A cheap family holiday that keeps you fit and reconnects you with nature sounds too good to be true, but for Isaac Vitesnik and his family, “bikepacking” is a way of life.

The 42-year-old from Northern NSW recently spent the school holidays cycling 400 kilometres with his partner Natasha Kasselis, 37, and their two children, aged 10 and 13, around the Gold Coast.

The nine-day adventure cost the family of four less than $230 a day.

Mr Vitesnik said their free-camping cycle tours can cost as little as $100 per day, with food the primary expense, but that a few nights paid accommodation added to the bill this time.

Free camping means staying the night in a place that isn’t an official campground or holiday park.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, Mr Vitesnik wants to spread the word for other families to take up “bikepacking” as a fun, sustainable and affordable school holiday activity. 

The journey

Setting out from their home in Girards Hill in Lismore, Mr Vitsenik and his family spent three days travelling about 150km to a rainforest retreat at Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland, free-camping along the way.

After a three-day stay at the top of the mountain in paid accommodation, the family then spent another three days cycling home.

“Part of the adventure of cycle touring is to find good little camp spots in nooks and crannies along beaches or rivers so we can have a swim,” Mr Vitesnik said.

While Mr Vitesnik towed 10-year-old daughter Lana in a bike trailer, Ms Kasselis carried the food and equipment, and 13-year-old Elijah rode by himself for the first time.

The family carry a camp stove for cooking, use public toilets and stop for regular breaks to rest and sight-see.

“There is a lot of second-hand gear out there, and if you really wanted to do it, you could do it on the cheap … over 15 years we’ve put together our set-up,” Mr Vitesnik said.

“You just need to get a bike that won’t break down every day, and you can get a decent one for a few hundred dollars – it’s not hard to put a rack on it or a couple of panniers and you’re away.”

This is the sixth bikepacking trip the family has done.

Mr Vitesnik said the low cost of cycle holidays had allowed them to explore huge swathes of the country, from Uluru to the Blue Mountains.

He said the online non-profit cycle touring exchange service Warm Showers is a great way to find hosts to stay with. 

Realities of life on the road

With road safety a priority, Mr Vitesnik said planning your cycling routes beforehand and making sure all riders were as visible as possible was essential.

“Every single time before we leave, there is just a little bit of … ‘are we going to be safe?’” he said.

“Because we do our best to be safe, but it’s also up to drivers to watch out for us … so there is a degree of faith.”

Mr Vitesnik said on busy roads or blind shoulders, the family walk their bikes to make sure everyone is safe.

Matthew Burke from Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute, an avid cyclist himself, encourages families to practice cycling together on less-busy suburban roads before venturing to highways.

“That way you can see if the children are starting to maybe get a bit tired and get a bit wobbly and you can provide some gentle correction and just make sure everyone stays safe.

“One of the pieces of equipment I would personally invest in is little rear-vision mirrors that can be attached to handlebars … that way you can see if traffic, particularly now electric vehicles aren’t as loud, is coming up behind you.”

Professor Burke said starting off on rail trails or mass rides can help families gain confidence, and children learn safe cycling behaviour.

Budgets tightening

Daniel Gschwind from Griffith University’s Institute for Tourism said travel habits have changed in recent years due to the cost-of-living crisis, particularly among young families.

“They’re spending a bit less on fancy accommodation, going to restaurants a bit less, or choosing cheaper restaurant options.” 

Mr Gschwind said more and more travellers are avoiding costly day trips and tours while on holiday. 

“For instance, we can see that reef operators in North Queensland, they’re struggling a bit because people are a bit reluctant to spend money on those day tour activities and are perhaps creating their own fun instead,” he said. 

Despite this, Professor Gschwind isn’t surprised Australians are continuing to prioritise travel, particularly during school holidays. 

“That desire to travel and experience things is certainly still a very strong driver of the human mind,” he said.

A slower pace

The latest data from a Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) survey shows that road travel is the most popular way of getting around the Sunshine State, with 57 per cent of visitors intending to travel by car. 

The findings from the survey of more than 1,500 adult travellers last month shows that one in five (21 per cent) plan to visit Queensland this spring holiday period.   

TEQ chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said the research indicated that although families were tightening their belts, they still wanted to enjoy a break. 

“They might not eat out as many times as they would have, or they’ll cut back on experiences when they’re in the destination,” she said.