The Evolution of Our Kids Travel Journal (Est. 2015)
There’s a very special product here at Adventure Awaits that fills us with pride every single day. It’s not just a bestseller or a customer favourite - it’s a labour of love that’s been part of our story since day one: our Kids Travel Journal.
Knowing that thousands of families across Australia (and a few lucky ones in New Zealand, the UK and the USA!) are enjoying our Australian Made Kids Travel Journal makes our hearts absolutely burst. But how did this beloved keepsake come to be?
Let me take you behind the scenes of its creation - and how it’s grown into one of Australia’s most loved travel journals for kids.
The Journal That Lived in My Head
Long before we launched Adventure Awaits, we were journalling our own family adventures. We’d write story-style entries for our girls to read when they were older: "Today we went to the zoo… There’s a baby in Mummy’s belly."
Our eldest daughter would pull those early journals down from the shelf and read them with such joy - and I knew then, we needed something more. We searched high and low for a travel journal for kids in Australia that ticked all our boxes: Aussie made, dotted thirds for writing practice, fun prompts, and flexible enough for all kinds of adventures - road trips, overseas holidays, camping, or even a weekend at Grandma’s.
But we couldn’t find it.
So we created it.
The Dream Becomes Real
When I first shared the idea with my husband, I was ready for him to say I was nuts. Instead, he smiled and said, “I love it. Let’s do it together.”
And just like that, the rollercoaster began.
We poured our hearts into every detail of the Kids Travel Journal - working closely with my talented friend and graphic designer Roxy, who turned my scribbles into magic. We knew we wanted this to be a product that families would treasure for years.
Aussie Made, No Compromises
One thing we were absolutely sure about: our Kids Travel Journal had to be made in Australia.
Everyone told us we couldn’t do it. That it was too expensive. That we’d need to print overseas. But we didn’t want to cut corners. Supporting local manufacturing has always been a core value for us.
We found an amazing local printer just 30 minutes from our little town of Numurkah, Victoria. The quality, the care, the service - it blew us away. And more than a decade later, we’re proud to say our travel journals are still printed right here in Australia.
The Covers: A Journey of Their Own
1st Edition: The Caravanning with Kids Launch (2015)
Our first journal cover featured the Caravanning with Kids logo front and centre. At the time, this business was just getting started and we thought it made perfect sense.
Turns out... not everyone agreed.
We started getting messages like:
“We love the idea but we don’t have a caravan.”
“Do you have one for camping?”
“Looks great, but we’re travelling to Bali!”
Oops.
2nd Edition: Adding a Plane (2016)
We went back to the drawing board and added a little plane to the map, to make it clearer that our journal was for all kinds of travel. Families loved it, and our community kept growing. But we still had feedback that the Caravanning with Kids brand name was confusing. This worked great for the new cover of our Caravan & Camper Log Book.
The Illustrated Edition: Magic Happens (2017)
In 2017, we met the incredible illustrator Marie O’Neill. Her mood board nailed the vibe we were dreaming of - and we made the leap to an illustrated cover.
It launched at the Caravan Supershow in Melbourne and the response was overwhelming. It was bright, inclusive, and full of wanderlust. Our Australian Made Kids Travel Journal finally looked the way it felt in our hearts.
It Keeps Getting Better
In 2018, we added new activity sheets to the journal to make it even more fun and educational. In 2019, we proudly earned our Australian Made Campaign Licence - a little green triangle that meant the world to us.
In 2020, we rebranded from Caravanning with Kids to Adventure Awaits - a name that reflects the spirit of all the families we meet, both online and in our Numurkah store.
And in 2024, a decade later, our Kids Travel Journal continues to grow, evolve and inspire. It’s a bestseller, a favourite in schools, and a must-have for Aussie families planning road trips or big overseas adventures.
Why Families Love Our Kids Travel Journal
Parents tell us again and again:
"It’s the perfect keepsake for our holiday."
"My child actually wants to practise writing now."
"We used this on our Europe trip and the memories are priceless."
"The fact that it’s Aussie made makes it even better."
And yes, we even had one mum tell us her daughter is now creating a library shelf of completed journals. Heart = full!
A Family Effort
From the very beginning, this Kids Travel Journal has been powered by family. Designed with love, printed locally, tested on our own kids, and improved thanks to the beautiful feedback from customers all across Australia.
And we couldn’t have done it without YOU.
Thank you for supporting local. Thank you for choosing quality. And thank you for helping us spread the joy of storytelling and adventure - one page at a time.
👉 Shop the original Australian Made Kids Travel Journal now: Click here
About Adele Dyson & the Adventure Awaits Team Adele Dyson is the founder of Adventure Awaits, Slide n' Dry Pegless Clotheslines, and Caravanning with Kids. Based in the friendly town of Numurkah in rural Victoria, Adele and her small but mighty team are passionate about discovering and sharing the most unique and practical gifts around. From Aussie-made essentials to clever caravanning gear and gifts that make people smile, everything in store is hand-picked with heart.
Need help picking the perfect present? The team are absolute gift-giving pros - just give them a call and they’ll help you find something spot-on for any occasion. Adventure Awaits is more than just a store - it’s a little slice of joy where there’s something for everyone!
Love it, the product is authentic, the colours are cute and exactly like the image and the shipping was super fast. Not to mention, it’s all super affordable! I wish this had more colour options but otherwise I love it all!
