We know that the process of finding the best camera can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and maybe even a little confusing if you’re not sure what to look for.

But with over 20 years of travel under our belt, we’ve been through several compact point and shoot cameras on our travels over the years, and have prepared this guide of our absolute favorites so you can find the right camera for you.

The best point-and-shoot digital camera will need to be lightweight, that literally fits in your pocket, whilst also have the capacity to take perfect photos that really captures the memories.

Here’s our top recommendations…

Is it worth getting a compact digital camera for travel?

If you have any upcoming vacations or special moments, and you typically capture your photos on a smartphone, or perhaps you’re looking to downsize to mirrorless cameras from an interchangeable-lens camera, a compact digital camera can be a nice upgrade.

These pocket-size cameras are not bulky like a DSLR and can fit into a jacket pocket or handbag, meaning it’s easy to take anywhere with you.

Because it has a fixed lens, there’s no need to worry about interchangeable lenses and worrying about which lens to use for which shot.

I know how precious your travel memories can be, our motto has always been accumulating memories not just possessions, and we like to do that through travel.

If you’re over snapping selfies and prefer to snap images of a pretty sunset, capture moments from your camping trips, or just playing on the beach with your kids – then having a point a shoot camera at your disposal will allow you to capture those special moments.

So yes, getting a point and shoot camera is definitely worth it. To prove my point, here are some other major benefits of compact cameras:

• Easy to pack for travel, since you can fit it in any travel backpack or even a pocket.
• You can capture anything; portraits of your family, landmarks in the distance and virtually everything in between.
• Most compact cameras have a flip screen nowadays, allowing you to take selfies.
• Easy to use (they are called point-and-shoot for a reason) but also offer similar manual controls to a DSLR.
• Better image quality than your smartphone due to larger sensors (with the exception of the Google Pixel which has an amazing camera quality!)
• Some have built-in WiFi (you can post to Facebook or Instagram with image quality you won’t get from a smartphone)
• Optical zooms. These compact cameras allow you to shoot subjects off in the distance that wouldn’t be possible on a phone.
• Instead of relying on your phone for everything and keeping it charged, you have a designated camera that can also shoot quality video.

Best Compact Cameras For Traveling

Compact digital cameras vary in price depending on the brand and features, and my list below ranges from $300 to $1200 so you should find something within your budget.

Below are eight of the best travel cameras for traveling that we’ve seen on the market, in no particular order.

1. Sony RX 100 Mark VII

The Sony RX100 vii point and shoot cameras have been a favorite compact camera for travel for decades. Each time they bring out a new model, they just increase in quality and functionality, specifically when it comes to video performance.

The Sony RX100 is a popular secondary camera for photographers who don’t want to bring their bulky DSLR cameras to places. You can adjust the ISO, shutter speed, and maximum aperture settings.

What stands out about the Sony RX100 is its size. This camera may be small enough to fit in your pocket, but all good things come in small packages.

It has stunning image quality and a powerful zoom lens, allowing you to capture breathtaking landscapes and vibrant street scenes like a pro.

The RX100 Mark VII’s autofocus is ridiculously fast and accurate, which is ideal for those who may be on a safari and looking to capture fast moving animals – no more blurry shots or missed moments.

Plus, it shoots incredible 4K videos, so you can relive those travel memories in stunning detail.

It also has a flip-up screen, which is perfect for selfies and vlogging!

Key features:

• 20.2 Megapixels
• 24–200 mm2 zoom
• High AF speed
• 3-Inch LCD screen
• Full HD 4K video
• Weighs only 10.7 oz
• Eye viewfinder

2. Panasonic Lumix ZS200D

The Panasonic Lumix ZS200D is the bomb for travel photography.

With its 1-inch sensor and impressive zoom range, you’ll capture stunning landscapes and close-up details that will make your Instagram followers go wild.

And the best part? It’s got built-in image stabilization, so even if you’re on a shaky bus ride or hiking a bumpy trail, your photos will come out crystal clear.

It also has 4K video capabilities, which is great for those looking to shoot those epic travel vlogs in incredible detail.

Plus, it has a handy tilting touchscreen and Wi-Fi connectivity, making it super easy to share your adventures with friends and family.

It’s also a couple hundred bucks cheaper than the Sony camera mentioned above, but has very similar features and just as good image quality. The major difference between the two is that the Panasonic doesn’t have a flip screen.

Key features:

• 20.1 Megapixels
• High-resolution 2,330K-dot live electronic viewfinder
• 1-inch 20.1MP Sensor
• 4K Video Capture
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
• 3″ Touch Display
• Eye viewfinder

3. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

Ok, this is a compact camera for travelers who love to share and stream on the go.

If you’re vlogging or building your Instagram followers, the Canon PowerShot G7’s live stream mode will allow you to share in real-time, but with higher quality than your smartphone camera.

It’s got a big 1-inch full-frame sensor that captures jaw-droppingly sharp images – perfect for documenting your adventures in stunning detail, but it also rocks some serious video skills.

With its 4K recording capabilities, you can capture those epic travel moments as if you were shooting for a Hollywood flick. And the cherry on top? It has a flip-up screen, so you can nail those Instagram-worthy selfies without breaking a sweat.

It also has lightning-fast autofocus, so you’ll never miss a shot, even if you’re chasing down a squirrel or capturing that split-second jump off a waterfall.

Key features:

• 20.1 Megapixel
• 4.2x focal length
• optical image Stabilizer
• Multi-angle capacitive 3.0″ touch panel LCD screen
• Shoot in JPEG & RAW
• Full 4K video
• Live stream function

4. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS25

So far we’ve shown you some pretty high-tech stuff, so for those budget travelers looking for a camera so easy your grandma can use it, then then Panasonic DMC-ZS25 is the camera for you.

It has a decent camera of 16.1 megapixels, 20x optical zoom and an image stablizer.

In simple terms, you can zoom in really far on a bumpy bus and still get great images.

It also has a great battery life and is highly durable, meaning it will last you many years. It also only weighs 6.88 ounces, which is great for portability and won’t weigh your bag down.

It’s also less than $300, perfect for budget travelers!

Key features:

• 16.1 Megapixels
• 20x optical zoom lens
• LCD touch screen
• 1080px video
• 6.88 ounces

5. Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark ii

The Canon PowerShot G9 X is the ultimate travel buddy for photography. It’s so small and lightweight that you won’t even notice it in your pocket.

The image quality is top-notch, thanks to its large 1-inch sensor. You’ll capture vibrant landscapes and stunning portraits with ease. Plus, its intuitive controls make snapping Instagram-worthy shots a breeze.

And get this – the G9 X has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can instantly share your travel pics with friends and family. No more waiting until you get home to show off your epic adventures!

Key features:

• 20.9 Megapixels
• 3 inch LCD screen
• Ultra slim, compact camera
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Touch-screen panel
• 3x Optical Zoom
• 1.0-inch CMOS Sensor

6. Sony Cyber Shot-Shot W810 20MP

Another great compact point and shoot camera is the Sony Cyber Shot W810, which has 20 megapixels, so you’ll capture crisp and vibrant shots that will make your travel memories pop.

The best part? It’s super user-friendly. Even if you’re not a pro photographer, you’ll still get stunning results with just a click. Plus, it’s got a bunch of cool features like panoramic framing and creative filters, so you can get artsy with your shots.

And it’s budget-friendly! You won’t have to break the bank to snag this little gem.

So, if you’re after a compact camera that delivers bang for your buck and incredible photos, the Sony Cyber Shot W810 20MP is the one to grab.

Key features:

• 20 Megapixels
• 3 inch LCD screen
• 6x optical zoom
• 360 Sweep Panorama
• HD Movies

7. Canon PowerShot G7X

This compact camera is like a magic wand for capturing all those breathtaking moments. Its 20.2-megapixel sensor ensures crystal-clear images that will make your jaw drop.

It also boasts a super-fast f/1.8 lens, which means you can snap stunning low-light shots without any hassle. And let’s not forget about its smooth and steady video capabilities – you can record high-quality footage of your adventures like a pro.

Oh, and did I mention the flip-up touchscreen? It’s perfect for nailing those envy-inducing selfies!

If you’re after a compact camera that combines top-notch image quality, versatility, and user-friendly features, the Canon PowerShot G7X is the ultimate travel companion.

Key features:

• 20 Megapixels
• 1/25600 seconds shutter speed
• Excellent low-light performance
• 4.2x Optical Zoom
• 3.0-inch LCD screen
• 4K, 30 FPS Video
• Built-in Wi-Fi

8. Nikon COOLPIX S8100

With its 12.1-megapixel sensor and powerful zoom, The Nikon Coolpix allows you to capture stunning shots from afar without missing a beat.

But here’s where it gets really cool – the S8100 can shoot in low light like a boss. Say goodbye to blurry night shots and hello to clear, vibrant images. Plus, its lightning-fast autofocus will make sure you never miss a moment.

It has a sleek design that fits perfectly in your pocket, so you can take it anywhere without any hassle.

Key features:

• 12.1 Megapixels
• 10x wide angle
• 1080px video
• 10x optical zoom
• 3 inch LCD screen
• WiFi enabled

More Travel Gear Reviews

Need more gear for your travels? Check out these other helpful guides…

• Looking for Travel Gifts for Her? Check these out.
• Best Travel Gifts to suit any kind of traveler
• 30 travel Items to Keep kids Happy and Safe!
• Review of the Best Suitcases for Easy Travel
• Delsey Suitcase Review: Best Travel Luggage
• Best Laptop Backpack For Travel
• AKASO Brave 6 Plus – Gopro Alternative around $100
• AKASO V50 Pro, a worthy and more affordable action camera

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Beechworth is famous for being the town infamous bushranger and thief Ned Kelly went to prison, and just down the road is where where Kelly Gang’s Last Stand took place.

While many people flock to the town to visit the many attractions around Australia’s Gold Rush years, there’s an even more pressing reason to visit – the Bridge Road Brewers.

This microbrewery is a hidden gem in Beechworth, and we thought it was so good, that we put it on our Australia Bucket List – you know, the highlights of the biggest island in the world.

We visit a lot of pubs and breweries on our trip around Australia, but it’s rare we find one we love so much.

In this guide, we share our reasons to visit Bridge Road Brewery and why we loved it so much…

About Bridge Road Brewery

• Location: Old Coach House Brewers Lane, 50 Ford Street Beechworth, Victoria
• Website: http://bridgeroadbrewers.com.au/
• Opening hours: Kitchen opens lunch 7 Days a week, 12 – 3pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6pm. 

But first, a little story behind Bridge Road Brewers. It all started back in 2005 when a passionate beer lover turned his family shed into a brewery.

Yep, you heard that right – a shed! The founder had a deep love for brewing beer and decided to share his creations with the world.

Bridge Road Brewery quickly became a pioneer in the Australian craft beer scene, gaining a well-deserved reputation for their exceptional brews.

From their humble beginnings, they’ve grown into an iconic brewery, offering visitors a unique experience in the picturesque town of Beechworth.

As of 2023, their Bridge Road HQ in Beechworth features a pizzeria, a 340 seater taproom, and a 25HL brewhouse. 

They also have another brewery in East Brunswick, in the inner north of Melbourne.

Drinks at Bridge Road Brewers

They have a wide range of styles of beer to cater to every taste. Their core range favourites include the Beechworth Pale Ale, which is an Aussie craft classic loved by many, to the Gladfield Ale. They’ve got it all on tap!

They also have a Chevalier range, which features beers made using their own Saison yeast strain, which brings out their unique hop aromas and citrus character. These beers are also a light straw colour and has a dry, acidic profile. Similar to a Classic Belgian style brew.

Beer enthusiasts will be able to smell the esters and phenolic characters.

Each beer has a lower bitterness that ensures a perfect balance and a clean finish.

They also have a curated selection of wine, gin and whisky for those who are not into beer.

So, whether you’re a beer lover or looking for a refreshing beverage, this place has something for everyone.

Plus, their taproom showcases great food to pair with your favorite brews, whether you’re looking to taste one of their iconic pizzas or tuck into some seafood.

Reasons to Visit Bridge Road Brewers

We enjoyed Bridge Road Brewery so much, I even pushed aside my gluten intolerance to have a beer. Yes, I willingly accepting a couple of days of discomfort just to have a cold Hefeweizen.

Here are some of the main reasons why we loved this brewery so much…

1. It’s Kid Friendly

You know a place is good when you can sit there all day and your kids are happy and entertained.

They LOVED the small kiddies playgrounds, which we were lucky to have a seat next to. The whole place had a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere and we immediately felt at ease.

They went down the slide, played on the swings and made lots of new friends. They were almost as disappointed as us when it came time to leave.

2. Delicious Pizza

They have gluten free bases!! My Pizza Funghi was sensational: Tomato, taleggio cheese, thyme, mushrooms and capers, topped with baby rocket and almond salad. It was one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a long while.

The rocket and almond salad on top sounds weird, but it really boosted the flavours to make it pop with fantastic pizza power.

Craig really enjoyed his Prawn Pizza: tomato, bocconcini, fresh tomato, chilli, garlic, prawns and Meredith goats feta.

And the kids, well they were kept happy with a classic cheese pizza.

Last, but not least, the sticky date pudding was to die for.

You can order other beer-friendly plates such as nachos, ribs, pie or a lighter soup or salad.

They also do takeout pizzas if you want to take one away with you.

3. Great Craft Beers

We’ll let you in our little secret. We don’t like Australian beer much, that is the commercial stuff. Yuck. That’s why we fall all over ourselves when we find a craft brewery that brews beer with depth and flavour. No watery headaches-tomorrow beer here.

Ben, the founder, creates his beer from scratch, using their own production equipment on site. The beers are brewed naturally, without pasteurization, or preservatives and of course with a lot of passion.

You can buy beer to take home with you from the Brewery, or purchase them online.

4. An Experience in An Old Historic Building

Bridge Road Brewery is located in a 150-year-old coach house. I love a bit of history with my beer, and you can really appreciate the architecture behind this 1850s Victorian Gold Rush era coach house.

The beer hall is spacious and filled with beer-making paraphernalia, decor and furniture as well as a cosy wood fire (not in summer of course).

We preferred looking at the beautiful building from the beer garden. Soaking up the high country sun.

Bridge Road Brewery is building an experience around what they do which is evident in their branded merchandise and attention to detail in the interior decoration of the venue.

5. Young, Modern Thinking Owners With a Great Success Story

I get so excited to hear stories of people growing a business from their own backyard based on passion. Only this time it was Ben’s father’s back yard shed.

Ben Kraus went to Italy to learn how to make wine, he got side-tracked in Innsbruck, Austria, and learned how to make great beer and pretzels instead.

Ben came home, experimented in the shed and 8 years later has a thriving business that sees over 400 posse members (beer membership program) around the country, and a constant stream of people walking down the brewery lane to sample his beers and pizza.

COOL story. See what you can create with passion and a step forward.

6. Social Media Savvy

This may sound like a weird criteria for making a brewery great. But, it shows me that the owners are up with current trends and tapped into what their clients really want.

It’s fresh modern thinking – I like businesses that are stepping up and ahead with our world. It’s rare to come across a business in Australia with a great website and tapped in on social media. Big props for modern, forward thinking.

And yep you guessed it, the Bridge Road Brewery is all about Ned Kelly! He’s in the logo and on the merchandise. Keeping the tradition for wanting the people to come to the high country.

There’s no way Ned would have tried to break out of this place.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, those are the reasons why we love Bridge Road Brewers and why you will too! Their commitment to their craft and ability to produce exceptional beers will no doubt stand the test of time and be popular for generations to come.

We highly recommend you make reservations if you want to order food, as it’s a popular dining spot, especially in summer months.

Cheers to good times and incredible drinks at Bridge Road Brewers!

While in this region, do not miss exploring these things to do in Bright (one of our favorite Australian towns), and the Feathertop Winery.

Even though we’re travelers, we still love receiving and giving gifts, especially when they remind us of our adventures and the people we shared them with.

But as travelers, we’re not looking for big, material possessions. Which can make gift giving a bit of an overwhelming and stressful experience.

If you’re looking to buy a gift for a traveler but you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, we’re here to help.

As globetrotting travelers ourselves, we know exactly what gifts a traveler would want, so to save you some time, and hopefully some money, I’ve created this list of the best gifts for someone going traveling so you can find some inspiration. 

Each of these travel items are things we personally own and use, or have earmarked ourselves to get as soon as the chance comes.

Best Travel Gifts for Women

Because ladies always come first, right? Below are some of the best travel gifts for women, but gentlemen and kids don’t worry, as you will come next!

1. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

I absolutely LOVE having reusable makeup remover pads. It’s my favorite travel discovery and allows me to travel a bit more eco-consciously. It will definitely be the best Christmas gift for women!

It will save you money, hassle and help the environment.

They are easy to use, soft on the skin and are machine washable. I also love that it comes in a handy bamboo travel bag so it can pack into your case with ease..

Such a clever item that can be used for travel as well as in your home.

Using reusable make up remover pads saves the planet from over 2,800 disposable wipes. Plus they are 100% recyclable and have plastic-free packaging.

2. Keen Hiking Sandals

Caz loves her Keen Sandals. She says they are high quality and like wearing a comfy pair of socks with holes in them so you have heaps of room to breathe.

She’s had her hiking sandals for 3 years AND they still look brand new and are as comfy as ever.

If these ones eventually fall apart, she’ll be buying Keen sandals again. One of the best gifts for the hikers you know!

You can read more in our Keen hiking sandals review.

3. Multi Pocket Small Crossbody Bag

A small crossbody bag is an essential travel item for me. I like easy access to my most important and often used items; wallet, phone and sometimes passport.

I don’t want to keep taking my day pack off my back to find it, nor do I want to have to carry a day pack or large tote bag when I go out for the evening.

I like a travel cross body bag with a few separate compartments and a design that suit different outfits.

4. 3 in 1 Convertible Backpack Purse

A favorite find of mine for 2023, is this backpack that converts into a purse! No need to pack multiple bags on your vacation.

Now your female friends will have a daypack to hold their sweaters and water bottles + their laptop bag and electronics when moving from place to place. I’ve even taken mine on short hikes

Then, when it’s time to explore the streets of Paris or enjoy special dinner on the Amalfi coast, you can convert it to a simple purse or clutch to take out on a

Use the code YTRAVEL10 for a 10% discount on any Driibe products.

5. Scarf and Shawl Wrap

I don’t travel anywhere without a scarf or a shawl. They have a wide variety of uses and are small and lightweight you won’t feel them in your luggage.

As a travel fashion accessory, shawls and scarves help you create multiple travel looks with only a few clothing items.

I use my scarf to wrap around me to keep me warm, even in warm climates when you don’t want to carry a sweater but know you’ll need something for freezing air conditioned places.

These are one of the best gifts for women and I even use it to cover my mouth or nose in smelly or polluted places.

6. Compression Socks

If you find yourself sitting on planes often for long periods of time, or even on long road trips, consider these compression socks to help minimize swelling of your feet and promote circulation.

Compression socks are a great gift idea for someone traveling abroad.

7. Microfibre Towel

If you’re looking for a lightweight and compact towel that’s fast drying and easy to pack and carry on your travels, this Microfiber Towel could be the solution you need and a travel gift for travel lovers. 

8. Jewelry Organizer

I bought this jewelry organizer for Caz so she no longer has to rummage around in her luggage and stuff all her bracelets, necklaces and earrings in various compartments and separate bags.

It’s packing essential just like her underwear organizer featured below. You can read more luggage accessory organizers saving my sanity.

9. Ugg Boots

If there is one thing Caz never travels without in cooler climates it’s her beloved UGG boots.

Whether we are on the road traveling, camping or hanging out at home more often than not she’ll be getting around in her Uggies!!

They have made cool weather travel experiences so much more enjoyable.

She’s had hers for three years and still look brand new. These are the perfect gift for road trippers nad RV travelers.

10. Gift Card for PrAna

Prana is our favorite clothing brand, especially for travel.

Here’s a few things to know about my (Caz) PrAna gear (which is at least half of my wardrobe)

1. Every time I put a PrAna piece of clothing on, I feel giddy at how comfortable the item of clothing is. I don’t get how they do it, but there is something about the quality of their fabric that feels amazing.
2. Out of all my clothes in my wardrobes, my PrAna outfits are commented on the most by people I meet in real life. It’s uncanny how many people say they love what I’m wearing. Even to stop and talk to me in the streets or while waiting in line for coffee.
3. They are hugely practical and diverse for travel. I have a gorgeous black PrAna dress that I can wear to the theme park for the day and then change into a pair of black sandals and wear out to dinner.
4. They last a really long time, which is what the travel girl in your life really wants.
5. They have clothes for comfortable travel, hiking, yoga, rock climbing, and even swimwear and denim. I love their yoga gear – even their mats are awesome.
6. When you wear PrAna, you are helping the environment and communities. Their clothing is made from organic cotton and hemp, have minimal impact on the environment and are fair trade certified.
7. They are also great clothes for the men in your life!

11. Underwear Organizer for Travel

I, Caz, have always had a problem when it comes to packing underwear. Even packing cubes did not help me with underwear.

I’d put them in the smallest packing cell I had, but still, it would be a jumbled up mess. But I found a solution, my underwear organizer now travels with me and has become my favorite packing essential.

It’s a one of the best presents for her you can give!

I still use packing cells, but I think this takes underwear packing to a more efficient and enjoyable level.

The Underwear Organizer rolls up and clips together like a little sleeping bag and sits in your suitcase neatly just like packing cells do.

I’ve had several readers contact me to let me know they’ve purchased this for loved ones as a gift!

Best Travel Gifts for Kids

Next up are the ones who appreciate gifts the most! Below are some of our favorite travel gifts for children…

12. Leap & Hop Travel Guides for Kids

If you want your children to be engaged with the travel experience, you can’t go past Leap and Hop travel guides as one of the best travel gifts for kids.

Kalyra has the travel guide for New York. Even though we have not been there yet, she loves the book and has already done a lot of the activities. She can’t wait to visit NYC to see and do more.

These books will get your children excited to travel to a destination but are also filled with interesting and relevant activities, quizzes, and games to help them get more out of it.

Other cities include; Hong Kong, Paris, Bali, Singapore.

13. Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Our kids love watching movies, listening to music or playing games on their devices so finding comfortable headphones to travel with has been a priority.

Previously Savannah would have to hold the ear plug style headphones in which was never practical, and often they like to watch together so I like how these wireless headphones have a share port, no need for splitters! 

These are not expensive noise canceling headphones, but a good start for young kids.

14. Kindle or Kobo Reader

Nothing beats the feel of a book in your hand, but when you’re traveling you want to minimize the load you carry. Enter a Kindle. We recently bought Kalyra a Kindle Paperwhite for her birthday. She loves it and uses it all the time. Definitely a great gift for teens and tweens.

An alternative is a kobo reader which we have used before and found great. Definitely consider a glare free one, which is ultimate for travel

It was given to us as a travel gift and we use it all the time with hundreds of books loaded up ready to read when I travel.

15. Kids Travel Journal

When Kalyra was a tween where she loves to write or draw illustrations about her daily travel experiences on the road. And she loved to be a part of the travel planning process.

If your kids like to preserve their travel memories, consider getting them a travel journal too.

16. Lonely Planet Kids Book

Even I found this Lonely Planet Kids Book educational and inspiring, and it’s perfect for exposing your kids to facts and fun info about the countries around the world (every country has its own dedicated page).

We love travel gifts that help kids learn!

17. Kelty Hiking Carrier

We got a lot of hiking miles out of our Kelty Hiking Carrier with Savannah riding on our backs.

The baby hiking carrier is perfect for nature walks or even just getting around town.

This kid’s hiking carrier fit comfortably and felt like Savannah was always secure with a 5-point harness system and was easy to get her in and out of.

The Kelty hiking carrier comes with a nice amount of storage for packing wipes, diapers, and change of clothes.

And it comes with a sun hood! One of best gifts for travelers who have toddlers. 

18. Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier

When Kalyra was a baby, Caz had a Baby Sling.

She loved the idea of it, but it was bulky and awkward and constantly feared Kalyra would fall out or be smothered. Plus it hurt her back.

For Savannah, the Baby Bjorn Carrier was everything that sling was not – easy to wear and easy to put Savannah in, safely secured and designed to grow with Savannah allowing us to carry her in it until she is about 15 months old.

This is one of our favorite travel items and a travel essential for babies.

19. Micro Scooter

One of the best gifts for our kids we purchased on our road trip around Australia was one of these micro scooters.

Yes, they are a little expensive, but we never regretted our decision.

Savannah loves how the micro scooter has three wheels and a flexible handle for maneuvering.

Instead of demanding to be carried everywhere she happily rides her scooter. It made it so easy for us to explore on our feet!

20. World Map Scratch Map

Even though we’ve suggested this as a gift for kids, this is actually a gift any traveler would enjoy.

There is no greater satisfaction to a traveler than counting the countries they’ve been to (even if they won’t admit it).

A scratch map is a fun way to document all the places you’ve been to and to get a visual on just how much of the world you have explored.

Essential Travel Gifts for Travelers

Is this their first trip abroad? Are they the kind of traveler who forgets about the simple things? Or maybe you just want to show them you care…

In any case, these are some of the most essential items that travelers need that would be great as a gift…

21. A Travel Suitcase

If you are searching for new suitcases for travel, we created a shortlist of the best suitcases for travel.

We compared hard shell vs soft shell travel bags, the sizes, wheels, handles and much more.

Hopefully, our list will help you narrow down your choice to save you some valuable time choosing the best travel gift for travelers you love!

And check out this review on the Desley suitcase – our personal travel suitcase that we love!

22. A Travel Backpack

If you are searching for a new travel backpack, we created a shortlist of the best backpacks for travel.

We explain how to choose a travel backpack, researched the best sizes, front loading vs top loading, and share the best brands for travel backpacks.

If you’re ever unsure though, you can never go wrong with the Osprey Fairview (ladies) or Fairpoint (mens) 55L backpack. Osprey bags come with a lifetime guarantee, so if you want a bag for life, this is the one to go for.

You can also see more travel backpacks that we review here.

23. Carry-On Suitcase

Do you love to travel light and travel with carry-on suitcases only?

We’ve laid out what to look for in your carry on luggage, and share the best carry-on suitcases in a complete guide, but for those in a hurry, our favorite is the Desley Helium Aero.

24. Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack

Digital nomads, frequent travelers and tech savvy business travelers will LOVE the Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack. 

It is my go-to travel item and one of my favorite travel accessories for 2019.

I use it even for going to the local cafe to work or on road trips. You will definitely make the person you love happy with this travel gift.

You can slide the Tortuga laptop backpack under the seat of most airplanes and carry all your electronics, chargers, a change of clothes, and your in-flight essentials.

This backpack for laptops keep you organized and your tech gear protected and it’s big enough to include clothes if you just wanted to travel with carry on only for a short trip.

You can read my full review of Tortuga laptop backpacks here.

25. Travel Packing Cubes

We’ve never really known how to pack a suitcase efficiently. Throw everything in the bag, sit on it, and then zip it up.

It wasn’t too bad when we had backpacks because the different compartments helped us stay a little organized. But now that we have two kids we mostly travel with suitcases.

Travel packing cells are a lifesaver and the perfect travel gift idea for travelers.

In each packing cell we roll up each item and arrange clothes based on type and season. Check out this amazing packing cell that converts into a daypack!

26. Travel Toiletry Bag

Another must have packing travel item for us is a travel toiletry bag, or dopp kit, and one that has a hook so you can hang it up in your hotel bathroom.

And one that is functional with separate compartments with enough space for different items.

Give a gift for travelers you love that will save their sanity!

27. Travel Gear Organizer

It’s amazing how many cords, plugs, adapters, USB drives, and chargers we have and they usually end up in various pockets in various bags all over the place and we can never remember where we put things.

I like the idea of this organizer to keep things secure and in order. This is great gift idea for business travelers and digital nomads.

We now have a cable and charger organizer, which is one of the best gifts for travelers who like to stay organized! No more cord headache.

I can easily and effortlessly find the charger and cord I need for my device.

28. 3 Pack Travel Bottles

Carrying various liquids whilst traveling these days has become the norm, so finding bottles that don’t leak and are approved for carry‐on with airlines is necessary.

This is the perfect gift for travelers who love to travel carry-on only!

29. Portable Luggage Scale

No more worrying about exceeding the stingy weight limits and having to take all your clothes out at the airport.

Having a small, portable luggage scale means you can check the weight of your bags and save on the extra cost of excess baggage fees.

30. Dry Bag

If you are like us and do your fair share of snorkeling, kayaking, camping or other water-based activities and carry a lot of gadgets around like phones and cameras, then a heavy duty dry bag is incredibly useful for keeping your belongings safe.

This dry bag is the perfect gift for travelers who love adventure and the outdoors.

31 Insulated Tent

Looking for a unique new tent for car/RV camping with guests? Check out an insultated tent!

Our friends from HoneyTrek took this to the Burning Man Festival and spent nine days in it in the hot (and cold) and extremely windy and dusty and inhospitable Black Rock Desert.

While this exact one isn’t available any more, you can get similar ones on Amazon.

Best Travel Gifts For Men

Because men love technology and tinkering with things, these are some of the best gift ideas for a traveling man!

32. Travel Guide Books & Journals

Lonely Planet are our guide books of choice. We’ve been using them since the 1990’s.

But we use them as they are intended to be used, as a guide, and don’t just stick to everything LP says.

If there is one travel gift that makes me happy, it’s receiving a Lonely Planet guidebook because I know amazing adventures are ahead. How could we not include them in our gift guides for the holiday season?

33. 2-in-1 Expandable Backpack

Another travel bag from Driibe that we love, and is a great gift for men – or women to be honest (Caz uses it a LOT) – is their 2-in-1 expandable laptop bag.

I love how it functions as a day pack to carry around your laptop gear etc, but can also be used during the day to explore cities or even go hiking. I’ve done that a lot and love how it saves on packing an extra bag.

Plus, it’s light, sleek and stylish, making it the perfect gift for men who like practical function paired with style when they travel.

34. Moleskine Pocket Journal

Besides keeping a journal so we can look back on our travel memories and for planning our upcoming trips, we use one to take important notes at destinations so that we can include the information in blog posts, our videos, and in social media updates.

I love looking back on my travel adventures from years ago. It’s amazing how much you forget.

Don’t let the travelers you love leave without this.

35. Travel planning Journal

If you the travel addict you love enjoys planning and recording specific details of their trip, then a travel planning journal will elate them and be one of hte best travel gifts you can give!

I love the fun and beautiful design of this travel journal. Also great for older kids.

36. Comfortably Wild

Do you know someone who loves glamping? By that we mean enjoying the wilderness but with a little extra comfort and style.

Our friends, Mike and Anne from HoneyTrek spent three years roaming the USA to uncover the best glamping experiences. They have put all their wisdom together in this beautiful book that will inspire and give you all you need to plan the perfect glamping experience.

This coffee-table-meets-guidebook offers over 70 dreamy destinations, plus inspiring stories, practical tips, and a lifetime worth of adventures.

Oh sorry, you’re buying this travel gift for someone you love right? I know you want one too!

37. Ultimate Journeys for Two by National Geographic

Again, from our friends Mike and Anne, their first travel book Ultimate Journeys for Two is designed to inspire love all around the world!

After the worlds longest honeymoon (6+ years), they collated all their insights into the ultimate journeys couples can take around the world.

This coffee table book is shown to all guests that visit our home and they all rave about the quality of the information and the stunning design and inspiration.

Chapters are organized by type of destination (for example, beaches, mountains, and deserts) to help travelers discover new places and experiences based on their interests.

Each entry focuses on a specific region, getting to the essence of each locale and its one-of-a-kind offerings. I wish I had this when Craig and I were on our five year honeymoon!

38. Canon Rebel T5i

My current camera body for all our travel photography and videos is a Canon Rebel T5i (700D).

Whilst I am looking to upgrade to a mirrorless camera with a bigger sensor, if you are looking for a good entry level DSLR I’ve been happy with this camera.

39. Canon 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens

I love shooting with my 50mm prime lens.

It produces sharp images and teaches you composition as you don’t have the luxury of zooming in to frame your shot.

Besides food and portraits, this is a great all-around lens that I use for landscapes and sometimes take out for the day and leave the rest behind, as it’s small and light and has a great aperture range from f1.4 to f22.

40. GoPro Hero 11 Black

For all our underwater photos and videos we use a GoPro Hero11 Black. If you’re buying a GoPro, we recommend you alwasy get the latest version.

We shot our snorkeling footage from the Great Barrier Reef using our GoPro. And if there’s one accessory we use the most it’s our 3-way that operates as an extension arm, camera grip or tripod.

A GoPro camera is great travel gift for those who love the underwater world and adventure activities!

Find it too expensive? Read on for a cheaper GoPro alternative receiving rave reviews.

A cheaper alternative to a GoPro is the AKASO v50 PRO, which is receiving good reviews and growing quite quickly.

Here is our AKASO V50 Pro action camera review and our AKASO Brave 6 Plus review

This is a fantastic gift idea for older kids. A travel gift idea for younger kids could be an cheaper waterproof camera. Savannah’s Nikon camera is actually a waterproof one.

41. Video Microphone by Rode

We’ve started taking videos seriously and if there’s one thing that can ruin a good video it’s poor sound quality.

Our Rode microphone has been a great accessory to our video production, and if you are going to shoot a lot of travel videos outside in the wind, I highly recommend the wind cover to minimize wind noise.

This Rode Videomicro is exceptional. I’ve used it for two years without a problem and the audio quality is great. I love how small and compact it is and I love how I don’t need to switch it on. It records automatically, which is awesome, as with other mics I’ve forgotten to turn them on and lost good recordings.

It does mean it uses the camera battery so drains it more, but I make sure I carry spare batteries with me and then it’s sweet. I’d much rather the battery drain then losing audio.

Gadgets & Tech Travel Gifts for Travelers

Because every travel wants the latest tech, these are the best travel gadgets to give as gifts!

42. Memory Cards

We take a ton of photos and videos on our trips for our business so it’s essential we have good memory cards with plenty of storage space before we download to our computers and external hard drives.

And a memory card holder is a nice accessory for keeping them secure and protected.

It’s one travel gift you don’t want to be without and lose what could be precious memory capture opportunities.

43. Microsoft Surface Laptop

We work full-time online and obviously travel a lot, so a good laptop is essential.

We both use and LOVE the Microsoft Surface Laptop. It is so light and sleek and druable.

I love that it is a hybrid tablet, lap top, which suits multiple purposes.

The stylist pen is awesome, especially for those who may want to do some design or photo editing work.

I’ve never been a die hard fan of any computer manufacturer before, but I am now. This will be the computer I use forever (with upgrades of course). So far, I’ve been usinga Microsfot laptop for 8 years (I’m on my second one. I love it!)

44. External Hard Drive – SSD

We take a lot of photos on our travels and have recently jumped into creating travel videos for our YouTube channel so we need a lot of storage space to keep all our files safe and organized away from our computer.

We actually carry three of these external hard drives of varying capacity when we travel. If you are traveling, you don’t want to get anything other than a Solid State Drive. We have lost far too many photos with the other versions. Travel is too hard on them and they break so easily. In the past four years, we’ve been using them we have not had any issues.

And if you’re going to carry around an external hard drive, a protective case is a good idea.

45. Portable Battery Charger by Anker

Because we run an online business and travel more than most, our life revolves around our phones and gadgets and it’s not always possible to find a wall socket to plug into.

So a portable battery charger that is compact and fast charging is a life saver and is the perfect travel gift for business travelers.

46. International Travel Plug Adaptor

Wouldn’t it be easier if each country operated using the same wall sockets and prongs?!!!

To rectify that we need an all-in-one plug travel adapter to be able to plug in our numerous chargers and phones and laptops when we travel.

We don’t go anywhere without one of these now and they are one of the most useful gifts for international travelers.

47. 3-Outlet Surge Protector

Between us and our two kids, we typically travel with two phones, two laptops, a camera, and two tablets and it’s a constant fight over who gets to charge their devices.

So we require a power board with multiple sockets and USB ports and one with a surge protector to protect our valuables.

It’s one of the most handy travel gifts for families.

48. Portable BlueTooth Speaker

Listening to music and podcasts plays a big part in our lives and with the amount of moving around we do, it’s nice to have a portable blue tooth speaker. And one that’s super portable with quality sound. We love our Sony portable speaker and have had it for years!

We went camping and spent our days tubing, knee boarding and watching magic sunsets.

It all looked and felt much better with Bruno Mars blasting. It’s a great gift for those wanting to create meaningful moments with loved ones.

49. Head Lamp

You know what it’s like to have to rummage around in the dark whilst camping, or the disadvantages of having to hold a torch with one hand.

A head lamp with young kids always comes in handy so you are hands-free.

Don’t forget this travel gift for the travelers who love camping and wilderness activities.

Travel Gifts for Road Trips

Planning a road trip? Or does your special traveler enjoy van life? Then these are some items that they may appreciate…

50. High-Speed Blender

This may seem like a unique travel gift, but, if someone you know is about to embark on a road trip and has room in their car, give them a high-speed blender, especially if health is important to them.

We carried one for 18-months around Australia and it meant I could continue my obsessions with green smoothies, make healthy snacks like protein balls, and whip out the odd soup.

One of the best gifts for the long-term road tripper.

51. Water Purifier Bottle

Traveling somewhere you know the water isn’t safe to drink?

This Camelbak Purifier Bottle has a purification system built right into the water bottle.

We used a similar bottle for our 5 month trip in Africa, and your health is not something you want anyone to compromise. 

This is one of the essential travel presents for those who love health, the environment and saving money on the road.

52. Stainless Steel Beverage Bottle

If you like to keep your coffee or your leftover soup concoction warm, or keep your drinks cool, then it’s hard to go past the old Thermos.

Best Travel Subscription Gifts

If you’ve left it to last minute to find a gift, then a subscription package is a great quick gift to get.

53. Tripit Pro

Tripit is one of the best travel gifts for the unorganized and stressed traveler.

I’m an organizationally challenged person so I’m often fluffing about at the check-in counter trying to find booking numbers and check in tickets.

Now I just open the Tripit App and pass my phone over to the assistant.

We have the pro version and it also lets us know if there are any flight changes, gate changes, if they are delayed and reminds me to web check in.

There’s a free 30-day trial, but consider giving your loved one the pro version. It really is an AMAZING gift for the frequent traveler.

54. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Staying connected to the internet is a priority for most travelers.

But it comes with some risk – leaving our data open to hacking, especially when using free wifi. A VPN is an essential travel item and a great gift idea for business travelers and digital nomads.

It will allow you to use the free Wifi but in a secure and safe format so no one can hack into your personal data and steam important things

Plus, it will also help you access sites which may be blocked in other countries and allow you access to your favorite movies via Netflix if in a different country, and why we recommend it as one of the best travel gifts.

You can read more in our review here.

55. Amazon Gift Cards

And if you can’t think of one of the best travel gifts to buy, how about an Amazon eGift Card and let them choose something themselves!

56. Airbnb Gift Cards

Another great gift card you can get your traveling recipient is a gift card to Airbnb.

It doesn’t matter whether their a luxury traveler or a backpacker, everyone will appreciate a couple of nights in a swanky Airbnb on their travels.

And with a gift card, they can choose the time and place for themselves.

57. Travel Experiences Gift Voucher

The people you care about crave memorable experiences more than possessions. Give the gift of a dream travel experience. It will be remembered this for the rest of their life – material things can be easily forgotten, used up and tossed away.

You could go all out with an all expenses paid vacation – go you! Or, you can simply give a travel experiences gift voucher for a tour or attraction of their choice.

We love Get Your Guide, a premier tour and attraction booking site. You can find hundreds of travel experiences for hundreds of destinations around the world.

It’s an easy, rewarding and joyful gift for the traveler you love and perfect for your stocking stuffers!

Final Thoughts

Whether you or your loved ones take a lot of long flights, road trips or cruises. Or whether you travel as a family like us or travel solo, there is a travel gift on this great list for everyone.

If you don’t have time to hit the stores to shop for things like new Colombia travel clothes, a neck pillow, eye masks, passport-holder and luggage tags (you know, the usual travel gifts), then why not shop from the comfort of your home using our recommendations from years of travel?

All of these best travel gift ideas are designed to make your trips more enjoyable and practical and to take the stress out of your next vacation.

We hope you found something to get your traveling enthusiast from this list!

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We spent four months traveling around the region, and there wasn’t a drop of rain, not even a hint of it with a single wisp of white cloud.

Temperatures are so hot you could happily strip naked and walk around town, or fry an egg on your cars bonnet.

The region, known as Australia’s Last Frontier, is endless miles of red dust, spinifex grass, ecucalyptus trees, floodplains and grasslands, and grazing Brahman cattle, but every now and then, a hidden gem pops up.

This region offers a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and adventure.

From the modern capital city of Darwin to the stunning Kakadu National Park and the picturesque Katherine area, the Top End is a land of unspoiled landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

But if you’re planning to visit Australia’s Top End and not sure what it is, where it is, or what to do there, then keep reading to find out.

What is the Top End of Australia?

The Top End of Australia refers to the northernmost section of the Northern Territory, encompassing a vast peninsula at the top and middle of the continent.

Although it has never had a start or end point officially defined, it’s estimated to cover around 245,000 square kilometers (95,000 square miles), extending into Darwin, Arnhem Land, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria, and past Kakadu National Park.

Many Australians would also refer to the entire top half of Australia as the Top End in generalized conversation. That would be extending from Cairns, through the Savannah Way in the Queensland Outback on one side, and through the Kimberley to Broome Western Australia on the other!

With its tropical climate, high humidity, and two seasons (aptly named wet and dry season), the Top End is rich in flora and fauna, as well as Australia’s native wildlife such as the notorious saltwater crocodiles.

Where does the Top End start?

Most people associate the starting point of Top End Australia as Darwin, the largest city in the Northern Territory.

The region also includes the towns of Palmerston and Katherine, and stops before it reaches the town of Alice Springs, which belongs to the Red Centre of Australia.

The Top End also includes some islands off the coast, such as the Tiwi Islands (known as Bathurst Island and Melville Island), as well as Groote Eylandt.

You’ll need a car to get around this region or to join a group tour. Check DiscoverCars or RentalCars.com for the best deals on car rental.

We can recommend this Top End Australia tour with Cosmos or Treasures of the Top End with Globus. Use the code: YTRAVEL when booking online or via phone for our exclusive yTravel discount: Save $100 per person on select 2023 and 2024 Globus and Avalon Waterway Vacations.

Places to Visit in Top End Australia

Now you know where to find the Top End of Australia, here are some of our favorite destinations in the region that you cannot miss…

Lake Argyle

Top End Australia is well known for its saltwater crocodile population. It’s estimated that 100,000 saltwater crocodiles live in its waters – be it rivers, lakes or tributaries. Traveling in this hot region is living on the edge of constant croc watch. Jumping and squirming every time you see a river miles away.

“Are there crocs in here?” is the first sentence that flies out of your mouth with each new body of water you come to. It’s got you freaked out so much, you even ask it when you’re near chlorinated swimming pools.

But when you visit the magical Lake Argyle, the water looks so inviting you don’t even think twice about them.

Lake Argyle in Western Australia is a freshwater lake, so salties stay clear of its wonderful waters. You may be sharing the waters with a few freshwater crocs, but they tend to stay away from people and are not as dangerous as the salties.

This vast man-made lake, born from the mighty Ord River, is best seen by boat tour, which allows you to witness the grandeur of its size, see the surrounding wildlife and appreciate the diverse ecosystem.

The best time to visit is sunset, where the temperatures are much cooler and you can embrace the tranquility of a cruise with the orange hues casting over you.

Book your stay in advance at Discover Resort’s Lake Argyle – it’s a place not to miss!

Katherine Gorge

Nestled in the captivating Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine Gorge is another freshwater hot spot that beckons travelers with its alluring waters and craggy rock formations.

The breathtaking sandstone landscape is truly a sight to behold. You can explore the 13 stunning gorges on foot, or better yet, rent a canoe or kayak and paddle along the majestic Katherine River, surrounded by awe-inspiring cliffs and cascading waterfalls, such as Jim Jim Falls.

This hidden gem showcases the true beauty of Top End Australia, where adventure and beauty intertwine.

You can also learn about rich indigenous aboriginal culture at Katherine Gorge, where on a guided tour you can discover ancient rock art, and marvel at sacred spaces to the native communities.

Kakadu National Park

Perhaps the most famous national park in Australia, is the enchanting Kakadu National Park, a true haven for nature lovers, and those wanting to learn about Australia’s aboriginal heritage.

This sprawling wilderness has been home to Aboriginal tribes for more than 50,000 years, and features several fascinating and aboriginal rock art sites that are thousands of years old. The best places to see aboriginal art is at Nourlangie, Nanguluwur and Ubirr.

It’s also well known for its wetlands, which are home to more than 2,000 species of plants, as well as, you guessed it, salt water crocodiles.

Embark on a Yellow Waters Billabong cruise along East Alligator River and get up close to these magnificent animals.

Kakadu also has several hiking trails and mountain biking trails, taking you along rugged terrain. On foot, you can discover thundering waterfalls, escarpments and towering cliffs, and even discover the only safe swimming hole in Kakadu NP – Gunlum Falls.

Kakadu is home to the greatest variety of ecosystems in Australia, from wetlands to grasslands to deserts to rainforests.

There is no better place in the Top End to see such diversity of nature, including a breathtaking sunset at Nadab Lookout.

One of the best ways to see the vastness and beauty of Kakadu National Park is to enjoy a scenic flight or helicopter flights over the park.

Litchfield National Park

Nestled just a short drive south of Darwin towards Adelaide River, is Litchfield National Park, which is another captivating escape with natural wonders and swimming holes.

By now you’re probably realizing that many of these destinations have places you can swim in, and you can thank us later once you’ve experienced the heat of this region!

This enchanting park is best known for its stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear swimming holes, and picturesque landscapes.

If you need cooling off, dive into the refreshing waters of Buley Rockholes, or swim under the cascading flowing waters of Florence Falls and its plunge pool, or enjoy a picnic amidst the splendor of Wangi Falls.

The park also has many scenic hikes that take you to some hidden gems. We enjoyed the Walker Creek trail.

Darwin

The beating heart of the Northern Territory is Darwin, a city that beckons travelers with its unique charm and relaxed, hippy atmosphere. It’s the gateway to Australia’s Top End and the best place to base yourself for a Top End adventure.

This tropical city offers a vibrant downtown scene, with bustling markets and live music every night. Not to mention it’s iconic beach sunsets, which fill the skies ablaze with orange every night.

Take a short walk along the sparkling harbor, shop for authentic souvenirs at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, and sample Darwin’s culinary delights at the plethora of delicious dining options.

Daly Waters

Daly Waters is a small town off the Stuart Highway, that is quite literally in the middle of nowhere. It’s charm is that it’s so remote and cut off from civilization, and where the friendly locals are thrilled when new arrivals come to town.

At the heart of this tiny town lies the iconic Daly Waters Pub, an attraction like no other. Built in 1930 and adorned with decades of memorabilia, this quirky pub is a testament to the region’s rich heritage.

Since it’s one of the only attractions in the town, you will find it has a lively atmosphere, and where you can enjoy a beef’n’barri barbecue or indulge in the local pub fare.

Daly Waters Pub has become a beloved hangout spot for travelers traveling between Alice Springs and Darwin, and is one of the best places to experience the friendliness and warmness of the Australian locals.

Mataranka Springs

Another great swimming spot is Mataranka Springs, and oasis-like destination that offers a perfect escape from the ordinary.

While you might be thinking these pools will cool you down in the warm weather, think again. These are inviting thermal pools surrounded by palm trees and sandy bottoms.

Mataranka Springs, located in Elsey National Park, is a serene haven for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Broome, Western Australia

On your Top End Australia trip, you find yourself talking with passing travellers, who soon become comrades, about the marks of a good town approaching.

It has Woolworths. If there’s Target, you’ve struck gold and a restaurant means the jackpot is yours.

Why else do you think we stayed in Broome for five weeks? It had all of the above.

You can almost see the inhabitants of each caravan run down to the beach as soon as the red dirt they arrive on ends at the turquoise ocean. They’re desperate for the oasis after weeks of Outback driving.

“It’s paradise. Boy after that journey, I just don’t want to leave here.” That’s the feeling you get when you find Broome after all the rugged landscapes you’ve seen so far.

Broome is a small coastal town that connects to the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. It’s famous for its 22km long Cable Beach, and dinosaur tracks that appear at low tide on Gantheaume Point.

It’s also just a charming place to relax.

Final Thoughts

We spent four months journeying through the Top End of Australia on a complete Northern Territory road trip.

Despite been driven mad a lot of the time by the toughness of it, and those damn flies, I loved every minute.

Lying waiting for you beneath the tough exterior are endless horizons of exquisite beauty, ancient timelessness, vitality and perfection.

Secret nooks and crannies, waterfalls, gorges, stunning sunsets, and a thriving ecosystem hiding amongst the apparent lifelessness of the scrub.

The Top End has given birth to a deep love and connection within me for Australia. It’s possibly the part I’ll speak most about from this road trip in years to come.

This is my country. And I’m in love with it.

But, I sure am happy to be leaving the red dust, exhausting heat, and annoying flies behind to return to pristine beaches and green rolling hills.

Tours of Australia

If you were looking for group tour options in Australia, rather than traveling independent. Our preferred partner Globus has a range of Australian tours. Click links below and be sure to use our exclusive code in the blue box below.

• See all Globus Australia tours here
• See all Cosmos tours here (part of the Globus brand)

As long-term travelers as a family, we’ve tried and tested so many family travel resources, I can’t even count, but we have been able to separate the wheat from the chaff and choose our favorites.

We want to help you avoid overwhelm, which is a serious issue in today’s content-heavy world, and save you time and energy looking up websites and apps to use, we’ve listed our favorite go-to places to research travel here.

That’s what we’re here for – we do the research for you so you don’t have to, and let you know what we think is the best from that.

After all, travel hacking is what we do best!

Best Family Travel Resources

Below we will share the websites, forums, apps, and other offline resources we use whenever we plan our trips.

We hope this list helps you find the best deals, tickets and hacks.

Best Family Travel Books

Want to inspire your kids to travel and help them engage with the family travel experience? Then don’t let them scroll on Instagram, take them offline to discover some travel guidebooks.

Below are some of the best travel books for kids:

• I love anything from the Lonely Planet Kids range. Kalyra learns so much from them and can’t get her noses out of their books. Much like her Mumma can’t her nose out of their big girl planning guides! LP  has been my favourite travel resource for over 20 years.
• Kids Travel Journals are so great for recording travel memories.
• Leap and Hop Travel Guides is a series of travel books that invite curious children to discover and understand different cultures while playing, drawing, scrapbooking, doodling, collecting and observing. They’re cool. We have the one for New York City, and Kalyra is itching to get there and use it. She’s already done some of the activities to prepare. See books on Amazon
• Boredom Buster Book This is a great one to get them thinking creatively on those long journeys.
• The Little Children’s travel activity book and the Travel Activity Book

Best Family Travel Insurance

It’s important to get family travel insurance. The peace of mind is important not to mention the relief you’ll feel if you do happen to need it.

• For Aussies, you can’t beat World2Cover for family travel insurance. We’ve done the research and they come out the cheapest, with the best coverage. Kids travel for free. It’s a no-brainer. (Read best travel insurance for Aussies)

• Cover-More Insurance is a great travel insurance option for Australians.
• Safety Wing: is travel medical insurance for nomads. They cover people from all over the world, while outside their home country.
• Etka: Travel Insurance for worldwide travel. Easy to use with comparable rates and instant polices. Great for those longer term, nomadic, and work abroad travelers. We believe its an essential travel purchase.
• Visitors Coverage:  which provides travel insurance for millions of global travelers in over 175 countries. They are the largest provider of visitor’s insurance for inbound travel to the U.S.
• Allianz Travel Insurance. We have annual travel insurance polices with Allianz. Really worth getting an annual policy if you travel frequently.
• World Nomads are fantastic and we can recommend them to you because it doesn’t matter your country of origin you can get a policy with them.

Best Family Travel Blogs

I actually don’t read a lot of travel blogs, but I do tend to read blogs in niches where I most need help!

There are a few family travel blogs we check in on, or turn to, if we need specific help for a family travel destination. We also share a lot of their content to our community.

Some of our favorite family travel blogs who share an authentic and relevant travel story and offering super useful tips to help other families do the same are:

• Boy Eats World
• Twist Travel Mag
• The Traveling Child
• We3Travel.com
• Stuffed Suitcase Travel
• Travel Mamas
• Two Travel Dads

Best Family Travelers on Instagram

There are so many family travel accounts to follow on Instagram, and I could recommend hundreds, but I’m doing my best to unplug from social media overwhelm.

Here are some of our favourite family travel Instagrammers for various reasons – mostly I love their photos and their family travel story.

I tend to follow stories more than pretty pictures. If you can combine the two, it’s a winning formula for me.

• Macs Explore
• Lahrs with Latitude
• Wandering Wagers
• No Back Home
• Twisted Travel Mag
• Travel Mamas
• Top Flight Family
• Traveling Child
• 2Travel Dads
• Some Day I’ll learn

You can follow us on @ytravelblog and @thisisraleigh

Best Family Travel Booking Sites

When it comes to finding the cheapest flight deals, finding cheap entrance tickets to attractions, and finding a better accommodation deal than Airbnb, don’t just use a search engine, check out these sites…

Best Hotel Booking Platform

Accommodation is the biggest part of your travel budget, so you got to get it right. Booking.com is our preferred accommodation provider for hotels, resorts, and apartments.

Whilst there are plenty of websites these days to help you search for accommodation, some are more trustworthy than others, and some are easier to navigate than others.

Booking.com have family-friendly properties around the world and verified reviews from real guests, like you! You get free cancellation on most rooms and a best price guarantee!

Best Car Rental Booking Sites

RentalCars.com is the world’s biggest car rental booking service that compares all the major brands in one search like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Thrifty and Europcar and they find you the best price. They have locations all over the world.

DiscoverCars.com also has great deals on car rentals and we’ve found them to be reliable and affordable.

Best Tools For Searching For Flights

Skyscanner is a great flight search comparison site that searches millions of flights in one search. It’s a good way to find flight schedules and see which airlines have the most flights and convenient root.

Once you find your best deal, you can book directly through the airline (no extra fees).

You can also use Google Flights to find flight schedules, and sometimes you can find good deals using Kayak (be sure to sign up to their newsletter to get alerts on last minute deals).

When choosing internal flights or short flights across Europe, you can usually find better deals and cheap flights by going to budget airlines official websites.

Best Site For Finding Tours

There are two sites we use for booking tours and attractions, Get Your Guide, and Viator, which is owned by Trip Advisor.

You can also find small group family tours on G Adventures, if you don’t want to travel independently.

We also like GuruWalk.com as a great resource for finding free walking tours and a local guide.

Best Resources for Homeschooling on the Road

I’m going to bump you right over to this page –> our Homeschooling Resources and roadshcooling guide includes all our favorite family travel resources for teaching your kids while traveling.

Best Place to Find Travel Gear

When looking for travel gear such as suitcases, backpacks and other luggage, you will find most options on Amazon.

Amazon is a great resource for getting all the finer travel gear that are not easy to find in stores, such as packing cubes, eye masks and neck pillows.

You can also create a packing list wish list, which helps.

Here are some of our review posts and recommendations for travel gear:

• Our older children love the Standard Carry-On Backpack
• Delsey Suitcase Review – our preferred suitcase for 7 years now
• Tortuga Backpack – great for older kids
• Best Christmas gifts for Kids
• Best travel gear for kids

Best Travel Credit Cards

There are so many travel credit cards out there that it’s really a challenge to find the best deal.

Those living in the U.S. will find the Chase Sapphire Rewards Card to be a great credit card for traveling abroad, which gives you free cash withdrawals, and Lounge Access, as well as other benefits such as travel insurance.

In the UK, most people opt for a Starling Bank, Revolut or Mondo Card, which is a travel debit card that allows for free cash withdrawals abroad and uses the live exchange rate, so no more extortionate exchange fees.

If you’re traveling to Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, you may want to get a Charles Schwab account, as this is the only bank (that we know of) that refunds you the pesky 220 baht ATM withdrawal fee on every machine.

Best Resource For When Things Go Wrong

Ok, we don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but sometimes when you travel things go wrong.

Maybe you lost your passport or had your bag stolen, in which case, the embassies or consulate of your country is going to be your biggest resource.

Whenever you’re planning, make sure to save the address of the embassy somewhere on a piece of paper so you can go to them for help.

They don’t just handle visas, you know.

Best Resource For Illnesses

If you’re worried about illnesses or not sure which vaccinations to get, the best place to find out all the information you need is from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) website.

They have a whole section on medical tourism which has tons of information about keeping healthy on your travels, including advice on local hospitals should you ever need one.

More Family Travel Resources

Need more inspiration for your family travel adventures? These other guides may be interesting to you…

• Is travel too expensive with kids? 11 ways to overcome this challenge
• Wondering what the average cost of a family vacation is? Click here to find out
• Best family travel tips and family travel destination advice

Family Travel Planning Toolkit + VIP Tribe

Have you joined our free VIP family travel tribe yet?

It’s where we share our best family travel tips and inside information. We have a cool private Facebook community attached to it as well and it comes with a free family travel planning toolkit. Pop your name below.

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Although Australia is our home, we also spent 1.5 years road tripping the country, and learned how to travel in Australia on a budget.

I hate to shatter your dreams of endless Great Barrier Reef scuba dives and glasses of champagne whilst watching an Uluru sunset, so we hope the following Australia budget travel tips will help.

If you want to know how much you should set aside for travel expenses, this is a complete guide to cost of travel in Australia, whereas this guide will focus soley on budgeting tips.

Today we hope to help you lower your costs on your trip down under.

How to Travel Australia on a Budget

Below we have listed our top considerations and tips for traveling Australia on the cheap.

1. Plan Your Itinerary First

Firstly, let’s put Australia into perspective. Before you can plan how to cut costs, you do really need to put your itinerary together first.

If you don’t plan your itinerary and how to get around first, you will find that two weeks in Australia could end up being the same amount you would spend in an entire month.

When you’re putting together your itinerary, remember the actual size of Australia and it’s landscape, which many travelers disregard until they arrive, and end up regretting the choices they made in the planning stage.

Australia is the sixth biggest country in the world and about the same size as mainland USA. So, considering the country is so vast, the problem becomes how to visit Australia and where to visit?

Think about how much time you have and then make a list of your must-see places in Australia and plan accordingly.

If you only have one week and you’re on a budget, it would be best to focus on one or two regions.

You don’t want to be traveling from Sydney to Perth then back to Cairns in that time. You and your bank balance will be wiped out.

If you have three or four weeks, check out our 3-week itinerary for Australia which has detailed tips on where to go and what to see and do.

But, if you have an extended period of time, more than one month, you’ll have more flexibility and strategies you can use. Let’s dive in.

2. Think About Getting Around Australia

The vast majority of your budget is going to be transport and accommodation. How you get around will vastly depend on how much time you have and where you want to go.

Here are some things to consider when planning your transportation on a budget.

How To Fly Around Australia On A Budget

Once you get here, Australia is the land of long distances and for so long we only had two airlines, Qantas and Virgin, so there was a lack of competition and prices were high.

Thankfully, air travel is getting more competitive and cheaper.

Virgin and Jetstar are the two main domestic carriers to consider. Bonza Airlines is a new low cost airline in Australia servicing domestic and regional routes in Australia.

Rex Airline has a backpacker pass available only to international travellers, which gives you one or two months of unlimited Rex Air Travel. Rex flies to regional areas such as Broken Hill, Kangaroo Island, King Island and Coober Pedy.

When searching for flight deals in Australia we always start with Skyscanner which is a comparison website that searches thousands of flights. Once you find your best deal, you book directly through the airline or agent (no extra fees).

Also, read our in-depth post 21 ways to find cheap flights online for extra tips!

Whilst we’re on the subject of flights, if there are three or more of you traveling to an airport, it will probably be cheaper to share a taxi than the train link.

You can also find cheaper deals 5-6 weeks in advance, or very last minute if you’re lucky.

How To Drive Around Australia On A Budget

Fuel is expensive and the price will vary from state to state and region to region.

In the Northern Territory, which is the most expensive territory for fuel, costs up to $2 per litre for diesel, but you will pay less on the coast.

If you’re driving around Australia long-term, the best way to travel Australia by car on a budget is to fill your car with friends instead and split the costs.

Check Coles and Woolworths supermarket receipts (dockets). If you spend a certain amount, you’ll get fuel discount coupons, which will save you from 4 – 8 cents a litre.

This can add up especially when driving often and long distances.

FUEL SAVING TIPS:

• Remove excess weight from your vehicle to increase your fuel economy.
• Stay in central locations where you can walk to places and don’t have to rely on your car constantly.
• Plan your routes – don’t back track on long drives and avoid congested areas in big cities.
• Use air conditioning sparingly in the summer.
• Maintain your vehicle – get it serviced and check that your tyres are at the right pressure.
• Drive at a steady pace and use the right gears.

Finding Cheap Car Rentals in Australia

DiscoverCars.com is our favorite site for searching rental cars. They compare all the major car rental sites at once to find your best deal.

Just remember, one-way drop offs usually incur a fee so try and plan your flights and trip so that your driving loops back to your original pick-up destination.

Want a campervan? Check out Relocation rentals where you can rent a campervan for as little as $50 a day (remember a campervan is also going to save you on accommodation costs).

You’re given the vehicle, the route, a time frame and sometimes fuel allowance. Basically you are getting a vehicle really cheap to be the delivery guy.

Juicy campervans are popular campervans to rent. We’ve been seeing these bright green vehicles all over Australia. If the backpackers are using them in droves they must be good value.

For families and larger campervans check out Britz, Maui, Apollo Campers who have a large range of inventory.

Another popular RV rental company in Australia is Outdoorsy. It’s the largest & most trusted caravan, campervan and motorhome hire marketplace on the planet.

Basically, it’s the Airbnb of the motorhome world! They have a range of motorhomes and campervans from vintage campers to modern trailers. Plus, they come with up to $1M in insurance coverage.

Remember that with a campervan you will need to pay for campsites, which typically cost around $10-$25 per night.

Driving Your Own Vehicle in Australia

If you plan on staying in Australia a while, consider buying a car instead. You could sell it at the end of your trip and reclaim some of your initial outlay.

Consider a camper trailer like ours below or a caravan, especially for long-term family travel in Australia. It’s a big country, so having a home on wheels is a more economical option.

Sites for buying cars include:

• Gumtree.com.au
• CarSales.com.au
• CarPoint.com.au
• AutoTrader.com.au
• CarsGuide.com.au
• TradingPost.com.au

How to Get Around Australia by Bus on a Budget

Buses are a great way to get around inner cities, as well as from major cities, but they are not ideal for visiting national parks or remote locations that are a huge draw for travelers.

If you plan to stay in the city for a week, look to get daily or weekly bus passes.

It’s not the best way to get around Australia, but we know not everyone is able to drive, so if you need to take a bus do research each Australian city for any free public transportation routes before you visit.

For example, Melbourne and Adelaide have free inner city trams and Sydney has a free CBD shuttle (route 555) which runs every 10 minutes on a loop from Central Station to Circular Quay via Elizabeth and George Streets.

Greyhound Australia is a national bus service. We found their buses comfortable and an easy ride. The girls enjoyed it and were pretty well behaved, although the aircon was crap.

Oz Experience operate like Greyhound with the hop-on-hop-off system and have different passes depending on length of trip and areas covered

Premier also has been highly recommended for bus travel in Australia.

We highly recommend against getting the bus from Sydney to Perth. It’s a long journey with nothing much in between. We met someone who did it and then tried to tell us Australia was really boring. Go figure!

How to Get Around by Train in Australia

Each city will have it’s own public train system with different prices and deals. For example, Opal is the smartcard ticketing system used to pay for travel on public transport in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra. Add value before you travel and tap on and off to pay your fare. Using an Opal card will save you money and they have cheaper rates on weekends.

The trains will generally move you around cities and to neighboring suburbs and districts. Lines and routes are quite extensive in Sydney and Melbourne and you should have no problem getting to where you need to go anywhere in the cities.

Long distance train travel can be expensive, but you can find rail passes covering the train network across Australia that give you great savings. Rail Passes start at $298.

If you’re planning on traveling long distances over a short period of time, then you might want to consider this, but otherwise we don’t recommend using trains as. a means to travel Australia on a budget.

Some great rail journeys in Australia are the Ghan travelling from Adelaide to Darwin, and the Indian Pacific travelling from Sydney to Perth. These are more tourist attractions that a form of transport, and so tickets are very expensive.

Great Southern Rail, which operates the Ghan and the Indian Pacific has a number of special backpacker fares and low-season discounts if you book in advance.

How To Save on Accommodation in Australia

If you can time your visit right by staying mid-week, you can really save on accommodation in Australia. Especially avoid the big cities over a weekend if possible.

We’re stunned by how much the prices for a bed can rise on the weekend – some places triple.

Finding Cheap or Free Camping in Australia

Australia has so many National Parks and many of them you can camp in for free or a small cost. This will involve bush camping.

A night here and there is perfect to help reduce costs. The most popular campsites will have basic amenities – power, toilets, and water.

Caravan Parks are usually clean with fantastic amenities on the beach – the best location in town.

Big4 and Top Tourist Parks are the two main players and have all the amenities and are great for families but very pricey especially during peak holiday periods.

Cost of powered tent sites in caravan parks depend on number of persons and for families they will charge you per child.

Prices start from $35 up to $60 depending on time of season and location. Same goes with powered sites for caravans and camper trailers.

If you’re planning on traveling around Australia in an RV, sign up to the Big4 membership and the Top Tourist Park membership for discounts.

Free Camping is possible at designated camping sites in many locations. They just don’t have the facilities that paid parks have.

We stayed at an awesome free campsite by the river at Gregory Downs in Outback Queensland. Check out ExploreAustralia.net.au for listings.

WikiCamps is a great app, which has a user-generated database of caravan parks and free campsites with user reviews on the features.

Camping is a great way to meet Australians and for families the best and cheapest way to travel around Australia on a budget.

In Sydney, a great option is to camp on Cockatoo Island on the Harbour. Wake up to views of Sydney Harbour Bridge for about $45 a night. Bargain!

Save Money By Staying in Hostels

Hostels are another cheaper option when it comes to accommodation. A dorm room on average will be $20 to $30 and a private room around $80- $110.

If you are considering a private room then it might make more sense to see if you can get a cheap hotel for around the same price.

There are some hostels that are great for families and have family rooms, which is ideal for those traveling on a budget.

Booking.com is a great search and comparison site that pulls data from all the main hostel websites to help you find the cheapest price.

We’ve stayed in plenty of YHA hostels as they are usually of a high standard and are better for families. Many have family rooms, if not you can book out an entire 4-6 bed dorm to yourself.

We liked the spacious 6-bed dorm we just had to ourselves at Bungalow Bay YHA on Magnetic Island – it came with its own bathroom. AND koalas!! You can have breakfast with them and cuddle them too.

You can also get YHA memberships which give you a 10% discount on accommodation and any tours they offer. Every little bit helps when you travel to Australia.

For great views of Sydney Harbour at a third of the price you would pay anywhere else, the Sydney Harbour YHA- The Rocks is definitely the place to stay. Have breakfast on the rooftop with views of the Opera House.

Hostels also have common kitchen areas which is great for saving on meal costs!

How To Save On Apartment Rentals

We love apartments or home rentals when we travel as a family. It gives us a lovely break from our camper trailer or hostels.

It’s a great opportunity for us to all have our own space, catch up on work, do the laundry and cook our own meals in a full kitchen. We need to have that bit of home every now and then.

This is the best option for families or two families sharing. It can also work out to be cheaper than hostels if a group of travellers get together and share.

Again, depending on the location and time of year prices will vary. You can find cheaper deals by staying mid-week, which will be your best bet in the major cities. You might want to book hostels or motels for weekends.

Finding Cheap Hotels in Australia

If you’re looking for a low-cost hotel chain, Travelodge and ibis budget hotels are two chains worth checking out.

We don’t stay in hotels nearly as much as we used to pre-kids, but below are our favorite search sites we use:

• Booking.com
• Hotels.com – sign up to their rewards program (stay 10 nights get 1 night free)

Try House Sitting or House Swapping

The house sitting strategy has not worked for us as our schedules are never planned more than a week in advance, so we have little flexibility to book things in advance.

That being house sitting is a great way to save money on travel when you’re organized and plan ahead.

Competition is also fierce, though, as more people have cottoned on to this trend.

But if you are super flexible and can travel where the house sits are rather than find a house sit to suit your plans, then it can work very well for you.

For house sitting sites check out:

• Trusted Housesitters
• Aussie Housesitters
• Mind a Home
• House Carers

House swapping is also an option. Try Aussie House Swap or House Swap Holidays.

Ways To Save Money On Eating in Australia

It’s tough to get cheap food in Australia. The majority of your meals will have to come from your own culinary skills.

Be sure to leave room in your budget for the odd meal out as we do have beautiful produce and amazing meals can be found. Don’t miss out on our fresh seafood all around the country.

Below are a few tips for getting cheap eats in Australia.

Finding Cheap Supermarkets

Coles and Woolworths are our competing supermarkets whose love for price wars can really benefit you. Cook your own meals and grab supplies for a picnic rather than eating out.

In smaller regional areas, you’ll find IGA or Foodworks. I prefer IGA. I find their prices are cheaper and often have great specials. They also support local produce suppliers.

Tips For Eating out in Australia on a Budget

If you’re going to eat out often, go for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner – prices will be cheaper.

RSL’s, Memorial Clubs, Bowling Clubs  and Surf Clubs – Almost every town in Australia will have at least one of these clubs that have relative cheap food and drink.

Shopping Malls – Hit the food courts in any of the shopping malls for lunch. They typically have cheaper meals.

Research restaurants in the area carefully, you might be lucky to find a “children eat free” deal. Some of your accommodation may have coupons. Ask the locals for their picks for eating out.

Check the back of your supermarket receipt. You will often find deals for nearby restaurants such as two for one.

Australia has lots of takeaway places (take out). You’ll find them in every town and are mostly Asian, Italian, Greek, fish and chips, bakeries or chicken shops. You will find meals much cheaper here than if you were to eat in.

Menu Log is a great app for finding takeaway deals. This app tells you what restaurants are nearby and who home delivers. It’s on iPhone and Android. Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Malaysian food is often still the best value.

And you cannot go wrong with Chinatown in Sydney and Melbourne. It’s where you’ll find cheaper prices and large servings.

Picnics – still one of the best ways to have an economical meal. Take advantage of the beautiful city parks, beaches and foreshores. Lay out a blanket or towel and source your supplies from the supermarket or farmers market and pick up a cheap bottle of wine from the bottle shop!

Eating in – of course cooking your own meals with supplies sourced from the supermarket or farmers markets will save you money. We make self-contained accommodation with a full-kitchen a priority on our travels.

Drinking on a budget in Australia

Alcohol will KILL your budget in Australia, especially if you get comfortable at a pub or bar.

Don’t be surprised to get charged up to $12 for a pint of beer in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. A glass of wine can go for $6-$8.

You should definitely visit some of our iconic pubs, and we have some of the best beer gardens in the world, but if you do look for drink specials and happy hours.

Australia doesn’t’ have much of them, mostly due to our binge drinking laws.

The bottle shop is your best bet for saving money on beer, wine and spirits. The main stores you’ll see around are BWS, Liquorland and Dan Murphy’s.

You can get a decent bottle of wine for $12- $20 from the bottle shop, or if you are game, the old Aussie favourite, the goon, which is basically cask wine.

You can get 4L for about $14. The goon becomes the best friend of many backpackers to Australia.

Check out the back of your supermarket receipts, they often have a buy two bottles of wine for the price of one coupon.

When buying beer from a bottle shop it’s better value to buy a carton of 24 bottles ($48) than a 6 pack for $15. Often they’ll have specials on beer.

My favourite range of beers in Australia is the James Squire range, not sold everywhere. Carlton Dry is also a good local beer at decent prices!

BYO (Bring Your Own) to Restaurants

A lot of restaurants in Australia are BYO. That means you can bring in your own beer or wine, usually for a corkage of $1-2. This will greatly reduce your eating out costs.

Refill Water Bottles

Refill a water bottle at a public bubbler (water fountain) instead of spending $2.50 per bottle of water. Do not drink from any taps marked as ‘bore water’ as it‟s not safe for consumption.

And get yourself a decent bottle you can fill up each morning before leaving your accommodation.

Lay off the soda drinks

Now is the time for you to give up the coke addiction. Again, your best bet is to buy by the box at a supermarket.

Bottom line – drinking is an expense that isn’t very friendly to your Australia on a budget plans. Budget wisely.

How To Save on Activities and Entertainment on a budget in Australia

Lucky for you Australia is an outdoorsy culture with stunning nature, parks, and wildlife.

Visit the City Parks

In the major cities, we have some beautiful and free public parks in amazing locations to go for a walk or have a picnic.

• In Sydney don’t miss the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Domain and Hyde Park.
• In Melbourne don’t miss the Botanical Gardens, Carlton Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens.
• Perth’s Kings Park is lovely with stunning views over the river to the city.

All the major cities will have a nice enough park for you to getaway and enjoy some solitude at no cost.

Visit the Beaches in Australia

Australia is famous for its beaches. Our coastline stretches almost 50,000 kilometres and is linked by over 10,000 beaches. Spending the day at the beach is what us locals love best and a cheap way to spend your day.

Take a day pack with water, food, sunscreen and your towel. Or make use of the free BBQ facilities. Just make sure you have some gold coins or a credit card for the parking meters!

Go for Coastal walks in Australia

With so many beaches and being an island continent Australia has many stunning coastal walks that won’t cost you a cent. Going for a coastal walk is one of our favorite free activities in Australia.

You can stretch your legs for an hour or half a day. All you need again or some snacks, plenty of water and your camera.

We have plenty of walks left to do but some of our faves so far have been:

• Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach coastal walk
• Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk
• 18 short walks we love in Australia
• 4 walks on the Gold Coast 

Get A National Parks Pass in Australia

Australia literally has thousands of National Parks, and each one has it’s own entrance fee, so save yourself some money by getting the National Parks Pass. if you plan to visit a few.

Whether you just visit for a day or stay over and go camping our National Parks our a highlight.

Check out our list or 25 National Parks in Australia to set foot in.

Other helpful links:

• NSW National Parks – for pass options click here.
• Queensland National Parks
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

Visit the Markets

Every major city and regional area has a market. You won’t get the food and souvenir prices you’ll get in Asia but a trip to the markets is still a cost effective way to eat, shop for clothes, and buy some nick knacks.

Melbourne is a food lovers paradise and the Queen Victoria Market is fantastic, especially the Wednesday night market.

In Adelaide don’t miss the Adelaide Central Market and Hobart has their famous Salamanca Markets.

In Cairns, Rusty’s Market is an icon up there and was a great place to get our fruit and vegetables ad we loved our hometown Burleigh Farmers Markets. The Eumundi Markets on the Sunshine Coast and the Bellingin Markets near Coffs Harbour are two of the best markets in Australia!

Seek out the markets wherever you go to stock up on your food supplies and they’re generally a great pace to visit in their own right.

Get Free Entry to Museums & Galleries

If museums and galleries are your thing, visit the particular website and find out which day or time of day they have free entry. Most museums and galleries have certain periods where entry price is free.

For example in Sydney the Art Gallery of NSW is free to enter and is one of Australia’s leading art museums with collections of Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian and contemporary art.

Although we do recommend paying $20 to see the M.O.N.A museum in Hobart – amazeballs.

See the Wildlife in Australia on a Road Trip

Entry prices to zoos and wildlife parks can be a bit pricey in Australia. Fortunately if you’re on a road trip there’s a good chance of seeing the Aussie wildlife for free in the wild, and naturally it’s the best place to see them!

• Head down to places like Pebbly Beach on the NSW South Coast where you’ll have kangaroos running wild on the beach. You can also see them on Lucky Bay Esperance in Western Australia and Cape Hillsborough near Mackay in Queensland.
• Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland was the best place to see kangaroos that we discovered on our Australia travels. Here are more places to see kangaroos in the wild.
• Koalas can be spotted on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and on Magnetic Island in Queensland.
• Wombats and echidnas can easily be spotted in Tasmania and Kangaroo Valley in NSW.
• Fraser Island and Kangaroo Island are two of the best places in Australia to see wildlife.
• And of course, for marine life, don’t miss the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef

If you don’t have the time or the means to get out of the city and want to see some Aussie wildlife, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is world class with probably the best views of any zoo.

Take Free Walking Tours in Australia

The guys from I’m Free Walking Tours offer free guided walks in Sydney and Melbourne twice daily.

The 3-hour easy walking tours will show you the sights and give you your bearings so you can then go it alone.

These walks are a great introduction and the knowledgeable guides work for tips only.

Look Out For Free Festivals & Events

If you can, time your visit to coincide with one of the fantastic festivals or events around the country, many of them for free. It’s a great way to experience some Aussie culture.

One of the best free festivals in Sydney is Vivid Sydney.

Look for Low-Cost Tours

The cost of tours in Australia can be super expensive, so you have to prioritize what tours and attractions you really want to experience.

This could be your once in a lifetime adventure and you don’t want to miss out on your ultimate experiences so put aside some money in your budget for those and sacrifice in other areas of your budget.

Here are some of our favourite tours we recommend putting money aside for (so far!):

• Great Barrier Reef experiences.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, although you can walk across for free. And make sure you walk around to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens for one of the best free views of the bridge and Opera House.
• Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasmania

More Australia Budget Tips

Before you go, here are some other top tips to consider when trying to travel Australia on a budget…

Visit Tourist Information Centres

We always visit the tourist information centres in each city and town we go to.

We like to drop in and get our free maps and chat with the folks behind the counter who can be a great source of local knowledge on how to spend your dollars and time!

Make it a Working Holiday

Consider working in Australia. Although the cost of travel (and living) is high, you can offset that by working in the country on a working holiday visa and saving some dollars for travel.

Agricultural, fruit picking and wine harvesting provides excellent opportunities for you to work in exchange for food an accommodation and often times extra cash.

We’ve seen plenty of signs advertising free accommodation in exchange for a couple of hours work a day in hostels.

To live and work in the country can be a cost effective way to experience Australia over the long-term.

The Easy Way to Work and Travel Australia

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EXCLUSIVE DEAL: Just for our readers: $100 off your trip (whatever your currency) You must use the code: YTRAVEL. Learn more and use Discount

Go To Coffee Shops For Internet in Australia

Not only is internet in Australia stupidly expensive, it is also hugely unreliable and away from the capital cities can be very slow.

It’s a constant struggle for us as we road trip around the country, particularly in the country regions and the Outback.

Our phones are with the Optus network and once we left the east coast, we barely had service.

Try libraries, cafes, hostels and McDonald’s for free wi-fi hot spots to check your email from your smart phone or laptop. If it is free, don’t expect it to work that well. And rarely will it be fast especially in congested areas.

Urban Spoon  is a good resource to search cafes and restaurants offering free wireless.

You can buy mobile wifi devices for your own laptop to connect to the internet. You can pay-as-you-go which could be a cheaper alternative then buying internet connection at hotels or hostels.

You can buy a cheap SIM card for your phone from the supermarket or phone store. You can then pay as you go. Even better is to purchase an eSim – if you have an unlocked phone. Our favorite company to recommend for ease and best prices is Airalo. Click here to see rates

Only top up when you visit outside the cities so you can use it in rural areas for navigation, whereas in the city you can connect to WiFi and save your data for when you really need it.

Telstra is the fastest with the best network (which they abuse with high prices). Optus is the next best – they have better customer service than Telstra but Telstra has the better coverage.

Tours of Australia

If you were looking for group tour options in Australia, rather than traveling independent. Our preferred partner Globus has a range of Australian tours. Click links below and be sure to use our exclusive code in the blue box below.

• See all Globus Australia tours here
• See all Cosmos tours here (part of the Globus brand)

Final Thoughts on How to Visit Australia on a Budget

Because Australia is fairly isolated from most of the world requiring a long flight, for many people it becomes a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Our number one budget tip is always “spend more time in fewer places”.

We highly recommend instead of racing from one end of the country to another, which leads to burnout and a bigger required budget, focus on one region or type of vacation.

If you plan carefully, research thoroughly, and make smart spending choices, you can have that dream trip and experience Australia on a budget.

It’s a country that is really worth planting your feet on for a while.

We’ve created a page with all of our favorite travel booking sites and resources when you’re ready to book your trip to Australia! It will help save you time and money.

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Yoga is one of the simplest and easiest way to do this. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not so difficult to practice yoga traveling.

Whether you’re looking to find a space to do some yoga classes online, or you want to attend some live yoga classes, in this guide I’ll show you how you can keep up your yoga practice while traveling.

Yoga calms body, mind and spirit and can also give you a much-needed workout combined with a stretching and easing out of the tension.

It’s not easy to form habits when you travel, but here are some easy ways to keep a yoga practice when you travel and retain a little of your sanity.

Yoga Travel Tips to Help Keep Up Your Yoga Practice

Whether you’re looking to stay accountable for your fitness and health, or you want to stay connected to your spiritual self, be sure to follow these tips to keeping up your yoga practice on the road…

1. Roll out a yoga mat in your hotel

You might have enough self-motivation to roll out your mat and practice your yoga sequences, but may not feel the hotel room is the right environment.

For me, I like to have a teacher lead me through it, so I either need my laptop with a video or I need to find a yoga studio.

With two kids and luggage taking up the space in the hotel room, I need to find another space.

There is usually a common area for guests in any hotel, either by the pool, in a lounge, or on a terrace.

Some hotels even have a yoga room or fitness center, and if yoga is really important to you, try to find a hotel with these facilities at the time of booking.

If you’re conscious of getting in other guests way, here’s an easy 7-minute morning yoga routine you might want to follow.

This is also a great routine if you struggle to put some kind of routine together or find the time. Even 7 minutes is enough to make a difference.

2. Take your yoga mat with you

If you’re road tripping, you’ll have plenty of room to carry a yoga mat.

Even if you’re traveling with a suitcase, carrying your own mat will ensure you use it. It’s also a familiar tool from home, and something you associate with doing yoga in your daily life.

If you don’t allow yourself to switch off the routine, it won’t be hard to stay on it.

But, if you have no room in your travel backpack, a towel or a piece of beach or grass will work. You can also invest in a travel yoga mat, or travel mat that you take to the beach, and use this.

While there, spend some time in meditation! It’s also a form of yoga, can be done anywhere and will help calm and focus your mind.

3. Find classes in the area you are in

My friend, Em, who we traveled the Top End of Australia with, discovered the Iyengar yoga classes at the Buddha Sanctuary in Broome.

It became my 6am 90-minute daily habit. We stayed in Broome for 5 weeks so this was where I really fell in love with yoga and became quite addicted to it.

Nowadays there is a yoga studio in even the most remote parts of the world. If you ever visit the islands in Thailand, or Bali in Southeast Asia, there’s a yoga studio on every corner (a bit like how Starbucks is taking over NYC).

And don’t forget cool yoga experiences like goat yoga!

How to find yoga classes on your travels

• Local community notices. I saw a sign poked into the grass at Yallingup in Margaret River advertising for yoga on the beach. It was just a five step shuffle from my campsite. You can’t beat those yoga views right? I’d also check out notice boards in shopping centres and visitor centres as well.
• Ask the locals. The locals told me about yoga classes in Exmouth that I visited – again one was at the yacht club with views over the ocean! Just stop people on the street, or ask those working in stores etc. We always discover many gems by asking the locals questions.
• Use social media. You can also join local Facebook groups for the destinations your visiting and ask the people in there where they can find the local yoga trade.
• Search Google. I’d often just use Google to find yoga classes in the area I was visiting. But, I found that was often a futile task as Google can return junk, AND many yogi’s don’t have websites for their classes.
• Through Yogatrail, I also discovered that Lululemon stores hold free yoga classes once a week! Not all of them so check on their site if they do in the area you are visiting. I thought that was awesome and I attended one class on a Friday in Perth.

4. Stay at accommodation that offers yoga classes

Yoga classes are something I keep my eye out for now when booking accommodation.

Many resorts offer early morning yoga classes, especially the more luxurious resorts.

Our Big 4 Beacon campground on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria had yoga classes every Saturday morning. I loved that!

Kalyra and I followed the yoga teacher into town one morning do a yoga class together.

The Karijini Eco-retreat in the Karijini National Park had morning yoga classes. It was a gentle start to the day with gorgeous views out over the red dust wilderness.

I’m noticing it appearing more often now as a feature of an accommodation stay. The SoMeT conference we attended last month also offered morning yoga classes!

5. Enjoy a yoga retreat

What better way to practice yoga on your travels then to go on a yoga retreat.

I bet you’re already planning it if you’re visiting Bali or India. I did a lovely yoga retreat a couple of years ago at the Billabong Retreat just outside of Sydney.

It’s actually on my list to escape on more of these on my own. Imagine that luxury as a mum! Byron Bay or Bali is first on the list!

6. Get a Yoga Teacher Qualification

What better way to stay accountable for your yoga practice than to become a yoga teacher.

As well as taking yoga retreats, you can find yoga teacher training retreats where you can learn your own unique teaching style and techniques.

After that, you can look for yoga travel jobs and become a traveling yoga teacher. This is a great way to earn a bit of beer money as well as keep up with your practice.

7. Online yoga classes – grab a membership

I discovered online yoga classes when we were on our Australian road trip.

The online yoga classes did help me keep up my yoga practice as it helps to make yoga portable, but as you stream classes it was dependent on internet connection.

I started using YogaGlo, but have now switched to Grokker. I much prefer Grokker and not just because it’s cheaper!

It offers a lot more variety in the way of health, wellness and fitness than Yogaglo.

Although I feel Yogaglo possibly had more advanced online yoga classes. Grokker is more beginner to intermediate.

Grokker has similar expert-led instructional videos, but in four wellness areas: yoga, meditation, fitness & exercise and cooking.

I’m not just interested in doing yoga, so the other exercise videos are useful to me.

PLUS I’m always on the hunt for healthy recipes and there are plenty of them within the membership site with instructional videos as well.

I love how Grokker has challenges you can sign up for. I have signed up for the intermediate yoga challenge, the pilates challenge, and the core workout challenge.

I select the videos I’d like to do and they slot it into a schedule for me, which is quite motivating for me to show up.

You can also collect wellness points which can be motivating to see how well you are doing with your exercise.

You can try it for free for 14 days, after which it’s $14.99 a month or you can sign up to a yearly plan which reduces it to $9.99 a month whereas Yogaglo costs $18 a month.

With that, I get unlimited classes. Plus, what I love about it, is that you can search for any kind of class you like of any duration.

It’s a no brainer for me. Considering one yoga class would cost me around $15 on the road, I’d only have to use it once a month to get my value.

So far, it’s the best I’ve seen online. You can check out Grokker more here.

Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube is brilliant for the kids. My girls do it all the time, especially when we travelled. Why not get them maintaining their own yoga practice on their travels?

8. Try seated/chair yoga

So you might be thinking that yoga is all about rolling out the yoga mat and twisting into cat-cow pose, but it’s not just about that.

Yoga is as much about breath work as it is about loosening up joints and your aching right knee.

Whenever you can find time to mediate, take a deep breath and practice mindfulness, be sure to relax those shoulder blades and stretch out the spine, even if you’re seated.

If you’re taking a long-haul flight, it can be tiresome on your body and muscles (thank you middle seat), so do some exercises to keep your body loosened up.

When doing chair yoga, you will primarily be working your upper body, and will require you to twist and stretch your arms, fingers and torso.

Here is a great guide on how to do seated yoga.

Final Thoughts

Travel doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to your fitness regime for a while but can be a way to enable a more healthy and active lifestyle.

I’m sure your travels will lead you to the most exquisite places to practice a few yoga poses: beaches, cliff tops, canyons, and ancient forests.

Your inner yogi loves nothing more than postures in pretty places.

We hope this guide helped you figure out some ways to maintain your yoga practice while traveling and inspired you to keep at it.

More Travel Fitness Ideas

Need more inspiration on how to stay healthy on your travels? Here are some other helpful resources…

• 13 tips for staying healthy on the road
• How to find the balance between work, family and travel
• Why you should form daily habits on your travels
• Why you should listen to your inner voice (and how to hear it better)

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As a family who travel so much, you can bet our two daughters love and appreciate a travel-themed gift each year at Christmas time.

It’s easy to get tired of the same plastic toys, games, and bikes, and because our children are growing up with a wider access to the world, and a deeper connection to experiences waiting for them, getting a gift that reminds them of their love of travel never fails to put a smile on their face.

Travel is a wonderful way for them to look beyond the toys piling up in their room and learn more about themselves and their role in this ever changing, yet exciting world we live in.

And as they get older, their tastes change, so we’ve prepared this guide on the best Christmas gift ideas for kids that travel for all ages, so you can get your kids something that will inspire them to travel more and create better memories!

Travel Gifts For Kids

So without any further ado, let’s get into the best gifts you can get your travel bug kids this Xmas!

1. Travel Experiences

First thing we recommend as the best Christmas gifts for kids is a travel experience.

Memories hands down beat possessions!

Your kids might not quite get that concept until they’re actually riding that horse through spectacular mountain scenery imagining they are on a unicorn and all their dreams have come true.

What are your kids passionate about?

We recommend buying them a travel experience (think tour, attraction passes, volunteer opportunities, educational trips) etc. that help fuel the fire for their passions and their unique gifts and talents.

2. Scratch Maps

You know this has to be one of the best Christmas gifts for kids when they jump up and down with excitement and want to sit down together to do it straight away!

Our girls received these scratch maps of the USA states and USA national parks after we returned home from our USA road trip.

They were excited to scratch each country off the world map that they had visited sharing a “oh yeah I remember” that moment from each one.

I loved the learning exercise incorporated in it for scratching off the capitol city for each below it and the magnetic stickers they could attach representing a special memory.

They were surprised by how few national parks we explored once they saw how many there actually were.

And now they are inspired to visit more national parks and states.

These scratch maps are a super fun way to engage kids in their travel experiences and to motivate them to have more. You can’t ask for anything better as a gift for kids who love to travel.

The quality of the maps from Tripa Trips Travel are exceptional. Check them out here.

We can’t recommend any other from personal experience.

This world scratch maps gets raves reviews for details, quality and vibrant colors of the world atlas underneath the scratch.

3. Hydration Hiking Backpack for Kids

Nothing will drive you mad more when traveling with kids is the constant pull back on your shirt to give your child water.

ESPECIALLY when you’re in the middle of a steep climb and know that stopping will kill your momentum and possibly take you out of the adventure.

Enter a hiking backpack with hydration!

These handy travel backpacks contain a water bladder with a drinking tube that comes out the front strap of the bag. Feel thirsty?

Pick up the tube and take a drink. No need to stop, unload, unzip and unscrew.

These hydration backpacks can have a funky taste to begin with. You can get rid of this by soaking the bladder with lemon water, but it takes time.

Do that first or it will turn your kids off.

I love how these hydration hiking backpacks for kids teach them responsibility and independence.

They can look after their own water needs, plus carry their own snacks and have a place to put their sweaters, and even their cameras.

You can definitely use these for city travel as well.

And of course, with all of our Christmas gift ideas for kids, you can use these when you are not traveling too.

These are perfect gift ideas for older children. You can also get some extra small hydration backpacks to make it a great gift idea for younger children.

We have these Unigear tactical hydration backpacks. The quality of these are excellent and I really love the unique tactical design. This is a great travel gift for older kids, especially boys!

4. Point & Shoot Camera

One of the best Christmas gifts for kids would have to be their own point and shoot cameras. I don’t recommend you travel without your child having a camera to record their own memories.

It’s wonderful to see them engage with travel in this way and to see their perspective on experiences and what they find memorable and interesting.

There have been times when I think Kalyra, our eldest, is not interested in other travel experience we are having, and then I see her whip out her camera to record something that has resonated with her and I realize she is finding the experience valuable and connecting to it.

Not only can the camera help your kids discover and record what they love most, it’s a fun and unique way for them to interact and engage with other kids.

We bought our youngest, Savannah, this Nikon Coolpix camera for her birthday as she kept taking our camera to record funny videos with her friends.

These are some of the memories they cherish the most when traveling.

The fun times they have with friends they meet on the road and now they’ll always have these videos to look back on, to remember the people they cherish the most and the special time they had with them.

That includes you – the person buying these special travel gifts for kids.

For older children, we still like to opt for a camera over a phone. We know phones are great multi-purpose tools that have good cameras.

But, we want our kids to learn the distinction between consuming all of life through one thing and having separate ways to bring about joy and your creative spirit.

A tool that doesn’t quickly distract you or keep you emphasized on, “just let me put this on Instagram and see how many likes we get.”

We feel a camera encourages creation for the joy of creation rather than for outside validation.

If they do shoot videos and photos on their phone, we recommend the free QuickApp by GoPro for putting together video memories super easily.

5. GoPro Camera (+ AKASO alternative)

What about kids who loves playing in the water? Or participate in some high action activities?

Of course they still want to record their memories, even more so as its high adventure and memory making stuff.

You know a GoPro can cater to any kind of activity to capture those memories.

Concerned a GoPro is a little to expensive for a child?

I get it. We lost one to the bottom of the ocean on Waikiki Beach when it fell off Kalyra’s surfboard. This was our fault for not securing it properly, not Kalyra’s.

However a cheaper alternative to a GoPro is the AKASO v50 PRO, which is receiving good reviews and growing quite quickly.

We have written an in-depth review on the AKASO V50 Pro action camera.

This is a fantastic gift idea for older kids. A travel gift idea for younger kids could be an cheaper waterproof camera. Savannah’s Nikon camera is actually a waterproof one.

For an even cheaper action camera, see this review on the AKASO Brave 6 Plus.

6. The Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids

My girls absolutely LOVE completing tasks and exercises in journals, books and things like Junior Ranger programs. Makes my homeschooling a breeze!

Travel journals are an excellent way to engage in what they are learning as they travel and why the experience is memorable and important for them

The Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids is one of the best travel journals I’ve seen which is why this one in particular is makes our Christmas gift ideas for kids list.

This travel journal includes activities for four trips is aimed for 6-9 year old’s.

The prompts and activities will guide the kids to record their hopes and dreams for their vacation, record highlights and new discoveries. As well as fun activities to keep them entertained. Perfect for long road trips!!

7. Travel Journal for Older Kids

Now that our kids are getting older, they still love to journal, but their tastes have changed. A special blank journal is a wonderful gift for older kids to record their memories and insights.

Kalyra loves recording her travel days in her journal often writing pages.

It’s wonderful for reflection, but imagine when she picks it up in five years time.

The delight she’ll feel in remembering experiences she could have possibly forgotten and reconnecting with the views of her younger self and how these travel moments helped create who she is in the current moment.

You can use any notebook, but I recommend choosing a good quality one with a special color. The memories going in here are priceless.

I love this vintage blue notebook with a compass on it. Great for also including sketches

8. Destination Activity Books and Guides

Help kids pursue their dream destinations and engage with the experience by giving them specific activity books or travel activity kit and guides.

This is how we did a lot of our homeschooling while traveling and the girls LOVED them!!

Some kits come with crayons and pencil cases, which make them feel more like a gift than a piece of homework.

When they are begging you to buy an activity book on a national park, you are not going to say no to that curious and enthusiastic real life learning plea!

These are fantastic for road trips, long plane flights and down time in your hotel after a long day of exploring. This is one of the easiest and best Christmas gifts for kids.

Just research the destination on Amazon or check out Lonely Planet Kids and you’ll find something that relates.

Another great idea is to get a subscription to National Geographic Kids, which are great travel books for kids.

I love the Leap & Hop Travel Guides. Kalyra has the New York one and enjoyed the activities.

9. Greenlight Debit Card for Kids

Of course we all know travel costs money and sacrifices. It involves a lot of savings!

Kids will bug you a lot on your trip to buy this and that: ice cream, candy, souvenirs.

While part of a vacation is enjoying these things, it can be a little draining on your wallet soul and spirit to be constantly having to answer yes and no.

Why not let the kids be in control of their own money and learn some great money principles at the same time?

We love the Greenlight Card, and so do our girls.

It is very important to keep up the conversation with them so they understand that little piece of plastic is actually money and it’s not endless.

I talk to my girls how it is a debit card not a credit card and how important it is for them to know the difference. That is, you never spend what you don’t have.

I love the automatic ease of the Greenlight. It’s rare for me to have cash on hand, and it was so annoying having to find a to get the girls allowance every month.

The Greenlight makes it so easy with their app.

With a few clicks I can transfer money onto their card and easy check balances. I get notifications whenever they spend money and can give them permission to only shop at certain places.

I can set up automatic allowance payments to their green card. I can also set and track chores they are responsible for doing in order to get their allowance.

The feature I love the most is the ability to move their money into buckets, which is so so important to teach them from an early age. So every time they get “paid” we move 10% into each of these buckets: the savings bucket, donation bucket, dream goal bucket.

What they have left over is there’s to spend on their souvenirs with a lot of guidance from me, “are you sure that is going to bring value into your life?”

There is a monthly card fee of $4.99. I think that’s a good price for the value you get and the wonderful financial education and responsibility it offers children.

Ease, automation, independence, and important financial learning makes this one of the best Christmas gifts for kids.

Join via this link and you’ll get $10 after your first month.

10. Merrell Hiking Shoes

We hope that your travels with your kids involves getting out in nature and enjoying the abundance of outdoor activities on offer.

As a family we love to go hiking and are very aware of the importance of good hiking shoes.

The good news is that this Christmas gift idea can also be used for any type of travel, even walking around city streets.

You can also use these shoes in your neighborhood and hometown streets.

If there is one item you spend a little more money on, we suggest it’s a good pair of travel shoes for kids. (and you!)

We’ve tried all different brands of hiking shoes, and Merrell is the one shoe brand we love and trust the most. They are comfortable, hard wearing and so sturdy.

I LOVE my Keen sandals, but if I’m hiking a steep, slippery slope, I trust that my Merrell hiking shoes will hold me up more. I’ve never had a slide wearing them once.

Our daughter, Savannah has a pair of Merrell hiking shoes and they keep her upright, steady and looking great!

I recommend getting a waterproof pair to prepare you for the many cool adventures you may find on an hike and outdoor activity. We have come across many creek crossings!

I’ve been amazed at how much they have kept my feet dry. I’ve had full immersion in a creek before and the shoes stayed pretty dry but my socks got soaked as the water did go in from above and through the socks.

11. Globes

We’ve just recently settled into a house and when the girls were designing their rooms, they both leapt at the globe to put on their shelf.

A globe is a wonderful gift for kids of all ages.

It will fuel their dreams, help them find their place in the world and learn more about countries, landforms and cities.

I remember as a child, spinning that globe and pondering curiously about the world would have had a HUGE impact on the 50+ countries I’ve visited spanning a 22 year life of travel.

You can also put a large map on their walls. However I feel a globe is a more fun gift idea for kids. You just can’t beat the spin factor.

12. Reusable Water Bottles

Boys and girls…there is no need at all for people in the Western World to buy single use plastic water bottles.

Companies are not selling water here, they are selling plastic. It’s time of us to travel more consciously and this is the easiest place to start.

Give the kids the gift of a reusable water bottle. Again the perfect gift ideas for kids even outside of travel.

They’ll be ecstatic to take these everywhere so they can always have water on hand and protect the environment – not to mention save you money!!

My girls also wanted me to recommend these colorful water bottles.

For those traveling in countries where it is recommended to drink bottled water for health reasons, consider getting a purifying water bottle such as Grayl or LifeStraw. It’s a practical gift for your kids!

13. Headlamp

It’s amazing how much kids will love this gift idea.

A headlamp is not just handy when it comes to camping and nighttime walks. With so many cool caves to explore on your travels, you’ll be using them in the day as well.

Kids love to have these on their head and the path lighting up in front of them so they are still free to fun and explore

I know you probably don’t want them running much in a cave, but you know kids!

I think a head torch is better than a flashlight or pocket torch, so the kids can be hands free. Our kids liked taking control of the campfire so a headlamp offered a little more safety for them.

I love the look and sound of the Go For Wild Rechargeable Headlamp.

I love the motion activated switch – especially when wearing gloves –  the bright light and easy charging feature.

It sounds like the perfect gift for kids AND an affordable gift as well.

14. Passport Holder

We’re big supporters of teaching children to become independent travelers from a very young age.

We had our girls packing their bags and taking care of the boarding procedures when they were toddlers.

As a result, they’ve lawyers been incredible travelers and rarely now any direction from me.

So we think a fantastic travel gift idea for children are little passports holders. This will encourage them to look after something very important and be responsible independent travelers

Why not make it personal and get a personalized passport holder? And pair it with matching luggage tags.

15. Neck Pillow

Not just for planes, these headrest pillows are also ideal for road trips.

Our girls always pack them no matter what style of trip or family vacation we take. Therefore I could not leave them off this list of best Christmas gifts for children. If they willingly pack it, you know it’s good.

For younger girls, you can’t go past a unicorn neck pillow. Our Savannah is unicorn made and so is her best travel friend. This Gund pusheen pillow is also sure to be a hit.

Older children will love this memory foam all in one travel pillow as a gift for Christmas. It’s a bundle that includes cell phone holder and eye masks and has rave reviews.

16. Travel Games

When it comes to keeping young adventurers entertained on their travels, board games, card games, and puzzles are the perfect gift.

These timeless classic gifts not only provide endless hours of fun but can also be educational, too.

One travel game that’s a hit amongst families is ‘Trekking The World’ by Underdog Games, which is a fun and educational game that allows kids to explore the world without leaving the house.

Mum and dad will love it too. It’s the perfect game to play on a cold Christmas morning after all the presents have been unwrapped.

17. iPad or Tablet

When your kids turn into the Tween or Teen phase, they are not looking for beach toys or a scooter, but something more sophisticated and adult.

Getting them their own iPad or Tablet is a great way to keep them happy.

They can download movies and games for inflight entertainment or to kill time at the airport.

And it will keep them quiet in the evenings when you’re looking to rest in the hotel room and there’s no English channels on the TV.

18. Bluetooth Headphones

To pair nicely with an iPad is a pair of bluetooth headphones.

Bluetooth headphones make a fantastic gift that provide the freedom to entertain themselves, either by listening to music, audiobooks, or movies without the hassle of tangled cords.

When your kids start to get older and they want their space and independence, but can’t get it when they are stuck with the family on vacation, sitting on the beach or by the pool with their headphones in is an easy way to relax.

They are more than just a means for entertainment, but also comfort and a sense of escape for young travelers.

The Airpod bluetooth headphones by Apple are really comfortable and have a decent battery life. Our girls love their headphones. It’s a permanent attachment to Kalyra!

19. Binoculars

When your kids become teenagers, they may start to take more of an interest in wildlife encounters, so if you’re planning a safari or a whale watching trip in the future, get your kids a pair of binoculars!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, these are the best gifts for kids who have the adventurous and creative spirit.

Hint: All kids do, but sometimes they may need a little portal to help grease the wheel.

These holiday gift ideas can be given to any kid in your life: child, sibling, nephew, niece, cousins, close friend AND can actually be a gift to give at any time of the year!

These are fun travel gifts we know kids will love and will enhance the travel experience for them. We know this from experience.

We haven’t just collated a bunch of irrelevant Christmas gift ideas for kids who travel based upon what looks cute on Amazon.

We ran these ideas by our two girls (aged 12 and 8), who are full travel professionals and they agreed this was a fun, unique and interesting Christmas gift guide for kids and DEFINITELY things that would enhance the experience from beginning to after.

Kalyra (12) insisted we include a phone and computer. I mentioned to her that most people wouldn’t be traveling full time, but taking shorter family vacations and probably don’t want to take too much technology with them!

Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

More Christmas Gift Ideas

Need more inspiration for travel gift ideas this Christmas? Check out the following travel gift guides!

• Best Travel Gifts for females
• 50 of the Best Travel Gifts
• Best Travel Gear for Kids
• 11 of the Best Suitcases

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Gift giving is meant to be a joyful event, but sometimes trying to find the right present can be stressful, especially if the person you are buying for is a traveler and embraces a minimalist lifestyle.

There are only so many Lonely Planet guidebooks you can buy, and if she’s a frequent traveler, the chances are she’s already equipped with the essential travel gear.

As a frequent female traveler for 20 years, I know exactly what women want when it comes to travel gift ideas.

The best gifts are the ones that she doesn’t think to buy herself, that show you have really thought about her and her needs, or that allow her to remember her travels and good times with you.

It’s about being organized, efficient, and feeling glamorous. So if you’re feeling stuck about what to get an adventurous woman, then I’ve created this guide to the best travel gifts for her to help you out.

The Best Travel Gift Ideas for Her

Not to be confused with him or the kids, these travel gifts are for her – and only for her.

These gifts are for the woman you love, whether that is your wife, your mother, your girlfriend, your daughter or your best friend.

If she loves adventure, pretty things, being organized, and looking great on the runway then these travel gift ideas for her will make you the most popular person at gift giving time.

Whatever the cause for celebration, be it Christmas or birthdays, these are great gifts that don’t lose their shine, or their trend, so you can bookmark this and buy that special gift for her at any time of the year.

1. Eco-Friendly Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

I absolutely LOVE my eco-friendly makeup remover pads! Since I travel a lot, I often worry about my carbon footprint and the impact my travel has on the environment, so I’m always looking for eco-friendly ways to improve my lifestyle.

If you’re celebrated female is of a similar mindset, then this will definitely be the best stocking filler Christmas gift for a woman!

It’s estimated that after 4 years of using them, it saves the planet from over 2,800 disposable wipes. Not to mention they are 100% recyclable and come in plastic-free packaging.

Not only do reusable make up remover pads save the environment, but they also save money and hassle.

They are easy to use, soft on the skin (perfect if skincare is something she cares about) and are machine washable. I also love that it includes gentle cleansing makeup remover pads and exfoliating makeup remover pads.

Such a clever item that can be used for travel as well as in your home.

I love this kit that comes in a little bamboo bag, which makes transporting them easy.

2. Travel Experiences Gift Voucher

The woman in your life craves memorable experiences more than possessions. Give her the gift of a dream travel experience. She will remember this for the rest of her life – material things she can easily forget, use up and toss away.

You could go all out with an all expenses paid vacation – go you! Or, you can simply give her a travel experiences gift voucher for a tour or attraction of her choice.

We love Get Your Guide, a premier tour and attraction booking site. You can find hundreds of travel experiences for hundreds of destinations around the world.

It’s an easy, rewarding and joyful gift for her, and a great stocking stuffer !

3. Travel Wallet

One of my favorite travel gifts for her products is one that every traveler needs!

One thing I desire for my travel adventures is a travel wallet that holds my passport and other documents, but these can quickly become tatty and sad looking – but it’s not something that I think to buy for myself.

I always love it when I receive something stylish, colorful and practical.

I hate having my documents scattered in different places. It makes travel so much easier and more enjoyable when you can easily access what you need in one place.

If your looking for something practical and also stylish, this is the perfect travel gift for her.

4. Underwear Organizer

I discovered the underwear organizer last year, and my packing sanity was saved.

I never imagined I would love it as much as I do.

It keeps my undies and my socks organized and so easy to find, as well as has a compartment where my bras can go without tangling up with the rest of my underwear.

I love how it fits neatly into my suitcase and comes with a separate pouch for separating clean and dirties.

It’s also great to take into the hotel room bathroom (also particularly if you are camping or staying in shared accommodation) since water won’t get in through the Nylon fabric.

No underwear falling on skanky wet floors please!

The underwear organizer is a unique travel gift for her that she will appreciate for years to come.

5. Jewellery Organizer

I may travel with too much jewellery but at least it’s organized and I can easily see what goes with my travel outfit for the day.

And I use this jewelry organizer even when I am not traveling.

I love how it rolls up really small and then I can easily hang it in the wardrobe when I check into my room or arrive home.

Before discovering this earlier this year, my jewellery was one hot mess in my suitcase getting lost and caught in everything. I had bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings all tangled up.

One of the great value travel gifts for her products!

6. Packing Organizers

I love looking in my suitcase and seeing how organized everything is, AND colorful.

Packing organizers and packing cubes are the ultimate.

I never used to think they were necessary until I got them and realized how incredibly chaotic my packing used to be which caused me stress and chewed up time trying to find things.

For the Aussies, you might want to check out some of the packing organizers and luggage accessories from Globite here.

7. Pink Hardcover Suitcase

I recently purchased a pink Delsey 29 inch Expander Spinner trolley suitcase which I love.

I’ve always had soft cover black two wheeled suitcases that were pretty crappy. A good travel bag makes a huge difference.

Now I can pick out my suitcase on the carousel immediately (no luggage tag needed), and it rolls effortlessly. I love how I don’t have to angle it and drag it, I can just push it along on the four wheels.

I like how the when you open the suitcase it has two compartments, one on each side, and one has a zippered section so you can put the things you don’t want seen in there!

• Delsey Suitcase Review: Best travel luggage for style, durability and ease
• 11 of the Best Suitcases for Easy Travel

8. Vera Bradley Cosmetic Bag

This cosmetic bag is large enough to fit in the basic makeup I need throughout the day to top up, and small enough to fit in my cross body bag.

I love the vibrant design, I have the red one and the girls have a purple paisley one. She has lots of different designs.

9. Cross Body Bag

I love traveling with a cross body bag, it’s much safer than a travel backpack and helps me carry only the essentials.

I like to carry as little as possible and have my important things easily accessible. I don’t like to dig around in big bags that hang off my shoulder or in backpacks.

Cross body bags are safer too as it’s harder for someone to steal from you. Everything is in the front of you.

I like having a few zippered pockets as well so I can keep smaller items like my phone, headset and pens separate and easier to find.

My cross body bag fits in my new camera too which is so exciting, and my bottled water, which is more important than you think!

10. Merrell Hiking Shoes

A great travel gift for women who love walking and hiking are Merrell Moab hiking shoes.

These are a new addition to my travel wardrobe – a birthday present from Craig and the girls.

I’ve been using my Keen sandals for the past four years, which I really love, BUT, the leaves are turning and we’re about to experience our first winter in about four years. The sandals just won’t cut it anymore.

I tested these hiking shoes out on our recent leaf peeping trip to New England. I LOVE them. Super comfy and lightweight – my essential for travel shoes.

No blisters necessary. I love the style and color and they keep my foot sturdy and protected and the grip is great.

They are also waterproof – essential for a pair of hiking shoes.

And they are stylish enough to wear with a pair of jeans as well – so they easily made my list of the best travel gifts for her!

11. PrAna Travel Clothes

Prana are my favorite clothesline. Here’s a few things to know about my PrAna gear (which is at least half of my wardrobe)

1. Every time I put a PrAna piece of clothing on, I feel giddy at how comfortable the item of clothing is. I don’t get how they do it, but there is something about the quality of their fabric that feels amazing.
2. Out of all my clothes in my wardrobes, my PrAna outfits are commented on the most by people I meet in real life. It’s uncanny how many people say they love what I’m wearing. Even to stop and talk to me in the streets or while waiting in line for coffee.
3. They are hugely practical and diverse for travel. I have a gorgeous black PrAna dress that I can wear to the theme park for the day and then change into a pair of black sandals and wear out to dinner.

1. They last a really long time, which is what the travel girl in your life really wants.
2. They have clothes for comfortable travel, hiking, yoga, rock climbing, and even swimwear and denim. I love their yoga gear – even their mats are awesome.
3. When you wear PrAna, you are helping the environment and communities. Their clothing is made from organic cotton and hemp, have minimal impact on the environment and are fair trade certified.
4. They are also the perfect travel gift for the men in your life!

The woman in your life will love it, trust me, especially if she’s super busy, which I’m guessing she is. They even have gift cards to make it easier!

12. Panasonic Lumix

It took me some time to research and decide on the best travel camera to suit my needs and the Panasonic Lumix came out on top.

I wanted a camera I could use for vlogging and to take my own photos, but without weighing down by backpack with a mirrorless camera with a huge lens.

It’s just a secondary camera so I wasn’t going to go big budget and fancy, but I wanted quality for a decent price.

What I love about it is it has:

• flip screen
• mirrorless
• lightweight and small
• External mic capabilities
• Excellent focusing – this was the most important thing for me.
• 4K video a bonus

After reading a ton of reviews and getting lots of advice I decided the Panasonic Lumix G7 was the one that best fit what I wanted for the price.

I am AMAZED at this camera.

I like it even better than I thought I would. It’s super easy to use, the design is brilliant, it takes amazing photos, the focusing is so good.

It’s better than our primary DSLR camera which we need to upgrade!

I love it.

If the woman you love wants a good mid-range camera that can fit in her cross body bag and is easy to use and captures amazing memories, this is the camera for you.

And I purchased this pack with a bunch of other accessories in it, which will probably come in handy. A great starter kit.

13. Travel Planner or Travel Journal

When thinking about travel gifts for her, I couldn’t go past a good travel planner or journal.

I love this travel planner/journal/scrap book that I found on Amazon – it packs in everything from itinerary planning, has prompts to help you write down your travel memories, and includes blank pages where you can scrapbook tickets and other travel memories.

This travel gift is suited to the travel woman who wants to document her travels, cherish memories, and stay organized all in one.

A good organizer, or planner is key. When I travel, I have a million ideas, tasks, and things I want to see and do on a given day. I need an organizer that helps me brain dump, jot down, strategize, plan, and schedule.

Not to mention track my travel budget! One that helps me reflect is also beneficial, as I love to look back over my memories.

14. Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack

Digital nomads, frequent travelers and tech savvy business women will LOVE the Tortuga Setout Laptop Backpack. 

I use it even for going to the local cafe to work or on road trips. It is my go-to travel item. You will definitely make the woman in your life happy with this travel gift.

You can slide it under the seat of most airplanes and carry all your electronics, chargers, a change of clothes, and your in-flight travel essentials.

It helps keep you organized and your tech gear protected and it’s big enough to include clothes if you just wanted to travel with carry on only for a short trip.

You can read my full review of the Turtuga Laptop Backpack here.

15. GoPro (Or Alternative)

Any traveler would be happy to have a GoPro to document those more adventurous activities. Imagine flying down a zipline over the jungle canopies, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, or rock climbing the Dolomites.

Wouldn’t those experiences be better if you can document them? A GoPro is an action camera designed for just that.

While a lens camera or even the Panasonic Lumix I mentioned earlier are great for capturing every day travel memories, the small and durable design of a GoPro is ideal for the more thrilling adventures.

And because a GoPro is expensive, I also have done my research on the best GoPro alternative action cameras: AKASO V50 Pro and AKASO Brave 6 Plus.

16. Scratch-Off Map

A scratch-off map is a great gift for anyone who loves to travel, no matter their age or travel style.

Although we don’t like to be a “country counter”, having a scratch off map is a fun way to see all the places we’ve been and get a visual on just how much of the world we have explored.

There is no greater satisfaction than coming home after a trip and scratching off a new country!

17. Water Filtration Water Bottle

As I mentioned earlier, we have an eco-conscious mindset when we travel, and so we love these water filtration bottles that allow us to drink tap water and river water anywhere in the world (well, maybe not every river, but you get the point).

There are many water filtration bottles on the market, but the one we love is the GRAYL OnePress, which is small enough to fit in your backpack and is easy to use.

It’s filtration system filters out water-born pathogens and bacteria, as well as harmful chemicals. It claims to remove 99.9% of harmful viruses and bacteria.

What better way to keep her safe and healthy on her travels than with access to clean water wherever she goes?

18. Turkish Towel

A Turkish Towel is a unique and thoughtful gift for a woman who loves to travel.

Most travelers will have a quick-dry towel or microfiber towel, but a Turkish towel has the same “quich-dry” material but with a more stylish design.

I also love how I can use it as a beach towel, a travel scarf for entering temples, and even a blanket on an airplane when one isn’t provided.

If your celebrated female is a backpacker, you can also use it as a make-shift curtain in hostels – you can thank me for that travel hack later.

19. Airbnb Gift Card

No matter what type of traveler you are, having a vacation rental for one or two nights is a dream.

Even backpackers can appreciate one night in an apartment all to themselves, even if it’s just for the sake of doing laundry in peace.

Getting her an Airbnb gift card is a thoughtful gift that shows you value her comfort and safety on her travels. And she can use it to pick her own place to stay, whenever and wherever she likes.

20. 3 in 1 Convertible Backpack Purse

A favorite find of mine for 2023, is this backpack that converts into a purse! No need to pack multiple bags on your vacation.

Now your female friends will have a daypack to hold their sweaters and water bottles + their laptop bag and electronics when moving from place to place. I’ve even taken mine on short hikes

Then, when it’s time to explore the streets of Paris or enjoy special dinner on the Amalfi coast, you can convert it to a simple purse or clutch to take out on a

Use the code YTRAVEL10 for a 10% discount. You may also like their 2-in-1 expandable backpack (full review here) or cross body bag that converts to a duffle bag.

Final Thoughts

I’m a woman and I travel all the time, so in this guide I’ve recommended the travel gear and products, I absolutely LOVE and would not travel without.

They have made my travel lifestyle easier, more efficient and definitely more glamorous. I’ve tried multiple travel products and gear over the years, these are a standout.

I believe these gift ideas are the most essential travel items for her, and you’ll notice that everything on my list is bright and colorful – it’s better for your chakras – the energy that helps you create what you want AND life just feels better when it’s bright and colorful.

I wanted a list that was more unique and interesting than your usual travel adapter, passport-holder, travel pillows, eye mask, and noise-cancelling headphones which are predictable and chances are she already has these.

So now you know the best gift ideas I truly love and recommend, let me know which gift idea you’ve decided on in the comments!

More Travel Gear Articles

Need more travel gear and perfect gift ideas? Don’t worry, here are some other helpful resources…

• Best Gifts for Travelers You Love!
• Best Travel Gear for Children
• A guide to choosing the best Travel Backpacks
• 8 of the best carry on suitcases
• Delsey Suitcase Review: Best Travel Luggage for Style, Durability, and Price!
• Best Laptop Backpack For Travel
• Standard Luggage Carry On Backpack Loaded with Features
• 8 Best Point-and-Shoot Compact Cameras

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