Family Adventuring: Family Travel, Multigenerational Trips and Reunions

The Ultimate Travel Podca
The Ultimate Travel Podca
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Family Adventuring is the travel podcast for families who love to explore together, from first trips with young kids to multigenerational vacations and family reunions. Host Normand Schafer talks with local guides, resort teams and tourism experts across the South Pacific, Europe and beyond about family-friendly destinations, activities kids and grandparents will both enjoy, and how to plan trips that bring everyone together. New episodes every week. Plan your family adventure with Far and Away Adventures at farandawayadventures.com.

  1. 12h ago

    Family Roots on Aitutaki: Heidi Rose on Reunions, Cousins and Island Kids

    What is it like to raise children on a small island where nearly everyone is family? Normand Schafer of Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com/) visits Aitutaki in the Cook Islands to talk with local Heidi Rose.Plan a multigenerational Aitutaki trip or family reunion with a Far and Away Adventures specialist. Heidi admits the move to Aitutaki was a big change for the children, leaving home for a new family home with cousins they had not met before. But being outdoors, away from iPads and phones, and connecting with extended family made it worthwhile. Families planning a reunion will relate to her description of family life: beautiful, chaotic, but beautiful. For visiting families there is the lagoon, motu trips, fishing charters and whale watching, and the One Foot Island passport stamp kids will love collecting. Her son Arama thrived outdoors, swapping screens for chasing chickens, which she credits with helping him win at school athletics. Family is everywhere. Many relatives still live on the island, others are in New Zealand, and when reunion time comes around, the gathering is huge. Heidi also describes the end-of-year round-the-island village celebrations, when families pile into cars, trucks and buses, perform at each village and are showered with lollies and flower ei, and when Cook Islanders living overseas come home to join in. Heidi's father was born on Aitutaki and comes from a family of 16. She grew up in Rarotonga, spending school holidays on Aitutaki with her Auntie Rima, and later moved there for a slower pace of life. She remembers a backyard at the harbour, and how after chores the kids could grab an ice cream from the shop next door and go for a swim. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=Cook%20Islands&src=spotify

    Family Roots on Aitutaki: Heidi Rose on Reunions, Cousins and Island Kids

  2. 3d ago

    Discover Tahiti Together: Private Tours, Waterfalls & Local Encounters

    The episode also explains why coordinating transportation, available time, and group priorities matters, especially when travelers have another activity or departure ahead. The guiding principle is simple: leave enough room to enjoy the places and people that make Tahiti distinctive. Nature adds another dimension to the experience. Hear about a dramatic waterfall that often leaves guests speechless, the famous Teahupo'o surf wave, and questions that lead to fascinating explanations of coral reefs and island geology. These are the kinds of subjects that can keep travelers of different interests engaged in the same journey. The conversation compares five-hour and eight-hour sightseeing options. A longer itinerary creates opportunities for a relaxed Polynesian lunch, additional scenic stops, and exploration of Tahiti Iti. Natalia also describes a group whose five-hour experience was going so well that they happily extended it to eight hours. For families and other groups traveling together, a flexible pace can make a meaningful difference. Natalia describes tours where visitors are not limited to looking out the window. Stopping at a roadside fruit vendor, talking with local residents, or learning about Polynesian hospitality can turn an ordinary sightseeing moment into a shared memory. Her goal is to help visitors feel the atmosphere of Tahiti rather than simply recognize its famous views. What could make a shared Tahiti adventure more memorable than beautiful scenery? Natalia of Tahiti Welcome Tours joins Normand Schafer to discuss private island sightseeing built around travelers' interests and opportunities to connect with local people. Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com/) helps travelers plan personalized French Polynesia vacations, including experiences that bring people together through discovery.Plan a memorable French Polynesia getaway for your traveling group with a Far and Away Adventures specialist. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotify

    Discover Tahiti Together: Private Tours, Waterfalls & Local Encounters

  3. Oct 24

    Air Rarotonga Founder Ewan Smith on Connecting Cook Islands Families

    How do families on tiny, remote islands stay connected to each other, and to help when they need it? Normand Schafer of Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com/) talks with Ewan Smith, founder and managing director of Air Rarotonga.Ewan arrived in Rarotonga in 1973, aged 22, as a pilot and engineer, just as the international airport opened. About four years later he founded Air Rarotonga with a single Britten-Norman Islander. Ewan's own family is here too: he says his family and his wife are from the Cook Islands. He explains why the airline is a lifeline for outer-island families. In the mid-1970s, new airstrips were built in the Southern Group and he flew the first aircraft in, with whole villages coming out to see. Air access meant health services and opportunity. He recalls a recent medevac from Pukapuka in the Northern Group, where there is no doctor, with the patient back in Rarotonga the same day. The crew follow an unwritten rule: never turn away someone in a desperate situation. Plan a Cook Islands family trip, including inter-island flights, with a Far and Away Adventures specialist. There are lighter moments too. Ewan remembers, as a schoolboy on a farm, being herded outside with his classmates to watch a jet airliner fly past, a memory that sparked a lifelong love of aviation. He also admits that these days he would rather be home or in a hotel by evening than on an overnight flight, something many travelling parents will understand. For visiting families, he says the islands offer two things: the lagoon, and the chance to connect with Cook Islanders. Ewan also talks about training local people. All of the airline's pilots and airport staff are Cook Islanders, and some have gone on to fly large jets for major international airlines. That continuity helped the airline recover after COVID. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=Cook%20Islands&src=spotify

    Air Rarotonga Founder Ewan Smith on Connecting Cook Islands Families

  4. Oct 21

    Planning a French Polynesia Family Adventure Without Island-Hopping Stress

    A French Polynesia family vacation can involve very different island experiences, and Valerie from Tahiti Tours explains why choosing the right combination matters. In conversation with Normand Schafer, she explores how traveler interests shape a realistic itinerary. Far and Away Adventures.com, https://farandawayadventures.com/, helps travelers coordinate personalized South Pacific vacations with expert planning support. Transportation is another major consideration, especially when an itinerary includes multiple islands. Normand shares a real example of travelers whose ferry was canceled because of bad weather. A replacement flight was arranged, then canceled, before another flight solution allowed them to reach Bora Bora on their original travel day. The story illustrates why flexibility and communication matter, particularly when several people are traveling together. The conversation also looks at accommodations ranging from local guesthouses to luxury stays. Normand highlights Maupiti as an example of a place where travelers should be prepared for simpler accommodations and a more local experience. The Marquesas offer another perspective, with distinctive landscapes and a strong cultural identity. Understanding these differences can help families discuss expectations before committing to an itinerary. For families considering Tahiti and the surrounding islands, one of the biggest decisions is what everyone actually wants to experience. Some travelers are interested in hiking and mountainous landscapes, while others are drawn to lagoons, beaches, fishing, and cultural encounters. Valerie emphasizes starting with those interests rather than assuming that every island provides the same activities.If your family is considering a French Polynesia adventure, connect with Far and Away Adventures to develop an island itinerary that reflects your group's interests and practical travel needs. Valerie also explains why travelers sometimes need to make quick decisions when unexpected changes involve additional expenses or limited transportation options. Normand discusses travel insurance and the value of reliable assistance when disruptions happen far from home. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotify

    Planning a French Polynesia Family Adventure Without Island-Hopping Stress

  5. Oct 17

    Flying to Tahiti Together: How the Vacation Begins Onboard

    A family vacation to Tahiti can begin before anyone reaches the islands. Moy from Air Tahiti Nui joins Normand Schafer to explain how Polynesian greetings, music, fragrant flowers, and a thoughtfully designed aircraft cabin welcome travelers into the spirit of French Polynesia. Far and Away Adventures.com, https://farandawayadventures.com/, helps travelers plan memorable island vacations with expert guidance.For families thinking about a special South Pacific journey, the flight is an important part of the overall travel experience. Moy describes how flight attendants greet passengers, how the tiare Tahiti flower introduces a distinctive island fragrance, and why the airline uses shades of blue inspired by French Polynesia's lagoons. These details help establish a relaxed atmosphere before arrival. Drawing on her experience as a former flight attendant, Moy recalls helping passengers who arrived stressed after connecting-flight delays. Her story highlights the importance of warm conversation, practical assistance, and considerate service, whatever cabin passengers occupy. The conversation also explores different preferences for comfort on a longer journey. Air Tahiti Nui offers Moana Economy, Manava Premium, and Poerava Business. Moy explains that different travelers value different features, and she specifically discusses lie-flat business-class seating for those who prioritize rest. Choosing a cabin involves thinking about the people traveling together and what matters most to each person.If you're organizing a family or multigenerational vacation in French Polynesia, explore your flight preferences and island plans with a Far and Away Adventures travel specialist. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotify

    Flying to Tahiti Together: How the Vacation Begins Onboard

  6. Oct 17

    Punanga Nui Market with Mrs Q: A Family Morning Out in Rarotonga

    Looking for a place in Rarotonga where kids, parents and grandparents can all find something to love? In this episode, Normand Schafer of Far and Away Adventures.com (https://farandawayadventures.com/) visits the Punanga Nui Market and sits down with Mie, known to everyone as Mrs Q, one of the founders of the market. It started small. It was hard at first to encourage the local mamas and papas to come and sell, and it took four or five years to really take off. Today the market has a brand new building, and it kept going through COVID with the support of its own people. Mrs Q takes us back to the beginning. After the 1992 Pacific Arts Festival, when each country had its own hut for carving, weaving and crafts, a small group decided to keep the space alive. She had just returned from travelling around Australia with her art, got involved, and the market opened in 1993. Plan a Cook Islands family trip with a Far and Away Adventures specialist. Grandparents will appreciate the history too. Mrs Q remembers when tourism was modest and there were few tour buses, and how visitors returning after the COVID border closures brought the market back to life. Sharing that story with the kids while browsing the stalls turns a shopping stop into a small lesson in island life and resilience. Her tip for visiting families: the market runs through the week, but Saturday is the biggest day, when locals and visitors gather together. It is a lively, easy outing that gives every generation a real taste of Cook Islands life. For families, there is plenty to explore together: island food, coconuts, Asian dishes, colourful pareu and fresh flower ei, which Mrs Q calls the number one item. At her own stall she makes jewellery by hand from Northern Group shells and pearl shell, and sells local oils, including a gentle oil she says is good for little kids and monoi oil for the sun. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=Cook%20Islands&src=spotify

    Punanga Nui Market with Mrs Q: A Family Morning Out in Rarotonga

  7. Oct 16

    Moorea Family Vacations: Beaches, Bungalows & Island Adventures

    What makes Moorea such an inviting island for families exploring French Polynesia? Normand Schafer talks with Hikura from Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort about its beautiful lagoon, accommodation choices, and experiences that can appeal to different generations. Far and Away Adventures.com, https://farandawayadventures.com/, helps families plan South Pacific vacations around the places, activities, and pace that suit them best.There's also plenty to do beyond the resort. Normand and Hikura discuss snorkeling, exploring the island by car or bicycle, ATV excursions, cultural activities, local food tours, and cooking classes. Moorea can accommodate enthusiastic explorers and family members who would rather spend a quiet afternoon relaxing by the lagoon. The resort's waterfront restaurants and Polynesian food experiences provide another opportunity to share memorable moments together. Accommodation is an important part of the conversation. Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea has garden, beachfront, and overwater bungalow categories. Hikura explains that location affects the experience and price, and some guests combine different bungalow types during one visit. Families can think about how much time they want near the beach, surrounded by gardens, or over the water before deciding which experience fits their trip. Moorea offers an interesting combination of convenience and discovery. Although the island is close to Tahiti, Hikura describes how quickly the scenery changes when visitors arrive by ferry. Local families make the crossing for weekend getaways, and travelers can experience a little of everyday island life alongside commuters and students. Once on Moorea, the mountains, white sand, and turquoise lagoon create a striking setting for a family escape. If you're bringing children, teens, parents, or extended family members to French Polynesia, this conversation offers a useful introduction to designing a Moorea stay that everyone can enjoy. Work with Far and Away Adventures to create a family itinerary that balances island discoveries, comfortable accommodations, and time together. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotify

    Moorea Family Vacations: Beaches, Bungalows & Island Adventures

  8. Oct 15

    Raiatea for Families: Culture, Coral Gardens and Island Adventures

    Could Raiatea be a rewarding stop on a French Polynesia family adventure? Normand Schafer speaks with Arnold of Opoa Beach Hotel about cultural discoveries, hands-on activities, and an unforgettable day exploring neighboring Taha'a. Far and Away Adventures.com helps travelers explore possibilities like these at https://farandawayadventures.com/. Back on Raiatea, Arnold discusses a pearl-farm treasure hunt where visitors choose oysters and discover the pearls inside. Land activities can include coconut farms, honey production, pineapple gardens, and botanical gardens. When rain changes the day's possibilities, cooking classes and coconut-leaf weaving provide different ways to connect with local traditions. One standout excursion begins with a boat departure from the hotel for Taha'a. Arnold describes a full day that can include learning about vanilla cultivation, visiting a rum distillery and a pearl farm, enjoying lunch on a motu, and discovering the colorful marine life of the coral garden. Normand shares his own enthusiasm for the underwater experience after visiting Taha'a multiple times. Arnold describes his intimate, 10-bungalow property on Raiatea's southeastern coast, where lagoon-facing accommodations create a peaceful setting between island adventures. The conversation highlights experiences that could appeal to families with different interests, from exploring Polynesian history to discovering what lies beneath the water's surface. The episode also introduces Taputapuatea, Raiatea's UNESCO-listed cultural site, and the importance of allowing enough time for meaningful exploration. Arnold suggests at least three or four nights rather than rushing from one experience to another. For families considering a South Pacific vacation that combines discovery, relaxed surroundings, and memorable shared experiences, this conversation offers a starting point. Ask a Far and Away Adventures specialist to help design a Raiatea and Taha'a itinerary suited to your family's interests. Get a free trip quote from Far and Away Adventures: https://farandawayadventures.com/form/quick-trip-request/?dest=French%20Polynesia&src=spotify

    Raiatea for Families: Culture, Coral Gardens and Island Adventures
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About

Family Adventuring is the travel podcast for families who love to explore together, from first trips with young kids to multigenerational vacations and family reunions. Host Normand Schafer talks with local guides, resort teams and tourism experts across the South Pacific, Europe and beyond about family-friendly destinations, activities kids and grandparents will both enjoy, and how to plan trips that bring everyone together. New episodes every week. Plan your family adventure with Far and Away Adventures at farandawayadventures.com.

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