Who needs adventure? All of us.

Cover Photo: A slightly damp but impressive view of the Rob Roy Glacier, Mt Aspiring National Park. The kids certainly didn't seem to mind the wet!

Believe it or not, AWOL started with the idea of making adventure a way of life. For many, the pursuit of parenting, building a career, and homeownership seemed to suffocate the spirit of adventure. We found ourselves craving escape—not from life itself, but from the monotony that it had become.

We didn’t dream of selling everything to sail around the world; we simply yearned for more: more open spaces, more unstructured time, and more opportunities for spontaneity. How do you break free without losing what you’ve worked so hard to gain?

Our attempts at injecting adventure into our lives were initially confined to holidays. We'd take the kids on Great Walks, explore swimming holes in summer, and bike along extensive rail trails. Yet, for ten months of the year, we hibernated, our adventurous spirit dulled to occasional skiing weekends and a Labour Day picnic. There were also epic fails—the hike in the Tararuas with our baby's screams summoning concerned hikers, or the punctured bike tire miles away from help. Then there was the leaking tent and the midnight drive trying to soothe the toddler back to sleep amidst rowdy campsite neighbours. Adventure felt hard and often unrewarding.

We needed a change, and AWOL was that change. We envisioned a rig capable of matching a Ranger’s utility while accommodating the diverse needs of our family life. Our AWOL design can secure a variety of gear yet still accommodate up to ten seats—or a mix of beds and seats—without sacrificing space. For us, this means four seats, a high rear bed, a rooftop tent for the teenager, slide-out trays for the bikes, an XL dog crate secured to the floor, and comprehensive power and water systems. With a 10kW Ecoflow power system and Starlink for connectivity, we can now work remotely for days.

AWOL has rekindled our spontaneity, keeps us physically active, and injects 'cringy eye-rolling fun' into our time with the teenager. It's more than a vehicle; it's our ticket to making adventure a Way of Life.