Travelling Australia With 4 Kids!!

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 19:32
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Within the next couple of years we are looking at travelling Oz by 4WD and Caravan. Do people that have done this think this is the way to go compared to a camper trailer or pop up caravan as we want to do some great 4WD treks? Any advise would be greatly appreciated!!!
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Reply By: Member - Greg O (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 20:48

Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 20:48
Hi Rick & Lana,

We are about to do it for 6 months with a camper trailer and three kids. Will let you know when we get back.
AnswerID: 347735

Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 20:50

Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 20:50
Well we have not done long term travel with kids. When the kids were young, it was tent for all our camping.

Now that the kids are off our hands, we do a lot more travel (soon to be full time), initially with a CT, now with a van. Based on our experience and observing others travelling long term with kids, I'd say with 4 kids, it has to be caravan, preferably full size, not pop up.

To fit 6 people in a camper trailer, it means full set up of annex (and more) even for a simple overnighter, rain hail or shine. With the right van, you can do a simple overnighter with no canvas (perhaps roll out awning if you want. For longer stays, you can add full annex (and more) and be really comfortable.

We have met many families while travelling. Most have young (primary school) kids and are doing home schooling. It seems to be a great life for a year or two, provided you take the education part seriously. You can keep up with their formal schooling needs, which is essential, but what the kids can learn about the country, the environment, life, other people, etc is way beyond any ability to measure.

Good luck with your planning.

Norm C
AnswerID: 347736

Reply By: Crackles - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:09

Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 22:09
Decide what you want to see then choose the setup to suit. If Cape York, Simpson Desert, Bungles & the Kimberly is what you had in mind then I'd certainly lean towards a Camper. There are some inovative models around, just need to find one quick & easy to errect that accomodates 6.
Cheers Craig............
AnswerID: 347744

Reply By: gjcumming - Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 23:10

Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 at 23:10
Hello Rick & Lana.

1996, Aug - Oct, 18000km, Oodnadatta track, Red centre, Darwin & top east, gulf & Lawn Hill, Cairnes & down east coast. Lots of 4x4. Family of six, 4 kids, 7, 9, 10 & 12, 90 days with a family tent. 1984 Troopy converted to six seater, air conditioned, full roof rack, cargo barrier. No trailer. Packed to the rafters. Normally nothing over 300km a day. Base camped & day tripped. Some overnights with 2 x 3 man tents. Fantastic trip. Kids still talk about it.
Regards: Grant & Ange.
AnswerID: 347748

Reply By: Member - Matt & Caz H (QLD) - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 09:29

Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 09:29
Hi Rick & Lana,

We are currently into our 4th month of travelling Oz with a 4WD and 23foot retreat daydream (it has 3 bunks and a dble bed) we are travelling with our 2 girls one almost 7yrs and the other 8.5yrs. We home school the girls. We love the van however feel we miss out on a lot as it is SO big and not a 4WD vehicle, we have decided to see most of OZ by bitumen with the van - then store the van at different parks (the cost varies from $10 up) and see the rest by tent set up. Some vans claim to be 4WD (or off road, however I have heard stories of the chasis coping but not the rest of the van) although I have met a couple at Dubbo they have a Kedron Caravan (The Gall Boys) and they love it - they reckon they have been everywhere so I guess it would pay to do the home work on that.

It just depends what you want - we are long term travellers (3 to 5 yrs) so we need the van for home schooling purposes (as we are registered in QLD we are required to hand in work twice a year) and the fact that we like the comfort of the van.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Matt, Caz & Kids
AnswerID: 347780

Reply By: brent and Di - Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:42

Friday, Feb 06, 2009 at 11:42
I think it really depends on where you want to go, we are currently planning a trip up the cape with our 4 kids and have looked at the pros and cons of caravans v's campers or the tent. Having 4 kids makes it hard to fit everything in a car even when packed carefully. We will be traveling with baby to so we are opting for a camping trailer full off road. We believe we will be able to get up some the harder stuff where we wouldn't go with a caravan. We will be going with friend so if we get in trouble they can winch us out. I think you could get into more places with a camping trailer than a caravan but hey people do it. Just do lots of research on where you want to go. We are staying three four night at some place so will set up annex on camper then but if we stay a night we wont bother kids will just sleep in small room attached to bed. Which I don't think is a big deal.
Hope this helps Di
AnswerID: 347808

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