We finally hit the road! It was a monster task to get us there but we finally did it (read more about this here). In our first few weeks of travel we were met with some challenging caravan dramas and a big work load. Not to mention adjusting to life on the road as a family and finding our new groove.

We actually spent the first week in our local caravan park as we did the final part of the move. It was great because we got to do a whole lot of goodbyes but also spend some time fine tuning exactly what we needed (and didn’t need haha!) We have a pretty strict weight limit in our van so we have to be oh so careful about what we put on board.

When we finally hit the road, our first stop was to my best friend's place near Bright, Victoria. We parked up in their backyard, the kids ran wild and an all round good time was had. It was the perfect place to rejig a few things and start to work out this new lifestyle with zero pressure. I also had teed up a workshop at a gorgeous flower farm in Myrtleford, Florafield Farm. It was a magic little spot for the first official event of the Watercolour Workshop Tour!

We had fresh zinnias, dahlias and sunflowers for inspiration and painted in the shed among the flower fields. 

The next stop was Canberra. Every year I travel to the ACT to do a series of workshops at Meet Gather Collect. Thea and Kate run a beautiful homewares and gift store in Aranda and have a workshop space perfect for all crafty things. It was only natural that I tee up some more classes with them at the beginning of the tour.



I was also fortunate enough to do a workshop at Lanyon Homestead, a heritage homestead just south of Canberra. The property and gardens are just incredible. We were set up in the cottage garden and were treated to marvelous blooms in every variety.

You might be thinking, hang on, gee that’s fast to go from Torquay to Canberra in such a short window?! Well yes, we went in with the theory that we can access Victoria so much easier and we can do that anytime so why not get moving! So apologies Victorians, I didn’t manage to leave much room for workshops on our way up the coast.

We left at the end of February and we want to get up to the Top End and make the most of the dry season, so we are moving up the coast pretty quick. I hope we can come back at some point and explore a little more slowly as there are just so many gems to discover.

From Canberra I went on to Orange and did an Intro to Watercolour workshop at one of my favourite regional galleries, The Corner Store Gallery. I could have spent a whole lot longer on Orange, what a beautiful town and region! Alas we had to keep motoring to my Artable workshop in Newcastle.

The first leg of the tour was packed tight! Newcastle was a blast, I really like spending time in Newcastle. We were blighted with an unimaginable amount of rain and caravan dramas but it really started to feel like our adventure had begun. I did a two day workshop at Hudson Street Hum in Hamilton. I love this format as it is truly immersive and watching each student unfold over the course of the weekend is bliss!

Straight after Newcastle I zoomed up to Tamworth and left the family behind (just temporarily!) Our caravan was booked in to get sorted back in Newcastle so the boys stayed there and I went on my merry way for a couple of nights. It was so nice to drive up mountains and the air and light was so different up there. Tamworth was so different to how I had it in my mind.

I'd been invited by a painting group to come and teach a workshop in Piallamore, 15 minutes out of Tamworth. They paint each Tuesday together and it was an absolute pleasure joining them for the day. We used the local gum trees as inspiration and I walked the group through some of my process. Everyone brought a plate and we feasted like kings. 

I drove back home from Tamworth and rejoined my fam, where we packed up again (caravan all sorted finally) and started heading back up the coast, ready for the next adventure.

Curious about the Watercolour Workshop Tour?

Learn more here: https://nataliemartin.com.au/pages/2026-watercolour-workshop-tour

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