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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 10 2011 at 3:27am | IP Logged
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Next Friday we set off on a road trip to the Queensland Outback, were we will visit my brothers in Mt Isa. Hoping to visit the Dinosaur fields and mines whilst we are there. Both my brothers work in the mines.
Anyhow planning for the long car trip; thousands of kilometeres, 25hrs +, nine children including a baby should be interesting  We'll drive, then pull up our swags on the side of the road and camp, apparently its how they do it out there, should take about 3 days. Maybe dh will be willing to stop at the Stockman's Hall of Fame.
Love any travel tips, it has been 16 years (only two children) since we did such a big trip. A three day trip to Cairns at the Top End of Queensland. We're doing it the old fashioned way, looking out the window no DVD player. Rounding up ideas for entertainment and 'survival'.  Planning on making these
car organiser's for the van, trying to work out dimensions. They would be soo useful. On our last trip (12 hrs) a book was lying on the floor and was ruined when water was spilt. 
Getting excited but also overwhelmed at all to do. Friends are housesitting so have preparations to do there too.
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Erin
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Aug 10 2011 at 6:19am | IP Logged
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Well, I was going to suggest DVDs but I see that wont work.
One year, we took a trip and at the last minute I threw an old tape recorder into my "bag of tricks". The kids loved it! They spent quite a bit of time taping each other and playing it back. Even the older ones might enjoy using it to sort of log or journal the trip and what they are seeing out the windows.
For our trip west back in June I bought some of the color wonder markers and coloring books for my 4 yo. They worked well since he wasn't able to mark on the seats or anything. My 3 middle kids (8, 10 and 12 yos) all loved the anti-coloring books I got from Rainbow.
Moms Minivan is a great place to find some things to do. My kids like the battle ship game and some of the other printable games she has. I printed off a bunch of the games, put them in plastic sleeves and into a small binder for each child. They each got a dry erase pen to go with it so they could play the games, wipe them off, and play again.
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KackyK
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| Posted: Aug 10 2011 at 7:41am | IP Logged
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I don't have much more to offer. Maybe some string for cat's cradle games. I think the personal recorder is a great idea!
I just wanted to say that your trip sounds amazing. I don't you think you could do anything like that in America. I'm going to read your post to my kids and next week we will be sure to think about you guys! Have fun!
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hylabrook1
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Motion sickness remedies! Don't leave home without them....
Peace,
Nancy
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CrunchyMom
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What about cds? We have a portable dvd player, but we save it for when everyone is losing it at the end of the day or sitting in traffic from an accident, etc... Mostly, they we all listen to a book on cd a few chapters at a time with some breaks for window gazing. We also take the same road trips over and over (to visit family), so we kind of have a handle on the "boring" stretches.
With babies, I tend to have a bag of interesting toys. When they get fussy/bored, I start passing them one at a time. It either keeps them occupied or distracted until we can make it to a rest area to feed them and change them.
We are wimps and plan our trips in legs of 5 1/2 hours of driving time. Obviously won't work in your case, but that seems to be the wall for our littles when it becomes miserable.
I know it isn't a route with which you are familiar, but we do have state parks and playgrounds that we know of on the way so we can plan for lunch in a place where the kids can run around and get fresh air. I think taking the time then is worth it.
I also find it is worth the effort to divide snacks up into baggies ahead of time so all I have to do is pass it.
I like Becky's idea about the binders (but I would keep them and distribute them--I find the kids often "use up" stuff in the first hour if they have immediate access to it). There are also dry erase crayons now. Not sure if they are less messy than markers, but they don't dry out!
We start each day with at least an hour of nothing. Then maybe the alphabet game. Then maybe some music. Then an audio book. We work our way up to the "big guns"
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kristinannie
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I lived out west in the USA when I was growing up so we did a lot of REALLY long car trips. We played a lot of games, but I don't think a lot of them will work in Australia, especially in the Outback! We tried to find lisence plates from all the states. We tried to find things that started with every letter (starting with A). We played Car Bingo. You could play 20 questions or do contests (like who can think of the most body parts in 5 minutes). You can always play the "quiet game" to see who can be the quietest for the longest. Are you taking more than one vehicle? Maybe it would be fun to talk to each other on walkie talkies.
I highly recommend listening to some audiobooks. Those do occupy my kids on long trips (although I have to admit, the DVD players come on! They are such a treat for the kids because we don't watch a lot of TV). I would also suggest getting some good music to listen to!
Maybe the older kids could think up some entertainment for the younger kids. I am sure the natives of the Outback have a lot of great folktales that you could read aloud (or have the olders read...whoever doesn't get carsick).
Maybe each kid could keep a journal of the journey. They can draw pictures and write narrations along the way. That would be something to remember the trip by forever! Do you have a video camera? I was thinking that you could do a nightly taping of the days events (kind of like a newscast) and the kids could work on what will be said while you are driving. That might be way more work than you want to do on vacation though! Maybe you could even bring some books about the area so they can get information about it while you are driving.
My kids also really like to have a new workbook when we drive somewhere. My husband will go to Target and get one for each of them from the dollar section. They usually have stickers and fun things to do inside.
It sounds like you are going to have quite the adventure!!! God bless you and I hope to hear all about it when you get home!
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Angel
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Whenever we make a big trip, I put together a bag of "surprises" for the kids, one per day that we're in the car. These are things like coloring books or travel games or paperbacks (for the kids who can read) or a new sketchbook... not big stuff, just stuff to keep them busy. As soon as we get in the car in the morning, I let them pick one surprise from the bag. This buys me a little time .
Everybody packs their own backpack, and the rule is that everything has to fit INSIDE the backpack. They know that I'll have a surprise bag, so they don't stuff it full anymore.
I have someone here who will be keen to know how that visit to the Dinosaur Fields and mines went! Good luck! 
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Servant2theKing
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A favorite car game for our family could easily be adapted for your trip. You start by saying I'm going to (name your destination) and I'm going to see a/an ______ The person whose turns it is comes up with the craziest animal phrase they can think of using alliteration and whatever letter of the alphabet falls on their turn; "I'm going to the Queensland Outback and I'm going to see An Amazingly Agile Aardvark Acquiring Apples in An Antique Ambulator". You can make the game very simple by only having each person do their own letter OR you can make it more crazy, complicated and fun by having everyone list ALL the phrases that came before their turn, then adding their own. The tape recorder is a really GREAT idea for games like that.
Stopping every few hours for potty breaks and a little time to run around, to work out stiff muscles or pent up energy, can make a long road trip much more pleasant! We sometimes pack a Frisbee or something to play catch with. Dd and her dh always pack their own jugs of water from home when they travel; drinking lots of water helps keep everyone hydrated and cuts down on consumption of less healthy beverages.
I heartily second the idea for motion sickness remedies. We pack a bucket with cleaning supplies, plastic bags and wipes, hand sanitizer, remedies and mint flavored gum ~ everything goes inside a bag tucked inside the bucket ~ at a moment's notice the bag can be yanked out of the bucket (lininbg the bucket with yet another bag makes things helpful for later clean up) ~ the bucket then becomes a handy place for car sickness "deposits".  We've used SeaBands, as well as homeopathic remedies such as Nux Vomica, Carbo Veg, or Luyties' Car Sickness combination remedy. Our ds who had severe car sickness has either outgrown it or the homeopathic remedies have cured it for him. Hoping you won't need such things, but a 24 roadtrip could make even the most road worthy soul a little squeemish!
Have an Amazing, Awesome, Astounding Trip!!! 
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leanne maree
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Erin, It has been interesting what everyone has said. We have travelled quite some distances with all our dc.
The trip from Newcastle to Noosa is quite long, but we break every 2 hours for a stop- as the commercial says "stop, revive survive".
Each child was responsible for packing some items to keep them amused, but we mostly played an audio book or a cd. We just took ones to entertain the dc.
We chose what everyone would like.
We always took, snacks, water bottles, towel, wet washer in a plastic bag, some type of bucket, a 'potty' for the littlies- in case they get caught short.
When we travelled with babies- which was quite a lot, We made sure we did as many Kms as we could qhile they were asleep.
we would buy a new book- sticker book etc, for the dc. Some were unable to use them as they were car sick.
We did try and stop at a Mcdonalds as they have the besy play grounds to let all that energu out for little ones. Not sure how many you will pass on your way to Mt Isa though.-
Thats all my little tips,
Have a wondeful holiday,
Leanne
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 12 2011 at 5:03am | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
One year, we took a trip and at the last minute I threw an old tape recorder into my "bag of tricks". The kids loved it! They spent quite a bit of time taping each other and playing it back......
Moms Minivan is a great place to find some things to do. My kids like the battle ship game and some of the other printable games she has. I printed off a bunch of the games, put them in plastic sleeves and into a small binder for each child. |
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Both excellent ideas! Thank you
Crunchymom wrote:
| I know it isn't a route with which you are familiar, but we do have state parks and playgrounds that we know of on the way so we can plan for lunch in a place where the kids can run around and get fresh air. I think taking the time then is worth it. |
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Wide open spaces up there, we'd just need to pull over and they can pile out and run.
Kristinannie wrote:
| I lived out west in the USA when I was growing up so we did a lot of REALLY long car trips. We played a lot of games, but I don't think a lot of them will work in Australia, especially in the Outback! We tried to find lisence plates from all the states. We tried to find things that started with every letter (starting with A). We played Car Bingo. |
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Considering it can be three hours between sighting another car we could be playing a very long game
Love your and Lindsay's audio book ideas, I'm trying to find good sites to download from.
Angel wrote:
| I have someone here who will be keen to know how that visit to the Dinosaur Fields and mines went! Good luck! |
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Thought you might have We'll be sure to take lots of photos, have just bought a new camera too. 
Servant2theKing wrote:
| Stopping every few hours for potty breaks and a little time to run around, to work out stiff muscles or pent up energy, can make a long road trip much more pleasant! We sometimes pack a Frisbee or something to play catch with. |
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I think the baby could be forcing us to stop to feed. the frisbee is a great idea Writing that onto the list.
So far no-one has ever been car sick, I hadn't even thought of it till you and Nancy mentioned it.
Leanne Maree wrote:
| We always took, snacks, water bottles, |
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We're packing the 15litre bottle of water plus all their individual bottles. thinking about buying a sports water bottle carrier, holds 15.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Road Trip to the Outback
