It's a conversation starter among other travellers on the road: Peter and Rita Luck's floating caravan.
The West Australians, in their 70s, are undertaking a 12-month adventure of the rivers and lakes of Australia's east coast.
They call themselves the amphibious nomads, driving their houseboat from waterway to waterway with their dog Moet.
Moet enjoys cruising on the Thomson River in Western Queensland. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"I've never really liked caravanning … you're pretty limited in where you can go," Mr Luck said.
"We have the best of both worlds because when it's on a trailer we can use that as a caravan and being on the water we can visit places caravans can't go."
The couple can also stay in the boat on land. (Supplied: Peter Luck)
Building the boat
Twelve years ago, a cancer diagnosis caused Peter Luck to retire early from the Royal Australian Air Force.
While Rita continued to work, Peter got busy building the boat.
Peter Luck built the boat after receiving a cancer diagnosis. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"It was all his idea … he worked on it day after day and I went to work and came home," Ms Luck said.
Mr Luck called it his "therapy project" during a bladder cancer diagnosis and recovery.
"It's a real emotional roller-coaster and for a while there you're wondering what's next," he said.
"Having something to look forward to is really important."
They'd had the pontoon party boat for around 20 years and used to go camping on it.
Then Mr Luck came up with a design and stripped it down to a bare deck to build the frame.
"It's pretty basic, but it does the job," he said.
The boat has everything the Lucks need. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"We've got a double bed, portaloo, handheld shower, kitchen up the back, and solar panels on top.
"There are platforms on the outside, so we can walk all the way around the outside, and a barbecue on the back."
The Lucks are drawn to water and sightseeing offered from a different perspective.
Rita Luck says the grandkids follow their journey on a map at home. (ABC Western Qld: Hannah Walsh)
"It's the scenery and the incredible bird life you see — you don't see that on the roads," Mr Luck said.
Loading the boat back onto the trailer in Longreach, the pair say they'll work their way up to Cairns and then all the way down to Victoria and ferry across to Tasmania.
"You learn so much about Australia, and there are some fantastic communities along the way."
