SPRING 2019
with kids KIDS IN AMERICA Santa Monica & more! BEST HOLIDAY PARKS FOR SPRING FAMILYFRIENDLY WINERIES BABY ANIMALS
2019 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS REVEALED
A GOLD COAST HOLIDAY!
Issue 59 • RRP $7.95 59 9 771832 331006 >
DAYDREAM ISLAND • GIPPSLAND • PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST • THAILAND • HAWAI‘I WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA • ROTORUA • ORANGE • BERLIN • TOKYO • FIJI
contents UPFRONT 6 Reader Instagram photos
Our readers share images from their travels
7 Editor’s letter 8 Moments
Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands
10 What’s new
The hottest attractions, tours, hotels, resorts and experiences
24 What’s on
Upcoming festivals and events
28 Readers’ Choice Awards
Winners and finalists revealed!
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A treehouse bed at Shangri-La Hotel, Harbin in China
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A koala joey at the Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast
AUSTRALIA 48 Hey, baby!
66 Wine and play
54 Dream big
72 Come to paradise
Australia’s wildlife parks are bursting with cute new additions at this time of year
Whitsundays favourite Daydream Island is back – and better than ever
56 Top holiday parks for spring
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A stay at one of these familyfriendly holiday parks is sure to leave you with a spring in your step
Heifer Station in Orange, NSW, is just one of many wineries appealing to families across the country
Paradise Resort Gold Coast is a children’s utopia, with plenty for parents to do as well
74 Great outdoors
Book a campsite or cabin in Victoria’s Gippsland region for a simple holiday filled with fishing, hiking and cycling
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Image: ©Disney
Meet your favourite Disney characters at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
KIDS IN AMERICA 78 Six things to do in Santa Monica with kids
Just a stone’s throw from LAX, Santa Monica is an ideal base for exploring the greater Los Angeles area
101 Magical moments
The ultimate guide to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
104 Where to play in LA
Great things to do with kids you might not have considered
80 Fresh fun
The latest attractions at US theme parks
87 Which Hawaiian island is right for you?
From fossils to the future, the US is bursting with exciting and educational museums
98 Going gaga for the wild west
106 Thai triangle
We help you plan which islands to visit
92 Ten amazing American museums
WORLD
Kylee Kay explores Colorado and Utah on a road trip en route to see Lady Gaga in Vegas
North-west of Bangkok, the provinces of Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Tak abound with natural and cultural attractions
112 Rad Rotorua
Seven things to do with kids in this New Zealand hotspot
114 Breaking the Wall
EXTRAS 118 Celebrity Q&A
Getaway presenter Charli Robinson is learning that travelling with a baby is a different experience
120 Reviews
Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji, westdrift Manhattan Beach & Keio Plaza Tokyo
126 How to… Stay healthy on holidays
Nutritionist Susie Burrell shares her tips
128 Must haves
Products travelling families need to know about
Flip Byrnes visits Berlin with her German husband and 130 Insider interview daughters in the lead-up to Dyan McKie from Intrepid the 30th anniversary of the Travel’s family holiday fall of the Wall adventures 5
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READER INSTAGRAM PICS
Our readers have shared some awesome photos of their adventures around the globe on social media. Tag your family holiday snaps #oawk for the chance to see them republished here. 1. @kidsgoplaces Girraween National Park Queensland 2. @rho_jonesee Buley Rockhole in Litchfield National Park Northern Territory 3. @andrea_expatosaurus Sheraton Fiji Resort 4. @theotherpup The Dish Parkes NSW 5. @valgigzwhiz Southport Queensland 6
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EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the spring issue of Out & About with Kids! It’s a big one for us, with our annual Kids in America special and Readers’ Choice Awards keeping us verrrrrry busy (and dreaming of our next getaway …). There’s no questioning the popularity of the United States as a holiday destination for Aussie families, with a trip to California’s theme parks providing plenty of playground bragging rights. But it’s also worth exploring some of the lesser-visited states while you’re there. In this issue we’ve covered everything from a quirky kids’ museum in Pennsylvania to a magical new land inspired by Dolly Parton’s childhood at her Tennessee theme park. Plus all the big stuff, including a new Star Wars ride at Disneyland, and Jurassic Parkinspired ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. Don’t miss our cover story about the best things to do with kids in Santa Monica, get some cool tips for your next trip to LA, and find out which Hawaiian Islands you should visit (because more than one is a given!). We always love getting feedback from our readers, and our annual awards are a great way to gauge the destinations you want to see more of, so we’d like to say a big thanks to everyone who voted, as well as congratulations to all the winners! These pages are guaranteed to provide plenty of inspiration for your bucket list, with the bonus that they’ve been endorsed by other families. Spring is such a great time to get out and about with kids in Australia, with wildflowers blossoming in
Western Australia (find out where to stay to see them in our holiday parks feature) and wildlife parks brimming with baby animals. During a recent visit to The Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast I was so overwhelmed by the cuteness of the koala joeys peeking out of their mums’ pouches I wanted to burst! I had a similar reaction as snaps of baby quokkas and newborn Tasmanian devils poured into my inbox over the past few weeks. Not only is a visit to a wildlife park a fun day out for the whole family, it’s a sneaky way to help educate kids about conservation. And that just makes you feel good. With ‘family-friendly’ + ‘wineries’ one of the most searched topics on our website (hmmm … funny that!) we’ve scoured the country to find the top picks. While some regions still have a long way to go, many wineries are doing exceptionally well targeting this large market with playgrounds, farmyard animals and giant Jenga. Lastly, our Celebrity Q&A this issue is with Getaway presenter Charli Robinson. I first interviewed Charli for a story in The Daily Telegraph many years ago (back in her Hi-5 days) and she was an absolute delight. It’s lovely to hear about her first travels with a baby so soon after my own experiences in the realm. We also love the fact that her favourite travel destination, Fiji, was the winner of the best international destination for babies and toddlers category in our awards. Talk about serendipity. Angela Saurine, editor
Angela and Oliver meet the kangaroos at the Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast
with kids Out & About with Kids Print & Digital outandaboutwithkids. com.au Publisher Elisa Elwin elisa@oawk.com.au +61 413 770 550 Editor Angela Saurine angela.saurine@ oawk.com.au Advertising Enquiries: advertising@oawk. com.au
Art Director Jon Wolfgang MIller Print Spotpress +61 430 060 700 Published by Elwin Media Pty Ltd ABN: 22 159 093 606 PO Box 4148, Balgowlah Heights, NSW 2093 Cover image A boy and his dad having fun on the beach in front of Santa Monica Pier in California. Image: Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Copyright © Out & About with Kids 2019 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission isstrictly prohibited. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact copyright holders. Out & About with Kids cannot accept unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. If such items are sent to the magazine they will be returned. Disclaimer The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Publisher and Out & About with Kids. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication.
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Moments
AITUTAKI LAGOON, COOK ISLANDS
Image: David Kirkland
When it comes to the stereotypical vision of paradise, Aitutaki Lagoon in the Cook Islands is about as close as you can get. The island of Aitutaki is the second mostvisited island in the group after Rarotonga, where international flights land. Aitutaki literally means ‘a little paradise’. There are 15 motus (islets) sprinkled across the turquoise lagoon, which can be explored on the six-hour Vaka Cruise aboard the Vaka Tiki-a-Tonga. Stop to swim and snorkel among tropical fish and giant trevally and enjoy a barbecue buffet lunch as the funloving crew play ukuleles and entertain with stories about the island’s history, culture and legends. There’s also sarong tying and coconut husking demonstrations the kids will love. If you are short on time, the Aitutaki Day Tour, operated by Air Rarotonga, departs Rarotonga Airport at 8am and includes an Aitutaki island tour and the Vaka Cruise before returning to Rarotonga in time for dinner.
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WHAT’S New
CUSTOMISED CALIFORNIA PASS Bargain hunters can now choose their own discounted ticket package for a range of top attractions with the Southern California CityPASS. Participating attractions include Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California
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Resort and San Diego Zoo or Safari Park. Visit the Southern California page of the CityPASS website and select the parks and tickets you want to include. Prices and savings vary depending on the number of parks and types of tickets chosen. citypass.com/southern-california
ATTRACTIONS
CAMP AT AUSTRALIA ZOO
Image: Ben Beaden
Visitors to the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo in Queensland will be able to stay overnight at the new ‘Camp Crocodile Hunter’ when it opens in June 2020. The 108-site camping ground will offer a range of accommodation options, from tents to glamping-style tents and eco-cabins. It will also have a café, reception, entertainment and pool area, covered cooking areas and a mountain bike pump track. The new addition will coincide with the Sunshine Coast attraction’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2020. australiazoo.com.au
ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE LAUNCHES VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE
A new virtual reality experience is giving visitors a taste of what life is like for doctors and nurses of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Available in the Darwin and Alice Springs RFDS facilities, ‘Flying with the Doctor’ takes travellers on an immersive experience from inside the cockpit or the main cabin of an RFDS aircraft. Participants can watch and listen as doctors, nurses and pilots provide life-saving services to Outback residents. Alternatively, view the pilot’s perspective of Kings Canyon, and landing on a Central Australian runway. The experience was filmed from the pilot’s point of view using stateof-the-art 360 cameras. rfdsdarwin.com.au
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ATTRACTIONS
ANIMALS ARRIVE AT SYDNEY ZOO
Lions, orangutans and cheetahs have begun moving into their new home at Sydney Zoo, set to open in the city’s west in late 2019. The attraction, near Blacktown, has welcomed four lion brothers from Taronga Conservation Society, hyenas and baboons from Singapore Zoo and orangutans from Melbourne Zoo. More than 2,000 animals will be on display at the zoo, which will offer an immersive, safari-like experience with modern exhibits, water features and elevated boardwalks. sydneyzoo.com
SUPER JAPAN ATTRACTION
Universal Studios Japan is set to open Super Nintendo World in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Featuring characters and game worlds from Nintendo, including the Super Mario series, the land will be home to stateof-the-art rides, interactive areas, shops and restaurants. While Universal Studios Japan will be the first location to open, Nintendo-themed areas are also coming to Florida and California in the USA. Universal Studios Japan is also home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Flying Dinosaur (a flying rollercoaster that runs through the entire area of Jurassic Park) and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Ride. usj.co.jp/e/ 12
ATTRACTIONS
HAPPY FEAT The Australian Institute of Sport. The AIS. Australia’s premier The Australian Institute of Sport. elite precinct. The AIS.sporting Australia’s premier elite sporting precinct. Only minutes from Canberra’s CBD with plenty of free parking. Only minutes from Canberra’s CBD with plenty of freeCentre parking. AIS Visitor
Everyone’s AIS welcome. Pop in and purchase Visitor Centre exclusive merchandise at the AIS Shop and enjoy Everyone’s welcome. Pop in and purchase great coffee & café-style food at the AIS Café. exclusive merchandise at the AIS Shop and enjoy great coffee & café-style food at the AIS Café. AIS Tours Go behind the scenes onTours an award-winning guided AIS AIS Tour. Challenge yourself in Sportex, offering Go behind the scenes on an award-winning guided fun and interactive sporting exhibits. Daily 10am, AIS Tour. Challenge yourself in Sportex, offering 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm. Fees apply. fun and interactive sporting exhibits. Daily 10am, 11.30am, 1pm &&2.30pm. apply. AIS Aquatic FitnessFees Centre Dive into our swimming pool or try out AISworld-class Aquatic & Fitness Centre our fully equipped gym. Visitors welcome. Fees apply. Dive into our world-class swimming pool or try out our fully equipped gym. Visitors welcome. Fees apply. Leverrier Street, Canberra, ACT Phone: (02) Canberra, 6214 1010ACT Leverrier Street, Phone: (02) 6214 1010 /ExperienceAIS
@ExperienceAIS
/ExperienceAIS
@ExperienceAIS
ASC 34415 ASC 34415
The new Penguin Parade Visitor Centre has opened at Phillip Island in Victoria. The starshaped building offers fun and interactive activities, including an interpretive habitat space which provides a ‘penguins-eye’ view of the world, complete with life-sized grass tussocks and cinematic projections. It also has a state-of-the-art theatre, a dedicated education wing, shops and restaurants. Australia’s largest colony of Little Penguins will benefit from the development, with the restoration of more than six hectares of their habitat, on the site of the old visitor centre and coach parking areas, creating homes for an extra 1,400 breeding penguins. The new centre has more than 600 solar panels on the roof, a water filtration system to recycle rainwater for non-potable use, and double-glazed windows. Low carbon building materials have been used throughout, including sustainably sourced Victorian Ash hardwood for the laminated beams. Its design has already been recognised at the 2019 International Architecture Awards. penguins.org.au
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ATTRACTIONS
ON A ROLL
A $20 million flying theatre has opened at Dreamworld theme park on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Visitors who take flight on the Sky Voyager will experience spectacular Australian scenery with state-of-the-art technology, motion-programmed seating and special sensory effects including wind, sound, light, mist and scents. It will soon be followed by a $30 million rollercoaster. The 1.2km-long ride will be based on the popular MACK Blue Fire Launch coaster, which operates in 14 locations around the world. The yetto-be-named rollercoaster will reach speeds of 105km per hour and boast the Southern Hemisphere’s first triple launch system, with a stall and reversed twisted half pipe. For the especially brave, it will also have the world’s first separate spinning gondola attached to the rear of the train. A new waterslide complex featuring six body slides, five unique ‘splashtacular’ experiences and multi-coloured natural light effects will also be added to WhiteWater World. ABC KIDS World, which is home to The Wiggles, Bananas in Pyjamas, Hoot and Hootabelle and Play School, is also undergoing a revamp. dreamworld.com.au
Image: Mike Aguilera-SeaWorld San Diego
Penguin encounter at SeaWorld San Diego
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KIDS FREE SAN DIEGO
Families heading stateside can take advantage of Kids Free San Diego, with more than 130 attractions, hotels, restaurants and tour and transport companies taking part in the promo throughout October 2019. There will be a variety of incentives. Children aged 11 and under will get free entry into the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park while SeaWorld San Diego is offering one child aged three to nine free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. LEGOLAND California Resort is also offering free admission for kids aged two to 12, with one paying adult. Hotels are also offering special experiences, such as resort credits. Other companies taking part include Speed Boat Adventures and San Diego Photography Tours. SanDiego.org/KidsFree
TOURS
FAMILY CYCLING TRIPS
Adventurous travellers can choose from three new family cycling trips being offered by Intrepid Travel. Ride through fishing villages, ancient ruins and cities on a 10-day journey from Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An in Vietnam. Guests will also learn about the history of the Cu Chi tunnels, take a boat ride to go snorkelling in the turquoise waters and eat fresh seafood in Nha Trang, and join a cooking class in Thu Dau Mot with the famous Mrs Cam Van – a renowned chef who hosts her own TV show. There’s also a 10-day trip in Southern Thailand riding through farmland, past mountains and along the coast. Highlights include sleeping in a jungle treehouse, a longtail boat ride past limestone karsts in Phang Nga, and kayaking between narrow-walled canyons in Ao Thalane Bay. In Morocco, families can cycle past desert landscapes along the Mediterranean Coast and through Casablanca, Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech. intrepidtravel.com
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HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS
LUXURY ESCAPES ADDS FLIGHTS
Holidaymakers booking accommodation and tour packages online with Luxury Escapes can now book flights at the same time. The new feature streamlines the booking process, cutting down the time and effort of searching for flights through another website. Customers can view package pricing up to 330 days in advance, highlighting the months and seasons with the lowest priced fares to travel, for both land and air. If variables such as the departure city or the number of travellers change, the price is updated to reflect the total cost, ensuring no hidden charges are applied. luxuryescapes.com/au
KORO KIDS REVAMP
Koro Sun Resort & Rainforest Spa in Fiji has upgraded its Jungle Kids Club, adding new huts with rope ladders and a chain swing bridge, a new boat-shaped sandbox, and a swing set with a baby swing. The gardens have also been landscaped with a childfriendly pathway and climbing rocks. The resort, on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu, offers activities such as bike riding, music and dance classes, rainforest hikes, kids’ yoga, lawn games and basket making. korosunresort.com/kids-club 16
HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS
KIDS GLAMP-IN
Children can jump into a world of make believe and sleep in a teepee in their hotel room at Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders. The hotel has partnered with furniture and homewares retailer Temple & Webster to offer the Kids Glamp-In Experience in which staff set up the room with a tent, blankets, toys and books. The package, which is available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, also includes a buffet breakfast for two adults and a $20 coupon for Temple & Webster’s online store. Kids under 12 also stay and eat for free. holidayinnmelbourne.com.au
JW’S MARRIOTT’S FAMILY FOCUS
JW Marriott has launched a family program in the Asia-Pacific region. Inspired by the legacy of JW Marriott founders, J. Willard and Alice Marriott, Family by JW is a global initiative for children aged five-to-12-years-old. JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar in India gives kids fun and educational behindthe-scenes hotel tours, while JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Changfeng Park in China arranges kids-only weekend stays with LEGOLAND Discovery Center. There are also in-room tents at JW Marriott hotels in Macaou Surabaya in Indonesia and JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong in China. Hotel-specific programs also include a picnic on the lawn at JW Marriott Macau, a costumed ‘travel through time’ family high tea at JW Marriott Hotel Qufu in China and pottery workshops or an evening high tea with entertainment and elephant rides at JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa in India. jwmarriott.com/family
PICK PHUKET
InterContinental Phuket Resort has opened in Thailand, with 221 rooms and villas on the pristine Kamala Beach, north of Patong. The resort has five pools, a fitness centre, tennis court and Planet Trekkers Kids Club. All four restaurants and bars are committed to sustainability, and respect for local farmers, using traditional recipes with a modern touch. Pinto, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, takes its inspiration from Old Phuket Town and quirky shophouse eateries. Jaras, the signature Thai destination restaurant, offers sustainably-sourced products from the island’s fishermen and farmers, while Pine is an upscale barefoot beach bar and lounge which is a great place to watch the sunset. ihg.com 17
HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS
FAMILY-THEMED ROOMS
Shangri-La Hotel Harbin in China has introduced six family-themed suites, with options including safari, treehouse, space, castle, icehouse and winter wonderland. The suites are all on the same floor, which also has 20 new deluxe family rooms. The hotel drew its inspiration from the family floor at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, incorporating elements from Harbin such as the city’s Ice and Snow Festival. There is also a pantry on the family floor which offers a range of childcare amenities to buy, such as toothpaste, baby lotion and nappies. Plus, there’s a fridge, washing machine, children’s furniture and equipment such as highchairs, prams, sterilisers and milk warmers, while toys are available upon request. Young guests can also join classes to learn skills such as painting and cooking. shangri-la.com/harbin/shangrila
STAYZ GOES INTERNATIONAL
Online accommodation website Stayz is now offering international holiday homes for rent, including villas in Bali, country cottages in the UK and chalets with lake views in Queenstown, New Zealand. There are more than two million properties to choose from in 190 locations around the globe. Stayz will start by focusing on close-to-home destinations like Indonesia and New Zealand, but will also offer homes in Europe, the UK, the US and Canada. Select Bali listings will also have virtual tours to allow holidaymakers to experience a 360-degree walk-through of the property. stayz.com.au
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TARONGA ZOO WILDLIFE RETREAT Wildlife lovers can now stay overnight in a luxurious new eco-retreat at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Wildlife Retreat at Taronga features five architecturallydesigned lodges with 62 rooms and suites overlooking the wildlife habitat, many with views of Sydney Harbour. The restaurant, Me-Gal, has a strong focus on fresh local produce and native ingredients. Owned and operated by Taronga Conservation Society Australia, the retreat will contribute essential funding towards the care of Taronga’s animals and broader conservation and education programs. taronga.org.au/retreat
HOTELS, RESORTS & HOLIDAY PARKS
RECONNECT AT CLUB MED
Club Med continues to roll out its award-winning Amazing Family program at resorts including Cherating Beach in Malaysia, Phuket in Thailand and Indonesia’s Bintan island. The all-inclusive resorts will offer a five-pillar program of weekly activities, tailored to each destination and led by a specially-hired team of staff. They include games that encourage families to be active, such as basketball and Thai Boxing in Phuket, sensory activities like giant board games Twister and Connect Four, and meaningful activities with a local twist that raise environmental awareness or encourage personal wellbeing through family yoga, wildlife walks or cooking classes. Families can also take part in a treasure hunt around the resort grounds to uncover local culture, plants and animals, as well as celebrations such as bubble or colour parties. After months of extensive consultation with childhood experts and anthropologists, Amazing Family was tested in Kamarina in Sicily in 2016 before being refined after further research and guest feedback. The program will be available at 21 resorts by the end of 2019. clubmed.com.au
CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA
Sweet tooths can indulge in a Secret Chocolate Room at a new Club Med resort opening in the Caribbean in November. Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda will offer the experience within its family restaurant Cacao & Co. Throughout dinner, children will receive clues to help them crack the entrance code to the hidden room. If correct, doors will open with a spectacle of sounds and light, granting access to a room filled with three different types of chocolate fountains, lollies, cakes and ice-cream. The resort, in the Dominican Republic, is Club Med’s first Exclusive Collection resort in the Americas. It will have a no single-use plastic policy and various other green initiatives, including a tree replanting program. clubmed.us/miches 19
BABY & TODDLER
MORE PLAYTIME AT MELBOURNE MUSEUM
Melbourne Museum’s tiniest visitors will get an extra hour of playtime with the launch of a new sensory learning program designed for one to three-year-olds. Recognising the importance of play-based learning in a child’s first 1000 days, Play Box, presented by Biostime, will see various spaces within the museum open an hour early on Tuesday to Saturday, between 9am and 10am, for a year. Rotating through different themes and spaces on a seasonal basis, Play Box introduces toddlers to the museum with specific programming designed for their developmental age. In the Dinosaur Walk space, for example, they will learn to roar and stomp like a dinosaur, build a dino nest for some precious eggs and get playful with prehistoric puppets. Bookings are recommended as places are limited. museumsvictoria.com.au
BABY BAGGAGE
Virgin Australia has become the first Australian airline to give its littlest travellers a dedicated checked baggage allowance when flying on domestic, international short-haul and international long-haul routes. Parents travelling with a child under 23-months-old on Virgin Australia-operated flights can check-in one extra 23kg bag free of charge, as well as two special infant items, such as a pram, cot, car seat or baby capsule. They can also bring an extra 7kg carry-on bag for essential baby products. “We know travelling with an infant can be incredibly stressful and we’re pleased to make that journey a little more effortless by introducing an infant baggage allowance on domestic and international flights,” general manager of ground operations, Paul Woosnam, says. “We’re proud to be the only carrier in Australia to recognise that travelling with an infant sometimes means packing far more than usual.” virginaustralia.com 21
TRAVEL ADVICE
MUM-TO-BE TRAVEL INSURANCE
Women with a bub on the way are being encouraged to research travel insurance policies through a new website. Understandinsurance.com.au is designed to educate travellers of their options. While almost all travel insurers cover pregnancy, the gestation period covered by individual insurers varies from 20 weeks to 32 weeks for single pregnancies and, typically, 19 weeks for multiple pregnancies. Cover is usually available if the pregnant traveller has not experienced complications, but some insurers will cover travellers who have experienced complications if they provide additional information. Most IVF pregnancies are not covered by travel insurance. Pregnant travellers should seek medical guidance before travelling as most insurers will not cover medical or other expenses associated with a premature birth while travelling. Some policies, however, will cover childbirth and care of the newborn up to the 30th week.Pregnant travellers are advised to read product disclosure statements to find a policy that best covers their individual circumstances and travel plans – the cheapest policy may not be the most appropriate. understandinsurance.com.au
TRAVEL SMART
In the wake of political unrest in Hong Kong, families are being urged to check the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website before booking overseas holidays. The free service includes travel advisories for more than 170 countries and safe travel messages covering safety and security, local laws and customs, entry and exit requirements and health issues. Travel advice is updated regularly and Australians can subscribe to get free email notifications when the information for their destinations changes. Smartraveller’s top tips for safe travel include taking out comprehensive travel insurance for the places you will visit and things you’ll do, checking the expiry date of your passport before you travel (as some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months from when you plan to leave) and asking health professionals about recommended vaccinations and other health precautions. Vaccinations can be an entry requirement for some countries. Also make sure you have the right visas for the countries you are visiting or transiting and check other entry or exit requirements, if you’re regarded as a national of the country you plan to visit, and whether dual nationality will have any implications for your travel plans. Make copies of your passport, visas and insurance policy and carry them in a separate place to the originals, and leave a copy with someone at home. Smartraveller also provides updates on Facebook and Twitter. smartraveller.gov.au 22
CRUISING
ALLURING ATTRIBUTES Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas has undergone a major revamp, with a host of new family-friendly features. Kids will love the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, and The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides. The redesigned Adventure Ocean offers climbable creations at Play Place; hands-on art, science and tech fun at Workshop; games at Arena; gaming consoles at the Hangout; and experiential activities at the AO Junior space for 3-to 5-year-olds. The upgraded teen spaces have a secret
entrance leading into a lounge with gaming consoles, music, movies, plus an outdoor deck. The Splashaway Bay aquapark has tipping buckets, fountains, water cannons, while Sweet shop Sugar Beach sells more than 200 types of lollies and ice-cream. The ship begins its season of sevennight Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona in Spain in May before making its way to Miami in November for the winter season, offering sevennight Caribbean cruises. royalcaribbean.com.au
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN ON NEW DISNEY SHIP
A fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Wish, is expected to begin sailings from Florida in early 2022. The ship, which will be powered by liquefied natural gas, will have 1,250 guest staterooms and a threestorey atrium inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale. Stern characters are a feature of Disney ships, with Disney Wish to feature Rapunzel. Disney has also unveiled plans for a second island destination in The Bahamas, at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera. Construction could begin in 2020, with completion in late 2022 or 2023. The company will employ sustainable building practices, including an open-trestle pier that eliminates the need to dredge a ship channel. disneycruise.com
RIDE A ROLLERCOASTER AT SEA! Thrill-seeking holidaymakers will be able to ride the first rollercoaster on a cruise ship next year. Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras will be home to BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, which will race around a 240m track at up to 60km per hour. The aptly named Ultimate Playground, spanning decks 18 to 20, will also boast the largest and most elaborate Carnival WaterWorks aqua park in the fleet, along with an expanded SportSquare recreation area. The
ship, which will do round trips to the Caribbean from its home port in Florida, will have six themed zones spread across 20 decks. It will also be the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by liquefied natural gas. Carnival.com
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WHAT’S On FAIRGROUNDS FESTIVAL, NSW
DECEMBER 6 and 7, 2019 Former Oasis frontman, Liam Gallagher, is headlining the bill at this year’s festival in the South Coast village of Berry, with Meg Mac, DMAs and The Lemonheads also performing. Kids can take part in sack races at Games on the Green, swim in the festival pool and uncover treasures at the market stalls. Little Fairgrounds is a festival within the festival with music by the punk-rock band Bunny Racket and ABC Kids superstars The Sticker Club, as well as activities, games and interactive workshops. Fairgrounds has also introduced a youth ticket which includes reduced prices for entry, camping and shuttles for teens aged 13-17 if they’re in the company of a parent or guardian. Fairgrounds’ official campsite, Rivercamp, is nestled on the riverbank, a five-minute (free!) shuttle bus ride away. There are a range of options available, including pitch-your-own tents, pre-assembled tent and bedding packages, as well as a luxury bell tent experience complete with mattress, goose down pillows, quilt, rugs and lanterns. fairgrounds.com.au
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AUSTRALIA
CIRCULAR HEAD AGRICULTURAL SHOW, TASMANIA
NOVEMBER 30, 2019 Find all the classic traditions of a country show at this event at Stanley Recreation Ground, a one-hour drive from Burnie on Tasmania’s north west coast. There will be woodchopping competitions, dairy and beef cattle competitions, horse jumping and mechanical bull rides, as well as showbags, free face painting, an animal nursery and, of course, the grand parade. Kids under five are free. circularheadshow.com.au
TROPICAL LIGHT BY BRUCE MUNRO, NORTHERN TERRITORY
NOVEMBER 1, 2019-APRIL 30, 2020 Following the success of Field of Light at Uluru, English artist Bruce Munro is opening his first city-wide outdoor exhibition, Tropical Light, in Darwin. Eight sculptures will illuminate a 2.5km trail through the CBD and waterfront precincts from 7pm each evening. Connected by a self-guided path, the free exhibition reflects Munro’s personal history of visiting Australia and the Northern Territory, with contributions from six local artists across various mediums. tropicallight.com.au
MAYFIELD GARDEN SPRING FESTIVAL, NSW
OCTOBER 12-27, 2019 Wander through Australia’s largest privately-owned, cool climate garden during this 16-day spring festival. While the 20ha Mayfield Garden, near Oberon, is open most of the year, the Hawkins family also opens its private garden during seasonal festivals, allowing you to explore the full 65ha site. Get lost in the maze, row a boat on the lake and play games including croquet, bocce and giant chess spread throughout the garden, which has a pram-friendly accessible path through it. mayfieldgarden.com.au
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION, CANBERRA
UNTIL FEBRUARY 2, 2020 See behind-the-scenes sketches, models and artwork from movies including Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon in DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition at the National Museum of Australia. Highlights of the biggest exhibition in ACMI’s history include a scale model of the Far Far Away castle from Shrek 2 and the immersive Dragon Flight theatre experience, in which you fly over the town of Berk on the back of a dragon. More than 400 items from the studio’s archive are on display. nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ dreamworks-animation 25
AUSTRALIA
THE COLOR RUN LOVE TOUR, WESTERN AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 20, 2019
GREAT VICTORIAN BIKE RIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND VICTORIA
NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 1, 2019 Soak up the scenery and visit classic country towns as you ride along South Australia’s Limestone Coast, the Great Ocean Road and Great Otway National Park at this annual event, which is expected to attract up to 5,000 people. Choose from two five-day options or do the full ten-day journey, which covers 650km this year – the longest in the ride’s 36-year history. The full route includes Mt Gambier, Port Fairy and Torquay. Standard camping is included in the ticket price, with luggage trucks moving your gear to the next site each day, and upgrades to premium and dome tents available. greatvic.com.au
WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL, QUEENSLAND DECEMBER 27, 2019 JANUARY 1, 2020
With the theme for this year ‘Imagining a Beautiful Future’, organisers are predicting the best Woodford Folk Festival yet. Set on 200ha of land behind Woodford in Greater Brisbane, the event includes more than 1000 shows on 27 stages with music performances, talks and forums, ceremonies, comedy, cabaret and workshops. There’s also a Children’s Festival with activities including puppet shows, craft, games, theatre, circus, dance and storytelling. woodfordfolkfestival.com
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This colourful 5km fun run makes its Perth debut at Claremont Showground this year. Participants will be doused head-to-toe in clouds of colour at dedicated Color Zones each kilometre. There will also be a Bubble Zone, a pink and purple colour-clash at the 7-Eleven Super Zone, and a dream-land Foam Zone by Vöost. Crossing the finish line, Color Runners will receive a limited edition unicorn medal to celebrate their achievement, along with a tie-dye buff, love t-shirt and stick-on tattoos. DJ Tally will ensure the fun doesn’t stop after the run, with a post-race party with giant colour throws creating rainbow skies, disco beats and peace signs aplenty at the Finish Festival. After dancing up a storm, participants will be able to quench their thirst with a free Slurpee, put their feet up on the giant swing and create the ultimate Instagram moment in the ball pit inside the 7-Eleven Love Playground. The event encourages participants to raise funds and awareness for its charity partner, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which brings fun, joy and laughter to sick kids and their families. There are also events in Sydney on November 10 and Melbourne on November 24. thecolorrun.com.au
AROUND THE WORLD
SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL, JAPAN
JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 12, 2020 More than 200 snow and ice sculptures will be on display at Sapporo, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, at this year’s event. The structures are made by members of the defence force, local volunteers and officials, as well as teams competing in the International Snow Sculpture Contest. The festival also includes fun activities such as snow tubing. snowfes.com
NYC WINTER LANTERN FESTIVAL, UNITED STATES
NOVEMBER 20, 2019 - JANUARY 12, 2020 See Snug Harbor, on Staten Island in New York, illuminated by more than 50 LED installations during the NYC Winter Lantern Festival. There will also be live performances of traditional Chinese dance and art. nycwinterlanternfestival.com
SONGKRAN, THAILAND APRIL 13-15, 2020
Celebrate the beginning of the Thai New Year with the world’s biggest water fight! For three days during the hottest month of the year people young and old, in villages and cities, take part in the annual festival. While tourists love the party atmosphere, for locals it is a family event. Thai people gather in homes and temples to sprinkle sacred water on images of the Buddha as a form of ritual bathing. It’s a way of praying for ample rainfall in the upcoming growing season. amazingthailand.com.au
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Drumroll please … we are ready to announce the winners of Out & About with Kids’ annual Readers’ Choice Awards! These are the favourite Australian and international family holiday destinations, places to stay, attractions and experiences as voted by the most important people around – YOU, our readers! More than 120,000 votes were cast across over 40 categories in the awards. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote, and huge congratulations from the Out & About with Kids team to all the well-deserving winners! Here they are…
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with kids Images: (top left) Tourism and Events Queensland-Darren Jew, (top right) Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, (bottom left) AdventureMumma-Tourism and Events Queensland, (bottom right) Kaanapali Beach Hotel
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS Sydney Harbour on Australia Day 2019
with kids
BEST DESTINATIONS BEST CAPITAL CITY IN AUSTRALIA FOR FAMILIES
BEST REGIONAL HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN AUSTRALIA FOR FAMILIES
• Sydney sydney.com
• Gold Coast destinationgoldcoast.com
FINALISTS • Melbourne visitmelbourne.com • Brisbane visitbrisbane.com.au • Perth experienceperth.com • Canberra visitcanberra.com.au 30
WINNER
FINALISTS • Cairns tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au • Dubbo dubbo.com.au • Sunshine Coast visitsunshinecoast.com • Ballarat visitballarat.com.au
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
WINNER
A family on the Gold Coast
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy
BEST INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES
BEST DESTINATION IN ASIA FOR FAMILIES
• Hawai’i gohawaii.com
• Singapore visitsingapore.com
WINNER
BEST INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS WINNER • Fiji fiji.travel
BEST DESTINATION IN NORTH AMERICA FOR FAMILIES WINNER
• Anaheim visitanaheim.org FINALISTS • Orlando, Florida visitorlando.com/en • Los Angeles, California discoverlosangeles.com • New York, New York nycgo.com • San Diego, California sandiego.org
WINNER
Lei-making at Grand Wailea Resort on Maui
A family admirning the lights of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore
FINALISTS • Thailand amazingthailand.com.au • Japan japan.travel/en/ • Vietnam vietnam.travel • Malaysia malaysia.travel
BEST DESTINATION IN EUROPE FOR FAMILIES
Toddlers with a nanny at Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji
WINNER
• Italy visitaly.com.au FINALISTS • England visitbritain.com • France ee.france.fr • Switzerland myswitzerland.com • Greece visitgreece.gr 31
Image: Visit Victoria
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST DESTINATION FOR ADVENTUROUS FAMILIES WINNER
• New Zealand newzealand.com/au
BEST DESTINATION FOR IMMERSING IN CULTURE WINNER
• Japan jnto.org.au
BEST ROAD TRIP IN AUSTRALIA FOR FAMILIES WINNER
• Great Ocean Road, Victoria visitgreatoceanroad.org.au FINALISTS • East Coast of NSW, Sydney to Byron Bay visitnsw.com • Perth to Margaret River, Western Australia visitperth.com.au • Tasmania discovertasmania.com.au • Uluru to Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, Northern Territory northernterritory.com/ drive 32
See spectacular scenery along the Great Ocean Road
BEST AUSTRALIAN SKI RESORT FOR FAMILIES WINNER
AJ Hackett Bungy’s Kawarau Zipride in New Zealand
A little girl catching snowflakes in Whistler
• Thredbo, NSW thredbo.com.au FINALISTS • Perisher, NSW perisher.com.au • Mt Buller, Victoria mtbuller.com.au • Hotham Alpine Resort, Victoria mthotham.com.au • Falls Creek Alpine Resort, Victoria fallscreek.com.au
BEST INTERNATIONAL SKI RESORT FOR FAMILIES WINNER
• Whistler Blackcomb, Canada whistlerblackcomb.com FINALISTS • The Remarkables, Queenstown New Zealand theremarkables.co.nz • Hokkaido, Japan hokkaidoguide.com • Aspen, Colorado, USA aspensnowmass.com • Lake Tahoe, California, USA visittheusa.com/ destination/lake-tahoe
Mums and kids enjoying a hot chocolate at Thredbo
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS A girl snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef
BEST ATTRACTIONS BEST ATTRACTION FOR FAMILIES IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Great Barrier Reef, Queensland greatbarrierreef.org
Image: AdventureMumma-Tourism and Events Queensland
FINALISTS • Penguin Parade, Phillip Island Nature Parks, VIC penguins.org.au • Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC sovereignhill.com.au • Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW scenicworld.com.au • Fitzroy Island, Cairns, QLD fitzroyislandcairns.com
BEST THEME OR AMUSEMENT PARK IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Warner Bros. Movie World, Queensland movieworld.com.au
with kids
FINALISTS • Sea World, Queensland seaworld.com.au • Dreamworld, Queensland dreamworld.com.au • Adventure World, Western Australia adventureworld.net.au • Gumbaya World, Victoria gumbuya.com.au 33
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Image: ©Disneyland
Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Minnie Mouse at Disneyland Resort in California
BEST ANIMAL ATTRACTION IN AUSTRALIA
BEST EDUCATIONAL ATTRACTION IN AUSTRALIA
BEST INTERNATIONAL FAMILY ATTRACTION
• Australia Zoo, Queensland australiazoo.com.au
• Questacon, ACT questacon.edu.au
• Disneyland Resort in California Disneyland.com.au
WINNER
Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast Kids love learning about science at Questacon
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FINALISTS • Taronga Zoo Sydney, NSW taronga.org.au • Melbourne Zoo, Victoria zoo.org.au • Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW taronga.org.au • Werribee Open Range Zoo, Victoria zoo.org.au
WINNER
FINALISTS • Australian National Museum, ACT nma.gov.au • Scienceworks, Victoria museumsvictoria.com.au/ scienceworks/ • Scitech, Western Australia citech.org.au • Australia Zoo, Queensland australiazoo.com.au
WINNER
FINALISTS • Walt Disney World Resort in Florida Waltdisneyworld.com.au • Universal Studios Hollywood universalstudios hollywood.com • Legoland Malaysia legoland.com.my • Tokyo Disney Resort tokyodisneyresort.jp
BEST INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA FOR FAMILIES
with kids
WINNER
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory parksaustralia.gov.au/ uluru FINALISTS • Tjapukai Cultural Park, Queensland tjapukai.com.au • NAIDOC Week naidoc.org.au • Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory parksaustralia.gov.au/ kakadu • AFL Indigenous Round afl.com.au/news/eventnews/indigenousround
BEST FAMILY EVENT IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Vivid Sydney vividsydney.com FINALISTS • AFL Game afl.com.au • Sydney New Years’ Eve fireworks, NSW sydneynewyearseve.com • Ekka Royal Queensland Show ekka.com.au • Royal Melbourne Show, Victoria royalshow.com.au Children enjoying the Uluru base walk
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Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia
BEST EXPERIENCES
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST ACCOMMODATION BEST FAMILY HOTEL OR RESORT IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Paradise Resort Gold Coast, Queensland paradiseresort.com.au FINALISTS • Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland seaworld.com.au • Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains, NSW fairmontresort.com.au • Fitzroy Island Resort, Queensland fitzroyisland.com • Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, Queensland marriott.com
BEST APARTMENT OR SERVICED APARTMENT BRAND FOR FAMILIES IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites oakshotels.com
FINALISTS
• Quest Apartment Hotels questapartments.com.au
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• Mantra Hotels, Resorts & Apartments mantra.com.au • Meriton Suites meritonsuites.com.au • Fraser Suites fraser-suites.hotels-sydneyau.com
BEST CAMPING SPOT IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• Fraser Island, Queensland visitfrasercoast.com/ destinations/ fraser-island FINALISTS • Grampians Accommodation, Victoria grampiansvictoria.com.au • Wilson’s Promontory National Park, Victoria parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/ parks/wilsons-promontorynational-park • Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia southaustralia.com • Jervis Bay, NSW jervisbaytourism.com.au
Getting sprayed by the hose at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST HOLIDAY PARKS
The jumping pillow at BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park in Tasmania
BEST HOLIDAY PARK GROUP IN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• BIG4 Holiday Parks big4.com.au FINALISTS • NRMA Parks and Resorts nrmaparksandresorts.com.au • Discovery Parks discoveryholidayparks.com.au • RACV racv.com.au • Reflections Holiday Parks reflectionsholidayparks.com.au
with kids
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort Gold Coast
BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park in Kiama
BEST FAMILY HOLIDAY PARKS AROUND AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES WINNER
• BIG4 Easts Beach Kiama Holiday Park eastsbeach.com.au FINALISTS • NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Central Coast nrmaparksandresorts.com. au/ocean-beach • North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point northstar.com.au • Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort, Yamba bluedolphin.com.au • NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort nrmaparksandresorts.com. au/merimbula-beach 38
QUEENSLAND WINNER
• NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort, Gold Coast nrmaparksandresorts.com. au/treasure-island FINALISTS • BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut coconut.com.au/ingeniaholidays-cairns-coconut • BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort adventurewhitsunday. com.au • BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park goldcoastholidaypark. com.au • Nobby Beach Holiday Village nobbybeachholiday village.com.au
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS BIG4 Phillip Island
VICTORIA
WINNER
• BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ vic/phillip-island/philipisland-caravan-park
Girls playing table tennis at BIG4 St Helens
BIG4 Howard Springs
FINALISTS • BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ vic/great-ocean-road/ anglesea-holiday-park • BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ vic/great-ocean-road/ bellarine-holiday-park • NRMA Echuca Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com. au/echuca • RACV Inverloch Resort racv.com.au/travelleisure/racv-resorts/ our-destinations/inverlochresort
TASMANIA WINNER
• BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park big4sthelens.com.au FINALISTS • Discovery Parks – Hobart discoveryholidayparks.com. au/caravan-parks/tasmania/ hobart-hobart
• NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com. au/port-arthur • Discovery Parks – Devonport discoveryholidayparks.com. au/caravan-parks/tasmania/ north-west-coast-devonport • BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ tas/launceston-northtamar-valley/launcestonholiday-park
NORTHERN TERRITORY
WINNER
• BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park big4howardsprings.com.au FINALISTS • BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ nt/alice-springs-surrounds/ macdonnell-range-holidaypark • Darwin Free Spirit Resort darwinfreespiritresort. com.au • Cooinda Lodge Kakadu northernterritory.com/ kakadu-and-surrounds/ accommodation/cooindalodge-kakadu • Tumbling Waters Holiday Park tumblingwaters holidaypark.com.au 39
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Splashing about at BIG4 Beachlands
SOUTH AUSTRALIA WINNER
• BIG4 West Beach Parks westbeachparks.com.au/ FINALISTS • BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park big4.com.au/caravan-parks/sa/ riverland/renmark-riverfrontholiday-park • NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/ victor-harbor • Marion Holiday Park marionhp.com.au • BIG4 West Beach Park Adelaide Shores big4.com.au/caravan-parks/sa/ greater-adelaide/west-beachparks
WESTERN AUSTRALIA WINNER
• BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park beachlands.com.au FINALISTS • Mandalay Holiday Resort and Tourist Park, Busselton mandalayresort.com.au • RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort parksandresorts.rac.com.au/ monkey-mia • BIG4 Taunton Farm Holiday Park Margaret River big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ wa/south-west/taunton-farmmargaret-river • Discovery Rottnest Island discoveryholidayparks.com.au/ discovery-rottnest-island 40
BIG4 West Beach Parks
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST INTERNATIONAL HOTELS AND RESORTS FOR FAMILIES
Image: Paul Osta
The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonariam provides rich cultural activities for children
with kids
PACIFIC ISLANDS
THAILAND
• The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium therarotongan.com/ en-gb
• Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket centarahotelsresorts.com/ centaragrand/cpbr
WINNER
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
FINALISTS • Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu holidayinnresorts.com • Pacific Resort Rarotonga pacificrarotonga.com • Iririki Island Resort & Spa Vanuatu iririki.com • Warwick Le Lagon Vanuatu warwickhotels.com/ warwick-le-lagon-vanuatu
WINNER
FINALISTS • JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa marriott.com/hotels/travel/ hktjw-jw-marriott-phuketresort-and-spa • Club Med Phuket clubmed.asia/r/Phuket • Holiday Inn Resort Phuket phuket.holidayinnresorts. com • InterContinental Koh Samui Resort samui.intercontinental.com 41
Image: ©Disney
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS Mickey Mouse Penthouse at Disneyland Hotel
BALI
WINNER
• Bali Dynasty Resort bdr.pphotels.com FINALISTS • Hard Rock Hotel Bali bali.hardrockhotels.net • Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali grandmirage.com • Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort sofitel.accorhotels.com/ gb/hotel-9078-sofitel-balinusa-dua-beach-resort/ index.shtml • Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa balibenoa. holidayinnresorts.com
MAINLAND USA WINNER
• Disneyland Resort hotels in California Disneyland.com.au FINALISTS • Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance, California marriott.com/hotels/travel/ snadt-courtyard-anaheimtheme-park-entrance • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida Waltdisneyworld.com.au • Great Wolf Lodge, Anaheim, California greatwolf.com/southerncalifornia • The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado broadmoor.com 42
• LEGOLAND California Hotel, Carlsbad, California legoland.com/california/ legoland-hotel/legolandresort-hotel
HAWAI‘I
WINNER
• Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hilton.com FINALISTS • Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei disneyaulani.com • Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Waikīkī outrigger.com • Hilton Waikoloa Village, Island of Hawai’i hiltonwaikoloavillage.com • Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui kbhmaui.com
The pool at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
THE RAROTONGAN BEACH RESORT & LAGOONARIUM
KIDS STAY & PLAY FREE!
with kids
H
and feeding the reef fish? Sounds like fun? Snorkelling among the colourful tropical fish in world-famous Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary? FREE stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, ‘try scuba’ in the pool? Racing your pick in the Crab Races? Learning to play the ukulele, dance the hula, make a fresh flower lei or husk a coconut? Hanging out in the FREE Moko Kids Club? All sounds like fun? The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium is a unique location for your family to make fun new holiday memories together. The Rarotongan – where Kids+Teens Stay& Play FREE (to age 16). Check out the newlyrefurbished Beachfront Rooms & 2-Bedroom Beachfront Interconnecting Family Suites. Fly direct from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles. Latest deals on www.TheRarotongan.com Aroa Beach + Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary Rarotonga | COOK ISLANDS | P (+682) 25800 info@therarotongan.com | www.TheRarotongan.com The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium – VOTED BEST FAMILY RESORT IN THE PACIFIC
Fun on the beach at Plantation Island Resort
Image: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
An aerial view of Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort The safari deck at Bush Lodge at Sabi Sabi
FIJI (MAINLAND) WINNER
• Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort outrigger.com/hotelsresorts/fiji/viti-levu/ outrigger-fiji-beach-resort FINALISTS • Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island radissonhotels.com/en-us/ hotels/radisson-blu-resortfiji-denarau-island • InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa fiji.intercontinental.com • Nanuku Auberge Resort aubergeresorts.com/nanuku • The Naviti Resort warwickhotels.com/thenaviti-resort
FIJI (OUTER ISLANDS) WINNER
• Plantation Island Resort plantationisland.com 44
FINALISTS • Castaway Island, Fiji castawayfiji.com/fijiaccommodation • Malolo Island Resort Fiji maloloisland.com • Jean Michel Cousteau Resort fijiresort.com • Octopus Resort octopusresortfiji.com
ASIA
WINNER
• Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia fourseasons.com/langkawi FINALISTS • Shangri La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore shangri-la.com/singapore/ rasasentosaresort • Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand anantara.com/en/goldentriangle-chiang-rai
• LEGOLAND Hotel Malaysia legoland.com.my/legolandhotel/hotel • Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel hongkongdisneyland. com/hotels/hong-kongdisneyland-hotel
EUROPE
WINNER
• Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel Oritsei, Italy cavallino-bianco.com/en/ family-holidays-italy FINALISTS • LEGOLAND Feriendorf Gunzburg, Germany legoland.de/ • Minoa Palace Resort, Platanias, Greece minoapalace.gr
• Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus marriott.com/hotels/travel/ pfomd-parklane-a-luxurycollection-resort-and-spalimassol
BEST LUXURY PROPERTY WINNER
• Bush Lodge, Sabi Sabi, South Africa sabisabi.com/lodges/ bushlodge FINALISTS • Atlantis The Palms, Dubai atlantisthepalm.com • Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei, Hawai’i disneyaulani.com • Hayman Island by InterContinental, Whitsundays, QLD haymanisland. intercontinental.com • Six Senses Fiji sixsenses.com/en/resorts/fiji
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST CRUISE LINE FOR FAMILIES WINNER
• Carnival Cruise Line carnival.com.au
BEST FAMILY TRAVEL INFLUENCER WINNER
The Blonde Nomads theblondenomads. com.au
FINALISTS • Disney Cruise Line disneycruise.disney.go.com • P&O Cruises pocruises.com.au • Royal Caribbean royalcaribbean.com/aus/ • Captain Cook Cruises Fiji captaincookcruisesfiji.com
Image: Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival Spirit cruise ship
with kids
BEST TOUR COMPANY FOR FAMILIES WINNER
• Intrepid Travel intrepidtravel.com/au FINALISTS • G Adventures gadventures.com • Trafalgar trafalgar.com • World Expeditions worldexpeditions.com • AAT Kings aatkings.com
BEST AIRLINE FOR FAMILIES WINNER Qantas qantas.com
FINALISTS Virgin Australia virginaustralia.com Jetstar jetstar.com Air New Zealand airnewzealand.com Singapore Airlines singaporeair.com
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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
A FAMILY HOLIDAY AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST Voted Best Family Resort in Australia in Out & About with Kids’ 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, Paradise Resort Gold Coast is giving away a five-night holiday for two adults and two children (aged up to 12) in a Superior Resort Room. The lucky family will be able to enjoy all the
resort’s facilities, including a giant waterpark in the centre of the resort, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, iceskating rink plus a range of free daily activities and entertainment. The prize also includes one session per day in the Zone 4 Kids Club, allowing parents time to indulge in some
precious downtime, go sightseeing, or rediscover the art of relaxation in the Zone 4 Adults Bar and Spa areas. Valued at $2,335, it also includes continental breakfast daily in the bistro, one ice-skating pass at Planet Chill per person and a $500 food and beverage voucher.
Terms & conditions Valid for travel until 20 December, 2020. Excludes travel during special event periods and within high and peak periods. Bookings are subject to availability and vouchers may not be accepted on all dates. One Planet Chill pass will be issued per person for children aged three years and over only, as children aged under three are not permitted on the ice. The prize is not transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Any unused portion will be forfeited. Vouchers will not be extended past the expiry date. All other expenses will be the responsibility of the prize winner. Head to outandaboutwithkids.com.au and enter by 5pm [AEDT] on 13 December, 2019. The winner will be notified by 9 January, 2020. For more information on Paradise Resort Gold Coast visit paradiseresort.com.au
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AUSTRALIA
A rock wallaby joey at Featherdale Wildlife Park
HEY, BABY! Spring is the ideal season to visit a zoo or wildlife park and meet its newest attractions. ANGELA SAURINE reveals where to see them
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AUSTRALIA
Tishala the baby female Nyala at Werribee Open Range Zoo
An emu chick at Territory Wildlife Park
FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK, NSW Rock wallabies peeking out of their mothers’ pouches are just one of the highlights at Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney’s west this spring. You can also buy an encounter with a crocodile hatchling, on offer daily at 12.30pm. The park has 2,000 Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. featherdale.com.au
WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO, VICTORIA She may be young, but Tishala the female Nyala has an important job. The three-month-old is the sixth member of the antelope species to be born at the zoo in the past year as part of its breeding program. Keepers hope she will help visitors learn about the dangers many African animals face in the wild, and what they can do to help fight wildlife extinction. In Africa, the major threats to the population of Nyala are poaching, habitat loss, agriculture and cattle grazing. Nyala are a unique species of African antelope. Both males and females sport distinctive white spots and stripes on their sides. Visitors can see Nyala on the safari bus tour, which is included with entry. Just 35 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, the African-themed, conservation-focused zoo
also has southern white rhino, lions, hippos and western lowland gorillas. zoo.org.au/werribee
TERRITORY WILDLIFE PARK, NORTHERN TERRITORY A couple of cute and fluffy emu chicks are among the animal attractions at this park, 45 minutes’ south of Darwin. You can also see 4m-long saltwater crocodile Graham, who has been a resident at the park for more than 25 years, and some of Australia’s most venomous snakes. Barramundi and other fish swim over your head in the aquarium’s tunnel exhibit. The Monsoon Forest aviaries house brightly coloured gouldian finches, red-collared Lorikeets, kookaburras and red-tailed black cockatoos. territorywildlifepark.com.au 49
AUSTRALIA A puggle at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, QUEENSLAND An adorable puggle (baby echidna) is among the new arrivals at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast. While you’re there you can also feed the kangaroos, marvel at the free flight bird shows and watch the vets in action at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital. There’s also a large outdoor themed playground, Wild Island, and a miniature train. currumbinsanctuary.com.au A kangaroo and its joey at Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
TROWUNNA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TASMANIA See wombat and kangaroo joeys and Tasmanian devil and quoll pups at this park showcasing native Tasmanian wildlife. The privately-owned sanctuary provides respite to transient and migratory wildlife looking to travel through what are sometimes hostile environments. Its location is at a crossroads where animals from alpine, forested, and coastal regions can meet and traverse safely. trowunna.com.au
TARONGA WESTERN PLAINS ZOO, NSW
See a rare white rhino calf at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
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A female white rhino calf is the newest drawcard at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. Born in August, the calf weighed 74kg. With about 19,000 white rhinos left in the wild, every birth is special. Taronga is a founding member of the International Rhino Foundation and supports conservation efforts for wild rhinos in Africa, Indonesia and India, including providing funds for habitat and reforestation, anti-poaching and rhino protection units and reduction of humananimal conflict. The open range zoo is also home to other exotic and endangered animals including giraffes, other species of rhinos, Asian elephants, hippos and lions. It has a 5km sealed circuit that you can walk, bike ride, drive a cart or hire an electric cart to get around, and you can stay in a tent at Billabong Camp, in a self-contained cabin or at luxurious Zoofari Lodge. taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA ZOO, QUEENSLAND He may be named after a gladiator, but Spartacus the zebra foal is a gentle soul. The two-year-old was recently welcomed to the Irwin family’s Sunshine Coast zoo from another zoo in Queensland. “Spartacus is very cute! He’s the smaller of our two zebra and they can both be seen every day on our African Savannah,” Australia Zoo Africa keeper Tammy Forge says. “He’s very cheeky and playful and often follows our older zebra, Lucas, around the Savannah.” Australia Zoo funds various national and international conservation projects, donating millions of dollars towards projects that help to protect wildlife. australiazoo.com.au
Spartacus reigns at Australia Zoo
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AUSTRALIA
Koala joey Tallow with mum Prada at Paradise Country
Image: Paul Fahy
WARRAWONG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA After being thrown from his mother’s pouch, Gimli the Rufous Bettong joey was adopted by staff at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary, 25 minutes’ drive from Adelaide, and will become one of the ambassador animals in its education program. As well as being the home of the last platypus on mainland South Australia, the sanctuary also has about a dozen resident koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, bettongs and potoroos. Its fence protecting animals from feral cats and foxes has also enabled more than 100 species of birds to call Warrawong home over the years. warrawongws.com.au
TARONGA ZOO SYDNEY, NSW A critically endangered cotton-top tamarin is the newest addition to Sydney’s famous Taronga Zoo. These pintsized animals are one of South America’s rarest primates, with less than 6000 believed to be left in the wild due to deforestation and other threats, including the illegal pet trade. Dad Diego primarily carries the infant, with mum, Meet a baby Esmerelda retrieving it to feed. Tamarin at taronga.org.au Taronga Zoo
Meet Gimli the Rufous Bettong joey at Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary i
PARADISE COUNTRY, QUEENSLAND This Gold Coast attraction is home to Tallow, who was voted Australia’s cutest koala joey in a nationwide search by Tourism Australia. The win helps raise awareness for Paradise Country’s Save a Mate conservation program. The park’s nursery is also home to piglets, lambs and foals. paradisecountry.com.au
THE AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK, NSW Eight Tasmanian devil joeys have been born at this park on the NSW Central Coast in the last few weeks! Meet them by booking a photo or going behind-the-scenes on the Animal Encounter tour. There are also lots of cute koala joeys at the park. reptilepark.com.au
ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA What’s the only thing cuter than a quokka? A baby quokka! Rottnest Island, a short ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle, is bursting with joeys. There are thought to be more than 10,000 quokkas, with many choosing to hang out in the Settlement area because it offers plenty of food and water. Joeys are born between February and April, and stay in the pouch until August or September, remaining close to mum to suckle for two months. rottnestisland.com
AUSTRALIA Tasmanian devil pups at The Australian Reptile Park
THE NATIONAL ZOO & AQUARIUM, CANBERRA
See a giraffe calf at the National Zoo & Aquarium
Baby quokkas on Rottnest Island
Head to the open range area of The National Zoo & Aquarium to see giraffe calf Nzuri, her mum, Mzungu and dad, Shaba. Senior wildlife keeper Sophie Dentrinos says the calf is venturing out into her enclosure and is getting used to her surroundings. “She’s very inquisitive and has been licking everything she can,” she says. Shaba and Mzungu arrived at the National Zoo & Aquarium in 2015, and Mzungu fell pregnant with Nzuri’s older sister, Kebibi, who is now living at Australia Zoo, within two months. The zoo is a part of the accredited international breeding program for giraffes, whose population in the wild has plummeted by 40 per cent over the past 30 years due to habitat loss and human destruction. There are around 111,000 giraffes remaining in the wild and the species is categorised as endangered. The zoo has also welcomed common marmoset twins and a baby siamang – the largest members of the gibbon family. “Each siamang has their own unique personality and that’s certainly shown in our new siamang baby,” senior wildlife keeper Rachael Thomas says. “The baby is very curious, very confident and always keeps trying to run away from mum, Tunku, when she’s not watching.” nationalzoo.com.au
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAYDREAM ISLAND RESORT A family enjoying lunch by the pool at Inkstone
DREAM BIG Much-loved Whitsundays resort Daydream Island is back – and better than ever Families are flocking to the revamped Daydream Island Resort in Queensland following its recent reopening. The new-look, premium resort, in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, has launched new signature dining concepts, relaxed bars and waterfront suites, as well as bringing back the iconic Living Reef, with an education centre and underwater observatory. The resort has 277 contemporary suites and rooms for guests to relax in after a day in the sun, with garden, pool and ocean view rooms providing the perfect retreat. Three signature restaurants and three new bars are each defined by their own distinct design and flavour. Led by executive chef, Keith Le Fevre, seasonal local produce showcases the best of the region 54
Children love the facilities on Daydream Island
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAYDREAM ISLAND RESORT
An aerial view of the island
at each restaurant. Infinity is the resort’s premium dining offering, with an Asian fusion menu and expansive ocean views. It also has a teppanyaki grill offering diners a fun experience. Overlooking the Living Reef, Graze Interactive Dining welcomes the outdoors in, with a buffet with live cooking stations and diverse dining options, while Inkstone Kitchen and Bar focuses on modern Australian cuisine with local produce and native flavours. The island has a revitalised pool landscape that winds through tropical gardens across the resort allowing guests to swim and enjoy unparalleled views. The swimming hub is complemented by a poolside Barefoot Bar, which has a casual barbecue where you can build your own burger as you sip on tropical cocktails. The Living Reef has made its return to the island in an even bigger and better way, further cementing its ecofriendly and educational focus. The freeform coral lagoon wraps 200m around the central building and holds more than 1.5 million litres of water. Guests can join the team of resident marine biologists, and feed baby stingrays living amongst over 100 species of fish, coral and invertebrates including starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs. A new underwater observatory allows guests to view four metres below the water’s surface and watch the marine life in action. Kids have the chance to become eco-warriors at Kids Club, exploring and learning about the Living Reef while playing and feeding the animals who call it home. The resort offers a wide range of activities for guests, including adventures to Whitehaven Beach, helicopter tours
Pool fun
exploring the island and surrounding Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, as well as kayaks, paddleboards and jet-ski hire. With a selection of accommodation and package options for every guest, Daydream Island has curated a selection of experiences and activities to create memorable trips for families who are ready for the school holidays. Or why not take an extra long-weekend with the kids with Daydream’s four-night Wonders of the Whitsundays package? With a daily buffet breakfast and a range of activities to choose from to fill up the days. Head online and make sure you sign up for the Daydreamer Club to receive a minimum of 10 per cent off, as well as access to other exclusive discounts and packages. MORE INFO: daydreamisland.com 55
AUSTRALIA
R O F S K R A P Y TOP HOLIDA
G N I R SP A stay at one of these familyfriendly holiday parks is sure to leave you with a spring in your step
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AUSTRALIA
BIG4 EMU BEACH HOLIDAY PARK
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Spring is wildflower season in Western Australia’s south west, with colourful creations carpeting the landscape. Couple this with the tail end of whale watching season and the immense appeal of heritage rich Albany, and you have a winning holiday destination. BIG4 Emu Beach is fantastically familyfriendly thanks to mini-golf, barbecue areas, a recreation room, playground, and an inflatable trampoline. big4.com.au/caravan-parks/wa/ south-west/emu-beach-holiday-park
DISCOVERY PARKS DARWIN
NORTHERN TERRITORY With its pool and camp kitchen, this park makes a great base for exploring Darwin in the last of the cooler tropical weather. See terrifying reptiles at Crocosaurus Cove and watch the sun dip into the Arafura Sea at the iconic Mindil Beach markets until the end of October. Even the fussiest kid will find something from the array of cultural foods on offer at the stalls and you can wander through the artisan markets and be entertained by buskers and fire twirlers. Don’t miss a dip in nature’s lagoon pool – the springs at Litchfield National Park. discoveryholidayparks.com.au
NRMA TREASURE ISLAND HOLIDAY RESORT
QUEENSLAND A 15-minute drive from the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks, NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort is a great base for a family holiday. It has an onsite restaurant, Galleons Bistro, four resort-style pools, a tennis court, jumping pillow, an outdoor cinema, mini-golf and three playgrounds. Take a day trip to Springbrook National Park to explore the flowing waterfalls and bush trails, or head to the coast and hit the beach. nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/ treasure-island
BIG4 KELSO SANDS HOLIDAY AND NATIVE WILDLIFE PARK
TASMANIA Kids will love the onsite wildlife park at this holiday park beside the Tamar River, where they have the chance to spot wombats, possums and Tasmanian devils, alongside a host of child-friendly attractions. As the weather warms up, it’s even more tempting to uncover the many delights of the prized Tamar Valley food and wine region. All this just a one-hour drive from Launceston Airport. big4.com.au/caravan-parks/tas/ launceston-north-tamar-valley/ kelso-sands-holiday-park 57
Number one for your number ones.
* Te rm
Voted Australia’s Favourite Holiday Parks†
co n s and
dition
s app
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† BIG4 Market and Brand Assessment Q4 FY 2018
AUSTRALIA
BIG4 MACDONNELL RANGE HOLIDAY PARK
NORTHERN TERRITORY Warm days and mild nights make spring the perfect time to visit Alice Springs, and BIG4 MacDonnell Range is a kids’ dream with facilities including a waterslide, pool, pedal go-karts, a games room, playground, climbing pyramid, two inflatable trampolines and a BMX track. It offers a free pancake breakfast on Sunday mornings, a coffee cart a few mornings a week and a fish ‘n’ chips food truck every evening. big4.com.au/caravan-parks/nt/alice-springs-surrounds/ macdonnell-range-holiday-park
NRMA VICTOR HARBOR BEACHFRONT HOLIDAY PARK
SOUTH AUSTRALIA Discover South Australia’s beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula while holidaying at this beachfront holiday park. Greet the native Aussie animals including reptiles, koalas and crocodiles at Urimbirra Wildlife Experience or explore the spectacular coastline aboard an ocean adventure tour or charter. The park has plenty of fun facilities, including a giant bouncing pillow, waterpark, pump track, playground and pool. nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/ victor-harbor
DISCOVERY PARKS DUBBO
NSW Pretend that you are on safari in one of the luxury glamping tents on your way to the Dubbo Western Plains Zoo to see zebra, rhinos and giraffe roaming across the plains. Visit the Observatory to check out the spring constellations, Centaurus and Crux, which dominate the night sky from
September to late December. Take the kids to the Old Dubbo Gaol to see how punishment was dished out in the olden days. Or just stay in the park and enjoy the facilities – a jumping pillow, playground, waterpark and pool. discoveryholidayparks.com.au/ caravan-parks/new-south-wales/ orana-dubbo
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AUSTRALIA
BIG4 NRMA YARRAWONGA MULWALA HOLIDAY PARK
NSW With easy access to the famous Murray River and Lake Mulwala – and generally warm weather – this park near the Victorian border makes for an enticing stop in spring. Onsite features include a pool, inflatable trampoline, playground, recreation room and tennis courts. big4.com.au/caravan-parks/ nsw/the-murray/yarrawongamulwala-holiday-park
DISCOVERY PARKS CRADLE MOUNTAIN
TASMANIA With its timber cabins and tree-lined campgrounds, this park makes the ideal base to explore the World Heritagelisted Lake St. Clair National Park. While you won’t need to leave the park to see wallabies, Tassie devils and birdlife, meander along the walking trails to see crystal streams, freshly filled with melting snow. The wildflowers are peeping through, so set out on a horse ride or quad bike adventure. discoveryholidayparks.com.au/ caravan-parks/tasmania/cradlemountain-cradle-mountain 60
DISCOVERY PARKS - MAIDENS INN, MOAMA
VICTORIA Wake to the sound of kookaburras laughing on the banks of the Murray River at Discovery Parks - Maidens Inn at Moama. Around 2.5 hours’ drive from Melbourne, the park is the perfect spot to find your zen under the majestic river gums, while the kids ride their bikes or play on the jumping pillow. Throw in a fishing line, discover the local paddle steamer history, or follow the Echuca Moama food and wine trail. discoveryholidayparks.com.au/ caravan-parks/new-south-wales/ murray-maidens-inn-moama
BIG4 FORBES HOLIDAY PARK
NSW See canola fields blossom, discover bushranger history and visit The Dish in nearby Parkes during a stay at BIG4 Forbes Holiday Park in the NSW Central West. Kids will love the park’s playground, inflatable trampoline, and giant chess board. There are two pet-friendly cabins which can be booked by calling direct, and the camp kitchen has a large flat screen TV and pizza oven at thie park, which is about a five-hour drive west of Sydney. big4.com.au/caravan-parks/nsw/ central-nsw/forbes-holiday-park
AUSTRALIA
DISCOVERY ROTTNEST ISLAND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Beat the summer crowds to Australia’s exciting new glamping spot – Discovery Rottnest Island. A 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, sleep in a luxury eco-tent, explore boardwalks through sand dunes and laze by the pool. Take a selfie with a quokka and see why Pinky’s Beach Club attracted the attention of Masterchef – and peddle it off with a bike ride around the car-free island. discoveryholidayparks.com. au/discovery-rottnest-island
BIG4 EASTS BEACH HOLIDAY PARK KIAMA NSW Owned and operated by the East family for 80 years, BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park Kiama has a new pool complex called Sunny’s Aquaventure Park, plus a games room, jumping pillow and two playgrounds, as well as a massage studio for mum and dad. Set on a 14ha site, just a few kilometres from the centre of town, BIG4 Easts Beach has a large range of cabins to choose from. eastsbeach.com.au
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THE HEART OF FAMILY FUN
tourismwhitsundays.com.au
AUSTRALIA
BIG4 ADVENTURE WHITSUNDAY RESORT QUEENSLAND Boasting the largest resort lagoon-style pool in Airlie Beach, a waterpark with 13 slides, two jumping pillows, a mini-golf course, outdoor cinema and a non-stop games and activities program, this holiday park is kiddie heaven! The resort is also home to the only mainland Kid’s Club in Airlie Beach, with a full time activities co-ordinator, and offers everything from a scavenger hunts to arts and crafts. The waterpark slides come off a 2m-high platform and are linked by bridges and stairways. A massive tipping bucket sits at one end of the pool and there are fun smaller features for toddlers in the shape
of a frog and octopus. The resort has 60 designer-decorated, selfcontained cabins and 120 caravan and camping sites set amidst tropical gardens, plus there are pedal karts, a full-size floodlit tennis court, an adventure playground, basketball, volleyball, badminton, bocce and giant chess. BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort even has its own animal park, where children can get up close and personal with Candy the alpaca and her furry and feathered friends, including goats and chickens. Parents can also enjoy massages by the pool and wine and cheese afternoons. adventurewhitsunday.com.au
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AUSTRALIA
BIG4 PORT WILLUNGA TOURIST PARK
SOUTH AUSTRALIA Around 45 minutes’ drive from Adelaide, BIG4 Port Willunga offers easy beach access and onsite features that include mini-golf, a tennis court, inflatable trampoline, and go-kart hire. Psst – adults, from here it’s literally minutes to the worldfamous McLaren Vale wine region! big4.com.au/caravanparks/sa/fleurieupeninsula/portwillunga-tourist-park
REFLECTIONS WYANGALA WATERS
NSW See cherry blossoms blooming at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre during a stay at Reflections Wyangala Waters. A 30-minute drive from Cowra, the park has a modular pump track for cycling, a kiosk/shop, boat ramp and fish cleaning facilities, a camp kitchen and lots of barbecue areas. reflectionsholidayparks.com.au/ park/wyangala-waters
BIG4 NRMA WARRNAMBOOL RIVERSIDE HOLIDAY PARK
VICTORIA Relax and cast a line by the river, spot whales on their journey back to the sub-Antarctic, or take a day trip to the Great Ocean Road during a stay at BIG4 Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park. Let the kids burn off energy with facilities including a waterslide, tennis court, mini-golf, bouncing pillow and indoor and outdoor pools. nrmaparksandresorts.com. au
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
1
with kids
THE HOLIDAY PARK THAT HAS IT ALL Looking for a family holiday destination? Look no further than BIG4 Easts Beach, where there really is something for the whole family.
1 Sunny’s Aquaventure Park
features multi-level platforms with three water slides and a giant tipping bucket, an oceanthemed splash pad with interactive features, plus a shaded water journey for babies and toddlers. There is also a partially shaded sunlounge area for you to relax in while your children are having the time of their lives.
2 Little Monkeys Play Corner and
Games Room will provide hours of entertainment for the whole family. Challenge yourselves as a family or play individually with the various games to choose from. Young ones will love the designated play corner, which features a fantastic indoor playground.
3 The relaxing massage studio
is designed to offer privacy and tranquility, allowing you to be fully
pampered by our professional and experienced massage therapists. The massage studio is located inside the park and offers a peaceful environment in which you can relax and unwind. Go on – spoil yourself or surprise a loved one.
4 The exciting brand-new pool
complex has two pool areas: a heated lounge pool with children’s play area and plunge pool, plus a large main pool with two lap lanes and a disability ramp.
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3
4
5
5 Whether you enjoy swimming,
diving, fishing, body-boarding or just splashing about, you can do it all at Easts Beach, where the sapphire-blue ocean waves lap onto golden sands. This 400m beach offers a chance to relax, unwind and bask in the sun while your children build sandcastles. Easts Beach offers the complete package, from dancing waves at sunrise to a moonlit evening stroll. Visit eastsbeach.com.au for more.
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BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL The rustic cellar door at Heifer Station
WINE & DINE
PLAY
ANGELA SAURINE finds she can have the best of both worlds at a family-friendly winery in Orange
BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL
Angela and Oliver enjoying the petting farm at Heifer Station
Before having a baby, Orange’s growing reputation as a food and wine destination had seen it creep onto my bucket list. Unfortunately, I ran out of time to make it to the town, in NSW’s central west, before Oliver entered the world. When an invitation to attend a friend’s significant birthday in Orange lobbed in my inbox a year later, my interest was piqued. But would it still be worth visiting with a toddler in tow? Yes, as it turns out. A bit of research led me straight to Heifer Station, which is surely one of the most family-friendly wineries in the country. Less than 15 minutes’ drive from town, it has plenty to entertain littlies, including a petting zoo and a sandpit complete with toy bulldozers. We nab a table outside the cellar door, housed in an old woolshed, and while away the afternoon in the sunshine. While Oliver joins other children following around the chooks that roam freely around us, we snack
Image: David Fitzsimons
Meet an alpaca at Heifer Station
on a cheese platter and dips and enjoy a wine tasting, which includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Shiraz. When he eventually gets bored, we wander down to see the animals together. There we meet Tilly the Shetland pony, highland cattle Curly, Larry and Monique, and Brutus, the black-faced Suffolk sheep. A small herd of alpacas can also be seen in the distance. On the volcanic slopes of the region’s tallest peak, Mt Canobolas, the 26ha Heifer Station was once part of a larger property used by stagecoach company Cobb & Co as a change station for its horse teams, which has been subdivided into smaller lots over the years. It was a cattle station in the early 1900s, and cows still graze amongst the vineyards in winter and in nearby paddocks during harvesting. The petting zoo was added in 2016 after census data showed young couples with two or more children
were the fastest-growing demographic in the region. “At the time there was nothing around for them,” sales and operations manager James Thomas says. “It was a demographic that was largely ignored by the wine industry, and we saw that as an opportunity. A lot of people thought we were mad in the beginning, but we found that if you have something to occupy children then the parents get to have some actual adult time and that’s made us super popular.” Older kids will also love soaring through the air on the flying fox near Lakeshore Café at Lake Canobolas Reserve on the outskirts of town, while a visit to the old-school style Coronet Milk Bar in Summer St is a must for ice-cream and lollies. On the second Saturday of each month children can also ride a miniature train run by the Orange Society of Model Engineers in Matthews Park for $2 per ride. Sadly, our timing isn’t right, but we are 67
Image: Angela Saurine
BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL
Oliver playing in the sandpit at Heifer Station
Kids will love meeting the animals at Heifer Station
Red Door Cottage
GETTING THERE
Orange is approximately a four-hour drive north west of Sydney.
STAYING THERE
Red Door Cottage can be booked from $150 per night through BNB Made Easy. bnbmadeeasy.com.au
MORE INFO:
visitcentralnsw.com.au
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Oliver walking across the bridge over the duck pond at Cook Park
content with a visit to Cook Park, also in Summer St, instead. It’s somewhere I probably wouldn’t have considered visiting before having a child, but it turns out to be a pleasant addition to our itinerary. Oliver’s face lights up when he sees the aviary filled with cockatoos and parrots. He’s entranced by the water flowing over the fountain in the middle of the park, and he loves running back and forth through the dry leaves beside the duck pond and hearing them crunch beneath his feet. After a push on the swings, we stroll back to our accommodation, Red Door Cottage, in nearby March St. With its cute verandah, corrugated iron roof and white picket fence, the superbly renovated two-bedroom heritage home is just like one of the properties I’d seen in the ABC TV series Escape from the City that also enticed me to visit. It’s owned by BNB Made Easy
founder Tim Mortimer, whose family established Mortimer Wines in the early 1990s, and his wife Flora, who comes from the Albi wine region in Southern France. As parents of two young children, they are extremely accommodating to families. We arrive to find a port-a-cot set up in the bedroom and a highchair by the dining table. Oliver makes a beeline for the toys in the loungeroom, while I am taken by the large open-plan kitchen, polished wooden floorboards, slow combustion fireplace, mosaic tiles and heritage features. I may not have managed to dine at its hatted restaurants, or ticked off as many wineries as I would have preparenthood, but we had a wonderful weekend nonetheless. The writer was a guest of Heifer Station and BNB Made Easy.
BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL
OTHER FAMILYFRIENDLY WINERIES NSW
HUNTER VALLEY
• Scarborough Wines has a giant checkers set and giant Jenga and for $5 you get an accompanying cheese plate with your tasting • Elbourne Wines has farmyard animals including Wessex Saddleback pigs, Black Suffolk sheep, a pony, chickens, geese and ducks. The owners also let the kids of guests use their childrens’ play equipment, which includes a large sandpit, cubby house and trampoline, while their parents enjoy a tasting experience (by appointment only) • De Bortoli Wines offers camel rides around the vines every Saturday (weather permitting). • Calais Estate has a kids’ corner in the cellar door where children can play games and do craft activities. It also sells gourmet picnic packs which can be enjoyed on the grounds, which are home to peacocks, geese and other wildlife
A family at Scarborough Wines in the NSW Hunter Valley
MUDGEE
• Lowe Wine has a farm trail walk, which takes kids past the jetty to see rescue donkeys, chickens, peacocks and ducks. Children can also play petanque and other games • Robert Stein Winery & Vineyard has a collection of vintage bikes at its motorcycle museum that little boys (and their dads!) will love. The family farm surrounding the vineyard also has Angus cattle, Dorper sheep and Berkshire pigs.
See the farm animals at Lowe Wine in Mudgee
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BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL
SHOALHAVEN
• Coolangatta Estate near Berry offers onsite Segway tours through the vines and rides to the top of Coolangatta Mountain on board a large 4WD open-sided tractor with Bishop’s Bigfoot Adventures
RIVERINA
• De Bortoli Wines at Bilbul has a playground and its restaurant has a kids’ menu with everything from beef lasagne to donuts
ACT
CANBERRA
• Lake George Winery, which is the oldest in the region, has giant games such as Connect Four, a small kids’ play area which includes colouring and a few games, a flying fox and a tractor to climb on • Tallagandra Hill Winery has a playground set for kids • Murrumbateman Winery features a ping pong table, chalkboard tables and colouring books. The dogs who live at the winery also love a good pat
• Clonakilla offers colouring books, a basket of toys and outdoor games such as quoits. You can also BYO picnic lunch
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
MARGARET RIVER
• The Rivendell Restaurant and Cellar Door has a playground with a sandpit, slippery slide and climbing frame as well as games on the lawn, including totem tennis, football and bocce • Swings & Roundabouts has been recently renovated with a new ecofriendly wooden playground with wine barrels to crawl through, and a cubby house. Families also love the wood-fired Italian pizza • Xanadu Wines has a small shaded playground that you can see from the cellar door, plus a kids’ menu • Aravina Estate in Yallingup has a large lawn for picnics, a fenced playground and a kids’ menu • Cape Mentelle Vineyards has swings and a kids’ corner with a drawing table to keep children occupied while adults enjoy a wine
tasting. They also operate an outdoor cinema in summer
SWAN VALLEY
• Mandoon Estate, on the banks of the Swan River, has an enclosed playground, alfresco area with picnic tables and live music on weekends
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
MCLAREN VALE
• Gemtree Wines has a playground and lawn area for children to play on, animals they can visit with their parents, and a 1km-long eco-trail, as well as a picnic area with barbecues • Maxwell Wines has a maze where kids can get lost and a picnic area where you can snack on a cheese platter from the cellar door • Woodstock Wines has a wildlife sanctuary with kangaroos, wallabies and long-nosed potoroos • Fox Creek Wines offers a kids’ treasure hunt that sees them following clues in hanging wine bottles, spread throughout the cottage garden,s before collecting a prize at the cellar door
QUEENSLAND Picnic among the vines at Ocean View Estates on the Sunshine Coast
SUNSHINE COAST
• At Ocean View Estates Winery and Restaurant kids can kick a ball around while parents enjoy a gourmet picnic hamper on the grass, or watch them from the noshery’s verandah
GOLD COAST
• O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards is also home to Mountview Alpaca Farm, where children can feed the alpacas and walk them through the vineyards
VICTORIA
YARRA VALLEY
• De Bortoli Wines has a playground and a gazebo and gardens where families can picnic 70
BABY AND TODDLER TRAVEL
Image: Zoe Vaughan Photography
Image: Chris Elfes
Elbourne Wines at Pokolbin
Kids on the tractor at Lake George Winery
Gemtree Wines at McLaren Vale
Embark on a treasure hunt at Fox Creek Wines
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST
COME TO PARADISE This Gold Coast resort is a children’s utopia, with plenty to keep parents happy as well From the moment you walk into the lobby and see your wide-eyed children come face-toface with the multi-level climbing frame and mazes of Dusty’s Jungle Gym, you know you’ve come to the right place. It’s a well-known fact that happy kids equal happy parents, so the whole family is sure to be satisfied with a stay at Paradise Resort Gold Coast. Described as like a mini theme park or a cruise ship on land, the Queensland resort offers an extensive The Planet Chilll Ice Skating Rink
Storytime at the Zone 4 Kids Club
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and ever-changing range of daily activities and entertainment ranging from slime making and cupcake decorating workshops to plaster art and sand art, magic shows, fancy dress parades and movie nights. The Zone 4 Kids Club is like heaven for children, with nine themed play spaces divided across age groups – Space Room, Captains Underwater World, Leonardo’s Painting Room, Egyptian Room, Astro’s Space Station, Dusty’s Safari, Krazy 4 Kraft, Magic Garden and Junior Adventure Park. The resort has 359 rooms, all with balconies, and can cater for families with up to six children. The Bunkhouse rooms have brightly painted bunk beds, and interconnecting rooms are also available. The central resort area is a giant water playground, with a lagoon pool, heated spa and two large Aqua Play attractions. The main water park is three storeys high and has a myriad of slides, water cannons and climbing frames as well as a giant bucket that fills with 600 litres of water before emptying over guests in an enormous splash. The Junior Water Park is ideal for smaller guests, complete with a slippery slide, water cannons and a toddler’s paddling area with a gentle sloping beach entry. The resort also has a rock-climbing wall and its own ice-skating rink, Planet Chill, which has an area for teenagers with game tables for air hockey, foosball and snowboarding. But parents are not forgotten. With most accommodation packages including kids’ club entry, there’s time for adults to indulge in the ‘Zone 4 Adults’. Relax and read a book in the outdoor spa area, which has lounge chairs and cabanas ideal for reading. There’s also cocktail making classes, wine and cheese tastings, cooking demonstrations and karaoke. When it comes to mealtimes, ‘50s-style diner;
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST
The Zone 4 Kids Club
The Junior Water Park
The Bistro, offers casual and relaxed family dining for breakfast and dinner. They really ‘get’ kids here, even bringing out children’s meals first without asking (because they know hungry kids have #nopatience). The costumed staff are happy to offer extra Slide winks and smiles at happiness the smallest diners and Popeye cartoons play in the background. The mural on the Bistro wall says it all: “Some of the best conversations are had with family over a meal”. For kids who refuse to get out of the water for more than a few minutes, The Poolside Café & Bar is also a great option for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also kickstart your day with a fresh juice or smoothie from the Poolside Juice Bar, while a barbecue night is held by the pool every Wednesday night. And it’s all walking distance from the bright lights of Surfers Paradise and its shops, restaurants and golden sand beaches. STAYING THERE: Stay three nights or more and the entire family eats for free. Limited time only. Terms and conditions apply. MORE INFO: paradiseresort.com.au 73
Image: Tori Green
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DESTINATION GIPPSLAND
GREAT OUTDOORS
If you like simple holidays filled with activities such as fishing, Phukethiking may be andThailand’s cycling, why number not book one holiday a campsite destination for Australian families, A girl and her or cabin butinneighbouring Victoria’s Gippsland provinces region? Krabi and Phang Nga also have a lot to offer dad at Seaspray 74
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DESTINATION GIPPSLAND
Image: Visit Victoria
A family exploring Buchan Caves with a guide Exploring Cape Conran
EAST GIPPSLAND
Home to an underground wonderland of 400-million-year-old limestone caves, Buchan Caves Reserve should be on any family’s bucket list. Guided tours operate daily along well-lit underground walkways, providing the opportunity to explore the calcite-rimmed pools of Royal Cave and the elaborate stalactites and stalagmites in Fairy Cave. The reserve also has a pool fed by the waters of an underground stream flowing from one of the caves. The campground offers powered and unpowered sites, as well as cabins with kitchenettes and microwaves. For glamping fans, a Wilderness Camp offers tents that can sleep up to six people in bunk beds, a small fridge and a table and chairs (BYO linen). The reserve also has a playground, a camp kitchen and electric and woodfired barbecues. parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/ buchan-at-cave-reserve
Image: Parks Victoria-Tori Green
BUCHAN CAVES RESERVE
CAPE CONRAN COASTAL PARK AND BANKSIA BLUFF CAMPGROUND Stretching along 60km of isolated beaches on the rugged Bass Strait, Cape Conran Coastal Park is a mecca for nature lovers. It spreads across an 11,000ha wilderness area, with heathlands and banksia woodlands brimming with nectar-feeding birds. The Park offers basic self-contained timber cabins, ideal for families, with incredible views of the ocean and bushland, pot-belly heating inside and wood-fired barbecues outside, but you need to bring your own pillows, sleeping gear and towels. There’s also a
lodge sleeping up to 17 people and a campground with a dog-friendly section. parkstay.vic.gov.au/banksia-bluffcampground-and-accommodation
MARLO CARAVAN PARK & MOTEL Sitting on the Snowy River Estuary, which has some of the best perch and bream fishing around, the small village of Marlo is a well-kept secret just 15 minutes from Orbost and the Princes Hwy and 15 minutes along the beach from Cape Conran. Marlo Caravan Park & Motel sits behind the iconic Marlo Hotel, one of the best waterfront pubs you can find, with plenty of lawn for the kids to run around while you enjoy 75
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DESTINATION GIPPSLAND
a meal and soak up the view. The park has powered sites, budget cabins, park cabins and deluxe cabins. It’s close to the general store and post office and has a playground, barbecue, laundry and DVD rental. marlopark.com
NICHOLSON RIVER HOLIDAY PARK On the banks of the Nicholson River, this holiday park is a great spot for fishing and within easy driving distance of bustling Lakes Entrance, picturesque Metung and the koala colony on Raymond Island. Have a chat to owner Jamie Malady about where the bream are biting and what bait to use before heading out. The park has self-contained cabins overlooking the river, more affordable cabins and large grassy powered sites for caravans and camping. While animals are not allowed in cabins, the grounds are pet-friendly. It also has a pool and a large recreation room with a pool table, table tennis, full cooking facilities, a PlayStation and TV. There’s also two free barbecues, a rotunda with views over the river and boat mooring is available. nicholsonriver.com.au
SWAN REACH HOLIDAY PARK Located in the small town of Swan Reach, halfway between the townships of Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance on the Tambo River, this holiday park is an ideal base for keen anglers. Talk to the staff at Swan Reach General Store to get some local tips while buying bait. The park has 6ha of gardens, free Wi-Fi, a playground and a barbecue where you can cook up a catch of fresh seafood bought directly from the boat. Accommodation ranges from unpowered campsites to standard cabins and two-bedroom miners cottages with a small deck. vicparks.com.au/park/swan-reachholiday-park 76
A cabin at Nicholson River Holiday Park
ORBOST CARAVAN PARK On the banks of the Snowy River in the pretty town of Orbost, just 15 minutes’ drive from the coast, this park has a lovely tranquil atmosphere, just a 500m walk from town. Shaded powered and unpowered sites are available, as well as standard and deluxe cabins, plus barbecue and picnic areas, playgrounds, laundry, and a park just across the road. orbostcaravanpark.com.au
CENTRAL GIPPSLAND
DARGO RIVER INN
Pitch a tent or stay in a self-contained cabin at Dargo River Inn, which lies on the site of an old timber mill. Nestled in the Dargo High Plains, the town is at the gateway to the Alpine National Park, Avon Wilderness River and Mitchell River National Park, making it a popular pick for 4WD and motorbike enthusiasts. This iconic high country inn has a large beer
garden overlooking the countryside and has hosted gigs with country music stars such as Lee Kernaghan, Travis Sinclair and Adam Brand. dargoriverinn.com.au
LOCH SPORT CARAVAN PARK On the southern shores of Lake Victoria in the Gippsland Lakes area, this dogfriendly park is surrounded by water and national park. There’s a golf course next door and it’s just ten minutes’ drive to the golden sands of 90 Mile Beach and a 10-minute walk to the supermarket and post office. There are powered and unpowered sites and cabins, a playground, camp kitchen, kiosk, barbecues, and a boat ramp nearby. lochsportcaravanpark.com
LICOLA CARAVAN PARK Developed from an old sawmill town that was mostly destroyed in the 1960s,
Image: Parks Victoria
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DESTINATION GIPPSLAND
Pitching a tent at Buchan Caves Reserve
Licola is the only privately-owned ‘town’ in Victoria. Licola Caravan Park is a pet-friendly park on the edge of the meandering Macalister River. It makes a great base for 4WDing, fishing, hiking and dirt bike riding. It has bunkhouses, cabins and powered and unpowered campsites and there’s a general store on site which sells groceries, camping equipment, take-away food and fuel. licolacaravanpark.com.au
BEST FRIEND HOLIDAY RETREAT SEASPRAY CARAVAN PARK
Running along the beach at Seaspray
Gippsland’s magnificent 90 Mile Beach is one of the longest uninterrupted beaches in the world, offering plenty of space for surfing, fishing, body boarding and sunset walks. A jumping pillow and playground make this park, a favourite for families. There’s a threebedroom cabin with a TV, DVD player, microwave and airconditioning, as well as powered sites that are either pet-friendly or in no pet zones. It has a camp kitchen and barbecue area, with public tennis courts next door. seaspraycaravanpark.com
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Image: Tori Green
If taking your pooch is a priority, look no further than Best Friend Holiday Retreat in the Tarra Valley. As well as six large, fenced off-leash areas, the holiday park has a giant dog ball run, a dog hydrobath hut and luxury kennels where your furry friend can hang out while you visit nearby national parks, such as the temperate rainforest TarraBulga National Park, just 3km away. All cabins, campsites and caravan sites are fully fenced. Cool down in a natural rock pool, or look for lyrebirds as you stroll through lush rainforest to Cyathea Falls or cross the Corrigan Suspension Bridge. Koalas live in the gum trees overlooking the holiday park and you can feed the birds, and pick your own organic fruit, berries and nuts when they are in season, which you can roast on the campfire at night. bestfriend.net.au
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SIX THINGS TO DO IN
santa Monica WITH KIDS
A toddler and his parents on the beach in Santa Monica 78
On the Pacific Coast, just a stone’s throw from LAX, Santa Monica is an ideal base for families wanting to explore the greater Los Angeles area. It combines the laidback lifestyle of a Southern Californian beachside community with the sophistication of buzzing LA, while being an easy day trip from Hollywood or Universal Studios. But with a sweeping stretch of sand, oceanfront trails and a vibrant cultural and dining scene, you might never want to leave!
KIDS IN AMERICA Girls on the pier
Ride the ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier
Kids will love the beach activities
1. SANTA MONICA PIER Built in 1909, Santa Monica Pier has been a beloved landmark and family attraction for more than a century. Aside from its famous amusement park packed with classic rides and arcade games, it’s also home to the Heal the Bay Aquarium where you can get up close to Californian marine species. There are plenty of dining options to suit all tastes, ranging from hot dogs and cotton candy (fairy floss) to gourmet cuisine. Be sure to ride the Pacific Wheel, the world’s first and only solar-powered Ferris wheel that’s at its shining best when illuminated at night.
2. SOUTH BAY BICYCLE TRAIL Stretching 35km from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County Beach, the South Bay Bicycle Trail is the world’s longest oceanfront bike path. Popular with both adults and kids, thanks to its flat and paved terrain, the trail has a safe cycle lane where you can plod along while skaters whizz by. It takes in the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Boardwalk, as well as winding through Hermosa and Redondo Beaches. You can easily hire bikes at Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals, with cruiser, mountain
bikes, low riders and even beach wheelchairs available. Make sure you and the kids remember the ‘road rules’ and stay on the correct side of the path!
3. PERRY’S CAFE Perry’s is also a great place to begin a day on the sands of Santa Monica, with a beach butler service offering lounge chairs, an umbrella, a cooler and a wind guard. Parents can kick back and soak up the So-Cal lifestyle while the kids are busy building sandcastles and splashing in the shallows. If you’re riding the South Bay Bicycle Trail, you can stop here for a dip and enjoy all the action before continuing on your way.
4. THIRD STREET PROMENADE Just a couple of blocks from the beachfront is Third Street Promenade, which serves as the main shopping hub in Santa Monica. It’s blissfully vehiclefree (so ideal for young kids) and is always alive with buskers and street performers that make it an entertaining place to wander. There’s a great choice of eateries in the indoor-outdoor Gallery Food Hall, as well as some incredible street art to discover.
5. FARMERS’ MARKET Santa Monica definitely knows how to do a great farmers’ market, with four taking place each week at locations throughout this beachside community. They bring together the region’s best chefs and artisan producers of meats, cheeses, flowers and fresh veggies, shining a light on Southern California’s farm-to-table scene. The Sunday morning Main Street Farmers Market is particularly popular with local families, featuring kid-friendly bands and face painting.
6. TONGVA PARK Created by the team behind New York’s elevated park High Line, Tongva Park lies in the heart of Santa Monica. It’s named after the Indigenous people who once inhabited the region, with gorgeous plantings, contemplative walking paths and tranquil water features inspired by the ancient arroyo landscape. But for kids, it’s the climbing fort, slippery dips and splash pad that are the biggest hit, while the sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean from the park’s viewing platforms are a ‘must’. MORE INFO: santamonica.com 79
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Jurassic World - The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood
H S E R F FUN Even if you think you’ve ‘been there done that’, there’s always a new reason for a return visit to experience US theme parks. Here are some of the hottest new additions across the country
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LEGO MOVIE WORLD, LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA
LEGO Movie World will open in 2020
JURASSIC WORLD THE RIDE, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Come face-to-face with Raptors, Triceratops and other prehistoric creatures at this revamped ride at California’s Universal Studios Hollywood. Inspired by the blockbuster films, Jurassic World – the Ride is a technologically advanced leap forward from the old Jurassic Park ride. Set in a park where things go awry, the immersive adventure has everything from a T rex fighting Indominus rex, to a thrilling 25m boat drop. Kids can also excavate giant dinosaur fossils in the new interactive Dino Play area before
grabbing a Costa Rican-inspired bite at Jurassic Café. Other highlights at the park include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, with a bustling Hogsmeade village and rides such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff™, The Simpsons Ride™ and DreamWorks Theatre featuring Kung Fu Panda Adventure. Its signature Studio Tour allows guests to go behind-the-scenes at the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television production studio, with rides including Fast & Furious— Supercharged and King Kong 360 3D. UniversalStudiosHollywood.com
The largest addition in the park’s history is set to open at LEGOLAND California Resort in 2020. Based on the blockbuster films The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, LEGO MOVIE WORLD places guests onto the streets of Bricksburg. One of the key drawcards is the Masters of Flight ride, in which guests hop aboard Emmet’s triple decker flying couch for a thrill-seeking adventure flying over lands such as Middle Zealand, Pirates Cove and Outer Space. They can also feel the rush of falling from Unikitty’s Disco Drop and experiencing the many personalities of the fearless feline, ride a fully reimagined carousel, and meet Emmet and his friends in Emmet’s Super Suite apartment. LEGOLAND.com 81
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An artist impression of inside the atrium on the Galactic Starcruiser
STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE AT DISNEYLAND RESORT IN CALIFORNIA AND WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA Become embroiled in a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance at Disney Parks’ hottest new attraction. Set to open in the new land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on December 5 (Walt Disney’s birthday!) and Disneyland Resort in California on January 17, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is being 82
An artist impression of the Galactic Starcruiser
billed as the most immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined in a Disney park. Guests will be recruited to join Rey and General Organa at a secret base and find themselves captured by a First Order Star Destroyer before breaking out. You can also take the controls of the Millennium Falcon, stroll the Black Spire Outpost marketplace and build a droid in the new land. It’s one of several themed lands at the parks, where you can also enjoy rides such as the Mad Tea Party, it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is also introducing a new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience, offering two-night stays in cabins aboard the Halycon, in which guests arrive and depart together, similar to boarding a cruise ship. After checking into the terminal, enter a launch pod for your journey into space. Take part in onboard activities and become the hero of your own Star Wars story, with a side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. DisneyParks.com.au
Image: ©Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Flight Deck ~ Anaheim
UNCOMMON CHARACTER
FANTASY IS THE BEST REALITY. Imagination is in Anaheim’s DNA. We’ve been bringing the fun for families since forever. So gather up your crew and explore the good times indoors and out, all across this land. Let Anaheim share our magical mojo with you and yours. Explore the unconventional at VisitAnaheim.org.
KIDS IN AMERICA
KNOTT’S BERRY FARM, CALIFORNIA Take a journey on a search for new land on Calico River Rapids. With the help of frontiersmen Potts and Colter, who have plotted the path for settlers to explore, rafters will encounter a variety of wild surprises, including roaring rapids, indigenous wildlife, and peculiar homesteaders. The circular raft ride, which seats six passengers, traverses through unexpected twists and turns, rushing waters and rapid currents as it navigates the unexplored waterway. While you’re there, take a ride on the wooden rollercoaster GhostRider and Timber Mountain Log, and climb aboard the Calico Railway. knotts.com
The Joker Carnival of Chaos at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Calico River Rapids at Knott’s Berry Farm
THE JOKER CARNIVAL OF CHAOS, SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS A thrilling new pendulum ride inspired by DC Super-Villain The Joker recently opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Joker Carnival of Chaos is one of the world’s tallest pendulum rides, standing at a record-breaking 17 storeys and reaching speeds up to 120km per hour. Visitors to San Antonio can enjoy the ride 12 months a year, as the theme park has announced year-round operations, extending their season into January and February, weekends and public holidays. sixflags.com/fiestatexas
WILDWOOD GROVE AT DOLLYWOOD, TENNESSEE Inspired by country music star Dolly Parton’s childhood dreams growing up in the hills of the Smoky Mountains, Wildwood Grove is the largest 84
expansion in the theme park’s history. Families can hop on the back of a friendly bear and meander through their habitat on the Black Bear Trail, sit inside a giant acorn and spin around the top of an oak tree on Treetop Tower and watch butterflies play in The Wildwood Tree’s leafy canopy, and splash and play in the winding creek that flows at its base. The thrilling suspended rollercoaster, Dragonflier, lets guests soar with a dragonfly as it dips and darts along the gushing geysers and lush landscapes of Wildwood Grove, while Hidden Hollow is a secret indoor play area with climbing structures, slides and games. dollywood.com
LEGOLAND NEW YORK RESORT Following the success of sister parks in California and Florida, another LEGOthemed park will open on the east coast
KIDS IN AMERICA
An artist impression of West Coast Racers at Six Flags Magic Mountain
in 2020. Located at Goshen, less than 100km north-west of New York City, it will feature more than 50 rides, shows and attractions for kids aged two to 12 and their families. LEGOLAND New York Resort will be open seasonally from April to November, and a 250-room LEGO-themed hotel will be open yearround from 2021. LEGOLAND.com/new-york
FLYING OX AT PAULA DEEN’S LUMBERJACK FEUD SHOW & ADVENTURE PARK, TENNESSEE The world’s first cable-to-rail zipline rollercoaster recently opened at this Tennessee theme park. It combines the thrill of ziplining with the track features of a roller coaster into one family fun attraction. The Flying Ox winds, drops and soars through the air at around 40km per hour. lumberjackfeud.com
An artist impression of the Flying Ox at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show and Adventure Park
Knights’ Kingdom is opening at LEGOLAND New York
Fun times await at Wildwood Grove at Dollywood
WEST COAST RACERS AT SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA The world’s first racing launch coaster, West Coast Racers, is set to open at Six Flags Magic Mountain, 55km northwest of downtown LA, by the end of the year. With two side-by-side tracks, the race covers two laps with extreme high-banked turns and exhilarating over and under near misses. It follows the opening last year of the 17-storey high CraZanity, which reaches speeds up to 120km per hour as it whips back and forth and higher and higher. The park’s other rides include Twisted Colossus, the world’s longest hybrid coaster; Full Throttle, the world’s tallest and fastest looping coaster; vertical drop ride LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom; and Tatsu, the tallest, fastest and longest flying coaster on Earth. sixflags.com/magicmountain 85
no resort fees. ever. 2018
voted best hotel in hawaiĘťi
maui, hawaiĘťi www.kbhmaui.com 808-661-0011
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Whilst palm trees, luminous sunsets and hula performances are a given throughout, each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own distinct personality
Adventurous families flock to the Island of Hawai‘i, so called because it is nearly twice as big as all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. Explore Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, which is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes; swim in waterfalls on the Kohala Coast, see the monument to explorer Captain Cook on a cruise to Kealakekua Bay, go horse riding at a cattle ranch, and snorkel with manta rays. Discover Hawaiian history and culture at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, an important ceremonial site that was once the home of royalty and a place of refuge for lawbreakers in ancient times, and find out more about the remote Hawaiian Islands at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center. Hilo town and Puna are the best places to stay for budgetfriendly accommodation options.
Kulaniapia Falls on Island of Hawai‘i 87
Image: Hawaii Forest & Trail
WHICH HAWAIIAN ISLAND IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
ISLAND OF HAWAI‘I
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KAUA‘I
Mountain tubing with Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures
Known for its natural beauty, Kaua‘i has provided the set for more than 60 films and TV shows. Take a scenic helicopter flight to see where movies including Jurassic Park were filmed and visit the historic town that inspired Lilo & Stitch, Hanapēpē. Swim with the ‘locals’ (the resident colony of green sea turtles) at Po‘ipū Beach Park, go hiking or biking in Waimea Canyon, known as ‘the Grand Canyon of the Pacific’, zipline over green valleys and streams, and ride the old plantation railway at Kilohana Plantation. Kaua‘i is also the only Hawaiian island where you can go mountain tubing, which is suitable for kids aged five and over.
Ziplining at Maui Tropical Plantation
MAUI Its colourful old plantation towns and surf vibe make Maui an attractive option. The island has more than 50km of beautiful beaches, with white, black and red sand! Ka’anapali Beach is the most popular place for families to stay as it has resorts for every budget, and it’s just a free shuttle bus ride to Lahaina’s shops and restaurants. Book a cruise to go whale watching (December to May) or snorkelling at Molokini Crater, see the world’s largest collection of Pacific corals at Maui Ocean Center or brave the twists and turns on the scenic Road to Hāna, stopping to see rainforests, waterfalls and natural pools en route. In Upcountry Maui, kids can try milking a goat at Surfing Goat Dairy and play among the perfumed flowers at Ali‘i Lavendar Farm.
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KIDS IN AMERICA Honolulu Zoo is a great family attraction
Image: Kimberly Jeffries
See a show at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Discover an underwater world with Atlantis Adventures
Image: Tor Johnson - Hawaii Tourism Authority
O‘AHU As flights from Australia arrive in Honolulu on O‘ahu, it makes sense to start your Hawaiian holiday here. From world-famous Waikīkī Beach to the relaxed Turtle Bay on the North Shore, O‘ahu has something to suit every family. With calm waves and soft currents, Waikīkī is an ideal place for kids to learn to surf, and has an abundance of hotel accommodation. On O‘ahu you can go ATV-ing through the set of Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch & Private Nature Reserve, learn about history at Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center, splash out at Wet’n’Wild, visit Honolulu Zoo, discover an underwater world on a submarine tour with Atlantis Adventures, and ride a train among the pineapples at Dole Plantation. 89
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WHERE TO STAY EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON
Embassy Suites by Hilton – Waikīkī Beach Walk is an all-suite resort located next to the stylish Waikīkī Beach Walk, which has a wide array of restaurants, shops, and entertainment just steps from the beach. Enjoy the “suite” life with: • Complimentary made-to-order breakfast, including omelettes, yoghurt and pastries • Complimentary evening reception drinks and snacks to help you unwind from the day or gear up for the night • Spacious suites with a separate living room area and a micro-kitchen • The Grand Lanai Pool Deck features a heated pool, whirlpool spa, childrens’ pool and spacious sundeck with stylish cabanas, covered-pavilion seating and our outdoor poolside Pakini bar • No additional resort fees MORE INFO: embassysuiteswaikiki.com In partnership with Embassy Suites by Hilton – Waikīkī Beach Walk
ASTON WAIKIKI BEACH TOWER
Located directly across from world-famous Waikīkī Beach, Aston Waikīkī Beach Tower offers newly renovated one- and two-bedroom residences with ocean views, chef-inspired kitchens, spacious living rooms, private balconies and the option to upgrade to spalike master bathrooms. Amenities include: • New fitness centre overlooking the beach, with cardio and strength equipment • Hospitality lounge • Two heated swimming pools, including a children’s pool, and a jet spa. • Access to a motion studio for yoga and spin classes, weekly hula fitness classes, and ukulele lessons • A recreation area with deluxe commercialgrade barbecues, an outdoor dining area, and prep station • Cabanas where parents can relax MORE INFO: astonwaikikibeachtower.com 90
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newly renovated breathtaking remarkable On the shores of Waikiki Beach, experience the perfect blend of an exclusive private condominium resort with spacious two bedroom suites and attentive service.
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10
AMAZING AMERICAN MUSEUMS From fossils to the future, the US is bursting with exciting and educational museums. Here are ten of the best
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The new Observatory Experience on the second floor of the Empire State Building
1. THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING OBSERVATORY EXPERIENCE, NEW YORK
Images: Evan Joseph
Learn about the history of the famous Empire State Building, from construction through to its current place in pop culture, as you make your way to the 86th floor observatory. The recently revamped galleries on the second floor include a black and white panoramic photo of the site in the 1920s, cast sculptures of construction workers, and the voice of a newsboy announcing the opening of the building as he sells papers on the street in the 1930s. There are screens displaying highlights of the building’s starring role in TV shows, movies, commercials, cartoons, comic books and video games; happy snaps of celebrities who have visited; and an exhibit about the measures taken to ensure the structure is a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency. empirestatebuilding.com
3. SEATTLE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, WASHINGTON
2. THE DOSEUM, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Kids can don a fake moustache and trench coat before taking part in covert missions and breaking codes at the Spy Academy exhibit, and role play at Little Town, which includes a child-scaled supermarket, vet office and airport. They can also experiment with light and sound at Sensations Studio, which features a DJ station and lasers, and learn to build at the Innovation Station. thedoseum.org
The Cog City exhibition explores cause and effect and the science behind motion
Imagination comes to life at this museum, which has a construction zone for budding builders, an eye clinic where kids can take turns at being a patient or doctor, and a global village where they can sail the seven seas, create an African drum circle and pretend to be a master sushi chef in Japan. It also offers daily programs including plays, story times and art classes. thechildrensmuseum. org 93
The Jewel of the Upper West Side
2130 Broadway at 75th Street • New York, NY 10023 Tel: 011+1+212.787.1100 • Fax: 011+1+212.787.8119 www.beaconhotel.com • reservations@beaconhotel.com
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Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit
4. SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, WASHINGTON DC See the Wright brothers’ first plane, the third space shuttle to fly into outer space, and touch a lunar rock sample at this museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. This year the museum is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, with Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit showcased in a state-ofthe-art, climate-controlled display case specially created to protect the iconic outfit. A mannequin was also built specifically for the suit, using Armstrong’s measurements. airandspace.si.edu
5. THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, CALIFORNIA Step back in time and discover a lush continent full of trees, giant amphibians and dinosaurs at the Antarctic Dinosaurs exhibition at The Natural History Museum in LA. One of the city’s oldest cultural institutions, it has more than 35 million specimens and artefacts on display. Kids can pretend to be a paleontologist in the Paleo Play Zone in the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Discovery Center, marvel at the variety of bugs in the Insect Zoo, and check out mini dioramas, featuring everything from owls to skunks. nhmlac.org
6.THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, FLORIDA Wannabe scientists can take part in a dinosaur dig, visit the observatory and delight in the newly expanded KidsTown interactive play area for little ones aged seven and under, at this four-floor museum. It also has exhibits about Florida wildlife, art and the planet. osc.org
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Image: Renee Rosensteel
KIDS IN AMERICA
7. MUSEUMLAB, PENNSYLVANIA Children aged 10 and over can use cuttingedge technology to create everything from furniture and interactive art to apps at this new museum created by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. museumlab.org
8. THE MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA
9. THE BISHOP MUSEUM, HONOLULU, HAWAI’I
Star Wars fans can see works by Native American artists inspired by the franchise in The Force Is with Our People exhibition, which runs until May 2020. They include a R2D2 replica designed by a Hopi artist and a nearly life-sized storm trooper etched in native designs. The Flagstaff museum also hosts events including the Day of the Dead Festival and Navajo Festival of Arts and Culture. musnaz.org
See ancient Hawaiian and ancient Polynesian artefacts at this cultural institution, which includes a large science centre where kids can learn about native Hawaiian animals, volcanoes, natural weather events, the ocean and more. Alongside the museum, the J. Watumull Planetarium immerses the audience in the night sky, travelling from Hawai‘i to Tahiti by the stars. bishopmuseum.org
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10. SPACE CENTER HOUSTON, TEXAS Kids can dress up in an astronaut suit, see real samples of moon rocks and other artefacts collected on space programs like Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, and check out the space simulator at this terrific Texas museum. spacecenter.org
KIDS IN AMERICA
GOING GAGA FOR THE
T S E W D L I W KYLEE KAY discovers the delights of Colorado and Utah through the eyes of a toddler
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Working in the tourism industry, I’ve been lucky to visit the US countless times. But having my family join me on a road trip through Colorado and Utah, culminating with a Lady Gaga concert in Las Vegas, was an entirely different experience. After a week of meetings in Anaheim, I managed to sneak in a day at Disneyland with Kym and two-year-old Oliver before jetting off to Durango in Colorado for our first big family car journey. After collecting our Alamo hire car, we headed straight to the historic mountain town of Silverton. There’s nothing flash here – just rugged landscape and people – oh, and the world’s highest Harley Davidson store, which as a motorcyclist was a lovely surprise! We walked the town and spoke with the locals, including the self-employed town-greeter dressed in period costume, before our return ride aboard the historic Durango-Silverton train. We are blessed to have been on some wonderful trains during our travels, but there was something magical about this trip. Built in 1882 to haul silver and gold, it has been in continuous operation ever since. It allows you to see Colorado in ways impossible by road, passing some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. The smell and the sound of the engine takes you back to another time.
Left: Oliver exploring Arches National Park in Utah Centre: Kylee, Kym and Oliver stopping to admire the scenery on Highway 550 in Colorado Right: Hiking near Ouray
From there we moved on to Mesa Verde National Park, which was established in 1906 to preserve the archaeological heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for 700 years. There are more than 5000 known sites, of which 600 are cliff dwellings. Oliver loved walking around the ancient wonders and exploring buildings that looked so different to those back home. But more exciting things were to come. Next, we travelled to Telluride where we stayed in the mountain village at The Peaks Resort & Spa, a luxury property with spectacular views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Oliver’s highlight was a ride on the gondola, which takes you down to the town. The free cable car operates year-round and is super fun for kids and parents alike. Then I finally got to drive Highway 550 – a twisting road with drop-offs as far as the eye can 99
KIDS IN AMERICA
Left: Oliver checking out an old mining town along Highway 550 in Colorado Right: The family at Bryce Canyon National Park 100
see. There are several old mining towns along the way which we stopped to explore. I think this was Oliver’s favourite day of the trip. He loved exploring the derelict buildings through the remaining snow. We stayed in the town of Ouray, which has a beautiful feel to it, with friendly people, amazing restaurants and natural hot springs. From there it was a five-hour stretch to Moab, where we began our Utah adventure. We stayed at Mainstay Suites near Arches National Park, which was my favourite park in Utah. The fact that it was flat in many parts, with incredible scenery of huge red rocked arches, meant it was an easy place to visit with a toddler who has a tendency to wander everywhere without fear or understanding of consequence. We could relax
knowing he probably wasn’t going to get too far… or get hurt! From there we moved on to Bryce Canyon, which has sweeping views over Utah, with spire-shaped crimson rock formations called hoodoos. Zion National Park was also impressive, but requires a bit more effort to navigate. It is somewhere I would love to return to when Oliver is a little older and able to hike without us worrying he will walk off a cliff! We stayed at the Desert Garden Inn in St George, which has a lively social scene. Oliver had a ball in the pool getting to know the other guests. Its in-house restaurant, Magleby’s, offers outstanding food and a great atmosphere. Finally, it was time for our last stop – Las Vegas. While it isn’t a place I would usually take a toddler, we were pleasantly surprised by how much there is for children to do there. We stayed at the Park MGM, where the multiple pools were winners with every family member. A kind friend babysat Oliver while we went to Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano show – the icing on the cake of our big US adventure. Kylee Kay is the managing director of Linkd Tourism, which represents Alamo Rent A Car and Colorado Tourism in Australia and New Zealand. She travelled with assistance from Visit Utah. MORE INFO: colorado.com | visitutah.com
KIDS IN AMERICA
MAGICAL MOMENTS There is plenty of fun to be had under the Florida sun at Walt Disney World Resort With four theme parks, two water parks and a range of enchanting themed hotels, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is the perfect place for a family holiday. Spread across 100sq km, the resort’s entrance is just 32km from Orlando International Airport.
Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
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EPCOT
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS Inspired by the world of film, television and music, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to the new land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Other highlights include Toy Story Midway Mania! and Slinky Dog Dash in the new Toy Story Land, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror, Fantasmic!, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, and Walt Disney Presents, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.
This theme park celebrating human achievement through technology and international culture is about to undergo a major transformation. World Showcase will welcome a new neighbourhood inspired by Mary Poppins, with the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure set to open in 2020. In World Nature, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will be a lush exploration trail where guests can meet and play with magical, living water. In World Discovery, guests will ride on a thrilling new space-themed rollercoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Other highlights include sailing into Arendelle with Anna, Elsa and friends on the Frozen Ever After attraction and flying over spectacular scenic wonders on Soarin’ Around the World.
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK
See real exotic animals, journey into the fantastical world of Avatar and watch mesmerising shows at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Jungles, forests and a vast savannah are divided into five themed lands: Africa, DinoLand USA, Discovery Island, Asia and Pandora – The World of Avatar. Some of the hottest attractions include Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids, Finding Nemo - The Musical, and It’s Tough to be a Bug!
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MAGIC KINGDOM
This quintessential Disney theme park was the first to open at Walt Disney World Resort in 1971. Like Disneyland Resort in California it has six themed lands, with Cinderella Castle at its centre. They include Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Walt Disney World Resort is home to popular attractions such as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, the Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, and Princess Fairytale Hall.
KIDS IN AMERICA
WATER PARKS Cool off at one of two fabulous water parks. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is built around the mythical tale of a onetime ski resort that melted into soothing, warm water. Adults can zip down the slushy slopes of Mount Gushmore on one of the world’s tallest and fastest free fall waterslides, while kids can splash about in their own water play area with a snow-castle fountain and kid-sized slides. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is a tropical paradise created by a fierce storm that left a shrimp boat perched atop Mount Mayday. It boasts the largest wave pool in North America, raft rides and lazy rivers.
WHERE TO STAY
DISNEY SPRINGS
This waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex is divided into four outdoor neighbourhoods: The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace and West Side. Check out shops such as the World of Disney store, Coca-Cola store and ZARA, and dine at Morimoto Asia, Planet Hollywood Observatory™, Splitsville Luxury Lanes™ or House of Blues.
©Disney ©Disney/Pixar ©Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation ©Fox
With more than 25 Disney Resort Hotels in the area, there is an accommodation option for every budget. The most affordable include Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Moderately priced offerings include Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Or splash out at one of the deluxe resorts, such as Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Beach Club Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. 103
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WHERE TO PLAY IN LA
Image: Los Angeles Tourism
Families will never run out of things to do in Los Angeles. Here are six great places you may not have considered.
Admire the view over LA from Griffith Park
1. TWO BIT CIRCUS Tech-savvy kids will love the Two Bit Circus – a new virtual reality and arcade amusement park in LA’s buzzing Arts District. The space features traditional, circus-inspired attractions and fun arcade games, as well as immersive VR experiences and challenging escape rooms.
2.WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR
See the Aquaman exhibition at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
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Ever wanted to go behind-the-scenes of your favourite flicks and TV series? Then the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is not to be missed. Parents can reminisce at the Central Perk set from hit TV show Friends, while kids
with superhero dreams will particularly love DC Universe: The Exhibit where costumes and props from the 2018 blockbuster Aquaman are on display.
3.MALIBU DAY TRIP If you want to experience the sundrenched So-Cal lifestyle, then make a day trip to beachside Malibu. Learn to surf with the team at Aquasurf beside the iconic Malibu Pier, or get some retail therapy (with a bit of playtime and toy shopping thrown in) at the boutique Malibu Country Mart. No visit to Malibu is complete without a stop at The Getty Villa (free for all ages) where you can discover the ancient worlds of Greece and Rome!
KIDS IN AMERICA
Getty Villa in Malibu
4. GRIFFITH PARK
5. BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER It might not be one of the city’s most well known attractions, but the Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a cultural and historic monument not to be missed on a family trip to LA. This hidden gem presents around 300 performances each year, with the theatre recently moving to the cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Highland Park.
Take a lesson with Aquasurf
6. LAX
See a puppet performance at Bob Baker Marionette Theater
If you’re flying out of LAX, the holiday doesn’t have to end just because you’ve reached the airport. This bustling transport hub offers a range of family-friendly activities, including a PUPs therapy dog program where adorable comfort dogs greet visitors in the terminal buildings. There’s also a beach-themed play area that young kids will love, forming part of the newly revamped Tom Bradley International Terminal’s ‘Great Hall’. MORE INFO: discoverlosangeles.com
Image: Claire Vogel
Offering views of the famous Hollywood sign, Griffith Park’s leafy walking trails are the ideal destination to stretch your legs in LA. This 1,744ha park is also home to the Griffith Observatory (which parents might remember from the Oscar-winning film La La Land) and Walt Disney’s Barn, where you can see vintage model trains and tools that belonged to Walt Disney himself.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
See umbrellas being made at Bo Sang
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
CHIANG MAI
SUKHOTHAI MAE SOT
BANGKOK
PHUKET
North-west of Bangkok, the provinces of Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Tak abound with natural and cultural attractions
I A H TTRIANGLE 107
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
CHIANG MAI
Above: Monks praying at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Top right: Discover ancient wonders at Sukhothai Historical Park Bottom right: Sawankhalok street art Far right: Brightly decorated statues at Elephant Parade 108
Majestic mountains, fascinating hill tribes and dazzling temples have made Chiang Mai a popular tourist destination in Northern Thailand. The city, in the Chiang Mai province, was built to be the capital of the Lanna Kingdom in 1296. It is now a modern hub, like Bangkok. One of its biggest attractions is the 19th century Buddhist structure Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which has beautiful views over the region. Seven-headed serpent statues line the stairs to the temple, perched on top of a hill 14km from the city. The temple has a Chiang Saen-style golden pagoda. A few kilometres east of the city, the handicraft village, Bo Sang is a lovely place to visit to see colourful umbrellas and parasols being made. Wander around the open-sided wooden workshops and watch each stage of the process. Its Umbrella Making Centre is open daily.
You can also see the world’s largest collection of decorated elephant statues at the social enterprise, Elephant Parade Land. Each life-sized statue, created by artists and celebrities including Richard Branson, Khloe Kardashian and Katy Perry, is unique. They are also exhibited around the world to raise awareness for conservation, with 20 per cent of profits donated to elephant welfare and conservation projects. Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the production studio or paint your own elephant at the workshop. You can also get up close to the real thing at Patara Elephant Farm, where you can become an elephant owner for a day. Learn how to approach elephants correctly, feed them, check their health, bathe and brush them and communicate through spoken commands. A new observation-only, elephant-friendly camp has also opened in Chiang Mai. Created in consultation with World Animal Protection, ChangChill is home to six elephants living in their
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
natural habitat. You can also turn on a newlyengineered sprinkler system to spray wash them from an observation deck, and feed them indirectly through a feeding tube system which is filled with treats such as sugarcane, corn, and bananas for the elephants to find later. Cooking schools also abound in Chiang Mai. Learn to make a ripper green chicken curry, Pad Thai or Khao Soi Gai (Chiang Mai curry noodle with chicken) at A lot of Thai Home Cooking Class, Thai Farm Cooking School or Pantawan Cooking School. On weekend evenings, it’s also worth checking out the Saturday Night Market on Wua Lai Road and Tha Pae Night Market (Walking Street) on Sunday.
SUKHOTHAI
As the first capital of Thailand 700 years ago, Sukhothai is filled with historical treasures. Its name means ‘the dawn of happiness’. Go cycling among the ancient ruins at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sukhothai Historical Park and Si Satchanalai Historical Park, which include the remains of royal palaces, temples, monasteries and pottery factories. Sangkhalok Museum houses a large collection of porcelain and clay pottery produced 700 years ago in the Lanna kingdom. Suthep Sangkhalok was a 109
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
centre for making and exporting ceramic ware. It has a 300m-long mural, made from broken pieces of pottery, which tells the history of the earthenware and way of life of Sukhothai people from the past to the present. Children can learn to paint on glasses and plates at Suthep Sangkhalok ceramic factory, and the door is open for tourists to shop at their galleries. More recent creative works can be seen in the street art in the nearby Sawankhalok district. Through the ASEAN Pop Culture project, artists from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia were commissioned to decorate the walls of buildings in its old Chinese community. A weekend night market is held beside the river, near the King Ramkhamhaeng Monument, on Friday and Saturday nights. Sukhothai is also one of the most popular places in Thailand to experience the annual Loy Krathong Festival, in which decorated lotus-shaped vessels are floated on the river on a full moon in November.
Dine in a jungle setting at KhaomaoKhaofang Restaurant
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Loy Krathong Festival
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND AND CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS
MAE SOT
This district in the Tak province is one of the most culturally diverse in Thailand, thanks to its proximity to the Myanmar border. Chinese and Muslim immigrants from the neighbouring country control much of the jade and gem trade, which flourishes in Mae Sot, with Burmese architecture and language also prominent. The precious stones are sold at the Rim Moei Market, on the banks of the Moei River. You can also buy local handicrafts and produce at the Musoe Hill Tribe Market, and see ancient tools and other artefacts at the museum there. Built by Burmese migrants, Wat Thai Wattanaram is an interesting temple modelled on a similar one in Myanmar, with a large statue of a golden goose nearby. Walk across the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, which links the district to Myawaddy. Mae Sot’s location has influenced its eclectic cuisine, and you can learn to cook Shan, Karen, Burmese and other foods of the region at Borderline, a café, fair-trade handicraft shop and art gallery that helps support migrants and refugees. With its rainforest setting, including hanging vines, orchids and waterfalls, Khaomao-Khaofang restaurant is another great place to try local dishes. The region forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Western Forest Complex, which is considered the largest remaining jungle tract in south-east Asia, with several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Taksin Maharaj National Park is known for having the trees with the largest trunks in Thailand, as well as inviting waterfalls and natural stone bridges. The biodiverse area is home to deer, chamois, bears, monkeys, lemurs, wild boar, gibbons, snakes, tigers, rich birdlife and butterflies. Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary is another protected UNESCO World Heritage site near Umphang district, where you can see clouded leopards, tapirs, serows, falcons and spotbilled pelicans. But its biggest attraction is the impressive Thi Lo Su Waterfall, which stretches 300m-high and 500m-wide. Another natural attraction that draws the crowds is the Maekasa Hot Springs, where the water is so warm you can boil eggs in it. MORE INFO: amazingthailand.com.au
WHERE TO STAY Khum Phaya Resort & Spa, Centara Boutique Collection
Inspired by the elegance of traditional Lanna architecture, Khum Phaya Resort & Spa is a unique hotel steeped in cultural heritage. The comfortable and private resort has large rooms, many with direct pool access. It is known for its chic spa, Spa Cenvaree, which is an oasis of harmony for the mind, body and spirit and offers a range of massages, therapeutic and wellness treatments imbued by ancient Thai rituals and local customs.
FOR FAMILIES: • Designed in a traditional Lanna style with golden teak, the resort is on a 2ha property shaded by century-old trees • Less than a 10-minute drive to the Old City • Large lagoon-style pool with children’s area • All rooms and villas feature a private jacuzzi, bath and rain shower • Villas have a spacious living area and a private outdoor pavilion centarahotelsresorts.com/ boutique/kpc
Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Udon Thani
Centra by Centara Hotel Mae Sot
This central city hotel is conveniently located next to Udon Thani’s biggest shopping and entertainment complex, Central Plaza Udon Thani, which has five floors of shops, a cinema and an ice-skating rink. FOR FAMILIES: • Pool and children’s pool • A great base for exploring the cultural and archaeological attractions of Udon Thani province • A wide range of wellbeing and recreational facilities • Two restaurants, two bars, a lounge bar and entertainment venue and a deli centarahotelsresorts.com/ centara/cud
A 10-minute drive from Mae Sot Airport, Centra by Centara Hotel Mae Sot makes an ideal base to visit the province’s colourful hill tribe communities, national parks and waterfalls, and take part in soft adventure activities such as trekking and rafting. FOR FAMILIES: • Outdoor pool with sun lounges • Shuttle service to town and Rim Moei Market • A poolside bar serving light snacks and refreshments centarahotelsresorts.com/ centra/cms
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NEW ZEALAND
Tonnes of fun at Skyline Skyrides
1.BIG KIDS LOOP If you’ve got mini cyclists in the family, then this 4.5km loop trail is not to be missed. Beginning from the Waipa MTB Carpark, its hard-packed dirt trails (with minimal uphill sections) wind through lush forest and beneath towering Californian redwoods, with the option to extend your cycle along the surrounding trails if the kids are in good form. Most families complete the trail in around 90 minutes (including a few stops along the way) but it’s best to take a map just in case you get lost! rotoruanz.com/visit/see-and-do/ family-fun/big-kids-loop
2. SKYLINE ROTORUA For a bird’s eye view of the city’s lake and steaming geothermal pools, you can’t go past the Skyline’s eight-seater gondolas. After a 900m ride to the Skyline Rotorua complex, you can squeeze in a tasting at Volcanic Hills Winery, before following one of the nature trails back down. If you’re craving something more adventurous, you can descend by luge – a part go-cart, part toboggan that young kids can ride with their parents. It’s also a great place for stargazing after dark. skyline.co.nz/en/rotorua 112
RAD ROTORUA: 7 THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN THIS NZ HOTSPOT
The birthplace of tourism in New Zealand, Rotorua’s geothermal pools have been attracting holidaymakers since the 19th century. Whether you are looking for adventure, culture or relaxation, you’re sure to find it here
NEW ZEALAND
Go mountain biking through the rainforest
Beautiful Mokoia Island
There’s a dedicated area for families at Polynesian Spa
Image: Mark Smith
6. MOKOIA ISLAND
4. GEOTHERMAL WONDERS
3. ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND This off-road buggy tour is a great option for families wanting a little thrill. The Yamaha 4WD buggies can seat up to five people, with a knowledgeable guide behind the wheel so you can concentrate on enjoying the natural beauty (and incredible views) of Mount Ngongotaha. Learn about the region’s Maori history and the legends associated with this ‘spirit mountain’, while keeping your eyes peeled for the silver ferns that appear on the All Blacks jersey! adventureplayground.co.nz
Rotorua’s claim to fame is its geothermal landscapes, which form part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Volcanic crater lakes, bubbling mud pools and hissing fumaroles dot the landscape, as do spouting geysers that will have kids wide-eyed in amazement. There are plenty of freely accessible geothermal features to see at Sulphur Point near the Rotorua Museum, where the city’s indigenous culture and volcanic landscapes are brought to life.
5. KUIRAU PARK Located in the heart of Rotorua, Kuirau Park is another place to experience the city’s geothermal wonders along a series of boardwalks. It’s also home to a children’s playground, fun thermal foot baths and a food market that takes place every Saturday morning where you can grab breakfast.
Lying in the centre of Lake Rotorua, Mokoia Island is a sacred site for the region’s Te Arawa tribes and the setting for one of New Zealand’s most famous love stories. A visit to Mokoia is not just a cultural and heritage experience as you explore its fortified villages, but also an adventurous one as the journey includes a thrilling jet boat ride. Mokoia is also a wildlife sanctuary, with cute kiwis among the species that survive in its predator-free environment. mokoiaisland.co.nz
7. POLYNESIAN SPA Built on the site of the 19th-century bathhouses for which Rotorua first became known, the Polynesian Spa has five hot pools overlooking the waters of Lake Rotorua. There’s a dedicated family pool heated to an enticing 33ºC, with a toddler section and small hydroslide that the kids will love. For parents wanting something a little hotter, there are also two alkaline mineral pools in the family area , heated to 37ºC and 40ºC. polynesianspa.co.nz MORE INFO: rotoruanz.com 113
GERMANY Flip and her family at The Reichstag
BREAKING THE WALL
The Berlin Wall was the most potent symbol of the Cold War, and its fall 30 years ago heralded a new era globally. FLIP BYRNES visits the German capital in the lead-up to the anniversary in November, proving that a family trip and history can unite, just like East and West 114
GERMANY A mural on the East Side Gallery which is part of the Berlin Wall
My 45-year-old husband stands at the western side of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, brow furrowed, as he attempts to mine the memory of his seven-yearold self. “The Wall went here”, he says, pointing at the double cobblestones in front of us that denote the former Wall’s path. “And my grandmother took me up to a viewing platform so I could look over the Wall.” And what did he see? His eyes are unfocused as he looks back in time, into a world that no longer exists. “Nothing”, he says. “It was so, so empty. Eastern Germany was a dead place. And I was scared, just to be that close.” Many Germans have stories like this. My husband’s grandmother fled Berlin during World War II by walking to Koblenz, 530km away, alone. Then, one by one, she took her grandchildren to see the regime that built bricks between brothers, the Wall slashing the city geographically and ideologically. I probe more, asking why he believes she brought him there. “Because we were
Berliners, and the wall was Berlin.” Much has changed, but that has not. The Wall still is Berlin. While much of it was woodpeckered away by souvenir hunters during the heady days postReunification in 1989, (only 2km of the wall survives, in parts), the history and stories permeate the city – if you look for it. And we are; 38 years after Till’s visit, we’re taking our 3 and 4 year-old to experience their ancestral city. Just like Grandma Kramann. So how to deal with Berlin’s heavy history? With toddler and pre-schooler in tow? Easy, by bike. In fact, we aim to only explore by bike. Berlin on Bike offers private guided tours, meaning we travel at little people pace, and pause in playgrounds (Berlin has over 1800), while gaining our bearings and city-bike confidence. The fact that one child will travel on a tag-along tandem bike (a small bike attached to an adult bike), means the adventure is already a winner with the girls. Paul, our British guide, leads us to
Lotte and Leni at the Berlin Wall Memorial
our first historical ‘moment’ almost immediately – a corner in Prenzlauer Berg that served as a flashpoint when the wall came down. The area has photos of pivotal events plastered on walls, invoking the past to life. Today’s it’s just us, but 30 years ago, images depict the street flooded with people and emotion. Till is captivated – as he says, “this history is so recent it’s powerful.” But it’s the next stop that affects us both. Bernauer Straße’s park (via a cycle through Mauerpark’s now-grass former death strip) features bronze steps laid in what Paul calls, “the best lawn in Berlin”, tracking underground tunnel paths. In the sunshine, as the girls unleash energy up and down the stepping stones, the vignette seems so innocent. But one of the bronze paths represents a Stasi route; instead of leading fleeing Easterners to the West, the Stasi overtook a safe house and re-routed the tunnel to emerge in the middle of the death strip. Nasty. 115
GERMANY
Adina Berlin Checkpoint Charlie
The lobby at Adina Berlin Checkpoint Charlie
The DDR Museum depicts life in the former East Germany
GETTING THERE:
Etihad flies to Berlin via Abu Dhabi etihad.com
STAYING THERE:
Adina Apartment Hotels has spacious family-friendly bases in three prime locations; cosmopolitan Hackescher Markt, Mitte (opposite the Museum of Natural History for dinosaur lovers) and historic Checkpoint Charlie. Studios from 100 Euro and 1 bed apartments from 139 Euro. adinahotels.com
GETTING AROUND:
The Berlin Welcome Card starts at 20 Euro for 24 hours, including free transport (with three children aged between six-14 on an adult ticket), and discounts on more than 200 attractions visitberlin.de
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The girls burning off energy at Monjibou Park during the bike tour
We digest this while the girls sprint obliviously in circles on what is, correctly, Berlin’s softest and greenest lawn. Likewise visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial, the one section offering the full visual of watchtower, no-man’s land and fortified walls, the girls are entertained finding stones while we learn of human division. This is becoming the ultimate day of ‘something for everyone’. Paul lives and breathes cycle routes, thus he leads us on an insider’s path through the ‘des res’ (desirable residence) streets of Prenzlauer Berg and leafy Saturday brunching area of upper Mitte, where it’s so peaceful it’s almost implausible that we’re in the inner city of a world centre. When the kids become restless, we make a beeline for Monbijou Park, joining locals in a riverside playground, sipping frothy takeaway coffees from
the adjacent hipster café (parent’s dream combination). And when it’s time to part ways after frolicking on Berlin’s second best grassy area (the Reichstag lawn), he leads us to a biergarten with private play area. Berlin with small kids? Easy. The Museum of Natural History has the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton; the DDR Museum (a fascinating treasure trove of all things Eastern German) comes complete with a former East German apartment replica, inviting kids to explore the cupboards and wardrobes; the KulturBrauerei Sunday food truck market satisfies pulled porkloving parents and crepe-loving kids; and Prenzlauer Berg, with the most number of kindergartens in Berlin, is a family haven. But even here the past is omnipresent. In delightful, sun-dappled Wasserturm Park, featuring a 19th
GERMANY
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN BERLIN WITH KIDS
Image: Eva von Schirach
Exploring Mitte’s ornate buildings, tucked into former East Berlin
MACHMIT! MUSEUM FOR KIDS
This former church has a childrens’ museum and playground machmitmuseum.de
LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE
Rides and LEGO fun zones legolanddiscoverycentre.de
century water tower and playground, rests a plaque. In 1933 this site held the SA-Heim Wasserturm, before it was torn down in 1935 to remove traces of Nazi crimes. I take in the serene surroundings. The former water tower machinery room where the playground rests was one of Germany’s first concentration camps. In short, we’re playing on a former execution site. The autumn wind lifts and tugs my hair, while the words do something similar to my heartstrings. On the swings, children’s playful squeals now replace the torturous screams that witnesses recount vibrated throughout the streets. What kind of emotional echo lingers here? Berlin can be a dark place, and travelling here with kids is to bring the light with you, offsetting grim events with the simple pleasures of sliding on slippery dips and the best of innocent love.
But this is typical Berlin, a city that walks the chiaroscuro tightrope of wanting to progress from past events, yet preserve them. For me it isn’t the headlining sights – the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag or museums that personify Berlin. Rather, it’s haphazard notes left for curious visitors in nooks and crannies – an inscription on a playground wall, ‘stumble stones’ (raised stones outside Nazi victims’ houses and bronze steps in a park, that serve of reminders of how humanity should never tread again. Just like Till, our children will remember snippets of their visit at most. But hopefully they will one day take their children to Berlin – the best way to ensure that while the physical wall has fallen, the lessons of history remain. The writer was a guest of visitBerlin and Adina Apartment Hotels.
FEZ BERLIN
This eco-island has a children’s theatre, space centre, children’s museum, cinema, pool and playgrounds fez-berlin.de
PLAYGROUNDS
Berlin abounds with impressive playgrounds berlin-playgrounds.de
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CELEBRITY Q&A
GETTING AWAY… WITH A BABY
As one of the original members of children’s musical group Hi-5 and a Getaway presenter, Charli Robinson has racked up plenty of frequent flyer points. But she’s discovered travelling with a baby is a whole new ballgame. YOU WELCOMED YOUR FIRST CHILD, KENSINGTON, LAST DECEMBER. HOW HAS THE WAY YOU TRAVEL CHANGED SINCE THEN? I always took pride in how light I could travel, but that’s gone out the window! I now travel with so many bags - but what a problem to have! Kensington is our beautiful baby girl and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Airlines are fantastic, allowing you to fly with car seats and prams for free, which makes it easier. She’s now been on 28 domestic flights and two international flights in in eight months – mostly to Newcastle to visit my family in Port Stephens or to the racetracks to be with my husband, Liam (a racing car driver). The Grand Prix in Melbourne was her first Victorian trip at three-months-old. She is a wonderful flyer, so that really helps. 118
HAVE YOU TAKEN HER OVERSEAS YET? We’ve just returned from our first family holiday in Fiji. I travelled there for Getaway and loved it so much that Liam and I went back for our babymoon a month later. So, it seemed fitting to return with our beautiful girl. The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is our favourite spot, and with Kensington teething recently we needed a relaxing break! International travel was very different to quick domestic flights – getting her to nap and amusing her for hours made me feel like I was back in Hi-5 again! But as soon as we landed in Fiji it was all smiles. The locals are so natural with babies. They held her, kissed her and made her feel so loved. If you’re thinking of a family holiday with a baby, go to Fiji – trust me. WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT TRAVELLING WITH A BABY? Sharing all these ‘firsts’ with her. Life is just too exciting for her and that’s amazing. I’ve always travelled – in Hi-5 we’d tour nine months a year, which was great, but travelling with a true love like Kensington, and Liam, and experiencing life together is what it’s all about. AND THE WORST? Not being able to explain to her where we are going or that it won’t be long and we’ll be there. HOW IS TRAVELLING WITH A BABY DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU THOUGHT? I didn’t really have any preconceived idea, but I worry what other passengers will think if she cries, but I’ve learnt that most people offer you a smile of encouragement. We are all on that plane because we need to be, we were all babies once, and I’ll be doing my best to keep her happy the whole trip.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER PARENTS TRAVELLING WITH A BABY? Show one toy at a time – it takes more time up. I also amused Kensington with selfies for ten minutes. Take two changes of clothes, and use a dummy chain on their clothes. I’d also recommend the Silver Cross Jet Stroller. It’s the only carry on pram that can be used from birth. It’s stable, stylish and carry-on approved. And, lastly, take the trip! Those tears on the plane or in the car are over fast but memories will last a lifetime. MANY PEOPLE THINK BEING A GETAWAY PRESENTER IS A DREAM JOB. HOW DOES THE REALITY COMPARE? Well truthfully, it is, but we don’t really get the massage at the day spa or get to sip those cocktails into the night, we’ve got a tight schedule to keep. It can be cold in the pool or you might be missing home, but it is still my dream job. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS? Fiji, without a doubt - I’ve fallen in love with it. Singapore was brilliant too, and I love my hometown Gold Coast stories. HAVE YOU CUT BACK ON TRAVEL? For work, yes, although in saying that I did my first Getaway story on the Gold Coast eight weeks after giving birth. The crew were amazing and Liam looked after her by day, and I breastfed at night. WHERE WOULD WOULD YOU LOVE TO GO WITH KENSINGTON AND LIAM? We’re planning to visit Paris and would love to take her with us when Liam races in Europe again. Getaway airs Saturdays at 5.30pm on Nine and 9Now.
CELEBRITY Q&A
Charli loves travelling with Kensington
Kensington going for a swim with daddy at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
Admiring the view
Getting to know the locals
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Image: El Rattray
REVIEWS Children tasting a chocolate drink similar to a traditional kava ceremony
Kanavata Restaurant
NANUKU AUBERGE RESORT
This Fiji resort’s luxurious new villas are a great option for families BY ELISA ELWIN
LOCATION
ACCOMMODATION
On a white sandy beach overlooking the idyllic Beqa Lagoon, the Nanuku Auberge Resort lies on the southwest coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. It’s accessible via a 2.5hour drive through local villages nestled amidst tropical vegetation, offering a glimpse into the Fijian way of life. Alternatively, you can board a 25-minute private flight transfer from Nadi International Airport direct to the resort’s landing strip, enjoying a bird’s eye view of the island en route.
While the resort’s reputation as the first all-villa boutique resort on Viti Levu is well and truly established, it has upped its game with the opening of 13 new luxury villas. Families can stay in two-bedroom, two-storey villas, which come complete with a private plunge pool, fullyequipped modern kitchen and gorgeous garden views. Relax beneath your cabana or on the double swing seat for a lazy afternoon beside the pool, then settle in for a family movie in the media room, complete with popcorn from your own popcorn maker. The resort also offers interconnecting villas to create either three or four-bedroom options for large families.
We wanted to be among the first to stay in the resort’s luxurious new villas and enjoy the family-friendly togetherness that this Fijian resort does so well. All ages are covered with Villa Nanny and Nanuku Buddy services catering to kids’ needs, while parents enjoy some time out. The young ones were particularly keen to experience the all-new Kids’ Kava Ceremony, which offers an insight into this rich Fijian tradition with a chocolate milk twist. Want a night of unbroken sleep? For an additional fee, overnight nannies can be arranged to look after your little ones. 120
ACTIVITIES Whether you want to get active kayaking, snorkelling or fishing or discover Fijian culture with craft workshops and herbal medicinal walks, the resort’s complimentary activities have your covered. Every family member can find their calling, with free babysitting for newborns to kids aged six-years and a dedicated Nanuku Buddy for six to 14-year-olds. They’ll be kept busy ziplining, spear-making and mud crabbing while parents are whisked away for a romantic island getaway. You can congregate again for the nightly fire lighting
Image: @TheBlondeNomads
WHY WE STAYED THERE
REVIEWS
An aerial view of the resort
ceremony, with your mini warriors taking centre stage in traditional Fijian dress. If you’re after a Robinson Crusoe-style adventure, embark on a day trip to Nanuku’s private island, where you can share in an unforgettable family day exploring, snorkelling and picnicking beneath the palm trees. Adventurous families can also opt to spend a night ‘glamping’ here, with all the hard work of setting up camp done for you.
FOOD AND DRINK
Marli and Ziggy Morris on a bamboo raft with a warrior in the pool as part of the nightly fire lighting ceremony
Fiji’s fresh produce is second to none, with mouthwatering tropical fruits, homegrown vegetables and seafood plucked fresh from the ocean each day. The resort’s internationally renowned chef transforms these into exquisite dishes and nothing is too much trouble if you’ve got fussy eaters in the family. Feast at the Kanavata Restaurant or at the Wai Pool Bar. Children under eight eat for free across the resort while those eight to 14 years only pay half price. You can also visit the local market as part of a Nanuku Food Safari to source delectable fresh produce, then return to the resort where the skilled chefs will turn your finds into a sumptuous family meal.
EXPLORE
NANUKU AUBERGE RESORT
11 Nanuku Drive, Pacific Harbour, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands +679 345 2100 nanuku.aubergeresorts.com
Once you’re ready to drag yourself away from the resort, you can climb Sigatoka’s sand dunes, go birdwatching along the Taumovo River or embark on a traditional village visit. The resort’s concierge can provide information about what to see and do. 121
Images: westdrift Manhattan Beach
REVIEWS
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westdrift MANHATTAN BEACH, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTELS 1400 Parkview Ave, Manhattan Beach, California, USA westdrift.com
REVIEWS
westdrift MANHATTAN BEACH, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTELS This boutique hotel with a beach vibe is close to the airport and Downtown LA BY ELISA ELWIN
LOCATION Just a 10-minute taxi ride from Los Angeles International Airport, westdrift Manhattan Beach is conveniently located for pre or post-flight stays. Surrounded by beaches, shops and restaurants, it’s a 30-minute drive from Downtown LA, with the closest metro station a 12 minute walk away.
WHY WE STAYED THERE We wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of LA’s city centre and stay in a beachside neighbourhood where we could soak up the Southern California lifestyle. With its breezy living spaces and sophisticated aesthetic, the westdrift Manhattan Beach ticked all the boxes when it came to boutique appeal. It also garnered extra points for its proximity to the airport, so we didn’t have to worry about the city’s notorious traffic when it was time to fly.
ACCOMMODATION Featuring neutral tones, natural textures and sea glass light fixtures, all the 400(ish) guest rooms and suites at the westdrift are inspired by the hotel’s coastal setting. The Double Queen rooms and suites are ideal for a family of four, with views overlooking the golf course fairways or towards the city lights of Downtown LA. Understated in their design, they all have flatscreen TVs, mini fridges and sitting areas, with balconies or patios a perk of the upgraded rooms. If you’re travelling with a larger family, the Gather Suite
can accommodate two adults and four kids, with two queen beds and an extra sofa bed in the living room.
ACTIVITIES Spend an afternoon relaxing in one of the private cabanas that ring the outdoor pool, which is backed by the emerald fairways of the nine-hole westdrift Golf Course. Its rolling greens and strategically-placed water features will challenge golfers of all abilities, accompanied by refreshing breezes off the Pacific Ocean. Gym junkies can discover the latest LA workout trends at the CrossFit-inspired fitness centre, while art enthusiasts should check out the reception commission by Sausalito photorealist Eric Zener.
FOOD AND DRINK Begin the day with buttermilk pancakes, an omelette or caviar avocado toast at the Jute Coastal Bar + Kitchen, an indoor-outdoor space that’s focused on communal dining. The lunch menu features hearty salads and share plates inspired by the hotel’s bi-coastal vibe, while freshly caught seafood is a highlight of the dinner offerings. Jute’s 360-degree bar serves up East Coast and West Coast-themed cocktails throughout the day, together with an extensive range of draught and bottled craft beers. Skip the in-hotel breakfast one morning and head to Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, where you can get everything from Pumpkin Spice to Cinnamon Apple or Banana Nut flavours.
EXPLORE A highlight of staying in Manhattan Beach is enjoying its namesake stretch of sand where you can while away an afternoon playing in the shallows, building sandcastles or watching the skilled local surfers in action. The historic Manhattan Beach Pier is home to the Roundhouse Aquarium, where kids can get hands-on with marine invertebrates at the touch tanks or peer through the glass at colourful fish, then let loose in the play area filled with books and puzzles. Rental bikes are available for active families wanting to explore the Manhattan Beach Bike Path or the 12-kilometre-long loop trail that links with the Veterans Parkway. Need some retail therapy? The Point shopping mall is within walking distance of the hotel, with a great selection of fashion retailers, surf-inspired stores and alfresco eateries The writer was a guest of westdrift Manhattan Beach. 123
REVIEWS
KEIO PLAZA HOTEL TOKYO
This centrally-located hotel combines Japanese culture with incredible city views BY ELISA ELWIN
Image: Jeremy Austin and Angie Villa
LOCATION Situated in the heart of Shinjuku, the Keio Plaza Hotel is just five minutes’ walk from the breathtakingly busy Shinjuku Station where more than 3.5 million people transit every day. There are frequent services from here to destinations across Tokyo and beyond, including express services direct to Narita Airport.
luxurious rooms, a private lounge and restaurant for the use of Club Floor guests, as well as a dedicated concierge service for helping with restaurant reservations and booking familyfriendly activities. The hotel’s central location in Shinjuku was also part of its appeal, with shopping, entertainment and super-efficient transport services right outside the front door.
WHY WE STAYED THERE
ACCOMMODATION
Aside from its incredible views across Tokyo’s city skyline, we were drawn to the Keio Plaza Hotel to experience its exclusive ‘Premier Grand’ Club Floor. It’s like a hotel within a hotel, with
There are 1,450 rooms to choose from and we settled on one of the magnificent Club Room Premier Grands, with a design aesthetic of east meets west. There are various
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bedding configuration options to suit your family, with a bath and shower room that’s like a mini onsen. Natural toiletries from L’Occitane en Provence combine with traditional Italian bed sheets for a luxurious experience, while the super-absorbent towels are direct from Shikoku, where they have been produced for more than 120 years. If you’re specifically after a Japanese experience, opt for one of their Tatami Suites where traditional beds will be prepared for you each evening. For a taste of Japanese kawaii (the culture of cuteness), head to sister hotel the Keio Plaza Hotel Tama to bunk down in one of its ‘Hello Kitty’ or ‘My
REVIEWS
KEIO PLAZA HOTEL TOKYO
2 Chome-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan keioplaza.com
Melody’-themed rooms. The hotel is conveniently located just five minutes’ walk from the indoor theme park Sanrio Puroland.
skyscrapers and a well-equipped fitness room for parents who don’t want to miss a workout.
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL
Away from the crowds, the Club Lounge offers a relaxed atmosphere to begin each day, with a buffet breakfast featuring Japanese and international favourites. But with 11 restaurants to choose from throughout the hotel, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. From teppanyaki at Yamanami to sushi at Kyubey and the global buffet at Glass Court, there are plenty of options, whether you want to test your Japanese taste buds or appease fussy eaters. And that’s not even getting started on the myriad eateries that are clustered in the surrounding streets! The Keio Plaza Hotel also has its own convenience store where you can pick up pot noodles, fresh fruit and sweet treats.
Keio Plaza Hotel’s ‘Universal’ rooms are designed for wheelchair accessibility, with plenty of space to move around and features such as electric reclining beds and bathroom grab bars. They’re all situated on the 30th floor where there’s also a nursery and doctor’s clinic.
ACTIVITIES You don’t have to go far to get your cultural fix, with the hotel offering traditional Japanese tea ceremony experiences and the opportunity to be dressed in a yukata (summer kimono), complete with wooden sandals. There’s an outdoor pool on the 7th floor where you can swim surrounded by Shinjuku’s
FOOD AND DRINK
KEIO PLAZA HOTEL TAMA
1 Chome-43 Ochiai, Tama, Tokyo, Japan keioplaza.com/tama
EXPLORE Tokyo is brimming with familyfriendly activities that are all just a short train ride away. You can glimpse the city’s alternative teenage cultures in the streets of Harajuku or head to Tama to be immersed in the world of ‘Hello Kitty’. Poetic performance art is showcased at the National Noh Theatre (with this ancient musical drama recognised as an Intangible Cultural Property by UNESCO), while the traditional Japanese garden of Shinjuku Gyoen is just a stone’s throw away. Planning a Disney visit? As one of the ‘Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbour Hotels’, Keio Plaza Hotel has complimentary shuttle bus services directly to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. The writer was a guest of Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. 125
EXTRAS
HOW TO‌ STAY HEALTHY ON HOLIDAYS Dietician and mother-of-two Susie Burrell shares her tips on looking after yourself and your family on the road How good are holidays? The occasional break, from the intensity of daily life, to breathe, relax and spend quality time with family and friends. While holidays are a time to take a break and switch off, they can also be a time when our health goals go out the window, as we resort to eating foods we never usually would, snacking on foods we rarely let the kids have, and swapping our regular exercise regimes for more sitting and eating. So, if you want to enjoy your holidays but still keep your health goals on track, here are a few simple steps you can take.
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1. KEEP AS ACTIVE AS YOU CAN Holiday eating means we tend to consume more calories than we might otherwise, and the simple act of negating this with plenty of movement will mean you can enjoy a few holiday treats without your clothes feeling a whole lot tighter at the end of your break. A daily beach walk, ball games with the kids, hikes to explore local parks and mountains, and walking to and from the shops when you can are great ways to stay active on holiday. Using a
pedometer to track your daily steps has also been shown to significantly increase the number of steps you take each day, and children over the age of six will also find it fun to monitor their own steps.
2. TAKE HEALTHY SNACKS WITH YOU One of the main reasons busy people eat more processed snacks is that we find ourselves out and about without the healthy foods we need on hand. A simple trick to help reduce unhealthy snacking is to always keep some healthy snacks on hand, especially when you are travelling. Fresh, hard pieces of fruit such as an apple or pear, carrot and celery sticks and portable packaged snacks, such as Mayver’s Goodness to Go Peanut Butter, means that even if you are in the car or on a plane, you have something easy to eat that is also nutritious.
Fruit on display at Hilton Waikiki Beach
Image: Hilton Hotels and Resorts
Image: UTracks
EXTRAS
A family hiking at Mont Blanc in Europe
3. USE THE ONE TREAT PER DAY RULE Holidays mean treats – eating out, icecream, dessert and take-away. But too much of this heavy food is not healthy for any member of the family. To strike a balance between holiday treats and ensuring you still eat some healthy food on your holiday, try the one treat per day rule. Kids and adults alike can decide when they would like to indulge, whether it’s with some pizza at night, an ice cream at the beach or dessert after dinner. This limits indulgences and will help to control your overall calorie and sugar intake.
4. REMEMBER YOUR HEALTHY HOLIDAY FOODS Not all holiday food is a poor choice nutritionally – salads, seafood and barbecues can all add lots of healthy foods into your holiday diet. All you need to do is focus on building your meals
around fresh salads and vegetables and make an effort to choose lean meats and seafood for grills and barbecues. Also prepare healthy homemade snacks such as chopped fruit, popcorn, frozen Greek yoghurt and veggie sticks to have with dip or natural spreads.
5. AVOID FRIED FOODS AND SUGARY DRINKS Of all the processed foods we can eat, deep fried fast food and sugary drinks such as juices, soft drinks and energy drinks are the worst. For this reason, keeping your fried food intake to a minimum, and avoiding sugary drinks, will mean that you can enjoy the rest of your holiday foods minus any guilt or deprivation. Grilled fish and homemade chips, thin slices of pizza and sparking water flavoured with fresh fruits are tasty, healthier alternatives to fried chips, chicken, fish and soft drinks. Susie Burrell is an ambassador for Mayver’s.
Susie Burrell
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MUST HAVES 1. PLANEPAL PACKING PALS
After the success of its child-sized travel pillow, Plane Pal™ has released Packing Pals. Made from strong, lightweight, see-through material, they allow you to pack each family member’s clothes or toiletries in separate cubes, keeping liquids contained and everything dry and organised. Made from washable, re-usable material, the fabric or waterproof varieties are ideal for safely storing everything from shoes and clothing to tech gadgets and cosmetics. Waterproof Packing Pals are particularly handy to facilitate a speedy airport liquids security check. RRP: Three pack from $24.95 planepal.com 128
The latest products travelling families need to know about
2. CHILDS FARM WATERMELON AND ORGANIC PINEAPPLE HAIR AND BODY WASH Get in the mood for your summer holiday with Childs Farm’s new watermelon and organic pineapple hair and body wash. It is one of six Childs Farm products created by a British mum Joanna Jensen, who was inspired by the desire to deal with her daughter’s sensitive and eczema prone skin. Launched in Australia earlier this year, you can find Childs Farm products at Coles. RRP: $10 childsfarm.com.au
3. KLEAN KANTEEN STEEL STRAWS
Say no to plastic straws when travelling
by packing these stainless steel alternatives in your backpack. They are made from high quality 18/8 stainless steel with a safe, food grade, removable silicone flex tip. The new packs include 8mm two-pack and a 10mm three-pack with cut-to-fit extender tube. RRP: $9.95 kleankanteen.com
4. TOMMEE TIPPEE NO-KNOCK CUP
Designed to provide mess-free, open cup drinking, the No-Knock is ideal for outdoor picnics and travelling where surfaces are uneven and spills are most likely to occur. They have been created using CleverGrip technology that makes it almost
EXTRAS
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impossible for the holder to spill their drink. Available in Coles stores, they are great for kids aged four years and up who are on their way to independent drinking. RRP: $12.95 tommeetippee.com.au
5.FIRST WORDS BOARD BOOKS
Lonely Planet Kids is expanding its First Words Board Book series with three new language additions – Italian, Japanese and Mandarin. Encourage toddlers to learn their first words in a variety of languages and recognise objects such as shoes, telephone, cat and sun. These sturdy, durable board books are fit for the youngest of kid and make a great library addition. English, French and Spanish language books are also available. RRP: $12.99 shop.lonelyplanet.com
6. THE TRAVEL ACTIVITY BOOK 7. CHEEKY CHICKADEE & THE CITIES ACTIVITY BOOK ANIMAL PRINT Where is the world’s largest fish? SWIMMERS Which country enjoys snails as a popular snack? What is a matutu? The answers — as well as sticker activities, puzzles and fun facts — are all waiting inside these two new activity books that complement the best-selling Lonely Planet Kids editions of The Travel Book and The Cities Book. The Travel Activity Book is your ticket to an incredible global adventure, discovering the world’s people, places and cultures. For the urban explorer, The Cities Activity Book will have you decorating your own mural on a Melbourne graffiti wall, filling in the New York Skyline, or trying your hand at writing a rap as they do in Ethiopia. Colouring books and craft books are also available. RRP: $12.99 shop.lonelyplanet.com
Designed in a small studio on Sydney’s northern beaches by a mum of four young kids, Cheeky Chickadee is a fun and bright Australian kidswear brand based on hand-painted one-of-a-kind watercolour animal prints, including cockatoos, wombats and platypus. With sizing from newborn to eight-years old, Cheeky Chickadee’s swimwear is soft to touch, breathable, colour-sealed, chlorine resistant and has a four-way stretch, making it comfortable to wear. Its green cockatoo zip swimmers are UPF 50+ with a high neckline for sun protection, a snug fit to ensure they won’t be baggy and an extra-long zip up the front to make it easy for little ones to get on and off. RRP: $37.95 cheekychickadeestore.com 129
EXTRAS Dyan and Beatrice at Abu Simbel in Egypt
Insider Interview
DYAN McKIE
INTREPID TRAVEL BRAND AND PRODUCT MANAGER – FAMILY ADVENTURES A former pre-school teacher with two decades experience in the travel industry, Dyan McKie loves travelling with her six-yearold daughter Beatrice. The pair take two or three domestic breaks a year and head overseas once or twice. Past destinations have included Morocco and Egypt, and they are also off to Vietnam this year. MY IDEAL FAMILY HOLIDAY IS… equal parts culture, food, activities and relaxation. Time for my daughter and I to reconnect without the distractions of the daily grind in a climate that is warm, with great pools. Having lived in Colorado for a few years I feel I have had my fair share of winter wonderlands, so I tend to follow the sun. I always try to find hotels with pools as Beatrice cannot get enough of swimming and it allows me to have some downtime. MY FONDEST FAMILY HOLIDAY MEMORY IS… when I was a child visiting a Hare Krishna farm in Queensland. While we did do the theme parks like everyone else in my class, my yoga-loving mother wanted us kids to experience something different, which quite possibly triggered my desire to learn about different places and people. And it most definitely triggered my dislike for tofu! 130
FAMILY TRAVELLERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT… travelling with your children is not just about the sites and experiences. It allows you to have uninterrupted time with your child away from housework, homework and sporting commitments. You truly connect with your children and they see you in a different light – the fun, relaxed parent that you are away from your to-do-list! EVERY FAMILY SHOULD EXPERIENCE… an overnight train journey. Children love them! The bunk beds, the swaying of the carriages and the landscape whizzing by outside are very exciting. It’s an experience that most children don’t get the opportunity to do at home and is a great way to get around. One of the benefits of travelling with other families is the kids will often congregate to a cabin to play cards and bond while the parents relax and unwind. MY TOP TIP FOR TRAVELLING WITH KIDS IS… pack light. You will be the one in charge of your bags when you are away so take as much as you can carry or drag along. We tend to think we need to pack everything that kid’s use at home which is not the case. You will be amazed at what your child will find to entertain themselves on holidays.
Seeing the sights in Marrakech
EXPERIENCE THE NORDICS BEFORE YOU GET THERE ENJOY UNIQUE NORDIC EXPERIENCES ON BOARD EVERY FINNAIR FLIGHT
Finnair, together with our oneworld partners, offers multiple routes from Australia to Europe via Asia and North America. Enjoy personal space, privacy and simplicity on board our flights. Book your flights at finnair.com/au
PAC I F IC R E SORT R A ROTONGA R A RO T ONGA , C O OK I SL A N D S Laid back fun in the Sun! With a complimentary kids club and a wide range of water activity equipment, families often make use of the snorkelling equipment exploring the underwater sea life or venture out on a family kayak adventure together. With plenty of activities for children of all ages, and relaxing options for adults, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the award winning family friendly Pacific Resort Rarotonga. AU T H E N T I C B OU T I QU E pacificresort.com
R AROTONGA ¡ COOK ISLANDS
PAC I F I C R E S O RT H O T E L G RO U P
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COOK ISL A N DS