A 24-year-old Victorian has found an unconventional way to fund his lap of Australia – by transforming his $2000 Toyota Corolla into a travelling coffee shop.

Jonny Charles set off earlier this year with a simple ambition: to “work and surf” his way around the country. But with limited savings, he needed a way to make money on the move – so he built one in the back of his car.

Now operating what he calls “Cafe Corolla”, Jonny is selling coffee to strangers he meets along the road, using the earnings to cover everyday expenses like fuel and food.

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Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Jonny said the idea stemmed from his passion for coffee and a desire to connect with people while travelling.

“It’s purely just to help me get by and pay for my next load of fuel,” he told Yahoo News Australia. “Right now, I’m comfortable if it’s just paying off the day to day.”

Jonny hasn’t revealed exactly how much he’s made so far, but says it’s been enough to sustain the journey, covering petrol and meals as he goes. Just two months into the trip, he and his mate are steadily making their way up Australia’s east coast.

Before leaving his hometown of Inverloch in February, Jonny invested heavily in the setup. Despite buying the Corolla for just $2000 – a 2002 Toyota Corolla with 285,000kms on it that he had used for five years as a delivery driver – he spent around $4000 converting it into a functioning coffee station, including $2500 on a commercial-grade coffee machine.

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“The coffee machine is worth than more than the car,” he says on his Youtube channel documenting the transformation.

With an engineering background, Jonny built much of the fit-out himself using secondhand materials sourced from his shed. While he hasn’t yet recouped the cost of the setup, he’s hopeful it will eventually pay off.

The plan is to continue north, with Darwin firmly on the itinerary – despite the challenges.

“It’s probably my favourite place in Australia, but it’s pretty remote,” he said. “I might not get many [coffee] sales,” he added with a laugh.

Jonny has been documenting the journey on social media channels including TikTok, Instagram and Youtube, though his approach to travel remains spontaneous. Without council permits, he’s limited in where he can sell coffee, often relying on private property access.

Still, the experience has been rewarding.

“It’s been awesome. And it’s been really fun,” he told Yahoo News Australia.