Kids Travel Hire

The Gorge Walk

We recently had our first holiday as a family to Stradbroke Island with me, my husband Mick and 3 kids Ben (7), Brooke (5) and Emma (2).  We had a fantastic 5 days there, it really feels like an island holiday but you are only 1 hour on the Ferry from Cleveland (1/2 hour approx from Brisbane City).

With young children we always try to minimize the travel time as they get bored easily, but going to Stradbroke Island was great as we only had a 1/2 hour drive from Holland Park to Cleveland, then 1 hour on the ferry, and then another 1/2 drive from Dunwich around to Point Lookout. And the best part was the kids thought taking the car on the ferry was the coolest thing ever!

One note though – always book your ferry as soon as you have booked your accommodation as the ferry’s fill up quickly.

Accommodation

We stayed at Pandanus Palms Resort which sits on top of the hill at Point Lookout. The views were breathtaking and we booked an ocean view unit to guarantee this. The resort is older but perfect for families with a good pool and tennis court. The townhouse style accommodation was a good size with dining, kitchen, lounge and an outside area all downstairs and 2 good size double bedrooms and bathroom upstairs. There are full kitchen and laundry facilities in each unit so perfect for holidays with young children.

The only negative thing is because they are up on the hill you have to drive everywhere.

Beaches

The beaches are fairly spread out and some are tucked away but the beaches were awesome. A great beach for kids is Cylinder Beach, it is easy to park at, is sheltered and at low tide there’s a good area with no waves for the little ones. It is also patrolled and has a kid’s playground and a merlo coffee can (most important!).

Cylinder Beach

Another beach we loved was Deadmans beach, if you go down Hopewell St off the main road there is parking on Cutter St. There are a few steps down to the beach from the car park but it’s still fairly accessible. Down the far right end of the beach though are great rocks for climbing over and rock pools the kids can play in, spot fish, crabs etc. There is also a huge sand dune here which the kids loved riding their boogie boards down.

For the fitness fanatics running up and down here is a great workout, I did it a few times carrying my 2 year old, and my legs felt it the next day! There are also some good little tracks to explore from the top of the dune.

The Gorge Walk

The Gorge Walk is an easy walk (approx 1.5km) which starts opposite the main group of shops on East Coast Rd at Point Lookout. It is fine for small children with good pathways, but it’s not fenced in all areas so keep small kids close. The views over the gorge are spectacular and we heard that it is one of the best places to see the whales during their annual migration.

Other things to do

• Markets – there are markets on the main road (East Coast Road) opposite the bowls club on Saturday and Sunday until around midday. They are small but have some good stalls of clothes, bags, jewellery, kids toys etc
• Bowls – The bowls club is great fun for kids and a nice relaxed atmosphere
• Skate Park  – on the main road there is also a skate park perfect for kids and their scooters and a huge oval for the kids to kick the footy
• Brown Lake not far from Dunwich is Brown Lake. A huge lake kids can swim in.
• Fishing – There are a few good fishing areas around Stradbroke Island mainly at Amity Point. Amity Point it also lovely at sunset and we saw a few dolphins around here too. We also heard some kids were even hand feeding them!
• Day spa – when the Straddie pub was recently renovated they put in an amazing day spa, my hubby tried a massage and came back extremely relaxed with a few more looser joints

Eating out

Heading out to dinner with 3 young kids after a day at the beach is always challenging. The Straddie Pub has been recently renovated and is a great place to take kids. The meals are not cheap but the food was excellent quality and the kids can be noisy and hop up and down without disturbing anyone.

We also went to La Foccacia, a restaurant in the Anchorage Resort. The service and food was really good, they were very accommodating for kids bringing them colouring in and the setting was lovely. It is a restaurant though so the kids have to stay at the table the whole time and be reasonably quiet! They do an all you can eat pizza and pasta night Wednesday which with kids is ideal.

Another place we tried for dinner was the Bowls Club. We had heard they do a good roast, the roast wasn’t on the night we went and the food was very ordinary. It was inexpensive however and the kids could run around, play on the greens and watch people playing bowls so it was still a good night out despite the food.

The Gelati Shop on Stradbroke Island is superb, there were so many flavours it was hard to choose!

The only disappointing meal was we had takeaway fish and chips from Fins n Fries which were very ordinary.

Bobs is the convenient store on the island, near the real estate on Endeavour St, it had a great range of groceries and very reasonably priced.

Overall we had a fantastic holiday and would definitely go again, there are lots of rental houses on the island that can take 2 families so next time I think we will go with some friends and maybe get something closer to the beach.

Pandanus Palms Swimming Pool

Tennis Court at Pandanus Palms

Easter Weekend at the Hunter Valley Gardens promises an unforgettable family experience from the 6th until the 9th of April. Although Easter is the busiest time for our favourite bunny, Hunter Valley Gardens have confirmation that he will be attending.

Children will have a ball taking part in the largest annual Giant Easter Egg Hunt in the Hunter Valley.  With hundreds of brightly coloured plastic eggs scattered around, it will be your child’s mission to find the most. Every child who participates will receive a yummy Cadbury’s Easter Egg at the completion of the hunt.

Best of all this year, the fabulous Jitter Jacks will be on hand to perform all our favourite Easter songs at 2pm daily. They will have the whole family up, singing and dancing in no time!

Once the kids are all danced out, they will have the opportunity to be involved in some great Easter activities, including creative Easter craft (all materials will be supplied) and a colouring competition. There will be Garden Games to keep the kids entertained, such as giant parachute games, sack races and everybody’s favourite, egg and spoon races.

The Gardens will have hatching eggs, where children can watch real baby chickens hatch from their eggs and take their first steps. Definitely a memorable experience for

Lots of kids Easter Activities!

all.
In case the kids are hungry after a hard day of fun, there will be food and beverage stalls onsite, with snow cones and fairy floss available for that cheeky snack.

This Easter, don’t miss out on a family fun weekend at the Hunter Valley Gardens. Entry to the Gardens is $24.00 per adult and children 16 and older, $12 for children between 4 – 15 years of age, with children 3 years and under admitted free. Hunter Valley Gardens open daily from 9am to 5pm. For further information regarding the Easter Long Weekend at Hunter Valley Gardens please call 02 4998 4000 or visit www.hvg.com.au.

Cruises aren’t just for honeymooners and retirees anymore. More cruise lines are creating very family friendly amenities to their ships, such as family suites and child-oriented activities. You can find last minute cruises here, but which destinations work best for families? Below are five of the top destinations for cruising with your kids.

1. Alaska

The wild state of Alaska still has that frontier feel that will expose your children to animals, nature, and the outdoors in the most exciting way possible. The ships will typically have nature experts on board who can provide fun and educational experiences for your children as they learn about the true wilderness. On shore activities will generally include hiking on glaciers, kayaking, and other ways to explore Alaska’s treasures up close.

2. Hawaii

If you prefer warmer climes, then Hawaii might be the natural choice for you family. The breadth and beauty of the nature you’ll all see while cruising around the Hawaiian islands is another terrific experience. Here, the type of flora and fauna will be completely different from the Alaskan cold, but not less impressive. The massive waterfalls and beaches provide a variety of physical outings, like surfing, swimming, and hiking, that kids will love.

3. United States

Most Cruise Ships have great Kids Activities

There are loads of cruising options around the United States. Whether you find a new way to see New England, follow in the footsteps of Mark Twain down the Mississippi, or soak up the sun in the Gulf Coast. You can keep an international flavor as well by finding a cruise deals that will also take the family along the coasts of Canada or Mexico, depending on where your U.S. starting point is.

4. Australia

Cruising around Australia is a great option and can provide both an outdoors and city experience. Having this range of variety of places to see and activities can be particularly helpful if your children (and perhaps your spouse) have varying interests. This way, everyone has something to get excited about. Visiting Australia by cruise ship will also give you a fascinating way to see the Great Barrier Reef, along with on-board experts.

5. Galapagos Islands

For the family that does want a deep wildlife experience and wants to visit foreign, exotic lands, then the Galapagos Islands may be the perfect fit. The cruise ships visiting this area tend to be smaller, which creates a more personal experience. The animals on the islands (with some of its creatures existing no where else in the world) have no fear of humans, which allows children a truly personal interaction with them. The ships will have naturist experts leading the educational activities. There is also generally a good range of leisure activities, such as snorkeling, diving, and glass bottom boating.

For more information visit – http://www.cruiseabout.com.au/

In order to make sure you get a vehicle that is safe and well maintained there are a couple of important elements you need to check before getting your compare cheap car hire. Although car rental companies make the effort to ensure that they are able to provide the best services, it is still good to check on your car as this can save you problems in the long run.

First of all, you should take the extra time to look through your compare cheap car hire rental agreement. This is the contract which you are going to sign before you have your car released. Most people don’t really check this agreement and skim through just the bits which they think are of interest to them. You should avoid that practice. Remember that it could save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.

Second, make sure to check your Hobart car hire for oil, fuel as well as water. It’s worthwhile spending the time to learn how to do this on your own car if you don’t know how to. These are basic things which you should be checking up on before you drive off in your car.

Third, check on the tyres on your Hobart car hire. Tyres are expensive to change and you want to make sure you aren’t paying for any extra costs but most especially you don’t want to get yourself into a dangerous situation because you didn’t check your tyres.
Lastly, before driving off in your compare cheap car hire, get yourself a good GPS. Reputable companies will either have a GPS already installed in their car or they will have a GPS system available for you to rent. It’s always a great idea to have a GPS in an unfamiliar location.

Checking up on your compare cheap car hire beforehand is a good way to enjoy your visit to beautiful Hobart and ensure you are free from undue hassles.

Offers singing and art in one session

Looking for a new and exciting creative activity for your kids?

Koodles for Kids is an exciting new programme available for kids in the Newcastle area that combines both singing and art within the one session. Aimed at boys and girls from 1st grade – 6th grade your child will experience two unique classes that will help to inspire creativeness in art and singing with different styles each week.

Koodles for Kids runs weekly sessions as well as a school holiday programme.

Download further information on both programmes here:

January School Holiday Programme

Koodles Programme Information

Or call Kristy on 0414 304 158 or email at koodlesforkids@hotmail.com.

Art is one of the creative areas explored

Cheesy Mite Scroll

Congratulations to Louise and her Mini Frittatas idea! Louise has won a Fridge to Go and a Mum’s Lunch Subscription.

We have discovered a fantastic new website that has the answer to the frequently asked question ‘what’s for lunch?’. Mum’s Lunch is a new initiative that helps you to provide delicious and nutritious lunch boxes for your family.

They offer interesting meal plans and delicious recipes featuring fun, yet nutritious suggestions kids will no longer be swapping their lunch for someone else’s or throwing it out.

With morning and afternoon snacks also included and a balance of fruit, vegetables and dairy in each meal plan parents can be assured kids are receiving the right nutrients to get them through a school day.

Joanna from Mums Lunch and Haggus and Stookles are giving you the chance to WIN a year’s subscription to Mums Lunch along with one of our fantastic Fridge to Go Lunch Boxes – so you will be set for the start of the school year! Total value $72.85.

Fridge to Go Lunch Box

For this giveaway it is one entry per person, it is a game of skill and a winner will be chosen based on their creativity and originality of their answer. Please see the Terms and Conditions below for all the information.

1. As a blog comment below, in 30 words or less, answer the following question:

What is your favourite food you and/or your kids love having in your lunch box?

The competition commences on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and will continue until Wednesday 14th December 2011 10:00 pm AES.

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. The Promoter is Haggus and Stookles, www.haggusandstookles.com.au with the prize supplied by Mum’s Lunch and Haggus and Stookles
2. Submission for this prize constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. All entry instructions and competition information published by the Promoter form part of these conditions. Entry is via Internet only.
3. Entry to the competition is open to all residents of Australia over the age of 18.
4. The competition commences on Wednesday 7th December 2011 from 10:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and will continue until Wednesday 14th December 2011 10:00 pm AEST.
5. To be eligible for the prize, persons must submit a response to the question via public post on www.kidstravelblog.com.au  telling us “In 30 words or less, what is your favourite food you and/or your kids love having in your lunch box? The one (1) person who in the Judge’s opinion submit the most original and creative answer, 30 words or less, will be declared the winner. Mums Lunch will shortlist all entries and judge the winner. The winner will be the entry deemed most creative and practical by the judges. The Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. This is a competition of skill and chance plays no part in determining the outcome. Entries must be the Entrant’s own work and must not infringe any rights of third parties.
6. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any problems or technical malfunction of any communication network or for any late, lost, incomplete, incorrectly submitted, delayed, illegible, corrupted or misdirected entries, claims or correspondence whether due to error, omission, alteration, tampering, deletion, theft, destruction, transmission interruption, communications failure or otherwise. The Promoter has no control over telephone communications, networks or lines and accepts no responsibility for any problems associated with them, whether due to traffic congestion, technical malfunction or otherwise. The Promoter is not liable for any consequences of user error including (without limitation) any costs incurred.
7. One prize winner will be awarded with an annual subscription to Mum’s Lunch valued at $39.90 and a Fridge to Go Medium Lunch Box, valued at $32.95 + cost for postage. The total prize value for this competition is AU$72.85 + cost for postage.
8. Prizes are not transferable, exchangeable, or redeemable for cash. The Prize must be taken as offered and cannot be varied. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any tax implications that may arise from the prize winnings. Independent financial advice should be sought. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any variation in Prize value.
9. To claim the prize, the winner must reply to the winner notification and accept the prize within 14 days of the winner’s notification, as well as indicate their preferred address for the prize to be sent. If the winner does not respond within 14 days, they will forfeit the prize.
10. The Promoter and its associated agencies and companies will not be liable for any damage to or delay in transit of prizes.
Judging
11. Judging will take place at Mums Lunch on December 15th 2011 when winners will be chosen. The winners will be notified by email within 7 days of the judging date. Name of the winner will be published on Haggus and Stookles and Kids Travel Blog websites at the url www.haggusandstookles.com.au and www.kidstravelblog.com.au.
12. Prizes will be posted to the winners at the address nominated by them via email correspondence with the promoter. The personal details provided will not be used for any other purposes than sending the prize and will not be supplied to any other 3rd party suppliers.

Coming to Australia with cheap rental cars just visit www.carrental.com.au, you ensure that you’ll be enjoying every second of your trip.  Indeed, Melbourne is packed with attractions that you can’t possibly miss like the Melbourne Aquarium, the museums, the Windsor Hotel and so on. You wouldn’t want to waste your time on the commute or worse, waiting for a ride to and from these places.

Speaking of the Melbourne Aquarium, here’s just what you can experience when you get there on time with the vehicle you rented out at cheap rental cars.  To start things off, you’ll have over 30 exhibits to juggle in your time.  This is the home for something like 3,000 animals and there are lots for you and your family to see.  One of the notable exhibits is The Sharks Alive exhibit.  You’ll be impressed with the 360 degree viewing area from where you can get a memorable experience looking at what would normally be creatures from the deep blue sea.

As for the museums that are found in the local, they’ve got just about everything.  They have the medical history museum, the old treasury, the railway museum and even the Australian racing museum.  You can choose which museum will provide you with the most excitement or you can go to all of them if you’re time in the city permits. Remember that you can cover more grounds if you have your car rental to move you around.

Another must see in Melbourne is the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. While you’ll be leaving your car out in the parking lot to enjoy your meal in the tram tour, you’ll still need it to get there and go where you want to go after this exhilarating experience.  You can enjoy the sights of Melbourne while you take a three to five course meal.  After seeing the Melbourne landmarks from afar aboard the tram, its time to enjoy them up close through the use of your cheap rental cars.

The Taipan

Jump into fun these school holidays at Jamberoo Action Park. Guaranteeing the very best thrills and spills, NSW’s biggest theme park is the place to have the most fun in the water.

Kicking off in time for the sunny Spring break, Jamberoo is ready for endless family fun, reopening on weekends from 3rd September and every day from 17th September from 10-5pm.

Can you control the action? Dive into NSW’s favourite rides including:

• “The Taipan” – a wild ride to get hearts pounding and awaken any inner rapid water daredevils – no matter how old they are!
• “Surf Hill” – feel the need for speed with the definitive eight lane downhill water race.
• “Rapid River” – relax and float around 240m of waves, caves and waterfalls. A great splashing time!
• “Billabong Beach” – a family favourite for water babies and youngsters, “Billabong Beach” features interactive animals and mini slides.
• “Outback Bay” – holding 2.5million litres of water this is NSW’s biggest wave pool, meaning epic proportions of fun.
  

  Billabong Beach

  Springing into another season of non-stop fun

  Everyone can take advantage of terrific family value at Jamberoo Action Park these school holidays, as admission covers all rides, all day long.

  Jamberoo hosts has a wide range of tasty food outlets including healthy vegetarian and seafood delights at Bombora Seafood, refreshing ice-cream from Bombora Scoop and burgers that blow it out of the park at the Burger Barn. Guests can also bring their own lunch and enjoy the picnic grounds and BBQ facilities.

  But if that’s not enough, the new Beach Hut themed souvenir shop, lets guests take the fun home with them.

  Just over an hour’s drive from Sydney, Jamberoo is the place to soak up some sun or enjoy the twists and turns of NSW’s favourite attractions this school holidays.

  For fast priority entry, tickets can be purchased via the new online ticketing system at www.jamberoo.net.

  Entry pricing for 2011-2012 – Adults (13+) $39, Children (4-12 inclusive) $31, Seniors (60+) $31