It is great to share our story with so many people and inspire others to travel with their family.
The Daily Mail Online featured an article about us and it was shared over 1.7k times all over the world!!We love inspiring others to get out there and travel and hope that this story has helped many take the first step to a new adventure. Read it online ‘here‘ or scroll below.
The Daily Mail Online featured an article about us and it was shared over 1.7k times all over the world!!We love inspiring others to get out there and travel and hope that this story has helped many take the first step to a new adventure. Read it online ‘here‘ or scroll below.
‘Pack up, take the kids and enjoy life together’: Meet the couple travelling around Australia with their toddler AND newborn baby in tow – and promise it’s easier than you think
- Rob and Tracy Morris travel across the country with their kids Marli, 2, and Ziggy, five months
- The young family travels for about six months of the year and spend no longer than seven hours in the car at a time
- They keep the kids entertained with snacks, stickers, colouring and DVDs and said they have no expectations
Traveling with children is most parents’ worst nightmare.
But Rob and Tracy Morris have not only mastered seven hour car trips and extended camping holidays, they have done so with a toddler and five-month-old in tow.
The Sydney couple, known as The Blonde Nomads, spend about six months of the year travelling around Australia with their young family, and told Daily Mail Australia it’s easier than most people think.
But Rob and Tracy Morris have not only mastered seven hour car trips and extended camping holidays, they have done so with a toddler and five-month-old in tow.
The Sydney couple, known as The Blonde Nomads, spend about six months of the year travelling around Australia with their young family, and told Daily Mail Australia it’s easier than most people think.
The Blonde Nomads: Rob and Tracy Morris travel Australia with their two children Marli, 2, and Ziggy, five months
Outdoor adventures: The young family are currently travelling the east coast of Australia
Nomadic lifestyle: The family from Sydney’s northern beaches spend about six months of the year on the road
‘You definitely have to slow it down when you’re travelling with kids,’ Tracy said. ‘We just take our time and break it up depending on how old the kids are and whether they need a day sleep or not.
‘The main message we would like to share to everyone is to give it a go and not put things off until retirement.
‘Pack up, take the kids and enjoy life together.’
As a young couple Rob and Tracy bought a camper van and travelled around Australia for six months.
While they would move around each day, that stopped once they welcomed their children Marli, 2, and Ziggy, five months.
‘The main message we would like to share to everyone is to give it a go and not put things off until retirement.
‘Pack up, take the kids and enjoy life together.’
As a young couple Rob and Tracy bought a camper van and travelled around Australia for six months.
While they would move around each day, that stopped once they welcomed their children Marli, 2, and Ziggy, five months.
Nap time: The Morris’ have perfected life on the road with the kids – who have gotten used to sleeping anywhere
Aussie adventures: Tracy was featured on a sign holding a 112cm barramundi she caught at Awonga Dam in Gladstone, Queensland
Aussie adventures: Tracy was featured on a sign holding a 112cm barramundi she caught at Awonga Dam in Gladstone, Queensland
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH KIDS
The Blonde Nomads share their tips for travelling with children:
Car trips: Pack snacks, books, stickers and toys and invest in an in-car DVD player. Change the baby’s nappy regularly.
The Blonde Nomads share their tips for travelling with children:
Car trips: Pack snacks, books, stickers and toys and invest in an in-car DVD player. Change the baby’s nappy regularly.
Travel time: Make car trips shorter and spend more time at each destination.
Essentials: A pram bassinet for the baby, foam fold out coach for toddlers, baby carriers and waterproof outerwear to put over the kids’ clothes.
Snacks: For a healthy snack try hummus and wrap bread, chia cups, celery with peanut butter or an avocado with a spoon.Source:
One of the main differences the couple made when they started to travel with the kids was they spent less time in the car and more time at each destination.
Rob said they would spend at least three days at each place and divide their time between exploring and having a ‘lazy day’.
‘We’ve learned to expect nothing,’ Tracy said.
‘Some days you get a good run out of the kids and some days are too much.
‘You learn to have a good balance between time to themselves and time to play, just normal days, not sitting in the car.’
Rob said they would spend at least three days at each place and divide their time between exploring and having a ‘lazy day’.
‘We’ve learned to expect nothing,’ Tracy said.
‘Some days you get a good run out of the kids and some days are too much.
‘You learn to have a good balance between time to themselves and time to play, just normal days, not sitting in the car.’
Making memories: ‘The main message we would like to share to everyone is to give it a go and not put things off until retirement,’ Tracy said
Passion for adventure: Rob and Tracy travelled with their parents as children and when they first started dating, travelled Australia together
Slowing down: Since having kids the family spends less time in the car and stays longer at each destination
Time spent travelling is a careful consideration when you have kids, and Rob said about seven hours in the car at one time was achievable with the kids.
To keep them entertained in the backseat they have colouring in books, stickers, toys and snacks.
But the best thing the couple bought were in-car DVD players, which they only turn on once the kids have finished playing with their other toys.
Rob said the family mainly travelled by the coast as it was easier to keep the kids entertained.
To keep them entertained in the backseat they have colouring in books, stickers, toys and snacks.
But the best thing the couple bought were in-car DVD players, which they only turn on once the kids have finished playing with their other toys.
Rob said the family mainly travelled by the coast as it was easier to keep the kids entertained.
At one with nature: The great outdoors has become a part of Marli’s education
At one with nature: The great outdoors has become a part of Marli’s education
Jumping for joy: Ziggy, five months, spends time in his Jolly Jumper during a day at the beach
‘Even if we go in the hinterland a little bit we try and find some waterholes or waterfalls or somewhere to swim,’ he said.
‘It tires the kids out good as well.’
Being outdoors has become a part of Marli’s education, and Tracy said she was able to name the types of fish she had caught and is well educated in nature.
While Ziggy is still young the couple choose to stay closer to amenities, supermarkets and chemists but plans to embark on a bigger trip when he is a bit older.
‘It tires the kids out good as well.’
Being outdoors has become a part of Marli’s education, and Tracy said she was able to name the types of fish she had caught and is well educated in nature.
While Ziggy is still young the couple choose to stay closer to amenities, supermarkets and chemists but plans to embark on a bigger trip when he is a bit older.
Baby on board: Since Tracy gave birth to Ziggy, five months, the couple have stayed closer to amenities, shops and chemists
Inspiring others: The Morris’ share their experience through their Facebook page, blog and Instagram
The couple share their experience through social media and have an Instagram page with more than 12,000 followers, Facebook and website. There they share tips on what to pack, their travel must-have’s and healthy food tips for life on the road. They fund their trips by renting out their Sydney home while they are away and through collaborations with different destinations, resorts or companies that subsidise their expenses in exchange for the Morris’ providing exposure and photos on their website. When they are home Rob, who is a carpenter by trade, goes back to work and Tracy, who works in marketing, communications and photography shoots the occasional wedding and family portrait and does website design.
Financially feasible: They fund their trip by renting out their Sydney home while they are away and through collaborations with destinations, resorts and companies
Picturesque: The couple encouraged anyone looking to travel with kids to go to a four-wheel drive and caravanning show
Give it a go: ‘Start with a few short trips, the best way to learn is by doing it and talking to people you meet along the way,’ Rob said
They said any family looking to embark on an extended holiday should first go to a four-wheel drive or caravanning show to look at the different options available for their family.
‘Don’t overthink it,’ Rob said.
‘Start with a few short trips, the best way to learn is by doing it and talking to people you meet along the way.’
‘Don’t overthink it,’ Rob said.
‘Start with a few short trips, the best way to learn is by doing it and talking to people you meet along the way.’
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Congrats on getting published in the Daily Mail. We are often road tripping with our two little ones and hope to do a lap of oz soon.
Wow, congrats Blondies! The Daily Mail, whoa! The article is really enjoyable and definitely makes me want to hit the road again!