Out & About with Kids #67, Spring 2021 by Out & About with kids

SPRING 2021

with kids 13 EPIC AUSSIE ADVENTURES Go big on your next holiday Down Under

A HOLIDAY AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST!

DISNEY EXPERT’S ULTIMATE GUIDE DADS’ DREAM HOLIDAYS Issue 67 • RRP $7.95 67 9 771832 331006 >

BUNDABERG • CAIRNS • FITZROY ISLAND • FIJI • GOLD COAST • GREAT BARRIER REEF • KIAMA NEW ZEALAND • PORT MACQUARIE • TWEED • WHITSUNDAYS • WILSONS PROMONTORY • YAMBA

contents

UPFRONT 6 Reader Instagram photos

Stay in Winnie the Pooh’s ‘Bearbnb’ in England

Our readers share their travel adventures

7 Editor’s letter 8 Moments

New Now – Rainbow Meditation Room at the HOTA Gallery

10 What’s on

Upcoming events and festivals for your diary

14 What’s new

The latest attractions, experiences, accommodation and sustainability developments

34 How to keep kids entertained at home

The team from parenting website Stay at Home Mum share their tips

38 Baby on board

On her first road trip as a mum, RACHEL LEES discovers that holidaying with a baby isn’t quite what she had hoped it would be

41 Baby and toddler travel products

Keep tiny tots on trend with the latest gear for bubs and pre-schoolers

AUSTRALIA 44 Epic Aussie adventures

58 Dads’ dream holidays

From the confines of Sydney lockdown, BEN GROUNDWATER uncovers the best Australian family holidays dads will love

64 Fossils and footprints

a beautiful beach at the doorstep, this holiday park on the NSW South Coast is an ideal family holiday destination

Best holidays of a week or more Down Under

BEV MALZARD reveals the top places to delight dinosaur-obsessed youngsters around Australia

77 Discover marine life at North Star Holiday Resort

78 Wheely good times in the Prom

68 Yamba with kids

This relaxed beachside town, located on the banks of the Clarence River on the NSW North Coast, abounds with fun things for families to do

74 BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park, Kiama

With a water park, jumping pillow, and

Kids can learn how to help the ocean during a holiday at this Tweed Coast NSW holiday park

MEG LAW and her family explore Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria on their first motorhome holiday

84 Ten best things to do in Bundaberg with kids

With 140km of coastline, this area of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is shaping up to be Queensland’s next must-visit region

WORLD

90 Disney expert’s ultimate guide

Melbourne travel agent REBECCA MASON, who is one of the top 10 sellers of Disney destinations in Australia, and her son Lachlan share their top tips for visiting Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida

94 Go north

ANGELA SAURINE reveals the best things to do on a family holiday to New Zealand’s North Island

99 Family afloat

FIONA HARPER meets a family of four whose home is a yacht that has taken them across the South Pacific Ocean

EXTRAS 108 Celebrity Q&A Gold medal-winning Olympic sailor

Fun times on a motorhome holiday

Kids flying kites at Kelly’s Beach at Bargara

Mat Belcher OAM, who was chosen as the Australian flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Tokyo, has been lucky to take his family on trips with him around the world. But his favourite holidays are much closer to home

110 Reviews

The Out & About with Kids team reviews Mercure Centro Hotel Port Macquarie, Shangri-La The Marina Cairns, and BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort

116 How To... Be a COVID safe traveller

National Travel CEO, David Sumich, shares his advice on how to keep safe travelling in a COVID-19 world

Image: Bundaberg Tourism

120 Must haves

The latest products travelling families need to know about

122 Insider Interview

Tourism Australia director Phillipa Harrison’s favourite family holidays 5

READER INSTAGRAM PICS Our readers have shared some awesome photos of their adventures on social media. Tag your family holiday snaps #oawk for the chance to see them republished here. 1. @angleseaadventure Anglesea, Victoria 2. @thepikeycaravan Wang Wauk State Forest, NSW 3. @michelle_kennedy Swansea Bridge, NSW 4. @wanderlustwithlittleones Kuranda Scenic Railway, Queensland 5. @theneagles14 Airlie Beach, Queensland

2 6

EDITOR’S LETTER Vaccinations aren’t something I’d ever thought too much about. I remember lining up in the school hall with all the other girls to get my rubella injection when I was 16. Then I’d get the seasonal flu shot in the first aid room at my office in the city each year. Before travelling to South America, I booked in with my doctor to get all the required jabs. It wasn’t until I travelled through India, preparenthood, and was confronted with polio victims with severe deformities begging at train stations that it really began to dawn on me how lucky we were in the western world to have access to substances that provide immunity against disease. When I look back to when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia around 18 months ago, there were fears that there would never be a vaccine. There had never been one for a coronavirus before, people said. But with some of the world’s top minds on the case, we got there. Now there are several, which is pretty darn amazing IMO. I’d never been so excited to get a needle as I was to roll up my sleeve for my Pfizer shot at the mass vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park. Of course, the decision to get the vax is one everyone must make for themselves but, personally, I saw it as my ticket to freedom. As the country continues to open up, we can only hope things will return to as normal as possible in the not-too-distant future, and that includes travel! If you’re looking for ideas for where to go and what to do, we have lots of them in this issue. Our cover story about 13 epic Aussie adventures, from Kangaroo Island to Kakadu; and the Great Barrier Reef to Ningaloo Reef, is a must-read. I also loved reading the story by award-winning travel writer, Rachel Lees, about her first trip with a baby in tow (hint: it’s very different!), and Ben Groundwater’s take on holidays around the country that dads will love. Dinosaurs are a favourite in our household, and I’m sure we will be following Bev Malzard’s guide to the best experiences Down Under at some point in the next few years. With New Zealand still the most likely international destination we’ll be heading, we also have a story about the best things to do on the North Island – kayaking to see Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay looks particularly cool. For those planning further ahead, the expert’s guide to Disneyland, by specialist travel agent Rebecca Mason, is sure to get you pumped about a trip to see Mickey and Co, with lots of awesome tips. ‘til next time, Angela Saurine, editor

Angela after getting her Pfizer shot at Sydney Olympic Park

Out & About with Kids Print & Digital outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Publisher Elisa Elwin elisa@oawk.com.au +61 413 770 550

Published by Elwin Media Pty Ltd ABN: 22 159 093 606 PO Box 4148, Balgowlah Heights, NSW 2093

Editor Angela Saurine angela.saurine@oawk.com.au Advertising Enquiries: advertising@oawk.com.au Art Director Jon Wolfgang MIller

Cover image A mother and toddler on Great Keppel (Wop-pa) Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2021 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission isstrictly prohibited. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. Out & About with Kids cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine they will be returned. Disclaimer The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Publisher and Out & About with Kids. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Moments

NEW NOW – RAINBOW MEDITATION ROOM, HOTA GALLERY If there is one thing that kids love, it’s rainbows, so little wonder the New Now – Rainbow Meditation Room at the HOTA Gallery on Queensland’s Gold Coast was such a hit with young ones. After collectively experiencing anxious times over the past couple of years, Japaneseborn, Tweed-based artist, Hiromi Tango, wanted to create a space for feelings of joy and happiness. She hoped everyone who entered the room would leave feeling a renewed sense of optimism. “As an artist and a parent, I especially wanted children to remember this room as a happy place,” she said. Over the last decade, Tango has explored the healing potential of different aspects of art, including the colour palette, the impact of fluorescence on the brain, and the meditative effects of circular shapes. Using colour and contour to generate energy and positivity, the psychedelic installation created light and movement through digital animation, painting, and sculptural elements, with the colours of the rainbow emanating from what appeared to be the centre. The installation was part of HOTA Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise, which included the work of 19 emerging and established artists with connections to the region. The $60 million gallery, which opened in May, spans six levels and includes a dedicated Children’s Gallery. It is the latest addition to the dynamic new arts precinct, HOTA, Home of the Arts, on the banks of the Nerang River. hota.com.au 8

9 Image: Tourism Australia

AUSTRALIA

WHAT’S On HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR, NSW

NOVEMBER 5, 2021-JANUARY 26, 2022 Immerse yourself in a magical illuminated world at the largest Christmas lights display in the Southern Hemisphere. The well-manicured gardens, around two hours’ drive north of Sydney, make a magnificent backdrop for the popular annual event. There will be more than three million lights on show, with themed displays including ‘Hunter’ the giant teddy bear, Giant Castle and Around the World, as well as amusement rides, roving entertainment, food and drinks. huntervalleygardens.com.au/events/christmaslights-spectacular

MANGO MADNESS FESTIVAL, NORTHERN TERRITORY

NATIONAL PHARMACIES CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

NOVEMBER 13, 2021 Marking the start of the festive season in Adelaide, this event sees hundreds of thousands of happy faces lining the 3km route to watch the parade pass by. The Pageant began in 1933 and is one of the largest free community parades in the world. It boasts 174 moving theatrical sets, including 270 certified clowns and elves, 65 floats, 18 bands, four penny farthings, 33 dance groups, five choirs and a live DJ/rapper. christmaspageant.com.au 10

NOVEMBER 6, 2021 Packed with family-friendly fun and entertainment, the Mango Madness Festival showcases the best of Darwin’s mango-inspired food and drinks, including tasting stalls, a cocktail masterclass from the winning Mango Cup team, Dom’s Bar & Lounge, and a mango-eating competition. mangomadnessfestival.com.au

AUSTRALIA

CURIOCITY BRISBANE AND WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL, QUEENSLAND

MARCH 2022 This festival of science, art and technology spreads across the city, with engaging and interactive installations and demonstrations at places such as the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and South Bank. It also incorporates the World Science Festival, which takes the beauty of science outdoors with a jam-packed program to inspire young and mature minds alike. curiocitybrisbane.com

ANCIENT GREEKS: ATHLETES, WARRIORS AND HEROES EXHIBITION, ACT

Image: Justin Hyde

DECEMBER 17, 2021-MAY 1, 2022 See more than 170 objects on loan from the British Museum in this major exhibition at Canberra’s National Museum of Australia. These beautiful and engaging objects tell a story of the competitive spirit and intense rivalry of the Ancient Greeks, which flourished in sporting and battle arenas and inspired excellence in music and drama. nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

A TASTE OF THE HUON, TASMANIA

MARCH 13-14, 2022 Pack your picnic chairs and rugs for this annual celebration of food, wine, entertainment and arts and crafts from the Huon Valley and Channel region. The event is held at Ranelagh, 30 minutes’ drive south of Hobart, in a region that produces apples, cherries, berries, mushrooms, wine, salmon and truffles. atasteofthehuon.com.au

AUSTRALIA

FRINGE WORLD, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Image: Hannah Sorrell

JANUARY 14-FEBRUARY 13, 2022 Polish the mermaid tank – it’s time for Perth’s annual entertainment extravaganza. From music and musicals to comedy and circus, there’s something for everyone at FRINGE WORLD, which is the third largest fringe festival on the planet. The event is presented by charity ARTRAGE Inc, which is one of the oldest arts organisations in Western Australia. fringeworld.com.au

LITTLE VIC BIKE RIDE, VICTORIA

MARCH 31-APRIL 3, 2022 After cancelling the 2021 Great Victorian Bike Ride due to COVID-19, the Bicycle Network will instead host a four-day event next year, rebranded as The Little Vic. The 235km, four-day riding and camping holiday will start in Halls Gap and include an overnight stay at Dunkeld, finishing at Seppelt Winery in Great Western. greatvic.com.au 12

ATTRACTIONS

WHAT’S New

PONTOON IN PARADISE

The Cairns region of the Great Barrier Reef is set to welcome its first new pontoon in more than a decade. Australian adventure and leisure tourism company, Experience Co., received a $3 million grant from the Queensland Government for the project. With the working title Dreamtime Island, the platform will be based at the horseshoe-shaped Moore Reef, 45km offshore, and will have a floor to ceiling underwater observatory and a purpose-built laboratory. The two-storey structure will be able to fit up to 700 people a day, split into two departures, with a maximum of 350 passengers on the pontoon at any one time. Powered by wind and solar power where possible, the new pontoon will be an extension of Experience Co.’s Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel tour, a one-day, all-inclusive experience led by Indigenous rangers who provide a local interpretation of the Reef. Onboard accommodation will be available for marine scientists to use the facility for major reef events such as coral spawning and other research projects. It is due to launch in early 2022. dreamtimedive.com

ATTRACTIONS

STAY OVERNIGHT AT LADY MUSGRAVE LAGOON

A three-level pontoon with an underwater observatory and accommodation on Lady Musgrave Lagoon is set to change guest experiences on Queensland’s Southern Great Barrier Reef. LADY MUSGRAVE HQ offers bunk bed accommodation for up to 20 people, and an underwater observatory with UV lighting so visitors can experience the reef at night. It also has snorkel and dive platforms, as well as access to high-speed dive boats, a glass bottom boat and the luxury catamaran, Reef Empress. Guests can opt to sleep above the surface under the starlit sky on the Upper Deck Reef View Queen Glamping Beds. Overnight stays include transfers on a luxury catamaran departing Bundaberg Port Marina, meals, snorkelling equipment hire and linen. All accommodation utilises shared amenities with private hot shower cubicles and locker storage. LADY MUSGRAVE HQ also boasts some impressive environmental credentials. Above the waterline, the innovative zero-impact design is completely solar and windpowered and, below the waves, coral cultivation and Citizen Science programs give back to the world’s greatest natural treasure. ladymusgraveexperience.com.au/ladymusgrave-hq/

WALK THE PLANK IN CAIRNS

Brave tourists can now walk the plank at Skypark Cairns. The experience allows guests the chance to stroll across an elevated beam in the air, 140m above sea level, to take in views of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. skyparkglobal.com/ au-en/cairns

BUNDANON FUN

An art museum and learning space will open at Bundanon on the Shoalhaven River south of Sydney in January. Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects, it will include The Bridge for Creative Learning – a 165m-long structure that bridges the existing gully in the sloping hillside, which will house a world-class creative learning centre, with accommodation for up to 64 guests. bundanon.com.au

ATTRACTIONS

LEGO EXTRAVAGANZA IN NEW YORK Families planning a post-COVID trip to New York will have an exciting new addition to their itinerary, with the opening of LEGOLAND® New York Resort. Located in Hudson Valley, less than 100km from New York City, the theme park has seven themed lands to discover: Brick Street, Bricktopia, LEGO® NINJAGO® World, LEGO® Castle, LEGO® City, MINILAND and LEGO® Pirates. Kids will love aiming a cannon at spectators on the sidelines with Splash Battle, and swaying back and forth on a pirate ship on Anchors Away, in LEGO® Pirates land. Riders can also see themselves transformed into LEGO minifigures on the LEGO® Factory Adventure Ride and ride The Dragon Coaster in LEGO® Castle. Stay overnight at LEGOLAND Hotel, which has a fire-breathing

dragon greeting guests at the hotel entrance, 250 themed rooms with separate sleeping areas for kids with bunk beds and a trundle, and more than 2,000 LEGO models. There’s also an onsite creative workshop where children can build their own creations, alongside Master Model Builders and new contactless programming, with the Next Generation Sleepover: A Google Nest named Alice that can do anything from place a room service order to tell children a bedtime story or send them on an in-room scavenger hunt. The hotel also has a heated resort-style pool and includes visits from LEGO characters, a scavenger hunt with LEGO prizes, and daily breakfast at Bricks Family Restaurant. legoland.com/new-york 15

ATTRACTIONS

ROARING INTO THE CENTRAL COAST

There is a new safari adventure at Wyong Creek in NSW, with the launch of Amazement Farm and Fun Park's Central Coast Zoo experience. Taking centre stage is the pride of lions, a family of six that formerly toured with Stardust Circus and have recently retired to their new home. New zoofari friends include marmosets, a capybara, an African serval wild cat, a red-tailed boa constrictor and more, with live talks and educational programs throughout the year. amazement.com.au

GO FOR A SPIN IN DARWIN

Stokes Hill Wharf has a colourful new ferris wheel, giving guests a fantastic view of Darwin’s waterfront and surrounds. Standing at 35m high, the Skyline Ferris Wheel can hold up to 144 people. It is open daily from 10am to 9.30pm, so you can enjoy lunch at the wharf, catch the sunset, or head out for dinner and see Darwin and the wheel all lit up. waterfront.nt.gov.au/skyline-ferris-wheel

FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM OPENS IN OKLAHOMA A museum celebrating the shared history of the tribal nations in Oklahoma has opened in Oklahoma City. Affectionately regarded as the Crossroads of America, the site sits along the Oklahoma River with its door and entrance facing East to greet the new day. Visitors to the First Americans Museum (FAM) will have a chance to explore artifacts, arts, and crafts from each of the 39 Tribal Nations featured in the museum, and can participate in demonstrations, special events, and even taste Indigenous cuisine. Inside the Origins Theater is a 320-degree screen looping animation about creation stories from four tribes in Oklahoma. With tribal diversity and inclusion in mind, FAM narrowed down the stories selected into the common categories: stars/sky, water and earth. famok.org

Image: Tourism Australia

SPECIAL OFFERS

TAKE THE KIDS TO KANGAROO ISLAND FOR FREE Families can take kids on the SeaLink ferry to Kangaroo Island in South Australia for FREE until December 10, 2021. While kids under three-yearsold always travel free with SeaLink, this special offer also allows up to three kids aged three to 14 years to travel free when return ferry travel is booked for at least one paying adult or concession passenger fare and a vehicle, saving up to $150 per booking. The island is an adventure playground for families, with everything from sandboarding at Little Sahara, incredible bird and reptile shows at Raptor Domain, adventure sports such as kayaking and quad biking, excellent fishing opportunities and amazing ocean

safari cruises, including snorkelling with dolphins. While the island offers much for kids, the natural beauty will also leave adults in awe. Enjoy the pristine sandy beaches, take a guided beach walk to visit the Australian sea-lions at Seal Bay and taste and sip the local Kangaroo Island produce at the boutique cellar doors, breweries, distilleries and honey farms. Quote the promo code KIDSGOFREE when booking online and at checkout to receive your saving. The offer is valid for new bookings made before December 1 for travel until December 10, 2021. sealink.com.au/specials/ kidsgofree/ 17

BOOKS

WIGGLE YOUR WAY AROUND AUSTRALIA The Wiggles and Tourism Australia have teamed up to inspire tiny travellers and their families to Holiday Here This Year, with a new book called The Great Australian Wiggly Road Trip! The book will allow children to follow the nation's most-loved children's entertainment group as they travel across each state and territory, spotting Aussie animals in some of the country's most iconic destinations. “We are so incredibly excited to be partnering with Tourism Australia in such a monumental year for The Wiggles and a unique time in history,” Blue Wiggle, and The Wiggles founder, Anthony Field said. “We are so excited to share some of the great locations that Australia offers! There's so much to see and do right here in our own backyard!” A Wiggles-themed family hub has also launched on Australia.com. The new kids’ hub will house videos, A to Z Australian animal flip cards, a bingo game, and a story generator that will allow kids to create a Wiggly adventure story 18

personalised to them. Parents will also find tips and inspiration to plan a family-friendly holiday in Australia. “Tourism Australia is thrilled to partner with The Wiggles to inspire families with young children to plan and book their next domestic holiday,” Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said. “We know how precious holidays with young children can be and hope our partnership with The Wiggles leads to family holidays that become lifelong memories.” As part of the partnership, The Wiggles will also release a new song and YouTube content series aimed at teaching children how they can become future guardians of Australia by holidaying the Wiggly Way. Tourism Australia is also an official partner of an upcoming nationwide Wiggles Tour in 2022. The Great Australian Wiggly Road Trip! is on sale now at thewigglestore.com.au Visit the new family hub at australia.com/ the-wiggles

EXPERIENCES

APPY TIMES IN BRISBANE Visitors to Brisbane will be able to navigate the city with the help of a new app. Users can develop their own curated guides, and access detailed up-to-date ‘what’s on’ event listings, as well as interactive maps. It is available to download via the Apple Store and Google Play. brisbaneapp.com.au

DAREDEVIL DARWIN ADVENTURE TV presenter Matt Wright has launched an exciting new experience in the Northern Territory. The star of Nat Geo’s Outback Wrangler’s new Darwin Adventure Boats tour combines his popular Darwin Harbour sightseeing tours with a new jetboat experience. After boarding the boat at Stokes Hill Wharf, guests will be transported across Darwin Harbour at high speed, experiencing a few spins,

epic manoeuvres and splashes along the way. Upon reaching the city’s scenic mangroves, passengers will jump aboard Wright’s custom-built V8 Airboat, where they’ll cruise along and discover wildlife, such as sharks, crocs and stingrays. After some steady-paced exploration, the V8 engine will surge into full power and the airboat will glide across the mudflats. To finish off, guests will return on a thrilling jetboat

ride across the Timor Sea, soaking in views of the Harbour. The tour is available year-round and the minimum age to ride is four. Tickets cost $190 for adults and $140 for kids, with family discounts available. mattwright.com.au/ darwin-airboat-tours

DESTINATIONS

After being closed for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji will reopen to international visitors on December 1. The country, which will be ready to safely welcome travellers back after reaching the milestone of 80 per cent of its eligible population being fully vaccinated, will still have some travel requirements in place to provide a level of assurance to both visitors and its residents. Travellers can book and travel in confidence with the destination-wide Care Fiji Commitment – a World Health Organisation-approved standard of best practice health and safety measures for travel in a post-COVID world. Every person in Fiji that visitors interact with on their holiday, be it resorts, transportation or experiences, will be fully vaccinated and every tourism business will have a dedicated Wellness Ambassador responsible for keeping everybody safe. Requirements include being a fully vaccinated traveller from a “travel 20

partner” country (defined as one with high vaccination rates and low-test positivity rates, such as Australia), providing a negative PCR test taken less than three days prior to departure from home country, and fulfilling any obligation to take an additional test prior to returning home, based on individual home country requirements. Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 will be able to travel to Fiji accompanied by a vaccinated adult. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Fiji’s national airline, Fiji Airways, will also officially resume flights for fully vaccinated international travellers from December 1. It will start with twice daily flights from Sydney, a 3.5-hour flight from the capital, Nadi. Daily flights from Melbourne and Brisbane are also scheduled to resume. The airline is offering exclusive package holidays with luxury resorts at prices up to 45 per cent less than than 2019 rates. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently stated that once home quarantine pilots in NSW and South

Australia are completed, states and territories with an 80 per cent doubledose vaccination rate will roll out sevenday home quarantine for fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents returning from overseas. fiji.travel fijiairways.com

Images: Tourism Fiji

FIJI PREPARES TO SAY BULA!

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

HAWKESBURY’S CROWNE-ING GLORY Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley has undergone a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, unveiling 105 modern and light-filled guestrooms. There are eight room types to choose from – the most lavish being the Bilpin Suite – a three-bedroom apartment that is ideal for families, with two bathrooms, a kitchen with separate dining, and lounge area with a Smart TV and built-in wall speakers. Single-use amenities in the bathroom have also been replaced with eco-friendly bulk amenities to reduce single use plastic. Just 45 minutes’ drive from Sydney, the 8ha estate has three eateries, an indoor heated pool, tennis courts, a gym, playground, and the only Villa Thalgo Day Spa in Australia. ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/ windsor/sydwd/hoteldetail

ACCOR EXPANDS IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has opened Mercure Auckland Queen Street in the heart of the North Island city. Located near the Town Hall, Civic Theatre and Aotea Square, the four-star hotel has 96 contemporary rooms with king, queen or twin beds; free Wi-Fi, and large smart TVs. Deluxe rooms have balconies with city views, while families can opt for inter or outerconnecting rooms. There’s also 24hour reception, a fitness centre, and reduced mobility rooms. Set at the centre of the hotel with street access and a coffee window, The Basement Restaurant and Bar offers Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. It has an opening special with stays from $199 per night in a Standard King Room, including continental breakfast. Valid for sale and travel until December 31, 2021. Terms and conditions apply. all.accor.com/hotel/ 21

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

PAWSOME ADDITIONS TO BIG4 GOLD COAST HOLIDAY PARK

Furry friends will be more at home than ever before during your next stay at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park. The resort has revamped its dog park, located at the back of the holiday park, with separate areas for small and large dogs. Four-legged friends are also now welcome at Nibbles Terrace, the alfresco dining area beside onsite restaurant Nibbles Café, with water bowls for them to drink from. BIG4 Gold Coast decided to make the changes following feedback from guests. All of the holiday park’s caravan and camping sites are dog friendly, and guests can also book dog-friendly cabins and cottages, with up to two dogs allowed per site or cabin. There is even a DIY Dog Wash, known as the Pooch Pamper Palace. BIG4 Gold Coast’s water park, which is the tallest of any holiday park in Australia, is also now heated. It has a host of waterslides with a combined length of 317m, including towering slides measuring up to 10m tall, as well as zones for smaller children alongside ample seating and shaded areas for parents. A half-size basketball court has also recently been added, plus there’s a jumping pillow, and activities such as pizza making, cookie decorating, colouringin boomerangs, scavenger hunts and movie nights. Located at Helensvale, the holiday park is the closest to the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks, just across the road from Movie World, Wet’n’Wild, Outback Spectacular and Topgolf, and only two minutes’ drive to Dreamworld and Whitewater World. goldcoastholidaypark.com.au 22

Theme Park packages available

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Self contained 2 and 3 bedroom Villas, Cabins, Terraces or Bungalows. Plenty of indoors and outdoors activities to keep the kids entertained. Monster Waterpark—now heated

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Heated Pool with wading pool, and Spa

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Jumping Pillow

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Nibbles Café and Nibbles Terrace

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Separate dog parks for small and large dogs

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1/2 size basketball court

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MAGIC IN EVERY STAY

Set on 32 acres, with a range of accommodation options and activities, there is plenty of fun for the whole family. And we are located next door to all major theme parks. P: (07) 5514 4400 | E: stay@gcpark.com.au | W: goldcoastholidaypark.com.au BIG4GoldCoastHolidayPark

big4goldcoast

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

MORE FUN ON FITZROY ISLAND

Image: @familybeachtravell

Fitzroy Island Resort, off the coast of Cairns, has introduced a range of free new activities for resort guests. The new weekly schedule includes guided bushwalks, children’s arts and crafts, educational talks about the Great Barrier Reef and more. Guests can also explore the beauty of Fitzroy Island and the Reef with glass bottom boat tours and snorkelling, hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from the Dive and Adventure Centre, and enjoy cruises to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, as well as scenic and sunset sailing trips. Just a 45-minute boat ride from Marlin Marina, the affordable resort is home to a Turtle Rehabilitation Centre that guests can visit during their stay. The resort’s main restaurant, Zephyr, is open for breakfast and dinner, while the beachfront Foxy’s Bar & Grill is a more casual option, ideal for families, with bingo nights, trivia and live music throughout the week. fitzroyisland.com

Fitzroy Island Resort is a family friendly resort just 45 minutes from Cairns, nestled on a slice of tropical island paradise and home to Australia’s #1 rated beach. We’ve introduced lots of NEW Kids Activities including a Junior Marine Biologist program! Find out more at fitzroyisland.com/jmb

BOOK ONLINE NOW

Ph: 07 4044 6700 E: stay@fitzroyisland.com fitzroyisland.com

@fitzroyisland #fitzroyisland

Images: Airbnb-Henry Woide

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

STAY IN WINNIE THE POOH’S HOME

A Winnie the Pooh-inspired house in England's Ashdown Forest is available to book on Airbnb as part of Disney’s 95th anniversary celebrations of the loveable children’s character. The ‘Bearbnb’ sleeps up to four guests. Hosting the stay is Disney-appointed Winnie the Pooh illustrator, Kim Raymond, who has been drawing the iconic bear for more than 30 years and curated the Bearbnb. Kim brought Pooh’s house to life taking inspiration from the original decorations of E.H. Shepard. It is built with exposed tree branches wrapped around the doorway with ‘Mr. Sanders’ inscribed above, and bespoke wallpaper designed by Kim. If guests take a peek inside kitchen cupboards, they’ll find shelves stocked full of ‘hunny’ pots. During each stay, guests will be taken on a guided tour through the original Hundred Acre Wood, and can play Poohsticks on the iconic Poohsticks Bridge. The ‘Bearbnb’ will also be stocked with a host of wellness products to encourage guests to embrace their natural surroundings and live more like Pooh. They include yoga mats, journals and throws. airbnb.com/winniethepooh

AUSTRALIA’S MOST FAMILYFRIENDLY HOLIDAY HOMES Stayz has revealed the most family friendly holiday homes in Australia as part of its 2021 Stayz Holiday Home of the Year Awards. They include Barra Luxe Beach House, at Point Arkwright on the Sunshine Coast - a reimagined 1970s beach shack that is now an immaculately styled five-bedroom, fourbathroom property with a pool, covered deck and galley kitchen. Sleeping up to eight people, Byron Bay Retreat comes fully equipped with baby gear, as well as a 12-metre heated pool, cubby house, trampoline, swing and full-size outdoor table tennis table. Indoors, there’s a dedicated toy cupboard and rumpus room, movie library and games. Shepherd’s Gully Eco Mud Brick Retreat in the Hunter Valley sleeps up to 12 people and has an open-air fire pit for toasting marshmallows and a Hobbit-like cubby house. There’s also table tennis, darts, quoits, totem tennis and family board games. Maison du Lac, in

Western Australia’s Margaret River, is a split-level home that sits on the edge of a lake. It sleeps eight and kayaks are available to go for a paddle. In the Gold Coast hinterland, Treehouse is every kids’ dream. The three-storey off-grid home has a pool, free ranging peacocks, alpacas and mini goats. In Victoria, Azure has panoramic views of the beach at Lorne. stayz.com.au

KIDS EAT FREE IN WERRIBEE

Families planning a visit to Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria have a new accommodation option, with the recent opening of Holiday Inn Werribee. Encompassing the top four floors of 22 Synnot St, with views towards the Melbourne skyline, the hotel has 150 contemporary and modern rooms and an open lobby. Its onsite bar and restaurant, Rosana Bistro & Bar, has a menu filled with fresh, local produce. Children under 12 stay and eat for free (with a paying adult). The hotel also features family rooms and interconnecting suites with large TVs and free unlimited high speed WIFI. Other nearby attractions include Werribee Mansion, Victorian State Rose Garden and the National Equestrian Centre. holidayinn.com/werribee

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

PARADISE RESORT TURNS

40!

HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS

Clockwise from main photo: Flamingo fun in the pool, Indulge at Deb's Pizza Shack, Kids in the water park, Ride the virtual reality rollercoaster

Australia’s most family-friendly resort, Paradise Resort Gold Coast, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in November! Originally named Ocean Blue, the Resort opened in 1981. Back then, the Glitter Strip as we know it today looked very different – while there were very few high rises, the opening of Grundy’s and Dreamworld in the same year cemented the Gold Coast as the ultimate destination for family fun. During this time it has hosted everyone from Dave Hughes to Shane Warne for their family holidays, plus plenty of NRL and AFL players. Many guests have returned years later with grandchildren in tow, eager to show their offspring the same fun family holiday they had enjoyed in their youth. The original resort had 409 rooms, an onsite bakery, hairdressing salon and nightclub (yep, you read that right!). Back then it offered accommodation for everyone, and was even the major prize given to contestants on the popular 1980s TV series Perfect Match, hosted by Cameron Daddo. Almost two decades after it first opened, Ocean Blue was acquired by the hotel management chain Accor as part of a 10-year management agreement. The deal saw the resort rebrand as the ‘Mercure Resort’ and officially transition toward family accommodation – with this came the installation of the first Gecko Kids Club in Australia. When this 10-year deal came to an end in the mid-2000s, the owners decided to operate the resort independently and, after a rebrand, Paradise Resort Gold Coast was born.

Things changed again in 2010, when Paradise Resort was bought by a Melbourne family, the Zagames, who invested $6 million over five years into the refurbishment of the water park, outdoor pool area, guest rooms and facilities. This included the installation of Australia’s first hotel-based iceskating rink (known today as Planet Chill). In 2015, the resort changed hands once again – though this time, it was earmarked for demolition as part of the sale to the Ralan Group. The Group aspired to build four towers on the site, set to be called The Ruby Collection, but by July 2019 these plans had fallen through, and the Resort was up for sale once again. That’s when current owner, Dr Jerry Schwartz, stepped onto the scene. As Australia’s largest private hotel owner, Dr Schwartz had the vision and the means to give Paradise Resort a new life. The resort relaunched in 2020 with a large charity event, a fresh vision and a $12 million plan to ensure Paradise Resort retained the title of Australia’s favourite family resort. COVID-19 forced the resort to close its doors for the first time in its history in March, but not even a pandemic could stop Dr Schwartz from pursuing his dream. Instead, they commenced a $3 million makeover, with chefs on paintbrushes, housekeepers working in the gardens and kids’ club attendants cleaning out the water park. New facilities include a children’s carousel, dodgem cars and bungee trampolines, with an adults-only pool and lounge bar set to open soon. paradiseresort.com.au 27

WIN

A HOLIDAY AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST ENTER HERE outandaboutwithkids.com.au/extras 28

WIN a holiday for you and your family in a newly renovated room at Australia’s favourite family resort, Paradise Resort Gold Coast! Enjoy the Resort's kids club, daily meals, unlimited use of the water park and much more valued at $2875. Entries Close 16 December 2021 ENTER HERE outandaboutwithkids.com.au/extras Your prize includes • 5 nights for 2 Adults and up to two children (0-12 years) in a new Deluxe Resort Room • $500 to spend on food and drinks in Penguins Restaurant, The Poolside Café & Bar, Debs Pizza Shack or Jerrys Burgers • One Kids Club or Teen Club session per child 0-17 years • Undercover parking for one vehicle • Unlimited use of the Zone 4 Kids Waterpark, lagoon pool and spa • Access to a range of daily activities and entertainment for the whole family • FREE use of Dusty’s Indoor Jungle Gym • FREE use of Dusty’s Outdoor Adventure Playground • FREE character appearances and live shows • FREE use of the giant chess board • FREE turns to dunk your mates in the Dunk Tank • 24-hour access to our guest laundry and cardio gym • Complimentary daily housekeeping service *Sundays on request • A range of onsite dining options • 100 per cent non-smoking property Valued at: $2875 Visit paradiseresort.com.au Conditions: This prize is valid for travel until 30 June 2023 and excludes travel in high and peak periods. Bookings are subject to availability and vouchers may not be accepted on all dates. This prize includes one kids club or teen club session per child. The prize is not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Any unused portion will be forfeited. Vouchers will not be extended past the expiry date. All other expenses will be the responsibility of the prize winner including but not limited to current passports, spending money, transport to and from departure and arrival points, transfers, activities, gratuities, services charges, travel insurance, pre and post accommodation, optional activities or excursions and all other ancillary costs. Travel insurance is not included in the prize but is highly recommended. 29

CRUISING

A family in the pool on Pacific Explorer

SHIP AHOY! A new P&O ship is coming to Australia when cruising resumes! Pacific Adventure is the latest addition to the three-ship P&O Cruises Australia fleet. With a dedicated team of designers and contractors carrying out the ambitious dry dock project, Pacific Adventure’s new look and feel is emblematic of P&O’s determination to continue its fleet transformation throughout the pause in operations, and in preparation for when cruising is approved to restart. When cruising is approved to resume, beginning with cruises for vaccinated Australians for visits to Australian ports, the 109,000-tonne Pacific Adventure is planned to be homeported in Sydney. During her dry dock at the shipyard in Italy, Pacific Adventure received the distinctive Southern Cross livery and a range of signature P&O features to give her the cruise line’s familiar contemporary look and feel. These included the creation of a host of diverse dining experiences including options developed with Australian chef and restaurateur, Luke Mangan, and award-winning Melbourne-based chef, Johnny Di Francesco. P&O’s popular restaurant trio — the Italian fan-favourite Angelo’s, sultry Pan-Asian-inspired Dragon Lady and contemporary Australian dining outlet The Waterfront — were also installed. Other additions included the international marketplace, The Pantry, offering classic, comforting and modern fresh food outlets. The ship’s many public spaces now boast the P&O signature look, with the introduction of the Adventure Hotel and the Blue

Pacific Adventure

Room reflecting its vibrant night-time venues, offering live music from some of Australia’s leading musicians. For families planning further ahead, P&O is also introducing a 28-night cruise circumnavigating mainland Australia on sister ship, Pacific Explorer, in 2024. Guests on the Australian Explorer cruise will experience the attractions of 11 iconic Australian ports including state capitals and regional centres with Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Fremantle, Exmouth, Broome, Kuri Bay, Darwin, Cairns and Airlie Beach on the itinerary, along with a call at Ambon in Indonesia. The cruise also includes scenic cruising of Yampi Sound and Raft Point in the Kimberley region. pocruises.com.au

GIVING BACK

CAPTAIN COOK SUPPORTS LOCALS THROUGH PANDEMIC Captain Cook Cruises has partnered with two Rotary Clubs to support the families of unemployed hospitality workers. There has been no international tourism to Fiji since March 2020. Joining Rotary Club of Sydney Cove and Rotary Club of Nadi, the family favourite has established a Rotary Australia Overseas Aid, tax deductible fund. Following the success of fundraising efforts by a group of Mamanuca operators late last year, Jackie Charlton, a member of the Rotary Club of Sydney Cove and manager at Captain Cook Cruises Fiji, registered the project to enable tax deductibility for donations from Australians. While Captain Cook Cruises has continued to employ most of its workers at reduced hours with their limited cruise schedule for

locals, many thousands of hospitality workers have been without work and income during the border closure period. They require groceries to feed their families and the fund will provide supermrket vouchers to hospitality workers and contractors employed by resorts, cruises and tour operators in the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands while their work continues to be reduced or suspended. Rotary is an international organisation engaging leaders in the community, through membership, to aid those in need locally and, more broadly, through hands-on projects and fundraising initiatives. captaincookcruisesfiji.com/blog/helpunemployed-tourism-families-through-rotary

SUSTAINABILITY

Kids can learn about marine life at The Brando Lagoon School in French Polynesia

GREEN EXPERIENCES AROUND THE GLOBE

A new sustainable leadership hotel brand has launched for people who want to travel with a deeper sense of purpose and meaning post-pandemic. Beyond Green will offer experiences such as enrolling at The Lagoon School at The Brando in French Polynesia, where children can engage in coral exploration, and meeting the reef’s inhabitants; planting trees at Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge in Rwanda; and studying animal tracks, learning about bugs and riding horses at Vermejo on the New MexicoColorado border in the US. Young guests can also meet nomadic families and learn about a new dog breeding program, which protects livestock and supports snow leopard conservation by reducing human-wildlife conflict, at Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert; and learn about beekeeping at Borgo Pignano in Tuscany, Italy. staybeyondgreen.com 32

Wilderness Safaris Bisate Lodge in Rwanda

SUSTAINABILITY

WHITSUNDAYS BEER HELPS THE REEF

Ballistic Beer Co. has launched a new range of beers, available at its Whitsundays brewery in Cannonvale, which will help support restoration and research efforts along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Specially created to suit the sultry Queensland coastal climate, dads will love the Reef Lager and Reef Pale Ale. Ten cents from every can sold in The Whitsundays will be donated to Airlie Beach charity, Eco Barge Clean Seas (EBCS). Since July 2009, Eco Barge Clean Seas’ 1700 volunteers have removed more than 213,000kgs of harmful marine debris and litter from the region. Funds will be used to feed and medicate sick and injured turtles at The Whitsundays Turtle Rescue Centre. ballisticbeer.com

HOTEL TRASH TO TREASURE

The recently opened Crystalbrook Kingsley at Newcastle has partnered with University of Newcastle and its researchers to drive sustainability and reduce waste. The five-star hotel will donate restaurant and bar waste, including citrus peel, ground coffee and fruit pulp and skin, to the University's Food Science Research Group to investigate how the waste can be upcycled into coasters, beverage stirrers and free items for guests. For the next four years, an annual Crystalbrook Kingsley Environmental Scholarship will also be granted to University of Newcastle students with a passion for waste utilisation. The recipient will also be given the opportunity to work directly with Crystalbrook Kingsley to implement world-leading hospitality environmental practices. Crystalbrook Collection continues to build on an extensive recycling program including glass, cardboard and co-mingled products. The hospitality group, which also runs the Byron at Byron Resort and three Cairns hotels, sources 80 per cent of its produce from within a three-hour drive of its properties to minimise transport pollution, and uses recycled products such as wooden guest room key cards and upcycled coat hangers, where possible. crystalbrookcollection.com/kingsley

UPFRONT

1. BUILD A CARDBOARD CUBBY HOUSE

Since children are always looking for a place for a hideout or fort, why don’t you let them build their own? Gather some unused cardboard boxes or shoe boxes, paint, markers, tape and a cutter or a knife (remember – adult supervision if knives are around!) They’ll also enjoy deciding what colour their cubby house should be.

2. TAPE A RACETRACK AROUND THE LOUNGE ROOM

Tell the kids that their toy cars should not go beyond the tape (you don’t want to encourage road rage!). Also try putting up a parking spot — outlined with tape of course — and your kids will love playing lounge room GTA for hours.

3. MAKE GOLF BALL LADY BUGS FOR THE GARDEN

Children really love animating stuff and these lady bugs, made out of golf balls, will liven up their gardening time. All you need are some golf balls, old paint brushes and red, white and black paint. You could also use googly eyes to stick into the balls as the eyes. For more fun, get them to make a play or a show with their new “pets”! 34

HOW TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED AT HOME

Whether it’s COVID-19 lockdown or rainy days, all parents know how hard it can be to keep children occupied when they are stuck at home. The team from parenting website Stay at Home Mum reveals some tips

UPFRONT

4. MAKE CORK BOATS AND HAVE A BOAT RACE IN THE BATHTUB

For this activity, you will need corks, elastics, toothpicks, a nail and coloured foam sheets (or you know, sparkly ones because the holidays are coming). Basically, you need to tie the corks together using the elastics with a toothpick to hold the “sail” of your sailboat. Let your cork sailboats sail in the tub during your kids’ bath time for more fun.

5. MAKE HOMEMADE CANDLES FOR GIFTS OUT OF CRAYONS

KIDS CAN REALLY BE EXPERIMENTAL AT TIMES

We all know how kids love their crayons. Give them a fun time while they’re stuck at home by letting them transform their broken crayons into rainbow-coloured candles. The finished product could make excellent gifts for Christmas too! Since there will be need for a microwave in this project, make sure that the kids have adult supervision for this one.

6. MAKE AN INDOOR GARDEN WITH RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES

Kids can really be experimental at times. Tickle their green thumbs with this activity. Not only does it encourage a love of gardening but it also hones their recycling gene. Cut a plastic bottle, such as a soft drink bottle, into two parts. The one with the lid should be the one used as the main planting pot. The lower half of the bottle should then be the one that catches the excess water when you are watering the plants. Also, allow your kids to choose what to plant. 35

UPFRONT

11. CHANGE THE COLOUR OF GARDEN FLOWERS

7. MAKE MAGIC FAIRY BOTTLES

These amazing and glittery magic bottles could please both kids and adults. They will need fancy shaped bottles, water, glycerin, glitter, glitter flakes, sequins, ribbons or twine or lace. Mix one part of water to one part glycerin, pour it into the bottle along with the glitter and sequins. Tightly place the cap of the bottle and secure it with a ribbon or a twine. You could also attach a label or card to the ribbon if you want to give these as a present. Enjoy shaking!

8. SQUIRT GUN PAINTING For this, you will need an easel, watercolour paper (or canvas), a drop cloth (to protect walls), some Nerf water guns, tape, water and of course watercolour paint. Paint away! 36

9. HOLD A NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT

This activity is also good during the summer so that the kids could unleash their inner Indiana Jones. Basically, you give them a list of things that they’d have to “scavenge”. Set a time limit. The one who has the most scavenged items from the list is the winner.

10. CREATE AN EPIC MARBLE RUN

Let your kids create a larger-than-life marble run using scraps from their school supplies and used cardboard boxes. You might also need paper cups for catching the marbles at the bottom of the obstacle. Strategically place popsicle sticks on the cardboard box to make an “obstacle” for the marbles.

This might take a few hours or a few days to take effect, but it would surely spike the curiosity of your kids. You will need some white flowers (carnations and gerberas should be fine), some mason jars, food colour and water. Mix the food colours with water and pour in the mason jars, then put the flowers with the food colour you have. Tell your kids to periodically record what they have observed with the flowers, and to take note which colour is easily absorbed by the flowers and which are not. This is a science experiment that improves the kids’ hypothetical skills and their creativity too!

12. ICE EXCAVATING

This activity is guaranteed to be a hit in the summer and is definitely one for the outdoors. All you need to do is freeze a heap of children’s toys in a large container of water, sealing them into the ice. Then have your kids excavate them using rocks, small tools, toothbrushes or spray bottles filled with water. Depending on how hot it is where you live, this one could keep kids occupied for hours! You can do it with any toy, and in containers of any size.

UPFRONT

13. WATER BALLOON BASEBALL

This one is like playing baseball, using water balloons instead of a ball. Make use of hula hoops as your bases and stack up on a lot of water balloons. This activity is great during the summer.

14. CREATE A MARSHMALLOW CATAPULT

Set some shooting buckets, anyone who “shoots” the most marshmallows will be the winner.

15. LOUNGE ROOM MINI GOLF

Basically, you will be honing your kids motor skills with this activity. You will need some cereal boxes, or plastic cups to serve as holes, scissors, tape, a golf ball or any other balls with similar size, and toy golf clubs or putters. Set up a scoreboard and the kid who has the highest points wins!

16. LEAF RUBBINGS

This activity is great because it uses things that you’ve probably got lying around in your garden: leaves! Most kids revel in anything arty or creative, and leaf rubbing is the best of the outdoors and the arts. You can even do this activity outside if you want, all you really need is a flat smooth surface of some kind. Stretch the value of this activity by taking kids for a walk first to collect the leaves, and then spending the next few hours rubbing them.

MOST KIDS REVEL IN ANYTHING ARTY OR CREATIVE

17. MAKE PAPER FROM SCRATCH

This is another science experiment with a finished product. Although recycled paper may not be as smooth as factory-made ones, your kids could use it for their art projects. For this, you would need some scrap paper, a blender, some water, a storage tub or vat, a mould and deckle, some wood boards, a rolling pin, towels, wool cloths, or an old bed sheet. Yes, there are a lot of things needed for this activity but trust me, the kids will enjoy it and it keeps them focused. This is an edited extract of a story originally published on stayathomemum.com.au 37

BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL

BABY ON BOARD

On her first road trip as a mum, RACHEL LEES discovers that holidaying with a baby isn’t quite what she had hoped it would be After much careful planning — considering the best window between our sevenmonth-old son Lachie’s naps and feeds — we hotfoot it to the beach near our hotel, with a jumble of towels, baby carrier, nappy bag and cabana crammed into the car boot. Despite a brief tussle with the wind, the cabana is assembled on the water’s edge. My husband and I sit and marvel at our feat, as Lachie wriggles his tiny toes in the sand. Then we lay on our towel and take a selfie, capturing a perfect moment in time.

Suddenly, Lachie is crying. The moment is over. We scramble to pack everything up and get back in the car so we can return to the hotel for his nap. This is the moment I realise travel is not going to be the same again, at least not for some time. As a travel writer who used to average two international trips a month, the realisation is crushing. Call me naïve and optimistic, but I had been adamant that having a baby wouldn’t affect my globetrotting. And yet, on our first family road trip to the NSW Central Coast, it’s already starting

to feel impossible. Lachie cries for the entire two-hour car journey from home to the beachside resort, despite us ensuring he was well fed and ready for a nap before leaving. To say our nerves are frayed by the time we arrive is an understatement. We later figure out that we need to adjust his car seat as he’s had another growth spurt. “Having a baby only gets in the way of travel if you let it!” say well-meaning childfree friends. “It gets easier, keep trying,” say parents who have trod the path before and survived. Like so much of child-raising, it’s the mental load that is perhaps the most overwhelming when you first hit the road with a baby in tow. Have you considered the optimum time of day to travel? Packed everything you could possibly need? Know the store closest to your holiday rental, where you can restock if you run out of nappies or formula? Is the accommodation babyproof and pram-friendly? How are you going to manage mealtimes in cafes and restaurants? And is there even time for sightseeing or relaxing in the endless feedplay-sleep loop? Despite high anxiety as first-time parents, a stressful drive, and a thwarted beach visit, our first family holiday otherwise goes relatively well. We don’t try to do too much. We take it in turns to visit the restaurant and spa, so we can enjoy both experiences, even if we can’t do it together. And we follow the advice from our hotel, who recommend we get two adjoining rooms instead of one, so we can relax while our son sleeps. (One friend later tells me they put their baby’s travel cot in the shower of their hotel room, so they could at least watch a movie while their child slept). 

BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Lachie by the pool at Bangalay Luxury Villas, Dinner for one at The Wild Flower Bar & Dining at Bells at Killcare, Milligan the echidna, a driftwood sculpture by Central Coast artist Peter Rush, on Putty Beach, Cuddles in the car during a pit stop on the way to Shoalhaven

BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Hitting the pool at Bangalay Luxury Villas, Post-nap strolls with baby on Seven Mile Beach, A quick feed in the car on the way to Shoalhaven

Our second road trip, to Shoalhaven, a month or so later, is a somewhat wonkier affair. We forget lessons gleaned the first time and leave home immediately after a nap. Lachie is wide awake and not happy about being in his car seat. The solution? We sing for the entire duration of the journey, and have to make several stops along the way for nappy changes and feeds because our timing is off. For this trip, we choose a resort with self-contained beach villas, which include a kitchenette, so we can cook a few meals. But we forget to request one with a bath, so the kitchen sink is used to clean both the dishes and our child. It isn’t a 40

huge deal, of course, but Lachie is going through a period of waking multiple times a night, and my husband and I have hit the ‘how-are-we-still-functioning?’ level of exhaustion. In hindsight, this probably wasn’t the best time to take a trip. On our last morning, sensing a meltdown may be imminent – from me, not the baby – my husband offers to take him for a walk so I can have a few hours to myself. That ever-elusive mum luxury, an unhurried shower, is finally within reach. Shortly after they leave, I strip naked and step under the hot water, and quickly feel the tension start to drain from my body.

But wait, what’s that smell? Is something burning? Suddenly the silence is pierced by not one but three smoke alarms screeching in succession. I grab a towel and run into the living area to find flames leaping from the stovetop; a baby bottle, now melted and charred, had been left to dry on the ceramic hotplate, which had accidentally been turned on. With the fire now out, I open the doors to clear the smoke and meet concerned looks from other holidaymakers. A sleepdeprived, half-showered, fire-fighting ball of anxiety was not the traveller I hoped to be as a parent. But they say it gets easier, so we’ll keep trying.

EXTRAS

7 BEST BABY & TODDLER TRAVEL PRODUCTS

Keep tiny tots on trend with the latest gear for bubs and pre-schoolers 1. WATERWIPES

WaterWipes now offers fully biodegradable, 100 per cent plant-based baby wipes. Designed for babies and toddlers with sensitive skin, they are made with water and a drop of fruit extract. Available in supermarkets, pharmacies and online in a single pack, three pack, four pack, nine pack and 12 pack format. RRP $7.90 (single pack) waterwipes.com

2. TIGER TRIBE DOT PAINT SET

Ideal for pre-schoolers, this fun colour and activity set comes with four high quality, marker-style dot paints. Simply twist off the caps, squeeze the sponge tip and let the fun begin. No cups and brushes to set up or wash and no drips or spills make Dot Paints ideal for portable play. Each set contains everything you need in one sturdy, self-contained box, with a magnetic flap to keep the contents safely stored. Suitable for kids aged 3+ RRP$30 tigertribe.com.au/collections/newarrivals/products/dot-paint-set-partytime

3. CHAMPION LIMITED EDITION TODDLER RANGE

Cult streetwear brand Champion has released its first toddler capsule collection in Australia and New Zealand. The brand has catered to teens and adults for more than 100 years, and now little ones can 42

join the crew and rock their own streetstyle threads. The range is available in four colours – red, back, grey and blush. Styles mirror the adult offering and include hoodies, crews and trackies from sizes one to four. Available online and in Champion Australia stores RRP From $69.99 champion.com.au/junior/collections/ toddler.html

4. JUMPLY ADVENTURE CARRIER The Jumply Adventure Carrier combines a nappy backpack with a lightweight baby and toddler carrier. As well as being carry-on size, it has lots of innovative storage spaces for a carrier of its size. It’s suitable for babies aged from six months to toddlers weighing up to 15kg. RRP $240 jumply.com.au

5. BAMBINO MIO REUSABLE SWIM NAPPY

With watermelon and pineapple prints, Bambino Mio’s new Tropical Punch collection of reusable swim nappies will ensure your baby is the coolest kid in the wading pool. The lightweight fabric won’t weigh your baby down and the concealed water-resistant layer and leak-proof legs offer containment in the water, while the terry lining is soft against baby’s skin. RRP $19.99 bambinomio.com.au/products/swimnappy

6. JENGO TRAVELLITE WOODEN 2 IN 1 COT

This compact wooden cot is designed with full breathable mesh sides for better ventilation and to provide parents and carers full visibility. It has a lightweight, easy flat fold frame with sturdy Beechwood legs, and a bassinet for newborns. Suitable for babies and toddlers up to 15kg, it weighs 8kg and comes with a carry bag. RRP $249 babybunting.com.au/ jengo-travellite-wooden-2-in-1-grey. html

7. BOBUX QUICKDRY SHOES

These fast-drying leather shoes give kids the freedom to run through fountains or get into water fights. Using special techniques during the tanning process, Quickdry leather resists water absorption and retention, the leather keeps its shape, dries quickly and even protects against saltwater stains. An innovation of New Zealand children’s shoe company Bobux, it was created in a Wellington garage 30 years ago when Chris and Colleen Bennett designed the world’s first pair of soft sole baby shoes to take their daughter on adventures. RRP $70 bobux.com.au

EXTRAS

AUSTRALIA

13 E PIC AUS SI E

A DV E N T U R E S

AUSTRALIA

Ride through the Outback with Pyndan Camel Tracks at Alice Springs

Image: Tourism NT

With recent lockdowns and border closures leading to countless school holiday cancellations, there’s no doubt families will be keen to go BIG on their next trip. So, don’t just book a long weekend away, go for a week or more. Here are some of the best places for families to spend a bit of time, and some ideas for your itinerary

Image: Tash Mohring-South Australian Tourism Commission

AUSTRALIA

Kangaroo Island SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Visiting Kangaroo Island is like going on an African wildlife safari, except with Australian native animals instead! Kids will love seeing kangaroos, koalas and sea lions in the wild, learning about the fascinating Ligurian bees at Island Beehive, and watching pelicans being fed on the wharf behind the Kangaroo Island Penguin Centre. They can also go sandboarding at Little Sahara, marvel at the birds of prey at Raptor Domain, and explore hidden caves on the island’s stunning beaches. For a day the whole family will love, make sure you include False Cape Wines in your itinerary – it has a playground with a cubby house and slippery dip to keep littlies entertained while parents taste what’s on offer from the cellar door. tourkangarooisland.com.au

Image: Adam Bruzzone-South Australian Tourism Commission

KIDS WILL LOVE SEEING KANGAROOS, KOALAS AND SEA LIONS IN THE WILD

A girl sandboarding at Little Sahara on Kangaroo Island

Image: Destination NSW

AUSTRALIA

A family at Bar Beach in Merimbula

2. Sapphire Coast NSW The Sapphire Coast, in the NSW far south, is like nature’s playground, filled with unspoilt beaches and national parks beckoning to be discovered. Spot dolphins, fur seals, and a variety of bird life along the ancient coastline aboard a marine discovery cruise; learn to surf; and go mountain biking at Tathra. Climb to the treetops, swing through the forest, and fly over the park at exhilarating speeds on a flying fox at Magic Mountain in Merimbula, and see the creatures of the deep at Merimbula Aquarium. sapphirecoast.com.au

TO KANGAROO ISLAN D

Take the family on a road trip this spring to beautiful Kangaroo Island!

* U P TO $1 50N G PE R B O O KI

Travel between 11 October and 10 December 2021 and up to three kids travel FREE*. That’s a saving of up to $150! Quote KIDSGOFREE when booking.

Call 13 13 01 or visit sealink.com.au/kidsgofree *Conditions apply. Up to 3 children (3 - 14 years) travel free when booked with at least one paying adult and a standard vehicle. Last date to book 1 December 2021. See website for further details.

AUSTRALIA

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Gippsland

Hiking in Mitchell River National Park

From hiking in Mitchell River National Park to kayaking at Lakes Entrance, there’s plenty of family fun to be had throughout the Gippsland region, in Australia’s south-east corner. Discover a honeycomb of spectacular limestone formations, carved by an underground river almost 400 million years ago, at Buchan Caves; learn about the state’s history in the waterfront village of Port Albert, and head underground for a taste of what life was like as a miner at Wonthaggi State Coal Mine, which operated from 1909 to 1968. visitgippsland.com.au

Image: Jessica Shapiro-Visit Victoria

VICTORIA

Image: Tourism Tasmania-Kathryn Leahy

AUSTRALIA

4. Wineglass Bay TA S M A N I A Tasmania is a great destination for families who love hiking holidays, and the trek to Wineglass Bay Lookout to see the view over the beach repeatedly named one of the world’s best, is manageable with kids (though the older they are the easier it will be!). Pack a picnic lunch to have on the way and take a dip in the cool southern waters afterwards. Kids will also love visiting Cape Tourville Lighthouse, rock hopping at Sleepy Bay, and kayaking in Freycinet National Park. There are lots of family-friendly accommodation options in the area, on the island’s east coast, including BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park, Freycinet Lodge and Edge of the Bay Resort. discovertasmania.com.au

5. Kakadu

Image: Tourism NT-Sean Scott

NORTHERN TERRITORY Australia’s largest national park, known for its diverse landscapes and thriving wildlife, is only a three-hour drive from Darwin. You can easily spend a week exploring. See the world’s oldest Indigenous rock art galleries and watch the sunset over the floodplains at Ubirr, then go waterfall hopping at some of the Territory’s most famous spots, including Florence Falls and Jim Jim Falls. Cruise along the Yellow Water wetlands for prime views of Kakadu’s scenery and wildlife (especially birds and crocs!), accompanied by commentary from a local Indigenous guide. The crocodile-shaped Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel is a great place to stay. northernterritory.com/kakadu-andsurrounds 49

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

AUSTRALIA

A family snorkelling on a tour with Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel

6. Great Barrier Reef QUEENSLAND Stretching for 2,700km, from Lady Elliot Island off the coast of Bundaberg to the tip of Cape York, the more time you give yourself to discover the Great Barrier Reef and its surrounds, the better. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder actually consists of more than 3,000 coral reefs, which can be discovered snorkelling, scuba diving, on a tour on a glass bottom boat or semi-submersible vessel, or even on a scenic helicopter flight! Base yourself at one of the tropical towns on the mainland, such as Airlie Beach, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, Cairns or Port Douglas. Or book a relaxing stay on one of the dozens of beautiful islands the Reef encompasses, including Great Keppel Island, Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Magnetic Island and Fitzroy Island (or better yet – mix a few days on both!) queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/experiences/great-barrier-reef

THE REEF CAN BE DISCOVERED SNORKELLING, SCUBA DIVING, ON A TOUR ON A GLASS BOTTOM BOAT OR SEMISUBMERSIBLE VESSEL 51

AUSTRALIA

Swimming with a whale shark on Ningaloo Reef

7. Ningaloo Reef It’s best known as THE place to swim with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the world, which visit between March and July each year, but there are oodles of other ways to fill a week at Ningaloo Reef, on Australia’s Coral Coast. Book tours from Coral Bay and Exmouth for the once in a lifetime whale shark experience, and also swim with manta rays and migrating humpback whales, see rare turtles, pods of dolphins and vibrant tropical fish. You can also explore the reef on a glass-bottom boat tour. Pop into Ningaloo Centre to find out more about what’s offered in the area and nearby Cape Range National Park, where you can admire the gorges and cliffs of Yardie Creek on a boat tour. australiascoralcoast.com/region/ningaloo

Images: Tourism Western Australia

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

8. Red Centre NORTHERN TERRITORY

A visit to Australia’s Red Centre promises a holiday experience your family will never forget. Start with Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where you can catch Uluru’s incredible changing colours at sunset and sunrise at one of the five public viewing platforms. Walk around it, or see it from the back of a camel or on a Segway tour. You can also visit the sacred, ancient rock formations of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and take part in a dot painting workshop taught by a local Anangu artist at Maruku Arts at Ayers Rock Resort, where there are several hotels and a campground to stay. Since you’ve come all this way, you may as well hire a car and explore the West MacDonnell Ranges. Head to Alice Springs and take a dip at a waterhole, such as Ellery Big Hole, Redbank Gorge or Ormiston Gorge. Stop by Alice Springs Desert Park to see the birds and animals of the Outback, Megafauna Central archaeological museum for eight million-year-old fossils (including the largest bird ever!), and feed the joeys at Kangaroo Sanctuary. Spend a night at Earth Sanctuary, where you can join an incredible eco and astronomy tour. northernterritory.com/the-red-centre

Children enjoying the Field of Light at Uluru

Image: Tourism NT

Pyndan Camel Tracks at Alice Springs

AUSTRALIA

Gantheaume Point Beach

9 fl The Kimberley and Pilbara

Willie Creek Pearl Farm

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Images: Tourism Western Australia

Begin your Western Australia adventure in Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley, where you can ride a camel along Cable Beach at sunset, learn about the area’s history at Willie Creek Pearl Farm, and discover Indigenous traditions with Yawuru man, Bart Pigram, from Narlijia Cultural Tours. Spend a few days at the remote wilderness camp Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, owned and run by the Indigenous Bardi Jawi Communities, then book a family-friendly tour or set out in your 4WD along the iconic Gibb River Road, stopping to swim in waterholes and waterfalls, hike magnificent gorges, see ancient Aboriginal rock art and camp under the stars. Round out your itinerary with visits to Lake Argyle and Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles). While you’re in this part of the world, you can visit the Pilbara region as well, and discover Karijini National Park, the ghost town of Cossack, the Dampier Archipelago, and Mackerel Islands. australiasnorthwest.com

Learn about Indigenous culture with Lombadina Community at Cape Leveque

Image: VisitCanberra

AUSTRALIA

10. Canberra ACT hour’s drive away, which offers kids a wilderness experience and the chance to learn about Indigenous culture from park rangers. When it comes to hotels, you can’t go past the uber-family friendly East Hotel Canberra, which offers a 10 per cent discount to Out & About with Kids readers. visitcanberra.com.au Image: Destination NSW

The nation’s capital is filled with great things for families to do. From the science and technology museum Questacon to the National Zoo & Aquarium, the National Arboretum and the Australian War Memorial, you can easily fill a week (or more!) here. It’s worth taking a trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, around an

11. Sydney NSW It’s the most visited city in the country for international travellers, but the Harbour City offers some amazing experiences for Australian families as well. Hire bikes and explore the Royal Botanical Gardens, perhaps stopping for a picnic at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair; climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and see a show at the Sydney Opera House. Take in 360-degree views of the city from the top of its tallest building, Sydney Tower, and feel like you are walking on air on the highest outdoor viewpoint during the one-hour SKYWALK tour. Camp overnight in the middle of the Harbour on Cockatoo Island, formerly a convict penal establishment and naval shipyard, and ride the ferris wheel, brave the rollercoasters and challenge yourself in the mirror maze at Luna Park, on the shore of the Harbour at Milsons Point. sydney.com 55

AUSTRALIA A child learning to surf with Get Wet Surf School

SPEND AT LEAST A DAY FROLICKING ON ONE OF THE REGION’S GOLDEN BEACHES

QUEENSLAND

It’s known as Australia’s holiday playground – and for good reason. You will need at least a week here to fit in all the famous theme parks, as well as the many other activities and attractions on offer. You could spend a day each at Sea World, Dreamworld, Whitewater World and Warner Bros. Movie World. The Australian Outback Spectacular is also not to be missed, and make sure you include a visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend at least a day frolicking on one of the region’s golden beaches, such as Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Coolangatta or Burleigh Heads – perhaps even take a surf lesson. Then head to the hinterland to see beautiful waterfalls and glow worm caves in Springbrook National Park and Tamborine Mountain, and embark on O’Reilly’s Treetop Walk in Lamington National Park. For an educational element to your holiday, book a tour with Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the area’s Indigenous history and creation stories. There are lots of family-friendly accommodation options, including Paradise Resort Gold Coast and BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park. destinationgoldcoast.com 56

Images: Tourism and Events Queensland

12. Gold Coast

Get an adrenaline fix at Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast

Image: Laura Helle-Tourism Tasmania

AUSTRALIA

Children at Dove Lake

Cradle Mountain

TA S M A N I A The Tasmanian devil is one of the country’s most iconic creatures, so a visit to Devils@ Cradle, at the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain National Park, is a truly special experience. The conservation sanctuary is also home to the closely related Spotted-tail and Eastern quolls. You can spot wallabies and wombats on one of the many scenic hikes in the area, which range from the Enchanted Walk for littlies to circumnavigating Dove Lake with older kids. Make sure you include a visit to the quirky model village at Tasmazia & The Village of Lower Crackpot. Other activities include horse riding, quad biking, canoeing, mountain biking and boating on Lake St Clair. When it comes to accommodation, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village and Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain are excellent options for families. discovertasmania.com.au

AUSTRALIA

DADS’ DREAM

Image: Tourism Western Australia

HOLIDAYS From the confines of Sydney lockdown, BEN GROUNDWATER uncovers the best Australian family holidays dads will love A father and son at Fontanini Fruit and Nut Farm in Margaret River

Image: Destination NSW

AUSTRALIA

It wasn’t meant to be like this. I was supposed to be swanning around Australia with my young family these last few months, having adventures and making memories. Instead, I’ve been stuck in lockdown, as so many of us have during the COVID-19 pandemic. This time indoors has, however, provided the chance to do many things: get acquainted with local takeaway joints; learn entire episodes of Bluey off by heart; figure out how to put a trampoline together and, most of all, to dream – because I can’t wait to go travelling again, particularly to a destination that offers a little something for everyone, for dads (and mums) and kids alike. Whatever your point of passion is, there’s a family-friendly holiday destination to suit you. Now for the chance to get there.

For dads who love… surfing PACIFIC PA LM S, N SW

Yes, there are innumerable surfing destinations on every coastline of this wonderful country, however, not all of them are family-friendly. If you’re hoping to catch a wave while also keeping the kids happy – and maybe having a surf themselves – then you want to head to the Pacific Palms area on the NSW Barrington Coast. Not only are the beaches here, including Blueys, Elizabeth, and Boomerang, stunningly beautiful, there’s also plenty of awesome holiday homes available to rent, as well as Blueys Motel, which has a barbecue and a pool to hang out at. There’s usually the chance for dads to enjoy a decent swell, before heading out with the kids on much smaller beach breaks.

A surfer at Blueys Beach at Pacific Palms Roadtripping in our Motorhome

AUSTRALIA

For dads who love… a drink

Colonial Brewing Co in Margaret River

M A RG A R E T R I V ER , WE S T ER N AU S T R A LI A As I’ve learned the hard way with my young family, dragging your kids to winery after winery, or microbrewery after microbrewery, really doesn’t work. It’s not a good time for anyone. Instead, you need to space out these visits with other attractions and ensure the venues you do select know how to cater to families. To that end, may I suggest: Margaret River. Not only do you get a gorgeous location with plenty of non-drinking activities, from beach hangs to river kayaking to town strolling and more, but you also have a host of world-class wineries and microbreweries that cater to kids. Check out Swings & Roundabouts, which has a wooden fort and play area; Leeuwin Estate, with games on the lawn; Aravina Estate, with swings and slides. And then you have the microbreweries: Cheeky Monkey, with playground on-site; Colonial Brewing Co., with another huge playground and a golf driving range; Brewhouse Margaret River with, yet again, a huge play area and a great kids’ menu. This is the stuff upon which holiday dreams are made. 60

For dads who love… golf G O LD COA S T, QU EEN S L A N D

Play golf at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast

Golf is a little like fishing, in that it’s extremely enjoyable for those participating, and on par with the drying of paint for everyone else. So, if you want to play a round or two on your next holiday, make sure there’s something for the rest of the family to do at the same time. For that reason, the perfect destination might just be the Gold Coast. The Goldie, obviously, is home to some high-quality golf courses like Royal Pines, Sanctuary Cove and Palm Meadows. It’s also home to Dreamworld, Movie World, and family-friendly resorts including Paradise Resort Gold Coast and BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park.

Image: Thredbo

Hike to Mt Kosciuszko for the ultimate family adventure

For dads who love… hiking and biking

For dads who love… fishing

C A I R N S , QU EEN S L A N D

THREDBO, NSW

Image: Tourism Australia

Here’s the deal: you want to bag a big fish while you’re on your holidays, but you also recognise that the rest of the family might find that pursuit eye-wateringly boring. So, what do you do? My advice would be to head to Cairns, where there’s plenty for everyone in your family, regardless of their preferences – and there’s also the opportunity to bag a massive marlin. Cairns is the black marlin capital of the world, the ideal spot to bag a seriously big fish from about September to December. It’s also a great place to go snorkelling on the reef, to play in the Cairns lagoon, to go white water rafting on the Tully River, or just hang out at a resort.

How often can you say you’ve taken the kids to the highest point on an entire continent? Australia is pretty much the only place you can do it – unless your kids are hardcore mountaineers – so why not make the most of that with a trip to Thredbo in the summer? Although it’s known predominantly as a winter destination, Thredbo has plenty to offer in the warmer months, perhaps even more so for families looking for active adventure. There’s the chance to hike up Australia’s highest mountain, a surprisingly relaxed five-hour return journey from the top of Thredbo’s Kosciuszko Express chairlift. There are also plenty of gentler walks, plus the chance to go mountain biking, either on familyfriendly trails or roaring down serious single-trackers. And Thredbo village is a great place to hang out. 61

AUSTRALIA

H A M I LT O N I S L A N D , QUEENSLAND

A man taking in the view from Passage Peak on Hamilton Island

There’s a tendency to want to do “stuff” when you go on holidays, to plan activities and visit attractions, but sometimes the best thing to do is… nothing. Just take it easy. And for those to whom that appeals, while being assured that the rest of the family has something to do, your destination is Hamilton Island. Here is a place with a whole heap of accommodation options to suit families, activities galore for kids (including a kids’ club), and the chance to go snorkelling or sailing or sunset cruising with everyone involved. And, of course, this is also the place to just lie by the pool and chill.

Image: Destination NSW

For dads who love… relaxation

AUSTRALIA

For dads who love… culture

For dads who love… food SO U TH AU S TR A LI A

CANBERRA, ACT

Maybe you prefer an art gallery or science museum or historical monument. Friends: Canberra has you covered. Our nation’s capital is the ideal spot to soak up culture while also keeping the kids entertained. Here you’ve got Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, which kids go bananas for. You have the National Dinosaur Museum. You have the chance to cycle around Lake Burley Griffin, visit the National Zoo and Aquarium, and much more. And then of course there’s the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House… Is that enough? It probably is.

Image: South Australian Tourism Commission

Love to eat? Of course you do, so, it seems reasonable that your next family holiday will involve some tasty cuisine. And the place to do that: Adelaide. This is Australia’s surprise gastronomic heartland, a city with the best market in the country (Adelaide Central Market), as well as easy access to three of our finest wine and food regions in the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale. The Adelaide Hills Kids’ Food Trail is an educational adventure that starts with fruit-picking, then moves on to cheese, chocolate, organic markets and more. And, of course, if you have to call into, say, Lost in a Forest, for a woodfired pizza and a glass of wine, so be it.

Image: jinkyart.com.au

Ride around Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

AUSTRALIA

FOSSILS AND FOOTPRINTS

8 BEST DINOSAUR EXPERIENCES DOWN UNDER BEV MALZARD reveals the top places to delight dinosaur-obsessed youngsters around Australia

AUSTRALIA

Q. WHAT DO YOU CALL A DINOSAUR WITH AN EXTENSIVE VOCABULARY? A. A THESAURUS.

1 AUSTRALIAN DINOSAUR TRAIL, OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

Australia is fertile ground for finding fossils. Many species of dinosaurs and other huge and fierce animals (on land and from the sea) roamed the land millions of years ago, so trying to wrap your head around the timeline while gazing upon a big, flat dinosaur footprint can spin you out. Interest in the extinct creatures is not confined to kids – adults are often just as intrigued and curious about their history. The best ways to quell the dinosaur desire are to see curated exhibitions with detailed information, or go to the source and walk in the footprints (walk around please) of the fossils. These are some of the best museums and sites around Australia for a prehistoric encounter.

For fossil finders and dinosaur devotees, follow in the footsteps of giants on Queensland’s trail. The Outback triangle links the historic towns of Hughenden, Richmond and Winton, which are home to some of the world’s best preserved dinosaur fossils. In Winton, smack bang in the middle of Queensland, head to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum, a 30-minute drive from town along the Landsborough Highway. Enjoy the guided tours of the fossil preparation laboratory, collection room and Dinosaur Canyon with life-sized replicas. Kids aged 12 or older can also join in, becoming amateur fossil hunters in the three-day prep-a-dino program. Lark Quarry Conservation Park (220km return from Winton) is the site of 4000 dinosaur footprints and home of the only known record of a dinosaur stampede that occurred 90 million years ago. Time your trip to join one of the guided tours which depart at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm, and make sure you take cash, or pay ahead of time, at the Winton Visitor Information Centre. From Winton to Hughenden is 215km. On arrival, drop by the dino-focused Flinders Discovery Centre. Hughie, a 7m statue cast from the bones of a Muttaburrasaurus, is the star attraction here, joined by a handful of other family-friendly dinosaur-focused activities. But your day needn’t be spent completely indoors — you can also choose to get better acquainted with the rugged region with a trip out to its neighbour, the 500-million-year-old Porcupine Gorge National Park. Stay at the Hughenden Allen Terry Caravan Park, which has an adjoining pool and skate park. outbackqueensland.com.au/drive/ australian-dinosaur-trail/

AUSTRALIA

2 DINOSAUR VALLEY, SCENIC WORLD, NSW BLUE MOUNTAINS

Image: James Horan

Discover dozens of life-sized dinosaurs as you meander along the rainforest, below the soaring cliffs of the Jamison Valley, at Scenic World in the NSW Blue Mountains while a ‘dinosaur ranger’ shares fascinating facts about the prehistoric creatures during this event, usually held in September. scenicworld.com.au

3 AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, SYDNEY, NSW

Walk amongst real dinosaur skeletons and life-size models, and see the fossil teeth, skulls, and claws of dinosaurs at the Australian Museum in Sydney. With its interactive displays you can smell the Mesozoic world, make dinosaur calls, and even see the world from a dinosaur's perspective. Don’t miss the world’s first anatomically correct model of a T-Rex – a dissected 11m-long replica created for the documentary, T-Rex Autopsy, donated to the Museum by National Geographic. australian.museum 66

4 AUSTRALIAN FOSSIL AND MINERAL MUSEUM, BATHURST, NSW The collection at this museum contains more than 5,000 objects, with the centrepiece being a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a large collection of fossils in amber and unique Australian opalised fossils. It is the permanent home of the Somerville Collection, with some of the rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world. museumsbathurst.com.au

Image: Steve Young

AUSTRALIA

EROMANGA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, QUEENSLAND

Image: Tourism Western Australia

See the bones of titanosaur sauropods Cooper and George, the largest dinosaurs ever to be found in Australia, at the Eromanga Natural History Museum. Around 1000km west of Brisbane in south-west Queensland, the museum’s guides have an in-depth knowledge of fossil hunting and will demonstrate how archaeologists expose fossilised bone using specialised tools. You can stay onsite at Cooper’s Country Lodge. enhm.com.au

Image: VisitCanberra

65 NATIONAL DINOSAUR MUSEUM, CANBERRA, ACT

Located at Gold Creek Village, the National Dinosaur Museum houses life-like dinosaur models, full skeletons, skulls, and robotic dinosaurs. The museum’s experienced and enthusiastic staff host guided tours of the exhibitions, which run for 30 minutes and are tailored to suit children and adults of all ages. The interactive area is a great space for kids to make fossil rubbings, complete colouring-in activities and touch real minerals. The museum and gift shop also houses Canberra’s largest display of crystals and minerals. nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au

7 BUNURONG COASTAL DRIVE, VICTORIA

The Bunurong Coastal Drive stretches from the town of Cape Paterson to Inverloch. The first dinosaur bone to be discovered in Australia, the 'Cape Paterson Claw', was found in this area in 1903. Enthusiastic paleontologists can go fossicking at the Dinosaur Dreaming site near Flat Rocks at low tide, where thousands of bones, teeth and footprints from small dinosaurs have since been found. The Bunurong Environment Centre also offers dinosaur dig tours. visitgippsland.com.au/do-and-see/ nature-and-wildlife/parks-andreserves/bunurong-coast

8 BROOME AND THE KIMBERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Kimberley is one of the few places in the world where there is a strong link between dinosaur tracks and Indigenous creation stories and is the only place in Australia that has sauropod tracks (which include the largest creatures to ever live on land). The tracks of up to seven different dinosaur species have been verified from Gantheaume Point in Broome to James Price Point on the Dampier Peninsula. At low tide, footprints can be seen around Cable Beach, Gantheaume Point and Reddell Beach in Broome. australiasnorthwest.com 67

NSW

THINGS TO DO IN YAMBA WITH KIDS

Rookie family traveller BEN GROUNDWATER makes all the mistakes – and eventually learns from them – on a road trip through HighNorth Country This relaxed beachside town, located on the banks of the Clarence RiverVictoria’s on the NSW Coast, abounds with fun things for families to do. Here are a some highlights

1. KAYAKING

Explore the islands, mangrove bays and beaches inside the mouth of the Clarence River with Yamba Kayak. Keep an eye out for dolphins, sea eagles and other birdlife. No experience necessary, but children must be at least six years old. You can also do a sunset tour, or a full moon paddle once a month on, or near, a full moon. yambakayak.com 68

Explore the area with Yamba Kayak

NSW

2. YAMBA BOWLO LEISURE CENTRE

Yamba Bowling Club has a range of activities to keep the littlies entertained, including a state-of-the-art four-lane ten pin bowling alley, an 18-hole mini golf course with sand bunkers and water traps, an indoor rock climbing wall, arcade games and a soft play area with mazes, slides and padded obstacles. yambabowlingclub.com.au/leisurecentre

3. LEARN TO SURF

Learn to surf with a school founded by three-time Australian surfing champion, Jeremy Walters, at Yamba-Angourie Surf School. It offers both group and private lessons, as does Surf Camp Down Under. yambaangouriesurfschool.com.au

4. YAMBA ICECREAMERY

Tenpin bowling at Yamba Leisure Centre

Holidays and ice-cream go hand in hand, so make sure you pop into Yamba Icecreamery in Coldstream Street during your visit. It makes Italian-style gelato, icecream, sorbet and ice-cream cakes. Dairy and gluten-free options are also available.

5. WHALE WATCHING

Book a whale watching cruise to see huge humpbacks passing by during their annual migration. Fishing Yamba operates two whale watching cruises per day from early June until late October, weather permitting. They depart from Yamba Marina on weekdays and Yamba Shores Tavern, on The Mainbrace, on weekends. fishingyamba.com.au/whale-watching

Image: Destination NSW

Yamba Whale Watch Adventures

NSW

Indoor rock climbing at Yamba Leisure Centre

Go beach combing at Red Cliff Beach in Yuraygir National Park

6. HIT THE BEACH

Yamba’s beaches are beautiful. Main Beach has an ocean pool at its southern end, while Turner’s Beach (between the South Break Wall and the lighthouse) and Pippi Beach are also worth checking out. A bit further south, watch surfers in action at Angourie Beach, or go beach combing at Red Cliff Beach in Yuraygir National Park.

7. SCENIC CRUISE WITH CLARENCE RIVER FERRIES

Take a scenic cruise on the Clarence River. Cruises are offered every Wednesday, with a live music cruise on Sunday. Both are approximately a 30km round trip. clarenceriverferries.com.au

A mother and son at Red Cliff Beach in Yuraygir National Park

Image: Destination NSW

8. GO CYCLING

Hire a bike from Bike Shop Yamba to explore the town. Ride along the Ford Park Cycleway beside the river along to Whiting Beach and Turners Beach. You can also take your bikes on the ferry to Iluka on the northern side of the river for a great day trip or follow the cycleway south to Angourie Point and check out the blue and green pools en route. bikeshopyamba.com.au

NSW

9. FISHING

There are loads of great spots for beach, river and rock fishing throughout Yamba, with flathead, jewfish (mulloway), bream, snapper and tailor among the main catches. Or book a deep sea fishing tour with Yamba Fishing and Charters or Reel Time Fishing Charters. yambafishingandcharters.com.au

10. HISTORICAL WALK

Catch a big one with Yamba fishing and charters

Yamba Art Space Gallery

Follow in the footsteps of explorer Matthew Flinders as you make your way around Yamba, visiting landmarks including Flinders Well, Yamba Lighthouse, and the Yamba Historical Museum. There are two self-guided walking tours available, starting and ending at the museum, next to the Yamba Golf and Country Club. The 4km Up Down and All Around walk takes you to the historical sites on Yamba Hill, while the easy 5km Sea Level Stroll covers the flatlands. Pick up a copy of the Yamba Historical Walks guide from the museum before you leave or scan a QR code or DCM code from the museum postcards to access historical photos and information. pyhsmuseum.org.au

11. YAMBA FUDGE

Indulge in everything from fresh fudge to retro lollies, UK bon bons and Dutch liquorice at Yamba Fudge, located in Yamba Street. It also sells gifts, such as NRL beanies and scarves.

12. KIDS’ ART WORKSHOP AT YAMBA ARTSPACE GALLERY

This gallery offers art workshops for children of all ages during school holidays. Its programs aim to introduce new art materials and methods to students, encouraging creative expression in a fun way. yambaartspace.com/kids-workshops MORE INFORMATION: myclarencevalley.com 72

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BIG4 EASTS BEACH KIAMA

with kids

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with kids

THE HOLIDAY PARK THAT HAS IT ALL

Looking for a family holidaydestination? Look no further than BIG4 Easts Beach at Kiama on the NSW South Coast, where there really is something for the whole family.

1. SUNNY’S AQUAVENTURE PARK

Our water park features multi-level platforms with two water slides and a giant tipping bucket, an ocean-themed splash pad with interactive features, plus a shaded water journey for babies and toddlers. There is also a partially-shaded sunlounge area for parents to relax while children enjoy the time of their lives.

2. KRAZY KIDZ CLUB

A range of super fun activities are available at the Krazy Kidz Club on weekends and during the NSW school holidays. They include cooking classes to learn to make such things as Mars Bar balls, Crunchie slice and Malteser fudge plus cupcake decorating, as well as craft activities such as slime making, sand art, foil art and scratch art.

3. THE BEACH

Whether you enjoy swimming, diving, fishing, body-boarding or just splashing about, you can do it all at Easts Beach, where the sapphireblue ocean waves lap onto golden sands. This 400m-long beach offers a chance to relax, unwind and bask in the sun while your children build sandcastles. Easts Beach offers the complete package, from dancing waves at sunrise to a moonlit evening stroll.

4. JUMPING PILLOW

There's no better way for the kids to have hours of uncomplicated fun and burn off energy than bouncing and jumping on our Jumping Pillow. It has a shade structure, is surrounded by soft white sand, and is fully fenced so everyone can safely enjoy themselves. It's loads of fun for the young and young-at-heart, so mum and dad are encouraged to join in the fun too!

5. POOL COMPLEX

The pool complex has two pool areas: a heated lounge pool with children’s play area, plus a large main pool with two lap lanes and a disability ramp. MORE INFORMATION: eastsbeach.com.au 75

Image: Gold Hat Photography

NSW

DISCOVER MARINE LIFE AT NORTH STAR HOLIDAY RESORT Now more than ever, in a post-COVID world, people are wanting more than just a ‘flop and drop’ holiday. Parents, in particular, want to provide more meaningful experiences for their children when they go away. The Marine Discovery Centre at North Star Holiday Resort on the Tweed Coast is one place where kids can learn a bit more about the world they live in while on vacation. One of Australia’s largest privately funded museums, the Centre’s primary focus is teaching people how they can play a role in protecting and safeguarding our precious marine environment for future generations. The recently refurbished centre showcases state-of-the-art light and sound technology. It is fitted with interactive digital terminals and world-class marine and coastal science displays designed to enhance the learning experience. The Centre, at Hastings Point, provides important information about the aquatic environment, its inhabitants and vital ecosystems, and teaches visitors about the challenges of climate change, marine litter, plastic waste, pollutants and fishing. The history of the Centre dates back 60 years, when marine biologist, Ted Brambleby,

KIDS CAN LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN

began collecting marine specimens and displaying them from the boot of his car, driving coastal roads and stopping to educate beachgoers, scuba divers and snorkellers along the way. In 1999, Ted joined forces with teacher and business partner, Kerrie Trees, to host camps and day visits for students, teachers, community groups and holidaymakers at Hastings Point Caravan Park. In 2008, proprietors of North Star, Ian and Diana Beadel, allocated space in their resort’s Seascape Building so Ted and Kerrie could set up their displays for a token rent of $1 per year. Fast forward to 2021 and the Beadels funded the latest refurbishment at a cost of $1.3 million, to ensure the facility’s longevity. North Star has also been awarded Eco-Tourism Australia certification, which is recognised through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, with more than 50 environmental or sustainable initiatives. It is one of only two holiday parks in NSW to achieve the certification. The Marine Discovery Centre is open to resort guests, the public and school groups including camps. MORE INFORMATION: See www.marinediscovery.com.au 77

VICTORIA

n i S E M I T D O WHEELY GO

M O R P THE

MEG LAW and her family explore Wilsons Promontory National Park on their first motorhome holiday

Bodyboarding at Squeaky Beach

VICTORIA

we drive along the long and winding road hugging the coastline and enter Wilsons Promontory National Park, we are greeted by massive granite peaks and towering sand dunes. The blood orange lichen boulders contrast with the brilliant turquoise waters. My shoulders drop, my soul dances and my eyes widen. It is so good to be back to my natural sanctuary, my happy place. 

VICTORIA

Family beach time at Wilsons Promontory

‘The Prom’, as it is colloquially known, stops me in my tracks every time I visit. No matter what season it is; whether confronted by fierce winds and heavy showers or sunshine and blue sky, it is always a showstopper. The Park is full of natural wonders – rocky mountains, pristine beaches, wildflowers, migrating seabirds, heathland orchids, towering forests, and a host of animals, including kangaroos, emus, wombats, echidnas, seals and dolphins. With only one road in and out, it’s a place where you can really feel like you are away from it all.

“The Prom”

FAMILY MOTORHOME HOLIDAY

Toasting marshmallows on the camp fire

‘The Prom’ was the final leg in our motorhome adventure through coastal Victoria. After spending a few weeks in our ‘home on wheels’, we were so excited to return to our favourite natural haven and base ourselves here for the week to camp, hike, swim and explore. It was our first motorhome holiday, and we were completely hooked. We loved the freedom of parking overnight wherever we liked and waking up overlooking new terrain, whether that be beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers or beaches. We loved seeing kangaroos hopping by the side of the road, the kids playing UNO at the table while we drove upfront enjoying the peace, stopping wherever we liked to make a cuppa in the van or pulling up at a spectacular beach to have happy hour at sunset or partake in a spot of fishing. Everything was such a novelty. The kids loved climbing the ladder each night to sleep in their big double bed (or what they called their cubby house), closing the curtain and reading by torchlight until they went to sleep. There were also practical advantages, like having a toilet on board, eliminating the usual pesky toddler pee stops on a road trip, being able to eat lunch at the table while we drove along, or having dad jump in the back to play Pictionary on the old school ‘Etch A Sketch!’

VICTORIA

The kids checking the swell

Our first motorhome holiday is one we will remember forever

while mum drove. A surprise perk to the growing trend of #motorhomelife is that it is so easy to go off-the-beaten track and explore different places. We assumed that due to the sheer size of the six berth motorhome we would struggle to explore certain areas, but it certainly proved us wrong.

WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK

“The Mountains whisper for me to wander, my soul hikes to the call.” – Angie Weiland-Crosby There is probably no national park in Victoria as well loved as ‘The Prom’, which lies at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, just a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne. It became a national park in 1898 and is the state’s largest coastal wilderness area, covering more than 50,000ha. From hidden coves to large expanses of sandy shores as far as the eye can see, there are so many trails and empty beaches to discover. The little mermaid in our family, our daughter, was most impressed to learn that The Prom is home to one of the richest marine ecosystems off the coast of Australia – rivalling the Great Barrier Reef. Camping here and hiking in The Prom offers the perfect synergy of beach and bush, with a labyrinth of tracks available for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. We chose to spend our time going on all our favourite day hikes and our two kids, aged four and eight, certainly covered some mileage on these tracks, ambling over rocks and racing down sand dunes. Their curiosity and insatiable appetite for exploring new terrain was inspiring, and as parents we were thrilled to see them soak up the wonder of this magical place.

TIDAL RIVER CAMPGROUND

We based ourselves for the week at Tidal River Campground, on the spectacular Norman Beach. Each day we would drive  81

VICTORIA

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Beach frisbee, Exploring the Great Ocean Road, Look out! Mum is driving the motorhome, Fishing with Dad at Tidal River campground

VICTORIA

around to check out new places before returning to all the camping amenities we needed, including toilets, barbecue and a small kiosk which offered the all-important morning coffee hit and fish ‘n’ chips! After several days of hiking, it was also good to rest our weary feet and give in to those salty, sun-kissed vibes and hang out at base camp with long lazy beach days, a spot of fishing, and our favourite pastime — watching the kids float along the shallows of the river on their boogie boards for hours on end. The tea tree-stained river was also great for kayaking, canoeing and wildlife spotting, with wombats and kangaroos wandering around the camp at dusk. Sleeping under a sky full of stars, waking up to the sound of waves breaking, hiking through rainforests, beach hopping, playing frisbee, surfing, paddling, G&Ts in our van at sunset, late night fishing and card nights — our first motorhome holiday is one we will remember forever. The writer was a guest of Let’s Go Motorhomes

STAYING THERE

Tidal River Campground has an online ballot system for peak season. To book a site or enter the ballot go to parks.vic.gov.au

GETTING THERE

Let’s Go Motorhomes offers competitively priced campervan and motorhome hire throughout Australia letsgomotorhomes. com.au

MORE INFORMATION

visitgippsland.com.au/ destinations/southgippsland/wilsonspromontory

6 GREAT HIKES IN WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK 1. Tidal River to Squeaky Beach This is one of the most popular walks, and a return trip is achievable with young kids as it is an easy hike (6.3km return and we bribed the kids with a pitstop at Squeaky Bay for some beach frisbee and lunch) 3. Lilly Pilly Gully Circuit This walk weaves through stringybark forest along the southern slope of Mt Bishop before descending into the lush rainforest of Lilly Pilly Gully (5.8km return)

4. Mount Bishop This one is more challenging, and we had to pop our youngest in the hiking carrier as we climbed the rocky summit of Mt Bishop. But it was worth the climb as we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the west coast of Wilsons Prom and offshore islands (7.4km return) 2. Mount Oberon Summit Panoramic views over Tidal River, the coast and offshore islands (6.8 return and quite steep in parts)

5. Norman Beach, Tidal Overlook, Squeaky Beach, Picnic Bay, Whisky Bay This easy hike visits all our favourite beaches and offers a good mix of beach and track walking (6km one-way) 6. Sealers Cove Day Hike For families with older kids, this walk is 9.5km one way and is worth it to reach the crystal blue water at the end. For those with younger kids like us, you can break it up and do it as an overnight hike

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNDABERG TOURISM

BEST THINGS TO DO IN BUNDABERG WITH KIDS It’s long been known for its rum and ginger beer, but there’s far more to Bundaberg for families looking for a great getaway. With 140km of coastline, this area of the Southern Great Barrier Reef is shaping up to be Queensland’s next mustvisit region. Here are some activities to consider

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNDABERG TOURISM

JOIN THE LADY MUSGRAVE EXPERIENCE

Just a stone’s throw from Bundaberg is Lady Musgrave Island, one of the idyllic coral cays that comprise the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Hop aboard the luxury Reef Empress catamaran for a day spent exploring this secluded paradise, which is home to a variety of nesting birds and a jaw-dropping underwater world. The calm coral lagoon around the island is perfect for kids and first-time snorkellers, with friendly staff who will answer all your questions during glass-bottom boat tours and guided island walks. If you want to play citizen scientist, you can opt for the Marine Biologist for a Day experience or spend a night clamping underneath the stars at Lady Musgrave HQ. ladymusgrave experience.com.au

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNDABERG TOURISM

LEARN ABOUT TURTLE CONSERVATION AT MON REPOS

Image: Bundaberg Tourism -Paul Beutel

Image: Rowan Bestmann-Tourism and Events Queensland

Around 15 minutes’ drive north-east of Bundaberg, Mon Repos Conservation Park is home to the largest rookery for endangered loggerhead turtles on Australia’s east coast and is one of the best places in the country to see these gentle creatures in their natural habitat. During the nightly Turtle Encounter tours in summer, you can watch as the mothers hurl themselves onto the beach to lay their eggs (November to January), then return a few weeks later (January to late March) to witness the baby turtles making a frantic dash towards the sea. Tickets include entrance to the Turtle Tales & Hatchling Hall where you can learn all about nesting marine turtles and their conservation. The Turtle Centre is open year-round, so if you are visiting outside of turtle season you can still learn about the important role that Mon Repos plays in the survival of loggerhead turtles. parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mon-repos/attractions/mon-reposturtle-encounter-tours

EXPLORE BARGARA ESPLANADE

The coastal town of Bargara, around 15 minutes’ drive from Bundaberg, is fronted by an esplanade where you can stroll or ride your bikes while watching the Coral Sea lapping at the shore. For kids, a highlight is the turtle-themed playground, which offers plenty of opportunities to climb and engage in imaginative play. Parents can settle in at one of the benches to watch all the action, or grab takeaway from the nearby eateries for a beachside picnic.

FEAST ON FRUITY TREATS AT TINABERRIES ICE CREAM Bundaberg is one of Australia’s most prolific, yet undiscovered, food bowls, growing 25 per cent of the nation’s produce. One of the Bundaberg foodie experiences not to miss is the farmfresh ice cream that’s served up at Tinaberries. A short drive from central Bundaberg is the Farm Gate, which is open throughout the year and offers not only real fruit strawberry and passionfruit ice cream but also fresh strawberries in season (June to October). If you want to pick your own, time your visit with early spring to eat as many mouth-watering berries as you can muster. The Tinaberries lawn is a great place to devour your ice cream while playing giant Jenga or Connect 4. tinaberries.com.au

KELLY’S BEACH

On the southern side of Bargara, this pretty stretch of sand is patrolled by lifeguards for your peace of mind. Find yourself a shady spot beneath one of the trees for a day of swimming, sandcastle building and snorkelling, with the calm lagoon of The Basin one of the best places to spot fish. Aside from being great for flying kites, it is also backed by accommodation, including the family-friendly Kelly’s Beach Resort, which has a pool, tennis court, games room and licensed restaurant. kellysbeachresort.com.au

Image: Bundaberg Tourism-Paul Beutel

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNDABERG TOURISM

6. BRUNCH AT THE WINDMILL CAFE

7. GO SNORKELLING AT BAROLIN ROCKS

Explore Bundaberg’s “reef within reach” at Barolin Rocks — a snorkelling spot and dive site where you can see tropical fish, turtles,

9 88

8. BUNDABERG BREWED DRINKS BARREL

When it’s time to quench your thirst, head to the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Barrel, where you can sample all of the 14 flavour-filled drinks that are manufactured here. While ginger beer has long been a favourite, you can try everything from sparkling guava and passionfruit to the ever-popular lemon, lime and bitters. Explore the gallery to learn how the drinks are brewed and guess the flavour at the ‘smellography’ wall, then watch the brewery in action via the 360-degree cameras. At the end of the experience, you can take home a selection of six drinks in a mix-it-yourself pack. bundaberg.com/the-barrel

STAY AT LADY ELLIOT ISLAND ECO RESORT

Providing a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life is Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay that’s a 25-minute scenic flight from Bundaberg Airport. The island’s family-run eco-resort is all about ditching technology for a few days and connecting with the natural world (think mesmerising coral gardens filled with thousands of tropical fish). Accommodation ranges from beachfront units to glamping tents and cosy cabins, all of which are just steps from world-class snorkelling. A highlight of any visit is coming face-to-face with majestic manta rays – an experience you will never forget. Rates include daily breakfast and a buffet dinner, as well as island tours and snorkelling equipment. ladyelliot.com.au

Image: Tourism and Events Queensland

Image: Bundaberg Tourism

Just a short stroll from Bargara Beach, this locals’ favourite serves up locally sourced produce for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Winner of Queensland’s best tourism restaurant in 2019, the Windmill Cafe has an inspiring menu that caters to all dietary requirements, including classics like bacon and egg rolls and unique creations such as dragon fruit bowls. You can dine alfresco in the garden or grab one of the awardwinning locally-made gelatos to go (they also have doggy gelato if you’re travelling with your four-legged friend!) windmillbargara.com.au

rays, sea snakes, moray eels, wobbegong sharks and incredible coral formations. If you’re lucky you might even spot a dugong!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BUNDABERG TOURISM

MEET THE ANIMALS AT SPLITTERS FARM

Surrounded by tropical bushland to the west of Bundaberg is Splitters Farm, a 160-acre property that has become a sanctuary for both barnyard and native animals. On a self-guided tour, you can explore the paddocks and feed the rescued horses, goats and alpacas, before relaxing beneath one of the shady trees with a picnic hamper. This working farm also has eight glamping safari tents overlooking Splitters Creek. splittersfarm.com.au

MORE INFORMATION: bundabergregion.org 89

UNITED STATES

DISNEY EXPERT’S ULTIMATE GUIDE

Melbourne travel agent REBECCA MASON, from Mr Chocolate’s Travel, is one of the top 10 sellers of Disney destinations in Australia. She and her son Lachlan share their top tips for visiting Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida How did you become a Disney expert? As a child I enjoyed Disney stories and movies and always dreamed of one day visiting Disneyland. Lachlan inherited this love for Disney. At the age of 11, he was our guide at Disneyland Hong Kong on one of our family holidays. He studied the maps, FastPass systems and character meet and greet times to ensure we had the most magical family holiday. While Lachlan continued to research ALL the Disney parks, I studied to become a travel agent and launched Mr Chocolate’s Travel, with Disney experiences becoming our number one focus and destination. After visiting the parks several times, we took a keen interest in the Disney brand, with Lachlan even living the dream as a cast member in January and February 2020 as an attendant at Epcot’s Journey into Imagination with Figment ride. Lachlan now speaks fluent Disney, while I enjoy researching the best Disney options and experiences for all travellers, especially big families. What do you love about Disney? Disney is a happy, all-accepting, family inclusive destination that lets us immerse ourselves in a fantasy world outside of reality. It’s also the best place to encounter our favourite childhood Disney characters and have real-time interactions. Dreams come true at Disney and it’s the perfect place to spend time together with family and friends. What’s the difference between Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida? Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is bigger and grander than Disneyland Resort in California, with four theme parks, more than 30 hotels and two water parks. It’s like 90

Disneyland on steroids. The pathways are wider, and the castle is bigger. Disneyland Resort in California has two theme parks, Disneyland Park (the original, which opened in 1955) and Disney California Adventure Park, and three on-site hotels. But it is actually the only resort that Walt Disney has been to. Many attractions are similar at both resorts, with only minor differences. Which one is your favourite? Disneyland is our favourite because it is classic, closer and more affordable for Australians to get to, and it is also where Walt had his vision. Where do you recommend people stay? At Disneyland Resort, any of the three Disney-run hotels or the Good Neighbour hotels nearby. Our favourite Good Neighbour Hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance. Our favourite Disney Hotel is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. At Walt Disney World Resort we recommend that you stay at any of the 30+ Disney hotels, due to the on-site perks and ease of transportation options going to and from the parks. It comes down to your budget, the size of your family and general accommodation preferences. What is the best age to take kids? We believe that any age is the perfect age to visit, from 0 to 99 years, but between the ages of five and nine the Disney magic is really apparent. Everything is still magical in the eyes of a child and, from the age of five, children are able to experience most rides. 

Image: Disneyland Resort

UNITED STATES

Guests arriving at Disneyland Park when it reopened in April

UNITED STATES

Rebecca Mason and her family with Talking Mickey at Magic Kingdom Disneyworld in 2018

See Mickey Mouse in Fantasmic at Disneyland Park

Image: Disney

When is the best time of year to go? The crowds are smaller from January to March, and in September. There is more entertainment in June and July, and the second half of December due to bigger crowds, so even if it is busy there is a lot more going on. If visiting from mid-September to early January there will be Halloween, Christmas and New Year decorations and theming. Any tips on how to have the best experience possible? Arrive early before the park opens and experience the more popular rides first thing in the morning. After a couple of hours, have a break and enjoy different entertainment options, including shows, parades and characters, while the ride lines are busiest. Towards the end of the day experience more rides. Before COVID-19, Disney’s “skip the line” system, FASTPASS allowed people to reserve a return time earlier in the day to go on the ride with “little to no wait” later in the day with their return time ticket. If people used the system well, many lengthy waits could be avoided. MAXPASS is an add-on option that Disneyland Resort California introduced in 2017, which allows you to make FASTPASS reservations via your phone instead of visiting a distribution point. Disney is now introducing a Premier Access at Disneyland Paris, which it will slowly expand to its other parks around the world. Premier Access allows people to pay to skip the lines and will likely replace the free FASTPASS system. Exact pricing and options are currently unknown and will morph and change as Disney works out what will work best, but the prices in Paris start at €15 euros per person per ride (around AUD$25). Overall, this will ensure standby lines are shorter than when FASTPASS was taking up two-thirds of the capacity. What are the must-see shows and parades? Disney is constantly changing its entertainment offerings. At the moment highlights include Happily Ever After Fireworks, Festival of the Lion King and Fantasmic at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and World of Color, Mickey’s Mix Magic Fireworks/Projection and Fantasmic at Disneyland Resort in California. 92

UNITED STATES

Where are the best places to eat? At Disneyland Resort in California, we’d recommend Golden Horseshoe Saloon and Pym Test Kitchen. At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, we’d say Satu’li Canteen, Ronto Roasters, Pinocchio Village Haus and EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. What’s one thing people probably don’t know about Disney resorts? There are hidden Mickey silhouettes dotted throughout every Disney destination. It has become a popular game to find as many hidden Mickeys as possible. Disney has also introduced the Play Disney Parks app. This app provides quizzes and games for your group to play while waiting in line for the rides. It also allows you to interact with certain elements in the lines. Any tips when it comes to flights? For Disneyland Resort in California, you can get a direct flight to LAX from most Australian capital cities. For Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, I’d recommend flying with Hawaiian Airlines via Honolulu to Orlando. How far ahead should you book? It is more cost effective to book early. We recommend booking flights and accommodation 11 months in advance, due to greater availability and cheaper prices. It is possible to book now before international

borders open, but our advice is to book as soon as the reopening of international borders is officially announced. Any tips for getting cheap tickets? As Mr Chocolate’s Travel is one of the top sellers of Disney in Australia, we offer very competitive pricing. We advise that you purchase accommodation and tickets in Australian dollars through us to avoid price fluctuations associated with purchasing tickets in US dollars. In Australia, we also have access to promotions available exclusively for the Australian and New Zealand markets, including the 10 Day Pass. How do you think the Disney experience will be different postCOVID? Immediately after the Disney Parks reopened there were strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however over the past couple of months these measures have been almost completely removed. Mask rules have been on and off recently. Park Pass reservations will still be required for the foreseeable future, meaning you will have to choose which parks you are wishing to visit and specify the days beforehand. The magic of Disney will remain, and it will always be a top destination for families to create lifetime memories.

Halloween can be a fun time to visit

Image: Kent Phillips

What else can you do while you’re there? There is a shopping and entertainment precinct outside of both parks, called Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort in Florida and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. There are also character dining experiences and a monorail. At Walt Disney World Resort there are ferries and a skyliner gondola, and extra shows such as Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-long.

Image: Disneyland Resort

How many days do you need to do each theme park properly? To properly experience Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you should spend seven to nine days across the four theme parks. To properly experience Disneyland Resort in California, you should spend three to five days across the two theme parks.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

MUST-DO RIDES

• Soarin’ • It’s a Small World • Avatar Flight of Passage • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance • Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Rebecca Mason is the owner of independent Melbourne travel agency Mr Chocolate’s Travel, and author of Holiday Dreaming: The Expert’s Guide to Large Family Travel, which is available online at travel.mrchocolate.com.au/book • This story is not sponsored or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company and all the interviewee’s views are her own 93

NEW ZEALAND

Kids will love digging their own hot pool

NEW ZEALAND

G N R TH

ANGELA SAURINE reveals the best things to do on a family holiday to New Zealand’s North Island

HOT WATER BEACH, THE COROMANDEL

Kids will love digging their own hot pool at this appropriately named beach in The Coromandel, on the North Island’s east coast. A natural spring runs deep beneath the surface, bubbling up to emerge through the golden sand. The best time to visit is two hours either side of low tide. thecoromandel.com 95

NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON CABLE CAR

Take the five-minute ride from the heart of the city and up through the hillside terraced houses of Kelburn, to the lookout perched high above. From there you can visit the Botanic Garden, Cable Car Museum, Space Place (at Carter Observatory) and ZEALANDIA (via free shuttle). wellingtoncablecar.co.nz

Ride to the lookout high above

3. BULLSWOOL FARM HERITAGE PARK, THE COROMANDEL

Children can feed the animals at this working farm, a 1.5hour drive south of Auckland, in the southern part of The Coromandel. The farm’s sheep shed, stables, toolshed and milking shed have all been restored and set up as fun and interactive museums, telling the story of New Zealand’s early farming life. Visitors also have access to the Farm’s Native Bird Reserve, an award-winning conservation project that provides information about the country’s Indigenous birds, plants and aquatic animals. bullswoolfarm.co.nz

4. DOLPHIN SEAFARIS, BAY OF PLENTY

Swim with wild dolphins on a tour with Dolphin Seafaris in the Bay of Plenty. As well as common dolphins, you are also likely to encounter orcas (aka killer whales), humpback whales, pilot whales, little penguins and New Zealand fur seals. Dolphin Seafaris eco-tours depart daily during the summer season, from November to April, and on weekends and during school holidays the rest of the year. The company has a 95 per cent success rate of seeing dolphins in summer, and guests get to swim with them 85 per cent of the time. nzdolphin.com 96

REDWOODS TREEWALK, ROTORUA

See 75-metre-tall Coastal Redwoods as you walk across eco-suspended bridges and platforms at this Rotorua attraction. The award-winning eco-tourism operator’s new night-time experience – illuminated with lantern creations – is truly special. Purpose-built baby strollers are available for guests to use. treewalk.co.nz

Illuminated

NEW ZEALAND

MINE BAY MĀORI ROCK CARVINGS

Kayak beside the magnificent 14-metre-high Māori rock carvings on Lake Taupō at Mine Bay. The carvings were made in the 1970s by Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell and a team of artists. The main carving takes the face of Matahi’s ancestor, Ngātoroirangi, the visionary Māori navigator who guided the Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes to Taupō 1,000 years ago. lovetaupo.com

7. HAMILTON ZOO

This 25ha zoo is home to more than 600 native and exotic animals and boasts the largest walk-through aviary in New Zealand. You can go behind the scenes on a Face2Face encounter or catch a “meet the keeper” talk highlighting the characters and personalities of animals, their feeding and enrichment. There’s an onsite cafe and scenic picnic areas to have lunch. hamiltonzoo.co.nz 98

8. ZEALANDIA, WELLINGTON

Walk amongst rare birds like hihi, kākāriki and takahē and spot prehistoric reptiles, such as the tuatara, bathing in the sun at this urban eco-sanctuary, which is home to more than 40 rare species of native wildlife. See how the sanctuary transforms after dark on a guided tour and search for thousands of glow worms and more than 150 kiwi roaming free at the site. visitzealandia.com

9. ORAKEI KORAKO CAVE AND THERMAL PARK

Admire the power of Mother Nature in the geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and colourful silica terraces at Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park. The attraction, between Taupo and Rotorua on the banks of the Waikato River, can be reached via a short ferry ride over Lake Ohakuri. orakeikorako.co.nz

10. WAIKATO MUSEUM, HAMILTON

On the banks of the Waikato River in Hamilton’s south-end cultural precinct, this museum offers an insight into the area’s rich history of arts and culture. Highlights include the majestic war waka, Te Winika, and the hands-on science galleries for children. waikatomuseum.co.nz MORE INFORMATION: newzealand.com

WORLD

FAMILY AFLOAT

FIONA HARPER meets a family of four whose home is a yacht that has taken them across the South Pacific Ocean Family life for Christina and Peter Palmer has always revolved around the sea and the freedom of an ocean-going lifestyle. They’ve been cruising for more than 20 years, first as a young couple who met in the Caribbean, then later as a family sailing throughout the South Pacific. Their two children, Cameron, 16, and Tara, 13, have grown up at sea, gaining a unique insight

into different cultures and an acute understanding of the privileges they enjoy living a nomadic, yet safe and secure lifestyle. This intrepid family are all avid outdoor enthusiasts who also love kite surfing, scuba diving and surfing. With an 80ft yacht as their floating home, they spent much of 2020 sitting out the COVID-19 pandemic in New

Zealand, apart from four months in Fiji when a COVID-safe ‘blue lane’ opened to cruising yachts. While their lifestyle may sound indulgent, there is a lot more to the sailing life than simply dropping the anchor and breaking out the kiteboards. “In 16 years of travelling with kids, the upsides have always far outweighed any downsides,” says Christina, who was born in Germany. 

WORLD

Clockwise from top: Tara plotting position, Meeting the locals at Fulaga in Fiji, Cameron kayaking off Fulaga Island in Fiji

One of the disadvantages is that Tara suffers from seasickness, with various remedies trialled to counteract the debilitating effects. Christina says they’ve recently found a solution which has made an enormous difference to Tara’s enjoyment of long ocean passages. But the family has made other compromises to enjoy a nomadic life. “When the kids were really little the biggest challenge was not having grandparents around to give us that occasional break,” Christina says. “We left Central America with an 11-month-old, and while I might not have caught much sleep on long ocean passages, I got to spend months and months with my little family experiencing stunning and remote parts of the world.” While many children experienced home schooling for the first time during the pandemic, Cameron and Tara’s entire education has been through remote learning via a correspondence school. “Utilising correspondence school means the kids get their own teachers and 100

learning materials, while I oversee in the capacity of supervisor,” Christina says. “Their schooling is entirely online-based, which luckily isn’t an issue in 2021 when Wi-Fi is available just about anywhere. The only area we ever had an issue was in the Lau Group in Fiji, however in those situations our kids pre-work and catch up after we are back in Wi-Fi range. Teachers are very understanding though and appreciate what incredible experiences our kids get to have, which is an education in itself. Our kids are usually keen to get schoolwork done and ‘out of the way’ first thing in the morning before it gets too hot and that gives them the opportunity to enjoy all that this lifestyle has to offer for the rest of the day. It’s not uncommon for

our son to wake us at 6.30am to turn the Wi-Fi on so that he can get his schoolwork done and go kiting, surfing or freediving by lunchtime.” With a growing community of families adopting a floating lifestyle, finding other children to socialise with has also become easier. “There is an ever-increasing fleet of boats with kids, so even when there’s no swell or wind the kids will all get together and hang out, just like we used to when we were their age,” Christina says. “The difference is they don’t have to be driven anywhere, they just take the dinghy and get to do it in a tropical paradise. Does it get any better than that? While the teenage years can be a challenging time, I think this is probably the best time yet,

WORLD

travelling and sailing with the kids, as they are now able to participate in just about everything this life has to offer. Whether it’s kitesurfing, surfing, free diving, hiking — the kids have really gotten into all those things themselves now, which makes it so much fun to share those passions with them. What’s even more incredible is watching them walk past their devices because they would rather get outside. I feel that this opens them to a different kind of perspective on the world and life itself.” As well as the opportunity to spend quality family time together, another advantage is experiencing foreign cultures and becoming fully immersed in the communities they visit. With Cameron and Tara expected to stand watch and contribute to all aspects of running the

Clockwise from main image: Tara launching the kite to go kitesurfing, Fishing in Fiji, Sailing in Fiji’s Lau group

yacht, they have developed skills far beyond what can be learnt in a classroom. “They learn to ‘navigate’ the ins and outs of travelling in foreign countries, to budget, how to get food, and that it’s not as simple as parking your car and strolling into the supermarket and having everything available,” Christina says. “They help select, carry and pack away the food, and to prepare meals, not by recipe but by whatever is available. They learn how to gather and catch their own food. They learn to conserve on a boat — whether that’s water, electricity or supplies — as well as hands on things like how to maintain a boat, an engine, how to sail and to navigate. “They also get to experience different cultures and understand how lucky

we really are. Clean drinking water and sanitation aren’t a given for everyone. We usually bring clothing items, schoolbooks etc to the Pacific Islands and make it a point for our kids to experience the gift of giving, while getting to see, first-hand, how little some need to be happy.” Growing up in an alternative lifestyle has given the Palmers the opportunity to not only learn and grow together as a family but to set the children up in life with a well-rounded appreciation for the world they inhabit. “I look at my kids and believe they are more grounded and easy-going because of how they’ve grown up,” Christina says. “They don’t get flustered by the unknown, they make friends and connections easily and have practical and enquiring minds.” With just a few more years before the kids start branching out on their own, the Palmers plan on sailing the Pacific Islands together for as long as they can. “Cameron is already trying to get work in the marine industry,” she says. “There’s a good chance that in a few years’ time he may be anchored on his own boat in the same anchorage!”. Follow the Palmer family’s adventures at camarasailing.com, at @sailingpalmers on Instagram or on YouTube at @camarasailing

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CELEBRITY Q&A

BOATLOADS OF FAMILY ADVENTURES CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GOLD-MEDAL WINNING PERFORMANCE IN TOKYO! IT MUST BE GREAT TRAVELLING ALL AROUND THE WORLD AS A PROFESSIONAL SAILOR. DOES YOUR FAMILY GET TO JOIN YOU MUCH? Yes, I have three kids, Anton, 8, Amelie, 5 and Zoe, 2 (and another one due in November), and have done a fair bit of travel with them. My wife, Friederike, was born in Germany. She’s also an Olympic sailor and we met just after the Sydney Olympics. Before Anton started school, we used to spend six months of the year based in her home city of Hamburg for the European racing season, and the other six months in Australia. We’ve taken the kids on holidays to Denmark with her family, and to Majorca in Spain and skiing in Austria. They all came to the Rio Olympics in 2016 and to the pre-Olympic event in Japan in 2019, before COVID-19 hit. We went to Tokyo Disney Resort and explored the coast. We tend to stay away from the big cities if we can help it and spend time in local villages. I think you can get a better appreciation for Japanese culture. It’s more authentic and not so touristy. SOUNDS LIKE YOU’VE DONE QUITE A BIT OF LONG-HAUL TRAVEL WITH KIDS. ANY TIPS? Our kids don’t watch much TV at home, but when we’re on planes we let them do what they want to save arguments. The kids travel pretty well. Obviously, you have your moments, but we don’t get too stressed about it. 102

Image: Sailing Energy-World Sailing

Gold medal-winning Olympic sailor Mat Belcher OAM, who was chosen as the Australian flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Tokyo, has been lucky to take his family on trips with him around the world. But his favourite holidays are much closer to home, he tells ANGELA SAURINE

WHAT KIND OF HOLIDAYS DO YOU PREFER WHEN YOU ARE BACK HOME IN AUSTRALIA? Our favourite place to go is Tommerup’s Dairy Farm and Farm Stay in the Kerry Valley, which is around 1.5 hours’ drive from where we live on the Gold Coast. It’s a sixth generation working farm, and we stay in a small, old-school cottage. The kids get to milk the cows, feed the pigs and collect the eggs. We go there two or three times a year for a couple of nights at a time. There’s no mobile reception. We pick up Scenic Rim produce on the way there. I would love to have acreage, but with the practicalities of training we can’t do that, so we made

a conscious effort to find somewhere we really like and go to the same place regularly. We know the owners well and the kids get really involved and feel really comfortable and open up. We also recently hired a campervan and travelled up to Yeppoon, visiting places like 1770, Hervey Bay and the Sunshine Coast. WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU’RE AT HOME ON THE GOLD COAST? We live off Tallebudgera Creek at Palm Beach, and we love letting the kids wild in nature. We have some dinghies out the front of the house and we go sailing with the kids there. The Broadwater, which is a large waterway that extends from Southport in the south to the southern end of Moreton Bay in the north, is a great place to go sailing with kids. It’s protected and there’s lots of nice places you can anchor overnight. We also love going to the Burleigh Headland and to the beaches there, and to Currumbin, where there’s a wildlife sanctuary which the kids love. WHY DO YOU THINK TRAVELLING WITH KIDS IS IMPORTANT? It’s great for the family to be together. We don’t do any work while we’re away, so we have so much more family time. It’s also good for the kids to understand how big the world is. For me, it’s a little bit normalised. For them to experience some of that is important. Follow Mat Belcher’s adventures on Instagram @mathew.belcher

CELEBRITY Q&A

Mat and his family at home on the Gold Coast

Mat and Anton at Hong Kong Disney

Image: Sailing Energy-World Sailing

Mat and Will Ryan with their gold medals in Tokyo

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Image: Cavan Flynn

Feeding the chickens at Tommerup’s Dairy Farm and Farm Stay

REVIEWS

MERCURE CENTRO HOTEL PORT MACQUARIE

ANGELA SAURINE finds a big, comfortable hotel room hits the right spot on a road trip up the NSW north coast THE LOWDOWN

Road trips up the Pacific Highway are a summer rite of passage for many families, and Port Macquarie – which lies halfway between Sydney and Byron Bay – is an obvious place to break up the trip. Conveniently located in the CBD, this modern hotel makes a great base to explore the area.

LOCATION

Port Macquarie is around four hours’ drive north of Sydney and six hours’ south of Brisbane on the NSW north coast. Situated in the main street, William Street, between the ocean and the Hastings River, Mercure Centro Port Macquarie is surrounded by eateries, with a park across the road. It is a 104

short stroll to Town Beach and the iconic breakwall, which is lined with colourfully painted rocks.

ACCOMMODATION

There are six room types to choose from. Walking into our 60sq m Superior Spa Room after a long day driving was pure bliss! The huge, open-plan room overlooks the park and has a corner balcony, king size bed, corner chaise that folds out to a double sofa bed, and a TV that swivels between the lounge area and bed. My three-year-old son loved the bubbles in the spa bath and hiding under the cushions on the lounge. Superior Queen rooms are another great option for families, with configurations available in King, Twin, and Queen bed with sofa bed. Rooms

also have large smart TV, air-conditioning, a dining table, tea and coffee making facilities, and a separate shower. Children under 12 stay free in a room accompanied by adults when using existing bedding. Extra charges apply for the use of a sofa, rollaway or cot. Mercure Centro also has ramp access for wheelchairs, wide hallways and large lifts. Two of its rooms are accessible, with wide bathroom doors and a wheelchair-friendly shower with rails and a seat.

ACTIVITIES

The main drawcard for kids is the outdoor pool, which is heated year-round and surrounded by lounge chairs for mum and dad to relax. It is open from 6.30am to 9pm. Towels are available at reception.

REVIEWS

MERCURE CENTRO HOTEL PORT MACQUARIE 103 William St, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444 1300 786 989 info@centrohotel.com.au

An aerial view of Bago Maze

Strawberry picking at Ricardoes

The hotel’s in-house eatery, Restaurant Synergy, has an impressive seasonal menu, which makes the most of the abundant local produce. During our stay it included pan seared Atlantic salmon with roasted chat potatoes, asparagus, tiger prawns and lemon butter sauce; mushroom risotto with shaved Parmesan; and Dukkah-crusted lamb backstrap with couscous salad, seasonal greens and Greek yoghurt (I chose the latter, and it was divine!). Kids’ meals, which are $12 for under 12s, include chicken nuggets with chips or vegetables, and fish and chips. Room service is also available. Port Macquarie’s iconic seafood restaurant, Whalebone Wharf, is also a must visit, while Pancake Place is good fun for families and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

EXPLORE

Kids will love picking fruit at Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries, ten minutes’ drive north of the town. It offers free guided tours at 11am each day. Bago Maze and Winery boasts one of the world’s

Image: Lindsay Moller

FOOD AND DRINK

largest hedge mazes, with more than 2000m of pathways, bridges and hedges. You can also meet koalas rescued in the summer 2019/20 bushfires at Koala Hospital Port Macquarie and see more than 80 species of animals at Billabong Zoo and Wildlife Park. It’s also worth making the trip to Timbertown at Wauchope, 15 minutes’ drive away, to wander through the historic buildings and ride on the steam train and

in a horse and carriage. While you’re there, try panning for gold and gemstones, go pedal boating on the lake, and see farmyard animals. Other options include dolphin and whale watching cruises, camel rides on Lighthouse Beach, and horse riding, plus there’s a cinema in town for rainy days. The writer was a guest of Mercure Centro Hotel Port Macquarie 105

REVIEWS

SHANGRI-LA THE MARINA, CAIRNS This luxury hotel is perfectly positioned for day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, ANGELA SAURINE writes THE LOWDOWN

First impressions count and, walking into our room at Shangri-La The Marina in Cairns, I can’t help being impressed. A tepee is set up for my three-year-old son, Oliver, near the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which lead out onto the balcony overlooking the marina. It’s the perfect cubby house for him, and he loves playing games of peek-a-boo. On the coffee table, there’s also a bag of lollies for him, a bag of chocolate for me and a bag of popcorn for both of us. The five-star hotel also impresses on the environmental front, with wooden key cards.

LOCATION

If you’re planning a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef (which you should be!), the location is as good as it gets. The hotel is only steps from the Reef Fleet Terminal and Marlin Marina, where tours depart, so you shouldn’t have to worry about rushing to get to the boat in time. It’s also super close to Cairns Esplanade, just five minutes’ walk to the centre of Cairns and around 15 minutes’ drive from the airport. The hotel has secure undercover parking, which is great if you are on a driving holiday as it makes it easy to get out and explore. 106

ACCOMMODATION

There are 255 rooms and suites, all with private balconies offering views over the marina, Trinity Bay and the mountain ranges beyond, or the hotel’s tropical gardens. When you have young kids, a bath in a hotel room is a must, and ours is nice and deep with views out to the water (the big fluffy, bathmat is a bonus). There’s also a pillow menu, flatscreen TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, an electronic safe, and Wi-Fi.

FOOD AND DRINK

The hotel’s in-house restaurant, The Backyard, is the kind of place that makes you instantly feel like you’re on holidays. Offering everything from burgers, fish tacos and ribeye steak to seafood platters, the waterfront eatery has ceiling fans, a big deck, and an outdoor area where kids can play on the grass. There are stickers on the floor advising where to stand for social distancing at breakfast and, as the hotel is part of an international chain with many hotels in Asia, all staff wear masks. Room service is also available.

ACTIVITIES

The outdoor pool, which is partly covered by a shade sail,

SHANGRI-LA THE MARINA, CAIRNS

Pierpoint Rd Cairns, Queensland (07) 4031 1411 shangri-la.com/en/cairns/shangrila

REVIEWS

Oliver playing peek-a-boo in the teepee

A Deluxe Seaview room

The Backyard deck

is surrounded by a sun deck and palm trees, with a separate children’s pool. There are lounges and outdoor furniture on both sides of the pool fence, as well as table tennis and giant chess. The pool bar offers drinks and boxed meals in biodegradable and recyclable cardboard containers. There’s also a gym with state-of-the-art cardio training and strength equipment.

EXPLORE

You can book experiences at the tour desk in the lobby, including Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and day trips to the

Great Barrier Reef. Sunlover Cruises’ trips to its floating pontoon are a great option for kids as it has a waterslide into the ocean and a touch tank and offers snorkel tours and cruises over the reef in a glasswalled semi-submersible boat. The Frankland Islands reef cruise boasts the shortest open water crossing of any of the Cairns day tour boats, taking you to Normanby Island in the Frankland Islands National Park island group. Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel offers both an Indigenous and scientific perspective of the Reef, with cultural presentations including dancing

and performing with the didgeridoo and clapsticks filling the time spent cruising to the Reef and back. The hotel is also close to Cairns Esplanade Lagoon — a large, manmade saltwater pool on the foreshore that offers a safe swimming destination, free from stingers and crocodiles. It’s around 10 minutes’ walk to the fantastic Muddy’s Playground, which has a flying fox, sound chimes, a rope bridge, slippery dips, cubby houses, revolving tunnels, a seesaw, and a café. The writer was a guest of Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns 107

REVIEWS

BIG4 ADVENTURE WHITSUNDAY RESORT

25–29 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale, Queensland 07 4948 5400 adventurewhitsunday.com.au

BIG4 ADVENTURE WHITSUNDAY RESORT

FIONA HARPER checks into a fun-filled family holiday resort that is big on attractions THE LOWDOWN

Ideally positioned in the heart of The Whitsundays at Airlie Beach, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is a family holiday destination set amongst 10ha of landscaped tropical gardens. A mega water park with waterslides and waterplay areas dominates the park, alongside a heated lagoon-style pool. Family owned and run for almost 30 years, arriving at the park feels a little like staying with much-loved friends. Staff are friendly and cheery, offering an efficient welcome peppered with hints and tips on what’s happening within the park, along with what’s on around the Whitsundays and is not to be missed (including fireworks marking the start of the Great Barrier Reef Festival the day we arrive). An event calendar in our welcome pack is full of so many activities it’s almost hard to decide what to do first, including feeding 108

and petting sessions at the animal park, pancakes by the pool, scavenger hunts and outdoor movies, just for starters.

LOCATION

Set on the outskirts of Airlie Beach, within walking distance of parks and shopping precincts, the holiday park is well positioned to take full advantage of everything on offer in The Whitsundays. Coral Sea Marina, where boats depart for the islands, is a five-minute drive away, with downtown Airlie Beach another couple of minutes beyond the Marina. Cannonvale Beach is nearby, where Fat Frog Café overlooks the beachfront parklands and does a roaring trade for breakfast and coffees. From here, the Bicentennial Boardwalk is a pram-friendly coastal walkway that links Cannonvale with Airlie Beach via the marina and is a great place to spot dolphins and turtles.

ACCOMMODATION

On-site accommodation includes self-contained hotel-style studio rooms and luxuriously appointed two and three-bedroom apartmentstyle condos and cottages (some with spas!) with outdoor decks and barbecue-equipped alfresco areas. Caravan and camping sites are well thought out with lush gardens utilised to create private, shady sites in a convivial, social setting. For the ultimate in ‘glamourvanning’, choose a powered caravan site with its own large ensuite bathroom and secure storage area. A camp kitchen is equipped with hot plates, barbecues, fridges and microwaves, along with a massive TV, and seating for up to 60 people, making it the social hub of the park after sunset.

REVIEWS

ACTIVITIES

A full schedule of activities is on offer every day (many of them free), both within the park and the Whitsundays region. A feeding and petting session at the animal park is not to be missed, for a chance to get up close and personal with calves, lambs, goats, chickens, geese and ducks. The Kids Craft Club is led by activities coordinators and is a great place to check the kids into each day, allowing adults to enjoy sun lounges or massages by the resortstyle pool or kick back over wine and cheese afternoons. In the evenings, lay out a picnic blanket and take in movies under the stars with a different film showing each night. But the real attraction is the water park, which is decorated in colourful artworks and motifs in the form of ‘Gavin’ the resort’s frog mascot, with 13 waterslides and a pendulous tipping bucket. Jumping pillows, mini golf and grass areas provide plenty of space for the kids to play safely. The Reilly Room is a sensory room that’s available for those travelling with a family member with autism, while amenities blocks are accessible to wheelchairs.

The kitchen in a three-bedroom Whitehaven Condo

FOOD AND DRINK

The Vintage Café is an onsite food van open for breakfast and lunch beside the water park, serving a limited menu of snacks and drinks. Book ahead for hotdogs, lolly bags and popcorn on weekend movie nights.

EXPLORE

Images Fiona Harper

A day trip to the Whitsunday Islands is a ‘must do’, and an almost overwhelming range of tours can be booked at the front desk. Airlie Beach Markets, held each Saturday beneath the foreshore palm trees, is a great place to pick up local souvenirs and try some of the tropical fruits grown in the area. Walk the trails through lush rainforest in Conway National Park or take a drive to Hideaway Beach and Cape Gloucester for safe swimming beaches. The writer was a guest of BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort 109

EXTRAS

HOW TO…

BE A COVID SAFE TRAVELLER 110

EXTRAS

National Travel CEO, David Sumich, shares his top 10 tips on how to keep safe travelling in a COVID-19 world.

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH

The number one priority is to do your research and stay informed. Utilise travel apps and stay up to date on current affairs so you can avoid COVID-19 hotspots and predict when there might be a border closure or lockdown. National Travel’s My Travel Itinerary app provides an interactive map which clearly communicates COVID-19 infection hot spots and highlights a ‘travel rating risk’ for each area.

2. TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE – AND READ THE FINE PRINT

When taking out travel insurance read the product disclosure statement to know what you are getting and what the exclusions are. There are policies now including clauses for COVID-19 related medical expenses, COVID-19 related cancellations, and COVID-19 related additional costs.

3. PREPARE

The fundamental component to being a travel warrior is preparedness. Pack for safety and include items such as face masks, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes.

4. READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Ensure you understand the terms and conditions of your booking. Find flexible booking terms that meet your travel needs.

5. CHECK YOUR SUPPLIERS

Look for destinations, hotels and operators that are following COVID-19 safety guidelines. National Travel has a Supplier Excellence Program to ensure the ground operators and suppliers we use have COVID safe plans in place.

6. CONTACTLESS CHECK-IN

Be part of the future – contactless. Check-in online using self-service checkouts and use card payments where you can.

7. KEEP IT SIMPLE With vaccination programs currently underway and no certainty with domestic borders, keep your holidays relatively simple. It will be easier for you to reschedule if you must, but if you use a travel agency such as National Travel, we can handle all rescheduling and refunds for you, making travelling even more simple during these difficult times.

8. PLAY COVIDSAFE

Maintain social distancing, disinfect often and always exercise good hand hygiene.

9. 24-HOUR SUPPORT

up to receive travel advice updates for your destination direct to your email from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller website smartraveller. gov.au

10. SIGN UP FOR DFAT UPDATES

For more information about National Travel go to national-travel.com.au

As international borders open, ensure you have access to professional 24-hour support from your travel agent, or your suppliers if you are organising your trip yourself.

Before travelling overseas, sign

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MUST HAVES

The latest products travelling families need to know about 1. BLINKY BILL SWIMSUIT

Blinky Bill fans can adorn themselves in the Australian icon, with a range of tees, shorts, swim and paddle suits as well as a woven dress dedicated to the larrikin character. They are available in sizes 1-7. The brainchild of author Dorothy Wall in 1939, The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill is considered a quintessential Australian children’s classic which has never been out of print in the country. RRP $25 bigw.com.au

2. SALTY SISTER SAND REMOVING POWDER

This natural, organic, talc-free sand removing powder helps ensure that pesky 112

sand stays at the beach, where it belongs! When taking a break for lunch, re-applying sunscreen or heading home, simply twist open your Salty Sister bottle, shake onto sandy skin and brush the sand away. RRP $29.95 (including shipping) saltysister.com.au/collections/saltysister-buy-now/products/

3. GOING PLACES STICK-ON PATCH This fun patch has an easy one-step, peeln-stick design to customise bags, laptops, notebooks, phone cases, whatever! Just add stitches when adhering to fabrics. RRP $14.99 allkinds.com/products/stick-on-patchgoing-places-multi-2360020

4. LIEWOOD WARREN WATER BOTTLE

This square-shaped bottle is made from silicone, making it perfect for little hands to hold. Available in a variety of colours and designs, the shape also prevents rolling if dropped. With a capacity of 350ml, it is unbreakable and leak-free, and can easily be attached to a bag or pram. It also comes with a cleaning brush. RRP $35 lmbambini.com.au/ collections/new-in/products/ warren-bottle-dinoblue-wave

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5. ZIPBOOM KIDS TRAVEL JOURNAL

With more than 30 pages of activities and games, this travel journal especially designed for kids will entertain them during your journey and become a lovely memento. There are three pouches on the inside of the journal to store postcards, photos and any other treasures. You can also subscribe your child to a six- or twelve-month subscription to A Travel Journal Refill Pack, which includes a refill pack with a different theme each month, a new writing pencil and one sheet of stickers. Themes include All About me,

Dinosaurs, Fairy Tales, Superheroes, Sports, Around the world, Animals, Food, Vehicles, Spy Kit, Nature, Arts and Crafts. Suitable for ages 4+ RRP $54.95 zipboom.com.au

6. GUESS KIDS’ EYEWEAR

Protect the eyes of little ones AND help them look super cool with the GUESS Kids Eyewear Collection. Inspired by the GUESS adult’s eyewear collections, there are styles available to suit everyone – from girly and playful cat eye lenses to striking, two-tone looks with classic rectangular lenses for boys. The

temples feature a metal GUESS logo plaque. RRP $120 marcolin.com/en/brand/guess

7. HEADSTART REPLAYABLES FLYING DISC

Made from 100 per cent recycled bottle caps, the Replayables flying disc from Headstart is a great way to keep kids active on your next picnic or family getaway. It’s available at BIG W, Kmart, Coles, Target, Woolworths, Australia Post and more stores nationally. RRP $15 headstartint.com 113

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Insider Interview

PHILLIPA HARRISON

TOURISM AUSTRALIA MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO She worked as a tour guide in India, Turkey, and Britain, and travelled extensively in the tourism industry, including a stint as global product manager for STA Travel in London. But, after six years working as general manager of sales for Hamilton Island Enterprises, Phillipa Harrison has found her home at Tourism Australia, where she’s been managing director and CEO for the past two years. When not at work, she loves travelling with her husband John Burgess and daughters, aged 9 and 13. MY IDEAL FAMILY HOLIDAY IS… One that has something for everyone – our holidays in the last decade have had to be familyfriendly, so we paused some things like walking and diving when the girls were very young. It’s exciting that they are finally at an age where we can get them out doing that stuff. I travel often with work, so it’s a joy when I’m able to spend some time away with my family. We (used to!) spend a lot of time in Europe seeing my husband’s family, but some of our favourite holidays are right here in Australia exploring our own backyard and spending time out in nature – skiing, diving (or snorkelling in the case of the girls) or just being at my parent’s property. MY FONDEST FAMILY HOLIDAY MEMORY IS… Family road trips as a child. Dad 114

offering a Mars bar as a prize to whoever spotted some landmark first. And endless days at the beach when we finally got to our destination. FAMILY TRAVELLERS MAY NOT BE AWARE… How many family-friendly tourism experiences we have here in Australia. There are incredible opportunities to explore our states and territories with your family – whether it’s a big adventure to the Red Centre, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the Great Ocean Road, or the Kimberley region.

Phillipa with Tourism Australia ambassador Chris Hemsworth

On a family holiday on Hamilton Island in 2016

EVERY FAMILY SHOULD EXPERIENCE… An extended epic holiday in Australia. MY TOP TIP FOR TRAVELLING WITH KIDS IS… Let every member of the family curate a travel day. It gets incredible engagement from the kids, and they do actually come up with some fun things to do!

Phillipa at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary with her family as a baby