Ahhh, the great Australian road trip.
Rite of passage, family holiday, yearly pilgrimage — whatever you want to call it, there is something quintessentially Aussie about rounding up the kids, packing up the van and hitting the road.
When road tripping with the family, there’s usually a bunch of things you can count on.
There always seems to be the world's best meat pie found approximately five hours from any major city. And don't forget the kids' unique ability to spot every McDonald's in existence.
But there are other things that always come into play, especially the more mundane.
Think the planning, the packing, the inevitable arguments over which Spotify playlist takes precedence, and whose toys get to be inside the car rather than the boot.
To minimise all the stress, here are the four golden rules we live by for every road trip, so that we can arrive at the destination with our sanity still (relatively) intact.
Rule #1: Thou shalt plan your route carefully.
There's nothing quite like hitting the road with only the very vaguest of plans and no actual destination in mind. However, when you have kids, the plan of not having a plan is completely thrown out the window.
Otherwise you’ll find yourself in the middle of nowhere with a recently toilet-trained toddler who really needs to go. Usually this happens when there is no bathroom in sight and the next one isn't remotely within a reasonable distance.
Planning your route and earmarking potential stops for the bathroom, snacks, a leg stretch or whatever the drive may throw at you, can save a lot of tears down the track.
A good navigation system, like the one found in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class Van is a game changer, especially when you’re off the beaten track and need to know where to stop next!
Rule #2: Thou shalt pack the boot properly.
Some people really enjoy packing. I am not one of those people.
I do, however, understand the almost critical importance of packing properly for a road trip. Because you can’t just chuck everything in and hope for the best as one out-of-place item can be the thing that gets in the way of being able to actually close the boot.
Take it from someone who has tried (and failed). Ensuring you’ve got a vehicle, like the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, with as much boot space as humanly possibly is a great starting point.
As a family of five with the gear of what seems like five hundred, we utilise all possible packing space and start with larger items (surfboards, bikes, scooters, fishing rods), before working our way down to suitcases, tubs and, lastly, toys.
Make the space your friend (I like to think of it like a game of Tetris) and ensure you don’t pack the boot to such a height that you struggle to see out the back window.
We find using stackable tubs super handy as they divide up our gear neatly, so we know where to find everything. They also help keep things dry (essential when camping) and fit well in the space due to their shape.
Rule #3: Thou shalt not neglect road trip entertainment.
What you pack is important. Because there is nothing worse than realising, five minutes into a four-hour drive that all the entertainment is packed in the boot. At the very bottom.
My kids each select 2-3 books, 1-2 activities (colouring in, puzzles, crosswords etc.) and 1-2 toys to bring inside the car for in-drive entertainment.
We utilise shoe organisers on the back of seats and backpacks to keep everything in place.
I also pack a ‘snack and play’ stash next to me in the front.
This contains a few things for the kids to eat (the less messy the better, though a leather interior like in the V-Class does wipe down easily), water bottles, baby wipes, hand sanitiser, coloured markers, and a handful of small toys to pull out should anarchy strike.
Rule #4: Thou shalt enjoy the journey.
Road trips can be... challenging.
Memories are made but spirits can be frayed, especially on longer trips.
We’ve learnt that sometimes, it pays to slow things right down. Know your (and your kids') capabilities.
If they’re young or struggle with sitting for extended periods, don’t try and push through a longer trip.
Give yourself an extra day or two if you can. Take a break. Pick somewhere to stay overnight and make it an adventure.
We really enjoy finding off-the-beaten-path places to stop for things like fish and chips on the beach, a picnic somewhere pretty or even a movie night with our portable projector!
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class Van has easily reconfigurable seating so you can kick back with sleeping bags and pillow and enjoy some family time.
With the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, families travel in new levels of comfort and room to spare. Learn more about its high-tech features and inclusions here.
Image: Supplied.
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