The Slow Road Cookbook

Kirianna Poole has spent five years travelling and camping through Australia and New Zealand with her husband, Lockie, and their three children (Riley, Alba and Elsie), in a vintage Volkswagen Kombi campervan (Izzie). Together, they share their life and adventures on Instagram, @theslowroad_.

Born to a Māori family, Kirianna grew up in the peaceful kitchens of her grandparents and the hectic ones of her Dad’s restaurants. She honed her skills and love of food with family, who taught her that good food is best shared.

Yearning for a slower life, she and Lockie bought a 1962 Volkswagen Kombi splitscreen in 2018 and set off on the adventure of a lifetime, twice circumnavigating Australia, exploring as many campsites, out of the way oases and remote beaches as they could. An adventure that began with just one child turned into a lifestyle that continues with three, and now traverses countries.

Along the way, they’ve inspired millions of people through Instagram to take their camp cooking next level, proving that it’s possible to cook hearty and wholesome camp meals from a tiny kitchen on the go. Using ingredients you can find everywhere, Kirianna’s slow food philosophy centres around seasonal and local produce, and her Māori heritage and international travels influence her recipes.