George Scarlett Park – The Fun

If your Brisbane Kid is into all things make-believe, then this cute little park is for you! Tucked away on the side of Gordon Thompson Cricket Field is George Scarlett Park, with lots of open space for running around in, and play shops and play house to foster imaginative play until it’s time to go home for tea! Some of the play equipment is shaded by shade sails, but there are no shelters, barbeques or toilet facilities in this park.

Imagination Factor

Shop up a storm or be postmaster for the day in George Scarlett Park’s play shop with scales, register, letterbox and phone. The suspension bridge will keep your Brisbane Kid’s inner pirate happy, avoiding sharks in the bark ocean below.  There is plenty of room to kick a ball or play tiggy or cricket on the field right next to the playground.

Special Needs

There are no specific special needs facilities at George Scarlett Park; however the “shop” section of the playground is accessed by a ramp from the bark floor. The path from Luxford St stops about 30m short of the playground. George Scarlett Park has no barbeques, picnic shelters or toilets.

George Scarlett Park – The Facts

• Unfenced playground
• Shade structure over playground
• Bark base
• Infant swing
• Swing
• Slide
• Suspension bridge
• Play shop (scales and cash register)
• Play letter box
• Play phone
• Spring mounted see-saws
• Grassy open space
• No shelters, toilets or barbeque facilities
• Single bench seat adjacent to playground
• Water fountain
• Adjacent to cricket ground
• Street parking on Roseberry Terrace or Luxford St (no parking on Wharf St)
• Concrete path leads part of the way between houses from Luxford St

Another nearby Brisbane Playground is Ken Fletcher Park.

George Scarlett Park is located on Luxford Street or Roseberry Terrace in Chelmer.

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Sand and Sea

Many Sunshine Coast beaches are perfect for families, being less busy than their Gold Coast counterparts. Check out these patrolled, family friendly (and some dog friendly) beaches for your next beach day trip.

• Kings Beach
• Golden Beach
• Bulcock Beach
• Dicky Beach
• Kawana
• Mooloolaba
• Alexandra Headland
• Maroochydore
• Marcoola
• Coolum (Dog friendly)
• Peregian Beach (Dog friendly)
• Sunshine Beach (Dog friendly)
• Noosa Heads (Dog friendly)
• Rainbow Beach

For some real sand exploration, the Sunshine Coast also offers the Great Sandy National Park in Noosa Heads (Cooloola). Incredible coloured sand cliffs, huge sand dunes and unspoilt beaches adjoin paperbark swamps and towering forests, as well as freshwater lakes and the upper Noosa River. Many scenic trails exist at Cooloola, so there’s sure to be a suitable one to discover with your Brisbane family. Access with assistance for the disabled is available here and there is also a picnic area and public toilet facilities. Information centres situated at Tewantin and Rainbow Beach will be able to offer you further information.

Parks

The Sunshine Coast has some truly fantastic parks and playgrounds for Brisbane Kids to explore. Be sure to check out Pioneer Park and Russell Family Park for awesome play areas and other great features.

The Maleny Botanic Gardens aren’t free to enter; however, covering over eight acres and being situated within the scenic Glass House Mountains, they are definitely worth a visit. Rare cycads, roses and azaleas provide a beautiful backdrop to the several kilometres of easy walking paths that lead to a gorgeous lookout. There are several shady spots with tables and seating within the gardens to enjoy a picnic with your Brisbane Kids. The Maleny Botanic Gardens can be found at 233 Maleny-Stanley River Road in Maleny and are open from 9am until 4:30pm every day except Christmas day and New Year’s Day. For more information, visit http://www.malenybotanicgardens.com/.

Forest

The multiple green spaces of the Sunshine Coast provide a chance to explore the tracks through the rainforest and other forest plantations with your Brisbane Kids whilst on the lookout for some of the many species of native wildlife, flora and fauna.

The Amamoor State Forest in Amamoor houses hoop and bunya pine plantations, as well as riverine rainforests, creeks and streams. Spot a platypus on the Platypus Walk, or marvel at the massive figs and red cedars along the rainforest walk at Cedar Grove. This area is also home to the National Country Music Muster annually in August. Amamoor State Forest has barbeque facilities and a picnic area, access with assistance for the disabled and public toilet facilities.

Currimundi Lake (Kathleen McArthur) Conservation Park in Caloundra provides ample opportunities for bird-watching within its coastal heathland environment. A wheelchair-accessible track leads to a lake lookout, where your Brisbane Kids will be able to see many native plants and wildlife. Currimundi Lake Conservation Park features access with assistance for the disabled and public toilet facilities.

Noosa National Park at Noosa Heads is an oasis right in the heart of Noosa. With areas of pine rainforest, woodlands and wallum heaths, the park is home to wildlife galore; including koalas, frill necked lizards and black cockatoos. Walking tracks criss-cross the park, with tracks suitable for a variety of levels of ability. This area offers some great views of the ocean along the shoreline of Noosa Heads. There are picnic areas and public toilet facilities in Noosa National Park.

Mountains

The Sunshine Coast hinterland features many of its own national parks and reserves. Most feature amazing lookouts; some with views out to Moreton Island and further.

Delicia Road Conservation Park (Linda Garrett Park) in Mapleton on the Blackall Range is a wildlife refuge and home to many species of birds and other native animals such as the great barred frog. The park contains several walking trails and is featured on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Delicia Road Conservation Park has public toilet facilities.

Glass House Mountains National Park is a spiritually significant area to the local aboriginal people and includes Mounts Ngungun, Beerwah and Tibrogargan, with all three summits featuring on walking trails within the park. Some rock-climbing skills are required to reach those peaks, however there are many other waling tracks suitable to less experienced hikers. Be sure to take in the view from the Glass House Mountains lookout, which can be driven to. The Glass House Mountains National Park has access with assistance for the disabled, a picnic area and public toilet facilities.

Kenilworth Forest Reserve is situated in the Conondale Range and is highlighted by incredible views. The reserve contains plantations and forests, as well as deep gorges, streams and waterfalls. The reserve is also home to many rare native plants and wildlife. Facilities include access with assistance for the disabled, picnic areas and public toilets.

Kondalilla Falls National Park in Montville has an amazing waterfall that is particularly breathtaking in the summer wet season. The national park houses lush rainforest and eucalypts, divided by gullies, creeks and falls. Several tracks lead through the park, including a section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Picnic areas and public toilets can be found within Kondalilla Falls National Park.

The Sunshine Coast hinterland also houses many small towns that are perfect for visiting on a day trip with your Brisbane Kids. Some friendly places to visit include – Maleny, Montville, Eumundi (check out the Eumundi markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays) and Kennilworth.

Theme Parks

If your Brisbane Kids are looking for more excitement and action, then plan a day trip to one (or more) of the Sunshine Coast’s great theme parks! Our top ten theme parks on the Sunshine Coast includes –

• Aussie World and the Ettamogah Pub
• Australia Zoo
• Bellingham Maze
• Big Kart Track
• The Big Pineapple
• Sunshine Castle
• The Ginger Factory
• Laserzone Sunshine Coast
• Top Shots Fun Park
• UnderWater World

Take a look at our related posts below for more Sunshine Coast ideas.

We are constantly adding to our collection of Sunshine Coast destinations for Brisbane Kids. If you have any suggestions, we’d love to hear them at info@brisbanekids.com.au . For even more ideas for day trip destinations on the Sunshine Coast to explore with your Brisbane Kids, visit http://www.visitsunshinecoast.com.au/.

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Russell Family Park – The Fun

Russell Family Park truly is a hidden gem in Montville. This park is newly developed and features a wooden band stand and two lakes with walking paths. For Brisbane Kids, there are playgrounds and the best hills that are perfect for rolling down. An authentic windmill, along with some awesome signage and explanations of the eco-system contribute to the educational aspects of Russell Family Park. There are also recycling bins provided.  This park is a great place to stop and let the kids run around if you’re on a day trip to the Sunshine Coast hinterland, or even to plan for a lunch destination as it has some great barbeques and shelters.

Imagination Factor

Feeding the ducks your lunch leftovers and exploring the forest are must do activities for Brisbane Kids whilst at Russell Family Park. Bring some cardboard and they can zoom down the grassy banks racing their toboggans in the snow.

Special Needs

Russell Family Park has some very well-maintained wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities. Most of the bike and walking paths are suited to pram and wheelchair use. The barbeques and shelters provided make it an ideal family picnic destination. Montville cafés are situated nearby for picnic and snack needs. There is an off-street carpark provided at the park.

Russell Family Park – The Facts

• Unfenced playground
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Softfall rubber and bark bases beneath equipment
• Grassy open spaces and banks
• Bike and walking paths
• Picnic tables and shelters
• 2 Gas/Electric barbeques
• Off street carpark

Another great Sunshine Coast Playground is Pioneer Park at Landsborough.

Russell Family Park is located off Main Street in Montville.

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Engaging activities for girls from baby and toddler age and upwards

Even before your Brisbane girl can sit, you can help her participate in social activities.

Playgroups are a fantastic starting point that will not only enable her to meet new people to play with, but might just make you some new friends too.

Music classes will encourage self-expression and a love of music in girls, even from a very young age.

Gymnastics helps to develop co-ordination and body strength, vital for learning to walk and move independently. YMCA and the PCYC start gym classes from 18 months of age.

Sports classes are a wonderful way of encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle from a young age. Classes in sports such as soccer and football are inclusive of girls and boys and start from around 2 years of age.

Swimming classes skills are so important, especially when living in Queensland. Learn to swim classes commence from as early as 2 months of age with a parent or guardian. Once your girl reaches about 3, she will be able to take classes without your assistance.

Play centres are an awesome way to let your Brisbane girl play in a safe environment and are ideal for hot, cold or rainy days. Most play centres have separate areas for younger children and a range of exciting equipment for the bigger kids. Tiddlywinks at Nundah is a super-awesome play centre that girls (and boys) love, with their regular disco sessions held throughout the day.

Creative classes are all about making mess, having lots of fun and developing skills in fine motor through to colour recognition and early literacy.

Language classes from 18 months of age teach not only languages other than English, but further communication skills through the use of song and play.

Fun pursuits for girls from preschool age and upwards

Dance & Drama classes will promote your Brisbane girl’s confidence, self-esteem and co-ordination. These activities provide an amazing opportunity for your girl to meet new people with common interests and to encourage friendships outside of her school group.

Self Defence and Martial Arts classes will also boost your daughter’s confidence. Many classes cover aspects of dealing with bullies and personal security, so they are perfect for teaching your Brisbane girl to be strong and stand up for herself in an appropriate manner.

Cooking classes will bring out the junior masterchef in your little girl and can start from 2 years of age. Cooking can provide a great bonding experience with other family members and friends.

Cool interests for girls from school age and upwards

Basketball and Netball are inclusive and social sports that are wonderful to participate in. Possessing skills in these sports can be fantastic for social and competitive games well into adulthood.

Girl Guides and Girls Brigade encourage self-respect and leadership skills and will educate your Brisbane girl with a flexible and dynamic values-based life training program.

Horse riding options, be it on a casual or a weekly basis, are scattered throughout Brisbane. Pony clubs not only hone skills in horse riding, but teach your Brisbane girl understanding and responsibility.

Robogals are an enthusiastic university student-run organisation that aims to encourage and nurture girls in the fields of engineering and technology. They run regular school holiday workshops for girls in grades 6 to 12 and will also visit schools to introduce to and train students in robotics.

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Smile.com.au can help- 100 free ‘Family with Dependents’ Smile Plans to be won!
Prize value- $9995.00

Dental costs are a sore point for most families, but Smile is on a mission to make dental care more affordable and ultimately improve Australian’s oral health. Smile has turned their focus to young families, after recent research showed the majority of parents with young children have been avoiding the dentist due to the cost.
What is Smile?
Smile is Australia’s first dental plan which allows its members to save up to 40% on their dental treatment. Because Smile is not insurance there are no waiting periods, benefit limits or treatment exclusions. This means you can join Smile today and start saving immediately at any one of Smile’s 500 participating dentists.
Dental plans have existed overseas for decades, with over 100 million members in America alone. Finally one is available in Australia, and although it is still teething, it’s already saving its members thousands of dollars.

How does Smile work?

You simply join Smile by visiting www.smile.com.au or by phoning 1300 238 648 and then visit any participating Smile dentist with your Smile card. Finding a dentist is very easy, in Brisbane alone there are over 100 dentists participating with Smile. Your dental fees are reduced at the completion of each appointment without any paperwork to complete. You’ll be smiling all the way to the bank.

What if I have health insurance? Even if you have insurance already, you can still join Smile to reduce or eliminate your out of pocket expenses or overcome any restrictions imposed by insurance such as waiting periods, benefit limits or treatment exclusions.

How much does it cost?

You and your family can look a million dollars for as little as $59.95 a year for a single plan.
A single parent one year plan is $79.95 per year
A family with dependents one year plan is $99.95 per year
A family without dependents one year plan is $79.95 per year
To further help Brisbane families take the pain out of their dental bills, Smile is offering 50% off the cost of your second year if you get a two year Smile plan for a limited time.

Aching to join Smile?

Smile is a 100% Australian owned and based in Brisbane. As part of their mission to improve the oral health of Australians by making dental care more affordable, they have offered 100 free Smile family with dependents One Year Smile plans. The total value of these plans is $9995.00. Find out more about SMILE HERE

Would you like to win a Smile Plan?

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Pioneer Park – The Fun

Pioneer Park is an awesome playground to visit as a day trip destination or simply for some laid-back fun if you are in the Landsborough area. The all-inclusive nature of the play equipment means that the entire family can enjoy themselves, with parents relaxing in the knowledge that their Brisbane Kids are safe within the fully fenced playground with child-proof gates. The playground has lots of shade with trees and shade sails, very accessible play structures, braille signs and an arm propelled swing. Pioneer Park has a fantastic herb garden for smell, textured plants for touch and thong xylophone and pipe telephones for hearing, plus some really different equipment like a hammock and a spinning three person swing. There’s also a flying fox, climbing net, sand play area and an expansive grassy area within the fence for older kids to play ball games etc.  Barbeques and shelters provide nice spaces for family picnics.

Imagination Factor

Pioneer Park is an amazing place for children of all ages and abilities to just enjoy themselves. The play house/kitchen space is accessible and encourages Brisbane Kids to play make believe games of ‘house’ or ‘restaurant’, calling out orders through the pipes to the people downstairs. The hammock swing allows even the less mobile park visitor some relaxing cloud gazing.

Special Needs

Pioneer Park playground is fully fenced, with child-proof gates at entry points. A lot of the play equipment is situated under shade structures, with some being unsheltered. There are many shady and grassy places to find your own space, as well as shelters featuring barbeques. There are some nice little flat paths for bike riding or scootering that are also suited to wheelchair and pram use.  There are well-maintained wheelchair accessible toilet facilities within the park. The park features an off-street carpark that also has disabled parking spaces.

Pioneer Park – The Facts

• Fully fenced playground
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Grass, sand, softfall rubber and bark bases beneath equipment
• Accessible climbing structures for a variety of ages
• Braille signage
• Accessible swings
• Swings
• Flying fox
• Slides
• Balancing equipment
• Grassy open spaces
• Bike and walking paths
• Bench seating
• Picnic tables and shelters
• Barbeques
• Off-street carpark with disabled parking

Another great Sunshine Coast Playground is Russell Family Park at Montville.

Pioneer Park is located on the corner of Caloundra Street & Steve Irwin Way in Landsborough.

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We have 5 double passes to giveaway for entry for 2 kids and their supervising adults. There are 3 sessions daily to choose from between 24th – 30 June.

To find out about the event and how to book click here

To enter our competition- use the app below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Society Membership

For a small fee (currently only $36, as at June 2013), your whole family can enjoy a 12 month membership to the Brisbane Astronomical Society. Membership entitles your family to access a wide selection of library material, telescope and equipment hire, invitations to exclusive Society events and field nights and regular newsletter updates. Events include monthly Star BQs and Astrocamps held away from the city lights. You will also be able to attend monthly Brisbane Astronomical Society meetings. Individual membership packages are another option.

Free Public Viewing Nights

One of the truly awesome regular events that the Brisbane Astronomical Society hosts is their public viewing nights. Whether you are a member or not, everyone is welcome to attend these evening sessions, held once per month on a Saturday night. As long as the moon is clearly visible, public viewing nights offer the opportunity to explore the night sky through a telescope, learn more about using a telescope and gain further knowledge of astronomical features you may have seen at the Planetarium or your Brisbane Kids may have learnt about at school. From Mt Coot-tha lookout, you can marvel at the impressive views of the moon’s mountain ranges and craters and observe the stars and planets. The lookout also provides a spectacular vantage point for checking out the Brisbane city lights. Brisbane Kids have listed these viewing nights on our calendar, so be sure to check it out each month for more details.

We recently sent Rachael, mum to three Brisbane Kids, to check out one of the Brisbane Astronomical Society’s viewing nights. This is what she had to say –

Look at the stars… Look how they shine for you….

While most were snuggled up at home and avoiding the chill, we braved the cold and headed to the Mt Cootha Look Out! The Brisbane Astronomical Society were hosting their monthly Public Viewing Night and they drew quite crowd.

Their enthusiasm for what they do is contagious and with four telescopes of varying shapes and sizes, we were able to get a really good look into the night sky.

The children loved being able to look straight up at the moon and marvelled at the craters and how close it seemed. Miss 7 announced what a ‘Holy’ moon it was which brought a smile to the astrologer’s eye.

Saturn was covered from two angles on two different telescopes and it was truly awesome to see this little planet so clearly.

The fourth telescope was focused on the stars and a ‘butterfly’ constellation. You really had to use your imagination for this one!

Considering that we had no intention of going out in the winter cold tonight, we were so glad that we went. The Society were so well organised and really catered to the little ones with step ladders or foot stools on each telescope so that they could see. They happily answered questions and the children were quite engaged with what they had to say.

The event is very weather dependant but I would recommend it for a great time out. There’s the cafe and restaurant at the look out as well if you want to make a night of it and dine out. Through chattering we headed to the car and pumped up the heating for the trip home!

To find out more about the Brisbane Astronomical Society, including membership information and details of upcoming events, visit their website at www.bas.asn.au or check out the Brisbane Kids calendar.

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• Free admission – As a Member you can visit the museum absolutely FREE all year round, including the Diamantina, Forceful and the Dry Dock. Discounted rates on some fee-charging activities.
• Free guest passes – Members receive a number of free museum guest passes per year. In addition to guest passes, if members bring a guest to the museum the guest will receive a 10% discount on the entry fee.
• Members E-newsletter Scuttlebutt – Keep in touch via our exclusive Members monthly e-newsletter informing you of museum activities.
• Free Members journal The Maritime Manifest – With membership comes The Maritime Manifest, the museum’s very popular quarterly colour journal to keep you in touch with your heritage and the exciting program of Members events and other museum activities in the months ahead.
• Outstanding Members events – The Members program offers a great range of exclusive, interesting events for you to enjoy. Exhibition previews, talks, tours, parties, ship visits, to name just a few.
• Discounts Galore – Save 10% on purchases at the Museum Shop.
• Reference and Research access to the Museum Library and Photograph Collection – Our extensive research library and specialist librarians are available to Members by appointment.
• Reciprocal benefits to Other Museums – Take advantage of reciprocal and discount entry to other museums within Australia and letters of introduction to many overseas museums and galleries.

You should take the time to check out our review of the Queensland Maritime Museum

Giveaway

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Many of the trekkers have a close connection to the NCCU. Professor David Tudehope was the Director of the NCCU for 30 years; Elysia Giugni was saved as a premmie baby 23 years ago by Professor Tudehope; and Nigel Harris is the Executive Director of Mater Foundation which provides funding to support premature and seriously ill babies and children treated at Mater, like Elysia.

Trekker Professor Tudehope, who retired from Mater in 2008, and his team saved approximately 1500 lives every year during his time as Director of NCCU.

“I signed up to the trek to show my ongoing support for NCCU and research Mater is doing into infertility,” Professor Tudehope said.

Among the group travelling to China is mum-of-three Leiza Mosley. She was rushed to Mater by ambulance at 29 weeks gestation. Her premmie twins spent almost 2 months in NCCU.

Leiza is trekking the Great Wall because she wants to fundraise for the hospital that saved her babies’ lives.

“I have been continually surprised by the generosity of others in terms of money, time, energy and spirit! I am grateful for any donation–big or small–and this experience has shown me just how generous people can be. My thank you list is getting as long as the Great Wall of China!,” Leiza said.

Show your support

Want to show your support but barely have time to catch your breath after running around after the kids, let alone trek the Great Wall of China?! You can help motivate our trekkers and support Mater Little Miracles today!

So what is this all about?

Miles for Miracles: Great Wall Trek 2013 is one of Mater’s newest fundraising adventures to help fund Mater researchers as they continue to seek out alternative options for couples experiencing infertility and help to save the lives of premature babies cared for in NCCU.

Where will the trekkers go?

After arriving in Beijing on Friday the trekkers set off the following day to Tiananmen Square and explore the Forbidden City. The group then visited the World Heritage listed Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. On Monday 10 June the group set off to the Taipingzhair Gate of the Great Wall to begin their five-day trek. After trekking all the way to Jiankou, the group will travel back to Beijing. They will spend two days immersing themselves in Chinese culture before departing Beijing, Brisbane-bound on Monday 17 and landing back on Australian soil on Tuesday 18 June.

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