®

© Copyright 2017 Mandy Farabegoli – Travelling Australia With Kids

(T.A.W.K. ™)

All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this document or information

therein may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means
(electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior
permission of Mandy Farabegoli and TAWK
This publication is protected by law and all rights are reserved,
including resale rights. You do not have permission to give or sell this
book publication to anyone else.

Disclaimer
Whilst every attempt has been made to provide the correct information at
the time of publishing this book, Mandy Farabegoli and TAWK makes no
warranties with regard the correctness and completeness of the book.

2
CONGRATULATIONS!! ................................................................................ 6

WHERE DO YOU START?................................................................................ 7

FIRST UP - FINANCES ................................................................................. 8

HOW DID OTHERS DO IT? ........................................................................... 12

WHAT WILL BE YOUR RIG? ......................................................................... 15

WHAT WILL BE YOUR HOME ON WHEELS? .............................................. 16

WHAT ABOUT YOUR ‘HOME’ ON WHEELS? ............................................. 16

MY CHILD DOES NOT WANT TO GO! ......................................................... 22

SCHOOLING ................................................................................................... 24

CAN I REALLY TEACH MY KIDS? I’M SCARED I’LL FAIL THEM. ............... 31

WHAT ARE SOME GREAT EDUCATIONAL APPS FOR THE KIDS? ........... 33

THERE REALLY IS SO MUCH OUT THERE TO HELP YOU NOWADAYS

AND WHY NOT EMBRACE THE CHILDREN’S LOVE OF TECHNOLOGY
WITH SOME EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS. ........................................... 33

TELLING FAMILY AND FRIENDS .................................................................. 35

WHAT ARE THE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT BEING ON THE ROAD?

FROM OTHER FAMILIES… ............................................................................ 38

CAN WE EARN MONEY ON THE ROAD WHILE TRAVELLING AND IF SO,

HOW? ............................................................................................................. 40

ARE CENTRELINK PAYMENTS AVAILABLE TO US?.......................... 45

3
HOW CAN WE SAVE MONEY AS WE TRAVEL? .................................. 48

COULD YOU MAKE MONEY ON THE ROAD FROM A BLOG/WEBSITE?51

YOU JUST MIGHT!......................................................................................... 51

WHERE TO GO AND SHOULD WE PLAN OR WING IT? ........................... 55

WHERE TO GO - SHALL WE PLAN IT OR WING IT? .................................. 59

FREE CAMPING.............................................................................................. 61

TAWKER SUPPORTER PROGRAM .............................................................. 62

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE TAKE? ................................................................. 64

SOLAR OR GENERATOR ............................................................................... 67

FIRST AID KIT/MEDICINE BOX .................................................................... 69

CAR PREPARATION ....................................................................................... 70

TOWING AND TOW WEIGHTS ............................................................... 73

WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY….OUR DOG! .............. 73

HOW CAN WE HELP THE KIDS REMEMBER THE TRIP? ........................... 75

ARE WE THERE YET? – SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CAR TRIP. .................... 77

ROMANCE ON THE ROAD........................................................................ 80

DO WE NEED A SATELLITE PHONE OR OTHER COMMUNICATION

DEVICES WHEN WE ARE TRAVELLING REMOTELY? ................................ 82

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WI-FI WHEN TRAVELLING ..................................................................... 85

IDEAS FOR THE KIDS HELPING WITH SET UP AND PACK DOWN
......................................................................................................................... 87

ANY OTHER HINTS OR TIPS? ................................................................. 90

THAT’S IT FOR NOW! ............................................................................... 92

THE TAWK STICKER ................................................................................. 93

5
CONGRATULATIONS!!
You have just taken the first step to plan your trip TAWKing.
That is a family that is Travelling Australia With Kids (T.A.W.K.)

Of course, you have lots of questions – we all did at first. This

book will help to try and answer them, and the best bit is, they
are not just my answers, they are from other TAWKers too!

Who better to help you? They are already out there TAWKing
and know what it’s really like to be on the road every day with
their children. The real stuff, not just from a book….although!?
☺

First up a little bit about me. I am Mandy Farabegoli, and I am

the founder of TAWK. I travelled for two years around Australia
with my husband and our three children. They were 6, 8 and 9
when we set out. And YES, I home-schooled all three of them and
YES, I was scared too! BUT I did it and it was one of the hardest,
frustrating, amazing, and rewarding things that I have ever done.

When we started out, I tried to find out real information about

travelling Australia, not
all the commercial
stuff, but real
information from real
people. I couldn’t find
any. So after a few
months on the road, I
decided to do it and
TAWK was born.

6
TAWK’s aim is to encourage other families to
travel the country with their children. To reassure you that you
can do it! I have kept the book simple and to the point, so it’s
easy to read and you don’t have to sift through lots of text to find
the information you are after.

The decision truly is the hardest part, once made

everything will fall into place.

So, with that in mind, let’s do this!

Where do you start?

HERE of course! In fact, YOU have already started! You are
investigating and because all of our circumstances are different,
the answers that might help you will all depend on your situation.
We will endeavour to go through all your questions that you are
thinking, because we were thinking them too! I have thrown in
some of our most Frequently Asked Questions, as let’s face it
that’s what everyone is asking!

Are you ready? Let’s do this and keep in mind…..

“Once the decision is made, the rest will fall

into place!”

Your TAWKing Journey starts here! Let’s get going…..

7
First up - FINANCES

This is a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question! It all depends on

you, your expectations and how you intend to travel. Also, how you
intend to see everything; for example, are you happy to walk
around Uluru or would you like to fly over it? Are you going to fly
over the Bungle Bungles or fly over them?

There are TAWKers that have sold up everything or saved for a

long time and have lots of money in the bank and there are also
TAWKers that have set off with little to no money. The good news
is, they are both doing it. So basically, throw the question back at
yourself. “What money would you feel comfortable leaving with?”
8
TAWK Finance Tracker
We have a Finance Tracker on our website to help you work out
what you might need and help you budget along the way.)

TAWK Finance Tracker

The TAWK Travel Finance Tracker can help you work out how much
the trip might cost you!
You input how long you think you might travel, how many KM you
intend to cover, the fuel cost for your vehicle and VOILA!! We'll
work it all out for you. It can also track all your finances as you go. It
really is a great tool for planning your trip around Australia.

http://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/travel-finance-
tracker.html

9
Thoughts from other TAWKers…
I'm a single parent, I live solely on Centrelink benefits and have
some savings, I free camp as much as I can. We eat cheaply; do not
do the major tourist attractions. We travel to the next destination
when finances allow. Fuel takes up a lot of your money, so stay
places a bit longer. It is much cheaper than living in a house!

We have found that about $1500 a week is a good estimate. This is

with a mix of free and site stays, also doing a bit of the tourist stuff.
We have been on the road 9 months. We work and stay in places
we like for a few months.

I'd recommend being as debt free as you can. We rent our house
out but it’s still a pain. You can travel with some savings; it just
means you travel a little slower and you may have to work every so
often. If you really don't want to work, you'd better start saving!

Budget changes per state, per week usually $600-800 per week.
We have 2 adults and 3 kids. Not letting money dictate our lives, as
it was back home.

We rented out our house. The rent covered the mortgage etc. Car
and van were paid off. We think living on the road is cheaper than
in a house. We worked every now and again on our trip, earned just
enough for a few more months before needing to stop again.

We had some savings to start off and if it reached a certain level,

we would stop and work to top it up. We also budgeted for
emergencies. Work out what big things you might like to do, i.e.,
flight over Kakadu, and save for them separately.

10
Finances continued…

You can do it on any budget. It just depends on what you want to

see and do. Buy a tent, some simple camping gear and go for small
trips. The overall experience is still the same whether you have a
luxurious expensive van or a tent. The point is you just have to do it
otherwise there will always be a reason not to.

Restructure your mortgage to be a line of credit and therefore you

use the equity in your house to draw on when you need it while
travelling. Then just manage the costs of doing things, don't treat it
like a short-term holiday but a lifestyle that, like being at home,
needs to be planned.

In two years with 3 children - roughly half free camping, half parks
and 40,077 kilometres - $1170 per week. This comprised of
averaging out to approx.: accommodation $110 per week, fuel
$105 per week, food and drink $450 per week, car expenses and set
up expenses $105 per week. The entertainment/tours-were $350
per week and our phone and internet $50 per week. We did do a
couple of flights - Kakadu and Ningaloo Reef and a day cruise
Whitsundays.

It’s a bit like having children,

if you wait until you can afford them…
you’d never have them!

BUT YOU DO HAVE THEM

AND YOU CAN DO IT!!
11
 How did others do it?
We saved like crazy, and we did our lap in 3 installments whilst
taking annual leave and long service leave. Our 3-month trip cost us
$10000. We could have saved more money by free camping more.
We did not sell our house as we only did a 3-month trip. We had a
mate house sit for us, so the house was occupied whilst we were
gone.

We’ve sold all our possessions except for one box of stuff we've left
at a relative's place. We did not have a house/mortgage to
consider. We are not paying for any storage. We've bought a cheap
as chips solid second-hand camper trailer and fitted it out with
Drifta kitchen & drawers so it's functional. Hubby will continue to
work in his own web design business as we travel. I am going to join

12
a nursing agency and work too. We have two kids, so we will take
turns working / parenting but make sure we go slow enough to
explore as a family too!

We plan to use long service leave at half pay and possibly some
savings. I believe we will also still receive family tax benefit. Our
house will be rented out and (with luck) positively geared. We are
planning around six months away.

We sold our house in the peak of the market, have put money
aside for a deposit at the end of our travels. We live off an
extremely strict $700 a week. We paid all insurances up front for
the year so no bills, apart from phone, while on the road. That $700
is only living costs though, food, accommodation, fuel. We have a
$10k slush fund for car maintenance and other "luxuries" if need be.

We sold our house, put half the money in savings and spent the
other half on a new caravan. We aimed not to touch our savings
and left with $5300 cash. We went for 16 months and managed to
not touch our savings! We free camped a lot and found there was
heaps of work available!

Owning everything outright really makes the difference. We have

rented out our 2 houses 1 will cover the mortgage shortfall for the
second house. All our bills are paid in advance for 12 months. The
only money we are leaving with is some savings that should cover
the fuel for a quick lap around oz. Tax time should be favourable to
us this year. The wife has maternity income for emergencies, and I'll
be working when and where I can. Currently experimenting working
away doing the cotton harvest and it’s pulling 3k a week. This is
bulking up our savings very quickly but pretty much we will be
leaving with about 10k hard cash and winging the rest!
13
 Where there is a will, there is a way.
So now all you must do, is….
FIND THE WAY!

We went for 14 weeks. I took long service leave (most of it at half

pay). We bought a camper trailer we could afford and had some
cash saved up. My husband was not working at the time. We used
house sitters.

Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. We sold our
family home in Sydney, bought a small investment property in the
same area to return to if necessary and rented it out while we
travelled. We used the extra money from the sale of our home,
along with some savings to set up everything for the trip (new
vehicle and van etc.) and to fund the travel itself. Once set up, the
budget was $1000/wk. for the year (family of four). We were over
budget in the end, but only by $29 per week and that includes
EVERYTHING!

We had savings and hubby had long service leave at 1/2 pay. If
your loan has an option, you could put a set amount into an offset
account for a year or two and then use that money to live off. That
way it's still saving you interest on your loan, but you can see your
savings increase separately.

There was lots of planning, we sold one of 2 cars and decided to

rent out our family home for 12 months (which covers our
mortgage). We are storing the contents of our entire house; the
hardest part was probably narrowing our belongings down to fit
into the back of our ute and camper trailer!

14
What will be your Rig?
(That’s the official term for home and car on wheels!)
First Up - The Car
The car you choose will also
determine what you can tow,
which of course will be your
home on wheels. A main
factor to consider when
choosing your home is the
maximum load that your vehicle can tow. So you'll need to
choose your car carefully, check the manufacturer’s handbook

AND remember to count all the weight that you put in the car and
van - including yourselves and water!

You will research as much as you can obviously, but there’s

nothing quite like the experience of others.
Here are some thoughts from other TAWKers….
Our 2001 3L TD Patrol hasn't missed a beat. We're towing a 17.5
ft. dual axle Expanda. We would have loved a 100 series
Landcruiser when we brought the Patrol years ago but couldn't
justify the extra 30k. The extra money paid for our van.

I have a 105 cruiser, great tough car towing 2.2-ton van. If I was
to have my choice again, I would look at a late model Ute such as
a Dmax or Ranger etc. These cars are pulling faster and easier and
using far less fuel. My consumption averages 18.7 litres/100 while
most modern cars are down as low as 10. With fuel being the
biggest expenditure, I would seriously consider those if towing
capacity allows.
15
We were looking at a Patrol or a Landcruiser, we took both for
test drives and found that the 100 series was a lot more
comfortable and seemed to have more room inside than the
Patrol. It seemed to have more pulling power as well. Yes, a bit
more expensive than the Patrol but as the old saying goes you get
what you pay for. We are very happy with the 100 series; glad we
went that way.

We have a Dmax, we did 27,000 km around Australia last year

towing an Expanda - it didn't miss a beat.

We bought a Jeep! Towing a 17ft Jayco Expanda, fully loaded to

cater for 5 people. It goes everywhere, diesel efficient & very
comfortable. Also, the source of never ending jokes!

What will be your home on wheels?

What about your ‘Home’ on wheels?

Your real question is; “What would suit your needs as a
family and how much work are you prepared to do for
setting up?”

16
This all depends on what you need for your family and how you
intend to travel. What is important to you?
• Do you want an ensuite?
• Do you want to go off-road?
• Do you want to go to places that are really remote?
• Is the ease of set up and pack down important to you?
• How much do you want to spend?
Here are some thoughts from other TAWKers….
We have a Jayco StarCraft with triple bunks (kids 9, 8 & 6) &
we've got plenty of room. The shower & toilet is separate. We've
been outback Qld with it & we've been travelled on corrugated
roads with no problems.

We have an Outback Expanda off road with ensuite, we have 3

girls. It comes with 2 bed ends and double bunks. We took out the
bottom bunk and have replaced it with a series of drawers from
Bunnings, around 25 in total, different heights e.g., for knickers
and bathers to bigger stuff, it's working really well, and we've had
no problems, we brought the van 2nd hand it was a 2014 model.

We fitted out a bus! We wanted to go long term and have all the
creature comforts. It does limit us somewhat in getting into some
caravan parks and remote places are out for us. But the comfort
and ease are important to us, so we accept the restrictions.

We have a Retreat Daydream Outbacker, fully off road and

completely self-sufficient. We couldn't be happier with the van
and after sales service. We had a hard floor camper before and
wanted something with little to no set up because we have a 2- &
4-year-old. We are glad we spent the money because it’s so much
easier.

17
We had a camper trailer and loved how it allowed us to go
wherever we wanted, quick setup (1/2 hour), 2 beds off the
ground and a large soft floor space for extra sleeping or playing.
Setup was only a little tiring when we had a couple of overnight
stops in a week but the thing that got to us the most was living
out of boxes.

We bought an oldie but a Goldie! Only cost us $6,000 this meant

that we could be on the road longer and it didn’t miss a beat –
some people say, ‘they built things to last back then’! ☺

Whatever you choose, remember, you can always sell it at the

end of the trip. If you buy a brand-new van, or a second-hand
oldie but a Goldie, it will have a value that you can recoup and so
overall it might not cost you much at all.

The van pictured above was ours, it cost us $6500 in 2009 and we
sold it for $3500 in 2017. Not bad value for taking us around
Australia for 2 years for $3000.
18
Do we need an ensuite?
(Toilet and shower in the van)

For some TAWKers the ensuite is a must, for others, it’s not
essential. Here are some thoughts from others to help you
choose….

We didn't have one. We don't regret it but, sometimes I do wish

for the toilet. The shower is not important enough for us. Small
bucket of water works a treat and baby wipes.

We have a shower setup with our camper equivalent to an

external shower so we’re not bothering with a caravan with an
ensuite. We couldn't live without our porta potty, especially with
young kids. I've seen vans that store these in a cupboard under
the bed.

We have a van and only a porta potty. I took a big tub and sat it
inside the van for a good wash for the kids. We have a wardrobe,
which has a cupboard below big enough for our toilet. Every night
before bed we drag it out. It has proved very handy for the kids
and us.

I've done it both ways, first trip around Oz, no kids just a bucked
and battery-operated pump shower in a shower tent. This time I
wanted a caravan with an ensuite, so that I could just walk in and
use it, stay clean getting out etc. as you're up off the ground and
don't have to drag your stuff to the amenities, tip toe getting
dressed on the dirty floors. Also, it means hot running water in our
van. If your budget allows, I'd get one.

19
We have a caravan with an ensuite. However, we wouldn't use
much more water in our shower than we would in a bucket. We
have 6 people to get through, so we all stand in a bucket and just
quickly turn the shower on to get wet, and then quickly back on to
wash off the soap. The bucket water is to make sure feet are
cleaned properly (kids get filthy!). To be honest, it’s probably a
glorified bucket shower!! But, we do it this way and we can have a
shower every second day for two weeks without running out of
water!

For us a caravan with an ensuite was a must. It gives you the

freedom to camp anywhere. We also have grey water tank. There
are some amazing camp spots with no facilities so if fully self-
contained can stay if not you can only day visit.

20
When is the best time to Travel Australia
With Kids?
NOW! Is the simple answer - As the quote below says…
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start
where you stand and work with whatever tools you
may have at your command, better tools will be found
as you go along” – George Herbert

In saying that, let’s look at the facts….

Before the children start school. If you head off before the
children start school, this will eliminate the home-schooling issue,
but would they remember anything? They can be really easy at
this stage, but also quite demanding. How much trekking would
you realistically be able to do?

Primary school aged children. This could seem like a good option
as schooling is manageable and you do not have the worry of
major exams. There is so much learning to be done just by
travelling and much of the curriculum at this stage you will still be
able to understand! (There’s a whole section of schooling
coming up) Also, they still want to be with you at this time of their
lives and there is a good chance they will remember the trip.

High School aged children. This could be a tricky age, as not only
is the schooling more serious (and you might not be able to help
them with it yourselves!). There can also be exams involved.

21
They also might not want to be away from their friends at this
time of their lives. This however could be the reason to do your
trip at this time. Children that I knew of travelling at this age,
fought it at first, but really embraced the freedom they found
without the pressure of their peers and social media.

I believe you should not let anything stop you planning your trip.
There will always be something if you look hard enough.

So, don't look too hard!

“Don’t call it a Dream, call it a Plan!”

My Child does not want to go!

This certainly can happen with older children who do not want to
leave friends. Here are some thoughts and ideas from our TAWK
Community…

We have just finished our lap with our 12- and 10-year-olds. 12-
year-old didn't want to leave friends, school, activities etc. We told
her we would never have this opportunity again. It has been the
best experience we could ever have wished for, and we have all
come out the other side happier and closer than before. Having
said that, there were raging hormones and a lack of personal
space for the 12-year-old - plenty of times I wished we had
another room! The trade-off is so worth it, an experience the
whole family will share collectively for ever.

We are travelling with our 12- & 13-year-old girls. Youngest was
thrilled, eldest took a little convincing. We are 3mths into our lap
now. Everyone loving it but the kids won't actually admit it. They
22
are at an age where it's their job to be oppositional and reject
anything we (parents) suggest or require of them. Sometimes they
refuse to participate in our plans, but we have an agreement
between us parents not to give in to them. We sometimes have to
force them out of the car/caravan, but it's always worth it
because they usually change their tune within about 15minutes
and enjoy the activity. The trip will bring you all closer together.
Shared experiences are what make relationships.

My 12-year-old was very hesitant – she didn't want to leave

friends, school, band, music lessons etc. etc. we have been back 14
months from our 12-month trip around the country and, not only
did she LOVE it, but she is also the one that would leave again
tomorrow morning if we gave her the option!!! Sometimes
something that we don't know about doesn't necessarily mean it's
not going to be great. The time our children spend with my
husband and I during that year will go down as some of the most
meaningful and special times of their lives - they admit to this
now!!

Try to get your child/ren involved in your planning and ask them
to commit to giving it a shot! They will love it…but they don’t
know that yet!

“Obstacles are those frightening things you

see when you take your eyes off the goal” –
Henry Ford

23
Schooling
Mmmm this is a big one and one that does not have a clear-cut
answer as every state differs. You will need to refer to your own
state for all the actual specifics BUT basically you really have three
choices on how you do it and there’s good news and bad news of
all three. As at the time of writing they are:
❖ Distance Education,
❖ Home Educator or
❖ Remain Enrolled.
There are good and bad things with all of them, so to help you
decide read on….

Distance Education/SIDE
Different states have different versions of Distance Education, but
ultimately, they offer similar things, online communications, and
lessons and some still have hard copy work packages.
24
Good news
• It is very comprehensive and structured, and the Distance
Education School takes responsibility for the child's
learning and advise you how to home school. They provide
the timetable and the work; you pretty much oversee your
child.
• You do not have to organise lesson plans.
• The packages get delivered to your specified address, your
child completes the work, and you send it off for marking.
• Much of the work is getting more computer orientated
without the need for lots of books to pack.
Bad news
• There is a lot of it! It's almost like your child is at school,
but you still must fit in your travelling and sightseeing;
there seems to be little time for anything else.
• You might not know where you will be in two weeks to
advise delivery of any packages.
• You may want to move on but are still waiting for a
package to arrive.
• There may not be ANY postage whatsoever in remote
areas. You may all be having a great time and not ready to
move on, you may have found work and want to stay for a
while; now what!?
• You may not have access to the internet to access the
digital programs. Although mobile coverage is getting
better…it’s not great! It’s not guaranteed.

“I never let schooling get in the way of

my education”- Mark Twain

25
Homeschool and Enroll as Home Educator
If you want to home school your kids, you must register as a
home educator. The department firstly assesses that you know
how to home school - but also as far as I can make of the
legislation, you must have a registered permanent address to be
able to do this. The department monitors your child and makes
home visits. This is where it does get tricky, and you really should
make sure this is right for you as obviously it is not really ideal if
you are travelling!

We have some families that are managing this and encourage

you to visit www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/schooling-on-
the-road.htm to see their thoughts and experiences, which may
help you with your decision.

26
The Good News:
• You can tailor your child's education to suit them and their
individual abilities.
• It is not as structured as the Distance Education, and you
can adjust their learning to suit your location and other
activities.
• You may be able to defer the home monitoring until you
get back home. (Although unless you have developed a
passion for home-schooling your child/children, you'd be re
enrolling them back in their old school upon return
anyway.)

The Bad News

• You need to apply to become a home educator and
demonstrate your ability and commitment to educate you
child - you may not be approved.
• You need to source your child’s education material and
devise a study plan and have a good idea on how to home
school your child - this can be daunting for some.
• You are travelling and therefore will not be at home for
the home visit, so may not be an option depending on the
regulations for your state.

How can you

beat a
‘classroom’ like
this!

27
Maintain Current Enrolment
If you think that Distance Education is too restricting and that
you didn't really want to enrol as a Home Educator, mainly
because you only intend to travel for a limited time then you may
wish to ‘Maintain your child's Current Enrolment’ in their school.
This is what we did and certainly recommend if you can.

Should you choose this option you would firstly need to discuss
the options related to your child’s education with your school
principal. The principal will consider your situation and if they
agree that you can provide a good education for your child, they’ll
provide you with an exemption.

This is getting harder and harder to do, so ensure you prepare

well and present a good case. (This is actually the way we
decided to go – please check out this website
www.homeschooling.com.au for some help and tell them we
sent you - they will know how to help you better knowing you are
TAWKing).

The Good News

• You can tailor your child's education to suit them and
their individual abilities.
• It is not as structured as the Distance Education, and you
can adjust their learning to suit your location and other
activities.
• You do not have to wait for postage or rely on internet
connectivity to educate your child.

28
The Bad News
• You need to source your child's education material, devise
a study plan, and have a good idea on how to home school
your child - this can be daunting for some.
• You do need to be motivated and disciplined to keep up a
regular schooling, as without having to answer to any body,
it can be easy to let go.

There is also an ‘Unschooling’ philosophy – I will not go into this

here as I believe that if this was going to be for you, you would
already be doing this with your children now and not just whilst
you travel.
At the end of the day we all want the best education for our
children and on the trip, there are many, many places that you
can visit to enhance this along the way. I.e.; museums,
aquariums, exhibitions, mine sites etc. etc.

Get the kids

a Journal.
☺
There would not be
teacher out there that
would not encourage
your kids to keep a
Journal.

Click here to find out more about our Travel

Journals.

29
We know it’s confusing, we know it’s overwhelming, but we also
know that there are many families that are doing this and making
it work. It is not easy and of course, you can always post on the
Travel Australia With Kids Facebook page if ever you need a bit
of encouragement or some help.

Learning opportunities on the road are everywhere.

Hard to sort out!

The schooling side of TAWKing is one of the hardest things to sort
out – make no mistake BUT do not let the education departments
get you down. It can be done, and it IS being done, by lots of
other TAWKers! Kids are getting real experiences not just reading
about them in books!
Keep in mind that once you are out of a state, you are no longer
under their jurisdiction.

Websites: Australia's Education Department

Western Australia www.education.wa.edu.au
Northern Territory www.education.nt.gov.au
Queensland www.education.qld.gov.au
Victoria www.education.vic.gov.au
New South Wales www.dec.nsw.gov.au
Tasmania www.education.tas.gov.au
ACT www.education.act.gov.au
South Australia www.decd.sa.gov.au
30
Can I really teach my kids? I’m scared I’ll
fail them.
A common theme among parents is; “Can I do this? And just like
Bob the Builder, I’m going to say, “YES YOU CAN!” And other
TAWKers think so too. This is what they said…
You'll be amazed at what you can teach them. You've been doing
it all along, now it's just in a different forum. You'll do great and
they'll do even better with the one-on-one attention. Trust in
yourself and in them.

One of our three hated me schooling him. He said it wasn't fun

with me, but we got there in the end. I also had a rule that during
school time they had to call me Mrs Mum! During those times I
was the teacher, not Mum and they needed to listen to what I was
saying and treat me the way they did their teachers. It worked!

Something I was once told was that DE schools take full

responsibility for your child's educational outcome (unlike home
school where you are solely responsible). It made me feel better
and helped take the pressure off myself to do absolutely
everything. I do as best as I can as a home tutor knowing that if
there is any issue the DE teachers need to find a solution and it
doesn't ALL fall on my shoulders.

“While formal schooling is an important

advantage, it is not a guarantee of success nor
is its absence a fatal handicap” Ray Croc.

31
In WA and they simply told us we needed to teach in accordance
with the Australian Curriculum. We didn't submit anything to
them, just purchased the relevant years Maths and English books
and made sure to complete them. Was easier than I thought it
would be.

I was worried but if I was covering reading, writing and maths I

was happy. They learnt so much just traveling.

If you still have doubts then fire a question on the Travel

Australia With Kids Facebook Page to other TAWKers and they
will help you with your questions.

Here are some more thoughts from TAWKers

regarding schooling concerns.
My son just started school, and when we met with the principal,
we explained that we intend to travel, which will take our son out
of school, asking; ‘what was the school's view on this?’ She highly
recommended it, saying travelling and experiencing things is a
much better way to learn.

32
I am a teacher and work with teachers who are so excited for us
and well aware of the educational opportunities of the trip. We
met with the boys' teachers to discuss their learning on the road,
and they were both convinced that the trip will be an amazing
opportunity for their learning and growth.

You are the parents of your children, and you are creating a year
of amazing experiences and memories for them. What your
children will experience over the year will open their eyes like
never before to nature, society, people, community, history,
culture, geography, our environment and create the most
amazing family bond.

Following the path of the majority and staying put and not
traveling will give your children the average normal yearly school
experience. Stepping outside the norm and travelling will give
them so very much more. How can children on a 7x7 meter room
for 6 hours a day for 40 weeks get what you are offering yours;
the real world and a real-life experience? Enjoy and trust your
heart.

What are some great Educational Apps for the kids?

There really is so much out there to help you nowadays and why
not embrace the children’s love of technology with some
Educational Applications.
TAWKers Favourites that they are using to help educate their
kids. (We have not personally tried or used them all, so do
investigate to see if they would suit your child.)

33
Raz Kids is a great reading and comprehension one
Teach Your Monster to Read
Endless Alphabet
Interactive Telling Time
Khan Academy – Older kids and tutorials on lots of subjects
Comics in the Classroom – better for older kids 12+
iWriteWords – young learners practice writing, basic spelling
Strip Designer – able to use own photos to create comic strip
ABC4Kids
Maths Rocxx - for students learning timetables.
Reading Eggs
Teach your monster to read
Eggy Apps on their iPads
Quick Math Jnr & Targeting Maths also on iPads.
Targeting Maths is in year groups
Dragonbox numbers,
Nessy also has good apps for letters/spelling
IXL Australian English and Mathematics
The Avokiddo apps are great
Britannica Kids - Kids can read up on rainforests, Ancient Egypt,
volcanoes, the solar system and more
34
Telling Family and Friends
Just the heads up, not everyone will share your joy at the news
that you intend to do this. More often than not; it will be your
family that will be sceptical, especially regarding taking the
children out of mainstream schooling.
When we asked our TAWKers how they coped with negative
thoughts, this answer summed up everyone’s thoughts…:

We had a lot of negative responses from some friends and

hubby's family. We let them have their say but asked them to tell
us exactly what they think is going to happen that is so terrible.
Hubby is a psychologist and when his family said "You're making a
terrible mistake, what about the kid’s education?" Etc. he asked
them precisely what they feared would happen. In the end it was
a lot of unsubstantiated "What ifs". In most cases he could explain
why those outcomes are highly unlikely, or in one case 'You could
all be killed in a car accident!' He calmly said "Well yes, that could
happen, but it isn't going to stop me living my life, and anyway it
could happen right here at home.

He knew that all their objections were more about their own
selfishness of not wanting us to move inconveniently far away
from them, rather than any real concerns. Make them spell it out,
calmly and logically address their fears, discuss between your and
your partner the motivations behind their negativity. That way
you can keep your resolve strong.”

35
 “Travelling IS giving them the best chance in life! It
teaches them so much and provides the most amazing
family life. My kids (a year on from 13-month big lap trip)
still delight and amaze their teachers with their general
knowledge and understanding. They are more outgoing
and social. My now 12-year-old recently had a birthday
party and asked for donations to put towards adopting a
tiger as he just didn't really 'need any stuff'. The only
negative is coming home! “– fellow TAWKer

Sometimes family just need reassurance, once you explain to

them your thoughts, ideas, plans and how you are investigating
everything for your family, and then you’ll soon be sharing your
excitement with them, you’ll see. And if not… it’s your life and
we’ve never heard a family return and say, “we wished we had
never done this.” It’s not all roses, that’s for sure BUT it will be
the best thing you’ll do with your kids!

36
What is it really like being together 24/7?
It’s obviously different for every family.

The hardest part is the first few weeks as you get used to this
very different lifestyle. You are together 24/7 and it can be very,
very tough. Be under no illusion:
• You will be physically and mentally bumping into each
other.
• You will be tripping over each other.
• You will learn how to move around each other. Physically
and mentally!

37
BUT
• You will learn so much about each other as you start really
connecting with each member of the family.
• Most TAWKers said that it took them 2 – 3 months to really
get in the swing of things, so prepare yourselves that it
might not be the fantastic experience that you hope it will
be…. immediately. Be patient and you will grow into it.
What are the hardest things about being
on the road? From other families…
We don't sit down and relax. We don't and sit and have a drink in
the afternoon, one of the kids ALWAYS needs SOMETHING. The
washing is endless and expensive. When one gets sick, you ALL
get sick. In saying all that, I wouldn't change a thing.

You think you’re going to be on a holiday but really life still goes
on and travelling with kids of any age has its challenges. Young
ones need constant supervision, so you really can't relax till they
go to sleep at night and by that time you’re pretty much spent
anyways.

Definitely not a holiday rather a different lifestyle and the excess

prices to stay at caravan parks sometimes an extra $10 -$15 per
kid per night! It gets really expensive!

*** On this last point, we are trying to do something about this

with our TAWKer Supporter Program. We ask camp sites to offer
2 night’s FREE camping for our TAWK member’s kids. More info
here: https://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/tawk-
membership-card.html– TAWK ***

38
When it rains non-stop and everything is wet and muddy, and
nothing will dry, and your kids wet the bed for consecutive nights
in a row.

My son hated being away from home and his friends and was
miserable sometimes and longed to be back to his normal life. It
was hard and as such we had to cut our trip significantly shorter
to accommodate. Some are just not cut out for travel and an
adult’s dream is not always the same for the kids!

Schooling the kids! I found it so hard at first with all three of mine
being different ages and abilities. It was overwhelming, and it
took quite some time to realise this is not what the trip was about,
and we just then concentrated on the reading, writing a journal
(There’s one here that we recommend)
https://tawkshop.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/

Consecutive days of driving can spoil a trip. We learned that the

hard way. Slow down; travel slower if you have time to. The
constant setting up and packing up is exhausting.
Dirt and dust that creeps into everything, sand everywhere, trying
to get the kids to brush it off their feet before coming into the
caravan.

Those 3am trips to the loo with or without the kids, especially in
the pouring rain! Invest in a porta-loo.

Not having any private couple time ❤ ! Kids are there for
everything! No such thing as private conversations anymore and
forget trying to row or get into heated 'discussion'. Mind you we
have heard some that seem do not to care!

39
Can we earn money on the road while
travelling and if so, how?
You betcha! You will have to be flexible of course!

Also, it no doubt depends on how long you intend to travel for; if

you are on the road indefinitely, I’m sure you’ll have sorted this
out before you made your decision for the nomadic lifestyle.
For most of us it’s about picking up a bit of work here and there
to top up the funds now and again. So that is what I’ll go into
here.

First, what we did..

We concentrated on getting work in caravan parks. We figured
that;
• It was in the lifestyle area that we wanted.
• There was normally work wanted at the busy holiday
periods, where it also could be difficult to get
accommodation at that time – so a win, win situation.

• It was often just to get the park through the busy period
and then we’d move on – so again, worked in with our
plans.
• It normally gave free/cheaper accommodation.
• Our kids found other kids to play with for a while.
40
How we earned money on the road
MY husband is a handy man and so this worked a treat for work
as a caretaker in many parks. We also ended up running one for a
few months whilst one park employed new managers. I’m pretty
nifty on the computer and so also did a stint in reception. The
software I came across was simple and obvious to use and being a
traveller myself, it certainly helped with bookings.

We used to think where roughly we would be at a certain time

and email just about every caravan park in the vicinity. We
worked in Margaret River WA, Coral Bay WA, Robe SA and
Burleigh Heads QLD – so a bit of a spread.

I also did some online work with a company called Lionbridge.

Here I used to use the computer to assess search engine results.
Yes! There are humans behind Google too. It was an easy job to
do on the road and whilst it did not pay huge sums of money, it all
adds up.

The last thing I did was Mystery Shopping – just Google it and
you will see several websites that you just need to sign up to –
there might be a small course to undertake. The great news
about Mystery Shopping whilst you are travelling is that the
companies pay a lot more for remote shops. After a few months,
I could pretty much negotiate a price.

I did one out at Jabiru NT and got paid $100 for 15 minutes work!
Coober Pedy brought me in $75 for 15 mins. No one else was out
there and it was outstanding for some time. They just wanted it
done. You do need internet connectivity though, but again they
pretty understood if I told them it might be an issue. So, food for

41
thought, at the end of the day, for me, I was going to these spots
anyway, so might as well get paid some money too.

“Twenty years from now you will be more

disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by
the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail
away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade
wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover –
Mark Twain
Some families make money from Affiliate Marketing on
the road and doing very well at it. If you think you might like to,
then have a read of this article on our website. Click picture
below for the link.

42
Finding work on the road when travelling websites

There are many websites that you can check out. Here are a few
of them:

No Boundaries
www.noboundaries.com.au/positions%20vac/Emloyment.htm
Seems to be geared up for the Grey Nomads, but worth a shot at
the jobs. Quite a few caravan park jobs often advertised there.

Hire Me Holiday Parks

www.hiremeholidayparks.com.au/search-results-jobs/ Some
of the parks might want full timers, but worth a shot to ask the
advertising parks if they need some casual workers.
The Job Shop
www.thejobshop.com.au/search/ These guys have varied
positions and the site is easy to navigate.

Harvest trail
www.jobsearch.gov.au/job/search/harvest You can pretty
much work around the country at your own pace picking fruit and
veggies.

Travellers at Work
www.taw.com.au/ A whole range of work for all kinds of
travellers.

WWOOF
www.wwoof.com.au/ Many families try WWOOFing where you
basically work for your keep, but also get a really great experience

Workabout Australia
www.workaboutaustralia.com.au/Jobs/jobs-search-vacancies –
Small membership fee to get all the latest job listings.

43
There are also some good Facebook Groups/Pages to
join or follow..

Fruit Picking Jobs – Pretty self-explanatory!

Australian Travellers Jobs – You quite often find jobs advertised
here.
Grey Nomads Jobs – I know it says Grey Nomads, but don’t
discount it.
Bush Recruitment – Agricultural and the Agribusiness style of
work.
Work as we Travel – There are often some great ideas shared
here as well as work.
As I say there are many more, but if you are anything like me you
just get overwhelmed with too many of them.

The best way sometimes is simply to ask. It’s not a career; it’s
not a life change. It’s a job for a few weeks/months to top up
your funds. Ask at the local shop, caravan park, supermarket, get
onto Gumtree – even advertise yourself, etc. etc. do this
especially in areas where the tourism industry is expecting an
influx of people during holiday periods. They only need you for a
small time; you only need them for a small time. Win Win!!

Here are some thoughts from other TAWKers…

We have worked as caretakers in caravan parks. You can pick up
work in housekeeping, front desk/reception. It just depends on
what you're willing or able to do.

We found a great way to manage work and travel: Cattle

stations. Live in the outback for 6 months working then 6 months
on the road. Wife is the cook and I do mustering, mechanics, bore
man and fencing. Station shuts down over the wet so great time

44
to travel. All expenses paid, and we love it, been doing it for 4
years.

Think about your own market stall. Do you have something you
can make and sell? All have pay for is your stall. And rest money is
yours. Even at shows. Look for entertainment. Again, you just
have pay small price for stall holder.

My husband is a plasterer, I had friend tells us you just get all the

BECOME A TAWK MEMBER TODAY!

IT IS A ONE OFF PAYMENT FOR THE LIFE OF THE

TAWKER SUPPORTER PROGRAM

YOU WILL BENEFIT WITH 2 NIGHT’S FREE

CAMPING* FOR YOUR KIDS AT ALL OF OUR TAWK
PARKS THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA

*SOME CONDITIONS MAY APPLY CHECK LISTINGS ON OUR WEBSITE

numbers of plasterers in the area and do the rounds. Then call

ahead to the next town you’re looking at going.

45
Are Centrelink payments available
to us?
Maybe! BUT obviously it all depends on your personal
circumstances. You should certainly pay them a visit and see
exactly what you might be entitled to. You may be sceptical, but
some families have found Centrelink did turn out to be very
helpful. If you were entitled to Family Tax Benefit before you
travelled, you would most likely still get it now. You are still
bringing up your kids! Look into and also ask them about:

Family Tax Benefit Income tested.

Parenting Payment Single or partnered for low income families
(kids under 6).
Austudy – This can be particularly helpful for those who wish to
participate in full time study on their travels.
Newstart Allowance Available for those who home-school their
children and have a job search exemption.
Rent Assistance Possible to claim from caravan parks if you do
not own another home.
Carers payment If you are caring for children with certain medical
conditions.
Assistance for Isolated Children May be available for those who
home school/DE children as you are moving from place to place
for looking for work and if the children are unable to attend school
for medical reasons.
The Centrelink website is worth a visit too, although I did find it
all overwhelming and, in the end, I just found it easier to go and
chat to a consultant.

As everyone’s situation is so different it really is best to

contact Centrelink and tell them yours.
46
Don’t forget ‘The decision to travel is the hardest part’.
Once made everything starts to fall into place. TAWK is here to
help you every step of the way, either through the Travelling
Australia With Kids Website or the busy and interactive Facebook
Page. No question is stupid, if you think it, someone else has too.
So just ASK!! (If you would like to remain anonymous, you can
very easily do that just send a message and mention and we can
ask for you) www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com

47
How can we save money as we travel?
Need some suggestions? Of course! We asked TAWKers what
they were doing to save money as they travelled and here are
some of their thoughts:

Travel slowly! Spend a couple weeks at least at nice places; being

on the move is a lot more expensive with all the fuel costs. It's all
about making the available funds last longer.

You have extra time, so shop smartly and plan meals. If you plan
on eating out as a treat, always do it over lunchtime, lunchtime
specials are ALOT better than dinner times. When you do travel in
the car, pack snacks and drinks, PREPARATION is the key!

Utilise WiFi hotspots to save on data (Information Centres are

great for this), and make sure you chat to locals about the hidden
gems to visit; sometimes the best places to visit aren't the
commercialised places. Ensure you regularly service your vehicles
and rotate tyres to avoid any costly surprises.

Local Knowledge. Definitely one of our top travel budget tips.

Ask the locals. The tourist centres are fantastic, and the
pamphlets often contain discount vouchers. They will also know if
anything free is happening locally. But nothing beats the locals for
advice on those secret cheap spots to go and see and of course if
you are to go out to eat, they will also have an idea of the best
local food at the best prices. The local pub can be a good spot for
meeting the locals.

48
Track your expenses. This way you get to see where you are
spending and where you can save. I used to track ours and after a
couple of months you really can see where you are spending and
what you can do to change things. It helped us to have an extra
YEAR on the road!

We have created a TAWK Travel Finance Tracker if you wanted to

do the same and track yours – it can also help with your planning.
http://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/travel-finance-
tracker.html

49
If towing, don't always use cruise control. Driving long distances,
you may not always notice the rise in the gradients of the road
and all that gear changing can increase fuel your consumption.
Also, keep tow vehicle maintained well! Not forgetting those all so
important tyres on all vehicles.

Op Shop shopping can really save you heaps and of course, you
are helping a charity at the same time. As you travel through
different states, weather can change dramatically, this way you
can travel light and stock up with the clothes you need to suit the
weather as you go.

50
Could you make money on the road from a
Blog/Website?
You just might!

You really need to get onto this a lot earlier in the plans – so
probably NOW - if you are wanting to make money this way, there
are some ways that you can do this, and I wish I’d have known
this earlier myself. Affiliate marketing.

The idea is you recommend a service or product and if others

click on it and purchase something in a certain number of days,
you get a little bit of commission.

Up until recently I was only making a few hundred dollars a year.

BUT I have recently taken this course and I am starting to see the
money come in - it's taken me a while, but hopefully you can get
onto it sooner and learn how to do it properly first time around.
Oh and of course I am an affiliate of it too!

51
We stick to the rule of only recommending something that we
would anyway if we didn't get paid for it. Obviously, it's your
reputation on the line. I learnt how to do MUCH BETTER this by
taking the Course. It was the best money I ever spent, and it
certainly made me realise that I could be making the most of
helping other TAWKers AND making a bit of money for TAWK as
well. After all, we have to keep the lights on too!
Check out our webpage at this link for more information:
www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/starting-a-travel-
blog.html

The system that I use for the TAWK website is also really great
and is more about making an online business than just creating a
Travel Blog. If you think you’d like to run an online business while
you are on the road, then have a look here:
http://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/blog-home-
business.html

I found it all a bit ‘American’ at first, but now I love all the
support, ideas and suggestions. It even helped me write this guide
and get it up and running!

If you’d just like to write a Blog of your trip or just do something

to keep family and friends in the loop, there are many other
options:

Set up a Facebook Page or Group – a simple way to keep in touch

with your friends and family where you can post photos and a
simple explanation of what you are doing. You’d use a Facebook
Page if you wanted anyone to follow you and a Facebook Group if
you wanted to add people yourself.

52
Set up a website with some of the blogging platforms out there –
There are lots! Many people like Wordpress. Again it would be
good to have a look at the page on our website with all the
information on it, including how to pick a good Domain Name and
hosting options. Have a look here – it really is easier than you
think and we guide you through the process.

www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/starting-a-travel-
blog.html

Dedicated Travel Blogs – There are many Blogging platforms

particularly made for travellers. You set up an email list and every
time you update your blog it alerts those on your list that there is
a new post. Easy peasy and your friends and family can post
comments. The issue here is that whilst it is free, it's not really
under your control. It is also restrictive - especially if turns out
you are a natural and down the line you might want actually to
want to monetise your site. Your situation may change as
opportunities arise along the way.

Also, with some of them, (and this happened to me!) if the

company goes down, so does your site - I just found this with our
travel blog site that we had with Travel Pod. They took the whole
platform down and I had to download all my blog posts. So, I
wouldn't really recommend that way anymore. (I am gradually
making it a part of this blog...but it's taking a while!).

Our On-Line Business – I started TAWK when we got back but

wished I’d have started it on the road. Read
about how that all started here:
http://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/
blog-home-business.html

53
How TAWK got Started
Basically, I realised early on that there was not much support for
families Travelling Australia With their Kids and sometimes, you
just need to know that others feel the same. You are away from
your friends and family and trust me; you need a bit of support.
TAWK is that support.
TAWK is the site I wanted/needed when we were travelling.
Hopefully you will find it helpful too. So, if you haven’t already,
bookmark our website, check back often and be interactive!

www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com

Stop saying I wish, start saying I will!

54
Where to go and should we plan or wing
it?
Next up – Where to go?

There truly is sooo much to see in Australia! It’s a BIG Country.

You may be doing the lap this time or be embarking on lots of
small trips or maybe just doing a few states. As long as you are
doing what you can for as long as you can!

A few months ago we asked TAWKers for their Top Ten ‘Must
See’ places in Australia and whilst this no doubt would change
again if we asked in another 6 months, it will certainly give you an
idea. Here they are, in no particular order…..

Cape York – Queensland It's not just because it is the northern

most point of the country, that this made the top ten, (although
you do feel as though that has a small role to play!) The stunning
scenery and amazing wilderness will leave you entranced and if
you love to 4WD you'll love it even more!

Uluru – Northern Territory You know Uluru has to be on your top

ten. Once you go there, you will know why! There is something
quite magical about this rock, some even say 'spiritual'. This really
is not only a ‘must see’ but a ‘must feel’ too.

Litchfield National Park – Northern Territory Whilst Kakadu is

probably the most well-known of the Northern Territory's National
Parks, our TAWKers voted for Litchfield NP over it. It is a lot
smaller and you feel as if you can actually get to see a lot of it, as
the access is very good. The Buley Rock Holes were a highlight for
our family and we went back several times.

55
Exmouth and Ningaloo Reef – Western Australia The Ningaloo
Reef is WA's Great Barrier Reef except it is easier to access! In
towns like Coral Bay, you can swim and even some places, even by
paddling in the shallow water, you get to see the most amazing
coral. Of course, this is cheap and perfect for children. There is
also at certain times of the year, the opportunity to swim with
nature’s biggest fish, the whale shark.

TAWK Members also get a TAWK discount on many

attractions around the country and Coral Bay Eco tours is one
of them – Imagine this! Swimming with a whale shark –
more info here:
https://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/tawker-supporters-
attractions.html#Coral

56
Cape Tribulation Daintree National Park – Queensland Where
the rainforest meets the Coral Sea, pretty much sums up the area.
With the ability to experience the Great Barrier Reef and at the
Wet Tropics, both being World Heritage Listed areas. Just
stunning although certain camping spots are not suitable for
caravans.

Tasmania Whilst Tasmania is a state, quite a commitment to get

to and certainly not cheap (especially with the caravan). You
should not let it put you off. Pencil in a good part of your trip to
dedicate to exploring this amazing part of Australia and it will be
worth your investment.

The Kimberley and the Gibb River Road Whether you are set up
enough to tackle the Gibb River Road or if you scoot around on
The Great Northern Highway, the magical Kimberley will seep into
your soul - or it did mine! This is my favourite.

57
Fraser Island – Queensland Fraser Island is the worlds largest
sand island and another of Australia's world heritage listed areas.
You will need to get a barge to the island (or you can fly in). The
sand tracks may only be suitable to 4wd vehicles and I believe that
all vehicles do need a vehicle permit.

Karijini National Park – Western Australia Just North of the

Tropic of Capricorn in WA is the Must-see Australian destination of
Karijini National Park. With a semi tropical climate the best time
to visit would be late Autumn, Winter and early Spring. The
amazing gorges are mostly within easy access and the kids will
love the ‘Spiderman’ walk to Kermit's and Fern Pools.

58
Carnarvon Gorge National Park – Queensland Carnarvon gorge
and it's array of gorge systems, is the most popular attraction of
Central Queensland and you will know why, once you experience
this unique area, with it’s towering white sandstone cliffs.

These amazing places are suggestions by other TAWKers, you

will find your own favourites. Sometimes a spot that others rave
about, you may not like and equally some may advise against
going somewhere, but you still go and find that it’s one of your
favourite places. So whilst it’s good to ask, ask lots of different
people and you will get lots of different thoughts.

Where to go - Shall we Plan it or Wing it?

When you decide to TAWK you will want to make plans – how
could you not? It all adds to the excitement BUT just how much
planning do you need to do? It’s a question that partners often
disagree on. Normally one of you wants to plan and the other
wants to wing it. We asked other TAWKers what they do……

It’s a good idea to research destinations, attractions and events.

For those things I have used Trip Advisor and read the blogs of
other travelling families. Then I put them all onto Google maps
and I could roughly see a logical route.

A rough plan is good to accommodate for weather, peak

seasons etc. but you will learn about so many places whilst on the
road so you need to keep your plan open and flexible. It’s nice to
stay longer if you like it and less if it’s not your thing.

59
Check for wet weather seasons, like top end as you wouldn’t
want to be doing it then. Darwin is usually good around
November. Start in one direction, have a rough idea of the route
you want to take, look a little ahead to research as you go, but
then just wing it and see what happens. Works for us!

Research and make a list of places/things you want to see but

don't plan an itinerary. You will miss things because you just can't
see everything.

Definitely go with the flow. Three times we had to meet up with

family on specific dates and I HATED being so restricted. Going
with the flow is much easier

We loved making it up as we went along. If you like somewhere

you stay. If you don't you move on. It was one of the best things
about our trip and such a freeing feeling.
Time is a BIG factor in whether or not to have a plan. If you don't
have to be somewhere by a certain time, then it's WAY more
interesting to wing it! We rarely book ahead unless there's likely
to be a problem (e.g. long weekends, popular destinations etc),
but haven't EVER been left high and dry! Winging it means you'll
find all sorts of places to stop & explore without having to move
on! Enjoy!

The best thing about our trip was going with the flow, to live
without a timetable in today’s world was bliss. Some places were
better than expected, some places did not warrant the stays we
thought we might give them, and sometimes we learnt about new
things en-route. My suggestion is - have a basic guideline, but be
open to opportunity.

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Free Camping
What is Free Camping?
I always correlate the words 'free camping' to; without electricity,
water and general amenities. Many will have drop toilets - and
there is a whole range and quality of these - whilst other spots
will not have any.

Most TAWKers would agree that Free Camping is amazing and

when you find a great spot, you stay a while.

There are many Apps that you can get for your smartphone
highlighting Free Camp Spots and the one that most travellers
use is Wikicamps and a book which we called our Bible is the
‘Camps’ range. They tell you all about the rest stops and where
cheaper camping is to be found.

We are a filter on the app – so look for the TAWK

Logo for all the campsites offering our TAWK
members 2 night’s FREE camping for their kids – a
GREAT saving to be had. More info here.

The money you save by choosing a free camping area, over a

caravan park, could enable you to travel for longer. Now the
expression "Free Camping" does not always mean that the
camping is free - there may be a nominal fee and some of the
National Parks you will have to buy a permit depending on the
state.

Being really self-sufficient here is the key, if you can bring your
own water, you have your own toilet and shower – and this can
61
be a shower bladder that you can heat on the bonnet of your car,
not just an ensuite – and also have your own power – solar or a
generator, then you can really make the most of some of the
amazing camp spots around this country.

We are also, as you realise by now - trying to get cheaper

camping for families at caravan parks with our TAWKer Supporter
Program. So make sure you grab yourself the TAWK Membership
card and take advantage of program.

The TAWK Membership card

TAWKer Supporter Program

More and more parks are starting to come on board offering at
least 2 night’s FREE accommodation for the kids or other
discounts!

This will save you heaps as you travel around the country. Free
camping is awesome but sometimes the kids just want to play and
be around other kids – plus you’ll need to do your washing AND
sometimes really want some good aircon!
62
WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU FIND A GREAT FAMILY
PARK TELL THEM ABOUT THE PROGRAM! The more we get on
board the cheaper for ALL of us ☺

Goods and Services AND Attractions

There are also TAWKer Supporter Goods and Services and
Attractions to check out too. They are all relevant businesses to
help TAWKers when you are travelling and hopefully helping you
to save as you go.

From Insurance, Educational systems, Peer to Peer

Caravan/Camper hire companies to Whaleshark tours and Murray
River Kayak Tours - all offering TAWK Members discounts. Check
often to see how you can save and if you see a product or an
attraction that you think other TAWKers might like ask them if
they would like to become a TAWKer Supporter!

If we all do this, we can all save!

63
What else should we take?
Washing Machine
Is it worth taking a mobile washing machine with you?
Let me first just say here “Don’t wash
your clothes so often!” This was a tip
given to me when we were travelling –
it took me a while to get into but once I
embraced it…. It was like taking a load
off…. Literally in this instance, a
washing load!
We however did bring a little one and used it often. It certainly
saved a bit of money - it was a bit of an effort, but I used to do it
whilst overseeing the schooling. It was a very basic one, but it
took did the job.

Here are other TAWKers thoughts:

We started without a washing machine and then we worked out
how much we were spending and bought one. Best thing ever!!!!

We have a twin tub from eBay and it's awesome. It spins most
stuff almost dry as well it doesn't take long to dry on line. Big plus
too is that it's your machine so you know what goes in it!

If you can fit a washing machine in, do it! It Costs a fortune

otherwise. My biggest tip with regards to washing... Don't take
white clothing! I ditched the kids white t-shirts because the red
dust stains were hard to get out and something else… If they don't
smell, don't wash!

We have a washing machine, but I've had to lower my standards

if they don't smell, I don't wash it!
64
Push Bikes
This is another question that I find comes up often on the page,
whether to take the pushbikes or not.

Here are other TAWKers thoughts:

We took ours and found it a pain, the kids didn’t use them much
and it was a hassle having to attach the big ones to the back of
the van and the kid’s ones inside. I think the decision here would
be based on ‘do you/they use them now?’ Ours didn’t, we thought
they would when we travelled but they still didn’t.

For us it was, but we love bike riding and do it a lot normally. It

can be hassle sometimes, with packing up, etc. We always had to
get kids' bikes off our rig first. But we would then send them off to
explore and then we could set up in peace.

We took all of our kid’s bikes all the way round...and they used
them once! We won’t take them next time around. We will hire
them if we want them!

65
One word ..... absobloodyluty! Make sure the bike rack is well
supported and secure though. We’ve heard lots of stories of lost
bikes.....both from metal fatigue and light fingers.

We did take ours, but if we did it again, we wouldn’t. Ours just

did not use the enough and I was sick and tired of getting them in
and out of our van after we got sick and tired of attaching them to
the back of the van!

Plenty of kids bikes at our local op shop for cheap enough if you
decide to stay in one area long enough and want to use them can
always donate back to underprivileged people or keep them for
the long haul

We have ours with us. Kids use theirs heaps, us... not as much. I
would seriously consider whether you would have time to stop and
use them. They are extra weight to carry around too. I would say
yes to the kids but no to yours.

We ditched ours in the first 6 months, we had 2 kids 2 adults and

they were getting trashed from rubbing together and it was just a
pain in the bum. We have been on the road 2 years now and
haven't really missed them.

66
Solar or Generator
When this question comes up there is usually quite a bit of
controversy as you only really need power if you are free camping
(without utilities) and if generators are used, they often ruin the
peace and quiet of the area. Many think it goes against the ‘vibe’
of camping.

Many campers have new caravans and set ups with great battery
storage and solar panels. However, some have older style
caravans etc. which do not have great power storage and need a
boost. So, what should you get?
.
Basically, generators are the way to go if you need to run very
high-wattage appliances like the air conditioner, some medical
units and the microwave oven. You’ll also need to carry fuel with
you. If, however, you can or are able to live without these items,
solar panels can suffice.

67
This site has some great Gennies and info: My Generator

Here are other TAWKers thoughts:

I say get a geni! It can rain a lot and you can be without sunshine
often. Then on the other hand, when it is hot, I still like to be able
to put the air con if we are in the middle of nowhere!!

We love solar, we only used our generator once on our trip. We

didn't have an aircon or a microwave though.

We have done one trip with a geni and hardly used it. We now
have really great solar mats on the roof and they are more than
enough. Also depends on your battery set up. We have 2 in car
and 2 in van with Anderson plug from car to van so it is charging
batteries as we drive too.

Get both. Overcast days can drain batteries. But buy one that is
quiet!!

Never needed more than solar, and hate the noise of generators.
We've spent last 4 nights free camping and never used more than
about 30% of charge.

If you do get a generator, then always be mindful of other

campers, make sure you don’t overuse it and turn it off at the
time suggested at the camping area you are at. If you are free
camping though, the general consensus is; only run them
between 8am and 9 pm and of course that does not mean all the
time. If there it is needed due to any medical conditions, then it’s
a good idea to make your neighbours aware.

68
First Aid Kit/Medicine Box
It’s a good idea of course, to take a first aid kit/medicine box
with you and my first stop would be St Johns Ambulance . They
have a whole range to choose from and something for every
situation. So do head on over to their website to see what is
available and what would suit your family.

I would also strongly encourage you to do a First Aid Course

before you go. You might be very remote sometimes and need
some first aid skills. Again, contact St Johns Ambulance and find
out about one for you and your family.

We asked TAWKers what they have in their Medicine Box:

First Aid Book! Panadol, Nurofen, Zyrtec, Dimetapp, Vaporub,

Vasoline, Amolin, & Lucas PawPaw. Snake bite bandages. Cold
and hot packs. Betadine.

Gastro Stop for funny tummies. Worming tablets and Burnaid.

Arnica cream for sprains, Aloe Vera plant for burns, lavender oil
for burns cuts, Tea Tree Oil for antifungal, Antibacterial Anti Viral

69
and Peppermint Oil for headaches, Pink Himalayan salt to suck for
sore throats and raw honey and garlic.

Tweezers for splinters and powdered clay to draw out.

Band-Aids, Eucalyptus oil (first aid and cleaning), Tea Tree oil,
Lavender oil, White Vinegar (stings, etc.), non-petrochemical
PawPaw, I use contact lens cleaner to wash out eyes if needed,
tweezers, needles, Panadol/Nurofen. Snake bite kit.

WE also had a TAWK Member contact us to

write an article about what he, as a senior first
aider, believes should be in every traveller’s
kit. So ensure you click out this article.

70
Car Preparation
Obvious of course but do ensure your car has been fully serviced
before you set off. As you will be driving long distances, you
should also get your wheels aligned before you go as this will save
on tyre wear later on. If you drive off the beaten track on your
travels, you should also get them aligned on a regular basis.

Tyres
I cannot stress how important good tyres are for the trip and
equally as important knowing the appropriate tyre pressure for
the driving you will be doing. I’m not going to cover it all here, as
that really depends on your setup and vehicle etc. BUT this is an
area that is well worth further investigation.

If you are going off road especially, I cannot count the number of
times we had to help out other bogged travellers.

Find out the correct tyre pressures for the

conditions!
71
 Tool Kit for the Car
Don’t forget to get your car needs it’s own ‘medicine box’ and
aside from all the obvious ones, remember these too…

Wheel Bearing Kits Car and Spare Tyres and Tyre

Van/Trailer Puncture Kit

Snatch strap, D – shackles and Wooden plank and

Tow Rope Compressor
Shovel and Leather Gloves and Zip Ties, Gaffa Tape, Electrical
Rags Tape
Spare Belts, Filters, Fuses and WD-40 and Funnels
Hoses

Obviously check your car manufacturer’s manual for other items

recommended for your vehicle.

I also personally recommend getting some roadside assistance.

We not only had it, but also upgraded our cover and it certainly
was worth every penny recently, when our car had a
‘catastrophic’ breakdown – quote from the RACWA guy – when
we were in remote WA near Coral Bay and thankfully, they the
vehicle got towed all the way back to Perth.

Together with good insurance it can really make or break your trip
if you don’t have enough coverage and you need it.

“Better safe than sorry”

72
Towing and tow weights
One of the most important things of course on your trip if you are
towing a camper or caravan is knowing how to do so safely and
equally as important – know your weights!

I suggest you have a good read of this information from Truck

Friendly – on caravan safety. It covers everything from towing,
correct weights and overtaking. Worth taking some time and
learning as much as you can – even if you think you are a
seasoned traveller:

https://www.truckfriendly.com.au/caravan-safety/

We have another member of our

family….Our Dog!
To take or not to take? On the one hand your dog is a member of
your family but so’s grandad and he’s not coming…is he?!

73
SO, what to do? Again, this question comes up often; and people
are much divided, so here are some TAWKers thoughts to help
with your decision…

We took our dog and plan to take one again. They are your
family. Most towns have a caravan park/camp spot that allows
dogs and we made friends with other doggy families to take it in
turns to dog sit when needed. It definitely helped having lots of
friends/relatives around the country to help out at times too. It
takes a little extra planning but definitely manageable·

We would never take our dog. We love her like family bit of we
can't organise care for her we wouldn't go. You are really
restricted on where you can go and stay. If you want to see
national parks or conservation areas forget it.
We had a house sitter purely to look after our fur baby, not the
house. It worked well. He loved her and walked her and took a
huge weight off of our minds when leaving her behind.

We are travelling with our 17 month old daughter and Labrador.

Use Wikki camps to see dog friendly places. We haven't had any
dramas yet.

We did our lap last year without a dog but met many people that
did, mainly at free camps as we weren't in areas with dogs when
at caravan parks. Having animals does restrict your choices of
places you can stay and national parks are no go.

We have been on the road 3.5 years now with our Mastiff X you
can do it no worries just takes a bit more planning. Just make sure
you carry all of the vaccination paperwork in case you have to
board them at any time.

74
We took our beloved Coco, a medium sized lab cross on our 14
month trip right round Australia. We wouldn't have dreamt of
leaving her behind. It required some extra planning around always
having her with us, but she is part of our family and it was totally
worth it to have her with us.

We just took our beautiful 2 y/o Great Dane X boy camping and
he took a LONG time to settle. It wasn't very relaxing as I was
stressed about him being noisy etc.

You should think about what you will do with your dog if you go
out for dinner, or go into a show, museum etc. a lot of caravan
parks don't let you leave them.

“A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you

more than it loves itself”

As more and more caravan parks realise the importance of

families having their pets with them, more and more are making
that available.

Here is a link to the list of Dog Friendly TAWK Parks

75
How can we help the kids remember the trip?
Get them their own TAWK Trip Tracker!
We have designed our very own TAWK Trip Tracker for the kids
to track their travels across our vast land, no it’s not digital –
although we have a downloadable - it’s a hard copy and in several
different formats and sizes. You can choose which one would suit
you and/or your family the best.

We have ordinary posters, laminated posters and the famous

TAWK magnetic maps - enabling you to even use them as
placemats and or/pop them on your fridge for all of your friends
and family to enjoy when you are back home.

We also now have a downloadable map for you to print off

yourself if that's the way you'd like to go – that way you’ll always
have the file if they muck up and want to start again Click Here to
get yours! (Yes, shameless promotion, but gotta keep the lights
on at TAWK! ☺)

Go to:
www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/physical-map-of-
australia.html

76
Are we there yet? – Suggestions for the car trip.
You know from your normal trips in the car that kids do not like
to be stuck in one place for too long and the ‘Are we there yets?’
can really, really, REALLY get you down when you have to travel
the distances to get around Australia, so what can you do?

You can grab our Road Trip Games eBook!

Yes, you can also Google Road Trip Games
and you will get some, but believe me, I did
that to write this book and you get the
same old four or five on each page and are
bamboozled with ads.

So, for the small amount of money, you can

save yourself the trouble and have 22
Games at your fingertips. Of course, our
ebook is also aimed at you guys travelling
and keeping in mind educating the kids on
the road too. There are some memory games, alphabet games,
creative thinking and maths games. Keep it in mind if you don’t get it
now.

Otherwise, other TAWKers suggest…

Take a jar of lollies and tell them they can have the jar at the end
of the trip, but you will take one out and eat one yourself every
time they misbehave.

Get a whiteboard marker and play games on the windows;

Hangman, maths questions, naughts and crosses.

77
Ours have a tablet each with lots of games, fun and educational
as well as their own movies and music! We also like lots of stops
to stretch their legs and just break up the trip.
Grab the TAWK Quiz Book so you can pass the time in the time
and all play against each other, as ours love it – and so do we!

We have word search books, and I have bought kids magazines

for them to look at and blank writing/sketch books with some
pencils and colours. Stop when possible for a toilet stop which is
an opportunity to stretch the legs for all of us and they can have a
bit of a run around. Pack a small ball to kick around.

Grab the TAWK Quiz Book so you can pass the time in the
time and all play against each other.
When we were travelling, we often took quiz’s in the car to pass
those loooong hours, but we found it hard for all the family to play
together due to all of our different abilities. Therefore, I decided to
write one!

RECENTLY I WAS
CAMPING AND MET
A FAMILY THAT
LOVED MY BOOK
AND WANTED A
PHOTO TAKEN WITH
ME!

78
I wrote it with the kid’s education in mind, in consultation with
teachers from my children's school.

With questions for every age group in each subject, it 'evens' the
playing field and you really can play against each other. We still play
it – just after dinner now though.

It really is a great way to pass the time in the car and educate the
kids at the same time. Shhhhh!!

“I bought this the other day and found it fantastic so far. I home school
my 7yr old son and used it as a sort of pop quiz. It covers so many
different things and I found myself picking questions from different age
groups to test my son. He found it great fun" - Claire P.

79
Romance on the Road
This was one question that we got asked often – “When do you
get some…romancing and time for each other? We like to call it
‘Road-mancing!’ ☺

Well – you certainly have to make time for each other, and you
will need that time as a couple
and not always as mum and
dad.

Of course, you are all living at

very close quarters, so just
getting any time together is a
challenge, try to get some
intimacy and you step it up to
another level! BUT of course,
where there is a will there is a
way!

This question comes up often on our Facebook Page and here

are some thoughts from other TAWKers. Enjoy…

The threat of if you don't go to sleep, you will hear things you
wish your hadn’t! Only useful on over 12s. 15 year olds was
completely grossed out but went straight to sleep!

Sneak into the shower rooms in the middle of the night. Our kids
are really good sleepers and usually completely stuffed by bed
time when we are camping...or after they get up and go start
playing in the morning....HELLO!!

80
 A lot can depend on the age and sleeping habits of your kids. If
you're an inside/outside person or lights on/off person? How good
your self control and suspension is? Of course where you are and
how many other people or campers are around (also it's not nice if
it's freezing cold, wet, windy and prickles in the grass!). If you can
leave the kids alone (older kids of course) long walks and getting
back to nature can work.

Have a rule "DON'T rock the van" A snuggle by the campfire is

also nice when the kids are finally settled and everything is still
and peaceful.

We had the kids fighting because one thought the other one was
rocking the van hehe !!We will keep it that way lol.

Get the kids their own tent to sleep in together. Makes it fun,
gets them out of the caravan, camper van and then they won't
feel the rocking van. Or daytime stints when they're off playing
with other kids.

I had found a blog titled 'keep your zips open' - got me reading
but turned out it was talking about the zips in your camper; you're
supposed to keep them apart enough, so they don't clang together
while you're 'doing the deed'.

We never had problems. Kids were so knackered at the end of the

day they'd sleep through a bomb blast. In fact we seemed to "do
it" more on the road than at home!

81
Do we need a Satellite Phone or other
communication devices when we are
travelling remotely?

This is a dilemma that we all think about at first. Just what do

you need to make contact if you do find yourself in an emergency
situation? Mobile coverage is good BUT certainly not everywhere.
So what are your options?

The CB Radio is an option BUT only if there is another person

online nearby to pick up your signal, whereas if you go for a
Satellite phone you will normally be able to contact others, as
long as nothing is blocking the satellites! (mountain ranges and
you’re deep in a valley).

Then you have the Personal Location Beacons (PLB) or Epirb –

normally used in the marine industry but have also been used by
travellers to the outback.
82
If anyone in your family has medical issues, you might like to give
this consideration; it could be a life saver. We didn’t have any of
the above and thankfully never needed them.

Here are other TAWKers thoughts:

We had an inreach device, that allows you to send and receive

text messages and send an SOS. It has your GPS and you can map
your trip. You need to go on a plan I think. We found comfort to
know we had it in case of emergency.

I would recommend it if you intend on travelling really remote.

We ended up in areas 13 - 14hrs away from medical assistance by
air and we carried a PLB (Personal Location Beacon)

We have an HF radio. We think that it’s better value and more

versatile than a sat phone. It's not just for extreme emergencies; it
also lets you tap into fellow 4wd-ers and truckies. You can get
them second hand, though they are generally more money than a
sat phone.

We looked into this for ages and decided to get a HF Radio. It

was cheaper and only costs us $70 per year. We got a Codan NGT
which can make phone calls to telephones, you can SMS and with
a GPS module, you can log on a map where you are so people
know you're ok. It has a one push emergency button which puts
you in touch with the RFDS.

We have Telstra 4G – and have had no issues. If you are in line of

sight with an outback Station or one of the mine sites you will
have phone & internet coverage. Most service stations have
coverage too. We also have a CB radio - on Ch 40 & we listen into
Truckies for any news - road reports etc. Mind you make sure you

83
are careful with the kids in the car as the language is sometimes a
bit colourful!

Epirb if your going 4wding.

We had a CB and had people
who knew we were gone and
coming back etc. If we did it
again I would take a sat
phone.

We went and had no mobile

phone or sat phone or
anything. If you are going off
road might be more of a
consideration, but not if you are on normal roads and sticking to
the bitumen.

We met a family who had their rear axle on the caravan come off
on the Gibb River Road they did have a sat phone so were able to
call for assistance. They were travelling out of peak season so not
many cars were passing. It's those instances that sat phones come
in handy.

We have an EPERB which provides emergency coverage at any

location in Australia. In the event of an extreme or life threatening
emergency, the EPERB is activated and the device is able to locate
the victim, via satellite. It is registered in Canberra and response is
managed/coordinated from there. Am not worried about not
being able to talk to people but it's comforting to know I would be
found as soon as possible.

I'm not sure of the need for a sat phone. You have Telstra
coverage nearly everywhere in the FN Qld / NT & WA these days.
84
The dead spots are in between Large Stations / Mines &
Roadhouses. We also have our CB Radio for any emergency
situations & the Sat Nav can tell exactly where you are.

Wi-Fi when travelling

It almost seems like a conflict of interest.
Aren’t you going to escape all this? BUT
you will most likely need it at least for the
kids schooling, also it can help to find out
about road conditions and of course the weather; not to
mention….. Social Media!?

So what is everyone using?

Starlink. It's a little bit more expensive on the monthly cost but we
have nearly guaranteed internet service anywhere we go. Superior
to Telstra without a doubt! We've been using for 3 months from
Cape York to Victoria... only had 1 spot with a big tree that it
didn't like.

We use VanConnect from Cowfish technologies. It’s been

fantastic so far

We had enough data between our 2 mobile contracts. One was

optus, the other telstra. Most places had reception and it was a
quiet reprieve when we didn't have any.

We have Teslstra Nighthawk, 5g 400gb $85pm. Works for us and

portable to stream in the car.
3 kids schooling - more books than internet though.

85
Been using Out There Internet for 12 months and can confirm it’s
great 👌. Business & homeschool!

Starlink. I’m working remotely and have service just about

everywhere (trees dependent somewhat).
Homeschooling 13 and 7 year old!

We use libraries, Maccas and dad goes to Bunnings quite a bit too
for Free Wi-Fi especially when updates are needed.

Plans are changing continually, so make sure

you shop around as it’s one of those things that
we cannot keep up with – You can always post
on our Facebook page to ask what the best deal
TAWKers are using now.

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Ideas for the kids helping with set up
and pack down
Setting up and packing up will be one of the most exhausting
things at first. I say ‘at first’ because it does get better and you
get into a routine. When we started off it would take us a good
hour and a half to get setup, by the end of the trip, we pretty
much had it all down to half an hour. Everyone just knew their
job and they just got on with it.

So I encourage you to get the children helping. It will take longer

initially, but in the long run it will be a god send and they will also
feel some responsibility. Here’s what other TAWKers suggest/do:

Give them a job to help set up camp. Get different coloured

electrical tape and designate one colour per child. Then use the
tape to colour code any pole/peg/flooring/stabiliser legs/or tool
for a particular job so they know who is responsible.

Our kids are 11, 9, 5 & 3. They set up chairs, tables, put down
mats etc. The older 2 are taking turns to help us unhitch, use the
drill to lower stabilizer legs etc. When they're doing this, the
younger 2 stay in the car for safety. Once the car moves forward
and is unhitched, they can get out.

We watched one family; they pulled up with 5 kids, the camp

was set up in just under 10 minutes with a camper trailer! Turns
out the dad’s rule was no one goes to the loo till it’s done.
Hahaha, it worked!

Our three girls (ages 9, 11 and 12) have always helped. From the
start, as soon as they could walk, they would be bringing pegs and
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stuff from the car and setting up their beds. Now we are in a
caravan they can do more!! As soon as we are set up my hubby
takes them somewhere, so I can organise dinner and have some
quiet time before the night rush begins.

We have a rule the only question our kids are allowed to ask
when we set up is "what can I do next to help?" We have been
doing this for 4 years. In the beginning they were twin 7, 9 & 13.
Everyone has a job, no matter how small. Little ones set up camp
chairs & fold Velcro straps, big kids set up awnings. No one sits in
the car! Then when we are set up they go & play. Then we do it all
again when we pack up.

Jobs they can do are; place tarp on ground - Lengthen poles once
we have got first section in place - Put out jigsaw outdoor mats - If
doing veranda holding poles while we get it tied down - Set up the
beds. Our kids are 9, 7, 4. Their permanent jobs are keeping their
clothes bag and their beds tidy.

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Make the kids help and make it exciting. Give them their own
entire job. This is what travelling is all about your all a team
working together to make it enjoyable. kids will love being
involved and feel special having their own job.

We make our 2 year old 'help'! He can put poles in & out of the
bag, get pegs out, hand us stuff, even use the winch to wind the
camper out. Hopefully he'll never know any different so will be
proper helping when he's older.

We give them little jobs like carrying bags, help bang in pegs, put
things away. Carry pillows in drink bottles etc. As they get older it
will be easier. Last 'overnight' camp my son took a peg and mallet
and that kept him amused while we did heavy stuff our daughter
older passed us pegs.

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Any other Hints or Tips?
Travelling Australia is very different to going on holiday and
therefore the things you think you know and need, you often
don’t. We asked the families TAWKing at the moment for some of
their Hints and Tips and here’s what they said…

We learnt to stay at least 3 nights in most places as moving at a

quick pace chews through finances much quicker. The other
reason for not doing many over nighter's is that it was too
stressful to keep setting up and packing up.

I can't stress the IMPORTANCE of a portable washing machine,

caravan park machines get very expensive over time – we found
ours really helpful.

Best tip is to plan to stop for the night by 4pm. If you are free
camping then you get time to set up, let kids have some time to
explore before dinner.

We had DVD player in the car, awesome for long trips though
take a variety of DVDs. Potty and toilet paper in car always along
with snacks, drinks, wet wipes and toys. Add towel and spare
clothes on days you explore.

If you have a good size freezer take all your meat in meal size
portions. Then you can take that night’s meat out in the morning
and let it defrost. I bulk buy when I can at cheaper prices then
portion it and add spices to the glad bag.

Best advice don't overthink it - you will find you way! What you
don't have to can buy as you go. My husband said to me once

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when I was freaking out before leaving "we are in Australia, not
Iraq so relax”

Take: hats, fly nets for NT, we also took life jackets for us all,
while both our kids can swim well it meant that we could swim out
to all the falls without any worries of children tiring. Take pool
noodles for Mataranka and cheap reef shoes.

Pack lightly and minimise. It's not about packing everything you
want, it’s about packing everything you need and believe me, and
you don’t need as much as you think. You learn to make do and if
you need something, you can just buy it.

Do not stress out so much about the kids' schooling. It’s just not
worth it. It’s in everyone's interests to keep the kids educated.
BUT this is a once in a lifetime trip – or it was for us and I realised
pretty quickly that the pressure of schooling was ruining it. When
we relaxed there, the trip was so much better for all.

The best advice: Trust your instincts and make the most of your
time with your family.

Other items suggested are:

• Duct tape • Ear plugs

• Zip ties
• Broom and dustpan
• Zip lock bags
• Gel cold pack
• Hand held vacuum
• Fans
• Cryovac machine
• Hot water bottle
• Door mat/flooring
• Stick on hooks
• Portable cloths line
• Small heater

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“Once in a while it really hits people that they
don’t have to experience the world in the way
they have been told to.” – Alan Keightly

That’s it for now!

I hope that we have given you some help and ideas for your trip
and that it has made your decision easier. If you still need some
help, do visit our Facebook Page and post a question there – if
you would like to post an anonymous question, then message us,
let us know and we will post it for you.

Just remember one thing; I’ve never met a TAWKer who has said
that they’d wish they'd not done the trip. It’s always that they’d
wished they’d done it SOONER!

We’d love you to become part of the TAWK family, so grab

yourselves a TAWK Sticker to display with pride AND do the TAWK
Pose and tag us on your socials!

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The TAWK Sticker
Don’t forget to grab yourselves a TAWK Sticker from the website,
pop it on your car or caravan/trailer so that you are easily
recognised as being a TAWKer!!

http://www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com/tawk-bumper-
sticker.html

If you thought that something would be in the book and wasn’t

or if after travelling a while you think of something that you’d like
to be included in the book, please let us know – contact details at
the end. ☺

Good Luck on your Travels and keep in touch!

Mandy Farabegoli
TAWK Founder

“Don’t call it a Dream… Call it a Plan!

e: admin@travellingaustraliawithkids.com
w: www.travellingaustraliawithkids.com

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