What To Pack For A Family Trip In Tassie
Planning a family holiday to Tassie? The friends and family all know about it? Odds are that by now you've probably been told what to bring. You'll need an out fit for this, an outfit for that. The list goes on. Oh, and then there are the kids bags! How do you know what's good advice? To help you out we have put together a simple list of the basics your family will need for any adventure in Tassie, no matter what you do, where you go, or the weather!
Mt Field National Park. Image shared by Instagram/happiness_is_homeschool
Hastings Cave State Reserve. Image shared by Instagram/katebox15
Good walking shoes. You don't have to go out and buy a pair of hiking boots for the whole family. If you did, you'd likely have little spending money for the actual trip and, unless you've worn them in high chances one of you will end up with a bad blister. Instead, pack the kids sneakers and whatever you can walk a fair distance in.
A good raincoat. Like anywhere, Tassie can still throw down a good shower in summer. Pack a light coat for each of you, and you'll be prepared for anything. Tassie is all about getting outdoors and experiencing nature. Don't let the rain stop you!
Lillydale Falls. Image shared by Instagram/michellethomas01
Cradle Mountain in the rain
A backpack/day pack. No local drags their suitcase or handbag around Cradle Mountain, or to Wineglass Bay at Freycinet- so why should you? A good back pack for each of the kids and one for parents to share will be perfect to put drink bottles, snacks and coats in. You're bound to get the odd souvenir too and will need somewhere to put it. Use your bags as carry on to save weight in your suitcases.
Reusable coffee cup and drink bottles. Tassie is pristine and we are proud of our natural beauty. A lot of towns now are getting rid of disposable coffee cups. Bring a reusable cup and you can always have a coffee or tea on the go. Bringing drink bottles will save you a tonne of money and most importantly, you'll be all doing your bit for the environment and helping to keep Tasmanian clean. We love Keep Cups, check them out here.
Bathers. Always pack them no matter what time of year. Tassie has the best beaches, and even on a cooler day if the wind is blowing from the right direction, the water can be really warm. If the weather is too cold there are some great indoor swimming pools to help the kids blow off some steam around the State. We also recommend heading south to Hastings Thermal Springs and take a dip in the naturally heated pool! You can also use the towels from your accommodation to save space, if you cant fit them into your bags.
Eddystone Point, North East Tasmania. Image shared by Instagram/nomeslove
Tassie4Kids Launceston Aquatic Centre
A Hat and sunscreen. Tassie is right underneath the hole in the ozone layer so the UV is always high. Don't be fooled by cloud cover either. You'll get just as burnt. Slip slop slap is the only way to go. Pack a hat and a lightweight long sleeve top. Every Tasmania will tell you that when growing up, they learnt the power of the UV the hard way!
A warm jacket or jumper. Mornings can be fresh in Tassie, even in summer. The winds along the coast can also be rather cool if they are from a southerly direction, as they come straight from Antarctica. If you plan to explore of a night and look for wildlife you'll also want to rug up.
Port Arthur Historic Site. Image shared by Instagram/manning_ky15
Hartz Mountains. Image shared by Instagram/del_licious_life
A light outfit. This could be shorts and t-shirts, a dress or skirt. Summer will be hot, with cool nights and winter can have warm days if there is a frost in the morning. If you're coming in summer pack more light outfits than heavy, but don't forget a good jacket or jumper, a pair of pants and closed in shoes.
Camera. We have an iPhone 7plus and a Sony SLR. My iPhone takes great photos and I often just use that instead of my big camera. Make sure whatever camera you bring that you've got the charger and a spare battery if needed. Be sure to check your memory space too. Its the worst thing to run out and not be able to take more photos!! After all, family holidays are all about making memories, and capturing them!
Launceston
Flinders Island. Image shared by Instagram/khristee
Pens and pencils for the kids, and a colouring or activity book. The best way to entertain kids when you need it most. Create a challenge where they have to draw a picture of their day each night before bed. It will help to calm them down before sleep. Alternatively, you could ask them to draw the picture when you hit the road to the next destination. A lot of venues have activity books so ask at the counter of the places you visit. We have some great boredom busters on this site, You can also download our road trip activity sheets here! They are free!
Our last and most important tip is to write a list and be sure to cover every potential activity you might do, and pack accordingly. Remember you can do washing of a night to save weight in your luggage, with majority of places having laundry facilities.
If you have any suggestions or have something that should be on this list we would love to know about it!