The GoCheap guide to travelling in a campervan with kids
Campervans are the perfect way to holiday for a family. By renting a campervan from GoCheap you can enjoy a family holiday where everyone is happy, meaning less stress and more rest.
There are so many reasons why campervans are perfect for a family getaway, so let’s look at why we think you should be booking a GoCheap campervan for your next adventure.
You only unpack once!
Unpacking is one of the worst parts of travel, and then having to repack, only to unpack again at the next destination adds stress to any holiday. So why not only do it once – you can with a campervan.
Once you have collected your rental you and the family can settle in and get comfy in your home away from home. Take the time to unpack and utilise the ample storage provided to find a home for everything. You unpack once and then still have the freedom to travel has far, or as close, as your heart’s desire.
Image: Unpack once and bedtime will be a breeze
Space for lots of essential items!
Trying to fit your life into a suitcase is not easy – especially when your child’s favourite stuffed animal must come along for the journey. With a GoCheap campervan you will have plenty of storage for all the essentials that you family needs and those items that will help to make your campervan a home away from home (such as a favourite pillow, or blankie).
Less lost items!
We have all seen the viral social media posts of the beloved stuffed toy that gets left in an airport – in fact one of the most viral versions of this story was of a Donald Duck toy that has lived in a Japanese museum for 30 years.
We don’t want to have a repeat of this lost-toy-story on your travels, and a campervan can help you do just that – set up a stuffed animal sentry to guard your campervan while you are exploring and you will know that they will be right where you left them when you return.
Image: Your child’s teddy can guard your camper while you explore
Flexibility around your family’s needs!
One of the biggest benefits of campervan travel is flexibility. You can plan your days around your kids’ routines – whether that means stopping for nap time, cooking familiar meals, or heading to a new beach after a quick lunch. No rigid hotel check-in times, menu choices or juggling luggage between locations.
Everything you need is right there with you, and if plans change (as they often do with kids!), your home on wheels moves with you!
Built-in comforts make life easier!
Campervans are the ultimate form of travel for families. Most of our campervans include a bathroom, comfortable beds, and a fully equipped kitchen. These amenities make it easy to prepare a bottle, stop for a bathroom break and ensure that everyone gets a good night’s sleep.
For families we recommend opting for a little bit of extra room, and our 4 berth Henty and 6 berth Derwent campervans have this in spades. Both campers are spacious and have that ample storage space that we mentioned, as well as a bed above the drivers’ cabin (complete with privacy curtain), which could make a nice parents escape once the family has claimed the rest of the campervan as their territory.
Image: Campervans are great for having some downtime during the day
Perfect for naps!
Speaking of sleep, for those of us who need a mid-afternoon nap (which is usually everyone after a big morning exploring), campervans are perfect for stopping for a nap. With the beds right where you are you can nap where and when it suits you.
Car seat compatible
Our campervans are car seat compatible, and you can even rent one from us! So that way even the smallest member of the family is safe during your adventures. If you want to find out more about car seats in campervans you can find out which kind of seat your child should need with this handy article.
Image: Our campervans are child seat compatible
Food and Drinks are sorted
When you plan and prepare ahead of time, you’ll be so thankful for your campervan’s freezer space on those busy days or nights when you just can’t be bothered! Pre-prepare some sandwiches for freezing and cook some family-favourite dinners ahead of time. Then it’s as easy as taking it out of the freezer & warming it up via your campervan stove or microwave! Especially handy for those fussy eaters.
If you are looking for some inspiration for cooking in your campervan we have the perfect blog for you with our
Snacks
Access to snacks is essential while on a family holiday, be sure to dedicate one of your many storage compartments to healthy snacks for you and the kids. Prep what you can ahead of time – containers and lunch bags will make storage and access much easier when on the road.
Prepare your campervan snacks like you would your kid’s lunch box – prepare carrot sticks, apple slices, celery + peanut butter, hummus, juice bottles and yoghurt! Don’t forget to bring a packet of marshmallows for the fire!
During the warmer months, Ice cream is a MUST when on a family adventure in Australia. The best thing about campervan holidays is that you can have access to ice cream anywhere thanks to your campervan’s freezer!
Image: Dinner and snack times are sorted with the campervans built in kitchen
Itinerary to suit you
Whether you want to spend an extra day at a wildlife park, wait out bad weather, or detour to a hidden waterfall, you have the freedom to make the trip your own. Travelling at your pace allows kids to enjoy the journey without the pressure of a fixed schedule – making the experience less stressful and more rewarding.
Playground stops and Holiday Parks
Relaxing is easier when the kids are entertained or, let’s face it, worn out from being entertained! The beauty of campervan holidaying is the incredible, convenient access to so many play areas.
A vast number of playgrounds in Australia include a large barbeque, picnic tables and a recreational, undercover area. Kids can play freely while parents relax beside a platter of cheese, biscuits and sausages in bread.
If you’re not planning on playground stops, opt for holiday parks!
Image: Playgrounds are the perfect place to get out and stretch your legs – NSW Tourism
In house entertainment
Relaxing and bonding in your camper is half the fun of a family campervan holiday! There will undoubtedly be days that call for some in-camper entertainment. Board games are an excellent family-friendly form of entertainment. Most households have a game or two hiding in cupboards, so why not have a look, or ask family and friends for a loan (or two) and take advantage of the excellent table space in our campervans.
A lot of GoCheap campervans have a TV/DVD system built into the camper. So why not find some new DVDs that the whole family will enjoy! If you want to do this on a budget, a lot of state libraries in Australia have DVDs that you can borrow. So why not head to your local library and borrow some books and movies to enjoy on your travels.
Types of activities
There are so many activities that can be done while you are travelling in a campervan. You don’t have to rely in-house entertainment to keep the family entertained.
Bingo: Travel bingo is a great way to keep passengers busy on the road. Why not curate your own bingo cards before your journey and have a collection of sights and local animals for your family to keep an eye out for on your travels.
Journaling: A gamechanger when travelling in a campervan with kids is gifting them a travel journal, pencils & some washi-tape. The kids can draw while you drive, collect things to stick inside – like flyers, receipts, business cards, leaves etc. and write down every destination they visit. It’s not only great for keeping the kids busy during long trips, but it provides them with a special, lifelong keepsake!
Capturing Memories: Disposable cameras are a great resource for families. Not only do they capture images in a unique way, but they are also a budget friendly way for each member of the family to decide which images they wish to capture. Another way of doing this is to invest in a cheap kid camera; which can be found at places like Big W for as little as $20.
This means that once your holiday is over you will have plenty of photographic memories to enjoy.
Image: Why not try and see how many Australian animals you can see on your journey
Planning the right route can make all the difference when travelling in a campervan with kids. The key is to balance driving time with fun, child-friendly stops and enough rest days to recharge. If you are looking for some inspiration for planning your trip have a look at the itineraries that are available on both the Cruisin Motorhomes and GoCheap websites.
Choose shorter driving days
Kids (and parents!) can get cranky after too much time on the road… Aim for driving stretches of 2–4 hours max per day, with frequent breaks. Use roadside stops, playgrounds, or scenic lookouts as excuses to stretch and snack. Build in extra days to stay longer in places the kids love – flexibility is one of your biggest assets in a campervan.
Image: A short drive time gives everyone the chance to get out and explore
Ready to start your trip?
Our campervans are backed by the same team as Cruisin’ motorhomes, including 24/7 roadside assistance included with all our rentals. Meaning that your trip will be worry-free.
Call our friendly reservations team on 1300 664 485 or check out our website to see the campervans we have available at our branches!
