<span class="highlight">Camping</span> with kids in <span class="highlight">Cape</span> <span class="highlight">York</span> - Stressed mum

portable dvd player approx $200 WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

especially for those long trips ,and set up and pack up time.

Tip number 1: NIKE (ie: Just Do IT!)
Tip number 2: The kids will have a ball, let them run around (but keep an eye on them of course). The 1st trip we did up there in 2002, our youngest was about 18 months. The other boys were about 6 and 4. They had a great time; just being kids.
Tip number 3: Loyalty Beach camp ground will be a good friendly place for you to camp at. There is a calm beach where they can paddle. There is a croc that swam past every morning (and presumably in the arvo the other way), but he was about 100 meters out and we were advised that if the kids were LITERALLY right on the waters edge, there would be no worries. We were always there watching over the little dudes, and it was never a problem (the local kids swim as though they haven't a worry in the world......and you never hear of one being taken around that area).
Tip number 4: Make sure you don't try to travel for huge amounts of time......kids get sick of the travel in a short amount of time. Having said that, we managed to do the trip in 2002 (from Yass, NSW) in 4 weeks return. In 2004 we did it again in 4 weeks from here, Kadina SA.

Chill-out and have a great time.

Roachie

binni,

This is the answer that you don't want to hear, but delay the trip for a couple of years.

The 3 year old will be demanding and mobile and the 8 month will have to be carried and cared for all the time.

I doubt that you will enjoy the trip.

This will not go down well but for the sake of a pleasant trip delay taking the kids for a while. Cape York will still be there.

Wayne

we took our girls, 3 and 1 at the time for 6 weeks...bought toy box that is collapsible from toy shop..had one each with barbies, drawing, sticker games, noise games for Amy who had just turned 1....also had the laptop for a movie every now and then.....

what we did was drive 2 days with lots of stops and then stopped for a full day so they didnt go in the car...well worth doing this!!

good luck....and stay relaxed...you'll be fine!

Whatever way you decide, please don't stress it. Kids pick up on stress really easily, and make your stress worse! Relax a bit, don't sweat it. The kids will respond better...and so will your driver :))

Enjoy but BEWARE

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binni - on the first eight week trip we did with three other couples there was one child about two years old. Everything went well as there was eight adults to look after her.

The next trip of eight weeks there was two additions to the both 18 months old, one was our son. This trip was to Cape York and it happened some 19 years ago. We had a camper trailer for the trip.

Three years after that we travelled again with five children and another two 18 months old children. This trip was to the Mitchell Plateau. Our daughter was one of the 18 month old.

We had to change the speed at which we travelled from our single days - more stops for them. At times we would stop if we saw something which we thought would interest them and give them a break.

Never had any problems with travelling with the children at young ages. The wife keep duplicates of their favourite toys so that the dirty ones could be washed.

Would we do it again - of course we would - have done eight weeks trips each three years for many years. As they got older we would ask them where they wanted to go and it was always to the outback.

A J

Binni there is little to be stressed about. It's a great trip & the 3 year old will love it. We find the older they get the harder it is to travel. At that age there are relatively few problems.
Important to ensure they are drinking regulary as kids do tend to run around & can dehydrate. Crocs are not a problem for 95% of the trip particually along the OTL where you can often swim but along the coast in particular obviously you'll need to be aware. Take 3 or 4 small toys & the usual drawing items to give junior something to do while driving. Organizers fitted to the back of the seat are great for storing drinks and all their stuff. Kids CD's may drive you mad but will keep them interested. A travel cot with a mozzie net over makes a bed & a play pen when in camp. There are plenty of places to walk to (including the tip) so a backpack to carry junior is far handier than a pram.
Have fun.
Cheers Craig...........
(with 9 year old daughter who's crossed the Simpson 3 times)

Hi Binni

A while ago i was speaking to a lady who used to work where i work now. She said as soon as her second child was born, they set off in a caravan and spent 2 years going around Australia. The baby knew no different. They drove for only about 3 hours per day where possible and had no problems with the children.

It wouldn't have worked for me - even going on a trip shopping with the children could be an ordeal. The children will get far more out of travelling if they are around 8 y/o plus. My son & d.i.l took their 3 y/o to NZ last year - amongst spectacular scenery and snow he was bored and wanting to go home. The only time he was happy was when he was playing on a slide or swing - which he could have done at home. He was just too young to take anything in.

You and only you will know how your children will react to travelling. Make the choice on that alone. If they will be OK, take the opportunity but if it is going to be one big ordeal, you will be wasting your time and money - save it for a few year time when you can all enjoy the holiday.

Motherhen

Just Do it!

We had our young fella camping at 6 weeks, IMO I believe it was the best thing, as we let the kid fit into our life style )not the other way around). Philip, now 5 1/2, just goes with the flow. I even took him to Innaminka when it was 49 in the shade, and there was no drama from him.

Just a hint, take a child backpack for them both then you can still do those walks you want to do, but might be to far for them, those backpacks are great, we used one with Philip, then 1 1/2 years old and we walked through the Kimberley with him on my back, it was to easy.



Let the kids play outside, in the "clean dirt" and let them build up immunities, too.


Cheers
Steve

take lots and lots and did I say lots of insect replellent, otherwise the kids will ber miserable. I think everybody else has covered the main points.

Binni,

Having travelled with kids from the day our first (now 19yrs) came home I am in the go for it group.

My now 16year old son was 5 months on Fraser Island and we had no problems. That was our first trip.

When we travelled to Cape York the youngest was 5. We covered huge miles each day. On day one from Sydney we camped in Bourke and did quite a few days as big as that. We had no DVD players, my kids have never wanted them. When we borrowed a friends truck which was fitted with 2 screens they put a movie on but it only lasted about 15 min, then they were back looking out the windows.

The kids need something to do while the vehicle is moving, we played games, eye spy, various alphabet games and we had CD's of songs that the kids new and would sing along to. The other thing we did which worked really well on the Cape York trip was count creek crossings. We defined a creek as water flowing across the road when the tyres had to get wet. No matter what was happening as we approached one I would call out "What number are we up to?" It was a distraction that everyone welcomed and bought us another half hour of the game we were playing or the track we were on.

Also do some research on the places you are going and talk about it with them, the three year old will be interested and it will make it more interesting for you too.

Finally my wife kept a detailed diary. It included details of fuel where we camped and what we did. Most importantly included what the kids did and how they reacted to things. It makes fascinating reading now.

Have a great trip.

Duncs

We've always taken our kids wherever we go. After all, you can't leave them home, can you? So you put off doing what you want because you now have small kiddos - I don't think so.

Our kids are now 16 & 13. They go everywhere with us and they always look forward to our family adventures. One thing better than holidaying with your mates is holidaying with your kids (and having them enjoy it). They are never too young.

We drove from Adelaide - Darwin & back, 4 weeks when our daughter was just 18 months old. Great holiday.