Shoalhaven – 3 Days to Surf Shoalhaven

December 1, 2016 | Kidding Around Australia

We were recently invited to experience beautiful and unspoilt Shoalhaven on the New South Wales South Coast and it’s not hard to see why this region is one of Australia’s most-loved surfing and family travel destinations. We all have fond memories of holidays at the beach in summer, and the Shoalhaven is an ideal place to relive those special times and make some new memories with your children.

Instead of flying into Sydney or Canberra and hiring a car, we decided to take a road trip in a Holden Captiva that Holden were nice enough to let us take for an extended test drive. Travelling from Victoria we passed through Albury (where we stayed for the night), Holbrook (where we climbed on the Big Submarine), Gundagai (where we saw the Dog on the Tucker-box), Canberra (for another overnight stay where we visited Questacon and the National Dinosaur Museum), Goulburn (where we saw the Big Merino) and Sutton Forest (we want to go back and explore this picturesque village) on our way to Nowra and Culburra Beach (our home for the next two days).

The Shoalhaven is just two hours from Sydney and Canberra (so flying in makes it really accessible if you are from interstate and don’t want to drive) and boasts unspoilt beaches, fun activities and delicious eateries to satisfy even the fussiest of little eaters!

With our copy of Shoalhaven Tourism’s “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide in hand we researched all the best beaches and waves, road trips and activities on offer in the region so that we could plan the most amazing stay – a holiday that has left us wanting to return and explore some more!

DAY 1

Shoalhaven Zoo

Shoalhaven Zoo is located in the town of Nowra about 2 hours drive south of Sydney. With more than 100 species of native and exotic birds, reptiles and mammals, the Shoalhaven Zoo is the largest zoo on the NSW south coast.

Spread over 16 acres of natural bushland, on the banks of the Shoalhaven river, this zoo is surrounded by an amazing backdrop of water views, rainforests and impressive cliff faces.

Shoalhaven Zoo allows for both paid and free interaction with select animals. We walked through the kangaroo and emu enclosure (you can buy a bag of food from the gift shop), played with rabbits and a cheeky goat in the animal farm and were able to pat a koala, crocodile, python and possum during a keeper talk. We also watched Marmoset monkey training session which was informative and funny (just don’t stand too close to the monkey cage as we narrowly avoided a well directed wee!). The kids also loved the giant slide and running through the wide open spaces.

Georgina Says

If you want to make a day of it, there are picnic areas and gas BBQ’s so you can bring your own yummy lunch. If you are like us, and are not that organised, then there is a cafe with undercover seating that will help you fill your tummy! Don’t forget to save room for an ice-cream!

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.shoalhavenzoo.com.au

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas day. Animal shows start at 11am.
Address: 23 Rock Hill Road, North Nowra NSW 2541
Cost: Adults – $25.00 Aged 16+ Seniors & Pensioners – $20.00 Upon presentation of a valid seniors/pension card Students – $20.00 Upon presentation of a valid student card Children (Aged 3-15) – $15.00 Family – $70.00 2x adults & 2x children

Culburra Beach

The Shoalhaven is home to more than 100 beaches so a visit to the beach is a MUST whilst in the region. We were lucky enough to be staying in the quiet beachside town of Culburra Beach (which is located 20 minutes from Nowra) and our holiday house was located two blocks back from the water.

Alegría and Isaac LOVE the ocean and it didn’t take long for them to be playing in the shallows or with a local dog named Sam!

The people were friendly and relaxed, whilst the coastline made a stunning backdrop for an impromptu photography session.

DAY 2

Jervis Bay Bike Hire – See the Bay in a Different Way!

Jervis Bay Bike Hire is a mobile business offering a variety of bikes, from BMX bikes for the kids to tandem bikes for the adults. As they are a mobile business there is no shop frontage so you need to order your bikes in advance by phone or email. Same day delivery is available providing the order is received before 11am and is subject to availability. They even deliver free of charge if you are staying close by or you can choose to pick up if you are staying outside of their delivery area.

We hired two ‘heist’ bikes (suitable for adults 168cm tall and above), as well as a ‘chariot’ and a ‘tag-a-long rider’ for the kids (helmets and locks are also provided with each bike). The ‘heist’ bikes were required for both the chariot and the tag-a-long rider to attach to, although if you have older kids (they even hire scooters!) or are going by yourself they had some great adult bikes to choose from.

We enjoyed a fun morning exploring the sights of Jervis Bay and feeling the fresh air on our faces whilst we rode our bikes around the Bay.

The bike track is very well maintained and we even stopped off at Nelsons Beach for a play in the super soft, white sand (there is a toilet block and playground here as well) before we headed back and said goodbye to our wheels. The kids loved both the chariot and the tag-a-long rider. Alegría and Isaac took turns having a go in each and even though Isaac couldn’t reach the pedals of the rider, that didn’t stop him from having a go!

Georgina Says

Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and pack some sunscreen, water and snacks.

Going for a bike ride is a great way to explore Jervis Bay, we thought it might be a “little” out of our fitness range but it was a highlight of our holiday. We all had such a great time!

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.jervisbaybikehire.com

Cost: from $30 per day for children’s bikes and $40 per day for adults bikes (discounts available for multiple days). Accessories such as the chariot and tag-a-long rider are extra.

Whale Watching

Our whale watching tour was run by Dolphin Watch Cruises / Eco-Whale Cruise who are located in Huskisson, NSW.

We were told that whale watching is an experience that is not to be missed when visiting the Shoalhaven between May and November. Unfortunately, we were visiting the area a week or two before the majority of the whales made their way back to Antarctic waters during the Southern migration, so whilst there had been successful whale watching trips in the days prior to our trip, on the day we didn’t see any whales.

What we can tell you though, is Sam and the crew from Dolphin Watch Cruises / Eco-Whale Cruise offer a friendly and well run tour business and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them.

Georgina Says

Don’t forget to bring along some sunscreen, a hat, your camera and warm clothes / closed shoes. To say it gets chilly on the water is an understatement!! It is FREEZING! The crew gave out red ponchos and if it wasn’t for them then we would have been miserable! We were still cold, but it was nothing compared to how we were before we got the ponchos. Don’t be a hero (like Tim) and think you will be okay as Tim froze for 2 hours and was only warm when we turned around to head back to shore.

As their business name suggests, they run dolphin tours all year round. There are resident pods living in Jervis Bay, so if you want guaranteed animal sightings then a dolphin tour would be the way to go.

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.dolphinwatch.com.au

Address: 50 Owen St Huskisson NSW 2540
Phone: (02) 4441 6311
Cost: Adults – $65.00 Aged 15+ Concession – $62.00 Children – $32.00 Aged 2-14 Family – $165.00 2x adults & 2x children

Greenfields Beach

As our holiday was very much a beach holiday, we couldn’t resist heading to Greenfields Beach in the Jervis Bay National Park. Greenfields Beach was listed by the Guardian UK as one of 12 best beaches in the world earlier this year– taking a coveted place alongside the world famous Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Starfish Beach in Panama and Source d’Argent in the Seychelles. The Guardian UK also named Greenfields Beach as one of its “50 best beaches in the world”, as chosen by its readers. The only Aussie beach to make both lists, Greenfields Beach is described as being “framed by a dense forest of gum trees and a small sandstone cliff” and we just had to see it for ourselves!

Georgina Says

There are amenities such as outdoor showers and toilets, ample car parking, and a picnic area with amazing views all the way to Point Perpendicular. Greenfield Beach is the most wheelchair accessible beach in Jervis Bay National Park, with a flat and grassy picnic area and access to the beach via a short boardwalk.

Greenfields Beach is nestled between the already famous Hyams Beach and the town of Vincentia. The kids loved running on the white, squeaky sand and playing in the shallows. It really is a beautiful beach and the perfect place to spend some time with your family!

DAY 3

Mollymook Beach Surf School

We couldn’t visit all of these beautiful beaches listed in our copy of Shoalhaven Tourism’s “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide without actually going Surfing IN the Shoalhaven! So, we packed up our car and said goodbye to our accommodation in Culburra Beach and travelled an hour south to Mollymook to meet our surfing coach Geoff Hansen from the Mollymook Beach Surf School.

The Mollymook Beach Surf School was first established in 2010 and is led by Geoff Hansen, the principal coach. Geoff has been delivering surf lessons in and around Mollymook since 2006. He has been a surfer for 36 years and is well-respected in the local surfing community.

We met Geoff and Katharine for our two-hour private surfing lesson in the pouring rain! As Geoff happily told us, surfing is one of the only outdoor activities you can do it the rain and it doesn’t matter! All our equipment, including a wetsuit and surf board, was provided and in no time at all we were all ready!

The kids helped to wax our surfboards, and then we went down to the beach for some on-the-sand instruction before we hit the waves! Geoff and Katharine were fantastic instructors and made sure we had the required knowledge and assistance for us all to stand up on our boards!

Isaac was a little jumping jack and popped up without a worry in the world, until one too many wipe-outs had him heading for the beach for a play. Alegría spent the entire 1.5 hours in the water and at 6 years old could have a future in surfing (if only we didn’t live 2 hours away from our nearest surf beach)! Tim and I LOVED the experience, we were a little nervous about the kids, but 5 minutes with Geoff and Katharine and our worries disappeared.

We have not stopped talking about our surfing lesson and had the BEST time! Amazingly, even though it was “Death On A Stick” weather conditions, we saw whales playing in the distance which made for a perfect end to a fantastic experience.

Georgina Says

I CANNOT recommend a surfing lesson with Geoff (and Katharine) and Mollymook Beach Surf School highly enough. We have been RAVING about it!! If you think that it will be too cold, or the kids are too young, or the weather is terrible, or you aren’t fit enough or any other excuse you can come up with then STOP! Give it a go. I feel the cold, and Geoff gave me a thick wetsuit and I wasn’t cold at all. Isaac is 3 and can’t swim but still had an amazing time. Tim and I are not the fittest people you will meet but we had a fantastic time. Alegria still talks about how to spot a rip, go under the waves and where to stand on the board. Honestly, learning to surf was a sensational family holiday experience.

If you want to surf in the Shoalhaven area, then the “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide makes interesting reading. It’s available to download from www.shoalhaven.com.au/surf, and provides surfing etiquette tips, surfing conditions and maps, local suppliers, stories of the champions and so much more!

Aussie surfer Tyler Wright is the 2016 WSL Women’s World Champion and grew up in Culburra Beach whilst learning to surf in the Shoalhaven.

“Some of my fondest memories I have are of daily surfing sessions with my brothers and sister. At the time, we couldn’t comprehend that we’d all end up where we are now. We were just over the moon to be out there with everyone at our local beach.” – Tyler Wright, Australian Professional Surfer, No. 1 in the world.

Tyler Surf final edit (8 of 22) — Tyler Wright, Australian Professional Surfer, No. 1 in the world

MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.mollymookbeachsurfschool.com

Phone: 0411 392221
Cost: Adults – $90.00 Aged 17+ Children – $75.00 Aged up to 16

WHERE TO EAT

There are so many fantastic places to eat all over the Shoalhaven. You will be spoilt for choice! We have picked our favourite breakfast, lunch and dinner venues so that it one last thing you will need to worry about!

BREAKFAST: – Seasalt Café, Culburra

When you have adventurous day ahead of you, a beautiful, wholesome breakfast is exactly what you need! Seasalt Café is a small business located in the heart of the seaside village of Culburra. Seasalt Café opened in December 2012, and has successfully grown into a busy kitchen feeding locals and holiday makers. The menu includes a variety of meals suitable for all tastes and they have a toybox to keep the kids entertained whilst you wait for your meal!

Website: www.seasaltculburra.wixsite.com
Address: 151 Prince Edward Avenue, Culburra Beach NSW 2540
Phone: (02) 4447 4650

LUNCH: Pilgrims Café, Huskisson

Following your morning exploring Jervis Bay, it’s time to refuel before your afternoon’s itinerary. Pilgrims Café Huskisson is a popular café with the locals. The menus include delicious meals for all tastes, from pancakes and granola to burgers, pies and wraps. Perfect to take with you or sit back and admire their postcard perfect views!

Website: www.pilgrimsmenu.com
Address: Shop 4, 57 Owen Street, Huskisson NSW 2540
Phone: (02) 4441 6118.

DINNER: Bannisters Rooftop Bar & Grill, Mollymook

Treat yourself to an exceptional meal from the famous Rooftop Bar & Grill at Bannisters Pavilion. The Rooftop’s menu is inspired by Mediterranean, Southern Californian and Mexican cuisines, complemented by seasonal cocktails, craft beers and an amazing wine list. You HAVE to try the eggplant chips with burnt onion aioli! There’s also a special children’s menu that includes dessert and a drink! The staff are friendly and are happy to bring colouring pages and crayons out for the kids so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view!

Website: www.bannisters.com.au
Address: 87 Tallwood Avenue, Mollymook NSW 2539
Phone: (02) 4455 3044

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at the “The Batch”, which is a lovely self-contained holiday house located just 500m from Culburra Beach and 700m from Warrain Beach so it is perfect for a family beach holiday.

It is comfortable home away from home where we all felt relaxed with everything that we needed as a travelling family. The Batch is located in a quiet street where the only sounds you will hear are the waves crashing and the birds singing.

There is a cosy wood fire for those chilly winter evenings (we didn’t use it as we were concerned about the kids as it is right in the middle of the room, but the heater worked wonderfully so we were not cold at all!).

The yard is fully enclosed so the children could play freely – it would be perfect if you were travelling with your dog as well.

This property is proudly managed by The Holiday Rental Specialists – Beach and Bay Holidays and they made our stay so welcoming. Prior to arrival, they had put on the heater and switched on the porch light leaving us with a welcome note and a little something to enjoy after the kids went to sleep!

the-batch-7

We would highly recommend The Batch as your base whilst exploring the Shoalhaven region. We loved it and the kids keep asking to go back to “our holiday house” so I guess we better start planning!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

MORE INFORMATION

The Holiday Rental Specialists – Beach and Bay Holidays

https://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/nsw/south-coast/culburra-beach/163931

Acknowledgments:

We were guests of Shoalhaven Tourism for this family holiday. All opinions are own and correct at the time of publication. Please visit the Shoalhaven website prior to your holiday for additional information on what to do in the region.

You can also follow the team at Shoalhaven Tourism here:

Web | http://shoalhaven.com.au/surf

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/visitshoalhaven

Twitter | https://twitter.com/visitshoalhaven

Instagram | visitshoalhaven

Hashtags | #surfshoalhaven #unspoilt

Have you been to Shoalhaven?

Thanks for reading! Have you been to Shoalhaven? We’d love to hear your stories and tips. Please share them with us in the comments!

Feeling Social?

MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR 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 (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 with … Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales

January 13, 2015January 22, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

There are few words that conjure up more feelings of magic and wonder than Disney and Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales did not disappoint!

Princess Alegría and her friend Princess Julia were very excited to watch some of their favourite fairy tales come to life, and to be honest, lifelong Disney devotees Anita (Julia’s Mum) and I were excited to see them too!

Princess Alegría and Princess Julia waiting for the show to begin!

The Plenary, at the Melbourne Convention Centre, was filled to capacity with princess dresses, tiaras and quite a few princely looking lads who were buzzing with excitement and animated chatter.

As everyone took their seats, the lights were dimmed, and our narrators Minnie, Goofy and Donald introduced themselves. The crowd erupted when everyone’s favourite narrator, Mickey Mouse, appeared on stage and together they introduced their magic book of fairy tales.

Photo Credit ©Disney. All Rights Reserved.

The featured fairy tales were Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Each fairy tale ran for 20 minutes and concentrated on the most memorable parts of the stories. The entire show went for 90 minutes, which included a short interval in the middle that was perfectly timed for a toilet break for little ones.

There were many laugh out loud moments as the children were entertained with funny antics (especially from the Seven Dwarfs), audience participation through question and answer interaction and toe-tapping musical numbers.

Alegría says

Snow White didn’t listen to me – she ate the apple!

The voices and songs were straight from the original film scores and the staging, props, puppetry, special effects and pyrotechnics were very impressive!

Georgina Says

The costumes were amazing. Seriously. Amazing. I know I shouldn’t be so amazed, after all this is a Disney production, but the dresses were breathtaking!

There were some darker parts of the show where the Evil Queen in Snow White changed into the Old Hag along with the thunderstorm and lightning when The Beast and Gaston were fighting on the stairs during Beauty and the Beast. These scenes didn’t last for long but a reassuring hand might be required if your child/ren are prone to be scared.

Out in the foyer there were multiple concessions selling a variety of Disney merchandise with prices starting from $10 AUD. From what we could see the most popular items were a souvenir bag filled with popcorn ($16), snow cone drink cups ($16), programs ($18) and fairy floss with Mickey ears ($15).

The grand finale was mesmerising with the glitter cannons at the end bringing smiles to everybody, young and old. The show was spectacular and will be thoroughly enjoyed by Disney loving children and adults wanting to take a magical journey down memory lane.

If you’re in Australia and in Newcastle, Brisbane, Cairns or Townsville then it is not too late to see Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales! To book or more information visit their website.

For us, this is only the beginning of our Disney journey! We are looking forward to seeing Disney on Ice in July!

MORE INFORMATION

Website: http://www.disney.com.au/disneylive/three-classic-fairy-tales/

For other live shows: http://liveshows.disney.com.au/

Ticket Prices:

	Individual	Family
Front Row	$55.50 each (Limited seats)
A Reserve	$42.50	$155
B Reserve	$29.50	$112

Prices include booking fees. Additional credit card, transaction or outside fees may apply. Family Ticket: Admits 4 people.

Kidding Around with … Bay and River Cruises

January 6, 2015January 6, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

Alegría loves going on adventures with Tim and she was especially excited to go on train, boat and car adventure! They were also joined by “Payno” who just happens to be one of Alegría and Isaac’s most favourite people – so it was guaranteed to be a great day!

Firstly, Georgina and Isaac (who didn’t go on the adventure because of Isaac’s nap time – and we don’t mess with the little man’s nap time!) drove the three adventurers to the train station in the CAR. However, there was a problem on the line, so instead of taking the train into the city they had to take a BUS replacement for half of the journey. So added to the modes of transport list was Bus – Bonus!

They then caught the TRAIN into the city and walked across Princes Bridge (which is on the corner of Flinders Street and St Kilda Rd in Melbourne) to Birth 1 Southgate Promenade to board Williamstown Bay and River Cruises “Yarra Shuttle 1”. The Yarra Shuttle 1 is an ultra-low passenger ferry (yes, we are aware we referred to it as a BOAT, please don’t send us hate mail!) which seats 36 people in the open air level and 36 in the enclosed cabin (although that would be squashy!).

The ferry stops at 7 locations (upon request) including Crown Casino / SEALIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, South Wharf / Polly Woodside, Yarra Edge, Scienceworks and Williamstown.

The Polly Woodside and Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre

ALEGRIA SAYS

I saw the containers that go overseas. I really loved going on the ferry!

Alegría, Tim and Payno decided to do the full journey down the Yarra River from Southgate around Port Phillip Bay to Williamstown. From there you can have a picnic in the park at Nelsons Place, grab an ice-cream and walk up Gem Pier to admire the boats, ships and yachts. Other options include a visit to the farmers market (which operates on the 2^ndSunday of the month from 9am – 1pm), playing in the playground or taking a short walk to the Williamstown Beach.

Disembarking in Williamstown and saying goodbye to our Captain

TIM SAYS

The Williamstown Bay and River Cruises “Williamstown Ferries” is a really handy, stress free way to get from the city to the beach. If you sit in the enclosed area you will be with the Captain. Our Captain was really informative and welcomed questions from passengers. He explained the history of local landmarks, docks and the city and gave information about the Yarra River.

MORE INFORMATION

Days and Times: Everyday from 10.30am – 5.30pm except Christmas Day

Location: Gem Pier Williamstown and Birth 1 Southgate

Cost: Adult $28 return or $18 one-way. Ages 4-14 is half price. Under 4 is free

Website: http://www.bayandrivercruises.com.au/ferry.html

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.

Kidding Around at … Hippo Beach at the Werribee Open Range Zoo

December 29, 2014December 29, 2014 | Kidding Around Australia

When we heard that the Werribee Open Range Zoo had opened an exciting new area for kids called Hippo Beach we knew we would definitely be visiting this summer!

Hippo Beach is right next to the hippopotamus’ exhibit and is the perfect place to relax, grab an ice-cream from the Hippo Beach Café and feel the sand between your toes!

The beach area has deck chairs, hammocks and thatched umbrellas (under which treasure is buried that the kids can dig up – look out for the sign that will let you know what to look for!).

The day we went it was over 30C and the children LOVED cooling of at the Hippo splash and play water area next door to Hippo Beach – there were so many excited squeals! We had bought Alegría’s bathers with us; however, our poor second child had to go in his clothes and then when they were too wet, his nappy! Luckily, we had spare clothes for him! We didn’t need a towel, but if you don’t want your kids to look like crumbed schnitzels you might want to bring one along so they can dry off before they go in the sand!

20141228_1433341 — Hippo Water Play Area

Hmmm... How do we make the tail swish? — Hmmm… How do we make the tail swish?

Each day the Keepers will feed the hippos and chat to visitors about their amazing habits, with a special Hippo Keeper Talk at 3.45pm daily.

If you would like to see the hippos from a different angle, or any of their other African animal friends out on the Savannah, you can jump on board a Safari tour which leaves from the Safari Station. The line can be long depending on visitor numbers, and you are unable to take any food or drink (except for water) on the safari. There is a water fountain near the Safari Station entrance where you can fill your water bottles and a pram bay where you need to leave your pram. Make sure you take any valuables with you as it is not supervised.

Don’t forget, kids get free entry every weekend, as well as during the Victorian Government school holidays and public holidays!

Whether you have a couple of hours to spare or are planning to enjoy the magical Slumber Safari overnight experience – there is just so much on offer at the Werribee Open Range Zoo! We will definitely be returning to experience more of the unique behind-the-scenes encounters and have the Slumber Safari on our wish list!

MORE INFORMATION

Days and Times: 9:00am to 5:00pm every day of the year. Last entry at 3.30pm.

Location: K Road, Werribee South VIC 3030

Cost:

Zoo members Becoming a member of Zoos Victoria gives you unlimited entry to our three world-class zoos – and many more great benefits. For our members, kids are free every day of the year.	FREE
Adult	$30.80
Child 4–15 years (weekends, Victorian public holidays and Victorian government school holidays)	FREE
Child 4–15 years (Monday to Friday, outside holidays)	$13.60
Child (0–3 years) (every day!)	FREE

Concessions*
Adult concession	$23.60
Senior concession	$27.70
Child with a disability concession (Monday to Friday, outside holidays)	$6.00
Carer accompanying a child under 16 years who is a holder of a Child Disability Allowance Health Care Card	FREE
Carer accompanying a person with a disability who is a holder of a Disability Pension Card or a Companion Card	FREE
Holder of a Carer Card NOT accompanying a person with a disability	10% discount

Website: www.zoo.org.au/Werribee/

Kidding Around … Kryal Castle

Image | December 23, 2014December 27, 2014 | Kidding Around Australia

Tim has been dreaming about going to Kryal Castle ever since he was a strapping young lad staring wistfully out the window of the family’s Kingswood as they went wizzing past on the way from Kaniva (in Victoria’s West) to visit family in Melbourne. Alas, they never went (cue the violins) and as Alegría has been dreaming of becoming a princess since the day she was born there was much excitement in our house when we decided to visit the newly redeveloped Kryal Castle just outside Ballarat. What’s more we were sleeping over IN. THE. CASTLE (insert excited squeal and shout Huzzah!)

Walking across the medieval drawbridge and back in time, Kryal Castle invites visitors to experience the variety of shows and activities that they have running thoroughout the day. To enter the Castle you will first need to negotiate the Dragon’s Labyrinth which tells the story of Ushnagh, the She-Dragon that lives beneath the hill and of the legends and stories of the Land of Kryal.

Within the Castle walls there’s been a great deal of effort put in to ensure that all the Lords and Ladies have a great time – and yes, you will be referred to as “My Lord” or “My Lady” for the duration of your visit! From the Knights jousting tournament to hilarious pantomimes, bracelet making*, pony rides* and militia training to the more adult appropriate Torture & Dungeon Museum the Land of Kryal is place of fun and fantasy that has something to appeal to everyone in the family.

Walking around the grounds it isn’t hard to immerse yourself in village life. There are wooden shop fronts, cobbled streets, towers (where you can imagine you are one of the Knights of the Round Table) and sit on the Kings throne. You can lose your kids (well almost!) in the stone maze which isn’t as easy to negotiate as it looks – especially for those under 5 foot tall! Alegría loved running wild through the maze!

On the day we visited, The Fairies and Goblins Wonderland was running bracelet making workshops, face painting and story time.

The Town Crier summons everyone to the Castle Arena for the Skills in Arms and Joust/Siege which really are a must see for visitors. Make sure you plan your day around the performance times.

After watching the Knights in action, Alegría and Isaac wanted to ride their very own war horse! For this experience you have to pay an additional fee (buy your token first at the Tooth Fairy Lolly Shop before lining up!) and are only for children under 8. The kids loved it!

Hmmm…. No, I think this is too big! Maybe the sword?

Other free “on arena” militia training activities included sword fighting and archery.

Georgina Says

Bringing your own lunch is a great option as there is a picnic area right next to the playground. There are other options for meals if you would like to purchase something, or like us, you have a hankering for hot chips! However, like most tourist attractions the prices are inflated, so if you’re trying to feed your family on a budget bring your own!

Right next to the playground is a small collection of farm animals. Alegría and Isaac were fascinated by the hairy coo’s!

ISAAC SAYS

Moooooooooo!!!

Before your visit, jump on Kryal Castle’s website! It’s easy to navigate and will give you an idea of what could be on offer. We used the website to prepare Alegria for our visit and she was really excited! There was one downside however and we’ve learned our lesson. She was particularly looking forward to the perfume making, but, unfortunately it wasn’t on offer the day we went and we had a disappointed Princess! So, make sure your kids know that you might be able to do the listed activities but you’ll have to “wait and see” to avoid tears!

There is just so much to see and do, from the sword in the stone, to the chapel (which you can hire for weddings), and the village stores.

The perfect way to see it all is to stay overnight in the Castle Suites. There are 17 suites which are new and comfortable and the breakfast basket is generous and the homemade bread was outstanding! Guests have the Castle all to themselves after hours which would be such fun during the summer where you could make the most of the playground and not be confined to your hotel room. It was cold when we visited and our only issue was that the bathroom was not heated and it was freezing – we guess that makes for a more authentic experience!

Just a warning – This is what happens to naughty children who don’t go to sleep when they are asked …

MORE INFORMATION

Days and Times: Weekends, Public Holidays and School Holidays from 10am to 4pm (last entry is 3pm)

Location: 121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek (Ballarat) Victoria 3352

Cost:

Families $89 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
Adults $31.00
Children (4-16 years) $19
Children (under 4) Free
Concession $25

Entry price gives you access to the Castle grounds, all shows and attractions. * Some activities are not included in the entry price and require additional payment.

Website: www.kryalcastle.com.au

Kidding Around With … The Royal Melbourne Show

October 4, 2014September 9, 2015 | Kidding Around Australia

For two weeks leading up to the Royal Melbourne Show, Alegría read the show guide every. single. day! She was just so excited to go and when the big morning came she woke up and said “It’s a great day today, it’s Show Day!” I hope she never loses her enthusiasm!

Our first stop is always the Jayco Animal Nursery but it seemed that everyone had that idea, so we headed to My Backyard for some outdoor fun!

There was rock painting and bird feeder making (we will do another post with tutorial for you to try at home). Isaac loved getting his hands dirty planting a seedling to take home. We now have parsley and a tomato plant in our vegetable garden! This area also had a wooden maze and pirate ship which was fun for the kids to run around in.

Alegria was fascinated by the bees and the bee keeper was fantastic at explaining responsible bee keeping, who the Queen bee was, what the worker bees do, how long everyone lives, where the babies were and of course how they get the honey out!

Alegría says

The Queen bee had white wings and the bee keeper gave me some honey to put on my toast!

This area was fantastic; a respite from the crowds that surround it. Best of all, everything in this area is free!

We then headed to the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion for lunch. Despite the crowds we were served, and got our food, quickly and without hassle. There were no complaints with the quality! It did take some ~~stalking~~ time to get a table and like seagulls to a hot chip our table was gone again as soon as we stood up!

Alegría had show bags on her mind and settled on a Barbie showbag which cost $25 and included a bag, skirt, headbands, drink bottle, games, necklace and other Barbie merchandise. Isaac knows no better (sorry Isaac!) so he got a $1 Blinky Bill show bag and we had more money to spend on games and rides!

Alegría and Isaac both had a go on the clowns, Alegría got a doll and necklace and Isaac a toy motorbike – she was a little disappointed that it wasn’t a giant teddy but our playroom at home was thankful not to have another toy to collect dust!

Our family tradition is always the Euro Slide. Yes, we take the kids on there and yes, we hold on tightly! Both Alegría and Isaac laugh heartwarming belly laughs all the way down and as soon as we were at the bottom Isaac declared “more” and off we were again!

It was then time to go to our most favourite Show attraction – the Jayco Animal Nursery!

We do believe that every animal got a pat or a cuddle from a member of our family!

It was almost time to go but before we left we visited the Kids Carnival for one last ride! Georgina sat this one out and Tim being the awesome Dad that he is took Alegría and Isaac on a hot air balloon ride.

It was all fun and games until… Isaac had finally had enough! It was a big day for a little boy and also for one little girl who was asleep before we left the car park!

There is just so much on offer at the Royal Melbourne Show and try as we might we are yet to see everything in one day! We think next year we will have to go for two days – once with the kids and once without!

MORE INFORMATION

Days and Times: Vary from year to year – generally in the Victorian September School Holidays

Location:

The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria
Melbourne Showgrounds
Epsom Road Ascot Vale
VIC 3032

Cost: Adult $36, Concession $23, Child $18 and Family $82

Website: http://www.royalshow.com.au