Our first NZ road trip with a baby, should have been relaxing. We’d do a loop around the Coromandel from Auckland, hit a few beaches, take our time. What actually transpired? Mostly parking outside a petrol station while feeding a seven month old. You know what though? It was still one of the best weeks we’ve ever had.
If you’re planning to go road tripping with a kid, here are some of the things we learnt. Some of them the lazy way. The rest of them the other way.
Slow Down Your NZ Road Trip With a Baby
And this one. Whatever Google maps says the drive is, add plenty to that. Babies will need to eat, change nappies and get out of their car seats regularly. Plus, the road to Coromandel is bendy, so you won’t be going anywhere too quickly.
Pre-babies, we’d comfortably drive four or five hours in a day. With a baby, two or three hours of actual driving was sufficient. Drive for longer and the baby becomes grumpy. And the adults.
Make more with your time on each stop. Spend a couple nights at a time, instead of one.
Drive around naps
We managed to start as the baby was just beginning to feel sleepy; if we were lucky, he’d sleep for the first hour or so. That meant a good bit of peaceful driving. When he stirred we’d stop and put the baby to feed on a blanket and have a wiggle.
Car Seat Comfort and Safety
Long trips are a real test for your car seat. Check yours is fitted correctly before you leave. Not sure? There are qualified child restraint technicians all over NZ to do it for you and give you peace of mind. Ask your council or call Plunket for details.
Also, maintain a comfortable temperature in the vehicle. Back seats can be very hot on summer days – particularly in the afternoon sun. Having a window shade that clips on makes a real difference.
Here’s the best advice from another midwife: Your baby shouldn’t be in a car seat for too long without a rest. So those regular stops are not just kind. They are advisable.
Packing the Boot (Without Losing Your Mind)
The small hatchback is our car. Packing the boot with a new baby is more than shocking. Our portacot, bag, food, toys, and then pram. The very first time we packed it up, it totally blocked out the back window.
That’s when we began to have a rethink about the equipment. Our day-to-day buggy was fairly large. It filled almost half of the boot on its own. So we packed a pocket stroller instead. It was compact, there was room for it next to the bags, and we even had room for a Chilly bin. Truly, it was the best decision we made.
More packing hints:
- Store a ‘car bag’ on the back seat containing nappies, wipes, snacks and a change of clothes
- Last pack in, first out. Pack the portacot last so it is the first thing out at each stop.
- Choose soft bags instead of hard suitcases – things can be squished into small places!
- Recomend Bring a couple of comfort items from home, sleeping bag, soft toy.
Where We Stopped
No two families are the same, so I am not going to say that this is the exact way this should be done. But I will tell you about the course that ours took.
Thames
The first stop was just a quick stop in Thames. There is a lovely coastal area here to walk around for a bit. We grabbed a coffee and gave our son a feed then travelled along the coast road.
Whitianga and Hahei
We stayed near Whitianga for a few nights, day tripped around from there. Morning on Hahei beach it was nice and empty before the crowds arrived. We didn’t walk the whole way to Cathedral Cove (it’s pretty steep at some bits) and just went to the beach and looked at the view, no regrets.
Whangamatā
Heading south, we spent two nights in Whangamatā. Nice long wide beach perfect for our morning walk each day. Our son happily watched the kids and grandkids jumping in the water from his chair in the shade of the umbrella.
Choosing Baby-Friendly Accommodation
Not all baches and motels cater to babies. We had a few quick questions before we booked:
- Where can I put a portacot?
- Can I warm bottles or prepare baby food in the kitchenette?
- Is it a lot of steps?
- Is there a washing machine?
That last one really hit home. Babies really grow out of clothes quickly on a beach holiday.
Food and Feeding on the Road
Snacks and easy baby food went into our mini chilly bin. For us it saved a lot of maddening stops at cafes. Small towns usually have a reasonable four square or supermarket so you don’t need to carry a week’s worth.
If you bottle feed – plan on how to do your bottles on the move. We brought a small tub with our own dish brush. It took up very little room and made life so much easier.
What Went Wrong (So You Can Avoid It)
Things didn’t all go smoothly. We ran out of car bag on day three (you always manage to leave at the worst possible time, right?) That day the only nappy of the trip happened while up a hill, miles from the shop and at exactly the moment you don’t have a change of nappies. All the ‘barely needed it’ evenings turned a little chilly once the sun went down.
Would We Do It Again?
Of course. Yes, it was a lot slower and a lot more dirty than the ones we used to take. But there was something extraordinary about watching our boy see the sea for the first time. He was squealing with delight at the seagulls and stuffing sand in his face. He also ate a number of shells.
A road trip with a baby is not about visiting sights. It’s about the in-between moments. So go slow, pack light and leave room for things to go sideways.
If you’re planning one and want to get your travel bags in order. Have a look at NV Kids, a baby shop in Auckland. Watching a stroller fold and go before a trip saved us a lot of headache.
Happy travels, and don’t leave those spare wipes at home. You will need them for the car, the baby and you might even need them for yourself!
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