A family road trip around New Zealand seems like a great idea until someone forgets the snacks, the kids get bored and you get, “Are we there yet?” on repeat, and the low petrol icon lights up when you’re in the middle of nowhere.
To help you avoid such shudder-inducing events, we’ve put together a few tips to help you have the best Kiwi family road trip.
1. Plan out your journey
Although it might seem more fun to just get going and figure out the rest as you go, with your family in tow this isn’t the best option if you want to avoid chaos. Plan out your route carefully before you leave, noting down any stops you might need to make for bathroom breaks or petrol. These can include rest stops and playgrounds too so the kids can get out to stretch their legs and let off some steam.
2. Prepare your vehicle
Before you set off on your journey, check everything is working properly on your vehicle. Take a look at the tyre pressure, check the oil, and make sure you’ve got enough gas in the tank to get to your first stop. Make sure that any carseats are fitted properly and any shade accessories are in place to keep the heat off the little ones where necessary.
With a rental car from Flexi Auto Rentals, you can rest assured that your family will be in safe hands as our vehicles are reliable and sound – we even have carseats for hire!
3. Pack efficiently
When you’re loading all of your gear into the car, make sure you leave any items you might need easy access to within reach. This might include snacks, wipes, and water bottles in a bag next to you so you can grab them whenever you need. There’s nothing worse than twisting yourself around trying to find various items stuffed in amongst carseats and bags!
4. Have games at the ready
This one is to avoid the dreaded question about whether you’ve reached your destination yet. Prepare a few boredom-busting games that don’t require too many bits and pieces that will get lost – think old fashioned driving games like ‘I Spy’, or a travel scavenger hunt. It’s best to have a variety of activities on offer for the kids so that when their favourite singalong music drives you crazy, you can pass them an electronic game to play, or a fun book to read.
When you’re ready to hit the road, come and see us! We’ve got the most reliable, cost-effective and easy rental vehicle solution in Whangarei – plus if you need to extend your trip (because you didn’t heed the petrol warning light) we’ll get you sorted. After all, we’re Flexi!