But about a year ago Ms Stokes said she stumbled across the blog of the Morgans, another Kiwi family who had taken on a similar adventure, and decided she wanted a change.
"We have been planning, organising, saving and researching since then," she told the Bay of Plenty Times.
To pay for the trip, they had taken a second mortgage on their Papamoa home, while Ms Stokes had picked up part-time work again and the family had cut down on unnecessary luxuries.
The family members would each have their own 35L backpacks and would only carry what they absolutely needed.
"We have done the standard family resort holiday to the Gold Coast but nothing like this. We have never backpacked as such so we are just doing it with the four kids in tow.
"We are going to take the absolute minimum. When we need something, we will buy it. By only having 7kg each it will be a lot cheaper for the flights we do take and easier for trains, buses and other public transport.
"We will wash our clothes in the shower each night and have one spare pair. The whole point is we get away from everything. The washing, the chores, the cooking.
"It's about having an adventure together, as cliched as it sounds, it's not the destination, it's the journey.
"I'm so excited to be on a bus for six hours and have nothing but conversations with my family — the memories we will share.
"The world would be our educator for the year."
Ms Stokes said they would not do any rigid schooling with the four children but keep them up-to-date with mathematics and reading along the way.
"The kids have all been doing their own research and have sorted out places they want to go and learn from."
Kasha, 12, was really looking forward to going to the birth place of Zeus while the younger boys were looking forward to visiting Legoland in Malaysia.
