Tauranga local Mel Conrad and her family press pause on everyday life to throw caution to the wind and set off on a dream family adventure around the world.

When we told friends and family we were packing up our lives to explore the world with our two young daughters, the reactions were mixed. From “wow, that’s incredible!”, to “what about schooling?”, and “have you won Lotto?” - and occasionally, just a simple, “why?” Often there was a look - half admiration, half concern. As if we had casually announced we were slightly crazy.

To be fair, there were days we wondered the same. But the truth wasn’t dramatic. We hadn’t won Lotto or lost our minds. We simply knew our girls were growing quickly, and this was the season to prioritise time and take a family gap year.

So we did. We took the girls out of school, rented our home and bought a one-way ticket to Vietnam. We didn’t really have a real plan, just a sense that time was moving fast and if we didn’t do this now, we might never do it at all.

*Bamboo pole fishing in Ninh Binh, Vietnam*

Before we left, life was good. It was full and predictable. Time together compressed between bath and bedtimes.

Vietnam was our first destination, and on day one we faced our first challenge of crossing the road. Holding hands, wideeyed, terrified and thrilled, we stepped into a hectic stream of scooters and cars. The trick, we learned, was to walk confidently and let the traffic flow around us.

When we made it across, the adrenaline was unforgettable. The girls raced back to the hotel to call family and report how scared Mum had been and how brave they were. We knew then this experience would stretch all of us.

Vietnam brought lost luggage, lantern-lit evenings, perspective, and as we got braver, a food tour by scooter.

*Swimming with locals at Blue Grotto, Malta*

From there we drifted through Europe. Malta gave us village festas and daily swims. In southern Spain we stayed long enough to be recognised by locals. Ireland charmed us. France fed us croissants. Portugal gave us near-empty beaches in November.

*Ice fishing on Kemijoki River in Rovaniemi, Finland.*

Finland was magical. Riding a sleigh through a snow-covered forest to find Santa’s cabin is something we’ll never forget. We walked along a snowy path calling “Santa?” until a jolly Nordic man with the longest beard appeared and welcomed us inside.

He knew everything about the girls, our dog Tilly back home and even had the letters they’d sent from Portugal before Christmas. Watching their faces, and feeling unexpectedly emotional ourselves, was unforgettable.

Somewhere between Morocco’s colour, the Tube in London with backpacks and tired children, and the heat in Doha, it clicked. It doesn’t matter where we are, what matters is that we are doing it together.

But being together constantly does take adjustment. There were tears and travel fatigue. We’ve grown thicker skins and a few more grey hairs.

Schooling has been part of the learning curve too. My husband is a teacher, which sounds ideal. It turns out teaching your own children, who see you as Dad first, is humbling and hilarious.

*Moroccan cooking class — making tagine.*

We shifted to worldschooling, blending curriculum with real life, like reading signs, journalling in cafés, counting money in markets. We’ve joined WorldSchool hubs along the way, where travelling families gather for shared learning and experiences.

Not every day is easy. I remember trying to get our eldest to read a resource aligned with her year level in New Zealand. She refused. Tears all round.

That afternoon in Oxford, she found a second-hand Harry Potter book in an Oxfam store. She counted her coins, worked out if she had enough and proudly bought it. From that moment, she became a reader. Watching her confidence grow has been everything.

Our youngest is doing well too but some days she finds harder than others. She misses her friends and structure. But the gift of time means we can adapt to her needs.

People assume long-term travel must be wildly expensive - but it doesn’t have to be. We budgeted around NZ$1,400 a week for accommodation, food and local transport, with separate savings for flights and experiences. Renting out our home covers the mortgage. We stay in budget accommodation, visit places often in the off-season, and housesit and cook where possible.

There have been trade-offs. We sold our only investment property to make this season possible. One of us secured a sabbatical. The other stepped away from work.

We love exploring each place and living like locals, and sometimes there are days when no one feels like sightseeing.

One of those days was in Seville. Tired after a long drive, the girls resisted: “Another old building?” So instead of going out, we put on a movie, opened a bottle of Spanish wine, made a supermarket tapas platter and sat watching videos about Seville.

We never left the room that day. And it’s one of the memories we laugh about most.

Some still ask if we’re crazy. Maybe we are, but many now ask how they might do this too. You don’t need a perfect plan, you just need intention. If the idea keeps nudging you, maybe that’s a sign.

For us, this season has given us more than we imagined. We had time to connect, to watch one another grow and to be together without the constant hum of rushing.

CONSIDERING A FAMILY GAP YEAR?

• Get clear on your why

Know what you want from this season before you start planning.

• Run the numbers

Build a weekly budget and separate savings for flights and big experiences.

• Consider renting or housesitting Renting your home or housesitting/houseswaps abroad can significantly reduce costs.

• Think differently about schooling

Consider different options and resources - formal homeschool structure, online resources, worldschooling hubs, talk to your child’s school.

• Travel slower than you think

Fewer destinations and longer stays mean less fatigue and less money spent.

• Choose seasons and destinations wisely

Shoulder and off-season travel stretches your budget further.

• You don’t need forever

A term, six months or a year can be enough. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

IG: FAMILYGAPYEARS

DARE TO DRIFT

BUILDING A LEGACY

BALANCED BEAUTY