Out & About with Kids #57, Autumn 2019

AUTUMN 2019

with kids Down Under with Kids KIAMA, WEST MELBOURNE, OUTBACK QLD

SKI

Japan & USA with kids

DISNEY PARKS

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

WHALE WATCHING around OZ

Issue 57 • RRP $7.95 57 9 771832 331006 >

THE WIGGLES • PHUKET, VANUATU, FIJI • FIRST HOLIDAYS WITH A NEW BUB

Experience the difference with Australia’s favourite* holiday parks.

Save 20%

off the membership that’s packed with perks!

Save 10% (up to $50) on every stay when you book direct^ Access to exclusive member holiday deals Great member in-park Perks at every BIG4 Holiday Park Save on hundreds of activities and attractions Get great deals on vehicle safety checks, car hire and campervan hire.

Go to BIG4.com.au and enter code 20PERKS for 20% off your Perks+ Membership *BIG4 Market & Brand Assessment Q2 FY 2018 ^Member discounts do not apply for bookings made through online travel agents (ie. Wotif.com, bookings.com or trivago.com).

Australia’s No.1 Holiday Park Booking Site

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WELCOME LETTER Image: Martin Ollman

with kids

Joining the fun at Woodford Folk Festival

Out & About with Kids Print & Digital outandaboutwithkids.com.au Publisher Elisa Elwin elisa@oawk.com.au +61 413 770 550 Editor Christine Kane Advertising Enquiries: advertising@oawk.com.au Contributors Jackson Bird Katie Cage Katrina Holden Lindsay Patterson Angela Saurine Eden Whitmore Art Director Jon Wolfgang MIller Published by Elwin Media Pty Ltd ABN: 22 159 093 606 PO Box 4148, Balgowlah Heights NSW 2093

OUT & ABOUT WITH KIDS AUTUMN

Print blue star WEB Cover image Woodford Folk Festival Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2019 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.

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Publisher and Out & About with Kids. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.

with kids READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2019

It’s that time of year again when we invite you to have your say on the very best in family holidays and leisure, both in Australia and around the globe.

Voting in the 2019 OAWK Readers’ Choice Awards is now open, and just by nominating your family’s picks, you also have the chance to win a fabulous family holiday prize!

In this issue our contributors take you on family adventures to Kiama on the NSW South Coast and fabulous Phuket, Thailand; during ‘white season’ in Japan and in the USA; discovering eclectic west Melbourne; around the Islands of Hawai‘i; and to

the fantastic family-friendly Woodford Folk Festival on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

First time travels with a baby, a new home swap network, and ‘educating’ kids while travelling are also in this issue, along with all your favourite regular Out & About with Kids features.

Enjoy!

The Out & About with Kids Team PS. The Wiggles and BIG4 have some BIG news to share, as do Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida!

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Have Your Say for a chance to

with kids READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2019

Voting is now open for our OAWK 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, in which we ask you and your family to nominate your favourite places to stay and play in Australia and around the globe.

The annual awards are your opportunity to share with us ‘the best’ holiday and travel experiences your family has enjoyed!

And to thank you for your valuable contribution, you also have the chance to win a fantastic family holiday prize.

Head to outandaboutwithkids.com.au to have your say!

WIN!

A fantastic family holiday prize

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AUTUMN

School and Adventures ‘Life Learning’ for travelling kids

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Contents

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Family fun and where to stay on Phuket, Thailand

7 UPFRONT

What’s new in the wonderful world of family travel, entertainment and leisure? The Wiggles have a BIG new announcement and STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE debuts at Disney Parks. Read on for the latest news!

39 SHOWCASE

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The Wiggles and BIG4 Holiday Parks make a great team!

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Find your perfect Fiji resort

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First travels with a baby

Discover the best family friendly holiday destinations in Australia and around the globe … including Kiama, NSW; Phuket, Thailand; and snow fun in Hoshino, Japan and Aspen, Colorado in the USA.

75 EXTRAS

Plan a successful multi-gen family reunion anywhere in the world. We stay and review family-friendly hotels and resorts with bonus tips for families!

Learn more about kids education while travelling, home swaps and more.

105 BABY & TODDLER

Our Baby & Toddler editor, Angela Saurine, describes the trials, tribulations and triumphs of her first travelling experience with a new baby.

112 THE LAST WORD

DavComm PR owner, Caroline Davidson shares her own personal family holiday experiences, and ‘Insider’ tips.

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www.tajvoyages.com.au | tourindia@tajvoyages.com.au | www.facebook.com/tajvoyages

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Image: ©Disney.Pixar

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Anaheim What’s New 12 Wiggles & BIG4

Australia’s #1 children’s entertainment group and Australia’s leading holiday park group have joined forces. This can only mean more family fun!

18 Disney Parks

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is about to debut at Disneyland Resort California and Walt Disney Resort in Florida.

26 Outback QLD

The best way to show support for our Aussie farmers in flood or drought is to head to the Outback on a family holiday.

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New Kids “Edutainment” program for visitors to Kyoto Founded by Family Experience Japan (FEJ), a venture started by Kyoto mothers, Kyoto City Tourism has launched the ‘Kids Experience’ series – the city’s first ‘edutainment’ program designed exclusively for families visiting the beautiful Japanese city.

The program’s activities aim to create close relationships with local Kyoto people that allow children to 8

connect with the very essence of the destination.

With fascinating neighbourhoods, shrines and temples, and worldclass restaurants, the new program provides parents and children with the opportunity to experience ‘the cultural capital of Japan’ through immersive and age-appropriate activities. familyexperience.jp

QANTAS FLIES SYDNEY-FIJI ONCE AGAIN Qantas recommenced direct flights from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji, from 31 March 2019, after an absence of two decades. The new flights add to Jetstar’s direct services, which also operate four times per week, giving Sydney families even more choice for Fiji holiday flights. qantas.com

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News

SYDNEY’S TARONGA ZOO WELCOMES FLUFFY RED PANDA TRIPLETS

Two male red panda cubs – Rohan and Ishwar – and their sister, Mishry, began venturing out of their nest box at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo in March. They are the first red panda triplets to be born at the zoo (born 7 December 2018) and now, after a 13-week development period in which they stay in their cosy nest, the tiny endangered, forestdwellers are taking their first tentative steps to discovering a whole new world.

Taronga Zoo says the trio will serve as an insurance population to those in the wild in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, with fewer than 10,000 wild red panda remaining due to poaching and habitat destruction.

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122 Ferny Avenue Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 www.paradiseresort.com.au

BOOK NOW 1800 074 111 BOOK BY 30 JUNE 2019 FOR TRAVEL ON SELECTED DATES UNTIL 24 DECEMBER 2019 Conditions: Sale starts at 9am Monday 1 April 2019 for a limited time. Travel on selected dates until 24 December 2019. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and is only available for bookings made direct with Paradise Resort Gold Coast and not available through any other booking agent. When booking online at www.paradiseresort.com.au you must book the package shown as SAVE 40% + Kids stay, play and eat FREE, the starting price shown represents savings calculated off the regular rate and no further discounts will apply. Must stay a minimum 3 consecutive nights within the valid travel period.

Availability is limited and some room types may not be available on all dates.

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The Westin Brisbane lays on the kid-friendly goodies!

Since opening its doors in September 2018, visiting families have been raving about The Westin Brisbane’s family-friendly offerings including family-sized and interconnecting rooms with a play tepee, just for kids!

Children also receive a Westin Family Travel Journal, complete with stickers, puzzles and colouring-in, all tying in with

Westin’s wellness philosophy and featuring fun yoga poses and even sleep well tips.

For even more fun during your stay, you can purchase a special Kids Pack at the mini bar, full of jigsaw puzzles, sketchpad, Westin inflatable beach ball, playing cards and other fun goodies. And inflatable pool toys are available at the hotel’s swimming pool.

The Westin Brisbane’s Bespoke Family Package includes buffet breakfast for the whole family.

During your stay, kids eat free (per paying adult), choosing delicious eats from the hotel’s specially created Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids. marriott.com/hotels/travel/ bnewi-the-westin-brisbane

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PURPLE, YELLOW, RED & BLUE Australia’s #1 children’s entertainment group and Australia’s leading holiday park group have joined forces in an exciting new three year partnership, just announced on 14 March 2019.

Anthony, Emma, Lachy & Simon, together with Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus, have combined their considerable talents with BIG4 – and than can only mean exciting things for families!

As part of the agreement, The Wiggles and BIG4 will be offering The Wiggles’ audience a range of benefits and opportunities that will be rolled out in the coming months.

The exclusive collaboration will also allow The Wiggles to share the BIG4 experience with a new generation of families, where they can enjoy a fun, safe, and memorable break connecting with loved ones.

Paul Field, Managing Director of The Wiggles (and Anthony’s brother) said the partnership with BIG4 was a perfect fit.

“Just like The Wiggles, BIG4 delivers great experiences for young families right across Australia. We both share a deep commitment to the positive development of growing families. We could not have picked a better partner than BIG4.”

Dedicated to the spirit of the trueblue Aussie break, BIG4 has been celebrating the great outdoors for 40 years, with holiday parks across 12

Australia providing a range of highquality accommodation options from powered ensuite sites for caravans and motorhomes, to luxury cabins.

“The education values that underpin The Wiggles are strongly ingrained in the BIG4 network, too,” said BIG4 Holiday Parks CEO, Steven Wright.

“We strongly encourage holidays that allow children to explore, exercise, and make new friends while enjoying a great Aussie adventure.

“So, it makes perfect sense for these two well-known and popular brands to come together.”

Mr Wright said the partnership had the capacity to introduce a whole new segment of families to a first-class leisure accommodation experience at an exciting time.

“Our family-focused holiday parks have undergone enormous transformations. Not only are they located in the best spots within Australia’s top tourist destinations, but many have bolstered our amenities offering from swimming pools, aquatic playgrounds and splash parks to jumping pillows and kids’ play rooms and clubs.”

“Moreover, many park operators curate localised experiences for parents ranging from yoga classes to gourmet food and wine tastings from local producers, all within the best natural and secure surrounds so parents can relax and enjoy their holiday just as much as the kids.”

YOU CAN WATCH THE WIGGLES WELCOME VIDEO HERE BIG4.COM.AU/ WIGGLES

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The Wiggles and Big4 Holiday Parks make quite a team

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Accor launches new hotel brand – TRIBE The popular hotel group – whose well known and muchloved brands include, among many others, Sofitel, Pullman, Peppers, Mantra, Novotel, ibis, BreakFree – has just launched another new hotel brand, with the very first TRIBE hotel now open in Perth, just a stone’s throw away from the Botanic Gardens.

TRIBE is great news for families – created in response to the growing demand from travellers for high-quality hotel experiences at an affordable price. And you will start to see the TRIBE name everywhere, as Accor rolls out another ten hotels currently in the pipeline, and completes negotiations for a further 50+ worldwide!

In each living space and for every service, particular attention has been paid to user-friendliness without 14

overlooking either style or comfort. Everything has been designed to increase the sense of space, enhance the decor and improve the customer perception.

The modern style is complemented by artfully designed objects giving the perception of an upscale space, including Moroso chairs, an array of Jean-Paul Gaultier cushions, and lamps provided by the renowned British designer Tom Dixon.

TRIBE is also going back to basics to give customers what they want. Guests will benefit from in-room, underbed storage, Smart TVs and Nespresso coffee capsules. A Grab & Go station is also open 24/7. Bicycle rental services, fitness centre, and great city deals will also be available at an affordable price. mantrahotels.com/tribe-perth

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QANTAS CEO FORMS ‘PARTNERSHIP’ WITH BUDDING 10-YEAROLD AIRLINE EXECUTIVE

When 10-year-old Alex Jacquot penned a letter to Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce asking for advice on how to run an airline he founded during his school holidays, Mr Joyce wrote back to say he would be pleased to meet Alex in person – an exchange that has since captured attention around the world.

After a much-anticipated meeting between the two airline bosses in Sydney, Qantas made the announcement, on 27 March 2019, that it would form a partnership with Alex’s fledgling local carrier, Oceania Express and start a behindthe-scenes program for budding airline executives!

Joining the two airline execs at their meeting were Oceania Express’s 10-year-old Deputy CEO, Wolf Stringer, and 7-yearold Head of Inflight Service, Mila Jacquot, along with Qantas Loyalty CEO, Olivia Wirth, and QantasLink CEO, John Gissing.

“In his letter, Alex asked me to take him seriously. So we did,” said Mr Joyce.

“It’s hard not to be impressed by his enthusiasm.

The aviation industry needs people who think big and Alex has that in spades. It was a pleasure meeting with him and his co-founders.

“We wanted to capture all that enthusiasm and formalise a connection between Australia’s oldest and newest airlines. We have signed a memorandum of understanding for our airlines to cooperate from 2026, once Alex has completed high school. It might be pushed out a bit if he chooses to go to university, which I hope he does.”

As part of the agreement, Alex was presented with a new logo, business cards and artist impression of the Oceania Express brand on a state-ofthe-art Boeing Dreamliner. The domain name oceaniaexpress. com.au has also been registered on Alex’s behalf.

Alex and his co-founders also received a tour of the Qantas Integrated Operations Centre, engineering facilities and one of its Airbus A380s.

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Image: ©Disney.Pixar

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What’s new in Anaheim…?

With its two Disneyland Resort Parks, beautiful beaches, outlet shopping malls and all-American experiences – like seeing the Anaheim Ducks ice-hockey team and the Angels baseball team in action – it’s no wonder Anaheim is such a popular destination for Aussie families. Just a one-hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport, on America’s west coast, it’s also super easy to get to. And even if you’ve been before, there’s always something new to entice you back.

This year’s biggest drawcard is the Star Wars–themed land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is set to open at Disneyland Park. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which gives guests the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon on a customised secret mission, will be the first attraction to open on 31 May 2019, with reservations required for the first few weeks.* It will be followed by Star Wars: Rise of the 16

Resistance, which places guests in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance, later in the year.

Visitors will also be able to visit a street market in Black Spire Outpost, and encounter characters such as BB8, Chewbacca and Kylo Ren. Neighbouring Disney California Adventure Park has also opened an area called Pixar Pier, with neighbourhoods inspired by Pixar’s The Incredibles (home to the thrilling Incredicoaster), Toy Story, Inside Out and other Pixar stories.

A new super hero-themed land will also open where A Bug’s Land used to be next year, with an Avengers-themed rollercoaster and an interactive Spider-Man screen attraction to join the popular Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! ride.

Knott’s Berry Farm, at nearby Buena Park, also has a

Image: ©Disney

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Left to right: Pixar Pier, the new HangTime rollercoaster at Knott's Berry Farm, craft beer at Anaheim Brewery, Knott's Sherriff, a surfer walking along Huntington Beach in front of the pier, Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland Hotel, Waterslide fun at Great Wolf Lodge

new HangTime rollercoaster, which has a speed of more than 90km per hour and the steepest drop in California at 96 degrees. It is also revamping its rapids ride in time for summer and renaming it Calico River Rapids.

There’s no shortage of places to stay in Anaheim, with the city boasting more than 150 hotels, and more popping up all the time. Set to open in summer, Cambria Hotel & Suites will have 352 family-friendly rooms and suites, a large waterpark, an outdoor movie wall, arcade and a putting green. The 466-room JW Marriott is also due to open next to the outdoor shopping centre, Anaheim GardenWalk, later this year or early next year. It will be followed by the 613-room Westin Anaheim Resort, which will have three restaurants and two bars, including a rooftop lounge overlooking Disneyland’s nightly fireworks, a resort-style pool and a marketplace. A 174-room Element by Westin and a Radisson Blu hotel are also in the works, as well as plans for a 600-room Nickelodeon Hotel & Resort.

Downtown Anaheim is also being reinvigorated with new

additions to Center Street Promenade. Mums will love Decades Bar and Grill - a 1980s and ‘90s-themed restaurant decorated with old movie posters and album covers, with cover bands performing on the weekend. Dads can try Japanese craft beer at the new Bizen BEER BAR, washed down with Japanese pastries and sweets from the connected Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café.

The Downtown Disney District welcomed its first brewery, Ballast Point, in January 2019. The district also has a new ice-cream shop, Salt & Straw, which serves scoops in handmade waffle cones, and an outlet of Tap Craft Burgers & Beer – known for its award-winning burgers and signature CrazyShake™ milkshakes - is set to open there soon.

Farmers Park, between the Anaheim Packing House and the Packard Building, also has a new dim sum eatery called 18 Folds and a new farm-to-table restaurant called Cultivation Kitchen. visitanaheim.org * More details about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be released in the coming months. Keep up to date at DisneyParksBlog.com, Disneyland.com.au, waltdisneyworld.com.au and StarWars.com.

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Image: ©Disney .Lucasfilm

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DISNEY PARKS DEBUTS THE EXTRAORDINARY STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE 18

Disney Parks is constantly imagining and creating new and exciting experiences for guests, and Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida are laying on a real thrill with the epic opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set to open at Disneyland Resort on 31 May and at Walt Disney World Resort on 29 August as Phase one of this extraordinary experience. In light of tremendous demand, Disney made the decision to open the land in phases to allow guests to sooner enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so spectacular.

The all-new land will invite guests to live their own Star Wars adventures, with an epic opening for Phase two – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – scheduled for later this year.

On opening day for phase one, guests will be transported to the remote planet of Batuu, a farflung destination along the galaxy’s Outer Rim, on the frontier of Wild Space – the uncharted region

Left to right: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Get ready to ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Millennium Falcon is pictured under development, Black Spire Outpost, on Batuu.

Image: ©Disney .Lucasfilm

Image: ©Disney .Lucasfilm

beyond all known star systems.

Batuu is full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes, allowing guests to become part of the story as they sample galactic food and beverages and explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops. Batuu is also home to Black Spire Outpost, an infamous port for smugglers, traders and adventurers wishing to avoid any unnecessary entanglements with the First Order. Along the way, guests may encounter some familiar faces, from Rey, Finn, and Poe to BB-8 and Chewie, and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” In the cockpit of the Falcon, guests will immerse themselves in one of three unique and critical roles as the ship hurtles through space. Some will be pilots, some gunners and some flight engineers, creating multiple ways for guests to experience the attraction.

The opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, is the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, which will place guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance and will blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Take an active role in the fight against the First Order, including a faceoff with Kylo Ren, and journey inside a full-size starship and aboard a nearby Star Destroyer.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the first land within a Disney park designed to integrate with the Play Disney Parks mobile app, which debuted last year and offers interactive adventures and experiences that bring surrounding environments to life at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. When guests use the app, it will provide new opportunities for them to engage with the land, such as translating a galactic language, learning what’s hidden inside crates and containers, or accomplishing certain tasks by participating in missions. They may choose to aid a smuggler, join the Resistance or pledge their loyalty to the First Order.

Guests also can use the Play Disney Parks app to interact with a variety of elements in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, such as droids, ships, media screens, door panels and antenna arrays.

This depth of storytelling is part of the total immersion that will distinguish the two, 14-acre

Image: ©Disney .Lucasfilm

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lands – the largest and most technologically advanced single- themed land expansions ever in a Disney park – from any other themed land in history!

TIP: If you’re planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park between 31 May and 23 June 2019, you will need valid theme park admission and will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the land. Information on how to make a reservation will be available at a later date on Disneyland.com and the Disney Parks Blog. Guests staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels during these dates will receive a designated reservation to access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest); valid theme park admission is required.

More details about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be released in the coming months.

Keep up to date at DisneyParksBlog.com, Disneyland.com.au, waltdisneyworld.com.au and StarWars.com.

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Package Includes Accommodation in a 2 Bedroom Deluxe Villa Continental Buffet Breakfast each morning A full day of bike hire for the family Dinner & Day Spa credits to use during your stay!

Family Travel Magazine.indd 1

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APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

WARNER BROS. STUDIO HOLLYWOOD TOUR UNVEILS NEW AQUAMAN EXHIBIT Aquaman fans can immerse themselves in the world of the King of the Seven Seas and step into the realm of Atlantis in the new Aquaman exhibit at DC Universe: The Exhibit, one of the many stops on the iconic family-friendly Studio Tour.

With costumes and props from the Aquaman movie, visitors can journey through the visually stunning underwater world of Atlantis as brought to life on screen.

The exhibit also features recreated sets from the most

memorable moments of the film, including the Sunken Galleon, where fans get up close to the authentic costumes worn

by Willem Dafoe (Vulko) and Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry), and the Ring of Fire, reliving the thrill of the epic underwater battle between Aquaman (Momoa) and King Orm (Patrick Wilson). As an interactive photo op, fans can even sit upon the Dead King’s Throne, seen in the film, to become King or Queen of Atlantis. wbstudiotour.com

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and NASA’s 60th anniversary, Space Center Houston and NASA Johnson Space Center in Texas, USA, are hosting an innovative series of events in the lead-up to the incredible milestone. Visitors can re-live the NASA mission through special exhibits, watch space films from Texas’ largest cinema or attend the Thought Leader Series – which, to date, has featured Apollo legends such as Apollo 7 astronaut, Walt Cunningham and retired NASA engineer, Glynn Lunney.

A major feature of the celebrations, and possibly one of the most exciting restorations in the history of space exploration, is the renewal of the Mission Operations Control. Constructed with the aim of reflecting the look and feel of the Apollo 11 mission, the control room that changed history is set to be unveiled for the first time on July 20, 2019. On this monumental day, the Center will host an action-packed day for the whole family, complete with a countdown to the actual time of the moon landing. visithoustontexas.com traveltexas.com 21

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“JURASSIC WORLD – THE RIDE” OPENS AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Straight from the movies to the theme park, Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest state-of-the-art attraction features even more dinosaurs from the film, lush scenic design, and groundbreaking technology that has yet to be experienced within a theme park.

With new themed environments and new animatronic dinosaurs, guests can immerse themselves in Jurassic World via specially designed rafts that navigate the dense vegetation, with towering dinosaurs just an arm’s length away!

A new interactive “Dino Play” area provides a fun educational space where children of all ages can experience excavations and discover giant dinosaur fossils.

UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

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Out & About with kids Ad 2017.indd 2

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LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA TURNS 20!

LEGOLAND California declared ‘Party time!’ for its 20th birthday on 20 March 2019, with a birthday cake created from over 100,000 LEGO bricks!

The special birthday kicks off a year of celebrations that include a new interactive Birthday Dance Party, LEGO Friends birthday show, exclusive birthday desserts, pop badges and more. The new shows can be seen daily now through Sept. 1 and are filled with singing, dancing and characters for all families to enjoy.

Plus, LEGOLAND California is paying the birthday fun forward to its younger guests – all children ages 12 and under get free admission on their birthday all year long!

LEGOLAND.com 23

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The Australian Institute of Sport.

The AIS. Australia’s premier elite sporting precinct.

GUMBUYA WORLD’S WATER PARK IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT BIGGER!

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.

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

@ExperienceAIS

ASC 34415

/ExperienceAIS

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Oasis Springs, Gumbuya World’s sensational water park, will expand to almost twice its size and include six new gigantic slides and Victoria’s most impressive family wave pool – all ready for families to experience just in time for the upcoming spring school holidays!

Typhoon Island, the 300m Lazy River, Surf’s Up and heated rock pools are already featured at Oasis Springs, and this major redevelopment of Gumbuya World will continue for the next three years, bringing 50 new attractions to the theme park, accommodation, cafes and shops, a chocolate factory and even a microbrewery!

Gumbuya World is located at 2705 Princes Highway, Tynong, Victoria. gumbuya.com.au

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HOW TO HAVE HEAPS OF FAMILY FUN AND HELP OUTBACK QUEENSLAND FARMERS

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When the chips are down, we Aussies stick together. Right? We muck in, extend the hand of friendship and make sure nothing beats us.

So, when a big patch of the Aussie Outback made headlines earlier this year, after a droughtbusting flood hit some of our farming communities hard, families around the nation pitched in to show support – by getting out to the Outback!

Flood or drought, the best way to show some good old-fashioned Aussie relief is to front up to the towns where the nation’s legends were made – the Outback –which is why the Queensland government has proclaimed 2019 as the Year of the Outback Tourism.

Join in communities like Julia Creek, Cunnamulla and Camooweal as they swell from hundreds of friendly folk to thousands for a weekend of events and a celebration of rural life. There are camp oven competitions, bush dancing, bog snorkelling, sand surfing, rodeos and more.

Image: TEQ

Image: Wade Lewis, TEQ

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STAY

Here is just a tiny taste of the type of fantastic family stays on offer in outback Queensland. See the whole range of accommodation at: queensland.com/en-au/ explore-queensland/outback-queensland/outbackqueensland-accommodation

Aside from festivals, our heritage and culture (and fun!) is celebrated in towns like Winton.

It’s the place where ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was first performed and there’s a new museum to tell the tale. Just up the road at a spot where crackin’ big dinosaur bones were unearthed, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs now has a Canyon Walk that brings history books to life. Meanwhile, no kid should miss the Qantas Founders Museum and a daring wing walk on a 747 vintage airplane.

Kids can also connect with their country cousins, staying overnight at a real-life working farm where your money goes straight to the grazier. Tour heritage stations and take part in daily chores, as they have been performed for generations.

Learn more about Outback Queensland for families queensland.com/en-au/explorequeensland/outback-queensland/events

Main: Cunnamulla artesian bore Top clockwise: Big Red Bash Birdsville, Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Bonus Downs Station Stay, Shandonvale Station

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Noonbah Station, via Longreach: A 52000-hectare beef cattle station that’s been in the one family for four generations and is now a popular station getaway. Guests can camp at a secluded waterhole, or, sleep peacefully at the Old Schoolhouse. Noonbahstation.com.au

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Bonus Downs Farmstay, Maranoa: A tour of the quintessential grand homestead is a must-do before hitting your swag, the shearer’s shed or the Jackaroo’s cottage for the night. bonusdownsfarmstay.com.au

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Shandonvale Station, via Barcaldine. Go helimustering or catch a freshwater yabbie, and rest after a big day in the four bedroom, 100-year old Shearer’s Quarters. Fly to Longreach and take the farm limo (aka the ute) to the property. shandonvalestation.com.au

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Moble Homestead, Quilpie: Join proud wool producers, the Rutledges, at their home in Quilpie, and sit around the campfire with the family as you get to know the locals of the outback. Choose your accommodation type – there are two huts, a homestead garden room, and a Governess’ quarters-come-cottage that literally floats above the waterhole. moblehomestead.com.au 27

Image: Henry Brydon

Upfront

Espiritu Santo - Blue Hole

1. SWIM IN THE BLUEST OF WATERS

Vanuatu is home to the impressive Lolima waterfalls on the island of Efate; pristine beaches like Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo and, one of the most stunning natural wonders, the ‘blue holes’. Located throughout the islands, these freshwater swimming holes, formed out of the limestone landscape, are filled with bright, turquoise blue water. Two of the “bluest” holes are the Nanda Blue, on Espiritu Santo, and the Blue Lagoon, just forty minutes from Port Vila.

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REASONS YOUR FAMILY SHOULD HOLIDAY IN VANUATU IN 2019!

What are the best ways to experience a family adventure in Vanuatu? Our near South Pacific neighbour is not short on immersive family-friendly experiences (in an idyllic island setting), and offers pikininis (the local Bislama 28

word for kids) a whole heap of fun in the sun. Vanuatu is the perfect holiday destination for experiencing snorkelling for the first time, rope swinging into a crystal clear blue hole, or ziplining through a rainforest canopy.

And, Victorian families can now take advantage of the great news that, from 18 June 2019, Air Vanuatu will now operate three non-stop flights per week between Melbourne and Port Vila.

Image: Warwick Le Lagon

Upfront

Image: Henry Brydon

4. INCREDIBLE FAMILY RESORTS

2. MEET THE LOCALS

Vanuatu has been recognised as one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries, which isn’t surprising when you consider it is home to 110 distinct cultures and languages. To really experience the authentic culture, start by mingling with the locals and head to a Kastom village (head to Yakel on Tanna island to see the village that the Oscar-nominated movie features). Watch your kids befriend the locals and experience their traditional way of life – they’ll soon be dancing together on the beach bar or diving head first into the crystal-clear water.

There is a great choice of family friendly resorts in Vanuatu covering all family tastes, sizes and budgets. Resorts like Warwick Le Lagon, Holiday Inn in Port Vila, and Iririki Resort and Spa offer free use of Kids' Club for kids three years to 12 years of age, a range of fun, organised activities, children's pools and much more. Holiday Inn’s overwater family villa comes complete with board games, beanbags and a PlayStation.

All the resorts also offer excellent nanny services (Pikinini Carer). The local Ni-Vanuatu ladies will look after them like they are their own.

Underwater post office

3. WALK OVER WATER AT EDEN ON THE RIVER

Image: David Kirkland

For an entire day of jungle filled adventure, look no further than Eden on the River. Watch your family's faces light up with the thrill of scrambling over the suspension bridges and soaring through the trees on the jungle zip lines. To finish, the whole family can take a dip in the calm river, or stroll through the tropical gardens, soaking in the lush surrounds.

5. SNORKEL OFF HIDEAWAY ISLAND OR ZIPLINE THROUGH THE JUNGLE

For an easy day trip from Port Vila, take a boat over to Hideaway Island and the Marine Sanctuary. Relax, and swim with fascinating fish and colourful coral, or watch the underwater world from afar in a glass-bottom boat. For a unique hideaway experience, you can send a postcard from the world’s first underwater Post Office. Adventurous families can check out jetboating with Tropic Thunder Vanuatu or Vanuatu Jungle Zipline to whizz through the jungle.

For more information on Vanuatu visit vanuatu.travel/au Air Vanuatu airvanuatu.com

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Upfront

SEA LIFE SYDNEY AQUARIUM RESCUES MATILDA AND HER MATES

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has officially opened its Animal Rescue Centre with the arrival of its first patient, a rescued Green Sea Turtle named Matilda.

Found in February, by a member of the public, in Dolans Bay at Port Hacking in NSW, Matilda was underweight, suffering from buoyancy issues and covered in barnacles. She was taken to her new home at the Animal Rescue Centre and, with plenty of tlc over a six week period, began to gain weight and build up her strength,

and was eventually released back into the wild.

The centre cares for all types of marine life, ranging from turtles to sea snakes and tropical fish, and embodies the SEA LIFE values of Breed, Rescue and Protect.

Members of the public are encouraged to send fan mail to the rescue animals, whose stories will be shared on SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s Facebook page and website. facebook.com/sydneyaquarium sydneyaquarium.com.au

QUEENSLAND MUSEUM OPENS ITS NEW DISCOVERY CENTRE Budding zoologists, history and geography buffs and archaeologists can jump into discovery mode with over 1300 display items, 427 insect species and so much more to pique their curiosity at the re-opened Centre.

The multi-million dollar makeover includes something for budding astronauts too. A huge new exhibition space on Level 3 is now home to the museum’s largest ever exhibit, NASA – A Human Adventure. qm.qld.gov.au 30

Happy Kids = Happy Parents!

Over 15 onsite activities

• • • • • • •

Kids Club & Toddler Time Heated Pool and 13 Slide Waterpark Daily Activity Schedule Outdoor Cinema Animal Park Luxury Cabins Landscaped Powered Sites

Big, huge, mega waterslide park

Self contained cabins

STRALIAN AU

Ph: 1300 640 587 or + 61 (7) 4948 5400 ext 1 Email: reservations@adventurewhitsunday.com.au Airlie Beach - Whitsundays - Queensland

adventurewhitsunday.com.au #adventurewhitsunday

Upfront

Discovery Holiday Parks brings Glamping to Rottnest Island The home of the iconic quokka, Rottnest Island, just offshore from Perth in Western Australia, has welcomed its first new accommodation in over 30 years, with the opening of the DiscoveryRottnest Island eco-resort in March 2019.

Discovery-Rottnest Island is a 2.8ha property nestled behind the dunes of the island’s famous Pinky Beach offering 83 fully furnished

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eco-tents, a resort pool and pool bar and brings world-class glamping to Rottnest Island.

The eco tents come in four service levels, with each tent featuring an ensuite bathroom, pillow-topped bed and furnished private decks. Many tents also include kitchenettes, with the Deluxe tents boasting opulent beachfront views and walk-in wardrobes.

Superior Family Tents include a king-sized bed and a separate annex with a bunk bed, plus ensuite, kitchenette and private deck.

Tents are all linked via walkways and boardwalks to Pinky’s Beach Club, which is the heart of the property, and the ideal place to capture the sunset over a meal or drink. discoveryholidayparks.com.au/ discovery-rottnest-island

Upfront

Another BIG award for BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort They might have a new award to add to an alralready stellar collection – being named the Caravan and Holiday Parks 2018 Australian Tourism Awards Gold Winner on 1 March 2019 – but Queensland’s BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort isn’t resting on its laurels.

Resort owner, Greg McKinnon, says 2018 was a huge year in terms of growth and development, with many more plans in the pipeline for 2019 (including more threebedroom condos). “ We are forever evolving and continuing to grow, given the reinvestment we continually put back into the resort, with plans to add some exciting new facilities which will lead the way in terms of holiday park activities,” Mr. McKinnon said.

“In addition to new styles of cabins now being on offer, the real game changer has been the opening of our huge 13-slide Waterslide Park, which is one of the largest resort waterslide parks in Australia. It’s been a real hit with our guests.”

BIG4Adventure Whitsunday Resort is set on 26 acres of landscaped tropical gardens, has

a 32m lagoon pool, the new mega Waterslide Park, an adventure playground, giant jumping pillows, mini golf, pedal karts, bike hire, an animal park, tennis, basketball and volleyball, and outdoor cinema and the fabulous Kermit’s Kids Club. adventurewhitsunday.com.au

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Upfront

DUPLO KIDS CLUB COMES TO LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE

Australia’s only indoor LEGO® playground, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Melbourne, is launching DUPLO Kids Club in 2019. The interactive workshops are designed to entertain kids aged four years and under, to inspire toddlers to unlock their full potential through creative experiences.

Hosted by LEGOLAND Discovery Centre’s fun and friendly team members, DUPLO Kids Club runs on weekdays from 10am – 1pm with the fun including DUPLO building games, storytelling and colouring activities. Emmet and Wyldstyle from The LEGO Movie and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre’s mascot, Bertie, are also on hand to meet children and pose for photos!

DUPLO Kids Club is not available on weekends or during the Victorian school holidays.

For further information about DUPLO Kids Club visit: LEGOLANDiscovery Centre.com.au

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Central Coast Holiday Parks Central Coast Council

Central Coast Council

Central Coast Council

www.cchp.com.au

Central Coast Council

FREE CALL 1800 241 342

Upfront

MAKING THE MOST OF MACAO The former Portuguese territory of Macao is ramping up celebrations and festivities in 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of its status as a Special Administrative Region of China.

Macao is an extraordinarily colourful and vibrant destination at any time – attracting 35 million visitors last year alone – but this year will be exceptional!

Whether you’re staying in Macao for a fabulous family holiday, or taking advantage of its close proximity to Hong Kong for a short break or a day’s outing, the family attractions, activities and entertainment quotient in Macao gets a 10 out of 10. (And the Macao cuisine is mouth-wateringly scrumptious).

Macau Tower

Step onto the outdoor Skywalk viewing platform or settle into the indoor Observation Lounge to take in the vast 360 degree panorama from way up high.

For the adrenaline seekers in the family, The Mast Climb runs from the 61st floor to a height of 338m, and the bungy jump (suitable for kids 10 years and over) is a thrilling 233m leap! Little adventurers will enjoy tethered sky jumps.

Skytop Wave Pool

Located on the Grand Resort Deck at Galaxy Macau, this aquatic park features a man-made lagoon and sandy beach, giant waterslides and 1.5m simulated waves, perfect for surfing. There are five hotels in the complex but you don’t need to be a guest to enjoy all the water fun here – day guests can purchase a Grand Resort Deck Day Pass.

History & Culture & Fun

Macao’s Portuguese and Chinese heritage makes it a fascinating place to explore, for all ages. Kids won’t have a moment to be bored spending time 36

Top left to right: Historic monument - Kun Iam Statu., Mastclimb - AJ Hackett Macau., Galaxy Mega Resort Resort Deck - SkyTop Rapids Bottom: Golden Reel

at the Museu de Macau which is located in the 17th Century Mount Fortress, right next to the iconic ruins of St Paul’s. The museum has three floors of galleries and exhibitions with educational displays of Portuguese and Chinese culture and folklore.

For something a bit different, visit Macao’s most famous Taoist temple, built into the side of a rocky hill way 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.

Macao Science Centre

From the past to the future, the Centre houses futuristic displays, a planetarium, an IMAX theatre, and galleries bursting with high-tech interactive, kidfriendly exhibits covering everything from robotics to space travel.

Giant Pandas

Meet Macao’s famous pandas – Luo Luo and Tong Tong – at Coloane’s Seac Pai Van Park, or join your favourite DreamWorks characters at Po’s Kung Fu Feast Character Breakfast at the Golden Sands Metropolis Centre, where delicious eats include Kung Fu Panda buns!

Studio City

Macao’s premier entertainment zone is also home to Warner Bros. Fun Zone – a 32,000 sq. foot playground (more like another world!) packed with all the popular Warner Bros., DC Comics and Hanna-Barbera characters and themed play areas.

Restaurants and cafes abound so there’s no need to stop the action to venture out looking for food!

Older kids will love Legend Heroes Park, jampacked with high-tech entertainment and virtual reality adventures galore.

More Information: VisitMacao.com.au

Upfront

OAWK TIP:

You might have noticed that sometimes it is written as Macao and sometimes as Macau. Confusing? Not really. The destination itself is always written as Macao, but some of its landmarks use the Macau spelling.

Either way, it’s a magical place!

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Really Amazing Really Amazing Really Amazing Adventures Together Adventures Together Adventures Together

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46 Phuket

41 Kiama in Winter

Katrina Holden revisits childhood memories of Kiama with her own children, and discovers amazing food, forests and friendly faces.

50 Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

This incredible family-friendly ski resort has the best quality (powder) snowfall in Japan.

55 Aspen Snow heaven

Four Mountains, breathtaking scenery and a world famous ski town, we share why Aussie families love Aspen/ Snowmass in Colorado.

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Find out why families love the Kiama area

Download the Kiama area Visitors Guide www.kiama.com.au or give us a call or email to receive your FREE copy E: tourism@kiama.com.au P: 1300 654 262 or 02 4232 3322

SHOWCASE

Clean green Kiama Katrina Holden revisits childhood memories of Kiama with her own children, and discovers amazing food, forests and friendly faces.

Kiama Lighthouse

My most vivid childhood memories of the Kiama region are of expansive, rolling green hills that hug the winding roads, on occasion parting to offer views of the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Decades later I’m driving to Kiama from Sydney for a weekend away with my own children, whose gasps of delight from the back seat, as they spy the almost-iridescent green hills dotted with grazing cattle, remind me that the journey may be quicker than in my youth – thanks to the M1 Princess Highway – but the breathtaking scenery is unchanged.

We start our weekend of discovery at Blowhole Point, home of the famous Kiama Blowhole, formed from volcanic lava flows about 260 million years ago, and best viewed in south east winds. We wait patiently for the right-sized swell to roll in and then, whoosh, up into the air shoots a powerful jet of sea spray, drawing thrills and laughter from onlookers of all ages. On the headland, Kiama Lighthouse, built in 1887, stands tall and proud, unmistakable within the spectacular 360-degree view from the Point.  41

SHOWCASE

The streets of Kiama have retained all of their coastal and regional charm, with a number of original heritage buildings and structures still standing, including the Memorial Arch, first unveiled on Anzac Day in 1925; the Post Office of 1878 and Kiama Court House of 1860. Terrace houses, first built as modest housing for local quarry workers in 1886, line Collins Street.

It’s Saturday lunch time and we wander into one of the old converted terrace houses – The Hungry Monkey. With its industrial styling, vibrant music playing and quirky touches including a giant monkey face on the wall, it has appeal for friends, families and couples. Kids' Oreo shakes are a winner, and the children’s menu includes bacon and eggs, three-stack pancakes, chicken strips or cheeky monkey

Kids pancakes at The Hungry Monkey

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burgers. From the main menu, I opt for the Southern Fry burger with southern fried chicken, red cabbage, Monterey Jack, jalapenos and monkey hot sauce. It’s a flavour explosion!

Setting out to explore local attractions, we make our way to Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, which promises adventures in a temperate rainforest setting – whether you want to keep your feet on the ground or not. The easy 1500 metre walk through the rainforest along the Illawarra Escarpment is suitable for all ages. Armed with pencils and a puzzle to solve, the kids set off to unscramble the letters to a mystery word, with each new letter revealed across ten fairy and elf houses positioned throughout the rainforest. We venture onto the springboard cantilevers that are suspended 25 metres above the forest floor.

If a strong wind is blowing, it’s possible to feel a wobble along the pathways, which thrills my sons, who try to create even more bounce along the walkway, despite my protests. Other visitors choose to zipline through the forest (with trained guides), whizzing above us on elevated cables, flying from one landing platform to another.

We continue our ascent to the 45-metre spiral tower. At the top, broad views of the whole district emerge, and the suspension walkways now seem so very far down beneath us.

For a more subdued and quiet rainforest experience, we explore the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Jamberoo, where the only sounds emanate from the lyrebirds and whipbirds and occasional flowing streams. On a 1.6-kilometre loop walk, we pass blue butterflies, and giant boulders in creek beds, crossed via Indiana Jones-style netted bridges. My daughter hugs the ancient vines that are dangling around enormous tree trunks. There is a longer and steeper walk option, the Falls Walk, which is a continuation of the Loop Walk along the canyon cliff edge to the Minnamurra Falls. From here, visitors can recharge afterwards at the Rainforest Centre’s café.

Our accommodation for the weekend is at Frangipani House, a rental property on acreage, not far from the Minnamurra Rainforest.

KIAMA FACT

The Kiama Visitor’s Centre on Blowhole Point Road is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9am until 5pm. kiama.com.au

SHOWCASE

Minnamurra Rainforest

Kiama Lighthouse with water spraying out of the blowhole

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures

1887 The Kiama Lighthouse, built in 1887, stands proud on the headland

And while there are plenty of fantastic accommodation options in the heart of town, and within walking distance of great cafes, shops and attractions, there was something about staying among thick lush green hills and peaceful valleys that appealed to this city slicker.

Frangipani House is a modern, threebedroom home with a full-sized and fully equipped kitchen, laundry, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, in ground swimming pool overlooking the valley and, possibly my favourite feature, a parents’ retreat dwelling, just steps from the main house, with its own large bedroom and a bathroom with a freestanding tub. I’m also pleasantly surprised to discover that the home’s owner, Louise Adam, has a love of vintage, and the house is tastefully decorated with a number of original and restored 1950s pieces – there’s even a 1958 Globetrotter caravan parked in the carport which we are welcome to go inside for a glimpse of family holidaying more than 60 years ago.

We take a dip in the pool, with the sound of cows mooing in the distance and for dinner we try Penny Whistlers, and enjoy magical views  43

SHOWCASE

Quarry worker terrace houses

and a sunset over Kiama harbour. My 5-year old son isn’t convinced he will like the kids’ nachos, but in the end he eats the lot, while my eldest devours his ham and cheese quesadilla. My partner loves the flavours in their signature Mocequa (a Brazilian stew with mussels, calamari, scallops and fish); while Pete’s Belgian chocolate mousse with poached berries and biscotti is flawless.

A beautiful sunrise across the valley, and a symphony of birds and cattle moving about in the fields, greets us the next morning. Feeling energetic, we tackle the Kiama Coast Walk (that runs from Kiama to Gerringong), from Werri Lagoon. The track stretches for several kilometres, with some parts along unprotected cliff tops – (keep your eyes on little ones.)

Between May and July, and September to November, you may even spot migrating whales along the coastline. The flat, roadside stretch alongside Werri Beach itself is beautifully scenic, and is suitable for younger children to ride bikes or scooters. We fossick about the Werri Lagoon, finding feathers and shells and wading in the shallow lagoon waters, framed on one side by surf and on the other, more sloping 44

Werri Lagoon

green fields. My daughter spontaneously scrawls ‘I Kiama’ in the sand.

For one of the best local coffee stops, drop in to The Blue Swimmer at Gerroa where locals are spilling onto the streets, Sydney-style, waiting for their takeaway coffee. We dine indoors, sampling the decadent fresh cakes, and enjoying views over Gerroa and of the kids’ park across the road. A stroll around nearby Gerringong also reveals more character-filled heritage buildings and lifestyle shops as well as chic eateries. We loved the brand new The Hill Bar and Kitchen in Fern Street opened in December 2018. Offering sweeping beach vistas as well as outdoor

KIAMA FACT

Kiama is approximately 90 minutes’ drive south of Sydney; 3 hours from Canberra; and 2 hours from the Blue Mountains.

Trains run from Sydney to Kiama on the South Coast line every hour. The trip takes 2 hours.

SHOWCASE Werri Lagoon

lounges and deck seating, it has some of the most generously sized children’s meals I’ve ever seen.

Across the road is The Collective Beat – an emporium of more than 40 diverse local businesses selling their homewares, arts and creative goods. I loved the pottery made by local lady and former high school teacher Zeynep Testoni, who we had met earlier that day in her studio in Gerringong. The colourful and lively Zeynep runs adult pottery classes and while she currently doesn’t run kids’ classes, her casual classes are proving popular on weekends for out-of-towners who can purchase a twohour or four-hour ‘Pottery Day Out’ voucher, followed by home-made scones by Zeynep’s husband, Marcus. During the first weekend of each month, several artists open their homes and workshops to visitors as part of the Kiama Arts Trail.

The Jamberoo Pub and Johnny Warren Museum is a short drive from our accommodation. The family-owned and operated traditional Aussie pub has been the watering hole for locals since 1857. Catch live music in the beer garden on Sundays between 2 and 5pm.

As we drive out of Kiama after a weekend of walking on sands and in rainforests, swimming, filling our bellies with quality food and more, my five-year-old calls goodbye to the cows through the car’s open window. My daughter announces she will be sharing her Kiama adventures with the class on her upcoming school News Day – including that she spotted a classmate sitting at the next table to us in a café! Clearly, Kiama is the place to be.

At top of The Tower at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures

Head to Kiama in Winter for a perfect cool-weather weekend away.

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SHOWCASE

SEE & DO:

Phuket family holidays

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SHOWCASE

T Main: Idyllic family at beautiful tropical sea beach. Phuket island, Thailand Top left to right: Flying Hanuman Zipline, Surf House, Phuket Walking Street

There are so many great reasons why families who visit Phuket once return time and time again for their holidays. Thailand’s biggest island, nestled in the Andaman Sea, is renowned for its bountiful beaches and warm, welcoming and friendly people. It’s true that the island’s coral reefs brim with amazing marine life, perfect for snorkelling and kayaking (and diving) adventures that reveal a fascinating and colourful undersea world, up-close.

But Phuket is also a family-friendly destination bursting with plenty of fun attractions and experiences, beyond its white sands.

Soak up the Southern Thailand atmosphere at Phuket Walking Street, the very popular Sunday night market held in Phuket Old Town on Thalang Road. The vibrant, familyfriendly market promotes the region’s culture, food and handicrafts, while buzzing with a cosmopolitan vibe that includes great coffee, clothes and souvenirs, restaurants and bars and entertainment for young and old alike. 4pm10pm each Sunday.

Natural beauty abounds in Phuket’s rainforest landscape and, within the island’s national parks, each diverse terrain showcases the care with which the conservation and preservation of native flora and fauna is undertaken here.

Gentle trails through the ‘jungle’ give families the opportunity to experience Phuket’s

stunning waterfalls, crystal clear waterholes, ancient caverns and delightful wildlife.

Book a session, or even a lesson, at Surf House Phuket – an ocean simulator, complete with waves, that allows kids to have fun surfing in a safe and supervised environment. More experienced surfers can book into a session while novices can get to grips with surfing technique during a private lesson. Minimum height requirement is 107cm (3ft 5”). Surf House is in two Phuket locations – at Kata Beach and Patong Beach.

Kids aged four years and over can experience the thrills of ziplining across the thick and lush hillsides of Phuket at Flying Hanuman, Hanuman World or Tarzan Adventure Phuket, eco-adventures that have been created with the emphasis on minimising any destructive impact on the flora and fauna in the area. Visitors get a rare treat here – zipping from ancient tree to ancient tree in this ancient rainforest. Enjoy a leisurely wilderness walk on the forest floor if flying sky high is not your thing!

Adults and kids can learn a new ‘extreme’ sport with Anthem Wakepark’s team of highly qualified instructors who can help beginners, from 4 years to 70, to experience the popular sport of wakeboarding safely and easily, tackling beginner circuits and obstacles like a  47

SHOWCASE

TRIBHUM: THE MYSTICAL THREE WORLDS For something completely different, Phuket’s newest tourist attraction is a theme park that mixes adventure, fantasy and technology in an unmissable experience for the whole family.

“TRIBHUM: The Mystical Three Worlds” is a 3D walkthrough adventure thAt transports visitors into a mystical realm of Siamese legend, through creative storytelling and superb interactive technology.

Located in front of the Floresta Zone of Central Phuket in Phuket Town, “TRIBHUM: The Mystical Three Worlds” invites visitors to immerse themselves in three different and magical worlds.

‘The Magic Forest World’ – be lured by the enchanted dance of the Makaleetrees through the ‘Vanekampoo Monkey’ zone (inhabited by half-monkey/halfoyster creatures!) Speak to the Talking Tree and hear your voice change into that of Tribhum plants; survive poisonous flowers in the Blood Flower Cave; be transformed into a Tribhum creature; catch a glimpse of a Kinnaree, and break the spell of the icy Wild Illusion.

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‘The Silver Mountain World’ – journey on the 4-storey high Silver Glider ride that reaches a speed of over 45km per hour, and on the 60m long and 20m high Crystal Path glass skywalk. In the Garuda Dome, visitors will find themselves in the middle of a virtual world battle for the elixir of immortality, and in the Demon Maze, on the run from thirsty demons.

‘The Underwater World’ – cruise along a secret passage to encounter the mythical creature attendants of the Naga King; marvel at the mesmerising sight of thousands of real-life fireflies in The ThousandFirefly Tunnel, and experience the thrill of flying in the ultimate 4D animation flying theatre!

“TRIBHUM: The Mystical Three Worlds” also includes restaurants, souvenir shop and concierge and is open daily (except Wednesday) from 11am until 8pm. Admission is 1,500 Baht for adults, and 750 Baht for children (over 120cm height) and seniors 60 years and older.

Children under 90cm height and people with disabilities (Disability ID card required) are admitted free.

real pro! Equally, if you’re already experienced, you can thrill to the challenge of the circuits designed for intermediate and advanced wakeboarders.

Kids (and adults) can learn the fine art of Thai boxing – Muay Thai – in group or single training classes at Phuket’s Tiger Muay Thai & MMA, an elite training camp and gym for professionals from around the world, and the perfect place to begin your introduction to this traditional Thai discipline.

Did you know that the Andaman Sea hosts one of the largest nesting populations of certain species of sea turtles? You can meet these gorgeous marine creatures and see the results of various conservation programs at the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Shelter and Education Center, within the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa. Run by The Foundation for the Conservation of Sea Turtles Mai Khao Beach, the shelter was originally built as a rehabilitation pond for two disabled turtles – Tommy and Jerry. Entry is free but donations are welcome!

You can also get up close with sea turtles (and other wonderful marine life!) at Phuket Aquarium, where conservation and rehabilitation programs are run through the internationally renowned Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). You can visit a turtle

Anthem Wake Park Thalang

SHOWCASE

pond in front of the beach and the Aquarium daily, from 8.30am to 4.30pm (ticket sales close at 4pm). Phuket Aquarium’s vibrant aquatic displays and interactive exhibits attract over 300,000 visitors each year. The Aquarium is located at the southernmost tip of Panwa Cape.

The residents at Nemo Dolphins Bay, Phuket’s only dolphinarium, were all born

in captivity in the Ukraine and have never experienced the real ocean, hunting or survival in the wild. At Dolphins Bay, the dolphins are revered, and loved, by a special team of dedicated carers, vets and trainers as part of the dolphinarium’s Dolphin Therapy program.

Daily dolphin shows are suitable for the whole family.

For more information visit: Amazing Thailand amazingthailand. com.au

WHERE TO STAY

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket – 5 STAR

Situated at the north end of Karon Beach, this absolute beachfront property is secluded, yet only 10 minutes walk to the heart of Karon Village. All guest rooms are ocean facing and have balconies.

FOR FAMILIES: • Water Park for in-house guests only – including lazy river, water slides, cliff jumps and waterfalls (all patrolled with lifeguards) • Under 12 Kids Club • E-zone for teenagers with electronic games, table hockey and more • Full range of activities throughout the day (most are free) • Two swimming pools with swim up pool bar. One pool is adultsonly • Most room categories have the option of two double beds, and interconnecting rooms are available • Kids under 12 years stay (in existing bedding) and eat breakfast free centarahotelsresorts.com/ centaragrand/cpbr

Centara Kata Resort – 4 STAR

Centara Karon Resort – 4 STAR

Centara Blue Marine – 4 STAR

FOR FAMILIES: • Small resort ideal for families • Three swimming pools.The main swimming pool is complete with a water slide.

• Broad range of accommodation options, including family deluxe rooms with two double beds, and many 1-bedroom family suites with separate living area suitable for three children,inclusinf a convertible double sofa bed in the living room plus kitchenette including a cooking range, microwave, refrigerator and toaster.

• Excellent Kids Club centarahotelsresorts.com/ centara/ckt

FOR FAMILIES: • Three separate accommodation zones • Three swimming pools including a family pool with slides, caves, and waterfalls • Under 12 Kids Club • E-zone for teens with electronic games, table hockey and more • Full range of (mostly free) activities throughout the day • Accommodation – family deluxe Lagoon wing and Tropicale wing both offer the option of two double beds in one room, and also interconnecting rooms.

• Kids under 12 years stay (in existing bedding) and eat breakfast free centarahotelsresorts.com/ centara/ckr

FOR FAMILIES: • Choose from spacious rooms or villas that provide flexible options for families or two families travelling together.

Deluxe two bedroom family suites can accommodate two adults and three children. For a little more luxury indulge in a deluxe two bedroom pool villa accommodating up to four adults and two children.

• Kids Club is located close to the family pool complete with a water slide.

• Kids activities • Kids 11 years and under stay and play for free at this resort. centarahotelsresorts.com/ centara/cmp

This very family-friendly property is situated right in the heart of Kata Village, a short walk to some of the best, and best value, restaurants in Phuket and plenty of shopping options. Walk or take the hotel shuttle to the beach.

Situated right in heart of Karon Village this spacious resort is five minutes walk to markets, shops, restaurants and entertainment.

If you would like to be close to the nightlife, shopping and entertainment of Patong, this is the perfect place to stay – all just a short walk from the hotel, or hop on the hotel shuttle. The property is beautifully set on a hillside, with amazing views of the Andaman Sea.

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O N I H S O H U M A M O T S T R O S E R

One of Japan’s most family-friendly, ski resorts just happens to be located in a region renowned for the best high-quality (powder) snowfall in the country. You can’t get better than that.

Seasonally, from December through to the end of March, Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU in Hokkaido bustles with the 50

excitement of families settling in for a sensational holiday packed with wintry wonders.

Seamlessly combining white season activities that appeal to the whole family – like skiing and snowboarding – with innovative and entertaining children and family 

RISONARE Tomamu

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Images: © Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Indoor wave pool Mina-Mina Beach

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Explore the Ice Village, only available once the temperature drops below 20 degrees celcius.

Ice village - The Tower, buffet breakfast - Risonare

experiences, a holiday here is nothing short of exceptional, and definitely unforgettable.

For a start, there is the resort’s famous Ice Village. This structure only emerges once the temperature at Tomamu drops below 20 degrees Celsius (around mid-December). That’s when conditions are just right to magically bring the village to life each new season.

On the daily activities list at the resort is a whole bunch of delights – from dogsled tours and banana boat rides to snow rafting and snowshoe walks – including Tomamu exclusive adventures like a family treasure hunt through the winter forest, and hand-line fishing, through a hole in a frozen lake, before cooking your catch right there. The GAO Outdoor Center has every activity covered! And at Christmas, of course, the resort brims with even more fabulous family festivities (plus Santa and his reindeers 52

too).

Skiing and snowboarding for kids at Tomamu, regardless of their experience, is not only easy to arrange it’s also heaps of fun. Beginners can find their snow legs at the Kids Academy that focuses on lessons presented via fun and challenging creative stories. They can then head out to Adventure Mountain with instructors to test their new skills in a safe environment – Nipo’s Mountain is perfect for young beginners and Chokkari’s Mountain for children with some experience.

Nipo Town provides little ones who are too young to ski or snowboard with the opportunity to enjoy supervised snow time in an adults and kids

beginner’s area. Here you will also find the GAO Kids Activity Club wonderland that combines nursery, lunch and snow in a full-day program and also provides all-ages programs for older children. Kids particularly love the special activities that also invite the participation of parents!

And after a full day of snow activities, the whole family can head to the beach.

Yes, that’s right. Tomamu has its very own indoor ‘beach’ – one of the largest wave pools in Japan. Inside the glass domed Mina-Mina Beach, the temperature is consistently 30°C (sometimes higher) – no shivering in here!

Families can choose from a variety

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of accommodation types across the two Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU hotels – Tomamu the Tower and Hoshino Resorts RISONARE. Tomamu the Tower is a contemporary and affordable hotel ideal for families. Family Rooms range from 2-people to 5-people accommodation options. Pop into Lounge yukku yukku, offering coffee and cakes during the day and local wines after sunset. Browse through the café’s 800 plus books and magazines, free to read and buy, and enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi too!

Hoshino Resort RISONARE is a luxury hotel designed as a family resort for adults! Spacious Suite Rooms and Design Suites options can

accommodate up to six guests, or settle into the relaxing Mamarakuda Suite Room, created with ‘the most tired person on the trip’ in mind – mum! The room has been designed to reduce the stress of mothers and help them really enjoy their stay, with baby-proofing taken care of and no shoes allowed, plus an in-room jacuzzi big enough to accommodate the whole family! At the hotel’s Books&Café, everyone can relax together in a chilled out family space with free coffee and free Wi-Fi. Both hotels offer convenient ski-in/ ski-out accommodation, ski and snowboard rentals, and a safe play area – the Kids Room – conveniently located next to both Lobbies.

Dining choices appear endless at the Resort! Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee break or snack time, the smorgasbord of restaurants, cafes, bars and variety of cuisines is huge! Ramen, gelato, seafood, cakes and pastries, sushi and steak can be found, along with pub food, fine dining and buffets to ensure every palate is catered for and no one ever goes hungry. If that’s not enough, Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is constantly rolling out new dining experiences and outlets to add to the existing vast choice. snowtomamu.jp/winter/en 53

Images: © Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Clockwise: Tomamu Ski, Family Fourth Room, Mina-Mina Beach

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Image: Daniel Bayer

SHOWCASE

SNOW HEAVEN IN ASPEN With four mountains, one of the most famous ski towns on the planet, and drop-dead gorgeous scenery, no wonder Aussie families love Aspen/Snowmass in Colorado, USA. EDEN WHITMORE invites us to delve into the Aspen magic.

The Breathtaker alpine coaster at Snowmass

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Australians have been migrating to Aspen like clockwork for decades, forsaking the golden sun and rollicking surf of the summer for the corduroy slopes and revered peaks of Aspen.

In fact, Australia is number one on the list of international visitors to Aspen, which is pretty impressive when you think about it. But Aspen is Aspen, and just saying the name makes the ski and snowboard fraternity go weak at the knees.

Here’s why.

THE POWER OF FOUR Buttermilk, just five minutes from town on the free shuttle, is perfect for easing into your ski holiday, as it is has the lowest elevation of the four peaks, and the majority of runs cater for beginners and intermediates. Buttermilk also has The Hideout, a wonderful learning centre for budding skiers and snowboarders with ski lessons from age 2 ½ and snowboard lessons from age 5. More experienced kids will love

the terrain park down Teaser and the runs off Tiehack.

Aspen Highlands is a serious mountain for seriously good skiers, with Highland Bowl Nirvana for visitors and locals alike – especially on a powder day. Spread your wings on the runs off Exhibition chair then branch out to Cloud Nine chair, which has a spread of blue runs off it. Go up Loge chair and you are committed to mostly double black runs, and it is from here that the hike begins up the ridgeline to the Bowl.

Aspen Mountain, or ‘Ajax’, as it’s known by locals, looms up front and centre with the charming town in its shadow. The gondola and seven chairlifts service 103kms of trails, all for intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders. Highlights are the runs around Ajax Express and Ruthie’s, with the run down Copper, which leads down to the Silver Gondola, delivering gobsmacking scenery over the town.

See if you can find any of the shrines located 

Left to right: A ski lesson on Buttermilk, Enjoy a terrain park in Aspen, The Treehouse Adventure Center in Snowmass caters for children from eight weeks, The gondola sweeps up Aspen Mountain with Aspen down below 56

Image: Scott Markewitz

SHOWCASE

SKI HIRE

Images: Jeremy Swanson - Aspen Snowmass

If you don’t have your own gear, hire it from Four-Mountain Sports, located at all four mountains.

They have a ski valet at the base of each mountain to store and transfer your equipment from mountain to mountain.

Take it easy on the first day and drink plenty of water so your body can adjust to the altitude. For a bit of fun, buy some oxygen!

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Images: Daniel Bayer

Top: Hot chocolate on Aspen Mountain Left: The new Breathtaker alpine coaster at Snowmass Right: Aspen is magical at night 58

around the mountain, to people such as Jerry Garcia, John Denver and Marilyn Monroe. Have lunch at the Sun Deck up the top and, at the end of the day, settle in for drinks and truffle chips at The Little Nell’s Ajax Tavern.

Snowmass has more terrain than the other three mountains put together, so plan to spend more than one day exploring it. Better still, stay over – Snowmass has plenty of excellent ski-in, ski-out accommodation. This is skiing heaven with cruisers, glades, steeps, terrain parks and a halfpipe. Snowmass is another great place for lessons, with The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, like The Hideout, setting the bar as far as kids facilities go, with separate themed areas for each age group. The Elk Camp Meadows area up the gondola is another wonderful area for kids starting out.

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OTHER THINGS TO DO Every Friday night from late December to April, Elk Camp at Snowmass hosts Ullr Nights, with all kinds of fun activities for little Vikings including tubing, riding the new Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, snowbiking, and s'mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire. You can even organise a snowshoeing tour run by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES).

In Aspen, the Recreation Center has a heated pool, a lazy river and waterslide, providing a great break off the snow. And should you choose to stay in Snowmass, the new Limelight Hotel has an ice rink, a doughnut shop with killer cronuts, and a climbing wall.

Whether you are in Snowmass or Aspen, do spend time exploring the shops in Aspen. There are plenty of places that are family friendly for dinner, or if you stay in a condo you can shop up a storm at the supermarket and cook the family’s favourite winter meal.

For something special, take a snowcat up the mountain for a magical, family friendly dinner on either the Lynn Britt Cabin on Snowmass or Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro on Aspen Highlands. It will be something your family won’t forget in a hurry.

More information on Aspen/Snowmass aspensnowmass. com

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Whale Watching Watching migrating whales cruise along the coastline is an awesome sight. In Australia, we’re very fortunate to have many outstanding scenic spots along our east and west coastlines from which to whale watch from land, and a number of great whale watching cruises that take you out to sea for an unforgettable, up-close experience.

Whale watching season in Australia runs from May to November each year.

Southern right whales journey to the temperate breeding waters off Southern Australia and Victoria, while energetic humpback whales continue north to the Great Barrier Reef and Kimberley, to mate and calve.

NEW SOUTH WALES May - late November Humpbacks make their way up the east coast via Sydney Harbour, and the best onshore vantage point in the city is The Gap at South Head in Watsons Bay. From anywhere in the Port Stephens region north of Sydney, and on the south coast, from

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Jervis Bay all the way to Merimbula on the Sapphire Coast, you are almost guaranteed a whale sighting during the season. From June you can see them playing within a hundred metres of the Cape Byron Lighthouse at Byron Bay in northern NSW.

VICTORIA May – September Head to Logans Beach in Warrnambool and watch southern right whales calve in a nursery close to shore. They stay here for several weeks, helping their babies build strength for the long journey back to sub-Antarctic waters. At Lady Bay, also in Warrnambool, new mums often come close enough to spray you with breakwater.

Further along the Great Ocean Road, see rare blue whales in their last feeding month stop at Cape Nelson near Portland.

Visit Phillip Island between May and October for the chance to see humpback whales, southern right whales and orcas as they migrate from Antarctica to the warmer waters off 

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Humpback whale jumping out of the water in Australia 61

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Whales play an important role in the food chain. A humpback whale can eat 2500kg of krill and plankton each day, which gives you an idea what would happen if humpback whales were to become extinct

Whale songs are an example of nurture, not nature – and all whales learn and perfect their Whales are highly tunes throughout An intelligent (in the top adult humpback five smartest animals on the their life whale can weigh up to planet!) and can self-recognise,

FUN WHALE FACTS

five times more than 5 adult elephants

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which is something few animals can do

The average humpback lifespan is believed to be 30-40 years

Females bear a calf every 2-3 years

Whales cruise along humpback highway at a speed of 5-15km per hour

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Learn more about whales and whale watching in Australia Tourism Australia australia.com/en

Queensland for calving.

The Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail offers many great vantage points for whale spotting as it wends through iconic bays, headlands and beaches, with signs along the way providing interesting information on the mysterious life of whales!

If you want to get closer, Phillip Island’s 90-minute Wild Oceans EcoBoat Adventure Tour departs daily and, from June through to September, migrating humpback whales can be spotted, as well as Australia’s largest fur seal colony at Seal Rocks. penguins.org.au/attractions/ecoboat-tours

QUEENSLAND May - November Hervey Bay, around 300km north of Brisbane, is the state’s whale watching hot spot, with humpbacks stopping in to breed and lingering to nurse their young, en route from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef. You won’t be disappointed whale watching on the Fraser Coast! Each year in July and August, their arrival is celebrated at the Hervey Bay Whale Festival, with concerts, street parades and displays. Further south, the Gold Coast is right in the middle of ‘humpback highway’ and offers a variety of tours to see whales in the wild. For a truly unforgettable experience, swim with the playful dwarf minke whales on the Great Barrier Reef (June-July).

TASMANIA May - July & September - December See humpback whales and southern right whales coasting through the clear waters of Great Oyster Bay on Tasmania’s east coast. You might also catch sight of whales with their calves in Mercury Passage off Maria Island.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA June - November The south coast is the best place for spotting whales in WA, with humpbacks and southern right whales frequently frolicking in Augusta’s Flinders Bay from early June, and rare blue whales and calves joining bottlenose dolphins in Geographe Bay in Dunsborough in September.

Further south, southern right whales take shelter in Albany's bays to mate and from June to November, humpback whales can be spotted travelling northwest to Broome

SOUTH AUSTRALIA June - September Southern right whales come to breed around Victor Harbor’s Encounter Bay, and further out near Granite Island Causeway.

In Ceduna, you can watch whales perform graceful somersaults from the viewing platform or from the beach.

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Spot whales Spot whales from April to November on the from April to November on the

Celebrate the whales! annual arr Celebrate the annual arrival of the

Join in a whole host of FRE Join in for a whole host of FREE orfor low-cost activities:  Follow the Bass Coast Whale Trail  Whale out of Water  Science Talks and Discussions  Marine Wildlife Photo Exhibition & Workshop

     

 Follow Bass Coast Learn aboutthe Boomerang Bags Whale Plastic FreeTrail education  Whale out of Water Marine Wildlife Movies  Science Talks and Stories and Craft Fun Discussions Whale Spotting  Marine Wildlife Photo and much more...& Workshop Exhibition

     

L P M S W a

For visit: program d For program details and more info,

islandwh islandwhales.com.au

SHOWCASE Melbourne’s West was a fabulous mother and son overnight Staycation for Katie and 11-year-old son Jackson.

They each share the highlights of their 2-day adventure.

BY KATIE CAGE AND JACKSON BIRD

BEST of the WEST

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W With a vast choice of family-friendly experiences (from museums to historical sights, parks and gardens) Melbourne’s West offers plenty of fun for families.

In addition to the popular Scienceworks Museum, you can add the Newport Railway Museum, the HMAS Castlemaine and the Williamstown Historical Museum to the long list of attractions.

Enjoy a day of educational exploration before retracing Ned Kelly’s steps at Point Gellibrand Heritage Park. Here is where you will find one of Melbourne’s newest and quirkiest playgrounds.

Splash around at Crocodile Park in Point Cook or learn about the life of frogs at Leap Frog Park.

Cornerstone’s Safari Park in Werribee includes a 6.2-metre giraffe nest swing, while budding pilots will fall in love with Tarneit’s Aeroplane Park. melbourneswest.com.au

MORNING AT SCIENCEWORKS MUSEUM

Left: Commonwealth Reserve Williamstown, overlooking HMAS Castlemaine Right: Jackson climibng high at Cliffhanger Indoor Rock Climbing Gym 66

Wander through the immersive exhibitions that encourage kids to experiment and develop STEM skills through play. Explore the fabric of space, time and sound at Beyond Perception, race against Cathy Freeman or experience the night sky at the Melbourne Planetarium. museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks Jackson: Wow! This was so much fun. I ran fast, created some cool digital designs and almost touched the moon.

Katie: We could have stayed here all day exploring the hands-on experiences. A few tips – try to visit outside peak times, and book into the Planetarium show, which offers a little break from the interactive exhibits.

LUNCH IN WILLIAMSTOWN AT CHOCOLATE DIP A Middle Eastern menu featuring a sweet selection of desserts. Located directly opposite the Commonwealth Reserve with views of Gem Pier and Port Phillip Bay. chocolatedip.com.au Jackson: I really liked their chocolate sundae.

There was lots of chocolate and lots of ice cream. I also had a burger – it was my favourite.

Katie: The food at Chocolate Dip was amazing! An authentic Middle Eastern menu with a gorgeous beach backdrop. Judging by my son’s empty plate, the kids’ menu was a definite winner. 

SHOWCASE

Explore the fabric of space, time and sound at Beyond Perception

Scienceworks Museum of the Moon

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EARLY AFTERNOON EXPLORING WILLIAMSTOWN Experience the heritage waterfront precinct of Nelson Place before walking through Point Gellibrand Park to Williamstown Beach. Discover Australia’s maritime history on the HMAS Castlemaine, and end the afternoon with an ice cream at Kiosk d’Asporto. visitwilliamstown.com.au Jackson: I got an ice-cream at the café and tried to feed some to the birds (I don’t think they liked it).

It was fun to climb on the rocks and we could see jellyfish in the water.

Katie: I wasn’t expecting such a terrific family space at Williamstown Beach. A great picnic area, easy parking and a track from the footpath, over the sand to the water, allows beach access for wheelchairs and prams. The gelato at the café was delicious.

EXCITEMENT AT CLIFFHANGER INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING Tackle the tallest indoor rock climbing venue in the Southern Hemisphere at Cliffhanger, with activities to suit all ages. cliffhanger.com.au Jackson: I loved going rock climbing. I climbed to the very top and it was fun, not scary. It may look high when you go but it’s very fun.

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Katie: I can tell you now that Cliffhanger was more confronting for me than it was for Jackson (who almost ran up the first wall). But our teacher was so amazing and the facility is really well set up for children, allowing them to explore their limits in a safe and encouraging environment.

DINNER AT THE PARK IN WERRIBEE Feast on American-style fare washed down with craft beers and specialty cocktails at one of Melbourne’s best local pubs. theparkwerribee.com.au Jackson: I loved the food here. I had brisket with macaroni and cheese balls. My favourite part was the massive cookies and cream milkshake.

Katie: I was completely surprised and delighted to find such authentic American food in west Melbourne. The brisket was sensational but they couldn’t outshine the expansive cocktail menu – I would definitely recommend the Slow Gin Fizz!!!

SHOWCASE

OVERNIGHT STAY AT QUEST WERRIBEE Bunk down in an apartment-style room at Quest Werribee. With a fully equipped kitchen and laundry, it’s ideal for families. questapartments.com.au/properties/vic/ werribee/quest-werribee/overview

MORNING AT WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO For wildlife adventures, this is a must visit, as is the Dingo Discovery Centre where you can cuddle adorable dingo puppies. See kangaroos and wallabies in the wild at Brimbank Park, or a pride of lions close up at Lion’s Edge. Take your kids on the free off road safari experience. zoo.org.au/werribee Jackson: The Lions Edge was my favourite part. I really liked how they put kangaroo meat on top of the jeep so I could see the lions up close through the glass when they came to eat.

Katie: I can’t recommend Werribee Zoo more highly. Not only is it such a fun experience for kids but also a great insight on protecting our most vulnerable animals.

Image: Elisa Elwin

Jackson: The hotel was great. They had a yummy breakfast in a box delivered to the room! The beds were amazing and super soft. I stood on the balcony and could see all the people on the street.

Katie: Just what we needed after a long day exploring Melbourne’s west. A comfy home away from home where we could unwind and relax. The boxed breakfast was perfect for families who were keen to get moving early the next morning.

AFTERNOON AT HISTORIC MANSION AND FARM AT WERRIBEE PARK PRECINCT Step back into the Victorian era while touring the grand interior of Werribee Mansion and its surrounding heritage gardens. visitvictoria.com/regions/melbourne/ destinations/werribee Jackson: This was really fun. The flowers were pretty and the mansion was really old. I also got to see the vegetable gardens that the community groups were making.

Katie: I hadn’t been here since I was young and it was even better than I remembered. A stunning mansion with the most spectacular gardens. melbourneswest.com.au

Left to right: Scienceworks.

Ground Up Building Big Ideas Together, Werribee Open Range Zoo giraffes and rhinos, Katie and Jackson in Victoria State Rose Garden, Werribee Park.

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Main: The Children’s Festival area in a shaded grove Right: Face painting is just one of the Woodford traditions for families 70

SHOWCASE

WHY YOU E K A T D L U O SH E H T O T S D I YOUR K D FOLK R O F D O O W FESTIVAL

Images: Woodford Folk Festival

As the largest not-for-profit arts and music festival in Australia, Woodford Folk Festival is a world unto itself that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. The popular family-friendly annual event runs across six days and nights, from 27 December through to 1 January on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Woodford not only caters to a diverse demographic of music lovers, environmentalists, artists and entrepreneurs, but it also boasts an incredible children’s program that makes it ideal for families.

But if you’re feeling hesitant as to whether a large-scale festival is ideal for your family, here are just a few of the reasons why you should go.

A DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCES Whether you’re into circus or cabaret, comedy or street theatre, dance or debate, the Woodford Folk Festival  71

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experiences range from intimate arts workshops like lantern making and letter writing, to largescale music spectaculars in the 25,000-seat amphitheatre and an entire children’s festival dedicated to young punters.

DISCOVER THE POP-UP TOWN OF WOODFORDIA Seeing a cultural parkland dedicated to the arts spring up on a 500-acre dairy farm is an experience in itself! The property has been lovingly regenerated over the years with thousands of subtropical rainforest species to create a natural habitat for wildlife while having the infrastructure to accommodate a festival population of 25,000 people.

Images: Woodford Folk Festival

ENJOY THE DEDICATED KIDS FESTIVAL AREA Kids are incredibly well catered for at Woodfordia with their very own festival area nestled in a shaded grove. The program features an inspiring mix of workshops, performances, arts and crafts, as well as a stunning evening light parade to close the day.

The Woodford Children’s Folk Festival is driven by a philosophy of giving and receiving in equal measure 72

while providing a space for kids to learn something new while having fun. You can stay for the entire festival or just visit for a single day to get a feel for what’s on offer.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHILDREN’S MINDING SERVICE If you want to check out your favourite performers (without the kids in tow), head to the Land of Nod. This chill out zone provides a space where they can escape the hustle and bustle of the festival in the trusted care of qualified supervisors. Aside from a sandpit, water splash pool and book corner, there’s also a napping area where they can rest and recharge.

PLAN AN AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOLIDAY With eight different venues at the Children’s Festival and a never ending array of activities, performances and workshops included in your ticket price, Woodford provides one of the most affordable festive season family holidays in the Sunshine Coast region.

Top: Play, explore, discover and create Right: The Stardust Theatre is just one of the 8 venues with interactive experiences giving families amazing opportunities to connect

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TEMPT YOUR TASTE BUDS WITH THE GLOBAL GASTRONOMY When Woodfordia springs to life, so do almost 200 stalls selling everything from crafts and clothing to a smorgasbord of global cuisines. You’ll also find plenty of tempting treats to suit all taste buds – from freshly-ground coffee to wholesome organic fare and kid-friendly festival favourites.

IT’S AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FESTIVAL With a long-established commitment to environmental sustainability, the Woodford Folk Festival strives to make its site as eco-friendly as possible. Aside from its “closed loop” water and wastewater management practices, dedication to recycling and on-site composting innovations, the festival also runs an educational (and inspirational) environmental program over the course of the six days. Kid-friendly activities range from tree planting to installing butterfly habitats, offering young visitors a hands-on role in ensuring the natural setting remains beautiful for generations to come.

EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM BRISBANE At just one hour’s drive northwest of Brisbane, the Woodford Folk Festival can easily be enjoyed as a day trip, or you can settle in for the entire week.

A special bus service also runs between the site and the Caboolture Railway Station during the festival. Nine on-site campgrounds provide great accommodation, or you can opt to stay in a nearby hotel with all the modern creature comforts. woodfordfolkfestival.com

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL • The site becomes the 67th largest town in Australia during the festival, with over 125,000 people attending over six days.

• A closed-loop water system collects all water on site and treats it in a revolutionary wastewater treatment plant, with about a million litres of water used every day.

• Over 50,000 rolls of recycled toilet paper are used during the festival, stretching over 1,000kms if laid out!

• More than 110,000 trees and 600 different species have been planted on the festival site since 1994.

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6 Hawaiian Islands 13 U.S. Cities Endless family experiences

Fly non-stop from Sydney or Brisbane to Honolulu and onward to 13 Mainland U.S.A cities including Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles & San Francisco.

Hawaiian Airlines also flies between the Hawaiian Islands with more than 170 daily jet flights.

Children under 12 years travel at a reduced rate on selected fare types.

Book now at HawaiianAirlines.com.au or contact your travel agent.

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Fiji’s Best 76 Hawai‘i

Hawaiian multi-gen holidays are booming, because Hawai‘i is the perfect destination for families to relax, connect, laugh and love.

96 The Ruby Collection We Review this shining new gem on The Gold Coast. This gorgeous property has something special for every member of the family.

105 Baby & Toddler

Our baby & toddler editor Angela Saurine discovers the pleasures and pitfalls of travelling with a baby for the first time.

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Why Hawai‘i is the perfect destination for Multi-Gen holidays Australians love Hawai‘i and, in fact, Aussie families are one of the largest groups of travellers who head to the Aloha State annually – for good reason. Each of the four main Hawaiian Islands caters perfectly, and uniquely, to families of all shapes, sizes and ages, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, and step-families. Hawaiian multi-gen holidays are booming, because Hawai‘i is the perfect destination for families to relax, connect, laugh and love.

MORE INFO

For more information on family travel in Hawai‘i visit gohawaii.com/au

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THE ISLAND OF HAWAI‘I There is plenty of adventure here to keep even the most energetic families entertained.

The Island of Hawai‘i’s force of nature is unrivalled, with all but four of the world’s temperate climate zones present and playing host to five volcanoes including Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Venture through Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, night snorkel with Manta Rays or stargaze on the summit of Mauna Kea.

MAUI

O‘AHU

KAUA‘I

The appealing excitement of Waikīkī and Honolulu are undeniable, but just a short 90-minute drive away is a tropical paradise renowned for big wave surfing, iconic food trucks and beautiful Turtle Bay. O‘ahu’s North Shore is legendary and family-friendly.

On the drive you will sample some of Hawai‘i’s freshest cuisine (don’t forget to try delicious shave ice!) and pit stop at the Polynesian Cultural Centre and historic Haleiwa town for a slice of culture.

Rainforests as far as the eye can see make Kaua‘i the greenest of the Hawaiian Islands. From the jawdropping cliffs of the Napali Coast to the awe-inspiring Waimea Canyon, Kaua‘i has also been the setting for Hollywood blockbusters like Jurassic Park and The Descendants. Hit the beach, take an ATV tour through Kīpū Ranch, head into lush forests on Hawai‘i’s longest zipline or experience exhilirating mountain tubing in the back country.

Maui is made for water babies! Take the whole family to experience the incredible Molokini Crater as you snorkel with Green Sea Turtles, and watch whales migrate along the coast. Hire a car and take a leisurely and scenic drive along the famous road to Hāna for picture-perfect views of the island.

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THE RAROTONGAN BEACH RESORT & LAGOONARIUM

KIDS STAY & PLAY FREE!

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and feeding the reef fish? Sounds like fun? Snorkelling among the colourful tropical fish in world-famous Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary? FREE stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, ‘try scuba’ in the pool? Racing your pick in the Crab Races? Learning to play the ukulele, dance the hula, make a fresh flower lei or husk a coconut?

Hanging out in the FREE Moko Kids Club? All sounds like fun?

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium is a unique location for your family to make fun new holiday memories together. The Rarotongan – where Kids+Teens Stay& Play FREE (to age 16). Check out the newlyrefurbished Beachfront Rooms & 2-Bedroom Beachfront Interconnecting Family Suites. Fly direct from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles.

Latest deals on www.TheRarotongan.com Aroa Beach + Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary Rarotonga | COOK ISLANDS | P (+682) 25800 info@therarotongan.com | www.TheRarotongan.com The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium – VOTED BEST FAMILY RESORT IN THE PACIFIC

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Cook Islands’ family favourite resort has a fresh new look The Cook Islands’ iconic Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium – voted Best Family Resort in the Pacific – has emerged from a complete refurbishment of all 20 Beachfront Rooms and 2-Bedroom Beachfront Interconnecting Family Suites.

The beautiful new rooms and suites now boast a fresh, light airy feel with stylish natural accents throughout to enhance their tropical island charm and character.

Super-king master beds have a romantic new canopy with polished rattan headboard, and have been reorientated to directly face the view of the beach and the crystal clear blue waters of Aroa Lagoon beyond.

New tech includes fibre-optic cabling to improve Wi-Fi access and TV reception, flat-screen TVs, new air-conditioners and a desk area. Mini

kitchenettes with a microwave have also now been introduced.

Guests staying in a ground-level Beachfront Room or groundlevel 2-Bedroom Beachfront Interconnecting Family Suite can step directly from their room onto the white sands of secluded Aroa Beach.

Accommodating up to four children, the popular Family Suites even provide kids with their own bedroom, bathroom and television. All rooms and suites enjoy views of Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary, the island’s best all-tide aquatic playground, perfect for complimentary stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fish feeding and swimming. Other free daily activities include in-pool scuba, hula, ukulele and island drums lessons, and tennis.

In fact, The Rarotongan is the

A newlyrefurbished Beachfront Room

island’s most family-friendly resort.

Kids & Teens to age 16 Stay FREE, Kids & Teens to age 16 Play FREE (Moko’s Kids Club for 4-11 years) plus Teen Zone for 12-16 years).

The Rarotongan is set on the sunny southwest coast of Rarotonga Island, reached via direct flights from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles and Papeete.

TheRarotongan.com

Image: Paul Osta

The Rarotongan provides rich cultural activities for children

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ENCOUNTER PARADISE In a remote setting that defines paradise, Koro Sun Resort & Rainforest Spa immerses you in a genuine Fijian experience that’s tropical nirvana. In the native north on “Fiji’s other big island” of Vanua Levu, this 160-acre sanctuary was born of a nature lover’s dream. The tropical retreat is etched within a coconut plantation that’s encircled by lush rainforest’s at the edge of a stunning private lagoon.

Stay 5 nights from FJD$3,310 Plus FREE Family Adventure Package

Our diverse accommodations and recreation has made Fiji’s Koro Sun Resort an international favorite for relaxing holidays, active family vacations and magical romantic getaways.

Our 50 private bures and villas are spacious, individually appointed and fully air-conditioned. Your stay is inclusive of continental breakfast daily, Fijian Welcome with coconut foot massage and chilled coconut drink, resort activities and ground transfers from Savusavu Airport.

STAY 5, SAVE 25% Plus, FREE Family Fun Adventure Package for the whole family Booking Code: KSR25OAK Terms and conditions apply.

CONTACT Australia 02 8005 0616 USA +1 877-567-6786 RESERVATIONS marissa@korosunresort.com

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FIJI

Koro Sun, Fiji

Where rainforest meets reef and family adventure Koro Sun Resort & Rainforest Spa is located on ‘Fiji’s other big island’ – Vanua Levu – in the unspoiled native north of the archipelago, and just a one hour flight from Nadi.

The 160-acre sanctuary in Savusavu is nestled within a coconut plantation, encircled by lush rainforests at the edge of a stunning private lagoon. The allure of the resort for families is that, in this

serene destination, you can do as much or as little as you want!

The resort offers an exclusive respite from hectic routines, allowing guests to relax, revitalise and enjoy quality family time, and adventure-filled forays into Fijian culture and nature.

Enjoy a complimentary guided family snorkelling and kayaking excursion; visit the local school and village; try bike

riding, handline fishing, golf, volleyball and stand-up paddleboarding.

A new playground, authentic Fijian experiences and cultural activities, and waterslides into the Jungle Kids Club pool, provide the action for younger children, and Koro Sun Resort’s Kids Club is renowned as one of the best in Fiji, offering a complimentary "Bula Buddy" and nanny service for children 12 years and under.

Daily activities for tweens and teens include rainforest hikes, an introduction to Fijian culture, Fijian arts and crafts, tidal pool exploration, snorkelling, t-shirt painting, coconut leaf weaving, and sand village construction.

Grown ups can try one of many experiences at the Rainforest Spa (including a couple’s banana leaf body wrap!) and follow that up with cocktails in the adults-only swim-up pool bar.

Don’t miss the new Rainforest Spa After Dark experience, celebrating and appreciating the peace and quiet of the evening in this tranquil oasis, when the rainforest comes to life with nocturnal wildlife and flora. korosunresort.com 81

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Nanuku offers complimentary tots to tweens babysitting Luxury AND free kid-minding ... Nanuku Auberge Resort in Pacific Harbour has launched new babysitting, accommodation and dining benefits that include a dedicated Nanny for each child under 6 years old (including newborns) for the duration of the family stay. In addition, kids aged 6-14 years will be allocated a Nanny or Buddy per family for the duration of their holiday.

Children 8 years and under also stay, play and eat for free, while kids

aged 9-14 years pay only 50% of the normal children’s meal plans.

The new initiatives have been designed to really help families unplug, connect and enjoy their stay at Nanuku Auberge, says General Manager Sascha Hemmann.

“Our vision is to ensure families are completely supported at Nanuku. To savour precious time together and also treat exhausted parents to well-earned rest and relaxation.” nanuku.aubergeresorts.com

Nanuku Auberge - By the Sea with Three Sand Bank Trip

Six Senses Fiji makes it into the World’s Greatest Places list TIME magazine’s inaugural list of the World’s Greatest Places includes Six Senses in Fiji in its Places to Stay category.

The feature highlights 100 destinations that are breaking new ground, leading industry trends and offering visitors extraordinary experiences that are unlike any other. It categorises the winners into places to visit, places to eat and drink and places to stay of which Six Senses Fiji features alongside 44 other resorts, hotels and spas. time.com/collection/worlds-greatestplaces-2018 sixsenses.com/resorts/fiji/destination

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FIJI

Nanuku Images: Sarah Knight

Nanuku - Fijian Drummer

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Makeover for Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa A multi-million dollar refurbishment project will begin in late November 2019, to rejuvenate the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Denarau Island Fiji.

Along with makeovers for restaurants, bars and spaces, the resort will develop a Waitui Beach Club for Kids and a new ‘Adolescent Zone’, and expand the resort’s exclusive adults-only Waitui Beach Club.

Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa will begin an upgrade of its Luxury guestrooms between April and June 2020, with upgrades to Superior and Family to follow in the second half of that year.

And the resort has also reassured guests that all work at the resort will cease during the school holiday period between 22 December 2019 and 13 January 2020 to ensure no disturbances will interrupt a relaxing family getaway! sofitel-fiji.com 84

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Image: Malolo Island Resort

FIJI

Ramada Suites arrive in Fiji Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has opened the doors on Fiji’s newest hotel, Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji.

The absolute beachfront, 40-room all-suite property is located at Nadi Bay, a 12-minute drive from Nadi International Airport and Port Denarau Marina. Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji offers a mix of studios, one- and twobedroom suites, along with a day spa, a gym, a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant, and a conference room. A rooftop bar is also planned to open later in 2019, providing the perfect venue to experience Fiji’s famous sunsets.

Guests of the resort can also enjoy the facilities offered by the neighbouring Smugglers Cove Beach Resort, including its onsite restaurant and bar along with activities like diving and water sports. ramadawailoaloafiji.com

Malolo Island Resort wins Excellence in Tourism award Malolo Island Resort was presented with the Best Quality Accommodation 2018 award at the annual ANZ Fiji Tourism Excellence in Tourism Awards held in February 2019.

This is the sixth time the family-friendly, and hugely popular, resort has won this award, which is judged by local and international business and tourism professionals.

The Fijian family business says its team works hard to create what the resort calls ‘magical Malolo memories’, and with 25% of guests returning year after year, and awards for Excellence, there is no doubt those efforts have paid off for the resort and guests alike! maloloisland.com

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How to plan a successful family reunion holiday In 2017, when journalist, LINDSAY PATTERSON, and musician and educator, Marshall Escamilla, moved from the USA to Barcelona, Spain with their four-year-old-son, Emmett, they soon discovered ideal ways in which to turn visits from family and friends into successful family reunion holidays!

Our move to Barcelona from the US has provided the impetus for our families to turn ‘visits’ into full-on trips in and around our new home. This past northern summer alone, we spent a week on Spain’s Costa Brava with Marshall’s siblings and their kids, and in autumn we took a Thanksgiving trip to Portugal with my parents and brother’s family. These trips were great ways to spend time together, with experiences we’ll all remember. In both cases, we learned valuable lessons about what can go right – and wrong – when planning a big family trip. Here’s a few things your might want to consider.

Location

Obviously, deciding where you’re going to go is the first question. Apart from the regular travel questions of your time and budget, you’ll need to consider your family members as well. Where can they afford to go, and for how long? Having an open conversation up front will preserve the harmony later.

Unless you’re from a family of hardy adventurers, you’ll want to go somewhere that’s easy to access. Can you all drive to your destination or can you fly? You can break up the trip by spending a day or two in a major city before heading out to an off-the-beaten-track location.

This last consideration is maybe the most important: Age-appropriateness. I’m not just talking about kids. If older family members are making the effort to travel, make sure they can participate. Don’t plan a full day hike if grandpa has chronic back pain, or if your nephew has to take a midday nap. Find a full range of family-friendly activities available, and put it up for discussion far in advance of the trip.

Accommodation

Where will you stay? You’ll need to find a situation that’s comfortable for everyone.

Put together a list of everyone’s needs (cot, anyone?), preferences, and budget. Either decide by consensus or nominate one person in charge of the decision. Hopefully, you’ll find the family holiday home or hotel of your collective dreams.  86

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Main: Beach at Tossa de Mar and fortress on a beautiful summer day, Costa Brava Top: Tourist woman in Badia bay in Tossa de Mar in Girona, ancient medieval castle

From their home in the charming Barcelona neighbourhood of Gracia, Lindsay and Marshall create Tumble, a popular science podcast for kids and exploring the world. You can follow their adventures in travel, science, and life abroad at @ tumblepodcast on Instagram. sciencepodcastforkids.com

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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 Laid back fun in the Sun! With a complimentary kids club and a wide range of water activity equipment, families often make use of the snorkelling equipment exploring the underwater sea life or venture out on a family kayak adventure together. With plenty of activities for children of all ages, and relaxing options for adults, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the award winning family friendly Pacific Resort Rarotonga.

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

R AROTONGA ¡ COOK ISLANDS

PAC I F I C R E S O RT H O T E L G RO U P

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COOK ISL A N DS

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Meals

Renting a home makes it easy to cook family meals, but is that what you want to do? On our trip to the Costa Brava, we’d take turns going to the grocery store and cooking. But in Portugal, we ate out for most meals. (My idea of cooking Thanksgiving dinner was roundly rejected, probably for the best.)

Decide in advance, so you can figure out if you need a fully functional kitchen or not.

If you’re planning to eat out, get restaurant recommendations in advance. If you have a large group, reservations can be handy. There’s nothing worse than wandering a city while your family gets too ‘hangry’ to make a decision about where to eat!

What to do

So, what do you do once you get there? The first step is to set your activity ambitions low.

Plan only one or two group activities per day. If you’re a professional-level sightseer, herding your whole family through even the best-planned itinerary might be too much for everyone to handle. If the more ambitious

travellers want to set off on their own after the group activity, you’ll still have spent quality time as a whole family.

If you do split up into smaller groups, make firm plans of where and when you’re going to meet again.

Most importantly, leave room for things not going the way you planned! They never do.

The most important thing is making memories with your family, and valuing the effort it takes to do it.

Top: Beautiful small village on the coast of Costa Brava, Spain Bottom: Spanish cuisine.

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HOTEL REVIEWS

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Don’t feel like walking?

There’s a complimentary shuttle bus every half hour from the Novotel to Orchard Road.

NOVOTEL SINGAPORE

Orchard District, 28 Stevens Rd, #01-01, Singapore 257878 novotel-singapore-stevens.com

Novotel Singapore on Stevens Location

Just a stone’s throw from the legendary Orchard Road, the Novotel Singapore on Stevens is an ideal base for those wanting to squeeze some retail therapy into their getaway. It’s just 20 minutes’ drive from the Singapore Changi International Airport, and connected to destinations across the city by an efficient metro system.

Accommodation

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You can pack light thanks to the Novotel’s on-site (and 24hour) laundromat, allowing you to conveniently wash and dry your clothes during your stay!

Bunk down in one of the Novotel’s contemporary suites, which come with a luxurious king-size bed and a sofa bed that’s ideal for kids. Help yourself to coffee from your personal Nespresso machine, take advantage of the blackout curtains for midafternoon naps, and enjoy the use of complimentary Wi-Fi to stay up-to-date with all your favourite family shows.

Activities

The Novotel is twinned with the adjacent Mercure Singapore on Stevens, and guests are welcome to use the facilities at both hotels including the Kids’ Room, where young guests are invited to kick back with a range of books, toys and games. Cool off in one of the two outdoor pools or enjoy a hit on the tennis court, with a 24-hour gym for those who don’t want to miss a workout.

Food and Beverage

Begin the day with an outstanding buffet breakfast at the Food Exchange (from where you can slip right into the infinity pool) or sample the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at Winestone. The eclectic Fudebar does a kid-friendly range of sandwiches, salads and pizzas, as well as baristamade coffee if you need a midafternoon pick-me-up.

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Novotel Brisbane South Bank Location

Situated between the open green space of Musgrave Park and the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, the Novotel Brisbane South Bank is in the heart of all the action. It’s just five minutes’ walk to the man-made beach and riverside trails of Southbank, as well as the vibrant dining hub of West End, with Brisbane Airport 20 minutes’ drive away.

Why we stayed here

Activities

The hotel boasts a 20m outdoor pool where you can cool off in the summer (with free Zooper Doopers for kids), as well as a fullyequipped gym and yoga terrace for your morning exercise routine. Ask to access the Novotel’s ‘sports locker’ that’s packed with basketballs and recreational equipment for use in neighbouring Musgrave Park.

Food & Beverage

We love staying at the Novotel properties and this one has gone above and beyond in offering a family-friendly stay, with affordable accommodation deals, free meals and plenty of complimentary toys and games. Did we mention there are free gifts for kids on check-in and a lolly buffet in the lobby?

Family Value for breakfast – and kids 16 years and under eat FREE. Yep, begin the day with a full delicious buffet breakfast at the Spice Kitchen, which includes healthy options like bircher muesli and all the basics for even the fussiest eaters. The Novotel also does an exceptional deal where kids under 8 eat free for all other meals at the restaurant (with a paying adult), ensuring hassle-free and wallet-friendly dining.

Accommodation

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Each of the 238 rooms and suites features a contemporary design, with sleek bathrooms, striking artwork and state-of-the-art amenities.

Twin rooms offer two double beds where kids under 16 are welcome to stay for free, or you can spread out with 50% off the price of a second room.

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You’re just a stone’s throw from all the dining and shopping of Brisbane’s Southbank, including the interactive water play park of Aquativity.

Experience the sights and smells of the Epicurious Garden, let off some steam at the Riverside Green Playground, or get some retail therapy at the Collective Markets.

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Want to get a bird’s eye view of Brisbane? Float above the city in one of the air-conditioned gondolas at The Wheel of Brisbane.

NOVOTEL BRISBANE SOUTH BANK

38 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane novotelbrisbanesouthbank.com.au

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East Hotel – Canberra ACT Location

East Hotel is perfectly located between the vibrant shopping and dining hubs of Kingston and Manuka in Canberra’s affluent ‘Inner South’. It’s just five minutes’ drive from Parliament House, and an easy stroll to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin, with Canberra Airport only 15 minutes away.

Why we stayed here

Contemporary, vibrant and kid-friendly – East Hotel offers everything for families. The specially designed Kids Studio, also known as the Kids Cubby, is an undisputed hit with young travellers, and the onsite Italian restaurant is one of the best in Canberra. Coupled with a casual yet attentive service (and a few carefully thought out details), you really can’t ask for more.

Accommodation

Combining a funky aesthetic that kids will love with the privacy parents need, East Hotel boasts two-bedroom 94

apartments with an interconnecting, uniquely designed Kids Cubby.

Aside from bunk beds, play tables and their own mini bar, these kids studios include X-Box games and a 42” LED TV that will keep children entertained for hours. The apartment includes a gourmet kitchen, equipped with a two-burner hotplate and microwave, so you can prepare your own meals. Parents will love the luxurious toiletries from Appelles Apothecary.

Activities

East Hotel features a fully-equipped gym if you don’t want to miss your morning workout, as well as free bikes that offer an ideal way to explore the neighbourhood. The nearby Manuka Pool is perfect for a dip on a hot summer’s day, or you can just kick back in the lobby to flick through the complimentary magazines while challenging your family to a game of checkers.

Food & Beverage

Famed for its gourmet pizzas, freshly made pasta and authentic regional cuisine, Agostinis is the first restaurant in Canberra to receive the exclusive Ospitalità Italiana certification for its quality of food and service.

Aside from dining in, you can also order pizzas, from the state-of-theart Marana Forni oven, direct to your room. Muse, a combined bookstore and restaurant, is a popular breakfast spot with hotel guests and locals alike.

It’s best to book a table to guarantee a spot.

Explore

The neighbourhoods of Manuka and Kingston are destinations in their own right, with boutique shopping and inspiring dining just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Stock up on groceries at the local supermarket, grab freshlybaked pastries at Silo or get your caffeine fix from the award-winning baristas at ONA On The Lawns. If you want to explore the sights of Canberra, Questacon is a full day experience for families just a short drive or Uber trip away, as are the Yarralumla Play Station and the National Zoo & Aquarium.

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East Hotel provides enticing jars of lollies for guests in the lobby. Indulge if your family has a sweet tooth (or duck and hide if you’re avoiding too much sugar).

EAST HOTEL 69 Canberra Ave Kingston easthotel.com.au

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Images: The Ruby Collection

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The Ruby Collection also has two-bedroom apartments that are ideal for a single family, with a queen bed and twin beds for kids.

THE RUBY COLLECTION

9 Norfolk Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Tel: +617 5689 4300 therubycollection.com.au

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The Ruby Collection, Gold Coast, Queensland The Ruby Collection’s tower soars above the Gold Coast Highway between the picturesque Nerang River and the sands of Surfers Paradise. It’s in the heart of all the Gold Coast action while being just 25 minutes’ drive from Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild and Warner Bros. Movie World. The Gold Coast Airport is 35 minutes to the south, or you can rent a car at Brisbane Airport, which is around 1.5 hours’ drive north.

Why we stayed there

We had always wanted to stay at a brand new property and it doesn’t get any newer than The Ruby Collection’s glistening tower. It’s the first of four to open up at their innovative destination resort in Surfers Paradise, and has already proven itself to be a haven for families, with spacious suites, a daily activities program and a kids’ splash zone right on its doorstep.

The philosophy here is: “we don’t do ordinary”, and The Ruby Collection is anything but. Aside from kid-friendly amenities, the property features sophisticated dining establishments, a boutique bar and adult-themed activities to ensure it’s a place the entire family can enjoy.

Accommodation

Our group was comprised of two families holidaying together, so we opted to stay in the stylish threebedroom Sky Suite. It was spaciously designed so that we all had our own rooms (and two bathrooms), including a creatively designed kids room. Our two-year-old was in love at first sight, his cry of “Wow, Amazing” had all of us

in stitches and echoing his sentiments.

A perfect child space with bunks, a single bed and a cute teepee to play in and a junior-sized table and chairs. The master bedroom featured a second TV so we could relax while he was tucked up asleep, with the well-equipped kitchen allowing us to prepare meals and snacks when it suited. Add to that sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean (and laundry facilities so we headed home clean) and The Ruby Collection has left nothing overlooked for a family-friendly stay.

Activities

The Ruby Collection is directly linked to the Paradise Resort, which will satisfy all of your kids’ wildest playtime dreams. It’s home to the Z4K Water Park that’s packed with slippery slides, water cannons and a giant tipping bucket, as well as a gently sloping paddling area that’s ideal for little ones.

You’ll also find an outdoor Adventure Park, an arcade-style games room and ice skating rink, not to mention the Zone for Kids Club. Here you can take advantage of a four-hour supervised session (with fully trained staff) that’s provided free to Ruby guests each day, giving your kids the opportunity to play and make new friends while you enjoy a little adult time. Speaking of which, you can participate in the hotel’s cocktailmaking classes or a wine and cheese tasting, then head out for a civilised dinner before kid pick up time!The Ruby Collection also hosts regular outdoor movie nights and family trivia events for some quality holiday time together.

Food & Beverage

Begin the day with a “build your own breakfast” buffet at the poolside Stones Bar & Grill, with appearances by the cute characters, Ruby Rocket and William the Bear (be sure to bring your camera for a family selfie!). Alternatively, settle in for a lazy brunch at the Terrace Café while enjoying healthy treats and freshly squeezed juices, complemented by outstanding, barista-made coffee.

If you prefer to cook, The Pantry is stocked with a welcome supply of holiday essentials that you can access without leaving the hotel, and you can even pre-order so your fridge is full on arrival.

Explore

It’s no secret that the Gold Coast is made for families, with an endless list of activities that will keep all ages entertained. Aside from the iconic theme parks of Sea World, Dreamworld and Wet’n’Wild, it’s home to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you can feed kangaroos and cuddle koalas. Spend a day at one of the Gold Coast’s countless beaches or take your first surfing steps, then watch as skilled stockmen and women bring the legend of Phar Lap to life at the Australian Outback Spectacular.

You can come face-to-face with the Royal Family and all your favourite celebrities at the Gold Coast Wax Museum, get some retail therapy at the Carrara Markets or venture into the gorgeous Gold Coast Hinterland to discover the region’s natural beauty.

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Discover

THE RUBY DIFFERENCE

Families will fall in love with The Ruby Apartments Kids will be high-fiving with delight from the moment you arrive at the brand-new Ruby Apartments on the Gold Coast. This brandnew apartment complex is like no other and will change the way you think about holidaying on the Gold Coast.

From themed 3-bedroom Sky Suites with bunk beds, play desk, board games and brightly coloured fit out; to the onsite Kids Club; 3 story water park and interactive splash zone; Ruby’s resident Rockstars Ruby Rocket and William the Bear; your precious little gems have been at the forefront of planning this incredible new resort.

And while the kids are being entertained parents can relax and put their feet up or book in for cocktail making, trivia competitions or enjoy some wine and cheese tasting.

At Ruby our aim is to make the parents holiday as good as the kids, and our ambassadors are on hand to help out as much or as little as you like.

Book Your Experience www.therubycollection.com.au

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Image: Trisara

For those seeking the epitome of luxury or planning an extended family gathering, consider one of Trisara’s signature residences, with multiple bedrooms coupled with a central living and dining pavilion where you can enjoy homecooked dishes crafted by your personal chef.

TRISARA

60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110 trisara.com

Trisara – Phuket, Thailand Location

Nestled on a secluded cove in the rugged hills of northwest Phuket, Trisara boasts an absolutely sublime setting overlooking the Andaman Sea, 20 minutes’ drive from Phuket International Airport (ideal for those with only a few days’ break) and an easy day trip from attractions around the island … if you can bear to drag yourself away from everything this exceptional retreat offers.

Why we stayed here

Trisara seamlessly blends indulgent luxury with Thailand’s beguiling heritage, while supporting sustainable community initiatives. Its name translates as “Garden in the 3rd Heaven” and once you step inside this divine property, you’ll know why! Thai-inspired villas and residences terrace down the hillside, surrounded by ancient ficus trees. Trisara provides all of the elements for an unforgettable family getaway, with a perfect balance of kids’ activities and adult indulgences, plus

an in-house digital studio that creates beautiful images and videos for families wanting to document their getaway through artful storytelling.

Accommodation

Each of the gorgeous suites and villas offers the ultimate in privacy, with tropical gardens creating natural enclosures. Sun loungers surround private infinity pools, overlooking the Andaman Sea, and the fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces creates an atmosphere that invites relaxation.

Tranquil footpaths lead directly to the sheltered, family-friendly beach.

Activities

The kids’ clubhouse is gorgeous, and offers a diverse range of arts and crafts activities and outdoor games.

Complimentary kayaks and standup paddleboards are also available, allowing you to explore the stunning beach and rock formation of Koh Weao, which is right in front of the resort.

Snorkel on the surrounding coral reef.

You can begin the day with a private yoga class or learn the art of Muay Thai boxing in the resort’s custom-built ring.

Discover the secrets of Thai cuisine and book a family cooking class with one of Trisara’s skilled chefs. Enjoy Trisara’s signature 6-hand massage at the indulgent Jara Spa.

Food and Beverage

Trisara’s dining ethos revolves around sourcing local produce, direct from the morning fish market and the resort’s very own working farm. At the relaxed Seafood at Trisara restaurant, classic Thai recipes are given a contemporary twist, and the fish is fresh from the Andaman Sea! Opt for a private barbecue (your choice of meats) on your own pool deck, and if you’re staying over a weekend, relax on Trisara’s sun-drenched deck while listening to the sound of live music during Jazz Brunch, with both exotic and Western dishes to suit all tastes.

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extras Images: Emily O’Neill and her family

Emily O’Neill is the founder and owner of Bali Family Villas, an online booking service for families that makes holidays in Bali a breeze. Visit balifamilyvillas.com or follow @balifamilyvillas 100

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School and adventures – ‘Life Learning’ for travelling kids Emily O’Neill, the owner of Bali Family Villas, a bespoke booking agency for families in Bali, has opted for a ‘digital nomad’ approach to the mix of business, travel and the education of her three young boys. In Australia, it’s not that easy to take your kids out of school outside mandated holiday periods but, every year, Emily and her husband and children spend the equivalent of one school term in Bali and three terms in Australia, completing the government paperwork for ‘extended leave from school’ approvals.

“The benefits of taking time to work and study remotely as a family are obviously different for everyone, but the resilience children build from heading into a new environment and meeting new people is undeniable.

It promotes acceptance and understanding of different cultures and walks of life,” Emily says of her family’s decision to embrace ‘Life Learning” through travel.

“Children learn through seeing and doing things themselves. I believe in

taking kids places but not telling them what to see. What my eleven-yearold notices at a busy local market is completely different to what my 6-yearold takes from the same experience. “ The O’Neill family juggles the education of their boys, as a priority, with the desire to travel – all while running a business – with Emily and her husband finding the time to work by engaging their boys in the local culture and encouraging them to keep a journal of their experiences. But she concedes not every family can make that same commitment to the balancing act!

Even a short experience, she agrees, is beneficial for children, and enhances their world view when they have the opportunity to mix with locals and share new experiences.

“Kids visiting Bali can pay a casual rate to join in with dance classes, soccer, gymnastics, trampolining and art classes. For those who may decide to seek a private tutor or subscribe to an online schooling program, their kids can still be part of a wider community.

“When I read the testimonials our clients leave behind, it’s often about their time shared with the Balinese staff at the Villa rather than the Luxe accommodation itself.”

There is much discussion about how organisations need to change their definition of 'the office' in a digital landscape – but perhaps it is schooling too, that needs to keep up with the times? And does taking an extended family holiday negatively impact, or positively enrich a child’s education?

For Emily and her boys, it’s a nobrainer. “The positives far outweigh any doubts about falling behind [in schoolwork] or missing out. They are enriched by their time at school in Bali and I can only hope to expand on their experiences in other destinations, when the opportunity is more readily available.

“I think if you have created the flexibility to work from your laptop, then it is a great opportunity to travel with your children. Sure, it’s a juggle but isn’t it a juggle anywhere?”

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Meet the people behind ‘People Like Us’ home exchange Happy travel snap with Drew Seitam his wife Kathy and son

Right: A selection of the gorgeous properties on People Like Us 1: Brekenridge Colorado, 2: Fiji, 3: France Doucy, 4: Mexico Yucatan, 5: USA Greystone Castle, 6: France Paris, 7: Spain Frigiliana, 8: Indonesia Bali, 9: USA Alaska 102

When their son was nearing the end of his schooling, Drew Seitam and his wife Kathy turned their thoughts to travel – the kind of travel that provides opportunity for deeper cultural experiences beyond merely checking into a hotel.

Their next question was: how can we make this happen on a budget?

The inspiration was provided three years ago, after a ‘friend of a friend’ facilitated an exchange for the couple to a house in the countryside near Cortona in Tuscany, Italy.

“That exchange had a big effect on us,” says Drew. “During the day we would drive to Florence, Montepulciano, Siena or Arezzo, and then come back to our little place in the evening, cook and enjoy the quiet and the view of the lights in the little hillside villages around us. We stayed for two weeks, and that would have cost us thousands had we stayed in a hotel or rented accommodation.

“We started talking about doing something similar once our son finished school (which he does at the end of this year) and how we could ever afford to do it for longer than just a fortnight.”

Tossing around ideas together led the couple to create People Like Us, a home swap network with the objective of exchanging homes with like-minded people. Drew’s IT background enabled them to build a website that would capture all of the essential elements of the concept that they would initially share with a private group of friends and associates.

And then … word spread! Launched 1 April 2018, the People Like Us network of families, who all share the same values and travel goals, now extends around the globe, and across the warm and engaged People Like Us Facebook community.

For families, in particular, the appeal of the People Like Us model is simple – an affordable home exchange that provides the benefits of a home similar to your own, in a totally different environment. You choose the travel and holiday priorities that suit your family, and a dream destination, then settle in and experience that destination just like a local!

“We have People Like Us members in 53 countries now, so there is plenty of choice. I often find myself flipping through homes on the site just dreaming. There are so many places I didn't even know I wanted to go – the Okanagan Valley in Canada; Penang in Malaysia; Iceland; Tunisia; Guatemala; Zegveld and Werkhoven in the Netherlands; Yucatan, Mexico; and Breckenridge, Colorado in the USA. I have so many planned destinations now and too little time. It’s a nice problem to have!”

Sign up at peoplelikeus.world. Registration is free, and you can start swapping immediately, with a choice of hundreds of diverse – and tempting – destinations.

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5-7 APRIL, 2019 | MELBOURNE ROYAL EXHIBITION CENTRE, CARLTON

Charity partner

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R A E Y T S R I F Y M G N I L L E V TRA Y B A B A WITH

Angela Saurine discovers the pleasures and the pitfalls - of travelling with a new baby.

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In the years prior to having a baby, it’s fair to say I did a fair bit of travel. I visited some of the most remote places on the planet writing about my adventures - from expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Kimberley to spotting polar bears in Canada’s Arctic to a day trip from Chile to Easter Island for a rare solar eclipse.

I saw musicals in London, skied on glaciers in North America and did safaris in Africa. Once, I had just a day to do my washing between trips to Mauritius and China. Over the past year my travels have been, well, different.

Everyone said that having a baby would change my life and, boy oh boy, were they right. Living in the tourist mecca that is Manly in Sydney, my mothers’ group is quite an international one and I’ve been extremely impressed by my new friends’ long-haul trips to take their little ones to Europe and the US to meet relatives. Having a baby who’s woken up to six times a night for much of his short life, I’ve had no desire to throw jet lag into the mix. Instead, I’ve been content to holiday domestically and have, largely, revolved our travels around family weddings and other celebrations. While it may be somewhat tamer than in my former life, I repeatedly remind myself that what may seem like a minor undertaking is a major venture for a little person.

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Oliver was ten weeks old when we took him on his first road trip to Canberra for his cousin’s birthday party. I sat in the back with him, waving his brightly coloured giraffe to keep him entertained while his Dad drove. At that stage, he started howling every time we went through a tunnel, and we had to stop frequently so I could breastfeed him and change his nappy.

I was seven-years-old before I boarded a plane for the first time; Oliver was just seven months when he took his first flight to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. I never skipped a beat when travelling interstate on my own, but flying with a baby is a whole new ball game.

Instead of just throwing a magazine and my iPad into my carry-on luggage, I need to pack baby formula, baby food and toys (although airline safety cards seem to provide the greatest amusement). Even getting to the airport is a 

Top: Oliver at Sydney Airport waiting to fly to Melbourne at 10 months old.

Right: Angela and Oliver at Belmore Falls in the NSW Southern Highlands when he was five months old

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MEET ANGELA

Angela Saurine is an awardwinning travel and lifestyle writer and proud mum who lives in Sydney. She started out in journalism in local newspapers before setting off to explore the world for two years, living at Whistler ski resort in Canada and in London. On her return home, her passion for adventure led to a role as national travel reporter at News Corp Australia – a position she held for four years before embarking on a freelance career. She loves skiing, islands, expedition cruising, eco-tourism and Indigenous tourism.

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Flight Deck ~ Anaheim

UNCOMMON CHARACTER

FANTASY IS THE BEST REALITY. Imagination is in Anaheim’s DNA. We’ve been bringing the fun for families since forever. So gather up your crew and explore the good times indoors and out, all across this land. Let Anaheim share our magical mojo with you and yours. Explore the unconventional at VisitAnaheim.org.

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Tap Tap Baby

challenge. I push the pram with one hand and wheel my bag with the other, which is fine until it rains and I don’t have a third hand to hold an umbrella. I am forced to wrangle Oliver out of his baby carrier as we go through security. I become acutely aware of the things I previously took for granted – like being able to reach your wallet to order lunch on a plane, let alone being able to eat it.

Everyone hates flight delays, but now I find myself cursing them like never before. Oliver inevitably seems to fall asleep just as we are boarding, and I have to wake him to put his seatbelt on, which leads to tired tears. My emotions feel equally erratic. One minute I am vowing not to fly with Oliver again until he’s 21; the next he is sleeping peacefully in my arms and I am planning (in my head) trips to the Great Barrier Reef to see turtle hatchlings, and cultural beach getaways in Vanuatu.

I find, while some people are extremely kind

and helpful, others have little empathy. “This is a treat,” says the woman who sits down beside me on our flight back. I look at her sceptically.

“I’m not being ironic,” she says. I soon discover she and her husband are also parents, and flew from Canada to Australia when their daughter was three months old. They offer to hold Oliver so I can fix his baby seatbelt, when the flight attendant tells me I have it on wrong just as we are about to take off, and volunteer to swap seats so I can sit by the aisle. I walk up the back of the plane to try to get him to sleep in his carrier but the hostie keeps coming to warm meals up in the microwave, slamming the door every time.

At the airport, before our second interstate trip to Melbourne, when Oliver is ten months old, he sets his sights on a shiny bag owned by a stony-faced woman sitting several metres away, and makes a beeline towards it. Every time I grab him and return him to the area I have set  109

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Byron Bay Lighthouse New South Wales Australia , Oliver a bit wary of the waves at South Golden Beach on the NSW North Coast

up with his toys, he immediately starts crawling towards the shiny bag again. The lady does not crack a smile.

Just when I think we’ve made it through the flight, the plane’s nose suddenly turns upwards.

Strong winds have hampered our descent, and we are forced to do a loop before trying again.

The turbulence is horrendous, and I can’t help feeling sorry for the girl sitting next to me, who ends up with a baby crying on one side and a man puking on the other.

On the return flight, the father next to me introduces us to the Tap Tap Baby app. While I’ve been reluctant to allow too much screen time, exploding fireworks do a far better job keeping Oliver amused than the multiple snacks I have prepared. I’ve learned many other things about flying with a baby over the past few months – to always book an aisle seat at the rear of the plane and to avoid flying in peak times when the plane is sure to be full.

Oliver’s first year of life has been his introduction to adventure. In autumn, we hiked through a park in Canberra surrounded by yellow leaves. During a winter stay in Perisher, he was dazzled with the sparkling white snow falling on him. In spring, he saw real life moo cows at my uncle’s farm in Mudgee, just like the ones in the books we read, (but was way more interested in the long grass…). In summer, he sat tentatively in the sand at South Golden Beach, north of Byron Bay, as the waves lapped against him.

In the years ahead, I look forward to giving Oliver many more educational experiences through travel. I want him to learn about Indigenous culture and wildlife conservation. I want him to visit villages in developing countries to get an understanding about the world and how lucky he is; and hopefully to gain the knowledge to help make it a better place.

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THE LAST WORD

CAROLINE DAVIDSON Caroline loves the Great Western States of America, and her own travel business, Davidson Communications, has recently partnered with Linkd Tourism to represent Colorado Tourism in Australia. Born in the U.K., Caroline has moved between the U.S.A. and Australia throughout her adult life, and now lives in Australia. Any travel outside of work commitments is purely for pleasure, and she uses these special holidays to connect with her family.

My ideal family holiday is…

Because I work in the tourism industry my ideal holiday is something not connected with work! Somewhere I can relax, reconnect with family, and where I can do what I want and where everyone is happy doing what they want. To stop and be in one place – a resort is perfect. My preference: very warm or very cold beach or snow.

My fondest family holiday memory is…

I am heading back to my own childhood memories. A family holiday when I was living in the US. It was rare for us to be together on holiday as a family. We went to Lake Tahoe for Christmas – so many firsts – including the first time I ever saw snow and the first time I was on skis. We stayed in a hired log cabin chalet, shared with another family. It was a wonderful time, with many happy memories.

Caroline with Grandson Rohan at Splendour in the Grass

Many family travellers are not aware that … … you can have an affordable overseas holiday that costs the same as a local holiday. You can afford to travel overseas, if planned right.

Every family should experience… … the unique parts of America. You’ve read about it: the wildlife and spectacular scenery of Yellowstone in Wyoming; the ski fields of Jackson Hole, set in an authentic western cowboy town with winter wildlife; a ranch stay in Montana ... all part of a wonderful holiday in the Great American West!

My top tip for travelling with kids is… … to make sure its a happy event and get the best value.

Consider everyone in the family – from parents to each child – and what they want from a holiday.

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The famous antler arches of Jackson Hole with son Miles

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