Hi All,

Firstly, great book and site. My Wife 32, myself 35 and two children 3.5 and 5 are planning a 4 month trip alongside the GN's.

When researching our trip we found it extremely hard to find information on just travelling oz, however research GN's and voila! The GN book is invalueable, it just seems a pity that younger families are not travelling oz. Or am I wrong?

And before I hear a few moans and groans about don't come! - we love it without kids. I cant wait to take them before they start school and spend some great family time together. 

In addition, is there any additional warnings with regard to safety etc taking children off the beaten track. They are both currently great campers and regularly get away for 1-2 weeks at a time to Fraser and other bush locations.

Thanks in advance.

Craig

Welcome to the forum...

Like just about everything else it's the minority that gives the majority a bad name. If your kids are good campers as you indicate and don't "run riot" around the campground, what a great opportunity to introduce them to this great land of ours. A real chance to appreciate the history and geography of the country provided it's presented in a way that is interesting and appropriate to kids of their age.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 21st of August 2009 08:32:58 PM

There are junior nomads out there everywhere dragging their groans around the country. The ones I've met don't even have computer games or DVD players on board. They are wise, young communicators. If you ask them about their favourite parts they can tell you all about it. The parents have "shared" the journey by talking about the country they pass through and where they are with their little guides. It's really magic to have a chat to the kids around the camp. They know how to amuse themselved without the technology. Some times they need some intertainment, but not much. They learn to appreciate the animals they see, the terrain they pass through, the hills, rivers, beaches, roads, other traffic like trucks, road trains, vans and other rigs. The kids I've spoken to have ranged in ages from 3 to 13 and they are really interesting to talk to. They learn so much. Just do it! Friends of mine who now live in Innamincka home schooled their girls while travelling and living in the Ocka which they still have. I met them when they worked on a cattle station I was also working at. They followed the transcontinental railway and many other outback tracks with the girls on board. The girls' social skills were and still are wonderful. One is living and working in Germany, engaged to a local over there. The other is living and working in Bedourie working for the Shire operating heavy machinery. And they still write poetry. Just do it! Cheers Chris

Hi Craig, even before we found this wonderful site, we enjoyed reading of the adventures of a family with 2 boys who were travelling around Oz and having a fabulous time. You can find their blog at www.wrongwayround.info I always wished we could have taken our kids when they (and we) were younger Morag

Hi Craig, We travelled across the desert and across the top of Australia with a wonderful young couple and their two little kids. At first we were a little worried as to how it was going to go, but, we had a ball. The wonder of things through kids eyes!!! They too were seasoned travelers, but it was a very long trip and there were time it just became too much for them. A little patience was needed occasionally,but not often. We found the kids entertained most GN with their version of their trip at each camp site we stated in. The other GN we encounted enjoyed the interaction, and distraction, those kids provided, so I say, go for it. Don't think the kids are "annoying" the GN. Truth be told, the GN are enjoying every story they are being told!!! Cheers Dellie

G'day Craig welcome to the forum mate dont fret taking the kids, best thing you can do, beats the hell out of them sitting on the playstation or whatever, its a great growing and "bonding" excercise for you all and the kids will never forget we took our kids in the early years and they are now fine upstanding citizens not the dead heads of others who didnt take their kids and didnt bond I have met plenty of "family travellers" and have shared many happy hours and meals with them, one thing to say they are all great, never a moments bother always a joy go see australia first, ask if it's okay second and you will be fine as for warnings just be aware of the different bightys of different states and take precautions against those, funnel web spiders, dengy fever, crocs, king brown snakes, death adders (in port germein they hide under seaweed, any kiddie throwing it around could pick one up and be bitten) malaria, drop bears, grumpy pensioners, old farts in caravan parks that kind of thing just look out for these things in each state and warn the kiddies about them apart from "be aware" just enjoy this fantastic country with your fantastic family, what could be better

Like the rest of us,---- Take em, My kids have been bought up with the travelling bug, and have been to most places of the beaten track in Victoria and the mountains, in fair weather or foul, when the wife died it was already in their blood and that was the best way we remember her, Her ashes are on top of a mountain east of melbourne which is now inaccessible ,now they would never get lost in the bush, as they have developed a sense of direction that is uncanny, and a lot of bushcraft Travel broadens the mind and they learn things that no school that I know of does, on top of that it gives them a sense of self, security in what they can accomplish, and a maturity beyond their years, AND its a hell of a lot of fun, now my grankids are being reared in the same way, got a 6 year old that can pick a spot for a tent and have it up before you can suggest it as already said , TAKE EM, no matter what their age, a few long weekends is good fun, bugger the schooling, a long weekend in the bush is better for them, and they can always catch up

The worst thing to look out for is as Dave said, grumpy pensioners and old farts in caravan parks.  They seem to be spreading at an alarming rate........LOL

Ma

Ma wrote:

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The worst thing to look out for is as Dave said, grumpy pensioners and old farts in caravan parks.  They seem to be spreading at an alarming rate........LOL

Ma

---

Yeah.

A bit of a worry, that.

Especially those who think that by buying the latest and most expensive of everything, they can somehow get away with not learning anything.

And so many of them transport their urban respectlessness with them.

It rather spoils the environment for those of us who love the wilderness and remoteness of the bush.

 

Ain't that the truth Rolly

Talk about RUDE A big ford 250 ute dragging a 5th wheeler cut right across our nose today near the water pipe in Sapphire Rude Bastard, Might is NOT -- NOT -- right Lucky I had stinky rubbish in the back heading for the tip, he would have had a nissan on his ginger

You've probably seen those roadside sign boards with the girl holding out her little finger..............work it out guys.        LOL

They've been on the road for years Craig. I remember reading about the adventures of various families in Grass Roots Magazine for at least the last 30 odd years. All the kids seemed to get a much broader education about life in general, than the stay-at- homes. Some parents home-school their kids on the road. Cheers, xina.

Thank you so much for your replies. Very encouraging! We can't wait to get out there and amongst it and hope to catch up with some of you on the road! Thanks Craig

Here, here, Rolly..

I look forward to meeting you and checking out the stories the kids have to tell. Life is the best teacher. All the best to you all and safe and happy travels. Cheers Chris

dont fret it, chuck em in the boot and turn them loose on arrival, what!!!!!!!!! none of you have ever thought of doing that, yeah Righttt!!!! are we there yet!!!, ahhh!!! he bit me!!!, tell her to get on her own side!!!!, well he started it!!!!!, ewwww!!! he's pickin his nose!!! nup!!, boots the best place!!!

Ha........"He's looking at me","he made a rude smell","I want the toilet".Gaffer tape and elecrtical ties and put em on the roof wrack.Memories,That was just my wife,kids no problem,double dose of Valium for them.Would not have changed anything for quids.Cheers.Ibbo.

all memories, some good some bad but without the memorys, we are nothing I have no regrets taking the kids with us even through the fighting and the cuts and scrapes and tears, the laughter and smiles and fun times around the fires more than make up for any ill formed memorys, I have many, most dating back in excess of 28 years now connection, involvement and iteraction we have met some little mongrels on our travels, some parents think that just getting the kids "out there" is enough, well it's not, they want you with them as well, I find that a football or a cricket bat and ball or even a yabby net soon makes for a truckload of fun (not to belt them with but just for entertainment,) boredom is the big hurdle to cross especially if it is their first trip out without telly connection, involvement and interaction be sure and make the damper, doesnt matter if it is rat****, memorys are found there as well, get the fire going early and put certain kids in charge of certain jobs, gathering wood/water, splitting the kindling wood, setting the fire and lighting the fire, make a stew, or bread, keep them busy and entertained and you wont have any trouble connection, involvement and interaction we've had some of the biggest sides of cricket in australia's history I reckon, once started then the parents will invariably join in and what could have been "suspicious glances" across the campground quickly becomes hails of "good morning" and "what time's tucker" and new freindships aplenty connection, involvement and interaction sport and intermingling with your kids as well as others is what life is all about, take the kids and freindship out of my life and you may as well shoot me at the same time connection, invovlement and interaction learn to enjoy and "connect" with the kids "NOW", you only get one shot, "disconnect" now and you have lost them forever now some of the more astute among you may have seen a subliminal message in there, most would not, but those that seen it I congratulate you, it was very well hidden I think you with kiddies know what I am trying to get across, ignore them at your peril oh!!! it works with adults as well

My kids are all grown up now and have their own children.Our kids to this day still talk about the adventures and trips they had with Sylvia and I.So as Dave has said previously the seeds we sow in our childrens hearts and minds will last forever.We must just make sure that plantings are happy and respectful ones.Cheers.Ibbo.

Sorry Craig76,a hearty welcome to the G/N's from Sylvia and myself.Happy travels mate.Cheers.Ibbo.