Like pavlova and BBQs in the rain, the great Kiwi summer road trip is a New Zealand institution.
For many families, the thought of a couple of hours in the car together is frightening. No-one wants to drive to the chorus of “Are we there yet”. A little forward planning will make the trip fun.
Have a few fun games up your sleeve — these are our Drivesouth favourites . . .
1) The licence plate game:
Players pick one number from 0 to 10. Every time they see a number plate with that number in it for the next 10 minutes they receive a point. The person with the most points after ten minutes wins.
2) I-spy:
This is an oldie and a goodie. I spy is a great way to get children interested in the landscape, and it can even become a spelling lesson too (nothing like a player convinced cat starts with a k). But be warned: nothing says spoilsport like selecting a target that zoomed past 10km ago, so players should be encouraged to ensure the object is visible.
3) Punch buggy:
Yes, while it does have an element of risk from overexuberance, it does occupy minds and can last all journey or even all holiday! The concept is simple: players give a little love tap to their fellow passenger whenever they spot a VW Beetle. Just don’t let them put too much power behind their “tap”.
4) Memory:
One passengers says “I’m going out on a picnic and I’m bringing . . .” followed by whatever item comes to mind. The next player has to remember that item and add something else to the story. Getting a part of the story wrong results in instant expulsion. The winner is the last player to remain.
5) The Car Colour Game:
The rules to this one are simple, every player in the car picks a colour and keeps track of the number of cars they see in their colour. The Player with the highest score wins. To keep it exciting you can switch it up between towns or offer bonus points if 2 or more cars in a row are the same colour!
6) Road Trip Bingo: If you're feeling crafty a great plan ahead option is Road Trip Bingo. Just like the classic game each player gets their own bingo card (or scrap of paper hastily scribbled in a pinch) with options like road signs, which are great for younger players, or makes and models for older players. The first one to fill their card and shout bingo is the winner.
7) 20 Questions:
A classic for any road trip is 20 questions. Where each player takes turns to pick a person, place or thing while the other players take turns asking up to 20 questions to help them guess what that person is thinking. If players run out of questions a new round starts with the same person picking a new person, place or thing or if someone gets it right it's there turn to choose.
8) Name that tune:
Perfect for all ages, you have a few different options for this one. Players can either take turns humming a tune for the others to guess, you can race to name the song that starts next on the radio or if you have music apps on your phone you can explore a huge back catalogue with them.
9) Banana:
This one is particularly great for junior players - every time a player is the first to spot a yellow vehicle and shout "banana" they get a point. For longer road trips, or for a better chance of spotting that colour you can try different fruits or vegetables like broccoli for green cars, apple for red cars or ice cream for white cars.
10) Tunnels and Bridges:
A classic game, and a chance for a few moments of silence, this game is simple. When you go over a bridge or through a tunnel all players (except the driver) try and hold their breath until the other side. This one can be particularly challenging if the driver slows down!
Drivesouth tip:
If it all gets too much, play the Quiet Game. This is a winner for restoring order in a car full of squabbling siblings. When you can no longer ignore kids’ incessant bickering, say, “Let’s see who can stay quiet the longest?” Up the stakes with the promise of a treat at the next stop and, hey presto, enjoy the open road in blissful silence!
