Travelling without kids
Kid free travel
Just imagine being able to pack without worrying about the spill-free drink cups, hand wipes, face wipes, sick bags, or having to referee sibling differences over who has an extra millimetre of seat, or who has the window, or who was next to Mum or Dad! It may elicit a pang of guilt for maybe five seconds, but boy, once we reconcile that with ourselves, what a weight is lifted off us.
We have worked hard for years and provided for our kids, as we should as parents, to be the best they can be but now … now, they are off and running. Their options are endless and for the most part we have given them this opportunity which they have now grasped and are on their way. Please don’t get me wrong, I love my three kids and three stepdaughters immensely. But there comes a time to say it’s time for us to be on our way.
Where to travel without your kids
The list of destinations seems to be endless, don’t they? We’ve watched all the travel shows with their glossy style presentation that make you just want to blink and be there. Or, if you’re like us, you’ve more than likely waved your kids off at the airport, picked them up, and then watched the whiz bang videos of their trip from their go-pro, while you’ve been hard at it at home.
However, for most of us, it’s not physically, practically or financially possible to just ‘up and go’ given everything that goes with being a parent. So, the question remains where to go and when. Personally, I prefer the beach, as thankfully does my wife, so the fact we agree on this is a handy starting point. At relatively short notice a few years back we travelled to a local destination, if you can call an eight-hour drive local. Ah, the joy of listening to our ‘oldies’ music uninterrupted and stopping where and when we chose to.
Decision: Narooma
We decided upon Narooma in New South Wales on the aptly named Sapphire Coast, and what a gem it is. We spent two nights in Merimbula, just south of Narooma enroute. While it was beautiful and we will be back to spend more time there, it will be off-peak next time … man was it busy being early January. Certainly a lesson for us in researching destinations in future.
We moved on to Narooma where my wife had booked a B&B for five days. We were amazed by the absolute beauty of the place and the lack of traffic given the time of year. As we drove down the main street we came over a rise and there, right before us, this amazing scene appeared.
Just like a postcard (showing my age) the colours of the water were breathtaking with the whole scene bathed in sunshine. The town was just as you would expect a small coastal/rural town to be with older buildings well maintained, beautiful old pubs and churches, along with a mix of well suited newer buildings and dwellings.
Anchors Aweigh B&B
The B&B was quirky to say the least with the owners to match. Lovely, warm hospitable hosts for whom nothing was a problem. The dining room was amazingly eclectic, with all manner of knick-knacks adorning the walls and even a train track that negotiated its way around the walls, through ‘tunnels’ into the adjoining sitting room and back. Furniture had been made from the recycled timber of the original building and the bricks forming the fireplace had possum prints embedded in them from the days when they were manufactured and left outside to set. We had a lovely modern room and ensuite along with a verandah, where we would sit late afternoons upon our return from a day of adventure to enjoy local seafood with a beer or a local red (or two) prior to dinner. We may have put on a little extra weight that week!
Our holiday highlights:
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Tilba Tilba, a beautiful village approximately 20 minutes from Narooma
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Wineries
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Paddleboards, kayaks and tinnies for hire on the back lake
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Fishing anywhere
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Tour out to Montague Island is a must
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Beautiful Dalmeny and Kianga beaches literally five minutes north of Narooma
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Amazing food at the Quarterdeck Restaurant that is literally over the lake
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Golf
Now as a responsible parent, I should say that you really shouldn’t leave your kids at home if they’re under age! My advice would be to palm them off to the mother-in-law for the duration of your holiday. Enjoy and happy travels!
Author: Drew Cattle
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the ESSSuper.