Travelling with toddlers: Adventurous family hike 1800km through outback

Some parents might put off travelling with young children but one family decided to take the plunge and trek close to 1800 kilometres through the outback with their toddler.

Sydney family Justin and Lauren Jones set off on foot on July 20 with their daughter Morgan, who was about 15-months-old at the time and had just started taking her first steps.

Bravely giving up modern day conveniences with a young child, the family began their adventure about 200km west of Uluru and the trio travelled all the way to Port Augusta - arriving on November 2.

The 102-day outing took a year to plan and they set off without a support vehicle.

As the parents pushed through the pain of over-used muscles, they faced numerous challenges including varying temperatures, and at the end of the first week they even encountered a broken axle on a cart they were pulling.

But when asked what was most challenging thing about the entire expedition Lauren responded, "probably the same thing in daily parenting - getting out of the house."

She said the trip was a "logistical challenge", but the first-time parents saw their child become more comfortable in her own skin and immerse herself in a completely different world.

"Her connection with nature grew tremendously," Lauren told Yahoo7.

"We love our city lives and we really wanted to raise a curious, nature-loving child."

By the end of the expedition little Morgan was even helping her parents collect sticks for the fire and put up the tent.

"It really helped her open up. She loved exploring," Lauren said.

They had planned to walk 20 kilometres a day with Justin lugging over 200 kilograms and Lauren pulling about 70 kilograms, including carrying a very active toddler.

"I had the lighter load but the more hands-on high maintenance passenger for sure," the mother said.

At one point Justin's cart contained 140 litres of water.

Food and nappies were among the other supplies they needed to take with them.

"We trialled new disposable product which has zero waste and and doesn't go to landfill." Lauren explained.

"The gCycle product is made up of a commercial compostable body and a reusable wrap."

She claimed they were able to be burnt without toxins going into the air.

The family received six food drops throughout the trip, with everything pre-packaged and nutritionally calculated.

And given they travelled off main roads, but within communication range with the Royal Flying Doctor's Service, they also carried an EPIRB and had done first aid training prior to leaving.

On the road the parents made sure to communicate with Morgan about risks, including coals which maintain heat after fires, and they would also sweep an area before letting her walk around just in case there were snakes or other dangers nearby.

"(It was) really amazing to see her free play out there," Lauren said.

"Even though she doesn't remember it, it's going to be in her, it's going to be part of her story and a building block of who she is."

Prior to this trip Justin traversed Antarctica and kayaked from Australia to New Zealand.

And Lauren said they did not want to put travelling on hold after their daughter was born.

She said this experience built her resillience as a parent too and was well worth it.

"I'm not saying everybody should do a big walk through the outback - I think it's about doing whatever is authentic to you."

"They see you're doing something that you love so they join in."

It is not known where the family will adventure to next - but now they know it's not impossible to step outside their comfort zone.