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mamamag May 2016

WIN WIN a family getaway to Fun4Kids Festival Family travel Bali love Motor homing Warrnambool fun Mister Zimi

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making memories I love to travel so this issue was a joy to put together. When we’re on family holidays you’re likely to find us camping or at a farm stay. It’s our tradition each January to escape to a farm somewhere in Victoria–the kids love it and it’s a great way to explore the countryside. My daughters have helped shear sheep on a working sheep farm, stamped eggs for sale, fed apples and carrots to horses and artichokes to cows, played with farm dogs, and their all time favourite, collected chook eggs. We always find lots to explore in nearby towns– last time we enjoyed a local swimming hole and 90 mile beach. In this issue we head to Phillip Island, Bali, the Macedon Ranges and Warrnambool. OK so it wasn’t all me–Editor in Chief Sarah popped over to Bali to check it out for us. We’ve also got some great articles on flying and traveling with children and even living OS with children. Our Mama of the Month is Jemma from Little Bali Love who has essentially created a business from travelling with her kids, lucky lady! Today I’ve heaved a big sigh of relief as we’ve made it through another epic birthday party. Arabella totally revelled in the attention as she celebrated being six with 15 or so of her closest friends. The kids put on an impromptu concert in the backyard! And I made my first Dolly Varden cake. Yes Elsa, making it back to back Frozen themed cakes as we did Frozen last year too. It wouldn’t be a May issue without at least a nod to Mother’s Day. It’s always a day of mixed feelings for me as I have two beautiful girls here (and a super amazing mother of my own) but am missing our middle child, our son who was stillborn at 35 weeks seven years ago. I know Mother’s Day can be complicated for many but whatever sadness and joy it holds for you, know that you are valuable. Sweet nurturing, Motherly love to you,

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A family getaway to:

Contents Little Bali love Kid friendly Bali fun

Parklife 10 Grange Reserve Hoppers Crossing Keep calm and motorhome on Autumn family adventures

We like to fly Top tips for flying with kids

Lovely locals We visit Wallace Ave Point Cook

WIN tickets to Disney On Ice The Magical Ice Festival

Rush to the Ranges Exploring the Macedon Ranges

Meeting Mister Zimi Travel, work and play with Zoe Paul

Fun 4 all the kids Warrnambool for everyone

Daylesford delights Exploring this unique town

The big apple of my eye Kids in NYC

Mama can cook Vegie delights for the family

Valued

$850!at Experience winter fun like no other these school holidays at the award-winning Fun4Kids Festival in Warrnambool. Enjoy two days with your family at the Fun4Kids Festival and stay two nights in a 2 bedroom apartment at the beautiful Lady Bay Resort. Visit www.fun4kids.com.au to find out more about this year’s exciting festival program.

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts May 1st 12.01am and closes May 31st 2016 at 11.59pm. Accommodation nights are strictly 29/06/16 and 30/06/16. Family Day Pass is maximum of 5 passes per day. This prize cannot be exchanged for cash, or sold to another party. By redeeming this prize, you agree to be bound by the festival’s Terms and Conditions of Entry which can be viewed at fun4kids.com.au Visit www.mamamag.com.au full terms and conditions. mama mag.indd 1

MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

Mama of the month 34 Jemma Reynolds from Little Bali Love

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East VIC 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au

Let’s fly babee 36 Travel, heartache and business in one

10,000 copies monthly in Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham areas.

My island home Phillip Island’s finest

Turn the page Lonely Planet kids books

Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi Assistant Editor: Kirsty Chick Westside Advertising: Maree Sortino

Colour & win WIN a 4 park pass to Phillip Island

Choosing a dance school Picking the right one for your child

Wrangling fussy eaters For their health and your sanity

MamaMag May 2016

Like to contribute an article submission or products for Facebook giveaways? submissions@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries: download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au or email info@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

lIttle balI love When editor in chief Sarah decided our May issue would be about travel, Bali was always her No. 1 destination to include. Bali is perfect for families, accessible (6hr flight), affordable and full of fun. So of course she enlisted the help of Jemma Reynolds, owner of Little Bali Love and total ‘kids in Bali’ expert, to ensure she explored all the best bits. Here Jemma gives us her top picks (and mama Sar gave them all a pretty big thumbs up too!).

Our top 3 places to EAT in Bali with kids:

Our top 3 places to PLAY in Bali with kids:

1. Biku - Petitenget

1. Bali Equestrian Centre (BEC) - Berawa

High tea here is a fave! With a glass of bubbles for the mamas and a special menu for the tiny diners including fruit tea in little teapots, pretty cupcakes, mini gingerbread men and finger sandwiches. Also great for brekkie, lunch or dinner with healthy kids meals, highchairs, toys, coloured pencils and colouring-in sheets.

Enjoy a pony ride at BEC followed by lunch or an ice-cream and an afternoon hanging out swimming in the pool and playing in their gorgeous spacious grassy garden complete with cubby house, sandpit, swings and slide.

2. La Lucciola - Seminyak

If you love the beach, get away from the grey sands of Kuta/Seminyak and head for a day of fun in the sun at a swanky beach club further around the island. We love Sundara located at the Four Seasons in Jimbaran as well as Finns Beach Club and Karma Beach in Ungasan.

An oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of the heart of Seminyak. At night it’s incredibly romantic with the cool ocean breeze, cocktails, candles and fresh frangipanis (hire a babysitter for that!). But by day this restaurant is the perfect location for families for brunch. The kids love the colourful icy granitas and the huge grassy lawn and clean sandy beach in front that offers plenty of space to run and play.

3. Sunset dinner on the beach - Canggu or Jimbaran The simple things in life are often the best! A fresh young coconut, tropical fruit juice, or cold Bintang to start off. Plus some hot buttered BBQ corn, a splash in the waves, and happy little sandy feet. Followed with some nasi or mie goreng, an ice-cream and perhaps a helium balloon or two! 6

2. A day at a Beach club

3. Sunday Family Dayze at KUDETA - Seminyak Sunday is the day when little people rule at KUDETA! Brunch is served up along with chilled DJ tunes plus all kinds of fun activities on offer including face-painting, jumping castles, balloons, magicians, games and an amazing kiddie-craft area. There is pizza, sushi, dips and other nibbles for the family to share, or there is a healthy kids lunch menu. Take your togs too for a splash in their pool!

Our top 3 places to SHOP in Bali with kids:

Our top 3 places to STAY in Bali with kids:

1. Coco & Ginger - Batubelig, Seminyak

1. Sea Shanty - Jimbaran

This shop is just heavenâ€Ś so much prettiness, happiness, colour, and love all under the one roof. Hand embroidery, soft silks, smocking, lace, unique floral prints and hand woven fabrics â€“ every piece in the collection has been ethically made on the Island of the Gods with love. The Little Bali Love girls wardrobe is full of Coco and Ginger dresses!

Luxury 4 bedroom family-friendly villa including fun kids room with bunkbeds, toys, books and chalkboard wall. Fabulous team of staff, stunning pool and garden and just a few mins walk from our fave kid-friendly beach.

2. Indigo Kids - Seminyak, Legian and Kuta A Bali institution that has been dressing kids in their wares for over 20 years! On-trend casual, easy to wear fashion for babies and little boys and girls with playful designs and colourful prints.

3. Markets - All over the island The stalls on the beach or a local market such as the Seminyak Flea Market on Oberoi or the Ubud Market are great places for spending pocket money and buying treasures for friends back home eg; friendship bracelets, little purses, fans, trinkets and sarongs.

2. Peppers - Seminyak You get the best the both of worlds here - your own private villa but with resort facilities onsite including main pool, restaurant (with a great kids menu), bar, spa (with kids treatments) and gym. Great location close to the trendy Petitenget shops and cafes and the beach.

3. Westin - Nusa Dua A big and beautiful resort right on the beach in Nusa Dua. All the ticks for families are here family rooms, waterslide, kids club, playground, kids spa, kids menus, plus activities for the whole family such as star gazing on the beach at night. Delicious Sunday Family Brunch at their onsite restaurant Prego too! By Jemma Reynolds Little Bali Love www.littlebalilove.com

Parklife

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grange ‘rocket tower’ reserve, hoppers crossing Hogans Road Hoppers Crossing This park takes Mamma’s breath away! It’s a really good option for bigger kids - and the much bigger kids. The rocket tower and numerous slides shooting from it is quite awesome and a little nail biting on first glance (well for Mamma anyhow!) but before long your kids will be shooting and sliding from the stars. There is heaps of other climbing and fun to have here if you can drag the big kids away from this epic

structure - there is a playground across the way better for smaller kids too with an interesting climbing frame, plus a swing set and quite a significantly smaller ‘ahem’ slide! Mamma’s special mentions: You can’t possibly come to this neck of the woods and NOT pop into Daniels Bakery for a world famous Nutella doughnut or FOUR! The nitty gritty: BBQ - shelter - free parking - no public toilets.

Keep Calm and Motor As a family of intrepid travellers, you might find us spending our summer’s in Queensland, and our winter’s in South East Asia, but as far as I’m concerned, autumn is when Victoria, and specifically the ‘High Country’ alpine region, is simply the only place to be. To give our Little Misses a true ‘autumn’ last year, we hired a big friendly giant motorhome from Apollo Motorhome Holidays, taking him (it was definitely a ‘him’) on a road trip through this picture perfect region. Our Little Misses were positively bouncing with excitement at the prospect of living and travelling in a ‘cubbyhouse on wheels’. The best part, we thought, was the chance to visit friends and family without having to sleep on their couches. But that was just the half of it. During the ‘getting to know him’ lecture at the Apollo branch we found out where to store and stash our gear (hooray: no luggage limits), learned how to work the gas cooktop, microwave, tv/ dvd player, on board hot water shower and the… ahem… etiquette of changing the toilet tank. The good news is: toilet chemicals completely neutralise any odours, and the entire job can be done in a few minutes at any approved waste station, by a handy husband, naturally (thanks hon). The ‘BFG’ was far easier to drive than I expected. Our six-berth Euru Deluxe had a double ‘top bunk’ over the drivers cabin for the kids, and the dinette at the rear converted to a spacious double long enough for my 6ft 2 husband to sleep in comfort. Because there is a secondary dinette where the kids seats clip in while driving, we left the rear bed made up during the whole trip. We arrived at Bright, as the leaves were turning. Now this is autumn – a daily visual rotation of greens, golds, pinks, reds and every colour between, all hung festively on the branches of poplars, maples, liquid ambers and huge oak trees. Time for scarves, jackets and big boots, hot chocolate with marshmallows and hearty red wine in front of a fire.

Bright offers year-round activities but summer and autumn are the biggest tourism seasons. The entire region is connected by cycling and walking trails, and our trip into town saw plenty of rugged up cyclists enjoying the crisp air, views and colours. We dined out for lunch at Beanz of Bright café on a very tender house made gnocchi, finished off with a strawberry coconut tart and lattes. The town was packed full of tourists, lining up for blackberry pies at Edelweiss Bakery or browsing in the quaint home wares and clothing stores. We spoke to one family from Germany who were off to hike a series of trails through Mt Buffalo National Park and Alpine National Park. Our local Victorian friends make regular winter pilgrimages to snowboard at Mt Buffalo, Falls Creek or Mt Hotham. The Little Misses spent most of our ideal autumn weekend laboriously collecting chestnuts on a nearby farm. These beautiful nuts are definitely the local specialty during April, amazing pureed or added to a hearty casserole. They’re for sale everywhere – in cafes, outside the butcher – it seems every local has a tree. The entire region starts fruiting from April onwards, and there are plenty of places to pick it yourself. We also ran amuck at the Nightingale Brothers apple farm, bringing home huge bags of perfectly crisp Pink Lady and Golden Delicious apples and local pears which I stewed up on the motorhome stove with cinnamon and a few plums to make an amazing compote. Yes, I think autumn is definitely our favourite season.

rhome On! Ten top reasons to take a family motorhome holiday: 1. Accommodation and travel costs are covered in one payment. 2. On-board kitchens make it easy to plan cost-effective meals (leaving cash for treats and experiences along the way). 3. Luggage limits don’t apply, and you only need to unpack once. 4. The ‘top bunk’ bed over the driver’s cabin (in 6-berth motorhomes from Apollo) has a safety barrier (so relax!). 5. Your giant cubbyhouse on wheels comes with in-built TV/DVD players which work on the road, guaranteeing happy travellers. 6. There’s freedom to stop wherever and whenever you (or the little ones) want to, and move on as soon as you’ve ‘been there, seen it all’. 7. Holiday parks are ideal places to make new friends from around the country or the world. 8. You’ll see more of Australia’s beautiful regions. 9. It’s a great way to visit friends and family… without having to sleep in their lounge rooms. 10. The fun starts now! The minute you’re on the road your adventure has begun. If you haven’t experienced a ‘Great Aussie Road Trip’ with your family then why not plan one for the next school holidays? To start your own motorhome adventure visit www.apollocamper.com/holiday. And check out the amazing high country at www.brightvictoria.com.au By Carla Adams

we like to fly We like to fly! I married a man with an eternal travel bug and after many years of flying for work personally it just felt natural that having kids wouldn’t change what we love to do as a couple. Plenty of people hate the idea of travelling with kids and don’t get me wrong, it’s not all peachy, but, you can make it work and once you get to your destination it’s so worth the tiresome transit hours. Forget sipping champagne with your feet up and someone serving you at your beck and call - that kind of flying doesn’t exist with kids and if it does someone needs to let me know the secret, but I have 5 essential items which will make travel a lot easier for a trip where you plan to take the ankle biters.

1. Be prepared for your flight On the flight you need to know that things may not go to plan; delays, accidents and even lost baggage - so pack your hand luggage with: -Multiple outfit changes for the kids (and one for you). -Bottles & formula (if required). -Back up dummies (pacifiers) and chew toys, they will end up on the floor, stuck between seats or magically disappearing so I urge you to pack plenty. -Nappies - on one flight one of my girls had an unseasonable number of soiled nappies and thankfully I hid a few extra in my hand luggage as every last one was required (and the change of clothes for us both). -Blanket or wrap, something that can cover bubs if they sleep and also cover the pram if you have them sleeping during transit or whilst waiting at the terminal.

2. Invest in a travel pram The single best purchase I’ve made for travelling. There are two prams on the market that fold up and can be stored in overhead luggage on most aircraf; the Mountain Buggy Nano and the Yo Yo Zen. I needed one quickly before flying solo with my youngest and wasn’t able to find the Yo Yo Zen however I got my hands on a Nano and it’s been brilliant. You can check in your luggage and walk about the airport whilst your bub sleeps. Delayed flights? At least your child can be comfortable. I have a bad back and lugging a heavy child about an airport for hours waiting for international flights meant I spent more time complaining of back pain during and post holiday. This has made a drastic difference to enjoyment at airports and once you reach your destination. A small pram is easier on small footpaths, for jumping on and off public transport and in and out of cabs.

3. Distraction is the key Do I need to remind you that a child’s attention span lasts no more than a few minutes (if you’re lucky) whilst they are under three? In which case a bag full of distractions is necessary. Age appropriate treats, toys, books, games etc are highly recommended. I recommend you scope out a cheap store and find a bunch of disposable trinkets for your trip, as in things that if lost of left behind on your flight won’t break any hearts. I head to Daiso (a store where everything is $2.80) and pile up on crayons, pads, toys, small dress ups, puzzles, cars, building blocks and books. Each of these items gets pulled out of the distraction bag slowly throughout the trip (when required) and helps keep my girls interested and amused. This also gives you a bunch of toys you can carry about on your trip to continue to entertain whilst you are away.

4. Bring a travel cot I realise this isn’t a popular choice with many parents that already see how much they are lugging about on their holiday but here I will provide you with my reasons for giving it a go. No one loves familiarity like a baby. If you have a portacot that you use regularly at the grandparent’s house or for catchups at friend’s places then it will become a place the baby recognises, it will smell like their own and offer some comfort when in a new environment. Seriously it comes down to the question, ‘would you let your dog sleep on that?’. We have travelled a fair amount and stayed in our share of lovely and shabby. Some are Airbnb which I am a huge fan of, however when the place offers to provide a cot be very wary of what condition it may be in. In some instances my babes would have been better off sleeping on a yoga mat on the floor instead of the protruding poles, floppy mattresses and sometimes manky smells coming from the cots provided and hence they have spent the holiday sharing a bed with us (not so relaxing for us). Most airlines allow you bring a travel cot, pram and even car seat free of charge onto your flight so besides transit to and from the airport they are reasonably easy to manage when they are lightweight.

5. Make smart choices with your accommodation I stand by Airbnb as being one of the best kept secrets for accommodation both in Oz and worldwide. When you have a baby and need to do things like bath, sterilise, heat up or even cook small meals for them there is nothing better than finding apartments, houses etc that have all the creature comforts of home and multiple rooms. Keep bubs in separate rooms, have a lounge room to sprawl toys about and have a proper bath to bath your kids in, not to mention a washing machine to do a few loads of food/spew/poo ridden clothes. I rarely travel any other way since discovering Airbnb on my honeymoon in Spain 4 years ago. Finally, don’t expect to get as much done in a day with kids, but do enjoy what you can do. If they are napping take a tour of a museum or enjoy a glass of wine at a bar on the sidewalk. Try takeaway options where you travel when dinner time becomes too difficult to be out with kids going wild. Remember that people all around the world love kids and the experience of travel is not only incredible for you but a wonderful learning experience for your children. By Cat Sanz www.gfmum.com gfmum is a lifestyle blog about motherhood, food, travel, style and exceptional coffee and wine.

When looking to purchase a travel cot be sure to ask what size and weight the cot folds up to. Some look amazing when set up in the shop with plenty of add on bits and gadgets but don’t forget you have to lug this thing around everywhere on your trip so keep it simple (and light)!

lovely locals wallace avenue, point cook 1. Let’s Celebrate Parties If you have something in mind for a party you can probably get it here. Bring the kids with you as this is a fun place to shop! As well as party goods they stock costumes and everything you need to make your own fabulous cake. Their staff are always happy to advise you on anything party. 41/22-30 Wallace Avenue 2. Teddy Bear’s Tree House Upstairs from Let’s Celebrate Parties, this is one of those places where kid’s dreams come true as they make their own bear. And it’s not just bears – there’s all kinds of animals plus dragons and unicorns. Plus you can enjoy a Tree House birthday party in store or at home. 41/22-30 Wallace Avenue www.teddybearstreehouse.com.au 3. Western Wellness We’re always going on about looking after yourselves mums. If you need to nurture yourself more, Western Wellness is a great place to start. With over 30 yoga and meditation sessions to choose from you might just find something that fits into your life. They also offer counselling and coaching–check out their 90 day Transform You program. 102/22-30 Wallace Avenue www.westernwellness.com.au 4. 7 Oak Tree This one’s a bit of a hidden secret. VERY reasonably priced kid’s meals including butter chicken for the more adventurous or pop in Sunday afternoon for the West’s very own high tea. 101/22-30 Wallace Avenue sevenoaktree.com.au 5. Wyncity Bowl & Entertainment Gosh, where do we start here? This is a large entertainment complex with mini golf, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag, and a playground for under 5s. There are three options for kid’s birthday parties. Plus there’s food – wood fired pizzas and pub style food. 36 Wallace Ave www.wyncity.com.au 6. Oz Tenpin Bowling Not just bowling – there’s also a rock climbing wall, a giant slide and laser tag. You can have children’s parties with one activity or a combo. Look out for public holiday and school holiday specials. 1 Linmax Court www.oztenpin.com.au 7. Jump Swim Schools 16 Jump swim schools were created especially to teach infants to swim. They have small classes and the pool is nice and warm. There’s only a couple of classes in the pool at a time which makes it ideal for children who don’t like the noise of a busier pool. 13 Wallace Avenue jumpswimschools.com.au 16

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rush to the ranges Load the family in the car and in 40 minutes you will arrive in the gorgeous Macedon Ranges, a place where you can excite your taste buds, your creative side and the kids’ sense of fun. And mama should know. I lived there for 8 years! From winter snow on the Mount to local markets and wineries, the Macedon Ranges has something for everyone, and it’s so close to home! Living Legends Like horses? Then this is your first stop on the way up to the Macedon Ranges. Pack your picnic and enjoy the surrounds of this historic homestead which overlooks the grassy woodlands of Gellibrand Hill. Here you can rub noses (literally you can rub their noses!) with some of horse racing’s finest including Rogan Josh, Brew and Might and Power. The site has amazing city views and is only 5 mins past the airport. Woodlands Historic Park, Oaklands Road Greenvale. www.livinglegends.org.au

Gisborne Peak Winery You wont regret sitting by the lake and enjoying a fabulous woodfired pizza and a glass of excellent wine here! If you can steal some kid free time, make a weekend of it and stay in their self-contained eco-cottage overlooking the lake. Bliss! 69 Short Road Gisborne South www.gisbornepeakwines.com.au

Gisborne Olde Time Market The Gisborne Market has over 250 stalls offering a large range of products. Food and wine, fresh produce,

quality hand made items, arts and crafts, clothing, accessories, jewellery, books, plants and fresh flowers. You will also find entertainment for the kids and products for your pets. First Sunday of the month. 9am - 2pm. Hamilton and Aitken Streets and Howey Reserve, Gisborne.

Mount Macedon Memorial Cross At the summit of Mount Macedon is the Memorial Cross which commemorates those who gave their lives in the 1914– 1918 war. Erected on a vantage point with stunning views, the Cross is 21 metres in height and 1001 metres above sea level. Originally built in 1935, it was replaced in 1995 due to storm and fire damage. Take time to read the plaques and soak in the history. In really cold winter conditions it even snows, adding to the area’s magic. Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon.

Woodend Children’s Park This amazing park covers one hectare on the banks of Five Mile Creek. The park fits beautifully into the landscape and uses native hardwood and stone as its main features. Highlights are the 8 metre climbing wall, large flying fox, and a fenced playground for toddlers. Plenty of space to run around plus BBQs and shelter an added bonus. 12 Nicholson Street Woodend

Hanging Rock

Piper Street Kyneton

No trip to the Macedon Ranges is complete without visiting the Hanging Rock Reserve, said to be one of the best examples of a volcanic feature (called a mamelon) in the world. The reserve offers features such as walks up the magnificent rock, picnic areas and lots of native wildlife. It often plays host to film nights under the starts, concerts and horse racing. South Rock Road, Newham. Open daily 9am-5pm. $10 entry per car.

Full of independent retailers with eclectic tastes and a DIY ethic, Browse shops featuring local artists, antique delights, whimsical furniture and vintage finds from all over the world then sit down for a relax in one of the grand old pubs or stylish cafes. Many kid friendly options to be found. Mama’s favs are a shop at Emporium and Stockroom, tasty delights at Piper Street Food Company and pop into The Royal George Hotel for a craft beer and some casual dining. piperstreet.com.au

Wild Action Zookeeper Experience The Wild Action private zoo is nestled in the foothills of Mt Macedon and their wildlife collection consists of many rare and endangered creatures, all of which are hand reared and amenable to handling. Spend a whole day with zoologist Chris Humfrey from ABC’s hit series “Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life!” Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals! The Wild Action Team is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and show casing Australia’s rich biodiversity. 48 Middle Gully Road Macedon. www.wildaction.com.au

For more information on the Macedon Ranges visit www.visitmacedonranges.com

Holgate Brewhouse It can’t all be about the kids! Holgate owners Paul and Natasha fell in love at 19, got married, travelled the world and came home inspired! What resulted was a vision and passion for good beer, food and wine! They started the brewhouse in their backyard in 1999. It is now operated on the site of the old Commercial Hotel which they bought in 2002, refurbished and renamed Holgate’s. Craft beer doesn’t get any fresher or tastier. Like many local attractions, you can also stay the night in one of their 10 beautiful guest rooms (just in case mama has one too many beers!) 79 High Street Woodend. www.holgatebrewhouse.com

meeting mister zimi Mister Zimi has been a MamaMag staple for years now, so we were thrilled to chat to Zoe this month about her brand, life and travelling with kids. Created by Melbourne husband and wife team Zoe and Jimi Paul, Mister Zimi’s unique prints and leather pieces have a cult following across Australia. But the Zimi adventure actually started in Bali through an amazing journey of design, travel, 2 kids and ‘those bold prints’! Like many others, we’ve been to Bali and had that thought…how nice to live and work over there. Sounds blissful. But what’s the reality? Well it’s not all sunsets and cocktails when working in Bali let me tell you, it’s an endless adventure of trying to work out everything for yourself (no google) and wifi issues and electricity black outs!

How did you take that step from imagining that Balinese life to making it happen? When Jimi and I started to holiday in Bali, we were fascinated by everything about the country. We both knew that we wanted to live there one day but had no idea how. Mister Zimi was born in 2008, when I got a leather jacket made by a random local tailor down a laneway in the depths of Kuta. The jacket was delivered to our hotel with the name ‘Mister Zimi’ on it. They got Mrs Zoe and Mr Jimi confused but the name stuck! I was so pleased with my jacket, I took it home and started wearing it to work. Immediately the girls in the office wanted one, and when I wore it on weekends my friends wanted one too. I decided that there might be an opportunity to do a small made-to-order production run, with the idea being that it could help pay for our next trip to Bali. Soon I had an order for 60 jackets, and that was the beginning of it all!

How do you divide your time between Bali and Melbourne these days? These days we are mainly based in Melbourne, and spending a fair bit of time at our new house in Byron Bay. But we still travel to Bali a lot for the business. Jimi and I normally take 22

in turns so we don’t have to bring the kids for short trips. But at least once a year we will go for a long stint, a few months or so. We have a lovely villa and a lot of friends there. Florence our 4 year old, has spent most of her life in Bali, so she is always begging us to go back to see all her Balinese friends.

How is family life different in Bali to here in Australia? Balinese life is so different. Everyone lives together in the house, the whole family. Raising children is a joint effort between grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles, cousins. It’s actually a beautiful way of life. Ex pat life is very different there to Australia as well. We have lovely staff that work in our villa who are like our family. That of course we would never be able to have in Melbourne.

What are your top tips for traveling with kids? Before having children we bought an iPad. After never using it I was almost going to put it on ebay. But thank god I didn’t, it is a must for planes! When our babies were young I always made sure they had something to suck i.e. a bottle or breast feeding, on take off and landing. This stops their ears from popping.

Starting up a business locally is hard enough, what extra challenges did you find doing it overseas? Bali was amazing in terms of allowing us to push ourselves and be as creative as we wanted to be, without anyone judging our inexperience. But god was it tough. I think people thought I was living there working on my tan most of the time. It was hard work, so frustrating, most days leading to dead ends. In Bali nothing happens unless you’re there

making sure it gets done. We spent so much of that first stint in Bali scootering through crazy traffic jams and heat between our factories to make sure they met the deadlines we were working towards. It was exhausting. Bali has the ability to provide amazing opportunities, but it can also break you. For every success, there are several stories of failure. It’s really hard not to just give up.

What were you doing before Zimi? I was working in real estate! I never set out to be a fashion designer. I would have never thought I could be creative enough to do anything within a creative industry.

How have you dealt with the growth and rapid success of the brand? I think the hardest part has been building confidence in what we are capable of, regardless of how inexperienced we are. I doubt myself before every collection launch. and think it’s going to be a flop. I get upset by rude comments on social media because I am only human. I constantly have to remind myself that I cannot please everyone.

Any pinch yourself moments? I think the day that Kourtney Kardashian contacted us, asking for a dress she loved was pretty surreal!!

Tell us about where we can experience a bit of Zimi style in Bali? We have 2 stores in Bali where you can buy the current Zimi range (Zimi Satu), and heaps of great gems from previous collections (Zimi Dua). We also rent out our villa when we’re not in Bali through airbnb. It’s been so fun to translate the Zimi vibe into our villa. It was so great picking out our favourite prints from past collections and making them into tiles for our bathroom, or cushions for our couches, or beanbags! A massive part of why we love being in Bali is because we’ve really made our villa there our second home.

Where can we find you? You can find Mister Zimi Satu and Mister Zimi Dua in Seminyak, Bali. Visit Mister Zimi locally in Albert Park and Armadale or visit them online at misterzimi.com And rent the Bali villa at airbnb www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/564938 23

fun 4 all the kids! The beautiful seaside city of Warrnambool is located at the end of the Great Ocean Road and for the past 17 years the town has been hosting an award-winning children’s festival, the largest of its kind in Australia, the Fun4Kids Festival. Every winter, thousands of families make the trip to Warrnambool, one of the best family friendly regions in Victoria, to experience the fun and adventure that Fun4Kids has to offer. The 7 day festival features a fully indoor, 2.5 acre maze of children’s entertainment - made up of 18 amazing zones full of awesome activities, 2 stages with over 80 live shows featuring some of Australia’s best children’s entertainers and loads of hands-on activities and workshops. And just like a theme park, there’s one entry fee then all the fun is free, with different ticket packages to suit your length of stay. Aside from the festival, Warrnambool is a family hot spot on the Great Ocean Road and the perfect destination with lots on offer to families in winter. Our favourite family attractions in the region include: WHALE WATCHING at Logans Beach offers a rare opportunity to view Southern Right Whales. Almost every year between the months of May and September, female whales return to the waters of Logans Beach to calve, often within hundreds of metres of the shore. The Logans Beach Whale Viewing Platform is just to the east of the city, it’s open at all hours and is free.

MEET THE MAREMMA DOGS FROM ODDBALL THE MOVIE at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and learn about the story of the guardian dogs protecting the penguins from foxes on Middle Island. SHIPWRECKED SOUND AND LASER SHOW at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is an award winning family attraction and a must see for families whilst in Warrnambool. By day, walk through the streets of the recreated 1870s maritime village and port, discover relics and treasures recovered from local shipwrecks, visit the farm yard, climb the heritage listed Lady Bay Lighthouses and explore a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. At night, experience the voyage of the famous sinking Loch Ard as its story is recreated in a spectacular sound and laser show. ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND at Lake Pertobe is a 20ha playground with giant slides, flying foxes and a maze right on Warrnambool’s foreshore. The world’s largest travel website – Trip Advisor – lists it in the top 10 parks in the South Pacific! CHEESE WORLD is just across the road from the Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory, in the heart of a major dairy farming region. Cheese World brings together a museum, free cheese tastings, a licensed restaurant,

and a wide selection of local and regional wines and best of all, entry is free. RIDE, SCOOT OR WALK ALONG THE FORESHORE TRAILS enjoying the magnificent 5.7km foreshore promenade which stretches along the Lady Bay coastline. The scenic trail is popular with walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters and you can drop in to grab a coffee and milkshake at Simon’s Restaurant along the way. TOWER HILL RESERVE is an extinct volcano where you can get close to nature and spot koalas, emus and kangaroos in their natural environment. It’s also a great place to learn about the region’s Aboriginal history. Explore the beautifully designed Visitor Centre, choose from a number of well-marked self-guided walks and enjoy the attractive picnic and BBQ facilities. MINI GOLF BY THE SEA is very popular with families and conveniently located beside Warrnambool’s famous Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground. It’s also home to the famous jumping

pillow, offering an entire afternoon of fun. Warrnambool also has ample accommodation and restaurants. Lady Bay Resort is located in the popular Lady Bay precinct; close by to Middle Island, Warrnambool’s popular skate park, beach walking tracks and lookouts. A short walk to the foreshore, you’ll find the Pavilion Café, a local favourite for breakfast and lunch, not least for the views across the bay. For dinner, try Piccolo Restaurant, which has a custom kids menu and special Fun4Kids deals throughout the school holidays. Warrnambool is the largest city in the Great Ocean Road region, approximately a 3 hour drive or train ride from Melbourne and a great family destination for you to discover this winter. For more information about Fun4Kids Festival visit fun4kids.com.au. For information about things to do and accommodation deals in Warrnambool visit visitwarrnambool.com.au

daylesford delight Visitors can’t resist the charms of Daylesford’s Vincent Street, with its cafes, trendy clothing stores, art galleries, antique shops and, on the weekend, markets where you can explore for hours. Unique is the perfect word to describe Daylesford’s main thoroughfare of Vincent Street. Laidback, pretty and an enticing combination of great places to eat, boutiques and more practical shops (supermarkets, hardware stores and the like), you can spend a couple of hours roaming from one end exploring the shop fronts and country laneways. Café culture is a big part of Vincent Street. You can find somewhere for a hearty breakfast in a laidback space, think roasted mushrooms with soft goats cheese, lemon and parsley served on warm focaccia or enjoy a coffee and pastry on the go. Those with a sweet tooth can find shops where chocolates such as lavender truffles and Daylesford Delights are made, and cafés that serve cakes, biscuits and tarts made from the region’s seasonal fruits. There are also plenty of places along the street to buy yourself, or someone else a calorie-free treat. Local homeware stores offer a gorgeous range of photographs, books and historic prints featuring Australian architectural and botanical images. While fashion boutiques stock a range of locally made jewellery from the region’s artisans, handmade fashion, precious items for the home, and cute things for little kids.

Lovers of vintage will be able to lose themselves for hours hunting through items of yesteryear at various locations in and out of town. These stores provide a treasure trove of clothing, jewellery, books, LPs, furniture and bric-a-brac. You may uncover some classic Penguin titles with the original orange covers or a beaded white purse from the 1960s still in pristine condition. Who knows the treasures you’ll find! If art is more your thing, visitors can either splurge or simply admire some excellent art in the local galleries that feature many local artists, working in a variety of mediums. Local galleries represent more than 50 emerging and established artists whose works include paintings, prints, sculpture, glass, handcrafted furniture and jewellery. While often quite sleepy during the week, especially during mid-winter, the entire complexion of Vincent Street changes on the weekend. Visitors arrive from Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate to not only enjoy what is always here, but also the local weekend markets. On the first Saturday of each month, the primary school turns over its grounds to the farmers’ market, while every Sunday, just around the corner on the Midland Highway, huge crowds come to check out the stalls at the Daylesford Sunday Markets. Here, you’ll find just about everything, from second-hand pots and pans to vintage clothing and local crafts. The young and young at heart will also enjoy the Sunday rides on the old train from Daylesford station to the edge of Wombat State Forest.

Salt therapy works wonders for children. Salt therapy is a medically proven and natural therapy. It involves inhaling dry salt, which cleanses the airways and skin, relieving congestion, inflammation, allergies and skin irritations. Kids experiencing everything from asthma, cold and flu, croup to eczema, can expect significant and lasting relief with regular salt therapy. Best of all, kids love our fun children’s room and don’t even know they are receving the benifits of salt therapy!

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the big apple of Too noisy….too dirty… too expensive…. No I’m not talking about the dilemma of whether to have multiple kids, but rather the common misconceptions about having kids in New York City. Life twists and turns in more ways than kids in a go-kart race and by good fortune I found myself recreating the TV series, Sex and the City (SATC) in New York City. I started as a childless, social butterfly in a tiny one bedroom apartment two streets from lead character Carrie Bradshaw’s brownstone apartment (and one street from lead actress Sarah Jessica Parker’s actual brownstone apartment) in the trendy West Village. I later moved to the sophisticated Upper West Side from whence I ended up traversing the city with my waters breaking in a taxi, similarly to SATC character Charlotte, to give birth to my daughter.

Even my birth story could have been scripted from the show, balancing light and dark, comedy and drama. in that unique and hilarious way the award winning pop culture classic could. Selected highlights of my episode include: • Arriving at the hospital with waters breaking (still!) and being told the birthing ward “is full”: • Being ignored for half an hour whilst labouring and screaming like a banshee before being told I was fully dilated, followed closely by the phrase I’d feared my whole life, “there’s no time for drugs or your obstetrician”. • A random Dr in jeans appearing and finding a non-delivery room to deliver in. • Biting my partner so he could “share” in some of my pain. • My daughter being placed on my chest at the same time as my obstetrician arrived. • Aspiring to move from the hectic and overcrowded delivery floor, to be told the parents’ recovery floor “was full”. Okay, so maybe not the best promotion of “having” a baby in NYC but it would make a good TV script! I’m happy to say that having a toddler/child in NYC is a much easier experience and it would make a fabulous holiday destination for any Melbourne family.

my eye But undoubtedly the greatest thing about New York is the multiple attractions for the whole family, meaning for once it’s a family vacation everyone can be excited about! I may have won the green card lottery, but the biggest lottery I won was giving birth to my little American/Aussie and sharing unforgettable memories and experiences together in this fantastic city. The Big Apple is truly an all-ages, all-year round wonderland. To save you time (as the one thing you always want more of in NYC is time), here are my top family picks. Enjoy!

Central Park You could spend your entire NYC vacation in Central Park, there is that much to do. Playgrounds, boating on lakes, renting bikes, visiting the Alice in wonderland Sculpture Park or Central park zoo featuring entertaining sea lions and a petting zoo where little ones can feed furry friends.

Statue of Liberty

for the Crown sell out months in advance so pre-book online if possible. For the budget conscious, the FREE 25 minute (each way) Staten Island ferry gives a fantastic view of New York Harbor, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island which the kids will enjoy.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan This museum on the Upper West side is ideal for little, little ones, with five storeys worth of exhibits on culture, history and science, for kids aged six and under. Exhibits include a Dora the Explorer Play area and City Splash water play area. No food or drink is available inside the museum but admission allows you to come and go all day. Kid friendly eatery nearby: Sugar and Plumm: “Purveyors of Yumm” on the Upper West Side, offers a huge all-day kids menu for those under 12. Covering all American classics from waffles, corn dogs, mac and cheese, to mouth-watering cakes and sundaes. Look out for Katie and Suri Cruise sitting next to you.

The city views from the boat ride and from Liberty Island are spectacular. Access to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty provides a thrill for those keen on heights (and climbing 354 steps in a cramped enclosed space!). Tickets

Marco Bicci / Shutterstock.com

Museum of National History This incredible museum covers two NYC blocks and can’t be covered in one day. Pre-planning is recommended to best make use of your time. Most popular and recognisable attractions are the dinosaurs and the giant blue whale, but don’t forget the spectacular shows at the Hayden Planetarium next door. Kid friendly eatery nearby: Cult fast food chain Shake Shack has the best burgers you’ll ever taste. Worth queuing for (and you undoubtedly will). Check out the custard calendar to find out the weekly custard flavour special, ranging from Pumpkin Pie to Caramel pretzel.

Ice skating Ice skating is at the top of the wish list for those visiting NYC in Winter and for good reason, the rinks are situated at New York’s most scenic locations. The Rink at Rockefeller Centre is one of the most popular, yet is the smallest. Online advance reservations are strongly advised. Nearby, at Bryant Park’s Winter Village, skating is free, though you’ll have to pay for rental of skates and helmets. Central Park has two fine public rinks The Wollman Rink (very popular so you might consider splurging for a VIP reservation package to avoid waits), or The Lasker Rink between 106th and 108th streets (less convenient and less crowded). Check individual listings for dates and hours.

singing wait staff recreate Broadway numbers whilst you wait for your burgers.

Sporting events and tours I hate sport. But New York does sporting events so well that sports fans and non-fans (like myself) will find action year round in arenas that are just as exciting as their teams. My personal favourite is the iconic Yankee Stadium, home to the New York Yankees. Madison Square Garden, is where the NY basketball team Knicks and ice hockey Ranger teams play, however I enjoyed just as me the newer Barclays Arena in Brooklyn (co-owned by rapper Jay-Z), home to the other NY basketball team, the Nets. It is exciting to be part of the crowd, but these arenas are fun to see even when the teams are not in action and all offer behind-the-scenes guided tours. Tour times vary with sporting seasons and schedules. Check the season schedules before booking your holidays to avoid any disappointments.

Broadway Australia is spoilt for choice with musicals with many Broadway shows such as Matilda, opening down under. But let’s be honest, there is nothing quite like experiencing the bright lights or energy of Times Square & Broadway. Popular shows that pay to pre-book early include Aladdin and Wicked. Discounted tickets for less popular shows can be bought on the day of the performance at the red ticket booth on Times Square. The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (Nov-Jan) at Radio City Hall is highly recommended for kids and adults alike! Kid friendly eatery nearby: Ellen’s stardust diner is the perfect pre-or post-show stop as the

Sarah McPhee is a Melbourne based mother of one mini New Yorker who would’ve commenced a blog about ex-pat adventures in NYC (from apartment hunting, to obtaining a green card and working in New York) if she wasn’t so distracted by the never ending things to see and do in NYC. Contact her at sarahkmcphee@hotmail.com if you would like some more insider tips for navigating the concrete jungle with kids.

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mama can Cook! Rainbow Chard and Mushroom Pasta Ingredients:

Method:

1 clove crushed garlic

Fry onion and garlic.

1 diced onion

Add chopped chard and spring onion.

150g mushrooms

Add chopped mushroom.

1 bunch of rainbow chard or your favourite greens

Stir into cooked pasta.

Cooked pasta to serve 4

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Simple dinners full of delicious organic vegies have never been easier

Sweet Potato and Kale Fritatta Ingredients:

Method:

1 large sweet potato, cut into cubes (skin on)

Pour some olive oil on the sweet potato and season. Bake in a tray lined with baking paper for 15 minutes on 180 C.

1 bunch kale, chopped 6 eggs, whisked 2 red chillies, finely chopped (optional to deseed first or leave out for kiddies) Â˝ teaspoon paprika

Sautee kale with some oil and season. Add chilli, paprika and a splash of water. Add the kale to the baked sweet potato and pour the whisked eggs on top. Bake for a further 15-20 mins.

MAMA of the month This month we chat to Jemma Reynolds, Westside Mama to two little girls aged 7 and 6, and the creative mind behind the gorgeous website Little Bali Love, an online guide for all the best places to eat, play, shop and stay for families travelling to Bali. If you are planning a family trip to the Island of Gods, you must visit Little Bali Love first!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Doing what I love and loving what I do! Embracing the juggle of working from home as well as being a mama/chauffeur/chef/cleaner/ dog-walker etc. Love my family, colour, interiors, the beach, fresh coconuts, travelling, reading, yoga and Champagne.

How did Little Bali Love come about? We always loved travelling to Bali pre-kids, but when our first daughter India came along (now 7) we found we were seeking different things in our holiday. All of a sudden we needed villas with pool fences, restaurants with highchairs and kids menus, drivers with carseats, babysitters, places to buy nappies, etc. With time we developed a list of all our kid friendly finds on the island which we were always sharing with friends, and so with previous knowledge of starting a website Little Bali Love was born. Now we get to enjoy frequent visits to our second home! It’s exciting that we have created a business out of something we simply love doing, and that it enables us to keep travelling together as a family, and for me to have the flexibility of working from home and having time to focus on my other important job - being a mama.

What were you doing before you created this lovely little business? I had a previous online business (a kid-friendly cafe review website), and prior to that and pre-kiddies I was in the corporate world of marketing, comm’s, and advertising. Never again! No more black suits and heels for me! In addition to Little Bali Love, I also do freelance social media, copywriting and marketing.

What are your tips for juggling the family and your own business? Writing lists (Oh how I love a list!), saying no sometimes, keeping it real and making separate time for work and separate time for family when you work from home the lines are always blurred, but it is so important to try and switch off from work mode from time to time... and to put the damn iphone down. Step away from the iphone! (I really need to listen to my own advice - ha!).

How often do you and the family get over to Bali? We are back and forth every few months... it really is our second home. I also head over on my own sometimes for a quick business trip to do research and meet with advertisers. What’s the hardest part about travelling with kids and how do you overcome it? I have always tried to not look at it as being “hard” but as a blessing. However you definitely have to go with the flow more as things most

likely won’t go to plan and your patience will definitely be tested... but the the memories and the experiences outweigh the “hard”. Just enjoy the ride! My girls have been travelling to Bali since they were just a couple of months old, so it is a part of our lifestyle now, and they have become excellent little travellers. We are about to head off to Europe for a month.... so perhaps ask me again after that 24 hour flight!

What essentials are in your carry on luggage? First and most importantly the duty free booze - usually a bottle of gin for poolside GnT’s and a bottle of bubbles - my laptop, a good book, my diary, notebook and pens, a sarong or big scarf that can be used as a blanket or wrap, lip gloss, and a face spray/mist, and snacks for me (being a vegetarian and plane food don’t really mix!). The kids have their own carry on bag and always have snacks, water, books, pencils, activity books and paper.

Favourite kid friendly spot in Bali? KuDeTa on a Sunday... The girls just adore it and we can easily spend half the day there. We enjoy a nice brunch together, then the kids run around on the grass, twirl and dance to the funky DJ tunes, spend a good chunk of time at the amazing art and craft stations, make some new little friends, bounce on the jumping castle, get their face-painted and play some games. There’s a new pool there now too, so pack your bathers for some splish splashing fun!

And back on local soil, what is your favourite thing to do in the west with the family? Hanging out at our two local beaches (Altona and Williamstown) walking the dog, the kids going for a scoot, hot choccies in winter, summer swims and sandcastles, after dinner ice creams, or sunset fish and chips for tea. If we can’t be at the beach in Bali then this is the next best thing!

www.littlebalilove.com

35 35

let’s fly babee I was told I’d never have kids so when my first daughter was born, I couldn’t believe my luck – It actually happened! Originally from the UK and now living in Australia you’re a long way from home during big times of change and I couldn’t wait to get back to the UK to introduce my new baby girl to my mum... Her first grandchild! I waited until Aimee was 5 ½ months to take on the flight. Now flying with babies was not on the top of my list of things to do and I was terrified of what would happen on the plane… and quite rightly so. Aimee’s well established sleep routine was so important and the poor little thing was awake for almost the duration of the 24 hour flight. The inflight bassinet I had was right below a TV screen, to the left of the EXIT sign and toilet lights. There was just WAY too much going on! I eventually got to London and as I greeted my Mum I remember saying “Well I won’t be flying with a baby again in a hurry! – Absolute nightmare!” During that 5 week trip, my world came crashing down around me... My mum was suddenly taken ill and was diagnosed with cancer and given just 9 months to live. I took the hard decision to relocate to the UK so my brothers and I could care for her in her final months and she could be around her only grandchild.

Of course, that was hard on my daughter’s daddy so we ended up travelling with a baby back and forth four times that year! In an attempt to help Aimee sleep better during flights, I carted around single sheets and masking tape and set up a canopy over the bassinet to help block out all the inflight action. She would drag it off or the masking tape would fail and it would fall on her and of course wake her… nothing was effective! When my mum passed away and the grieving eased a little, I kept mentioning how frustrating flying with babies was for people. I wondered - could travelling be made easy? Lying in bed one night my hubby said... “You know, we should just design something and get it out there”... And so we did! So after a two year journey, I launched the world’s first sleeping aid for air travel for anyone who will be using an airline bassinet or prams and strollers. It’s a must-have accessory for any travelling parents who value their baby’s sleep routine in general. It allows for hassle free flights, peaceful holidays and stress free shopping trips. Because a sleeping baby is a happy baby xox By Emma Lovell. Check out Emma’s amazing product at flybabee.com.au

“I wondered could travelling be made easy?”

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my island home Just 90 minutes south-east of of Melbourne, Phillip Island makes an exceptional family holiday destination. Surfing, walking, food and wine, art and history, Mama spent a long weekend down there and we just couldn’t get enough of it! Penguin Parade Witness the natural spectacle of the world’s smallest penguins arriving home at sunset each evening. Visitors can experience the nightly parade from beachfront general viewing stands or from the premium viewing areas of Penguins Plus or Underground viewing experience, situated along the penguins’ most popular pathway. They also offer a great range of eco-accredited tours with an experienced ranger guides, limited to a maximum of 10 people. penguins.org.au

Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Families can enjoy the ‘hands-on’ fun and interactive experiences in the new Antarctic Journey as they ‘feel the freeze’ in the Antarctic Chill Zone then compare their thermal image with an Emperor penguin; visit the Research Station and Sound Lab; check out the sustainable menu in the virtual café, or maybe try and sink a bowling ball. The Journey offers complete immersion in a spectacular multimedia experience, surrounded by creatures of the deep like whales, seals, sharks and more. Thanks to cutting edge ‘augmented reality’ technology, visitors can see themselves on a huge screen, standing on an ice floe, patting a penguin or stroking a seal.

Wild Oceans EcoBoat Tours Racing along Phillip Island’s rugged coastline and out towards Australia’s largest fur seal colony, the Wild Oceans EcoBoat tour is a high speed, adrenalin packed adventure. Departing daily from Cowes jetty, the EcoBoat is a world-class rigid hulled inflatable boat with seating for up to 47 people.

Koala Conservation Centre The Koala Conservation Centre is a unique ecotourism experience where you come ‘face-to-face’ with wild koalas in their natural habitat from treetop boardwalks. Learn about these amazing animals and the role the centre has played in protecting Phillip Island’s koalas and their habitat. Stroll along the woodland walking trails and you may come across some of the many native animals that visit this bushland setting including wallabies, echidna, and over 35 different species of birds.

Churchill Island Heritage Farm Journey back in time and explore the heritage and tranquil scenery of Churchill Island, an historic working farm with Clydesdale horses, Highland cattle and an animal nursery. An easy drive via a bridge from Phillip Island, it is a perfect stop on the way to the penguins. Hands on farming activities run daily, including sheep shearing, cow milking, whip cracking and working dog demonstrations. The island also features a restored homestead, historic farm cottages and delightful heritage gardens and orchards.

A Maze’N Things No visit to Phillip Island is complete without a magical trip to A Maze’N Things. It is a whole world of optical illusions, mazes and puzzles that will entertain, intrigue and amuse adults and children for hours. The new Puzzle Island extension at A Maze’N Things boasts world first activities, and a whole range of interactive exhibits that will have you roaring with laughter or scratching your head in disbelief. amazenthings.com.au

Phillip Island Chocolate Factory Yup, there is even a chocolate factory, the sweetest and most addictive attraction on Phillip Island. Pannys Amazing World of Chocolate is a celebration of all things chocolate, with interactive machines to play with, fascinating facts and the ability to make your own chocolate on the spot. www.phillipislandchocolatefactory.com.au

Grumpy’s Mini Golf Right in the heart of Cowes, Grumpy’s is certainly fun for all the family. Who doesn’t love a game of mini golf? My 5yo even finished off the round with a hole in one and didn’t we hear about it for the rest of the trip.

Cowes town centre Cowes has a constant buzzy seaside holiday feel and is home to a fabulous beach for the kids and plenty of food and shopping options for the family. Home to the largest range of accommodation, it makes an excellent base for your Phillip island exploration.

Markets A farmer’s market is held on Churchill Island every 4th Saturday of the month, 8am-1pm. Cowes Island Craft Market is held every 2nd Saturday of the month at St Phillips Parish. Market on Chapel is held in the grounds of the Uniting Church cnr Chapel Street & Warley Ave, on the 4th Saturday of the month from 9am – 1pm. Cowes Night Market is on in Summer time at the Jetty Triangle in the twilight.

San Remo Fishermens Co-Op Pelican View Fish and Chips Situated at the entrance to Phillip Island this should be your first stop when coming to visit this beautiful island. Enjoy fresh fish & chips, salads, and fresh seafood and watch the amazing pelicans come in to take the scraps from the morning’s catch. With breathtaking views of the San Remo Channel and bridge, check out the fishing and cray boats, visit the FREE education and information centre, feed the pelicans at noon, then feed yourselves at the family restaurant, Pelican View. srfco.com.au

Turn the page travel Lonely Planet Kids: Pop-Up London, Pop-Up New York, Pop-Up Paris - Andy Mansfield RRP 16.99 ea This fab little collection of pop-ups takes kids to the major landmarks of these popular cities along with facts to make them feel like smart little travellers. They also have fun little tid-bits like, ‘Londoners like to give their buildings crazy names…. I’m the Shard and I’m the Gherkin’. New York features the Brooklyn Bridge and NY’s famous Hot Dog Vendors and in Paris even the Moulin Rouge pops-up!

Lonely Planet Kids: My Family Travel Map RRP 19.99 This foldout map of the world is brilliant! I wish I had one when I took my daughter to Europe! It includes 180 stickers so exploring fingers can personalise the map while they’re guided through the world. Every country is number coded and features interesting facts.

Lonely Planet Kids: My Travel Journal RRP 14.99 To top off the entertaining (and educational, but let’s not tell them that just yet!) factor, get your hands on this nifty little travel journal. It has a hard cover and a great little world map in the front so your kids can track where you’re headed. Complete with how-to instructions and a passport, it’s filled with great activities like a packing tracker, journey jotters, downtime lifesavers, messages for home, food journals, and places to record the new friends they make along the way (they even thought of a finger print page!). Lonely Planet Kids: Boredom Buster – Games for the Road RRP 14.99 Road trips can be a blast, except maybe for the road trip bit…. LP’s delivered the goods to keep the kids occupied! It’s chocked full of games, puzzles, and silliness. ‘But wait, it has board games inside,’ I hear you cry, ‘we’ll need dice!’ Those clever fellows have thought of it all and the top corner of each page magically becomes your very own, un-losable dice!

This month’s Lonely Planet Kids reviews are by Raquel Neofit. Lonely Planet Kids aims to kick-start the travel bug and open kids’ eyes and minds to the world around them. Their focus is on showcasing the quirky facts, amusing tales and inspiring stories that bring our planet to life. www.lonelyplanetkids.com 40 40

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choosing a dance How to pick the right dance school for your child Dance is a truly wonderful way to build happy, healthy and confident young achievers. Among other great skills, dance teaches commitment, reliability, respect, accountability and teamwork – and the best part? It’s fun! There are literally hundreds of dance schools out there and choosing the right one for your family can be an overwhelming process. At this point in time, dance is an unregulated industry – an alarming fact that many may not be aware of. For this reason, it is incredibly important that you do your research before simply enrolling in your local school. Here are some key things to look for and don’t be afraid to ask the curly questions when you make your enquiries!

1. School objectives First, it’s important to decide what you want out of a dance studio. Are you looking for a recreational school that’s just about fun, an elite school with serious training, or something in the middle? You should decide on this before starting your research so you can find a school that offers what you’re after. Keep in mind that not all children will love Ballet; others will be more drawn to Tap, Hip Hop or something else. For this reason, it is advisable to look for a school that offers a large variety of classes, so you can try a few different genres within the same environment. It will also mean an easier transition should your child wish to move into a different class down the track.

2. Qualifications This is an important one. Ensure the teachers are appropriately qualified, not just as dancers, but also as teachers! Most full time dance courses focus on dance performance and very rarely on dance teaching and management, which is an entirely different set of skills. Teachers, who are committed to their positions as role models for your children, will demonstrate this through completion of nationally or internationally recognised teaching qualifications. A Degree in Dance is optimal, but a Certificate in Dance Teaching is also fantastic and you should look for this as a minimal requirement. You should check that teachers have up-todate First Aid, CPR and Working with Children Checks.

3. Safe dance practice Instructors who have studied dance teaching will understand the body and its limitations and be able to apply their knowledge to students of varying ages and abilities. As with any physical activity, injuries can happen, however, to minimise this risk, select a school that is committed to safe and progressive dance practice – a technique and anatomy class for example is a great sign! Lisa Howell’s The Ballet Blog is a great resource for teachers, students and parents and she has written specifically about a number of key issues, for example the dangers of overstretching. Additionally, students should never be expected to dance on a hard surface as this can lead to serious stress-related injuries. A sprung floor is an absolute requirement for students of all ages.

school You should also check that the studio holds a Public Liability and Student Accident Insurance Policy. Hot Tip: Studios should be interested in your child’s medical history before they commence classes. If you are not asked, alarm bells should ring!

4. Examinations & performances To ensure students are progressing in their regular classes, it is essential that they be given an opportunity for an annual assessment. Some schools use an external syllabus (program), while others may follow their own. Provided the studio owner and teachers are appropriately qualified (see point 2), either is fine, but look for a well organised, structured assessment process that includes grading criterion to measure student learning and ensure progression. Opportunities for performance are equally important as this is where confidence blossoms! It is every dancer’s favourite time of year and a great reward for working hard, being passionate, interested and motivated. Concerts require additional rehearsals, but the satisfaction and pride that you and your child will feel when they are on the stage is worth it. When making your initial enquiries you might like to ask what is required of students come concert time. Ask to see footage of previous concerts and satisfy yourself that your child will be given age-appropriate music, costumes and choreography.

5. Make dance a positive experience! To ensure a positive and happy experience for both you and your child, there are some bonus things to look for when searching for a school. • A detailed and informative website is usually a sign of great communication and a professionally run business. • A viewing window enables parents to observe classes without distracting students. • Restricted class sizes demonstrate a more personal approach and ensure the teachers are alert to bad habits and improper technique. • Uniform is an important element of the discipline of learning dance, but not essential for preschoolers who just want to be creative and expressive! Megan Jessop is the owner and Director of Dance Habit in Braybrook. She is equally passionate about building confident children through dance as she is about educating parents on the importance of safe and progressive dance practice. www.dancehabit.com.au

wrangling fussy How to handle fussy eaters – for their health and your sanity. Is a fussy eater turning your table into a battlefield? Feeding kids is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. We all have the best intentions; “my child won’t eat anything white/refined/frozen/packaged”. Fastforward to tantrums and food everywhere and kids’ hunger strikes trump parents’ goodwill to nourish. It’s no longer about what they eat so long as they eat something…anything! Family nutritionist Katie Joubert shares her top tips for handling fussy eaters.

The good news – It’s just a phase Every child goes through a bout of fussy eating – when solids are introduced, as a toddler, or later in life – even refusing to eat foods they once loved. Some kids will only eat the same three meals on rotation and some will only eat white food. One day they’ll have a big appetite and the next they’ll just graze.

An important developmental stage Fussy eating is a normal part of development because it’s when children realise they have a choice and start asserting their independence. However, with the alarming increase in obesity, allergies and behavioural problems, fussy eating needs to be managed to prevent health issues in adulthood. Good lifelong habits need to be taught and reinforced from the moment your child has a spoon in their hand – even through tears and tantrums.

Top tips for tackling fussy eating: Don’t stress about mess. Children need to feel, smell and taste food – and that gets messy. Set aside time to sit with your child while they try two or three new foods with meals. Let them squish and splatter their food. Nobody wants their child to have bad table manners but it’s important to remember this comes with age.

Hidden nutrition and small snacks. Most kids love pasta so make your own sauce and load it up with hidden veggies – this cuts out the sugar and high amounts of sodium in store-bought sauces. It’s also important for snacks to be healthy and not too big – half an apple is small yet satisfying, and milk fills kids up so be careful of how much they have and when! Keep calm and stay the course. Energy is contagious so if you’re stressed your child will be too and the battle begins. Approach mealtimes with positivity, persistence and most importantly praise. When you’re in the eye of the food tantrum storm stay calm and remind yourself it’s just a phase. An uneaten meal is not a failure so don’t succumb to demands or starvation fears. Keep offering nutritious meals and snacks because in the end they will eat what’s in front of them. If you’re faced with a flat refusal to eat, after 20 minutes calmly remove their food without a word then return to your meal. Never force it – they’ll eat when they’re ready. To bribe or not to bribe? Parents know nutrition is important for growth and development so they turn to bribery. It’s best not to reward eating with gifts because this develops a funny relationship with food later in life. Resist the temptation to offer dessert if they eat four more mouthfuls; this sends the wrong message and isn’t teaching them healthy lifelong habits. Adding meals to your sticker chart is ok, but the focus should always be on encouraging children to find joy in eating. Praise, encouragement and ensuring every meal and snack is nutritious is the key! Try, try and try again. It takes about 6-16 tastes for a child to get used to new food so tick off what they’ve tried and liked each week. If they say no don’t force it, maybe they’ll like it next week or next month.

eaters

By Katie Joubert - Joubert Nutrition www.joubertnutrition.com.au @joubertnutrition

If you’re worried your child isn’t eating enough, write down what they eat for a week and you’ll see they eat a lot some days, which will take away your anxiety around every meal. Eat together. Sitting down to a family meal can be hard with tantrums, but this is the perfect way to expose kids to meal times and all the different foods everyone is eating. Children watch, listen and model behaviours and soon they’ll want to join in. Comfort food. Familiar foods can comfort children when other things are changing, especially toddlers if they have a new sibling or if are starting day care. Toddlers can feel overwhelmed when there’s lots of food in front of them, so start with small portions. Keep offering nutritious foods and don’t worry if your child goes through a phase of only wanting familiar foods.

When to get help It might be time to seek professional help if you child’s: • Starting preschool and you see no sign of improvement. • “Like” food list is getting smaller and is less than 20. • Becoming overweight from processed, sugary food. • Stopped growing or their growth has slowed. • Older but still a picky eater – a sensory issue might be at play. It’s important that your child’s moving through this phase and not going backwards. Getting help early on prevents bad habits becoming ingrained, which makes fixing the problem harder on everyone down the track.

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