For Kirrianna Poole, home is not a house but a 1962 Kombi van shared with her husband and three children as they traverse the globe together. From witnessing the Northern Lights in Iceland to exploring Moroccan markets, the world has become a classroom for her kids. Poole insists there is no end date for what she calls their "ultimate adventure."
From Tokyo to the Kombi
Originally from Macksville in New South Wales, Poole's husband Lachlan, a pilot, relocated the family to Tokyo in 2012. Four years later, they welcomed their son Riley. "We spent his first year travelling to lots of different countries," Poole told 7NEWS.com.au. By his first birthday, Riley had 37 stamps in his passport. However, their globetrotting came to a halt when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, prompting the family to return to Australia. Waiting for them was the 1962 Kombi van they had purchased before coming home.
Life on the Road Begins
"When the whole world shut down we thought, let's just move into our Kombi," Poole said. In 2019, the couple welcomed daughter Alba, and a year later, the family of four was living in the van and travelling around Australia, starting their journey in North Queensland. "We moved her into the van as a newborn and started travelling," Poole recalled. "I remember parking up at Hervey Bay for a long time. For us at the time, it was a moment to really be together. We just took things easy and enjoyed being back in Australia."
The van was equipped with a full kitchen, beds, a sink, and a fridge, while the family stayed at campgrounds with bathroom facilities. They also had a tent that could be attached to the side of the Kombi for extra space. Poole noted that living in such a small space with two young children might seem impossible, but her kids had grown up travelling, so the transition did not feel like a major change. "We've always lived out of suitcases and then we moved to a place like Japan, which is very minimalistic," she explained. "We haven't gone from living in a big house with lots of stuff to a small van, so the transition wasn't as big as it probably would be for some other people. The kids have never had their own bedroom and lots of toys."
Outgrowing the Kombi
As COVID restrictions eased and state borders reopened, the family continued their travels around Australia, taking two years to complete a lap of the country. Then, Poole became pregnant with their third child. "By this point, it was definitely starting to look like we'd outgrown the Kombi," she said. Poole thought their dream of continuing life on the road was over, but her husband discovered a vintage 1964 caravan fitted with two queen beds and a toilet. The caravan was within the towing capacity of the Kombi and became an extension of their home on wheels, allowing the family of five to continue travelling together.
Global Adventures Resume
The family stayed with relatives after their third child, Elsie, was born, giving Lachlan time to finish setting up their revamped mobile home. In January 2023, they shipped their Kombi and caravan to New Zealand and have since continued moving their home on wheels around the world. With Lachlan back working as a pilot, the family still uses Japan as a base, but during his time off they pack up and return to life on the road. The family has now "vanned" through the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia, travelling through dozens of countries and covering an incredible 60,000 kilometres.
The family ships the Kombi and caravan ahead to each destination so the vehicles arrive by the time they land. The number plates remain registered in Australia, but they must obtain insurance in every country they enter. "We were camping in Joshua Tree National Park and the kids had their push bikes and could ride around as if it was their own backyard in Australia," Poole said. "We've been in Japan for a while now but the next stop is Canada, then it's down to South America, which we're calling The Road to Patagonia. There's no end date at this stage — it's the ultimate adventure."
Road-Schooling and Challenges
Their Instagram page The Slow Road has amassed more than 150,000 followers as they document their adventures. Poole's children are homeschooled via the Australian-based company Euka. She runs the program for her two older children and adapts the curriculum around their travel plans. Of course, life on the road comes with challenges. Living in confined spaces with three young children can be difficult at times, and weather conditions often disrupt plans. "I don't get that space to kind of step away, so I've just had to learn how to meditate, drink a lot of coffee and look at the good in it," Poole said. "And just be grateful to have this time with my kids."
Memories Over Milestones
Poole added that the challenges are worth it for the memories they are creating together and the opportunity to expose their children to different cultures and experiences around the world. "We have a routine but it's loose — that's the whole point," she said. "The world is their classroom and what they're seeing out here, you can't replicate in a book. They've watched the Northern Lights in Iceland, swum with pigs in the Bahamas, and wandered through the colours and chaos of Moroccan markets with snake charmers weaving through the crowds. For now, they love it and are very happy. The idea is not to miss a milestone and always be together."
