About Us — Happy Irish Wanderers

We are Kevin and Kate, aka Happy Irish Wanderers, two Irish souls travelling the world full-time since 2022.

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Our Story — How We Became Happy Irish Wanderers

Kate and I come from different parts of Ireland, but our paths first crossed in Scotland. Kevin got an engagement ring made in Lebanon, proposed in Thailand, and we got married in Spain. Looking back, it seems like different parts of the world were part of our story from the very beginning — we just didn’t realize how much travel would define our life.

We were a couple following the typical path: buying a house, getting married, building careers, settling down. But one day, we paused and asked ourselves — is this truly the path we want?

Turns out, it wasn’t!

What started as daydreams slowly turned into serious conversations. We didn’t have a clear plan, but we knew one thing: we needed some sunshine. After nearly two years of constant rain in Ireland (not even joking!), that desire was strong!

Kate was offered a job in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean (plenty of sunshine, right?!), and we decided to travel for three months while the paperwork was sorted. We spent that time exploring Asia, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, gaining our first taste of true travel adventure.

But life had other plans! Visa issues meant Kate couldn’t start her new Caribbean job immediately. This is where the word “improvise” comes in — a principle we continue to live by today.

A traffic accident in Bali forced a detour to Australia, and while it felt like a disaster at the time, it became a blessing in disguise. Perth became a temporary home as we recovered, and then Australia revealed itself as a vibrant land of rainforests, beaches, and sunshine.

Eventually, we made Queensland our home base. From Brisbane to Mackay, we lived among turquoise waters, palm trees, and lush landscapes for six unforgettable years. During that time, we explored New Zealand, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, and also revisited old favourites in Southeast Asia, discovering much of the vast, beautiful Australian continent along the way.

We became Australian citizens, and although life was wonderful, that spark for adventure never faded. Soon enough, we started planning full-time travel around the world – beginning with a complete lap around Australia in our beloved Toyota Hiace van, “Van the Man.”

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What Happy Irish Wanderers Do Now

These days, we’re travelling full-time, exploring the world’s incredible landscapes and cultures. From a Cairo to Cape Town overland adventure by public transport, a 30-day China itinerary, and an epic journey along the Pamir Highway in Central Asia, to retracing Southeast Asia’s highlights and discovering India from Jaisalmer to the living root bridges of Meghalaya via the Annapurna region in Nepal — we continue to chase adventure and share our budget travel tips and itineraries to inspire fellow travellers.

Through all these experiences, we’ve become experts in full-time travel, overland adventures, budget travel, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, and we love sharing our insights to help fellow travellers make the most of their journeys.

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Plans Will Change, and That’s OK

Full-time travel has taught us that plans rarely go perfectly, especially when exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations and remote countries. We thought we were heading to the Caribbean, but an accident in Bali led us to become Australian citizens instead. Our lap of Australia in 2022 was cut short by La Niña weather, and then a war in Sudan unexpectedly allowed us to explore Oman.

“The moment you decide one outcome is the right outcome, you are also deciding that another outcome is the wrong one. Beyond this, some things work out the way we intend for them to, others don’t. This is a gift too.” — Brianna West

We’ve learned to go with the flow and trust that we’ll end up where we’re meant to be, even if we don’t realize it at the time.

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The Future of Happy Irish Wanderers

By early 2026, we will have been travelling full-time for almost four years and visited more than 30 countries, sharing our overland adventures and long-term travel experiences along the way.

With full-time travel, we are well aware there will be tough moments — broken down transport, misspelt names on visas, and more unexpected chaos.

Without a doubt, we are going to get lost and frustrated in search of our hotel. Most certainly, our backs will be broken from backpacks, night buses, and sleeping in airports, but the kindness and generosity we encounter along the way always outweigh the challenges.

Whatever happens, it’s all part of the adventure, and we love every bit of it – Life is for Living!

With Kate’s background in psychology and Kevin’s military experience, we bring a unique mix of skills and knowledge. Through our journeys, we’ve learned so much, and we want to share our travel wisdom, budget tips, and adventure planning insights to help you make the most of every journey.

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Connect With Happy Irish Wanderers

Whether you want to ask a question, share a tip, or just say “Hey, what’s the craic?!”, we’d love to hear from you. We travel with open hearts and want to help others explore the world with confidence, curiosity, and joy.

12 Tried & Tested Ways to Save Money to Travel the World

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for our latest full-time travel adventures, overland trips, and off-the-beaten-path discoveries!!

Slán go fóil