Out & About with Kids #54 Spring 2017

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OUT&ABOUT WITH KIDS

FAMILY | TRAVEL | HOLIDAY | LEISURE | ENTERTAINMENT

54

No.

KIDS IN AMERICA SPECIAL FEATURE PLUS

SPRING 2017

RRP $7.95

WIN! ISSUE 54 | SPRING 2017

A family holiday to VANUATU with Webjet Exclusives worth $6,210 inc. airfares

FA M I LY | T R AV E L | H O L I D AY | L E I S U R E | E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Hiking with kids in Austria’s Alps How to eat your way across America Thailand’s family friendly ethical Elephant Camps

CAMPING Beginners guide to camping, RV holidays and Australia’s best waterparks PLUS! Brand new BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort waterpark opens!

Austin Allsup’s family guide to Fort Worth

WIN!

A holiday in the Cook Islands

at Pacific Resort Rarotonga

BROKEN HILL | CAIRNS | CALOUNDRA | MUDGEE | TASMANIA | WHITSUNDAYS | AUSTRIA | FIJI | HAWAII | JAPAN | MACAO | THAILAND

FOR MORE INFORMATION & THE LATEST SPECIALS TO MACAO

visitmacao.com.au For answers to any questions you or a traveller may have OR to order Guide Books, Maps and Itineraries contact our ofďŹ ce on;

Macao Government Tourism Office Australia

Level 17, Town Hall House, 456 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000 phone: (02) 9264 1488 or email: macao@worldtradetravel.com

@visitmacao

Out & About with Kids Print & Digital outandaboutwithkids.com.au Publisher Elisa Elwin elisa@oawk.com.au 0413 770 550 Editor Deborah Dickson-Smith deborah@oawk.com.au Digital Content Manager Lisa Monk lisamonk@oawk.com.au Social Media Manager Holly O’Sullivan holly@oawk.com.au Contributors Flip Byrnes Paul Chai Janine Duffy Luke Hanson Shevonne Hunt Julie Jones Belinda Luksic Yumi Stynes Tiana Templeman Sue White Art Director Jon Wolfgang Miller Advertising Enquiries: Wayne Stickel wayne@oawk.com.au Suzanne Bailey suzanne@oawk.com.au Published by Elwin Media Pty Ltd ABN: 22 159 093 606

PO Box 4148, Balgowlah Heights NSW 2093 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher and Out & About with Kids. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2017 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. Out & About with Kids cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine they will be returned.

S

pring has sprung…

In this issue, we’ve put together a bumper feature on the USA, and it was great fun researching – especially the culinary guide for kids.

So what is American food like? It’s certainly not all about hamburgers, hot dogs and the golden arches. From maple syrup, clam chowder and lobster rolls in New England, to gumbo, jambalaya and deep fried oyster Po-boys in New Orleans, we’ve put together the ultimate guide for junior foodies. We also explore America’s best museums for kids and take a look at what the U.S. mountain resorts have to offer in summer.

Also this issue, we go back to the basics with camping, sharing our best camping tips for newbies, and Paul Chai takes the family on a tour of Tasmania in an RV for the first time – he’s already hooked.

Our intrepid Family Travellers explore the far corners of the globe in this issue, as Luke Hanson takes his kids hiking the Austrian Alps, Shevonne Hunt goes in search of her family history in Mudgee, Yumi Stynes introduces her kids to Kaiseki meals in Tokyo and Tiana Templeman gets up close and personal with furry and feathered creatures at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

On a personal note, I revisit Thailand’s elephant ‘camps’ in search of the best ethical sanctuaries for kids. Gone are the days of elephant trekking and circus shows, but elephants remain an integral part of Thailand’s culture however, so it’s wonderful to see so many former ‘elephant camps’ transformed into sanctuaries.

PLUS! Don’t forget to enter our two competitions, and you could be winging your way to Vanuatu or booking a stay in the Cook Islands.

Deborah

outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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contents

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WIN A FAMILY HOLIDAY TO VANUATU Win a holiday for a family of four to Vanuatu, including airfares, with Webjet Exclusives.

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DID YOU KNOW…?

Stay up to date with the latest family travel news in Australia and overseas, cruises and luxury holidays.

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WIN A COOK ISLANDS HOLIDAY Win a week’s stay at the Pacific Resort Rarotonga for a family of four.

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KIDS IN AMERICA How to eat your way across America, where to find America’s best museums and why the U.S. mountain resorts are great to visit in summer too. PLUS country music star Austin Allsup shares his Fort Worth family favourites and all the latest news from across America and Hawai’i.

ro ad-tes ts Ti an a Te m plem an t Ret re at ores O’ Rei lly’s R ai nf

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an d s’mores: Po -b oys, bi sc ui ts ide to Amer ic a yo ur cu lin ar y gu

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CAMPING AND CARAVANNING Camping for beginners, our top tips, where to find Australia’s best holiday park waterparks, and Paul Chai explores Tasmania by RV.

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FAMILY TRAVELLER Shevonne Hunt explores family history in Mudgee, Luke Hanson takes the family hiking the Austrian Alps, Yumi Stynes introduces her kids to Kaiseki meals in Tokyo and Deborah Dickson-Smith explores Thailand’s best ethical elephant camps for kids.

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OUT & ABOUT WITH KIDS COLUMNS Families come in all shapes and sizes so we’ve asked a few specialist travel bloggers to share their tips. Sue White shares advice on travel with toddlers, Julie Jones writes about accessible travel.

Re ef Te ach: ho w to be come a Great Ba rr ier Re ef ex pe rt

A us tr ia n Alp s Ho w to hi ke th e w it h kids SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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The Great Barrier Reef Over 2000km long and visible from space, our amazing Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living organism. This coral reef is SO big, yet it’s made up of millions of unimaginably tiny animals, living in a complex ecosystem.

How do you make sense of it? On Page 30, we’ll show you how to become a Reef expert, and better still, how to become a Citizen of the Great Barrier Reef.

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A FAMILY HOLIDAY TO VANUATU WITH WEBJET EXCLUSIVES!

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T

ired of not waking up on an island? Thanks to our friends at Webjet Exclusives, your family could find yourself waking up in Vanuatu. One lucky Out & About With Kids family could be winging its happy way to Vanuatu, for a week of sunshine, blue skies and crystal clear water.

The prize includes seven nights at the Warwick Le Lagon Vanuatu PLUS return flights ex-Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, for two adults and two kids and is valued at $6210*

Your prize includes: Accommodation in a Garden View Room for two adults and two children, return airport transfers, daily buffet breakfast, a lagoon cruise trip on Reef Lady for two adults and two children, complimentary use of selected non-motorised water activities PLUS return airfares from Webjet Exclusives (ex MEL, SYD or BNE only**). exclusives.webjet.com.au

*Terms and conditions apply. **Surcharges will apply from other cities.

Travel period: 1 February 2018 to 30 November 2018 (Black Out Dates: 29 March – 15 April 2018 and 24 June – 16 July 2018 and 16 September – 8 October 2018).

Book by date – 28 February 2018.

HOW TO ENTER Visit www.outandaboutwithkids.com.au and tell us in 25 words or less why your family would like to wake up in Vanuatu.

Tired of not waking up on an island?

Webjet Exclusives might well make your family's dream come true.

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DI D Y OU KNOW...?

Did you know …?

Great onli ne fam ily deal s for Mel bour ne Star Obse rvation Wh eel Families can now fly on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel for up to 25% off when booking their family passes online.

Open daily in Melbourne’s Docklands, Melbourne Star Observation Wheel travels up to 40 floors above Melbourne, with spectacular 360 degree views of the city and beyond – stretching all the way to the Mornington Peninsula, Mount Macedon and the Dandenong Ranges.

Ride in spacious, temperature-controlled panoramic cabins, and learn more about the history of Melbourne and significant sights, with audio commentary provided. A single flight takes 30 minutes and cabins can accommodate up to 20 guests.

Online prices start from $33.75 for 1 adult and 1 child, $54.75 for 2 adults and 1 child, and $12.75 for each additional child.

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel is open daily 11am-7pm from May to August, and until 10pm from September to April. melbournestar.com

Ford helps sleepy drivers stay safe Approximately 29 per cent of Australian adults admit they drive while drowsy at least once every month, with 20 per cent falling asleep at the wheel*! As sobering as these statistics are, many a sleepdeprived parent has been known to push through the tiredness in a well-meaning bid to avert disappointment, especially when school holidays outings and road trips have been planned.

On highways and motorways, roadside signs flash warnings that highlight the dangers of pushing on, or encourage drivers to take a break – but now new smart cars can also provide warnings to drivers who are starting to drift off.

Ford’s Driver Alert system is available on all vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control, and uses a forwardfacing camera to identify lane markings and detect

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unintentional sideways movements. It also displays a coffee cup symbol on the dash to indicate it could be time to take a break.

And for vehicles equipped with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, a muchneeded rest is only a voice command away – the voice-searchable ‘places of interest’ feature will even point you in the direction of the nearest coffee shop!

“There can be many pressures on drivers to keep going – everyone loves to get to their destination or home as soon as they can. But the little coffee cup can be an effective reminder that the best way to get home is safely, and that may mean pulling over and having a rest, or a coffee,” said Andrej Loewen, driver assistance engineer, Vehicle Engineering, Ford of Europe.

Watch how it works.

Visit youtube.com and search Ford Focus Driver Alert System *Report to the Sleep Health Foundation, 2016 Sleep Health Survey of Australian Adults, Robert Adams, Sarah Appleton, Anne Taylor, Doug McEvoy, and Nick Antic The University of Adelaide, The Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health

D I D Y OU K NO W...?

Mega makeover for the muchloved Blue Mountains Skyway

The iconic Scenic Skyway, in the NSW Blue Mountains, is about to receive a $3 million upgrade, scheduled for completion mid-November 2017.

Scenic World says the new-look Skyway will have an increased capacity of 30% and provide a more spacious visitor experience, and improve queuing times during peak periods.

Built by world-leading ropeway engineering company, Garaventa, the re-configured cabin will allow for streamlined loading and unloading, and visitors will also be able to access free onboard Wi-Fi for the first time.

Constructed in 1958 by Scenic World founder Harry Hammon, the first Skyway cabin was clad in plywood and painted bright pink. Without the luxuries of modern technology, the original cable was manually installed, by dragging a steel cable down each

side of the valley and joining it in the middle to affix a track rope, which was then tensioned with a four-wheel drive tractor.

The upgrade is part of Scenic World’s commitment to its popular attractions, that includes a $30 million overhaul of the Scenic Railway four years ago.

It also marks the next phase of Scenic Skyway’s evolution, ahead of the ride’s 60th anniversary in 2018.

“We have come a long way as a family business since my grandfather opened Scenic World in 1945,” said Scenic World’s Managing Director Anthea Hammon.

“But we recognise the importance of moving forward so we can maintain our leading position in a competitive market, and continue to capture the hearts and minds of our valued visitors.”

Unplug and Get Active at Gippsland Lakes The Gippsland Lakes are a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons covering over 600 square kilometres. The Lakes are separated from the ocean by coastal dunes known as Ninety Mile Beach.

Bird and marine life thrive here, with lake dolphins and pelicans frequenting many locations.

You can easily fill your days with a range of activities, either on the water or on dry land. Boating and fishing are what attracts most to the lakes. Surf fishing along Ninety Mile Beach, or lake fishing from a boat,

bank or jetty is popular, too.

Visit in spring to see spectacular displays of wildflowers including orchids, wattle, heathland and more. Take the family swimming with dolphins and seals, or try your luck at koala spotting and whale watching ... or slow down and wander the many picturesque trails along the rivers and lakes.

You will find some exciting deals and packages to help you switch off and reconnect in Lakes Entrance this spring at reconnectlakesentrance.com.au SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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PAC I F IC R E SORT R A ROTONGA R A RO T ONGA , C O OK I SL A N D S , 4 STA R With daily scheduled activities, Pacific Resort Rarotonga’s Beach Hut and complimentary Kids Club has everything you need to entertain the little ones.

Children aged 6-12 can join in the fun, learning traditional dances, basket weaving, exploring the lagoon’s hidden secrets and discovering the nearby Motus (islets). All the while leaving you to lounge on the beach to soak up the sun.

AU T H E N T I C B OU T I QU E pacificresort.com

D I D Y OU K NO W...?

‘Kids Alive – Do The Five’ launches water safety app This great new app builds on the highly successful ‘Kids Alive – Do The Five’ Living with Water DVD that has been distributed free in the new mother bounty bag since 2009.

With Government support, the free app is aimed at helping to keep Aussie kids safe in the water and includes music, cartoons and eBooks with a focus on home, pool, beach and farm water safety.

The Kids Alive program provides useful and practical tips to help keep kids safe around any body of water – whether in the bathtub or the ocean – and reminds adults that children need constant and active supervision when they’re in, on or around the water.

“It’s so important for families to hear the Kids Alive - Do the Five message

and to understand water safety. I urge everyone to download the FREE app now and start learning,” said Laurie Lawrence, champion swim coach and water safety expert. “… still the biggest cause of accidental deaths is backyard swimming pools, where parents or those supervising left the gate open and let kids through.”

Kids Alive – Do the Five includes five very important messages; 1. Fence The Pool 2. Shut the Gate 3. Teach your Kids to Swim – It’s Great 4. Supervise - Watch Your Mate 5. And learn how to Resuscitate For more information about the new app or the Kids Alive – Do the Five program kidsalive.com.au

Endangered baby Fijian Crested Iguanas born on Malolo Island Visitors to Fiji’s Malolo Island will be able to see the first Fijian Crested Iguana babies bred in captivity, at Likuliku Lagoon Resort’s Iguana Sanctuary.

Ahura Resorts (Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort) has delightedly announced the arrival of the new hatchlings, the result of one of the Sanctuary’s captive-bred females, Elevuka, laying four eggs back in January. The first egg hatched in the last week of July, and the next hatched three days after, closely followed by the third. Sadly one was lost, but the two thriving survivors are currently enjoying life in a separate nursery enclosure away from the adults. They are fed with grated carrots, apples, pawpaw and lettuce every second day - the other days, they eat hibiscus leaves and flowers.

‘Since they are too tiny for some of their physical features to develop, we haven’t named, tagged or identified the sex yet. It will be a few more months before we are able to do all that,” said proud step-dad Sia Rasalato, Group Environment Manager for

Ahura Resorts.

The discovery of a Fiji Crested Iguana in 2010 at Likuliku Lagoon Resort kicked off an incredible research journey, sparked by the species’ classification as ‘critically endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.

Fiji Crested Iguanas are naturally found only in Fiji, and their presence is therefore beneficial to the eco-tourism economy.

Each island that is lucky enough to still have an iguana population will have their own unique genetic ‘fingerprint’, and each island often supports an iguana species different from all others in Fiji. They may look similar and be close relatives, but they are different, and only DNA sampling of iguanas will indicate which island they are from. The iguanas on Malolo were thought to be extinct for over 25 years before the exciting rediscovery in 2010.

Steve Anstey, Ahura Resorts, Group General Manager says Ahura’s range of activities, programs and initiatives have been designed to improve and enhance

the environment for imperilled species for future generations.

“As a resort company operating in a pristine and sensitive wilderness environment such as ours – with ocean and coral reefs on one side and land flora and fauna on the other – we fully recognise the importance of sustainable tourism and believe that development in such areas carries both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure our environment is not degraded though irresponsible activities and practices.

“The significant work we have done to date with the iguanas can now be celebrated via this recent breeding success.” ahuraresorts.com

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DI D Y OU KNOW...?

DC Riva ls Hyp erCo aste r open s at War ner Bros . Mov ie Wor ld

Skill, smarts, science and even explosions … kids hands-on fun at Questacon With over 200 interactive exhibits to explore, across eight themed galleries, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy at Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, Canberra.

Do you see colour when you hear music? Have you ever wanted to turn a blue butterfly green? The newest exhibition, Colour, has more than 25 hands-on exhibits dedicated to colour, of course!

Bend mind and muscle in Excite@Q as you free fall down a 6m slide, battle a robot at air hockey, or test your reflex speed against a friend. Inspire your inner scientist with Q Lab’s ever-changing array of intriguing experiments, explosive demonstrations and interesting displays. The youngest scientists will enjoy Mini Q as they play, discover and learn in a gallery specifically for 0-6 year olds.

No visit to Questacon is complete without watching – or even starring in – a Spectacular Science Show. These entertaining shows change daily and feature explosive demonstrations and audience participation that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Questacon is open daily between 9 am and 5 pm (closed 25 December). Admission fees apply. questacon.edu.au

The longest, fastest and highest HyperCoaster in the Southern Hemisphere has opened at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast – double the length of any other ride in Australia.

DC Rivals HyperCoaster boasts an impressive set of features including one of the world’s first non-inverted loops, a Stengel dive, and giant airtime hill. At 61.6m high and with a top speed of 115km/h, the new attraction is also one of the most technologically advanced rides in the world – and includes state-of-the-art safety and operating systems.

Batman-themed trains on the DC Rivals HyperCoaster also feature a world-first design, with the back two seats facing backwards to allow guests to do the ride in reverse.

The best way to experience the DC Rivals HyperCoaster is with a Mega Pass that gives unlimited entry to Warner Bros.

Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast and Paradise Country for 12 months. movieworld.com.au

Bouncing in this summer – the world’s first Smart Trampoline Springfree’s Smart Trampolines are not only much safer for kids, the built-in ‘tgoma’ technology (an acronym for ‘Take Games Outside and Make them Active’) enables kids to wirelessly connect a tablet to four mat sensors via Bluetooth to play a range of educational games.

Sensors on the trampoline mat track your movement – turning your body into a controller, for an interactive Smart Play experience.

The innovative tgoma app includes a collection of games that teach maths, language, problem solving and trivia to help kids learn through

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active play, while still enjoying their precious screen time.

The trampolines are available in a range of shapes and sizes to fit any garden, and are designed for easy set up. Engineer, dad and Springfree Trampoline inventor, Dr Keith Alexander, spent over 15 years researching and developing a safer trampoline. His mission began when he was looking for a trampoline for his own daughter and discovered that everything available was unsafe. springfree.com.au

The Australian Institute of Sport.

The AIS. Australia’s premier elite sporting precinct.

Only minutes from Canberra’s CBD with plenty of free parking.

AIS Visitor Centre Everyone’s welcome. Pop in and purchase exclusive merchandise at the AIS Shop and enjoy great coffee & café-style food at the AIS Café.

AIS Tours Go behind the scenes on an award-winning guided AIS Tour. Challenge yourself in Sportex, offering fun and interactive sporting exhibits. Daily 10am, 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm. Fees apply.

AIS Aquatic & Fitness Centre Dive into our world-class swimming pool or try out our fully equipped gym. Visitors welcome. Fees apply.

The newest luxury family holiday accommodation on Queensland’s Gold Coast will be ready to welcome its first guests in 2018, in a 5-star complex with state-of-the-art, spaciously designed apartments, suites and villas, set on 2.5ha in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

The Ruby Collection complex is due for completion in 2022, and is comprised of four towers, with the first of the four – Ruby Apartments – opening to families in September 2018. The Apartments will span 30 floors, with 230 apartments and 13 villas, in a choice of stylish one, two and three-bedroom apartments, and sky suites with bird’s eye views of the Pacific Ocean or Gold Coast Hinterland.

Catering to the modern family with spacious living areas, full kitchen and laundry, The Ruby Collection vision is to create a quality family-friendly holiday experience that provides entertainment, activities and facilities synonymous with the expectations of the Gold Coast.

Connecting the four towers will be a village green offering space for events, innovative public art, world-class entertainment, signature chef restaurants, boutique bars and cafes and quality retail stores.

Leverrier Street, Canberra, ACT Phone: (02) 6214 1010

/ExperienceAIS

@ExperienceAIS

ASC 34415

New luxury family accommodation coming soon to the Gold Coast

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DI D Y OU KNOW...?

Did you know …?

Cruise

Pacific Explorer and Pacific Dawn – the wildest waterslides on water The wildest waterslides on water.

P&O Cruises’ latest ship Pacific Explorer joined the fleet earlier this year following a multi-million dollar transformation, which saw the ship fitted with a host of fantastic family-friendly features, including an interactive water park, lawn bowls, ziplining, rock climbing and the hair-raising Walk the Plank.

Similar to sister ship Pacific Dawn, Explorer also boasts the longest and wildest waterslides on an Australian cruise ship. One slide is transparent so that spectators can watch guests shoot through its twists and turns, while the other slide is multi-coloured, with music pumping through it to give guests a high-impact ride to the bottom.

Also on board on all P&O ships, Nickelodeon Channels, especially curated for P&O’s youngest guests and available around the clock, and of course oodles and oodles of activities and New Zealand Natural ice cream! pocruises.com.au

Suess at Sea on Carnival Cruise Line

The whimsical, and always wonderful, world of Dr. Seuss comes to life with The Cat in the Hat, Fish Red and Blue, and both kinds of Things (1 and 2) joining you on Carnival Cruise Line.

Feast on gravity-defying pancake stacks, funky French toast, Moose Juice and Goose Juice at the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast and be sure to take a selfie with Dr Suess characters each morning.

Littlies will love Seuss-A-Palooza Story Time and older kids can get their adrenalin fix on the steepest waterslide at sea, Green Thunder.

If you’re up for freefalling and being whipped around at up to 65km per hour you’ll have a blast. carnival.com.au

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A HOLIDAY IN THE COOK ISLANDS!

P

icture yourself on a white sandy beach, gazing at sparkling water under the shade of a coconut tree? Enter our competition and your dream could come true for the whole family!

Thanks to our friends at Pacific Resort Rarotonga, we have a five-day holiday for a family of four to give away - valued at $5150.* Your Cook Islands holiday includes daily tropical breakfast at the resort, use of all facilities, free kids club for the 6-11 year olds (inclusive), daily resort activities, sun loungers, kayaks and snorkelling equipment.

To enter Visit outandaboutwithkids.com.au and tell us in 25 words or less why your family would rather be soaking up sunshine in the Cook Islands at the Pacific Resort Rarotonga. *Terms and conditions apply.

See outandaboutwithkids.com.au for details.

Accommodation is subject to availability at time of prize redemption. This prize is valid for two adults and two children in a Premium Family Room.

Travel is valid 01 November 2017 to 31 May 2018 (with blackout dates from 24 Dec 17 to 14 Jan 18).

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ETIHAD REVIEW

FLIP BYRNES Flip Byrnes, ‘The Adventure Mamma’ is just that – a travel journalist who happens to be the first Australian woman to climb and snowboard descend Mt Elbrus (Europe’s highest), kite skied 500km across Greenland, walked across Spain and climbed Kilimanjaro. But now she’s on the biggest adventure of all, motherhood. Join her and her mountain munchkins as they make daily life an adventure, big and small. @theadventuremamma

Adventure Mamma Flip Byrnes tackles her first long-haul flight, alone, with two toddlers in tow. Is she mad? Here’s Flip’s top tips for long haul flying.

M

y toddler (2.5 years) is intently focused on barbecuing plastic sausages. Her playmate is an elegantly-dressed nanny, taking care that the snags are placed suitably over the (plastic) flame. Meanwhile, I’m nibbling duck and sipping champagne, watching my other toddler (15 months) crawl onto a plush beanbag with the help of another nanny.

This could be a scene from ‘The Great Gatsby’ but, rather, it’s the Family Room at Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Departures Business Lounge, and it’s hard to know who’s enjoying this more – the babies let loose with instant besties in a room of dollhouses and train sets, or me, a solo flying parent recovering from an enforced hunger strike on a 15 hour flight?

Regarding this idyllic scene, one could think the flight from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, en route to Frankfurt, was a breeze. No, no, no. Solo flying with two babes was never going to be child’s play (pun intended). I’m outnumbered by people who can’t feed themselves (well, one of them) and who like to run in opposite directions, and need to do interval sprints at socially inappropriate times (like during sleep times

on planes). But I was game.

Part of my confidence was because I’d chosen Etihad. They have Flying Nannies; hostesses on-board designated to help families, plus the option to buy Business Class services, even on an economy ticket, such as lounge access (complete with Family Room and nannies in Abu Dhabi) and a Meet and Greet service. Right now, I’m radioing for back up.

Sign me up.

d from

Ou r gorgeo us tha nk-you car the Eti had na nn ies

Je tl ag an d to dd le rs do n ot ge t on !

Lo tte an d Le n i w ide awak e. ..

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D I D Y OU K NO W...?

Mission Underway I’m running this flight like it’s a military operation.

With a 9pm departure, we’ll check in at 6pm, have dinner in the Sydney lounge Family Room, and board – at which time the kids will promptly fall asleep like angels. Amazing!

Instead, things head south, quickly. The full-flight check in (not by Etihad staff), takes so long that we miss dinner. Cue simultaneous baby meltdowns.

We’re late; they’re hungry, crying through security.

By the time we reach the lounge and I realise I can’t physically negotiate a buffet and two cling-ons, I throw myself in front of a passing waiter with a plea of “Help. Babies. Food. Now”. The Family Room rocks, all 10 minutes of it, before we board.

The babies are fine. I’m slightly traumatised, covered in sweat and tears and the flight hasn’t even begun.

All Aboard At this point, I’m taking no prisoners. In the middle row of the bulkhead, I suggest a quick switcheroo with the two men by the window. The window, I’ve learned, is a make-or-break tactic for preventing escapees. Phew.

A couple of hours later, standing over little sleepers, I redefine happiness as this moment.

Just as I mentally high five myself it dawns …

I’ve inadvertently usurped myself. With one on a lap-infant ticket, I now have no seat. I’m a plane vagabond. But I also can’t leave, so instead stand

there, an awkward statue person, eyes closed. A Flying Nanny saves me, and watches them while I inhale a meal.

On the second leg, the distinctive orange-dressed Flying Nannies are all over it, helping to settle the bubs in, sitting with one while I change the other, helping us deplane. Tick, tick, big fat tick.

From Zero To Hero It’s as we hit Abu Dhabi that this journey becomes extraordinary. There’s a car waiting for us as we deplane. A car. More specifically – an Audi. As it zooms us across the tarmac our escort, Maria, arranges for my partner (arriving on another flight), and porters, to join us in the Arrivals Lounge.

Maria is an organising Ninja – I later learn each escort is profiled to their guest, and Maria, a mother herself, once lived in Australia.

She takes our passports, whisks us through VIP customs, organises our luggage into a taxi, conjures up our boarding cards for the next flight, and we head off for a 20-hour, sun soaked, Abu-dhabi-doo layover.

We made it.

Departing, if possible, is where things turn up a notch. Maria is there to meet us and takes us through the Business check-in room – or rather, ballroom – an oasis of miles of marble to the lounge. Ah, that incredible lounge.

Would I travel Etihad just to take advantage of the Meet & Greet and Family Room? Yes. I’d even fly 15 hours to get there.

FLIP’S TIPS FOR FLYING WITH TODDLERS

• For long haul, select a night flight.

• Planes have child entertainment, but not child earphones, so source some pre flight.

• Consider a Plane Pal – the inflatable cushion came into its own for toddlers needing to sleep in an economy seat.

• Pack snacks, not just for the kids but also for you – for those (inevitably) missed meal times.

Unless you love puree.

• The free under-two ticket is tempting, but on long haul, a 12kg lap infant is a great way to get DVT. Free the lap!

• The stopover is King.

Even for as short as a day, it’s restorative for all involved.

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Did you know …?

Luxury

Kokomo Private Island Fiji’s luxury deal for families Fiji’s newest and most exclusive island resort, Kokomo Private Island, has officially opened. Designed especially for inter-generational travellers, the stunning private island resort combines the best elements of Fiji – great service, gourmet cuisine and plenty of water-based activities.

With the Great Astrolabe Reef, the fourth largest in the world, just metres from the shores of Kokomo Island, guests can discover the reef’s diversity of marine life whilst diving, snorkelling or kayaking, exploring one of the most beautiful oceanic environments in the world.

The resort has two kids clubs, Kaji Club for kids aged four to 11 years, Teens Club for kids eight to 14 and complimentary nannies for kids under four between 9am to 5pm daily. Kids are entertained throughout the day with a huge range of activities, from treasure hunts, nature walks and hermit crab hunting, to dolphin safaris and swimming with manta rays. Kokomoislandfiji.com

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Elements of Byron now even more family friendly Luxury resort, Elements of Byron, located in Byron Bay on New South Wales’ far north coast, has relaunched this month, adding a whole lot more for families.

Among many new developments the resort has added 68 two-bedroom villas, homes away from home for families seeking inspiration from nature, as well as a new timber adventure playground next to the resort’s lagoon pool.

The resort has also added a range of new activities – kids can now take part in guided nature tours with extremely popular nature guide Alastair. Along the way

kids learn about the winged, spiked and furry creatures which call the 93ha property home and sample some bush tucker. Other activities for kids include horse riding, solar powered bicycles and a Kids Club now operates on site every school holiday period.

For train buffs, there’s also a vintage railway. In collaboration with not-for-profit Byron Bay Railroad Company, Elements of Byron now also provides a solar powered two-carriage train to link Byron township with the burgeoning North Beach precinct. elementsofbyron.com.au

Vomo Island Fiji proves a winner with underwater babies Luxury resort Vomo Island Fiji, in Fiji’s Mananuca Islands, is proving a popular place for kids to learn how to scuba dive. 11-year old Jacob Marriott is one of the latest to qualify for his PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification and he impressed Vomo staff no end.

The Vomo dive team were amazed by Jacob’s dedication and natural smarts, passing the course with flying colours after just a few days. Studying the theory part of the course before leaving home, Jacob was off exploring the island’s fringing reef in no time.

“We saw a big puffer fish that was quite long and really wide. We saw amazing colourful coral too. My favourite is the colour changing coral. It’s a soft coral and its brown or green coral and when you touch it, it goes white.”

Jacob saved his own money to do the course by selling old toys and bits and pieces and his mum and dad generously made up the difference as a birthday present.

Kids aged 10 to 12 years old can learn how to dive in Fiji, and there’s nowhere better to do it than in warm clear water, surrounded by beautiful coral gardens. Vomofiji.com

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Camp Peninsula Beverly Hills The Peninsula Beverly Hills has introduced a fantastic new program for families that brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘glamping’. The experience starts with a VIP greeting from the hotel mascot, Peter Bear, before kids are whisked away by a Peninsula Camp Counsellor to a luxurious guestroom, complete with teepee.

Kids can take part in a wide range of Campthemed games and activities including a hotel-wide scavenger hunt, and the whole family can travel around Los Angeles in style with the use of a luxury Infiniti vehicle.

While being treated to the Camp Peninsula experience, kids can also choose from some of the fun Academy programs on offer including the Young Pastry Chefs program, where they don kid-sized chefs’ uniforms to create their very own baking creation alongside Executive Pastry Chef Stephanie Boswell in the hotel’s pastry kitchen.

Peninsula.com/beverlyhills

Eco-Luxury at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort on Thailand’s gorgeous island of Phi Phi, has upgraded its facilities and introduced a series of programs especially designed for families seeking a luxurious escape.

The resort has undergone a AU$46.1 million renovation, with 14 new Beachfront Junior Suites and 12 Hillside Pool Villas, nestled in tropical rainforest, with sweeping views of Loh Ba Gao Bay, each with its own plunge pool.

While the grown-ups unwind poolside (or at the spa), kids can take part in the resort’s kids program known as the Phi Phi Family Playground. Little Islanders, aged three to 10-years old include Little Swimmers and Junior Cooking classes, Recycled Life creative crafts and a Creative Coconuts activity that follows the coconut’s journey from tree to table.

Young Explorers aged 10 to 16 years old can take the Young Survivor course to learn traditional island survival tricks, or explore tidal forests by joining the Mangrove Explorer excursion before working off some energy at the Seaside Boot Camp. The resort also has a Coral Reef Nursery and will soon launch a dedicated Marine Discovery Centre.

Staff at the luxury resort work also closely with National Park officials, marine biologists and the local community to protect and nurture the natural assets and will soon launch a program to breed and introduce anemone fish (Nemos!) and nurse sharks back into the region’s once teeming waters. phiphiislandvillage.com

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The Whitsundays

best day trips with kids

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The Whitsundays is Australia’s aquatic wonderland – tropical islands and beaches, brilliant blue water and endless ‘WOW’ views. Airlie Beach on the Whitsunday Coast is the epicentre, full of happy locals sharing their love for this beautiful region.

While there’s plenty to enjoy in Airlie Beach itself, you’re spoilt for choice with loads of day trips to explore this magnificent region …

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Great Barrier Reef Adventure

The Whitsundays reef is teeming with healthy corals and fish. Cruise to the outer reef and choose how to experience it – from the dry underwater observatory of a semisubmersible, swim and snorkel (a guided snorkel safari is an insightful optional extra), or scuba dive (minimum age 12). There are ample flotation devices and kids’ snorkelling gear, and the crew makes it extra special, with plentiful facts and a helping hand. cruisewhitsundays.com.au Best for: children of all ages.

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Sailing

The Whitsundays is a sailors’ paradise, so let your hair down and embrace your inner-pirate. The Derwent Hunter is a classic tall ship that sails to fringing coral reef and beach locations. Learn traditional sailing methods, help hoist the sails or steer the ship. The crew loves getting kids involved, and will reward them with Eco Pirate tattoos and certificates. tallshipadventures.com.au Best for: 4+ years

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Thrills and Chills

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Hamilton Island

Get the adrenalin pumping on ultra-fast, but super stable ‘Thundercat’ as it blasts over to Whitehaven Beach. A safe, speedy, and comfortable ride, this wave piercer is great for anyone concerned about seasickness – because it’s a stable ride, and gets you to your destination faster. Adventurous families will love this tour that includes two beaches, two snorkels and the easy bushwalk to Hill Inlet lookout. redcatadventures.com.au Best for: 4+ years The largest island resort, Hamilton Island, is packed with activities. The best way to see it in one day is on the ‘Family Fun Day’ package, starting with a scenic cruise through the islands on a large, comfortable vessel. Visit the Wildlife Park where you can hold a koala and see other Aussie wildlife, spend an hour at the nine pin ‘Kegel’ bowling alley, and devour fish and chips for lunch (it’s lovely to picnic on the grass overlooking the marina) – all included. cruisewhitsundays.com.au Best for: children of all ages

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World famous Whitehaven

Voted the world’s best beach several times, Whitehaven is 7km of sparkling white sand. The northern end of the beach is home to Hill Inlet lookout, and the famous swirling sands. The southern end is perfect for long walks and finding a quiet spot to soak up the sun and the views.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: • The Whitsundays is a marine-based destination. Almost every activity involves a boat or a beach – that’s why you’re visiting right? Just remember the basics – soft soled, closed-in shoes for kids on boats (or barefoot), sea sick tablets if you think they’ll need them), and a pre-boarding family chat about boat safety.

• The North Queensland sun – another major attraction of a Whitsundays holiday – can be very harsh, so make sure you reapply sunscreen regularly, and carry adequate water to keep kids hydrated.

• Most day trips are long, big days – early starts and late returns.

Make sure you pack lots of snacks to keep energy levels high. While on the water keep the kids busy spotting marine life, enjoying the wind in their hair or tracking the islands on a map.

• Marine stingers are an everyday part of life in the tropics, and full-body lycra Stinger Suits are provided as standard on most day trips. Look on the bright side of these somewhat unattractive swimsuits – they’re excellent sun protection and make for amusing family photos.

• Most tours take under 4s for free – though you will usually need to bring your own food for them.

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You can’t walk from one end of the beach to the other, so to explore it all take Cruise Whitsundays ‘Ultimate Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and lookout tour’ - a full day seeing the whole beach, plus snorkelling. cruisewhitsundays.com.au Best for: school aged kids and teenagers. (There’s also a young, family-friendly, half day option to Whitehaven’s southern end).

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Whitsunday Crocodile Safari

A surprising side to the Whitsundays, this is two experiences in one – a calm river cruise spotting crocodiles on the mud banks of the Proserpine River, followed by a tractor-drawn wagon wetland tour.

Lunch is ‘bush tucker’ including billy tea and damper served at the campsite by the river. The expert commentary, coupled with hands-on participation, makes it an educational experience too. crocodilesafari.com.au Best for: children of all ages

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Rockstar

If you want to splurge, then the ‘Panorama Tour’ it is. Board your seaplane and depart on the adventure of a lifetime. The tour includes two water landings – one at Whitehaven Beach for a picnic, and one at the reef for snorkelling. Seeing the islands, beaches and reef from above is absolutely breathtaking, and worth every cent of this indulgence. airwhitsunday.com.au Best for: children of all ages

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Bowen

Bowen (45 minutes from Airlie Beach) is home to several palm-lined, sandy beaches, fringing protected bays. There’s a small, free water park (suits 2-14 years) at Front Beach, with BBQ facilities in the shady park overlooking the ocean. Or ‘Food Freaks’ at the Yacht Club is a great spot for lunch, with a large, fenced yard for kids to run around, while parents enjoy a refreshing ale. tourismbowen.com.au

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Hidden away

Hydeaway Bay is a beachside haven perfect for a ‘long lunch’ (45 minutes from Airlie Beach). The red

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dirt road contrasts spectacularly with the blue water and lush greens of Gloucester Island as you come over ‘o my god hill’. Five more bumpy minutes and you arrive at Montes, an old beach resort with great pub food. You’ll spend much longer here than planned, which is fine as there’s a great ground level trampoline and plenty of shells for the kids to collect.

Search ‘Montes Reef Resort Restaurant & Bar’ on Facebook

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Step back in time at Collinsville

For a family that likes a bit of history, Collinsville has plenty (two hours’ drive from Airlie Beach). Follow the mural trail and arrive at the charming town centre. The Coalface Museum illustrates the history of the mining industry (best suited to kids aged 7 years and older), there’s fishing at the Weir just out of town, or simply play at Lion’s Park and cool off in the town pool. New café ‘Busti Latte’ does a great babycino. tourismbowen.com.au/ collinsville/

Fact File Getting there: Fly in to Whitsunday Coast Airport (in Proserpine), and transfer to Airlie Beach (approximately 40 minutes).

The ‘Spirit of Queensland’ travels the coast five times a week, stopping at Proserpine Railway Station with connections to Airlie Beach.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN AIRLIE BEACH: • Airlie Beach Lagoon • Bicentennial Boardwalk – runs oceanside from Cannonvale Beach to Airlie Beach (suitable for bikes, skateboards, scooters, dogs, prams, etc) • Cannonvale Botanic Gardens (beside Cannonvale Beach) – playgrounds, walkways, skate bowl, basketball court, public exercise equipment • Beachside markets (Airlie Beach foreshore every Saturday or if a Cruise Ship is visiting)

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Reasons to visit Broken Hill

Set in a remote corner of New South Wales, Broken Hill is a charismatic, frontier mining town that offers city dwelling families a unique slice of Australia. Experience the distinct country hospitality and way of life, and learn about the colourful characters and industries that have made Broken Hill what it is today.

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Experience Remote Living

Learn about remote living at the Bruce Langford Visitor Centre of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Discover how the Broken Hill Base cares for the surrounding community’s health through the museum’s interactive displays and films. Then be sure to visit the Broken Hill School of the Air to see how children are educated through live radio broadcasts, with the opportunity to sit in on a live lesson.

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Learn about Australia’s Mining Legacy

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Feast on Old Fashioned Treats

Delve into the mining history of Australia’s first heritage-listed city with Silver City Tours, and see Broken Hill’s grand Federation-era architecture and traditional tin miners’ cottages. Admire the mininginspired artworks of the Silver City Mint and learn about the city’s mining past at White’s Living Mining Museum. You’ll also gain entry to Perilya’s Southern Operations Surface Museum, one of the few mines still operating in Broken Hill.

Take a step back in time to experience Australia’s milk bar culture at Bells Milk Bar, which has been serving ‘spiders’ and milkshakes for generations. Discover the secret to their syrup and cordial recipes in the milk bar museum, and spoil your family with sweet treats in the retro-styled shop.

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Witness the Cultural Landscapes

Discover Broken Hill’s indigenous culture and the region’s native plant and wildlife species at the Sculptures Symposium and Living Desert Park.

Wander along the cultural trail to see Sturt Desert Pea wildflowers and Aboriginal pole art, while learning about the importance of preserving our natural environment.

Then admire the 12 impressive sandstone sculptures while watching the sun set over the breathtakingly beautiful NSW outback.

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Soak up the Bush Hospitality

Experience country living at Mount Gipps Station in the lower Barrier Ranges.

Tour the woolshed and sheep yards, get up close to their friendly lambs and enjoy bush hospitality with lunch under the red gums.

You can also visit nearby historic Allendale mine where the miners’ stone huts, dating back to the 1880s, can still be seen.

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Encounter Hollywood in the Outback

The town of Silverton has featured in films including ‘Mad Max 2’, ‘A Town Like Alice’ and ‘Dirty Deeds’. Take a day trip from Broken Hill to visit its Mad Max Museum, an eclectic collection of vehicles, props, videos and life-size characters from the film.

The town is also home to the Silverton Gaol Museum where you can discover more about the town’s history in the former prison cells.

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Enjoy Contemporary Cuisine

While you can find delicious country fare in Broken Hill’s pubs and bakeries, there’s also a great selection of modern Australian cuisine on offer. Head to the Silly Goat Café where the best coffee in the bush is created, as well as scrumptious brunches with a Spanish twist. Or dine at Trinders Restaurant which dishes up gourmet pizzas and tapas share plates.

Where to Stay The Palace Hotel Built in 1889, the Palace Hotel has starring role in iconic Aussie film: ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’. thepalacehotelbrokenhill.com.au Silverton Hotel silvertonhotel.com.au The Imperial Fine Accommodation imperialfineaccommodation.com Royal Flying Doctor Service flyingdoctor.org.au/nswact Silver City Tours silvercitytours.com.au Mount Gipps Station mountgippsstation.com.au MAD MAX Museum silverton.org.au/mad-max-museum

For more information brokenhillaustralia.com.au

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reasons to take the family to Caloundra

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Caloundra is a quintessential Queensland seaside town, with a laidback atmosphere that makes it a perfect base to explore the Sunshine Coast, with idyllic beaches, eclectic dining establishments and a few vintage-inspired elements that really set it apart.

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Tour the town in a retro-styled kombi

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Meander along the Coastal Pathway

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Test out Australia’s first ‘water glamper’

Take a step back in time to explore Caloundra 1960s-style with the team at Deluxe Kombi Service. Their beautifully restored and retro-fitted kombis will accommodate the whole family, with classic bench seats and fold back sunroofs to take in the sea breeze. With one of their charismatic drivers at the helm, you can tailor a customised Sunshine Coast tour, accompanied by a soundtrack of your favourite ‘60s tunes. deluxekombiservice.com.au Soak up the scenic beauty of Caloundra along the Coastal Pathway, which stretches 25km from Golden Beach to Mooloolaba. You can opt to stroll along a section of the path or hire bicycles; there are plenty of spots along the way to relax and take in the views. Make a pit stop at Kings Beach’s rock pools, and the heritage-listed Bathing Pavilion, which dates back to 1937. Keep an eye out for dolphins playing in Pumicestone Passage along the way.

So, you’ve heard of ‘glamping’, but what about a floating glamping campsite for your next family vacation? The team at Caloundra House Boats is putting the finishing touches on what will be Australia’s first ‘Water Glamper’ for guests to float around the inshore waters of the Pumicestone Passage. Its being fitted out with all the mod cons and comforts we’ve come to expect from glamping, and you can even get room service – seafood platters can be delivered featuring Moreton Bay Bugs, Mooloolaba prawns and Caloundra sand crabs. caloundrahouseboathire.com

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Brunch in style at a waterfront cafe

Enjoy the views across Pumicestone Passage towards Bribie Island while having brunch at the Sandbar Café Kiosk. The Belgian waffles and Dutch fruit toast will be a hit with the kids, while parents can enjoy creative dishes drawing on fresh local seafood and grass fed beef. sandbarcafekiosk.com.au

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Sample craft beers at a beachside brewery

There is nothing quite like a cold ale after a big day at the beach. Head over to the award-winning Moffat Beach Brewing Company and enjoy a beer and some live music with the locals. Adding to the character of the retro-styled setting are the cool names of their eclectic craft beers that include the

Hipsterdoofus Extra Strong Bitter and the Deadbeat Boyfriend Cream Ale. The menu caters to all ages and there’s even a Space Invader machine to keep kids entertained. moffatbeachbrewingco.com.au

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Embark on a family fishing adventure

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Enjoy an unforgettable night out

Fishing Australia’s Rob Paxevanos is one of Caloundra’s biggest fans, having moved here with his family four years ago. Rob’s eight-year old daughter Hailey has even authored her own Fishing for Kids book for younger family members eager to try their hand at casting a line. You’ll find plenty of fishing tour operators to sort you out with boat transport and equipment, or you can simply throw a line off the pontoon to see what’s biting. fishingaustralia.tv Watch the footy on the big screen, dance to retro classics on a smoke-filled dance floor, enjoy a game of tenpin bowling and feast on pizza at Spinners Bar and Bowl. The district’s first ever Bowling Alley has everything a family could want for a night out, with five bowling lanes, arcade games and comfy lounges to relax in. spinnersbarandbowl.com.au visitsunshinecoast.com

Where to Stay Rumba Beach Resort Set in the heart of Caloundra, the Rumba Beach Resort has one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all with kitchen and laundry. rumbaresort.com.au

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OAWK TIP

Reef HQ can come to you If you can’t make it to Townsville, Reef HQ can come to your school – no matter where on the globe you happen to be. Using state-of-the-art technology, a lesson on the Great Barrier Reef can be delivered to your classroom by a scuba diver – live – from inside the Reef HQ tank. And it’s FREE. Find out how to make this happen at your school here: reefhq.com.au/educationat-reef-hq-aquarium/reefvideoconferencing

Learning about the

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I

f you’re planning to take the kids to see the largest living thing on the planet, it makes sense to help them learn about it beforehand.

The more they understand about how amazing the Great Barrier Reef really is, the more they’ll get out of it.

Kids all know about Nemo, Dory – and Bruce the shark – but once they know their REAL stories, they’ll be all the more fascinated. Plus, this way, they’ll arrive on the Reef with a list of creatures to try and find, know how to identify them, and have a greater appreciation for this national treasure.

Reef Teach

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Reef HQ's Turtle Hospital

The Great Barrier Reef is so big, yet it’s made up of unimaginably tiny animals living in a complex ecosystem. (What even is a coral?) So how do you make sense of it?

One of the best ways to become a Great Barrier Reef expert is to take the kids to a Reef Teach evening in Cairns. Though Reef Teach is presented in a classroom format, it’s a highly entertaining and engaging evening (the presenters are a cross between stand-up comics and your old science teacher on steroids). They divulge amazing facts and showcase beautiful images, woven together in a kind of comedy sketch to help you understand how our Reef works.

From the tiniest little creatures that you hardly know exist, up through the various species of fish and marine mammals.

Reef Teach owner and presenter Gareth Phillips explains: “Reef Teach was born out of a demand for people wanting to know more and more about the Great Barrier Reef. So a group of marine biologists got together and decided ‘let’s share our knowledge’.”

By the end of an evening at Reef Teach you’ll be able to identify many of the common fish and corals, be amazed at the extraordinary creatures out on our Reef, and be incredibly excited about your Reef adventure.

During the interactive session the marine biologist presenters also shed light on threats to coral reefs, SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:

Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef gateway opens in Cairns, anemone fish, an underwater lesson on the Great Barrier Reef at Reef HQ, Reef Teach's Gareth Phillips, snorkelling with turtles.

such as Crown-of-Thorns sea stars, coral bleaching, and marine plastic pollution. You’ll be surprised to discover some heartbreaking facts about man’s disregard for this extraordinary underwater environment, but also inspired by what you can do about it. reefteach.com. au

Cairns Aquarium The brand-new Cairns Aquarium & Reef Research Centre showcases both Reef and Rainforest. Over 15,000 aquatic animals, fish, plants, and other organisms are housed here, within 71 live exhibits in the enormous two-level building.

Designers have recreated 10 life-like habitats in the aquarium, to take you from rainforest to open ocean.

In fact, as you walk through the aquarium, you follow the journey of a rain drop, from the rainforest-clad mountains, joining creeks and streams that flow into mangroves and estuaries before heading out to the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea and beyond.

There are Touch and Talk exhibits where kids

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can learn about life in the rainforest and the reef, and regularly scheduled talks by passionate and knowledgeable staff. cairnsaquarium.com.au

Reef HQ Reef HQ in Townsville is much more than an aquarium.

Headquarters to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, it is also home to one of the largest marine research facilities in Australia, as well as a turtle hospital and sanctuary.

It is officially the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium; the reef inside its enormous central display even has its own coral spawning event once a year – an incredible event that normally very few people are able to see.

The Turtle Hospital rescues hundreds of turtles each year – victims of boat strike, plastic litter ingestion and fishing nets. There are daily, guided tours of the hospital, where you can get up close to these gorgeous creatures and learn how you can help save them. reefhq.com.au

CITIZENS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF The Great Barrier Reef is in danger – it is the first natural wonder to suffer from the direct impact of climate change. Poor water quality, caused by land-based run-off, and damage by crown of thorns starfish, make the reef even more vulnerable. But it’s not a lost cause! You can help save the Reef by becoming a Citizen of the Great Barrier Reef and join others around the world to take action, big or small, to help. citizensgbr.org

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Fiji Day Trips for Kids Treat the children to a Kids’ Day Out in Fiji, by doing something completely different during your holiday.

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Visit a village

Fijian village life is all about community and family, and a visit provides a wonderful insight for Aussie kids into the differences – and the similarities – between their own lives and Fiji village life. A village tour gives your children the opportunity to come faceto-smiling-face with Fijian kids and make new friends, to discover authentic village life in Fiji, and to take part in some traditional customs with your friendly hosts.

Fijian kids love football – soccer and rugby in particular – and in every village you’re bound to hear a bunch of children laughing and squealing with delight kicking a ball around. Of course, there are lessons to be learned too – on a school visit your children might be surprised to discover that a day at school in Fiji is much the same as a day at school in Australia!

Most resorts are only too happy to organise guest trips to a local village and to advise of village protocol, and if there is also a school at the village, that’s a bonus.

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Sigatoka Cultural & Historical Eco Tour

Sigatoka, on the beautiful Coral Coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, is an hour’s drive from Nadi, and on this day trip you will be collected from your hotel and transported first to the famous Sigatoka Sand Dunes for an exciting 30 minute trek to the top. At Nakabuta Village, home of lapita pottery making, the villagers will perform a traditional Fijian ‘meke’ dance to welcome you, and let you in on the secrets of making lapita. After a spot of shopping and lunch in Sigatoka Town it’s off to Kula Wild Adventure Park to meet some of Fiji’s most endangered marine and land creatures. The final stop is the historic Tavuni Hill Fort, built in the 19th century by a Tongan chief, and spectacular views to the Sigatoka River below. fijiecotours.com.fj

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Kula Wild Adventure Park

Fiji’s biggest family fun park has something for everyone – spectacular bird,

reptile and marine life, nature walks on the forest floor and elevated on boardwalks through the canopy, Fiji’s only rollercoaster zip rail – Kula Krazy Canopy Flier – Kula Kiddies Splash Pool, and Splash Mountain Jungle Waterslide.

Plan your own self-guided adventure or take a Behind The Scenes Tour of the park and its attractions. Kids aged between 7 years and 12 years can also become a Kula Park Ranger for the day! fijiwild.com

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Sigatoka River Safari

This multiple award-winning adventure is suitable for all ages and offers the unique opportunity to travel deep into the heart and soul of Fiji, on the magnificent Sigatoka River, aboard safari jet boats. Visit authentic villages along the river and experience a day in the life of the real ‘kaiviti’ (Fijian), with part of the price of each ticket going back to the local villages to help with much-needed community projects. sigatokariver.com

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Cruise to the islands

If you are holidaying on the main island of Viti Levu, take a day’s excursion out to the beautiful Mamanuca island group – a stunning spread of islands, both inhabited and uninhabited – for a whole different perspective of Fiji.

A day trip to Tivua Island with Captain Cook Cruises includes all food and drinks, activities in the Captain’s Kids Club, and hours of swimming, snorkelling and playing on the white sands and blue waters of this private coral atoll. Departs daily at 10am from Port Denarau Marina and returns 5pm. captaincookcruisesfiji.com South Seas Cruises offers a great family day trip to South Sea Island, just a 30 minute ferry trip from Port Denarau. Spend the day relaxing, swimming, finding Nemo, snorkelling, kayaking, lazing in hammocks, eating and drinking. Be entertained during a Fijian meke performance, and browse the island craft markets Monday to Saturday. Full and half day cruises available. ssc.com.fj

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Paddleboard and Play at Denarau Marina

From a 30 minute gentle beginners experience and a 2 hour Mangrove Tour, to a spectacular sunset tour, the whole family can experience Fiji from the water in a safe, fun and easy way, from Denarau Marina, with Paddleboard Fiji. Afterwards, when you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy the views and a delicious lunch in the sunshine at one of the Marina’s fantastic family friendly eateries, and sup an al fresco milkshake or mocktail, or devour a delicious dessert or ice cream, in the afternoon.

Stroll through the many retail precinct shops selling cool clothes, beachwear, souvenirs, jewellery, artefacts, snacks and all kinds of knick knacks. paddleboardfiji.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Kula Wild Adventure Park, village visit, turtles at Kula Wild Adventure Park, Sigatoka River Safari.

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Macao 3 Days 3 Ways Whether your kids are Culture Vultures, Adventure Seekers or Fantasy and Fairy Tale Lovers, Macao has something to suit everyone. Here are three itineraries to help you explore Macao with the kids.

MACAO FOR ADVENTURE SEEKERS…

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AM Start the day with an adrenalin rush at Macau Tower’s bungy jump, a thrilling 233m leap for kids aged 10* and over. For little adventurers, there are several other options at Macau Tower, including tethered sky jumps, climbing the masthead, and walking around the exterior of the tower. *Parental consent is required for those under 18.

The Skywalk is a 2m wide platform suitable for all ages, and the Mast Climb is a thrilling climb from the 61st floor to a height of 338m. Families with younger kids will get a thrill out of seeing the view of Macao from the Observation Lounge.

LUNCH Macau Tower has several options

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for lunch including a revolving restaurant with 360 degree views, or you could head over to Galaxy Hotel and choose from the family-friendly restaurants there.

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PM Escape the heat at Galaxy Pool

on the Grand Resort Deck at Galaxy Macau, an aquatic park with exhilarating waterslides and the Skytop Wave Pool.

The giant, man-made lagoon is fringed by a sandy beach, and the kids will have a blast surfing the 1.5m simulated waves. If you’re not staying at one of the five hotels in this complex, you can purchase a Grand Resort Deck Day Pass.

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PM Experience French flair at the Parisian Macao, where you can dine at a French brasserie, Chinese restaurant, or European-style buffet. After dinner, check out the views from the Observation Deck on Level 37, and then head downstairs to watch the Eiffel Tower’s Grand Illumination Show.

D I D Y O U K NO W...?

MACAO FOR FAIRY TALE AND FANTASY LOVERS

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AM Join your favourite DreamWorks characters at Po’s Kung Fu Feast Character Breakfast. This fantasyland brunch is themed around the DreamWorks animated movies, including Kung Fu Panda, at the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel.

Nibble on Kung Fu Panda buns while DreamWorks All-Stars characters entertain on stage, and mingle with the audience.

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AM While on the subject of

pandas, be sure to head over to Macao’s Giant Panda Pavilion, at Coloane’s Seac Pai Van Park, home to the adorable Luo Luo and Tong Tong.

OAWK TIP: While in Coloane, grab a Portuguese Egg Tart from the famous Lord Stowe’s Bakery.

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PM Glide through canals past a

colourful Venetian streetscape on a Venetian Gondola Tour that comes with a serenading gondolier. At Venetian, drop into Qube, which has a massive playground and 6m climbing attraction with slides and nets, video games, computer games and themed party rooms.

LUNCH Grab a quick snack at the

MACAO FOR CULTURE VULTURES

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AM Go for a morning stroll through

Senado Square to see one of Macao’s most recognisable landmarks, the Ruins of St Paul’s. The former Jesuit College and Cathedral were destroyed in a typhoon and burnt down, but the façade still stands, and it’s a great spot for a family selfie. The Ruins are found just a short walk from Senado Square, a piazza with Portuguese cobblestone paving. Admission is free.

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AM It’s worth spending a bit of time at the Museu de Macau, located in the 17th Century Mount Fortress, right next to St Paul’s. The museum has three floors of galleries and exhibitions with educational displays of Portuguese and Chinese culture and folklore.

LUNCH Head to a nearby café to refuel – there are plenty close to St Paul’s, including the hugely popular Terra Coffee House.

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PM A-Ma Temple, Macao’s most famous Taoist temple was built into the side of a rocky hill back in 1488. The view at the top of the hill is fantastic, and the kids will love wandering along the winding paths through moon gates and prayer halls, pavilions and courtyards.

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PM In contrast, the Macao Science Centre is housed in a contemporary structure with futuristic displays, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre. The galleries are filled with high-tech hands-on exhibits where the kids can learn about a wide range of subjects, from robotics to space travel.

OAWK TIP: Before heading out on a walking tour of Macao, download the ‘Step Out Macao’ mobile app, which provides a guide to eight walking tours of the city. The app is available for both IOS and Android devices.

Venetian Food Court where you’ll find everything from hamburgers and pizza to noodles.

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PM Studio City has something for everyone. The attractions here include the House of Magic, a journey through three theatres where magicians perform dazzling illusions; the world’s highest figure eight Ferris wheel, The Golden Eye; and Batman Dark Flight, a 4D flight simulation ride through Gotham City.

Also at Studio City, Kids’ City at City of Dreams caters for a range of interests; there’s a giant futuristic slide, the Outdoor Explorers climbing area, artistic workshops, and a Magic Wardrobe with hundreds of costumes that the kids can choose from to act out their fantasies in the Dream Theatre.

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PM Finish off your day watching

The House of Dancing Water, an extravaganza that is part acrobatics, part water and light display, part stunt show and totally awesome.

More Information: VisitMacao.com.au SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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reasons to take the kids on safari with Shamwari Shamwari Private Game Reserve is the ultimate destination for a South African family adventure. Voted one of the world’s leading safari and game reserves, as well as running an award-winning conservation program, this spectacular (and malaria free) game reserve is situated a short drive from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and protects a staggering ecological diversity across its 25,000 hectares.

In addition to its Big 5 game wildlife and abundant birdlife, Shamwari features six separate 5-star lodges to bunk down in, all of which offer majestic views across the stunning landscape. Spend your days with endless wildlife spotting, while learning about Shamwari’s conservation initiatives, then enjoy delicious meals around the campfire beneath the never-ending African sky.

Shamwari might just be the perfect destination for an intrepid family safari and here are nine reasons why.

1

A conservation success story

When you see the ecological richness and wildlife diversity of Shamwari today, it’s hard to believe that just a few decades ago it was an over-farmed and droughtplagued landscape. But with an innovative

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conservation program implemented to return the land to its former pristine condition, the big game wildlife that once roamed this part of South Africa were gradually re-introduced.

Shamwari is now abundant with stunning Eastern Cape flora and free-roaming animals and employs more than 325 local staff. Little wonder it’s affectionately known as the “Pride of Eastern Cape”.

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Family-friendly accommodation

Shamwari has an impressive selection of beautifully-appointed manors and lodges to select from, including the Riverdene Family Lodge that evokes an ‘at one with nature’ feel. Specifically designed for families, the Lodge’s nine luxurious suites accommodate two adults and one child (some with extra sleeper couches) and offer a choice of twin/ king beds,. Each features private patio and ensuite bathroom, with spacious decks to soak up the views. The Lodge has a rim-flow swimming pool that is ideal for young guests, a supervised playroom and kids’ jungle gym, as well as both indoor and alfresco dining areas. Large family/friends groups can book all of Riverdene Lodge, and that exclusive use includes a private chef, guides and hosts during your stay at Shamwari.

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Action-packed game drives

Guests at Shamwari are treated to two daily game drives – one in the early morning and one just prior to sunset when the animals are at their most active. Snuggle up with blankets, and even hot water bottles, as you brave the chilly mornings to watch the African plains come to life, with giraffes, antelopes and impalas dotting the landscape.

These action-packed safaris are led by highly trained and knowledgeable guides who will tailor game drives to suit your family’s interests and track the animals on your “must see” list. Spot herds of elephants traversing the plains and lions stalking their prey, as well as cheetahs snoozing in the trees and birds of prey soaring above.

4Something for all ages

While children under the age of four aren’t permitted on game drives, Shamwari can organise toddler-friendly entertainment to ensure your youngest family members have an unforgettable South African holiday too.

Child minders are on hand to supervise while you’re on safari, with shallow swimming pools to splash around in and a range of sporting, artistic and cultural activities to immerse them in the African experience.

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Wildlife rehabilitation visits

In addition to daily game drives through the Shamwari Game Reserve, families can also pay a visit to the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Sick, injured, abandoned and orphaned animals are nursed back to health here and then released back into the wild. Be sure to visit one of the Born Free Big Cat Rescue and Education Centres that provide a refuge for rescued lions and leopards from around the world. Also located within the reserve is the Ian Player Rhino Awareness Centre where you can get up close to these endangered species and learn more about their plight against poachers.

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Become a “Kid Ranger”

Got a budding ranger in the family?

Children will love the opportunity to participate in Shamwari’s Kids on Safari program that teaches them how to identify and track the Big 5 (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and rhinos). They’ll discover how to identify each animal’s tracks and search for markings, and will be introduced to some of the conservation issues facing these majestic animals. After completing the activities with one of Shamwari’s enthusiastic rangers,

the kids will even get a certificate acknowledging their new qualification as a “Kid Ranger”!

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Relaxation retreats

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Thrilling walking safaris

While the kids are busy becoming rangers, why not indulge at one of Shamwari’s spa retreats? There are dedicated treatment rooms at some of their lodges or the option for in-house visits by their highly-skilled staff. Select from a range of massages and wellness treatments designed to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul while soaking up the spectacular wilderness of the Eastern Cape.

Experience Shamwari’s big game wildlife from a different perspective during a rangerled walking safari. Encounter gentle herds of elephant playing in the river, see endangered rhinos, and stand beneath towering giraffes as they forage for food. The rangers are all highly trained in approaching animals carefully and cautiously, ensuring you and your family are in safe hands throughout this unforgettable experience.

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Romantic sundowners

Just because you’re travelling with the kids doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the most romantic of African experiences – sundowners overlooking the wildlife-filled landscapes. Soak up the jaw-dropping views across Shamwari while your guide concocts sunset cocktails (or mocktails for the kids), accompanied by South African biltong and other nibbles. It’s the perfect way to end an unforgettable day wildlife spotting in this breathtaking corner of Africa.

Fact box Shamwari Private Game Reserve shamwari.com South African Tourism country.southafrica.net/country/au/en

How to get there: South African Airways flysaa.com SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay Location Positioned around a lagoon on the west coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is a 45-minute drive from Nadi International Airport. It’s an ideal setting for families exploring the attractions of Fiji’s beautiful Coral Coast, and a short drive from the cultural sights of Nadi.

OAWK TIP: Looking for a convenient airport transfer or comfortable transport to and from the Coral Coast sights? We recommend the friendly team at Rosie Holidays. They even stopped to allow us to pick up forgotten baby essentials.esort.

Accommodation The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has a choice of guest rooms, luxurious ocean or lagoon-front bures with highvaulted ceilings, as well as overwater bures. Their deluxe bures feature all the modern comforts you would expect at a Marriott resort, including flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi and room service. All room types have a private balcony or terrace while being within a stone’s throw from the lagoon or pool.

Interconnecting rooms, particularly suitable for families, are available in Deluxe Lagoon View Rooms and Deluxe Lagoon Front Rooms. Children occupying the second room are charged adult prices.

There are three distinctly different accommodation types and locations. The hotel-style rooms are found in two-level blocks along the foreshore on the hub near the tennis courts, kids club, the main resort pools and restaurants.

On the spit of land that curves around the resort’s main lagoon there are Duplex Bure Villas and stand alone Lagoon Bures and Ocean Front Bures. The ocean pool, Fish Bar Restaurant, and Sunset Bar are found here too.

Then, of course, there are the signature over-lagoon bures; only for admiration on a family holiday, as no guest 18 years and under is permitted. And yes, this includes babies.

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OAWK TIP: Kids Stay Free. Up to two children aged under 12 years stay free of charge when sharing with adults and utilising existing bedding. Check individual room categories for maximum room occupancies allowed.

Why we stayed there The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay boasts an exclusive beachfront setting that feels quintessentially Fijian, while still being within easy access of the airport and the attractions of the magnificent Coral Coast.

The property is beautifully designed and there is plenty of space so that, even

at full occupancy, there is no sense of overcrowding. It’s like an island holiday with all the convenience of a mainland resort.

Activities Young guests at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay will find non-stop entertainment in Turtles Kids’ Club, free for kids aged four to 12 years old. Kids can enjoy traditional handicraft making, marine life education sessions and even Fijian language classes.

Parents can indulge at Quan Spa, a tranquil sanctuary where you can enjoy a massage or beauty treatment, or just kick back with a good book beside one of the three swimming pools. There’s also an onsite fitness centre and a tennis court.

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OAWK TIP: Make sure you spend at least one sunset lazing beside the resort’s stunning adults only infinity pool.

Explore Families with older kids can experience Fiji’s natural beauty and local culture on the award-winning Sigatoka River Safari or Off-road Cave Safari, coupled with a visit to the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. Let the kids run wild at the Big Bula Waterpark or slather yourselves in mud at the Sabeto Hot Spring and Mud Bath. The resort is also within easy access of the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, where canopy-covered boardwalks weave amidst its landscaped gardens, lily ponds and Asian orchids.

Surfers in your family? The resort is the closest mainland hotel to Cloudbreak, an internationally-renowned surf mecca, and an easy boat ride from the property – a daily surfing excursion while the children were occupied in kids club became routine.

Food and Beverage The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay has three on site restaurants, a casual deli-style café, and a coffee house overlooking the lagoon. Fill up for the day at the sumptuous buffet breakfast and feast on Asian fusion at Goji Kitchen, or enjoy freshly caught seafood with stunning ocean views at the Fish Bar. The Lagoon House dishes up Mediterranean-inspired cuisine on its gorgeous terrace, which also features a swim-up bar. Then there’s the Lagoon Lounge, the central point and ‘heart’ of the resort and the hub of resort activity day and night.

OAWK TIP: Little Kids Eat Free - For infants (0-3 years of age), all meals are complimentary. Children 4 to 12 Years receive 50 per cent discount on existing menus.

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay Savusavu Road, Momi Bay, Viti Levu, Fiji Phone: +679 890 6016 fijimarriott.com Rosie Holidays Fiji: rosiefiji.com

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Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk, Honolulu Location Embassy Suites by Hilton is centrally located on the Waikiki Beach Walk, which connects Waikiki Beach to the shopping strip of Kalakaua Avenue. The hotel is 20 minutes’ drive from Honolulu International Airport and on the doorstep of Waikiki’s best familyfriendly attractions.

Accommodation This is the only all-suites resort in Waikiki.

Choose from a spacious one bedroom suite with a sleeper sofa for the kids, or spread out in a two bedroom suite with both queen and king size beds available. All suites have HD TVs, in-room games and complimentary WiFi, ensuite bathrooms, refrigerator and microwave.

Activities The Grand Lanai balcony is THE place to relax, with a heated pool, dedicated kids pool, as well as an indulgent whirlpool spa. Kick back in one of the comfortable chaises longues on the sun deck, or grab a drink at Pakini bar. Enjoy free Hawaiian entertainment poolside, or relax with a Ka Mokuola Oiwi massage in the comfort of your own room. There’s a 24-hour fitness

centre on site, as well as complimentary yoga classes by the pool three mornings a week.

OAWK TIP: Don’t feel comfortable taking a group yoga class? Practise in the privacy of your suite with Embassy Suites’ Hawaiian-style yoga program available on in-room TV. Food & Beverage Start your day with a complimentary breakfast prepared by Embassy Suites’ chefs.

The resort is also home to Roy’s Waikiki, which serves Hawaiian fusion fare by renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

Step outside onto the Waikiki Beach Walk and you’ll be spoiled for choice with family favourites like Cheeseburger Beachwalk, Giovanni Pastrami, Kaiwa Waikiki and Taormina.

Explore Go for a swim in the warm, tropical waters or just soak up the sun on this iconic stretch of sand. Learn to surf with “Beach Boys” or grab a stand-up paddleboard. Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium are located at the

southern end of the beach, as well as the Queen Kapiolani Garden and its beautiful collection of tropical plants. Follow the walking trail that leads up to the Diamond Head Crater for incredible views across Waikiki Beach, or hit the shops along Kalakaua Avenue.

Spend a day exploring Oahu, stopping at the Dole Plantation to sample the fresh pineapple, and watching big wave surfers attempt the legendary breaks at Waimea and Pipeline. Be sure to catch an evening at the Polynesian Cultural Centre on the east coast of the island for a traditional Hawaiian dance performance and Luau buffet.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk 201 Beach Walk, Honolulu HI 96815 +1 808 921 2345 embassysuiteswaikiki.com

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The Sanctoo Villas & Spa, Bali

Location The Sanctoo Villa is a luxury complex of private villas, hidden away in Singapadu, a small village in central Bali just south of Ubud. Located inside the grounds of Bali Zoo, the Villas are less than an hour’s drive from Bali’s International Airport, and a short drive from the centre of Ubud, with spectacular views of the valley and verdant rice fields.

Accommodation The resort consists of 12 traditional Balinese-style villas with garden and river views from your private deck, and plunge pool. Each villa can accommodate up to three adults and two children under 12 years old. Ideal for both couples and families, the villas have a large ensuite bathroom, dining area, all the modern amenities and conveniences one could ask for including air conditioning and international adaptors and, of course, unlimited access into Bali Zoo. OAWK TIP: For a more unique look at the Zoo, the Villa has Night at the Zoo experiences that include transport into the zoo, and a personalised tour which includes an opportunity to hand-feed the elephants, before sitting down to a buffet dinner next to the Lions’ enclosure, with entertainment provided by local artists and fire dancers.

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Activities Bali Zoo is a great place for the kids to get up close and personal with some of the incredible creatures found in Indonesia, including Jacky, an endangered Bornean Orangutan, who has lived at the zoo since it opened. There are a number of animal encounters and photo opportunities available with Jacky, as well as a Siamang gibbon, baby saltwater crocodile (if you’re game), deer, and Sumatran elephants.

There are several animal presentations throughout the day, including an elephant keeper talk and the Exotic Bird Show. For younger kids there’s a petting zoo, Jungle Splash Waterplay and pony rides.

For those with a larger sense of adventure, Sanctoo Villas can also organise guided trekking and cycling day trips for a more in-depth exploration of Bali’s scenic countryside and villages.

On the more relaxing end of the spectrum, Sanctoo’s Spa offers various revitalising body treatments with natural products, so after a day exploring the zoo or the Balinese countryside, guests can step

into a world of relaxation with flower baths and refreshing massages.

Explore With the centre of Ubud just a 20-minute drive away it’s easy enough to organise a transfer into town, to explore the colourful markets, cafes and restaurants.

Food and Beverage Start your day with ‘Breakfast with Orangutan’ at Gayo Restaurant and watch them play while you enjoy tropical juices and a buffet feast. If your prefer, Sanctoo can also bring the dining experience to your villa, either for a romantic dinner on the lawn, a candle-lit poolside dinner or afternoon tea.

OAWK TIP: Be sure to get your ticket for the orangutan photo opportunities before starting your breakfast – that way by the time you’ve finished your food your number is sure to be called.

The Sanctoo Villas & Spa Jalan Raya Singapadu Gang Beji, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali +62 361 4711 222 thesanctoovilla.com email: reservation@thesanctoovilla.com

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Theme Parks, Museums, Aquariums, and more.

Southern California

San Francisco

Seattle

New York City

With CityPASS, you will enjoy significant savings of up to 50% off admission at famous attractions in 12 top North American destinations. Even better, you will save precious travel time by skipping many main-entrance ticket lines.

Atlanta | Boston | Chicago | Dallas | Houston | New York City | Philadelphia | San Francisco | Seattle | Tampa Bay | Toronto

98% Recommend CityPASS citypass.com Savings based on adult pricing. Program, pricing and discounts subject to change; visit citypass.com for current details.

KIDS IN AMERICA

contents 55 A CULINARY GUIDE TO THE USA We all know about hamburgers and hot dogs, but how about Poboys and jambalaya?

60 BEST AMERICAN MUSEUMS

From the Spy Museum in Washington to the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

64 MOUNTAINS IN SUMMER

America's mountain resorts are just as much fun in summer as in winter

DI D Y OU KNOW...?

The Big Apple helps Broadway come to life for kids!

For many parents, the thought of taking kids to see an appropriate and enjoyable Broadway show in New York can be daunting, but The Broadway Collection says it doesn’t have to be that hard, and that the trick is to find the right show for your kids; get your tickets ahead of time; arrive at the theatre early to avoid queues; and feed everyone before the show! broadwayinbound.com

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TIPS FOR PARENTS: • Theatres generally open for seating 30 minutes prior to curtain time, so avoid any last minute stress by giving yourself plenty of time for a toilet stop, and to get in and find your seats before the curtain goes up. The curtain goes up approximately seven minutes after the publicised show start time, however, if you miss this you can often get access after the first song.

• Book seats close to the aisle for easy exits for any needed bathroom breaks.

• Most theatres offer booster seats for kids so enquire in advance if they do, and where you can find them. If not, ask if you can bring one along with you, or a cushion, so that tiny tots don’t miss any of the onstage action.

• Some performances have dedicated family or afternoon screenings, which may work better for your children – enquire when booking.

• Off-Broadway tickets are often more affordable for families on a budget.

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Tour inside a real working Hollywood Studio!

Explore outdoor sets and soundstages where some of the most iconic movies and tv shows have been filmed – including Ellen, The Big Bang Theory, Pretty Little Liars, La La Land, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Batman, Wonder Woman – on a 3 hour Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Hollywood.

Each Studio Tour includes exclusive access to original props, costumes, picture cars, and sets, as well as a visit to the Archive, featuring DC Universe: The Exhibit; Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts; and the Batcave, home to some of Batman’s most famous vehicles, including the Tumbler, Bathammer and

The Joker’s car from Suicide Squad.

The grand finale of the Tour is a visit to ‘Stage 48: Script to Screen’, an interactive soundstage where you can learn about the production process of a film or tv show, step onto an actual set of Friends, and become Hobbit-sized, or soar above Hogwarts on a broomstick, at the special effects table.

Studio Tours are suitable for children 8 years and older and depart seven days a week from 8:30am to 4pm (extended hours during summer; closed Christmas Day). wbstudiotour.com

Go coastal with the family in San Diego San Diego is known around the globe for its diverse, and plentiful, range of world-class family friendly attractions including San Diego Zoo, Sea World and LEGOLAND® California, but two of the city’s most popular gems are set right on the beautiful water’s edge at Belmont Park and Seaport Village.

If you are looking for fun for the whole family then you can’t go past Belmont Park. It’s San Diego’s only beachfront amusement and

entertainment complex, with a mix of contemporary and traditional amusement rides that will keep you entertained all day. belmontpark.com Once you have tried every amusement ride once, or maybe even twice, head to San Diego’s Seaport Village where the whole family can experience the historic carousel, browse the kite store, and enjoy roaming entertainment, all while taking in spectacular ocean views. seaportvillage.com

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A whole bunch of #1s in kid-friendly Colorado Springs Colorado Springs in Colorado can boast a park that is ranked #1 in the USA (and #2 in the world on TripAdvisor); a zoo with over 800 species of animals that is America’s only mountain zoo; the world’s highest cog railway; and North America’s highest suspension bridge.

Now that’s a whole bunch of #1s!

GARDEN OF THE GODS PARK An absolute must-see, the #1 Park in the USA is famous for its impressive red rock spires. Discover how the landmark came to be, by exploring the Visitor & Nature Center’s Geo-Trekker movie and variety of hands-on exhibits. Hike, walk, bike, Segway, rock climb or take a Jeep tour of the park to see first-hand the larger-thanlife rock formations like ‘Kissing Camels’ and ‘Balanced Rock.’ gardenofgods.com CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO America’s only mountain zoo offers so

Discover Denver in spring with Mile High Culture Pass The Mile High City – Denver, Colorado – is not just a fabulous winter destination for families.

Thanks to its 300 days of annual sunshine and the adjacent Rocky Mountains, Denver is an outdoor city, and spring is the perfect time to explore the more than 1600ha of traditional parks and parkways in the area.

Take advantage of The Mile High Culture Pass and discover all of the cultural and fun attractions outside the popular White Season including zoos, theme parks, interactive museums, aquariums, botanic gardens and, in spring, blockbuster exhibitions and festivals and professional sports.

The Mile High Culture Pass is an excellent way for families to enjoy multiple attractions; it allows access to seven museums and other sites, along with discounts

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at many additional locations – for the bargain ‘Mile High’ price of US$52.80 for a five-day pass, or US$30 for a three-day pass.

There are also plenty of free activities for families, including free museum days, dinosaur digs and tours at places like candy factories, scientific and space research centers and more. Denver is also known for its chef-driven culinary scene, so after all the excitement of exploring everything Denver has to offer, families can get their fill of Denver cuisine at any number of delicious local restaurants. Some of the city’s most iconic restaurants have fun atmospheres and kid-friendly choices; and the fast casual trend is a Denver staple for families who need a quick, affordable bite in between adventures. visitdenver.com

many unique experiences for visitors – hand feed the largest reticulated giraffe herd in captivity, learn more about animal conservation, meet Rocky Mountain critters including moose, grizzly bears, mountain lions, river otters, lynx, porcupine, Mexican gray wolves and bald eagles. cmzoo.org PIKES PEAK – AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN Travel on the world’s highest cog railway climbing 4302m through scenic ‘life zones’ to the summit.

Walk across North America’s highest suspension bridge at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.

Marvel at the fossils and impressive animatronics at the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience. Learn the history of the famous Pikes Peak or Bust Gold Rush, and even find a few donkeys in the western towns of Cripple Creek and Victor. visitCOS.com

Chocolate treats and Sesame Street for kids in Philly Philadelphia is positively bursting at the seams with kid friendly attractions – everything from a dedicated Sesame Street theme park ideal for little ones, to a world of Crayola crayons, and even interactive experiences committed to the celebration (and tasting!) of delicious treats!

Sesame Place, America’s only theme park based entirely on Sesame Street, is located just outside Philadelphia in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Enjoy fun rides, sing and dance along with the daily Neighborhood Street Party Parade.

Hersheypark is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is known as ‘The Sweetest Place on Earth’. First opened in 1907 by Milton S. Hershey, founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company, Hersheypark has evolved to be one of the top amusement parks in the USA, touting itself as the roller coaster capital of the world (with the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast), and featuring Chocolate World, a chocolate factory-themed tour ride!

See how crayons are made in a live manufacturing show at the Crayola Experience, near Philadelphia in Easton, Pennsylvania. Star in your very own coloring page, name and wrap your own Crayola crayon, and take a 4-D coloring adventure at the world headquarters of the famous crayon.

The 17ha Philadelphia Zoo is a must-see. The first zoo in the United States is at the forefront of innovation with its Zoo360, a series of elevated see-through mesh trails throughout the park that allow gorillas, monkeys, apes and big cats to roam around the park. discoverphl.com philadelphiazoo.org

Don’t miss San Francisco’s PIER 39 for endless FUN Did you know PIER 39 is the most visited attraction in San Francisco? Ideal for all ages, you really do have to experience PIER 39 for yourself to discover just why a visit to San Francisco starts here!

Spread across two levels of dining, entertainment, shopping and attractions, all surrounded by unbeatable views of the city and the bay, PIER 39 is located along the historic San Francisco Waterfront, and provides the picture-perfect backdrop for postcard views of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the famous city skyline.

PIER 39 is also home to the world-famous California sea lions, Aquarium of the Bay, the San Francisco Carousel, and many more attractions, including The Flyer San Francisco, the world’s first 3D flying theater that introduces you to the city through a

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thrilling aerial journey from a bird’s eye perspective: soaring above San Francisco’s stunning skyline. Zip through the majestic redwood forests and plunge down from Coit Tower into the lively streets of San Francisco, including some of the city’s steepest and most crooked streets. Filmed using state-of-the-art technology involving drones, helicopters, and computer-generated imagery, the multi-sensory six-minute 3D journey promises to be a wild ride, yet a safe adventure for all ages. theflyer-sanfrancisco.com And after all that excitement you can pitstop and refuel – with everything from fresh seafood, sushi and California cuisine to burgers, pasta and pizza on the menu at your choice of eateries – before browsing over 60 specialty shops at the Pier. pier39.com

(c) Disney

The World of Avatar wows the world

W

alt Disney World in Florida’s ‘Pandora – The World of Avatar’ opened in May this year, and it has literally taken the world by storm. While people are raving about the Na’vi River Journey, which takes you on a beautiful journey through the bioluminescent forest of Pandora, it’s the Flight of Passage 3D thrill ride that people are hailing as “the greatest Disney ride of all time”.

Flight of Passage mimics the experience that Avatar hero Jake Sully has in the movie, as you sit on a bike-like contraption in front of an enormous screen. Once secured on your ‘Link Seat’ you are ‘linked’ to your avatar and suddenly the screen shows the view from a Pandora cliff-side where your avatar sits atop a banshee. The scenery is incredible, and the room floods with smells and sounds that immediately bring you into the world of Pandora. The seat between your legs begins gently expanding in and out while a soft snorting sound can be heard – as if the banshee is really breathing beneath you.

The scents in the room even change and shift as you begin to fly during the ride, like when you glide beneath a wave or soar above a stampede of animals. Wind and mists of water come in at key points throughout, adding to the realism of what you're experiencing. Your banshee flies over mountains and into caves, dukes it out with another banshee flying through the sky, and then soars straight down while ducking under branches and cliff sides.

According to Insider reviewer Kim Renfo: “The first time the banshee dives, swooping the link chair down, my heart skipped a beat and my stomach did the all-so-familiar ‘swoop’ that I normally only associate with a huge roller coaster.”

IGN Editor Eric Goldman, who went on the ride six times in one day, said: “My personal favourite part of the experience – one I involuntarily cheered out loud at – finds you flying out over the ocean and swooping right inside a massive wave as it curls around you. It’s an incredible, gaspworthy moment among several throughout

the ride.

“As a bit of a theme park junkie, it’s rare I can walk off a ride and instantly say, ‘that’s now one of my all-time favourites.’ But I feel secure saying that about Flight of Passage.

It’s a new gold standard.”

OAWK TIP: Use FASTPASS+ Flight of Passage is proving to be one of the most popular rides in Walt Disney World’s history, so to avoid waiting in line and get yourself a FastPass+ or, if you’re a Disney hotel guest, hop in line during Extra Magic Hour.

Grab a middle seat As this is a 3D experience, a middle seat offers the best view. Try to keep your focus ahead of you and avoid being distracted by nearby rides as this will pull you out of the experience of the ride.

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T

he Marvel heroes have landed at Disneyland Resort in California, but on this new ride, you get to try and save them, instead of the other way around. Imprisoned by the evil Taneleer Tivan, otherwise known as The Collector, our heroes are imprisoned in an impenetrable tower called ‘The Tivan Collection’.

Once inside the elevator, posing as guests being taken by gantry to view the Guardians, Mission – BREAKOUT! wastes no time in getting to the action. Raise your hands as Rocket Racoon pulls the power that contains his friends in their cells, and plugs in Star Lord's Walkman, and the ride starts with a blast upward, accompanied by a rocking soundtrack and barely pauses along the

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way. The ride features six randomly selected profiles, each with a different rock song accompaniment and screen vignettes of the Guardians battling their way out of the tower.

Guardians stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and Benicio Del Toro reprise their roles for the ride, and they command every moment on screen here just as effectively as they did in theatres. The film’s director James Gunn participated in every step of the attraction's production, creating a seamless integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

With the six ride profiles, you’ll want to circle around and re-enter the queue to sample the rest, and to search out what other props and Easter eggs you can find in Tivan's collection along the way.

(c) Disney

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! And what do the fans have to say?

“Basically, if you're looking for a thrill and you don't have a weak stomach, GO ON THIS RIDE!” “If you're a fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and classic music from the 70s and 80s, you should definitely ride this ride as soon as you possibly can! It's a fun one with re-ride value!”

OAWK TIP: Use FASTPASS to save time in line. Or check out the new MaxPass service that allows you to make FASTPASS selections on your mobile device while in the Parks! travel.disney.com.au

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How to eat your way across America W

hen we think of ‘American food’ we usually think of hot dogs, pizzas and burgers and, indeed, Australia is going through a bit of an American foodie craze at the moment – diner-style restaurants opening all over the country with menus full of burgers, onion rings, fried chicken and mac&cheese served in little red plastic baskets – not to mention the pop-up in-N-Out burger joints driving us all wild.

While America can still safely be called the home of fast food (and there’s no shortage of variety), the country also offers amazing regional dishes and cuisines that have been influenced by it’s diverse history. You can literally take the kids on a culinary tour of the world in America.

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Maine is the place to come for lobster rolls, a southern Po-boy, beignets and coffee in New Orleans.

East Coast New York is certainly synonymous with the iconic hot dog vendor, and there’s one on every street corner (really, you should at least try one!), but don’t pass up the opportunity to explore the city’s multiculturalism through its local cuisine.

The Eastern European Jewish influence has given New York the best bagels and pastrami ‘on rye’. Try the various and tasty street foods adopted from Chinese, Puerto Rican, West Indian and Italian inhabitants.

And whilst we are familiar with many of the foods found here, that ‘New Yorkstyle’ way of doing things makes for some delicious dishes.

In Philadelphia the delicacy is the Philly Cheesesteak – a long, crusty roll filled with sautéed ribeye and melted cheese.

Generally Cheez Whiz (a processed cheese sauce which no doubt the kids will love) is the topping of choice, although this can

be substituted with provolone on request, depending on where you pick one up which, in Philadelphia, can be basically anywhere; steak shops, delis, food trucks, pizzerias and even some high end restaurants.

Further north, the New England region is the place to go for seafood Americanstyle – think clam chowder and lobster rolls. Each state has its own speciality.

Connecticut has the white clam pie (which is really a pizza) topped with olive oil, oregano, cheese, garlic and fresh littleneck clams. Maine has the lobster roll, which is pretty much what it sounds like – perfectly cooked lobster meat with butter in a hot dog type roll – while Massachusetts is known for its clam chowder.

Also in New England, Vermont is famous for its maple syrup (sorry Canada), and is the home of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, with the main factory operating in Waterbury.

BOSTON’S UNION OYSTER HOUSE

Boston, Massachusetts is home to the oldest restaurant in the United States – the Union Oyster House. It’s a favourite of the Kennedy clan, JFK himself having his very own booth and, in fact, every U.S. president since Washington himself has dined here (the owner has yet to serve President Trump), as well as countless celebrities.

Pull up a stool at the Oyster Bar itself to sample freshly shucked oysters, or tuck the family into one of the booths and enjoy clam chowder (served with biscuits) followed by fish and chips.

Before you dine, it’s worth having a wander around the restaurant to look at the many dioramas telling the story of Boston’s ‘Freedom Trail’, Paul Revere’s run, and the origins of American Independence, as well as the numerous plaques commemorating the many famous people who have dined here.

Since the Oyster Bar is on the historic Freedom Trail, you will quite often see school groups here, stopping in on an excursion to sample oysters for the first time. unionoysterhouse.com

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THE ESSEX, VERMONT’S CULINARY RESORT

Possibly the first of its kind, The Essex is a family resort dedicated to food and to improving your culinary skills. A former cooking college, the property has been transformed into a hotel, and offers cooking classes with the resort’s chefs, for both grown ups and kids. During school holiday periods there are also Kids’ Cooking Camps, where kids can come for the week and learn basic skills.

The resort specialises in meals cooked with local produce (some of which is grown in the kitchen garden) and, of course, maple syrup is a feature. Learn how to make maple ginger pan roasted chicken, maple pepper pecans (great on salad) and maple crème Brulee. vtculinaryresort.com

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Down South The Southern states are known for their Soul Food, heavily influenced by African, French and Native American cuisines. Fried chicken, barbequed ribs, corn bread, sweet pies and mac’n’cheese are all synonymous with Southern food, but you will also come across regional signature dishes that should also be experienced.

Creole and Cajun flavours are the tastes of Louisiana. Cajun food is known for being very well seasoned, sometimes spicy. Creole food has a greater emphasis on the use of cream, butter, tomatoes and seafood – and less use of cayenne pepper.

Some must-try dishes include gumbo (a flavoursome stew made with various meats and/or seafood, served over rice), jambalaya (rice dish with meat and vegetables, similar to a paella) and pecan pie. Be sure to also try a ‘Po-Boy’, a soft bread roll, traditionally filled with deep fried oysters, but you can also get shrimp, catfish, crawfish and even alligator Po-Boys.

Another must-try food in New Orleans is the French-inspired beignet, almost a cross between a doughnut and a croissant – deep-fried choux pastry, served with a generous sprinkling of icing sugar, guaranteed to leave the kids with a white moustache (and possibly beard).

WHAT DID I ORDER?

• Biscuit – If you order this one, don’t expect a Tim Tam or Monte Carlo – in America a biscuit is a small bread roll made with baking soda instead of yeast, similar to a scone. They are served as a side dish to a meal, commonly breakfast, with either butter, sweet spreads such as honey, jam or syrup, or savoury with gravy or a sausage patty.

• If you want a sweet bikkie like a Monte Carlo, you’ll need to ask for a cookie.

• Jelly – While we know jelly as a jiggly dessert that goes amazingly with ice cream, jelly in the US is more like jam.

The most well known use of ‘jelly’ is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or PB&J) that uses grape jelly.

• If you want the gelatin-based dessert, you’ll need to ask for Jell-O. • Entrée – If you’re dining out and want a smaller size serving, or a light starter before your main, you will need to pay close attention to the menu, as in America ‘Entrée’ refers to the Main Course.

• If you want a light starter or a small meal, you’ll need to order an appetizer.

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Fresh Mex from West Hollywood restaurant Gracias Madre, s'mores, Hawaii's shave ice, paleo goodness from The Cultured Caveman in Portland.

West Coast What kid doesn’t love tacos? Its proximity to Mexico, and production of fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood, has made Californian cuisine synonymous with ‘Fresh-Mex’ or ‘Baja-style’ Mexican food.

While there is certainly no shortage of ‘fast food’ in California, Fresh-Mex places emphasis on quality ingredients, flavours, and healthier options while still providing the cheap and quick service of the traditional ‘pop up’ taco shops and stands.

PORTLAND’S FOOD TRUCKS

Portland, Oregon, the hipster capital of the world, has a street food culture like no other, with more than 800 food carts located in the city and inner suburbs.

Almost every single parking lot has been taken over, at least in part, by food truck ‘pods’. The kids will just love choosing from a different food truck each day, and it’s an easy, casual (cheap) dining option if you have fussy eaters, as you don’t all have to order from the same truck.

There is authentic, high quality food here from nearly every corner of the world, from German bratwurst and Shanghai-style dumplings, to Ethiopian falafel, Korean tacos, Haitian patties, New York-style Rubens and comfort food like gourmet cheese toasties.

Each food truck vies with the next for the cleverest name, with dreadful puns like The Dump Truck (serving dumplings), Lebaneezer Scrooge (yep, kebabs), Steaks 5th Avenue (guess), and the Frying Scotsman (battered fish and chips served with mushy peas and haggis). The Cultured Cave Man (pictured above) serves paleo-insired food, and Chez Dodo dishes up African, French, Indian, Chinese and Creole inspired cuisine – “Vegan, glutenfree and meat-lovers welcome!”

Of course, being Portland, all food (even comfort food) is organic and locally sourced. If Savor Soup House has pork on the menu, you can be sure they raised the pig themselves.

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WHAT’S THAT?

• S’more – Traditionally a campfire treat, a s’more is a sweet dessert-style snack consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of melted chocolate sandwiched between two Graham crackers (plain, sweet biscuits).

• Grits – Seen more commonly in the Southern states, grits is mainly a breakfast side dish consisting of ground corn kernels, cooked by adding boiling water to the kernels to make a thick porridge that’s almost semi-solid.

• Lox – Lox is a fillet of brined salmon, typically served in a bagel with cream cheese. Whilst almost identical to smoked salmon, the only difference is that lox is never smoked, only salt-cured or brined.

• Sloppy joe – Often referenced in movies but seldom explained, a sloppy joe is basically a type of hamburger, but instead of a patty of meat between the buns it’s mince, which is also sometimes called ‘chili’. But don’t be fooled, it’s about as spicy as a capsicum.

Hawaii A top family holiday destination for decades, Hawaii has no shortage of great places to dine. While we might think that ‘Hawaiian’ food means just adding some pineapple, this isn’t the case at all! If you want to experience traditional meals, top of your list should be the Kalua pig, which is actually the centerpiece of the luau. Kalua means ‘to cook in an underground oven’ and that’s exactly how the Kalua pig is prepared (in an ‘imu’) which gives the meat a beautiful smoky flavour. A more contemporary treat (and, luckily for the kids, it’s found all over Hawaii) is shave ice. Similar to a snow cone, but using shaved instead of crushed ice, shave ice is a very popular way to cool down on the tropical island. Available in many flavours, the ones using local ingredients are the best: coconut cream, guava, mango, passionfruit, lychee and – yes – pineapple!

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America's best museums All over America there are incredible museums, records of history and prehistory, and everything from the Dinosaur Trail in North Dakota and the history of espionage in Washington DC, to the history of the Blues in St Louis.

Washington DC The world’s largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution, has 17 museums and galleries in DC, plus the National Zoo. And they’re all free. By far the most popular is the National Air and Space Museum. Among its collection of 60,000 objects is a Saturn V rocket, the Apollo 11 command module, and the Hubble Space Telescope, along with a whole host of hands-on activities – hop in a flight simulator, make and test a paper airplane, and even touch a rock from the moon. airandspace.si.edu The latest addition to the Smithsonian Institution is the National Museum

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of African American History & Culture, which tells the story of African Americans, from the early days of slavery, through emancipation and the civil rights movement, as well as celebrating the rich African American culture. nmaahc.si.edu While you could easily spend your entire trip in the Smithsonian, be sure to save time for some of DC’s other museum gems.

At the Spy Museum you’re assigned a character as you enter, which you have to memorise (name, where you come from, what fictional job you do) and make your way around the museum answering questions designed to blow your cover!

This is a fascinating place to learn about the art of espionage, from the Trojan Horse to the Cold War. There are videos on bugging and lock picking, and plenty of James Bond-style spy gadgets on display, even a shoe phone and lipstick gun. Plus, lots of hands-on stuff, such as searching satellite images for military bases and crawling along

air-conditioning ducts to eavesdrop on conversations. spymuseum.org The Crime Museum is full of activities for wannabe detectives. Under-9s can take the ‘Top Detective Challenge’ and hunt for a missing medallion, while older kids can try cracking a safe and honing their skills on a high-speed driving simulator. crimemuseum.org The Newseum takes an interactive look at news reporting and the media throughout history. Kids can deliver a news report, get feedback from professional photojournalists and view front-page stories from around the globe. newseum.org

New York, New York A good place to start your tour of New York museums is in Brooklyn, at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the world’s first museum specifically designed for kids, which has a collection of almost 30,000

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

The Spy Museum in Washington, Dinosaur Museum, North Dakota, National Blues Museum in St Louis, Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.

OVER THE PAGE FROM LEFT

Natiional Museum of African American Culture, San Diego's USS Midway Museum, St Louis City Museum.

objects ranging from musical instruments, to dolls to fossils. brooklynkids.org Visit the New York Hall of Science in Queens, a sprawling complex that started as an offshoot of the 1964 World’s Fair. It’s home to more than 450 exhibits including an enormous Science Playground and an innovative hands-on space called Design Lab that helps kids understand the design and engineering process. nysci.org In Rochester, upstate New York, you can bring out your own inner child at The Strong National Museum of Play, which celebrates all sorts of games, including a great collection of ‘retro’ video games like Pac Man, Space Invaders and Donkey Kong.

It’s the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to play, and home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. museumofplay.org

Chicago, Illinois With over 40 museums, Chicago has plenty to keep kids amused on a rainy day. The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the western hemisphere with more than 35,000 exhibits. Highlights include an interactive exhibit that reveals the science behind lightning and tornados, a 400m model train set, and a fully restored German U-boat

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submarine. msichicago.org The Field Museum is best known for “Sue”, the world’s largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Also worth checking out here, the Crown Family PlayLab, where kids can dress up and star in a play, or watch a movie in the museum’s 3D theatre. fieldmuseum.org

St Louis, Missouri Not far from the giant arch in St Louis is one of the best museums for kids ever conceived. City Museum is housed in an old shoe factory and made largely from repurposed material. The museum is one big – labyrinthine – adventure playground, with an old school bus, slides, and a ferris wheel on the rooftop and plenty of crawl space indoors and out, where you could easily lose the kids for an entire day. citymuseum.org The National Blues Museum, opened in 2016, is a celebration of Blues as the “foundation of all modern music”.

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The museum has lots of fascinating memorabilia and interactive exhibits where you can test your own musical skills. nationalbluesmuseum.org

Dickinson, North Dakota North Dakota is famous for the many dinosaur fossil remains found here, and one of the best places to find out about them is the Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson.

The Dickinson Museum Center’s Dinosaur Museum reopened in May 2017 after being donated to the City of Dickinson

by Larry and Alice League.

It boasts the largest collection of real dinosaur fossils on display in North Dakota including a complete Triceratops skull, six full dinosaur skeletons which include full standing mounts of Allosaurus and Albertosaurus, and hundreds of other fossils. dickinsonmuseumcenter.com

San Diego, California The USS Midway Museum is, according to TripAdvisor, the sixth most popular.

The Midway was America's longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, from 1945 to 1992, and approximately 200,000 sailors served aboard the enormous ship.

Kids can explore the historic aircraft carrier from engine room to bridge with a selfguided tour narrated by actual Midway sailors. midway.org

Seattle, Washington The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) celebrates all the risk-takers who fueled contemporary pop culture. Exhibits feature artists like David Bowie and Muppets creator Jim Henson, and there’s a fantastic exhibit of Star Trek memorabilia as well as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. The museum has lots of great hands-on exhibits, such as the sound lab where kids can pick up and play various instruments. mopop.org

OPEN 31 OCTOBER 2017

Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre King Edward Terrace, Canberra Phone 02 6270 2800 Open 9 am–5 pm every day.

Closed 25 December. Admission fees apply.

www.questacon.edu.au

Summer in the mountains at North Lake Tahoe While many Aussie families will be familiar with the winter sports available in the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, you may not know about the summer adventures to be found on the lake’s north shore.

North Lake Tahoe, a community of 12 towns, includes the mountain resorts of Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Northstar – an enormous adventure playground for kids (and grownups) all summer long.

Stay and play lakeside and you can hike, bike, boat, kayak, swim, raft, or just relax amid the towering pines, or head to the mountain tops for a high camp experience, geocaching and High Notes music series.

Here are six of the best summer activities for kids.

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1

Squaw Kids Adventure Camp

The Squaw Valley Adventure Camp operates Friday through to Monday, all summer long, from 23 June to 4 September.

The guided day camp may include swimming, Aerial Tram rides, Eco-hiking, nature crafts, biking, map and compass class, roller skating, geocaching, disc golf, wall climbing, scavenger hunts, cooking classes, yoga – even flower pressing. Kids are divided into two age groups, 5-7 years old and 8-13, and the price includes Aerial Tram ticket and lunch. squawalpine.com/events-things-do/ squaw-kids-adventure-camp

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Discover the High Camp Experience

Take the 10-minute Squaw Valley Ariel

Tram and soar 170m up the mountain to discover a mountaintop playground with activities including geo-caching, a free tour of the Olympic museum, rollerskating, disc golf, lawn games and hiking, with 360 degree views of Lake Tahoe. If your kids are into geocaching, there are 10 caches hidden among the mountain peaks using GPS coordinates. Each cache contains a prize and a log sheet to sign, and a box number and code number to add to your geocaching passport to turn in for discounts at the High Camp shop or The North Face.

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Truckee River Bike Path

The Tahoe Trailways Bike Path winds its way along the Truckee River from Squaw Valley and then along the west shore of Lake Tahoe. It's wide and paved and perfect

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for cyclists of any ability. There are plenty of places to hire bikes in Tahoe City, including Olympic Bike Shop and Willard's Sport Shop, or West Shore Sports in Sunnyside and Factory Bike in Squaw Valley. tahoebike.org

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Kayaking and Stand-up Paddle Boarding

Again, there are plenty of places around North Lake Tahoe to hire kayaks and boards. A great option is to head to Emerald Bay State Park and kayak or paddle out to Fannette Island, the Lake’s only island. For a less demanding activity, grab a raft and float down the Truckee River. Plenty of services offer rides for rafters back to Tahoe City for as little as $5 per person. Tahoe City's sport shops and the local Safeway and CVS have a

good selection of affordable inflatables. laketaheowatertrail.org

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High Notes Music Series

All summer long, enjoy free concerts at Lake Tahoe’s High Notes Music Series. The family-friendly music line-up has something for everyone; from reggae, rock and pop to classical music. At Squaw Valley, enjoy Bluesdays Tuesday, Yoga Squaw’D with live music on Wednesdays, and the Summer Music Series every Saturday afternoon. Over at Northstar, there are Retro Skate Nights on Tuesday, Friday Fun Nights, and Live Music each Saturday, and in Downtown Truckee, live music at Truckee Thursdays.

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Treetop Adventure Parks There are three treetop adventure parks

in Tahoe. Squaw Valley Treetops has three towers reaching heights up to 16m, with two circuit courses including eight bridges and six ziplines. All courses are suitable for kids five years and over. Tahoe Vista Treetop has 70 tree platforms, 40 rope challenges and a whopping 30 ziplines. tahoetreetop.com

Getting There North Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes’ drive from Reno Tahoe Airport and four hours from San Francisco International Airport.

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New Hampshire’s White Mountains are clearly named for their winter appeal, with plenty of ski resorts to choose from in this northern New England state, but in summer, the mountains turn green and the views from the top are pretty spectacular.

Here are five reasons to take the family for a summer holiday in the White Mountains.

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Lost River Gorge

White Mountains in summer 66

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It’s called Lost River Gorge, because the creek that flows into in disappears underground in this narrow, steep-walled gorge. It was discovered quite by accident in the mid-1850s by two brothers out fishing on the creek, when one of them fell, Alice in Wonderland-style, down a moss-covered hole into a huge cave five metres below.

In the early 1900s it was transformed into a recreational park and a boardwalk was built that takes you down to the bottom of the gorge, past countless waterfalls and caves which you can choose to explore (some on hands and knees) or admire from the boardwalk. The 1.2km route takes a couple of hours to complete, depending on how slowly you care to take it. lostrivergorge.com OAWK TIP: While you’re here, it’s worth stopping at Beaver Pond, a very pretty little lake just down the road.

There are a few hiking trails around the lake, and the Appalachian Trail passes through here.

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Indian Head Resort

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Cannon Mountain

Located on the Franconia Notch Parkway that winds through the White Mountains, Indian Head Resort is named for the rather imposing rock formation on the top of the hill behind it. The resort was built here many years ago so that people could come and wonder at a cliff face shaped like the head of a Native American. There’s even a tower to climb up for a better view.

The resort is a favourite with families and school groups, with a large swimming pool and a pond stocked with fish (guests are allowed to catch one fish each per day), plenty of paddle boats for a bit of messing about in water, and several hiking trails nearby. indianheadresort.com Not far from Indian Head is Cannon Mountain, a ski resort in winter, but in Summer, people come here for the view.

Take the historic 80-passenger cable car up 1240m to the top of the mountain and walk around the Rim Trail, for 360 degree views. On a clear day, you can see the Green Mountains to the far east, and as far north as the Canadian border.

At the mountain’s base, follow a short walking trail to see the remains of the Old Man of the Mountain, another rock formation that used to look like the jagged profile of a face. Back in the 19th century it was the region’s main tourist attraction, hundreds of people came here each year just to see the Old Man. It’s so famous in fact, that it’s on the New Hampshire state emblem. But unfortunately in 2003, after years of erosion, the face fell off. People were so upset by the loss of the Old Man that they lay flowers at the base of the mountain in tribute, and a small memorial has been built on the old viewing platform.

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The Cog Railway

Mount Washington is the highest peak in New England, and you can choose to spend a few hours hiking up to the 1917m peak or take the historic Cog Railway. A local businessman called Sylvester Marsh built the Railway in 1852. When he first presented his plans he was laughed at and told he “might as well build a railway to the moon”, but over a hundred years later his dream lives on, with thousands of people taking the trip to the top of the mountain each year.

Be warned, the temperature at the top is much cooler in the valley, and in fact the mountain is notorious for its erratic weather – and for being the windiest place on Earth.

The weather station here has recorded winds up to 372km/h, the highest wind speed ever recorded outside a tropical cyclone. thecog.com

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Mount Washington Hotel

The Omni Mount Washington Hotel is one of America’s last grand old hotels. The luxurious hotel was built in 1902 and it’s definitely worth visiting, if just to take a photo of its impressive façade. In its heyday, the rich and famous used to summer here in the mountains to escape the heat, sometimes staying for one or two months.

Across the road f rom the Mount Washington Hotel is the Bretton Woods Ski Area, great fun in summer as well, with a canopy tour with nine zip-lines that takes three hours to complete, and several mountain bike trails. brettonwoods.com Also not far form here is the Attitash Mountain Resort, which has zip-lines, an alpine slide and the Mountain Coaster which takes you on a thrilling 900m ride down the mountain. attitash.com SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Austin Allsup’s Fort Worth for Families

C

ountry music star and Fort Worth local, Austin Allsup, rose to fame in 2016 after competing in the U.S. version of The Voice, but the 33-year old has been touring with his musician father since he was 19 years old.

He and his partner Chelsea now have two kids of their own, and they spend plenty of time exploring Fort Worth and Texas together. We asked them to share some of their favourite Fort Worth family adventures.

Music is in Austin Allsup’s blood. His father was legendary guitarist Tommy Allsup, who played with Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Tommy famously flipped a coin with Richie Valens for a seat on the 1959 flight that tragically crashed, killing Buddie Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.

When he was 19 Austin toured with his Grammy Award-winning guitarist dad, and the Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys band,

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and since his 2005 arrival onto the Red Dirt Music Scene, this Texas native has evolved his own distinct sound, releasing his first record and going out on a national tour that same year.

Travelling up and down the nation’s highways Austin started to build his fan base, one show at a time. He has since shared the stage with artists across the musical spectrum, including John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, Mike McClure, LeAnn Womack, Blake Shelton and Randy Rogers.

Austin was a finalist in Season 11 of the US reality show, ‘The Voice’, mesmerising the judges, and coach Blake Shelton, with his rendition of The Rolling Stones hit, “Wild Horses”. The song is now a staple at all his shows.

Austin met Chelsea at one of his shows (he performs at least 150 each year) and they now have two children, nine-year old Allie, and her little brother Jagger, threeyears old.

“We are always trying to find ways to spend more time with our kids,” Austin says.

“We’re fortunate to travel around the country, but we think we’re even more fortunate to be raising our family in the ‘Funtropolis’ of Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth is by far the biggest Small Town in Texas and there’s always something fun to do.”

So, what does a typical Allsup Family Day Out look like?

“On a typical day out, we’ll usually head to the Fort Worth Stockyards to get the day started with a little time-travelling. When you walk those broken red brick streets, lined with Texas longhorns and cowboys on horseback, you suddenly feel like you’re right in the middle of an 1890 Texas Cattle Drive, which happens to be the year that The Stockyards opened for business. After the Cattle Drive it’s off to the Fort Worth Zoo, and to catch the Forest Park Kids Train through Trinity Park.”

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THE ALLSUP KIDS’ What kind of vacation do you enjoy most as a family?

“With dad having the coolest ‘job’ in the world, we are always trying to sneak the family on the road to some super awesome destinations. It doesn’t matter what kind of trip we’re on we can always make the most of it and have a blast. Whether it’s snow skiing in Red River, hanging on a beach in California, or camping at a ranch in Texas, it’s always a win!”

What are the Must-Do activities or attractions in Fort Worth for families?

“The Fort Worth Stockyards’ “Cowtown” is an absolute must-do - there is no other place that I know of where you can almost feel yourself step into where the West truly began. The Botanic Gardens is a great place to get lost in – it’s Texas’ first Botanic Garden. In the summer time they host concerts in The Garden every weekend, presented by The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.”

And what are the best family-friendly places to eat in Fort Worth?

“Our favourites include Cooper’s BBQ,

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Joe T Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant and H3 Ranch – in our opinion, the best restaurants in town.”

How about Fort Worth day trips?

“I would recommend taking a 15-minute drive to Arlington, home to both The Texas Rangers, and the world famous Dallas Cowboys – maybe check out a game. After you’re done, go right across the street to Six Flags Amusement Park.

“Dallas has some great things to offer as well, including the Dallas Aquarium, Ross Perot Museum, and The Arboretum.”

Find Out More fortworth.com austinallsupmusic.com

Where to Eat Joe T Garcias joetgarcias.com Cooper’s BBQ coopersbbqfortworth.com H3 Ranch h3ranch.com

TOP 5 PLACES TO GO IN FORT WORTH 1 The Forest Park Miniature Train fpmt.us 2 Fort Worth Stockyards fortworthstockyards.org 3 Fort Worth Zoo fortworthzoo.org 4 The OMNI Theater fwmuseum.org 5 Water Fountains at Sundance Square

HOTELS FOR Hotels as diverse as our guests Ž From family-friendly suites to stylish hotels, from extensive resort amenities to incredible locations with fun activities for everyone, we offer the perfect fit for any family visiting Hawaii. Isn’t it time to vacation better together?

Sign up for exclusive A-List Insider member deals and instant perks for your next stay. aqua-aston.com | +1.808.564.7603

DI D Y OU KNOW...?

Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Maui, Hawaii Set on 4.5ha of tropical gardens fronting world famous Kaanapali Beach Immerse yourself in true Hawaiian culture at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, awarded as ‘Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel’. Here, the whole family can unwind and embrace a genuine Hawaiian experience, through the time-honoured values of Hookipa (Hospitality), Pookela (Excellence) and Kokua (Helpfulness).

Daily cultural classes will unlock your inner ‘Aloha’ spirit – hula, ukulele, throw net fishing, cultural garden walks. Discover the Hotel’s new Hale Huakai Beach Activity Center – ‘Hale Huakai is simply a means of extending the character of Kaanapali Beach Hotel; its genuine aloha and true Hawaiian hospitality’ – out onto the beach and into the ocean. Experience truly memorable and safe ocean adventures led by the Hotel’s Beach Alakai, who are each highly experienced Maui watermen. Take a snorkel tour to Pu`u Keka`a, try stand up paddleboarding, relax in beach chairs with umbrellas, or in a private cabana, and enjoy light meals, snacks and refreshments from the poolside Tiki Bar, the Tiki Grill, and the new Grab N Go stop.

Chill to Hawaiian entertainment in the Tiki Courtyard, and sample Hawaiian regional cuisine in the Tiki Terrace Restaurant, prepared by award-winning Chef Tom Muromoto, or indulge at the Hotel’s award-winning Sunday Champagne Brunch. kbhmaui.com kbhmaui.com/experience/ maui-family-vacations

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D I D Y O U K NO W...?

Honua Kai Resort & Spa Set amid 15ha of tropical beachfront on Kaanapali North Beach … the children feed the beautiful fish in the Koi Pond at 8.30am each day, then frolic in the resort’s imaginative aquatic playground, featuring a network of pools, caves, waterfalls, a sandy beach, five hot tubs, and a meandering lazy river.

You relax on the pure, white sands, where a dip in the sea, a leisurely snorkel, or a vista of giant humpback whales playing right off the beach are each mere steps, and an idle thought, away.

Dine when you feel inclined – at the casual oceanfront Duke’s Beach House, with delicious bites just for the keiki (kids), and Aina Gourmet Market, an informal spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks.

Each suite sleeps up to eight people, and opens fully onto a generous lanai (verandah) and gorgeous views; kitchens are fit for gourmet chefs with top-of-the-line Bosch appliances, a fullsize refrigerator, range, microwave and dishwasher. A washing machine and dryer, wireless Internet, and flat screen tvs round out the amenities.

When the family feels the desire to venture out and explore, there are activities for all ages nearby, including shopping, golf, hiking, ziplining, ocean adventures, cultural activities, and much more!

Children 17 years and under stay free … oh and, don’t forget to visit the Spa! honuakai.com

There’s no place like home. Away from home.

888.635.7207

HONUAKAI.COM

Honua Kai Resort & Spa on Maui’s Kaanapali North Beach is known for its incredibly spacious studio, one, two and three-bedroom suites with all the comforts of home.

A full gourmet kitchen. In-room washer/dryer. Large lanai (balcony). And a private bath in each room. But unlike your home, there’s a 3-acre aquatic playground with towel service. A luxurious spa. Housekeeping every other day. And assistance from the front desk or concierge is just a phone call away. If only home was this amazing.

DI D Y OU KNOW...?

Hilton Hawaiian’s Camp Penguin Get immersed in Hawaiian culture at Club Penguin Camp Penguin, Hilton Hawaiian Village’s kids program, designed for children ages 5 to 12, is based in the beachfront resort’s Diamond Head Tower in Honolulu. The 400 square metre space features colourful wall murals, fabric-stuffed palm trees, beanbag furniture, lockers, soft carpeted areas and computer stations.

Every day of the week Camp Penguin features a different Hawaiian theme with fun, educational activities so kids can learn about Hawaii through storytelling, games, music, arts and crafts, hula and lei-making, and every day there is a new “Hawaiian Word of the Day” to learn.

Off-property excursions include visits to the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, Bishop Museum and Children’s Discovery Center. Daily themes include: ‘Hawaiian Ocean Explorer’, ‘Treasures of Hawaii’, and ‘Hawaiian Safari’, with each theme guiding the activities and excursions for the day.

Parents can choose between full-day (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and half-day (8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 11:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.) programs. Lunch is included and everyone gets a Camp Penguin t-shirt to take home. hiltonhawaiianvillage.com (search camp penguin)

Touring with Turtles in Hawaii Dude … the pool’s open, come for a swim North Shore Hawaii Turtle Tours specialises in boutique family turtle tours, keeping tour groups small in order to provide intimate encounters with Oahu’s wildlife and natural beauty. This is the only Oahu circle island tour that includes snorkelling and the opportunity to swim with the noble Hawaiian green sea turtles on Oahu’s North Shore. hawaiiturtletours.com

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Hilton Garden In Waikiki Beach Your ticket to paradise Scenic views and an unbeatable location, two blocks from Waikiki Beach make the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach your ticket to paradise. Stroll to Waikiki Beach or walk across the street and enjoy the all-new International Market Place featuring free nightly entertainment that’s fun for all ages.

The hotel is near the most popular attractions including Honolulu Zoo and Aquarium.

Rooms and suites have free WiFi, private patios, microwave and mini-refrigerator, plus kids stay free when using existing bedding. hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com (search waikiki beach)

Carry on.

Cabin Crew.

Park your passport.

For your next holiday, why not try one that doesn’t involve passports, queues, customs and all the other joys of overseas air travel. Instead try a holiday that’s more relaxed, less scheduled, more you – and in your own backyard!

Turbulence.

Where carry on means fun, where turbulence is something you look forward to and where the Cabin Crew is everyone you love. BIG4 Holiday Parks offer a wide range of accommodation styles including luxury villa units, family cabins and powered and unpowered sites. All of which come with the natural beauty, local attractions and friendliness that we are known for.

With so many BIG4 locations all over Australia, maybe you should ask yourself the question...Isn’t it time?

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RIT AVOU LIA’S F

A AUSTR

Let’s get connected!

BIG4.com.au Isn’t it time you visited?

HOLIDAY PARKS

contents 78 CAMPING 101

Our beginners' guide to camping: all our top tips and checklists.

84 BEST WATERPARKS

Our top picks for the best holiday park waterparks.

88 TASMANIA BY RV

RV-first timer Paul Chai explores Tasmania with the family.

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CAMPING FOR BEGINNERS Camping can be confusing if you've never experienced it before, so we’ve assembled some of the basics to get you started down the right track.

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verything from how to choose a campsite, how to choose a tent, what to take with you and how to manage cooking on a camp stove top.

Choosing a campsite There are campsites in just about every little town in Australia, so your choices are endless. What’s more, they’re often situated in the most picturesque locations within each town and have views you’d pay hundreds of dollars for in a hotel.

Once you’ve decided where you want to head to, choose a campsite with adequate facilities to suit your family’s needs, and book well in advance. You’d be surprised at how quickly campsites get booked out, especially during school holidays. Many families have a long-standing booking which has them reserving the same spot during the same week each year.

Facilities For your first time, choose a campsite with ample facilities – at the very least running water and an amenities block, but preferably one with hot showers and a nearby convenience store (to pick up those things you forgot to bring, like cooking oil, salt and pepper). First time campers will also appreciate barbecues, camp kitchens and laundry facilities. Campsites close to the beach or with pools and playgrounds can also make life easier the first time around. Privately run campsites will offer you all this.

If you want a more authentic camping experience with only basic services check the Parks Australia website for their campgrounds. The spots are usually more remote, quiet, surrounded by nature.

Choosing a tent If you’re hiring a campervan or cabin it’s easy enough to select your preferred lodgings online at the holiday park website, but we’re talking tents here. There are basically two types of tent: hiking tents, which are small and light enough for folks to carry strapped to their backpacks; and family tents, which are bigger, for longer, more comfortable stays.

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OAWK TIP

Going along with friends or extended family members will also make the trip easier, so try and organise a time when you can go together. The kids love playing in big groups, there are more adult eyes to supervise, and if you’ve forgotten anything - like the bottle-opener - someone else probably has one.

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CAMPING CHECKLIST

1. Sleeping bags 2. Sleeping mats and pillows (for the kids, consider a bunk camping cot 3. Tent (with all its pegs and poles) 4. Water containers 5. Stove and fuel 6. Food 7. Matches 8. Plastic plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery 9. Pot with lid, frying pan, billy, tongs, knife, cutting board, stirring spoon, metal spatula 10. Serviettes, tea towel, wet wipes, garbage bags 11. First aid kit 12. Torch and batteries 13. Lantern (battery powered are safest) 14. Mosquito repellent 15. Sunscreen 16. Clothes, towels and essential toiletries 17. Bucket, sponge and detergent for washing up 18. Dustpan/brush for sweeping tent 19. Shovel 20. Hammer

FOR FUN: 1. Camera 2. Playing cards 3. Balls/ frisbee 4. Books and magazines 5. Notebook and pencil

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First timers will want the more spacious tents which kids and adults can easily walk around in. It’s not much fun squeezing into a tiny tent and having to lie down all day if it rains. A tent with an annex or which separates into two or more rooms is ideal.

Allocate one as the entrance to store gear and food, using it like a foyer to take off muddy boots or wet swimmers so it’s easier to keep the second room clean, dry, and cosy for sleeping.

In regards to size, for a family of four we recommend at least a five-man tent for a comfortable sleep. Look for a tent with built in floors in all rooms to keep out the wet, fly-mesh doors and windows to keep the bugs at bay.

You can hire a tent until you determine whether the camping life is for you or, better still, borrow one – you’ll be surprised how many are sitting around unused in people’s garages.

Ask for a detailed description on how to assemble the tent before you take it but if you do get into trouble, just ask your neighbouring campers for help, they’re usually a friendly enough bunch, ready to pitch in.

What to take There’s a lot to remember when packing for a camping trip which is why many regular campers have their gear set up and ready to go in a camping box. Others have well-used lists - one of which we've supplied at the end of this article.

Clothing should be casual and okay to get messy in. Be prepared for both hot and cold (and wet) weather. Bed socks, beanies and thermals are comforting additions on chilly nights. In summer don’t forget the hats and beachwear. Two pairs of shoes are a good idea in case one pair gets wet, as is wet weather gear.

For good quality sleeping bags, speak to your local camping shop for advice. Don’t purchase the cheap ones from big name stores, they are more suited to sleepovers inside your house.

Camp Cooking Cooking is one of the joys of camping – food just tastes better outside. Embrace this and spoil your tastebuds. There’s no need to scrimp on food unless you’re backpack camping (carrying all your gear on your back) which as a first-timer with

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a family, we don’t recommend. So, take along your favourite chocolates and bring your coffee plunger.

When planning your menu don’t over-complicate things by planning dishes with heaps of ingredients that need hours of preparation. An easier idea is to pre-prepare your meals and simply heat them up on the night.

Also, don’t underestimate the ease and tastiness of fresh meat and vegetables tossed in a little olive oil, seasoning and thrown directly onto the barbecue.

Don’t overlook the easy things: baked beans, bacon and egg rolls, sandwiches; cereal for breakfast; a piece of fruit for morning tea.

For snacks, dried fruit and nut mixes are a good pick-me-up for the young ones and lovely to nibble on with a drink before dinner.

And treat yourself to takeaway every now and again.

It’s almost compulsory to visit the local fish and chip joint, so grab yourself some seafood and have a picnic at the local beach or park.

Check your campsite to determine what cooking system you’ll be using. We recommend taking a small two-burner gas stove; it’s easy to operate, large enough to accommodate family feasts, but small enough to

boil water for your cup of coffee in the morning. Don’t depend on being able to light an open wood fire: these days it’s an exception rather than a rule to find campsites where open fires are allowed.

Rubbish Plan for your rubbish disposal.

Take plenty of garbage bags and dispose of them regularly to keep the campsite clean and to deter animals.

Storage The must-have food storage item is the esky. Pack it with ice, icepacks or frozen goods to keep it cool and replenish as needed at the convenience store. Other food should be stored in air-tight plastic containers to avoid animals nibbling away at it during the night.

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TAKE A HIKE… WITH THE KIDS

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ith the full bloom of spring upon us, now is the time to get outdoors with the family. The Crown Holiday Parks group has 36 holiday parks in NSW, many of which are in some of the state’s most idyllic destinations.

You will find hiking trails near many of the group’s parks, including family hikes and nature appreciation walks. Whether you’re a budding photographer, bird watcher or botanist, or you simply want to be surrounded by nature, you can find what you’re looking for in nature at a Crown Park in NSW.

Go coastal and visit Bermagui Bermagui, on the NSW south coast, is home to some of the state’s most beautiful National Parks and incredible wildlife experiences.

Gulaga National Park and Montague Island Nature Reserve are standouts for hiking, and are only a hop skip and jump away from the popular holiday park at Bermagui.

Gulaga National Park is home to the ancient volcano, Gulaga, and is a significant attraction for families visiting the area, with a half-day walk to the peak starting at the nearby historic towns of Tilba Tilba and Central Tilba. Hike to the summit for stunning views of the hinterland and coastline, including Montague Island.

Montague Island Nature Reserve is home to a large colony of Australian fur seals, and 15 species of bird nest here including little penguins, shearwaters and crested terns. The island has an easy, guided walking tour allowing families to experience its historical lighthouse and penguin nesting area.

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Go inland and visit Burrinjuck Inland Waters Holiday Parks’ Burrinjuck Waters is a great place to set up base camp and discover the popular Hume and Hovell Track.

A particularly beautiful section of the track runs 5km north from the park to the idyllic Burrinjuck Nature Reserve, and is just the place for families wanting to switch off from technology and reconnect with nature.

Located on the shores of Burrinjuck Dam, which is more than twice the size of Sydney Harbour, this holiday park is the ideal spot to cool off after a spring stroll. The park’s tourist vessel, NV Getaway, also provides a convenient link for families and hikers to cross Burrinjuck Dam and enjoy the scenic village of Wee Jasper.

Go North to the Solitaries.

If you’re thinking of travelling north to chase the sun, head to the mid North Coast and tackle part, or all, of the stunning Solitary Islands Coastal Walk that traverses 60km of beaches and rainforest on the Coffs Coast. Enjoy whale watching, bird watching and swimming, on your journey from Red Rock south to the coastal village of Sawtell.

For more information visit the New South Wales Crown Holiday Parks Trust. nswchpt.com.au

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BIG4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort LEFT

BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park

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10 MUST-VISIT WATERPARKS FOR YOUR NEXT BREAK Like bees to honey; moths to a flame; so kids to a waterpark.

Waterparks are absolutely captivating, making kids of all ages go wild with glee. They produce levels of happiness usually reserved for the highest of sugar highs, but come without the guilt. And a happy child means relaxed parents.

Waterparks are becoming an institution at holiday parks around Australia. Here’s the inside word on where to find some of Australia’s best and newest water playgrounds.

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BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Airlie Beach, QLD

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort has gone all out to construct a monster water playground. This attraction is dominated by 13 twisting and turning waterslides of varying heights and lengths, with mini-slides, a tipping bucket, toddler-specific water features, and a 300mm deep splash pool.

Sweet spot: The tallest of the waterslides, which measures a lofty 23.2m in height.

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BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park, Busselton, WA

This bustling splash and play zone has two pools, water guns and fountains, as well as a lounge area for parents, so you can supervise the kids and relax at the same time.

Sweet spot: The towering tipping bucket never fails to entertain as thrill-seeking children cop a drenching over and over again.

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BIG4 Cania Gorge Holiday Park, QLD

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Marion Holiday Park, Adelaide, SA

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BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park, Kiama, NSW

Here you’ll find a colourful creation that includes a generous four tipping buckets, six slides and various water spout features. All this as well as three swimming pools and a giant wading pool, with plenty of shade.

Sweet spot: The large standalone slide with a 6.4m high tower and independent slide-out for added safety.

South of the Adelaide CBD, Marion Holiday Park is sandwiched in between some of the city’s busiest intersections, yet it belies its location with an atmosphere of tranquility and relaxation. That is, unless you’re positioned near the splash park during ‘happy hour’ when the kids converge to enjoy the collection of water-wielding attractions.

Sweet spot: The mammoth tipping bucket is a constant crowd favourite.

Only open since late July, this water-spouting wonder, named Sunny's Aquaventure Park, has multi-level platforms with three waterslides, a giant tipping bucket for maximum thrills, ocean-themed splashed pads armed with interactive features, and a shaded water area for babies and tots.

Sweet spot: A partially shaded sun lounge area allows parents to relax while keeping an eye on their energetic young ones.

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FROM TOP

BIG4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort, BIG4 Marion Holiday Park, BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park.

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BIG4 Great Lakes at Forster-Tuncurry, NSW

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BIG4 Inverloch Holiday Park, VIC

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BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park, NSW

With the opening planned in early November, the new waterpark at BIG4 Great Lakes will see the existing pool and water play area extended to create three ‘zones’, ensuring appeal for all ages. Among the highlights are waterslides and waterjets that are certain to be a hit with kids.

Sweet spot: The 15m enclosed waterslide is guaranteed to receive plenty of love.

Coastal Victoria can have its fair share of chilly days, so the smart folk at BIG4 Inverloch have built a waterpark that’s entirely indoors. The first of its type in Australia to be found in a caravan park, this temperature-controlled attraction entertains kids big and small with its giant tipping bucket, waterslide tunnel, cannon guns, fountains, and mini tipping buckets.

Sweet spot: Year-round use removes stress for parents who don’t want their family travel plans to be dictated by the weather.

Another undercover creation can be found in Deniliquin. This modern waterpark was recently enhanced with a new heated waterslide and a giant water bucket, ensuring it’s even more of a kid-magnet.

Add to this spouting features, cannons, and jets, and you have a water playground of epic proportions.

Sweet spot: The heated waterslide is welcoming when the warmer weather is taking a break.

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BIG4 Swan Hill, VIC

This impressive setup is equipped with all manner of water features: slides, guns, jets, and the ever-popular tipping bucket are among them.

It’s the perfect way to cool down on those warm Murray River days.

Sweet spot: The wide range of water-related amusements makes for the strongest appeal.

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BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park, VIC

There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained at BIG4 Bellarine, and the indoor water playground vies for the Most Popular Award. Complete with fountains and jets it’s just a few short steps from the large heated pool.

Sweet spot: The pool is equipped with a waterslide that provides plenty of fun for energy-laden kids.

Please note: supervision is always required when children are utilising any of these fun-filled water play areas.

For a full list of BIG4 parks with waterparks: BIG4. com.au/articles/splash-parks-and-water-parks

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Kid’s Club • Outdoor Cinema • Huge Waterslide Park Animal Park • Daily Activity Schedule • Landscaped Sites Luxury Cabins • Over 15 Onsite Activities • Multi Award Winning Reservations 1300 640 587 reservations@adventurewhitsunday.com.au www.adventurewhitsunday.com.au Shute Harbour Road - Airlie Beach

TASMANIA

BY VAN

RV-ing with kids … is it something the uninitiated should embark upon?

Paul Chai and his family soon find out, as they set off on an RV tour of Tasmania.

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n our last night in Tasmania we have this campervan thing sorted. We roll into our remote campground on the shores of Lake Burbury, near Queenstown, pay our $6, and take a sunset stroll along the lake. Later we sear some Tassie salmon we bought straight from Victoria Harbour at Strahan, and enjoy a postdinner round of ‘Celebrity Heads’.

It wasn’t always this calm. Setting up the van on the first night I looked like a man wrestling a huge plastic octopus as I tried to work out which hoses went where, but in a short time – and with some help from a very patient caravan park owner – we were good to go.

My wife and I have decided to take our two kids, Dashiell (aged 10) and Rafferty (aged seven), on a round trip of Tasmania, from east coast to west.

But as soon as we grab the Apollo Motorhome from Hobart airport my wife has a slight revision, she

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really wants to head to Port Arthur – and we can, because we are already in our home for the rest of the holiday. This turns out to be the gift of motorhome travel, it puts the spontaneity back into a family trip; being the family equivalent of a giant snail, travelling with our home on our backs, we are never far from a creature comfort, a shower or a snack.

So we head off toward Port Arthur, park the house, and discover that this one-time penal settlement is as beautiful as its reputation is fearsome. Welltended flowering gardens and a cricket pitch sit at the entrance to Carnarvon Bay, while the crumbling sandstone of the deserted settlement opposite glows orange in the bright sun. We are just in time for a guided walking tour and learn that the port’s bad reputation is somewhat misunderstood. Far from being hell on earth, Port Arthur served as a model of the British prison system. It was one of the first prisons in the empire to make rehabilitation its focus,

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Hazards Mountain Range, Freycinet Peninsula FROM TOP

The family's mobile home of choice, the Apollo Euro Deluxe. Family photo in front of the Hazards Mountain Range.

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“This turns out to be the gift of motorhome travel, it puts the spontaneity back into a family trip.”

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Wineglass Bay LEFT FROM TOP

Port Arthur, Wallking trail in Franklin Gordon National Park.

and the once-famous harsh punishments were rejected in favour of trying to tame the prisoners' minds.

One of the eeriest buildings on the site is the Separate Prison, a fully-restored sandstone cell block built in 1850 and shaped like a cruciform.

Here, prisoners were put in solitary confinement and the block was under a vow of silence. We try our own vow of silence while exploring the prison, which for the kids lasts about three seconds, particularly when they realise they can clamber into the pulpit of the restored chapel and give their own sermons. The visit to Port Arthur proves an eerie and informative detour, as we read some of the inmates’ stories, like James Harrison who was incarcerated in the Point Puer boys’ prison at the tip of the settlement. At just 14 years old he was transported in 1842 for stealing; he was then sent to Norfolk Island, then returned to Port Arthur three more times before finally being freed in 1873.

Back in the van we drive half way to Freycinet and pull in to Orford for the night.

Over the next couple of days’ driving we discover how welcoming the Apple Isle is to mobile homes. Many towns are clearly labelled as “RV Friendly” meaning you can just park and stay in town. But Freycinet is one place we booked in advance as the National Park powered sites, with views on to the Hazards mountain range, are worth a bit of planning.

The last few kilometres to Freycinet include some great places to stock up on supplies. At Devil’s Corner cellar door we buy scallop, and smoked oyster chowder from the Fisherman’s Shack, to the soundtrack of a live jazz band. We grab some Radenti Sparkling Chardonnay from Freycinet Vineyards, and call into the Freycinet

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Marine Farm that sells fresh seafood straight from the waters of Coles Bay. The next couple of days are spent hiking to secluded Wineglass Bay, skipping stones on the beach behind our van, and grabbing champagne at sunset, as we watch the Hazards light up with the dying light.

If the east is all about Tassie’s bubbles, beaches and seafood, our trip into the centre of the island takes a wilder turn.

We stop for a couple of nights at Mole Creek, a campsite set around a bend in the creek, said to hold a platypus.

The powered site comes with a fire pit and the park has a large supply of firewood that only costs you a bit of effort, as you borrow the camp saw and cut the lumber to size. Between the wood, platypus hunting and toasting marshmallows the kids declare this a trip highlight. But there’s more to come as we feed kangaroos and Tassie Devils at Trowunna Wildlife Park; see the Tasmanian Cave Spider in Mole Creek Caves, an arachnid unchanged since dinosaur times; and spot wombats in the wild, as we hike Cradle Mountain on a walk from Ronny Creek to Dove Lake.

Our last day is spent ticking a box for the adults; a cruise along the famous Gordon River, with World Heritage Cruise, that takes you past Huon pines, on a walk through ancient rainforest and on a tour of the famously unpleasant Sarah Island penal settlement.

I was worried our mobile home might seem like a prison to two small boys, but it has been the opposite; travelling this way has given us a freedom other family holidays have lacked. And on our last night, in our $6 camp spot by the lake, we vow to do it again … soon.

FACT FILE • The Euro Deluxe motorhome from Apollo Motorhomes Holidays has two dining areas and an awning, full kitchen and bathroom. Prices from $114 per night. apollocamper.com.au • We covered 1231 kilometres from Hobart to the east and west coast and back. The trip took seven nights and eight days with a couple of hours driving per day.

• Nightly accommodation varied from $6 a night, for a lakeside spot with just a toilet block, to $40 a night for fully-powered sites.

• For our visit we bought a National Park Vehicle Holiday Pass for $60 that covers entry to all the parks in the state for up to eight weeks. Daily passes are $24.

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MAIN IMAGE

The kids take the plunge in Wineglass bay LEFT FROM TOP

Wombats are fequently seen on Cradle Mountain, Tasmanian devil at the Trowunna Wildlife Park.

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

BOOK ONLINE Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park

+617 5491 3342

Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park +617 5448 7157

+617 5444 1201

Cotton Tree Holiday Park

+617 5459 9070

Coolum Beach Holiday Park

+617 5446 1474

Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park +617 5443 1167

BOOK ONLINE

BOOK ONLINE

sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au

Naturally relaxing

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Photographers: Joann oa e Buck + Paul Osta l www w.TheRaro rotong tongan.c n om

PLAY FREE IN PARADISE!

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contents 100 MUDGEE

Shevonne Hunt traces her family history on a multigenerational weekender.

106 THAILAND

We search out Thailand’s best ethical elephant camps for kids.

110 AUSTRIA

Luke Hanson takes the family hiking across the Austrian Alps.

O’REILLY’S RAINFOREST RETREAT

Family Adventure

by Tiana Templeman

P

erhaps it is Lamington National Park’s rugged appeal or the spirituality of this sacred place for the Yugambeh people, but staying at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, something that is a great confidence builder for kids. On any given day your family could be ziplining high above the rainforest, hiking to a hidden glowworm grotto, getting up close and personal with mighty birds of prey, or bouncing along a treetop canopy walk.

Most of the activities at this resort, in the heart of Lamington National Park, are also educational – but don’t tell the kids. Everything is so much fun they will never know.

It takes two hours to reach O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat from Brisbane, or 1.5 hours from the Gold Coast. As the road twists and turns its way up Green Mountain, ancient trees meet overhead to form green, leafy tunnels, adding a sense of mystery and excitement to our adventure. Our son winds down the window to breathe in the fresh, earthy scent of the rainforest and listen out for the ‘wee-ooop’ of whipbirds as we climb slowly up the hill.

Our first stop on arrival is the café, where we buy a tray of feed and watch as parrots in every colour of the rainbow flock around us. A short 30-minute stroll along the Rainforest Return walk has us spotting yellowthroated scrub wrens and listening out for Albert’s

lyrebird, which imitates sounds from its surroundings, from other bird calls, and human noises such as car horns, crying babies and musical instruments. We also bounce along treetop suspension bridges and climb to the top of a 30m high steel mesh observation deck before we can convince our son it is time to check into our accommodation.

Like us, many families skip the traditional guesthouse rooms in favour of a self-contained villa, with valley views and a balcony hot tub that is the perfect spot to relax after the kids have gone to bed. Nearby there is a children’s wading area and infinity pool to enjoy as a family, or the grown ups can lose themselves at the Lost World Spa for an hour or two while the kids learn how to be Eco Rangers. This popular school holiday program for children aged 5-12 runs from 9am to 12pm and 5.30pm to 8pm and includes fun activities like creating rainforest artworks and a campfire cookout.

That evening the MacPherson Ranges are surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours, from burnt orange to deep red and soft blues during the Sunset

FROM TOP

The Birds of Prey Flight Show FROM LEFT

O'Reilly's offers many opportunitties to get up close to wildlife, the cabins all have stunning views of the rainforest canopy.

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OUT & ABOUT WITH KIDS TIPS • Bring lollies or gum for the trip up the mountain if your kids are prone to carsickness.

• Rooms at the main lodge are cheaper, but being able to self-cater (and wash the kids’ grubby bushwalking gear) makes a self-contained villa worth the extra spend.

• Bring a water bottle and a backpack to carry essentials when you are out and about.

• Don’t worry about dressing up for dinner at the main restaurant - jeans and a shirt are fine.

• Bring a torch for the walk back to your villa, and spotlight for animals along the way.

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on ugh th e ca no py Fl yi ng high th ro ur g to O' Rei lly's zi pl in in Tour, and the laughter and conversation flows as freely as the wine, beer and soft drinks that are included in the cost of the tour. We are back at the resort in time for an early dinner at The Dining Room, where we manage to score a table in front of the window overlooking the ‘possum perch’, where nocturnal marsupials of every shape and size clamber down the branches to feast on cut up fruit. This all comes down to luck, as The Dining Room doesn’t take bookings, but eating early increases your chance of dinner and a show.

During the Birds of Prey Flight Show we marvel at Matilda, the Barking Owl, who ‘woof woofs’ excitedly like a dog when she spies her handler holding out a treat. BB the Black Kite swoops over the heads of the audience, ruffling everyone’s hair with powerful wings, and Bill the mighty eagle hops along the empty benches until he reaches a birding enthusiast with a huge camera. “Looks like I won’t need the telephoto lens for this shot,” the guy quips, as the rest of us dive for our (much smaller) cameras and phones. Our son’s decision to choose ‘a seat near the stick’ pays off when Twinkle the Barn Owl perches right in front of us.

While Lamington National Park is best known for bushwalking, we discover there are plenty of other ways to experience the natural beauty of this World Heritagelisted wilderness area. Most people hike to Moran’s

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Falls but it’s more fun to do the trip on an off-road Segway tour, where parents never hear those dreaded words, “Are we there yet?” as their kids are having too much fun. Children must be aged 12 and over to ride a Segway, but kids as young as three can fly through the air with the greatest of ease, surrounded by nature and beautiful trees on a ziplining tour. After we each climb into a safety harness, our family races to the top of Happy Hill, so called because of all excited screams that echo around it during the tour. Adventurous older kids (and a few parents) take the instructor up on his offer to show them how to zipline upside down. “It’s easy, you zip and then flip,” says our son, as he runs past us on his way back to the top of Happy Hill for his final zip. Depending on how busy the tour is (and how fast you can get to the top of Happy Hill), it is possible to squeeze in up to five zips during this tour.

Later that evening we walk slowly through the bush behind our guide, the scent of fresh earth and crisp, clean air teasing our noses as a crescent moon bathes the rainforest in soft moonlight. It only takes a few minutes before we come across a row of wooden benches lined up in front of a glittering creek bank dotted with glowworms. Like performers on a theatre stage, the tiny creatures glow even brighter once their audience arrives.

FROM TOP

Climbing to the top of the viewing platform, a young Eco Ranger searches for clues.

Fact File O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat End of Lamington National Park Road Lamington National Park, Queensland oreillys.com.au Book a School Holiday Getaway for two adults and two children including accommodation in a mountain view room, daily buffet breakfast and dinner each evening, and the Eco Rangers program daily for the kids for $333 per night.

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DISCOVERING MUDGEE...

A multigenerational trip down memory lane While aware that a ‘family historical tour’ wasn’t everyone’s idea of a holiday, Shevonne Hunt had a hankering to return to Mudgee, where her parents grew up and where she visited on holiday as a child.

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M

udgee is a town of roughly 11,000 people in the Central West of NSW, three and a half hours north west of Sydney, where we live.

These days it’s known as a hub for good food and wine, but when I was young it was better known as a farming town.

I have memories of hot summers, Pop snoring out the back during his afternoon kip, and Nanna’s delicious fig jam with chunks of fruit. I remember the town had a sleepy stillness when we rode our bikes down to the park or explored the local shops.

By the time puberty came around Mudgee had lost its shine. That sleepy stillness was boring compared to the bustle of the city, and eventually our visits became less frequent.

Now that I’m an adult with children of my own, I have a different reason for wanting to go to Mudgee.

And no, it’s not the wineries and food (though they hold their own appeal). I want my children to know where their grandparents came from, and to understand a bit about their history.

You may think this kind of trip would involve a lot of research and meticulous planning. For a time, I did as well. I had romantic notions of researching our family tree back to the convict arrivals, but I soon realised that would be missing the point. My eldest child is only five. You can see from my complicated diagram how I explained who my grandparents were in the scheme of things. Going back beyond them would have been lost on her.

As you can see, I needed to adjust expectations, and our historical tour became a loose plan to visit places that would mean something to my children (where my mum and dad went to school) and places that would mean something to my parents (the streets of Gulgong

where my mum lived as a girl, the house where my Pop grew up).

We stayed at the Mudgee Getaway Cottages, a farmstay in the heart of Mudgee town. It was the perfect place to base ourselves.

The cottages are a series of homes that back onto an enormous expanse of land, dotted with small details to delight children. There are vegetable gardens and many hutches with rabbits and guinea pigs to cuddle. There is an old tractor they can climb, and a fenced off area filled with chickens, a turkey, a Shetland pony, a donkey, an emu called Miss Olivia and a camel. The kids were in seventh heaven.

Everything is close by, including Lawson’s Park Hotel, where the food was delicious and the atmosphere relaxed. There are markets on Saturdays at the church in town, and the park I used to ride to as a child is just around the corner.

I love farmstays for my city children. It is such a great feeling to watch them with space to run around, and nooks and crannies to explore. It was also a great place to come back to, after our historical adventures.

On the first day, we went to Gulgong, about 20 minutes from Mudgee, and to the Pioneers Museum, a sprawling place filled with all kinds of bric-a-brac.

My son was fascinated by a collection of old toy cars kept safe behind glass cabinets. Winding pathways took us past a myriad of displays: children’s bedrooms,

OPPOSITE

Enjoying a tipple at Moothi Winery, Mudgee.

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

Outside Gulgong Pioneer Museum, the kids explore Mudgee Getaway Cottages, Shevonne’s family tree.

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:

Outside Pop’s house in Mudgee, enjoying Mudgee Park, bunny cuddles at Mudgee Getaway Cottages.

kitchens, farming equipment and different clothing all from the gold rush days of the 1870s.

It was a labyrinth that opened up onto a huge warehouse full of old modes of transport, including an immaculate Cobb & Co Coach that looked like it was just waiting for the horses to be hooked into their harnesses. Beyond the coaches and carts was a street that included Gudgeon Cottage, a replica of a typical home in the 1800s that felt like its occupants had just stepped out for a minute. There was also a schoolhouse, blacksmiths and an inn.

When my mum was a girl, Gulgong was a small town. It still only has around 2200 people, but in its heyday the town swelled to 20,000 as people arrived, filled with the hope of finding gold. Mum said it hadn’t changed much from when she was young, 60 years ago. Walking around the streets reminded her of places she used to go to as a girl, the pub where she waited outside with her siblings while her dad had a beer, her favourite Greek milk bar. We stopped outside where she went to primary school, which was right beside the old gold mine site.

By the time we had finished strolling around Gulgong, dad suggested we have lunch at a local winery called Moothi Estate. Moothi is the original name for Mudgee from the local Wiradjuri people, meaning ‘nest in the hills’.

The winery is close to where my dad grew up, and as we looked out over the rolling countryside he pointed out where he used to walk as a boy. We had some wine and a ploughman’s plate, the perfect meal for fussy little eaters with all of its cheese, olives and dips. It was the first time I’d ever been to a winery in Mudgee.

On the way home from lunch we stopped by the house where my Pop grew up. It was built in the mid1800s, and at one time served as a kind of pub in the area. I’ve driven past the house several times. I love to look at it, and imagine my Pop living there. Dad told me Pop used to sleep on the verandah (summer and winter) when his four other siblings and parents

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crowded him out of the house. He also remembered his grandmother sitting on the verandah, knitting.

Some may say that Mudgee is a long way to go for a weekend, but for me it was totally worth it. The time we spent in the car gave me space to let my own memories spool out as we drove through the countryside. The time we spent with my parents gave them space to remember their own stories.

Because ultimately, that’s what family history is, isn’t it? A collection of stories. Memories come to life when your senses come in contact with something – a sight, smell or sound. All we needed was to be in those places, and to have the time, to talk about the past.

In one weekend we had stories, history, good food and wine, lots of green space to play and animals to enjoy. And, ultimately, we had time to connect and enjoy each other.

Where to Stay: Mudgee’s Getaway Cottages: mudgeesgetaway.com. au

Where to Eat: Lawson’s Park Hotel: lawsonparkhotel.com.au Moothi Estate: moothiestate.com.au

What to See: Gulgong Pioneers Museum: gulgongmuseum.com

TAUPO’S ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS

By Belinda Luksic

O

ur bright yellow raft floats down Turangi’s Tongariro River, gaining momentum as we approach the ‘cheese grater’, a frothy swirl of rapids punctuated by small boulders.

“Forward,” shouts Ben, our instructor. In unison, we lean out and paddle hard and fast through the whitewash to the other side. Back in calm waters, oars up, our team of eight kids and adults bangs paddles and whoops

excitedly.

Soon enough we’re at the next rapids. This time we hold tight, our paddles flush with the raft, as Ben expertly steers us through the rocks, the current bouncing us along.

We’re on holiday in Taupo (pronounced toepaw), a family-friendly region in New Zealand’s North Island, created when a major volcano erupted some 27,000 years ago. It’s also home to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake.

WHERE TO STAY

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Cycling the Tongariro River Track, spectacular Huka Falls, Huka Prawn Park.

OPPOSITE

Rafting on Tongariro River.

Our two-hour adventure with Tongariro River Rafting is one of New Zealand’s best Stage 3 white water rafting outings – and a thrilling ride for teens. (There’s also a one-hour grade-two run for children as young as three).

The journey takes us through wild rapids and spectacular forested gorges, past fallen down trees and huge volcanic rocks. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the bottom, where wild trout mill abound.

We also cycle the Tongariro River Track, a stunning 10km path that takes us across swing bridges, and through cathedrals of trees dripping with milkygreen lichen. The track follows the riverbank, passing paddocks of cows, and rises steeply to a lookout, before descending into lush forest carpeted with orange pine needles.

Natural beauty to make the kids go ‘wow!’

Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most visited attraction, is a few minutes drive from Taupo and is one of the world’s most incredible displays of raw hydroelectric power.

Every second more than 220,000 litres of water blasts through a narrow gorge of the Waikato River. From the bridge that spans the falls, the thunderous water rush is a breathtaking sight to behold.

We’re treated to another thrill-a-minute spectacle at Rapid Jets. The exhilarating high-powered jet boat ride,

for kids five years and over, shoots us across the river and sends us spinning and bouncing across the rapids.

We also get to see the deluge of ice-blue water released every few hours by the nearby dam, as it storms down a narrow gorge and into the river.

A magical wonderland Taupo is an exciting playground for children.

At Huka Prawn Park, they can learn how to hatch (and catch) prawns before heading out with a fishing line and bait to try their luck. There are paddleboats too, and an interactive walkway with plenty of fun activities.

Next door at Huka Honey Hive, kids can have their photo taken in a beekeeper outfit, watch the bees in their hive, and learn lots of fun facts about how bees make honey. There’s an ice-cream store that sells the popular New Zealand flavour, hokey pokey, and more grown-up honey flavours, as well as pure honey and honey products.

Lava Glass, a gallery and café, is worth a visit to see the fascinating art of glass blowing, and to walk the sculpture garden – a pretty spot filled with glass flowers and trees and other interesting glass objects. Orakei Korako Geothermal Park, about thirty minutes by car from town, is a bubbling, hissing wonderland of mud pools, geysers and hot springs.

Sacred Waters Serviced apartments don’t come more comfortable or stylish than Sacred Waters.

Overlooking Lake Taupo, the three-bedroom apartment features a full kitchen with dishwasher, Nespresso machine, washer and dryer and a hot tub on the deck.

There is an outdoor swimming pool and gym plus easy access to the lakefront and its many ducks. The Great Lake Walkway, flat and paved, passes along here, and it’s a fun bike ride for little ones. sacredwaters.co.nz

WHERE TO EAT Creel Tackle House & Cafe in Turangi is a quaint spot for lunch. This historic tackle house has chic homewares for sale and a rustic café serving pies, burgers, sandwiches and cakes.

189 Taupahi Rd, Turangi The Storehouse Taupo is a cool café and clothing store with a kids indoor play area.

14 Runanga St, Taupo Huka Prawn Park is the place to go for fresh prawns cooked to order. There’s outdoor seating overlooking the Wairakei River, activity sheets and crayons, and a playground for kids.

Huka Falls Rd, Wairakei Park Lava Glass & Café has a modern Australian menu as well as smoothies, milkshakes and even turmeric lattes.

165 SH 5, Wairakei Belinda Luksic travelled courtesy of Destination Great Lake Taupo and Tourism New Zealand.

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THAILAND’S best ethical elephant encounters with kids

by Deborah Dickson-Smith

E

lephants are an integral part of Thailand’s history and culture, and since the 1980s, when logging was banned here, they’ve been become a huge drawcard for tourists. But attitudes towards training elephants have changed significantly since the 80s; even more so in the past 10 years.

It was around 10 years ago that I took my daughter to Thailand for the first time. She was six years old, and our trip to an ‘Elephant Camp’ near Chiang Mai, was one of the highlights of our holiday.

We watched the elephants being bathed in the river, playing a game of football, and

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painting pictures for us, before we climbed onto a platform and boarded our elephant for a ride through the jungle. I still have the photo, mounted in a frame made of elephant dung. I have mixed thoughts about it now, and I’m not alone.

While the fascination with elephants still holds, there is a shift away from supporting elephant camps that offer trekking and shows.

Thailand has a growing number of wildlife sanctuaries where you can observe these gentle giants without riding them. At these sanctuaries, you can learn about their history, their welfare and, in some places, volunteer to care for them. Here are a few good examples.

MAIN IMAGE

Kids can take part in a guided forest trek with elephants at Anantara's Golden Triangle Resort.

Golden Triangle Asian 1 Elephant Foundation, Chiang Rai Located at the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, this camp provides a home and employment for over 30 former street elephants, mahouts and their families. Guests at the luxury resort can assist with the daily care of the elephants, helping to bathe them in the river, and take part in a forest trek with elephants, accompanied by a resident veterinarian or biologist. helpingelephants.org

Nature Park, 2Elephant Chiang Mai Located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, this rescue and rehabilitation centre provides sanctuary for over 30 elephants, as well as rescued cats, dogs and buffalo. The park has a range of short-day, full-day and overnight visits suitable for kids. And offers a wide range of programs for visitors, from one-day visits to seven-day volunteer programs.

On a single day visit, you’ll learn how to care for elephants, and simply watch them being elephants, interacting in their herd, playing with each other, and bathing in the river.

The park also has an outreach program called Saddle Off! to help improve the lives and conditions of elephants under the care of independent camps near Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi, which families can also visit, and walk through the jungle with these recently saddle-liberated elephants. elephantnaturepark.org

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Nga Elephant Park, 3Phang Phang Nga

This elephant park is run by a family who share a very close relationship with elephants, having looked after them at home, and when working in their fields, for over 150 years. Here, visitors can bathe, feed and ride the elephants bareback.

“We believe passionately in humanelephant interaction and educating our visitors about the significance of the elephant in Thai culture. Many of our elephants were previously in the logging industry and they and their mahouts now enjoy a happy and fulfilling life with us.”

The park offers a ‘Kids Elephant Experience’ designed especially for children aged six and under. Kids aged seven and older can take part in the ‘Elephant Experience’ which also includes an opportunity to ride the animals bareback. Both tours include a traditional Thai lunch. phangngaelephantpark.com CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

A volunteer at Phang Nga Elephant Park gets some elephant cuddles, Kids can learn how to feed and bathe an elephant at award-winning Elephant Hills, elephants roam free at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

5Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Phuket

4Elephant Hills, Khao Sok

This eco-resort and elephant sanctuary is within the Khao Sok National Park, on the Thai peninsula, with transfers available for a two to three day ‘safari’ from resort locations on both the east and west coast, including from Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui.

Accommodation is in luxury safari-style tents, and all of the activities you can participate in here will teach you something about Thailand’s culture and ecology - this includes a presentation and film about the history and conservation of elephants, a cooking class, a cultural performance by kids from the local school (that the resort funds), a canoe safari and the Elephant Hills Elephant Experience, where you’ll learn about the care of the animals. elephanthills.com

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This sanctuary was founded through a partnership with Mr Montri Todtane, a Phuket elephant camp owner; conservationist Lek Chailert, founder of Save Elephant Foundation and Elephant Nature Park; and Louise Rogerson, founder of EARS Asia.

“We offer a retirement home for sick, injured, tired, or old elephants who have previously worked hard for tourism entertainment or in the logging industry.”

Here, visitors can feed, walk with, and observe the resident elephants as they roam throughout the sanctuary, socialise, and bathe and cover themselves in lovely thick mud; as they would in the wild. Kids can take part in the sanctuary’s morning tour that runs from around 9.30am to 1.30pm. phuketelephantsanctuary.org

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SCHOOL ON THE ROOF OF AUSTRIA

Luke Hanson and partner Dani own Pinetrees Lodge on Lord Howe Island, one of Australia’s oldest family-owned and run hotels – it’s been a family holiday institution for over 100 years. Luke and Dani are always looking at ways to improve what they do and have recently started travelling themselves to discover the best ingredients for a family holiday – and shamelessly steal them.

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CLOCKWIDE FROM LEFT

The girls navigate the trail ahead, tired but happy along the way, picking berries before setting out.

L

ike many travelling families, we’ve been to theme parks, we’ve been skiing, we’ve been to the beach, we’ve been to museums, and we’ve visited more suburban playgrounds than we ever thought possible. On our recent trip to Austria, we tried a simpler concept – walking.

The idea was to have a break from ice-cream shops, devices, fast food and merchandise but, to our enormous surprise, we had one of the most educational experiences of our lives. Our girls, Pixie (six) and Elsie (eight) came home fit, relaxed and well versed in some finer points of anthropology, global warming and religion.

You see, our walking trip from Innsbruck in Austria to Merano in Italy (with the help of a few trains and buses) was slow enough to notice things and talk about them, and it wasn’t boring – we watched our girls figure stuff out. Big stuff like “maybe I’m contributing to global warming and should go easy on the people who use plastic straws”, “I wish they’d leave Jesus alone” (a logical eight-year-old’s interpretation of the many wayside shrines we passed each day), and “people have been living in Austria for at least 5000 years, but the scripture teacher says …”.

If you’re like us, we spend a bit of time every week helping our kids understand the complexities of some of the simple sloganeering they pick up at school, and our walking trip through the Alps provided some light bulb moments.

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ABOVE FROM LEFT

Our first night is spent in Vent, one of the many cairns along our trail, admiring one of the many spectacular views in the Austrian Alps.

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Our daily walking routes were stunning, with deep valleys, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, lush green meadows, patches of wildflowers, fragrant pine forests, traditional Tyrolean villages, and – probably the best feature for families – no snakes, spiders or other distracting dangers. Yes, there was the occasional avalanche, crevasse and thunderstorm, but they were manageable if we kept to the track and arrived at our destination by 3pm (storms in Austria have a reassuring Germanic predictability). Our nights were spent in simple mountain huts that provided hot showers (€3 for two minutes), flush toilets, three course meals, multiple beers on tap, local wine and a comfortable bed. For about €40 per night (per adult) and €20 per night (per child), the Austrian mountain huts are the best value accommodation in Europe, and those prices included dinner and breakfast.

Our first night in the lovely village of Vent was better than Pinetrees – and we’re in a position to judge! Our accommodation, Hotel Post, was more expensive that the mountain huts, but it had food worthy of a Michelin star, an indoor pool and spa, an outdoor climbing wall for the kids (noted!), a Movenpick ice cream menu at least 12 pages long, and a view over planter boxes of geraniums towards the

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biggest mountains in Austria – the Otztal Alps. Elsie said she had one of her most favourite swims – ever – a profound claim for someone who swims in the Lord Howe Island Lagoon most days after school.

The highlight of the trip, although all of it was amazing, was our time at Simulaun Hut on the Austrian-Italian border. After two days of gradual climbing from Vent, we reached the top of the range at 3000m above sea level, and out of the cloud in the most inhospitable place imaginable, appeared a ramshackle shingle-clad building that proved to be an oasis of warm hospitality, memorable spaghetti bolognaise, and friendly mountaineers. The hut was perched above the Simulaun Glacier, complete with enormous waterfalls which, sadly, told a broader story of the Alps – glacial recession. A photo of the Simulaun Glacier from 1930 (placed next to the dining room window for comparative purposes) showed that the glacier had lost about 300 vertical metres of ice. The kids got it without any explanation.

We were standing at the pointy end of global warming, and it was a big problem.

The school of life continued the next day when we walked to Otzi the Iceman’s memorial, high on the ridge above the hut, and discovered the resting place

of the oldest natural human mummy ever found – complete with teeth, skin, flesh, hair, clothes, tattoos, shoes and Neolithic tools. Otzi was about 5300 years old when he was discovered in 1991 and was preserved, almost perfectly, in glacial ice, until global warming revealed his mummified body. You can imagine the questions from our kids. How did he die? Who found him? What was he doing here?

Was he really alive 5300 years ago? What religion was he? What did he do without an iPad? And on it went. The key lesson the girls took home from the roof of Austria was that people from the Neolithic Age weren’t Christian, and neither were the Sherpas from Nepal (thanks to the Buddhist prayer flags along the ridge, which also generated multiple questions). In the context of a normal day at school on Lord Howe Island, these were some important lessons to learn – and it was school holidays.

We finished our walk in the South Tyrol region of Italy and faced further questions on why the bus driver spoke German in Italy, which led to discussions about the First World War, invasions and reparations. By this stage, our fortysomething yearold brains were exhausted, and the only ingredient we needed for a better family holiday was Wikipedia.

Fact File e fo od ne , ti me fo r som A day's hi ki ng do m as co ts w it h ou r hi ki ng

Th e mou nt ai n hu ts we re al l ve ry comfo rt able

For more information on hiking routes and mountain refuge huts in the mountains of Tyrol visit this useful website, where you can create your own guide book and book your holiday. tyrol.com Two more useful websites: stubai.at/en/stubai-hightrail oetztal.com/hiking Our main reference was the Cicerone guidebook series - they have books for every country and region in Europe cicerone.co.uk More information on Austria and how to get there austria.info/au

Where to Stay Hotel Post alpinhotel-post.com/en/

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KAISEKI WITH COUSINS IN TOKYO Yumi Stynes takes a culinary trip down memory lane, on a recent family trip to Tokyo.

YUMI STYNES Yumi Stynes is a writer, broadcaster, keen traveller, and mother to three daughters and one son, and the host of a new ABC podcast called ‘Ladies, We Need to Talk’. Find it through the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts.

M

y mum first took me to Japan from Melbourne to meet all my aunts, uncles and cousins when I was a new baby.

She was already mum to my three older siblings, and this fourth baby was sufficiently unremarkable to have gone completely un-photographed until its (my) seventh birthday.

Being a Tokyo native is unusual in my mother’s generation. The population of the sprawling city dwindled to less that 3 million people during World War II, when everyone who was able to fled to the countryside. The number of residents eventually boomed to 13 million by 2015, but what this means is that most old people in Tokyo weren’t born there.

Not so for Yoshiko, who was born and raised right there in Tokyo Prefecture, the youngest of six children.

My mother reports that during my first visit as a 4-month-old, I detested the subterranean food halls and underground restaurants that clustered around subway stations, and would scream inconsolably

Mot he r daughter se lfie s in th e ele vato r - th is IS To kyo af te r al l

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until I was taken above ground, where sunlight on my face or a breeze on my skin would make me sigh with relief and instant calm.

Even as a baby I was more Aussie than Japanese!

This is funny to me. I love Japan, the land of proper sashimi, my tiny grandmother, and the most addictive beer in the world, but the wide open spaces of Australia are where I’m at ease.

Most recently I visited Japan on our way home from a European holiday with my mother and two older daughters. The four of us travel beautifully together because my mum is still fit and fun, and my girls are old enough to be into art and food.

We all had terrible jetlag but stared it down with a stay at my new favourite hotel, which I have christened “Jetlag Hospital”.

Its real name is the Tokyo Dome Hotel because it’s on the site of a big sports dome, but it should be called Jetlag Hospital because it’s perfect for Aussies returning home from Europe to take a two-night break to slay their jetlag.

You can deal with the horrors of ruptured time zones by chilling out in their giant, world-famous spa

FROM LEFT

Yumi’s mother joins the girls for a Kaiseki feast in Tokyo, Harajuku Girls dress to impress and are usually very happy for you to take their photo.

A Ka ise ki me al sim ply ha s to be sh ared on Sn ap ch at . Com pu lso ry

facilities, called La’Qua, where nothing brings you back down to earth like public nudity. After onsen bathing, I booked a massage and body scrub, then passed out in a robe in one of their (weird) chill-out rooms that are full of other people doing the exact same thing in the middle of the day. (They can’t all possibly have jetlag, so heaven knows why they’re there and what they do during the rest of their lives.

It is a mystery you can contemplate while having your back exfoliated.)

On site is a rollercoaster and theme park where the kids can ride all day for about AUD$35 while you loll.

At 13 and 15 years old, my daughters are almost too old for rides. Almost. This I can deal with, because I have left my two toddlers behind in Australia and am determined to make every moment count.

So – less wolfing of noodles and more sitting and savouring wonderful, adult flavours.

Kaiseki-ryori, or just “Kaiseki” is a formal, multicourse meal that draws on Japanese traditions of haute cuisine. Just like fine dining in Australia, there is a strong focus on seasonal ingredients and artisan delicacies specific to the local region. In Japan, this can vary wildly within small areas – a kaiseki in, say, Nagano, will be completely different from a kaiseki 44km away in Hakuba. From region to region, no two kaiseki meals will be the same.

Presentation is crucial in kaiseki. Plates and bowls are chosen to enhance the appearance and theme of the meal and, where possible, the glassware and crockery will have been created by a local craftsperson in a limited run.

On Level 4 of the Tokyo Dome Hotel is a kaiseki restaurant where my teenage girls, my mother and I, freshly scrubbed and feeling human, catch up with my cousin Etsuko (who I have known since I was born), and another cousin’s daughter, Yuka. I first met Yuka when she was a toddler, and now she has moved to the city to work in her first grown up employment.

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Dishes are beautifully arranged, often with real leaves and flowers as garnish, and each plate is reverentially set down before the diner by a woman in a kimono, who handles each item like a precious work of art.

In other words, if you’re a sucker for photographing your food, you need to get yourself to a kaiseki restaurant. (There are quite a few in Australia nowadays.)

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a trip to Japan, most major hotels have a kaiseki restaurant within, often in the basement, and usually the set price is clearly advertised so that you don’t have to go through the exquisite torture of having to ask. We found they ranged from ¥5000 per person to around ¥12000 (around Au$60-$120), and then if you go very, very high end, – which we didn’t – ¥25000 (around Au$300) per person.

My big girls have managed to stay connected with their Japanese family in spite of the language and distance barriers. They share an innate ease and affection with these women over dinner, and I find it quite moving to watch them getting along.

Standout dishes? The mysterious jelly-pudding dessert dusted in Japanese kinako powder that is one of my favourite ingredients – a kind of flour made out of soy beans that tastes nutty and dry but is often used to coat sweets. Yep – mysterious!

LEFT

The girls explore colourful Takeshita Street in Harajuku.

ABOVE

Finely sliced Wagyu beef ready to grill on your own personal table top grill.

Where to Stay Tokyo Dome Hotel 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8562 TEL Nearest station: Suidoba tokyodome-hotels.co.jp/e/

The best thing about

memories, is making them.

With an open and interactive environment, Wildlife Habitat is the perfect place to make memories with your loved ones. Kids will love the many activities on offer including hand feeding kangaroos, cuddling a Koala, or meeting pythons and crocodiles in one of our presentations.

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Accesible tropical north QLD L

ike many families we were lured to Cairns and its surrounding areas for its postcard-pretty palm-fringed beaches, World Heritage-listed rainforests a reef brimming with marine life. The wide diversity of activities on offer, and wheelchair accessibility has seen our family return many times.

We’ve explored this part of Tropical North Queensland by air, sea and even Armoured Personnel Carrier. Yes, you did read that right!

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BOTTOM LEFT

Lorikeets at Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas, Sollie is the BIG attraction at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.

RIGHT

The Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda, cuddling a koala at Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas.

Beach Life

Green Island

The quiet and pretty town of Palm Cove is our favourite on this stretch of coastline, for its familyfriendly atmosphere and the availability of a beach wheelchair, which is free to borrow from the lifeguard tower on Williams Esplanade.

Although many families trek to the Outer Reef, the options closer to Cairns make an ideal family day trip. Since our son is unable to snorkel, a shorter boat ride (around 45 minutes), and the facilities these closer slands offer, are more suitable to his ability and interests.

Each island in the Cairns region has something different to offer. Green Island’s lifeguard-patrolled beaches, accessible walks through the rainforest, and range of water sports, attracts many day trippers. Though busy, we enjoyed the easy access around the island and the opportunity to take a helicopter flight over the reef. The flight was a hit with our adrenaline junkie son, and showed him the reef without him needing to swim or snorkel. greenisland.com.au

Fitzroy Island

The Frankland Islands Cruise uniquely combines river, reef and island experiences all in one day. We started the day by cruising the Mulgrave River where there was an opportunity to spot a crocodile in the gnarly tangled mangrove roots that line the riverbanks.

Despite our dedication, we had no luck, but enjoyed the challenge.

From the mouth of the river we made a short openwater crossing (apparently the shortest of the cruises) before setting down off Normandy Island. No more than 100 people can visit the island and the Frankland Islander is the only commercial boat licensed to take visitors to the National Park.

We embraced all the activities including the semisubmersible, but favoured the guided snorkel trip where we saw starfish, clown fish, colourful corals and a turtle grazing on sea grass.

At low tide, Alessandra, the Marine Biologist, led

Fitzroy Island’s translucent blue waters, rainforest backdrop and dancing Ulysses butterflies had our family wishing we could rip up our return ferry ticket and stay longer. A variety of water sports are available on the island including scuba diving, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding and a glass bottom boat tour.

The Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is what sets Fitzroy Island apart from its neighbours. The rehab centre gives visitors the opportunity to get up close to the turtles and learn more about the threats they face.

Although the island has some accessibility challenges, it was a highlight for us. Due to the narrow gangway on the Fitzroy Ferry we needed to carry our son’s wheelchair off the boat. For this reason, we recommend the island to visitors with some independent mobility. fitzroyisland.com

Frankland Islands

MEET JULIE Julie travelled the world with her parents when she was a child and developed a life-long love for travel along the way. When Julie's son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 5 months, she determined to continue enjoying her love for travel and pass that passion on to her children. She shares the family's travels, tips and experiences at Have Wheelchair Will Travel.

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us on a tour of the rock pools where we spotted sea cucumbers, crabs and a Port Jackson shark. Adults and children were transfixed as she passionately shared her knowledge of the wonder of the reef’s eco-system.

When our son was still travelling in a back carrier, this trip would have been ideal to show him a vast range of marine life. Due to the stairs on the boat, this had to be a mother-daughter excursion only, but proved a lovely opportunity to give my daughter a special day. franklandislands.com.au OAWK TIP: Mossman Gorge has a wheelchair accessible walk.

Cairns Esplanade Many families enjoy the tropical evenings with a picnic and a swim in the free lifeguard-patrolled Cairns Lagoon. Others choose a barbecue and cooling down in the splash park at Muddy’s Playground, which has a range of play equipment including, a Liberty Swing (wheelchair swing). cairns.qld.gov.au/esplanade

Skyrail Although the coastline is spectacular, we discovered riding in a gondola for 7.5km over World Heritage-listed rainforest was a hit with the whole family. Stopping at Red Peak Station on the way to Kuranda Village, we joined a ranger-led tour along the accessible boardwalks.

The CSIRO Rainforest Interpretative Centre at Barron Falls Station offers visitors many hands-on educational opportunities to learn about the rainforest and its wildlife.

Arriving in Kuranda Village there was a range of wheelchair accessible attractions to discover – the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Birdworld being our favourites. skyrail.com.au

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Wildlife Habitat It was lovely to connect with some of Wildlife Habitat’s residents. We cuddled a koala, fed a cassowary, and lunched with the lorikeets. Accessible elevated boardwalks took us on an adventure to meet the animals that live in the four North Queensland climates represented at the park. wildlifehabitat.com.au

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures At Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, there are plenty of opportunities to see crocodiles of varying sizes and cruise the lagoon on the accessible boat tour. Sollie, who weighs in at 450kg and is 4.5 metres long, was our favourite for his moss covering, which made him look truly prehistoric. crocodileadventures.com

The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum We were astounded at the size of this military collection - the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. The highlight for our son was riding in the fields surrounding the museum in the Armoured Personnel Carrier (additional fee applies). The museum is accessible but please note guests do need to negotiate stairs to ride in the Armoured Personnel Carrier. ausarmour.com Cairns always delivers a fantastic and varied accessible holiday for our family. Our only problem is finding time to relax when there’s so much to do.

FROM TOP LEFT:

Ready for snorkelling at the Frankland Islands, riding the Skyrail, discovering hidden marine life on a Frankland Island reef walk.

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TODDLER TR AVEL WITH SUE W HI T E

How to do Denarau Navigating Fiji’s Denarau Island with toddlers

F

Our Toddler Travel columnist, Sue White, is a journalist, travel writer, founder of babieswhotravel.com and mum to an energetic, well travelled toddler. She’s also the moderator of a Facebook community where travel-keen parents talk tips and tricks for family travel: facebook.com/groups/ KidsWhoTravel (all welcome).

or families travelling with toddlers, Fiji’s Denarau Island offers some compelling benefits, not least the flying time of around four hours from Australia’s east coast.

But it’s the first hour after landing that’s the real draw: by then you’ll have swanned through customs and baggage claim (with numerous stops for your toddler to ‘high five’ friendly Fijians along the way); completed the 20-minute drive to the manmade, resort-clad peninsula; and started walking through your resort’s lush gardens toward the swimming pool.

It’s little wonder then that for many families visiting Fiji for the first time, all roads lead to Denarau. Here, families reign supreme, with a choice of more than half a dozen high-end resorts, including the Radisson Blu, Sofitel, Sheraton, Hilton and Westin, and even more family friendly restaurants.

So, what’s the best option with a toddler? And how should you tackle Denarau?

Tip 1: It’s all about the swimming pool For toddlers, it’s fairly hard to beat the swimming at the Radisson Blu: the family pool has a walk in “beach style” entry; the wading pool is suitable for tiny tots; and the toddler pool is next to a slide that my toddler mastered within minutes. He then spent the rest of our Fijian holiday asking about that pool: it was a distinct hit. Like a lot of hotels in Fiji, the Radisson does have an adults-only pool, although it’s not exactly serene as the kid’s pool is right next door, but hey, most parents will take any slice of serenity on offer, right?

Over at the Sheraton, guests can use the resort swimming pools as well as those at the neighbouring Westin hotel and vice versa: a whopping six pools in total. For me, the vibe at the Westin is the more peaceful of the two properties. My son also votes with his feet here: he loved the “bubble house” (a bure with a spa in it), and the fabulous toddlerfriendly playground at the front of the resort.

Tip 2: Eating well CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

The Sheraton kids’ pool, a day trip on the Sigatoka River Safari

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You’re on holiday – so who wants to cook? Well mostly no one, although cooking is sometimes an easier proposition with a toddler. Most of Denarau’s resorts have numerous restaurants on site – buffets being the easiest option with this age bracket – although eating three meals out each day, with a

dis em ba rk ing Le ss th an an ho ur of th e be ach th e pla ne , yo u’l l be on toddler, can start to feel distinctly unrelaxing, so it may be worth choosing self-catered accommodation.

Our suite at the Radisson had good cooking facilities, and so do the Sheraton’s Villas (but not the basic rooms). When dining out, Feast restaurant at the Sheraton is good value, especially if you enjoy seafood (FJ$60 per adult, free for kids under four) -the only downside, it doesn’t open until 6pm. I usually took my toddler bathed and in pyjamas, and made a quick exit straight after dinner. Other resorts do have restaurants that open earlier, and there is plenty of (cheaper) food at Port Denarau’s Marina for those willing to be a bit more proactive. We split the difference, buying lunch items from the mini

TODDLER TR AVEL WITH SUE W HI T E

markets near each of our Denarau resorts, and dining in at the resorts for breakfast and dinner.

There are also a number of family friendly eateries at Port Denarau, most notably the Hard Rock Café.

The open air marina retail precinct also has room for bored toddlers to run around, and there is often live Fiji-style entertainment in the central court area.

OAWK TIP: Potato rotis are a great cheap snack for toddlers (and bigger kids) and you’ll usually find someone selling them on the marina as you wait for your day trip to depart. They cost about AU$1 and are perfect to keep the kids’ hunger at bay until you reach your destination.

Tip 3: Try out the childcare Let’s face it, many parents come to Fiji wanting a break, and that means childcare. The Fijians are famous for their love of kids, and babysitting is cheap. Most resorts have a kids club, often with a decent playground attached to it, but your child will typically need to be around four years old to attend solo. Under that age, you’ll need to hire a Mei Mei (nanny). As an example, the Radisson’s Mei Mei charge FJD$41 for the first three hours (around AUD$9 an hour), and the resort’s Blu Banana Kids Club has a special toddler program each morning (they’ll need to attend with a parent or Mei Mei).

Tip 4: Do a day trip or two The Finding Nemo cruise from South Sea Cruises is toddler-friendly, and a fabulous way to feel that you have experienced a ‘real’ (albeit small) Fijian Island. After a short boat ride from Port Denarau you’ll have a day (or half a day) to snorkel, try the submarine experience, or play in the white sands.

Another great island day trip option is with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji, who’ll take you out to their private island, Tivua, on one of their traditional sailing vessels, the Ra Marama or Spirit of the Pacific. The kids will love singing along with the crew on the way to Tivua, where there is also a kids club, with plenty of activities to enjoy.

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Back on Denarau, Big Bula Waterpark has a toddler slide area if you feel resort-bound, and for those keen to venture further afield, I took my toddler on the excellent Sigatoka River Th e res ort playg ro un ds are a big hit Safari. This is a long day trip from wi th to dd lers Denarau, but it’s doable. You’ll jet boat up the river to a local village, meet locals, enjoy a meal, and then whiz back down the river. I had an exhausted toddler after this one, but it was well worth it.

Tip 5: Try the Bula Bus In general terms, Denarau is a flop and drop experience. But if you do want to check out other properties, hang out at the marina or do a lap of the island, the hop-on-hop-off Bula Bus is toddler utopia.

My son loved this open air option, and could have happily ridden the Bula Bus for hours: at least, until he remembered the playground at the Westin.

Tip 6: Packing tips My favourite Denarau possessions were the bucket and spade I took on our island day trip, the little toy cars we pulled out at restaurants for easy entertainment, and a scooter (yes, folded in my suitcase). This was excellent for getting around Denarau’s resorts, at a slightly faster pace than the amble most toddlers have perfected.

FROM TOP LEFT:

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s Spirit of the Pacific, Enjoying a sing-a-long on the way to Tivua Island.

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Saving koalas, one tree at a time

Koalas are running out of time. Thanks to habitat loss and climate change, these iconic creatures are slowly starving, but a Melbourne-based charity, The Koala Clancy Foundation, has a plan to save koalas, and you (and the kids) can help. The foundation organises Koala Conservation days twice a month, and anyone can participate.

J

anine Duffy, co-founder of Echidna Walkabout Tours and president of the foundation, says the day out is always a hit with kids and tells us about a recent experience, where kids as young as two years old took part.

On a chilly winter morning at a football oval in Little River near Melbourne, beanie-clad kids piled out of cars for their first Kids Koala Tree Planting Day. The Koala Clancy Foundation had planned this special school holiday experience for urban kids from the St Kilda area.

I carried an armful of big rubber hammers and handed one to each of the kids. There was silence, and huge wide eyes. The group of kids held their hammers reverently for a few moments, and I realised that they were deeply impressed with their new tool.

The group headed off to Wurdi Youang – an Indigenous Protected Area managed by the Wathaurong Aboriginal Community. The You Yangs Range looked over us as we drove onto the plains beside the Little River. It is for the benefit of the wild koalas of the You Yangs that we plant trees – the River Red Gum forest along the Little River was once koala habitat, but that forest disappeared long ago due to firewood-collecting and livestock damage.

At the planting site, kids grabbed their precious hammers and ran to the fence. Several of us climbed the fence first, showing the kids how to do it safely and offering assistance – but they didn’t want help.

One by one they heaved, stretched, struggled and made it over, all by themselves.

Seedling River Red Gums were distributed, wooden stakes and tree guards already located at each predug hole. At first they planted alongside the adults, but after a few trees the kids separated into groups of their own – carefully removing trees from pots, placing and settling the tree in the hole, arranging the stake in the tree guard and whacking it in with their rubber hammers.

I admit we did check a few of the kid-planted trees.

There was no need to worry – they had done an excellent job.

After morning tea, and a story-reading of the Foundation’s children’s book: Koala Clancy of the You Yangs, we transferred to the You Yangs to visit some

wild koalas including Koala Clancy, the hero of the book. He stretched and yawned and put on a show.

Walking back to lunch through the bush I introduced the kids to Boneseed, the weed mentioned in the story that is taking over koala habitat and making life difficult for Koala Clancy. I showed them how to identify and then pull out the little Boneseed plants by the roots.

Tiny two-year old Zara was determined – her little hands struggling to exert the direction and force required to remove the plant. She didn’t want help from her brothers; she wanted to do it herself. After Th e kid s are all de ep ly some minutes she got it, and im pres se d wi th th e rubb er hamm overflowing with pride she ers held up a bunch of weeds like a bouquet.

I finally had to drag the kids away from weeding – it was 1.30pm and they hadn’t had lunch, but they were so absorbed they hadn’t noticed. After a picnic in the bush, followed by some tree climbing, we prepared to go home.

“What was your favourite part of the day?” asked mum.

“Getting my hammer,” said four-year old Jonah.

Koala Clancy Foundation runs Koala Conservation Days for Locals on the first and third Sunday every month, all year. Special groups can also be arranged at other times. Koala tree planting is included from May to August. The day is educational, fun and safe and costs from $20 per person (proceeds benefit the Foundation).

Kids are provided with large rubber mallet-type hammers, rather than metal hammers – the rubber is strong and heavy enough to hammer in a stake, and the head is broad which makes it easier for them to make contact with the stake. The rubber hammer would still hurt if it hit a thumb, but it wouldn’t crush like a metal hammer. koalaclancyfoundation.org.au SPRING 2017 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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TH E LA ST WOR D

Allison Lee Destination NSW Allison Lee is Director of Media and Public Relations for Destination NSW, the State Government’s major events and tourism agency.

Allison has two kids, Sean (14) and Mia (10).

My ideal family holiday is…

My ideal family holiday includes a mix of activity and relaxation.

I love holidays that offer new sights or experiences, but with plenty of down time for the entire family. Personally, I love a beach holiday and judge the success of the trip by the number of books we all read.

My fondest family holiday memory is…

When I was a child my family always holidayed at Seal Rocks on the NSW North Coast. Our days would be filled with bush walking, fishing, swimming, reading and playing board games. I now schedule an annual beach holiday to the same area.

What makes a great family hotel or resort?

A great family hotel definitely has spacious rooms so there’s space to spread out without the family all being on top of each other. My assessment of what makes a great family hotel has changed as my kids got older. When they were little, it was all about a great pool where groups of kids would gather.

Nowadays, I’m after a centrally-located hotel so my family can walk to the sights and to great local restaurants.

Every family should experience…

There’s no need to spend a fortune to have a great holiday.

Guaranteed a camping holiday will appeal to kids as much as an overseas jaunt.

Exploring new places together is a great way to reconnect with the kids away from work and school. I took the kids to Lightning Ridge in the NSW Outback. It’s such a unique town, the landscape is like nowhere else, the local characters are terrific, there’s plenty to do from the car door tours to ‘noodling’ for opals. We all remember it as a brilliant holiday.

My top tip for travelling with kids…

Don’t be put off by long flights or long car trips. Teach your kids how to travel and they will always be ready for an adventure.

But you don’t need to go overseas. Our extended family is based in Narrabri and Inverell, so my city kids make a lot of trips to the country. My kids love experiencing their cousins’ country lifestyle, just as the cousins love staying with us in Sydney.

FROM TOP:

Allison Lee with her kids, Lightning Ridge’s Car Door Tour, Seal Rocks on the NSW North Coast.

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OUT&ABOUT WITH KIDS

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Enjoy a world of family travel all year round Enjoy world familywith travelkids all year round withaOut & of About magazine. with Out & About with Kids magazine.

7/07/16 3:13 PM

TODDLER TRAVEL

with Sue White

NY & Chicago theatre magic, London for babies, Festive Hawaii, a 10-year-old’s fabulous adventures in Singapore

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Solomon Islands • Central Australia • Kingscliff NSW • Diving in Indonesia with kids • NSW Coffs Coast

KIDS IN AMERICA

featuring Washington DC • West Coast USA • NY State • Missouri • Hawaii • Dallas Texas

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29/09/16 1:05 PM

family travel and entertainment. Published quarterly and timed to Out & About with Kids magazine is your comprehensive guide to coincide school holidays, Published Out & About with kidsand is your ultimate family travel with and entertainment. quarterly timed to resource everything you need to enjoy the school holidays! coincide with school holidays, Out & About with kids is your ultimate resource - everything you need to enjoy the school holidays!

Subscribe Whether you’re planning a holiday, a day trip or looking for activities to

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14/04/16 2:50 PM

Elephant Hills Luxury Tented Camps Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camp combining the camping concept of African national parks with the Thai tropical rainforest environment.

Join us for a two to four-day soft adventure tour in and around the beautiful Khao Sok area. Spend a night under canvas in the Thai rainforest, wake to the sounds of the jungle surrounded by lush greenery and learn all about the elephants under our care.

Website: www.elephanthills.com Email: booking@elephanthills.com