But there's something undeniably magical about taking the long way around.
Maybe it’s the way the scenery slowly shifts, or how time stretches out enough for you to actually notice the little things—a roadside bakery with the best sourdough you’ve ever tasted, a hidden trail you’d never see from the highway, or a stranger’s wave that feels like a snapshot of pure kindness. When you travel slowly, you’re not just passing through places—you’re inhabiting them, even if only for an hour.
And that's where the RV lifestyle truly shines. It's not just about getting to your destination. It's about making the journey itself the main event. With the right setup, you get to bring your comforts with you while remaining open to whatever the road has in store.
Why Slowing Down Transforms the Journey
When you give yourself permission to take your time, travel transforms into something far deeper than just a change of scenery. Suddenly, you start noticing things—those quirky roadside attractions, sleepy little towns that feel like they belong in another era, the way the light hits a field just before dusk. These are the kinds of details that vanish when you're speeding by at 110, eyes locked on the next freeway exit.
There’s a richness to these small moments. You meet locals who actually have time to chat, stumble into markets selling homemade jams and handwoven scarves, and find yourself sitting by a lake you didn’t know existed, watching ducks paddle past as if you were meant to be there all along.
But the benefits go beyond aesthetics and novelty. Slower travel has a way of changing your internal rhythm. Your mind starts to quiet down. Stress softens. You stop measuring your days in distance covered and start valuing them by what you actually experienced. It’s a kind of mental decluttering, where your thoughts spread out just like the open road ahead.
And then there’s the flexibility. No rigid schedules, no panic if you miss a turn or find something worth exploring. You’re not behind—you’re just somewhere different than you expected. And often, that’s where the best stories begin.
Finding Comfort and Freedom on the Open Road
Let’s be honest—taking the long way around sounds romantic until you’re cramped, cold, and trying to make a pot of coffee with one burner and a broken lighter. The charm of slow travel quickly fades when your space isn’t set up for comfort. That’s where the right RV changes everything.
When you're traveling long distances over days or even weeks, quality matters. A well-built RV doesn't just take you places—it becomes your retreat. You start to appreciate little luxuries like a proper bed, enough room to stretch out, and a kitchen that doesn’t feel like a game of camping Tetris. The road might be unpredictable, but your living space doesn’t have to be.
If you're starting your journey along Australia's east coast, you’ll find a strong case for beginning your adventure with premium RVs available in Sydney. The city isn’t just a convenient hub—it offers access to a variety of high-end RV options tailored for long, scenic travel. From sleek interiors and advanced driving features to solar panels and clever storage, these RVs are designed to let you roam without sacrificing comfort.
And let’s not forget the freedom. With your own space on wheels, you’re not tied to hotel bookings, restaurant schedules, or rigid check-in times. You can pull over when you spot a perfect picnic spot, sleep under the stars, and chase warm weather—or good coffee—whenever you feel like it. The road becomes yours to write, one unscheduled stop at a time.
How to Choose Routes That Reward the Long Way
Once you’ve got the wheels and the will, the next question is: where to? The beauty of slow travel is that you don’t need to over-plan, but choosing the right type of route can elevate your experience from "nice drive" to "life memory."
Look for roads that are less about speed and more about story. Australia's Great Ocean Road is a classic, with ocean views that stretch for miles and coastal towns worth lingering in. Or consider meandering through the wine regions of Hunter Valley, where every detour might lead to a cellar door or vineyard lunch. Inland, the drive from Sydney to the Blue Mountains can be extended through quiet country roads dotted with galleries, bakeries, and bushwalks.
It helps to pick routes that offer layers. That means natural beauty, yes, but also cultural depth—places where you can learn, taste, explore, and just sit still for a while. Don't be afraid to leave the GPS behind and follow those hand-painted signs pointing to waterfalls, antique stores, or "world’s best pie."
Planning tools can be your friend here, but they shouldn’t rule the trip. Use apps and forums for inspiration, but leave room for spontaneity. Some of the best memories come from the places you didn’t even know to Google.
The trick is balance. Plan just enough to feel confident, but leave enough space in the schedule—and your mindset—for curiosity to lead the way.
The Philosophy of Slow Travel
It’s easy to forget that travel used to be slow by default. Long stretches on foot, horse-drawn carriages, trains chugging across the landscape—people once had no choice but to be patient. And with that slowness came a deeper kind of connection, not just to places, but to the act of moving through the world.
Fast-forward to now, and speed often feels like the goal. We want everything—destinations, meals, experiences—quick and convenient. But in that rush, something gets lost. We miss the in-between spaces, the parts of the journey that don’t make it onto social media but stay with us far longer.
Taking the long way isn’t about inefficiency. It’s about intention. It’s a mindset that says: you don’t need to chase more when you can savor what’s already around you. It values presence over productivity. Moments over metrics.
You begin to see how distance can stretch your perspective. Time slows down, not because there’s less to do, but because you’re doing it more deliberately. Watching the morning mist burn off a quiet hilltop campground. Listening to birdsong with your first coffee of the day. Noticing how one town fades into another, each with its own accent, pace, and stories.
This isn’t a rejection of modern travel—it’s a quiet rebellion against the idea that faster is always better. Slow travel invites you to recalibrate. To think less about arrival and more about presence. To let the journey change you in ways you didn’t plan.
The Road Less Hurried Is the Road Most Remembered
There’s a special kind of joy that comes from not knowing exactly where you’ll end up tonight—but knowing you’ll be comfortable, curious, and completely free to decide. Taking the long way around is more than a direction—it’s a philosophy, a way of seeing travel not as a race, but as a rhythm you get to choose.
With the right RV, the right mindset, and a little trust in the journey, you might find that the best parts of the trip aren’t the iconic destinations, but the quiet pull-offs, the long lunches, and the unexpected turns that lead to something unforgettable.
So next time you’re tempted to take the shortcut, pause for a second. Breathe. Look around. The long way might take a little longer—but that’s exactly the point.
