Tips for Travelling with your Family

The annual Perth Caravan & Camping Show was held last weekend. Perth couple Kristy and Matthew Williams held a seminar at the show on Travelling with Children. They spent 17 months on the road travelling around Australia with their kids Jack 5 and Ashlee 3. Matthew states that he has "lived breathed and worked in the camping and caravanning industry for more than 15 years" and he is now running Perth's Getaway Outdoors stores.

Here are a few of the William Familes' tips for travelling with kids as written in the Perth Caravanning & Camping Show liftout.

• Plan and prepare well. Get the kids in a routine before you go, especially if they aren't good car travellers.
• Do at least one practise trip. It's a great way to work out what you really need before you go.
• Travel in the off season. There are fewer vans around and it's less stressful and much cheaper.
• Talk to other travellers. You will meet heaps of like-minded people travelling with kids and it is the best way to share advice.
• Prepare to be flexible with the itinerary. Anything can happen with kids.
• Look to join the major tourist club parks such as Aspen, Big 4 and Top Tourist.
• Make frequent stops. Let the kids out of the car to run about in communal parks in towns.
• Keep a diary or blog of your trip.
• Under-pack the toys. A bike, bucket and spade, favourite toys (such as lego) and a teddy are all that is needed.
• Get the kids their own camera. It's a great way to involve them in the trip and it allows them to express themselves.
• Give the kids a list of their own responsibilities such as emptying the bin or setting up the table.
• Re-use and recycle. Cereal boxes and plastic containers make great items for the kids to re-use in art class if you are home-schooling.
• When in the car, use audio books. This is especially good if kids suffer from car sickness when reading.
• Pack a copy of the Camps Australia Wide 6 Book. This traveller's bible is a great publication for planning itineraries around cheap and free accommodation.

Discover Australia Kids 'n' All is packed full of information for the family travelling around Australia or planning to. For a comprehensive guide and lots more tips like these please grab your copy here!