Living in regional Australia, travelling for sport is almost a rite of passage.
Whether it's netball, football, swimming, dance or athletics, country families quickly become experts at road trips, motel stays and packing the car like they're competing in Tetris.
Recently, I took my youngest daughter, Meg, to a NSW Swifts clinic in Sydney and it reminded me that some of the best trips aren't holidays at all—they're built around opportunities.
For a little girl who loves netball, the chance to train on the same courts used by the NSW Swifts, learn from different coaches and immerse herself in an elite sporting environment was too good to miss.
The clinic itself was only one day, but as any country family knows, getting there is often half the adventure.
Rather than tackling the five-plus hour drive from Tamworth in one hit, I decided to break the journey in Newcastle. I've never been particularly fond of the endless chorus of "Are we there yet?" and, let's be honest, neither of us needed that kind of energy before a big day.
Instead, we turned the trip into a mini adventure.
We caught up with friends and family, spent time in local parks, ate out in places we wouldn't normally visit and simply enjoyed having some uninterrupted mother-and-daughter time.
The following day we continued on to Sydney Olympic Park where we'd booked the Ibis Sydney Olympic Park.
For this trip, the location was absolutely perfect.
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Sydney Olympic Park is convenience. The hotel was just a short walk from where Meg's clinic was being held, which meant I could park the car, check in and not worry about driving again until it was time to head home.
If you're considering staying in the area, there are several accommodation options depending on your budget and travel style. The Pullman and Novotel are popular choices, while Quest offers apartment-style accommodation for families wanting a little extra space.
Before arriving, I wasn't entirely sure how we'd fill our downtime. Sydney Olympic Park often hosts school holiday activities and special events, so I'd figured we'd find something to do if needed.
As it turned out, there wasn't a great deal happening during our visit, but what the area lacked in entertainment, it more than made up for in convenience. We spent plenty of time walking around and found no shortage of cafés, restaurants and casual dining options.
A bonus I hadn't considered was the atmosphere.
The Sydney basketball team was playing and an NRL team training that evening, and there was a real buzz around the precinct. Fans were arriving, people were out and about and there was an energy that sports lovers would appreciate.
If you're planning a visit to Sydney Olympic Park, it's worth checking what events are scheduled during your stay. You might find yourself perfectly positioned to catch a game, concert or major sporting event while you're there.
The clinic itself was everything we'd hoped for.
Meg had an incredible day, learnt new skills, experienced different coaching styles and soaked up every minute of being surrounded by the sport she loves.
By the time we climbed back into the car to head home, she was absolutely exhausted.
For once, there were no constant requests asking how much longer the drive would take.
The silence was glorious!
In fact, the trip was such a success that we're doing it all again these school holidays.
This time we're adding another little netballer to the adventure.
We'll break the journey in Newcastle once more, hopefully squeeze in some toes-in-the-sand winter beach time, then head into Sydney for a wander through Christmas in July at The Rocks and the Bastille Festival.
If all goes to plan, I may even convince the girls that Pancakes on the Rocks is an essential cultural experience for dinner!
At the moment, they're far more excited than I am—which is saying something.
What started as a one-day sporting opportunity has become something bigger. It's become a chance to create memories, explore new places and give our kids experiences they simply wouldn't have if we stayed home.
Sometimes sport is the destination.
But often, it's just the excuse to travel.
Keep an eye out for the next blog post on this one - and wish me luck!
