Vagabonding With Kids: Australia: You Can't Ride a Dingo - True Tales from the Land Down Under

by A.K. Turner

AK Turner wants to cuddle with a wombat. She wants it bad. In the hilarious sequel to Vagabonding with Kids, the nomadic family of four continues their journey with a two-month trip Down Under. AK Turner indulges her fascination with prisons, with no understanding of why her husband would rather spend every day at the beach. Their daughters aren't motivated by either, and are instead enthralled with the wonders of public toilets. As the Turners wind their way through Australia, all eyes are on the lookout for adventure. And wombats. New York Times bestselling author AK Turner continues the Vagabonding with Kids series with tales of exploring Down Under in Vagabonding with Australia. With a keen eye and sharp wit, Turner juxtaposes the intrigue of Australia with stories from an unconventional life on the road. This raucous adventure will inspire digital nomads and armchair travelers alike, and leave readers hungry for the next installment in the series, Vagabonding with Brazil.

Genres: Travel

275 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2016

About the author

AK Turner is The New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning Vagabonding with Kids series, as well as This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store, Mommy Had a Little Flask, and Hair of the Corn Dog. Her works have received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, IPPY Awards in Humor and Travel, Foreword Indies Awards, Independent Press Distinguished Favorite, and inclusion in BookLife’s Top 5 Indie Books of 2014. She is a contributor to the anthologies Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana (Traveler’s Tales), Little White Dress (Mill Park Publishing), I Just Want to Be Alone and I Just Want to Be Perfect (Throat_Punch Books) and a coauthor of Drinking with Dead Women Writers and Drinking with Dead Drunks. Her work has been featured online at Scary Mommy, In the Powder Room, The Huffington Post, Nickmom, Felicity Huffman’s What the Flicka?, The Quivering Pen, Multicultural Kid Blogs, and Artocratic, among others, and in the print publications Cloudbank, Idaho Magazine, The Idaho Statesman, Treasure Valley Family Magazine, Boise City Revue, and Folio Literary. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two children, but travels frequently as a part-time digital nomad. Learn more at VagabondingWithKids.com.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, funny and even a little educational. With 2 young girls, attempts at homeschooling along the way and a healthy dose of relationship stressors, we get a first person narrative of the Turner family as they spend 2 months in Australia escaping the Idaho winter and comforts of America & home.
Witness both the failures and successes as honesty trumps modesty. The author gives all moms and dads hope and encouragement as she lays it all out; the good, the bad, the ugly.
This is definitely one for adults with a dose of explicit language sprinkled throughout the chapters as AK's thoughts & feelings are laid bare. But if you've ever considered spending a considerable amount of time in another country, this may help ease some of your worries about what may go wrong or right. Despite setbacks, the adventure is worth it.

* I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads giveaways *

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.K. Turner is Everymom, if every mom had the opportunity to spend a few weeks in Australia with her husband and kids. She has her life TOTALLY together on these adventures, which is why she narrowly misses being thrown in jail forever over a smuggled apple.

This is a fun read, part travelogue, part confessional, fully entertaining.

[Aubree Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very informative and entertaining. AK Turner, humor blogger and mom of two, considers her family to be vagabonds. they travel around the US and world doing extended trips exploring new places and cultures. These are not vacations in the sense that they stay in resorts, use pre-paid tour groups, or other organized travel trappings. they go for multiple months, do home exchanges and camping, rent cars from local residents, and work remotely and homeschool while they're gone. they don't just visit a new locale, they live in it.

In this volume of what is promised to be a series of books about the Turners' adventures, they spend 3 months in Australia. Because she is a humor writer, Turner has a great way of telling her stories, but she is also informative along the way. The book includes tips on making the travel affordable, assimilating to a culture to get the most out of a journey, how to manage young children's expectations and travel limitations, and specifically, information about the places they've been and what they learned in each.

My favorite thing about this book is the parent perspective. Turner is realistic about the aspects of traveling with, in this case, a 5 and 7 year old. She is witty about constantly finding public restrooms, kids whining about long walks, and her younger daughter's adorable obsession about snacks. She also discusses the challenges of major holidays abroad--American Thanksgiving in a nation that doesn't have the holiday, homeschooling hurdles with children used to the traditional classroom, and keeping kids entertained on long flights and drives.

Vagabonding might not be for every family, but Turner does make it sound reasonable and possible for the family that desires to immerse in other cultures but aren't wealthy, using her tricks of the trade and electronic work commutes. Even if travel isn't in your plans, it is fun to read about the Turners' adventures and hilarious anecdotes. With her witty writing style and honesty about parenting, reading this volume made me excited to dive into the next book in the Vagabonding with Kids book.

[Una Hartzell-baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vagabonding with Kids: Australia is a wonderful peek into the enviable nomadic lifestyle of an turner and her family. As always, the book combines wit, humor, and deeper observations about life and the world we live in. Being someone who values continually learning, I appreciated the curiosity behind many of her encounters- like learning about just how many marsupials call Australia home.

I aspire to having the flexibility to live and work anywhere, so I love the opportunity to see it in action while enjoying an entertaining story, and believe me, you'll be laugh out loud entertained as you follow the journey around Australia with Turner and her family. AK Turner's pace is fantastic. Not once did I page ahead to see how long I had to go before a chapter was completed. She's truly one of my favorite authors ranking in the top five with the likes of David Sedaris and Jenny Lawson.

[Susanne Kerns · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and uncensored adventure. So many travel books are like social media posts that only show you the "pretty & happy" side of a trip - AK shows (and tells) it all, but in a fun a loving way that actually makes you still want to try taking an extended vacation with your own family! Highly recommend for any parent or traveler and would make a great gift too.

I read AK's first Vagabonding with Kids book too. They're both hilarious, informative and fun - I can't wait to read about her next family adventure (and hopefully take one of my own!)

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author and her husband can work from anywhere that has an internet signal. So they plan a two-month trip to Australia. But sometimes plans go awry and sometimes things are always as simple as imagined. Join the author on a hilarious adventure with her husband and two young daughters as they navigate their way around the friendly country of Australia.

I had expected this book to be tips and thoughts on traveling in a foreign country with children. Since my husband and I often take our children with us when traveling internationally, I thought this would be a great resource book. Instead I spent the entire book laughing at the author's humor, while learning some amazing things about Australia. While I didn't get what I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have added her other books to my wish list. The author has a way with words that draws the reader into her experience and allows them to travel with her. Her self-deprecating humor was spread throughout the book and added to the joy of reading. She also shared quite a bit of history and knowledge that she gleaned from her travels and I DID learn some tips for traveling with my children. Overall, would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading true stories and enjoys traveling.

I received this book from Goodreads. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning, Possible Spoilers:

There's been something I've been meaning to do for over a week, and every day life happens. Today I finally tried that new crock pot recipe and remembered to add my review of this book... and I'm sure Amanda would understand. To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement. I've always wanted to travel to Australia but I'm sure there isn't a pill strong enough to knock me out for the long flight, so I lived vicariously through her. I know I probably wouldn't survive with my family of 4 in a camper for several weeks, I'm too neurotic to borrow other people's homes or cars... oh, and that notion I had a few years ago about homeschooling my kids? Nope, but I'm sure glad AK Turner tried it.

If you're up for some honest, anxiety laden, humorous family travel, with the occasional f-bomb thrown in for good measure, this read is a no-brainer. I'm ready for the next trip!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first person account of a couple who work from home and their two daughters, ages 5 and 7, on a two-month trek through part of Australia, including Tasmania, is fun to read.

Some of the weird things that happen would have to be true, because nobody could think them up!

It takes a great deal of courage and a very sound marriage to withstand the daily ups and downs of life with children when you are living in a rental apartment or a rented caravan for only a few days or weeks before moving on to the next adventure.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of 2 "certifiable" parents that travelled through Australia with their 2 (under age 10) children. Despite trips to every beach they came across, a visit to a former prison, homeschooling and a diet that seemed to consist of PB&J, the family had a marvelous time. I learned a few things about Australia and am sorry I never had a trip like this with my children.
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homeschooling family + traveling = a very entertaining book.

If you are looking for a hilarous book about kids/family/travel/life, this is the book for you. Oh, and you may just learn a little something along the way.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book.

One woman, her husband, and two girls travel to Australia. Let the hilarity begin! If you have children and travel ANYWHERE with them, you'll totally be able to relate. Good, fun read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was awesome - my husband and I spent 8 weeks in Australia (on our first trip) and did many of the same things as the vagabonding family did (although we had no children). This read like I was re-reading my blog. Fun quick read.

[Ja’net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining

[thecostaricanreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book. AK Turner has the ability to make us feel part of the story from the beginning to the end thanks to a well crafted writing style. I like the humor, the stories, the details, the interactions between all the members of the family, how we get to know them and their journey.I like the way she shares her thoughts on their experiences traveling. AK has a story to tell and she does it with an amazing writing style, with a mix of elements, with humor, without letting anything out, the book, the story feels real, human and unique.

Thank you Brown Books Publishing for sending a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read any of AK Turner's Vagabonding with Kids books, you will love this adventure down under. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed! I alternated between laughing, getting teary eyed, nodding in agreement, marveling at their sense of adventure, and oh so human predicaments and feelings. This is just too good to miss out on. It made me feel warm and fuzzy, kind of like I imagine a kangaroo's belly feels. Oh, and I learned a lot about Australia too.

P.S. I love this family!

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you'd looking for a fun laugh and chance to explore another corner of the world, this is the book for you! I've never been to Australia, but now I sort of feel like I experienced it first-hand--the REAL parent way ;) I LOVE Turner's quick wit as she shares all the tales of her family's adventures in this country--and her fun, vagabonding spirit! Thoroughly enjoyed the ARC I received!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is a Goodreads win review. This book about a family vagabonding their way through Australia. I just loved this book, it was funny following their adventures and I learned a lot about Australia.

[Tena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a GOODREADS giveaway - Vagabonding with Kids: Australia by A.K. Turner - So enjoyable to read! Thanks to the author for this giveaway!