I Grew Up Travelling Around Australia – Here’s The Reality of a Childhood on the Road

Alex spent his early childhood on the road, travelling Australia with his family. School lessons were short, adventures were long, and homework was irrelevant. He shares how these early experiences continue to affect him today. 

Memories of my very early childhood are patchy, but I remember this vividly: my first childhood home on Mead Street in quiet little Adelaide.

I have fond memories of that house; an orange tree arched over the back fence, providing us with fresh orange juice, our friends lived just doors away, so we spent our afternoons playing until dark, and the local deli (milk bar) on the corner had the best 50c lolly bags.

Life was good.

So, I was confused and angry when my parents decided to take my sister and I out of school to begin travelling Australia. I was young and I didn’t understand why we were leaving everything behind.

Fast forward to today, and I want to tell you about the experience of being a kid living on the road, my relationship with Australia, and how this experience has shaped the person I am.

Doesn’t get much more joyful than this

Travelling Australia

Coming closer to my 30s I’m beginning to fully understand the effects my childhood had on me: my environment, my routine, my education, all of it.

At the age of six, my parents decided to sell our house, buy a Land Cruiser, attach a caravan, and start seeing more of Australia.

Read more: Why I Renovated & Live in a 43-Year-Old Caravan

They had a rough plan – destinations they’d dreamt of seeing were the pinpoints on our long journey around this big island. But, if we loved a place, we stayed longer. Until we felt it was time to move on.

Sometimes, it was hard to say goodbye to a place and the people.

It still is today.

The Ups and Downs of Life on the Road

My home was no longer on Mead Street, it was now a 20-something foot box of timber and aluminium. That box had our beds, our belongings, our kitchen, and wheels that allowed us to take it where we pleased.

In the mornings we gathered around the collapsible table, either enjoying our breakfast, feeding the friendly kangaroos, or diving into some schoolwork.

Days were spent in nature, exploring and learning from our environment. Come evening, we’d huddle around the fire, sharing our favourite moments from that day. It was during these family discussions that I first learnt the importance of reflection.

I learnt a lot more during this time, and always had my family there to support and help me. It felt as though we were our own tribe.

We enjoyed many a sunset together

However, this also brought a strange feeling of being an outcast. My sister and I rarely made connections with other kids and when we did, we knew it would end quickly.

We became shy, and so our best friend was each other.

Our bond is just as strong today and although she lives in Dubai and I travel full time we stay in touch almost daily.

Bonding at the beach

Education: The Nomadic Classroom

I have to admit, my sister and I didn’t exactly have a mountain of schoolwork to tackle. It was more like quick, breezy lessons either led by Mum or Dad or through 30-minute video calls with a teacher on the other end.

Homework wasn’t even a thing. But, despite that, we learnt a lot.

Yes, we were taught how to multiply and where to put a comma. But the real lessons weren’t done through books, pen, and paper. Instead, we learnt from our surroundings and the environment.

We learnt powerful things like self-reflection and awareness, the profound wisdom of our environment, the importance of treating others with kindness, and the value of learning from our history.

We were also taught problem-solving, survival, and foraging. I can still remember the puzzled glances from other couples as my Dad, sister, and I would pick a plant or insect and enjoy it as a snack.

Read more: What a 3 Month Road Trip Taught Me That School Never Could

Best looking classroom ever

We were lucky enough to be given a wealth of knowledge in our early years that simply isn’t available in the modern classroom.

But the adventure couldn’t last forever. We soon returned to ‘normal’ life, so that my sister and I could resume our studies at high school.

This brought the challenge of bullying, mainly due to my long hair and our unconventional ‘hippie’ ways. But we soon learnt that the lessons we gained outside of the classroom could be applied within, and excelled in school.

We gradually came out of our shell and took pride in how we grew up.

Our unique upbringing shaped us into who we are today

We made long-lasting friendships and joined local sports clubs and groups; however, we both still felt like outcasts in some way. A strange feeling of not fully belonging, or not fitting the mould.

It wasn’t until we left high school and undertook our own journeys that we began to feel that sense of belonging, to a degree.

A Deeper Appreciation for Australia, Our Homeland

Something we unknowingly took for granted was how incredibly blessed we were – blessed to be raised in Australia, and even luckier that we were able to travel and see so much of this astounding land.

My love for Australia is unmatched.

Whether it be the open landscapes and untouched beauty, or the friendliness and casual greeting as you pass a stranger on their morning walk. Australia (to me) is the most beautiful and abundant country in the world.

It’s diverse in its people, culture, and landscape. And it’s truly hard to understand the full extent of this until you explore more than just your city or the state you grew up in.

Australia will always be home to me. Though I may not always reside here, as the saying goes, home is where the heart is.

Australia is one of a kind

As a kid travelling this continent, I didn’t know any better. I thought all kids had the same freedoms as my sister and I.

Surely they started their day going on a walk into nature by themselves?

Their parents went and sourced food while they played in a billabong or ran through the forest, right?

Nope.

We experienced Australia’s diversity firsthand from a young age: swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef, traversing the red dusty roads of the Kimberley, and foraging for mushrooms in the alpine forests.

The high contrasts of the Kimberleys

This exposure ignited our curiosity about what else the world held in store. We found ourselves yearning to discover, enjoy, and explore other lands beyond Australian shores.

We both left Australia upon completing high school, yet our pride in being Australian remained steadfast.

Now, as we travel, our aim is to immerse ourselves in the diversity of not just landscapes, but also cultures.

How do the people we encounter differ from those we experienced in Australia?

Honouring Indigenous Cultures & Resonating with Ancient Wisdom

We were fortunate to spend time in the far north, engaging with local communities and embracing their traditional way of life.

We learned the art of foraging, mastered the techniques of hunting with spears and bare hands, all while immersed in the culture of the Yolngu People, one of Australia’s largest First Nations groups known for their traditional practices.

My admiration for their way of life continues; I find myself envious of its richness, and this experience was the most eye-opening of our journey around Australia.

Our trip made it clear how important it is to recognize and respect the cultures of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

As we listened to their stories of resilience, and followed our guides, we gained profound insights into the immense depth of Indigenous wisdom interwoven into every facet of Australian life.

Lessons from a Different Childhood

Reflecting on our adventure, it becomes clear that the confines of a modern classroom pale in comparison to the boundless learning we experienced traversing this diverse and remarkable land.

But without our lessons in the modern classroom, we wouldn’t have honed the skills necessary to live our current life. A balance of the two enabled us to excel in our endeavours.

A big thanks to Mum and Dad for putting us on this amazing journey.

Read more: The Truth About Growing Up an Adventure Baby

It was awesome!

But I can’t help but wonder: what if?

What if I’d stayed in school? Would I still feel this constant restlessness, this feeling that there’s always something more out there, waiting to be discovered, experienced, and enjoyed?

Sometimes, on a sunny day, as I sip a coffee made with perfectly roasted beans and frothed milk, or when a stranger greets me with a cheerful ‘G’day’, I think to myself, ‘I could stay here forever. I could put down roots’.

But then, almost immediately, I think…

Nope, not yet.

I need more.

Not done with exploring this big country

Australia has instilled in me a deep sense of curiosity and adventure, urging me to keep pushing boundaries and seeking new experiences.

So, while I’m grateful for the path my parents set me on, I’m also excited to continue forging my own journey, wherever it may lead.