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Kidding Around … Andersons Garden, Mount Disappointment

| Kidding Around Australia

We are all for filling our lungs with fresh air and getting out and connecting with nature!

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Nestled in the Mount Disappointment State Forest, Andersons Garden is a lovely little spot situated on Sunday Creek and is the perfect place for a family day out or creek-side camping.  The area has good facilities and is dog (and horse) friendly, has dedicated walking trails where you can explore the area by foot, bike (both bicycle and motorbike) or horse. The paths are well maintained and would suit most fitness levels. There is a 6 km loop that should take about an hour and a half (give or take!) which you should enjoy provided that you don’t mind having to go up some stairs.

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There is a small waterhole and waterfall, and we noticed that someone had thrown a yabby net in (although the attempt didn’t look successful at that time!). The water is clear which makes spotting little fish easy and is perfect for wetting your whistle while you enjoy a picnic by the creek!

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Georgina Says

If you like peace and quiet, visit during off-peak times or during the week. Mount Disappointment is popular with motorbike riders which ruins the serenity somewhat for those who just want to listen to the birds and the sounds of the creek. If you are interested in camping, the campsite is very busy during peak times (Easter, Long Weekends, Christmas etc.). Be sure to pack a picnic and enough food / drink for your visit as there are no shops onsite.

This area was burnt extensively in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, and although the burn marks from that day are still visible, the beauty of this little slice of the Australian bush speaks for itself.

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MORE INFORMATION

Access to Andersons Garden and the campsite is 9 km off the Hume Highway. Take the Clonbinane exit (near Broadford) and travel south from the town of Clonbinane along Clonbinane Rd, which changes name to Westcott Creek Rd at the Mount Disappointment State Forest.

Contact: Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning (DELWP) 13 61 86
Website: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/

Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.

Backpacking with your family … Space Hotel Melbourne

| Kidding Around Australia

Back in the day, I travelled the world as a backpacker, visiting 30 countries and having the time of my life! In fact, I met one of my best friends whilst backpacking around the USA. Alegría and Isaac have German Godparents because of a chance meeting between Mikka and I in New York City, so it is fair to say that I was all for staying in hostels before I had kids.

Since having them, I haven’t given much thought to staying in a hostel. We are hotel / caravan park people these days. Or, so I thought.

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I was recently introduced to Space Hotel in Melbourne and wanted to share this little secret with you*!

Space Hotel is an affordable, contemporary and social accommodation solution in Melbourne’s CBD. With 12 different room types, Space Hotel caters for all travellers, especially those on a budget – who wouldn’t love hotel quality at hostel prices?

Since opening its first property in 2011, Space Hotel has achieved enormous success winning Best Backpacker Accommodation at the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards (VTA) in 2013, 2014 and 2015, earning them a place in the VTA Hall of Fame.

Sun lounges on Rooftop

Named as one of the world’s top ‘Poshtels’ by Lonely Planet, Space Hotel hosts groups, families and single travellers with accommodation options ranging from luxury rooms with skyline views to dorm beds. Their family room consists of a private family room with a high quality queen bed and 1 bunk bed, a 32 inch LCD TV, iPod docking station, wardrobe and study desk. As a bonus, a clean and modern ensuite bathroom is located in the room.

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BENEFITS OF STAYING AS A FAMILY IN A HOSTEL

Space Hotel has put an emphasis on facilitating social experiences, guests have access to a range of shared spaces including an internet cafe and stainless steel commercial kitchen. That means that if you want another grown up to talk to then you are in the right place! Plus, the staff are lovely so they will make a real fuss of the kids and you can even squeeze some home-schooling in if you want to! Having a kitchen on site is perfect if you don’t want to eat out or have picky eaters and Space Hotel also have a gym and laundromat.

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Other facilities include a free in-house cinema (great if you want to get some work done while the kids watch a movie), and the Space rooftop boasts impressive panoramic views of the city with sun lunges and spa (which is fantastic when you don’t want to stay out exploring all day and don’t want to be confined to your room!).

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Swim spa on Rooftop

The staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. They can answer all your questions regarding transportation, tours, attraction opening hours, closest ATM’s and great places to eat. What a God-send for any family holiday.

Next time you want to stay in Melbourne (or any other city around the world) then make sure you check out family friendly hostels like Space Hotel – I know we will be!

*Just a little note: this isn’t a sponsored post so I am not getting paid to tell you about Space Hotel … I like sharing with you little bits of information that I find that I think will make your life easier when you travel.

MORE INFORMATION

Space Hotel
380 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
(03) 9662 3888
www.spacehotel.com.au

Top 4 Places to Propose in The Kimberley, Western Australia

| Kidding Around Australia
Guest post by Jayde Ferguson

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If you’ve decided to pop the question to your significant other, choosing the ultimate setting to do it in is essential. A great proposal is all about setting the scene. The scene that’s right for the both of you. Whether it be an adventurous way to ask your boo, like through the adrenalin-fuelled activity of skydiving, or it be something more on the romantic side as the sun sets over your favourite beach, finding the ultimate place to propose can be just as challenging as picking the right ring!

Western Australia is home to some of the most stunning locations; and if you’re lucky enough to live here or have ventured over for a holiday, you’d understand why it’s home to some of the best proposal locations. Boasting the most beautiful beaches, ridiculously picture-perfect backdrops and mesmerising views, Broome and The Kimberley region is a gem of a spot. And with intimate hideaways to woo your loved one, setting the scene has never been so easy. Stuck on where to pop the question? Check out these places to propose:

1. Broome’s Cable BeachDepositphotos_23946815_l-2015

Broome’s Cable Beach is a romantic hot spot for very good reasons. Ideal for beach lovers or the sunset-enthusiast, Cable Beach is Australia’s pristine location without the crowd other beach locations tend to bring. Whether you and your loved one thrive on the ultimate sunset setting or you’re drawn to the magic of Broome with its famed pearls and picturesque coastal wonders, Cable Beach will offer that dreamy vibe.

If you’re wanting a romantic getaway here, consider Cable Beach Club Resort and Spar or Pearle on Cable Beach. For those that love the location but not a fan of sandy beaches, Gantheaume Point is the next best thing, where you can propose to your loved one on the rock cliff face overlooking the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean or opt for a romantic camel back ride along the beach with your boo.

2. On The Kimberley Coast

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Photo credit: http://www.kimberleycoast.com.au

The Kimberley coastal stretch consists of a whole outback desert and isolated beach section with some of Western Australia’s best kept secrets. The rugged and remote beauty of the Kimberley coastline is easily one of Australia’s greatest assets, creating a truly romantic place to pop the big question to your significant other.

Think lounging on white sands, recharging in crystal clear blue waters and exploring some of the most breathtaking cliff walls and pools with your boo. Scenic proposals are becoming a huge thing in Australia, with many heading over to Bali and Thailand to bend on one knee with a tiny box in hand. Along the Kimberley coast, you can design the scene exactly how you want to – a secluded beach, on a sailboat or luxury cruise on the Kimberley coast, a romantic dinner under the stars or tucked away in a beautiful beach resort. Whatever way you decide on, the Kimberley coast is loaded with starry-eyed and adventurous possibilities.

3. In Front of the Staircase to the Moon

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Photo Credit: http://www.visitbroome.com.au

Create a memorable experience for you and your future fiancé by proposing in front of Broome’s staircase to the moon. You may need to juggle some dates around if this one sounds like you and your loved one, as it’s a rare occasion that happens only 2-3 days a month between March and October. Get a full list of the dates here.

The natural phenomenon is caused when the rising of the full moon reflects off the low tide in such a way it creates an optical illusion of stairs reaching to the moon. Said to be one of the most awe-inspiring natural experiences, the staircase to the moon is unique to Australia’s North West region. And whilst it can certainly bring in a large crowd, it can also create a wonderfully idealistic setting to pop the big question.

4. Coconut Wells

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Photo Credit: www.cablebeachclub.com

Located about half an hour drive North of Broome, Coconut Wells is an outcrop of rocks, jagged pinnacles and deep water wells that make for an inimitable proposal setting. The best way to really view this North West beauty is to go once the tide recedes. This is when the true exquisiteness of this location is revealed.

Coconut Wells, also known as Natures Last Resort, is completely submerged when the tide is high; so finding the best times to head here is crucial. Take a luxury cruise to the hideaway, stroll along Cable Beach or simply use the stunning sunset over the Indian Ocean to be the backdrop to the ultimate occasion.

Author Bio

This article is written by Jayde Ferguson, who writes for Broome Kimberley & Beyond, offering a wide range of tours, day tours, scenic flights and romantic cruises in The Kimberley. With over 20 years’ experience living and travelling in the region they have unmatched local expert knowledge, working with the most trusted tour operators in the region, so you can count on them to give you reliable advice on the best cruise or tour for your taste and budget. You can catch her on Google+.

 

 

Kidding Around Essentials … Food Babies Love- Fresh Pots

| Kidding Around Australia

We all want to do what’s best for our children. We want them to be happy and healthy – but, let’s face it sometimes life is so busy that a nutritious, home-cooked meal isn’t going to happen!

So what are we to do? What do we feed our kids if we are on the road and don’t have access to a fully equiped kitchen? Many of the ready-made supermarket options are heat blasted so that they have a shelf life of 18 months+, which is a little scary.

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, Melbourne-based baby food expert and mother of 3, Emily Dupuche, says “There are whole fridges dedicated to fresh pet food in supermarkets, but you can’t find any fresh baby food. It is unacceptable. Busy parents today deserve access to convenient, fresh, nutritious meals for their children with less salt, sugar and preservatives. We don’t buy meat off the shelf to eat, so we shouldn’t have to serve our babies just that.”

Dupuche has been fostering healthy eating habits in children and inspiring parents for 5 years. Dupuche’s first book, Food Babies Love (published by Pan MacMillan) has sold over 10,000 copies, made popular for it’s easy and delicious real food ideas to suit parents looking for strategies and solutions to feed babies the good food they need to thrive.food babies love book.jpg

The popularity of the Food Babies Love guide and demand from parents looking for more food babies love, motivated Dupuche to take the favourite recipes from the guide and launch Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots – an Australian-first range of readily available FRESH baby and toddler meals.Food Babies Love- Fresh Pots.jpg

The Kidding Around Australia kids are past this baby stage now, however, we are lucky to have Kirrilee as a contributor. As a busy mum of two boys (aged 3.5 and 7.5 months), Kirrilee was more than happy to trial the Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots range!

Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots, is a range of convenient, nourishing baby and toddler food, offering time-poor parents peace of mind and the much needed opportunity to feed their babies fresh, wholesome and quick meals without compromising on nutrition, flavour and taste. It’s simple, real food that is kitchen fresh and exactly like home-made food.

“Mums want to know what ingredients they are feeding their children and how it has been prepared. With Fresh Pots the process and ingredients are transparent. We’ve taken the favourite recipes from the guide and prepared them fresh for parents. Being time poor doesn’t need to mean poor quality food for our children,” states Dupuche.

Dupuche has also chosen to package the meals in clear pots rather than pouches, specifically to stimulate all the senses of a growing baby including sight, smell and texture – key stimulants for developing palettes, interest and a healthy relationship with food. The 200g tamper-proof pots are microwavable and freezable and come in three distinct ages and stages. Early proteins for 6 plus months, textured meals for 7 plus months and toddler meals for 10 plus months.

Whilst, Kirrilee’s 3.5 year old Thomas was a bit too old for the range, her 7 month old Lennox absolutely loved it! There are 7 delicious varieties in the range. The range includes Lentil Dahl, Fish Pie, Curry and family favourites such as Spaghetti Bolognaise.Food Babies Love- Fresh Pots 4 square

Kirrilee Says

I was so happy to try the Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots range! As a busy mum, if I can feed my children nutritious meals that are easy to prepare then my life will be so much easier!

Whilst some of the flavours were preferred over others (pumpkin, apple and chicken was a fave) Lennox loved them! He ate until he was too full, then I finished it off! Forget the kids, this is yummy food! Actually, I was able to get 2-3 meals out of pot. I would simply remove a portion, heat it up (make sure you check the temperatures as it can get scolding) and leave the rest in the fridge.

The pots are $6.45 each and would be perfect for home or holidays. They save so much time and effort and taste amazing!

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GIVEAWAY

If you would like to try Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots then you will be so happy to know that we are giving one lucky Melbourne based reader a chance to win a week’s worth of fresh pots (7 fresh pots home delivered!).

To win: Email – Georgina@kiddingaroundaustralia.com and tell us “Why you want to try Fresh Pots by Food Babies Love”. Competition closes: 31 July 2016 at 5pm AEST. Good Luck!

MORE INFORMATION

Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots can be found in the refrigerated section of select supermarkets and grocers along the Eastern Seaboard with the option of weekly home delivery for Melbournians. They retail for $6.45 and the book is also available to purchase for $25.

www.foodbabieslove.com.au I Facebook: foodbabieslove | Instagram: @foodbabieslove I #foodbabieslove #freshpots

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Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS (UNLESS CREDITED OTHERWISE). ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA (OR ORIGINAL SOURCE AS CREDITED).

Kidding Around Essentials … Felt Ball Rug Australia

| Kidding Around Australia

logoI have been coveting a felt ball rug ever since our Kidding Around Australia contributor, Kirrilee, bought one last year for her son’s nursery.

Kirrilee said “I love my 140cm custom felt ball rug! I ordered on July 25th, 2015 and it arrived to my home in Australia on August 11th. It’s fantastic quality and so comfortable to sit on. My son loves it too!”

Kirrilee purchased her rug through Felt Ball Rug Australia so when an opportunity for us to review one of their rugs came up you can imagine how excited I was!Felt Ball Rug 2

Felt Ball Rug Australia is run by Deep who is the son of Nepalese factory owner Jagadishwar Adhikari. Deep and his family are committed to fair trade, women’s rights and guarantee that all of their felt ball products are handmade in Nepal, are free from chemicals, other toxins and are eco – friendly. They are proud members of Good Weave* who certify that the rugs are made without child labour.

The ordering process was simple. We went to the Felt Ball Rug Australia website https://feltballrug.com.au/ and found many options to choose from – round, rectangle, pre-designed colour schemes or custom designs where you get to choose what colours you want for your rug.Felt Ball Rug Australia Sheep Keyring.jpg

We went with the round 140 cm (55″) multi-colour felt ball rug, entered our address and within 2 weeks it was delivered from Nepal (usually non-custom rugs are shipped from Sydney but they were out of stock – and 2 weeks from ordering to arriving internationally by courier is amazing! There was even a little surprise hiding in our 100% New Zealand wool rug!). The rugs range in price from $197 – $927 depending on the size you choose.felt ball rug 3

The product itself is beautiful. We have it in our front room and everyone who comes to visit comments on it. The kids enjoy curling up on it to read or play a game, it’s super soft under foot and easy to clean.

Felt Ball Rug Australia also have other products such as trivets, coasters, cat caves, ottomans, Christmas decorations, garlands and bulk felt balls.

We are happy to say that we have partnered up with Felt Ball Rug Australia to give away a family multi-colour round pack.1multicolour-round-trivet-coaster-pack

Each pack consists of:

  • 1 x Felt Ball Trivet made from 2cm felt balls and is 20cm wide.
  • 5 x Felt Ball Coasters made from 1cm felt balls and is 10 cm wide.

This stunning designer multicolored felt ball trivet and coaster pack is hand made in Nepal by women under the Fair Trade Act and is worth $29.99.

To enter, simply comment on this blog post why you would like to win! Entries close on 31/7/16 at 5pm and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Good Luck!

MORE INFORMATION

Check out the Felt Ball Rug Australia WEBSITE, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM pages – they run competitions all the time so make sure you like or follow them! I sincerely hope you win a rug – they are fantastic!

*GoodWeave International, formerly known as Rugmark, is a network of non-profit organisations dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug making industry. Founded in 1994 by children’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, it provides a certification program that allows companies that pass inspection (and random checks) to attach a logo certifying that their product is made without child labour.

 

 

 

 

 

Kidding Around at … Scooby-Doo Live! Level Up!

| Kidding Around Australia

On Saturday 9 July 2016 we saw the world premiere Scooby-Doo Live! Level Up! at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne. Scooby-Doo has been a favourite of ours since childhood, and recently Alegría and Isaac have jumped on the bandwagon!

Jeepers!

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We weren’t exactly sure about what to expect from the show, and eagerly awaited the show to start as we took our seats and put on our cardboard “Boggle Goggles” (that looked like 3D glasses without the lenses). The show featured all of the ‘Mystery Inc.’ gang, who in 2016, are tech savvy with mobile phones and ghost finding apps whilst still being drawn to 80’s arcade games such as Moustashio Bros, Snack Man and Chase Invaders… funny those names are familiar!scooby doo level up 3.jpg

At the beginning of the show, the gang take on summer jobs with Shaggy and Scooby-Doo working at Crystal Cove – The Most Hauntedest Place on Earth and Fred, Velma and Daphne working next door at the high tech store (the name escapes me) that sells “boggle goggles”.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Scooby-Doo if there wasn’t a mystery to solve, so when ghosts begin to appear, “boggle goggles” malfunction, and the crew become trapped inside the arcade games, they must ‘Level Up!’ to escape. scooby doo level up 2.jpg

Georgina Says

The show is fast paced with catchy musical numbers and there is a lot of audience interaction. The storyline is at times hard to follow and whilst Alegría and Isaac enjoyed it, I don’t think they actually know what it was about. I would suggest that this show is more suited to 8+ if you want them to appreciate the storyline.

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The Melbourne season of Scooby-Doo Live! Level Up has now finished, and the show is headed to Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth so check it out!

MORE INFORMATION

The Big Freeze Festival at Cranbourne Racecourse!

| Kidding Around Australia

 

If you have been following us on social media (and seriously, you should!) then you will have heard us talking about The Big Freeze Festival.The Big Freeze Festival 9

The Big Freeze Festival is being held from 2-10 July 2016 at the Cranbourne Racecourse in Melbourne and we were lucky enough to be invited to the launch! We are happy to report that there is so much to do, that until the end of the week, your family can enjoy hours of fun at the festival.

As soon as we arrived, we walked through a snow forest, caught bubble snow on our hands, had a jump in the giant snow globe and made a new friend who was hiding in amongst the fir trees!The Big Freeze Festival 2

We spent time playing with picture stones around the campfire and then enjoyed the Castle and Cubby village where children (and parents) can let their imagination run wild in the Milk Bar, Farmer’s Market, Jail, Café, Post Office and Fire Station. The Big Freeze Festival 3.jpg

You can even win the Farmer’s Market cubby by entering HERE:

After sipping on some hot Ribena (YUM!) and devouring a plate of Dutch pancakes, the kids fine-tuned their aim throwing rice bags into buckets before trading their coupon in for a bucket of snow. Isaac wasn’t overly fussed about this as his hands got cold (and he refused to wear the gloves) but Alegría has a strong arm and threw the snowballs like no-one’s business! The guy helping was great fun and great with the kids as well!The Big Freeze Festival 1

Of course, the main attraction was the snow! Snow pit sessions begin every half hour and last for 25 minutes. The sessions are not over crowded so there is plenty of room for fun!The Big Freeze Festival 5

The snow is made onsite, it was amazing to see ice cubes being poured into the machine and snow coming out of the big tubes. Much to the delight of everyone, the snow machine operators shoot the newly made snow into the air – creating a winter wonderland!The Big Freeze Festival 6

Georgina Says – The whole event is undercover so you don’t have to worry about rain or wind!

If that wasn’t enough,  make sure you take a few minutes to learn CPR with St John Ambulance, paint a pet rock or decorate a nesting box with Phillip Island Nature Parks, go up and down the inflatable slide or grab a bite to eat before heading into the building adjacent to the main arena. The Big Freeze Festival 4.jpg

There is so much to keep the kids entertained in this area, that you might have a hard time getting them to leave! There is also a family area with couches and baby toys if you need to feed or let little ones crawl around for a while!

Isaac’s favourite thing to do was to play in the Kick Brick Construction Area. The bricks are perfect for building up towers and knocking them down, piling up the wheelbarrow or making a creation. The attendant (and I suspect business owner) was so fun and great with the kids. All we could hear was Isaac’s belly laugh!The Big Freeze Festival 7

Next door to Kick Brick is quite a few Lego stations for older kids and the Little Shredders area allows kids to perfect their snowboarding skills and posture! Snowboarding is in the kids blood so they had a great time here and have perfect balance!

Of course, there was an appearance by Elsa and Anna from Frozen as well as a variety of acts on the Light FM stage. The fun didn’t stop there, there was also the Clever Patch craft station where children could make rainbows and glittery masks, Super Hero training with the YMCA and a variety of other workshops that ran throughout the day. The Big Freeze Festival 8

The Big Freeze festival is a fun snow experience, without all the fuss of planning a trip to the actual snow. If you have waterproof pants then I would definitely bring them but it’s not too cold so full snow attire isn’t necessary.

Make sure you bring a change of clothes and socks as the kids WILL get wet!

Finally, bring a toy, book or item of clothing that you no longer use and donate it to Mums Supporting Families in Need.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit The Big Freeze’s website at www.thebigfreezefestival.com.au

Tickets cost $28 for children aged 2-12 years* or $16.50 for adults, children aged 13+ and toddlers aged 1-2 years who will be entering the snow play zone.

Guess what? *Every children’s (2-12 years) ticket includes a four park pass to Phillip Island Nature Parks (Penguin Parade, Antarctic Journey, Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm) valid until 25 December 2016.

Make sure you follow The Big Freeze on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS. ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA.