I went on a weekend getaway with my kids in Queensland. I’m telling everyone about this travel secret that made my life easier in an instant: ‘Luxury and convenience on a budget’

I decided to escape the horrible winter conditions in Sydney and head to the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef with my family for a spontaneous, unforgettable holiday.

There’s nothing quite as adventurous as winding through dense forests in search of cassowaries, sailing along rivers hoping to catch a glimpse of a giant crocodile or staring into the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea and imagining the colourful world beneath.

But as fun as that sounds, anyone with small children – mine are five and ten – knows that holidays aren’t so… easy.

I can say that even as an avid adventurer and experienced traveler, traveling with children can be daunting.

Traveling on public transportation after a long flight can be quite frustrating for parents, especially if they also have to take on the role of pack animal.

And the idea of ​​walking through an airport, crossing the parking lot and waiting as a car rental agent slowly makes his way through a long line of customers can make those endless rainy weekends at home seem more appealing by comparison.

I have never taken the kids to North Queensland, despite having a soft spot for Cairns. Everything is just too far away and hiring a car never felt like the right choice.

Than Turo reached out and explained how easy it is to make the transition from getting off the plane to being behind the wheel.

Their unique model also allows customers to choose a car that best suits their needs, rather than booking a standard ‘small, medium or large’ car with a traditional rental company and hoping for the best.

I opted for a Porsche Macan – I love that there are higher-end options that can enhance the holiday experience. Must-see attractions are scattered throughout North Queensland, as they are in much of Australia, so since we’d be spending a lot of time in the car, I figured this would be the best option for our family.

Our host picked us up at Cairns Airport. They kept an eye on our flight, which was delayed, so we didn’t have to wait once we landed.

That was a relief for me, because I had once been delayed and then missed the opening hours of the local car rental company, leaving me alone at the airport with other unhappy customers.

He then parked around the corner, showed me all the controls and functions of his 2016 vehicle, took a few photos to document its condition, and then sent me on my way.

The entire process – from pick up to take off – took less than five minutes, and included some great local tips for our stay.

The car had recently been thoroughly cleaned and felt much more cared for than any other rental car I’ve ever driven.

And the price for three days – Saturday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon – was competitive at $868 including extras. The base price was $594.

The extras included a $50 charge for a child seat, comprehensive insurance for the three days worth $169, and a $50 delivery charge, which meant the host picked us up from the airport and dropped us off again a few days later.

There was also a ‘travel allowance’ of $16.04 and a GST of $18.53.

There was a very generous 900km allowance included – of which we only used 300km. We took the scenic routes, meandering from Cairns to Kuranda, across the grasslands to Port Douglas and further north to the Daintree River.

Having a car at our disposal for our trip allowed us to make spontaneous stops along the way, such as at the beautiful butterfly farm in Kuranda and on a crocodile tour on the Daintree River.

And it also took away the stress of ‘do we have enough snacks?’ and the mental pressure of ‘did I pack everything the kids need today?’, meaning I could enjoy our ‘summer-in-winter’ getaway too.

If we had gone without a car, we would have had to stay in Cairns the entire time and do day trips to each destination, which can be tiring for everyone and also limits the opportunities for spontaneous trips.

We had not been able to go to Quicksilver Reef off the coast of Port Douglas, where we could snorkel and go on a semi-submarine to see the marine life up close.

We had not had the chance to take a helicopter flight over the special outer reef.

We wouldn’t have made it to the Daintree River, one of the wettest places in Australia, to see the impressive local reptiles sunbathing on the riverbank.

And we probably wouldn’t have been able to take the winding roads through the rainforest, where we saw bright blue butterflies on the way to the tropical highlands.

My host, Zoltan, has had his car on the platform for a few years and was very helpful, even getting to the airport early on the return trip when I decided we needed some extra time before the flight.

It felt more like borrowing a car from a friend than renting one, which made me feel less stressed throughout the experience.

Tim Rossanis, VP and Managing Director of Turo Australia, told FEMAIL they have over 1,500 models available, from luxury sports cars and electric vehicles to family-friendly cars.

Turo, the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace, sets itself apart from other similar providers by also offering luxury cars.

“We offer a maximum vehicle value of $200,000 AUD, giving guests access to more luxurious and unique vehicles,” he said.

“Our competitors only offer a maximum vehicle value of $60,000 and focus more on functional use cases where you need a car for a few hours or a day.”

“That’s not to say we don’t offer daily drivers, we absolutely do. But the beauty of our range is that we can offer significantly more diversity,” he added.

For those on a budget or who don’t necessarily want to travel in a luxury vehicle, there are other, less expensive options.

They can rent a Kia Picanto for $195, a Mazda 3 for $287 (excluding child seat and insurance) and a Mitsubishi ASX for $345.

For larger groups, there are also extra-large options, including a 7-seat Mitsubishi Outlander for $433. Of course, Teslas and hybrid vehicles are also available.

Because the supply of cars varies by city, customers can best use the Turo app to see what’s for sale and when.

It could even affect their vacation.

Sydney has everything from Corollas to the latest Land Rovers, Porsches, Bentleys and BMWs.

In Melbourne, Mustangs, Maseratis and Jaguars are the most luxurious cars, while in Perth drivers can arrive in style in G-Wagons, Teslas and Audis.

Turo’s luxury offering is only available to drivers 25 and older. The super deluxe versions are available to drivers 30 and older.

At home I drive around in a Toyota Corolla, but I also love getting behind the wheel of something new. I think driving a luxury car on vacation definitely adds to the overall experience.