How to Do a Family Camping Trip Without Getting in the Car
Who needs hellish road trips and soaring flight costs? The Atkinson family organised an extra-special glamping getaway in their own garden
As lovely as it is having the kids home from school during the summer holidays, it can also mean grasping at ideas for how to keep them entertained. For Matt and Lisa Atkinson, who live with their two daughters on the Mornington Peninsula in southern Australia, this resulted in a decision to organise a fun staycation by setting up a campsite in their own back garden for a week. After surprising the girls, Finlay and Lila, with this stylish camp, this couple definitely get the Coolest Parents award.
The back garden is a large space that’s usually occupied only by a trampoline, so there was ample room to turn it into a family-fun campsite.
“The unveiling was like something out of one of those home makeover shows. It was awesome to see the looks of surprise and delight on their faces,” Lisa says.
“The unveiling was like something out of one of those home makeover shows. It was awesome to see the looks of surprise and delight on their faces,” Lisa says.
The goal was to stay outside of the house as much as possible, so they went inside only to use the facilities.
Matt and Lisa wanted the family to get away from life’s little distractions, including the TV and iPads. Lisa says she wanted to encourage conversation, enjoy the outdoors and have some quality family bonding time.
See 20 ways to make a staycation your best holiday yet
Matt and Lisa wanted the family to get away from life’s little distractions, including the TV and iPads. Lisa says she wanted to encourage conversation, enjoy the outdoors and have some quality family bonding time.
See 20 ways to make a staycation your best holiday yet
The fun didn’t stop outside. Inside the generously sized tent were comfy beds for Mum, Dad and the girls, as well as delightful decorations, including twinkle lights, cushions, rugs, games and magazines.
Gathering around to play board games was a great old-school way for the Atkinson brood to come together as a family. “We love our board games, and Santa brought us a Family Feud game that the girls were obsessed with playing!” Lisa says.
Happy Glamper did a lot of the work for the family, setting up the tent, beds, rugs and chairs. Lisa and Matt also bought some clamshell wading pools, put in a Slip’N Slide and added a Swingball set for outdoor fun.
It wasn’t just fun for the kids. Lisa and Matt loved the fact they could enjoy their garden, a space they rarely use. “I loved waking up in the morning, going inside to make a coffee for me and a chai for Finlay – we are the early birds of the family – and sitting in the deck chairs in the fresh morning air having a chat with my little girl,” Lisa says. They also played some Monopoly while Matt and Lila slept. “I swear that kid’s going to be a real estate mogul,” Lisa says. “She’s a brutal Monopoly opponent!”
As many parents know, the summer holidays can feel quite long. Lisa says they normally try to break it up by going away at some point.
However, being at home this time, they embarked on local adventures, including day trips, movies, beach time and play dates to keep the kids entertained.
However, being at home this time, they embarked on local adventures, including day trips, movies, beach time and play dates to keep the kids entertained.
“Yay” banner, Pony Rider.
Fortunately for Lisa and Matt, they work for themselves and so have flexible hours, which helps over the break. “I really feel for parents who have to work full-time and figure out how to keep the kids entertained in the meantime,” Lisa says.
Check out 13 steps to a kid-friendly garden adults will love, too
Check out 13 steps to a kid-friendly garden adults will love, too
For after sunset, the family also borrowed a portable fire pit from a friend, so they could have campfires under the stars. Matt had grown up in the US and was eager to give the girls the classic campfire experience with toasted marshmallows and spooky stories.
TELL US…
How have you kept your kids entertained during school holidays? Lets us know in the Comments below.
TELL US…
How have you kept your kids entertained during school holidays? Lets us know in the Comments below.
Who lives here Lisa and Matt Atkinson; their daughters, Finlay, 7, and Lila, 5; and their golden retriever
Location Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia
Garden size The property is 11,840 sq ft (about 1,100 sq m); the back garden takes up about half of that.
Matt and Lisa had had a busy year, and by the time summer was near they realised they hadn’t planned anything to do with their girls. “By that stage, everything was either sold out or hideously expensive,” Lisa says. If they were going to spend money on an escape, they preferred to go somewhere warm and tropical. Instead, the family decided to stay put at home, with plenty of picturesque beaches close by.
Finlay and Lila had been asking their parents to go camping in the lead-up to the holidays. “We’re not really a camping family, though,” Lisa says. “We don’t have the stuff and, to be honest, we’re not great at roughing it – we like our creature comforts.”
Knowing their limitations, the Atkinsons asked camping specialist Happy Glamper to help set the scene. They wanted it to be a surprise, so they took the girls out for lunch while the tent was being set up, and blindfolded them to reveal the grand surprise.