After months of a devastating summer bushfire season and the COVID-19 travel ban, families can now at last begin to plan and route their trips around the country, as the travel ban restrictions ease nation wide. A group of eleven Australian celebrities have joined together with the Australian holiday website, Stayz, in the  #RoadTripPledge, an Australian regeneration promise.

The #RoadTripPledege is a pledge made in showing support toward regional towns and families that have been impacted by the COVID-19 travel ban and the summer bushfires. Some of the Australian celebrity families that are the first to take part in the pledge and encourage others to holiday in regional towns this year are; Edwina Bartholomew, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Cameron Daddo and Alison Brahe, Jamie Durie, Adam Liaw, Benji and Zoe Marshall, Catriona Rowntree, Tom Williams and Dr Katrina Warren.

Each of these celebrities have made their own promise to travel locally with their families across 2020 by road as a genuine way to give back to recovering regions and tourism. The #RoadTripPledge message is simple: ‘Focus on reconnecting Australian families with impacted areas, encouraging Australians to make a simple promise to take on new adventures and hit the road to rebuild tourism’.

The #RoadTripPledge is as follows;

As a reminder of the incredible power of regeneration. I stand with regional Australian towns. I vow to explore impacted places by road. To spend generously in towns of all sizes. To always ask locals “are you okay”. To value moments of connection with the people I love. And find a renewed sense of adventure together. Even when the headlines have stopped, and the social media has ceased. We will not forget the reason why we made our #RoadTripPledge.

As part of the campaign kicking off, Stayz has launched a promotion where people who take part in the #RoadTripPledge, and are one of the first 1000 bookings (for over $1000) made at Stayz.com.au, will be eligible to claim and receive a $100 VISA gift card. The VISA gift card can be used in the regional holiday destination, to further inject the much needed money back into the small businesses that need it most. It is simply a win-win situation.

Leading children’s psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is also on-board with the #RoadTripPledge and has offered great advice to families on how to involve their kids in this important pledge, whilst also addressing the social changes on how to reconnect as a family this year. Dr Carr-Gregg has said, “2020 hasn’t turned out to be the new decade and chapter we were all expecting. From the impact of the bushfires that led to a lost summer syndrome for so many families, to the recent health crisis that has impacted the way we socialise, greet people and holiday, it has been trying and life changing times.”

“While we must still be careful and diligent, we need to also remember that connecting, exploring and spending time together as a family unit is now more important than ever, and doing this locally by road a safe option.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has reminded us of the importance in traveling to regions towns as it presents an incredible opportunity for children to learn about Australian history, indigenous culture, nature and wildlife, whilst also inspires children and their curious minds beyond what they learn in a classroom. For more visit this tool kit: www.roadtrippledge.com.au

Holiday home owner, Karen Beeston, 62, has spent her entire life in the Kangaroo Valley, NSW, at her family home built by her grandmother and grandfather. The home has four generations of memories and nostalgia which she now opens up to other families for long weekends and mid-week escapes to get out of Sydney and “re-set”. Kate reminds us again of the importance of experiencing and venturing out to regional towns, Kate says that the #RoadTripPledge means so much to so many holiday home owners, like herself, as they get to see tourists come back and have a holiday in towns that really need the support.

During these challenging times, the #RoadTripPledge shines a light on something we can be hopeful about together. The Australian celebrities listed above and Stayz encourages you and your family to join this excellent pledge in supporting regional towns, families and businesses around the country for a getaway you won’t forget.

To find out more visit: www.roadtrippledge.com.au.