Load It Up: What To Pack for the Ultimate Family Beach Day

Nothing beats the feeling of driving to the beach – whether through suburbia, on freeways or through thick tree cover – and then turning the corner to finally see a sliver of water. Soon enough, it’s the smell of sunscreen, the feel of sand on bare feet, icy cold drinks in the sun. But before getting there, you need to make sure you’ve got everything you need.

Throw in your essentials – a shady beach shelter, some folding chairs, cooler bags full of snacks and drinks, and enough towels for the whole tribe – and suddenly you’re looking at a full carload. This might be too tight a squeeze in most cars – but it’s easy enough if you happen to be driving the Hyundai PALISADE Hybrid.

With everything you’ve got to think about packing (and actually pack), the PALISADE Hybrid’s Digital Key means one less thing to worry about. This feature lets you connect your car onto your smartphone, meaning you can leave your physical key at home and just use your phone to unlock the car and drive. With eight seats, plenty of interior space and clever compartments, this flagship SUV has room for everyone and everything. Plus, with a range of other smart features and lifestyle upgrades, it’s easy to elevate a day at the beach into something truly special.

Ready to pack the car for an upgraded day at the beach? Here’s everything you’re going to need.

Games for the car ride (and waiting inside)

Arrived while the sun’s still scorching hot, or waiting for a light drizzle to finish before you can step out? With the PALISADE Hybrid’s Stay Mode feature, keep using the infotainment system and temperature controls while parked with the engine off – so you can blast tunes over the speakers, stay cool, and play a round or two of Monopoly Deal without worrying about running down your battery or wasting fuel.

Beach umbrella or shelter

We all grew up with slip, slop, slap sun smarts drilled into us (there are even a couple more now: seek and slide) thanks to Australia’s intense summer UV. That means sun protection should always be number one on your beach trip list: you’ll need personal protection, of course – sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, terry-towelling hats – but for a family trip, a shared shady spot is always a good idea.

If you want to do things the traditional way, a big beach umbrella (stylishly striped, ideally) is the way to go. They’re easy to fold out and pack down, and you can spike them right into the sand. For a little extra cover or privacy, a shelter or cabana can also be a great (though bulky) option. Whichever you choose, though, just make sure you’ve got a car with plenty of room to pack your sun protection – you’re going to need it.

Blender or ice-cream maker

Cold beachside treats are usually the domain of expensive ice-cream stands and endlessly busy kiosks – or else you’re doing your best to eat and drink everything before the ice in your esky melts. The PALISADE’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature means the car has powerpoints powered by the electric battery that you can plug into, letting you bring and use your own appliances wherever you are. So not only is whipping up a freshly frozen snack at the beach possible – it’s the ideal way to elevate a family beach holiday.

The options are really up to you, but we’re thinking about blending some frosty fruit smoothies for a post-swim snack (loaded with tropical produce, naturally), or bringing out the ice-cream maker and making fresh vanilla or chocolate scoops while everyone else waits for Mr Whippy to arrive.

Projector and screen

When the sun starts setting, it’s usually a sign that the beach day is over – something that rarely goes down well with the tireless little ones. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case now. With the light starting to dim, we reckon it’s the ideal time to towel off and settle back on your banana lounge for a sunset screening. With the PALISADE’s V2L powering your projector, set up a screen wherever you can find a spot (inside a beach shelter, perhaps?) and relax with a family film. Beach days have never been this good.

All done for the day and dreading opening the car door to hot, stale air after it’s been in the sun all day? As you’re beginning to pack up, use Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car app to connect remotely with your PALISADE. It lets you remotely control your car all through your smartphone, so you can start the car and turn the air conditioning on before heading over, and have a blast of cool air waiting when you open the door. Then, it’s a cinch to pack everything back into the PALISADE and hit the road in comfort – unload when you get home, or keep everything in the spacious boot for your next beach adventure.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Hyundai. The Hyundai PALISADE Hybrid is built for all of life’s major moments. Thanks to its spaciousness and smart design, the PALISADE Hybrid transforms everyday errands and milestones into smooth, well-packed adventures.