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With a metal detector in hand and the scorching Australian sun on their backs, Bridget and Levi North scour the rugged outback terrain in search of gold.
At any time, the married couple could get rich and build up a fortune, instantly filling their bank accounts.
Their biggest find to date was a 7 oz (198 g) gold nugget worth $22,000 and on another occasion they cashed out $5,000 after finding a 2 ounce gold nugget. oz (56g).
“It’s like we’re on a treasure hunt – you never know what you might find, it’s always exciting,” Bridget, 27, told FEMAIL.
A month ago, their 18-month-old toddler, Sunny, even tried the metal detector and managed to find a little nugget.
In addition to mining, Levi works as a carpenter and Bridget runs her own jewelry business. Bridget North Studio where she uses some of the gold found to make delicate pieces.
Bridget, 27, and Levi North, 30, mine for gold and crystals in outback Australia. They live in an 11.5m bus traveling in Western Australia
Their biggest find to date was a 7 oz (198 g) gold nugget worth $22,000 and on another occasion they cashed out $5,000 after finding a 2 ounce gold nugget. oz (56 g) ($500 nugget pictured)
Their 18-month-old Sunny also tried the tools and found her first gold nugget last month worth $50
The family of three live completely off-grid on an 11.5m bus in Exmouth, Western Australia, and up and down the coast.
When panning for gold, they travel up to five hours out of town and often spend weeks at a stretch ‘out of the bush’.
The couple have spent the last three years living on the road full time, but now, with their little one on board, they have to be strategic in how they work.
“We only have one metal detector between us and we haven’t taken out a huge amount of Sunny. We’re about to start a two-week journey and he already wants to get more involved in what we do,” Bridget said.
Bridge and Levi were “shocked and proud” when Sunny found her first little nugget of gold last month.
While it’s only worth around $50, the happy parents put it in a safe place as a keepsake.
“We were out for a family afternoon, cooked dinner over the fire and had the metal detector lying around,” Bridget recalled.
“Sunny really wanted to get involved in the digging, so he picked up the detector, dragged it across the ground and found his first little nugget.”
“We were so proud. We thought he would be much older by the time he found his first nugget. His interest really surprised me.
The family of three live completely off-grid on an 11.5m bus in Exmouth, Western Australia, and up and down the coast. When panning for gold, they travel up to five hours out of town and often spend weeks at a time ‘out of the bush’.
Patience is essential when it comes to mining, as it can take days before you come across gold or crystals. “How long it takes depends on where we are, how much ground we are covering, the weather – there are a lot of variables,” she added.
The couple also recently started mining crystals – a “completely different” process compared to gold mining, but just as rewarding
The pair have also recently started mining crystals – a “completely different” process to gold mining, but just as rewarding.
“We look for different indicators in the earth and dig by hand rather than using machines. You never know what you’ll find,” Bridget said.
Patience is essential when it comes to mining, as it can take days before you come across gold or crystals.
“How long it takes depends on where we are, how much ground we are going, the weather – there are a lot of variables,” she added.
As they work, the couple wear protective gear to ensure they are not harmed by the bush terrain and the scorching sun. They wear Gaiter boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat.
This gear also protects them from any snakes lurking in the backcountry.
Although living on the road seems carefree and relaxed, Bridget said her family is always busy. “We have a lot of freedom and follow the seasons. Lifestyle is now part of who we are,” she said.
Bridget also uses some of the gold and turns it into jewelry to sell
In their free time, the couple enjoys surfing, spear fishing, hiking along the coast and generally being outdoors in nature.
Although living on the road seems carefree and relaxed, Bridget said her family is always busy.
“We have a lot of freedom and follow the seasons. Lifestyle is now part of who we are,” she said.
In the summer, temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius, so the couple take the bus south, where it’s cooler, and stay near the beach in their free time.
Inside the bus they have a fully functional kitchen with an oven, stove, pantry and pantry, a bathroom with a tub, compost shower and running water, a king-size bed, a large storage space and huge windows.
Life on the road means a relaxed and simple lifestyle with lots of time spent outdoors as the bus has no television and no internet besides phone data.
In their free time, the couple enjoys surfing, spear fishing, hiking along the coast and generally being outdoors in nature.
“The lack of social interaction doesn’t really bother us because we’re usually only four or five hours out of town at a time and then come back for supplies when we need them,” she said. .
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