The extraordinary family who drove from Australia to England through Afghanistan in 1977
Some family road trips involve motorway snacks and a boot full of suitcases. And then there’s what the Little family did. In Six Littles Go A Long Way, the Little family’s incredible 1977 journey comes alive in a way that feels both nostalgic and astonishing.
In 1977, Julian and Becky Little packed up their lives in Australia, bundled their four young sons into a Toyota camper van – the youngest just six months old – and set off on a 15,000-mile overland journey all the way to England.
No phones. No GPS. No sat-nav voice telling them to “turn left”. Just paper maps, instinct and the belief that the world was there to be explored.
Their adventure is now captured in Six Littles Go A Long Way, a beautifully detailed memoir written by eldest son James Little, who was seven at the time. It’s a vivid, heartfelt glimpse into the golden age of overland travel – when you could cross the Khyber Pass, wander through Kabul, and follow the dreamy “hippie trail” from Europe to India with nothing but curiosity and kindness guiding your way.
A world that feels almost mythical now
Travel in the 1970s was slower, friendlier and far less scripted. Borders opened with smiles. Strangers shared food around fires. The journey mattered more than the destination.
“It was a time when the world felt both bigger and smaller all at once.”
Through original family diaries and 160 colour photographs, James brings this era to life – gritty, joyful, unpredictable and wonderfully human.
Moments that make you smile — and wince
• breaking down in the middle of the Nullarbor Desert
• getting swept up in India’s technicolour Holi festival
• seeing snow for the first time in the mountains of Pakistan
• a poorly child at a border crossing
• endless repairs to a Toyota that deserved a gold medal by the end
It’s the kind of story that makes you nostalgic for something you never actually experienced.
Why this story matters now
Yes, this is a travel tale. But at its heart, it’s a story about connection.
During a flight delay decades later, James found himself talking to hundreds of stranded passengers who suddenly became a community – simply because their phones weren’t working. That moment reminded him of the journey that shaped his childhood.
“Whatever madness made my parents attempt this journey with so many little Littles, packed into a camper van, I will always be truly grateful for. There were some hair-raising moments, but the people we met and our experiences in those six months, were formative for me.” James Little, Author
For a generation raised on Instagram-perfect van life, this book is a reminder of what adventure used to be — raw, communal, unpredictable and deeply meaningful.
James Little with his memoir Six Littles Go A Long Way, sharing the extraordinary journey his family took in 1977.
About the Author
James Little now lives in Singapore and runs a sustainable energy consultancy. Writing the book reconnected him with people from all over the world who remembered the trip – proof that those six months left a lifelong imprint on everyone involved.
Six Littles Go A Long Way is published by Arena Books and is part family memoir, part travel history, and completely captivating.
QueenBee Thoughts
A perfect read for wanderers, nostalgic souls and anyone craving a bit of old-school adventure. It’s one of those stories that reminds you the world used to feel gentler – and that humans are, at their core, built for connection.
