Simpson with kids
Submitted: Saturday, Mar 08, 2014 at 20:49
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getmethehelloutahere
I would like to travel across the Simpson with my kids (9 & 11). I am a bit worried it may be too boring for them, dune after dune though they are seasoned travellors, having travelled around Oz for 6 months. Can anyone share their experiences travelling the Simpson with kids please?
Reply By: rumpig - Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 09:44
Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 09:44
if they are seasoned travellers as you say they are, then it won't be a problem. so long as they have something to do in the vehicle (as they'd likely have when you've travelled long distances), the experience is no different IMHO. i don't recall my kids being bored at any stage when we crossed The Simpson, though i guess we did do it with friends who had kids of a similar age to ours, so the kids were excited to get out of the vehicle each stop to see each other...lol. Just be sure and take plenty of warm clothes and a good warm sleeping bag for them each, as it gets pretty cold out there of a night time.
once out of the vehicle the kids will run around and roll down the sand dunes and make their own fun, it's what kids do.
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Reply By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 15:04
Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 15:04
At ages 9 & 11 they will probably get more out of the "dune after dune" part of the trip if you make them a part of all the decision making, rather than just be idle passengers. Teach them to become your navigators. Get them to log the daily stats. Give them responsibilities. Talk to them about what's going through your head as you drive - what are you alert for, how can they help you? Can they operate the UHF, the HF, the Satphone, the EPIRB etc? Can your 11 yr old drive? Teach him/her when there is a safe flat place off the main track. Can they identify different types of shrubs/trees? Take a long necked bottle and take small samples of coloured sand from each track - you'll be amazed at the variance in colours. I have a bottle with sand from every part of the Simpson - but it was a gift from Don Rowlands, but what a great idea! We always try to let the kids feel we are exploring and let them feel that its their adventure too, not just the parents. Just some ideas to get you thinking. Good luck
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Follow Up By: rumpig - Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 21:04
Sunday, Mar 09, 2014 at 21:04
that's a fantastic idea with the bottle and different sand colours, reading that idea now makes me wish i'd done that on our crossing. Don Rowlands is a lovely guy, we met him last year in
Birdsville when he took us on the Two Boys Dreaming site "guided tour". His contact details are available at the
Birdsville information centre for anyone who wants to get some firsthand accounts of what his life was like growing up around those parts, i can highly recommend the experience, and best of all it's free to do (though you need atleast 4 adults in your group from memory).
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Mar 10, 2014 at 17:27
Monday, Mar 10, 2014 at 17:27
Don and his dog.......
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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