9 hours in a car with kids ... that sounds fun!

Tomorrow afternoon I am embarking in the longest car trip I have ever undertaken with kids. I am hoping we return to Sydney with smiles on our faces.

We have decided to make a 4 day weekend, thanks to Australia Day, and head bush to visit friends who live near Coonabarabran ... this is a 6 hour drive without stops. How many hours will this be with kids involved? I have laid a bet with my husband that says "9".

Here is my plan that I hope will make this enjoyable (or at least manageable) for all of us:

• leave Wednesday around 4pm. Drive 90min then make a short dinner stop at the Golden Arches or some such I thing. Drive onto Mudgee which is another 90 minutes away
• I have booked us into a motel here for the night. Hopefully we arrive by 8pm so we can settle kids to sleep before gets too late. I have splurged on 2 rooms for the night so my husband and I can actually sit up for a while together
• Thursday morning, take a stroll around Mudgee after breakfast then set off around 9am hoping that Miss 13months will fall asleep.
• Pack lots of CD's and books for Miss 3, throw in a Chupa Chup at a critical moment and hope this keeps her happy while her sister sleeps.
• Keep middle seat in back free from bags etc in case I have to sit in the back to provide entertainment.
• It will be 3 hour drive to friends house ... I figure 1 playground stop needed and some snack?

We then have 3 nights on our friends property, we are pitching the tent. They have promised a good country BBQ/party with fireworks for Australia Day, a camp fire and camp oven meal on Friday night under the stars, and some kid friendly bushwalks. I should note my friends have 3 kids, the eldest (twins) just turned 2 last weekend. This should be a lovely few days.

Then the drive home ... the BIG unknown. Sunday we will set off some time after breakfast for the long drive back to Sydney ... 6 hours without stops ... with kids ... can we do in less than 9 hours ???
My plan:

• frequent stops in cute country towns, playgrounds, coffee etc
• more music
• more chupa chups
• "discover" the portable DVD player for Miss 3 (hopefully I haven't needed this before then

Have you done long car trips with your kids? What tips can you share to help me keep my sanity? Or do I just need to suck it up and remember if the car trip is horrid the weekend away with friends will still be worth it?

Linda x