Whoever came up with the adage, ‘If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail,’ must have been talking about road tripping with kids. Of course, travelling with children is never an easy task, but there’s something about being cooped up in such close quarters, with nothing but the long open road ahead of you, that sends children (closely followed by their parents) into hysteria.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be like this. By properly preparing your car, coordinating road trip activities and plotting the perfect journey, you’ll soon discover that the humble road trip is, actually, the perfect family holiday.

Prepare your car

You see a backseat – we see a blank canvas. Seriously, there are so many ways to configure your car to keep the kids entertained! Clear suction hooks can create additional places for hanging bags filled with snacks, activities and road trip essentials (think charging cords, wet wipes and tissues), while serving boards provide makeshift tables that can easily be slid under the front passenger seat. During the suitcase-packing process, stick to one bag for each family member – this makes that game of Car Boot Tetris so much easier, especially if you’ll be packing and unpacking frequently.

Coordinate activities

Avoid ‘I’m bored’ and ‘Are we there yet?’ by preparing a selection of activities for your children. Curate a playlist of family-friendly music, download their favourite podcasts or audiobooks and, of course, ensure their devices (headphones included) are fully charged before departing. Beyond the digital distractions, invest in some small puzzles or craft activities like cross stitching, knitting and crochet, and don’t forget about the classic colouring-in book. Car games (think ‘I Spy,’ ‘Animal, Vegetable or Mineral,’ ’20 Questions’ or any of the ‘Number Plate Game’ variations listed on Google) are another fool-proof option.

Plot the perfect journey

It’s about the journey, not the destination, so make yours an exciting one! Of course, there is plenty to see and do in Australia’s capital cities, but it’s the stops along the way that will make your road trip particularly memorable. If you are venturing to Paradise Resort from Sydney or Melbourne, enjoy a night at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, a sprawling hotel surrounded by lush greenery. Alternatively, those passing through Newcastle might want to spend a night at either Rydges or Novotel, both of which enjoy prime position on the water – Rydges sits on the banks of the Hunter River, while Novotel is right on the beach.