Christmas and birthdays are hard when you’re living in a van/bus/camper/motorhome. We all know space and weight is finite, but if you’re like me you still want to celebrate special occasions with presents and make it feel ‘homely’. The catch is to try and find presents that the kids will enjoy, will be used while you’re on the road and don’t take up too much room!
My first tip is to have a clean out. If you have been on the road for a while, the lead up to Christmas is the perfect time for a van reset! Get the kids to donate toys and books they no longer use and chuck out the undies with holes and the clothes that no longer fit (donate if in good nick). This will allow you to assess what space you have and what the kids actually need.
Of course, every kid is different, but after 12 months on the road we have compiled a list of products that we love and use that can be found in our setup, are on our own Christmas list for this year or have come highly recommended from multiple other travellers in our community. We hope this list helps you choose the ultimate gifts for your kids this Christmas.
Contents
Boredom Busters
Wardrobe Ready
Towels
Family Time
Travel Diary
Inside Play
A Day By The Water
A Day Adventuring
Perfect For Camp
Perfect for Everyday
Giftcards and Memberships
More Expensive Gifts And Experiences
Boredom Busters
Let’s get to it.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with kids being bored. I think it’s these times when my kids come up with the most elaborate, creative plans and games. There are times however, when being bored can be damn right awful (for everyone), like in the car.
Our favourite things to keep the kids entertained in the car are:
Spotto Books
We found Jess and the Spotto Books team at a camping show in our home town just before heading off on our travels. We picked up about 6 books and the boys LOVE them. As a personal choice we don’t do screen time in the car (no judgement here if you do) so these books allow the kids to engage with what’s outside the window as we drive along.
They consist of a variety of topics including State/Territory sights, vehicles and even road signs. There really is something for everyone to keep kids and adults alike happy in and out of the car.
Get 10% off by clicking here or use the code: Familyfind10
Little Aussie Trekkers
We recently discovered Little Aussie Trekkers and love their road trip activities for the car too! They create fun activity books to capture memories and inspire adventures on your road trip. They also have a variety of place specific books including the Dinosaur Trail and Cape York and are constantly updating their range.
Borrow Box
This is a free one (do I hear a yahoo), but our boys absolutely LOVE listening to audio books in the car as they Spotto. We joined the local library and got access to their online resources through a few apps. Our Favourite is Borrow Box and we think adding a pair of wireless headphones (we have these ones) into the Christmas stocking would be a game changer. Kids can listen to stories on their own and you have the ability to have adult conversations in the car or have control over the car playlist!
Snack/Lunch Boxes
We all know kids like to eat when they are bored so having a good quality snack box for the car will help alleviate the number of times you hear ‘I’m hungry’. Making sure you have plenty of healthy, nutritious snacks that the kids can access by themselves will absolutely make the long trips in the car more enjoyable for everybody.
Wardrobe Ready
Clothing
Less is more when it comes to clothes on the road. You’re better to find you need a few more items, than to have spent more than needed and have excess!
For shorts and t-shirts we highly recommend Bronte and Co and Ghanda. Although not the cheapest brands you can buy, the quality is exceptional. Our boys thrash their clothes and they are still going after 12 months of van life.
I’d also highly recommend a fishing/ sunshirt. Our favourites are from Yarn Collective. They have gone through some serious wear and after 12 months, are still in perfect condition.
If your already living in your van, we always buy undies for Christmas, new PJS, and refresh a few items the kids have outgrown!
Check out Yarn Collective here:
Footwear
For shoes, we’d suggest a pair of boots, such a Blundstones and a pair of Crocs! Our boys also have a pair of joggers and we find given they use their bikes and scooters to the extreme, this has been worthwhile. Adding a few Croc Jibbitz to their stocking can be fun too!
Hats
Making sure your kids have a good quality hat is a must and there a so many choices. Check out Bedhead, who also do a good swim hat.
Swimmers
You cannot travel Australia without at least one pair of swimmers. There are so many designs and styles that this one really is personal choice.
Rash vests are a smart choice for being sun safe. I never realised but having rash vests in a fluorescent colour means kids can be seen in the water more easily in case of unforeseen incidents.
Other than that, I grab pjs, socks and undies from Bonds when they are onsale and always get additional cashback from Shopback (join with this code to get $5 off).
Find out more about getting cashback on purchases from Shopback HERE
Move 2 Change Wetsuits
We left for our lap after deciding not to buy the kids wetsuits. Two months in and we ordered some! The water is ice cold in some places and having the kids last longer in and around the water has made beach days more enjoyable. We purchased ours from Move 2 Change and we would highly recommend. Awesome quality and won’t break the bank!
Get 10% off by clicking here or use the code: THEFAMILYFIND10
Towels
StokedNZ
For us, StokedNZ Towlies are the bee’s knees. We love them so much we now have two sets and have written a full blog post about them here! Why do we love them? They just make life so much easier.
When it comes to showering in amenities, I was forever dropping the kids clothes on the wet floor and showering was a nightmare. We now just dry off and chuck on our Towlie and walk back to the van to get changed! When we are out in nature they are easy to walk back to the car in with no towels dragging in the dirt behind your little ones! A huge tick of approval from us.
Get 10% off by clicking here or use the code: THEFAMILYFIND
If hooded towels aren’t your thing and we can’t convert you, we know many travellers rate One Fine Sunday Co. and NewLyfe. Both different in their offering, these companies have come highly recommended to us. After seeing some of their products, we can vouch for their high quality.
Get 10% OFF One Fine Sunday Co. by using the code: THEFAMILYFIND15
Family Time
When hitting the road many families are seeking reconnection. We have found these two games awesome for just that!
Getting Lost Travel Games
Give the kids control and chuck the planning out the window for the day! Enjoy a region by getting lost (in a good way). Shuffle the ‘Getting Lost’ cards and do as the cards say. Be completely spontaneous and see what you can find! We’ve played a few times on our lap in different places and each time we have discovered things that we hadn’t known about. We not only discovered things we didn’t know about, the day was full of laughter.
The other game we have loved is Talking Points. These cards are a conversation starter for families. They are perfect for families with kids aged 5+ and cover topics from Family Values to Screen Time and Technology.
Get 10% off your purchase at Talking Points with the code: SAM10
Travel Diary
A travel journal isn’t something we started our trip with. I thought the boys were too young and to be fair, they probably were. However, since our youngest has started learning how to write, a travel journal has been the perfect way for him to practice his sentences and letter formation.
A travel diary is an absolutely amazing way for kids to capture the experience of their time on the road from their perspective!
We love the one from Salty Stitches which contains a variety of pages to trigger writing ideas as well as maps of the States and Territories.
If your kids are a bit older and more digitally minded, with their own phone, we’ve also loved Polarsteps. It’s an app which automatically tracks your lap, you can add photos and diary entries and at the end of your trip you can create a photo album directly from the app.
Inside Play
We thought we packed really light with the boys toys before we left, but we soon realised that they had the most fun being outside the caravan playing with sticks, collecting rocks and making up new games with friends.
We quickly culled their inside toys and they now consist of mainly Lego, Connetix Tiles and a few small monster trucks and cars.
Art and craft isnt really my thing, but having some options for rainy days and windy afternoons might be a good option for you. You can buy acrylic paint pens for around $10 at Kmart which are great for painting rocks. We recently came across Cub and Fox ‘Magic Canvas’ too which we feel is perfect for caravaning with young kids.
We have seen lots of kids travel with Loom Band and bracelet making kits, which keep them entertained for hours. Some have also set up small businesses selling these to other nomads 🙂
A Day By The Water
Sand Toys
Ok, so over the course of the last 12 months we have tried many sand toys, and I think between the next two companies we have found the bomb diggity of beach play! Que – Sand Pal. These sand toys take your sand creations to the next level. Let’s be honest, you’ll be fighting the kids for a turn. The Sand Castle Builders Kit will have the kids digging, scraping, cutting, measuring and making epic structures.
Team Sand Pal with the Coast Kids buckets that are flexible making them easy to store and haven’t broken in 12 months on the road. We think these are absolute winners. The boys use these buckets for sand play but for all sorts of beach and water play.
Get 10% off at Sand Pal by clicking here or use the code: THEFAMILYFIND
Snorkel
We really struggled to find good quality snorkel sets to actually fit the boys heads. We have been through a few sets and have just ordered some new ones through Sublime Supplies. We have had so many recommendations from parents with younger kids that these sets are great. We can’t wait for ours to arrive for us to use on the east coast.
Little Collectors
Unfortunately, my boys prefer to collect rocks over shells. On our travels we have seen some great products like shell collecting bags and these really cool little shell display cases from Curious About Shells. Both would be great gifts for the avid shell collector.
If it’s not a beach day, bets on that at the kids will be nagging you to take them to the pool. Pool toys like sinkies are really great stocking fillers and always a hit in the pool.
Fishing Gear
Ok, fishing isn’t my favourite activity but it’s definitely something my boys have loved learning about and having a go at! I’ve also come to realise that fishing can be costly, so stocking up at Christmas seems like a great idea to me.
We found these really simple push button rods for our little guy from BCF which means he doesn’t have to worry about flicking the bail arm. Our Mr 6, uses a standard kids rod. Adding a tackle box with all the bits and bobs, including lures, hooks, swivels, sinkers, floats and squid jiggs (does it sound like I know what I’m talking about) would make one avid fisher very happy.
A Day Adventuring
When it comes to outside toys we’ve seen some really cool stuff along the way. Here are our favourites:
Exploring Tools
Binoculars, magnifying glasses and bug catchers have allowed our kids to immerse themselves in their outdoor environment. We have purchased some pocket size books from National Geographic which has helped them understand what kind of animals and birds they are finding.
Torches
Our kids have loved having their own torches which get used for spotlighting as well as night walks and early morning hikes.
Backbacks
Once our kids had built up some walking stamina (about 4-5 months into our trip), we invested in a water bladder and backpack for both our boys.
We would recommend for kids of school age to carry their own snacks and water on hikes!
Balls and Frisbee
Hours of fun can be had and they are perfect for the kids when you are setting up camp! I also feel that these items are kid attractors, so if your youngster is seeking connection with kids, but struggling to do it naturally a ball is the perfect icebreaker.
Dump Trucks and Diggers
If our little guy sees any kids playing with trucks, he’s by their side in a flash. After months of this I purchased Eli a dump truck for his birthday after not thinking we would need his on the road and left it at home! This truck and digger get taken to the beach, it’s used in red dirt (yay), gravel sites, river banks -you name it! Diggers are perfect for any occasion.
Perfect for Camp
Campfire Fun
If your kids are anything like ours, they absolutely love a campfire. A really nice, simple gift is to create a campfire ‘goody kit’ which includes hot chocolate and mug, marshmallows, marshmallow roasting skewers and potentially a kit to make s’mores.
Nakie Hammock
Last Christmas we got Nakie hammocks from family which have been amazing for the trip. They’re so lightweight and take up virtually no room once packed away. These keep the kids entertained for ages and act as a cubby house, swing, fort, place for hide and seek and quite simply any game their imagination thinks up! We would highly recommend.
Camping Chairs
We found the kids were always sitting in our camp chairs and never wanted to sit in their own, so we ditched theirs pretty early on in favour of Adult OZ Trail chairs. Since getting these chairs, down time has been much more enjoyable as everyone wants to sit on their own seats and are much more comfortable! We think investing in a good quality camp chair is money well spent, particularly if you’re on the road full time.
Perfect for Everyday
Colouring in books and pencils.
When the weather turns, you need some quiet time or the kids need some emotional regulation we find colouring in books are the perfect activity! Colouring in books will only set you back a few dollars and are so worth the little space they take up!
Books
If you are travelling with younger kids, we would say travelling with the Alison Lester book ‘Are We There Yet’ is a must! I literally cannot believe this book is about to turn 20! It’s the perfect book for kids who are travelling Australia and it allows you to follow along on their lap of the map but to also make real world connections when visiting the places yourselves.
The boys have also enjoyed reading ‘We Live in a Caravan’ as it really encapsulates their current environment. We also just heard of another caravan themed book ‘My Parents Bought a Caravan’, which will be under our Christmas tree this year’.
Makedo
Makedo is a tool set that allows kids to use their imaginations to upcycle cardboard and craft amazing designs. ‘Anything from a flower to a fort or a mask to a maze’. The boxes of tools are only small and easy to store and when its time to move camp the cardboard can go in the recycle. Our eldest saw an advert for Makedo in about March, and it’s still on his Christmas list for this year!
Memberships and Gift Cards!
We love giving our kids some autonomy on spending without giving them tangible cash to spend, which is why we created these awesome free printable coupons that they can cash in with us throughout the year. We did this for the first time last year and it worked amazingly well! We will absolutely be doing this renewed version this Christmas.
For the older kids who often want freedom in buying their own things, gift cards are a good way to go. It also means they don’t have to have all their presents at one time and allows them rotate things like clothes as they go around Australia.
When buying gift cards always make sure you look for cashback offers such as those offered by ‘Shop Back’ (get five dollars off for signing up here) as you can often get gift cards cheaper than their value.
For those who like apps and online games, iTunes Gift Cards are a good one for app purchases and downloads. For us on the road full-time a premium subscription to Spotify is also very handy.
More Expensive Gifts and Paid Experiences
Instead of lots of smaller gifts, you have the option of pooling your money with others who want to buy your kids gifts for a more expensive items. Each child will vary here due to interests, but some gifts that come to mind include, scooters, bikes, digital cameras, ipad, a GoPro or drone.
Over the last few years we’ve ditched a lot of Christmas presents and opted for paid experiences instead. Some of the best experiences we’ve done over the last 12 months include;
Swimming with whale sharks (Exmouth, WA)
Swimming with sea lines (Baid Bay, SA)
ATV Adventure (Margaret River, WA)
Busselton Jetty (Busselton, WA)
Semi- Submerged snorkelling tour (Ningaloo, WA)
Helicopter rides (Purnululu NP, WA)
Fishing Charter (Broome, WA)
Yellow River Sunset Cruise (Kakadu, NT)
Snorkelling the GBR (QLD)
Horizontal Falls Tour (The Kimberly, WA)
All of which I believe the kids would do again over receiving physical gifts!
Remember weight and space is finite and getting on the road means minimising your life. I hope this list helps with some ideas on useful, yet awesome gifts this christmas for your kids.
*Disclaimer: Everything endorsed in this post can either be found in our setup, is on our own Christmas list for this year or comes recommended from other travellers in our community! Some links (definitely not all) are affiliate, which means we may earn a small commission. I’ve done my best to source many reader discounts too. Ultimately this post for us was about sharing the great products and brands we have found on our trip.