Age, at either end, needn’t be a barrier to outdoor adventuring. Here’s a family with three young children that not only walk together but help others to enjoy doing so, too.

Jen and Ashley Parkes have made taking their three children tramping into a dream lifestyle and business.

The five-person Parkes family live in rural Ashburton. Ashley is a dairy farmer and Jen is a stay-at-home mum who also runs their website and social media, Backyard Travel Family.

There are three children; eight-year-old Nathan, six-year-old Kipton, and four-year-old Emilia. 

“We’d done a number of hikes and what it said on the DOC site and what it felt like in real life were poles apart,” says Jen.

“I remember doing a walk that said it takes three hours to get there. It took us just over two, and then another walk’s description said it takes three to four hours and it took us seven and a half.”

Jen wanted to provide more information for parents to be able to get out and do stuff with their kids.

The more they explored and shared their experience, the more positive feedback they got.

The Backyard Travel Family Instagram page now has 27,000 followers.

“Even just stuff like, you need to know if there are no shops anywhere near so be sure you take extra food, or if it was super windy on this trail even on a bright sunny day, bring a jacket.

“Because otherwise you’re like, ‘uh oh, my kid’s fingers are frozen and they’re upset and they’re going to cry for three hours until we get home. All just because we didn’t think of certain things.”

The family works with different brands to provide photography and Instagram content too.

People also use their website to find different travel itineraries, which Jen says is the best feedback ever.

Jen believes that getting kids outside is important for their mental health, for them to play, be resilient and to fail and get up again.

“The best part for me is that I’ve just been absolutely amazed by what the kids can actually do, like, every day I really underrate them as humans.”

When she first started taking her kids tramping they just had basic running shoes.

Now they do longer hikes and more alpine activities, they have good hiking boots, packs, and raincoats for all three children. But Jen says that gear shouldn’t be a barrier to getting started outdoors with kids.

“Always take lots of snacks and never lead with the good one, food is always very important.

“I have a six-year-old now and we’ve just learned he gets hangry and his brain doesn’t work and as soon as he’s fed, he’s regenerated again.”

When starting out, Jen recommends trying shorter tracks close to where you live. There are plenty around the country.

But don’t make it a boring, flat one, she says, ones with hills are the best as kids concentrate on the climb up. And once you’re at the top, kids know downhill is easy.

They try to do a couple of family hikes a month but don’t want to overdo it.

She always checks in with the kids because she doesn’t want them to feel like they are being dragged along.

“Sometimes my eldest grunts a little bit when we talk about hiking, but I think he’s a little intimidated by his younger brother who is a fantastic hiker.

“He’s strong, and he’s fast and he carries the pack so we have to try and slow him down a wee bit.”