Is su e No .1 Spring 2018
PARRTJIMA - A FESTIVAL IN LIGHT Celebrate Aboriginal Culture in Australia's Red Centre
BRIGHT SPRINGS INTO ACTION Take a trip on two wheels along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.
NATURE RIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP Experience the spectacular natural features that make Marysville so unique.
MOUNTAINS OF HISTORY
Discover the deep Aboriginal history behind the beauty of the Grampians Ranges.
EXCLUSIVE
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SPRING EDITION Experience the hidden gems of the Spring season
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light will illuminate Alice Springs in celebration of the magnificent Aboriginal art of Central Australia from Friday, 28 September to Sunday, 7 October 2018.
Showcasing the oldest continuous culture on earth through the newest technology on a 300-million-year-old natural canvas.
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The spectacular free public event will be held in the hub of the Red Centre over 10 nights, showcasing the oldest continuous culture on earth, through the newest technology on a 300-million-year-old natural canvas. Visitors to the festival centre at Alice Springs Desert Park will experience the breathtaking illumination of more than 2.5km of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges and a colourful outdoor gallery of installations using light and sound. The festival program, curated by Rhoda Roberts OA, seeks to raise the
profile of Aboriginal artists from the desert region by sharing their outstanding work and rich culture with the world. Parrtjima—which is pronounced Indigenous light festival of its kind in the world. To find out more and register to attend, visit ParrtjimaAustralia.com.au.
Parrtjima - A Festival in Light 28 September – 7 October 2018 Alice Springs Desert Park, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs, NT
ALL THE FUN OF THE HOLIDAYS ALL YEAR! FunSearch.com.au is a new photo and video Search engine that solves a year round search and planning problem for all Australians. Every day, Australians look online, planning holidays and seeking inspiration for weekend activities and destinations. We spend many valuable hours navigating vast pages of search results and different websites. With FunSearch.com.au that’s changed because we’re putting them all in one place. Better yet, even young kids can now complete targeted searches for fun and plan weekends and entire holidays themselves! You’re welcome :) PS: Got ideas for fun that should be found on FunSearch.com.au? Direct Message your ideas on Socials @FunSearchAU or via FunSearch.com.au contact page. TM
Issue No.1 Spring 2018
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FunSearch CEO Chris – chris@funsearch.com.au FunSearch Social Community & Engagement Manager Ange – Direct message @FunSearchAu on Instagram and Facebook Cover Photography Parrtjima - A Festival in Light Grampians Photography Kaylee Freeman Seasons Submissions Events, Editorial and Advertising queries. We love them! Please direct message Ange on Socials @FunSearchAU or via FunSearch.com.au contact page.
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Seasons Edition 2 “Summer" 12pm Friday 28th September, 2018
Letter from the CEO Chris Gillard #CEO #Dadult #Dadventurer #Optimist #Imaginator
From all of us at FunSearch.com.au, we are proud to bring you Seasons Magazine's first edition ‘Spring’. Seasons represents our support of all Australians in their quest for excitement, adrenalin, discovery, wonder, delight, colour, action, knowledge, memories, togetherness, joy and wholesome fun everywhere it can be found! As a visual search engine of fun, we are huge advocates for healthy outdoors lifestyles. While we are well aware that many people are discovering the joys of road-tripping now, we would love to see even more people get out, get more active and explore Australia. We’ll show you destinations, businesses and events where this can be your reality, no matter what your age, or ability. We love seeing a grandparent and a grandchild enjoying a hand in hand walk to a waterfall. We love seeing mums and dads running around in a park, kicking a ball or throwing a Frisbee with the kidlets on the beach. We love seeing young people exploring Australia for the first time and we would love to see more of that too. We know that buying things is nothing compared to creating memories. All this comes down to knowing how important weekend and holiday time together is to to all people, and how positive this can be for your emotional and physical wellbeing.
While we exist to help as many people as possible find fun all over the country, Seasons is a large part of our vision to help grow the visitor economy, recreation and vacation care sectors too. The magazine is made to help Australian businesses and regions promote those times of year when the road is less travelled. Our magazine exists to help reveal the magic of destinations at all times of the year, showcasing areas to those looking for great travel and activity ideas and fun things to do all year. We are strongly focused on supporting the hidden gems of regional communities, like all the innovative farmers who want to extend into Agri-tourism, eco-tourism visionaries, the many amazing indigenous tourism operators that exist around Australia, the awesome Inclusive and Accessible tourism businesses and the many magical natural places our country has to offer, for those curious and adventurous enough to take the time to discover them. We hope that you enjoy Seasons Magazine as much as we enjoy putting it together. Like all things, we are sure it can be improved and we will aim for this in each edition. For any future editions, we very much welcome your photos, videos, story ideas, destination suggestions and any other feedback you might have. As a company and an idea built on collaboration, your input is hugely valuable and appreciated. Happy Fun Searching! Chris Gillard
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What's in season? 8
MUSEUMS, MONKEYS & MOUNTAINS
TEACHER FEATURE // GAYNOR WILLIAMS
NATURE RIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP
Explore the heart of Northern Tasmania with BIG4 Launceston—a perfect base for the adventure seeking family.
We speak to Sunshine Coast teacher Gaynor Williams about how she makes learning fun for the whole family.
Experience the wondrous environment and spectacular natural features of Marysville and surrounds.
BRIGHT SPRINGS INTO ACTION Take a trip on two wheels along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and experience wineries and tranquil accommodation.
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GO WEST: WHERE SPRING IS ALWAYS SUMMER Positioned on Western Australia's glorious coastline, BIG4 Ledge Point is the perfect place to escape to for warmer weather.
MORE PEOPLE OUTDOORS, MORE OFTEN Learn about the fantastic work being done by the Australian Camps Association to provide wonderful outdoor adventures all over Australia.
ADVENTURE FOR ALL Learn about People Outdoors; a branch of the Australian Camps Association who take people with disabilities on outdoor adventures.
MOUNTAINS OF HISTORY
Take a journey back in time and learn about the vast Aboriginal history of the Grampians at Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre, or indulge in the natural beauty of the Grampians Ranges.
1000 BOOKS BEFORE SCHOOL
Can you read 1000 books before school? The State Library of Victoria has set a challenge to encourage parents, carers and grandparents to read to their children before they start school.
VOCAL LOCAL // TODD DALES We speak to Trentham local Todd Dales about his vision to build a camp for fathers to bond with their sons as they grow into adulthood.
SPRING IS SERVED Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region recommend their tastiest Spring dishes.
FEATURED BUSINESSES DIRECTORY Find fun for the whole family with the assistance of Seasons Magazine's directory of every business, organisation and event that is featured in this issue.
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Bright springs into a"Äąon Take a trip on two wheels along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and experience everything that Bright, Victoria has to offer this Spring.
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Discover the delight of Bright. Bright, Victoria is a cycling mecca and the jewel in the crown is one of Australia’s premier trails—the 120km long Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. The Rail Trail is a beautiful and rewarding journey and an adventure for the entire family. The perfect place to begin your family’s adventure if you don’t already have bikes is to pay Leigh and his team a visit at Bright Electric Bikes. They have a huge range of bikes available to hire and will gladly assist you in choosing the right bike for your adventure. Along with electric bikes, they also have a large range of Amsterdam-style cruiser bicycles, Hybrid bikes, kids’ mountain bikes, along with child trailers and tag-alongs for younger children. If you’re keen to explore, but not sure where to start, you could take advantage of one of many mouth-watering self-guided
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bike tours that Bright Electric Bikes have put together. These tours are certain to delight, intrigue and revitalise you, and they will even provide you with exclusive offers with local businesses along the Rail Trail to give you a richer experience that doesn’t leave your wallet much worse off. Discover savings across a range of quality local cafes, restaurants, wineries and more by organising your tour with Bright Electric Bikes. There are many unique tours to experience with Bright Electric Bikes depending on your taste as well as the time that you
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FUN FACT
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Within literally 350 metres of Bright’s town centre—which is just a short walk away—you will find platypus, fish, yabbies along with amphibians in their natural environment.
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have available. Perhaps you would fancy a half day Gourmet Tour of Bright's finest eateries, or even the hunger taming 'Breakfast of Champions' Tour. For a fullday adventure try the Tastes of Italy Tour or alternatively there is the Rail Trail Highlights Tour. Bright Electric Bikes even have multi-day tours for those who want to pack the most value and enjoyment into their visit to the Bright region. Located 6km from Bright on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Porepunkah is the renowned Rail Trail Cafe; the ultimate spot to stop and refuel your legs. Rail Trail Cafe are a licensed cafe serving all day breakfast, toasted sandwiches as well as hearty lunches and delicious home-made cakes and scones. They use only free range eggs and serve fair-trade coffee. Other yummy options include local favourites such as the
Beef ‘n’ Bacon BBQ Cheeseburger, Breakfast Burrito or Chicken Quesadilla. Open every single day of the school holidays, Rail Trail Cafe is family friendly with a beautiful garden for the kids to explore while their parents sit back and enjoy a meal and drinks. It isn’t solely the perfect Spring spot either, with a woodfire heated covered pergola for the cooler months along with misting fans and shade for the Summer time. These features along with bike racks, high chairs and heaps of smiles make Rail Trail Cafe the perfect pit stop for your cycling adventure.
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The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Bright
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Cyclists ride past the famous Rail Trail Cafe
3 Breakfast served at Rail Trail Cafe 4 Some colourful outfits at Rail Trail Cafe
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While you are visiting Porepunkah you should definitely head out to the tranquil Ringer Reef Winery. Ringer Reef is a small winery, vineyard and cellar door front gate with its front gate conveniently situated on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. The property, owned by Annie and Bruce Holm, fronts the Great Alpine Road. The property is in the town of Porepunkah and has spectacular views across the Buckland Valley, and Mount Buffalo. A wide range of white, red and sparkling wines are handmade and bottled on site by winemakers Mark and Julie Holm, predominantly from hand-picked grapes grown on either their own vineyard or by one of their neighbours. Mark, along with his wife Julie and their small team, run this picturesque cellar door with Mark’s parents Annie and Bruce—the founders—popping in from time to time.
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think people like “ Icoming here, seeing
what we do, chatting to us as well as tasting our wines—it's a very different experience from bigger wineries.”
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The Holm family all love to meet people in cellar door and show them what happens in the winery on a day-to-day basis. “I think people like coming here, seeing what we do, chatting to us and well as tasting our wines—it’s a very different experience from bigger wineries,” says Bruce. “Often we see three generations here, including grandparents and grandchildren and it’s such a nice feeling when you see everyone enjoying what this region has to offer.” The property Ringer Reef was the name given to the gold mine owned by Merry and Hooper back in the early 1890s. The gold rush played an important role in the Valley’s history, bringing with it not only wealth but also people rich in culture and diversity. Today, the mine lays dormant and provides crystal clear water supply to the property. With 10 acres under vine, the rows laid beautifully out across the hillside, the views are simply breathtaking.
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A beautiful Spring day for a bike ride along the Rail Trail in Porepunkah
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Soak in the views on the terrace at Ringer Reef Winery in Porepunkah
3 Mountain View Retreat in Harrietville 4 The beautiful gardens at Mountain View Retreat are a great place to unwind
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With the Ovens River only minutes from the winery, it makes for a glorious spot to pick up some goodies from cellar door and take to the water’s edge in the warmer months. Or from 12pm – 5pm daily you can sit on the terrace at the cellar door and soak in the view while watching the world go by. On the property there is a large lawn area for picnic style gatherings, or for the kids to run around and play games.
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After a long and eventful day eating, drinking and riding on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, you are probably going to want somewhere to stay for the night. Mountain View Retreat is situated in beautiful Harrietville at the base of Alpine National Park. This magnificent national park contains 10 of the 11 highest mountains in the state and boasts stunningly beautiful alpine topography as well as dramatic mountain landscapes plus wild rivers,
impressive escarpments, snow gum forests and open grasslands known as high plains. Mountain View Retreat is utilised by many families along with school and social groups alike as a convenient base for their amazing adventures. They have a low ropes course, a flying fox, gold panning on their property and can help organise canoeing and many other adventure activities—or you can choose to relax and unwind in the three acres of beautiful gardens. Enjoy the wild bird life in their outdoor wine garden area or just relax and listen to the sounds of the nearby Ovens River—the perfect way to end an eventful day. Mountain View Retreat’s fabulous restaurant is open for dinner on Thursday to Sunday evenings over the winter months. Alternatively, self catering options are also available or simply wander up the road to one of the wonderful food locations available in Harrietville.
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water, the best local ingredients and craft brewing techniques. All of their beers are brewed on-site, mere metres away from the 24 tap bar where they are served, along with meals matched to the beers. Overlooking the snow-fed Ovens River, Bright Brewery is a family and cycle friendly, all-weather and multi-purpose venue, which is open daily for lunch and dinner – an ideal destination for a beer and a meal. Relax with a full flavoured craft beer, either outside on the Hop Terrace looking over the riverside parkland or inside their heated bar. Get comfy on one of the couches by the fire, and check your emails and social media using their free WiFi hotspot.
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Delicious sliders served at Bright Brewery
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A wide range of beers are available at Bright Brewery
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Once you’ve dropped the bikes back at Bright Electric Bikes, wander over to the flavourful Bright Brewery and kick back with one of their delicious brews.
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FUN FACT
Bright Brewery is a family owned and operated craft brewery, bar and restaurant that was born in 2005 from a passion for wellmade beer, a love for the town of Bright and its pristine alpine environment, and the adventurous outdoors lifestyle that the High Country provides. The brewery was founded by Scott Brandon, his late wife Fiona Reddaway and their friends David and Julia, driven by a desire to make beer great and to share Bright’s spectacular surrounds and environment with everyone who passes through our town. Located in the heart of beautiful Bright, they produce their specialty 'MountainCrafted' beer, embracing the purity of their setting and inspired by the mountains, trails and alpine environment that surround Bright. Each Bright Brewery beer is brewed by hand, using fresh mountain
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Up until their major redevelopment in 2012, Bright Brewery was housed within two small tin sheds, with only limited outdoor seating available for visitors.
Museums, Monkeys What better way to engage the kids than take them to the birthplace of Looney Tunes favourite Taz the Tasmanian Devil this springtime? BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park is situated in the heart of Northern Tasmania—a perfect base for the adventure-seeking family! Elevated above picturesque Launceston and the Tamar Valley is the 16-acre BIG4 Launceston Holiday park, with mesmerising panoramic views that are certain to leave the adults breathless and the kids in awe. After extensive upgrades, the park now boasts brand new open plan ‘Tamar Villas’ that will comfortably sleep a family of four. The interiors have a modern well-equipped kitchenette, including fridge, gas cook top, microwave, plus all cutlery/ crockery—perfect preparation facilities for a picnic in one of the nearby gardens in the popular Cataract Gorge. For families travelling with small children, these secure resort-style cabins also overlook the BIG4-favourite Jumping Pillow and playground facilities so you can hit the day running—or jumping! The investments aren't solely limited to the park's villas: a brand new amenities block along with wireless internet access is available across the whole park so families can stay connected. Other classic camping compulsories include the camp kitchen—for good, hearty food—along with baby baths for the tiny ones and sporting activities for all ages. Step outside of the park and just two kilometres away is Launceston; the boutique riverside city which the park is named after. Well known for bright blue skies reflecting off the First Basin and emerald green trees decorating the hillsides, Launceston is a natural beauty. A further 15 minute walk from the city centre gives you a taste of
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the iconic Tassie wilderness. The Cliffgrounds are home to fantastic walking and hiking trails, the world's longest single span chairlift and a swimming pool in the summer months for the kids to splish and splash at their/your leisure. With the school holidays fast approaching, Tassie is certainly a great last minute getaway that is far away enough to feel like you’re truly going away, but also close—and also familiar—enough to manage those impatient and excitable children! With museums, monkeys and mountains in abundance, BIG4 Launceston is a sure-fire win for all the family this Spring-time.
BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park 86 - 94 Glen Dhu Street Launceston, Tasmania 7250
FUN FACT
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The first ever x-ray photographs were produced in Launceston by photographer Frank Styant Browne, in 1896.
PENGUIN TOURS At the beginning of every night on nearby Low Head R0ad, Little Blue Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins) swim to the surface of the waters of Pilots Bay, waddle along the beach and return to their burrows at dusk. These cute little birds stand just 30cm high and are certain to be a hit amongst the kids. Be sure to take warm clothing and a camera!
HOLLYBANK TREETOP ADVENTURE Unleash your inner Tarzan amongst the tree tops of old and new forest growth! Either choose from a Zipline—A tour with experienced guides combines the adrenaline rush of a high-wire canopy ride with an informative and entertaining outlook on beautiful forests; or a Segway tour—a forest adventure for all the family.
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The new 'Tamar Villas' at the park
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Stunning Launceston in the Spring
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#TEACHERFEATURE GAYNOR WILLIAMS
SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND Gaynor Williams is the deputy principal at Undurba State School south of the Sunshine Coast. We caught up with her for a #teacherfeature about the things that make learning fun for children, and all the fun stuff there is for families to do on the Sunshine Coast! How do you make learning fun for children? I am, and always have been very much into drama and creative based learning. I think children learn best when they’ve got a challenge and when that challenge stretches. Whatever the curriculum and whatever you’re teaching them, its got to be a question that they can explore and investigate - and no answer is wrong. I think that's what really switches kids on, inspires them to learn and gives them the determination to try their ideas. I run a challenge called the Opti-MINDS Challenge. It's an Australia-wide challenge for our schools that any child can be part of it. Opti-MINDS is a creative thinking and sustainability challenge that fuels creativity and rewards the most out-of-the-box solutions. Opti-MINDS brings students together to work as part of team. Whether they are a leader, a thinker or creator, Opti-MINDS teaches children to value each other’s ideas. People who have done Opti-MINDS challenges can go on to do anything because they believe in themselves and they know how to work effectively with others. What do you value in the school community? Being the deputy principal, I’m not actively teaching now, so for me everything I do is about growing the school community. A school community should be friendly, welcoming and colourful and friends and family should be always welcome. A school community is like a big family, so it's really important to me that we do things that encourage and welcome diversity, and teach children to value culture and to respect each other. The other thing that’s really important to me is that a classroom is bright, colourful and welcoming, so that kids want to be there and want to learn there. This is why I’m leading a big push in our school for classrooms to be visual celebrations of success. We want students to be able to see their success and reflect upon what they have learned. What's fun for mums on the Sunshine Coast? The Float Space is a great place to go and relax for an hour or so for something completely different. I can’t recommend it more highly. They have these big pods that you can lie in which are like sensory deprivation chambers. Each one
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is like a spa filled with water and magnesium and you just lay there and float on water. They also have these beautiful fluoro lights that change colours, or you can turn them off if you want to be left in your own little world. I’m going to say you go into a really deep meditation, but other people would probably call that sleep. The magnesium in the water has healing qualities too, so if you have muscle pains or any aches or tension they’re just gone. What's fun for dads on the Sunshine Coast? There’s Big Kart Track and Skirmish Sunshine Coast Paintball, as well as Bli Bli Watersports Complex which are all really popular with dads. The Sunshine Coast is also a great spot for fishing. What's fun for families on the Sunshine Coast? The great thing about being on the Sunshine Coast is that there is loads and loads of free fun. There are bike tracks that go for miles around the Redcliffe Peninsula. Obviously, there’s the surf, bodyboarding and huge on the coast now is stand-up paddle boarding. My other favourite free family fun is going to either Point Cartwright or Moffat Beach Headland in the middle of the Spring and finding 10 or 20 whales migrating. There’s a beautiful walk from Currimundi to Caloundra that you can take the whole family on and you’ll spot heaps of whales along the way. Another free thing for this time of year is that it's strawberry season, so there are quite a few farms around the Sunshine Coast where you can just go strawberry picking with the kids. And then of course there’s things like Australia Zoo, Wildlife HQ Zoo and Aussie World, which are great for kids too.
Simple Luxury. Experience Victoria’s Spa Country from the comforts of an elegant 1930’s Daylesford hotel, transformed into a deluxe retreat that seamlessly blends heritage architecture, contemporary interiors and the lush countryside. Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel takes Daylesford accommodation to another level. Experience European-like vistas, award winning dining, a multi-award winning day spa and a Tuscan inspired Villa for a continental-tinged escape, wedding or conference. This unique accommodation in Daylesford represents simple luxury, Italian style. Situated in the heart of Victoria’s Spa Country in the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges, it is an easy one-hour drive from Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne. Whether you’re looking to relax on a romantic retreat, or inspire with a unique conference destination, Peppers Mineral Springs, Daylesford is perfectly suited to a revitalising short break.
BOOK NOW
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Nature right at your door #ep. Marysville and surrounds is the place to get out and about to experience the wondrous environment and spectacular natural features that make the area so unique. Whether it be admiring the towering trees or waterfalls, or spotting some native animals rustling in the undergrowth—there is plenty to explore!
As Marysville’s primary recreational space, Gallipoli Park is an important community hub.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
If you are looking for some more challenges, the Buxton Mountain Bike Park provides the perfect location to practice some of those mountain biking skills. With an easy track for beginners and young kids available to practice mountain biking skills, there are a number of trails available in the park that will see everyone improve their skills and have the time of their lives on the professionally made and maintained trails.
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FUN FACT
Make sure you bring bikes for the whole family, because there are some fantastic trails in the region to explore on two wheels. There are trails in Marysville that are perfect for the family to ride and explore some of the hidden attractions in the forest that surrounds Marysville.
The Cathedral Ranges and Rubicon State Forest were once a part of a massive super volcano around 365 million years ago. Different types of volcanic rocks can be seen all around the Marysville region.
The spectacular Steavenson Falls have been popular with tourists since the 1860s.
LAKE MOUNTAIN Spring time brings life and colour back to Lake Mountain after the cold of the Winter season. With the warmer weather arriving, there is plenty to keep everyone happy up at Lake Mountain. As the snow melts away, the large network of trails that extend out from the mountain top village provide a great way to see the heart of the alpine environment. Hire some mountain bikes or put on some walking shoes to explore the alpine environment that starts blooming after the snow melts. If you want to get the blood pumping even more, take the mountain bikes along and down the fantastic network of mountain bike trails on offer at Lake Mountain. With trails that vary in difficulty and length, everyone will be able to have some fun riding the ups and downs of all the mountain bike trails. If you need a bit of a break from all the excitement, sit down and enjoy some food and beverages at the Lake Mountain Café, which is open Friday to Monday in the ‘green season’.
Trout fishing in Marysville is great fun for the whole family.
TROUT FARMS AND FISHING The many rivers that run through the Marysville Region provide some fantastic spots to throw a line in to try your luck at reeling in some fresh fish. With plenty of places to gain access to the different rivers that flow through the region, you’ll be sure to find a lovely spot to sit down and enjoy the Spring sunshine and hopefully reel in a big catch. If you fancy improving your chances a bit, then visit one of our local trout farms. The Buxton and Marysville Trout Farms provide a safe and fun environment that will see you guaranteed to take home a prized catch. Alternatively, if you still want a bit of a challenge, but with improved odds, throw a line into the Gallipoli Park Lake in Marysville, which is regularly stocked with fish for you to reel in.
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FUN FACT
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The rivers that flow through Marysville have been known to hold some rather special treasures. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for possibly finding yourself a piece of gold!
MARYSVILLE WALKING TRAILS The Marysville Walking Trails take you into the heart of the beautiful forest that surrounds the Marysville Township. With a sure to find that morning walk or long hike that you’re looking for. The Marysville Walking Trails take in some of the most spectacular scenery that is located within walking distance of the Marysville Township. The ever popular Tree Fern Gully walk has you winding along the famous Steavensons River to the base of the even more famous Steavenson Falls. These falls are some of the biggest waterfalls in Victoria, measuring in at a towering 84 metres, you can view these magnificent falls from the base or even test your nerves at the top of the falls where the viewing platform gives you views down the 84 metre face of the falls. The Keppel Lookout Trail will be sure to tire everyone out, but not before seeing some of the best sites you could find in the Marysville region! Keep your eyes peeled on the 11 kilometre loop track for some of the local wildlife that likes to call the hills of Marysville home. Watch out for the local Wallabies that like to rummage around on the forest floor looking for some food, or listen to the changing sounds of the Lyrebird, mimicking the sounds of the environment around them. The trail will take you to great heights - over 800 metres above sea level - and give some of the best views available over the Acheron Valley, looking towards the magnificent Cathedral Range State Park.
Hear the Taggerty River thunder over boulders and overhanging ferns as you follow the short, winding, stepped path to a wooden bridge spanning the river.
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“ listen to the
changing calls of the Lyrebird, mimicking the sounds of the environment around them.” SPRING 2018 SEASONS 25
Go west – Where Spring is always Summer While southern temperatures remain cool this springtime, the western shores enjoy day-time delights of 20°C-plus. And at just over an hour’s drive north of Perth, BIG4 Ledge Point offers an escape full of sun, sea and smiles for the whole family these school holidays!
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Kids are impervious to the cold, especially when water-based activities are around. But if like most parents the thought of taking a dip in coastal waters in spring has you shivering at your desk, we have the perfect beach-side getaway that will have you reaching for your swimmers and joining your kids for a frolic. BIG4 Ledge Point is perfectly positioned along WA’s glorious coastline, with Ledge Point beach offering 3.1km of immaculate and uninterrupted seascapes right on your doorstep. During spring, average highs reach up to 24 degrees meaning holidays at Ledge Point really are all about the beach - walking along crisp, white sand, sunsets
over the water, swimming, fishing and windsurfing. The reef a few kilometres offshore protects the Ledge Point beach from big waves (they’re never more than a few feet high), which makes it ideal for your youngsters. Locals tend to favour the beach towards the southern end of the town where most of the cray boats moor. This beautiful stretch continues south beyond town into the misty distance as far as you can see. It’s a perfect walking beach that all the family can enjoy. Retreating into the campsite, there are plenty of funfilled activities to entertain kids of all ages. A good-sized pool is located alongside the park’s quality cabins so you can swim some lengths while watching the kids tire themselves out in the nearby playground. BIG4 Ledge Point’s iconic Jumping Pillow has recently been installed, providing hours of entertainment and all-new pedal karts are now available for kids to whiz round the park. For the 'big' kids, guests have access to the neighbouring Country Club facilities which include golf, tennis, lawn bowls and a bar/restaurant. There is a great range of accommodation to suit all families, from traditional non-powered and powered camp sites for seasoned campers to modern chalets that sleep up to 6. The latter are ideally located either near the children's playground and swimming pool, or in quieter locations offering great views over the park and surrounding areas. The chalets have two bedrooms that can sleep up to six guests, with a queen bed in the main bedroom, and either bunk beds or single beds and a double sofa bed in the second bedroom. They also have reverse cycle air-conditioning, sofa, television, DVD player, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, truly making them a great base from which the whole family can enjoy a break.
GRAVITY DISCOVERY CENTRE The Gravity Discovery Centre is an exciting science education centre just one hour North of Perth and home to the Leaning Tower of Gingin. Experience hands-on science exhibits and learn about the latest discoveries in science and technology and their relevance to your everyday life.
BIG4 Ledge Point 742 Ledge Point Road Ledge Point, Western Australia, 6043
FUN FACT
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NAMBUNG NATIONAL PARK – PINNACLES
Along the coastline of Ledge Point a total of 14 ship wrecks have been found spanning over 330 years of history.
The lunar-like Pinnacles form one of Australia's most unique and fascinating natural landscapes. Formed over millions of years, thousands of tall limestone spires rise eerily out of the yellow desert sands of Nambung National Park, just a shortdrive from BIG4 Ledge Point.
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More people outdoors. More often. The not-for-profit Australian Camps Association (ACA) is the national peak body for residential camps and outdoor providers. The ACA was formed in 2005 through the amalgamation of the Camping Associations of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. As the national body, the ACA works collaboratively and innovatively to develop and support camping and the outdoor sector. Their aim is to improve the quality of the experience people enjoy at their member camps and to increase access to camps for groups from all walks of life, including young people, students, seniors, refugees, people with disabilities and international visitors. Through their research commissioned by the camping sector, they know that such experiences can and do make a positive contribution towards a range of health, education and social
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challenges such as physical literacy, obesity, anxiety and depression, social inclusion, resilience and many more. The ACA provides information, resources, services and training to over 235 members located throughout Australia, ranging from small boutique venues through to larger ones capable of accommodating substantial groups. ACA members enjoy access to a range of high quality products and services that assist them to improve their business capacity and capability. As a member of the International Camping Fellowship (ICF), the Australian Camps Association is also increasingly engaged with the development of camp infrastructure and programming in other parts of the world.
AU S T R A L I A N CAMPS ASSOCIATION
PEOPLE OUTDOORS Adventure for all
Adventure for all. People Outdoors are the experts in providing outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. People Outdoors; a branch of the Australian Camps Association, was established in 1989 to provide outdoor recreation for people of all ages with physical or intellectual disabilities. The Australian Camps Association is a registered NDIS service provider certified with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and accredited with the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program (ATAP). Their programs include single day through to week long camps and provide people with disabilities the opportunity to experience the social and developmental benefits of adventure outdoors. In some cases, participation in activities is
assisted by their supporting charity; the People Outdoors Fund. All programs are staffed by trained and passionate professionals and volunteers. People Outdoors’ programs are hallmarked by a high level of communication with parents/guardians and campers, including pre-camp contact and post program evaluation. Their programs only operate at Australian Camps Association member camps that are accredited with the ATAP program. People Outdoors programs are outcomes-focused and are all about fun, personal development, social connection and enjoying the great outdoors.
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Mountains of hi#ory
Gariwerd (Aboriginal name for the Grampians Ranges) is central to many ancient stories by Aboriginal communities in South-Western Victoria. Gariwerd is a spiritual place, a place rich in creation stories, sacred sites, bush-tucker, water and shelter, a place central to the dreaming of both the Djab wurrung and the Jardwadjali peoples. Their descendants are still involved in Gariwerd and maintain the culture and the stories of the land.
The Grampians National Park is internationally renowned for its abundant wildlife, waterfalls, rugged rock formations, spectacular views along with stunning Spring wildflower displays. There are many beautifully scenic experiences to be had in the Grampians region, experiences that are only heightened by the rich history of the land and its peoples.
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There are several different walking routes to The Pinnacle, from the Sundial carpark from within the Grampians National Park. This walk is the best for children and less confident walkers, but it still does contain some rock hopping and water crossings, so be sure to wear appropriate footwear. This walk take up to two hours for the return trip. Another more scenic, but also more challenging alternative is to begin your ascent from the Wonderland Carpark and walk via the breath taking rock formations of the Grand Canyon. This walk will also take you through a unique narrow rocky corridor known as the Silent Street on your way to the top of the mountain range. This walk will take a bit longer—up to two and a half hours for the return trip.
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If you are really adventurous (and also very fit) you can also start your walk from the base of the mountain range in Halls Gap, making your way up to meet the path that departs the Wonderland Carpark. Whichever path you choose to take, you will not be disappointed when you reach The Pinnacle and are treated to astonishing panoramic views of the Grampians region ranging from the township of Halls Gap on your left through to the dam wall at the foot of Lake Bellfield.
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FUN FACT
If you look up above the township of Halls Gap to the rocky cliff faces that shadow over the town, you can see The Pinnacle. From the foot of the mountain range such a trek to the top looks impossible, but it's actually a beautifully scenic walk that can be undertaken by the whole family (except maybe the grandparents).
Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre is 100% operated by Aboriginal people and is one of the oldest Aboriginal Cultural Centres of its kind in Australia.
MACKENZIE FALLS Mackenzie Falls is one of the largest and most popular waterfalls in the Grampians region. Due to regular rainfall, it is also the only waterway in the region that flows all year round. Mackenzie Falls is a great day out for families, with a fantastic walking trail that guides you to the bottom of the Falls where the view of a grand waterfall paints the perfect backdrop for a family picnic. The area also contains a number of lookouts with views of the Falls that are wheelchair friendly. BRAMBUK: THE NATIONAL PARK & CULTURAL CENTRE Brambuk is a great place to visit to learn about the extensive Aboriginal history of the Grampians region and our country as a whole. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre has displays telling stories of the culture and language of the Djab wurrung and Jardwadjali peoples that have long inhabited Gariwerd, as well as activities such as boomerang painting and multimedia presentations in the Gariwerd Dreaming Theatre.
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Lake Bellfield
Located around 5km south of Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield is known for its gorgeous panoramas and a host of fun filled activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Families enjoy picnics by the lakeside where they are treated to astonishing views of the surrounding mountains and the calming qualities of the lake itself. Lake Bellfield is also a great spot for dads to fish, with the lake providing great opportunities to catch Redfin and River Blackfish. You might also choose to explore the lake in a canoe or even go for a swim, although it is perhaps best to save such an experience for the warmer months. Along with providing a broad selection of recreational activities, Lake Bellfield—a man made reservoir—also
supplies water to the townships of Halls Gap and Pomonal. The dam wall that holds the water at bay at the foot of the lake is a great evening walking spot, with a flat 800 metre walking track running across it which makes for another avenue to indulge in the lake's undisputed beauty. On the other side of the dam wall you will find the Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park, a privately owned Holiday Park which serves as an excellent place to base your family on your travels around the Grampians National Park. The park also oers a chance to get up close to the local wildlife. Kids love to feed the local cockatoos and kangaroos often visit the camp fire of a night.
Can you read books before 1000 Books Before School is an exciting new program the State Library of Victoria has put together to encourage parents, carers and grandparents to read to their children before they start school. Research has shown that sharing stories with babies and young children helps to fast track literacy skills that will prepare them for reading at school, making reading one of the best learning activities for kids. 1000 books may sound like a large amount, but you can read anywhere! Take a few books away on your next family road trip to make those long car rides a little bit more tolerable for the young ones, or even read to keep life interesting in between your adventures. Be sure to keep track of all of the books you read on your adventures in your Reading Record, as there are special rewards for the little ones for reaching milestones on the way to the target of 1000 Books Before School. What are you waiting for? It's time to get reading!
FUN FACT
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Reading together from an early age is the best way to encourage a love of books in your child.
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Mum and bub get a head-start on reading at Northcote Library. Register at Darebin Libraries and collect your FREE starter pack.
HOW 1000 BOOKS BEFORE SCHOOL WORKS •
Register at one of the local participating public libraries to receive your first Reading Record and reading kit to get you started.
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A library membership may be required in order to join the program.
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Mark, colour or place a sticker on your Reading Record each time you read with your child.
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Each time you reach a milestone in your Reading Record, bring it in to your local library for a special reward.
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Every book that your child completes, or actively listens to, counts towards the 1000. This can include stories read at Storytime sessions, daycare, playgroup, kindergarten, as well as the same book over and over again. You can read books from anywhere—not just library books.
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The program finishes once your child reaches 1000 books, or starts school. Congratulations!
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Vocal Local TODD DALES
TRENTHAM, VICTORIA
38 SEASONS SPRING 2017
#VOCALLOCAL Todd Dales is a man with a vision and a passion. Todd and his team are building a community camp in Trentham, Victoria for fathers and their sons to bond and grow together. Todd wants young men to understand and accept who they are. He wants young men to start treating themselves with more kindness. He wants them to be themselves, and to understand that it's okay to be sensitive, creative, etc. He believes that if young men are kinder to themselves, then they will be kinder to everyone around them, and this will benefit the community as a whole.
We caught up with Todd to gain a deeper insight into his vision, and to discover the inspirations behind it.
a huge organic garden along with walking trails and a place to run our workshops in a beautiful bush environment.
Thanks for speaking to us Todd. As a young adult myself, I think this camp is a brilliant idea to help young men open up and express how they feel about the world around them. How did this all come about? I was always very connected to my son until he started to hit adolescence and as most young men do, he began to search for his independence, which made him push away from me as his parent. I made a huge mistake in trying to control this and found I was still trying to treat my son as a child rather than recognising that he was becoming a young man instead of a boy. As I looked around I noticed lots of men doing the same with their sons. This can create lots of animosity between fathers and sons. I began looking around at what I had done wrong and what I could do to fix it. The answer is really quite simple. Rights of passage camps have been a part of indigenous cultures around the world. The whole process is steeped in community but really focuses on recognising the change in our young men and celebrating who they are as contributors to our community as a whole. It also became very clear to me that as elders if we do not participate in this process with our young men they would take it on themselves through dangerous behaviour, drugs and alcohol amongst other less positive activities.
What sort of programs and activities do you hope to run through the camp to engage the community? When we are open to the public we will be bring a vast array of spiritually minded people to come and run a range of workshops around the premise of 'bring your tribe and be yourself'. While running the Father and Son Rights of Passage camps we will stick to an internationally proven recipe for success. While our camps will be structured around the ROP recipe, we are also very sensitive to the fact that each group and each individual is dierent so we will try and remain attentive to each of our campers.
What inspired you to want to help young men and the community of Trentham as a whole? I love my community and they have helped guide me by their kindness and community spirit. I could not think of a better place to create a supportive environment for our young men and their fathers.
What are you hoping to achieve by creating this camp? We hope to create a socially conscious business that provides moderately priced accommodation for our beautiful little tourist town, and a place for parents, families and groups to spend their money while contributing to a better community as a whole. However, the most important goal for us is to create a safe place for young men to recognise who they are and what they want from life and to be celebrated for their individuality. We believe if we are kinder to ourselves will be kinder to everyone and everything around us. Aside from your camp, what other activities would you recommend for fathers and sons and even families in general to experience when they visit the region? There is so much to see and do in our area. I wouldn’t know where to start, but the key to all relationships is time. Spending time with someone you love with no distractions is the greatest gift that you can give to them. All young people want is to be heard and understood.
What style of camp are you hoping to create? We hope to create a space where you can come an be yourself. It will be open to the public as a Glamping style camp when we are not running father and son camps. We will have
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Spring is served A couple of Victoria's finest regional restaurants from the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region recommend their tastiest Spring dishes.
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Duet of Lamb Mark Mills The Plough @ Trentham Welcome in the new season with these fresh herbs, complimented by our juicy slow-cooked shoulder Spring lamb and served with its braising juices and basil aioli. Perfectly matched with a local Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir.
Lamb & Peas Todd Dales The Argus Dining Room, Hepburn Springs This beautiful dish highlights both belly and back strap cuts of lamb resting on a bed of delicious sugar snap peas, finished o with a luscious white wine jus and our signature Australian bush spiced yoghurt.
Dark Chocolate Todd Dales The Argus Dining Room, Hepburn Springs Our Dark Chocolate dish is a journey for the taste buds. First we begin with a delicate Beetroot reduction. The earthiness of the beetroot perfectly balances the bitterness and sweetness of this dish. Then we have a decadent set Chocolate ganache topped with a smooth creamy dark chocolate mousse. Finished o with fresh strawberries from our garden and a delightful home made Strawberry sorbet. The perfect way to finish a meal.
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See you on the road? We're adventurous. And we'd like to meet you! So we're road tripping a lot across Australia over 2018 and 2019. Would you like us to swing by yours? We’re taking to the road consistently because we think it is important to personally connect with locals and all users of FunSearch.com.au around Australia, to live our brand values and to demon-strate our authenticity. And of course we’re always searching for fun!
Any brand, business, Council, RTO, STO or person interested in our roadtrip journeys should contact us directly on our socials @FunSearchAu or via FunSearch.com.au.
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FUN FACT
Road-tripping (Fun Searching) lets us discover all the genuine, unexpected fun we can across Australia.
And while we do it, you’ll know about it with photos, videos and related info shown daily on FunSearch and our social media sites so you can find that fun too.
Daylesford and Macedon Ranges Little Winter Road Trip Film
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When you open our site our visual search engine automatically displays photos and videos from all around you. Perfect for road trips!
#ROADTRIPS Warrnambool Great Ocean Road Trip Film
Portland Great Ocean Road Trip Film
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Featured Businesses, Organisations & Events ACCOMMODATION Mountain View Retreat 194 Great Alpine Rd Harrietville VIC 3741 PH: (03) 5759 2530
ALPINE Lake Mountain Resort 1071 Lake Mountain Rd Marysville VIC 3779 PH: (03) 5957 7222
CAMPING Australian Camps Association Corporate One 84 Hotham St Preston VIC 3072 PH: (03) 9863 6822
COUNCILS City of Darebin PH: (03) 8470 8888
DRINK Bright Brewery 121 Great Alpine Rd Bright VIC 3741 PH: (03) 5755 1301
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Ringer Reef Winery 6835 Great Alpine Rd Porepunkah VIC 3740 PH: (03) 5756 2805
EVENTS
EDUCATIONAL
Parrtjima - A Festival in Light Alice Springs Desert Park Larapinta Drive Alice Springs NT 0871 PH: (08) 8999 5256
121 Station St
FOOD
PH: 1300 655 355
The Argus Dining Room 124 Main Rd Hepburn Springs VIC 3461 PH: (03) 5348 4199
Gravity Discovery Centre 1098 Military Rd Yeal WA 6503 PH: (08) 9575 7577 Northcote Library 32-38 Separation St Northcote VIC 3070 PH: 1300 655 355 Preston Library 266 Gower St Preston VIC 3072 PH: 1300 655 355 Reservoir Library 23 Edwardes St Reservoir VIC 3073 PH: 1300 655 355
The Plough @ Trentham 31 High St Trentham VIC 3458 PH: (03) 5424 1144 Rail Trail Cafe 2 Service St Porepunkah VIC 3740 PH: 0428 359 884
HOLIDAY PARKS BIG4 Launceston 94 Glen Dhu St Launceston TAS 7250 PH: (03) 6344 2600 BIG4 Ledge Point 742 Ledge Point Rd Ledge Point WA 6043 PH: (08) 9655 2870
FUN FACT
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Your business can feature in the Seasons 'Summer' Edition directory. Contact us on our Socials @FunSearchAU or via FunSearch.com.au for details.
Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park 23-27 Tymna Dr Halls Gap VIC 3381 PH: (03) 5356 4281
INDIGENOUS Brambuk - The National Park & Cultural Centre 277 Grampians Rd Halls Gap VIC 3381 PH: (03) 5361 4000
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Big Kart Track 2310 Steve Irwin Way Landsborough QLD 4550 PH: (07) 5494 1613 Hollybank Treetops Adventure 66 Hollybank Rd Underwood TAS 7268 PH: (03) 6395 1390 Marysville Trout & Salmon Ponds 261 Marysville Rd Marysville VIC 3779 PH: (03) 5963 3558 Skirmish Sunshine Coast 73 Frizzo Rd Palmview QLD 4553 PH: (07) 5494 5566
RELAXATION
WATERPARKS
The Float Space 6/12 Norval Ct Maroochydore QLD 4558 PH: (07) 5352 3803
Bli Bli Watersports Complex 367 David Low Way Bli Bli QLD 4560 PH: (07) 5448 7555
SPECIAL NEEDS
WILDLIFE
People Outdoors Corporate One 84 Hotham St Preston VIC 3072 PH: (03) 9863 6824
Low Head Penguin Tours 486 Low Head Rd Low Head TAS 7253 PH: 0418 361 860
THEME PARKS Aussie World 73 Frizzo Rd Palmview QLD 4553 PH: (07) 5494 5444
TOURISM BOARDS Grampians Tourism Halls Gap Visitor Information Centre 117-119 Grampians Rd Halls Gap VIC 3381 PH: (03) 5356 4865
ZOO/SANCTUARY Australia Zoo 1638 Steve Irwin Way Beerwah QLD 4519 PH: (07) 5436 2000 Wildlife HQ Zoo 76 Nambour Connection Rd Woombye QLD 4559 PH: 0428 660 671
Marysville Tourism Marysville Visitor Information Centre 11 Murchison St Marysville VIC 3779 PH: (03) 5963 4567
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HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Got a great photo or video that shows you or your friends and family enjoying a fun activity in Australia? Awesome! Shoot it off to us at FunSearch.com.au or via Direct Message on socials @FunSearchAu. With the right permissions, you could get it published to not just our search engine but across all our social media sites and Seasons. Whether a photo from a local sporting club or restaurant, an action video from a play centre, beach or a chilled poolside resort image – fire away! TM
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