Out & About with Kids spoke to Lisa Pagotto, founder of boutique travel company Crooked Compass, to learn more about her family travel highlights (and mortifying moments).
We know you travel a lot for work. Have you done much travel with Jeong?
Yes, he was adopted from South Korea at the age of one, so his international travels started very young when we brought him to Australia. Domestically, he has been to South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania as well as throughout rural NSW.
Internationally, he has been to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Fiji, South Korea, Austria, Germany, Singapore, South Africa, Japan and Taiwan.
What’s been your favourite family travel moment?
Taking him to the Yasawa Islands during COVID-19 when we had the bubble with Fiji. We did a homestay in a village on Nacula Island where there was no electricity. Pigs ran through the house, the village dogs came and slept at the end of your rickety bed.
Jeong would chase ghost crabs on the beach at night with the village kids to use as bait the next day when we went fishing. He caught his first fish, and he was so proud of himself and terrified of it at the same time as it flapped around the boat.
He would sit and draw with the children and go foraging for beach treasures. He devoured the basic local food and despite the incredibly humidity and storms every day, nothing fazed him.
An encroaching cyclone forced us to evacuate by helicopter, which just added to the adventure. His ability to roll with the punches and embrace culture at the age of four blew me away.
And the worst?
We have had a few dramas — from needing stitches in Austria from a split open chin to accidentally walking through a fire ant nest in Outback NSW, where his little legs were bitten to pieces. But nothing seems to faze him. He laughs everything off eventually and just keeps pushing forward.
The absolute worst moment was also on that Fiji trip. The Yasawa Flyer (a high-speed catamaran) had not started operating again post-COVID to transfer us to the island, so we bounced our way there on the local seabus.
Of course, we were on Fiji time. There was delay after delay and more and more locals piling into this very small boat. Then we realised we were waiting for one last person to join us – in a coffin. Two hours after our scheduled departure, a coffin was brought on and popped in the aisle between the metal seats.
The chop from the waves made our 1.5-hour trip take almost five hours. The boat only had a flimsy tarp-like roof, and rain was hitting us like bullets, bruising our skin, the whole time. The coffin slipped and slid, and I was sure it would pop open, and we would have another guest sliding around with us.
I held Jeong on my lap under a towel to protect him, and somehow he fell asleep for 2.5 hours. But he suffers from motion sickness and when he woke up he threw up all over me, himself and the coffin. Then I started… It was mortifying, and it felt like the boat ride was never going to end.
What has been your favourite family destination overseas?
South Africa – the staff were so fantastic with Jeong on his first African safari experience. He loves to learn about nature and wildlife and isn’t afraid to ask questions. He even asked if the disembowelled wildebeest carcass next to us was dead, and how did we know that for sure?
When we weren’t on safari, the staff kept him engaged making binoculars, doing sand art and traditional beading. It was the perfect balance of getting to experience something incredible with your child along with having some downtime whilst Jeong was kept stimulated and educated. No screen time here!
And in Australia?
It would have to be Western Australia. My Nana lived in Perth and Jeong and her had an incredible bond, despite being 90 years apart in age. Seeing them spend time together was so precious and something we all get a lot out of. There is also so much to explore in Western Australia, so no trip is ever the same.
Why do you think travelling with kids is important?
The world changes at a very fast pace and travel grounds you. It introduces and integrates you with other cultures, foods, landscapes and experiences which differ from your everyday. Travel is the strongest form of education and makes you more compassionate, understanding and resilient. It allows you to appreciate the world’s natural beauty. This is something that can only learned through experience and the earlier they can do it, the more worldly they will be.
You have a passion for adventure travel. Is that the kind of travel you like and want to do with Jeong?
Absolutely. There are certain destinations where I would not take Jeong yet, but there is nowhere I wouldn’t take him if I felt he was ready for that sort of exposure and experience. We can still do everything I would do normally, but just at a slower pace, which means longer travels – no complaints about that!
I love to expose Jeong to remote cultures, foreign languages and new foods. For a cautious kid when here in Australia, when we travel together, he becomes a mini me – nothing fazes him, and he will try anything – even on the cuisine side of things. After our recent trip to Japan, he now eats crab, sashimi, mussels, and duck. I am proud to have instilled this in him from a young age.
What are your tips for travelling with kids?
Always stay calm no matter what happens – children feed off your reaction. Children also need to rest to function and absorb experiences, so don’t overcrowd your program, and allow downtime to recoup.
Include a balance of activities. I explain to Jeong that we all need to enjoy our holiday so we will do three activities a day – one for him, one for me and one for my partner.
Manage expectations in advance – if you know you are taking a long flight with kids, explain the expected behaviour and what will happen. Similarly, if you know accommodation may not have power and you need to shower in the dark, explain it in advance.
Make it fun – introduce head torches and find ways to make elements that could cause uncertainty into an adventure.
Where to next?
Jeong jumped on skis for the first time over Christmas in Austria last year and took to it like a duck to water. We went to Hokkaido in Japan this Christmas. I am a skier and so is my partner so I want to encourage this skill so we can have annual ski trips together.
As his skills improve, we will venture to more adventurous destinations like Iraq, Lebanon and North Korea to tie our love for adventure travel in with our passion for skiing.
Next for us is the Cook Islands, where I hope to teach him how to snorkel. He has been practising his breathing and getting used to the facemask in the bath at home!
Lisa Pagotto’s top family travel destinations
Keen to learn more about these fantastic international destinations? We’ve got all the details you need to plan your own globe-trotting family adventures.
Yasawa Islands, Fiji
The captivating Yasawa Islands in Fiji are renowned for authentic cultural experiences, like visits to traditional Fijian villages, which provide a priceless insight into the local way of life. Of course, there’s plenty more to do in Fiji with kids, including endless sandy beaches and coral reefs to snorkel and explore.
South Africa
South Africa is a top choice for families seeking adventure (without compromising on the kid-friendly amenities). A stay at one of the country’s best family-friendly safari lodges is the perfect blend of entertainment, education and comfort. Kids can gaze in wonder at the Big Five in their natural habitat, stand atop Cape Point to witness the meeting of oceans and visit the penguin colonies of Boulders Beach.
Perth, Western Australia
Perched on the edge of the vast Indian Ocean, Perth is a sun-soaked city full of laid-back charm. One of the best ways to experience Perth is to do what the locals do – let the kids run wild in sprawling Kings Park, one of the world’s largest inner-city parks, and have a blast at Cottesloe and Scarborough beaches. Grown-ups will want to spend at least a day in the scenic Swan Valley, a food-and-wine haven just outside Perth.
Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a winter wonderland that’s perfect for family ski trips. The island is famous for its powder-soft snow, and at family-friendly ski resorts like Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, there are plenty of fun activities off the slopes as well. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival is a fantastic time to visit, showcasing spectacular ice and snow sculptures. Plus, there’s lots to love about the local cuisine, including fresh seafood and the famous Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream.
Cook Islands
Keen for a tropical Pacific Island getaway? A family holiday to the Cook Islands ticks all the boxes. This idyllic archipelago of 15 islands boasts picture-perfect beaches, lagoons, reefs and lush mountainous interiors to explore. Engaging with the warm-hearted locals gives visitors a compelling glimpse into the Islands’ rich Polynesian culture. Families can enjoy snorkelling among coral reefs teeming with marine life, paddleboarding across serene lagoons at sunrise, and swimming with majestic sea turtles.
More information
Follow Lisa Pagotto on Instagram at @lisapagotto_
Learn more about Crooked Compass
