Briton drives land cruiser home from New Zealand
We’re going on a land cruise! Briton returning from New Zealand drives his beloved £6,000 Toyota Land Cruiser all the way back because he could not bear to part with it
- Joss Quilty, 33, drove a Toyota Land Cruiser 25,000 miles with his girlfriend Romy Romagnoli last year
- They passed through 3 continents, 23 countries, and avoided a suicide bomber in the mountains of Pakistan
- The now engaged duo slept in a temporary bedroom in the boot of the Toyota Land Cruiser during the trip
A Brit moving from New Zealand to Gloucestershire couldn’t bear to part with his Toyota Land Cruiser so he drove it all the way home.
Joss Quilty spent 10 months in his beloved jeep over three continents and 23 countries – at one point narrowly avoiding a suicide bomber.
The 30-year-old decided to take on the epic journey with his girlfriend Romy Romagnoli – because he didn’t want to leave his motor Down Under.
Joss Quilty can be seen uncorking a bottle of wine as he sets up camp with his girlfriend Romy Romagnoli (not pictured) on a Turkish beach last year
This image shows Joss driving the Toyota Land Cruiser through the Indian Himalayas last year
The Toyota Land Cruiser sits surrounded by mopeds on a ferry crossing in Thailand last year
The pair shipped the £6,000 car to Malaysia and began the trek from there – arriving back in time for Christmas.
They passed through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Iran before reaching Europe.
They then worked their way across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montengro, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France – ending up at home in Thornbury, Glos.
Pictured is the route that Joss and Romy would have taken during their trip last year
This photo, taken last year, shows Joss having a morning shave in Turkey. The pair shipped the £6,000 car to Malaysia and began the trek from there
The Land Cruiser can be seen as the couple arrive in Malaysia with a flat battery last year. The couple passed through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Iran before reaching Europe
Romy Romagnoli can be seen sandwiched between two Pakistani policemen last year. Joss said the pair had a close shave on the Pakistan-Afghan border after an armed guard saw they were approaching a female suicide bomber
The van and Romy are pictured facing the vast Laos mountainscape during the couple’s journey last year. The couple then worked their way across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montengro, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France – ending up at home in Thornbury, Glos
A man carrying a bundle of grass is pictured chatting to Joss in Nepal last year. Joss proposed to Romy, 30, upon their return – bringing the trip to a ‘perfect end’
Joss proposed to Romy, 30, upon their return – bringing the trip to a perfect end.
He said: ‘I had bought this old Toyota and kind of wanted to keep it. It’s a really good car and I’m just amazed that it was possible.
‘Our budget was very tight for the whole trip. We tried to sleep in the vehicle the whole way, with mattresses in the back.
‘Romy and I were very much in this together in terms of making decisions – to drive the car back, choosing the route, splitting the money 50/50.
Joss is pictured leaning on the land cruiser as the couple crossed the Indian Himalayas last year. Joss said that the budget for the trip was incredibly tight and they tried to sleep in the cruiser as much as possible
A pair of elaborate trucks photographed by the couple during their travels in Pakistan last year. Joss said that the interactions with people outweighed the potential danger risks
Romy can be seen meeting children close to Osama Bin Laden’s former compound in Pakistan last year. The duo were guarded by men with AK-47s for certain parts of the trip
‘There is no way I could have done the trip without her. She’s tough and very keen on a challenge!’
He added: ‘There is danger but everyone you meet is so kind and welcoming – that’s what makes it.
‘We had to have armed guards for some parts – when you follow the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This photo shows the couple driving through India’s Baralachala pass, which is close to Jammu and Kashmir
This photo shows Romy smiling behind Myanmar officials at the border last year
This photo shows the couple having dinner in Pakistan during their travels last year. On their return, Joss proposed to Romy (pictured)
The Land Cruiser sits at the edge of a lake as the couple get set up for a beer in Bulgaria last year
The couple can be seen parked on a beach, ready to camp, in Montenegro during their travels last year
The Land Cruiser is pictured as Joss takes it through the Indian mountains last year
‘We had a close shave with the Taliban there, after leaving a military base. We had a guy with an AK-47 with us in the car.
‘We were driving along when he leaned forward and told us to drive fast because there was a female suicide bomber nearby.
‘I was s******* it – the car could only do a maximum of 50mph! I don’t know what happened next. We never heard.’
The Land Cruiser can be seen surrounded by armed guards during the couple’s journey along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last year
The land cruiser is pictured parked in front of a Pakistani mountain range
Joss is pictured looking out to sea on a hammock on a Thai beach last year
Joss also had problems getting into trouble-hit Iran with his UK passport – although Romy sailed through with her Italian credentials.
He said: ‘It was really difficult. It took me a few months of effort to get a visa – and $1000 (£765).’
But the pair said the majority of people they encountered were lovely – and willing to do anything for them.
This photo shows the couple camping near the Russian border in Georgia last year
This photo shows the couple camping in front of mountains in Pakistan last year
An ‘English wine shop’ that the couple passed in the Indian Himalayas is pictured in this image from last year
He said: ‘They all wanted to help – even though they had nothing. It’s the people you meet that make the places.
‘One woman brought out her baby to look at me because it had not seen a white person before.’
Accountant Joss bought the red car while he was living and working in New Zealand.
He and Romy then spent another £6,000 on renovations as it had suffered some wear and tear since its manufacture in 2000.
The couple were inspired to take on the challenge after getting fed up of hearing their friends talk about their experiences.
Joss said: ‘All of our friends are adventurers. We would go to the pub and they would make you think: “I should be doing something with my life”.
‘After that we just decided to do it.’
This photo shows the couple having lunch in Laos last year. For the entirety of the journey, the pair tried to sleep on mattresses in the back of the cruiser
This photo shows the couple driving along a Cambodian road last year
The couple can be seen after arriving at a mosque in Pakistan last year
This photo shows the couple on their first night camping in New Zealand before their mammoth journey began
This photo shows the couple camping in the Laotian hills last year
Joss proposed to social worker Romy in a pub when they finally arrived back home, after five years together.
She said yes and the couple have now decided to move up to Scotland – with the Toyota.
But they are hoping to do another trip before they go – possible travelling from Alaska, in the USA, to Argentina.
Joss said: ‘Walking around Bristol doesn’t exactly have the same appeal.
‘The people we saw, the way they live [when travelling] – we came back and people were arguing about vegan sausage rolls. It was just depressing.’
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