"Changing our mindset and realising this wasn't living was the hardest part for us as adults and parents."
The family started in the United States and hired an RV for five weeks, driving from Los Angeles to New York City, "which didn't quite go to plan". They ended up in Tornado Alley during a tornado watch, broke down in a Walmart carpark and were stranded for three days.
But for the Austins, the highs outweighed the lows and the children were adapting to the intrepid lifestyle "amazingly".
"The language barrier just isn't a problem when you are 3 - dinosaur noises are the same everywhere," Ms Austin said.
In New Zealand, so long as children aren't in the country they do not need to be in school, she said.
"We talked with their teachers about what it was they would need to focus on, and they all agreed with us that the kids would learn more from a year of travel than they would in the class," Ms Austin said.
"Yes, their spelling and maths may not be where it needs to be when we arrive home. But their social skills, language skills, ability to adapt and family bond are exceptional."
Ms Austin said the children would catch up after they returned in January but were using an online programme for maths and comprehension on their travels for now.
The couple own a small building company which they plan to pick back up once they get back.
"We will need to try to buy a house and start again, but this time not try so hard to have a big house, board, TV, wardrobe."
They are taking a breather in Croatia during the European summer holidays. They plan to spend five months backpacking around Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali "and wherever else we get cheap flights or ferry rides to".
"We have lived in Tauranga our whole lives, and the cost of living has increased every year, and at the point of last year, it cost us around $82,000 annually.
"At this stage, if we follow our daily budget like we have been then our year of travel will cost us about $85,000 which includes food, accommodation, flights, transport, $5000 for a fun budget, everything for the entire year of travel for six people."
The budget ranges from $130 to $200 depending on which country the family are visiting.
"Of course we haven't made $85,000 this year while we have been away, but our choice to use it on our family travel instead of the everyday grind is not one we will ever regret."
The family are sharing their travels on the blog www.anaustinadventure.com