Bike car racks, budgets and baby cino’s – getting you out of the house and exploring without spending a fortune.

Hands up if you've put family fun on the back burner lately? You would not be alone that's for sure.

With the daunting reality of rising interest rates and the increase in the cost of living, we’re all trying to tighten our metaphoric belts until a bit of certainty returns … but surely that doesn’t mean we have to stop living our best lives does it?

With Australian grocery bills increasing by a whopping 25% since 2022, family budgets don’t have a lot left over for all the fun extras.  Obviously, food is essential but how about the non-essentials like a trip to the movies, a day at the zoo or a few days away in the city?  It is mind-blowing to think that a family of four will fork out a crazy $140 for movies and popcorn for a 2-hour experience.  Yikes, right?

Time to think outside the box and saddle up for an adventure that doesn’t mean taking out a second mortgage or selling a kidney for a family activity. Time to throw the bikes on the car bike rack and pre-warn your couch-sitting bum and legs that they’re in for a workout and set out for fresh air, fun and fitness (and if you choose your path wisely, maybe even a cheeky frothy … now we have your attention, don’t we? Hehe)

Here in beautiful Australia, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the great outdoors.  We have options aplenty with a plethora of absolutely free, nature-induced fun and with inflation scaring the absolute bejesus out of Aussies, there has never been a better time to start venturing outside of our comfy lounge rooms.

More and more families are reigning in the spending and looking to create budget-friendly, healthy, fun and lasting memories and old-fashioned bike riding ticks all the boxes.  With benefits galore, bike riding is not only fabulous for kids’ physical wellness but also their mental and emotional wellness.

Still wondering what the kids get out of a family bike ride?  Apart from the awesome family fun and getting them off their screens, here are a few more to get you over the line:

Bike riding ...

• Oxygenates the blood and increases circulation in the brain’s grey matter making kids more focused and eager to listen and learn.
• Builds self-confidence and improves problem-solving skills.
• Supports the upper respiratory system and boosts the immune system.
• Increases spatial awareness and improves their safety management

As parents, creating core memories with our kiddies is just about as good as it gets but at times the overwhelm of cost and ever-mounting expenses sees us playing small and staying home with Netflix and takeout. 

Depending on how you want to navigate it, a biking day out can look super different for each family.  So, whether you want a day that is cheap as chips or you’re happy to spend a few bucks, there is literally a choose-your-own-adventure for everyone.

• $0 budget - Take a picnic lunch and throw out a blanket at a park or the beach.
• $20 budget - Grab some lattes and Baby cinos and give your legs a rest at a playground.
• $50 budget - Plan a bakery lunch at a park or grab fish and chips and sit at the beach.
• $100 budget - Support a hotel or RSL and grab a Parma and a pot at a pub en-route.

You don’t need to spend thousands on fancy hotels, luxury cruises or painful theme parks (seriously those queues), simply choose a destination to drive to and explore all the unique hidden gems and offerings of local townships. 

Unsure where to start planning your biking escapade?  Here’s a handy little link to keep as your adventure guide:

https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/tips-resources/maps-and-rides/

With an abundance of beautiful bike trails scattered throughout most suburbs and towns, now is the perfect time to revisit the car bike rack situation and start your family biking adventures.  Whether you live in the city, country or in-between, biking is one of the cheapest, healthiest and most fun things you can do with kiddies and is an activity that will actually leave you feeling connected to nature, recharged and excited for the next one (as opposed to stressed out and cashed out).

So, if you’re reading this from the imprint on your couch, this is your gentle nudge to fill your drink bottles, throw the bikes on the car bike rack, don your helmets and get out and about making awesome memories.

Happy biking team!