'What’s the worst that can happen?': Hawke's Bay family sell their home to travel the world

Author: Michaela Gower,
Publish Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2026, 8:36am

Up and Away Family from Hastings, Sian, Hugo and Jason Veerkamp, on their balcony in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Life in Hastings was good for Sian and Jason Veerkamp.

Sian, 36, worked as a beauty therapist for 15 years and then as a dental receptionist and Jason, 36, as an assistant team leader and travel agent at Flight Centre Napier.

That is, until 2025, when they decided to quit their jobs, sell their home and travel the world with their 8-year-old son, Hugo.

“Work was fine, but we just wanted more,” Sian said.

Their lives revolved around a strict routine of work and school.

“It felt like we hardly saw each other or had time to actually do things together.”

The family used the profit they made from selling their home and possessions to fund the adventure.

“We bought the house at $373,000, we sold the house at $620,000, so obviously there is a big chunk of money there,” Jason said.

Now they live off a daily maximum budget of $150 to cover accommodation, food, daily transport and activities.

The travels have included time in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

They have given themself a total estimated budget of $160,000 for the two years they plan to travel.

“We have kept that money, and we have put the rest of that house money into an investment fund,” Jason said,

They’re now a quarter of the way into the trip, away for nearly six months, after leaving Hawke’s Bay on January 20.

In that time, they have visited Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal and now Sri Lanka.

He said they have enough money for a house deposit when they return.

The family also make a bit of money by documenting their travels on social media.

They have recently become monetised with YouTube, with the first $600 payment expected this month.

Jason said that at first it was daunting to give up the stability of life in Hastings, especially with a child.

“That’s what you are taught the whole time growing up, is to be safe.

“We just needed to take a big risk and do something and fit with our passions.”

Hugo Veerkamp interacting with elephants at the Joy Elephant Sanctuary just out of Chiang Mai in Thailand.

When speaking to Hawke’s Bay Today, the family had just had their morning coffee and watched the highlights of the Fifa World Cup, from their accommodation base in Kandy, the second-largest city in Sri Lanka.

Jason, Hugo and Sian Veerkamp visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Jason said in the beginning it felt like a holiday with a visit to Hong Kong’s Disneyland and a resort in Phuket.

“Then the reality of our daily budget started kicking in.”

They now follow a steady routine of editing videos, school work, and admin during weekday mornings and afternoons, and weekends for exploring.

Hugo is no longer enrolled in school and does maths, English, and middle school biology through an online programme called Khan Academy.

The family on their visit to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka.

Sian hoped Hugo would grow up with a strong acceptance of other people and cultures from the travel.

“We are world schooling, letting him learn as we explore.”

Plans are made on the first night’s stay and based on weather and local attractions.

“We don’t even know what we are doing when we get to a city. We know we are going to stay in Kandy for two weeks, we just turn up.”

They next planned to visit Malaysia.

Sian said they were big believers in “if you want to do something, just do it, what’s the worst that can happen?”

“We can book a flight to go home tomorrow, and continue as we did,” Jason said.

“What’s reinforced that this is the right decision is that we are gaining so much out of this.”

Their advice for others wanting to travel was to take the risk, be brave and not live with regrets.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.