In the past few years, the ultimate dream for many Australian families has been to ditch the 9-5 grind and to hit the road in a converted van.
In 2018, Kirsty, 29, and Christian, 28, Lanzendoerfer from Melbourne, along with their three kids Ivy, six, Haddie, five and Bodhi, two, did just that – leaving it all behind for 11 blissful months.
Funding their transient lifestyle and travels meant selling the family home and the plan was that they’d be away for at least a few years.
However, life intervened; in July 2018, Kirsty found out she was pregnant with her fourth child – and the family’s funds had started to dwindle faster than expected.
‘After I found out I was pregnant we knew we’d have to return back to Melbourne, and back to the support of family and friends,’ she told FEMAIL.
Kirsty and Christian Lanzendoerfer (pictured right with their kids Ivy, six, Haddie, five and Bodhi, two) from Melbourne, Victoria sold the family home for to pursue their dream
This home on wheels provide accommodation for the family of five for 11 blissful months
‘And with our travel funds slowly dwindling, we knew it was the best option.’
Last December, a decision was made to call it quits and head back to Kirsty’s parents’ home in Melbourne.
‘We returned home with a heavy heart and the yearning of wanting to continue travelling further and longer,’ Kirsty said.
The family’s travels took them along the West Coast of Australia, up to Darwin then back down to Victoria via the centre
Life in the suburbs is a far cry from that on the open road where at any point the family were able to pick up sticks and move with virtually no effort at all.
The adventurous group travelled to all manner of ‘bucket list-worthy’ destinations; Australia’s West Coast, Uluru and Darwin to name just a few.
Their return to reality after spending ‘every moment with one another’, may have appeared a welcome respite from life on the road, but the transition hasn’t been quite as smooth as expected.
‘We feel so separate as a family. We were so used to always being in each other’s back pockets,’ Kirsty said.
Bucket list-worthy destinations the family ticked off include see the magnificent Uluru in the Northern Territory (Uluru pictured in the background)
In the two-and-a-half months since the family has been back home, the focus has been on bedding down routines and creating a new ‘normal’.
‘Having a routine of work and school is certainly different to our days set up beach-side in a beautiful little town, the mum-of-three said.
‘But for now this is our reality and sadly not all good things can last forever.’
After a year of not having structure or routines, Kirsty said her children, in particular her youngest daughter, found it hard to settle especially at school
Kirsty and her husband are both working. She does a few days a week as a beauty therapist while he’s taken full-time employment in construction.
Her children have headed back to school, too. However, the adjustment to a daily routine, especially for her youngest daughter, aged five, hasn’t been easy.
‘Haddie (who is starting prep school) isn’t happy with the routine and the discipline that comes from starting school, especially after a year of no rules and exploring on her own terms,’ Kirsty said.
‘She couldn’t understand the concept of sitting in class and “learning” and asked: “Why do we only go out for a little bit at school?”.
‘You can’t half blame her hesitation after the year she’s had!’.
‘Having a routine of work and school is certainly a far cry from our days set up beach-side in a beautiful little town,’ the mum-of-three said
Ivy, who is now in Year 2, has slotted back into school life with ‘no hesitations at all’.
‘It was as if she was never away. The only things that are really noticeable are that her confidence now shines through thanks to the year we had on the road.
‘She loves being able to tell friends she was taught via Distance Ed last year.’
Although her youngest daughter has found the transition bumpy, her oldest daughter has developed a new found confidence in life
Although the family are making every effort to settle, they say the travel bug has bitten and they plan to heed the call of the open road again – and soon.
‘We have decided to hit the road again in April,’ Kirsty said excitedly.
Not only are a host of fresh adventures planned, but the family are also gearing up for their biggest challenge to date: travelling with a newborn in tow.
It’s easy to see why the family couldn’t be more keen to hit the open road again
‘We figure we have so much more to experience and explore, so why not.’
‘We will homeschool the kids for the remainder of the year and our plans are quite loose.
Despite the fact the family will have a newborn in tow, they have no qualm about hitting the open road come April
The family say they’ve been lucky enough to find themselves in this unique position because they were willing to take a risk to follow their dream.
‘Our family and friends thought we were crazy for wanting to sell our home and pack away our belongings in a shipping container for a year of caravan travel.
‘And at the time, we thought so too. But now this way of life is our normal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘Our five short months being home won’t last long and before we know it we will all be back on the road enjoying the life we love as a family of six.’
To follow the family as they continue on their adventures, please visit @_tribeoffive_ on Instagram