We catch up with Kirianna Poole to find out what life’s like with a toddler in Izzie, the trusty Kombi.
After travelling the world with their toddler, one family is now exploring the wonders of Australia on a great lap. Caravan & Camping with Kids catches up with Kirianna Poole of Riley’s Travels to hear about their journey in their trusty Kombi, Izzie.
Why did you decide to travel around Australia with Riley?
We had dreamed of travelling around Australia for some time, and after living as expats in Tokyo for five years we were ready to do it. We said from the moment I was pregnant with Riley that we wanted to soak up as much of his childhood together as possible. We both wanted to be present parents and create memories and experiences that are educational and would bring us together as a family.
After 18 months of travelling internationally, we embarked on our biggest dream: to do Australia’s “great lap”.
How did it become our big dream? Both of our families told tales of when they did the lap and shared their incredible memories of camping in remote areas, seeing wildlife in their habitat, fishing in clear water and watching the sunset fall into the water in the west. These stories stuck and we were dying to pursue this next adventure. My husband, Lachlan, has always had a love for split-screen Kombis, and by chance a well-maintained one was up for sale through a family friend, so we jumped at the opportunity.
Where has your journey taken you so far?
Our trip began on the Sunshine Coast, where lzzie the Kombi was fitted out with a new functional interior. We began with a healthy two months off to slowly trip our way through Queensland, New South Wales and on to Victoria.
It was brilliant! Having the freedom to stop where and when we liked, we quickly fell in love with the experience and beamed each day.
Once we reached Melbourne, Lachlan flew back to Tokyo for 10 days of work while Riley and I chilled out with family and planned our next phase, to Tasmania.
Tassie stole our hearts: the people, the farmlands, the beaches, and let’s not forget the fresh produce. We loved it; we even looked to relocate. After four weeks of tripping around the tiny eco-island, we left with heavy hearts, but it was time for another exciting trip: the Great Ocean Road, heading for Adelaide.
The Barossa was magic. As lovers of wine and cheese, we were starry-eyed, and meeting up with friends only made the experience all the more special.
We spent a further four weeks trekking around the Yorke Peninsula and thoroughly enjoyed it. Before long, we were making our way across the treeless Nullarbor Plain for Esperance (WA), the next place that had us literally looking up real estate so we would never have to leave. We decided to stick around WA and have now been here for five months. It’s an area that breathes the slow and chilled life. The beaches here are ridiculously stunning. We hired a storage unit to keep Izzie in while we had commitments like weddings and work; this way we could return to WA and keep exploring, before continuing north in winter next year.
What have been some of the most memorable moments?
Toddlers create memories every day. With each new day comes a new milestone and discovery, and Riley has blossomed. He is brave yet cautious near the sea, he likes to help set up camp and he enjoys gathering wood for the fire. He is open and confident, and will pop into your tent or camper to say, ‘hi’. He loved waking up to kangaroos in Booderee National Park (NSW). It’s such a fond memory. Sitting under starry nights after a day at the beach brings nothing but big smiles. I am so proud of him, especially after crossing the Nullabor in three days; he was so patient and happily played along the way without a fuss.
How did you prepare for your big lap of Australia?
It was a huge ordeal. Everything was meticulously thought out, and with little space for storage, we had to be vigilant. Izzie herself went under construction, where we had a kitchenette built and USB ports, spare batteries and lighting all installed over a two-month period. From there, we researched compact cookers and foldable furniture, ensuring what space we did have was used appropriately.
Riley had already travelled extensively, so we were confident he would adapt well. We installed anchor points for his car seat and allowed one basket of toys to come along for the ride.
Thankfully, there is a large VW community who reached out, offering their mechanical information so we could easily have her serviced and checked over while on the road. We have learned to reduce our load along the way, realising what we really don’t need, but also finding some things we did, like solar panels.
Tell us about Izzie, the Kombi you call home when on the road.
Gosh, she brings us joy. Sounds strange, but boy, it’s true. Riley is ecstatic at the sight of her, knowing full well we are off on an adventure. She is solid and has never ever let us down.
How can we follow Riley’s Travels?
rileystravels.com @rileys_travels