Thinking of hitting the road with your little crew? Curious about how real families make it work—juggling kids, remote work, travel logistics and learning on the go? You’re in the right place. We’ve connected with three seasoned caravanning families who’ve done just that. From selling their homes and building custom vans, to embracing life off-grid with young children in tow—they’ve lived it all. Now, they’re generously sharing their stories to help you get started.
This blog marks the beginning of our Caravanning with Kids series. Over the coming months, we’ll dive into all the big questions: How do you homeschool on the road? What does a typical day look like? How do you manage meals, budgets, and boredom? And most importantly—is it worth it?
But first, meet the families—discover how they made the leap and what it really takes to embark on a Big Lap around Australia.
Dr Tania, Marcus, and their kids Eli, Charlie and Toby first hit the road in April 2020, after selling their home in Greensborough, VIC—right as the first lockdowns were beginning. What began as a planned two-year Big Lap has since evolved into an indefinite lifestyle that suits their family to a tee. Along the way, their family grew—welcoming baby Kaia into the van life fold. Tania, a veterinarian, and Marcus have developed Vet in a Van into both a mobile veterinary service and a hub of pet travel education, including their own Pet First Aid Kit created with Navigator Gear. Their journey has been one of deep connection, practical adventure, and finding joy in a simpler, slower way of living.
Matt, Megsy, Daisy and Jasper had dreamed of a Lap of Oz for years, but life always seemed to get in the way—work, finances, school etc. That dream gathered dust until what was supposed to be a 1.5-week trip to Birdsville for the Big Red Bash, turned into a spontaneous five-week micro-adventure. After returning home, they gave themselves just three weeks to get organised before setting off again—this time for a six-month adventure covering a big half-lap of Australia. Their van life journey became a powerful reset—reconnecting as a family, making memories, and enjoying the present. Meg and Matt both work remotely, and they share their experiences and tips through @traveltalesblog and traveltales.com.au.
Cameron, Sharyn, and their sons Jye and Cruz have long embraced the camping lifestyle—starting out in tents and swags, evolving through camper trailers and pop-ups, and dreaming of one day owning a high-end caravan. That dream became a reality when they ordered their very own custom-made Wonderland caravan. Now proud ambassadors, the Wheatland Wanderers spend their time chasing what they love most: fishing, camping, exploring, and making memories together in nature. With Cruz managing Type 1 diabetes, their journey is also one of careful planning, adaptability, and resilience—allowing them to fully enjoy a life lived outdoors and on their own terms.
How do you know when it’s the right time to go? Is it too risky to take kids out of school? What if the timing isn’t perfect? All three families agree: there is no perfect time. The right time is when you decide to say yes to adventure.
“If not now, then when? That was the BIG question which flipped everything on its head for us… We needed to stop waiting for the right time because the right time was staring us in the face….the kids were at the perfect age to travel (8yrs and 12yrs), and we were in an all-time sweet spot.
It was that simple. No planning, no savings, no budgets…just a feeling and an almighty hunch that we only have one life, we may as well live it now.”
“We needed a break from working long hours and living separate busy lives… We have always loved camping and travel and wanted to shift to a simpler life with less stress… We knew we’d never regret time spent making memories with our kids whilst they were little, so we took the plunge to do a Big Lap.”
“We’ve always had the travel bug in our veins since Cameron and I were young…. We wanted to share our passion for travel with our boys… It wasn’t just about seeing the sights – it was about creating memories, teaching life lessons, and giving them a sense of adventure.
It’s been the best decision we’ve ever made.”
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How long does it take to prepare? What kind of van do you need? Is it really possible to take off without a strict plan? Whether you’re a planner or a free spirit, there’s no single formula. These families show that what matters most is choosing a setup that suits your travel style and family needs.
Dr. Tania and Marcus spent around six months preparing for their life on the road, balancing the logistics of selling their home, organising their caravan setup, and figuring out how to make full-time travel work with three young children. Key to their planning was choosing a family-friendly, off-grid capable caravan that could handle rough roads, and ensuring they had safe, indoor spaces for their kids. As the kids got older, they found it essential to have separate areas for quiet time and schoolwork.
Transitioning from a ‘Big Lap’ to ‘Full-Time Travel’ and adding a fourth little one has meant some changes for their set-up.
The Wheatlands took 12–18 months to prepare for long-term travel, a process that involved building their dream custom Wonderland caravan and planning for their son Cruz’s Type 1 diabetes care. They were experienced campers and having attended caravan & camping shows, they knew what their ultimate setup needed: bunks, strong off-grid capability, a dust reduction system, security features, and a heater for cooler periods. One feature that has been a game-changer for them— airbags for suspension rather than mucking about with levelling ramps.
One of the hardest parts was figuring out a road-schooling set-up for their son Cruz. Choosing the Kimberley School of the Air gave them a structured-yet-flexible learning path for Cruz, with regular check-ins and supportive materials. A big part of their prep also involved sourcing and safely storing Cruz’s diabetes equipment, with contingency plans for accessing healthcare while remote.
After their spontaneous five-week micro-adventure, the Jones family gave themselves just three weeks to prepare for their six-month adventure. One of their first priorities was upgrading their camping setup to better suit their growing kids. They headed to the Victoria Caravan and Camping Supershow just to browse but ended up walking away with a brand-new Snowy River caravan that ticked all their boxes—bunk beds, a shower and toilet, air conditioning, solar power, and good storage.
Megsy and Matt were able to organise flexible schooling on the road through ongoing contact with their children’s primary school and supported by online platforms, worksheets, and real-life educational experiences.
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All families prioritised comfort, functionality, and the ability to adapt as their kids grew older. Think bunk beds, clever storage, safety features, and off-grid independence. Attending a caravan and camping show to browse different set-ups is a great way to figure out what might work best for your family.
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Making the decision to pack up your life and hit the road with kids is no small feat. There are doubts, questions, and what-ifs—but also endless possibilities. We asked each of our featured families: what advice would you give to others thinking about taking the leap into caravanning with kids? From practical tips to mindset shifts, here’s what they shared to help you get started with confidence.
“Find a van that suits your clan. There is no model that is a one size fits all and every family operates differently… do your research, as once you hit the road, the van truly becomes your home on wheels, so you must really LOVE it. We are an outdoor family, so we found the whole time around Oz we mainly sat outside for meals… We needed a van that works for our lifestyle. Just remember you don’t need the shiniest, biggest and most expensive towing vehicle, you just need something that works for you and that has the capabilities you need.
[Also] packing for the trip was no easy task… As anyone doing a lap of Australia will testify, you always end up carrying more items than you use. “
“Before we hit the road, we also had the caravan professionally weighed to ensure we were being compliant and safe and for our own peace of mind. This was a gamechanger and very helpful in working out which items we could leave behind and how best to pack the van which was essential.”
“Do your research, plan what you can, but don’t get caught up in making it perfect. Starting small with a few weekends away can give you a taste of the lifestyle and help you build more confidence. You’ll learn so much more from being out there on the road than you ever could from behind a screen.
“Don’t wait for the perfect time because honestly it will never come—Just start planning and take the leap…”
Make sure you’ve got a solid first aid kit, plan ahead with food and water and always carry some essential spares for the car and van. These things will make you feel more prepared and confident, especially with kids in tow. The truth is you never know what’s around the corner… the best memories are often made when things don’t go exactly as planned. Life is way too short not to grab the chance to make incredible memories with your family.”
“Start with shorter trips and build up. Try camping or hire a caravan if you haven’t done it before… Test your setup and routines. You don’t need all the gear straight away; you’ll be surprised how little you actually need to be happy…. Over time, we’ve refined what we need—less “stuff” and more functional space…. Whilst doing “The Lap” we were chasing the sun [and] mostly lived outdoors. Now that we are travelling full time, we see much more inclement weather, so having the space for indoor days has become more important.”
The most important thing is flexibility—things won’t always go to plan, but that’s where the best memories are often made. “
So, is it as easy as hitting the road and hoping for the best? Not quite—but with the right mindset and a flexible approach, it can be one of the most rewarding decisions your family ever makes. In this first part, we’ve explored the motivations, preparations, and realities of taking that first step. Whether you’re months into planning or just daydreaming, you’re not alone—and there’s no one right way to begin.
Stay tuned for Part Two of our Caravanning with Kids series, where we’ll explore what daily life really looks like on the road. From homeschooling and mealtime routines to navigating long drives and keeping the whole family happy, our families will share what works, what doesn’t, and how they keep the wheels turning while living life on the move.
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