Traveling with children, especially when traveling halfway around the world, is never a piece of cake. But, it’s always worth it. No matter how many bumps along the road, your child will experience new sights, places and culture and you get to provide that experience for them. There’s nothing that teaches children as much as the experience of a big family adventure. But how can we make family travel as easy as possible, especially when traveling so far away like in Australia? Here’s how to travel around Australia as a family.
Pack only the essentials
When traveling with kids it’s often a case of packing everything except the kitchen sink, sometimes even the kitchen sink too. But, when traveling to Australia, know that all the necessities of home are going to be there when you arrive and bringing more with you is just a waste of time, effort and of course money. Packing for yourself is always relatively simple, but packing for children is another matter entirely. Pack what they need. Before your holiday make a list of the items they use every day. You’ll need to bring those, or at least plan ahead for alternatives. Of course, you’ll also need to bring some well-loved toys but only pack those that are essential and those that keep the kids entertained for long periods of time. This is where you’ll have to be the parent and make judgement calls, even if the kids don’t agree, or like it.
Buy a car
Seriously? Yes. When you get to Australia, you will need a way to get around. You can of course rely on public transportif you’re only going to be sticking to the big city but a trip all the way to Australia without getting out on the road is a wasted effort. Of course, you can rent a car and this is the preferred method when traveling just about anywhere, but in Australia with the great open road before you, it can actually be a lot cheaper to buy a used family carthan to rent one for an extended stay. Especially if you plan on driving around the outback and require a 4×4.
What else to buy
When you get to Australia, there are a few things that you’ll need to buy to have a safe and enjoyable time. If you’re planning on going to the outback, especially if you plan on driving there yourselves, then you’ll need to buy and pack plenty of water. There’s going to be long stretches of road without a rest stop so you’ll need to be prepared. You’ll also need to buy sunscreen and lots more of it than you probably think. Australia’s sun can be harsh, even when traveling in the temperate months in spring and autumn. Buy a good quality baby safe sunscreen for the kids and do not forget to reapply every few hours. A slash of zinc along the noseworks wonders and you’ll really look the part.