Welcome to our European Adventure
In June 2026, six members of our family packed their bags, said goodbye to Melbourne, and set off on the longest trip we'll probably ever take together — 14 weeks through Asia and across Europe, visiting 15 destinations before flying home in late September.
We're Simon and Kirsten, the parents of: Ben and Toby, who are 11, and Josh and Lulu, who are 8. This is the first time we have travelled overseas as a family, and almost certainly the longest trip we'll ever do together. We figured that called for a blog.
This isn't a polished travel guide — it's a genuine window into our adventure, written by six very different people who happen to be experiencing the same trip. The highlights, the chaos, the food the kids refused to eat, the moments we'll talk about for years. If you're here, you're someone who matters to us, and we want you to come along for the ride.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
We're all learning as we go. Six people contribute to this blog — two adults and four kids writing about travel for the very first time. Some posts will be polished, some will be wonderfully raw. We think that honestly reflects what this trip actually is.
Six people, same places. Yes, you might read about the Colosseum from three different people in the same week. That's intentional. Ben's version and Lulu's version of the same afternoon are two entirely different stories, and we didn't want to flatten that. If you want the full picture of a place, read them all. If you want one consistent thread, pick your favourite author and follow them.
Follow a single author. Click on anyone's name in a post to go straight to their author page, where you'll find everything they've written in one place. Or use the links in the author cards below. It's a great way to follow a particular person's journey from start to finish without the noise of the others.
Got Suggestions? Please Share Them.
If you've been to any of the places on our itinerary — or even if you just know of a great restaurant, a hidden walk, or something the kids absolutely must see — leave us a comment on a post. We're planning as we go more than we'd like to admit, and local knowledge is genuinely invaluable. A good tip from someone who's been there before can completely change a day.
Comments are open on every post. It doesn't have to be long — even a "you're going to love it" when you see we've arrived somewhere means a lot when you're far from home.
Meet the Authors
Here's who you'll be hearing from over the next 14 weeks:
Simon & Kirsten
Dad
11 years in the making, Simon, Kirsten, and the kids are on a 3-month trip across Europe & Singapore! We started this blog to share our adventure with loved ones, preserve memories, and keep the kids writing while away from school. Enjoy!
Read Simon's posts →
Thanks for being here. It genuinely means a lot to us to know people are following along. 🌍