7 Tips For Travelling In A RV With Kids (From Someone Who Has Been There And Done That)

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Completing a lap of Australia in a campervan is a dream for many families, but the logistics of such an epic road trip with kids in tow is often a challenge that’s seen as too big to tackle. But not for Tasha Van Biene, her husband, Max, and their seven-year-old son, Finn.

They’ve proven it’s the best way to travel around Australia with family. In between the star-gazing, roasting marshmallows, biking, snorkelling, and immersing themselves in Australia’s natural wonders and Indigenous history, Max has been working remotely three days a week, Tasha has been growing her photography business, and Finn has been keeping up with his studies through distance learning.

Now on the final leg of their eight-month adventure, Tasha joined us via Zoom from a campsite in Northern NSW—thanks to their Starlink Wi-Fi—to share how they’ve juggled it all. Whether you’re planning your own lap or simply looking to do more campervan holidays with the family, these tips will come in handy.

1. CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY CAMPERVAN CAREFULLY

When traveling in a caravan with kids, having a comfortable and practical setup is key. Tasha and her
family opted for a custom-fitted Renault Master campervan to accommodate their needs, including a
campervan kitchen, a back seat for Finn and a dedicated space for his bed. It also has a roof deck and bike racks. “We did a custom fit-out so that it was the perfect setup for us. These style campervans don’t always
have what you need, so we decided to make it our own. The back seat was important so that Finn had his own space on those long drives.” Although happy with the set-up, in hindsight, Tasha wishes they’d considered a different campervan brand. Being European, spare parts were hard to come by, which caused a fair few headaches and increased the overall campervan budget.
“We broke down three times on the West Coast of WA, and every time had to drive back to Perth to get things fixed as parts weren’t available. At one point, we thought we might have to head back to Sydney. But Finn was adamant—we weren’t giving up! It was a great lesson in resilience for all of us.”

2. CONSIDER ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS FOR THE KIDS (BUT DON’T OVERDO IT)

Travelling with toddlers or kids can be challenging, but Tasha found that audiobooks were a lifesaver for
keeping Finn entertained during long stretches of driving. “We’re lucky because Finn’s a bit of a legend when it comes to travelling, and audiobooks have been our saviour. He’s listened to over 130 audiobooks during this trip. It keeps him entertained, and we mix that with stops and a bit of iPad time.” However, one big surprise for Tasha was that Finn didn’t need much entertaining at all.
“We thought we’d need lots of toys, but Finn spent most of his time playing outside. We originally packed lots of toys but quickly posted them back to Sydney when we realised they weren’t needed. Anything we did need we just picked up on op shops along the way.”

3. KEEP KIDS SAFE WITH CLEAR RULES AND GADGETS

Family camping in remote areas means safety is paramount. Tasha and Max tackled this head-on, using
a camping checklist with clear rules. “We establish rules for every place we go, like how far Finn can go, that he can’t go in the water without an adult, dangers of native animals such as snakes or crocs, and also the normal stranger danger conversations. It varies hugely from place to place depending on a lot of factors. We also got him a ‘Kids O’clock’ watch that lets him call us and us call him. He can even call emergency services if needed and it has in-built GPS tracking.”
Although the rules have been vital to keep Finn safe, it’s also fostered a sense of freedom and responsibility.
“Watching Finn’s confidence grow has been amazing. Snorkeling with him at Ningaloo Reef, seeing turtles and fish together—it was such a rewarding moment for all of us. Later that day, Finn and Max surfed a wave together, and it was one of the highlights of the trip.”

4. SPEAK TO YOUR SCHOOL ABOUT DISTANCE LEARNING

Balancing education with adventure is important when traveling long-term with the kids. Tasha’s family
used Sydney’s Primary Distance Education Program to make sure that Finn stayed on track with his schooling while on the road. “We wanted Finn to keep up with his schooling, so we used distance education. They send work, and we get feedback from teachers. It’s been a great system, allowing us to balance school with all the amazing learning he’s done from the trip itself.”

5. FIND CAMPSITES THAT SUIT YOUR FAMILY’S STYLE

Whether you prefer campgrounds with powered sites or simple, remote bush campsites, finding a
campsite that fits your family’s needs makes a huge difference to your experience. Tasha discovered
that her family preferred smaller, off-the-beaten-path campsites.
“We’ve stayed in all kinds of places, from holiday parks with all the bells and whistles to completely off-grid campsites. Finn has actually enjoyed the smaller family-friendly campsites with basic campsite facilities the most because he can build better connections with other kids, and it’s less overwhelming.”
If you’re travelling in a campervan with kids, take the time to try lots of different campsites and see what works for you. As well as national parks and state forests, Tasha found hipcamps to be a great
resource to find places to stay, with plenty of different campsite costs to choose from.

6. MAKE THE OUTDOORS YOUR LIVING ROOM

Living in close quarters for an extended period can test anyone’s patience, so giving each family member personal space when needed is the secret sauce to a great trip. To make this happen, outdoor
area setup is key. “I thought that the space would be tight but honestly it doesn’t feel like that because we mainly live outside. The van is our base, but we set up an awning and an extra tent which expands our living space.
This way, you’re not confined to the van, and it’s actually much bigger than it looks.”


7. KEEP A FLEXIBLE ITINERARY AND DON’T OVERTHINK IT

While planning is needed to some extent, the biggest bit of advice that Tasha has for families planning on campervanning with kids is to not overthink it.

Just do it – it will figure out on the way.

“It’s easy to get caught up in wanting the best van set up, or all these fancy things, but ultimately you need less than you think. We’ve seen people do their laps in set ups that range from tents and a car to
the huge off-road caravans and 4WD’s. It’s possible to do it with any budget and have just as much fun.”This ‘don’t overthink it’ attitude also pays dividends with route planning too. Over-scheduling can limit
your flexibility and spontaneity, two things that can make a family trip like this truly memorable.
“We had a vague plan but kept it fluid. Some places we thought we’d love didn’t work out, and other unexpected gems became our favorite spots. Staying flexible allowed us to enjoy more of the trip and adapt to circumstances like bad weather. Some people we met had booked 12 months of campsites in advance or planned entire coastal routes, but that takes away some of the joy. In fact, some of our best experiences and campsites came from word-of-mouth recommendations on the road.”

VAN LIFE WITH KIDS – KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE

With the lap around Australia almost in their rear-view mirror (though Finn is already asking mum and
dad for lap two) the Van Biene’s have big plans to use the van as a weekender and keep the family
bonding going when they return to Sydney.

Planning to travel Australia with kids? Tasha’s journey around Australia has shown that with the right
setup, a bit of flexibility, and some creativity, you can create lasting memories and meaningful
adventures with your kids on the road.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

FAVOURITE FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

We loved Ningaloo Reef, it was such a gorgeous location and so family friendly for kids to get out onto
the reef, as you can swim right off the beach. The snorkelling is so breathtaking, and you don’t need to
travel for hours off the coast to see it.

BEST CAMPSITE FOR KIDS IN AUSTRALIA

It really depends on what your kids are into, the best caravan park we stayed at was definitely the Airlie
beach Big4 with its water slides and playgrounds. The best farm stay was Bullara Station near Exmouth
and our favourite bush camp was Wuggubun in the Kimberly, WA.

PIECE OF GEAR YOU TOOK BUT DIDN’T USE

The toilet and the hot water shower. We mostly stayed in places with at least basic facilities so used
these far less than we thought. And we had a cold-water shower that we used outside the van; the hot
water shower was overkill for us, and we actually shipped it home.

ITEM ON YOUR PACKING LIST YOU WERE MOST GRATEFUL FOR

A magnetic mosquito net for the sliding door was a game-changer. We had no idea how much Finn
would hate mosquitos, and it just gave a bit of respite and created a mosquito free bubble. I never
thought that would be so indispensable.

 

You can find Tasha and her family sharing their adventures here.

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