Holidays with Kids - Volume 63

Holiday Volume 63 2020 $8.95 (Aust & NZ) GST inclusive

63

at home

Kangaroo Island•Sunshine Coast •Shoalhaven Sapphire Coast•Warrnambool•Plus much more!

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Contents 02

01

Features 14 Report Aleney de Winter looks at what’s next for our fire-ravaged communities, and how we can all do our bit to help.

18 Virtual travel The world’s most iconic attractions at your fingertips.

38 Recovery round up Explore the Australian towns and regions waiting for your families to visit and help aid their post-fire recovery.

42 Animal encounters Tour some of the animal attractions supporting Australia’s injured wildlife.

108 Kids’ experiences We bring your favourite books to life in our round-up of locations of literary legend.

Australia 46 Kangarooo Island We discover that KI is bouncing back and well and truly open for business.

50 Warrnambool

Regulars

Explore the many delights of Warrnambool’s Winter Whale Trail.

22 In touch

54 Sunshine Coast

The latest family holiday news, information and inspiration.

Sunshine Coast regular Jennifer Johnston shares all her insider secrets and tips for Sunny fun.

74 Caravan & Camping in touch Stay up to date with all things camping and the great outdoors.

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03

62 Indigenous experiences

136 Hot stays

Our kid editor makes a connection with country through Australia’s best Indigenous travel experiences.

140 Giveaways

66 Ski Down Under

142 HWK Travel Club

What’s new and what’s cool in Australia’s and New Zealand’s top ski resorts.

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

01 Indigenous experiences in WA © Tourism Australia/ James Fisher 02 Kings Park and Botanic Gardens Perth © Tourism Australia/Hiromichi Kataoka 03 Sleepy koala © Narelle Bouveng 04 Kids at Perisher

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CONTENTS

Cover stars

Caravan & Camping 84 Top End travels We uncover the treasures of the Top End on a family road trip adventure.

88 Sapphire Coast Take a look at this slice of NSW South Coast paradise with Reflections Holiday Parks.

Our gorgeous cover stars Riley’s Travels are exploring the wonders of Australia’s great lap with their trusty Kombi, Izzie, and their toddler and newborn daughter. To follow their incredible adventures head to @rileys_travels on Instagram or visit their website rileystravels.com

92 Shoalhaven Explore the best of NSW’s beautiful Shoalhaven with Holiday Haven.

96 Gold Coast We slide in for a family stay at the newly revamped BIG4 Gold Coast.

98 Queensland camping We scour Queensland for the best spots to pitch your tent or park you van in paradise.

102 Camping tips We show how a little planning can go a long way in the great outdoors.

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104 Holiday park reviews These parks have everything you need for an exciting family getaway, whether you’re camping or living it up in a villa.

05 © Tourism & Events Queensland/Courtney Atkinson 06 Ekasup Cultural Village

International 112 Fiji Beyond their dazzling beaches, we discover the Fijian islands are as rich in culture and tropical charm.

118 Vanuatu

06

We discover why Vanuatu should be at the top of your family holiday hot list.

122 Bali We explore another side to Bali with these day trips with a difference.

Win

over $4,500 in prizes

60 Paradise Resort family holiday 140 Trolls World Tour prize packs 140 Lonely Planet’s Family Travel Handbook

128 Sri Lanka Enjoy an exotic island break that combines wildlife and wellbeing in stunning Sri Lanka.

132 Cruise 06

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

We share the lowdown on what’s in store for families in the 2020/21 cruise season.

140 Rainbocorns sets 141 Toledo Bluetooth speakers 141 L’OCCITANE travel packs 141 Icebreaker set 141 Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pans

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Stay longer and save Spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with hotel service in central locations across Australia, New Zealand and Europe

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

02

01

It has been an unprecedented start to 2020. First Australians stood united in shock and grief after a brutal summer of droughts, fires and floods left communities across the country shattered. The smoke had barely cleared when travel plans, and toilet paper stocks, were thrown into disarray from the threat of COVID-19. The result of this double whammy of disaster is a country that has never needed us more.

Our team’s hearts and minds are focused firmly on home, and we’ve dedicated this issue to family holiday experiences that will prove as good for our respective souls as for those communities around our beautiful country that will continue to need our support when it is safe to travel once more.

We’re sharing inspiration as we visit some of the gorgeous bushfire-affected towns and regions that are ready and waiting for your family to visit: we get back to nature on Kangaroo Island, have a whale of a time in Warrnambool, uncover some of the most happening holiday parks across NSW and Queensland, and soak up some rays on the Sunshine Coast. Our family travel experts also share the lowdown on what’s new and exciting for the snow season on the ski fields Down Under.

While journeys to distant shores are on hold for now, we'll all soon be hankering for a taste of the exotic. To keep the travel inspiration flowing, our writers discover there’s more to explore in Vanuatu, delve into the warm culture of Fiji, enjoy day trips with a difference across Bali and combine wildlife with wellbeing in Sri Lanka. Plus, we turn the page on locations of literary legend and unveil what’s in store for family cruising next year.

For even more holiday inspo and news check out our website, holidayswithkids.com.au. The user-friendly, information-packed site has you covered with detailed destination guides, comprehensive reviews and awesome travel deals. And don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for all the latest in family travel.

As always we advise our readers to visit smartraveller.gov.au for all the latest information, alerts and advice before travelling.

03 01 Trekking the Top End © Summer of Seventy Five 02 Back to the bush 03 Meeting the locals at Cape Hillsborough © Aleney de Winter 04 Lending a hand. Images 02 & 04 © Narelle Bouveng.

Until next time, stay safe and keep dreaming,

Ale ney de Winter and the team at HWK

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

We’re giving our readers the chance to #holidayherethisyear with a family break at Paradise Resort Gold Coast up for grabs. Turn to page 60 for details.

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WHERE THE

RAINFOREST MEETS THE

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FAMILY FRIENDLY RESORT, 45 MINUTES FROM CAIRNS Just 45 minutes from Cairns aboard the Fitzroy Flyer, Fitzroy Island Resort is nestled on a slice of tropical island paradise, positioned where the reef and rainforest collide and home to Australia’s #1 rated beach.

The contemporary resort is the ideal location to discover the Great Barrier Reef, come for the day or stay overnight in our 4.5 star accommodation including self contained 2 Bedroom Suites, ideal for families.

07 4044 6700 stay@fitzroyisland.com /FitzroyIslandQueensland @fitzroyisland

MEET THE TEAM

Narelle Bouveng @alittleatlarge

Your destination for the finest local oysters and distinctive Sapphire Coast dining

Enjoy - Fish n Chips - Farm-to-plate oysters - Local seafood - Relaxed café setting

Narelle is a travel writing mum of three with a passion for photography and sustainability, and a relentless inclination to wander. Her career as a scribe has taken her around the globe, and ignited a career spanning 20 years where she often gets to bring her tribe along for the ride. She is also the mum behind website, alittleatlarge.com.

Tatyana Leonov @tatyanaleonov A travel writer and editor, Tatyana has climbed frozen waterfalls in Canada, cycled across Tanzania and had a short-lived career as a Bollywood extra. Now, as mum to two-year-old Ariana, her adventures follow a somewhat different pace, with nap time, a zillion snack breaks and unscheduled playground visits all part and parcel.

Danielle Norton @daniellestorywriter Danielle Norton is a super solo parent to three teenagers. She was an English and literature teacher for two decades and is now pursuing her passion for exploration as a freelance travel writer. When she’s not travelling, she loves yoga, tropical islands and cooking up a storm.

Susan Skelly @excess_all_areas Susan Skelly is an award-winning editor and feature writer, specialising in travel, luxury and food. She loves hotels that surprise, an open-topped bus, fields of flowers, and literature that evokes a true sense of place.

Her website, Excess All Areas, celebrates all that is fabulous.

162 Arthur Kaine Drive | Pambula Extended hours during holidays Book online or phone (02) 6495 6330

wheelersoysters.com.au

Want to write for us?

Check out holidayswithkids.com.au/about/jobs

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

We know every family member has their own interest when it comes to travel, and Vietnam has a wide variety of fantastic destinations and interesting activities, whether it’s about culture, food, well-being, sport or theme parks.

OUR DAILY, NON-STOP FLIGHTS TO VIETNAM WILL BRING VIETNAM CLOSER TO YOU www.vietnamairlines.com Vietnamairlines AU

PUBLISHER’S PANEL

holidayswithkids.com.au Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Wagstaff cathywagstaff@signaturemedia.com.au

Editor Sub-Editors Ski & Snowboard Editor Caravan & Camping Editor Baby & Toddler Editor Kid Editor Editorial Assistant Contributors

Aleney de Winter Natarsha Brown, Natasha Dragun, Julie Miller Helen Hayes Natarsha Brown Emma Castle Rafferty Laight Zac de Silva Narelle Bouveng, Amber Cree, Susan Elliot, Tina-Louise Jackson, Jennifer Johnston, Julie Miller, Sabine Morgan, Danielle Norton, Susan Skelly, Andrew Woodward

Editorial Interns Head Designer Associate Publisher Production Assistant Digital Managers

Thomasin McCuaig, Tabby Wilson Gemma Kightly Cara Wagstaff Morgan Jones Natarsha Brown, Samantha Rowntree, Lisa Wagstaff

Digital Marketing Coordinator Bronte Gossling General Manager Tina-Louise Jackson Business Development Managers Colleen Hinch, Jess Loudon, Nicola McClean, Howard Shaw, Virginia Shirley

Advertising Enquiries sales@signaturemedia.com.au General Enquiries admin@signaturemedia.com.au +61 2 9406 4400

Subscriptions subscriptions@signaturemedia.com.au Holidays with Kids is Australia’s #1 multiplatform family travel network reaching over 900,000 Australian families each quarter (3,600,000 annually).

Our portfolio includes Caravan & Camping with Kids and Ski & Snowboard with Kids.

SWIM WITH HUMPBACK WHAL ES

Our website, holidayswithkids.com.au, is a trusted resource for families, and our online database of 68,000 is engaged with offers, content and travel news. Our social media channels have a combined audience of over 195,300.

Where you’ll find us Holidays with Kids is supplied to all McDonald’s restaurants; Qantas, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines lounges; all Novotel properties Australia-wide; Ronald McDonald Charity Houses; family-friendly resorts and holiday parks and newsagents; and it can also be subscribed to online.

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Copyright 2020, Signature Media. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publishers. Signature Media makes no representation or warranties with respect to this magazine or its contents including, without limitation, material communicated by third parties. Signature Media does not warrant that the information available in this magazine is accurate, complete or current. Opinions expressed are those of the respective authors and not necessarily of the publisher. Neither Signature Media nor any persons involved in the preparation of this publication will be liable for any loss or damage as a result of use or reliance upon advice, representation, statement, opinion or conclusion expressed in Holidays with Kids magazine. All care has been taken to ensure information contained in the magazine (including pricing and availability) is accurate, but the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions which might occur.

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A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS

We are living in unprecedented times. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted everybody across the globe and changed our day-to-day lives in many ways. But people, especially our children,

thrive on hope.

So, amid the self-isolation and social distancing, we want to and encourage families to

keep you inspired by the world embrace this extra time together.

Keep their dreams alive by bringing the world to them. Hit the kitchen to recreate dishes from your favourite countries together, enjoy movies set in far-flung lands, read books to inspire and educate, or learn a language together that you can practise in

situ on your fauture travels. Most importantly, remember that this bringing will pass and people together, and joy to families who love to explore.

travel will once again be

The

travel and tourism industry is a family

too, employing one in 10 people worldwide, and it will rebound and remain a force for good in the world. Until – so then we ask you to there’ll be something to look forward to on the other side.

postpone – not cancel

Stay safe, be kind to one another and keep dreaming, The Holidays with Kids team

The road to recovery As the country emerges from a harrowing summer of drought, fire and flood, aleney de winter looks at what’s next for our ravaged communities and what we should all be doing to help.

Images from narelle bouveng.

REPORT

“M

ama, something’s different,” says my eightyear-old daughter, as we look out over the expanse of the Jamison Valley.

“What’s that?” I ask, assuming she’ll start pointing out the deep brown scars that cut through the green, or the sky that still hasn’t quite returned to its usual shade of blue.

“There are no people,” she says instead. She is right. This Blue Mountains view is one we’ve soaked up many times before, but it’s different today. Not because swathes of bush have been ravaged by fire, but because the usual soundtrack of clicking cameras and chattering tourists has been replaced by an eerie silence.

It’s a silence that’s echoing its way around the country in the wake of the one-two punch of summer’s tragic bushfires and the escalating coronavirus pandemic. And our country’s beautiful tourist regions have never needed our support more.

Holiday here this year

But with landscapes scorched, flooded and dry, the reality of rebooking is still a little muddied by concerns for some families. “Is it safe? Is it accessible? Are businesses open?

Can we still have a nice holiday?”

The answer is a resounding yes!

“Australia continues to be a world-leading and safe tourism destination, whether in unaffected regions or those that will recover from these bushfires in the months and years to come. Most tourism businesses in Australia remain open and continue to offer the incredible tourism experiences that our country is known for,” says Lauren Caverley, Tourism Australia’s head of global PR. As part of the National Bushfire Recovery effort, Tourism Australia is encouraging families to ‘Holiday Here This

Year’. Backed by all states and territories, the campaign is tapping into the overwhelming goodwill and support behind the bushfire recovery by urging Aussies to take a holiday in Australia – providing much-needed support to tourism operators and communities around the country.

Make travel matter

Even without COVID-19, the economic impact of the recent bushfires has been enormous as so many small businesses rely on the peak tourism months over summer to make their money to sustain them during the offseason. The second hit on tourism has left many in crisis.

“With destinations around the country having been both directly and indirectly impacted by the bushfires, it is absolutely crucial that we help these regions and communities get back on their feet as soon as possible,” says Lauren.

So, what can families like ours do to help inject some much-needed money back into struggling local economies? The simple answer is for families to visit.

AAT Kings is one operator doing its part to make travel matter, by taking as many people as it can to bushfire affected communities from the Shoalhaven and helping them rebuild with the launch of the not-for-profit Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences – a selection of day tours and short breaks across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This is being done in collaboration with the team at '#EmptyEsky', a campaign that is proof of the power social media has for good, as it showcases destinations devastated by the fires and those small businesses in need.

“Many stories have emerged, as the increase in sales and traffic from supporters of the #EmptyEsky campaign has taken the stress off small operators, leaving them positive

REPORT

and hopeful for the future,” says co-founder Erin Boutros.

The Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences encourages visitors to eat, stay, drink and play in regional towns that need additional support due to loss incurred from natural disasters such as the bushfires.

“Our tours are all about connecting with the locals and having the very tangible experience of passing money across the counter in exchange for amazing local goods and produce. You get to see the reaction on the faces of the locals, feel more welcome than ever before in their regions and have a great time knowing that you are helping make a real difference,” says Matthew CameronSmith, managing director for AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys.

From personal experience, one of the loveliest parts of these trips is that guests are invited to meet locals to hear their stories of recovery, providing context. It was this that, on our own Bushfire Relief Giveback experience in the Shoalhaven, left not only eskies and bellies filled, but also hearts. Over lunch at the sublime Bangalay Dining – a beautiful hotel

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

and restaurant where locals Michelle and Tom Bishop lost $80,000 in bookings as a direct result of the fires – we were joined by volunteers from the Shoalhaven Heads Rural Fire Brigade, whose stories had us shedding tears and shaking with laughter. Their resilience, humility and enthusiasm for the future of their community left us in awe.

“As we have seen from past severe weather events and natural disasters, tourism is extremely resilient.”

“One thing is assured, you will never feel more welcome in regional Australia than you will feel right now,” says Matt. And if the reception we receive is anything to go by, he’s absolutely spot on.

While the tours are designed to give instant assistance, recovery isn’t going to happen overnight, so AAT Kings has plans to expand its give-back trips into the Blue Mountains,

Southern Highlands and other destinations over the next 12 to 18 months, and the kids and I will certainly be tagging along.

The knock-on effect

It is not only the towns directly affected by fires that are hurting, with visitor numbers across the rest of the country also falling since the fires first started burning.

“We have seen a number of destinations impacted from the knock-on effects of the bushfires and the best way to support them is by visiting. This, in turn, supports the regional communities and thousands of small businesses who rely on the tourism sector (both in impacted and non-impacted areas) to thrive,” says Lauren.

Queensland, as ravishingly beautiful as ever, is one example of this collateral damage, as perceptions that the whole country was on fire have seen visitor numbers drop.

Leanne Coddington, Tourism and Events Queensland CEO, says, “Many non-affected regions are also feeling the pinch, including the beautiful Whitsundays, which was still recovering from Cyclone Debbie in 2017.

REPORT

lend a hand…

If there are any positives to come from the summer bushfire crisis, it's seeing the people of Australia band together to pool their collective resources, donate money, volunteer their time and support regional tourism. But this is a recovery that won't happen overnight, and the communities affected (not to mention our wildlife) will need your help for a long time to come.

HELP OUR COMMUNITIES Red Cross Disaster Relief redcross.org.au St Vincent de Paul vinnies.org.au GIVIT givit.org.au EmptyEsky emptyesky.com.au AAT Kings aatkings.com

Tourism operators have also suffered from ongoing climate change-related impacts and a second blow from COVID-19.”

In light of this, Leanne believes that Aussies holidaying at home this year will be vital to supporting Queensland's – and Australia’s – tourism industry.

There are so many beautiful places across Queensland where families can take a break, reconnect and return home feeling refreshed.

One spot particularly close to Leanne’s heart is Greenmount on the Gold Coast, because of the beautiful beaches and the relaxed southern Gold Coast lifestyle. She adds, “The beauty of Queensland is that across the state there is a huge range of great family experiences, from the Gold Coast and its theme parks, to the giant classroom of the Great Barrier Reef and the history lessons on offer in Outback Queensland.”

As we have seen from past severe weather events and natural disasters, tourism is extremely resilient and it will bounce back.

“When affected communities are ready to once again welcome visitors, tourism will

continue to play an important role in supporting their recovery. The best thing that we can do at a time like this is to back our tourism industry and communities and continue to market all the wonderful things about Australia and our people to the world,” says Lauren.

Where the heart is

While we may have the mountains to ourselves this time, we know that people will be back to soak up its beauty. And as we trek past a patch of ravaged bush, my daughter spies glowing green new growth emerging from a blackened tree trunk; for a moment, her face is overtaken by a look of awestruck admiration at the genius of Mother Nature.

It’s a joyous reminder that by stepping back out into our own gorgeous great backyard, we’re not only helping to support communities in need, but we’re also helping ourselves. Witnessing the wonder of regrowth and recovery first-hand offers hope for our children, and ourselves, in these difficult times.

HELP OUR WILDLIFE The Rescue Collective therescuecollective.com Wires wires.org.au Koala Hospital koalahospital.org.au WWF’s Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund wwf.org.au Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary currumbinsanctuary.com.au

HELP OUR FIRIES NSW Rural Fire Service rfs.nsw.gov.au VIC Country Fire Authority cfa.vic.gov.au SA Country Fire Service cfsfoundation.org.au QLD Rural Fire Brigades rfbaq.org

All images: Kangaroo Island after the fires © Narelle Bouveng

WA Volunteer Fire Service dfes.wa.gov.au

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VIRTUAL TRAVEL

The show must o on(li ne)

g

discovers that in the digital age, some of the world’s most iconic attractions are at your fingertips. aleney de winter

While families are temporarily parking their international travel plans, the show must go, well… online. There’s no need for families to feel isolated from the wonders of the world as, in the digital age, many iconic landmarks, theatres and attractions are inviting you in to explore without even leaving your couch. To ease your itchy feet, and give you some inspiration for future adventures, we’re sharing some of the best virtual experiences out there.

02

Making history Rome’s Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever built. While its gladiators hung up their shields many centuries ago, you can still take the kids on a virtual tour of this and other famous Roman monuments including The Pantheon and Roman Forum at il-colosseo.it/en/visita-virtuale.php.

Ireland’s ancient Blarney Castle is famed for its Blarney Stone, said to endow those who kiss it with the gift of the gab. While puckering up for a peck has been put on hold, those seeking a little virtual eloquence enhancement can take a tour at virtualvisittours.com/blarney-castle.

Immerse yourself in the mighty myths and legends of Ancient Greece via an incredible interactive online tour of ancient Acropolis Monuments, where the kids can explore and learn about the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike and more at acropolisvirtualtour.gr.

Built over the course of several millennia, the 21,196-kilometre-long Great Wall of China is one of the most impressive structures on the planet. Now you can take a stroll along the Jinshanling to Simatai section from home at thechinaguide.com/destination/ great-wall-of-china.

A night at the museum The British Museum in London boasts an awesome collection spanning two million years of human history and culture. And you don’t need to visit London to see it, as virtual visitors can tour the Great Court to see

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

03

thousands of historic artefacts, including the famed Rosetta Stone. britishmuseum. withgoogle.com.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC invites you and the kids to view its amazing exhibits on a 360-degree virtual tour past dinosaurs, the Hall of Mammals, Insect Zoo and more at naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour.

Or, if you’d rather blind them with science, take the kids to the Langley Research Center in Virginia, the Glenn Research Center in Ohio or the Space Center Houston to enjoy everything from flight simulations to supersonic wind tunnels, via the World Wide Web at nasa.gov.

In and art It is one of the world’s most iconic galleries, and while the Louvre’s pretty portraits and lush landscapes are currently closed for viewing, you can still virtually visit to see and learn about everything from Egyptian antiquities to the remains of the Louvre’s moat, at louvre.fr.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you don’t need to be in New York to visit the Guggenheim’s famous spiral

01 Watching the Mars Rover from home © Shutterstock/ FrameStockFootages 02 National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC © Shutterstock/Kamira

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VIRTUAL TRAVEL

staircase and view a collection of 1,700 artworks from the Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras. Head to artsandculture.google.com.

You can now explore London’s National Gallery of Art’s offerings online from anywhere on Earth. Take an digital tour of 18 gallery rooms bursting with artworks by Titian, Veronese, Holbein and more at nationalgallery.org.uk.

If you’re in the mood for more art, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence houses the extraordinary art collection of the de’ Medicis and the most famous masterpieces of all time. Now you can get your fix of Da Vinci and Michelangelo online at virtualuffizi.com.

“Visit the world’s great natural wonders from the Great Barrier Reef to the Grand Canyon with the touch of your mouse.”

05

A night at the opera The iconic Metropolitan Opera in New York City is closed to the public at the time of writing, but will be live-streaming a free series of encore performances each night from 7.30pm EDT (10.30am AEDT) during the closure. Each recording will remain available for 20 hours at metopera.org.

We’ll always have Paris, virtually, as The Palais Garnier – famous for its starring role in

03 Space Center Houston © Shutterstock/Det-anan 04 The Louvre © Shutterstock/Takashi Images 05 The Great Wall of China © Shutterstock/Yuri Yavnik

The Phantom of the Opera – offers the chance to jump online to discover the theatre and its masterpieces as if you were actually there. Visit operadeparis.fr/en.

For those who prefer their music more on the modern side, check out the Instagram accounts of some of your favourite artists.

Keith Urban, Chris Martin from Coldplay, P!nk and John Legend are just a few of the artists who are live-streaming concerts for their fans.

To infinity and beyond…

Google Earth can take you anywhere on the planet without a plane ticket. Drop in on the Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower! Or visit the world’s amazing natural wonders, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Grand Canyon, with the touch of your mouse. There are great games for the kids, too, at earth.google.com.

Perhaps you’d rather leave the world behind? Thanks to NASA’s Curiosity Rover, you can undertake a virtual voyage to see some of Mars’ most famous sights, including Marias Pass and Murray Butte, as well as enjoying 360-degree views of the surface of the Red Planet at accessmars.withgoogle.com.

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IN TOUCH

SUSTAINABILITY

Island education Lord Howe Island is inviting families to fall in love with learning when they visit, rolling out their 2020 Citizen Science program as run by the island’s tourism association. Activities range from picking up plastic from the beach, to collecting sea spurge and surveying the local birdlife, all designed to make a real difference in the ecosystems at play in this World Heritage-listed location.

Sounds like a guilt-free getaway to us! lordhoweisland.info

Stay in touch

Everything you need to know about the latest in family-friendly hotels, resorts, airlines, cruises and travel products.

GET SMART Holidays with Kids recommends all families to obtain the latest travel advice on smarttraveller.gov.au before undertaking any travel.

Holiday under the sea Being a parent is all about helping your little ones explore the world, and that includes the ocean kingdom. When the time is right you can take your water babies on an adventure they’ll never forget, using the specialist advice from Diveplanit Travel to test the waters and design the perfect family dive holiday at some of the best spots around the world, right here in Australia. diveplanit.com

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

IN TOUCH

HOTEL

Another day, another Adina

Image Š Jeremy Tan

Offering up stylish apartments in the heart of Australia’s coolest destinations, Adina is all about creating a home away from home. Over the next 12 months, guests will see this brilliant brand opening four new hotels in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, as well as six new hotels in Europe by the end of 2021. Reliable as ever, Adina's guests can expect more of the same in these brand-new properties. Spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments will be fitted out with the brand's trademark comfy living spaces, fully equipped kitchens and daily servicing, creating the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day spent sightseeing. adinahotels.com

IN TOUCH

YOUNG ACHIEVER

Winter Vincent Fifteen-year-old Winter Vincent is one of Australia’s fastest rising young surf stars as well as the founder of Surf to School Day. Here, the young philanthropist chats to Holidays with Kids about surfing, protecting our oceans and providing clean water to those in need.

You are one of Australia’s rising surf stars. What are your proudest accomplishments and career highlights?

Every time I win a contest I am proud. The most recent win was the air show at the Julian Wilson Invitational in Coolum, Queensland.

Surfing must take you to some incredible places around the world, where’s the most amazing place you’ve been so far? In 2017 I got to travel around the world for the whole year and live in amazing places for a month at a time. I loved living in Hawaii, Tahiti, Indonesia, California and France.

What has travel taught you about protecting our oceans? Our oceans have no borders. I can be surfing around some remote and beautiful islands in Indonesia, and rubbish floats by. Trash can travel from hundreds of kilometres away and end up in paradise.

As well as a surfer, you’re a philanthropist. You were only nine years old when you launched Surf to School Day. Can you tell our readers about that? When I was nine I heard about Waves for Water and saw pro surfers delivering water filters to remote surfing destinations on World Water Day. They showed me that you can surf perfect waves and give back to the communities you visit.

I found out that one in five kids under the age of five dies from drinking dirty water in Indonesia. I couldn’t believe this. I wanted to make a difference. And I wanted other kids to have a platform that would help them make a difference, too. It had to be fun. So I launched Surf to School Day. Since then, more than 30 schools have hosted one and raised over $40,000 for clean water programs in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia.

You are Surfrider Australia’s youngest Ambassador, what can you share with our readers about this program? Surfrider was started by surfers who wanted to protect the ocean and its coastlines throughout the world.

As a surfer, you are in touch with the ocean and know how special and important it is. They have campaigns to reduce plastic pollution and to protect parts of the ocean that should be made national parks.

You are also a proud ambassador of Waves for Water.

Can you tell us about the work Waves for Water is doing around the world?

Waves for Water has one goal: to get clean drinking water to those who need it. Clean drinking water is a basic human right, but one in nine people in the world don’t have it. They aim to change this through water filtration systems, well restoration and rain harvesting.

You’re so busy! How do you fit everything around schooling? I do Distance Education, so I can travel and surf and still get a really good education.

What do you say to other kids who think they’re too young to make a difference?

You are never too young to make a difference. I wrote a speech when I was nine called “Kids Can Make A Difference”. Now I'm 15 and I really know it is possible if you believe strongly about something and just give it a go.

Ask for help. Back yourself and go for it.

How and where can our readers go to learn more about you and help contribute to your causes? You can find out more at wintervincent.com.

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

C R E AT E F U N FA M I LY M O M E N T S AT C O N R A D B A L I Plan your upcoming holiday and enjoy the magnificent ocean view from the newly-unveiled lobby of Conrad Bali.

Step into the refurbished rooms and let the kids take a dip in the kids sand pool surrounded by lush tropical garden.

Jalan Pratama 168, Tanjung Benoa, Bali 80363, Indonesia Tel: [62] 361 778 788 | Guest Fax: [62] 361 773 888 | Toll Free 0800-140-1147 | Reservations@ConradBali.com | ConradBali.com

IN TOUCH

HOTEL

Mövenpick on Phu Quoc Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc is the first international premium resort to open along Phu Quoc’s idyllic Ong Lang Beach. The Vietnamese hotel features 305 guest rooms, while the adjacent Mövenpick Residences Phu Quoc offers 329 apartment-style residences and 79 pool villas, perfect for families or extended stays. The family-friendly hotel boasts six swimming pools, including two kids’ pools, and a beach club. And it promises to create meaningful moments for both parents and junior travellers with the Little Birds Club and M Lounge for teens. A Mövenpick Family program also ensures the needs of younger guests are met, including agespecific bath amenities and a Power Bites menu. movenpick.com

The Greta effect

CHARITY

A new era of travel is on the rise, with a recent travel study by ING revealing that 69 per cent of respondents would be willing to pay more for a holiday if it were to minimise their carbon footprint. Climate change has had an enormous impact on travel, and activists like David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have inspired over a quarter of Aussies to pay more attention.

Help a family just like yours At birth, Renee and James Russell's third child, Olive, was unable to breathe on her own. The family was flown from their home in Armidale to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where Olive was placed in ICU. As the days turned into weeks the family were accommodated by Ronald McDonald House. “You have no idea how much of a difference it makes when you are in this situation,” says James. “We couldn’t afford to be paying for long-term accommodation, and Olive was so unwell we didn’t want to be far away.” Olive, now five, has had three surgeries to help her breathe.

And while her condition has improved, she has further to go – and Ronald McDonald House will be there to support the family along the way. Without your generosity, Ronald McDonald Houses and other vital RMHC programs have to turn away families like the Russell's in their time of greatest need. Please help families just like your own by visiting rmhc.org.au/donate.

TOURS

Aqua adventures at Airlie Beach Looking for a tour that covers all bases? Aquaduck is the answer to your prayers: an amphibious tour that explores Airlie Beach from the land and water. Passengers will learn all about the history of the town and the marine ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef aboard the Aquaduck Croc Bus, cruising Pioneer Bay and enjoying a number of photo opportunities. aquaduck.com.au 26

IN TOUCH

AMUSEMENT PARK

MUSEUM

Walkin’ in Memphis

Image © Memphis Tourism/Contiki Purchase

The need for speed

When things speed up again in travel, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the place to be. They've introduced an all-new Family Zone, complete with four state-of-the-art attractions designed exclusively for younger guests – it's a must-visit for families of all ages. The zone promises to deliver unrivalled thrills that mirror the adult guest experience at the iconic red-roofed theme park, and encompasses four freshly minted attractions. ferrariworldabudhabi.com

Museums sometimes get a bad rep among kids, but the Children’s Museum of Memphis is anything but boring.

Shake in your boots at the Earthquake Table and build a structure strong enough to withstand a 7.6-magnitude quake; or put your firefighting skills to the test at Engine House 18, where children can pop on firefighting equipment, jump into a fire engine and race to the scene. Hands-on, interactive and educational, the museum has exhibits for kids of all ages to enjoy. cmom.com

Perfect holidays.

Byron Oasis

Relaxed and refreshed.

Byron Oasis for families.

Holiday apartments, treetop houses and luxury townhouses.

Enjoy our heated pool, outdoor spa, sauna, tennis court and fitness centre, set in tropical gardens with the beach just next door.

• Spacious balconies with views overlooking pool and gardens from 2 bedroom/2 bathroom fully set-up Holiday Apartments

• Full kitchens, lounge, dining, two bathrooms plus on-site parking

• Resting high among the trees in unique Treetop Houses, some with outdoor spas, 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms

• Heated pool, outdoor spa, sauna, tennis court and fitness centre

• Magnificent ocean views from Vue Luxury 3 bedroom/2.5 bathroom Townhouses: space, tranquillity and contemporary design

• Children’s games room and TV lounge, including Foxtel

• Lush gardens and native bush next door to magnificent Tallow Beach • Only minutes from the heart of Byron township

Book direct for best possible rates!

Call 1800 336 129 BYRON OASIS APARTMENTS & TREETOP HOUSES/VUE www.byronoasis.com.au and stay@byronoasis.com.au

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27

IN TOUCH

ZOO

Australia Zoo turns 50!

Australia Zoo is celebrating all year long, and crikey, they’d love for you to celebrate their 50th birthday with them, too! Visit ‘Steve’s Place’, where the sights and sounds of the campsite on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York have been recreated. At the heart of Australia Zoo, this is where the first crocodile ponds were built by Steve Irwin many years ago, transformed so everyone can join the crocodile conservation journey during the 50-year anniversary festivities. For more information on these fabulous events, visit australiazoo.com.au.

HOTEL

Cool in Colorado It’s never too early to book a trip to the slopes. And if you’re an expert in all things ski, you’ll know that Colorado is the place to go in the northern winter. The Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge is perfectly positioned at the base of Telluride Ski Resort, so exploring the San Juan Mountains could not be easier.

Their attentive concierge team results in a totally worry-free escape, while their indoor/outdoor pool and private Himmel Spa make R&R child’s play. fairmont.com

TOURS

Empty Esky #MakeTravelMatter is the ethos behind the latest tours from AAT Kings. In collaboration with regional tourism businesses, the Australian-guided holiday company has created Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences, designed to help support tourism in bushfire-affected areas.

With dates to be reconfirmed, the ongoing selection of day tours and short breaks will transport you and your empty esky to local markets, cafes, boutiques and more, with the opportunity to listen to locals tell their stories of recovery. Focusing on the power of Australian spirit, the not-for-profit tours are all about feeling good and giving back to our rural communities. aatkings.com 28

IN TOUCH

Uncover a trove of family fun on Treasure Island, Fiji

Treasure Island is one of Fiji’s most popular island resorts, located in the Mamanuca group of islands. This 4-star resort is surrounded by white sandy beaches and colourful coral reefs that make for an unforgettable holiday.

68 ocean-facing bures (interconnecting) Three-tier beachfront pool A variety of dining options available Live resort band Daily land- and water-based activities Little Treasures Kids’ Club Environmental programmes: Hawksbill Turtles and Reef Rejuvenation Senikai Spa Treasure Island is one of few resorts to offer 24-hour vehicle and boat transfers from Nadi Airport via Vuda Marina, ensuring you arrive the same day you land in Fiji. There’s also a helipad for helicopter transfers.

+679 666 0380 reservations@treasure.com.fj

www.treasureisland-fiji.com

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IN TOUCH

7

tips and tricks for plastic-free travel Travelling green can be tricky with tiny tots, but with practice and planning, holidaying plastic-free is totally possible.

DRIVE

2. CLEAN LISTENING

Regional road trippin’

Avoid the complimentary but disposable headphones offered in the air and carry along your own pair for environmentallyfriendly entertainment.

Hertz Australia and Tourism WA are offering discounted car rentals between Perth and Exmouth, and Perth and Parabadoo, as part of a two-year trial to encourage people to extend trips further out into regional Western Australia. The interstate-focused partnership follows the (intentionally cheeky) new marketing campaign, ‘Do it in WA’ – the biggest in the state’s history – inspiring people to travel local. westernaustralia.com hertz.com.au

3. SELECT YOUR SNACKS Shop locally or visit markets to reduce plastic packaging on snacks, as well as support the local community. Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bags!

Image © Tourism Western Australia

1. BRING A BOTTLE As long as it’s empty, TSA lets you bring it on the plane, so pack your favourite water bottle and avoid buying single-use containers.

4. COASTAL CLEAN-UPS Even if it is just ‘taking three for the sea’, picking up plastic washed up on the shore makes such a difference to our oceans and coastlines.

5. PURCHASE PRODUCTS THAT CARE Instead of stocking up on micro amenities, pack greener alternatives that won’t end up as landfill. Bar soaps and bamboo toothbrushes are a great start.

6. BETTER BABY SUPPLIES Reduce your carbon footprint with biodegradable baby products, starting with eco-friendly wet wipes and nappies.

7. CHOOSE CONSCIOUS COMPANIES While it’s impossible to travel impact-free, you can book with companies that are doing their part for the planet. For example, Qantas encourages customers to carbon offset their flights and has pledged to be plastic-free by the end of this year.

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

CRUISE

Fraser Island in a fresh light Thanks to Kingfisher Bay Resort, travellers can see a new side to Fraser Island aboard the Sea Explorer.

The eco-cruise will take guests to a previously inaccessible part of the island, voyaging through crystal-clear creeks, along beautiful beaches and into new environments, including bays populated by elusive dugongs. With seven ranger guides on board to join guests in investigating this incredible bit of coastline, it’s an experience unlike any other. kingfisherbay.com

Image © Lachie Millard

IN TOUCH

HOTEL

Themed Family Suites arrive in Thai capital Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is bringing the animal kingdom indoors with the addition of seven animal-themed family suites, designed especially for young families to enjoy.

Six two-bedroom themed family suites, each measuring 120 square metres, are themed around Kingo the monkey, Katty the tiger, Kao Kao the panda, Kquincy the hare, Ko Ko the singing bird and Kitsu the fox. A one-bedroom themed family suite, measuring 80 square metres, is themed around Kaja the elephant.

Each family suite offers younger guests a unique sensory experience, with kids invited to explore and create their own unique ‘den’, as well as funky designs, hand-drawn illustrations and a selection of games, such as drawing materials, board games and books for younger guests. kempinski.com

MAKE NEW MEMORIES! DIRECT FLIGHT to Rarotonga from Sydney! KIDS + TEENS STAY & PLAY FREE! at the Cook Islands’ leading family friendly resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium. Hand-feed the reef fish or enjoy all-tide, sheltered FREE snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking in the Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary. Fun crab racing & karaoke! Kids Nature & Culture Discovery Programme @ FREE Moko’s Kids Club. NEW VIRTUAL TOURS online.

Aroa Beach + Lagoon Marine Sanctuary | Rarotonga | COOK ISLANDS info@therarotongan.com | P (+682) 25 800 | www.TheRarotongan.com (Live Chat available)

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IN TOUCH

CRUISE

Carnival Splendor unveils marvellous mini water park As part of an ongoing partnership with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Carnival Cruise Line opened ‘Splashy Cove’ aboard Carnival Splendor, complete with a colourful mural inspired by patient artwork. Opened by patient of the hospital and ship’s goddaughter, Matilda Jenkins, the miniature water park promises plenty of good ol’ family fun as well as recognising all the hard work done at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, which provides quality care and clinical services to 80,000 sick and injured children each year from NSW, the rest of Australia, and across the Pacific Rim. carnival.com.au

MUSEUM

History live at Hyde Park Barracks

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks is a live museum hidden in the heart of Sydney, with history that harks back to early colonial Australia. A self-guided audio tour is suitable for ages eight and up, leaving visitors feeling as though they have travelled back in time. The 90-minute experience also offers numerous options for accessibility, with wheelchairs, magnifiers and sensory kits available free of charge. hydeparkbarracks.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au

CRUISE

Thanks to Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas made her maiden call to the Port of Eden in New South Wales on 18 February. The recently amplified ship brought along 3,600 excited guests to help enhance the region's economic recovery and make it clear that it is very much open for business once more, following the devastating impact of the recent bushfires. royalcaribbean.com Image © Brett Boardman

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

IN TOUCH

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IN TOUCH

DESTINATION

Take a gander at the Great Barrier Reef

To help people understand what the reef really looks like, Tourism Tropical North Queensland has launched a live map of the ecosystem, sharing daily underwater images of the sites visited by tour vessels. Tour operators record what they experience for the Eye on the Reef monitoring program and upload them to the map for everyone to see, so we can all check out the state of our coral. Travellers can also join in the fun by sharing their photos using the hashtag #GreatBarrierReefToday or uploading them to the app. tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au

THEME PARK

Do you wanna build a snowman, in Paris?

Disney fans rejoice, because the town of Arendelle is coming to Disneyland Paris. Straight out of the Frozen films, the new Frozen Land in Paris will feature a Scandinavian-style village centred around a vast lake, as well a 40-metre mountain topped with a replica of Elsa’s ice palace. In addition to themed merchandise and a Frozen restaurant, the magical new realm, projected to open in 2023, will host water-based shows that feature lights, music, fountains and special effects to captivate excited visitors. On top of Frozen Land, the US$2.4 billion expansion to Disneyland Paris will include new worlds from the Star Wars movie franchise and the Marvel Universe, both of which are pegged to be fan favourites. disneylandparis.com

Kids play, stay & eat free

Overnight accomodation | Breakfast for the family | Pick your own family movie | Kids fun pack & more!

BOOK NOW www.novotelnorthbeach.com.au Novotel

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N o r t hbe ac h

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

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APPS

6 new apps for travelling this year There’s an app for everything these days, especially when it comes to travel. We’ve picked out some of our favourite new and updated apps to help the next trip run extra-smoothly.

Transit for

Getting from A to B price Free

A recent update to this old favourite means it doesn’t matter if you’re out of data – you’re still able to look up public transport schedules and find routes across more than 200 cities.

NeuralCam Great photos price $7.99

NeuralCam borrows a technique from DSLR photography, stacking multiple images to ensure your nighttime holiday snaps are bright as day.

Appy Weather A personal weather app Free, with in-app purchases

for price

With a clean interface and helpful weatherman-like descriptions, Appy Weather stands out from the weather-app crowd and is sure to keep you well prepared for whatever the travel gods throw at you.

Timeshifter

for

price

for Beating jet lag Free, with in-app purchases

A new version of Timeshifter debuted late last year, based on cutting-edge neuroscience to help travellers manage jet lag on long flights.

Kiwi.com for

Stress-free packing price Free

Known for saving budget-minded travellers a few bucks, Kiwi’s app has a new augmented reality feature that lets you ensure your luggage is the right size, simply by using your device’s camera.

Template Stunning Insta feeds Free, with in-app purchases

for price

The second app from Zoella and A Colour Story is set to up your travel ‘gram game in 2020, offering hundreds of fresh new layouts, fonts, illustrations and brushes to change up your feed.

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35

PROMOTION

Australia’s best of the best The winners of the 2019 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards have been announced.

The 2019 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards have been announced. Signature Media is a proud sponsor of these prestigious awards, which recognise tourism products and businesses delivering the most outstanding services and facilities to visitors.

To help our readers plan their upcoming holidays with confidence, we’re sharing the best of the best for families.

And the winners are ...

BIG4 Hahndorf Resort

Adventure Tourism EcoQLD (Habitat Noosa)

Major Tourist Attractions Port Arthur Historic Site, Tasmania World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site is the best-preserved convict site in Australia, offering incredible hands-on educational tours for families.

Tourist Attractions Calypso Star Charters, South Australia Swim with sea lions when you choose Calypso's Advanced Eco Certified tour – you'll soon see why Aussie sea lions are known as the ‘puppies of the sea’.

Major Festivals and Events MyState Australian Wooden Boat Festival, Tasmania This exciting family-friendly celebration of our nation’s rich maritime culture is one of the world’s most anticipated boating events.

Eco-tourism The Maria Island Walk, Tasmania Active families with tweens and teens get to glimpse rare wildlife and stay in exclusive accommodation on this four-day guided walk around Tassie's stunning Maria Island.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism

Caravan & Holiday Parks BIG4 Hahndorf Resort, South Australia With unparalleled views of the magnificent Adelaide Hills, the BIG4 Hahndorf Resort offers a diverse range of accommodation along with plenty of on-site activities for kids.

Self-Contained Accommodation Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages, Western Australia Reconnect with nature and your family in these cosy, self-contained hilltop cottages, set across 19 hectares of stunning native Australian bushland.

Nitmiluk Tours and Cicada Lodge, Northern Territory Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Katherine, while you soak up the NT's rugged scenery and incredible wildlife encounters with Nitmiluk Tours and Cicada Lodge.

New Tourism Business

Major Tour and Transport Operators

Deluxe Accommodation

Red Cat Adventures, Queensland This family-operated charter boat company provides exciting water adventures around the Whitsunday Islands, suitable for all ages and stages.

MACq01 Hotel, Tasmania Located in the heart of Hobart's historic waterfront, MACq01 Hotel combines luxury accommodation with stellar views and unforgettable local storytelling.

For the full list of winners, visit australiantourismawards.com.au 36

Roaring 40s Kayaking, Tasmania From short city paddles to multi-day adventures, these incredible kayak experiences are designed to suit your family's time frame and ability on the water.

EcoQLD (Habitat Noosa), Queensland Located 25 minutes north of Noosa is Queensland’s most exciting eco-tourism destination, with cabins, camping and glamping on 26 hectares of native forest.

2019 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards Proudly supported by

Australia

Image © Narelle Bouveng

Be inspired by our intrepid travel experts as they scour Australia for the best holiday destinations for families of all ages.

Jump to

38 Bushfire recovery 42 Animal encounters

46 Kangaroo Island 50 Warrnambool 54 Sunshine Coast 62 Indigenous experiences 66 Ski Down Under

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

&

Rest recovery Following drought, fires and floods, andrew woodward explores a few of the beautiful Australian towns and regions that are waiting for your family to visit and help aid their recovery while you enjoy a little holiday time.

Australia has always been “a land of droughts and flooding rains”, yet the past few years have been marked by bushfires, droughts, floods and cyclones of unprecedented frequency and intensity. The images of the recent series of devastating bushfires broadcast around the world brought in sorely needed international donations... but deterred holidaymakers.

As the country attempts to regain a sense of equilibrium, the most sustainable solution to rebuilding affected communities is to visit them, eat their produce and fill your bag with local goodies. It’s never been more important to holiday at home, and the following regions have as much to offer as ever.

Blue Mountains nsw The Blue Mountains’ tourism industry has suffered a double disaster with an estimated 80 per cent of the World Heritage-listed area affected by bushfires, followed by the coronavirus outbreak prompting mass cancellations from around the world. Despite this, the popular towns of Katoomba and Leura never closed, and all tourist attractions, hotels and infrastructure remain intact. Visiting families are still able to view incredible landmarks like The Three Sisters or Govetts Leap, explore Jenolan Caves or take part in the ultimate nature-based experience at Scenic World. visitbluemountains.com.au

AUSTRALIA

Bathurst nsw Bathurst has been hit hard by drought, with dams running dry and farmers forced to de-stock to survive. A continued stream of tourist dollars is instrumental in the battle to keep residents supplied with water. Rev-heads will relish the opportunity to cruise the Mt Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, or visit in October for the Bathurst 1000 Supercar race itself. The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum – home to Australia’s only complete T-rex skeleton cast – is also sure to have kids roaring with delight. bathurstregion.com.au

Braidwood nsw

02

After engulfing more than 36,000 hectares around the town of Braidwood, an hour east of Canberra, fires are still burning a hole in the local economy with visitors at an all-time low.

Braidwood enjoys a fascinating history – the colonial streetscapes and country pubs recalling its gold-rush past – and is home to a creative community of artists, craftspeople and designers. Learn about the town’s bushranger history at the Braidwood Museum, enjoy year-round events and join locals in the town's cafes. braidwoodnsw.com.au

02

Kosciuszko National Park nsw The Selwyn area suffered two heavy losses with Selwyn Snow Resort and historic Kiandra closed due to severe fire damage, but it’s off-season business as usual for the rest of Kosciuszko National Park. Go camping (or stay in heritage accommodation), scale alpine trails to Australia’s highest peak, hit mountain biking tracks or discover the 440-million-yearold limestone formations of the Yarrangobilly Caves. There’s even a naturally heated thermal pool nearby, so don’t forget your togs. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

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03 01 The Three Sisters lookout in the Blue Mountains © Destination NSW 02 Whitehaven Beach © Matt Glastonbury/ Tourism & Events Queensland 03 The Gold Coast © Tourism Australia/Mark Fitzpatrick 04 Fun on the Murray River © Tourism Australia/Adam Bruzzone 2012

Sapphire Coast nsw

Shoalhaven nsw

The Whitsundays qld

The Sapphire Coast is bursting with beaches, national parks, lagoons and rivers. Sadly, it bore the brunt of last season’s fires – particularly the towns of Cobargo and Eden, the latter losing its mill and primary source of income. The historic timbers of Tathra Wharf are standing proud, however, offering commanding bay views and world-class diving and snorkelling (keep your eyes peeled for seals, penguins and the occasional whale shark). Take a whale watching tour and learn about Eden’s whaling history at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. sapphirecoast.com.au

The Shoalhaven comprises 170 kilometres of coastline, from Kangaroo Valley in the north to Pebbly Beach in the south. Fires burning for 74 days from each end wiped out around 499,000 hectares and destroyed more than 300 homes. After celebrating the heroic efforts of the firies and other emergency services, the locals are now doing everything they can to get back on their feet – and would love to see you drop by to stock up on local cheeses, wines and other gourmet treats at the many vineyards and cellar doors. shoalhaven.com

Not directly affected by the recent fires (although grappling with the resulting decline in overseas visitors), the Whitsundays are still rebuilding after Cyclone Debbie: the categoryfour cyclone damaged 2,300 homes in 2017 and bled the local tourism industry of millions.

The idyllic chain of 74 islands off the coast of Queensland remains the perfect base from which to explore the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the white sands and turquoise waters of Whitehaven Beach are as picturesque as ever and, yes, the golf buggy industry is thriving. tourismwhitsundays.com.au

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

AUSTRALIA

Adelaide Hills sa Communities across the Adelaide Hills were dealt a blow by bushfires in December, but are now back in business and awaiting your return. Each season brings a new reason to visit this fairytale destination, with many towns just 30 minutes’ drive from Adelaide, .

Cuddle a koala at Cleland or Gorge Wildlife Parks, explore Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, Hahndorf, and visit restaurants and cellar doors serving stellar local food and wine. adelaidehills.org.au

Toodyay wa

05

04

05 Ye Olde Icecreamery & Cafe at Hahndorf © South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone 06 Cleland Wildlife Park © South Australian Tourism Commission/Adam Bruzzone 07 Foraging at Victoria's High Country Harvest Festival © Tourism Australia/Kristoffer Paulsen

Gippsland vic

In January, bushfires came dangerously close to the town of Toodyay, just north-east of Perth. To locals’ relief, the blazes were contained, although tourists have been slow to return. An ideal base to explore the Avon Valley, Toodyay is a fascinating destination in its own right. Delve into the town’s colonial past by visiting Newcastle Gaol to hear the story of Moondyne Joe (Western Australia’s most famous bushranger), soak up the country atmosphere in the cafes and pubs, or visit in spring for magnificent wildflowers. toodyay.com

06

Bushfires in East Gippsland made headlines with the terrifying images of tourists and locals sheltering on the beach at Mallacoota as the inferno approached. While the region – stretching from the Croajingolong National Park on the coast to the Alpine High Country – was battered by fires, the focus now is on rebuilding, with tourists encouraged to return to the area to support local businesses and kick-start the road to recovery. visiteastgippsland.com.au

The Gold Coast qld

Victoria High Country

The meteorological havoc wreaked upon the Gold Coast in recent months typifies the extremities of Australia’s weather: from winds of up to 78 kilometres per hour and severe fire threats in December to heavy rain and flooding in February. Despite the ensuing surge of holiday cancellations, the Gold Coast remains one of the country’s most familyfriendly destinations. Theme parks continue to enchant kids big and small, Surfers Paradise still crackles with an electric atmosphere and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better stretch of sand for kids than Currumbin Beach. destinationgoldcoast.com.au

Fires burning through an area as vast as Victoria’s High Country have understandably taken time to contain, but the rehabilitation process is well underway, and the local chefs, makers, brewers and growers are ready to welcome you back. The High Country’s star attractions are its award-winning wines and fresh produce – your weekend getaway would be well spent simply hopping between restaurants and wineries. There’s plenty of adventure to be had, too, like setting out on horseback to explore high mountain trails, icy streams and rustic cattlemen’s huts. victoriashighcountry.com.au

07

01

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

AnimalResc ue

With the Australian bushfires placing native wildlife under threat, thomasin mccuaig encourages families to visit animal attractions that are supporting our affected animals.

The 2019-20 Australian bushfires have been wreaking havoc across the country. Along with the devastating impact on homes, communities and flora, the fires have had catastrophic consequences for native wildlife and agricultural livestock, as more species have been listed as endangered and at risk of extinction. The news that, at the time of writing, more than one billion native animals may have perished as a result of the bushfire crisis is nothing short of heartbreaking.

However, the compassion and bravery of many kind people offering a helping hand has been truly heartwarming. None more so than the incredible staff at our wildlife attractions who have been risking their own lives and livelihoods to protect animals in their care and create new spaces for rescued wildlife. To help support those who have been supporting our animals and birds, here are a few wildlife attractions that your family can visit.

Mogo Zoo mogo, nsw As bushfires ravaged the South Coast of NSW, the owners and staff at Mogo Zoo found themselves on the battle line.

Although an evacuation order was called, the staff chose to stay and protect the animals by transporting wildlife to safe spaces and putting out spot fires. Thanks to the heroism of the staff members, not a single animal was harmed.

By visiting Mogo Zoo, your family will not only have a phenomenal day – filled with feeding sessions, keeper talks and up-close-and-personal encounters with the animals – but you will also be supporting a zoo that worked tirelessly to be where they are today. mogozoo.com.au

Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park duncan, kangaroo island, sa A day of jam-packed family fun awaits on your trip to the dedicated and caring Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. You will have the opportunity to watch a dingo presentation, get up close with a koala, feed the penguins and even hold a cuddly wombat. Due to the 215,000 hectares that have been impacted on Kangaroo Island and the influx of animals taken into their care, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park has started a fundraiser to supply pain relief medication and build the infrastructure needed to house and treat rescued animals. A visit to this wildlife attraction will support the island’s local animals, and your family will no doubt leave feeling better for it. kangarooislandwildlifepark.com

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary currumbin, qld Your kids will be buzzing at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Open daily, the sanctuary will immerse your family in nature, as it rests among leafy greenery and sits by a lake.

After visiting the wide variety of animals the sanctuary cares for, enter into Lost Valley and uncover the forgotten world of Gondwana. Run through the waterfalls in the Wild Island Adventure Splash Zone or ride on the flying fox in the Wild Island Playground. The sanctuary provides the essentials for an amazing day, while the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital took care of more than 12,200 animals in 2019, including 600 koalas, some of which were bushfire survivors. currumbinsanctuary.com.au

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ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

adopt a koala Julie Miller shares her family experience at Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital.

Like many Australian children, my five-year-old granddaughter Ellie was moved by the plight of koalas during the recent bushfire crisis, spending her Christmas money to adopt a patient in care at Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital. So it was with great excitement that she joined around 200 other visitors at the hospital a month later for a free tour of the facility.

“Where’s Hockey Luna?” she asks the guide, proudly displaying her certificate of adoption.

The answer is not what Ellie is expecting – as it turns out, the young female was recently released back into the wild, fully recovered from her trauma.

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“The compassion and bravery of many kind people offering a helping hand has been truly heartwarming.”

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Halls Gap Zoo

Taronga Zoo

halls gap, vic

sydney, nsw

Located in the fire-affected area of the Grampians, Halls Gap Zoo features more than 160 species of native and exotic mammals, reptiles and birds. Be inquisitive like the meerkats as you and your family observe lanky giraffes, a magnificent rhinoceros, the relaxed red panda and a plethora of other colourful wildlife. This is Victoria’s largest regional zoo, and staff members are dedicated to breeding endangered species while staying committed to the welfare of their animals. The staff even patrolled the grounds for ember attacks and put out surrounding spot fires during the recent crisis.

By visiting Halls Gap Zoo, your family is supporting a business that will stop at nothing to protect what they love. hallsgapzoo.com.au

There are plenty of must-see attractions and must-do experiences at Taronga Zoo that will have your kids begging to return. Curious capybaras are the newest residents, and you can observe these intriguing South American creatures as they stay under water for up to five minutes. Afterwards, have a close encounter with critically endangered Sumatran tigers in the new Tiger Trek experience. Taronga Zoo has created a Wildlife Crisis Appeal to help them care for an unprecedented number of animals in their hospitals and mobilise Taronga’s veterinary nurses to support rescue centres in fire-affected areas. Visit Taronga with the family because“ when you support us, you support them”. taronga.org.au

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

Thrilled for Luna’s freedom – the goal for all patients coming into the hospital – Ellie instead shifts her focus to another female koala in permanent care named Lismore Rose, knowing her donation will be put to good use. Since fire first swept through Port Macquarie’s koala habitat in November, more than $7.5 million has been raised through adoptions and a Go Fund Me page – far exceeding the original $25,000 target.

The money from donations will not only be used to treat dozens of injured koalas, but also to start a wild breeding program – an exciting initiative to boost the koala population.

To donate or adopt a koala, visit koalahospital.org.au.

01 Koala care at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary 02 Taronga Zoo Learning Hub © Dan Gosse 03 Lending a helping hand at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park © Narelle Bouveng

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Meet the local s

JOIN Us FOR OUR

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50th anniversary!

We’re celebrating all year long at Australia Zoo, and crikey, we’d love for you to celebrate our 50th birthday with us too! To mark this milestone, experience our exciting new exhibits and amazing new animals.

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DAY OF CELEBRATION 50 YEAR EVENT

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EXPLORE OURAFRICA NEWEST EXPLORE EXHIBIT: STEVE’S PLACE

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MEET THE PHOTOS TALLEST WILDLIFE LIVING GIRAFFE

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Open daily 9:00am - 5:00pm (Closed Christmas Day) Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Hop back to

Kangaroo Island

As flushes of bronze and green emerge from blackened bush, narelle bouveng discovers Kangaroo Island is well and truly open for business.

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KANGAROO ISLAND

01 Feeding the roos 02 Chic Dune House 03 A koala in a bushfire-damaged tree

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KANGAROO ISLAND

After the summer’s fires swallowed almost half of Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third-largest island, it was difficult to imagine the degree of devastation without seeing it first-hand. But the broken bush and scorched earth is already flourishing, with new growth serving as both nutrient-rich grazing stations for starving wildlife and a poignant reminder that hope is ever-present.

Heeding nature’s lead, the community is also recovering.

In the aftermath of the disaster, many came to the aid of injured and displaced wildlife, to clear trees and help those most affected. But what KI needs now is visitors, as tourism is vital to the island’s long-term recovery.

“ We share a path down to the beach with waddling echidnas and bouncing wallabies."

Going green

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04 Seal Bay Information Centre 05 Stokes Bay 06 Snellings Beach 07 A seal pup 08 A friendly echidna 09 Hiking to the beach. All images © Narelle Bouveng

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Unaffected by fire and nestled in a bushland grove right beside the Eleanor River, Ecopia is run by a local family who built two luxe rammed-earth villas in 2017, with conservation in mind. No tree was displaced, no wildlife disturbed and clean energy through clever design keeps Ecopia’s footprint light. From our sustainable cocoon we spot kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and echidnas, plus the stunning sight of rare glossy black cockatoos roosting happily in the sheoaks.

Close to Ecopia, Seal Bay’s endangered Australian sea lion colony can be found frolicking in Southern Ocean waters. There’s a hands-on education station marking the spot, and a boardwalk circling the beach for viewing without impact. We join the seals on the sand during a ranger-guided tour, and watch adolescents tumbling in mock battle and adorable pups suckling their mothers.

Walk on the wild side Kangaroo Island Outdoor Action guarantees us wild koala sightings on their quad bike tour. And sure enough, a record 21 were counted in a kilometre stretch that day. But we opt for people over petrol power, sandboarding the dunes at Little Sahara. Two kilometres of dunes make up the heritage-listed area that stretches to the blue waters of Vivionne Bay. There’s also tobogganing, e-bikes and gentle guided nature walks all revealing insights into the amazing local flora and fauna.

There’s more koala action north at Stokes Bay, where big blue gums at the base of the hill provide a haven for a colony of snoozers. There are copious numbers of kangaroos, too, near the Wave & Wildlife Cottages and Rockpool Cafe & Caravan Park, which also serves a smashing fish and chips with garden games for the little ones. We follow the signs for a Game of Thrones-like beach entry under boulders to white sand, open blue waters and sheltered rock pools filled with many a tiny fish for my daughter to chase.

At Parndana we visit Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, one of the busiest wildlife refuges in Australia following the fires. A crew of orphaned koala joeys, echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, little penguins, emus and even a wedge-tailed eagle have all found a happy home here after being rescued. Kids can feed the kangaroos and chat with the rangers, who all have post-fire stories to share.

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Flinders Chase National Park is expected to re-open with guided tours in coming months.

Epicurean delights KI is regarded as one of Australia’s finest produce hubs, and a visit to local artisanal and small-batch producers is the best way to sample the haul. We fill our bellies and car boot daily as we indulge in lavender scones smeared with home-honed jelly and clotted cream at Emu Bay Lavender Farm, and then vegan fig 'salami' from the Figgerey, which pairs nicely with a rosé from Islander Estate. Farms proffering honey, beef, lamb, marron and eggs welcome visitors to taste and take home picnic packs. We share our picnic rug with the resident rooster at Bay of Shoals Wines, and then lose our gin inhibitions at Kangaroo Island Spirits, sipping their internationally awarded O’Gin, a botanical blend of juniper, coriander, angelica root, coastal daisy bush and South Australian oranges.

Coastal cool Kangaroo Island’s coastline is breathtakingly pretty, with bays and surging surf beaches stretching across some 500 kilometres. Dune House was designed by the same firm that crafted dramatic Southern Ocean Lodge at Hanson Bay, which was significantly damaged in the recent fires. It stands proudly on the bluff overlooking the white sand curve of beach at Emu Bay, where we share a path down

to the beach with waddling echidnas and bouncing wallabies. We cruise the north coast’s sapphire and jade waters with Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures, spotting rare white-bellied sea eagles, wedge-tailed eagles and ospreys soaring above pink-hued cliffs. The bays are home to enormous pods of bottlenose dolphins, which stop to recharge after a day at sea. A large colony plays by our boat while we don wetsuits to hop in the water beside them. We learn about dolphin behaviour, including how they readily connect with pregnant women, and that they have a few suspect hobbies – company owner and guide Andrew explains that the mischievous marine mammals often play a game of 'pass the puffer fish', which sees the injection of tiny amounts of toxin into their skin, creating a euphoric high. No wonder KI dolphins smile.

Kangaroo Island Report Card Info tourkangarooisland.com.au Getting there Fly to Kingscote in under 30 minutes from Adelaide with Rex Airlines, or take the Sealink Ferry from Jervis Bay to Penneshaw. sealink.com.au rex.com.au Stay ecopiaretreat.com.au hamiltondune.com.au

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Warrnamboo l ’s

whale of a trail

explores the many delights of the Warrnambool Winter Whale Trail. danielle norton

WARRNAMBOOL

Breaking through the surface of the grey sea, the majestic creature gracefully twists its body, crashing back onto the water with its flippers reaching to the sky. My kids, even the teenager, squeal with delight – they’ve never seen a whale this close, and the sheer joy of witnessing an endangered southern right whale just casually doing its thing in the ocean is awe-inspiring.

We’re on a road trip from Melbourne, traversing the twists and turns of the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, to arrive at Logan’s Beach in Warrnambool. It is the beginning of the Winter Whale Trail, which we will follow along the coast through Port Fairy and on to Portland. And what an epic beginning it is.

Great southern land The sea is rough in the Great Australian Bight this time of year, and the drizzling rain has

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stopped so we have been huddling in our raincoats, appreciating the sunshine, waiting to see either an adult or calf in the waters off the beach, an area known as the ‘nursery’.

These are perfect conditions for the gentle giants of the ocean, who return to this same breeding ground year after year. The southern right whale families will remain here for two or three months, the mothers building their calves’ skills, strength and confidence in anticipation of their 5,000-kilometre journey to Antarctica when the time is right.

But there’s more than just whales to Warrnambool, with great galleries, a selfguided street-art tour and Cheese World at Allanford with its tastings, plus a heritage museum adding to the coastal city charm. But for us, the main attraction is the historic Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. By day, we join a guided tour and wander the cobbled streets, exploring an authentic blacksmith’s

WARRNAMBOOL

forge and learning about the vast numbers of ships that were destroyed on the aptly named Shipwreck Coast. At night, we return to the 19th century for the Sound and Light Show Experience at the Wharf Theatre. The town is strikingly illuminated by old-world lanterns, and films are projected onto a mighty wall of water that shoots nine metres high.

Fairytales The Whale Corridor from Warrnambool to Portland is the only place in the world where whales are known to breed so close to the shore, so we continue our whale spotting adventure, driving just 25 minutes up the road to pretty Port Fairy.

On the way, a pit stop is in order for the spectacle of Tower Hill, with its volcanic craters rimmed by beds of volcanic ash. Along with its tapered island hills and shimmering lakes, the inside of the crater is a nature reserve, managed by the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative. The reserve provides a home to substantial populations of native birds and wildlife, and interactive walks and shared indigenous storylines make it a fascinating stop for families.

Once we reach Port Fairy, we head for East Beach where we keep our eyes peeled for humpback whales, as well as more of the southern rights that we have already seen.

The still-active Port Fairy Lighthouse stands tall on Griffiths Island to our right as we face the sea, its red door and domed roof so much

Hot tip Looking for a winter road trip? Head for the south-west of Victoria between May and September and follow the Winter Whale Trail from Warrnambool to Port Fairy and Portland. You’ll have a whale of a time!

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01 Great Ocean Road views 02 Rugged up for winter fun 03 Flagstaff Hill 04 History comes to life 05 Whales in Warrnambool. All images © Warrnambool Tourism. Images 01, 02 & 03 © Belinda Van Zanen

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like a picturebook lighthouse that we are enthralled. We take the walking track from Martins Point over to the island to explore, and discover that it’s a little early in the year to see the famous colonies of shearwaters who travel from Alaska each year to nest here.

To warm up, we head for The Wharf restaurant. There’s a fabulous modern Australian menu available, but we go for fish and chips and sit by the window, happy just watching people potter around on their boats, moored directly in front of us in the historic port.

Making history We push on to Portland, another hour’s drive.

Both Cape Bridgewater and Cape Nelson are renowned whale watching locations, and the locals tell us that if the whale flag is flying at the Portland Visitor Information Centre, there is an increased likelihood of seeing whales.

The Portland Maritime Discovery Centre is also here, with the skeleton of a sperm whale on display. Learning about the history of whaling and shipwrecks in the area proves a great precursor to our next spotting attempt at the whale viewing platform on Wade Street.

Portland was one of the first Victorian towns to be established by the British in the

1800s. Architecturally, the town is a charming step back in time, so we grab a map from the visitors centre and follow the Historical Buildings Walk. The guide explores more than 50 buildings; but the kids get hungry, so we retreat to the car and head for the renowned Cape Bridgewater Cafe, about 15 minutes from town. Legend has it that you can see whales here within 100 metres of the shore, so we rug up and sit outside, eating salad wraps and hot chips while staring out at the water beyond.

We head down to the pristine beach and the wind whips our hair as we walk along; we're the only people here. In summer, there are lifeguards and the stretch of sand is dotted with families playing and swimming, but there is no chance of us tackling the ocean today.

We have to return home, leaving the whales to flap and slap their tails and fins as they enjoy their own extended breaks in this gorgeous part of the world. With so much to see and enjoy, we’ll have to do the same next time.

Warrnambool Report Card Info visitwarrnambool.com.au Do cv.vic.gov.au towerhill.org.au flagstaffhill.com cheeseworld.com.au bridgewaterbay.com.au thewharfportfairy.com.au

Drop in and talk to one of the locals at our Visitor Information Centres and pickup your free Whale Trail map IAMPORTFAIRY.COM.AU IAMPORTLAND.COM.AU IAMWARRNAMBOOL.COM.AU

SUNSHINE COAST

Sunshi ne secrets With unspoilt golden beaches and a rural hinterland brimming with natural wonders, the Sunshine Coast is easy to fall in love with, as regular visitor jennifer johnston reveals.

SUNSHINE COAST

sunshine coast hot hotels Breeze Mooloolaba Self-proclaimed as Mooloolaba’s newest luxury accommodation', Breeze Mooloolaba offers stunning self-contained apartment-style accommodation opposite one of the safest swimming beaches on the Sunshine Coast. With one- or two-bedroom options, it's the perfect place for those seeking space and luxury. breezemooloolaba.com.au

Islander Noosa 02 01 The stunning Sunshine Coast © Mark Fitzpatriick/Tourism Australia 02 Spotting a whale mum and calf with Sunreef Mooloolaba © Migration Media - Underwater Imaging 03 Bribie Island © John Bowden/Tourism and Events Queensland

Stretching 70 kilometres from Caloundra, an hour and a half drive north of Brisbane, to the Great Sandy National Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast offers one of the highest sunshine ratings in the world – and endless opportunities to make the most of it.

As a beach-loving family, we’ve enjoyed many ocean-centric holidays on the Sunny Coast. And as my twin boys have grown in age (and height), the destination choices have altered accordingly.

A beach for all ages The southernmost town in the region, Caloundra, was the go-to destination when my kids were toddlers and it remains a favourite as they’ve morphed into teenagers.

We always choose a patrolled beach – Kings, Bulcock or Dicky. Swimming between the yellow and red flags under the watchful eye of lifesavers is non-negotiable in Australia.

South-east-facing Kings Beach usually has smaller ocean swells. Loaded with boogie boards and lathered in sunscreen, we find our patch of sand and surf for a few hours before making an escape, often dashing through the water sprays at the adjacent Kings Beach Fountain Park.

Noosa Main Beach is also popular and patrolled by surf lifesavers 365 days of the year. Hastings Street, running parallel to the seashore, is crammed with casual eateries, boutiques and a selection of ice-cream stations (our favourite is Gelatissimo Noosa).

Due to its north-facing aspect, Main Beach has gentle waves. But if your tweens have outgrown the calm surf, nearby Noosa River

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

with its numerous tributaries is perfect for soft adventure. Teenagers may prefer kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding with mates over hanging out with mum and dad.

I enjoy swapping the beach for native bushland on the Coastal Track inside Noosa National Park, an easy 30-minute stroll from Hastings Street. The full return walk takes around four hours and follows the ocean.

As we pass by the lookouts at Dolphin Point, Boiling Pot and Hell’s Gates, I remind my kids to keep an eye out for sea turtles, dolphins and whales – it is, after all, their annual migration season (June to November).

Experience a ‘mugging’ Throw the word ‘mugging’ into conversation with my 16-year-old twins and I immediately have their attention. However, this mugging refers to whales, not humans! Being curious creatures, humpback whales often manoeuvre closer to boats for a better look.

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The Islander Noosa Resort offers a choice of gorgeous self-contained villas nestled among lush tropical gardens. This kid-friendly resort also boasts a choice of three swimming pools and spas, and the welcoming waters of Noosa’s patrolled Main Beach and the Noosa River are both close by. islandernoosa.com.au

The Mirage Alexandra Headland This luxury 4.5-star resort offers spacious self-contained one-, two-, and threebedroom apartments just 150 metres from a patrolled surf beach. Along with a large lagoon pool, there’s a 15-metre lap pool, kids' pool with waterfall, heated spa, sports courts, in-room day spa service and a children’s playground. miragealex.com.au

Oceans Mooloolaba Beach The only AAA-rated five-star resort in Mooloolaba, Oceans Mooloolaba Beach is located opposite Mooloolaba Beach on the Esplanade. Spacious apartments and penthouses provide a luxurious sanctuary for families, and a resort pool and spa, steam room, theatre and fitness centre are available. oceansmooloolaba.com.au

The Islander Noosa Resort Your tropical escape in the heart of Noosa Wanted… a resort that is affordable and appreciates families…

The Islander Noosa Resort understands families need a holiday that lets parents relax while offering the kids lots to do in a safe environment. Because of this, the resort offers the best facilities, a central location and is great value right in the heart of Noosa. Stay in your self-contained villa nestled on four acres of lush tropical gardens just across from the Noosa River. Only five minutes' walking distance to restaurants, supermarkets, medical centre and shops with regular local bus or ferry from the front of reception to the surf beach and Hastings St.

187 Gympie Tce, Noosaville QLD 4566 1300 656 888 | 07 5440 9200 info@islandernoosa.com.au

STANDARD SEASON 7 nights from $1400 for a family of 4 and $1680 for a family of up to 6. This rate includes $50 credit at Moondoggy’s Cafe Bar. Valid to 31 March 2021.

20% SPECIAL 7 NIGHTS For stays 1 May to 31 Aug or 5-30 Nov 2020 a family of 4 stay for $1120 and a family of 6 pay $1344. More good news this rate includes $30 credit at Moondoggy’s Café Bar.

Self-contained villas with air-conditioning and ceiling fans Foxtel (free) & DVD player provided Wi-Fi - unlimited (subject to fair usage policy) 3 swimming pools (large lagoon solar heated with shallow wading area and pool heated to 30°C all year round) 3 spas, 2 saunas

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2 full-size tennis courts. Free. Rackets available to hire

@the_islander_noosa_resort

Gym and games room

www.islandernoosa.com.au

Barbeque Clubhouse

Moondoggy’s Café Bar & 9 restaurants & participating shops offering 5% discount to guests Laundry facilities Kitchen facilities Babysitting available on request Noosa River Foreshore Park: 5-minute walk 3 golf courses within 15 minutes Villa with partial disability facilities 95 minutes from Brisbane and 25 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport

SUNSHINE COAST

ice-cream parfaits. If you love your sweets, try natural honey and learn about the importance of honeybees during interactive beekeeping workshops run by queen bee, Paula West at Kookaburra Organics.

With so much so close to my home city of Brisbane, you can understand why my enduring love affair for this diverse region hasn’t diminished over the years.

Sunshine Coast Report Card

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”Along the track I remind my kids to keep an eye out for sea turtles, dolphins and whales.”

Sunreef Mooloolaba runs tours on its Whale One boat, where you can experience a mugging during humpback whale migration season. From June to November, the Antarctic-based whales make their journey north to calve in Queensland's warmer waters. For an even closer look at the largest mammals on Earth, Sunreef is the first company in Australia offering the opportunity to swim with them. (Minimum age of eight and competent swimming level required.)

All Sunreef instructors are PADI Dive Masters, and the swimming with whales experience is 100 per cent organic: interactions are on the whale’s terms. Once a whale is spotted, swimmers wearing wetsuits with snorkels and goggles slip into the water, holding onto a line attached to the boat as shrieks of “awesome!” and “how cool!” punctuate the air.

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Close encounters with wildlife

Info visitsunshinecoast.com Stay oceansmooloolaba.com.au islandernoosa.com.au ivorypalmsresort.com.au Do australiazoo.com.au sunreef.com.au strawberryfields.com.au sunshinecoastregionalfood.com.au kookaburraorganics.com

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Near the towering peaks of the Glass House Mountains is Australia Zoo. I have fond memories of my kids squealing with joy during the iconic croc show. As teenagers they’ve dropped the squealing, but they wouldn’t dream of missing the Wildlife Warriors Show in the Crocoseum.

The zoo is spread out over 400 hectares and holds more than 1,200 native and exotic animals. If you have younger kids and only one day at Australia Zoo, I recommend booking the caddy tour to save your legs.

The large enclosures have clever recreations of each animal’s natural habitat.

Watch out for the staff walking around holding a snake, koala or a brightly coloured bird. My 16-year-olds enjoyed these random encounters, laughing at their mum’s hesitation to touch the snake. The Feeding Frenzy Food Court has many choices, but a pass out means families with forever-hungry teens can pack an esky with food and leave it in the car.

Tasty treats in the hinterland A community of niche organic farmers in the Sunshine Coast hinterland invites visitors to sample fresh produce, including edible flowers and micro-greens, at The Greenshed in Palmwoods. Pick your own organic strawberries at Strawberry Fields (from June to November) or indulge in home-made

04 Beach cricket © Tourism and Events Queensland 05 Boiling Pot Lookout, Noosa © Jesse Smith/Tourism and Events Queensland

YOU DESERVE A BREAK Self -contained apar tments with chef ’s kitchen and laundr y facilities | Complimentar y new release movies (video on demand) | Foxtel | Complimentar y Wi-Fi | Heated pool and spa BBQ facilities

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Luxur y amenities

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Non-smoking rooms

Free undercover parking | Interactive digital hotel guide | Directly opposite Mooloolaba Beach

stay@breezemooloolaba.com.au 07 5444 5355 www.breezemooloolaba.com.au/mooloolaba-specials

Win!

COMPETITION

a 5-night family holiday to Paradise Resort Gold Coast!

Voted Australia’s Best Family Resort for nine years in a row in our Readers' Choice Awards and featuring a giant water park, ice-skating rink, kids' club, free daily activities and loads more all under one roof, Paradise Resort Gold Coast is the perfect choice for your next family holiday.

With up to four hours of supervised care each day in the Zone 4 Kids' Club for all ages up to 12 years, parents can relax and enjoy some precious down time.

Prize includ es

Five nights' accommodation in a Superior Resort Room for two adults and up to two children (zero to 12 years) One kids' club session per child per day Unlimited use of the on-site water park A range of daily activities and entertainment

Valued from

$2,174

Continental breakfast daily in The Bistro $500 voucher to spend on food and beverage

To enter, visit holidayswithkids.com.au/competitions @paradiseresortgc @paradiseresortgc @ParadiseResortGC www.paradiseresort.com.au Competition ends 11.59pm Sunday 28 June 2020 and the winner will be notified via email shortly after. The competition is open to Australian residents only. Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and not available to be exchanged for alternative activities or cash. Bookings are subject to availability. Prize voucher is valid 12 months. Block out dates apply, including school holidays. Prize does not include flights. For full terms and conditions, visit holidayswithkids.com.au

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HOLIDAYS BY KIDS

C onnected

to country 11-year-old rafferty laight discovers how travel helps him make cultural connections with Australia’s traditional custodians.

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“Come with me,” said the stranger.

Say what? I looked at my mum, because even five-yearold me knew I wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. She nodded an OK and, happy to be making new friends, I bopped up and down, following him past a ramshackle row of tents that I would soon discover was Canberra’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy, erected to represent the political rights of Indigenous Australians. Sure, it's not the usual place you’ll find a kid in Canberra but, you know, I kinda like to shake things up.

Sitting by a fire under a canvas awning, my chatty new friend said he’d seen me asking my mum an awful lot of questions and thought maybe I might like to ask him some, too. So I bombarded him with a flurry of them. He answered each with honesty, patience and consideration of my five-year-old capacity for the truth. He explained to me about the Embassy, his people and all the “rules, from the people in the big building up the road” (known as laws and Parliament House to the over fives). And we bonded, despite a five-decade age difference. An hour passed before he said goodbye, with a cool secret handshake and the words, “love you forever, my brother.”

A few months later at Sydney’s Blak Markets, a regular event with native bush tucker, Indigenous craft and cultural workshops, it was love at first bite as I downed an amazing lemon myrtle soup and kangaroo sausage. But it was another elder who made it unforgettable. He taught me to make a spear from a Gymea lily trunk, stripping and sanding it, tying on a spearhead and making ochre paint from crushed rock and tree resin to seal it. He also shared how Aboriginal people have a spiritual connection to the land and take only what they need and not what they want from it – a kinder, more sustainable way of living. I walked away with a cool souvenir, a headful of ancient knowledge and an obsession for more.

Since then, with mum’s help, I’ve sought out activities that are educational and respectful to Indigenous cultures.

I’ve explored Booderee National Park with members of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, who legit left me wowed with the genius of Indigenous science, from using plants as medicine to using native flora to predict weather.

And there was a visit to an Aboriginal cultural centre in Katoomba (which has now sadly closed). But it wasn’t so much the show that moved me (though it was great) as the people behind it. You see, after a culture-packed performance based on the story of the didgeridoo, I found myself invited back to the home of one of the performers to learn more. With mum’s approval, I said yes.

Mum thought she’d suffered a massive parenting fail when upon arrival my host handed me a deadly-looking sickle. But when that was followed by a tree trunk as tall as me, already hollowed by termites, she looked less inclined to run. Turns out I was up for some hard work. I stripped the bark off the log with the sickle, my new friend standing by to make sure I didn’t slice off a limb as he shared his traditional techniques. Then he handed me the didj with instructions on how to finish it with lacquer when I got home, and how to play it like a pro (I totes failed that lesson). When I asked why, he told me because I was

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01 Indigenous experiences in Western Australia © Tourism Australia/James Fisher 02 Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park 03 Making friends 04 Face painting, Tjapukai 05 Learning how to make a didj.

Images 02, 03 & 04 © Aleney de Winter

Game changers

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”open to it”. It took me a little while to realise what he meant but I was so grateful for yet another elder sharing his precious time in return only for my rapt attention.

More than just learning how to make a tool or an instrument or even how to read the bush, these moments, and the people who shared them, have taught me respect, patience and responsibility to our people and our environment. And that we should all be open to learning about and protecting Indigenous traditions and culture.

@holidayswithkids

holidayswithkids.com.au

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HOLIDAYS BY KIDS

Indi genous

bucket list

When it's safe to travel to our Indigenous communities again, here are 11-year-old rafferty laight's picks of top Aussie experiences.

Join a corrobboree

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns, QLD At this crazy cool cultural park, the world’s oldest living culture comes to life. Visitors can get hands-on with boomerang and spear throwing during the day. After the sun has dropped you can join an amazing corroboree with the Bama Indigenous rainforest people with song and dance and an epic native feast. tjapukai.com.au

storytelling 2 Enjoy with a splash

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3 Catch a crab

Jellurgal Cultural Centre, Gold Coast, QLD Burn off some energy on a beachfront storytelling walk to reconnect with the land, followed by amazing cultural performances including ceremonial dancing and smoking ceremonies as well as didgeridoo performances. Pack your swimmers and afterwards you can take a dip in awesome Tallebudgera Creek. jellurgal.com.au

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Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Port Douglas, QLD Get grubby on a hike through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest on a tour with one of its traditional custodians. You will see the best of the mighty forest, learn about the Kuku Yalanji people, see cool cultural sites, collect bush tucker, and learn how to hunt and catch a crab. Sign me up! walkaboutadventures.com.au

4 Hunt a (fake) kangaroo Top Didj, Katherine, NT If you’re after an adventure where you can chuck spears at a fake kangaroo target (I’d never hunt a real one) and paint your own Indigenous-inspired artwork, Top Didj is totes the place for you. It’s just as good if you’re a culture seeker, too, because along with tunes from a pro didgeridoo player, you’ll get to hear cool stories about tribal life. topdidj.com

5 Gobble a grub Uluru Bush Tucker Journeys, Uluru, NT Witchetty grubs and honey ants might not be at the top of your grocery list, but bush foods like these were what Indigenous Australians ate before European settlement.

Taste tradition on this educational and tantalisingly tasty tour, where you’ll nibble on native ingredients, including a grub. Yummo! ayersrockresort.com.au

01 Tjapukai's bush food buffet, Cairns 02 Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Port Douglas 03 Bush tucker at Ayers Rock Resort © AS Smart

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Look to the stars

Outback Sky Journeys – Astro Tour, Uluru, NT Light pollution makes it hard to really see the stars in big cities. But in the outback, the stars shine brightly. The Outback Sky Journeys program (also at Ayers Rock Resort) has major 'whoa' factor, as it allows families to gaze at a bazillion stars twinkling away while they learn how Indigenous Australians use them to navigate. ayersrockresort.com.au

8 Forage in the gardens

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epic diversity 6 Experience Alice Springs Desert Park, Alice Springs, NT A treasure trove of learning and fun awaits in Alice Springs, with experiences filled with impossibly cute Aussie critters like dingoes and native birds of prey. Closely connected to the local Arrernte people, kids can learn about the region's epic diversity of nature and culture. It will bamboozle you with awesomeness. alicespringsdesertpark.com.au

Aboriginal Heritage Tour, Sydney, NSW Forage your way through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney on a fact-packed tour with an Aboriginal guide, who’ll share the history and stories of the Cadigal people – the traditional owners of the Sydney city area. You'll also sample native bush foods and learn about amazing plant uses. Just my kind of tour. rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

9 Go walkabout

Aboriginal Blue Mountains Walkabout, Faulconbridge, NSW I reckon we can learn stacks from the traditional custodians of our land. There’s no better way than on an eco-trek with Aboriginal guides that takes you past ancient rock art and adorable local wildlife, while you learn about the local Darug people. bluemountainswalkabout.com

SEE THE

DCOEMESERT

ALIVE

BY DAY Explore the animal s,

BY NIGHT Join a Nocturplnaants and Aboriginal culture of the desert l Tour and spotlight desert anim

als

www.alicespringsdesertpark.com.au Alice Springs Desert Park | Alice Springs, Northern Territory

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SKI

SkiDown

Under

The leaves are turning, and doonas and blankets have been dug out of the closet in readiness for the winter chill. That means it's time to plan your next winter snow vacation Down Under. To get you started, helen hayes shares all the latest and greatest from the best ski resorts across Australia and New Zealand.

Get on a gondola

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Drumroll, please: Australia will have its first gondola this winter with Thredbo opening Merritts Gondola on 5 June. It is exciting for fans of Thredbo because it makes it so much easier to access the intermediate-friendly terrain up around the Cruiser area, and even some of the trees that are like beacons to more advanced skiers and riders. The new high-speed, eight-person gondola replaces the old double chairlift, quadrupling the capacity. To complement the gondola, snowmaking has been added to the Dream Run, giving much more reliable access to Friday Flat. Plus, with the new mid-station on the gondola you'll be able to do laps around that area.

Perisher’s new Leichhardt Chair opened last season and proved very popular, as did the new chairlift at Mt Buller – the $6 million, six-seater Bourke Street Express – moving more people in less time.

There are also lifts opening in New Zealand, with a gondola slated for Turoa skifield on Mt Ruapehu – sister to the Sky Waka that opened on Whakapapa last winter. The Movenpick Gondola will replace Turoa's Movenpick and Parklane chairlifts with 10-person cabins, and will have a mid-station at the Wintergarden area to allow easy access for beginners.

Coronet Peak will also have gondola cabins on the Coronet Express line. The eight-seater cabins will be used for foot traffic only, which means non-skiers or sightseers can head up to the top in comfort – and then stroll to the viewing platform for magnificent vistas over the Wakatipu Basin. Skiers and boarders will still ride up on the chairs.

A new chairlift will start spinning at The Remarkables this winter, with the high-speed,

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six-seater Sugar Bowl chairlift opening up 2.5 kilometres of new terrain. The Doppelmayr lift is the first of its kind in New Zealand and will carry skiers and boarders from the base area all the way up to the top of the terrain parks in four minutes.

The big news for Cardrona is that this popular mountain now has a sibling, with Treble Cone purchased by Cardrona’s owners. This season will be the first time the two resorts will complement each other, with a variety of multi-day passes allowing lift access across both mountains.

Places to play In sad news, Selwyn Snow Resort, near Adaminaby in New South Wales, will not be opening this season after Australia's summer bushfires destroyed its infrastructure. The good news is that it will be rebuilt – a great result for the many people who love Selwyn and want their kids to learn here.

We do have other fantastic areas for snowplay in Australia, for those families who might want to try out winter sports before committing to a full-on ski holiday. One great place to try is Corin Forest in Canberra. This is a fun day out for first timers, or even those who just want a taste of snow on a Canberra visit. Corin Forest has a ski slope limited to 150 people a session, with a magic carpet and gentle terrain. There is even a snowsports school for those important first lessons. Play is just as important as learning to ski, and Corin Forest runs 2.5-hour fun sessions for snowman building, toboggan riding and snowball throwing. Afterwards, toast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate around the cafe’s roaring fire.

Lake Mountain outside Melbourne is another place to test out your snow legs. Two hours’ drive from the Victorian capital, it is

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known as the cross country ski centre of Australia, and has everything you need for family fun in the snow. You can take the kids snowshoeing or snow hiking, or enrol in lessons to learn how to cross country ski.

Lake Mountain also offers snowboard lessons with the Burton Riglet program for kids from three to six years old, and the Learn to Ride program for kids aged seven to 14.

In New Zealand, Ohau Snowfields is a smaller resort that is a great place to start out.

Stay at the super friendly Lake Ohau Lodge

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for all kinds of family fun, and head up the mountain for a day or two of skiing or snowboarding. The Ohau experience is a fantastic, all-round holiday that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Tekapo Springs is another place for some wonderful winter adventures, with an international-size ice rink and a snow-tubing park. Taupo, on New Zealand's North Island, has some fun on- and off-snow experiences with fabulous snowshoeing tours run by Chris Jolly at Tukino. Back in Taupo, there are many hot springs to soak in, as well as a plethora of diverse activities, including trout fishing.

On-snow action Skiers and shredders are gearing up to carve up the world-class ski resorts in Australia and

SKI

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“Skiers and shredders are gearing up to carve up the world-class ski resorts Down Under over the winter months.“ New Zealand over the winter months. In Australia, New South Wales has three great resorts; the smaller, snowbound Charlotte Pass (only accessible on a snowcat); Thredbo; and the biggest resort in the Southern Hemisphere, Perisher. Thredbo has the amazing Friday Flat area for kids – and adults – to learn on, with a gentle gradient taking 'scary' out of the equation. Thredbo’s village delivers a great atmosphere with plenty of family-friendly accommodation and restaurants on hand, while its fireworks and flare run are always a favourite. Kids five to 12 years old who are keen to progress can sign up for the new Adventure Camps: five days of lessons with a limited number of children per class and the same instructor.

Perisher is the big daddy of Australian ski

Enjoy the ultimate family holiday at Australia’s best snow resort…

01 Kids at Thredbo © Thredbo Resort 02 Lil Bucks Park, Cardrona Alpine Resort © Fin Melvillek 03 Falls Creek fun © Jarryd Sinclair 04 Falls Creek fireworks © Chris Hocking 05 Mount Ruapehu Happy Valley 2019

thredbo.com.au *When an adult purchases a Kids Ski Free 3 or 5 day adult lift or adult lift and lesson pass, one child under the age of 18 receives a 3 or 5 day lift pass free of charge. 2020 valid dates are: 6-26 June and 31 August-5 October 2020. Must be purchased 7 days in advance via the Thredbo Online Shop.

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resorts, with visitors able to ski or snowboard at four linked resorts. You can easily fill a week exploring the many different areas, working your way through Perisher to Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega. Each has a different personality, but also offers terrain for all levels.

In the Victorian Alps, Falls Creek is the perfect winter playground for families, with a postcard-pretty village, incredible terrain and plenty of fun activities. The kids might want to go night skiing on Australia’s longest green run, Wombats Ramble, or tobogganing, snow tubing, snowmobiling and more.

Another Victorian gem, Mt Hotham is perched atop a ridge with fabulous family accommodation dotted on the ridgeline.

Ski down and discover the wonderful valleys of Hotham, or cruise on the sun-drenched Summit. The Ski and Ride school is located at the Big D, wedged between Hotham and Dinner Plain, and is the perfect place to meet for lessons. It also has Burton Riglets for kids aged three to six years old.

In New Zealand, the North Island has Mt Ruapehu in the Taupo region, with the bigger resort, Whakapapa, located on one side of the volcano and Turoa on the other.

Whakapapa features the exceptional Happy Valley beginner area, incredibly safe as it is free of advanced skiers and boarders. It also features the Sky Waka gondola, which whisks skiers and sightseers up to the Knoll Ridge Chalet – the views from there are something to behold.

On the South Island, Mt Hutt – voted Best Ski Resort in New Zealand for the fifth year in

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

06 06 Snowboarders at Mt Baw Baw 07 Children riding with their instructor at Whakapapa © Will Shirer

a row at the World Ski Awards in 2019 – delivers wonderful views over the Canterbury Plains as well as fantastic skiing and boarding on world-class terrain. A new initiative in 2020 allows guests to help regenerate Mt Hutt’s native landscape and offset the carbon from their travels, simply by purchasing a native tree when buying lift tickets online or at Mt Hutt.

Around Queenstown, you have the choice of The Remarkables or Coronet Peak, and over the Crown Range, Cardrona or Treble Cone. Treble Cone boasts jaw-dropping views over Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps, as well as the most vertical drops in New Zealand. It caters more to intermediate and advanced riders, while Cardrona is ideal for all levels thanks to its cross-section of terrain.

Bowls, chutes, groomers and a big air-terrain park ensure something for everyone.

Ski Report Card Australia mthotham.com.au lakemountainresort.com.au fallscreek.com.au mtbuller.com.au mountbawbaw.com.au thredbo.com.au perisher.com.au charlottepass.com.au facebook.com/selwynsnowresort corin.com.au New Zealand mtruapehu.com nzski.com/mthutt nzski.com/coronet nzski.com/remarkables cardrona.com treblecone.com Stay koki.com.au corroboreeskilodge.com.au therees.co.nz Passes Epic Pass: Perisher, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham epicaustraliapass.com.au Ikon Pass: Thredbo, Mt Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Hutt ikonpass.com

The ultimate snow travel guide for families, covering Australia, New Zealand, North America, Asia + more!

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Ski & Snowboard with Kids annual out soon

Caravan & Camping Get inspired by our camping experts as they reveal the best camping tips, tricks and places to see and explore around Australia.

Jump to

74 In touch 84 Top End 88 Sapphire Coast

92 Shoalhaven 96 Gold Coast 98 Queensland camping

Image Š @summerofseventyfive

102 Camping safety 104 Holiday parks

IN TOUCH

HOLIDAY PARK

Slip and slide into Australia’s tallest water park With all that famous sunshine up on the Gold Coast, cooling off is often top-of-mind. Luckily, BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park has opened a water wonderland to do just that, boasting 317 metres of water slides and snagging the title of tallest water park in the Land Down Under. With 40 interactive play features and designated zones especially for tiny tots, the park promises fun for the whole family. goldcoastholidaypark.com.au

CAMPING

Get back out there with the ‘Keep on Camping’ initiative

Image © Tourism & Events Queensland

After the recent bushfires that ripped through the country, tourism in regional Australia has really suffered. With that in mind, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia has launched the ‘Keep on Camping’ campaign, which is all about helping affected areas get back on their feet. Through the Keep on Camping website, anyone looking to hit the road can stay updated on where is safe to visit and share their travel experiences, supporting businesses and communities that need tourist dollars more than ever. keeponcamping.com.au

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ATTRACTIONS

All aboard

The new Thomas-and-friends-worthy Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail stretches 22 kilometres along a non-operational railway corridor in the Snowy Valleys, perfect for family rides followed by walks in the fresh air.

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IN TOUCH

STAY AND PLAY

Awesome Heated Ind oor Water Park and Spa Pool

Every kid wants to head to Narooma!

We have the perfect waterfront location, right on the inlet. Your kids can make a splash, ride their bikes and fish right from the front of our park.

Sp la sh

Jum ping pillo w

Fishin g

Go-kart s

Pool

Big4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park 41 Princes Hwy Narooma NSW

Ph: 1800 332 787

holiday@easts.com.au

www.easts.com.au

20% OFF

+ $30 CAFE

VOUCHER PROMOCODE: HWK20

CLOSEST BIG4 HOLIDAY PARK TO THE GOLD COAST THEME PARKS 32 acres to run and roam, monster water park to swoosh and slide, resort pool to swim and splash.

Time to make new friends and create memories.

P: (07) 5514 4400

| E: stay@gcpark.com.au

|

W: goldcoastholidaypark.com.au

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IN TOUCH CAMPING

5

More reasons to take the kiddies camping Confirming what we already knew, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Real Richness report has revealed that camping has bags of benefits for families.

Ninety-three per cent of campers believe camping brings families together, and 97 per cent think it allows children to learn about the environment, social interactions and important life lessons. With so many positives for the wee wanderers, it sounds like a family camping trip is in order! caravanindustry.com.au

back-to-nature camping spots These remote hideaways are perfect for pitching your tent and getting away from it all.

KARLU KARLU, NT Varying in size from 50 centimetres to six metres – and with many precariously balanced atop one another like a bad game of Jenga – the gigantic granite boulders of the Devils Marbles are also a vast campground in the Northern Territory.

JOHANNA BEACH, VIC

Image © Megan Crabb

If you fantasise about falling asleep to a soundtrack of crashing waves, this is the spot for you. Nestle beachfront among the sand dunes or camp on the clifftop; either way, your tent is the launch pad for trips to the Great Otway National Park.

KURRAJONG CAMPING AREA, WA Located in the Kimberley’s Bungle Bungle Range, this campsite is surrounded by the region's trademark orange and black beehive mounds. It's the perfect base for exploring the stunning surrounding waterholes and taking long hikes.

MT FIELD NATIONAL PARK, TAS Sleeping under the careful watch of the ancient trees and greenery of Tasmania’s oldest national park is an experience that is pretty hard to beat. The 14 powered sites that comprise the tiny, shaded camp area here are scattered through the forest.

RED CLIFF CAMPGROUND, NSW Perched on the northern end of Yuraygir National Park, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in NSW, these 65 grassy campsites draw in crowds of birds and kangaroos – but not so many people.

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

GEAR

Have it all with the Hammbag On the road, less is more, so anything that can be MacGyvered into having multiple uses is sure to be a win. Australian adventurers Tom and Dylan came up with the concept for Hammbag after a trip to Byron Bay where they forgot to pack a towel, sleeping bag or backpack, and ended up using a hammock for all the above! A bag, mat, towel, bed, blanket and even a poncho – there was no end to its uses. So they developed the Hammbag – an easily transportable hammock designed to fold into a backpack, cross-body bag or anything else you can think of. Talk about multi-tasking. hammbag.com

IN TOUCH

Happy Kids = Happy Parents

Kids stay FREE during selected school holidays*

Mega waterslide park

2 giant jumping pillows

Outdoor cinema screen

Cabins & camp sites

Over 15 onsite activities!

Airlie’s largest resort pool

18 hole mini golf

25- 29 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach • Ph: 1300 640 587 Email: reservations@adventurewhitsunday.com.au adventurewhitsunday.com.au #adventurewhitsunday

*Kids stay FREE during summer schoolschool holidays, valid for travel Kids stay FREE during winter & summer holidays, valid for 06 Dec - 19 Dec 03inJan - 01 & Feb cabin styles travel, 26 June – 182019 Julyand 2020 cabins 112020 Dec -in22all Dec 2020 and and powered sites.

Conditions apply. to availability.

Not 05 Jan – 26 Jan 2021 in all cabin styles andSubject powered sites. Conditions validapply. with any othertooffer or discount. must Subject availability.

NotChildren valid with anyutilise other existing offer or bedding in in the the same same cabin. cabin. discount. Children must utilise existing bedding

Naturally relaxing Stay right on the beach or river frontage at all of the Sunshine Coast Holiday Parks at any of the 6 great locations: Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park (07) 5491 3342 Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park (07) 5444 1201 Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park (07) 5443 1167

Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park (07) 5448 7157 Cotton Tree Holiday Park (07) 5459 9070 Coolum Beach Holiday Park (07) 5446 1474

BOOK ONLINE

sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au www.sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au @holidayswithkids

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IN TOUCH

HOLIDAY PARK

Kids under 5 stay free at Tweed Holiday Parks Tweed is rich in natural wonders and renowned as a seaside playground – ideal for a family holiday or a peaceful weekend getaway. Sound perfect? Book your stay at Tweed Holiday Parks and kids under five can stay and play for free. Tweed Holiday Parks is the ideal place to relax, unwind and reconnect. From Tweed Heads to Pottsville, Tweed Holiday Parks boasts seven idyllic locations along the Tweed coastline, each park offering something unique. Accommodation includes absolute waterfront tent and tourist sites, unique 'Surfari Tents', cabins and luxury waterfront villas.

Conditions apply. tweedholidayparks.com.au Image © Trevor Worden

Del Rio RIVERSIDE RESORT

fun for the whole family!

Winter $1 Special!

FROM 14TH APRIL – 31ST AUGUST, 2020 Stay full price the 1st night, 2nd night only pay from $1 per person per night on powered and unpowered sites!

PLUS huge savings on all styles of accommodation.

EGD 03/20

For all bookings phone 02 4566 4330 or online at www.delrioresort.com.au and quote Promo code: WNT1

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RIVERSIDE RESORT

Conditions apply. Not in conjunction with any other offer. Please ring on 45 66 4330 for mid-week school holiday cabin/villa special.

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

Image © Tourism & Events Queensland

IN TOUCH

HOLIDAY PARK

GEAR

Stay connected Although one of the joys of camping is escaping the deluge of emails and text messages, it’s nice to know that – if you need to – you can still stay connected, especially when you’ve got kids in tow. Enter ZOLEO, the first global messaging service that gives your smartphone the ability to switch between satellite, cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, allowing users to message anyone, anytime, anywhere. With online safety features such as check-in, weather forecasts and 24/7 SOS alerts, not to mention 200+ hours of battery life, this bit of kit is an essential for anyone going remote. zoleo.com

Back and better than ever

Located just steps away from the pristine sands of Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park has reopened its doors to guests after undergoing a $3.8 million redevelopment. Upgrades include 59 spacious sites all boasting improved access, new amenities such as a camp kitchen, refreshed landscaping and better connections to the beachside boardwalk. sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au

Central Coast Holiday Parks Central Coast Council

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Central Coast Council

Central Coast Council

www.cchp.com.au

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

Central Coast Council

FREE CALL 1800 241 342

WAIRO BEACH Holiday Park

Ready for your next family holiday?

ENJOY EVERY 4TH NIGHT FREE!* Resort style pool & splashpad Mini golf course & jumping cushion Cabin accommodation

Direct beach access Tennis court & playground Powered & ensuite sites

BOOK TODA Y!

425 Princes Highway, Lake Tabourie (02) 4457 3035 *Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply.

allswell.com.au/letsgowairo

IN TOUCH

HOLIDAY PARK

Water fun at Discovery Parks – Echuca

Nestled under a canopy of river gums on the banks of the mighty Murray River, Discovery Parks – Echuca is an oasis for holiday makers, particularly over the summer months with waterskiing, boating, fishing and swimming on offer. There's a variety of accommodation, a pool, jumping pillow and playground, plus a range of holiday activities including pony rides, outdoor movies, go karting, jumping castles and face painting. Now, the addition of a fabulous new water park and splash zone – complete with tipping bucket, multiple spray zones, slides and separate toddler splash zone – means families will be entertained from morning until night. discoveryholidayparks.com.au CAMPING

Deluxe swag-ging Broken Hill Outback Resort has unveiled 12 deluxe, king-sized swags so visitors can sleep under the desert skies and see more stars than ever before. Located among the sand dunes in the far west of New South Wales, the resort – which opened in August 2018 – features 12 spa studios and a camp and caravan ground, all grouped around a charming 130-year-old pub. The spacious swags are set up before guests arrive, in addition to a campfire to gather around each night to roast marshmallows – all the ingredients you need for a fun, hassle-free camping experience in the desert! brokenhilloutbackresort.com.au

Here y ida Hol r Yea s i Th

kids stay free PLUS REDUCED PRICES FOR STAYS OF 2 NIGHTS OR MORE IN ANY VILLA*

Promo code KIDS FREE Creating family memories comes naturally on the Gold Coast. With Kids Stay Free and reduced prices for stays of 2+ nights, there is no better time to book a family getaway than NOW!*

call today on: 07 5572 7533 nobbybeachholidayvillage.com.au

*T&Cs apply. Valid for travel from 1/05-5/12/2020 in Villas only. Blackout dates apply. Minimum 2-14 nights.

No further discounts apply. For full T&Cs visit nobbybeachholidayvillage.com.au/HWKwinter

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

info@nobbybeachholidayvillage.com.au 2200 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami QLD

Our family friendly park has an array of accommodation to suit everyone’s needs from waterfront Beach Retreats and Villas to our Ensuite and Powered Sites.

Relax and enjoy a swim or a game of beach cricket on our beautiful Easts Beach. The kids will love our water park "Sunny's Aquaventure Park", along with our brand new pool complex, jumping pillow and children's playgrounds.

Kids activities and movies in our holiday periods will keep the kids busy.

Our holiday park is the ideal location from which to explore the south coast, with popular tourist attractions such as Jamberoo Action Park and the Minnamurra Rainforest just minutes away.

01

THE TOP END

A top (end) adventure uncovers the treasures of Australia’s northwest and Top End, taking on the notorious Gibb River Road.

amber cree

“One, two, three, jump!” echoes off steep, rocky walls as I watch my daughters plunge into the depths below.

For a brief moment there’s an eerie silence, only the sound of trickling water and the whisper of the breeze.

The kids resurface, their giggles bouncing around the natural amphitheatre. Barely catching their breaths through the squeals, they scramble back to the top of the waterfall. “Come on Mum!” says Coco (13). “It’s your turn,” chimes in her sister, Indigo (12), as she grabs my hand. “One, two, three, jump!”

The adventure of a lifetime Along with the bare essentials, we’ve packed our tribe of four into a Troopy 4WD and set out for six weeks on an adventure through one of the last great wildernesses in Australia. This is a journey that will not only push us to our limits, but will also open our eyes to another world.

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Our trip takes us some 3,000 kilometres as we meander our way from Broome to Darwin, through the heart of The Kimberley and along the Gibb River Road – a notorious 600-kilometre stretch of dust and bumpy tracks that’s enough to rattle even the most seasoned adventurer.

As we explore far-reaching landscapes, from Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula to the majesty of El Questro and the ancient world of Purnululu National Park, it quickly becomes clear this isn’t a jaunt for the faint-hearted. Like stepping into a land before time, it’s wild, rugged and remote. But it’s also incredibly beautiful and like nowhere else on Earth.

Other worlds “There’s a whale,” screams Indigo excitedly as we frolic on powdery white sand, looking out across the luminous blue horizon of the Indian Ocean at Cable

THE TOP END

Beach in Broome. Further north, we find ourselves in an otherworldly landscape, perched on top of the ruby red cliffs of James Price Point. “I wonder if this is what Mars looks like?” asks Coco.

Heading north, we drive along Cape Leveque Road to the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. Here, the road stretches as far as the eye can see, like a vein in the landscape, the red sand forming mounds of unrelenting corrugations.

It’s a bumpy ride, and our dashboard hula girl is swaying joyfully until we reach Kooljaman, at the tip of Cape Leveque. A remote wilderness camp run by the traditional landowners, the Bardi Jawi people, it is bursting with natural wonders. We sleep in a beach hut made of sticks with a sand floor, and like castaways washed up on a desert island, soak in all the beauty of this pristine paradise, knowing we’ve found a place that will forever call us back.

X marks the spot Rising early to beat the scorching heat, we check off our list – water, towel, emergency beacon – before heading off on foot. It’s 7am, but the intensity of the sun proves a harsh wake up. The track leads us down an embankment to a dry creek bed. With no map or signposts, we can only guess which way to turn.

“All creeks lead to water,” I explain to the kids, surprising myself with my recollection of those long forgotten Girl Guide skills. The track meanders its way

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through rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation along the ridge. With water bottles close to empty and the heat almost unbearable, our hopes fade quicker than our feet can carry us. “Look, an arrow!” points Indigo, running towards the promised treasure we’ve been searching for: the swimming hole.

Barnett River Gorge is a lesser-known gorge along the Gibb River Road and we’re the only people here.

We spend the morning immersed in the swimming hole, splashing ourselves into a wrinkly mess. A shouted “coo-ee!” echoing around the gorge walls eventually prompts us to leave – it’s the next group of explorers searching for treasure.

Off the beaten track Further along the Gibb, we spot a track that extends into the distant wilderness. We check the map and 05

“ With the golden glow of a Kimberley sunset looming, we feel somewhat vulnerable, but exhilarated.“

see it’s a 40-kilometre 4WD track: a shortcut, the quintessential ‘road less travelled’.

A few hours in, however, we realise short it is not.

The going is tough, the track disappears and we crawl at five kilometres per hour, guided only by the contours of the landscape and the changing light. “Are we there yet?” I hear from the back seat. “Not even close!”

Miles from anywhere, we set up camp under the branches of a lone boab tree. There’s comfort in knowing it has been here, tall and unwavering, enduring the hardships of the landscape for thousands of years. With the golden glow of a Kimberley sunset looming, we feel somewhat vulnerable, but exhilarated at the same time. “Mum, we could scream as loud as we can, and nobody would hear us!” heralds Coco.

“Let’s hope we don’t need to scream then,” I reply.

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Minds boggled An ancient creekbed billions of years in the making, dwarfed by beehive-shaped landforms, has a way of putting your existence in perspective. Visiting the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungle Range should be on every adventurer’s bucket list, kids included, as it’s a history and geography lesson all in one. The grandeur of the landscape is hard to comprehend.

Our minds boggle at this ancient land, and we wonder what else is out there still undiscovered in this wild Australian landscape. We’ve experienced the land in its rawest, purest form and, most importantly, we've shared it with our children. I think there must be something in that Kimberley red dust, because this last great wilderness area is a part of us now, etched into our hearts and minds forever.

Top End Report Card Info australiasnorthwest.com Stay oakshotels.com kooljaman.com.au Getting around britz.com.au Do ivanhoefarms.com.au

07 01 Water fun at El Questro Gorge 02 4WDing Cable Beach 03 Crazy cliffside roads at James Price Point 04 Having a dip at Kooljaman, Cape Leveque 05 Gibb River Road 06 Crossing the WA/NT border 07 Echidna Chasm at Purnululu National Park. All images © Amber Cree/Summer of Seventy Five

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Sparkling

Sa pphire

New South Wales' Sapphire Coast has it all, it seems. zac de silva takes a look at this slice of paradise with Reflections Holiday Parks.

Hidden away at the bottom of NSW, the Sapphire Coast has been left relatively untouched by mass tourism. Stretching from Eden in the south to Narooma in the north, this stunning spot offers everything from whale watching to world-class beaches. And with Reflections Holiday Parks offering cabins and campsites all through the region, there's no shortage of accommodation .

Bermagui For water lovers, Bermagui is the highlight of the Sapphire Coast. The Blue Pool is built into the rocky shoreline and is much loved both in the area and further afield – Yahoo Travel Inspirations ranked it as the sixth-best pool in the world (Bondi’s Iceberg Baths took the top spot). If you’d rather hit the sand, Shelly Beach is right next to the town centre, and offers mild surf perfect for younger kids. And for fishing, look no further than the Bermagui River, or head out on a deep-sea game fishing tour.

For your local dose of history, head to Montreal Goldfield, seven kilometres north of Bermagui, which is Australia’s only seaside goldfield. Or, follow the six-kilometre coastal walk north to Camel Rock,

"Between May and early November you’ll be able to spot whales in Twofold Bay."

NSW SAPPHIRE COAST

which was the site of indigenous Corroborees until the 1930s. stay at… Pet-friendly Bermagui Holiday Park sits just back from the rocky shoreline and is close to the town’s shops, beaches and cafes. Accommodation options include cabins (sleeping up to six), and powered and unpowered campsites.

Pambula On your way south from Bermagui, you’ll arrive in this charming historic town. The oldest building, the court house, was completed in 1861, but the 19th-century architecture is just in its tweens compared to the 3,500-year-old Aboriginal middens that you’ll see on the Pambula River Walking Track.

And if you love oysters, then you might never leave this beautiful part of the world.

The clean waters of Pambula Lake are renowned for producing some of Australia’s best oysters, so take an oyster tour to try them straight from the source.

If you spend some time in the town centre, you’re likely to come out with your pockets (or bank account) slightly lighter than when

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you arrived. You’ll find stores selling all manner of local products, from eco-friendly clothing and artisan bread to locally made surfboards and giftwares. If you’re driving south, continue on to Eden (about a half-hour drive) to stay the night.

Eden Surrounded by Ben Boyd National Park, Eden lives up to its biblical name. Between May and 01 The Sapphire Coast is a watery wonderland for families.

Image courtesy of Reflections Holiday Park 02 Eden Holiday Park 03 Farm fresh produce © Tourism Australia 04 The Blue Pool in Bermagui © Shutterstock/FiledIMAGE

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early November you’ll be able to spot whales in Twofold Bay – it’s the third-deepest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, and is particularly popular with these denizens of the deep as a result. Whales are so connected to Eden’s history that each November, when they stop to feed in Twofold Bay, the town celebrates the annual Eden Whale Festival.

Once you’ve had your fill of whale history, head to Snug Cove to try some of the best seafood around and watch local fishermen unload their catch. Afterwards, be sure to take a walk in Ben Boyd National Park to truly experience this garden of Eden. stay at… Wedged between Curalo Lake and Aslings Beach, Eden Holiday Park is surrounded by things to do – drop a line in the lake, head out on a kayak or just mark out a spot on the beach and soak it all in.

Accommodation options include cabins (sleeping up to six) as well as pet-friendly powered and unpowered sites.

Sapphire Coast Report Card Info sapphirecoast.com.au Stay reflectionsholidayparks.com.au Do montrealgoldfield.org.au edenwhalefestival.com.au

SHOALHAVEN

Stay in sunny n

Shoalhave

explores the best of NSW’s always beautiful Shoalhaven region with Holiday Haven. tabby wilson

After a devastating summer of bushfires, the beloved holiday retreats along NSW’s South Coast have lost much of the tourist traffic they rely on. But they’re back in business, and in need of our support. Holiday Haven, which has 12 holiday parks on the Shoalhaven Coast, has launched the Holiday Haven Challenge to get visitors out into the community and making a difference, whether that's buying an ice-cream or taking a tour. So pack the kids and an #emptyesky and hit the Shoalhaven – one of Australia’s most delightful family holiday spots.

Shoalhaven Heads Sitting at the gateway to the coast beyond, the quiet town of Shoalhaven Heads is an excellent place to base the family for exploration of the Shoalhaven region. Thanks to its proximity to both the river mouth and ocean, the Heads offers endless ways to while away a day – starting with a morning on the aptly named Seven Mile Beach. The Beach Road picnic area is good for a beachside barbecue, staving off hungry children with fishing, swimming and sandcastles. From here it’s just a case of choosing what to do, whether that's starting one of the walks surrounding Mt Coolangatta or driving out to The Famous Berry Donut Van. For a day that is a little more thrill than chill, Jamberoo Action Park is the spot to be. Just 40 minutes away, this water theme park has a whole host of rides and attractions that will have the kids squealing with delight.

Shoalhaven Zoo and Adventure World is 20 minutes closer and just as fun, promising a huge collection of exotic animals and close-up wildlife encounters. stay at… Holiday Haven Shoalhaven Heads for spacious ensuite camping sites, brilliant barbecues and a solar-assisted pool and aquatic playground.

Kangaroo Valley Just a couple of hours from Sydney, Kangaroo Valley is packed with kid-friendly fun. If you’re a family that loves exploring, start with the all-too-easy Three Views walking track for lots of lookouts and wildlife. If you want to delve deeper, book in with Kangaroo Valley Safaris, who offer a number of kayak and canoe tours for adventurers.

Once you have managed to get the lay of the land, meander down the main street to The Friendly Inn, a charming, heritage-listed country pub with a playground and pétanque court for the kids. Once lunch is done and dusted, head to the Kangaroo Valley Fudge and Ice Creamery for the best cone you’ve ever licked, not to mention some great gifts. stay at… Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley for a bushland setting, access to the Kangaroo River and select dog-friendly camping sites.

SHOALHAVEN

“ Once you get over the sand, take to the water and keep your eyes peeled for marine life.“ Jervis Bay The brilliant white sand and turquoise water of Jervis Bay are famous the world over, so it would be remiss to skip it. With stacks of sea and sand, this family getaway is all about beach-hopping and enjoying the sunshine.

Although Hyams Beach is iconic, you can avoid the crowds and visit neighbouring Chinamans Beach for a swim and a stroll along the legendary white shingle. Cave Beach and Murrays Beach are two equally beautiful sections of shoreline to explore.

Once you get over the sand, take to the water and keep your eyes peeled for marine life. Jervis Bay Marine Park is famous for whales and dolphins and Jervis Bay Wild has a number of tours that let you get up close and personal with these incredible creatures.

After answering the call of the wild, complete your Jervis Bay day with an Aussie feast and some live entertainment at The Husky, as the local pub in Huskisson is affectionately referred to. stay at… Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach for an unmatched kids’ playground, tennis courts and direct beach access.

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Milton and Mollymook The perfect mix of coast and country, sister towns Milton and Mollymook are South Coast destinations that keep people coming back for more. Milton is officially listed by the National Trust, so a heritage walk is a great way to come to grips with the area, exploring the historic buildings that give the town so much character. As you mosey along the main street you'll likely stumble upon The Settlement Row Shops, perfectly preserved and home to a number of beautiful boutiques.

The area is brimming with gourmet hidey-holes and cutesy cafes. Stop for a veggie burger at Pilgrims or step it up to a full wine-and-dine experience at Cupitt’s Estate, where you can eat at the awardwinning restaurant, taste-test cheese at the fromagerie or simply enjoy a family picnic on the green and gorgeous grounds.

For the full Milton and Mollymook experience, a class at Mollymook Beach Surf

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School tops the to-do list, offering tuition that is perfect for beginners hoping to learn the epic art of hanging 10. stay at… Holiday Haven Ulladulla for a decked-out camp kitchen, mini-golf course and an outdoor cinema area.

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Shoalhaven Report Card Info shoalhaven.com Stay holidayhaven.com.au Do jamberoo.netm cupitt.com.au mollymookbeachsurfschool.com kangaroovalleycanoes.com.au shoalhavenzoo.com.au thefriendlyinn.com.au kangaroovalleyfudge.com.au pilgrims.cafe jervisbaywild.com.au huskissonhotel.com.au

01 The bone-white sand of Hyams Beach © Shutterstock/Roman Skorzus 02 Mollymook surf rescue © Katie Rivers Photography for Sho 03 A day at Jamberoo is a must for visitors to Shoalhaven Heads 04 Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach

12 holiday parks the whole family will love this Winter With standard powered sites reduced to $28 and 30% off cabins, ensuite powered and premium powered sites for stays of 3 nights or more.

Visit holidayhaven.com.au/hot-deals for more information.

holidayhaven.com.au Camping | Caravan & RV | Safari Tents | Cabins

GOLD COAST, QLD

Splash into the

Gold Coast

finds water fun for everyone at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park’s brand-new water park.

tina-louise jackson

“Up here!” shouts Luka, and I rush forward, camera in hand, ready to grab a photo of my precious 13-year-old, only to be rewarded with a blast of water from a water cannon high above me. Luka and my 40-something ‘man-child’ cackle with laughter as they rush off, and half an hour passes before they return to our poolside cabana, eyes gleaming from the thrill of the slides at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park’s brand-spanking-new water park.

Fun for all Forty interactive play features – including one of the largest splash buckets in Australia (holding a whopping 1,000 litres of water) and water slides reaching as high as 10 metres tall and boasting a combined length of 317 metres – make this the tallest water park within a holiday park in Australia.

From tiny tots to the biggest ‘kids’ in your family, there are hours of water play to suit every age, as well as plenty of chic cabanas to kick back and relax on while more boisterous members of the family run around. There’s even a licensed bar, so you can sip cocktails while you look on from the comfort of your stylish perch.

When you are all splashed out, there are monster carts to explore the park, a petting zoo, BMX track, jumping pillow and a dog agility park to give Fido a workout, too.

And then there's the excellent resort-style pool... The park is perfectly positioned in Helensvale, a short drive to the fine beaches of the Gold Coast and fun of Surfers Paradise, and a stone’s throw from holiday favourites Warner Bros.

Movie World, Wet’n’Wild, Dreamworld and Topgolf Gold Coast, should you fancy fine-tuning your swing.

All families great and small BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park boasts a smart, sophisticated feel while serving up a ton of fun for everyone, including fur babies. There is accommodation to suit families of every size and shape, whether in a three-bedroom retreat, a stylish two-bedroom villa (which we are staying in), or a nature-friendly caravan or tent site within the park’s roomy 12.9-hectare setting.

Our villa has a fully fitted kitchen, though the exceptional camp kitchen is something I would covet at home: no grubby grill and spatula chained to the countertop here.

Instead, you’ll find three separate food prep stations that are worthy of a MasterChef cook-off, squeaky clean grills and a fish tank to calm and amuse as you wait for your steaks to cook. If you don’t fancy cooking at all, the resort's on-site Nibbles Cafe serves up delicious fare from morning till night.

Back to that water park, which is where we spend most of our time on this adventure, and where revenge – as they say – is best served cold. As I carefully position the fam for a final cute dad-daughter photo (several “back a bits” later), that enormous 1,000-litre bucket of water topples from above and drenches them in a direct hit. I’m happy to say, it’s mum who gets the last laugh of the day.

Gold Coast Report Card Info goldcoastholidaypark.com.au

01 Ready, aim, fire! 02 The new water park at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park 03 Under the tipping bucket. Images 01 & 03 © Tina-Louise Jackson

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

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Camping on

Cloud Ni ne

Love all things nature? natarsha brown scours the highs and lows of Queensland to find the best places to pitch your tent or park your van in paradise.

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Camping and Queensland go together like macaroni and cheese. Think about it: 6,973 kilometres of coastline dotted with pristine – and often deserted – beaches, endless plains of red sand harbouring dinosaur footprints and brighter-than-you’ve-ever-seen starry night skies, a rainforest boasting the ripe old age of 180 million years, and waters brimming with brightly coloured Nemos, Dorys and anemones. It's Australia’s take on paradise, so where better to park your caravan or pitch your tent and do absolutely nada among nature?

For nature on your doorstep With not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on its doorstep, BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort is perfect for families wanting to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and walk beneath the jungle canopies of the Daintree while still enjoying creature comforts. With a splash park, giant jumping pillows, mini-golf playground, indoor play centre, multiple pools, trikes, an outdoor cinema, gym and restaurant, the resort offers no opportunities for little or big guests to say “I’m bored”. The grassy caravan and camping sites include an option with private bathroom facilities, and all have access to the camp kitchen. ingeniaholidays.com.au

For a postcard-perfect stay Whitehaven Beach is the poster child for white sands and turquoise waters. But did you know you can actually spend the night at this heartbreakingly beautiful spot? The 10 sites at Whitehaven Beach Campground are nestled just behind the celebrity-status stretch of sand among shady eucalypts. A permit will set you back $26.60 per family per night, but best be quick – understandably, numbers are limited and sell faster than hot cross buns at Easter. parks.des.qld.gov.au

For water fun for everyone Calling the always popular – and drop-dead gorgeous – Airlie Beach home, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort promises a stay that's chock-a-block full of waterfall walks in Conway National Park, lazy afternoon swims in nearby lagoons and boat trips out to the reef. Take a day off from exploring the scenic surrounds to instead spend hours – yes, hours – splashing about at the mega water slide park.

If the kids are still jittery from yet another sugar high – it’s hard to say no to ice-cream when you’re on vacay, isn’t it?

– then the tennis court, mini-golf, pedal karts, kids’ club, jumping pillows, outdoor movie nights or on-site animal park should burn some energy. The sites themselves are more like mini private retreats, surrounded by swaying palms and rock gardens. adventurewhitsunday.com.au

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CAMPING

For sand, sand and more sand Fraser Island is synonymous with beach camping. In fact, the largest sand island in the world is home to a whopping 45 national park camping areas. Dundubara, Waddy Point and Lake Boomanjin camping areas are all great choices for families, with dingo-deterrent fences, great amenities and easy access to the Fraser Island trifecta: Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek and Maheno Wreck. If you want to find somewhere with less crowds, then the further north of Indian Head you go, the better. parks.des.qld.gov.au

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01 Whitehaven Beach 02 BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort 03 Fraser Island 04 Fun on Airlie Beach 05 BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort 06 Carnarvon Gorge.

Images 01, 03, 04 & 06 © Tourism & Events Queensland

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For inland beauty Carnarvon National Park is one of the most dazzling of its kind in Queensland, with the 35-kilometre Carnarvon Gorge its crowning jewel. Its dramatic white cliffs – in some places reaching heights of 600 metres – shelter a lulling creek teeming with platypus, creating an otherworldly oasis shielded from the stark terrain. The gorge thrives with unique plant life, from giant cycads and king ferns to river oaks and cabbage palms. How this little camping nirvana has remained a relative secret is anyone’s guess. Camping at the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Area is permitted during the Easter, June-July and SeptemberOctober Queensland school holidays, with the 35 sites located among towering gum trees and Carnarvon fan palms. parks.des.qld.gov.au

For a quintessential Aussie holiday With the eucalypt forests and waterfalls of Springbrook National Park, and the many fabulous theme parks and kid-friendly beaches that make the Gold Coast so popular just a hop, skip and a jump away, it’s no surprise that BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is a long-standing favourite with Aussie families.

The riverfront park is set across more than six hectares of open grass, so there’s plenty of room to spare; it also features dog-friendly sites, so pooch can come along too. goldcoastholidaypark.com.au

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

“Where better to park your caravan or pitch your tent and do absolutely nada among nature?"

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Stay safe

out there!

takes a look at how a little planning can go a long way in the great outdoors. zac de silva

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

I was eight when my parents decided that I should join the Scouts. I wasn’t keen at first, but somehow, I stuck at it for the next 10 years. In that time, there was one thing I was constantly told: be prepared. If you’re heading into the outdoors, whether it’s a weekend camp in a national park or something more adventurous, you’d do well to heed that advice, because with a bit of planning, even the most adventurous trip can be achievable and, more importantly, safe.

Safety first The reality of taking kids camping is that minor character-building scrapes and bruises are inevitable. It’s important to know how to treat common injuries, but even more important to know how to avoid them. For starters, stay up-to-date with the weather and carry appropriate equipment and consumables for your family’s requirements.

You’ll also want to keep your kitchen and fire

CAMPING TIPS

(and any other heat sources) away from any trip hazards like guy ropes and tent pegs.

Know your stuff Stay up-to-date with basic first aid protocols and ensure you have a current first aid kit.

Pack your kit appropriate to your destination, because what you might need in the creepy crawly-filled Australian outback will be different to what you might need for a week in Fiji. At a minimum, a camping first aid kit should include a thermometer, compression bandage, kids’ paracetamol and antihistamine, oral rehydration powder, antiseptic wipes, saline solution, bite and burn ointments, assorted bandages and Band-Aids, scissors, tweezers, safety pins and a current first aid manual.

Look up While people are vigilant about checking around their campsite, they often forget the potential dangers above. Even the best tent won’t provide much protection when it comes to falling timber. When you’re setting up camp, check for any loose, dead or overhanging tree limbs, and if you spot any, steer clear.

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01 Family camping © Shutterstock/ wavebreakmedia 02 Francois Peron, Shark Bay at sunset © Shutterstock/ iacomino FRiMAGE 03 Sun safe © Shutterstock/Rido

Don't play with fire Before you leave, check for fire bans, as well as nearby bushfires. If you’re unsure about fires in the area, don’t go. If you are planning to have a campfire, keep your fire small and contained and only use designated fireplaces.

Never leave a fire unattended and ensure your fire is out before leaving or going to sleep.

Sun safety This is something parents have to be vigilant about, not only for their kids but for themselves. My week-long peeling neck after I returned from my recent hiking trip was a painful testament to that. Apply sunscreen to the entire crew – even the adults. Make sure it has a minimum SPF of 30 and reapply every two hours. If you’re spending the day walking, light long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat are a must.

Camp cuisine When you’re away from your fridge and freezer, food hygiene becomes super important – like, the difference between a fun trip and endless diarrhoea, important. All members of the family need to apply hand sanitiser regularly, particularly when preparing

meals. Be sure food is cooked at the correct temperature, because nobody wants raw chicken for dinner. It goes without saying that the whole family should stay well hydrated.

Going remote If you’re planning to head further afield – whether that’s off-track hiking or remote 4WDing (both of which, if planned well, are totally doable with kids) – take extra precautions. Tell someone your itinerary and take a satellite phone or personal locator beacon (PLB). In NSW, you can pick up a PLB from some National Parks Visitor Centres and police stations for a refundable deposit.

Outside of NSW you’ll need to rent one from a company for a small fee. Don’t skimp on this stuff – if it helps you out once, it’s worth it.

“With a bit of planning, even the most adventurous trip can be achievable and, most importantly, safe.“

@holidayswithkids

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HOLIDAY PARK HOT LIST

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BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park

Del Rio Riverside Resort

where Narooma, NSW With lush rainforest on one side and Wagonga Inlet on the other, BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park is ideally placed for a full-on family adventure. A brilliant base camp for travelling families, it offers an array of amazing amenities to take advantage of while you enjoy all the things to see and do nearby.

When it comes to facilities, this holiday park has it all, whether you’re after a camp kitchen, barbecues or a freezer for freshly caught fish. Kids will be easily entertained, too: play a game of giant chess, explore the park via pedal go-kart, or splash into a fun frenzy at Monty’s Island Oasis Indoor Splash Park.

Be sure to jump on a bike and make the most of the area’s cycle pathways. Not your style? Launch a boat from the holiday park’s very own ramp and do some discovery from the water – keeping a lookout for the whales that frequent the region, of course.

After a busy day full of exciting escapades, return to one of the many accommodation options at Narooma Easts Holiday Park, ready to unwind and snuggle down to enjoy a sound sleep. sleep Take your pick from a range of accommodation, with waterfront bungalows and ensuite cabins available as well as loads of camping sites with scenic views. do Outside the boom gate, the very best of Narooma awaits, from beautiful beaches and Montague Island to Australia Rock and the historic town of Tilba. info eastsnarooma.com.au

where Wisemans Ferry, NSW Set over three kilometres on the Hawkesbury River, the familyfriendly Del Rio Riverside Resort delivers activities, amenities and just an all-round good time. Whether you fancy going back to basics with an unpowered campsite or living up the luxe life in a villa with river views, this fabulous resort lets you have it all.

Need to wear out hyperactive children with bundles of energy?

You never have to leave the premises thanks to BMX tracks, a mini-golf course and an expansive, solar-heated swimming pool all on site and designed for family use. Keep the rug rats fuelled up for their adventures at the poolside Rio Café, or enjoy an evening out at the Del Rio Sports and Recreational Club, ideal for wining and dining in their spacious beer garden or snuggled around seasonal outdoor fireplaces.

The icing on the cake is Sheer Indulgence Beauty & Massage, offering a massive menu of treatments right within the resort for whenever you can manage to sneak away from the kids. sleep However you choose to holiday, this resort is certain to meet your needs. Camp your way through the day or stay in Studio Cabins, Waterview Villas or the 32-person Ski Lodge, perfect for a family reunion. do Take to the water and explore the Hawkesbury River, whether that’s by boat, kayak, on water skis or armed with a fishing rod.

The resort even has its own boat ramp. info delrioresort.com.au

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

HOLIDAY PARK HOT LIST

Nobby Beach Holiday Village

Tweed Holiday Parks Pottsville North

where Gold Coast, NSW Looking to escape to the iconic Gold Coast? This is the place to be.

Just 20 minutes north of Gold Coast Airport and smack bang in the middle of all the theme parks, Nobby Beach Holiday Village is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy a holiday where you can do as little or as much as you like.

With public transport on your doorstep, it's easy to explore all the attractions that make the Gold Coast a family favourite. Walk across the road and immerse yourself in Nobby Beach’s fabulous cafe and dining precinct, which will have you savouring flavours from all corners of the globe.

Within the park itself you’ll find two heated pools, a 35-metre mega water slide, an undercover playground, free Wi-Fi, a mini-mart, laundry facilities and a state-of-the-art camp kitchen.

Families can relax in a range of accommodation, from ultramodern two-storey Garden Penthouses sleeping up to 12, to simple studios and powered sites. With every creature comfort you could possibly imagine, the park is a dream destination for a family escape. sleep Affordable options for all styles and budgets. Choose from four-bedroom penthouses, two-bedroom villas or a studio. The park also offers powered sites for campers. do Explore all corners of the Gold Coast and at the end of a long day, head across the road to enjoy the amazing range of restaurants available. info nobbybeachholidayvillage.com.au

where Tweed Coast, NSW Just 200 metres from the sand and surf of Pottsville Beach, Tweed Holiday Parks Pottsville North is the perfect spot for a family getaway. Swimming, fishing and surfing options abound, and the nearby creek is the perfect spot for younger kids to splash around.

If you just want to stay in the park and relax, the two swimming pools, children’s playground, volleyball court and basketball court are sure to keep the whole family busy.

Head out and you’ll find the village shops just down the road with all the usual appointments, plus restaurants and cafes galore.

Be sure to time your visit to coincide with the bi-monthly Pottsville Beach Markets, where you’ll find fresh produce, homemade snacks and locally made art, jewellery and fashion.

Further afield, there’s plenty to see and do. Wollumbin National Park is rich with ancient tree species dating back to the time of Gondwana. Or, if the beach is more your thing, head either north or south along the coast in search of the perfect break.

During the off-peak period and between Monday and Thursday, guests can stay four, pay three, on all accommodation types, so there’s no excuse not to head to this beautiful part of Australia. sleep Tweed Holiday Parks Pottsville North offers cabins, 'Surfari Tents', tourist sites – with the option of an ensuite – and tent sites. do Laze on the beach, head inland to explore one of the many nearby national parks or enjoy the generous park facilities. info tweedholidayparks.com.au

@holidayswithkids

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HOLIDAY PARK HOT LIST

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BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Lake Conjola

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills

where Lake Conjola, NSW The NSW South Coast is back open for business after the summer’s tragic fires. BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Lake Conjola, located on a secluded stretch of lake a short 15-minute drive to Milton, provides the perfect backdrop for relaxing lakeside holidays with an absolute waterfront position surrounded by national parks.

Lake Conjola is best known for its stunning waterways, but there’s so much more for families to explore. Get on your bikes to take the Monument Beach ride to Bendalong, soak up nature’s bounty at the Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve, or pop in to one of the many cafes to enjoy local delights and bites.

The holiday park offers an abundance of fun for families who’d rather stay and play, with a fabulous resort-style swimming pool, splash park, tennis court, mini-golf course, ball court, games room, jumping cushion, playground and more. For those who want to enjoy Lake Conjola, there’s accessible swimming, a range of watersport activities and the park’s private boat ramp provides easy access for those who want to venture further. sleep Accommodation options range from luxurious, selfcontained two- and three-bedroom Holiday Cabins, to spacious powered, unpowered and ensuite sites for tents and caravans. do If you’re able to drag yourself away from all the fun in the park, learn to surf with Mollymook surf school or take to Lake Conjola and its expansive waterways for fishing and boating. info ingeniaholidays.com.au

where Bonny Hills, NSW A peaceful paradise within walking distance of the beach, BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills is located on beautiful Rainbow Beach, just a 20-minute drive south of family holiday hotspot Port Macquarie.

When you’re done with making a splash at the region’s secluded coastal beaches, lakes and rivers, there’s no shortage of fun to be found on site at the park with swimming pools, water play park, mini-golf course, jumping cushion, playground, games room, karts, table tennis, seasonal kids’ club and more. Or, if you can tear the kids away, head further afield to explore wineries and waterfalls, fun parks, animal sanctuaries, restaurants and more.

When it’s time to dine, mums and dads will appreciate the excellent barbecue facilities and camp kitchen with oven, fridge and a microwave. Or let neighbouring Bonny Hills Garden Cafe and the Bonny Hills Beach Hotel take over catering duties.

Park accommodation is set among pretty coastal woodland, with plenty of choices for families. Relax on the verandah with a cool drink to the soundtrack of birdlife and rustling leaves while the kids play. sleep From family cabins and spa cottages to bungalows and safari tents, as well as powered, unpowered and ensuite sites for tents and caravans, families of all sizes are catered for. do Saddle up a camel for a unique experience along Port Macquarie’s Lighthouse Beach, get lost in the Bago Maze or take to the bush on one of the many walking tracks. info ingeniaholidays.com.au

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

International Be inspired by our team of family travel experts as they share the best intrepid adventures and languid tropical getaways around the globe.

Jump to 108 Literary travel 112 Fiji 118 Vanuatu 122 Bali

Image © Shutterstock/NaturesMomentsuk

128 Sri Lanka 132 Cruise

By the

Boo k

Bring your kids’ favourite books to life in these locations of literary legend, writes aleney de winter.

The homelands and haunts of some of the world’s great authors have starred as and shaped the fictional worlds of family book favourites, from Anne of Green Gables to the Harry Potter series. Here, we step into the pages of some of the world’s most popular tales to explore the incredible destinations their authors breathed into literary life.

Anne of Green Gables prince edward island, canada It was on Canada’s pretty Prince Edward Island that Lucy Maud Montgomery created the beloved children’s fiction, Anne of Green Gables. Today visitors can explore the windswept island, home of the irrepressible Anne, on a horse and buggy ride. See the restored original green-gabled farmhouse, experience a celebration of the life and work of author Lucy Maud Montgomery at the Anne of Green Gables Museum, tap your toes to Anne of Green Gables – The Musical and visit Avonlea Village, named after the fictitious town in which Anne lived. The town contains real-life recreations of some of the book’s houses and shops as well as the schoolhouse in which Lucy Maud Montgomery taught, and the Historic Long River Church. tourismpei.com

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Paddington Bear London, England Paddington Bear is one of London’s most beloved children’s literature characters. The original stories, created by Michael Bond, saw the mischievous Peruvian bear navigating life in London with his adopted family, the Browns. Now you can pack your marmalade sandwiches and follow in his paw prints on a Paddington Bear tour of London. Stop at Paddington Station for a selfie with a statue of the famous bear; visit the Oxford Street shops where Bond stumbled upon the puppet that inspired Paddington; drop in to Alice’s Antiques, the film stand-in for Mr Gruber’s antiques; and adopt a Paddington of your own at Hamleys. hamleys.com

Eloise New York City, USA For children entranced by the hilarious antics of funny, capricious Eloise, the star of the classic eponymous children’s book series by Kay Thompson, New York City is a must.

Indulge with a stay in the pink, pink, pink Eloise Suite at The Plaza, the location of many of Eloise’s misadventures. Linger over the hotel's Eloise Tea, served daily in The Palm Court, then follow in her footsteps in Central Park and beyond. theplazany.com

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Edinburgh, Scotland It was at The Elephant House, a cute cafe overlooking Edinburgh Castle, that J.K. Rowling began crafting Harry Potter. And the city behind the book is like Hogsmeade come to life. Behind the cafe is Greyfriars Kirkyard, where among the tombstones you’ll spy a McGonagall, a Moodie and a Potter; but it’s the grave of Voldemort, or at least his real-life namesake, Tom Riddell, that is most popular with Potterheads. The fairytale facade of George Heriot’s School is said to have inspired Hogwarts and the curving, cobbled Victoria Street is like stepping into Diagon Alley, complete with magic stores. There’s even a double-decker bus tour, The Potter Trail, that will whisk you to wizardly locations with a tasty tankard of I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-NotButter-Beer fresh from the cauldron. pottertrail.com

Madeline

Percy Jackson

Paris, France Little fans of Madeline, the fearless Parisian heroine of Ludwig Bemelmans’ picture books, can bring her adventures to life in Paris. From beneath the Pont Neuf – the bridge Madeline teeters atop and falls from in consecutive Madeline stories – and the Place Vendôme, (where Madeline spies a jewellery thief), to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre and the Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin des Plantes botanic gardens, little ones will recognise all Madeline’s haunts from the illustrations in the much-beloved books.

Speaking of which, you’re bound to spot many a small tourist toting their books around the city as they follow in Madeline’s fearless and fabulous footsteps.

Athens, Greece The Greek capital should be on the bucket list of every Percy Jackson fan. While Percy’s modern-day story is based in America, the best-selling book series by Rick Riordan revolves around Greek mythology, and Athens is eternally intertwined with the stories and its characters. From the famed Acropolis to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion – dedicated to fictional Percy Jackson’s dad – Athens will whisk the kids into the pages of mythology.

Add a day trip to Epidauros, the Sanctuary of Asclepius (the god of medicine) and Ancient Corinth, where the sorceress Medea and Jason (of Argonauts fame) form much of Percy’s underworld lore, and your half-pint historians will be in Percy Jackson heaven.

Eiffel Tower watercolour illustration © Shutterstock/Le Panda. Watercolour wizard objects © Shutterstock/Godsend. Watercolour tiger © Shutterstock/ Olesya Turchuk.

Harry Potter

KIDS’ EXPERIENCES

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The Jungle Book Rajasthan, India Many decades before Baloo the Bear bopped around screens in search of ‘the bare necessities’, Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book was enchanting children the world over with his collection of stories about talking animals. While the book was set in India’s Seoni jungle, Rajasthan is probably the best spot for your wildlife-loving man-cubs to have their own Mowgli moment. The jewel in India’s crown with its palaces and forts, Rajasthan is also home to Ranthambore National Park, where they can explore steamy jungles in search of Bagheera and Shere Khan, along with troupes of bandar-log (monkey folk), sambar deer, chital, jungle cats, striped hyenas and sloth bears. Oh, Oobie-Doo!

01 Green Gables at Prince Edward Island © Chris Reardon 02 Paddington Station © Shutterstock/Chris Dorney 03 Poseidon Temple © Shutterstock/ Anastasios71 04 Alsfeld in Germany © Shutterstock/Borisb1706 05 Jaigarh Fort Rajasthan © Shutterstock/Roop_Dey

“ Athens will whisk the kids into the pages of mythology.“

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The Pied Piper

The Hobbit

Hamelin, Germany Let the Pied Piper lure you to Hamelin, embedded in the hills of Germany's Weserberg region, where you can wander the streets where he lured away the rats with his magic pipe. Hamelin is just one of the many magical stops along the 600-kilometre Fairy Tale Route that stretches from Hanau in central Germany to Bremen in the north. So named for the Brothers Grimm – who brought the tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and more to the world – the route is a real world fairytale of bewitching castles, enchanting forests and pretty medieval towns.

Two of these are the not to be missed: Alsfeld, where the house of Little Red Riding Hood still stands, and the pretty village of Bad Wildungen, home to the ever-popular Snow White. deutsche-maerchenstrasse.com

Birmingham, England While most fans picture New Zealand and Hobbiton when they think of JRR Tolkien’s literary classics, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, that’s not where it all started. Instead, we suggest exploring the childhood haunts that inspired the author to create his timeless tales. In Birmingham, take the Tolkien Trail to Sarehole Mill, said to be the inspiration for Hobbiton and the Shire, and a favourite playground of Tolkien and his brothers. Now a museum open to the public in summer, it’s a place of pilgrimage for many Tolkien fans, particularly during May’s Middle Earth Festival, a two-day event celebrating the life and works of JRR Tolkien. And be sure to visit Moseley Bog, an unspoiled slice of woodland that bears a strong resemblance to Tolkien’s Old Forest. birminghammuseums.org.uk

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The

Friendly

Isles

Beyond Fiji's swaying palms and barefoot beach vibe, aleney de winter discovers islands rich in culture and radiating an irrepressible tropical charm.

fiji hot hotels Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa Only 60 minutes’ drive from Nadi on Fiji’s Coral Coast, this resort offers traditional Fijian-style bure accommodation and leisure facilities including a swimming pool, kids’ splash pool and a kids’ club offering great activities for children aged five or over. fijihideaway.com

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Mana Island Resort & Spa With a selection of family-friendly accommodation, from luxury suites to traditional Fijian bures, this family-friendly resort boasts two freshwater pools, cultural demonstrations, craft and entertainment at the kids’ club, and a day spa for mum and dad. manafiji.com

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji The ancestor gods Lutunasobasoba and Degei of the Lapita tribe are said to have reached the western reef of Viti Levu in their canoe, Kaunitoni, nearly 3,500 years ago, bringing with them the beginnings of an intricate tapestry of Melanesian tradition and myth. Three thousand years later, give or take, Captain Cook landed in Fiji and stopped to explore the islands. He was followed by Christian missionaries from England and workers from the Indian subcontinent, who blew in with the trade winds; and, more recently, by thousands of tourists in search of sun, sea and sand.

Whether ancestor god, explorer or tourist, I have absolutely no doubt that every one of them quickly succumbed to the bliss of 'Fiji time'. And who could blame them? With its balmy climate, luxuriantly leafy jungles and shimmering beaches fringed with swaying palms and trees groaning under the weight of bright yellow papaya – all surrounded by a patchwork of transcendent blue that will leave even the world-weariest traveller dazzled – Fiji makes the notion of things getting done eventually, without the stress of time, seem extremely sensible.

But the otherworldly beauty of the Fijian archipelago of more than 300 islands is just the very pretty icing on a far richer and, frankly, delicious cake. Take a nibble below the shiny surface of the islands’ myriad resorts and beaches and you’ll find Fiji’s Indigenous culture – tinged with the rituals of Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Sikh faiths – is still very much a part of everyday life for the majority of the population. And despite being quickly enchanted by its glossy cover, my crew is smitten with the spirit-lifting stuff inside Fiji’s book.

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Along with its School Under the Sea, a program of fun and stimulating activities based around the local environment and Fijian culture, this exceptional island resort boasts an excellent kids’ club, free nanny services and local buddies for older kids. fijiresort.com

Treasure Island Resort Fiji

Famously friendly Perhaps it’s all the sunshine and the salty clear water. Maybe it’s the abundant fresh food, or perhaps it’s the genuine support of the tight-knit, village-based communities.

Whatever the reason, Fijian people are famously friendly, receiving visitors with warmth, hospitality and a friendly disposition that’s quite extraordinary.

So much so that when my daughter momentarily disappears from sight on a beach, I need look no further than the nearest Fijian to find her because I already know she’s wrapped up in a warm hug and chatting a new friend’s very willing ears off.

Indeed, we haven’t crossed paths with a single soul who hasn’t acknowledged us with at least a bellowed 'Bula!' or a wide grin. For my happy little socialite, it’s an invitation to mingle. And mingle she does, charming while being charmed by the friendly staff of Pullman Nadi Bay Resort and Spa Fiji, a newcomer to the country's resort scene and Nadi’s first five-star family resort. Lucky for her, the Fijian people absolutely adore kids, so stopping random passers-by on the beach for a bula and a high five is de rigueur, and venturing on the five-minute walk to the local shops becomes a giggling hour-long meet and greet.

With 78 traditional Fijian-style bures surrounded by stunning turquoise waters in the Mamanuca Islands, this easily accessible slice of island paradise boasts six dining outlets, a day spa, a three-tiered pool, water sports and a kids’ club with great activities for all ages. treasureisland-fiji.com

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FIJI

Island adventure Torn between exploring Fiji’s thriving coral gardens and its culture, we decide to combine both on a cruise to Tivua Island, just 90 minutes from Port Denarau, with Captain Cook Cruises. It proves a very wise decision indeed.

From the mellifluous tones of the Fijian crew who sing us across the seas to the traditional welcoming kava ceremony when we arrive, this cruise is as much an introduction to Fiji’s incredible culture as it is an opportunity to soak up its life aquatic.

After our kava primer, we take a leisurely lap of the island with the Captain Cook crew, who introduce us to traditional herbal medicines on a nature walk, passing pretty palms and twittering native birds as we go. The most startling takeaway from our walk is that despite its incandescent beauty, this island is completely void of people other than those from our small tour.

The water, however, is full of life, something my daughter discovers as she races into the sea and a black fin emerges, just metres from her tiny toes. “It’s adorable,” she shouts over her shoulder before plunging in with the baby black tip reef shark and a few of its equally 'cute' friends. The gin-clear

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ocean here is teeming with animals and, along with Captain Cook Cruises’ own marine biologist, we swim out through the school of baby sharks, passing dozens of neon blue sea stars, to a lively coral garden buzzing with fish. My son? He’s gone way further, joining Joe, a Viti Water Sports PADI instructor, to dive deeper into Tivua’s incredible underwater realm. His reward? The magical sight of a fever of stingrays and a gnarly, snaggle-toothed barracuda.

My beaming boy returns just in time for a tropical island feast, which we devour to a soundtrack of Fijian tunes. Afterwards, the kids return to the beautiful blue with their dad while I sneak away for a lazy beach massage under the palms.

Then it’s time for our return trip across the sea, and once more we are under the spell of song as the crew reenact ancient tales through a melodious cultural smorgasbord of singing and dancing.

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FIJI

Fiji Report Card

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Info fiji.travel Getting there Fiji Airways flies from major Australian cities to Nadi International Airport. fijiairways.com Stay pullmannadibay.com Do captaincookcruisesfiji.com sangamfiji.com.fj toursoffiji.com sigatokariver.com riversfiji.com

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Welcome to the jungle For an even greater immersion into Fijian life, the award-winning Sigatoka River Safari takes visitors on a 17-kilometre jet-boat adventure through the picturesque Sigatoka Valley, right into the heart of the mysterious highland interior. Here, the country's fascinating history, customs and legends are revealed at a local village (koro) and guests can experience a day in the life of a real kaiviti (Fijian). As the tours are rotated between 15 different villages, they don’t encroach on the traditional way of life and the experience is as authentic as it gets. Just remember to dress modestly (no tank tops or short shorts) and follow the protocol as directed by your guides.

For those who prefer their cultural edification with a side of raucous rough and tumble, Rivers Fiji offers the solution with their highlands whitewater rafting adventure.

Adrenaline-seeking families are offered a choice of tours showcasing both the natural and cultural heritage of Fiji. Both include a stop at a village for a traditional kava ceremony with the chief – it’s just getting there that differs. There’s the extreme, rafting along the wild rapids of the Upper Navua Gorge, or the serene, floating by inflatable kayak along the gentler waters of Middle Navua River. But serenity and my kids are fairly incompatible, so wild it is.

Cultural leanings As splendid as it is lazing around at the idyllic Pullman Nadi Bay Resort on our return to Nadi, we’re here for a glimpse into local life and a trip to the bustling Nadi Markets – where the kids

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stock up on handicrafts while chatting to their creators – proves a great start.

Another must for culturally curious clans is a visit to the eye-popping spectacle that is Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, the largest Hindu temple in the region. A feast for both the eyes and the soul, the kaleidoscopic temple is one of only a few examples of traditional Dravidian architecture to be found outside of India.

A heritage and cultural adventure with Tours of Fiji fills in the historical gaps. From learning traditional pottery making and tapa printing with natural earth pigments to a visit to Fiji’s only national park, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, the tour takes us back in time to further explore Fiji’s rich and utterly irresistible culture.

01 Kids on the beach © Tourism Fiji/Fraser Clements 02 Stunning blue waters surround Tivua Island 03 Snorkelling at Tivua 04 Fijian Ladies Meke © Tourism Fiji 05 Hat weaving with the locals © Tourism Fiji 06 Sigatoka River Safari © Chris McLennan 07 Kava ceremony on Tivua Island 08 Family time at Pullman Nadi Bay. Images 02, 03, 07 & 08 © Aleney de Winter

FIJI

Fam-fabulous getaway!!

• FREE babysitting for children 3 years and under (max 5 hours per day) with a minimum 5 nights’ stay • 2 children under 14 years eat and stay FREE when accompanying 2 adults • FREE gifts with kids’ club registration • Accommodation options to suit all needs and budgets • Deluxe Ocean View Bure (maximum 2 adults and 4 children) • Educational and cultural activities that will leave a footprint in the hearts and minds of kids • Kids sleep over party (ages 6-12 years) • Kids dinner party (ages 6-14 years) • Surprise activities at the resort **Conditions apply**

www.manafiji.com

info@manafiji.com

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elkam’ ‘Wto Paradise

01

VANUATU

finds that whether you’re seeking sun and sea, action and adventure, or a taste of island culture and cuisine, the happy-hearted people of Vanuatu are waiting to ‘welkam’ your family to paradise.

sabine morgan

One of the friendliest destinations in the Pacific, Vanuatu is a pretty necklace of 83 islands located less than four hours by plane from Australia’s East Coast. Blessed with gin-clear tropical waters and a cornucopia of coral reefs, not to mention jungle waterfalls, majestic mountains and untouched golden beaches, this dreamy destination offers a little something for everyone. Here’s why.

Enjoy a warrior’s welcome A visit to Ekasup Cultural Village is loads of fun for families – and not just because of the heart-stopping welcome delivered by spear-wielding tribesmen springing noisily from the undergrowth. Kids will be intrigued by tales of the island’s pre-colonial culture, alongside demonstrations of fire-walking, local customs and dancing. ekasuptours.com

Chase waterfalls Vanuatu is strewn with magical waterfalls, but one of the most impressive is the 30-metre Mele Cascades on Efate.

Hike through the surrounding tropical jungle, across 02

languid streams to the top of the falls, from where you can plunge into a cool, clear waterhole. If you’re not inclined to take the hike, explore the pretty gardens at the base instead.

Set sail On Efate, families can unleash their inner pirate as they explore Havannah Harbour’s secluded coves and beaches of fine white coral sand on the Coongoola, a timber sailing ketch. The day trip includes turtle time at a baby turtle conservation rookery, as well as stops for snorkelling throughout the day. southpacdivecruise.com.vu

Get around like the locals Exploring the main island of Vila is a breeze, with minibuses the easiest and cheapest way to travel. It’s also the most fun, as you can join the locals – wave down a van with a “B” on the number plate going in the direction you’re headed. Taxis are also reasonably priced, and you can negotiate fares for day or half-day trips.

Join the pony club Club Hippique Adventure Park, just 10 minutes from the centre of Port Vila, offers horse riding adventures for kids and adults of all ages and experience levels. Explore 200 hectares of rolling hills and waterfall-dotted rainforest, or wait for the afternoon breeze for a sunset ride along a sandy, palm-fringed beach. clubhippiquevanuatu.net

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Make for the markets

Enjoy a taste of the tropics

With its wealth of fresh seafood, world-class beef and bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, Vanuatu is blessed with produce. The Port Vila Market in Efate is a lively spot to stock up on snacks for the little ones, try Frenchinfluenced Islander cuisine and, of course, meet a few friendly locals.

Thanks to Vanuatu's French and Pacific influences, you’ll find everything from flaky pastries to fruit bat on the menu! A Melanesian feast is a not-to-be-missed culinary event. Along with tables laden with delicious local treats (some cooked in a traditional Earth oven), these feasts come with a heated backdrop of fire dancing.

Hide away on an island A long-time favourite with families is Hideaway Island, a short ferry ride from Port Vila. Here, the kids can get face-to-fin with colourful fish as they snorkel around the tranquil marine sanctuary – they can even send a postcard from the world’s only underwater post office. hideaway.com.vu

Splash into brilliant blue holes Make a splash into Vanuatu’s startlingly blue swimming holes, formed by underground streams resurfacing as springs. Espiritu Santo has a number of blue holes connected by underground caverns, the most popular being Matevulu, Nanda and Riri. santo.travel

Dive among some of the world’s best wrecks Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s largest island, was once a base for Allied troops during WWII. Now, the remnants of their equipment, planes and boats – including one of the largest and most accessible shipwrecks in the world, SS President Coolidge – provide a home to colourful fish and corals. santodive.com

Take a dip with a dugong Take a half-day traditional outrigger canoe tour to Gaspard Bay Conservation Area on

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Leap through the rainforest canopy at Vanuatu Jungle Zipline. Take a treetop tour via six ziplines, two suspension bridges and an adrenaline-pumping, 200-metre-long zipline suspended 80 metres above a canyon. Or, go large with a Big Zip Trek 1.3-kilometre hike, seven ziplines and 300-metre Gravity Canyon crossing. vanuatujunglezipline.com

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Hot tip Port Vila is a popular stop for cruise ships; schedule your activities around their time in port, so you can enjoy the best of Vanuatu minus the crowds.

Malekula Island, a one-hour flight from Port Vila. It's a well-known grazing area for dugong, and visitors older than eight can swim in the Marine Protected Area with the snorting and tail-slapping sea cows (ensuring they keep a respectful distance). vanuatu.travel

Watch the world’s original bungy jumpers An hour by air from Port Vila is lush Pentecost Island, the spiritual home of bungy jumping.

The spectacular annual Nanggol land diving ceremony, which runs from April until the end of June, sees local men leaping from wooden towers, tethered only by the delicate natural vines around their ankles. It's all in the name of ensuring a bountiful yam harvest for the coming year. pentecostisland.net

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Vanuatu Report Card Info vanuatu.travel/au

VANUATU

vanuatu hot hotels Poppy's on the Lagoon With a great selection of two- and three-bedroom villas and apartments, this luxurious family resort is a haven for families in search of a slice of paradise.

Kids will especially love the excellent selection of fun art classes, outrigger canoe tours and snokelling in the crystal-clear waters of Erakor Lagoon. poppys.com.vur

Reflections Retreat Vanuatu

06 01 Ekasup Cultural Village 02 Champagne Break © Luke Tscharke 03 Havannah Harbour 04 Port Vila Market 05 Vanuatu Zipline © Shen Xiaoxian 06 Santo Blue Hole © Joel Johnsson. All Images © Vanuatu Tourism Office

Located in beautiful Havannah Harbour, just 25 minutes north of Port Vila, this magical retreat specialises in providing a healthy and stress-free environment for its guests. The gorgeous resort is nestled right beside the ocean and enjoys crystal-clear water, great views and sensational sunsets that are the stuff of tropical island fantasy. retreatvanuatu.com

Popular award-winning boutique resort, with a great beachfront location, fantastic for families and kids. Not too big so you feel at home, with three swimming pools tucked away in an acre of tropical gardens. Enjoy the space and comfort of daily maid service in every fully serviced apartment plus full resort facilities on site.

WWW.POPPYS.COM.VU

POPPYS ON THE LAGOON

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BALI

Day

Tri ppin'

You’re loving the resort, the villa, the bungalow… but sometime during your Bali holiday you’ll crave a brief change of scenery – if only for a day. susan elliott shows you the way.

BALI

I call it the Bali Hug. Minutes after arriving at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport you’re embraced by steamy air fragrant with frangipani, smouldering incense, satay barbecue smoke and the exhaust from half a million motorbikes.

It’s a heady scent that perfumes your entire holiday. You stretch out poolside or bask on a beach lounge, where softly spoken traders with beguiling white smiles will have your suitcase crammed with colourful sarongs before you’ve ordered your first hand-cut pineapple and watermelon juice.

It’s glorious. But you will feel the need to get away, even if just for a day.

Rugged and rustic If there’s one thing that should lure you to Nusa Penida, 30 minutes by ferry from Sanur Harbour, it’s hearing people say, “It’s like Bali 30 years ago”. You have to see it.

The biggest of the three Nusa Islands, Penida is rustic and ruggedly beautiful. The best way to get around is a car with driver, as Penida’s roads are just as wild as the scenery – single lanes in many places, with potholes that will swallow a misplaced wheel.

There’s nice snorkelling at Crystal Bay, but the must-see is the ‘T-Rex’ at Kelingking – a coastal cliff-scape that really does look like a dinosaur swimming in the sea. Not quite as big, but a lot more alive, are the rays at Manta Point. Up to seven metres long, they’re the second-largest ray species in the world; you can snorkel among them year-round.

There are some tough decisions to make on this day trip, because you won’t have enough time to get to the far side of Nusa Penida as well. If you opt to explore the north and east, Atuh Beach is stunning – and there's an awesome leg workout to get there.

Warungs (small restaurants) line the beach, with colourful beanbags and umbrellas scattered across the sand. We dive into a whole barbecued fish, noodle soup, buttery corn on the cob and chicken satay.

Is your family brave? The blue staircase to Peguyangan Waterfall is one of the most jaw-dropping walks in the world – but it's not for the faint-hearted. It’s steep and slippery when wet, but the sacred temple at the bottom is totally worth the heartbeats you’ll skip.

A final favourite of ours is Rumah Pohon, one of the archipelago’s most incredible treehouses. There are 300 steps to get there, but every great day in Bali is a leg day. You can do arms in the evening.

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Island duo Of course, there are two other Nusa islands well worth making a break for. The speedboat ride to Nusa Lembongan is a blast! The ride takes 30 minutes from Sanur Beach, and as the boat punches through the swell, your ears will be pounded, too – with hits from the ‘80s.

I often wonder if the boat music is a ploy to make Nusa Lembongan seem even more tranquil, because on arrival, after a brief buzz of mopeds taking off (the young ‘uns!), it’s quiet. Super quiet.

While you’re there, visit Dream Beach for its dazzling white sand and pretty reef; Devil’s Tears, where waves crash into a rocky cove and explode into the air; Mushroom Bay, for swimming; and Mangrove Beach, for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking through mangrove forests (glass bottom boats are available if you don’t want to get wet). You might also want to make time to catch a wave at Playgrounds, a beginner surf break. For experienced surfers, there’s also a break called Lacerations. Say no more.

Primary school art taught us that yellow and blue look great together. And it’s that picture-perfect colour combination that

03 01 Taman Tirta Gangga water palace © Shutterstock/ Elizaveta Galitckaia 02 Rumah Pohon © Susan Elliott 03 Child snorkelling © Denis Moskvinov

greets you as you cross the Yellow Bridge from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan.

The island is really small, so you can scooter, bike or simply walk around it. You simply must take a dip in the outrageously turquoise waters of Blue Lagoon, snap on a harness for a zipline ride over crashing waves and cliffs at Ceningan Island Resort, and take an underwater scooter tour through a submerged garden of Buddha statues.

The royal treatment Back in Bali, head to the Taman Tirta Gangga water palace, a two-hour drive from Ubud.

Tirta Gangga (which means 'water from the

BALI

bali hot hotels Meliá Bali This beachfront sanctuary boasts a two-storey family room, pool, playground, kids' club and activities. melia.com

Bali Safari & Marine Park Sleep in an African-inspired Mara River Safari Lodge at the zoo. Park access is included. balisafarimarinepark.com 04

Conrad Bali Meal deals for under 12s, daily activities and the Kura Kura Kids’ Club make young travellers feel like VIPs. conradbali.com

Prime Plaza Suites Sanur Ganges') is the day trip you have to do for an exquisite dose of cultural, spiritual, artistic and architectural wonder. A holiday here would be remiss without it.

Eyes will certainly pop when you tell the kids you’re going to a palace. One that a king designed, built and lived in. It’s stunningly beautiful and the first pool you see on entry is one of those unforgettable "Wow!" travel moments. And you can walk on water – well, at least look like you can. Tour the main pond on a course of stepping stones to look up at a 10-metre-high fountain, and down at the massive koi swimming at your feet. Just don’t fall in! If you want to get wet there are two spring water swimming pools.

Get wild If you think photos of kangaroos on Australian beaches are cute, wait till you snap the monitor lizards strolling the sands at Teluk Brumbun. And the monkeys hanging out in the trees. And deer cooling themselves in the shallows. It’s a truly bizarre sight.

Around 90 minutes from Lovina or 3.5 hours from Ubud, this beach in West Bali National Park is wild, and the underwater offerings are crazy good as well. They say it’s one of the best reefs in Indonesia. And they’re probably right, as you’ll find a healthy population of turtles, eels, dolphins and sharks doing their thing among the coral.

Get shipwrecked If you want to escape the crowds and get that “deserted island” vibe without heading too far out of town, Nyang Nyang is a gem of a beach, just a 40-minute drive from Kuta via

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There's a great kids’ club, playground and water slide, plus one- to three-bedroom apartments. spps.pphotels.com

Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali Enjoy the pool or head to the kids’ club for fun activities while mum hits the spa. barunabali.holidayinnresorts.com 05

the toll bridge. It’s also just around the corner from Bali’s famous surf break, Uluwatu.

It’s not the best spot for tiny tots, as there’s a half-hour trek down to the beach (which will need to be repeated on the way back up).

But if your crew is up for it, there’s plenty to explore, and you’ll have it all to yourselves as the effort deters the crowds, even when it is at its low tide loveliest with long strips of exposed reef perfect for rock-pooling, paddling and exploration. Surrounded by jungle-clad mountains and littered with shells, the white beach even comes complete with a couple of shipwrecks on the sand. Perfect.

The Apurva Kempinski Beachfront luxury with a choice of accommodation and a Montessori-based kids’ club and activities. kempinski.com

Courtyard by Marriott Seminyak Great central location with family accommodation, a spa, activities and a swimming pool. marriott.com.au

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Bali Report Card Info balitourismboard.org Getting there Direct flights to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar are available from most major Australian cities.

Pre-order a transfer with balibuddies.com for a hassle-free arrival experience.

04 Young fawn at Bali's West National Park © Shutterstock/Denis Moskvinov 05 Atuh Beach barbecue © Susan Elliott 06 Traditional Balinese offerings © Shutterstock/Lucky Business

SRI LANKA

holiday Ahole-in-one

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finds a Sri Lankan escape that combines wildlife, wellbeing, adventure and family harmony. susan skelly

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The parents want golf, a gym, a bar that salutes sunsets and a daybed. The kids want swimming pools, games and friends. And if being orphaned isn’t an option, the teenager wants wildlife, soccer and a food coma.

A little adventure and local culture would also be nice, thanks. A flying trapeze? Tick. And pass the sunrise yoga, Ayurvedic spa treatments and an artisan shopping village.

Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa in the south of Sri Lanka proves the perfect family holiday peace-broker. The 58-hectare retreat is set on a former coconut plantation fronting the Indian Ocean, just 240 kilometres south-east of Colombo International Airport, a four-hour drive on the A2 coastal motorway (new expressways will shorten the trip).

Opened in 2016, the resort has 274 spacious, tropical-chic rooms including 20 suites and the multi-roomed presidential Janapathi Suite, with a stone-clad bath as big as a lap pool set into a sea-facing balcony.

The common areas are vast expanses of cool marbled floors, exceeded in size only by the manicured lawns and gardens. The eastern wing has a family focus, while the west wing gives child-free adults a quieter luxury escape.

Same sweeping vistas.

And the three-zone, par-70, 18-hole course uses an abandoned sapphire mine, with

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restored vegetation, reintroduced birdlife and salt-tolerant paspalum grass for its turf.

Jungles and G&Ts For its size, teardrop-shaped Sri Lanka packs a punch. Just off the southern tip of India, it’s a country rich in tea plantations, gemstones, beaches, Buddhist ruins, forts, temples and architecture courtesy of its Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonisers.

Hambantota dates back to 200 BC and, today, beyond the resort, offers national parks, surfing, birdwatching and elephant sanctuaries, hot springs and rivers.

That’s in stark contrast to the hot, dry and malarial district British civil servant Leonard Woolf (he would become the husband of literary goddess Virginia) found when posted to Hambantota in 1908 as Assistant Government Agent. The jungle fascinated Woolf – he oversaw some 250,000 hectares of it – who described it as “looking like a great sea, over which the pitiless hot wind perpetually sends waves unbroken, except where the bare rocks, rising above it, show like dark smudges against the grey-green of the leaves.” His book, A Village in the Jungle, was set in Hambantota, and is a classic.

Our first impression of the Hambantota resort is of a grand presidential palace in

those moments just before party guests arrive, when everything has been polished to perfection and the hosts are harnessing their social energy with a quiet G&T. But within a day or two the place is humming with corporate and family groups, evidence of the recovery since the bombings in April 2019.

(A report in November by the International Monetary Fund noted that a full recovery in tourism was expected by 2020.)

Natural selection Udawalawe National Park is an hour’s drive north-west from Hambantota. Expect to share the road with dogs, crows, cattle, tuk-tuks, scooters, cars and buses. The park is a sanctuary for Asian elephants. While they are found in isolated pockets of India and Southeast Asia, including Sumatra and Borneo, Sri Lanka has one of the largest populations. Here, they are part of the history, religion and mythology of the culture. Adult elephants at Udawalawe number about 500.

A safari here lasts two to three hours. As well as the awesome elephants, peacocks are prolific, the male’s vivid plumage something not even the most imaginative couturier could dream up (although Missoni comes close). There are spotted deer and yellowbreasted weaver birds with their hanging, funnel-shaped nests, we spied a sculptural chameleon perched on a bare branch, and a five-kilometre waterhole is home to mudloving buffalo and a bounty of birdlife tweeting an elegant, silvery symphony.

An hour and a quarter from Hambantota, via Tangalle, is the Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara (Great Royal Temple), dating to the third century. Adjacent to a monastery, where novices are tilling the fields, are stupas and tombs set into rock terrace caves, housing

large reclining Buddha statues and smaller sitting and standing figures. The walls and ceilings are decorated with glossy, colourful murals which date back to the 18th century.

It takes more than 500 uneven steps to reach the top, but there are peaceful spots to rest and reflect along the way, and a dynamite view at the summit. On the way up, local women sell lotus flowers to offer the gods. And on the way down, there are bananas to replace the kilojoules lost to the climb. There are also hundreds of cheeky monkeys who zipline down cables and wires to snaffle your lotus blossoms and anything else, given the chance.

Mind and body It’s the mind/body duopoly that inspires everyday life in Sri Lanka, tapping into the ancient Ayurvedic wellbeing system.

“Wellbeing is no longer just about physical health,” says Asoka Hettigoda, whose family have been Ayurvedic practitioners for centuries. “You have to add happiness. Health is physical, mental and spiritual.”

Hambantota Resort’s Chi Spa includes an Ayurvedic menu of treatments. A Pichichill treatment is a massage with hot herbal oil that, unlike most massages, includes the abdomen, stomach and chest.

“Ayurveda starts with the stomach,” says Hettigoda. “It’s the centre of fire.”

In Hambantota, the stomach is a priority. Get to know the country’s signature dishes at the resort's four restaurants, one that

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01 Sri Lanka sunset © Shutterstock/ Koverninska Olga 02 Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa 03 Elephant family © Shutterstock/Irina Ivanova (IrinaMiracle) 04 Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya © Shutterstock/Marius Dobilas 05 Cultural delights at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa 06 Tangalle Beach 07 Sri Lankan stilt fishing. Images 06 & 07 © Shutterstock/ Marius Dobilas 08 The pool at Shangri-La’s Hambantota Golf Resort & Spa. Images 05 & 08 © Markus Gortz

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operates all day and includes an ice-cream bar. Among the culinary highlights are tuna ambulthiyal, a fish curry made with a stock from the sour fruit, goroka; kottu, roti bread chopped and diced with military precision, with meat or seafood and various sauces added; hoppers, the Sri Lankan twist on a gossamer pancake; and lamprais, a steamed banana leaf packet of meat, rice and chilli sambal.

Sri Lanka Report Card Info srilanka.travel Getting there Air Asia operates several flights per week to Kuala Lumpur from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast with connecting flights from KL to Colombo. airasia.com Stay shangri-la.com

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CRUISING WITH KIDS

News from the high seas From brand-new ships to old favourites, zac de silva gives you the lowdown on what’s in store for cruising families in 2020/21.

As a nation, we love cruising. In the 2018/19 season, 1.35 million Australians (one in every 17) spent more than $1.4 billion on sailing the world. And the good news for us avid cruisers is that the cruise lines are taking notice.

They’re deploying more ships to Australia and adding even more family attractions and itineraries every year. So reef the mainsail and anchors aweigh as we take a look ahead at what’s on the way for Australia’s 2020/21 cruise season.

The Carnival comes to town

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Carnival Cruise Line has brought the sensational Carnival Splendor Down Under, fresh from last year’s facelift. The ship made its Australian debut in December 2019, showing off its new features, the most exciting of which is the WaterWorks water park. It has been decked out in green and gold livery specifically for Australia, and comes complete with two water slides including the new Green Lightning 'thrill-slide' with its 11.3-metre free-fall drop. There’s also

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MiniRacer slides, splash toys and the awesome Power Drencher tipping bucket (the name alone makes it worth a visit) for the littlies to enjoy.

Along with a host of family-friendly entertainment, activities and Carnival’s renowned Camp Ocean, Circle “C” and Club O2 kids' and teens' clubs, other exciting features include 17 dining venues and the brand-new aerial illusion show, Airia, featuring Aussie aerial artist Aleisha Manion. Splendor is the newest and largest ship to be homeported in Sydney, and will operate regular cruises around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. carnival.com.au

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Big fun from Royal Caribbean

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The 2,400-passenger Serenade of the Seas will arrive in October and will sail from Sydney until April next year. The ship boasts three new lounges (the Safari Club, Congo Bar and Zanzibar Lounge) and plenty to keep the kids busy: think rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, a cinema, a kiddie pool, water slide, Adventure Ocean kids’ club, an arcade and a super cool hangout for teens.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas will be home-ported in Brisbane from November 2020, sporting a new look thanks to a dry-dock refurbishment, while Voyager of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas will return to Sydney. Royal Caribbean has really splurged on the renovations: Voyager has also just undergone a little nip-and-tuck and now features revamped spaces for kids, a schmick new teens area, and The Perfect Storm duo of three-storey racing water slides joining the Flowrider surf simulator. There’s also a new glow-in-the-dark laser tag course, Battle for Planet Z. Royal Caribbean also promises a new app, allowing you to check in, make dining reservations, book shows and shore excursions, and view daily activities from your own device. The best thing about it?

No Wi-Fi needed. royalcaribbean.com

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“ Families more Thor-inclined will be excited to hear that the Marvel Day at Sea is also returning."

01 Marvel Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line © Disney/Matt Stroshane 02 Carnival Splendor WaterWorks © Andy Green 03 Family time on a Princess cruise © Mark Katzman 04 Water fun on P&O's Pacific Explorer 05 Pacific Princess on Sydney Harbour

New itineraries and old favourites with P&O

Marvellous cruises with Disney

P&O is gearing up for a huge season. Brisbane residents will be thrilled that the line plans to make full use of the city’s soon-to-be-opened International Cruise Terminal, basing family friendly P&O flagship Pacific Explorer in the River City. New options include a seven-night cruise to Melbourne for the Australian Open, with an overnight stay in the city, plus three 10-night cruises to Papua New Guinea.

And if that’s not enough, remember Melbourne favourite Golden Princess? Well, it’s currently getting a transformation before being deployed to Sydney at the end of this year as Pacific Adventure. It’s set to be the largest ship in the P&O fleet, taking a whopping 3,100 passengers and boasting a new family entertainment area, including a pool under a sliding glass roof, dual water slides and games galore. pocruises.com.au

Heading further afield, Disney Cruise Line, as always, promises an ocean-load of fun for families. While Star Wars fans have missed the boat for this year’s Star Wars Day at Sea, the good news is that from January to March 2021 the much-loved event will return, which Disney says will feature “unique character encounters, unforgettable live shows and Star Wars-themed activities for the entire family”.

You’ll find it running on seven-night Disney Fantasy cruises to the Caribbean. Families who are a little less Skywalker and a bit more Thor-inclined will be excited to hear that the Marvel Day at Sea is also returning, promising the chance for guests to meet and greet all their favourite Marvel characters, as well as enjoying plenty of special merchandise and unique food and beverage offerings. disneyparks.disney.go.com

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HOT STAY

Angsana Laguna Phuket Set your watch to island time and get ready for a blissful break at Thailand’s gorgeous Angsana Laguna Phuket.

Nestled in scenic Bang Tao Bay on the island of Phuket, the family-friendly Angsana Laguna Phuket resort checks every box when it comes to the perfect family holiday: 323 metres of freeform pool and lazy river, varied dining, luxurious spa and a plethora of activities available through their welcoming concierge. What more could you ask for?

Leisure for little ones With children in tow, the kids’ club at a resort can be make or break. Fortunately, the Tree House Kids Club is exceptional from every angle. From 9am to 6pm, pooped parents can enjoy complimentary childcare and squeeze in their own much-needed R&R. Youngsters aged four to 15 have more than

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60 age-appropriate classes and activities to choose from, whether they want to hunt for buried treasure, take up traditional boxing or peace out with a yoga class.

The resort even offers a swimming program for keen kiddies, building their confidence in the water and helping them develop their skills right inside the resort.

Practiced professionals lead group classes and private lessons, with both leaving little ones sun-soaked and sleepy after a day at the pool.

plastics, the resort has also developed a Seedlings program to nurture young people and educate them about their surrounds.

Guests might get to play a part in sea turtle hatchings, join a community clean-up or participate in an empowering cooking class that focuses on local delicacies.

If you want to make a difference in the local community while enjoying the Thai sun, sand and sea, this resort has got you covered.

A green getaway Big believers in responsible tourism, Angsana has built its resort on a sustainable philosophy to ensure the property is as green as possible.

As well as pledging to eliminate single-use

For more information angsana.com

HOT STAY

Bali Safari and Marine Park Enjoy a stay at Bali Safari Park for a wildly exciting holiday your crew will never forget.

For families looking for something outside the usual run-of-the-mill accommodation in Bali, a stay at Bali Safari Park will certainly deliver the wow factor. The zoological park is home to Mara River Safari Lodge – safari-themed accommodation right in the middle of the action, making it a great choice for animal lovers and thrillseekers alike.

The family-friendly retreat has 38 rooms, each with an open-air terrace so you can enjoy a real safari experience and decorated with rustic charm. If getting up close and personal with rhinos and zebras isn’t enough, the resort also has a stunning pool to dive into, as well as a spa with an extensive menu of signature face and body treatments.

Sweet dreams Families are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation at the lodge, with four

different designs available. The Kifaru Family Room is ideal for a family of four, with two bedrooms decorated in African style overlooking the Kiboko Swimming Pool.

If you’re travelling in a larger group, the Tembo Family Room might be a better fit. This stunning bungalow features three bedrooms as well as a separate living and dining area, meaning your troupe has all the space it needs to spread out and get comfortable.

Supper on the savannah Mara River Safari Lodge is also home to the truly special Tsavo Lion Restaurant, where guests can expect a very unique dining experience indeed. Set right inside the lion enclosure, diners can enjoy delectable cuisine while looking out through full-length windows at Bali Safari Park’s handsome pride of lions. Talk about a wild night.

For more information balisafarimarinepark.com

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HOT STAY

The Apurva Kempinski Bali Beachfront luxe dialled up a notch, this dreamy destination guarantees R&R.

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Perched on the cliffs of Nusa Dua, the astounding Apurva Kempinski Bali boasts beautiful beaches, superior service and views for days. After celebrating its first anniversary in February this year, the hotel is already making a serious splash as a hot family favourite in Bali.

Drop in to this island paradise for luxuries like the Reef Beach Club, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a talented Experiential Concierge team that tailor excursions and entertainment to you.

children’s pool. A 60-metre infinity pool sits right alongside this kiddie oasis, making it easy peasy for mums and dads to enjoy a quieter dip without the little ones.

Meanwhile, the newly opened Koral Restaurant has become Bali’s first underwater restaurant, a new dining concept that is sure to fascinate even the fussiest eaters.

Submerged in a fully functional aquarium, diners will be able to spot schools of fish as they devour dinner – keep your eyes peeled for Flounder and Sebastian.

Watery wonderland

Family first

Make the most of your 'me' time away by lounging around beside the pool, watching on as pint-sized patrons of the hotel make full use of the water slides and dash into the

Promising to take care of the entire clan, this five-star resort is in the process of launching a fully fledged family club, offering a range of activities to appeal to babies, children, teens

Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website

and parents. While the entire cache of facilities aren’t scheduled to open until later in 2020, there is currently a kids’ club for little ones aged three to 14, packed with activities that range from mask making to water polo.

For more information kempinski.com

HOT STAY

Banjos Bushland Retreat A luxurious gateway to a natural paradise where guests can disconnect from the buzz of city life and reconnect with family.

Located in the Hunter’s beautiful Barrington Tops region, just two hours from Sydney, award-winning Banjos Bushland Retreat offers families luxurious seclusion amid eight hectares of pristine bushland teeming with wildlife. Guests barely have time to check in to their sprawling digs before a welcoming committee of curious kangaroos pop by to say hello. Kids eager to discover who else might be nosing around will likely find a kookaburra on the deck and a couple of king parrots on a feeding perch, squawking expectantly, within minutes.

Room with a view The retreat's selection of accessible, architecturally designed lodges are perfect for families, with loads of living space, full open kitchens, slow combustion wood fires, floor-to-ceiling glass on every side, and enormous wrap-around verandahs overlooking the bush and valley. Bedrooms boast comfy king beds and private ensuites, including one with a sizeable bathtub. And when the thrill of wildlife spotting wanes, there’s a cupboard full of games to play on the verandah, to a blissful soundtrack of birdsong.

More to explore With well-maintained bushland walking trails and a well-appointed Recreational Centre, there are plenty of ways to experience the bush, and Banjo’s resident furry and feathered wildlife. There’s also a full-size tennis court, nine-hole mini-golf course and children’s adventure playground; the indoor recreation centre, meanwhile, comes complete with a billiards table, table tennis facilities, indoor spa and giant chess board. And for parents, massages are available by arrangement, enjoyed in the privacy of your lodge.

For more information banjosretreat.com.au

Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa Beachside and beautiful, this relaxing resort is one of the best-value properties in Bali.

Perfectly positioned within easy reach of the hustle and bustle of Nusa Dua and Kuta, this Bali beach resort is ideal for a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed brood. With four delicious pools to sink into and splash about in, as well as the sand and sea right on your doorstep, a holiday here is a dream for those who just want to go with the flow and enjoy all the benefits of Bali.

Room to relax For families looking to enjoy every aspect of the cool accommodation on offer, book one of the resort’s signature Kids Adventure Suites or Family Suites. Designed to be fun-filled and well-equipped, these rooms leave the whole family feeling pampered. The Tajung Family Adventure Suite is a particular favourite, thanks to its underwater decor and game console for tiny tots, in addition to a king bed for parents to luxuriate in.

For more information balibenoa.holidayinnresorts.com

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GIVEAWAYS

For the unicorn lover

Win one of four Rainbocorns sets Recently awarded plush of the year, Rainbocorns Series 2 are the ultimate surprise egg toy with 10 layers to hatch including cuddly new plush, surprise sequins and even more layers of surprise than before.

Each pack includes two Rainbocorns Series 2 and a Sparkle Heart. Available from Kmart, Big W and Target.

RRP $75.00 per set. rainbocorns.zuru.com

in WAutumn-inspired Get ready to snuggle up indoors or don your woolies for an outdoor adventure. Take a peak in our treasure chest of prizes you could win.

goodies!

For the Trolls fan

Win one of four Trolls World Tour prize packs

Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake return in Trolls World Tour, an all-star sequel to the 2016 musical hit. To celebrate DreamWorks Animation is giving you the chance to win the ultimate prize pack including a Trolls World Tour microphone, Lego Volcano Rock City concert set, two story books, Poppy headband, surprise plush and the Trolls World Tour DVD. RRP $131.95 per pack dreamworks.com/movies/trolls-world-tour

For the bookworm

Win one of three copies of Lonely Planet’s Family Travel Handbook Full of practical advice, ideas and inspiration for every type of family, Lonely Planet’s Family Travel Handbook gives you the lowdown on amazing travel experiences around the world – and how to plan and enjoy them with your children. RRP $29.99 lonelyplanet.com

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GIVEAWAYS

For the camp cook

Win one of two Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pans

Triple seasoned for a natural nonstick finish, the Lodge Blacklock 10.5” Cast Iron Square Grill Pan is the ideal cooking mate. Its thin, lightweight design, paired with an extended raised handle (which stays cooler for longer) makes camp cooking a breeze. RRP $104.95 each lodgecookware.com.au

For the product lover

Win one of two L’OCCITANE travel packs Born in France in 1976, L’OCCITANE’s philosophy has always remained the same. Nature matters. People matter. Using high-quality and natural ingredients, L’OCCITANE products are as good for the planet as they are for your skin. Each pack includes the immortelle reset serum, precious cream, shea butter hand cream and almond shower oil.

RRP $268.00 per pack au.loccitane.com

For alpine lovers

Win an Icebreaker set for mum and dad

New Zealand-born company Icebreaker blend natural solutions to technical apparel to create sustainable merino wool outdoor clothing. Kit yourself out for the upcoming cooler months with the Merinoloft Hyperia lite jacket for mum and the Merinoloft Helix vest for dad. RRP $589.90 for set icebreaker.com

For the sound afficionado Win one of three Toledo Bluetooth portable speakers Designed to be robust and tough, the Toledo is an outdoor-proof, water-resistant speaker. Boasting up to 10 hours playtime, great bass, excellent audio clarity and supreme immersive sound, it’s perfect for family holidays. Plus, you can connect two speakers together for even better sound. RRP $179.95 each myefm.com/speakers/toledo-bluetooth-speaker

To enter visit holidayswithkids.com/competitions Competition ends 11.59pm Sunday 5 July 2020 and the winners will be drawn and notified shortly thereafter by email. All entries require a completed Readers’ Survey. Open to Australian residents only. For general terms and conditions pertaining to Signature Media competitions, visit holidayswithkids.com.au/competitions/termsandconditions

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#HWKHOTDEALS

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Travel Club

Exclusive deals for HWK Travel Club members We all love a good deal, especially when travelling with the family. From kid-friendly resorts in Bali to accommodation offerings on home soil, join the HWK Travel Club and get amazing savings like these delivered straight to your inbox. Our partners offer special deals just for our members on accommodation, attractions and products.

Cayman Villas, Port Douglas

Stay 7, Pay 5 + bonus reef trip!

Escape to beautiful Port Douglas and enjoy seven nights for the price of five at Cayan Villas. Plus, a complimentary Low Isles reef trip – where you can snorkel with an aubandance of marine life and corals – is also included. Located within walking distance to the shops and eateries of Macrossan Street, pristine Four Mile Beach and the marina, this accommodation is perfect for a hassle-free family holiday.

Cayman Villas

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Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak Resort, Bali

Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran

Courtyard Seminyak, just steps from Seminyak Beach, is the place for that Bali break you’ve been dreaming of. The resort is offering families the chance to save with its great value Family Glee Package, which includes accommodation in a deluxe family room, daily buffet breakfast, some set meals, a 60-minutes spa treatment for two, daily kids’ club access and airport transfers.

Home to 27 optical telescopes – including Australia’s biggest telescope – there is something for every budding astronomer on the behind-the-scenes day tours at Siding Spring Observatory. After you are done exploring, little bellies will be kept happy with a complimentary snack. What’s more, book your tour online and quote KIDS2020 to receive a $5 food voucher to spend at the Visitors Cafe.

Save with a Bali Family Glee Package

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Terms & conditions apply.

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Visit Australia’s biggest telescope

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Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel

Oceans Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast

Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains combines rustic charm with facilities the whole family can enjoy. Parents love the interconnecting rooms, dining options and Ubika Day Spa, and kids of all ages can’t get enough of the KidZone games rooms, merry-go-round, jungle gym and ponies. Plan ahead and book your two-night stay more than 21 days out to save up to 20 per cent.

Perfectly positioned across from Mooloolaba Beach, Oceans Mooloolaba features 46 suites and penthouses offering unsurpassed 180-degree ocean views. The hotel’s Family Break package includes three nights in a Two-Bedroom Suite, a family pass to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium, a gourmet hamper on arrival and much more. Book now to make the most of this great offer! T&C’s apply.

Stay 2 nights and save up to 20%

A family break on the Sunshine Coast

Fairmont Resort & Spa

Mooloolaba

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The Mirage Alexandra Headland, Sunshine Coast

Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wisemans Ferry

As the cooler months get closer, it’s time to start planning that sunny Queensland escape. Located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast and only 300 metres from the beach, guests staying at The Mirage Alexandra Headland are spoilt for choice when it comes to fun-filled activites, from the large lagoon and kids pool to the adults-only sauna. What’s more, until the end of April guests can Stay 5, Pay 4!

Some of Australia’s best holidays happen once the sun has eased, so the $1 Winter Camping Special couldn’t have come at a better time.

From 14 April to 31 August 2020, guests who pay full price on their first night can get stay the second night for just $1 per person. Enjoy three kilometres of beautiful Hawkesbury River frontage surrounded by a majestic mountain backdrop – the perfect setting for families.

Escape to sunny Queensland this winter

The Mirage

Sign up at

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Camp for just $1 this winter!

Del Rio

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DIRECTORY

www.koki.com.au

1800 036 005

Alpine Resort - Falls Creek

4 Night Midweek Escape from The Retreat offers a range of Cabins, Bungalows and Duplexes.

Perfect for families to enjoy the natural environment that Port Stephens offers and reconnect with nature.

• Free WIFI • Pet friendly by request • Private location close to local tours and attractions

02 4982 1244

Family friendly and owner operated accommodation in the heart of Falls Creek

In-house facilities include: heated swimming pool sauna, spa equipment hire outlet free wireless & Xbox hire guest lounge with pool table and board games We are happy to help with all aspects of your snow holiday

transfers insurance lift & lessons resort entry

www.TheRetreatPortStephens.com.au bookings@theretreatportstephens.com.au

Call 1800 036 005 to book your Australian snow holiday today!

20% OFF

selected properties and selected dates in March, May and June 2020.

Hamilton Island

Luxury

Wide range of private properties for your next Hamilton Island holiday View photos on

www.whitsundayholidays.com.au Contact us 7 days per week

1300 653 997 +61 434 004 029 (outside Australia)

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Port Douglas Getaways The premier selection of luxury houses, villas and apartments available for holidays rental and real estate sales

Dee Jackson Australian artist, Dee Jackson, creates beautiful watercolour portraits. Commissions welcome.

For more information visit our website or phone 07 4099 4789 Phone: 1300 300 688 EXCESS BAGGAGE www.jetta.com.au

www.portdouglasgetaways.com.au

T (02) 9416 2265 M 0439 986 452 deejackson@deejackson.com.au www.deejackson.com.au

COOLENDEL

EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CAMPING WITHOUT THE HASSLE! 3 hrs south of Sydney on the Upper Shoalhaven River

Canoein g Campfi res Native wildlife Swimm ing

• Small family-friendly complex of just 14 units • • Right on the Noosa River – no roads to cross • • Value-for-money self-contained holiday accommodation • • Easy walk to Noosa Marina and the popular pirate playground • • Free use of kayaks, bicycles (adults only) and fishing rods • • Private jetty to moor your boat •

Cayman Q UAY S

Enquiries: southcoast@flashcamp.com.au

www.flashcamp.com.au/coolendel

WATERFRONT - NOOSAVILLE

Cayman Quays 1800 638 068 manager@caymanquays.com.au www.caymanquays.com.au

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Secret spots in Queensland that are oh so perfect for Instagram The rise of Instagrammable holidays has upped the amount of families travelling each year, but they’re all visiting the same destinations. Tabby Wilson investigates the places in Queensland slipping through the cracks.

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With rising sea levels and an ever-warming planet, there are likely to be some places on your bucket list that will not be around forever. Tabby Wilson checks out the destinations that are most at risk.

It doesn’t take long for the cabin fever to sink in. Here are our tips on how to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically.

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holidayswithkids.com.au

With the launch of our new website, you can now find all of the awesome content from Holidays with Kids, The LUXE Edit, Caravan & Camping with Kids and Ski & Snowboard with Kids (plus much more) on one easy-to-use portal.

No matter what type of family holiday you’re planning, you can now do it all in the one place.

Search by holiday type or destination

Find the best family-friendly accommodation in the world

Take advantage of travel deals and packages exclusively for families

Whether you like to rough it, travel in style or slip into vacation mode on skis, you can research, plan and book your dream family holiday at holidayswithkids.com.au

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Australia’s #1 family travel magazine and website