Money and survival as a rite-of-passage in journeys around Australia

The research formed part of a larger project on survival escapist travel and the concept of tours of non-arrival. Interviews were undertaken with both male and female travellers, who were all Australians, and who had travelled around Australia as independent, long-term travellers. All were on a journey of escape from insurmountable life situations. Many were also undertaking journeys of non-arrival - some never returned home. All travellers experienced a point at which they ran out of money and sold their possessions to survive the journey. The journey taught travellers that so many of everyday ‘western’ trappings were superfluous. The journey forced travellers to become self-reliant and self-aware and to consider what was strictly necessary for survival. It also highlighted that a Western ‘capitalist economy’ requires money to survive. Thus the travellers’ journeys became a ‘rite-of-passage’ and survival while journeying around Australia.