MEET NORTH STORM BRAND AMBASSADOR Kev Smith – Woolgoolga Offroad
Kev Smith from Woolgoolga Offroad. – For the past 30 years Kev has been chasing his passion with the great outdoors. His achievements are pretty impressive, from working with TV crews on destination stories, top names in the 4wd industry creating off road DVD’s. He submits 4wd and camping destination stories for national magazines. Host’s high profile groups on the Coffs Coast showing them stunning areas and that’s not the end of it!
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad finding some fun tracks
A keen fisherman that still holds several sports fishing records! He chased big game fish around the Hawaiian Islands but now just enjoys flicking light gear around snags at home for a bit of fun.
Kev of at the tip of Australia with his North Storm waterproof backpack
Kev’s Achievements
But Kev’s achievements definitely don’t end there! … With an array of off-road competitions under his belt, photography awards, a mile of sporting awards PLUS 4wd industry achievements he just does not stop. Working for a national outdoors camping store he was pro-active winning multiple national camping awards, initiating a host of in-store magazine articles and climbing the corporate ladder.
A birds eye view of one Kev’s incredible camping spots by the river
After setting a high standard he then moved onto a national 4wd store where he published his own guide on 4wd and camping destinations along the north coast of NSW. It was about now that Kev was going to retire, but since pulling the pin on work, his passion for all things outdoors just hasn’t stopped with a truck load of new places to explore and report on he is travelling full-time around Australia. Did we mention that he writes for a local Coffs Harbour magazine aiming at the amazing history that once was around the Coffs Coast too!
Kev heading through some beautiful rangers in Australia
But it hasn’t happened overnight. From a humble blog before social media started, sharing his passion of his adventures, and freely sharing to anyone that would listen, he has been lucky enough to have travelled extensively throughout Australia chasing new and exciting destinations. Included in the travels there has also been several outback trips where he has been the support vehicle for groups of off-road motorbikes traversing the outback desert dunes well off the beaten trails.
Kev tackling the heavy duty red dirt moguls – flex time!
Always one to help others, he created his own website to share his travels. Kev offers advice for anything off-road or for those little hidden camping spots or secret swimming holes. Kevvy Smith is everything outdoors where he likes nothing better than hiking up a gorge or down into a rainforest pocket to shoot beautiful waterfalls. In fact, he has spent some time in Tasmania exploring the island. He found so much beauty around the island that he can’t wait to go back. Tackling some of the great walks of Tassie he is getting ramped up for some overnight hikes across the island.
Kev travelling along some nice and narrow bush tracks
It seems wherever he goes there’s always a lake to paddle across, swim in a cooling river, hike a mountain or simply tackle some of the hardest tracks that he can find, but aside from that he mentioned there’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire at night listening to the different sounds that come out at night. With one of the best 4wd and off-road camper setups you’ll ever see, it seems like there’s no place that he won’t seek out, tackle any obstacle thrown his way and then sit back to enjoy the serenity with a beer in his hand, watching the campfire crackle, and ponder what’s on tomorrows adventure list.
We are so stoked to have Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad on our team at North Storm! With so much knowledge and experience of adventure he is truly an asset to our team. In addition the perfect outdoors offroader to really give our gear a hiding and product test! Stay tuned for his feedback.
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad visiting Byfield National Park on his adventures
More about Kev
Do you have any other interests outside of Exploring Australia?
Unfortunately not, all of my interests revolve around the outdoors. From hiking, fishing, kayaking, all adventure activities, big 4wder, camper, general explorer and blogger. Oh – but only if I’m close to the ground not 2000 feet high, that skydiving stuff does my head in and is for the birds!
That sunset! Kev’s campsite at a place called ‘Hell Hole Gorge’ – remote Western QLD
Who is your idol, hero? Who inspires you the most?
My Dad (hard worker and never gave up) inspired me the most. But my exploring idols are still the Leyland Bros, Malcolm Douglas of course our early explorers. They faced so many challenges that we could never imagine today.
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad driving his rig through some rugged Australian terrain!
If you could travel anywhere in Australia where would you go? And why?
Oh gee, that is a bloody hard one! But I’m definitely busting my guts to get to the remote parts of Arnhem Land where the raw beauty and remoteness is calling me. Why? … I regard this part of Australia as part of our last frontier.
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad travelling along one of the remote roads of Australia
What motivates you each and every day?
Waking up and either learning or seeing something new every day makes me want to achieve more and more. Being fit to enjoy life and everything it throws at me motivates me to keep going.
Kev at Boolboonda Tunnel in the Bundaberg region in QLD. Boolboonda Tunnel is an abandoned heritage-listed railway tunnel.
What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime? Goals?
Realistically I want to explore until I can’t walk or talk anymore. There is so much to see and do in this awesome land of ours. Goals? To share my experiences to anyone who wants to listen and to make others want to get back out there.
Kev passing some relics at Dalmorton in NSW
Kev – mid-river crossing and 4×4 tracks Woolgoolga Offroad Style
What do you use your North Storm gear for?
Being a bloody keen 4wder and getting off road to isolated and remote places. I am also a hiker and photographer where I need to carry camera gear often into rugged terrain where it’s either dusty or wet. My North Storm backpack is a lifesaver for these activities! It is great not having to worry about rain, waterfall spray or dust getting on my gear. I’ve crossed a few creeks too (fallen into a couple just quietly) and I know the bag has saved my gear. As a 4wder the bag occasionally gets thrown on the roof of the car or camper trailer when we’ve got extra gear. I’ve never worried about any dust or rain that we go through when out on my travels.
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad and his North Storm Waterproof Duffel protecting his gear on another epic adventure!
Kev Smith of Woolgoolga Offroad and his North Storm Waterproof Duffel protecting his gear from the red dirt of Aus!
Where to find Kev?
Instagram: @woolgoolgaoffroad
Facebook: @woopioffroad
Website: www.woolgoolgaoffroad.com
Night light capturing Kev’s camper trailer during a stop over at Grawin – NSW
