things to do in long car rides Page 25

Long car rides aren’t punishment; they’re an excuse to binge podcasts and audiobooks—curate a playlist before you leave so you’re not DJ-ing at 110 km/h. Play classics like number-plate bingo or 20 Questions, and rotate roles—navigator, snack captain, and chief meteorologist—to keep everyone vaguely civil.

Stop every 2 hours for a stretch, a 5–10 minute walk, and a driver swap if you’re fading; fatigue is sneakier than that “quiet” packet of chips. Pack an esky, chargers, offline maps, and a rubbish bag so the cabin doesn’t become a chip graveyard. For kids, activity packs and window‑marker doodles work wonders; for adults, a scenic detour beats doomscrolling any day. Arrive slightly smug, wholly intact, and with only minimal arguments about who ate the last Shapes.