Living The Dream: Take Your Family Outside The Comfort Zone

Living The Dream By

We haven’t met the Smiths, but they reached out to us on Instagram and we were hooked on their story. Travelling with disability is hard work, but when it’s your child... Well this didn’t stop Bronwyn.

Bronwyn Leeks

What was the first country you visited? Who with and why did you choose it?

Back in 1990 my siblings and I had a fruit food fight at the Big Pineapple in Queensland. My Dad was so appalled that the next school holidays he booked flights for us to Sri Lanka. My Mum stayed at home and Dad took three girls aged 14,12.10. He wanted us to see first hand people who lived differently and some in poverty to teach us never to waste food again. We have never forgotten that message and it gave us all a desire to explore.

When did you start a travel lifestyle? What inspired that change?

When Andrew and I had our first child things didn't go to plan and it took us a while to envision how traveling would look like with a child with a disability. Our first adventure was actually to access an alternative therapy in Singapore and so the adventure begun.

Do you have a base you travel from? Or is it continuous travel? And why do you choose that style?

We are based in Melbourne, Australia. We aim to adventure twice a year and usually explore a new SE Asia destination. Last year we spent six weeks exploring Europe. Currently we choose this style as we are designing and hope to build a wheelchair accessible home and having a few trips lets us explore but allows us to be grounded here. Cooper attends a mainstream school in Grade 4 and accesses weekly physio, speech and OT. Pepper is in Grade 1 and Woody is at home with me.

How do you fund your travel lifestyle? Is it something you do when travelling or are you a saver?

I have an addiction to getting bargains from AirAsia sales! I am a saver though. We have a flight to Penang in September from Melbourne that we paid $400 for the 5 of us. Andrew works full time as an Arborist. I am a stay at home Mum to three kids.

If you could tell yourself one tip before you started your travel lifestyle, what would it be?

Kids are really flexible and resilient. The plane trip is only one little part of an adventure so do whatever works to make it as easy as possible! Oh and make sure your travel insurance covers pre existing conditions! Be flexible and remember not everything goes to plan.

What does "Living The Dream" mean to you?

To me it means taking our family outside our comfort zone. It means spending time together away from normal routine and challenging ourselves to try new foods, places and experiences. Proving to our kids that they can try anything.

You can find Bronwyn Leeks here -

Website: smithsholidayroad

Twitter:  @smithsholiday  

Join our inclusive family of 5 as we adventure near and far.

Reader Comments...

"I respond to every comment by direct private email. I look forward to your feedback" -

Great post Bron, I love following you on instagram and reading your blog, your family is definitely an inspiration! I can not wait to see photos from your Penang trip!

Hannah (Fun Flying Four) Jul 22nd, 2015

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