Sitting snugly in a lush, tranquil valley, surrounded by historic villages and soaring mountains is the picturesque town of Bright in Victoria. It is shaded by oaks and eucalypts, maples and elms, with fresh, clear water polishing the river stones as it tumbles down from the alpine peaks into the meandering rivers and creeks. This spectacular setting draws you outside … [Read more...]
Big 4 Bright caravan park review | Bike-riding bliss for kids
Staying at a caravan park in school holidays is holiday heaven for your pre- and primary-school aged kids. It's a safe space to roam, there's plenty of potential friends, as well as a range of play equipment and/or organised activities. We found the Big 4 Bright caravan park to be all this and more, with a peaceful and convenient location by the river, only a short walk to … [Read more...]
MoMA at NGV with kids | Art-lovers’ guide to a weekend in Melbourne
The National Gallery of Victoria, or NGV, impresses with remarkable exhibitions year after year. The Van Gogh exhibition last year taught my uneducated brain so much about his art and life, the Monet exhibition previously evokes memories of vast canvases and swathes of colour. And this year's spectacular offering brings the legendary New York gallery to Melbourne in MoMA at … [Read more...]
Hands on family fun at Scienceworks Museum Melbourne
Scienceworks Museum Melbourne puts fun first, learning second and, as a result, it is a brilliantly interactive museum for kids. Race Olympians, kick virtual soccer balls and design cars of the future. Rather than telling kids how awesome science is, it invites them inside it, to operate science-powered activities and make them a part of the experiment. Scienceworks … [Read more...]
Bells Beach to the Twelve Apostles | Our Great Ocean Road self drive adventure
Stretching 243km from Torquay to Warrnambool, the Great Ocean Road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and is dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I. It is in fact the world's largest war memorial. 13 most popular Great Ocean Road stops Torquay Bells Beach Anglesea Aireys Inlet Lorne Kennett River Skenes Creek Apollo Bay … [Read more...]
The fanciest kids high tea in Melbourne
There are high teas that welcome kids, and then there are high teas completely devoted to kids. Every school holidays The Langham Melbourne creates an adorably themed kids high tea with sweet creations that show off the immense talents of the pastry chef. Sing is the movie of the moment - even the preview was awesome. Did you see the mama pig belting out a number in … [Read more...]
Review | Crown Metropol Melbourne
The Crown Metropol is a glossy luxury hotel, which presides over the Southbank precinct of Melbourne. It is home to the most magnificent indoor swimming pool, and walls of windows that allow breathtaking views from every room. Crown Metropol review The Crown Metropol is a family-friendly hotel. It has standard rooms which can accommodate 4 in two queen beds, the best pool in … [Read more...]
Top 8 kid-friendly city hotels for a winter weekend in Melbourne
Last week I did the Sydney version of this post in response to a reader request (thanks Katherine!). Well that was all well and good, but reader Meg needs the goss on Melbourne. Which hotels would suit a young family wanting to explore beautiful Melbourne this winter? My top tips for choosing your city hotel Location - Stay as close as you can afford to the places … [Read more...]
The 9 best bits of Melbourne for kids
We moved to Sydney from Melbourne before we had kids, so for over 7 years now we've been taking the little munchkins back to Melbourne regularly to connect with family and friends. We're down there at least twice a year, so we like to keep our favourite Melbourne attractions on regular rotation. It really is a wonderful destination for a holiday with kids. These are the places … [Read more...]