Holidays within reach if you travel for only 24hrs and get creative, says single

Twenty dollars, an esky full of food, a tank of fuel and a sense of adventure is all that Bendigo single parent Amy Kinder needed to start exploring the world around her.  

Getting on the road and seeing different parts of Australia is something that Ms Kinder always wanted to do. But being time-poor and on a single-parent wage, she thought it was almost impossible.

“As a single parent, I was time poor and cash poor. Family members were going on overseas holidays and doing these amazing things.

But a change in attitude and desire to travel inspired Ms Kinder to look at holidays in a different way.

“I realised how cheap it can be. Take the esky and pack my food, that can turn it into a really cheap adventure, and only go for 24 hours,” she said. 

Ms Kinder, who has been joined by her daughters aged 19, 18 and eight, said the adventures had given them something to talk about during the pandemic. 

“They absolutely love it. It is the downtime and quality time they get with me in my happy space.” 

Pushing limits

Getting out on the road and exploring wasn’t an easy step for Ms Kinder but it was something she was determined to do. 

“I remember the first time I was taking my baby away, it was just her and me, and having to make all the decisions by myself, it was pretty spontaneous with no real planning or timing involved, it was very nerve-wracking,” she said. 

Since the first trip, Ms Kinder has built her confidence and said when seeing Australia, you are only limited by your imagination.

Sometimes Ms Kinder pays for accommodation, but most of the time with the car seats pushed down and a double mattress, Ms Kinder calls home for the night.

She looks for places to set up her car for the night in locations that have a view others would envy. 

Inspiring others

Mum’s gone again is a Facebook page where Ms Kinder shares her adventures with other single parents and people wondering how they can do what she does.

The page has attracted a healthy following and armchair travellers can be inspired to pack their bags and get out and about. 

“It really is not that hard. You’ve just got to be open to the idea of it.”

Australia is a fantastic place to explore and Ms Kinder’s travels are inspiring.

“I have been on a 24-hour adventure, taking off with no main plan until I got to the end of my driveway,” she explained. 

“I’ve taken the kids for a tour around Tasmania and the four of us slept in the car and in accommodation.

“For solo trips I have travelled to Port Lincoln in South Australia and taken my time travelling the coast to get back to Victoria. I’ve toured around New Zealand as well.”

Staying safe

In all of her adventures, Ms Kinder doesn’t take risks. She is very aware of the dangers a single woman travelling could face, but she counters that by making smart choices.

“I took my mum for a tour and I showed her a few of the places I was parking in,” Ms Kinder said.

“She was worried about how safe I was being. When she realised where I was, she said, ‘This is a pretty safe location’.

“There was lighting near where I was parked or it was in the middle of the main street in Mansfield or next to a playground in Tasmania, it gave her confidence and she was really proud of me.”

As for her latest adventure, Ms Kinder is exploring Queensland for the next few weeks.