Cheap family vacations that let you stay fit and reconnect with nature sound too good to be true, but for Isaac Vitesnik and his family, bikepacking is a way of life.
The 42-year-old from northern New South Wales 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 per day.
Mr. Vitesnik said their free-camping bike tours can cost as little as $100 a day, with food being the main expense, but a few nights of paid accommodation add to the bill this time around.
Isaac Vitesnik and his family say bikepacking is a fun, sustainable and affordable form of travel. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
Free camping means spending the night in a place that is not an official campsite or holiday park.
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, Vitesnik wants to spread the word to other families to embrace bikepacking as a fun, sustainable and affordable school holiday activity.
The journey
From their home at Girards Hill in Lismore, Mr Vitsenik and his family spent three days driving about 150km to a rainforest retreat in Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland, camping for free 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.
Natasha Kasselis and her children Lana and Elijah on a recent bike tour on the Gold Coast. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
“Part of the adventure of cycle touring is finding good little spots to camp in nooks and crannies along beaches or rivers so you can swim,” Vitesnik said.
“We leave no trace, anywhere, everywhere we can. We do no damage, leave no litter, leave no footprints and we tread carefully – that’s our freedom camping policy.”
While Mr. Vitesnik towed his 10-year-old daughter, Lana, in a bike trailer, Ms. Kasselis hauled food and gear, and Elijah, 13, rode alone for the first time.
Regular stops are an integral part of the family cycling adventure. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
The family uses a camp stove for cooking, uses public toilets and takes regular breaks to rest and sightsee.
“There's a lot of used equipment out there, and if you really want to do it, you can do it cheaply… in 15 years we've developed our own system,” Vitesnik said.
“You just need to buy a bike that doesn'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 good to go.”
This is the sixth bike trip the family has taken.
Lana and Elijah were pulled in a baby carrier by their father on bike rides when they were younger. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
Mr Vitesnik said the low cost of cycling holidays allowed them to explore vast swathes of the country, from Uluru to the Blue Mountains.
He said the nonprofit online cycle tour exchange service Warm Showers is a great way to find hosts to stay with.
“We get cycle tourists coming through Lismore, and anywhere in the world you can get a bed, a shower or a place to set up camp… it’s a great resource.”
A new campsite used by the Vitesnik family on a cycle tour of the Gold Coast. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
The Realities of Life on the Road
With road safety a priority, Mr Vitesnik said it was essential to plan your cycling routes in advance and ensure all cyclists were as visible as possible.
“Every time, before we leave, there’s just a little moment of… 'Are we going to be safe?'” he said.
“Because we do our best to be safe, but it's also up to the drivers to look out for us… so there's a degree of trust.”
Mr. Vitesnik said that on busy roads or blind shoulders, the family pushes their bikes forward to make sure everyone is safe.
Elijah and Lana on a previous bike trip. (Provided by: Isaac Vitesnik)
Matthew Burke of Griffith University's Cities Research Institute, himself a keen cyclist, encourages families to practice cycling together on less-travelled suburban roads before venturing onto motorways.
“If you have a large family, act like a bicycle train: have an adult driver in the front and an adult guard in the back,” he said.
“That way you can see if the kids are starting to get a little tired and a little unstable and you can give them gentle correction and make sure everyone stays safe.
“One piece of equipment I would personally invest in would be small mirrors that can be attached to the handlebars… that way you can see if traffic, especially now that electric vehicles aren’t as loud, is coming up behind you.”
Matthew Burke of Griffith University's Cities Research Institute is a keen cyclist. (Provided by: Matthew Burke)
Professor Burke said getting involved in cycle routes or mass rides can help families build confidence and help children learn safe cycling behaviour.
Tight budgets
Daniel Gschwind, from Griffith University's Tourism Institute, said travel habits had changed in recent years due to the cost of living crisis, particularly among young families.
“They're certainly looking at how to make their dollar go a little further,” he said.
“They spend a little less on luxury accommodations, eat out a little less or choose less expensive dining options.”
Daniel Gschwind says that travel is a “very powerful engine of the human spirit.” (ABC News: Brendan Mounter)
Mr Gschwind said more travellers are avoiding expensive excursions and tours while on holiday.
“For example, we can see that reef operators in north Queensland are struggling a bit because people are a bit reluctant to spend money on these day trip activities and maybe create their own entertainment instead,” he said.
Despite this, Professor Gschwind is not surprised that Australians continue to prioritise travel, particularly during school holidays.
“That desire to travel and experience things is certainly still a very strong driver of the human spirit,” he said.
A slower pace
Latest data from a survey conducted by Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) shows road travel is the most popular mode of transport for getting around the Sunshine State, with 57 per cent of visitors intending to travel by car.
Results from a survey of more than 1,500 adult travellers last month show one in five (21%) plan to visit Queensland this spring break.
Patricia O'Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Tourism. (ABC News)
Patricia O'Callaghan, TEQ's chief executive, said the study indicated that while families were tightening their belts, they still wanted a break.
“They might not eat out as often as they would have, or they will cut back on their experiences when they are at their destination,” she said.
