Out & About with kids - Issue 42 Spring 2014

9 771832 331006

10th

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

OUT&ABOUT

SPRING 2014

KIDS

WITH

41

42

No.

BIRTHDAY ISSUE

PLUS

Dad’s Word: nick jr’s

Holiday tales from Australia, North America, Europe & the Pacific

SAM MORAN 9 Must-See Oz Attractions

BUMPER Holiday Parks Feature

Tropical Islands

YUMI STYNES

Accessible Travel

on travelling when pregnant

with baby

holidays for EVERYONE!

TIPS • APPS • NEWS • ZOOS

Escape the everyday Escape Travel are here to help your family take a break away from the everyday. Say goodbye to work, school and housework and say hello to all the special moments that can only be shared on a family holiday.

Your local Escape Travel consultant can look after all your family holiday needs – leaving you with time best spent with your family.

Take advantage of our: • 6 months interest free finance • Exclusive discounts on child airfares up to 17 years old • All inclusive holidays for children of all ages • Cruising for families • Kids Stay, Play and Eat FREE packages • Advice on accommodation with child minding & kids clubs You can also travel with confidence knowing you’re backed by our 24-hour customer assist program wherever you are in the world.

Discover more family holiday inspiration and the best value deals at

escapetravel.com.au or call 1300 559 864 Over 145 stores nationally.

Valid on holidays over $999*. Apply online or in-store now!

6 MONTHS INTEREST FREE *

*Terms and conditions apply. 6 months interest free provided by applying for the Lombard 55 Visa Card and is only available to approved applicants, it is subject to further terms and conditions contained in the Lombard Visa Card Account Conditions of Use and Lombard Visa Card Product Schedule. An application fee $60, monthly account fees $2.90 and other fees and charges are payable. The Lombard Visa Card is a credit facility provided by Lombard Finance Pty Limited (ABN 31 099 651 877) (Australian Credit License Number 247 415). Flight Centre Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. Licence Number: ACT 18800224, NSW 2TA002719, NT 008, QLD TAG262, SA TTA254, TAS TAS031, VIC 31089 & WA 9TA 589. ETMARK55472

TM

brought to you by

Out & About with Kids Print & Digital outandaboutwithkids.com.au Publisher Elisa Elwin elisa@oawk.com.au 0413 770 550 Editor Christine Kane christine@oawk.com.au Assistant Editor Lisa Monk lisamonk@oawk.com.au Associate Publisher & Director Sales & Marketing Richard Bunting rbunting@oawk.com.au 0424 138 806 © iStockPhoto/shironosov

Print Design Magnesium Media

Hip Hip Hooray!

ABN: 22 159 093 606

PO Box 4148, Balgowlah Heights NSW 2093 0413 770 550 10th

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

OUT&ABOUT

41

OUT&ABOUT WITH KIDS

42

No.

SPRING 2014

KIDS

BIRTHDAY ISSUE

PLUS

ISSUE 42 | SPRING 2014 FA M I LY | T R AV E L | H O L I D AY | L E I S U R E | E N T E R T A I N M E N T

The wonderful OAWK team - Christine, Lisa and Richard - celebrate this decade long journey with you.

Published by Elwin Media Pty Ltd

9 771832 331006

How can you mark a decade?

Candles blown out?

The love of family and friends?

Unions celebrated and babies welcomed?

The loyalty and integrity of workmates?

Children growing into remarkable young people?

New destinations explored and loved places revisited?

Life’s milestones, allowing us to grow, learn and move to a better space?

Print Art Director Louise Summerton

WITH

Out & About with Kids is 10 years old

Contributors Patrick Kinsella The Marshall Family Michelle Pettigrove Jane Sandilands Mark William Sheehan Yumi Stynes Susan Whittome Lisa Willows Bianca Wordley

Dad’s Word: nick jr’s

Holiday tales from Australia, North America, Europe & the Pacific

SAM MORAN 9 Must-See Oz Attractions

BUMPER Holiday Parks Feature

Tropical Islands

YUMI STYNES

Accessible Travel

on travelling when pregnant

with baby

holidays for EVERYONE!

TIPS • APPS • NEWS • ZOOS

cover_42.indd 1

We hope you can use the inspiration, information and travel stories we share to create family holidays and memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you for joining us.

We look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you.

Elisa Elwin

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher and Out & About with Kids.

Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2014 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 to be sent to the magazine they will be returned.

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Cover images from top left: © iStockPhoto/Imgorthand; © Singapore Tourism; © Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

16 FUN FILLED ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Only $70 for a family big ticket

Exhibition Produced by

produced by

Supported by Supported by

Darling Harbour, Sydney • 02 9298 3777 Connect with us!

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ANM0123

anmm.gov.au/goingplaces •

(2 adults and up to 3 children)

Let’s get social Facebook friends share their happy birthday wishes ...

Leanne Cotte says

Happy Birthday. Thanks for an “ amazing publication. ”

Melanie Moran says

same time as I have been a Mum!!

What a great decade it has been.

”

Elianda Lee says

“Happy Birthday”

Happy Birthday To You ... Cheers “ ... Hip Hip Hooray... Out & About with Kids. ”

“

“

Christina Hall-Dixon says Shere Corn says

Hip hip hooray.

Happy Birthday.

”

Shan Tawhi Rickus says

Happy Birthday! Thank you for all you do! xx

”

> Newsagents nationally

> Selected BIG4 Holiday Parks

> Airport Newslink Newsagents nationally

> Selected Accor Hotels

> QANTAS Lounges nationally

> Hotels including Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains NSW and Rendezvous Reef Resort, Port Douglas QLD

> Travel with Kidz offices in Australia and New Zealand > NSW & VIC Baby & Toddler Show > Trop Jr. as part of Tropfest > In-room at Sea World Gold Coast > In-room at Zagame’s Paradise Resort Gold Coast

> Attractions including Questacon, Sydney SEA LIFE Aquarium and Sea World Gold Coast > Air New Zealand Kora Lounge Sydney > Waiting rooms, medical centres, doctors’ surgeries and hair salons nationally > Newsagents and bookstores in Singapore

outandaboutwithkids.com.au 4

SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

Follow us on www.facebook.com/ OAWkids www.instagram.com/ outandaboutwithkids www.twitter.com/ OAWK2

Where can you find us?

> Escape Travel retail stores nationally

© iStockPhoto/Photolyric

Happy Birthday Out & About with “ Kids!! You have been going for the

Visit our website and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, for all the latest family holiday, leisure and entertainment news delivered to your inbox - and for the chance to win some fantastic family prizes.

OUT&ABOUT

WITH

KIDS .com.au

For the best family travel deals, latest news, tips, blogs and competitions visit Out & About with Kids website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Visit outandaboutwithkids.com.au and sign up for our monthly newsletter

www.twitter.com/OAWK2

www.pinterest.com/oawkids

www.facebook.com/oawkids

outandaboutwithkids

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30

Top travel apps, fun facts and news – including zoo babies!

nick jr. entertainer and former ‘Yellow Wiggle’ Sam Moran shares his family travels and happy holidays.

21

YUMI STYNES Yumi learnt plenty of surprising things when travelling pregnant … and was rewarded with the arrival of her beautiful new baby!

23

TROPICAL ISLAND BABY Think you have to give up on the idea of a romantic island holiday when baby makes three?

Think again…and just dream it differently!

27

ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS ALONG THE LEGENDARY PACIFIC COAST

6

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53

9

DID YOU KNOW …?

Attractions – page 32

ture ea F s k r a P y a id ol H l: ia Spec

Find out how this popular stretch of NSW holiday coast is embracing ‘inclusive tourism’ to make great holiday opportunities and experiences easy and accessible for everyone.

DAD’S WORD

32

9 MUST-SEE AUSSIE ATTRACTIONS From a Big Banana to flying through treetops; coin minting to celebrity selfies; marine life to maritime history and elite athletes to avid Einsteins…

35

CHRISTCHURCH – AND BEYOND! It’s an easy hop ‘across the ditch’ to NZ and holidaying families will love everything on the menu in the South Island’s Canterbury Region.

39

ONE DAY ON THE SUNSHINE COAST A taste of the Sunshine Coast – what to do and see in just 24 hours!

© North Coast Holiday Parks

contents

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SPECIAL: HOLIDAY PARKS FEATURE Covering everything from camping to caravans and cabins, accessible holiday park facilities, playgrounds, destinations and unique locations.

10th

BIRTHDAY ISSUE

77 Fiji – page 100

40

FRONT DESK We take you inside a selection of our favourite family-friendly hotels to help you plan your next stay …

43

INSIDER

Introducing our brand new section!

FAMILY TRAVELLLER brings you fabulous first-hand stories of fantastic family holidays!

In this issue, travel with our families from Port Douglas to Port Macquarie and from Uluru to Fiji, and go skiing in Canada. Ride the outback tracks on The Ghan and on outback roads from Sydney to Queensland… read all about two very different European family adventures and discover why Aussie kids just love a USA holiday in our special KIDS IN AMERICA FEATURE …

New York, USA – page 11 2

Fiji Airways CEO Stefan Pichler shares his family holiday ‘bests’.

45

TOP 10 NOOSA FOR FAMILIES Count them! And that’s just for starters …

46

NORFOLK ISLAND Take a peek at beautiful Emily Bay Beach, one of the island’s most idyllic spots.

48

HOSHINO RESORTS TOMAMU Japan’s all-year-round family resort in Hokkaido is as popular in the Green Season as it is in Ski Season.

50

7 DAYS IN SINGAPORE Follow this fun-filled, day-by-day, family holiday itinerary and you’ll soon discover that a week in Singapore just isn’t enough!

Silver Star, Canada

103 SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

7

SYDNEY

ATTRACTION

PASSES FROM JUST $12.60* PER ATTRACTION

VISIT ANY OF OUR WEBSITES TO BUY!

* Prices are from $12.60 per attraction when you buy a ‘Combo 5 Pass’ online for just $63 adult, and just $36 child. On collection you will receive a ticket to each of the 5 attractions, with tickets valid for 30 days. Child age 4-15 years.

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www.sydneyaquarium.com.au www.sydneytowereye.com.au www.wildlifesydney.com.au www.manlysealifesanctuary.com.au www.madametussauds.com/sydney

Mon to Fri 8.30 am – 5 pm Sat, Sun and Public Holidays 10 am – 4 pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday) Mint Coin Shop and Cafe at the Mint open 7 days Denison Street, Deakin ACT 2600

SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

your own special collectible coin

SEE

Australia’s coin factory in action

DISCOVER your National Coin Collection

www.sydne www.sydne www.madame www.wild www.manlyse

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

What was new in 2004? > Nintendo DS > Bratz Babyz > World of Warcraft > The films Napoleon Dynamite, Mean Girls and The Notebook

Top kids animated movies of 2004

Who else is turning 10 in 2014?

> The Incredibles > Shark Tale > Shrek 2 > The Polar Express > The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

The Ghan Happy Ghanniversary! This year, The Ghan celebrates the 10th anniversary of its very first transcontinental journey from Adelaide to Darwin.

Jetstar The Jetstar Group has flown over 100 million passengers since it launched in 2004.

Hawaiian Airlines Celebrating 10 years of service from Australia.

Queen Mary 2 Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the largest and most expensive ocean liner ever built and made her maiden transatlantic crossing in 2004.

Facebook Mark Zuckerberg’s social network celebrates its 10th birthday with over 1 billion users!

Gmail Google’s webmail services launch as an invitation-only beta release before become available to the public in 2007.

What made news in 2004? > The movie release of ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ > Cricketer Steve Waugh named ‘Australian of the Year’ > Clint Eastwood’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’ took home the Oscar for Best Picture > Top selling Australian single of the year, according to ARIA, was Shannon Noll’s version of ‘What About Me’ > Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon titles > The last episode of ‘Friends’ airs > Deal or No Deal’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ debut on Australian television.

2004 SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

9

Take the Kids skiing in Whistler!

Legends

2999*

$

from

Crystal Lodge per family

30% OFF ACCOMMODATION + KIDS SKI & RENT FOR FREE!

3525*

$

from

per family

30% OFF ACCOMMODATION + KIDS SKI & RENT FOR FREE!

Town Plaza Suites

3529*

$

from

per family

47% OFF ACCOMMODATION + KIDS SKI & RENT FOR FREE!

Includes: - 7 nights quad share in Two Bedroom Apartment at The Legends - 6 day Ski Pass

Includes: - 7 nights quad share in a Two Bedroom Condominium at Crystal Lodge - 6 day Ski Pass

Includes: - 7 nights quad share in Two Bedroom Apartment at Town Plaza Suites - 6 day Ski Pass

Valid for travel 3 January - 12 February 2015

Valid for travel 3 - 29 January 2015

Valid for travel 3 - 31 January 2015

10

*Conditions apply. Book & Pay by 14 November 2014. Prices are based on travel dates specified in packages above. Pricing is based on a family consisting of 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 years of

S P R I N G 2 0 1age 4 at time of travel).Prices are subject to availability and may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. A credit card fee of minimum 1.5% will apply. Airfares are not included. Lic No. 2TA4787. outandaboutwithkids.com.au Image courtesy of Paul Morrison, Whistler Blackcomb.

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

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

Chalets capped with snow, roaring log fires, horse-drawn sleighs, snowmen … you don’t even have to be a skiing family to enjoy the pretty-as-a-picture winter wonderlands of the USA, Canada and Europe!

A

s anyone who has experienced the snowy delights of ski resort villages will attest, there’s as much action and family fun to be had off the slopes as there is on the slopes. With Australia’s long summer school holidays corresponding perfectly with the start of the northern hemisphere white season, here are:

1.

Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado USA – With its abundance of snowtipped Aspen trees, the historic town and resorts of Aspen make it a favourite winter holiday spot for families from all over the globe (and a popular winter playground for many celebs and their families!) The charming village is oh-so-pretty and with four mountains on which to ski, snowboard and indulge in tons of snowplay, Aspen is the real deal! > Travelplan Ski are the experts on Aspen/Snowmass holidays for Aussie families and will help you with everything, starting with great deals and packages as well as flights and transfers, accommodation, lift and ski hire and all of the inside gen on this snow-riffic destination!

Call 1300 754 754 or visit travelplan.com.au

©iStock.com/MaszaS

3 Great Reasons to book a White Christmas now!

2.

Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada – Sun Peaks and Australia share a close connection with the Annual Sun Peaks Family Cup -All-Nations Celebration held in conjunction with the Australian Sun Peaks Family Cup Committee and featuring the signature ‘Kookaburra Cross Country Cup’ during the week-long family-focused activities. From 4-11 January 2015 the second-largest resort in Canada becomes the venue for this super-fun snowsports event for all ages and includes a Tubing Party, Children’s Obstacle Course and a Skating Party and Family Fun Night! The Family Cup aside, Sun Peaks is also the place to enjoy dog sled and snow mobile tours, Kids Craft Night, the mid-mountain Torchlight Fondue, Fresh Tracks Breakfast and horse-drawn sleighs throughout the winter season. > Skimax can help you with all your family holiday needs at Sun Peaks, including amazing skiing and snowboarding packages, accommodation, and ski passes and all the lowdown on the Family Cup. Call 1300 136 997 or visit skimax.com.au

3.

Innsbruck, Austria – Think of the glorious Austrian scenery showcased in ‘The Sound of Music’ and picture it snow-laden and spectacular – that’s Innsbruck in winter – the capital of the Alps! In fact, all-year-round Innsbruck turns on the charm, and then some, but especially during the festive season, and in these majestic alps there’s no shortage of skiing and snow play on offer. Coupled with authentic Austrian village life, Innsbruck’s world-renowned Christmas Markets and a constant, spellbinding whirl through a world of ‘… sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles …’ , with snowflakes staying on your nose and eyelashes (just for good measure) Innsbruck is guaranteed to lay on a memorable, magical winter-inEurope holiday that the kids (and you) will never forget! > Discover more about Innsbruck in the festive season at innsbruck.info/en

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

Bottle-feed lion cubs and meet crocodile Arnold in Sun City!

How would you like to experience a family holiday where world-renowned sub-Saharan African wonders are right at your fingertips? Three Sun International five star establishments are all positioned in ‘Africa’s Golden Triangle’ - Cape Town’s landmark The Table Bay, Sun City’s The Palace of the Lost City, (surrounded by the Pilanesburg big 5 nature reserve) and Zambia’s gracious Royal Livingstone, set against the stunning backdrop of Livingstone’s Victoria Falls. Aside from the obvious pluses of luxury and ‘bucket list’ experiences for the whole family, extra special school holidays activities at Sun City’s The Palace of the Lost City include walking with the Lions at Ukutula Park (and bottle-feeding young cubs!) or getting up-close with Arnold, one of the biggest captive Nile Crocodiles in the world, and over 7000 other crocs at Kewna gardens sanctuary. > suninternational.com

Now THAT’S a Kids Club!

The new Kids’ Club at RIMBA Jimbaran Bali by AYANA is something else! For starters, there’s a mini-cinema room with theatre-style sofa seating and a big screen TV for Movie Time, a games room with a big screen TV for play time (Wii and PlayStation4!), two computers for online games, indoor rope swing, soft toys, puzzles and books in different languages.

The activity program changes daily and includes traditional dance, crafts, dress-ups and games, cooking classes with the resort’s chefs, rock-climbing, kite making and flying, or a visit to RIMBA’s own Balinese Hindu Temple where staff make daily offerings.

Open from 9am to 5pm, the RIMBA Kids Club is additional to the existing AYANA Kids’ Club at the 90-hectare property above Jimbaran Bay. > rimbajimbaran.com > ayanaresort.com

… Qantas Club has fantastic dedicated Family Zones in Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast and Melbourne Lounges, as well as in Sydney and Melbourne International Business Lounges.

Kids can have fun before they board their flight with iMac computers, Sony PlayStations, kids furniture, toys, books and yummy kid-friendly refreshments … and you can now find Out & About with Kids magazine in every Family Zone in all nine locations! > qantas.com.au

Giant Game Show on the high seas

In a first for Australia, Hasbro, the makers of some of our favourite toys and board games, has teamed with Carnival Cruise Line’s newest Australian ship, Carnival Legend to make family game night onboard a mega family experience!

Hasbro, The Game Show allows guests to play giant versions of their favourite childhood games, including Connect 4 and Operation and to team up with friends and family to win great prizes in front of a live audience! > carnival.com.au

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

7 family-friendly + free! apps 1.

TripAdvisor – browse millions of reviews and pics for the lowest airfares, best hotels, great restaurants and fun things to do, wherever you go

2.

4.

Walt Disney World® manage everything from maps, dining options, wait times, reservations and tickets to parade times and anything else you need for a holiday at Walt Disney World!

Available for download from iTunes and Google Play

6.

All In! for ALL kids

5.

XE Currency – quickly and easily convert one currency into another while on the move, with live exchange rates.

Eggroll Games - join Joey the kangaroo in an adventure full of puzzles, animals and discovery for toddlers, preschoolers and kids from ages 1 to 6!

3.

7.

Skype WiFi - With Skype WiFi you can get online at over 2 million public WiFi hotspots worldwide at the touch of a button.

iFly Airport Guide - get the world’s largest airport app with over 700 airports and GPSenabled in-terminal navigation.

Centara is calling ALL kids!

A pioneering new website to help communities include kids with disabilities in everyday activities has just been launched by disability service provider, Northcott. The site works by asking users to answer three simple questions about their circumstances. It then generates a unique report on how to include the child with a disability.

All In! The Inclusion Guide is an engaging, informative, easy-to-use and handy resource for businesses, parents, carers, community organisations, sporting groups, schools and community members. > all-in.com.au

Books for kids – gives you a bookshelf full of kids interactive and educational stories and games – from classics to contemporary.

Kids of all ages can take their parents on a great family summer holiday, staying at one of Centara Hotels and Resorts amazing locations in Thailand, Bali, the Maldives and Vietnam, in an ultimate kids adventure that can include kids clubs, water parks, water sports and beach fun! Just remember to pack your swimmers and thongs – and bring mum and dad along! Centara knows how to keep the kids happy – head to the website for fantastic special offers, including kids stay and play free deals and more, at a range of great family-friendly resorts in fabulous locations. > centarahotelsresorts.com

Fiji familystyle fusion meals

It’s been a firm family favourite resort for decades and now Plantation Island Resort is stepping meal time up a notch by introducing a new fusion menu – Vaka Viti – that introduces families to Fiji family-style dining. The new fusion menu and experience, designed by Executive Chef, Bret Hanson, takes the montage of flavours essential to Fijian cuisine and re-interprets familiar dishes using fresh seafood and locally-sourced produce putting a modern, and yummy, twist on some great eats! Main dishes are designed to be shared at the table, and the desserts are sensational! The Ol Copra restaurant will host the new dining experience for lunch and dinner. > plantationisland.com

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

S

martphones, tablets and laptops have gone beyond accessories to becoming necessities, and when we drop them, we’re in trouble! But the expense of replacing a kaput device can be avoided with a new range of nifty, and colourful, protection products.

Tech21™, Impactology work with the Apple Store (and other prestigious retailers), globally, to deliver intelligent impact protection for over 60 Apple products and for Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Note3 and Nexus 5.

Top tech We tried and loved …

Impact Snap for Apple MacBook – it’s designed for people who work on the move and is stylish and slim-fitting with a layer of FlexShock Impact Material that absorbs, dissipates and repels the shock from any accidental drops or bumps. Simple to fit with an easy ‘snap-on’ design. iPhone Impact Band and Impact Mesh cases provide maximum protection for your phone while allowing full access

to all the functionality, ports and buttons. Impact Trio is slim-fitting and uses a glossy coating of coloured PC compound that spreads force over a larger area, with a second layer that slows down the shock of impact and a third that absorbs and dissipates the shock.

Visit an Apple Store for MacBook and iPad cases, and iPhone 5 cases and screen shields are available from Vodafone, JB Hi-Fi, Virgin Mobile and Optus stores. > tech21.com

Top 10 use of smartphones while on holiday New research just released by InterContinental® Hotels Group (IHG®)* reveals that nearly 40% of travellers agree that their smartphone is the most important item to take on holiday - and 67% agree that they will use it every single day while away.

The top ten uses of smartphones by holidaymakers are:

Checking work emails

Navigation / Maps

Taking holiday photos

Texting

Making calls

68 67 64 51 42 %

%

Snapping pictures of meals

Updating Facebook / Twitter

%

%

%

Skype-ing friends/family

%

Playing games

%

Taking selfies

35 32 32 27 25 %

%

%

*IHG Rewards Club conducted global research with 10,159 IHG® Rewards Club members across 13 countries.

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Did you know …?

Baby boom

© istock.com/NickBiemans

Australia Zoo has welcomed two new, and beautiful, giraffe calves to two first-time mums.

Tulip was born in July to Sally, and in August, Penny gave birth to another baby girl giraffe.

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On 9 August Prague Zoo welcomed a male baby giraffe.

A female baby giraffe called Kamili (Swahili for ‘perfect’) arrived at Houston Zoo on 15 August.

Congratulations to 33year old chimpanzee mum, Shiba, who welcomed her fourth baby at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. A little brother for big sister Sembe and big brothers Shabani and Samaki.

© istock.com/nelsonarts

Zoos around the world have been experiencing a giraffe baby boom over the past few months! In fact across June, July and August, there’s been plenty of baby news for zoos…

Zoo debut

© istock.com/jakobdam

Eight-week-old Velu, a baby chimpanzee, made his public debut at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland under the watchful eye of mum, Heleen.

On 30 June Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney welcomed a litter of gorgeous dingo pups who have been meeting the public, in limited encounters, since their birth.

A baby walrus made its public debut, with mum Dyna close at hand, at Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg. Germany.

Nikosi, a baby male giraffe, went on display to the public for the first time in August, at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, when he was only two weeks old. He’s already taller than an adult human when he was born!

I said “Clive, we need a break”

So I found Mowbray Park Farm near Picton, Loaded the pups we’re there in no time.

Day Visits, Birthday Parties, Weekends away All day activities, horse rides, ponies….

Just 1 hour from Sydney If you are under 3 you visit for free

Mowbray Park Farm Holidays

745 Barkers Lodge Road, Picton NSW • www.farmstayholidays.com.au Email: mowbray@farmstayholidays.com.au • 02 46809243

© istock.com/thirtydry

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

Hello Koalas!

Port Macquarie in NSW is the koala capital of Australia, home to the world’s only Koala Hospital and one of the largest coastal koala populations, and Billabong Zoo runs an accredited international koala-breeding program. From September 2014 to December 2015 visitors to the region can wander along the bold new event – Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail – featuring 50 onemetre high koala sculptures hand-painted and decorated by local and interstate artists! > hellokoalas.com

Top Oz Zoos TripAdvisor recently announced the winners of its Travellers Choice awards for zoos and aquariums around the world.

In the South Pacific Region, Top Aquariums category, Busselton Jetty in WA took out first place honours with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium in second spot!

TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Top Australian Zoos > Melbourne Zoo, VIC > Australia Zoo, QLD > Taronga Zoo, NSW > Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW > Wildlife Habitate Port Douglas, QLD > Werribee Open Range Zoo, VIC > Perth Zoo, WA > Adelaide Zoo, SA > Caversham Wildlife Park, WA > Cairns Tropical Zoo, QLD

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Out&About with Kids Half Page Ad.indd 1

02 6451 3000 reservations@lakecrackenback.com.au www.lakecrackenback.com.au P E

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YUMI STYNES Travelling while pregnant throws up some unexpected surprises…

I

’d planned a big holiday without the kids before I discovered I was pregnant. By the time the trip arrived, I was into my second trimester and I honestly thought my husband and I would have the exact same holiday as we’d planned, just without the wine-tasting.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

Top 5 most surprising things you’ll experience when travelling pregnant

1

The kindness of strangers is universal No matter where you visit, you’ll be surprised by how protective people are of you. It seems that cherishing the pregnant woman is common across cultures. (Don’t be tricked into thinking that everyone will be the same towards you though. My father loved to tell the story of a journey where, as a young man visiting Japan, he offered his train seat to a gigantically pregnant young Mum with two small children. She immediately gave the seat to her young son, the future patriarch of the family, and continued to stand, much to my father’s amazement!)

2

There’s actually LESS TO EAT Without drinking alcohol and adventuring through the amazing foods and food cultures of another place (even if you stay within Australia, trying another region’s fish and chips is normally pretty appealing!) there’s less to do. If you can only stomach dry crackers and even a little lick of wine makes you queasy, your ability to interface with another culture is sadly, seriously shrunken.

4

The day spa doesn’t want your business!

I was shocked in Thailand by how wary the massage industry was of handling a pregnant woman. Later research uncovered that there are some pressure points believed to induce labour and this is a very strongly-held belief in some cultures! With my aching, swollen feet and shoulders tense from lugging suitcases, I would beg the Bangkok Day Spa ladies to take my THB400 (about $12) for an hour-long neck-andshoulders and they would purse their lips, cross their arms, shake their heads and turn me away.

5

You won’t want adventure A little bit of adventure? Sure! Like an unexpected golf-buggy ride through the airport?

Unreal! But suddenly the allure of white-water rafting or jumping out of an aeroplane will seem foolhardy and downright unappealing. Safe food choices and proximity to baths, bed and hospitals may be top of mind. Even before we boarded the plane, my attitude had changed. I no longer felt like I wanted to roam about, be spontaneous, camp, experience hardship, weather, danger, or thrills. It is most surprising to find yourself in conflict with your own expectations, craving safety, predictability, warmth and familiar surrounds!

Is this really what a grown-up holiday is about?

3

Airline staff flinch when they see you checking in to board their plane If you’re visibly pregnant, staff at many airlines can seem to panic a little at the sight of you. Don’t be offended. They don’t hate you; they’re conscious that you might pose more of a risk than another passenger. Imagine you’re like a supremely unhealthy smoker who could have a heart attack mid-way over Bass Strait. That’s kind of how they see you. They’re assessing the likelihood of them having to deliver a baby in the aisle between economy and business class, several hours from any hospital.

So what basic things should you expect with major airlines? They won’t seat you in an exit aisle and they will get you to sign a disclaimer before you board.

Most airlines have a pretty transparent policy on flying when pregnant, which you can find on their websites.

The subject this piece made her very welcome way intoofthe world in late May, when mum Yumi met her new daughter, Mercy!

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PLUSly pay for 5

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Remember pre children exclusive holidays?

Best family resort in Fiji 2014 as voted by readers of Luxury Travel Magazine

The goods news is that there is a special place that offers you a romantic, restful, rejuvenating experience with fine dining, whilst enjoying a family holiday.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji views children as the future caretakers of the earth & its oceans and has created fun, educational programs for age groups 0-5 yrs & 6-12 yrs. Each child under 6 has an exclusive nanny 9am-9pm & children 6-12 yrs have a Fijian buddy on 1-5 ratio. Enjoy couples time out or fun times with your family.

Call Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort office to enquire about our inclusive family packages.

1300 306 171 - 03 9815 0379 - sales@fijiresort.com - www.fijiresort.com

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Tropical island baby Dream it differently...

W

spectacular tropical paradise!

So when babies are added to the mix, are parents obliged to give up the island getaway dream?

The short answer is a definite ‘no’!

Island destinations actually make sensational holiday havens for babies and their mums and dads - and instead of compromising on chill time because you have little ones, there are many island resorts in Australia and the Pacific dedicated to keeping the dream alive for new parents. Far from daunting, taking family time out on a beautiful tropical island can only benefit you and baby!

© iStockPhoto/Nadezhda1906

hy do so many of us say we wish we could ‘escape to a tropical island’ when we’re stressed, overloaded, tired and feeling hemmed in by urban life?

The yearning to be instantly transported to a place of sun, sand, turquoise seas, coconut palms, lazy days and not a care in the world is practically universal and is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great reasons why balmy islands rank so highly as go-to destinations for romantic getaways, weddings and honeymoons. It’s a rare person who can’t happily envisage kicking back in a hammock, swimming, sleeping and enjoying cocktail hour with a special someone, at sunset, in a

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3.

Your resort must-haves …

It goes without saying that liberal sunscrsteen and hats are a muin the before frolicking in the sun or splashing water

© iStockPhoto/Alliance

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives

Ideally, you want to travel with as few of the bare essentials as possible, so resorts that offer more than cots and highchairs (free of charge) get a big tick. If you’re taking a stroller, ensure that the resort you’ve picked is easily navigable on wheels - with as few billy goat climbs and stairways as possible, and with easy and close access from your room to the resort’s main facilities.

Look for accommodation that is spacious enough to allow you to sprawl out or consider two-bedroom options. Fridges, kettles and decent-sized sinks in your room are all necessities for storing, preparing, heating and cleaning baby formula, food and equipment.

If you’re hoping for some alone time on your island holiday, you’re in luck! Most family-friendly island resorts totally understand the attraction of an island holiday for parents, and subscribe to the theory that if the kids are happy the parents are happy! Many offer exceptional, and reasonably priced, in-room babysitting services and oneon-one baby nannies ... as well as kids clubs with crèches and special facilities and activities for bubs.

4.

1.

Dream it differently We did it when my daughter was two months old in an attempt to recapture pre-baby holiday memories and to test if it was even possible to enjoy sun, sand, surf and ‘together time’ with an extra (little) travelling companion. To our surprise it was ... we just had to tweak the dream slightly! We shared romantic dinners in the restaurant, with baby asleep in her capsule under the table; we took walks along the beach, with baby in a sling and sun hat; we relaxed on the balcony together overlooking the ocean, while baby slept inside and we had mid-afternoon siestas – the three of us! Same, same … but different.

2.

Destination deciders Factor in travel times and modes of transport to your destination and determine what you - and baby - can manage, without losing it! The carefree days of a backpack each are on hold for now, and while babies are only small, the amount of paraphernalia they require makes travelling light a thing of the past, so be realistic about the logistics of the journey to your holiday island.

If bub is a no-fuss type who loves sleeping, then the world is your oyster ... if not, consider holidaying closer to home in Australia or via a short-haul flight, to New Caledonia, Vanuatu or Fiji - and make sure baby has a passport!

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Lazy days for little ones Not so long ago, mums were routinely instructed to let their babies have daily ‘sun kicks’ – nudie sunbathing for a short period each day – to promote good infant health.

Of course, we’re all more safety-conscious now when it comes to the sun, but a little bit of sun really is good for everyone, and where better than a tropical island for tiny tots to get their kit off? It goes without saying that liberal sunscreen and hats are a must before frolicking in the sun or splashing in the water and, on the upside, there’s nothing quite like the ambience, gentle seabreezes, warm weather and laidback lifestyle of an island to induce feelings of contentment and sleepiness! And if mum and dad are relaxed and chilled, generally baby will be too!

5.

Making it magical for the big people Day spa treatments, a round of golf, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, cocktails at sunset … enticing and attainable with a baby in tow, even if it means rostering grown-up activities and taking turns grabbing ‘me time’.

Book in a babysitter and enjoy an hour or so each day, together!

And with more and more families embracing multigenerational holidays, bringing nan, pop, siblings, friends and other cohorts along on your holiday guarantees babysitters on tap and promises loads of fun for all!

The bottom line is: Switched on family-friendly island resorts now make this kind of holiday easy and stress-free and promise one of the best holidays as a new family that you’ll ever experience.

Baby-friendly tropical island resorts

Mana Island Resort, Fiji Creche for babies, with activities and nap time scheduled daily. Stay 5 nights and receive five hours’ free baby-minding at the crèche each day of your stay, or pay as little as (approx.)

AUD $4 per hour for in-room or crèche babysitting services. manafiji.com

One&Only, Hayman Island, QLD, Australia Licensed crèche caters for little ones from six weeks old and babysitting services are also available. hayman.oneandonlyresorts.com

Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Resort & Spa 40 of the resort’s 180 guest rooms include a handy kitchenette. Babysitting and childcare available (including in-room). sheratonnewcaledoniadeva.com

© Simon Hobbs

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

Hamilton Island, QLD, Australia Clownfish Club Junior Childminding Centre caters for babies from six weeks old. Babysitting services are also available. hamiltonisland.com.au

Raratongan Beach Resort & Spa, Cook Islands Banana Beach Playland Creche caters for 0-4 year olds in a completely safe environment including activities and nap time. Cost is (approx.) AUD$ 40 per three-hour session.

The crèche is open from 9am-9pm. www.therarotongan.com Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa, Samoa

Daydream Island Resort & Spa, QLD, Australia Skippers Club caters for kids from six weeks old and babysitting services are available. You can also purchase nappies, formula, bottles and more and hire strollers. daydreamisland.com

Babysitting and one-on-one nannies to take care of your little one available for the duration of your stay. fijiresort.com Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji © Paul Hopkinson

© Sharyn Burgess

Plantation Island Resort, Fiji

Babysitting for as little as (approx.) AUD$3 per hour; a fantastic, affordable supermarket with baby supplies; special services for holidaying single parents. plantationisland.com Malolo Island Resort, Fiji Fijian nannies available on request for babysitting. maloloisland.com Castaway Island Resort, Fiji Babysitting available, kids club and the resort also has a great general store. castawayfiji.com

Babysitting available at (approx.) AUD$12 for the first three hours and for (approx.) AUD$4 per hour thereafter. sheratontokorikiisland.com

On-call, qualified babysitting services available. saletogasands.ws Dusit Thani, Maldives The resort’s Preferred Family status offers certification for the care of different age groups including ‘0-2 infants & toddlers’. Babysitting is available as well as nappies, formula, bottles, cups, toys, clothing and medicine for babies. dusit.com/dusitthani/maldives Centara Grand Island Resort, Maldives Babysitting services available. centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cirm

Warwick Le Lagon Resort, Vanuatu Child-minding (including in-room) available for (approx.) AUD$3 per hour. warwickhotels.com/le-lagon-resort

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A C C E S S I BLE TR AV EL

All-inclusive holidays along

The Legendary Pacific Coast

© The Legaendary Pacific Coast

‘Inclusive tourism’ – means access for everyone…

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© The Legendary Pacific Coast

M

“

... creating accessible rooms requires forethought and special attention ...

”

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ost parents know the difficulties inherent in the near-impossible manouevring of a stroller into shops, onto public transport or up and down stairs and escalators.

That’s the everyday reality for anyone in a wheelchair, on crutches, using walkers and mobility scooters, with vision or hearing impairments …

Accessible travel can mean many different things and at some point in our lives, most of us will be looking for travel and accommodation options that allow us ‘access’, despite physical limitations or disabilities.

The good news is that a burgeoning groundswell of acknowledgement of those everyday challenges, from within the tourism industry, has led to more and more accommodation and attraction providers turning their attention to improving accessibility in order to afford every visitor and guest the opportunity to enjoy the same holiday experiences.

For accommodation operators, facilitating access for people with mobility restrictions, in particular, is one of the key priorities, and the most important to manage as it usually requires a lot more than installing a ramp!

Creating accessible rooms requires forethought and special attention has to be given to bathrooms – can a wheelchair easily negotiate the door space, does the shower enable roll-in access, is the toilet accessible and can basins, mirrors and power points be easily reached?

And that’s just the beginning! Beds need to be placed at an appropriate height and, in some instances, hoists are required to enable guests to safely and efficiently transfer into and out of their bed.

The responsibility of creating an inclusive environment for all guests and visitors can be a considerable undertaking for many accommodation and attraction operators and Australia’s third most popular tourism destination after Sydney and Brisbane is one region that has wholeheartedly risen to the challenge!

The Legendary Pacific Coast stretches from Sydney to Brisbane and includes so many fantastic holiday towns and attractions along the way. With a seemingly endless offering of things to see and do, it’s easy to adopt the spirit of a great touring holiday, embark on a road trip and stop wherever takes your fancy!

Plan your trip using a handy resource like the ‘Can Go Everywhere’ website, and you’ll find famous attractions, as well as hidden gems, that are suitable for everyone. The website lists accommodation and attractions and has a great icon system, providing at-a-glance information on places that cater for different needs - from those who may use sticks, frames, wheelchairs or strollers. > cangoeverywhere.com.au The Legendary Pacific Coast website is brilliant, with a page dedicated to the ‘Legendary TODOKIDS Trail’ and plenty of information on the many attractions scattered along the coast and those catering for special requirements. > pacificcoast.com.au

Brisbane

Gold Coast

Coolangatta Tweed Heads

Kingscliff Murwillumbah

Brunswick Heads

QLD

Nimbin Byron Bay Lismore Lennox Head

Bangalow

Kyogle Casino Ballina

Holiday parks are great accommodation options, as they offer amazing facilities and many have done a lot of work to improve accessibility for everyone.

North Coast Holiday Parks offer great local knowledge to travellers, including information on community facilities for those with disabilities. Their policy of requesting that visitors requiring accessible accommodation call, rather than book online, provides the opportunity to chat to someone about specific requirements, to locate the most appropriate accommodation options and to find out exactly what is available in the region to make the holiday experience easy and pleasurable.

Their cabins and campsites, from Hawks Nest all the way to Brunswick Heads, are accessible, with wheelchairfriendly paths, camp kitchens and laundries. Urunga Heads Holiday Park has fantastic accessible facilities and Ballina Central Holiday Park is also a favourite, as not only is the park disability-friendly, it’s also a flat wheel into the centre of town. > northcoastholidayparks.com.au

Evans Head

NSW

Iluka Yamba Maclean Grafton Wooli

Legend Pacific Highway Touring routes

Woolgoolga Coffs Harbour Dorrigo Bellingen Nambucca

Major towns and attractions Towns and attractions Railway Airport Train Station (East Coast of NSW Service)

South West Rocks Kempsey Crescent Head Port Macquarie Wauchope

Bonny Hills Holiday Park near Port Macquarie is a great example of the effort that has been put in to creating allinclusive accommodation in the region ... and the local surf club has a ‘Sandcruiser’ – a special wheelchair with balloon tyres that travels easily over sand, gravel and grass and into the water. > big4bonnyhills.com.au > sandcruiser.com.au And holiday parks are a great choice for multi-generational holidays. Grandparents can stay in the ‘easy access’ cabins, while the rest of the family can choose from cabins or campsites. Check out havewheelchairwilltravel.net and you’ll find smart tips (and funny stories) that speak directly to the reality of travelling when a member of the family has mobility or access issues.

With so many online resources available to assist with accessible holiday planning, the good news is that allinclusive travel now is easier than ever!

We’ll be covering accessible family travel and holidays regularly and welcome your input and special tips for families on our Facebook page. > facebook.com/OAWkids

Comboyne Camden Haven Kendall Wingham Gloucester Barrington Tops

Harrington Tinonee

Taree

Nabiac

Forster / Tuncurry Pacific Palms Bulahdelah Karuah

Seal Rocks Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest

Maitland

Port Stephens / Nelson Bay

Pokolbin Hunter Valley

Newcastle Lake Macquarie Norah Head The Entrance

QLD

Terrigal / Avoca Ettalong

NSW

Gosford Sydney

0

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DAD’S WORD

their head offices in Brisbane flooded at the same time, on the other side of the world! Even though the unknown was harrowing, we thankfully had so much travel experience to draw upon that we managed to somehow avoid the worst possible scenarios.

In Australia, we love ...

Port Douglas. It is our favourite destination, both relaxing and adventurous at the same time and offers something for the whole family.

Overseas, we’ve explored ...

New Zealand, Mexico and the U.S. primarily, as a family.

Sam Moran Sam Moran is best known as the former Yellow Wiggle. Now a hugely popular nick jr. entertainer, his new CD “Play Along With Sam: We’re Gonna Dance! “is available now from iTunes, JB Hi-Fi and from sammoran.com. When he’s not delighting kids, or on his own musical adventures, Sam can be found at home in Sydney, with his wife and four-year-old-daughter, Eloise.

As a kid my family holidays were ... often road trips. Growing up in Wagga I have many memories of travelling the country roads in search of adventure all except one big adventure, when we visited my Scottish grandparents in their homeland at the age of 10, a trip I still remember clearly and fondly.

The first family holiday as a dad .... was a short trip to New Zealand. It was a test trip before heading to the U.S. where my wife’s family lives. We have since ventured to the Carolinas in the U.S. many times.

As a family, our holiday musts are ... always evolving. It used to be that we needed a separate nook or adjoining room so we parents could relax while our toddler slept. However, our fast-growing daughter doesn’t want to miss any of the holiday now, so sharing the same room seems to work ok – for now - especially if we all manage to sleep in! As she becomes

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a teenager, this may swing back the other way again as she’s the one who will want her own space!

Our best family holiday was ... in Mexico and Playa Del Carmen, in particular. It was beautiful and relaxing and the Mexican people were very accommodating and helpful especially when they see you are travelling with young ones. Children are welcome anywhere, anytime. Perfect for a jet-lagged family from Australia.

Our biggest family holiday disaster was... being stuck in a snowstorm in the Carolinas. Not an area renowned for its snowstorms, the airports were ill-equipped and we kept driving between cities, states and airports rescheduling our flights and trying to get accommodation in overbooked hotels as all flights were cancelled.

Hoping to reschedule our Virgin Australia connection also became difficult when

The best things about holidaying as a family are ... exploring the world through your child’s eyes. What things excite them and fill them with wonder? You notice some things you may otherwise have not. As adults we often get railroaded into searching for the things we’re ‘meant’ to see, but young children see a place as it is, and experience it ‘in the moment’.

I’ve found the easiest way to travel with kids is ... with an iPad! When you’re stuck with hours of time waiting at airports, it’s great. Young children enjoy the adventure of travelling, but they’re not so interested when that adventure grinds to a halt. iPads are great for saving your child’s sanity when travelling – and your own!

My #1 family holiday tip is ...

Be patient, and don’t plan too much for the day. I like to plan a morning adventure that we can get to early, before the crowds. Then, around midday, you can enjoy a lazy long lunch, some impromptu exploration, or perhaps even a little siesta!

If I could visit any destination in the world it would be ...

Santorini in Greece. We have so many friends who have holidayed there without us, and we envy the photos they post online because they look too sensational to be real! Definitely high on our list.

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ATTRAC TIO NS

must-visit Aussie attractions The Big Banana It’s a BIG Happy 50th birthday in 2014 for The Big Banana, which first opened its doors on 22 December 1964 to attract passersby to a roadside banana stall.

Now one of the best know icons in the country, its transformation into a fabulous fun park includes an Inflatable Water Park, the Toboggan Ride, ice skating, a Laser Tag arena and the Theatre and Tour experience (and there’s a 36-hole Mini Golf course coming soon!). Don’t forget to try a yummy choc-coated banana at the café and ice creamery!

You’ll find The Big Banana in NSW, on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour. > bigbanana.com

Questacon Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre – combines science and fun into an incredible experience for everyone! No matter your age, background or science knowledge, Questacon is the smarter way to have fun, with kid-friendly programs for 0-6 year olds, cool interactive curiosities for bigger kids and mind (and muscle!) bending experiences for the whole family!

Questacon opened in 1980 with only 15 exhibits and staffed entirely by volunteers and today it is one of Australia’s favourite family experiences with over 200 interactive exhibits to explore across eight themed galleries!

You’ll find Questacon in our nation’s capital – Canberra - at King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT. > questacon.edu.au

Madame Tussauds Would you like to ‘meet’ your favourite movie or TV star? How about taking a ‘selfie’ with Rihanna or Kylie, playing a game of tennis with Lleyton Hewitt, golfing with Greg Norman or joining

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Otway Fly Treetop Adventures Experience the rainforest from above on a unique ziplining eco adventure, or from a steel structured treetop canopy walkway - the longest and tallest walkway of its type in the world! Otway Fly Treetop Adventures offers a whole host of experiences including the famous 1.9km Treetop Walk that takes you through the beautiful cool, temperate rainforest 30 metres above the forest floor! The Zipline Tour is an exhilarating ‘fly’ on a series of cable spans from one platform to another, connected by tree platforms called ‘cloud stations’.

Suitable for kids 4 years and up, as you fly through the treetops, continuously attached to a steel cable, trained and experienced guides will ensure your safety and provide you with fun, interesting facts about the vibrant forest. It’s an experience you won’t forget!

You’ll find Otway Fly Treetop Adventures just 2.5 hrs from Melbourne and 1.5 hrs from Geelong, at 360 Phillips Track Weeaproinah, VIC > otwayfly.com

Oprah on the couch for a chat? Madame Tussauds wax figures are not only lifesize, they’re astonishingly life-like and across eight zones – Film, A-List, Culture, TV, Sport, Music, History and Leaders – you can get up close with everyone from Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp to Nelson Mandela, Einstein, Ned Kelly and even The Queen! Interactive experiences include digital screens to test your knowledge (and try your hand at the Celebrity Quiz) and kids over 8 years can have their own Madame Tussauds wax hand made!

You’ll find Madame Tussauds Sydney at Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour/Wheat Road. > madametussauds.com/Sydney

© Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Go behind the scenes at Australia’s premier elite sporting precinct and you might just be lucky enough to catch some of our top athletes in training! On the daily 90-minute tours from the AIS Sports Visitor Centre, an athlete will be your guide and can provide you with the lowdown on absolutely everything you want to know about AIS and our top athletes. The swimming centre at the AIS is open to the public and houses both 50-metre and 25-metre heated pools in an indoor complex – and when they’re not in use for training, you can get wet and try a few laps yourself!

The AIS also runs great kids holiday programs offering a range of fun sporting and fitness activities.

At the end of your visit, pop into the AIS café and browse the shop, full of fantastic sports gear, toys and souvenirs You’ll find the AIS on Leverrier Street, Bruce, ACT. > ausport.gov.au

The Royal Australian Mint Interactive, educational and fun, The Royal Australian Mint in Canberra supplies Australia with all of its coins – from 5c to $2 coins, every cent in your piggy bank was produced here!

See how our coins are made and minted and walk over 15,500 5c coins in the stairs on the way up to the factory viewing area and gallery! Regular guided tours are suitable for the whole family with behindthe-scenes action showcased in the theatrette. Watch Titan the robot at work, make a collectible coin, build a mini-mint in the cafe and view the valuable National Coin Collection and there are plenty of additional fun activities during the school holidays! The Mint’s Coin Shop is the perfect place to stop and let budding coin collectors explore souvenirs and mementoes.

You’ll find The Royal Australian Mint in Canberra at Dennison Street, Deakin, ACT. > ramint.gov.au

Dolphin Marine Magic Opened as a rescue and rehabilitation centre for native marine animals in 1970, Dolphin Marine Magic offers a permanent home for marine creatures, who have been injured or can’t be released back into the wild. See Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, seals, little penguins, Green Sea Turtles - and enjoy a fun, educational ‘handson’ experience.

You’ll find Dolphin Marine Magic next to Coffs Creek in Coffs Harbour, NSW. > dolphinmarinemagic.com.au

Dolphin Marine M

agic

Madame Tussauds Australian National Maritime Museum Opened in 1991, the Australian National Maritime Museum is located in Australia’s oldest city, Sydney, which was once the nation’s busiest port. It stands on land traditionally owned by the Gadigal people who found a rich source of fish and shellfish in the sheltered waters of Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay. The museum’s exhibits display our maritime history and have covered everything from pirates and sea myths and legends to the First Fleet and whale hunting! Interactive and informative, there’s always something new to see, learn and explore here with special tours of submarines and tall ships!

You’ll find The Australian National Maritime Museum in Murray Street, Darling Harbour in Sydney. > anmm.gov.au

Sydney SEA LIFE Aquarium Who wouldn’t want to venture into the Bay of Rays, Dugong Island and Shark Valley? An exciting array of interactive experiences with marine life abounds here – allow plenty of time to see everything! You can take a behind-the-scenes tour, meet the world’s smallest penguins, snorkel Shark Reef and view the world underwater from a glass bottom boat! Explore Sydney Harbour, the Great Barrier Reef, Streams and Billabongs and Mangrove Swamps, venture into the new South Coast Shipwreck Zone and even hold a starfish in your hands.

You’ll find Sydney SEA LIFE Aquarium on the city side of Darling Harbour in Sydney. > sydneyaquarium.com.au

Opposite page: The Big Banana. © The Big Banana Pty Ltd

Questacon. © Questacon

Above: The Royal Australian Mint © The Royal Australian Mint

New Shark Reef Snorkel at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium © SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

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Visit Perception Deception at Questacon and discover that ‘reality’ isn’t what it seems!

Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre on light backgrounds standard

black

BLACK

C100 M100 Y100 K100

on dark backgrounds standard

King Edward Terrace, Canberra.

Phone 02 6270 2800 Open 9 am – 5 pm every day.

Closed 25 December. Admission fees apply. no gradients

no gradients

watermark

watermark

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stacked logo (for sharing only)

stacked logo (for sharing only)

www.questacon.edu.au

Christchurch – and beyond!

It’s easy! Book your flight, pack the kids and hop across the ‘ditch’ for a holiday on New Zealand’s stunning South Island, destination Christchurch. In just a few hours’ flight time from Australia (no jetlag!), you’ll be welcomed (Kiwis speak the same language!) into another world, and introduced to the delights of the country’s second largest city and the fabulous Canterbury region!

© Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

O

ne of the beauties of Christchurch and the Canterbury region (and there are many!) is that while you’ll be spoilt for choice, it is easy to fit in so much, even on a short break.

Christchurch is compact and cosmopolitan and offers a huge variety of options for a family holiday ... skiing, wildlife, thermal pools, jetboating - and great accommodation choices.

Schuss down the slopes at alpine resorts (including 13 club fields that offer amazing skiing without the queues), play golf on breathtakingly lovely courses, take the plunge and try bungy jumping, ramp up the adrenalin with white water rafting, blow the cobwebs away on a mountain bike, or see the sights from a height as you waft over the glorious landscape in a hot air balloon ... and that’s just the beginning! If you’re looking for gentler pursuits, the region is renowned for its worldclass wineries, restaurants and gardens ... and, of course, scenery that takes your breath away.

The city has a friendly, artistic and quirky heart and an innovative, large-scale rebuilding program is seamlessly

meshing the historic architectural beauty for which Christchurch is renowned, with brand new, contemporary installations and edifices.

Re-opening in November 2014, the iconic Isaac Theatre Royal – the performing arts hub of Christchurch – integrates its former façade with a work of art commissioned through the RISE art program - a superb painting of a ballerina that adorns the whole of the rear wall.

And you can’t miss the amazing Cardboard Cathedral in Latimer Square – a masterpiece of modern design, constructed from 600-millimetre diameter cardboard tubes, wood and stained glass!

Think of New Zealand and a picture comes instantly to mind - astonishing scenery? Tick!

Adventures and unique experiences? Tick!

Thermal pools? Tick, tick, tick! – and in the South Island’s Canterbury Region your family can indulge in everything from the extreme to the serene – and plenty in between – all within a stone’s throw of Christchurch!

Hanmer Springs Head off to Hanmer Springs, just 1.5 hours out of town. Famous for its thermal pools (imagine gently marinating in the mineral-charged pools while you gaze at mountains and redwoods), it also features a waterpark with rides and slides that will keep the kids happy for hours.

The Heritage Hotel at Hanmer Springs has villas, making it perfect family-friendly accommodation. > hanmersprings.co.nz

Willowbank Reserve There are things that you can do in Canterbury that you just can’t do anywhere else, like seeing the New Zealand version of the safari ‘big five’ ... head to Willowbank Reserve for ‘close encounters of the wildlife kind’ where you can meet the kiwi, the cheeky kea, the ancient tuatara, the kaka and the rare takahe. > willowbank.co.nz

International Antarctic Centre Or how about the International Antarctic Centre – this is such a ‘cool’ place to visit for adults and kids alike – there’s a 4D

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Where to lay your head?

Previous page: Family flying a kite on Sumner beach © Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

From left: The Christchurch Ballerina is on the rear wall of the Isaac Theatre Royal.It is by graffiti and street artist, Owen Dippie.

Transitional ‘Cardboard’ Cathedral

© Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

After a day – or more likely days! – exploring the wonders of the region, you will want a lovely place to stay with all the home comforts – and then some!

The Heritage Hotel in Christchurch is an all-suite hotel, which is perfect for families as there’s a choice of two and three bedroom suites, so everyone has their own space and privacy. > heritagehotels.co.nz

© Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism

The IBIS Hotel offers great family-friendly accommodation, with 36 interconnecting rooms available. There’s a delicious pasta and grill-style restaurant and bar, and nearby is the new Re:START shopping area and central attractions. > accorhotels.com

Another accommodation option for families is the 4.5 star Rydges Latimer, in a wonderful location overlooking the green space of Latimer Square.

It offers brilliant accommodation for families, including a range of two bedroom suites. Everyone will love the free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and there’s delicious dining on site at Bloody Mary’s Restaurant. > rydges.com

Food, glorious food ... and wine!

nic Enjoy a familyHilpic ls rt on the Po

experience, a snow and ice room that simulates a storm down in the Antarctic; a Hagglund ride (an amazing all terrain amphibious Antarctic vehicle) and a penguin encounter ... not to mention some fabulous displays about the Antarctic. Kids absolutely LOVE it! > iceberg.co.nz Strap on your ‘adventure pants’ and head to Thrillseekers in Hanmer Springs, where you can push your limits to your heart’s content. Paintball, quad bikes, jet boats, bungy jumping ... or just a relaxing paddle down a crystal clear river – perfect for families with younger children. > thrillseekers.co.nz There’s sensational skiing in the Mackenzie region in Canterbury, home to the greatest variety of snow sports the country has to offer. From skiing NZ’s longest glacier to taking on Australasia’s highest vertical drop, the huge range of family-friendly activities both on and off the slopes make Mackenzie your ultimate winter holiday destination. > mtcooknz.com/mackenzie

Ride a gondola Of course, not every family is looking to push their limits, some just want to sit back and enjoy the view ... and back in Christchurch you can head up to the hills on a gondola, which is great fun for kids or ride the historic trams around town. > thrillseekers.co.nz

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Christchurch and the Canterbury region is a paradise for lovers of fine food and fine wine. For something that’s really out of the ordinary, take the kids to C1Cafe in Christchurch for dinner, where their sliders and fries are delivered via a pneumatic vacuum tube that whizzes them from the kitchen right to your table - at 100km per hour! > c1espresso.co.nz And if totally decadent desserts are your thing – and they are, right? - then head off to Strawberry Fare for incredibly delicious sweet treats! > strawberryfare.com Just 40 minutes north of the city is Waipara Valley – the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand with around 80 vineyards, including Black Estate, Greystone Wines and Pegasus Bay. > waiparawine.co.nz Of course, this is just a taste of everything to see and do, drink and eat in this fun, fabulous and fertile region. If you’ve ever thought about holidaying in New Zealand, stop thinking about it and make Christchurch and Canterbury the top of your list. > christchurchnz.com/australia Whether you choose to do a lot or a little, this is a magical place and your first visit is guaranteed not to be your last!

The new train set is loaded with building fun. It’s packed with rails, motorised trains and exciting features. The sets will keep your child busy for hours.

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Reconnect with your family on the Sunshine Coast

GINGER FACTORY Yandina

IVORY PALMS RESORT Noosaville

This iconic attraction offers unique rides and fascinating tours, a variety of great shopping facilities and a café surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens.

One or two bedroom Resort apartment/townhouse with a minimum 2 night stay, twin-share low season. Book online and use the promo code ‘Ivory’.

OPEN DAILY WITH FREE ADMISSION

07 5473 1700 | www.ivorypalmsresort.com.au

Make sure to check out our fully enclosed playground.

* Not available with another offer.

MALENY BOTANIC GARDENS & BIRD WORLD Maleny Visit Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World and receive:

ONE COMPLIMENTARY TEA OR COFFEE*

NEWPORT MOOLOOLABA Mooloolaba From $133* per night, save $77.

Book online and use the promo code ‘save’.

STAY 3, PAY 2

0400 091 731 | malenybotanicgardens.com.au

07 5444 4833 | www.newportmooloolaba.com.au

Aviary tours daily. Animal enclosure. Fairy garden. *Present this voucher to redeem offer. Valid until 30 June 2015.

*Bookings are subject to our normal terms and conditions.

Excludes school holidays.

OAKS OASIS Caloundra

OAKS SEAFORTH Alexandra Headlands

Stay in a brand new Executive Family Room and enjoy the onsite resort facilities including unlimited access to the Oasis Waterpark.

Book online and use the promo code ‘MOMENTS’.

Stay in self-contained One Bedroom Apartment and enjoy the onsite resort facilities and lagoon pool. Book online and use the promo code ‘MOMENTS’.

FROM $129* PER ROOM, PER NIGHT

FROM $164* PER ROOM, PER NIGHT

1300 031 963 | www.oakshotelsresorts.com.au

1300 766 950 | www.oakshotelsresorts.com.au

*2 night minimum stay, subjet to availability and block out dates.

*2 night minimum stay, subjet to availability and block out dates.

OCEANS MOOLOOLABA Mooloolaba

RACV NOOSA RESORT Noosa

4 nights in a 2 Bedroom Suite from $1,725, save $575.

Please call 07 5444 5777 for reservations.

3 Bed Suite- Total: $2,085 - save $695

Stay in a stunning destination for your next family holiday in one of Trip Advisor’s 2014 Top 25 Hotels in Australia. Luxurious and spacious 3 bedroom villas through to self-contained massive 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available.

STAY 4, PAY 3 - available on the 2 and 3 Bedroom Suite 07 5444 5777 | www.oceansmooloolaba.com.au

FROM $279* PER NIGHT - for a 2 bedroom apartment 1300 273 962 | www.racv.com.au/noosa

Travel valid until 30 June 2015. Not available during school holidays, long weekends or in conjunction with any other offer.

*Terms and conditions apply. Price valid for all auto club members including RACQ, NRMA & RACV.

SAND DUNES RESORT Marcoola

FAIRSEAS APARTMENTS Caloundra

Stay 5 nights and only pay for 4 in a 2 bedroom self-contained apartment for 4 people. 4.5 star beachfront accommodation with award winning pool.

1 night in a 2 bedroom apartment from $260, 2 nights for $310.

1 night in a 3 bedroom apartment from $290 night, 2 nights for $340. Book online using the promo code ‘Family1’.

STAY 5, PAY 4

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FROM $149* PER NIGHT

1800 067 686 | www.gingerfactory.com.au

FROM $260* PER NIGHT

07 5450 6357 | www.sanddunes.com.au

07 5437 5700 | www.fairseas.com.au

Valid until 31 March 2015. Excludes mid and high seasons and housekeeping service. Terms and conditions apply.

* Terms and conditions apply. Babysitting needs to be prebooked.

Not available in peak period.

For all there is to see & do on the Sunshine Coast visitsunshinecoast.com.au

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One day on the Sunshine Coast Early Morning… …enjoy any one of the pristine sandy beaches that stretch for over 100 kms along the Sunshine Coast. Take the family down to the shoreline for an appetite-enhancing pre-breakfast swim, before the sun has even had time to warm the sand, at one of the many patrolled beaches (look for the red and yellow flags!).

…dust off the sand and salt and explore the wonders of the ocean – without getting wet! SEA LIFE Mooloolaba is fresh from a multi million dollar refurbishment and is now home to the largest jellyfish exhibit in Australia – Jellyfish Kingdom! Entry fee includes the opportunity to get up close and personal with an exciting array of all kinds of marine creatures, exciting presentations and even a seal show!

© Sunshine Coast Destination

Mid-Morning… hes Family beac a Main Beach Mooloolaba BeaconhlyannodrtNoh-osfacing beaches are two of theast of Australia, where on the east co lm, safe and enticing year the water is ca ach is another fun place round. Kings Beter thanks to its oceanfront to enjoy the waming pool, child-friendly saltwater swimd patrolled beach break. water park an

Lunch time… …feeling hungry? Mooloolaba is one of the busiest ports on the eastern seaboard of Australia and produces the freshest seafood on the Sunshine Coast – straight from the trawler! Head to the end of Parkyn Parade and choose from an amazing selection of prawns and fish. This precinct also has a playground for the kids and picnic tables to enjoy your lunch.

Afternoon… …time to laugh and scream your way through over 30 rides and attractions at Aussie World! Soar 15 metres high, before launching into the rocking and spinning action of the brand new, Ballroom Blitz.

It’s not for the faint-hearted but with rides suitable for all ages – from the adrenalinpumping to gentle attractions – Aussie World is a fun day out for little ones right through to teens. Have your photo taken in front of the Ettamogah Pub – the most photographed pub in the world - and visit Strawberry Fields to pick your own fresh, yummy fruit!

Late afternoon… …watch the sunset from the beach, on a sunset cruise or from a ferry, travelling the Sunshine Coast’s picturesque natural river systems. Marvel at the sun sinking into the horizon over the water of the Noosa, Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers or from Pumicestone Passage in Caloundra.

Dinner… …whatever your tastebuds crave, there’s a family-friendly foodie option to satisfy! Iconic beachfront surf clubs offer some of the best vantage points on the Sunshine Coast from which to enjoy affordable, classic Aussie meals and you’ll find them dotting the coast from Caloundra through to Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore, Coolum, Sunshine Beach, Noosa or Rainbow Beach.

Or make your way to one of the many beach parks and share a picnic or barbecue!

The new Ballroom Blitz ride at Aussie Wor ld

Bedtime… zzzzzzz... …The Sunshine Coast boasts a range of accommodation to suit every budget and need. From camping to self-contained apartments or resorts with kid-friendly facilities, you’ll be spoiled for choice when you holiday on this magical strip of Queensland. > visitsunshinecoast.com.au

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FRONT DESK Best family stays tried and tested

Ibis Adelaide

Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok

There’s a new hotel in Adelaide - the $65 million ibis Adelaide has officially opened its doors - and it’s the largest ibis hotel in Australia!

Featuring commissioned artwork by street graffiti artist Ghostpatrol, the new ibis also incorporates the latest Samsung technology, so guests can beam their photos, videos and even games onto the big screen using compatible Samsung smartphones - throughout all 311 guest rooms.

Ibis Adelaide’s interiors are playful yet functional and, even before walking through the doors, you will notice the futuristic LED lit multi-coloured staircase through the floor to ceiling two-storey glass street frontage.

Guests check in at a reception area that allows funky Converse-clad staff to interact with ease. The lounge to the side of the lobby is a chill-out zone where guests can catch up on emails using the free Wi-Fi or simply relax, in between exploring the city.

Guest rooms are minimal and sleek to allow for maximum use of space and functionality and a standout technology feature is the Samsung Smarthub 690 Series in every room, which as its name suggests, is the smartest one-stop-shop for accessing everything from the hotel restaurant’s menu and on-demand entertainment to internet-enabled TV apps. The rooms also have a compact desk area with a Phillips LED desk lamp with USB ports and an adjustable office chair.

Ibis Adelaide is located at 122 Grenfell Street, a short stroll from the city’s famous shopping and dining precincts, Rundle Mall and Rundle Street, and the Botanic Gardens. > accorhotels.com.au/hotel/ibis-adelaide

A beautiful haven in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, The Sukosol enchants guests with its distinctly artistic style and signature Thai service. Recently renovated and rebranded, this privately owned and managed hotel offers a unique Bangkok experience.

With a perfect location in the heart of Bangkok adjacent to Phaya Thai Skytrain Station, the hotel is just two stops from popular down-town shopping centres at Siam Square, Central World, Paragon and MBK. A short journey from the hotel will also bring guests to the city’s most magnificent temples, museums, markets, parks and restaurants. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport lies just 30 minutes away and is now conveniently connected to the hotel via the Airport Rail Link Phaya Thai Station.

Inside the hotel, a mix of colonial-style architecture and Asian aesthetics makes for a wonderfully Thai experience. All rooms and suites are equipped with contemporary amenities to ensure the comfort and convenience of all guests, including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

The Sukosol is especially suited for guests travelling with children, with twenty Family Rooms offering 45 square metres of luxurious space (to give everyone some much-needed breathing room!), two queen beds and a super-size bathtub. In addition, the hotel offers a special “Sukosol Kids” program including a welcome gift pack for our mini VIPs, as well as a number of other services and facilities just for families.

Other facilities at this luxury hotel include a beauty salon, shops, laundry, travel agent, currency exchange and transport counter, the Lotus Spa, fitness centre and rooftop pool area and three superb restaurants (Chinese, international & Thai), a deli/bakery and several bars. > thesukosol.com

Nathan Frost, General Manager says:

“

Ibis Adelaide is a great option for families who want an affordable stay without compromising on style and great service. The new hotel is centrally located near family attractions including Adelaide Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and Adelaide Oval. The rooms can be easily configured to accommodate families of four - two adults, two kids - with 46 pairs of interconnecting rooms and special access rooms which can include an additional rollaway bed if needed for a cost of $40. Cots and babysitting are also available on special request. Kids can also eat for half price at the breakfast buffet and have the option of a comprehensive kids menu for lunch and dinner.

”

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Philipp Frickhinger, General Manager says:

Bangkok is such an exciting city for kids, with “ shopping, fun parks, exotic temples and museums and

amazing food to try. The Sukosol is ideally placed to make it easy to enjoy the best of Bangkok via the Skytrain. Within the hotel, Sukosol Kids offers child-friendly activities and services to give parents some much needed support so that the whole family can enjoy their Thai experience. At The Sukosol, we know that happy kids mean happy, and relaxed, parents!

”

Mantra Lorne, Victoria

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Coffs Harbour

Nestled between Aireys Inlet and the Wye River, Lorne exudes all the charm of a seaside village, with cafes and boutiques lining the main foreshore thoroughfare and its own sensational, family-friendly beach.

Mantra Lorne is on Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road, famous for its picture postcard attractions, including the 12 Apostles, Bells Beach and the Great Otway National Park.

The property offers a range of modern apartments and heritage hotel rooms to suit all tastes and family sizes, including eight rooms with disabled facilities.

The resort also has ramped pathways and lifts for easy wheelchair access.

Two-bedroom family apartments have a fully equipped kitchen and essential family entertainment – Foxtel, DVD player and broadband internet access – and cots are available for hire to accommodate little ones.

The resort is set on 6.5 ha of lush lawns and gardens – try lawn bowls, tennis, mini golf, croquet and bocce, or relax in the indoor heated pool or at the day spa.

During the long summer school holidays, Mantra Lorne Kids Club sessions run daily and include a variety of fun activities from treasure hunts and mini Olympics to ‘Paint Art’ classes. After 5pm, the family can head to the pop-up Wood Fire Pizza Oven and Pieroni Bar to unwind after a full day’s fun.

Lorne offers an abundance of great family activities – golfing, horse riding, a skate park, trampolines, paddleboats, lighthouses, waterfalls, lookouts, surfing, vineyards and markets. > mantra.com.au/victoria

Kids love Coffs Harbour for the sensational beach fun on offer and the region’s many other incredible attractions. If you want to prise your kids away from video games and get them active on your next family holiday, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Coffs Harbour offers families the perfect base for a holiday that will build lifelong memories.

Nestled within the Pacific Bay Resort precinct, guests have access to facilities that include a golf course, three tennis courts, three swimming pools, day spa, bike hire, games room, restaurant and children’s playground.

This peaceful resort is set among nature and even has wallabies grazing happily on the lawns of the Pacific Bay Golf Course and black cockatoos soaring overhead! Families can enjoy leisurely coastal walking trails, bike rides and direct beach access.

The spacious and stylish one, two and threebedroom self-contained apartments at Wyndham Vacation Resort Coffs Harbour provide families with the opportunity to stretch out and save on holiday spending. Meals can be prepared in the apartment’s own modern, fully equipped kitchen.

There’s a poolside barbecue and Charlie’s - the family-friendly Pacific Bay precinct restaurant - is just a short stroll away and open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

During school holidays, book the kids in to enjoy hours of fun at the kids club, operated by Novotel. > (02) 6659 2988 > wyndhamap.com

Abraham Dow, General Manager says:

Gary Collard, Resort Manager says:

“

Lorne is an exceptionally beautiful and laidback part of the world, yet there are so many activities on offer. Our guests can access the Go Ride A Wave surfing lessons and equipment from the resort and head straight out on to the beach. There are also a number of spectacular sites to explore such as Erskine Falls, Lorne Pier and Teddy’s Lookout and climbing Cape Otway Lighthouse is a must.

Fishing, cycling and horse riding spots are in abundance so there are plenty of options for families to stay active.

”

“

The abundance of resort activities on offer here, from the children’s playground, to the tennis courts, the golf course and our heated pool and spa make holidays extra special for families. Outside of the resort, kids will love Tabatinga Family Fun Centre (if they are seven and under), the Butterfly House and Dolphin Marine Magic. The Big Banana also offers ice skating and waterslides in summer.

”

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Complimentary

Kids Club open from 10am–10pm

The 4 star Naviti Resort is cocooned on 38 acres of tropical gardens alongside golden beaches and tropical palms. Situated on Fiji’s famous coral coast the Naviti Resort is a famous All Inclusive resort. where guests can enjoy all meals, unlimited drinks, free golf green fees, Sunset Cruise, nightly entertainment, and many other activities.

For more information or to make a reservation Ph. (679) 653 0444 Fax. (679) 653 0099 Email : navitireservations@warwickhotels.com Website: www.warwicknaviti.com

The Islander Noosa Resort Resort & Self Contained Accommodation 2 or 3 bedroom villas for families of up to 4 or 6 including children.

Self contained accommodation that won’t break the budget. 3 Pools, solar heated lagoon pool with waterfall and bridge, heated pool to 30 degrees all year. 2 tennis courts, 3 spas and 2 saunas, BBQs & Clubhouse. On tropical 4 acres hidden in heart of Noosaville with shops and cafes at your door.

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Islander_HP.indd 1

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• Islander Kidz Art and Craft in school holidays • Fishing and Boating across from the resort on the Noosa River • Surfing at local Noosa Beach -10 mins drive • Australia Zoo • Buderim Ginger Railway • Mooloolaba Under Water World

SPECIALS: 20% special available for stays from 1 June to 31 August 2014 or 1 to 30 Nov 2014 and 1 Feb to 31 March 2015 where a family of 4 stay 5 nights for $620 and a family of 6 pay $720.

187 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville QLD 4566 1300 656 888 or +61 7 5440 9200 info@islandernoosa.com.au www.islandernoosa.com.au

27/08/14 5:11 PM

THE INSIDER Stefan Pichler Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Stefan Pichler, shares his family holiday experiences – from diving together in the Maldives to a traditional lunch in Shanghai – and flies the flag for his new home base … fabulous Fiji!

My fondest family holiday memory … was two weeks in the Maldives in the year 2000. The

whole family together with a PADI open water diver - a shared effort and shared success.

bite was followed with a sip of coke by every family member.

My most memorable family holiday meal … was when we were invited by the Mayor of Shanghai to have a traditional lunch at the Peace Hotel in the 1990s. It was very traditional Shanghai cuisine - I only remember raw chicken skin, bird’s feet, and the last dish, which was a big bowl with big eyes swimming in it! We had to taste everything and every

Indulge in a little island time at Eurong Beach Resort on your next family beach holiday. There’s 75 miles of golden beach front to enjoy and plenty of sand tracks in between to explore. Bask in the fresh water swimming spots; land the catch of the day and reconnect with the ones you love on your next Fraser Island family holiday.

Book online, enter OAWK into the Discount Code to receive 10% discount on rates and packages. * Terms and conditions: Subject to availability, valid for travel until 15 Dec 2015. Rate based on minimum five night stay.

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Every family should experience … an emergency situation where you have to rely and depend on each other. It shows how the family can work in any situation.

My top tips for family travellers …

Number 1 - come to Fiji Number 2 – come to Fiji Number 3 – come to Fiji!

$

per apartment per night including return vehicle transfer.

1800 111 808 ☎ www.eurong.com

EBR083

My idea of the perfect family holiday is … being together on an island in the South Pacific and indulging in all kinds of sports and activities with my kids and my wife, starting with scuba diving, to water skiing to kayaking to snorkelling and wind surfing. For my perfect family holiday, I don’t need five star luxury. I prefer the real experience.

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Stay and play in Manly...

From the beach to the harbour, take your family to the water’s edge with Accor hotels in Manly. Spoilt for choice with three unique venues, explore the heritage at Q Station or enjoy the beachfront locations of The Sebel and Novotel. We offer a dynamic range of leisure and accommodation options in one of Sydney’s most treasured destinations.

The Sebel Manly Beach

Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific

To make a booking or enquiry go to:

Q Station Sydney Harbour National Park, Manly

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things to do in Noosa for families

1.

Learn to surf or stand–up-paddle Noosa’s beaches and waterways around the Noosa River provide an idyllic location for learning to surf or learning to stand-uppaddle. You can even learn to surf with a world champion, Merrick Davis.

2.

Hire a boat on the Noosa River – from catamarans to sailing boats, eco-powered solar boats and party pontoon boats, hire a boat on the Noosa River, moor at your own sandy spot along the river, take in the sights of stunning birdlife and beautiful homes, enjoy a sausage sizzle on one of the party pontoon boats or throw a line in and try your hand at fishing.

3.

Enjoy lunch or dinner at the Noosa North Shore - a five minute car ferry ride from Tewantin will take you to the Noosa North Shore where you can enjoy lunch or dinner at the Noosa North Shore Tavern. Kids in particular will enjoy the giant jumping pillow, feeding the lorikeets, seeing kangaroos roaming through the grounds and for indoor play there is a great movie and games room. The laid back ambience is perfect for mum and dad to relax too!

4.

Try a snow cone or ice-cream - Hey Bill and his iconic red quad bike and trailer selling cold drinks and shaved ice-cones has always been a favourite with families on Noosa’s Main Beach. Of course, if you are after a more traditional ice-cream, there are plenty of ice-creameries to choose from including Massimo’s Gelateria - a long-time favourite on Hastings Street – Nitrogenie, which uses liquid nitrogen to create amazing ice creams and Amo Gelato at Noosaville, also famous for their specialty coffees.

5.

Take a ferry ride – from Hastings Street to the Noosa Marina in Tewantin, and with stops along the Noosa River, buy an all-day pass on the ferry and browse the Marina Markets on a Sunday morning, stop off for a play at the pirates park near the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club or have a picnic along the river.

6.

Have fish and chips by the river or enjoy a family dinner at the surf club - there is nothing more Australian than enjoying fish and chips outdoors overlooking the river, although a family dinner at the Noosa Heads Surf Club at beautiful Main Beach is also hard to beat.

7.

Spend the day at the beach with your family and your dog! – Noosa’s dog beach in Noosa Woods at the end of Hastings Street is the perfect place for everyone to enjoy a splash and swim – even your favourite pooch.

8.

Take a walk through the Noosa National Park - a great outing for the whole family, with stroller access part of the way. You might even spot a koala, a dolphin or even a whale during whale season.

9.

Visit the world-famous Eumundi Markets – voted one of the best markets in Australia on TripAdvisor – don’t miss it!

10.

Get onboard for an action-packed ride – for older kids, the Noosa Oceanrider or Thriller jet ski boat is an adrenalin-packed adventure that will take you from the Noosa River out through the Noosa Bar and around the Noosa National Park. > visitnoosa.com.au SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Beautiful Emily Bay

– one of the gems of Norfolk Island

F

ormed from lava around 3,000,000 years ago, and discovered by Captain Cook in 1774, Norfolk Island has many stories and a fascinating history. Located around 2.5 hours flight time to the east of Sydney and Brisbane, this small 8km by 5km island boasts more than its fair share of intrigue, beauty and culture.

Many of the settlers on Norfolk Island are descendants of the famous mutineers from the Bounty, who cut Captain William Bligh adrift in 1789. Fletcher Christian led this mutiny and he and nine of his shipmates later settled on Pitcairn Island. In 1856, all the Pitcairners chose to travel the 3700 miles to settle in Norfolk Island, as Pitcairn could no longer support their growing numbers.

This tiny green dot in the Pacific Ocean certainly punches above its weight when it comes to spectacular scenery, history and glorious beaches.

Emily Bay on Norfolk Island has often been voted one of the best beaches in the world and it is one of our favourite family-friendly beaches. Here are five reasons why you should take your clan to glorious Emily Bay – and Norfolk Island!

Beauty

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C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Fun Playing on the pontoon is a must and the highlight of many family beach days. Or enjoy a picnic under the Norfolk pines with all the facilities you need within easy access. Explore the reef by glass bottom boat and feed the shoals of fish that abound in the pristine waters. The snorkelling is fabulous, fun and safe in the calm waters.

Shelter

The sheer beauty of this place is breathtaking! The clear aqua waters are fringed with white sand and 450-yearold Norfolk Island pines ... it’s impossible not to be impressed!

This beach is perfect for young families, with safe and tranquil waters - thanks to the protection of the coral reef, which lies just 100 metres offshore. You can see and hear the waves crashing over the reef and still swim and frolic in the natural lagoon.

History

Warm

Emily Bay is right on the edge of the historic settlement of Kingston, where world heritage listed sandstone buildings are the backdrop to every vista. These structures played such an important role in the convict settlement and help define the Norfolk Island of today. Not many beaches can claim that status!

Norfolk Island has a glorious subtropical climate - not too hot and not too cold. Match that with the water temperature – a balmy 18 to 20 degrees all year round – and you have an ideal place to make wonderful holiday memories. > norfolkisland.com.au

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JAPAN - HO KK AID O

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for kids

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Mina Mina Beach

Japan’s largest indoor wave pool has a massive glass ceiling that absorbs sunlight, creating a warm, tropical indoor paradise regardless of the weather outside. The Mina Mina Beach pool is enormous (there’s a separate pool for little ones) and you can relax waterside on a lounge chair, unwind in the Jet Spa Cottage, roll on the water in the Cyber Wheel, dine poolside on yummy food and take part in a whole host of exciting, organised kids activities on the water and at the ‘beach’! (Open all year) > snowtomamu.jp/winter/english/ SKI SEASON

GREEN SEASON

1.

6.

Kids Academy – stories woven through lessons make learning to ski fun and build confident kids

2.

Nipo Town – fun, supervised snow time activities and nursery for little ones too young to hit the slopes

3.

Chokkari Mountain – once kids have found their ‘ski legs’ there’s safe and fun skiing in this dedicated children’s’area on Adventure Mountain

4.

Ice Village – skate, eat, play in a magical (and icy!) natural wonderland that miraculously appears, fleetingly, between December and March

5.

Banana Boat – ride across the snow on a giant banana - in the Polar Village

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Unkai Terrace – take a gondola ride to the top of the mountains in summer – and marvel at the phenomenon of being ‘above a sea of clouds’

7.

Natural wonders – unspoiled and abundant with plant, bird and animal life.

Guided tours open up a world of discovery!

8.

Get sporty – hike, bike, walk and play in a beautiful, natural playground under a vast blue sky

9.

Get crafty – get involved in fun kids craft activities and make your own original works of art from twigs, nuts and berries collected from the forest floor

10.

River life – hop on a raft or into a canoe and explore the river! Picnic with the family in the sunshine at the water’s edge

Meet South Africa Go Go to to www.southafrica.net www.southafrica.net

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days in Singapore Singapore is so much more than just a stopover; it’s a cosmopolitan, family-friendly destination that warrants at least a week to explore!

Lisa Willows and her family built their ‘dream itinerary’ for 7 days in Singapore, and they weren’t disappointed!

Day 1 – Singapore Zoo

Set aside a whole day to explore Singapore Zoo – it’s amazing! The exhibits have been thoughtfully designed, creating natural and spacious environments for the animals, including the massive biodome that houses the Fragile Forest, full of all manner of rainforest species. See sun bears, orangutans, gibbons and tapirs and even Aussie critters - the fabulous Australian Outback zone was co-created by the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Take a tram ride around the entire zoo and bring the kids’ swimwear so they can cool off in the water play area and experience the giant bucket dump!

Day 2 – Hang out at Marina Bay

Explore the Sands Skypark, located on the very top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Aside from an observation deck, you can also bring your swimwear and get a bird’s eye view of the city, 55 storeys below, from the 150m long infinity pool!

Take a ride on the Singapore Flyer – 360° views from the world’s largest observation wheel - before strolling through the open-air gardens and indoor flower dome at Gardens by the Bay. Finish the day at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands Resort. Kids love exploring the 21 gallery spaces and learning simple science theories through entertaining, interactive activities.

Bring the kids’ swimming costumes so they can frolic in the Birdz of Play area, a bird-themed wet play area with flying foxes and waterslides.

Take a ten minute walk from Orchard Road to the immaculate Botanical Gardens. Entry is free and a visit to the stunning National Orchid Garden within is only $5 entry. The photo opportunities here are endless!

Day 4 – Universal Studios

Make your way to Sentosa Gateway for a whole day at South East Asia’s only Universal Studios theme park! Purchase an express pass and experience 24 state-of-the-art rides and attractions and meet characters from your favourite movies, including the ‘Shrek’ and ‘Madagascar’ franchises!

Day 5 – Sentosa

Day 3 – Jurong Bird Park and the Botanical GardensBotanical Gardens Jurong Bird Park is a beautiful, landscaped park and Asia’s largest aviary with over 5,000 birds across 380 species, including elegant pink flamingoes balancing on the thinnest of legs!

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Sentosa is awesome! From Imbiah Lookout and the Tiger Sky Tower, 131 metres above sea level, to playing with 15,000 butterflies at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom and to the thrills of 4D Adventure Land and the ‘extreme log ride’ ... and more! There’s MegaZip Adventure Park, the Sentosa Beach Tram and Marine Life Park – with over 800 different species of marine life, across 49 habitats!

© Singapore Tourism Board

Boon Tat Street

Day 6 – National Museum of Singapore and the Living Galleries Change the pace with a visit to The National Museum of Singapore and take a journey through yesteryear, with a fascinating look at Singapore - including stunning resident exhibitions, some dating back to the 14th century.

Sentosa Island

Day 7 – Shopping and The Escape Hunt Experience You just can’t leave Singapore without dedicating some serious time to shopping – everything from on-trend to luxury goods - on famous Orchard Road. Cap off a great holiday at the Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall by joining in on an hour (pre-booked) of ridiculously fun escapades in ‘The Escape Hunt Experience.’ Suitable for kids over 7, the family games and challenges have one rule – expect the unexpected! > yoursingapore.com

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#BIG4HOLIDAYPARKS

AUSTRALIA BY BIG4

Country, outback, city or coast? Wherever you’re heading, your family is destined for more at a BIG4 Holiday Park. Bring your own caravan or enjoy a little extra luxury in a holiday cabin. With beautifully maintained sites and excellent facilities, such as pools, playgrounds and go-karts, each park places you perfectly to explore your special piece of Australia.

With over 180 parks across Australia, BIG4 offers a choice of facilities, activities and accommodation to suit all budgets.

Visit BIG4.com.au for more details, availability and our easy booking system.

BIG4.com.au

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H O LI D AY PA R K S

Special Holiday Park feature Everything you need to know about holidaying with your family in Australia’s great outdoors!

© ATPM - Stockton Beach

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he latest research from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) reveals that 85% of the Australian population has stayed in a holiday park at least once in their life – that’s approximately 20 million Aussies – and if your family has contributed to that number, then you’ll know our holiday parks are fantastic!

If you’re part of the 15% who hasn’t had the pleasure of the experience… > follow our guide to the what, where, why and how > convene a family powwow to share holiday ideas > decide on a holiday park and book a cabin or hook up - in a caravan, motorhome or tent - to one of the 170,000 powered and unpowered sites available nightly around Australia > join the rapidly growing number of families embracing holidays in the great outdoors!

What’s a holiday park?

They used to be called caravan parks but holiday park is certainly a more apt name for the all-

encompassing, amazing resort-style, activitypacked playgrounds Australian holidaymakers can enjoy today.

Did you know there are approximately 3,000 holiday parks dotted around the country, including the popular BIG4, NRMA, Aspen Parks and Discovery Holiday Parks, as well as fantastic parks run by shire councils across Australia and numerous privatelyowned and operated parks?

And with such a diverse landscape in Australia, you will find a holiday park in almost every region of the country, each offering unique experiences. Choose from river, beaches, mountains, inland towns and villages and bush settings - and even hidden oases within a stone’s throw of urban centres!

There’s really no need to venture beyond the boundaries of Australia’s awesome holiday parks, because within you’ll discover a community of holidaymakers of all ages ... riding bikes, swimming in the pool and cavorting on waterslides, engaged in fun family sports, relaxing, reading, barbecuing,

trampolining, ambling, socialising and relaxing.

But if you do plan on doing some local exploration, decide on a holiday park destination that’s just right for your family. If you love the beach life, then head for a coastal locale; if you’re keen anglers and boaties, choose a riverside spot; if you like bushwalking, hiking and nature activities, then look for a holiday park that ticks those boxes.

And if you’re after other kinds of adventures, you can find holiday parks where dolphins or penguins or stockmen or surfing competitions or theme parks or ziplines - or almost anything else you can think of - are right outside your tent flap, or cabin, caravan, campervan or motorhome door!

Travel as far afield as you like, or stop at a holiday park within an hour’s drive from your front door … you can fly to another city and experience something completely different, or you can hit the road with the family and start driving north, south, east or west.

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Wish you were here...

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Š Port Macquarie Tourism

H O LI DA Y P A R K S

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BIG4 Big water park!

BIG4 welcomes Bendigo Marong Holiday Park BIG4 Bendigo Marong Holiday Park in Victoria has joined the BIG4 family!

BIG4 has added a new holiday park to its 180-park network. Located just 14 kilometres from historic Bendigo and in the heart of the Marong wine region, owners Deb and Brett Peters purchased the park in 2013 after a family holiday at a BIG4 Holiday Park convinced them to swap their corporate lives for an exciting new venture.

The family-owned park, operating under the BIG4 banner, has since been treated to a refurbishment that includes re-landscaped grounds, a kids’ jumping pillow, a life-sized chess board and three new cabins.

BIG4 Bendigo Marong Holiday Park 1449 Calder Highway, Marong, VIC > big4.com.au

There’s an exciting project underway at BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks Holiday Park converting an old fishing trawler into a replica tall ship, which will be the centrepiece of a sprawling $750,000 castaway-themed water park!

The new water park will feature the wrecked tall ship, partially submerged in a lagoon-style pool with a rock waterfall, two crows nests (one is a tipping bucket and the kids can access the other by climbing the rigging) and slides.

Park staff members have already embraced the theme and can be seen wearing pirate and period costumes as they go about their daily duties, much to the children’s delight. > big4southwestrocks.com.au > BIG4.com.au

News Accessible cabins ready for the new year!

Stockton Beach Holiday Park, right on the beachfront of Stockton Beach near Newcastle, is in the process of completing construction of new accessible cabins that will be ready for guests by late December 2014! > stocktonbeach.com

Finn moves in!

A dolphin called Finn has chosen NRMA Darlington Beach Resort & Holiday Park on the NSW Mid North Coast as his home.

The award-winning holiday park recently unveiled its new mascot, following a Facebook competition to name the cute surfing dolphin.

Park manager Brendan Brady said “We think Finn is perfect. It represents the marine life living in our backyard, as well as the outdoor lifestyle we love, such as surfing and swimming.”

And although he’s still only a cartoon character, Finn will soon be wandering around the park, mingling with little guests, when he receives his full mascot costume! > darlingtonbeach.com.au

Awards for NSW Holiday Parks Excellence Park Beach Holiday Park in Coffs Harbour walked away with two top accolades at the recent Caravan & Camping Industry Association NSW (CCIA) awards. Named Best Deluxe/ Resort Style Park, the Mid North Coast park was also recognised as the Best of the Best – Parks. Congratulations to all nominees, finalist and winners, including: Best Holiday Park Inland (over 100 sites) Armidale Tourist Park Best Holiday Park South Coast (under 100 sites) BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park

Best Holiday Park South Coast (over 100 sites) Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park Best Holiday Park North Coast (under 100 sites) North Coast Holiday Parks Urunga Heads Best Holiday Park North Coast (over 100 sites) BIG4 Soldiers Point Holiday Park, Port Stephens Excellence in Environmental Innovation – Parks BIG4 Karuah Jetty, Port Stephens Crown Land Customer Service Excellence Award (for a park on Crown Land) NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, South Coast

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N U FipSide e d i p i S l F THE

ON THE

BIG4 Soldiers Point Holiday Park • Free Games room with Xbox • Ensuite & Powered Caravan Sites • Close to shops & local attractions • Great Park for young families

• Trampolines • Tennis • Playground • Cabins

• Tropical pool with slide • Softplay Centre • Kids Holiday Activities • Bike Track

Indoor heated pool with waterplay area BIG4 Soldiers Point Holiday Park 122 Soldiers Point Rd, Soldiers Point, NSW, 2317

P: 1800 827 300 E: holiday@big4soldierspoint.com.au W: big4soldierspont.com.au

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AR YO FR O RI TI T

Grab yourself a copy of of thethe Eat See DoDo Grab yourself a copy Eat See Local Visitors Guide from thethe Greater Port Local Visitors Guide from Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre at at Macquarie Visitor Information Centre thethe Glasshouse oror view online here.

Glasshouse view online here. ww p .oprotrmt amcaqcuqaurai r e ii e N iFNoF. o c .oc m a .ua u ww w .w o .m

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© North Coast Holiday Parks

Camping

C

amping is an affordable way to holiday and, even without budget considerations, many families opt for camping over other holiday choices - because it really is a whole bunch of fun! Nights ‘under canvas’ in sleeping bags appeal to our adventurous, outdoorsy selves perhaps the desire to get back to basics and escape from our urban lifestyles really is a primal one?

Tent selection can be exciting and daunting simply because tents today ain’t what they used to be! You can still buy terrific little two-man pitched tents in all manner of colours and materials, but today’s family-sized tents with multiple rooms, flooring and zip-up windows with flyscreens are nothing short of modern portable homes!

Whether you borrow a tent or buy a tent, you’ll find all manner of shapes, sizes and materials and getting the right one for your family is key. If you’re a family of four, for example, be prepared to sleep cosy, cheek-by-jowl. If you want extra space, opt for a tent that is designed for more people than the number in your family. A six, eight or ten-man tent for a family of four is ideal if you’re planning to hit the great outdoors for more than a night or two.

© BIG4 Bendigo

Pitched, domed and pegged

Try out the tent It’s one thing to have prior camping experience but if it wasn’t you who put the tent up and dismantled it back then, it’s a good idea to do a dry run before you set off on your holiday. Most new tents are relatively easy to erect, but it saves headaches at the other end if you practise putting the tent up and securing it in your own backyard first, and you can even have a pre-camping family sleep-out once it’s up! Aside from being a great exercise in preparation, it’s also loads of fun for the whole SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park THE PERFECT BEACH HOLIDAY DESTINATION! Our family friendly park has an array of accommodation to suit everyone’s needs from waterfront Beach Retreats and Villas to our Ensuite and Powered Sites. Relax and enjoy a swim or a game of beach cricket on our beautiful Easts Beach. Have a hit of tennis or catch a fish or two. The kids will love our 25m resort pool,

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toddlers wading pool and children’s playgrounds. Kids activities and movies in our holiday periods will keep the kids busy. Our holiday park is the ideal location from which to explore the south coast, with popular tourist attractions such as Jamberoo Action Park and the Minnamurra Rainforest just minutes away.

For further information please contact: BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park Ocean Street (PO Box 10) Kiama NSW 2533 Freecall: 1800 674 444 P: 02 4232 2124 F: 02 4233 1009 E: holiday@eastsbeach.com.au www.eastsbeach.com.au

H O L ID A Y P A R K S

© ATPM – Merimbula

Tips for happy campers

family - and its far better to discover what works, and what doesn’t work when you’re a few steps from your own home, than to find out while you’re on holiday.

Sleeping under the stars Choice of sleeping bag is important too. If you’re not planning to camp out in the middle of winter, you won’t need a sleeping bag designed for arctic conditions. Of course, the reverse is true and a lightweight summer sleeping bag will not suffice mid-winter! Yoga mats are light to pack and transport and provide a great base to keep sleeping bags off the ground.

Some families go straight for blow-up mattresses and take their own bedding and if that’s you, purchase a quick inflation device (some plug into your car lighter, and if you’re on a powered site you can easily use one of the many electric models available) so that you’re not spending hours on the foot pump at your campsite ... when you could be out and about exploring with the kids or savouring the sizzle of sausages on the barbecue!

Camping extras It’s surprising just how much extra floorspace your tent instantly acquires with an annexe or awning, and with a couple of fold-up chairs and a picnic table underneath, you can relax on your ‘porch’ and watch the world go by, or turn family meal times into an alfresco experience!

Purchase a good quality tarp too – securing it over your tent is the trick to preventing any unwelcome rain leaking inside and onto bedding.

Happy camping Camping requires a little ingenuity when it comes to packing, transporting and storing everything. Invite the kids to get creative with their suggestions - you’ll be surprised just how many storage solutions and clever ideas you can rustle up between you!

Use backpacks for clothing and personal items.

Make sure everyone has their own toiletries bag for easy to-and-froing to bathroom amenities, and pack a pair of thongs each (or for extra luxury, book a site with ensuite facilities.)

> Snap-lock bags of all sizes are great for storage and make it easy to quickly find everything from nonperishable food, quick snacks, cutlery, bars of soap, toiletries and mini first aid kits and a small bag of safety pins is handy for a multitude of emergency fixes > Don’t forget the esky ... and a few rolls of toilet paper, just in case! > Wet wipes clean up everything and everyone > Assign everyone their own personal torch and include spare batteries > Pack plenty of towels – for bathing and swimming – and take along a handful of coat hangers or clothesline rope – you’ll be surprised how many places you’ll find to hang wet clothes, bedding, tea towels and anything else, out to dry (holiday park laundry facilities come in very handy too!) > Plastic plates, bowls, cups and food storage containers are musts - and take along a small plastic basin or bucket for washing up time > If you’ve booked a powered site, you’ll find most holiday parks offer camp kitchen shared facilities that may include fridges, microwaves and ovens. You’ll always find a BBQ and bigger holiday parks will usually also have a café, restaurant or bistro – and an onsite kiosk.

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Kids Go Free*

www.coffsholidays.com.au Reservations 1800 200 555 CoffsHolidays 62

* The Free S PKids R I N Go G 2 0 1 4deal is valid for cabin bookings of 3 or more nights. Maximum of 3 children. Valid from 7 October to 30 November 2014. outandaboutwithkids.com.au

H O LID AY PA R K S

Cabins

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ir-conditioning, TVs and DVD players, microwaves and dishwashers, separate lounge and dining areas, bathrooms, bunk beds, bedding and kitchenware supplied, sprawling verandahs and personal BBQs – holiday park cabins range from budget to luxury and are a brilliant way to experience the great outdoors, without camping or caravanning.

Each holiday park is unique, so you can take your pick from small and compact cabins to larger cabins with a couple of bedrooms, depending on the type of accommodation available. Holiday park cabins make it easy to get back to nature with the family, without sacrificing many of the creature comforts and conveniences of home. With everything at hand, cabins afford families the opportunity to pack and travel light and to slip straight into holiday mode on arrival!

Accessible cabins Holiday parks across the country are leading the way in creating accessible accommodation options for holidaymakers. Adopting an all-inclusive policy, many parks have renovated existing cabins, or developed new cabins, as well as upgrading access and facilities, to make it easier for people with mobility difficulties, in particular, to enjoy their experience at a holiday park.

Flat, wide and paved walkways and paths, the addition

Above: Bright River Lodge © ATPM

Left: Echuca Holiday Park © ATPM

Bottom left: Bonny Hills new camping tents. © Greater Port Macquarie Tourism

of ramps and wider doorways and living spaces in cabins, specially-equipped bathrooms and easy-to-access beds – these are just some of the wonderful initiatives many Aussie holiday parks have implemented toward providing full accessible accommodation for their guests.

Glamping The hybrid of glamour and camping, glamping is camping in style! Not quite a cabin and more than a tent, an increasing number of holiday parks now offer this very popular alternative to traditional holiday park accommodation.

Your glamping tent may come complete with all manner of lush inclusions – from under-floor heating in winter and air-conditioning in summer, Wi-Fi and electronic entertainment equipment, ensuites, plush beds and plump pillows – to spacious living areas, kitchens with all mod cons and decks replete with outdoor furniture and private barbecues!

If a holiday in the great outdoors appeals, but you’re unsure about sacrificing the creature comforts – and you wouldn’t say no a touch of luxury in the bargain –then go glamping!

Urunga Heads Easy Access Cabin

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lots to love Parents and children alike will love discovering Lake Macquarie, the largest permanent salt water lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy an aquatic playground with 110 square kilometres of water, pristine beaches, 30 public boat ramps and majestic mountain ranges.

Lake Macquarie offers accommodation from absolute indulgence to budget friendly.

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Go to visitlakemac.com.au or free call 1800 802 044 for more information, special offers and a copy of your FREE visitor guides.

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Your complete holiday

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here are plenty of good reasons why many holiday parks also call themselves a ‘resort’ – aside from being located in sensational natural playgrounds, holiday parks and resorts offer the kind of getaway that families can wholeheartedly embrace.

Pack the kids’ bikes, skateboards and rollerblades, because at every holiday park you visit you’ll see children of all ages on wheels, merrily meandering along pathways.

Children’s playgrounds are a holiday park staple and when it comes to pools – you’ll be amazed at the creative and colourful landscaping, the waterslides, fountains and waterfalls, shade cloth and fun extras like jumping pillows, that guarantee the kids won’t want to come out of the pool!

Many holiday parks have Wi-Fi on tap, so if you really do need to stay connected you can, and if you can’t leave Fido at home, take him with you to one of the many ‘dogs welcome’ holiday parks.

Cafes, bistros and even family restaurants are a feature of some parks and, believe it or not, you can even find a relaxing day spa or two! There may be a

games room, organised family activities, movie nights and treasure hunts at your holiday park – or you can always barbecue under the stars and make your own family entertainment!

And it’s also the perfect environment for kids to make new friends. There’s no pressure and the community spirit is tangible on a park holiday. It takes little more than kicking a ball, splashing in the pool or being barbecue buddies to get to know other holidaymakers!

Holiday parks take you out of the indoors and place you right in the middle of the great outdoors, and when your family is out and about, you’ll find neighbouring families who are doing exactly the same! The welcoming atmosphere sees families returning, year after year, to their favourite holiday park, sharing another holiday experience together, and with families they bonded with, who have since become firm friends!

Choosing the right holiday park is partly determined by destination and location and partly by the facilities each individual park offers. Tick off your family ‘musthaves’ and then add in the rest!

© Coffs Coast Holiday Parks

Park Beach Holiday Park

Top: Eastern Beach © ATPM

From left: Merimbula games room © ATPM

Echuca BBQ © ATPM

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Holiday Haven Tourist Parks Holiday Haven offers you the choice of 12 beachfront, riverfront or lakefront tourist parks along the South Coast of NSW just 2-3 hours drive from Sydney or Canberra.

Holiday Haven Tourist Parks welcome families all year ‘round, whether it is an annual camping pilgrimage a school holiday stint or a weekend away.

Families will enjoy the range of accommodation and experiences on offer at Holiday Haven Tourist Parks. From camping to cabins, jumping pillows to junior playgrounds, swimming pools to splash pads, there is an endless supply of activity on offer for your next family holiday. Our parks close proximity to waterways and national parks mean that family adventures such as surfing, fishing, kayaking Stand Up Paddle boarding, bushwalking, rock hopping, beach combing and canoeing aren’t far away.

LOCATION Whether you are towing a caravan, pitching a tent or wanting a waterfront cabin accommodation, Holiday Haven offers you the choice of 12 beachfront, riverfront or lakefront tourist parks along the South Coast of NSW.

FACILITIES › Cabins, Tent & Caravan sites, Powered Ensuite Sites › Kids Playgrounds › Kids under 5 stay free › Camp Kitchens › BBQ and picnic areas › Swimming Pools

› Splash Pads › Direct access to beaches, lakes & rivers › Jumping Pillows › Mini Golf › Free summer holiday activities for kids › Onsite Park Managers

Shoalhaven, South Coast, NSW

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© North Coast Holiday Parks

H O LID AY PA R K S

A home on wheels

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The dream of every aspiring grey (and not so grey!) nomad is taking to the road in a self-drive, self-contained mini-home - the ultimate expression of traveller’s freedom. Stop where you want, when you want and everything you need is immediately on hand.

Kids especially love the fun of holidaying in their own cubby house on wheels, and with all mod cons and compact and clever interior design, comfort for the grown-ups is also assured!

You don’t need a special driver’s licence to drive most of the smaller campervans and motorhomes, but make sure you check specific restrictions first.

The good news is – if you’re keen on hitting the road with the family in a motorhome/RV, there are many available for hire that come in under the weight/ length/licence restrictions and can comfortably accommodate a small family!

Once you’ve decided to plan a home-on-wheels road trip, all you have to think about is your vehicle.

Camper trailers What could be simpler than hooking up a trailer to your car and hitting the long and dusty road?

Sometimes called ‘pop ups’, camper trailers straddle the holiday world between tents and other types of motorhome or caravan. Like towing a snail, the flat

trailer carries your home on its back and ‘pops up’ once you reach your campsite (with some help from you and other family members). Almost instantly, you’ll unveil a hard or soft floor (you can choose either style) holiday home as basic or kitted-out as your budget allows!

Campervans Campervans, or ‘campers’, are self-contained vehicles that are typically more compact than long-wheel base motorhomes. Images of the iconic Kombi campervan might spring to mind, and although there are still a few of these to be seen travelling Australia’s highways, make no mistake, the modern-day camper is a super roadworthy, fully-fitted-out mobile home! They come in all sizes, shapes and configurations, so look around first to ensure that the camper you choose for your family holiday meets all your requirements and expectations –and that you can fit the whole family in approved seats and restraints for the drive!

Just remember that it is illegal in Australia for passengers to travel in the body of a motorhome or campervan without being strapped into approved seating and restraints. If there are not enough seats with seatbelts for the whole family to travel safely, consider a convoy – and bring along another driver and the family car as well!

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Budgewoi Holiday Park

Canton Beach Holiday Park

Budgewoi Holiday Park, on the NSW Central Coast, is an idyllic holiday destination for families.

Canton Beach Holiday Park, on the NSW Central Coast, is perfect for a family escape.

Perfectly positioned on serene Lake Munmorah, Budgewoi Holiday Park has a range of accommodation options available to suit any family budget and taste. And keeping the kids entertained won’t be a problem with fantastic family-friendly facilities including a jumping pillow, playgrounds, free school holiday activities and more.

With a variety of accommodation options to suit any budget – from caravan and camping sites to modern cabins with free Foxtel – this Park has something for everyone. It’s the perfect spot for bushwalking, water sports or just simply relaxing.

The Park is also located close to shops, cafes and restaurants.

LOCATION

LOCATION

Budgewoi is a lakeside haven with something to offer all families and the park is also within walking distance of Budgewoi Beach.

The Park is situated directly on the foreshore of Tuggerah Lakes and is only a short drive to nearby beaches.

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

› Range of accommodation options - modern cabins plus spacious caravan and camping sites. › Jumping pillow for the young and young at heart. › Playgrounds for the kids.

› Walking distance to Budgewoi Beach. › FREE school holiday activities. › Grassed areas with plenty of shade and sheltered BBQs on the foreshore. › Foxtel in all Cabins. › Camp kitchen.

Weemala Street Budgewoi NSW 2262 P: 02 4390 9019 or 1800 241 342 E: budgewoi@cchp.com.au W: www.budgewoihp.com.au

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› Range of accommodation options – modern cabins and caravan and camping sites. › Jumping pillow for the young and young at heart. › FREE school holiday activities.

› Playgrounds and grassed areas. › Boat ramp within the park. › Sheltered BBQ’s on foreshore. › Foxtel in all Cabins. › Camp kitchen.

Oleander St, Toukley NSW 2263 P: 02 4396 3252 or 1800 241 342 E: canton@cchp.com.au W: www.cantonbeachhp.com.au

© ATPM – Stockton Beach

H O LID AY PA R K S

© Britz – Explorer

If you want most of the creature comforts of home on wheels – with room to move, fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom (even showers!), living space and plenty of beds (berths) for the whole gang, perhaps even a TV/DVD – then a motorhome is probably for you!

Not surprisingly, the larger deluxe motorhomes on the market can be almost as expensive to purchase as a house – which is why motorhome rental is so popular. The main consideration when choosing a motorhome is determining how big you can go while staying within the licence restrictions of the holiday driver.

Motorhome rental companies can answer all your questions and are experienced in guiding new families towards the perfect vehicle!

Caravans If you own a caravan, can borrow a caravan or plan to hire a caravan, you’re set to go! But if you fancy the idea of holidaying in a caravan and are less keen on the idea of towing the vehicle, holiday parks have the answer – onsite caravan accommodation.

Onsite caravans are an affordable and fun holiday park alternative to tents and cabins and kids just love them! Clean and compact, just BYO bedding (or hire it onsite for a small charge) and step up into a holiday home complete with nifty sleeping nooks and cosy comfort. Caravans also range is size and configuration and you can choose from a basic yet comfortable van or something more deluxe. Each holiday park is different, so when you book ask the friendly staff to run through their onsite caravan choices and any inclusions.

Once you’ve parked your home-on-wheels at your holiday park destination, all that’s left to do is hook up to the onsite power and start your holiday!

© BIG4 Bendigo

Motorhomes

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BIG4 SUNSHINE

SOUTH WEST ROCKS is all about families connecting and good old fashioned fun and family values.

OPENING FOR SUMMER 2014/15 IS OUR NEW

CASTAWAY WATER PARK!

Beach, bush and heaps of cool things for kids to do all over the park.

Renowned for its beaches, history and unique beauty South West Rocks will draw you into it’s laidback lifestyle and will continue to call you back.

OUR EXTENSIVE FAMILY FUN & ATTRACTIONS include: • All weather undercover Jumping Pillow and Playground • Under 6’s Indoor Jumping Castle • Solar Heated Resort Pool • Waterfall Spa Cave and Wading Pool • Games Room • Movie Theatre Room • Inhouse Movie Channels (cabins & ensuites) • Peddle cart Hire • Bike & Canoe Hire • Half Court Tennis free • Sharky’s Putt Putt free • Volleyball Court free • Tiny Town (2-4yr olds) • Camp kitchens/ BBQ areas • Disabled Friendly Family Bathroom • Internet Kiosk & WIFI • Kids Club (school holidays and events) • Crazy characters • Walk to Trial Bay Beach • Surrounded by National Park ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Luxurious Eco Friendly Retreats • Overnight or Deluxe Cabins • Spa Cabin • 3 bedroom Family Cottages • Ensuite Powered Sites • Powered Van Sites (sullage and concrete slabs) • Powered Tent Sites • Bush Camping Sites

FI N D O U T M O R E : B I G4 SUNSHINE.COM.AU | (0 2 ) 6 5 6 6 6 1 4 2

elements Big4 A3 Brochure 2014.pdf

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Bring the whole family

Book a family getaway today

Freecall 1800 802 528 www.eurobodalla.com.au

eurobodalla unspoilt south coast nsw

batemans bay | moruya | narooma | surrounding districts

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© North Coast Holiday Parks

H O LID AY PA R K S

their prime positions are perfect for boating, fishing, swimming and water sports. lakemacholidayparks.com.au

North Coast NSW Central Coast Holiday Parks

© CCHP – Toowoon Bay

BIG4 Soldiers Point Holiday Park Fantastic for all ages but for kids, in particular, this holiday park in Port Stephens is a real adventure playground! With cabins, caravan and camping sites, ensuite and powered sites, there’s something for every taste and budget just 2.5 hours’ drive north of Sydney. soldiers-point-holiday-park.nsw.big4.com.au

© Lake Macquarie Tourism

Lake Macquarie Holiday Parks

Belmont Pines, Blacksmiths Beachside, Swansea Gardens and Wangi Point are all located on the shores of the largest salt water lake in the Southern Hemisphere - between Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley Wine region. A haven for water lovers,

North Coast Holiday Parks

© North Coast Holiday Parks

Take your pick from four family-friendly holiday parks in four uniquely different locations on the NSW Central Coast. Stay lakeside at Budgewoi, on the foreshore of Tuggerah Lakes at Canton Beach near Toukley, within a stone’s throw of two beaches in the shadow of historic Norah Head Lighthouse or enjoy the sun, sand, shade and fun of The Entrance (feed the pelicans!) at Toowoon Bay. cchp.com.au

South Coast NSW NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Park Positioned on the coastline at Merimbula, this award-winning park offers caravan and camping at its best. The park runs along the curves of the coastline, with cliff top sites and fantastic ocean views. merimbulabeachholidaypark.com.au BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park This 14 ha park is nestled in the valley, with mountain backdrops and absolute beach frontage and just a few kilometres from Kiama.

The park has accommodation for all budgets including ensuite sites, powered sites, retreats, cabins, villas and grassed sites which are suitable for tents and camper trailers, right the way through to caravans and 5th wheelers. eastsbeach.com.au

Dotted all the way along the NSW north coast you’ll find fabulous holiday parks – from as far south as Hawks Nest, north to Brunswick Heads. Off-thebeaten track holiday parks abound, as well as parks in popular holiday destinations including Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Urunga Heads, Seal Rocks, Tuncurry, Forster and Bonny Hills near Port Macquarie. northcoastholidayparks.com.au

Holiday Haven Tourist Parks Take your pick from a choice of 12 beachfront, riverfront or lakefront parks along the NSW South Coast. Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven Heads, Crookhaven Heads, Currarong Beachside, Huskisson White Sands and Huskisson Beach Resort, Swan Lake, Bendalong Point, Lake Conjola Entrance, Ulladulla headland, Burrill Lake and Lake Tabourie each offer beautiful and diverse locations and fantastic facilities for your next holiday! holidayhaven.com.au

Macleay Valley Coastal Holiday Parks You know their names – Crescent Head, Hat Head, Grassy Head, Stuarts Point and Horseshoe Bay – and in each of these beautiful north coast locations you’ll find a great holiday park! From beaches to creeks and the river, it’s sun, sand, surf and action, adventure, activities all the way in Macleay! mvcholidayparks.com.au

Eurobodalla Shire By the water, in a seaside village, in a forest or in bushland, there are over 30 holiday parks and campgrounds - from 5 star to back-to-nature -in this part of the south coast, from Durras and Batemans Bay in the north through Moruya to Narooma and the Tilba region in the south. eurobodalla.com.au/caravan-and-camping

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02 4928 1393 stocktonbeach.com facebook.com/stocktonbeach 3 Pitt Street Stockton NSW 2295

Central Coast Holiday Parks offer a unique holiday experience for the whole family.

Located at Budgewoi, Canton Beach, Norah Head & Toowoon Bay, the Parks' prime locations offer the best of the lakeside and beachside haven that is the beautiful Central Coast.

Keeping the kids entertained won't be a problem with facilities that include:   

Scan here!

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Resort style pools at Norah Head & Toowoon Bay Jumping pillows at all four parks Outdoor amphitheatres at Norah Head & Toowoon Bay where families can watch a blockbuster under the stars FREE wireless internet Foxtel in all cabins FREE school holiday activities

H 1 n

© ATPM – Bright Holiday Park

H O LID AY PA R K S

Stay NSW

BIG4 Soldiers Point, Port Stephens soldiers-point-holiday-park.nsw.big4.com.au

Armidale Tourist Park armidaletouristpark.com.au Budgewoi Holiday Park budgewoihp.com.au

Blue Dolphin Holiday Park, Yamba bluedolphin.com.au

NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Park Umina oceanbeachholidaypark.com.au

Canton Beach Holiday Park cantonbeachhp.com.au

NRMA Darlington Beach Resort & Holiday Park darlingtonbeach.com.au

© CCHP – Canton Beach NSW

© CCHP – Budgewoi Holiday Park

Stockton Beach Holiday Park stocktonbeach.com Toowoon Bay Holiday Park toowoonbayhp.com.au

Stay VIC BIG4 Wye River Holiday Park big4wyeriver.com.au

BIG4 Bonny Hills Holiday Park big4bonnyhills.com.au

Myall Shores Holiday Park myallshores.com.au

BIG4 Phillip Island Holiday Park vic.big4.com.au/phillip-island

BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park big4southdurrasholidaypark.com.au

Norah Head Holiday Park norahheadhp.com.au

Bright Holiday Park brightholidaypark.com.au

BIG4 Sunshine South West Rocks big4southwestrocks.com.au

NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Park merimbulabeachholidaypark.com.au

Eastern Beach Holiday Park, Lakes Entrance easternbeach.com.au

BIG4 Karuah Jetty Port Stephens big4karuahjetty.com.au

NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Nature Resort murramarangresort.com.au

Echuca Holiday Park echucacaravanpark.com.au SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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6 AUSTRALIAN & 12 QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS

FREE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Splash Waterpark Gymnasium Pancake Breakfast Free WiFi hotspots 18 Hole Mini Golf Aqua Aerobics Heated and Cold Spas 2 Resort Pools Movies under the stars Barbeques Day/night Tennis Adventure Playground 2 Jumping Pillows TV/Movie Room Tour booking desk City Courtesy Coach... and much, much more

ONLY 7 MINUTES TO CAIRNS CITY CENTRE RESERVATIONS: (07) 4054 6644 • www.coconut.com.au E: coco@coconut.com.au • 23-51 Anderson Road, Woree, Cairns, Qld

Naturally relaxing Stay right on the beach or river frontage at all of the Sunshine Coast Holiday Parks at any of the 6 great locations: Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park

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©Lake Macquarie Holiday Parks

H O LID AY PA R K S

Cotton Tree Holiday Park Dicky Beach Holiday Park Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park Coolum Beach Holiday Park sunshinecoastholidayparks.com.au

Stay QLD

© Treasure Island Holiday Park

BIG4 NRMA Treasure Island Resort Gold Coast treasureisland.com.au

Useful links big4.com.au nrmaholidayparks.com.au discoveryholidayparks.com.au aspenparks.com.au Australian Tourist Park Management atpm.com.au

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort adventurewhitsunday.com.au

Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW (CCIA) caravan-camping.com.au

Broadwater Tourist Park Kirra Beach Tourist Park Burleigh Beach Tourist Park Main Beach Tourist Park Jacobs Well Tourist Park Tallebudgera Tourist Park Ocean Beach Tourist Park South Stradbroke Island Campground goldcoasttouristparks.com.au

© ATPM – Lake Monduran

Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort coconut.com.au

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Disneyland Anaheim Š Visit California/Ryan Killackey

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SILVER STAR SHINING BRIGHT MICHELLE PETTIGROVE, husband Frankie J Holden and daughter Georgia holiday at what might just be the perfect family ski destination … Silver Star Mountain Resort BC, Canada.

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Hawaii

110 81

PORT DOUGLAS ‘Could it get any better?’ asks ELISA ELWIN

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FROM THE CITY TO THE OUTBACK JANE SANDILANDS’ young grandsons thrill to the adventure of a road trip from Sydney to outback Queensland

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EXPLORING GREATER PORT MACQUARIE Jett and Lisa take their mum LISA WILLOWS on a weekend of ‘firsts’.

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DISCOVERING ULURU & TRAVELLING ON THE GHAN The Red Rock, camel riding, dinner under the stars and a rail journey – ELISA ELWIN travels through the magical Australian outback

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CHOOSING CRUISING First-time south pacific cruise holidaymakers, THE MARSHALL FAMILY, talk about their family experience.

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FIJI TIME WITH TEENS Unwinding and reconnecting - a Blue Lagoon cruise and a few days at Malolo Island Resort provided precious downtime for ELISA ELWIN and her daughters.

KIDS IN AMERICA Put a US holiday ‘on wheels’ on your must-do list, says MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN, who took the kids on an unforgettable RV tour of the West Coast.

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KIDS IN AMERICA Winner of the Escape Travel Family Travel Reviewer competition, BIANCA WORDLEY, shares her Top 5 San Francisco and a little Disneyland California dreamin’.

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KIDS IN AMERICA An invitation to his siblings, spread around the globe, from MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN, saw 30 people gather together for a reunion on Oahu and a BIG Hawaiian Family Holiday.

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KIDS IN AMERICA The Big Apple may be the lure, (and rightly so!), but MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN says there’s more to New York than Manhattan.

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CHOCOLATE, KIDS AND A EUROPEAN VACATION! It’s a long way to Europe from East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. An undaunted SUSAN WHITTOME escorted her three girls on an unforgettable chocolate trail through Europe

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BOATS, KIDS AND A EUROPEAN VACATION! Two families, with five girls aged between two and 13 years between them, together for two weeks on a canal cruiser through the Burgundy region of France – PATRICK KINSELLA was expecting dissension somewhere along the way… but his able crew surprised him.

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MOUNT PANORAMA

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Overlooking the Iconic Mount Panorama Race Track

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Terms and conditions: at least 3 days advance booking required for full term and conditions visit website.

Rydges Mount Panorama Bathurst 1 Conrod Straight Mount Panorama Bookings and Enquiries 02 6338 1888 www.rydges.com/bathurst Email: reservations_bathurst@rydges.com

Enjoy family time while they’re still kids From relaxed coastal villages to bustling cities, Wyndham offers 25 exciting, family-friendly destinations across the South Pacific.

Combining style with comfort and size, you’ll find your home away from home with Wyndham. Our spacious, self-contained apartments are perfect for families looking to stretch out, relax and reconnect.

Spend precious time together and discover a world of activities and attractions the whole family will love.

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*

per room per night

Jungle surfing, toad racing and the reef – all in a day’s fun at

Port Douglas

© Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

Two families escape to Port Douglas, where the beautiful Great Barrier Reef, the spectacular Mossman Gorge, the ancient rainforests of the Daintree and the stretch of golden sand known as Four Mile Beach converge in a tropical North Queensland paradise. “Could it get any better?” asks ELISA ELWIN.

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© Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

W

ow! A spectacular 50-minute coastal drive from Cairns to Port Douglas gave us our first glimpse, and just a taste, of what we could expect on our holiday in the tropics, as sparkling turquoise ocean views and tropical vegetation flooded the senses - and discovering that Port Douglas is the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet - the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef - was more than exciting!

We arrived at the fantastic, newly refurbished Ramada Port Douglas Resort and each family made haste to check out their spacious two-bedroom apartment (complete with kitchen and laundry!). The rainforest setting was lovely and with a huge lagoon pool and the main shopping precinct and beach within easy walking distance, it was the perfect home base from which to start exploring.

Relaxing on the reef

© Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef requires no introduction. It’s not only the world’s largest coral reef – it’s truly breathtaking! Every day you

can set off on any number of tours to this precious watery wonderland and snorkel or dive, or just relax and enjoy a scenic cruise. We chose the ‘Outer Barrier Reef Tour’ with Quicksilver Cruises, which included morning and afternoon tea, tropical smorgasbord lunch, snorkel gear, semi-submersible tours, underwater observatory and a marine biologist presentation! The girls were quick to jump in and snorkel, constantly resurfacing to excitedly report back on the amazing undersea world of colourful coral and exotic sea creatures – and they even scored a DVD of their day as a souvenir!

Jungle surfers

Surfing the trees

“

© Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

...they call it jungle surfing - the awesome act of ziplining between the tall canopies of the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest.

”

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Have you ever been ‘Jungle Surfing’? With some ‘mum time’ scheduled, (poolside of course!), the girls set out with the menfolk for a two hour drive drive to the location of a truly unique jungle adventure – a private reserve at Cape Tribulation.

They call it jungle surfing - the awesome act of ziplining between the tall canopies of the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest in Daintree National Park and it was exhilaration all ‘round when the adventurers returned to regale us with their descriptions of surfing through ancient treetops and spectacularly swooping through the heart of the stunning rainforest.

© Tourism Port Douglas Daintree © Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

Next to nature

Trinkets and toads

‘Breakfast with the Birds’ at Wildlife Habitat was a brilliant start to another day. The park is close to town, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the animals crocodiles, kangaroos and koalas, and birds of course!

The girls loved hand feeding the kangaroos in their natural enclosures and when we sat down to eat, we were surrounded by birds who variously sat on our shoulders, heads or hands. We did enjoy their raucous company and when keepers brought along larger birds to join us, we learned about their care - and their individual personalities!

The fun continued when we headed to Mossman Gorge. Mossman Gorge Tours with BTS collected us from the Ramada Resort for the 20 minute drive to the home of the Kuku Yalanji people, the area’s traditional Aboriginal landowners, who take care to protect their natural heritage while generously sharing its unique qualities with visitors. Our tour provided lovely walks through the rainforest, spotting beautiful tropical flora and native fauna along the way. The Mossman River tumbles over and around the huge granite boulders that line the gorge, creating cool, clear freshwater swimming holes that the girls just couldn’t resist!

Browsing and shopping in Macrossen Street, the main street in Port Douglas, revealed fabulous goodies and bargains, but the girls absolutely loved the Port Douglas Sunday Markets. We arrived early to find a colourful array of affordable trinkets, jewellery and clothing and the tarot card readers and massage therapists made for some fun and relaxation. Oh, and the food was delicious!

Port Douglas restaurants offer plenty of outdoor family dining options to suit all budgets. After yet another lovely alfresco dinner on another balmy Port Douglas evening, we headed off to the cane toad races at the Ironbark Hotel. The races are an institution in the town and families avidly get straight into the action.

We cheered wildly as one of ‘our’ toads was just beaten at the finish line and watched five races in all, laughed ourselves silly and declared the novelty of the evening our ‘best night ever!’

The tropical climate of Port Douglas is on tap practically all year round, which makes it a perfect Australian destination for holidaying families.

Picturesque, balmy, relaxing, fun, entertaining, delicious, exciting and unique … for us it was a holiday that scored a unanimous thumbs-up - and we really couldn’t have asked for more!

Stay & Play

Port Douglas Ramada Resort Port Douglas (07) 4030 4333 wyndhamap.com [and select ‘BOOK HOTEL’] Jungle Surfing junglesurfing.com.au Quicksilver Cruises quicksilver-cruises.com Wildlife Habitat wildlifehabitat.com.au Mossman Gorge Tours with BTS btstours.com.au/mossman/ Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree visitportdouglasdaintree.com

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Do the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave -the Over Easy way!

A trip to the USA presents a dizzying smorgasbord of attractions, events, accents and landscapes, and America Over Easy is about tasting the best of what’s on off er. As the KNOWBEFORE-YOU-GO guide to making the most of an American vacation, it highlights essential sights around the country, from national parks to camping spots, free attractions to shopping malls, and museums to road trips, to help you get the best out of your visit.

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From the city to the outback – two little boys on the dusty road!

JANE SANDILANDS, her daughter Rebecca, and grandsons Daniel (5) and Adam, who would celebrate his third birthday on this holiday, headed off on a road trip to Queensland from Sydney, for an adventure full of friendly bushies, red dust, road trains, caravans, the ‘Best Birthday EVER!’ and the secret to cracking the stockman’s whip…

T

here were two main reasons for this trip from Sydney to Longreach. The first was for Rebecca to revisit her time in rural Australia, where she had worked as a professional woolclasser and later, was involved in developmental work with graziers and rural communities. The second was to introduce the boys to some of their mum’s history and the richness and reality of life beyond the city.

© iStockPhoto/tommytucker7182

Dubbo

We were keen to arrive in Dubbo, our first stop after leaving Sydney, as a kind family friend had shouted us an adventure with the animals at “Zoofari”, a unique overnight stay at Taronga Western Plains Zoo! After an African feast in the Main House (with mocktails for the boys), we boarded a small zebra-striped bus for a zoo tour. Our luxury tents had heated floors and canvas blinds that rolled up to let in the early morning light.

This was the perfect start to our outback trip!

Cobar

Our next stop was Cobar, a NSW copper mining town where my daughter had worked some years ago. Just after dawn, Cobar glowed with red dirt: the first real glimpse of the outback and a taste of what was to come on our road trip to Queensland. We had a traditional Aussie pub meal at The Empire Hotel and the boys enjoyed genuine country hospitality as they got busy with the tray of pencils provided and coloured away to enter a rodeo drawing competition!

We saw our first double road trains in Cobar -great roaring monsters that swept past us while we waited at the town’s only set of traffic lights. Soon we would be heading into country where the road trains were even bigger, leaving dramatic dust clouds in their wake. Sometimes, when we had stopped for the boys to stretch their legs at a roadside playground, they would wave to passing truckies from the top of the slide and, if they were lucky, the drivers would sound their horns in reply.

‘Eagle and Nest’ art at Barcoo River Charleville

As we crossed the border into Queensland we used notebooks to record the goats, sheep, ducks, one wedgetail eagle and 57 emus we spotted all in one day, en route to Charleville.

We stopped for the night at Bailey Bar Caravan Park in a quaint old-fashioned cabin with two large bedrooms, bunk beds for the

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describe what it is you’re looking at, thousands of light years into space, all coloured stars, clusters and, on the night we visited, an excellent view of Saturn!

Four days into the trip, and we were all travelling well.

We talked, counted animals, played I Spy and listened to lots of music. We stopped for an hour at a time at shady parks and found local bakeries to supply lamingtons and cupcakes. We even listened to something from my childhood - a CD of Enid Blyton stories - a sharp contrast in landscapes with their small, green English village settings and our Australian outback vistas as seen from the moving car’s windows. I was delighted that my grandsons loved Enid Blyton - the stories’ calm rhythms soothed Adam and the adventures of the Famous Five (where the children are always smarter than the adults!) enthralled Daniel.

me

Stockman’s Hall of Fa

Blackall Before our trip, Rebecca had contacted Blackall Primary School to ask if Daniel could be included in their prep class for a day, while she attended a conference in the town for rural, remote and regional women.

The school kindly arranged to facilitate his visit, and he took along with him a digital story about his own city school to share with his new classmates. The class was treated to an excursion to Ram Park, which celebrates the area’s heritage as a famous wool growing region, and the school’s young whip cracking team put on a dazzling display. Daniel was hooked! From then on, he resolved to get a stockwhip of his own and – most importantly to learn to crack it!

Together, we all explored Blackall’s marvellous sculpture trail, admired the statue of famous shearer Jackie Howe, visited the Blackall Woolscour and played and swam in the glamorous Aquatic Centre.

Right from top: Daniel learning to crack the new stockwhip, Longreach A very well behaved horse, Longreach Hall of Fame. © Jane Sandilands and Rebecca Iliffe

Longreach

boys, a huge kitchen and friendly neighbours. Adam, whose passion is caravans and trailers, was in heaven!

First thing in the morning, the boys were happily occupied spotting strange number plates, watching people packing neatly into the small and ingenious spaces of their vans and receiving a friendly welcome from all.

Daniel, whose primary school is in Sydney’s urban inner west, got a real lesson in outback education at The Charleville School of the Air. While he and his mum, Rebecca, visited the School I played with Adam in one of Charleville’s large shady parks. That night, we visited the Cosmos Centre Observatory, where the amazing roof rolls back to reveal the night sky. No car lights are allowed after 7.30pm and the session lasts until 9.30pm. There are several powerful telescopes, each with a set of small steps and an astronomer on hand to

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On arrival at our destination, we settled into another caravan park – this time with a villa set in a prime spot for Adam to lean on the verandah rails and watch the caravans arrive in the mid-afternoon.

Adam turned three on our first morning there, and as he looked out at the sea of tents and caravans, then at the Swiss Roll with the ‘3’ candle on top, he pronounced this the ‘best birthday EVER!’ We spent several hours at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, learning about Australia’s outback history and at the Royal Flying Doctor Service exhibit, we sat in the pilot’s seat and tracked flights on the map.

Outside, on tiered seats in the shade, we marvelled at horsebreaker and stockman, Lochie Cossor, as he expertly worked dogs and horses in The Outback Stockman’s Show. Funny, clever and absorbing, we all loved it – and Daniel finally got his own stockwhip (from the shop) and was treated to a quick lesson in making it crack, from an old-timer in Longreach – “Son, it’s all in the wrist”, and Daniel, armed with that invaluable bushie’s tip, practised each and every time we stopped at a park, on the long drive back to the city.

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BRISBANE 104KM Tweed Heads

BRUNSWICK HEADS BYRON BAY LENNOX HEAD BALLINA EVANS HEAD

Grafton RED ROCK CORINDI BEACH MOONEE BEACH COFFS HARBOUR MYLESTOM URUNGA HUNGRY HEAD NAMBUCCA HEADS SCOTTS HEAD

Port Macquarie BONNY HILLS NORTH HAVEN Taree TUNCURRY FORSTER SEAL ROCKS HAWKS NEST Newcastle

SYDNEY 160KM

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© Lisa Willows

Exploring Greater Port Macquarie – simply GREAT!

Port Macquarie was an easy choice for LISA WILLOWS … a family weekend ‘glamping’ getaway, only four hours’ drive north of Sydney, with the promise of a great climate, sandy white beaches, abundant natural bushland – and a whole bunch of novel adventures and activities to experience.

F

or the record, I am not a camper and have never been camping. Friends had recently been ‘glamping’, which looked like great fun, so I was excited to discover that just 20 minutes out of Port Macquarie, in the seaside holiday village of Bonny Hills, we could experience glamping in safari-style tents on the beachfront.

A-glamping we will go!

We arrived on Friday afternoon and the location was phenomenal, perched on a gentle slope overlooking

the ocean, with direct pathways to the beach. Jett and Lola ran freely through the park while I booked in to our ‘glampsite’, which was to be our new home for the weekend.

Caretakers Gerrit and Sandy were friendly and helpful and the park’s excellent facilities were very well-maintained, laidback and secure. Our tent was actually luxury accommodation - sparkling clean and packed with everything we needed for a comfortable stay, with a fully-equipped internal kitchen and new bathroom (with a real toilet and shower) ... hooray! We SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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had magnificent comfortable beds, heating and a good exclusion zone between us and any bugs, and at night we drifted off to sleep to the sound of the waves.

On Saturday morning we explored the pristine and secluded Bonny Hills Beach and discovered glorious rock pools that were brimming with sea life. We climbed the rocks and trees and trawled the beach for souvenir shells and rocks, and took selfies with various starfish and sea snails.

Delicious hands-on food After our beach walk we drove 20 minutes north to Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries, where we had been told you could pick as many strawberries as you wanted! Naturally, this proved to be a hit with the kids, and we were lucky enough to go on a day that the farm was offering half-price strawberries. Entry to the enclosed atriums is free, and they are brimming with juicy strawberries just waiting to be plucked and consumed. Armed with scissors and a bucket, the kids loved discovering the tall strawberry vines that climbed up and along rows of hydroponic pots. There were no time constraints as we worked our way along the rows looking for the plumpest, ripe red berries as we focused on finding the ‘perfect strawberry’.

The deal is that you pay for what you pick, as buckets are weighed and bagged in the Ricardoes shop, which is full of local produce and reasonablypriced gifts. We bought the chocolate dipping sauce and sat down in the café to a delicious lunch, followed by a yummy strawberry chocolate-dipping session!

After lunch we took a farm tour and learned all about the environmentally-friendly, state-of-the-art computerised technology that controls two acres of greenhouses, full of tomatoes and strawberries.

From above: Glamping at Bonny Hills Bago Maze

“

...Jett and Lola were both mesmerised by the creatively decorated Blossum, who stands a metre tall...

Image:Lindsay Moller Photography © Arts and Health Australia

‘Kalido’ by Francessca O’Donnell.

”

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Wending through the maze – and wines!

Next stop was a short drive to arguably one of Port’s best-kept secrets - the picturesque Bago Vineyards, which is also home to the largest hedge maze in NSW. What a treat, as the kids ran down a big rambling hill to the maze door, while I tasted some of the Bago wines, which were really glorious and impressive! I had a fantastic view of the maze from the cellar and could see the myriad interlaced spirals and symbolic imagery within its walls. I couldn’t resist any longer and joined the kids in the maze and found not only paths, but also a series of bridges, boardwalks, sunken pathways, lookout towers and musical instruments located inside.

It was a challenging and inspiring experience and we loved every minute as we attempted to plot our way out.

Koala ‘kulture’ The tranquil vineyard is nestled on a luscious parcel of land at the bottom of Broken Bago Mountain and the staff - including Rhianna who served up choc top

ice-creams to the kids - were charming. We were even offered an invitation to have a sneak peek at ‘Bago Blossum the Amaze-ing Koala’!

Jett and Lola were both mesmerised by the creatively decorated Blossum, who stands a metre tall. Brought to life by local artist Kellie Mobbs, Bago Blossum forms part of a colony of koala sculptures on an artistic trail that was rolled out in Port Macquarie and surrounds in September. There are fifty colourful koalas adding to the cultural landscape of the area, from the mountains to the sea, representing the creativity of the local community through the Hello Koala Public Sculpture Project.

This region boasts the largest koala population on the east coast of Australia, and is also the home of the Koala Hospital, the only one of its kind in Australia and the world’s first hospital dedicated solely to the care and preservation of koalas.

Saddle-up!

After a full and exciting day, it was back to our safari tent for some downtime. We sat on the little balcony overlooking the ocean and feasted on pizza. The kids retreated inside to watch Foxtel (yes, can you believe the tent has the full Foxtel package?) and I had a nice hot shower before retiring for the evening. It rained that night, but the tents are well-constructed and kept us comfy and cosy inside.

We woke up to a glorious Sunday morning and again

took advantage of the direct beach access to enjoy another early morning beach walk and some serious shell collecting, before heading off for a trail ride at the Port Macquarie Horse Riding Centre at Cassegrain Winery, only ten minutes from Port Macquarie’s town centre.

While waiting to saddle-up, we explored the monthly Artist Market at the winery, full of great handmade goodies and delicious food. It was lovely to experience the wonderful creativity of the local artisans.

As we booked in for our trail ride, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous! I hadn’t ridden a horse in over 20 years and it was Jett and Lola’s first time, but I needn’t have worried.

Cassegrain Winery has beautiful scenery and our guide was confident, encouraging and relaxed in her approach and instruction. Thankfully, the horses were quiet and easygoing and our trail-riding adventure really was the quintessential fun, family-friendly experience!

Discovering a vibrant Greater Port Macquarie over a weekend together was a pleasure for this family. We can’t wait to return for another round of adventures! > portmacquarieinfo.com.au SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Northern Territory

Discovering Uluru and travelling on The Ghan Want to know how to ‘do Uluru’? ELISA ELWIN embarks on a journey to Australia’s Red Centre and shares ‘tales from the tracks’ after a fabulous 24-hour train trip on The Ghan.

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lying into the Red Centre, the sight of Uluru below us drew gasps and spontaneous applause from the passengers. Our bird’s eye view of the magnificent red rock and the white sails of Ayers Rock Resort’s Sails in the Desert (like the Sydney Opera House) was a real study in contrasts!

Dawn at Ayers Rock Stumbling sleepily to the tour bus in the dark is a small price to pay for the deep thrill of seeing Uluru change colours as the desert wakes up. You can hire a car to create your own agenda or take one of the many dawn/morning tours on offer. AAT Kings

had a small, guided group morning tour that suited my family perfectly. There was coffee and hot chocolate on offer as we made our way to the viewing platform for one of those moments ... you know, the moments that family travel is all about! Sharing an experience so powerful is what family memories are made of – the colours of the rock, the essence of the land, the history of the traditional owners – and we were enriched and moved by this awesome happening.

We headed off on a walking tour of the rock and its sacred spaces and our guide, a ranger who had been a schoolteacher in a previous incarnation, kept us informed and entertained for the next two hours.

Out & Abou with Kids w t bringing yo ill be um great holid ore stories from ay Northern Te the rritory in coming issues!

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The Ghan

Insider tips All your tour and activity bookings can be made at the resort. From camel tours, car hire, helicopter flights and tours with AAT Kings.

Flies are everywhere! Those funny looking nets that fit over your hat are a real sanity saver and you can buy them from the stores around the resort.

Water, water, water! Make sure you drink plenty of water in this desert environment.

Don’t climb the rock - we didn’t. It is preferred that tourists respect the wishes of the traditional owners in protecting their sacred place.

Ayers Rock Resort has everything you need for a fabulous family break. You can save or splurge ... stay at the comfortable hotel-style accommodation, self-service apartments or camp. Food choices range from fine dining restaurants to affordable bakeries and tasty Thai takeaway, and there is a supermarket to stock up on snacks or forgotten essentials.

Allocate one night for the sumptuous buffet at the Ilkari restaurant – there’s something to keep everyone happy!

> > > >

ayersrockresort.com.au guidedtours.aatkings.com ulurucameltours.com.au ayersrockresort.com.au/ sounds-of-silence

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‘Sounds of Silence’ – dinner under the stars What a magical way to see the outback under the stars! We were collected from the Ayers Rock Resort by the camel guide and met our beasts of burden ... the long-lashed youngster, Milkshake, licked our fingers in welcome. Climbing on to our saddles and having the camels ‘whoosh’ to their upright position drew squeals and laughs as our camel train proceeded, with a gentle plod, through a darkening desert evening to our outdoor dining experience.

And what a delicious dinner it was! The menu offered easy family fare like steaks and salads, but we also tried the crocodile and kangaroo - not exactly everyday dinner items for our family! Dingoes hovered nearby, tempted by the smell and everyone was fascinated with their slender lope and dune-top “yip yip” calls.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the resident (qualified and entertaining!) astronomer filled our minds with tales of galaxies, stars and local lore, all as we watched the jewels of the night sky swing slowly above us in the outdoor amphitheatre.

Put the Ayers Rock Resort on your agenda for a family holiday and experience Uluru and the Red Centre ... you’ll create memories your family will treasure forever.

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We decided to extend our Red Centre adventure with a 24-hour experience on the legendary ‘Ghan.’ We booked the ‘Gold Service’ from Alice Springs to Darwin ... our first family rail moment! Everything is included in this ticket - from cocktails for parents and soft drinks for kids to all meals and excursions.

Not being train travellers beyond suburban rail, we were unsure what to expect and loved every second of our journey. However, there are some pitfalls you will want to avoid – we didn’t!

Don’t pack too much, as it just won’t fit in the cabin!

At the Alice Springs station we were given a smaller bag, so we could stock it with the essentials (from our larger cases) that we would need for the 24-hour train trip.

Gone were the ‘dress for dinner’ outfits, and we happily joined the other, more experienced train travellers in dining ‘smart casual’.

Lots of ‘grey nomads’ travel on The Ghan and they are delightful dinner companions - with a wealth of knowledge to impart and all thoroughly enjoying their roaming retirement. I would recommend the Ghan’s ‘Gold Service’ adventure for older, calmer children - for your own sanity and that of your fellow passengers! Or bust out and have a ball in the ‘Red Service’, which has fantastic Ghan offerings and more room to run around!

Have fun! Get ready to sit and watch the landscape go by and marvel at the changes from desert to tropical; be soothed to sleep by the motion of the train. Explore Katherine and cruise down the Nitmiluk Gorge, home of the indigenous Jawoyn people. The glory of this river experience and the tales from the indigenous guides kept us all enthralled. Shame the waiting crocs meant swimming wasn’t on the agenda!

Have a look at the Great Southern Rail website - with the ‘10th Ghanniversary’ there are ongoing specials and great fares for families across all the destinations and packages. It might be time to take your kids on the outback train journey of a lifetime and discover the romance of rail! > greatsouthernrail.com.au

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Your own piece of PA R A D I S E

Only 17 elegantly appointed Fijian Bures and Vales, Paradise is perfect for family groups of all ages

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Mention this ad when booking, to receive a Pure Fiji Gift on arrival

Full steam ahead… choosing cruising

First-time cruise holidaymakers, THE MARSHALL FAMILY from NSW, experienced 10 nights of delights, cruising to Noumea, Vanuatu, Lifou, Isle of Pines and Mystery Island, onboard P&O Pacific Pearl.

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n their own words, Catherine and Brendon, and their children Lauren (14) and James (9) tell us why they chose a Pacific cruise for their family holiday, whether their expectations were met and what they liked best about life on the high seas and onshore.

Catherine (mum) > Why did you choose a cruise for your family holiday?

For a few reasons - multiple destinations, the kids would be well catered for, and I wouldn’t have to cook meals! > Describe your family’s accommodation Our room was pristinely presented with four comfortable bunks, shower and toilet, with toiletries provided and a fridge, tv and fresh bottles of water. > As a mum, did the cruise meet your expectations? Were you able to relax and let the kids do their own thing?

Yes! The kids loved the kids club and made friendships that have endured since the cruise finished. There were kids movies, craft, themed discos, tours - the list goes on.

They were never bored and I certainly relaxed. There were endless activities and shows for Brendon and I, featuring some of the best Australian entertainers, and at breakfast, lunch and dinner (fantastic cocktails!) we were meeting people from all over the world, including people from the next suburb to ours! > What did you enjoy most about the cruise?

Not having to think about cooking and cleaning! The shows were a highlight and, along with the amazing abundance of food, there was definitely something for everyone. The islands were a fantastic opportunity to stretch the sea legs and do some duty free shopping and visit some of the most beautiful beaches that I have ever seen. > What were your favourite destinations/shore excursions/activities?

There was no shortage of shore tours to choose from and we also did our own exploring. Vanuatu was my favourite, particularly the Cascade Waterfalls, just a small hike up a hill and then a climb up the natural rock formations. Our guide for the day then took us to a spot called Hideaway SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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“If you tell me we’re going again tomorrow, I’ll be packed and ready in half an hour!”

Lauren Marshall

Island where you can snorkel with some of the most beautiful tropical fish. They even have an underwater post office! > What is your favourite cruise holiday memory?

Seeing the kids’ faces when we got to the terminal and stood next to the ship and said, “That’s the ship we’re going on!” Priceless!

Brendon (dad) > Did the cruise live up to your expectations?

Absolutely - five countries in ten days! Catherine and I were able to spend time on our own while the kids were safe and having fun in kids club. > What did you enjoy most about being on board the ship?

There were shows, art auctions, shopping, swimming, eating and relaxing with a beer or a cocktail and the staff were all so warmly welcoming and friendly. We met so many people – one couple from Melbourne were on their 34th cruise! > Do you think that the cruise represented value for money for a family of four?

Definitely! You don’t have to worry about preparing any meals, which takes away the ‘what and where to eat’ plus all the shows and activities were free. > What’s your Top Tip for Dads thinking about a family cruise?

Plan your shore tours and make sure you set plenty of time aside to spend with your wife! > What is your favourite memory from your cruise holiday?

Snorkelling in the pristine clear waters around Lifou, seeing and feeding the tropical fish and experiencing life as the islanders do.

Lauren (14) > Was the cruise experience the same as you had imagined?

Yes and no – I imagined it would be 24/7 snorkelling, eating and sleeping, no time for anything else. When we

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got on the cruise, it was a whole different story; there was the kids’ club, the Waterfront Restaurant (which was AMAZING!) and the islands were astonishing. > What did you like about cruising?

My favourite thing was the views around sunset and dawn – so beautiful - and seeing all the islands and meeting the friendly locals. > Were there activities designed for teens?

Yes - there were movies every night until late and Prom Night, which was pretty cool; I was crowned Prom Queen. The teen activities were really great! > What activities did you do most days onboard the ship?

I was either hanging out with my new friends, in the pool, in HQ or exploring the ship. Making friends was a lot easier than I thought it would be. We were all in the same boat – no pun intended – that made it easier to approach each other. We all still keep in contact. > What is your favourite memory from your cruise holiday?

My friends and I swimming in the pool at night while watching a movie was definitely one of my favourites. > What’s your TOP TIP for Teens on a family cruise holiday?

Don’t be afraid to go to the kids clubs; they have some great activities and you’ll make some great friends, I promise!

James (9) > Did you like being on a cruise for a family holiday?

Yes I did because I knew that it would be fun. > What was your favourite thing to do each day onboard the boat?

Having breakfast with different people each morning.

They had interesting stories. > Did you like the kids’ activities and entertainment?

Yes I did. I liked playing with my new friend Roy every day. He was so much fun. Roy was my favourite. We had photos taken by the ship photographer -that was fun. > Did you like the food?

I loved the desserts and I really liked the New Zealand Ice Cream. I used to get the Lemon Sorbet in a cone.

Yum. The calamari and chips was my other favourite that we had at the Waterfront Restaurant. > What was your favourite place to visit on the ship?

The mini basketball court at the back of the boat and I also loved the Plantation Restaurant and the all-you-caneat buffet. > What was your favourite holiday memory?

Snorkelling with my dad at Lifou and Isle of Pines. > What’s your Top Tip for kids going on a family cruise holiday?

Make sure you visit the top deck for the two pools and the view. > pocruises.com.au

T H E

R A R O T O N G A N

B E A C H

R E S O R T

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S P A

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

PLAY FREE IN PARADISE!

Now your family can feel the freedom of Paradise with the NEW DIRECT FLIGHT from Australia to the heart of the South Pacific, Rarotonga! At the 4-star Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa your family can enjoy the island’s best beach and lagoon, including ALL-TIDE safe swimming in the Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve, the island’s best snorkelling lagoon protected by a natural coral reef from the open ocean (no stingers or sharks to worry about!). KIDS STAY FREE! KIDS PLAY FREE @ the amazing Moko’s Kids Club – includes KIDS NATURE & CULTURE DISCOVERY PROGRAMME! FREE Snacks & Drinks at Kids Club sessions! FREE Kids Welcome Pack! NEW Banana Beach Playland crèche (0-3 years; charges apply). NEW Teen Zone!

Extensive FREE Activities Programme for all the family with snorkelling, kayaking, tennis, beach sports, games room, learn to dance the hula, play the ukulele & log drums, make a lei, husk a coconut + much more. Around Rarotonga enjoy 4WD Safari Tour, Glass-Bottom Boat Lagoon Cruise, rainforest trek to see one of the world’s rarest birds, Saturday Market, cafes & restaurants – all minutes away! The tropical island family holiday of your dreams awaits you at The Rarotongan!

Aroa Beach + Lagoon Marine Reserve l Rarotonga l COOK ISLANDS P (+682) 25800 l F 25799 info@rarotongan.co.ck | www.TheRarotongan.com S I S T E R

R E S O R T :

A I T U T A K I

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Fiji time with teens The beauty of the Fiji Islands, the warmth, happiness and welcome of her island people, provides the perfect place to slow down and reconnect for ELISA ELWIN and her two teenage daughters, Sam and Tori.

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other and daughter time is precious. The hectic pace of kids’ school and sport activities and their buzzing social lives leaves little time to really connect.

Fiji has always been our family’s ‘happy place’; the cure for the frantic tempo and pressure, and our mother-daughter week on Blue Lagoon Cruises and Malolo Island Resort gave us back to each other.

Blue Lagoon Cruises

Fiji Princess

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We arrived after an easy 4-hour flight on Fiji Airways. Transferring to Denarau Marina, we picked up a few last minute provisions from the mainland store and then our dedicated transfer vessel ‘Cheetah’ departed the marina for the Sacred Islands,

to rendezvous with the Fiji Princess.

Fiji Princess was everything we hoped for ... a boutique vessel taking us on our ‘Wanderer’ 4 night cruise through the beautiful Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands of Fiji.

Onboard, we chatted with the charming crew, enjoyed the delicious meals and marvelled at the daily parade of islands, including Nanuya Lailai, the island in the movie ‘The Blue Lagoon’. Every stop had endless beautiful coral reefs and my girls were always the last to get back onboard - making the most of snorkelling in the aqua waters.

Each day we would arrive at a new island, clamber onto the tender, lie under palm trees and venture into the ocean for some of the best snorkelling of our lives. The cruise also offered day trip experiences, from diving

with sharks to abseiling down cliff tops for the more adventurous. Maybe next time...

We spent much needed time lazing on the decks in peace and the girls had time to just ‘be’ with each other, essential for sisterly reunion ... and they made time for me, poor old Mum! They swam and snorkelled and jumped off the back of the boat - laughed and sang with the crew, sat and told stories, anticipated the following day’s activities and settled into a peaceful ocean rhythm.

One of the most remarkable days for us was spent visiting a local village school - the only one with a high school in the Yasawas. The school is supported by Vinaka Fiji Volunteering, encouraging education for island kids. My daughters went into classrooms, played soccer and games and sang with the laughing gaggle of youngsters who clamoured for their attention. When they met the smiling high school students, they soon realised how fortunate they were to have the range of educational opportunities and extra curricular activities back home.

Far from just a Fiji escape, this holiday became a time for the girls to reflect on how they could give to others who didn’t enjoy the same opportunities in life.

My eldest is now planning to join Vinaka Fiji volunteers for a month or two next year, when she finishes her exams. She was so touched by these lovely island school kids and is keen to return and work to help them in their education.

As we disembarked, the crew sang farewell and hugs and fond goodbyes saw us sadly leave all our new friends on the Fiji Princess.

How on earth could our next stop be better?

Blue Lagoon Cruises cater for guests 14 years of age or older, with the exception of some specific cruises during school holidays, which allow children of all ages.

Blue Lagoon Cruises > bluelagooncruises.com South Seas Cruise > ssc.com.fj Vinaka Fiji Volunteering > vinakafiji.org.fj/volunteer-programmes/ education-volunteering

Malolo Island magic!

As our small speedboat pulled up to Malolo Island Resort in the Mamanuca Islands, a choir of staff singing the traditional welcome song greeted us and we instantly felt at home. We marvelled at the reef off the beach in front of our two-bedroom bure, sat in every chair in the generous living spaces and relished the beauty, calm and peace of this wonderful island.

A gorgeous seafood dinner lit by flares on the pier made our first night a dream ... and the sunset over the water was absolutely spellbinding. Chatting and laughing over dinner, we could hear fish splashing under the pier and couldn’t wait to start our daytime adventures.

Malolo Island Resort

Malolo Island Resort is a gorgeous destination and the restaurant, pool setting, beachfront café and the living reef right outside our bure were just a few of the highlights. The girls grabbed the snorkel gear and headed out together at every opportunity, before flopping down to relax under the palms.

Our Malolo experience was enriched with an early morning speedboat trip to nearby Castaway Island, where we ate our breakfast on the waterfront terrace, before yet more snorkelling on the pristine reef. The girls and I danced on the beach in joy as our wonderful hosts played the ukulele and sang Fijian songs, in a moment created just for us. On the way back to the island, a pod of dolphins kept us company ... total Fiji island joy!

Our two languid lovely days seemed to pass in a blink. Once again, the staff (who had become our friends) sang to us and we all cried to be leaving this perfect piece of paradise. Two enchanted days - with every moment a joy - and Malolo Island Resort had won our hearts. We were once again firmly in each other’s lives, with shared memories to last not only through the academic term time ahead, but for a lifetime.

ol

Yasawa Islands - High Scho

For the younger kids Malolo Island Resort offers a free kids club for 4-12 year olds and plenty of water sports fun for everyone, including hobie cats, kayaking, banana boat rides, windsurfing, coral viewing, dolphin spotting and more.

Malolo Island Resort Fiji > maloloisland.com Fiji Airways > fijiairways.com SPRING 2014 outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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SKI CANADA SAVE ON YOUR CANADA SKI HOLIDAY COMPARE TRAVELPLAN DEALS

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Book now for great ski *Early booking and other conditions apply. Prices valid as at 19 August 2014. fares with Air Canada Photo Credit: Eric Berger / Destination British Columbia.

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Contact us for a FREE World’s Best Ski S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 Holidays brochure outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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Silver Star shining bright MICHELLE PETTIGROVE, Frankie J Holden and their daughter Georgia search for the perfect family ski destination‌

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Imagine a family ski holiday where everything you need, from shops and restaurants to ski lifts and ski school and countless winter activities, is an easy stroll or ski from your front door! Silver Star Mountain Resort in Canada’s British Columbia delivers on every conceivable front. It fulfils our family’s wish list so completely that we can’t think of a better place in the world for a ski holiday.

Think Canadian ski resort - think massive megaglitz? Not here. The quaint village of Silver Star has an intimate warmth heightened by brightly painted shop fronts that glow in the winter sun and glitter invitingly at night. If you’re daunted by the immense size and crowds of other Canadian resorts, Silver Star is the place for you. Arriving here, we are struck by the feeling that we have come home. Everyone is friendly - the sort of genuine friendliness of people who love where they live and want you to love it too.

And this place is easy to love.

Because of its compact size Silver Star village feels safe and neighbourly, the perfect environment for kids who love to explore and play. We spend a couple of hours on our first day making a snowman, much to

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the delight of passersby. This small town hospitality gives the place a charming familiarity rather than the anonymity of larger resorts. Coming from a tiny coastal village in Australia we feel quite at home, and quickly get to know the locals.

The only challenge is deciding which direction to ski in first - and getting to the lifts at the crack of dawn to ski the best part of the day isn’t the rule here. The conditions don’t deteriorate into slush and ice after lunch. Families can sleep in, eat a good breakfast then hit the snow till tummies rumble, and head out again for more adventures after a hearty meal.

The green runs are wide and scenic, bordered by huge tracts of snow-laden pine and birch. Georgia takes the challenge and tackles the longest run in Silver Star – the famous 8km ‘Eldorado’. Halfway down we are rewarded by the sight of a frisky squirrel bounding across the perfectly groomed slope.

There’s such a massive area to explore that Silver Star doesn’t feel crowded. Enjoy alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country, snow shoeing and an 8.5 hectare terrain park complete with the newest feature - a giant airbag designed to give rookie aerialists somewhere soft to land! With this much to do and this much space to do it in, it’s no wonder there’s no queuing for lifts.

Silver star CLIMATE Because of its location in the Okanagan region, Silver Star experiences typically low humidity – which makes the snow remarkably dry – and the winter average temperature is a mild minus 5, and often sunny.

SNOW The real treat at Silver Star is the divine quality of the snow, which falls to an average of 7 metres a season. Almost icing sugar-like in its fineness, there’s no need for snow makers here.

We met experienced skiers from all over the world who vouch that this is the best snow you will get anywhere on the globe!

Silver Star is so much more than a ski destination though. In fact, some of our most memorable moments here have nothing to do with skiing. The tears of laughter as Frank takes advantage of the specially designed zimmer frame to try ice-skating on the popular Brewer’s Pond, a naturally frozen pool perfect for ice hockey and figure skating. The thrill of adrenalin as we link arms and whoosh down the tubing slope on huge inner tubes. The eerie power of riding up front in the snowcat across immaculately groomed runs to a mountaintop dinner destination. Being soundly beaten by Georgia at ten-pin bowling in the resort’s busy bowling alley.

Mega breakfasts include sumptuous pastries, creamy hot chocolate, nourishing soups, gourmet pizza, tapas, awesome coffee. Dinner options are similarly tantalising with restaurants, bistros and bars serving an impressive range of meals from family favourites to fine dining.

Accommodation options suit all budgets and needs. The one thing you can be guaranteed of is that whether you opt for a hotel room, vacation home or lodge, your family will have direct access to the magic of Silver Star Mountain at your doorstep, and you’ll feel like a local in no time! > skisilverstar.com

SKI SCHOOL The ski school at Silver Star is reputedly the best in Canada.

That’s a big rap but seems well deserved when we see the variety of classes hitting the slopes each day. From toddlers perfecting their ‘pizza’ basics, to extreme All Mountain Camps designed to satisfy the most daring teenager’s ski and snowboard dreams including race training, avalanche awareness and video editing!

Private and group lessons are available for adults of all levels, and fully qualified day care facilities entertain kids aged 18 months to 5 years old, including an hour of ski tuition per day.

Experience a free tour of the mountain, with a local guide who skis with you and answers all your questions. Much friendlier than a map!

Georgia and her snowy friend

“

...the tears of laughter as Frank takes advantage of the specially designed zimmer frame to try ice-skating on Brewer’s Pond...

”

TERRAIN Renowned for having the most varied terrain in the region, Silver Star hosts a huge menu of activities and a truly spectacular backdrop to enjoy them from.

The extensive skiable terrain of over 1,200 hectares includes 115 trails ranging from easy green to genuine double black diamond, and is constantly being extended and up-graded.

Over forty runs are painstakingly groomed every night, with daily conditions and ‘groomer’s choice’ runs posted in lobbies every morning. Any parent who has worked up a sweat pushing or pulling a child up and down icy, mushy slopes will adore this heavenly champagne powder.

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GETTING OLDER HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD NEW TERRAIN OPENING 2014–15

Like a fine wine, Sun Peaks is only getting better with age. This ski season as we reminisce over 50 years of epic powder days, continual trail development, and community growth, we’ll be celebrating the addition of over 500 acres of new, advanced level terrain. This makes Sun Peaks the second largest ski area in Canada with over 4,200 acres for you to explore. As many Aussies have already discovered, the best part of the experience is how easy it is to access this robust terrain on three mountains from the ski-in, ski-out village where you can glide through to the chairlifts in a minutes’ time. Other new activities include multiple days for First Tracks and the Fondue Dinner at 6,000 feet, plus the new Kids’ Craft Night and Family Fun Dual Races.

FRE E KIDS SKI + RENLTOF FERS AND OTHER SPECIA

red Book today with your prefer

travel agent!

ney to Vancouver Take a direct flight from Syd ht to Kamloops. with a quick connecting flig

/AUS

aksResort.com ea www.SunPe

Tod Mountain Photo by Adam Stein

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Kids in America

Put the kids on ‘cruise control’ - and go!

“We’ve never had so much fun on a family holiday as when we took to the open road in America with our mini troops,” says MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN.

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ur first trek, spending three wonderful weeks in a recreational vehicle (RV) travelling along California’s famous West Coast - darting inland occasionally for a few national parks and Las Vegas larks en route - won’t be our last!

When in America, do as the Americans!

Recent and revealing statistics show a massive increase in RV touring in North America and of the 1.2 million Australians who visited the USA last year, a whopping 38% of them hired something with wheels underneath it for the holiday of a lifetime. If it wasn’t

a Harley Davidson or a Mustang convertible, it was a Recreational Vehicle!

Driving RVs in the USA is a cinch; the roads are beautifully wide, well sign-posted and with a trusty GPS, gone are the days of roadside, map-related discussions with your spouse!

No special driver’s licence is required and trust me, the RVs are a pure pleasure to drive, boasting power steering and brakes, air-conditioning, cruise control and more. If you can happily drive the family station wagon, the RV is simply a ‘walk in the (national) park’.

Hit the road with your home on wheels So, like turtles we carried our sweet, suite-on-wheels along with us, which included a full kitchen (I cooked a 6 kg turkey in our oven!), a beautiful bathroom and plenty of onboard entertainment as well.

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Viva Mexico!

Count the savings!

Budget-wise, RV holidaying in the US is a bonanza. We signed up for KOA (Kampgrounds of America) – it’s free and rewards you with generous discounts. We shopped at supermarkets where the food is fresh and inexpensive, petrol or ‘gasoline’ idles at about half the price of any pump in Australia and all our RV campsites had free Wi-Fi! © Mark William She ehan

The road less travelled … you choose!

With over 6.7 million kms of paved roads in America, you can take your pick of scenic routes. We recommend spending your first day just getting used to driving on ‘the wrong side of the road’ ... and after that, it’s a breeze.

American families have embraced RV holidays as the only way to travel overland – and they love recreational vehicle vacationing, Mother Nature, American history and national parks. With that degree of popularity, you’ll find RV sites everywhere across the country boasting swimming pools, clean laundry facilities, full hook-ups for power and water, general stores, kids clubs, movies under the stars and friendly staff.

When we invaded a new RV ‘resort’, we let the kids

© Mark William Sheehan

If you’re travelling the West Coast, it’s well worth heading south in your RV to San Diego for the world-famous zoo and SeaWorld. From there, you can easily and safely make a day trip cross the USAMexico border into Tijuana, for something completely different! We parked our RV on the American side of the border, within a baseball toss of the crossing, for just USD$8 a day, and walked into Mexico (for only USD$1 per person you can ride across the border on the Tijuana Trolley car). In Tijuana, we shopped ‘til we dropped, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, and were back in our RV resort pool by 5pm. It was a fun family experience and an eyeopener for the kids, who came away with loads of great value souvenirs and gifts, a new understanding of a different culture and an appreciation for the ‘good life’ they enjoy in Australia. It was a first-hand experience for them, as my wife later commented, that could not be imparted in any classroom.

Packing and unpacking only once in an RV is sheer magic and storage space is plentiful. We even bought USD$80 bikes (and skateboards) for the kids from WalMart, that were tucked into the underbelly storage of our home on wheels – and the kids used them daily. We flattened and kept the boxes and simply repacked them for the flight home to Australia.

out first so they could break the ice with their friendly American counterparts and their address books were soon full!

As we travelled, we asked the locals anything and everything and got the insider information on the best eats, special places of ‘must see’ interest and diversions that only enhanced our holiday. Engage the friendly Americans and you won’t be disappointed.

The bottom line is that our first RV holiday in the USA with the kids was brilliant and they had a blast.

Me too!

RVs in America

Mark’s top 5 tips for families

1.

The only law regarding

3.

Sign up for free to KOA

seatbelts in the US is that while driving, both the driver and the front seat passenger must be wearing seatbelts.

Ample seat belts are provided and it’s a good idea to use them when you’re not moving around in the cabin.

(Kampgrounds of America) for generous discounts.

2.

We put our names and mobile

phone numbers in the pocket of each child before the day starts - if they get misplaced, they know to go to the nearest security officer and ask for help.

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4.

When shopping for groceries,

get a free shopper’s card from the big stores - they’ll entitle you to discounts, both in the store and at the gas pump. The big three on the west coast are VONS, Safeway and Ralphs and many are open 24 hours.

5.

Consider CityPASS for the big

city visits in America: they’ll save you 50% and lots of time normally spent in queues!

Kids in America

Ever since I was a little girl “ I’ve heard stories of friends visiting

Winner of Escape Travel’s 2013 Family Travel Reviewer title, Adelaide mum, Bianca Wordley, travelled to California as part of her Escape Travel prize and shares with us her 5 Fab Day Trips from San Francisco (and a little slice of Disneyland magic!)

1.

Sausalito - a quick ferry ride from the San Francisco Wharf. With gorgeous weatherboard houses perched on the hillside, a buzzing restaurant and shopping strip and boats lining the harbor, there’s so much to see there.

2.

Napa Valley - has some of the most beautiful wineries, restaurants and views you’d expect. We took a trip to Francis Ford Coppola’s winery Inglenook and if you walk up the grand stairway there are his Oscars and other film memorabilia.

3.

Lake Tahoe - the perfect place to spend the day relaxing by the lake. If you’re into skiing then snow season would be jam-packed full of fun.

If not, you could pick the warmer months for boating. Or just sit in a lakeside restaurant and watch the world go by.

4.

Yosemite - would have to be one of the most visually stunning landscapes in the whole of California, let alone the world. From snow-capped mountains to sheer rock faces and waterfalls.

5.

Monterey and Carmel - The Monterey Aquarium is fantastic and the Dennis the Menace Park playground is loads of fun. Nearby,, Carmel-by-the-Sea is an upmarket, quaint town which is a gorgeous spot to shop and eat fine food. It’s been rated a Top 10 destination in the US. > Plan a trip to the USA by calling Escape Travel on 1300 799 783 or visit escapetravel.com.au

Disneyland. I’ve watched Tinkerbell fly across the castle and I’ve seen images of Mickey Mouse greeting fans.

And then, just like magic, we found ourselves standing at the gates to Disneyland. It was one of the most surreal and wonderful moments our family’s ever experienced together.

We all held hands and walked into the magical world of Disney. It was everything, and more than, we’d ever imagined. It was pure joy.

The park itself, and the neighboring Disney California Adventure Park, is massive. We spent one-and-half days there, which was enough for our children who range in age from 3 to 7. I think if you had older children or if you were going without kids (and believe me there were many child-atheart adults there) you could spend a few days exploring both lands and still not see it all. There’s something there for all ages.

But the must-see for everyone is the parade. As the sun sets, crowds line the boulevard and watch floats packed with all their favourite friends.

It is such a delightful experience. As soon as I saw Mickey Mouse turn the corner on top of his float and the Mickey Mouse song rang out in the cool night air, a big lump built up in my chest. I grabbed my girls close and held my husband’s hand as I cried tears of happiness. Disneyland is without a doubt where dreams come true.

”

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Kids in America

Reunion communion …

the BIG Hawaiian FAMILY holiday!

With five siblings scattered around the world, MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN and his wife Bridget suggested a family reunion in beautiful Hawaii, and with dates and a tempting destination on the table, “…like the attraction of fresh buns to a hamburger”, 30 family members, kids and adults, were quick with the RSVPs to accept the Sheehan’s invitation to join them for a ‘joy-full’ family reunion on a ‘handsome Hawaiian holiday’.

Coralling the troops!

accommodation options, even for big groups like ours (with bonus group discounts for many of our prebooked activities!).

Knowing various family members would arrive in a staggered fashion over the course of several days, we had booked a massive three-bedroom beachfront apartment on Waikiki Beach, through Hilton Hotels & Resorts (the upgrade thanks to my loyalty card!), to

© iStockPhoto

Each of my brothers and sisters has managed to produce a small army of kids (plus there’s my own brood!), so getting everyone together in one location, at the same time, required the skills of a sergeant major – or perhaps a major general!

Yes, the lure of Hawaii was a powerful one, and in Honolulu it’s easy to find plenty of family-friendly

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serve as home base for our first few nights on Oahu.

With some on the ground and others still en route, the intervening days until we would all be together were spent making the most of the local attractions ... taking surfing lessons, paddling outrigger canoes, enjoying sunset sailing trips and venturing out on scuba tours to Diamond Head Beach.

Some of the kids invaded the local skateboard parks and, in the process of having fun, acquired knees covered in Band-Aids, while other offspring rented rollerblades, in between shopping sprees.

I passed the time writing an 11-page book on my business successes (I have a tendency to exaggerate!).

Wagon train Our plan was to head en masse to Oahu’s North Shore and we were pleasantly surprised to find no fewer than a baker’s dozen rental agent sites with properties that would suit our large family group.

We looked like a modern-day wagon train, decamping in convoy in five hire vehicles - with headlights ablaze - to our rental home on the North Shore.

We stopped for supplies en route, visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation and enjoyed a lovely eat-withyour-fingers famous ‘Shrimp Van’ lunch. At every stop our families were reunited in chatter and good-natured kidding about and hopped from vehicle to vehicle at whim.

Jay Gatsby eat your heart out!

Our new holiday home, right on the beachfront, was ‘Gatsby-esque’ (my daughter stopped counting the bathrooms in the house when she reached 11!) and gave everyone serious holiday photo cred!

Inside, it boasted an entire open-air floor of games

Reunion communion!

– table tennis, pool table, foosball and a whirlpool that easily hosted a team of ten. Outside featured a swimming pool and a yard big enough for family badminton. With the cost of rental shared across the families, our mansion was an entirely affordable alternative to hotel accommodation.

Communal meals took on a marvellous new meaning, with two full kitchens and a dining table that easily accommodated 30 – and the kids offering to create meals and plan shopping lists, working together in teams.

They Instagrammed and Facebooked all their efforts, including selfies of flour face painting and licking-the-spoon taste tests! Everyone had their turn barbecuing and we ate like royalty, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company – the TV only went on once, for a major US Gridiron game!

Hang loose!

Stay and Play

Honolulu Tourism Hawaii gohawaii.com

Family outings Venturing outside the ‘estate’ gates, we took day trips to the Banzai Pipeline, Laniakea (or Turtle) Beach and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We incorporated grocery and gift shopping, pit stops at our favourite shrimp wagons, and plunged into new beaches and swimming holes.

We’ll be back!

Dylan & Julien

Planting the seed for a family reunion on unknown turf puts an entirely different, even exotic, twist on get-togethers. Take the plunge and give it a try ... you won’t regret it! Send pictures to any family who couldn’t make the first one; they’ll be the first to sign up for the next!

Polynesian Cultural Center polynesia.com Roberts Hawaii Tours robertshawaii.com Smart Destinations/ Go Oahu Card smartdestinations.com Hilton Hotels hiltonhawaii.com Alamo Rent A Car alamo.com Qantas qantas.com

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Kids in America

Why the neighbourly

state of New York

is much, much more than Manhattan!

© © NYC & Company/Joe Bugliewicz

Holidaying families in the tens of thousands are being ‘beamed-up’ to the mecca of Manhattan - and with very good reason! The ‘Big Apple’ is a monumental smorgasbord of attractions, eateries, parks and places that lure teens, pre-teens and toddlers, and for kids of all ages, the bragging rights on the back of a visit to New York are astronomical!

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“

W

ith over 24 million visitors invading Manhattan each year, you’d think the welcome carpets would get a bit worn,” says MARK WILLIAM SHEEHAN, “but here it’s always festival time and Australian families are lingering longer in New York state than ever before.”

You can call the city ‘home’ When we visit New York City for extended periods, we book into the Beacon Hotel, which is not only centrally located for all the sights (and only a block from the 72nd Street subway), but also has a kitchen and living space that creates the ambience of a real home away from home. We can cook, invite folks in to chat, make friends with the family down the hall and feel like we’re ‘local’. The older kids dart in for meals and money, Dylan skateboards with new mates in Central Park only a few blocks away and Hayley heads to baseball camp for the morning (held in a converted bank basement!) while we shop for our groceries at the famous Fairway Deli, just a short walk across Broadway.

film ‘Dirty Dancing’) to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, ‘The Empire State’ gives families the opportunity to meld city slicking with the call of the wild.

Beware of the bears!

The Catskills region is a mere 200km drive (or set out on a terrific train journey!) upstate, and a survey of the bear population there suggests there are over 30,000 bears in residence. Bears - a mere two hours’ away from the front door of the Empire State Building!

I’m trying to get an interview with the folks who actually count the bears as I write …

Another study exposes a deer population of

ocock © Shane Bo

Beyond Broadway And while our family returns to New York every few years, we’ve discovered that while Manhattan may be the proverbial ‘carrot’, there’s a bunch of great places to explore outside the city limits. From the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains (notably showcased in the hit

Mark’s NY

Travel Tips

© iStockPhotos/w dstock

> Invite the kids to ‘move the mouse around’ before you leave Australia, that way everyone in the family has the chance to include an activity that’s on their own bucket list on the family itinerary – and the options are almost endless! > Order a private car pick-up from any NY airport and you’ll be met by a driver who will take you door-to-door in comfort, and for only a fraction more than the cost of a Yellow Cab.

© iStockPhoto/Pgiam

> If you plan to rent a car and explore beyond Manhattan, pick up the car on the day you’re leaving town. Parking in the city is expensive and you don’t need a car to get around the city – public transport is cheap and efficient and you’ll always find a Yellow Cab. > Check local news for free concerts in the parks, outings on the river and other family activities and events that are happening locally when you’re in town.

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From above: Central Park Spring.

Beacon Hotel, NY. Catskills Lake, Delaware County, NY

Stay and Play

New York The Beacon Hotel beaconhotel.com CityPASS citypass.com

Film location tours onlocationtours.com

over one million, bounding around just beyond the George Washington Bridge. Alas, there are no survey results yet on the numbers of chipmunks, raccoons, porcupines and squirrels in the area – but rest assured you will see them all!

Around the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains region you’ll also find some 4,800kms of hiking trails and small wooden signs that suggest: “Take only photographs, leave only footprints”. The BIG signs warn you about feeding the bears!

Tickets to almost anything! stubhub.com

Mountain-top resorts

New York & Company nycgo.com Bike & Roll Tours bikeandroll.com Helicopter Tours heliny.com

Train journeys amtrak.com Destinations of New York State destinationsny.com Niagara Falls Tourism niagarafallstourism.com Visit the Catskills visitthecatskills.com

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New York city families flock to the ‘all-inclusive meals and entertainment’ mountain-top resorts, B&Bs, and inns. Both kids and adults dive right in for horse riding, canoeing, golf, team sports, water skiing and dance lessons; and in the winter months, skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, tobogganing and ice hockey. If you are tempted to extend your New York City holiday and head to the Catskills, book ahead, because this is one very popular family holiday destination!

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You may be too young to know the well-known tune but millions of people do exactly that and ‘shuffle off to Buffalo’ to view the natural spectacle that is Niagara Falls. You can fly, drive or travel by train to reach the Falls - only 27kms from Buffalo – and whether by road or on tracks, watching the scenery changing from the city to the country is breathtaking and absolutely worth the 9 hours (driving) and 7 hours (train). There are also tours that will fly you up and back for a day trip, but plan to spend at least one night here.

The falls straddle two countries – USA and Canada – and if you have your passports with you, it’s thrilling for the kids, (and a fun photo opportunity), to take a short walk over the bridge into the Canadian province of Ontario!

Immortalised in many films, and known as ‘The Honeymoon Capital of the World’, Niagara Falls’ millions of visitors gaze in awe as over 2.8 million litres per second pour over the dolostone and shale cliff; and at night you can watch the transformation, as the illuminations rival those of the dazzling Las Vegas Strip.

Quite a few daring feats have been attempted here over the decades – by illusionists and by the foolhardy! You can hear all the tales of these escapades and learn everything you want to know about Niagara at the Falls’ museum.

Once your offspring have sampled New York, and ventured beyond The Big Apple, they (and you) will be hooked for life … keep the lights on for us NY, we’ll be back!

© iStockPhoto/lightphoto

© NYC and Company/Jen Davis

‘Shuffle off to Buffalo’ for the wonder that is Niagara Falls!

INNSBRUCK TOURISMUS GRAFIK h. a.

Innsbruck – the Capital of the Alps Christmas Markets or shopping malls? Ski boots or high heels? No need to struggle to make the right decision – with a holiday in Innsbruck and its Holiday resorts you get the best of both worlds, the city AND the slopes. Where else can you take a designer cable car from a historic city centre that whisks you up to 2,000 meters altitude for afternoon tea? Only in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps.

Take your pick from the vast variety of Innsbruck’s tailor made holiday packages: SPRING 2014 Innsbruck Tourismus, www.innsbruck-packages.com, office@innsbruck.info, www.innsbruck.info outandaboutwithkids.com.au

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très différente…

Chocolate, kids and a European vacation!

Who could say no to a family holiday itinerary that promised to combine London, Paris and Italy with all things chocolate?

Are you kidding? From Choccywoccydoodah to Casa del Cioccolato, contender for ‘Best mum ever!’, SUSAN WHITTOME, took her three curious girls from their home in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem Land on a choc-a-block (or block of choc?) Europe-in-winter taste adventure that would make Willy Wonka proud!

I

wanted to recreate a fond moment of my youth with my own children, 20 years later, so on our family holiday through Europe we set out on a mission to sample the best chocolates - and to find a hot chocolate - cioccolata densa - just like the one I experienced on the Mediterranean coast as a 21-year-old. It had to be dark brown, smooth, yet slightly bitter – and above all dense – with the final test being if it could hold a spoon upright!

First stop London and a visit to the oldest and largest toy store in the world, Hamleys, before lunch at Choccywoccydoodah in Carnaby. The cafe is the accessible offshoot of the successful chocolate sculpting business, and our energy for the rest of the day came in the form of a fantastical sundae, hot chocolates and a heart-stopping tasting plate.

Covent Garden in December is an enchanting place to visit with youngsters and aside from reindeer feeding, a visit to Godiva affords the opportunity to purchase beautifully packaged chocolate gifts or just wander around with a cone of chocolate-coated strawberries. The family particularly loved the little adjacent market that stocked all manner of homemade items including, of course, confections.

We visited the M and M shop, a brightly-coloured building housing an exhausting assortment of products, including the option of printing confectionery with your own name! An outing to the Theatre Royal, on Drury Lane, to watch the long-running high-energy musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, completed the London chocolate experience.

Flying on to Paris we were delighted to discover we could do a walking chocolate tour in the extraordinary capital, spontaneously stopping at the multitude of artisanal chocolate shops. Nutella is a staple in France and we happily found it spread lavishly on crepes, and filling desserts.

South to Italy, and my expectations grew of finding the perfect cioccolata densa. We discovered absolutely delightful little hidey-holes with ready-togo hot chocolate that we could take with us on our explorations and, a short walk from the Pitti Palace, on the cobbled streets in Florence, we found Dolce Emporio, a quaint sweet shop replete with wicker baskets full of black ‘coal’ ready for La Befana to hand

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out to ‘naughty’ Italian children on January 6.

Keepsake tins full of Italian sweets are the shop’s specialty.

Our stayover in Padua, at the Hotel Al Carson, included the best value, fast, hot chocolate on our whole three month holiday! For the equivalent of AUD$6, we were presented with a challenge: a basket of biscuits and a very large pot of silky, and a little on the sweet side, hot chocolate. Of course, we obliged, and happily sat in the simply-furnished lounge, chatting about our day in Venice, and supping two hot chocolates apiece!

If you’re interested in learning some chocolatemaking secrets in an easily digestible way, close to Perugia the Casa del Cioccolato provides regular workshops and it was priceless expressions all round, as the children watched the making of little pieces of chocolate heaven- the reward for a reasonable tour entry fee. The guide patiently explained the processes and recounted interesting historical facts, and politely provided plenty of time for us to sample as much chocolate as we could stomach! It was a delicious day, only made better during a stroll through the main streets of Perugia where we found more shops stocking whimsical treats dedicated to the sweet tooth.

This town showed how serious it is about cacao with separate hot chocolate menus provided! Cafe Morlacchi, near the Perugia University, listed dozens of varieties and at train stations we were offered free samples of the Perugina sachet, ready-to-go varieties.

The holiday nearly over, our final days were spent in Rome where we were enticed into Laduree Paris, bakers of macarons since 1862. Vencchi ice-cream was our final (chocolate gelato) experience. We had discovered that there was nothing quite like gelato, a fresh piece of pizza or any kind of chocolate to keep children walking kilometres every day!

And, at the end of our European adventure, I did find the Best Hot Chocolate again! In fact we all agreed it was our favourite.

We were hungry, it was cold and at Caffe di Perugia the cioccolata densa was superb! The waiters were attentive and the antique cafe had an inviting, polished, homely feel, so we sank into the leather booths and slowly set about savouring ‘The Best Hot Chocolate in the World’!

très différente…

Boats, kids and a European vacation!

A self-drive, barefoot boat trip through the Burgundy region of France for a whole week; two families with five girls aged between two and 13 years onboard… ‘Captain’ PAT KINSELLA predicts mutiny will be a sure thing at some point in the journey, but wrangling the canal locks and his crew isn’t nearly as fraught as he fears!

I

bravely take early possession of the captain’s hat, but the balance of power really lies downstairs in the galley, where a Loom Band session is taking place.

I’ll be steering the boat along the River Yonne and the Canal de Nivernais, twin waterways that wind through the Burgundy region of central France, linking the Loire and Seine Valleys.

The vessel is a Vision 3, the biggest canal cruiser in Le Boat’s fleet. When we first saw her she seemed frighteningly large – considering the many narrow locks we had to negotiate between here and Tannay – but once everyone had boarded, along with a lifetime supply of colouring books and Moxie Dolls, we realised she was quite compact.

The crew comprises me, my wife Steph, our two daughters, Ivy (8) and Alice (2), plus friends George and Heidi, with their trio of mademoiselles: Madeline (13), Molly (10) and Martha (8). There are three bedrooms on the boat, each with a double bed and a bunk. With the addition of a portacot, my family fits into one cabin, George and Heidi score a double to themselves and their three girls take the remaining room.

First, some rules: lifejackets to be worn on deck. No messing about in locks. Don’t bring bananas on board (bad luck, apparently!). Nobody is listening… the girls are comparing rooms and arguing over bunks, while our wives are testing the extreme limits of how much French cheese and cake it’s possible to shove into one small fridge.

George and I return to the bridge, where the base manager patiently explains how we should manoeuvre our new home along the waterway for the next six days.

The Vision, we learn, has side thrusters and a ‘trumpet’.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Canal du Nivernais has 110 locks. The first one is terrifying, as we fret over the mere inches of wriggle room that the boat has either side of the walls, and fumble with the ropes. Soon though, we’re handling these aquatic staircases with aplomb, even hopping off to help the lock keepers open and shut the gates.

There are bikes on board and Madeline and Molly take it in turns to jump off the boat and race us to the next

lock. It’s early in the season, but Burgundy basks in sunshine for the entire duration of our trip, and the younger girls seem content to lay on the front of the boat, drawing, colouring and chatting, as we glide through the quiet countryside at a relaxed pace.

The canal is fringed by the almost neon yellow glare of rapeseed fields, so bright you need sunglasses to look at them; but we also drift through the green embrace of the Morvan, a beautiful expanse of wild woods in the heart of the Yonne Valley.

We pass through a couple of larger towns, including the cathedral city of Auxerre, where we dock right in the centre of the action and disembark to put a dent in the city’s reserves of ice cream and fancy cakes.

An occasional chateau or vineyard punctuates the river banks. At each little hilltop hamlet and riverside village, we moor and explore – giving the girls the chance to stretch their legs and attempt a giggling approximation of French as we hit the local boulangeries (bakeries) and stock up on the all-important supplies of brioche - now the holiday breakfast of choice.

The beauty of this kind of travel for kids is that the scenery outside changes by the hour, while their immediate surroundings stay comfortably familiar.

While we encouraged them to stay outside during the day, the TVs and DVD players came in handy for watching ‘Frozen’ (again!) after dinner – while we sat on the deck and opened a bottle of wine.

By the time we reach Clamecy, there’s still no sign of the mutiny I thought inevitable. The Nivernais water must be possessed of a calming charm and we might escape a keelhauling yet. So long as the brioche keeps coming…

Pat’s

top tips Team playing – Make sure kids feel involved – give them fun tasks, show them where they are on the map and give them a turn behind the wheel (monitored, obviously).

Stay shipshape – Have a carry-on luggage allowance – otherwise the boat will be constantly cluttered with toys and games.

Lock down – Appoint one adult whose sole job at locks is to manage the children.

Cure cabin fever – Stop several times each day, as well as mooring up for the night, and let the kids explore and run wild.

Le Boat’s bases are open from Easter through the European summer. leboat.com.au

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FAMILY MARKET PLACE DIRECTORY

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Stay & Play

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Š iStockPhoto/Aldo Murillo

We would like to close our 10th birthday issue by thanking you - our loyal and new readers.

Thank you The travel industry has changed immensely in the last decade and we have loved being at the forefront, bringing you ideas and inspiration for family holidays and activities. The next decade will be an interesting one, as we witness even more developments in the worlds of travel, technology and media. Who would have believed ten years ago that in 2014 you could fly domestically to another city for $39 or book an all-inclusive family holiday for a week or so to an overseas destination, like Fiji, for as little as $3,500?

We would also like to thank our wonderful partners and affiliates for their continued support and, in particular, the many domestic and international tourism boards, airlines, hotels, resorts, holiday

parks and attractions all over Australia and the globe, who have worked closely with us every step of the past ten years, and who continue to provide us with invaluable assistance and resources to pass on to you!

As Out & About with Kids strides into its second decade, we remain committed to being the magazine, website and associated channels that you turn to when looking for up-to-date, inspiring, accurate and detailed information for planning your families holidays and outings.

Elisa Elwin Publisher and the Out & About with Kids team

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Liv it e like you

dream it

Busy kids are happy kids, and we provide them with as much action as they can handle.

Water parks, water slides, a children’s pool, beach games, boat trips, island hopping, snorkelling, and more. The supervised Kids’ Club has two zones, with Camp Safari for the youngsters, and an E-Zone for the teens to hang out. And did we mention the food?

With the kids taken care of, you also get to enjoy the holiday. Just like you dreamed it.

Discover our BEST Rate Guarantee www.centarahotelsresorts.com T: 02 8096 8781 E: rsoaus@chr.co.th

BANGKOK • PATTAYA • HUA HIN • RAYONG TRAT • KOH CHANG • CHIANG MAI • PHUKET KHAO LAK • KRABI • KOH SAMUI BALI • MALDIVES • MAURITIUS • SRI LANKA • VIETNAM

Create memories to cherish for a lifetime A great family holiday is something we all treasure. Packing these memory makers will allow the whole family to capture the fun and adventure of your trip and help them to recall it all in the years to come.

Digital camera

The perfect way to share holiday pics on the Internet and create personal scrapbooks.

Travel journal

Perfect for passing time on planes and trains and at night in hotels. A good journal will bring back all those holiday memories years down the track.

Sketch pads

Pack pens and coloured pencils and let the young artists draw inspiration from your new adventures together.

Address book

Make sure the kids take addresses for friends, teachers and family. Writing postcards and sharing emails is a great way to share their experiences.

Video camera

For more information call 13 19 27 or visit escapetravel.com.au * Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. ATAS Accreditation No. A10412. Lic No. WA 9TA 589.

Take a few moments each day to capture highlights of your trip in living colour.

The kids will get a huge thrill looking back at your time together over the years.

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