Looking for road trip gift ideas?
We’ve used our road tripping experience to create this handy gift guide. Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or you simply want to say ‘thank you’ to the road tripper in your life – this is the perfect place to start!
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Road trip gift ideas for Tassie travellers
Is Christmas fast approaching? Maybe your partner has a birthday coming up? Or perhaps the family is planning a trip to Tasmania?
Whatever the reason, there’s a good chance you’re looking for a comprehensive list of road trip gift ideas. A google search will find plenty of suggestions – but this road trip gift guide is different because it has a Tassie flavour!
My wife and I have done plenty of road trips across Tasmania, mainland Australia and overseas, and all that experience has gone into creating this guide.
Some of them are practical, others will make your road trip more comfortable, and some will help you capture your road trip memories.
Whatever you’re looking for, or who you would like to surprise with a road trip gift, this list will point you in the right direction – and most ideas cost less than $40!
For any purchases you make using the links below I receive a very small ‘spotters fee’ from Amazon. It doesn’t cost you any extra but it does help me keep the Lap of Tasmania online and up to date with Tassie travel planning info. Please accept my heartfelt thanks in advance for helping me keep the Lap of Tasmania as the #1 travel resource for Tasmania road trippers! – Cheers, Andrew.
1: Portable Charger
There’s nothing worse than running out of power on your phone or camera when you need it the most.
Checking your itinerary, confirming your accommodation, searching Google Maps…it’s all part of modern travel now and finding yourself on your last bar can be both inconvenient and stressful.
The Anker PowerCore 13000 portable charger is only tiny – smaller than your wallet – but holds enough power to charge your phone 3 times or more. We also like that this model has two high-speed USB ports, meaning you can easily charge two devices at the same time.
Simply charge up the device before you leave home and you’re good to go!
Price: Under $50
2: Car Headrest iPad/Tablet Holder
‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round’ has been on repeat for what seems like an eternity. The kids aren’t interested in the scenery whizzing past, and you’re at your wits end. It’s time to bring out the big guns…the iPad or tablet!
A headrest holder for your iPad is a great idea, keeping the iPad out of grotty hands and stopping it from being stepped on by little feet. It also keeps the tablet close to mum or dad up front, so they can easily reach around and adjust the settings.
There are a few different designs available, but we like the flexibility of the TFY Universal Headrest Mount.
Unlike other designs involving complicated bolts and brackets, this one is a giant velcro sleeve that is quick and easy to wrap around the headrest while still securely holding your iPad.
This is perfect if you are planning on renting a vehicle on arrival in Tasmania and you want something that won’t damage the rental vehicle, while also packing down small and light in your baggage.
Price: Less than $30
3: Tassie Devil Travel Buddy
We’ve seen a lot of people travelling around Tasmania with their own favourite fluffy travel buddy, posing it in photos of Tasmania’s iconic landscapes like Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay.
Toy dogs, cats and even frogs(!) have been known to make an appearance…but if you’re visiting Tasmania you’ve got to make it an Australian made Tassie Devil, right?
It’s a fun way of sharing your road trip with friends and family, and makes for the perfect souvenir of your Tasmania holiday.
Price: Under $40
4: Travel Journal or Art Pad
It’s crazy how much we rely on digital products every single day now.
As much as I love creating articles and editing photos for the Lap of Tasmania, I often find myself in need of a digital detox and the best time to do this is when I’m taking a holiday.
Some of us enjoy writing, while others love to create art – and both are a fantastic way to not only slow down but to also capture your holiday in your own unique way.
I can guarantee you’ll thank yourself in a few years time when you look back at your sketches or read the stories and anecdotes that made your holiday so special!
Of course you could grab any old notebook, but we love the timeless style of Moleskine. Their Traveller’s Journal is perfect for jotting down your thoughts, and it includes some fantastic holiday planning sections as well.
Price: Under $40
And if you prefer to express yourself through art we love the Moleskine Watercolour Notebook (various sizes available). It uses cold-pressed paper for a luxe-quality surface while the hardcover protects your images from getting knocked about while on the move.
Price: Under $25
5: Comfy Travel Pillow
If you’re camping your way around Tasmania or planning on spending a lot of time on the road, then a comfortable and ergonomic travel pillow will be handy, like the HugSnug ‘Twist’ Neck Pillow.
On our own travels my wife and I have both struggled with the traditional U-shaped pillows, but from all the reviews we’ve read of how adjustable the HugSnug is, it’s pretty clear that this pillow takes comfort on the road (or plane) to the next level – without adding additional weight or bulk.
Price: Under $30
6: Portable Speaker
When my wife and I go on a road trip we usually find ourselves self-catering for most of our meals. We love cooking and almost always find ourselves cooking up a storm with a glass of wine in hand and some music on in the background.
I don’t know about you, but I always find my mobile phone simply isn’t powerful enough to make decent sound – it’s always ‘tinny’ or lacking any bass. That’s why we always travel with a portable speaker!
The Anker Soundcore Mini is one of the best examples of a quality portable speaker at a very decent price point. I really like this particular model for its compact size, amazing sound, massive Wi-Fi range, and the fact that it includes a handy micro-SD slot – so you can plug and play all your tunes, even if your mobile phone battery has died.
Price: Under $50
7: Portable Cooler / Eski
Tasmania is famous for its gourmet, farm-fresh food and its award-winning beers and cool climate wines.
Whether you’re on a white sand beach under the warm summer sun, or a green, grassy park among the autumn leaves, picnic opportunities wait for you around every bend in the road!
The collapsible and ultra-portable CleverMade 30 Can Cooler will keep your beers or bubbles cold, and your cheese and crackers fresh. The insulated, waterproof interior wipes down really easily, and it is big enough to cater for all your picnic and camping needs.
Price: Under $50
8: Packing Cubes
An oldie but a goodie. You’ll find packing cubes mentioned by most frequent travellers – and for good reason.
My wife swears by packing cubes, using them religiously whenever we travel. They help her keep her clothing organised and easily accessible, while also making it super easy to pack them into her suitcase without wasting any space.
Quality packing cubes like the Eagle Creek ‘Pack It’ Cube Set will last for years as well, so it’s a handy little investment (we use them in all our travels at home and overseas).
Price: Under $50
9: Tassie Books
I often find that immersing myself in the pages of a book can add a completely new dimension when travelling around a new destination.
Tasmania has a fascinating history, and these books will provide context and ‘flavour’ to your road trip that you couldn’t get any other way.
- Peter Dombrovskis: Journeys into the Wild – “A poetic escape to a fragile and breathtaking wilderness, with celebrated photographer Peter Dombrovskis as our guide.” – Check on Amazon
- For the Term of His Natural Life – “The epic odyssey of Rufus Dawes, a young man transported to an early penal settlement for a murder he did not commit. A powerful tale that captures the strength of the human spirit and its enduring belief for compassion to overcome adversity.” – Check on Amazon
- In Tasmania – “In Tasmania on holiday…Nicholas Shakespeare discovered a house on a 9-mile beach and instantly decided this was where he wanted to live. He didn’t know then that his ancestor was the corrupt and colourful Anthony Fenn Kemp, now known as ‘the Father of Tasmania’, or that he would find relatives living on the island.” – Check on Amazon
10: Industrial Strength Umbrella
Hobart might be Australia’s second driest capital city, but it still makes sense to pack an umbrella on your road trip – especially if you’re visiting in winter or spring, or plan on exploring the West Coast (Wet &) Wilds.
Rain isn’t the only thing you need to consider though. I’ve always been frustrated by flimsy umbrellas, and if you experience the blustery ‘Roaring 40s’ of north west Tasmania you’ll be thankful you bought a super-strong umbrella like the BLUNT Metro that doesn’t turn inside-out at the slightest puff of wind.
This umbrella isn’t cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for. I bought one of these for long-term travelling in the rain and wind of the monsoons of SE Asia and it has proven to be a fantastic investment.
Price: Under $100
11: Hanging Toiletry Kit
Overnight trips aren’t too bad, but when travelling for a week or more then I often find myself getting really frustrated with the toiletry ‘situation’.
And unlike my wife I don’t even need to worry about the makeup side of things!
A cleverly designed toiletry kit like the Annana Hanging Toiletry Kit can make life on the road a lot easier. It has plenty of compartments and the clear windows allow you to easily see where everything is stored. Best of all, you can unfold the kit and hang it from a shower rail or other handy object to keep it dry and out of the way, while still having easy access.
Price: Under $20
12: Portable Hair Dryer
If only I wasn’t losing my hair faster than it’s turning grey 😀
My wife on the other hand – she always travels with a hairdryer and has loved the Babyliss range for years, finding them to be among the best on the market.
Strong, reliable, compact and powerful – it’s the perfect combo and not something you often find in a portable dryer like the BaByliss Nano Dry.
Unlike most other dryers, this one is designed for travel. It has a handy multi-voltage setting meaning you can take it overseas and not have to worry about buying an extra voltage converter. It is also small and light, barely taking up any space while still pumping out 1200W of heat.
Price: Under $40
13: Travel Jewellery Box
Just because you are on the road doesn’t mean you can’t bring your jewellery.
You may want to leave your more expensive items back home, but if you enjoy wearing items like necklaces, brooches, or earrings on a daily basis then there is no reason why you can’t keep doing what you love while touring Tasmania.
The Vlando Travel Jewellery Box is compact and elegant, and it is a great way of keeping your jewellery all together in one place without worrying about it going missing in your luggage.
Price: Under $20
14: Head Lamp / Night Light
It’s easy to think of headlamps being for cyclists or spelunkers, but they are actually really handy on a road trip.
If you’re staying in a caravan park and need to get to the bathroom during the night, or if you’re visiting in winter and need to pack the car and make an early pre-dawn start then a head lamp like the Black Diamond Storm is perfect for navigating in the dark.
This model from Black Diamond gets rave reviews from its many users from all walks of life. It is extremely powerful, but at the same time has 8 different settings so you can reduce power and extend the battery life. Batteries are also included which is a nice little bonus!
Price: Under $70
15: Portable Travel Tripod
Are you thinking about going hunting for the Aurora Australis – often called the Southern Lights?
This colourful light show happens throughout the year and while it is sometimes visible to the naked eye the best way to capture all the colour is by using a tripod.
You can easily spend thousands on high-tech carbon fibre but unless you’re planning on some extreme adventures all you really need is a sturdy little option like this Manfrotto Mini-tripod to keep your camera steady, without breaking the bank.
I’ve been using this exact model for years now, and I nearly use it as much as my pro-level tripod. It fits easily into any day pack, making it very handy for road trippers.
Price: Under $70
I really hope there is something here that tickles your fancy, or that would make the perfect gift for your partner or family.
If you’d like some more tips for road tripping gifts or advice on what to pack on your Tassie road trip, then you’ll also enjoy our article Tasmania Packing List: 12 Must Pack Items.
Happy road tripping, and if you’ve got any questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email or at our Facebook group!
Andrew.
