It is always hard to find activities for the entire family. You always run into a “you must be this tall to ride this ride” or “not appropriate for children”. But there is no shortage of fun activities for the entire family just a short drive out of Brisbane. So many, you simply can’t have a boring holiday in sunny Brisbane and your kids will be begging to return. Here we round up eight of our kids’ eight favourite spots just outside of Brisbane.

1. Movie World

Warner Brother’s Movie World is located on the Pacific Motorway, Oxenford on Queensland’s Gold Coast. It is about 45 minutes form Brisbane. If you love movies, movie characters, movie shows, and want to know more about how movies are made, Warner Bros Movie World is the perfect place for your family vacation on the Gold Coast. Just be ready to meet Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, and other movie and comic strip characters. Learn how movies are made behind the scenes and enjoy taking pictures with all of your favorite characters. This is fun for the whole family because these characters may even date back to when your parents were born.

2. Sea World

If you want to get up close and personal to the marine life, such as dolphins, stingrays, seals, sharks, and polar bears, then Australia’s Sea World is the best place for you. Bring the whole family and enjoy throwing fish into dolphins’ mouths and looking at the sharks swim. Shark Bay is the world’s largest lagoon system and the sharks will come face-to-face with you while swimming. Polar Bear Shores, Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach are only some of the attractions that will spark your family’s attention. This trip is for all ages, from toddlers on up.

3. Dreamworld

Dreamworld is a theme park attraction for everyone even if you don’t like riding the rides. This fun-filled park is filled with ice cream parlours, restaurants, cafes, and shops to enjoy while walking from ride to ride. Dreamworld offers The Big 6 Thrill Rides including the Tower of Terror, where you will scream your socks off on the world’s tallest and fastest thrill ride, the Giant Drop that has a freefall from 38 stories, and other exciting and jaw dropping rides. So, while those rides may not suit younger children, they will definitely enjoy Wiggles World, The Australian Wildlife Experience, and Tiger Island. This part of the park offers safe attractions for our younger audience.

4. Lamington National Park

This park is known for its bird life, rainforests, mountain views, and beautiful scenery. This park plays an important role in the conservation of several species of threatened birds and is part of the Scenic Rim Important Bird Area. Go enjoy Lamington’s tree top walk while being able to take pictures of the charming area. The spectacular views and sounds of the birds flying from tree to tree will offer you a surreal experience you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Bring your family and friends to enjoy this experience.

5. Daisy Hill Koala Centre

How many people can honestly say they have been face to face with a koala? There are the cutest animals and what better way to spend your trip in Australia than to spend it learning and interacting with koalas. Although there is no touching the three onsite koalas, there are still educational movies and viewing towers. After looking at the koalas, take the family to the shaded areas to have a BBQ. The facility provides wood for the wood fires, but you must provide the matches. This can be a fun get together and a great resting place to eat and relax before enduring in other adventures in Australia. The best thing is that this exhibit is free!

6. Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park

So, we all know that the weather in Brisbane can get steaming hot, so why not cool off at the water park? Located on the outskirts of Brisbane, and has fun water slides and splash areas for all kinds of activities. Owned by Warner Village Theme Parks, this attraction has almost 20 individual slides and four pools. The lines are particularly long at the pirate-themed Buccaneer Bay, the lazy river at Calypso Beach, the Giant Wave Pool, Surfrider, and more. Screams of excitement on the fast waterslides and laughter both make for a great weekend trip with family and friends.

7. Queensland ScienCentre

This science centre has been renovated and is overflowing with interesting displays, hands on activities, and impressive scientific exhibits. Enjoy learning about the science behind why animals are the way they are. Sure, you’ve seen a dolphin, but do you understand their body language or calls? On a rainy day, the center can become crowded, so try to come when the day is nice so that you can get the whole experience without being bombarded by the crowds.

8. Australia Zoo

Just north of Brisbane, this zoo was founded by the late Steve Irwin in 1970. As we all know, Steve was a world famous Australian crocodile hunter and television sensation. The zoo offers feeding demonstrations, viewings, and informative keeper talks. You will walk out with more knowledge than when you walked in. The snakes, crocodiles, spiders, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and other animals will spark your attention and amaze your children. Australia is known for its animals, so it is only right that you visit the Australian zoo.

Kristy Alexander is a freelance travel writer who loves taking family holidays in the sun and surf. When she’s looking for cheap accommodation in Brisbane she stays at the Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane.

This post was submitted by Kristy Alexander.

Kristy Alexander

Patong Merlin Hotel is situated just across the road from Phuket’s main beach, and only a few minutes walk to the heart of Patong and it’s night life, market stalls, and local restaurants. The hotel is built around a centre-piece of 3 swimming pools, amid palm trees and gardens. The hotel which consists of 6 low-rise buildings nestled in an 8 acres of coconut garden on the famous Patong Beach. Enjoy the best of Phuket at the Patong Merlin Hotel.

There are the sights of the city, the temples in the mountains and the beauty of the outlying islands to be discovered from the Phuket Merlin thru the city. And there’s the sparkling sandy beach, the quaint street markets and the relaxing resort lifestyle to be enjoyed while
you are staying at the beautiful Patong Merlin Hotel.

Naturally, the Merlin features all the facilities and services of a deluxe international resort with a few enchanting additions. The hotel has a fully equipped gymnasium and a tennis court to complement the wide range of water sport available on the beach. Sun-bathing decks are scattered around all three swimming pools where the guests can laze while having some cool drinks beside the pool. The hotel offers 379 rooms, 4 junior suites, 2 executive suites 1 presidential suite with a total of 386 rooms from which every guest will surely enjoy panoramic views of the remarkably beautiful aquamarine swimming pools. The rooms are delicately designed to give comfort and relaxation plus an ever smiling and
attentive staff will surely make your stay a remarkable one.

Kids Club

Kids between 5 to 12 are free to come and join us in the Kids Club. Activities are available twice a day, Activities include making pictures with wool, drawing, funny sand activities, balloon marking, making pictures with dried and fresh flowers, mask making or
playing jigsaw.

• Babysitting
• Bar/Pub
• Business Center
• Game Room
• Gym & Fitness Facilities
• Laundry & Dry Cleaning Service
• Poolside Bar
• Room Service
• Sauna
• Table Tennis
• Tennis Courts
• Tour Desk
• Water Sports (Non-motorized)

Location

Located at the heart of Patong Beach, set in an 8 acres of coconut garden. Patong Merlin Hotel is just 40 km. away from Phuket International Airport . The hotel is in close proximity to everything in Patong; be on the beach, restaurants, pharmacy, shops and bars, everything is really just a walk from your doorstep. The city center is just 17 km away from the area and is very accessible through different mode of transportation available in the area.

Richard

Cruising is an ideal family holiday destination with something to keep all ages happy. Mum and Dad can lie back by the pool relaxing, sleeping or catching up on a great book. The kids will never be bored with many games and activities available for all ages.

P&O Cruises how have their itineraries for 2012 and 2013 available with tours starting from a couple of days right up a 21 day tour of the South Pacific. Destinations include New Zealand, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji plus many great exotic islands along the way.

All the P&O cruises have on-board Children’s centres which include many activities to keep everyone from infants to teenagers happy.

• Arts and crafts
• Movies and cartoons
• Scavenger hunts
• Birthday parties
• Afternoon ice cream
• Disco night
• Talent shows
• Ocean Friends Club – A fun and educational activity programme with an ocean and wildlife theme
• PlayStation 2®
• PlayStation 3® competitions
• Scavenger hunts

For more information on P&O Family cruises visit BYO Kids and download the Family Information pack.

Richard

Going skiing with the family can become very expensive with Accommodation, Meals, Ski Hire and Lift Tickets. Snow Holidays has some great packages available including Kids & Ski Stay Free at Mt Buller!

This great package includes the following inclusions

• 5 nights in a fernery room at The Arlberg
• 5 day all mountain lift pass at Mt Buller
• 5 day lift passes for the whole family
  For more information on this package and other great packages including Thredbo, Falls Creek and Perisher visit www.snowholidays.com.au

Richard

Hamilton Island is located just off Airlie Beach in the beautiful Whitsunday Island in Queensland. If you take your kids they will stay and eat for free at selected accommodation and restaurants. There is no charge for children up to 12 when they share a room with their parents and use existing bedding. Before 7.30pm kids can also eat for free with their parents.

This fantastic deal includes the following restaurants

• Sails (Breakfast and Lunch)
• Manta Ray Cafe (Lunch and Dinner)
• Pool Terrace restaurant
• Wildlife Hamilton Island
• Steakhouse (Dinner)

For more information visit www.hamiltonisland.com.au/kids-travel-deals

Richard

The Gold Coast is home to Australia’s best Theme Parks including  Seaworld, Warner Bros Movie World and Dreamworld which is often the first stop for most families visiting Queensland.
Dreamworld is Australia’s largest theme park with 4 roller coasters and 27 rides and also has a fantastic water park next door called WhiteWater World.

The park contains several themed areas including Kids World, Wiggles World, Tiger Island, Rocky Hollow, Ocean Parade and the Australian Wildlife Experience

Kids World
This section is for slightly older kids and includes a lot of rides, roller coasters and activities, my kids were too young for these but they all seemed quite popular. This area used to contain a lot of  Nickelodeon rides but these have now changed names.

Wiggles World
All young kids love the wiggles (even with Sam being kicked out recently) and they will absolutely love Wiggles World including Dorothy’s rosy tea-cup ride, The Big Red Car and will play for hours on the SS Feathersword. Wiggles characters like Wags, Dorothy Henry the Octopus and others regularly walk around the area for photo opportunities.

Tiger Island
This is considered to be Dreamworld’s wildest attraction where you can watch Bengal and Sumatran tigers play and swim with their handler’s everyday.

Rocky Hollow
This area has the Dreamworld railroad, log ride and The Giant Drop. Older kids and parents will love The Giant Drop which basically takes you up a 120 metre tower for a fantastic view and then drops you back to the ground in about 5 seconds.

Ocean Parade
This section of the park contains a lot of beach and water related themes and rides including The Claw, Cyclone and Wipeout and is also an area for older kids.

Australian Wildlife Experience
This part of the park has hundreds of native animals including the usual Koalas,  Wombats and Kangaroos. It also contains crocodiles, snakes and other scary stuff that kids love.

Dreamworld offers something for the whole family for toddlers through to Teenagers, Parents will also have a ball on some of the amazing rides. Dare you to try the Big 7 thrill rides consisting of Buzzsaw, Motocoaster, The Giant Drop, Tower of Terror 2, The Claw, Wipeout and The Cyclone.

Go Do offer tickets to Dreamworld for only 79.99 and can be bought online.

Richard

There are few travel destinations on Earth that are better suited to family trips than Hawaii, and for good reason! From aquatic activities in the clear blue waters to fascinating historical and cultural attractions, Hawaii is full of things to do that will appeal to both children and adults.

For those who enjoy sightseeing, there are a wide variety of helicopter tours available in Hawaii, all of which can allow you to see the island chain’s sprawling jungles, epic volcanoes and serene beaches safely from above. While most of the volcanoes are dormant, the active ones emit a steady stream of lava straight into the ocean. Other natural phenomena to be seen from the air includes magnificent waterfalls, majestic hills, and peaceful jungle enclaves. Best of all, many of the helicopters that are used for these tours are constructed with a large amount of glass so that you can have an unrestricted view of the sights below.

Want to check out the fishing in Hawaii? You can do that and much more on one of the many boat tours available there. Spend a day out on the ocean sport fishing, and the chances are pretty good that you will end up catching a marlin or another big-game fish. In a more relaxing vein, go on a dolphin adventure tour and watch as these intelligent creatures put on a show for you in their ocean home. Kids in particular truly enjoy the playful nature of Hawaii’s friendly dolphins. Many families, in fact, become so enamored with the natural beauty of this tropical paradise that they wind up buying a home in Hawaii and moving there!

Snorkeling and scuba diving both offer the opportunity to experience the magnificent beauty that lies beneath the crystal blue waters of Hawaii. Sights to behold include beautiful coral reefs, colorful tropical fish, eels, and sea turtles. Snorkeling tours are also a great opportunity to do some whale-watching. If you so choose, take the next step from snorkeling, and actually take a swim with the dolphins. These majestic creatures will sometimes even play games with swimmers. Snorkeling in Hawaii also offers the chance to capture many amazing once-in-a-lifetime photographs, both above and below the water line! Kids will love being able to show photographs they took of tropical fish to their friends back home.

For those with a true appreciation for geology, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world. At the park you can see the effect of millions of years worth of volcanic activity on both the geological formations present as well as the unique flora. However, you will see much more here than just volcanoes and flowing lava; the park is also home to many of the island’s native animals, such as the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. The park allows many rare plants and animals to live in this distinct natural environment, untouched by society, which is a truly beautiful sight to see.

The Pearl Harbor Memorial pays tribute not only to those sailors who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but also to everyone who served in World War II. There are many memorials, museums, and exhibits to be seen at this Memorial, such as the USS Arizona Memorial, sitting above the USS Arizona, which was sunken in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri is another battleship memorial, and there is also a submarine memorial nearby called the USS Bowfin. Also at the Memorial is the Pacific Aviation Museum, which allows you to glimpse into the history of aircraft used in the Pacific War.

If you are more interested in gardens and plants, the National Tropical Botanical Garden is a must-see attraction. These spectacular gardens and preserves cover almost 2,000 acres. Here, you can experience the beauty of many rare tropical plants, as scientists work hard daily to keep them from becoming extinct. This is also yet another wonderful opportunity to take some amazing photographs, as these gardens contain some absolutely gorgeous plants that you will not see anywhere else on Earth. This attraction also serves as a great way to introduce children to concepts like biodiversity and conservation.

Luaus are a great way to experience true Hawaiian culture, right down to the lei that you will get to wear. Enjoy authentic Hawaiian music and dancing as you feast on a lavish meal of pig, sweet potatoes, fish, rice, and other succulent dishes. You will likely find an open bar when you attend a luau, so enjoy some fruity tropical drinks that can only be found in Hawaii. The children can even get brightly-colored tropical fruit punch, if they so desire. Sunset is when luaus always take place, and they usually last for around three hours.

As you can see, there are many activities to be enjoyed by the whole family in Hawaii. No matter what your interests are, or what ages you all may be, you will have no problem finding plenty of fun things to do. The hardest part is choosing between all of these exciting activities!

Article courtesy of Tony Kawaguchi from Alohatony.com

Richard

Jolie from Hey Bambini shares with us a little snippet of her family summer holidays with hubby, her two boys (One & Three) and her West Highland terrier Jazz.

Every summer we pack the car and head to Phillip Island for two weeks with the two boys and of course the dog, can’t forget our four legged friend who comes with us everywhere. We love it down on the island, it’s not to overrun with tourists and it still has a ‘country town’ vibe about it. We pop into Cowes occasionally for supplies and of course for coffee but we spend most of our time entertaining the kids and relaxing at our beach home. We swim at the Surf Beach which is also dog friendly at certain times of the day, its best when the tide is out as the kids can explore and swim in the shallow rock pools. When we aren’t making sand castles on the beach Mr 3 loves going to the Koala Conservation Park for a run around on all the wooden bridges to check out the sleepy cuddly fur balls. No beach holiday is complete until you’ve had fish and chips on the beach and we enjoy going over to Rhyll which is about a 5 minute drive from Cowes. There is also a playground on the front beach at Rhyll which the kids love climbing all over before we return home.
We haven’t visited the Penguin Parade yet as our children are still a bit young and l don’t think they could stay awake for that long without getting extremely grumpy.
For the big kids we often take a trip over to the Purple Hen Winery, this local vineyard provides tastings and wine sales while also offering a selection of cheese and antipasto platters to enjoy. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a view of the beach and loads of room for the kids to run around.

In all Phillip Island is a great spot for families and we’ve just scratched the surface, there are many activities to be enjoyed and we can’t wait to try all of them as the boys grow.

Hey Bambini Recommends These Places for Young Families

We’ve tried and tested the following services and highly recommend them if you have little ones in tow.

San Remo Doctor’s Clinic if the wee ones fall ill while on holiday.
Church Hill Farmers Market for the best fresh local produce.
Silver Leaves Store for fun family friendly dining.

heybambini

If your next trip to the United States includes a visit to Las Vegas and not New York then why not book the family into New York-New York hotel and get the best of both worlds. New York-New York is a hotel and casino that is located right on the strip in Las Vegas and owned by MGM Resorts, the innovative facades recreate the classic Manhattan skyline, complete with 12 skyscrapers that house their guest rooms.

Other icons on show include a Statue of Liberty, a Coney Island-style roller coaster and replica of the Brooklyn Bridge. From its towering skyline to round-the-clock excitement, New York-New York Hotel & Casino truly lives up to its reputation as the greatest city in Las Vegas. Even the rooms are named after streets in New York with the Park and Madison Avenue amongst the choices.

Upstairs is kids arcade, which is themed Coney Island, and just as crowded as the real thing. Kids play boardwalk games in the hopes of winning tickets redeemable for cheap prizes.  The line for the roller coaster starts here. There are also many family friendly restaurants, which are all housed in buildings that fit the theme of New York neighborhoods.

As with Las Vegas Hotels it is definitely targeted at mum and dads gambling money, but do their best to ensure that the whole family is looked after.

Richard

The Gold Coast is a subtropical paradise that attracts numerous holiday travelers each year. The region, located in Queensland, Australia, is famous for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, cosmopolitan eateries, and extravagant shopping venues. Let’s be truthful, parents want to take their family on a holiday that doesn’t just centre on Disney characters and kiddie rides; they crave a travel destination that literally has something for every member of the family to enjoy. The Gold Coast is the perfect holiday hotspot because it really does provide attractions that appeal to individuals of all ages. So, now that I’ve touched on the Gold Coast’s general virtues as a holiday getaway, let me get more specific. The following is a list of ten family activities that you will not want to miss during your visit:

1. The Hinterland

Take your family on hikes on Tambourine Mountain, or explore the numerous farms and wineries in the Hinterland region. Your family can sample homemade cheeses, chocolates, wines and liqueurs while enjoying the many verdant green vistas of the Gold Coast’s rainforest region. Be sure to stop by O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat to try out a treetops walkway that lets you literally walk across a stretch of rainforest from a vantage point as high as the tallest surrounding trees.

2. Hot Air Ballooning

Old and young family members alike will enjoy taking in the Gold Coast from the heights afforded by a hot air balloon. Float far above the beaches, forests and metropolitan regions of Queensland and enjoy the whimsy of travel by way of a colourful balloon full of hot air.

3. Carrara Markets

This permanent weekend marketplace offers much more than just fruits and vegetables to families on holiday in the Gold Coast. Over 500 stalls are set up every Friday and Saturday, offering every sort of souvenir and oddity imaginable. Pony rides, face painting, trampoline jumps and other carnival-type distractions are also available. However, be sure to use a reliable currency converter before shopping at Carrara, to ensure that you do not overpay for any goods you purchase.

4. Beach Bumming

If there is one thing the Gold Coast has plenty of, it’s gorgeous beaches. Take the family to one of these sandy shores to enjoy the sun and surf of subtropical Australia:

* South Stradbroke Island – Your family can actually camp out on this Island that doesn’t get the large wave action that other Gold Coast beaches receive on a daily basis. The kids can swim safely in these tame waters, while mom and dad can soak in the sun and the teenagers can enjoy a few water sports.

* Surfers Paradise – The name of this beach says it all. Surfboard and bodyboard hire are available in the nearby Cavill Mall, and lessons are available to the entire family at reasonable rates.

* North Stradbroke Island – Snorkelling and scuba diving are the two biggest draws of this Gold Coast beach that also provides lifeguards for swimmer safety.

5. Adventure Parks

Take your kids to either the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or Thunderbird Park and enjoy a day full of rope courses, zip lines, and family team-building exercises. Long after the initial adrenaline rush has worn off, each member of the family will likely rehash the memories you’ve created together in this outdoor adventure zone.

6. Glow Worm Caves

The entire family will get a kick out of a guided tour through a man-made glow worm cave. Located on Tamborine Mountain, this luminous attraction is filled with a magical and otherworldly feeling that will likely delight and awe every family member, regardless of their age.

7. Dinner Theatre

Leave it to the Aussies to put on stellar theatrics while serving up a feast. The Australian Outback Spectacular packs out a 1,000-seat arena every night and puts on a show that includes live horses, music, extravagant lighting and a full-on Australian BBQ. The show is geared toward families, so it will be appropriate for the young ones as well as the grown-ups.

8. Putt Putt

The Gold Coast takes mini-golf to a whole new level in the Mermaid Beach neighbourhood by offering 3 different 18-hole courses, all of which have their own outlandish theme: Fun Run, Jungle Trail, and Waterways. Food and plenty of video games round out the experience, and make for an entire day of fun for the whole family.

9. Whale Watching

No member of the family is likely to yawn while watching Humpback whales in their natural element. Other aquatic creatures like dolphins, giant turtles, and seabirds often make appearances during the whale watching experience. Take the family out on a guided whale watching tour in Gold Coast waters, complete with water-level observation decks and basic tea service.

10. Theme Parks

The Gold Coast just happens to be known as the “Theme Park Capital” of the entire southern hemisphere. Just a few of the many theme parks available in the region include: Sea World, Movie World, and Dream World. Thrill rides, educational exhibits, aquatic shows, and theatrical presentations abound at these parks that never fail to entertain visitors.

The Gold Coast is literally teeming with family attractions, and this list is hardly exhaustive. UK residents on holiday simply could not find a more beautiful and appealing locale for the next family vacation. So get out there, and have some fun!

This post was submitted by Peter Beele.

Peter Beele