Fans shocked as Instagram couple split

Max and Lee now face a "long & complicated process" of getting their dog Occy back to Australia. Photo / @maxandlee_ , Instagram

An Instagram couple who attracted thousands of followers with their stunning photos of travel adventures have shocked fans by announcing they're splitting up.

Australian man Max Bidstrup and Canadian Lee Macmillan – known to fans as @maxandlee_ on Instagram – first became famous on YouTube after they built a van and took it on an epic road trip from Canada down to the southernmost tip of South America.

They've continued to travel along with their Australian shepherd, Occy.

In an unexpected post to their more than 74,000 followers, the couple revealed they had decided to part ways.

"We are so proud of what we have achieved as both a couple and as individuals over the past few years and we have been honoured to be able to share the journey with all of you," the couple said in their post.

View this post on Instagram

We have always been risk takers. To leave everything behind and chase dreams that seem so crazy & farfetched you kind of have to be. Building our van and driving it from Canada to the base of South America was an adventure I truly don’t think we will ever top. It will forever be a highlight in our lives. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We are so proud of what we have achieved as both a couple and as individuals over the past few years and we have been honored to be able to share the journey with all of you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sadly though, despite going through so much together, and trying so damn hard, some things don’t always work out, no matter how much you want them to. We are very sorry to announce that the next chapter of our lives will not be one experienced together, as we will be going our separate ways from here. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As you can imagine this has been incredibly difficult for us to talk about on here. The last month has been one of the most trying of our lives as we come to terms with this new reality, and we wanted to thank everyone for their messages of love and support as we took some time away from sharing this pain. We both want what is best for each other and will continue to support each other now and in to the future 💛✨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Occy meanwhile, continues to be his fun loving self and is currently enjoying playing in the snow in Canada whilst we begin the long & complicated process for getting him back to Australia. We will be sure to post some progress updates on here but in the meantime, if you would like to keep up with us separately as we move forward, you can follow our individual accounts @leemacmil and @max_bids. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you for believing in us, it’s been one hell of a ride 🙏🏼❤️

A post shared by Max & Lee + Occy | Vanlife (@maxandlee_) on Jan 26, 2020 at 8:50am PST

"Sadly though, despite going through so much together, and trying so damn hard, some things don't always work out, no matter how much you want them to. We are very sorry to announce that the next chapter of our lives will not be one experienced together, as we will be going our separate ways from here."

Bidstrup and Macmillan said the relationship breakdown was "incredibly difficult for us to talk about on here".

"The last month has been one of the most trying of our lives as we come to terms with this new reality, and we wanted to thank everyone for their messages of love and support as we took some time away from sharing this pain. We both want what is best for each other and will continue to support each other now and in to the future," they said.

The couple, who had been based in Canada, would now work on the "long & complicated process" of getting Occy back to Australia.

"Thank you for believing in us, it's been one hell of a ride," they said.

The pair met while Bidstrup, from Wangaratta, Victoria, was on a working holiday in Canada.

They then took a five-week trip to southeast Asia together before returning to Canada and setting to work on their van.

View this post on Instagram

Wow! What a week it's been. As we mentioned in our previous post we have spent the last week in Hawaii catching up with Max's family. One of the downsides of life on the road & travelling in general is being away from the ones you love & it was sooo good getting to spend quality time with them all. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We are now back to our normal (or to most - abnormal) life living out of a van. We picked up Occy this morning and are pumped to be back on the road! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check out our vid of our Hawaiin adventure 🌴🌸🤗 Link in bio ~

A post shared by Max & Lee + Occy | Vanlife (@maxandlee_) on May 2, 2018 at 2:50pm PDT

They bought a 2006 Dodge Sprinter for about NZ$12,700 and spent about $11,360 renovating it before setting off on their cross-country road trip in September 2016.

Fans expressed their heartache to the couple's post.

"So sorry to hear as I have followed your journeys for a very long time," one follower wrote. "You both have been such inspirations to me. Sad to say I saw this coming in recent months. It's so sad and difficult but I think it is for the best."

"It has been a privilege to follow your journey together and I wish you all the best for this next chapter of your lives," another said. "An ending of one thing is always the beginning of something new."

"It's always hard to let go, but I'm sure you guys chose what's best for you. Thank you for always being so transparent and real," another said.

The couple said fans could continue following their separate adventures on their individual Instagram accounts.