This post is an entry into the Stayz Holiday Throwback Competition.
If you read Toddlers on Tour’s blog regularly you would know I love to travel.
My love of travel began at very young age thanks to my mother who insisted that my father take us and my two younger sisters on caravanning holidays around Western Australia.
Throughout my childhood we travelled North as far as Post Hedland travelling up through the centre of Western Australia through outback towns like Cue where the caravan park was so crowded we were parked in the entrance road with electricity cables crisscrossing around the park to power all the extra vans (couldn’t do that these days).
Then onto Wittenoom, a town that is now closed due to asbestosis, but was the gateway to the stunning Hamersley Ranges. Back then, we arrived into the caravan park and upon opening the caravan door we discovered a thick coating of red dust throughout brought about by driving on corrugated red dust roads for several hundred kilometres. Us kids were banished to the playground whilst my mother cleaned.
Other holidays we went south to Albany to look at dog rock and climb Bluff Knoll which as far as I am concerned were the highlights, as it was too cold to enjoy summer.
My father was a bookmaker so every August school holidays we travelled with the caravan to Kalgoorlie for the racing round. On the days there were no horse races we would venture out to go gold prospecting. We never found anything but had fun clambering about the old ruins imagining a bygone era. The other days were scheduled with various races, my favourite being the Broad Arrow Races. Broad Arrow is small town consisting of a pub that comes alive once a year for this race day. For each race the horses are auctioned off then race down the dusty red road.
But all these holidays had a common thread – all 5 of us together. In the car for long road trips playing games like eye spy, guess how long to the nearest town, and I am sure my parents favourite – who can stay quiet the longest 😉 .
Then we would find a caravan park, unload our bikes tucked away inside the caravan for the journey and head off to explore the park whilst mum got us settled. Dad would always bump his head a lot in the first few days cursing and swearing at the confines of the caravan until he acclimatised. In the afternoons we would all sit around the table and enjoy hours of playing boggle.
The other thing about all these holidays – we got discover all these hidden corners of our great big state of Western Australia.
I have visited Hutt River Province, an independent sovereign state 595km north of Perth.
Climbed around Wave Rock , a granite rock that is 15m high and 110m long and shaped like a wave.
Then over to Hippos Mouth, another granite rock (though shaped like a hippopotamus’ mouth) a short walk from Wave Rock.
Scampered over the Pinnacles, located in Nambung National Park 200 km north of Perth. The Pinnacles are amazing limestone structures that were formed 25000+ years ago.
And explored around Kalbarri‘s rugged landscape.
I am sure it is due to my mother’s desire to share her love of caravanning and exploring WA that my love of travel began; and so I too have continued the tradition.
I love taking my family on holidays to explore far away places, although we prefer to stay in something slightly more robust than a tent or caravan, making use of accommodation sites like Stayz.
You can read all about our family travels HERE.
What’s your favourite holiday memory?
Tell me in the comments.
Linking Up With:
- Essentially Jess #IBOT
- Bumble Bee Mum #TravelTuesday
- My Brown Paper Packages #WednesdayWanderlust
This is lovely! Makes me wish I grew up in country where there was lots of nature and large national parks to drive around in a caravan. But then again, I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to drive us up to Malaysia. Where my slippers got washed away by the waves at Desaru and we went strawberry picking at Cameron Highlands.
Oh what wonderful childhood travel memories Lin.
What great memories you must have! Love the photos.
Unfortunately, growing up our family never went on holidays. Combination of reasons! But this was what gave me the desire to travel as soon as I was 18.
I do have fond memories of day trips, being at the local beaches like Sandringham and picnics around the Mornington Peninsula here in Melbourne 🙂
Isn’t it interesting how our desire to travel is triggered by different circumstances. But basically Natalie we all want to experience more of the world.
Family vacations are the best. Those positive memories is what makes us take on family travel ourselves!
Us too Amanda
Hi Sally-Ann – aren’t childhood memories of holidays the best! Like you, I’m very fortunate to have many fabulous road trip memories of my family all together over the years. There were five kids so 7 of us all up! I’ve never been to WA though! I am in awe of Wave Rock and the Hippo’s Mouth rock! OMG! 🙂
Oh wow 7 in the car on road trips Min, sounds squishy.
This is so cool! You guys visited a lot of impressive places. My parents were never into travelling or going out. I do not know where I got my wanderlust. I just know that I want to continue traveling and taking my kids along.
Sounds perfect Ruth – get the kids to enjoy travel and exploring the world, nothing better.
Memories of travel as a child are so special. My family would go camping a lot, usually near a beach and we would set up camp for what felt like weeks and weeks at a time. Time really slowed down when we did this and it was awesome. The long drive with 6 people crammed in the car not so much.
Thanks for joining in #wednesdaywanderlust this week.
And I bet that car didn’t have any air conditioning either Malinda. Happy times
What great memories to have! Love the old photos!!
I have never been to WA but am desperate to get over there. Just a shame that flight prices are so expensive from the east coast!
Totally agree about the flight prices Zita, same goes for us going to the east Coast. Sadly this is why we travel abroad – it’s cheaper.