What to Pack – Clothing

Our cruise was in April and took us from Sydney, where the departure temperature was a very pleasant 26 degrees, over to New Zealand where the temperatures could potentially drop to single digits. So you can imagine, between 2 adults and 2 kids, we packed a lot. Yes probably too much, and yes not enough of what we needed and too many of what we didn’t need. Of course packing lists will greatly vary depending on where in the world your cruising and the time of the year, but in general I would suggest that you;
Pack lots of underwear and socks. If you go for 10 days, pack enough for 15. Between being in and out of the pools and spas, participating in exercise classes, and freshening up for dinner each night, we went through loads of undies. Throw in a few extra pairs and you won’t regret it.
Don’t overdo it on the warm stuff. You won’t get cold inside the boat, we were more than comfortable in shorts and tshirt, or a dress most of the time. We did have to rug right up on the deck when we hit NZ but one jacket, scarf and beanie each did the trick. I packed too many jumpers and wished that they were tshirts by the end of 10 days.
Pack for your day trips. Make sure you have a rough idea of what you’re going to get up to on port days. If you’re mountain biking in Picton like we were, and it’s muddy…..you’re probably going to need an extra set of clothes on that day.
Take bathers. My kids swum in the indoor and outdoor pools almost every day. The outdoor pool was around 24 degrees and the indoor pool even warmer. We took bathers and we also threw in our 2mm Bailey and Bosun wetsuit for our 4 year old which was a winner.

What to pack – Handy Extras

Allsmalls Hanger – Depending on what type of room you have you’ll probably find there’s not lots of room for drying clothes. We had our own deck and at the last minute I threw in our Allsmalls hanger, which we take camping all the time and knew would come in handy. We tied it up to one of the chairs outside and it made the perfect spot to dry bathers and smalls. You can get one online (they’re an S.A local biz too)

Lanyards – A crusing must. Once aboard each of your family will be given a “SeaPass” which gives you access to your room and also acts as your payment method for anything not included in your package. eg – paying for extended iFLY sessions, paying for a massage, or paying for drinks if you haven’t bought a drinks package. You have to have it on you all day every day, and a lanyard is the perfect way to ensure it doesn’t get lost, especially for kids.
Magnetic Clips – The bathroom door and some of the walls of our stateroom were metal, so we found little magnetic clips really handy for hanging up our sea pass at the end of the day and also putting up a copy of the entertainment program.
Over the door hooks – Something else I threw in last minute and wished I had two of. This was really great for hanging our bulky jackets on or drying towels.
Medicines – Especially kids panadol, nurofen, antihistamines etc. We took plenty but have heard stories of people paying upwards of $100 for Panadol on board.
Magnetic White Board – We didn’t take this, but saw quite a few room doors with them on so that family members could leave messages about where they were or where to meet up “3pm – Mum gone to the pool” or “meet you at the buffet at 6pm” kind of thing. Great idea.
Chargers and Adaptors – Our ship had both US and EUR power outlets plus 2 usb outlets. We took two adaptors and had plenty of charging space.
Pop Up Laundry Bag – Another one I threw in at the last minute and was glad I did. We threw all our dirty washing into the one bag and stored it in the cupboard out of the way. Oh and speaking of laundry, keep your eyes out for and take advantage of any laundry specials on your cruise, they are normally delivered to your room when available. days. On Ovation of the Seas we had a full bag of washing done and returned in 24 hours for $25US (about $38 AUD)
Nappies – obviously if your kids are still wearing nappies you would bring them, but since my 4 year old is only a few months into being consistently dry and night time it was much easier for us to just pack some night time nappies to prevent any accidents. She actually didn’t have any, but glad we took them
Walkie Talkies for the Kids – now we didn’t take these BUT I saw quite a few kids running around with them and thought it was a great idea. I am not sure what brand or model would be best but make sure it’s got a decent range as our ship was over 300m long so you’d want one that covers most of that. Uniden have a 4 pack of walkie talkies that run off batteries (good idea to get some rechargeable ones if you will use them often) The UHF45-4 UHF model has a Kid-Zone function that lets parents block out unwanted conversations so you know your kids are only communicating with who you want them to. They’re around $100 for a 4 pack and you can get them from places like . Would come in really handy.

What NOT to pack

Towels – not necessary. There are plenty on board and you can take as many as you need, as long as they all get returned (you’ll once again use your SeaPass to check in and checkout pool towels and blankets.
Pillows or bedding. Once again there are plenty. If you’re not happy with your pillow they’re more than happy to swap it over for you. Our fold out couch was a bit hard the first night and we had extra mattress toppers put on which made a big difference.
Snacks – There is SO MUCH food available and you’re welcome to take a plate back to your room if you want to. Rooms have a small fridge so you can pop a little fruit platter or some crackers and cheese in there for snacking.
Coat Hangers – I always throw a couple of coat hangers in my bag on holidays, but I didn’t need to. There were plenty available and could ask for more if needed.

If you’d like to know more specific information about our recent 10 days aboard Ovation of the Seas – click here

Ovation Of The Seas holds almost 5,000 people although you wouldn’t know it – once the passengers are spread out between the four pools, twenty restaurants, many bars, theatre, sporting and entertainment facilities means that it feels as spacious as it looks! Plus once you factor in people going ashore for tours and sightseeing, it’s easy to find plenty of quiet spots to relax, enjoy a new activity or be entertained.

This cruise ship literally has EVERYTHING. You would never, ever be bored and no matter whether you are travelling as a couple, a family, a group of friends or even solo there is something for you.

Here are some of the highlights from our trip on Ovation of the Seas

THE FOOD AND DRINKS:

With the exception of alcohol and a the specialty dining restaurants, all food and drinks are included in your cruise package and what a selection! The Windjammer Buffet was my kids idea of a food dream. You couldn’t possibly go hungry. There are options for everyone. From curries to hot dogs, roast dinners to spaghetti, Windjammer is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and was our go to food spot.

When you want a break from the buffet, you can grab a slice of pizza anytime you like from Sorrentos, have morning tea at one of the many cafes, enjoy breakfast with a view or a roast beef roll in CafeTwo70 or enjoy the flavours of the world at the Solarium Bistro Restaurant. The options are endless – oh and there is no extra charge for room service either, so if you feel like a meal in your room, it’s easy as! You can also grab a plate of food and take it back to your room if you want to, or if your kids get a case of the late night hungries like mine do, we made sure the mini fridge in our room had a few bits of fruit and a cookie or two in there in case of emergencies.

You could eat somewhere different every day of your cruise or find a favourite and stick with it! Talking about favourites, the soft serve ice cream got a work out from my family. Ice cream literally on tap – is that not what holiday dreams are made of?!

Even if you are cruising as a family, make sure you stop in at Bionic Bar – in this funky bar, robots make your drink (each robot can make one per minute!), served with a side of technology as the screen tells you the most popular drinks by age group and gender. This bar is a spectacle in itself, so make sure you check it out!

Or you are celebrating a special occasion or just love fine dining, it is well worth booking into one of the specialty restaurants. Be taken on a whimsical culinary adventure in Wonderland, feast on Italian cuisine at Jamie’s Italian, or meet like minded foodies at the Chef’s Table. We visited Wonderland, Izumi Japanese and our highlight meal at Chops Grille where the steaks were sensation and the staff were wonderful – highly recommend. Other members of our group also went to Jamie’s Italian and raved about it. By the time we went to book it was unfortunately sold out but if you want a food tip, Jamie’s and Chops are our pick. If you plan to dine at some of the specialty restaurants it’s a good idea to check out the before you board, you can save $$ to pre book

Absolutely all dietary requirements can be catered for which is great to know for families.

Drinks wise, included in your package you’ll have access to unlimited water, cordial, tea and filtered coffee. Alcoholic drinks can be paid for as you go, or you can purchase a drinks package before you board which will cover you for almost any alcoholic drink you can think of. Wine by the glass, beer, sprits and cocktails. Drinks package are also available for soft drinks and for coffee. You can read more about those

THE ACTIVITIES:

If you finish your trip and say there was nothing to do, you are either lying or didn’t cruise properly! I honestly could not imagine any kid honestly claiming to be bored. there is just SO MUCH to do, for adults and kids alike. The kids and teens can spend time in the Adventure Ocean kids club or teen hangout (where adults are strictly prohibited!) while parents relax in the adults only area complete with cascading pools, spas and a bar overlooking the back of the ship. Go rock-climbing, chuck a few laps around the bumper car track, book in a rollerskating session, take it to new heights with Ripcord by iFLY sessions, riding the Flowrider, swimming in the many pools (indoor and outdoor pools are heated), grab a cocktail or an ice cream and watch the kids at Splashaway Bay waterpark or take part in one of the many classes, trivia, BINGO, gameshows and other planned activities organised for each day. There was even a flash mob group who practiced a routine over the trip and performed it on the last day. This was so fun.

For something really special take a trip in the North Star – a jewel shaped capsule that will take you 90 metres above sea level so you can check out the views from above in complete 360 degree glory! Each passenger will get one free ride in the North Star but I really recommend booking an extended experience and trying to time it on a day where the views are something like the below. What a unique experience.

There are plenty of quiet activities too, trivia, hanging out in the library, catching a movie in the theatre or an outside movie on the pool deck, playing pool or checking out the incredible artwork all over the ship.

Once aboard you can access the Royal Caribbean app where you can get a run down of all the activities on offer for that day, and there is A LOT so it’s a good idea to use it so you don’t miss anything.

THE ENTERTAINMENT:

When Robbie Williams said “Let Me Entertain You”, I’m pretty sure he was singing on behalf of the Royal Caribbean crew! The Royal Theatre seats almost 500 people and stages Broadway style shows, bands, comedians, movies and more. The entertainment area at Two70 is spectacular and the technology behind the staging and AV will blow your mind. Head to the bars for musicians, head along to a 70’s night or get involved with another themed night!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

I loved to see what I refer to as “SURPRISE AND DELIGHT” aspects in any experience and there are plenty of things onboard the Ovation Of The Seas that will surprise and delight you! As you get into the lifts, look down – here you’ll find the day of the week which changes daily so holiday makers can keep track of what day it is. So simple, but very cool! Along the centre of the ship, you’ll find a butterfly wall – touch the butterflies and watch them flutter across the screen. There is a trick to getting all the butterflies to fly at once, but we were sworn to secrecy! See if you can convince one of the crew members to let you in on the secret! There is something to see and something to do at any minute at any spot on this ship.

KIDS CLUB

Is there any other holiday that offers FREE kids club from 9am – 10pm every day?? I can’t think of one.
There are a few options available onboard if you want to sneak off for a drink or dinner alone. Adventure Ocean programs (kids clubs) are divided up into age groups. Aquanauts (age 3-5) Explorers (age 6-8) and Voyagers (age 9-11)
There are three sessions per day from 9am-12pm, 2pm – 5pm and then 7pm – 10pm. Go to one or go to all three.

I can’t tell you exactly what they do in those sessions but what I can tell you is that my 4 year old BEGGED to go back every day and actually cried if we came to pick her up early!! From what she told me there were plenty of games, craft, movie nights, dancing, a pj night, a birthday night. She absolutely LOVED it, which was wonderful because it meant we got some time with eldest daughter, and even some time to grab a drink ALONE!! Yes kids club……YES!

Older kids can attend the Tween and Teen programs onboard. Organised games, sports and parties and teen-only hang out spots looked great and were popular. There are also paid babysitting options for babies or after hours.

THE ROOMS

There are a range of room types available aboard Ovation of the Seas. From interior, ocean view or balcony staterooms right up to Royal Suites you’ll find something to suit your family size and budget. We chose a balcony stateroom and we were happy with our choice, especially being able to wake up to view like the below and go out on the deck to see seals swimming underneath us, or waterfalls rushing from above. If you’re worried about seasickness I think having direct access to fresh air is important too, so I’d pay the bit extra for a balcony if you can. If you’d like some tips on what to pack visit our Crusing with Kids feature here

THE STAFF

The staff were a real highlight for us! They really know how to make your kids feel welcome and went out of their way to make sure they were having fun. From our room attendant Wayan who came each morning and night to make up and pack up our fold out couch/bed and left us a towel animal on the bed each day, to the WONDERFUL Fernanda (allllll the way from Mexico whoop whoop), to Ilias at Windjammer who knew my daughter’s name from day one and made her feel so special every time we visited. The staff were a real highlight and a credit to Royal Caribbean. It really feels like they love their job.

Special shout out to the Kids Club crew. I don’t know what you guys got up to there at Adventure Ocean but whatever it was, keep doing it. My 4 year old could not get enough and begged to go back each day for more.

YOUR QUESTIONS FROM INSTAGRAM

While we were onboard I asked our IG audience to ask any cruising questions they had for me to answer. Here are a few of the most common questions.

Did we get seasick?
For the most part, no. I woke up on the first day feeling a bit iffy but that may have been due to one too many excited Proseccos the night before. It was nothing that a few laps around the deck in the fresh air and a couple of Buderim Ginger Bears didn’t fix. The entire rest of the trip none of us felt sea sick. I did see a few families looking a bit green around the gills so I would definitely suggest packing some Kwells, some ginger tea or ginger bears and maybe a few just in case.

What was the food like?
We thought the food was great! Plenty of it, plenty of variety and the buffet was my kids DREAM. Pasta every night as well as burgers, hot dogs, curries, soups, salads, fried chicken, stirfries and SO MANY DESSERTS. So many….so, so many! We also went to 3 of the speciality restaurants with the highlight for us being Chops Grille where we found the food delicious and the staff excellent. Other members of our group went to Jamie’s Italian and raved about it, by the time we tried to get in it had booked out 🙁

What it expensive?
We paid just over $8000 for 10 nights. 2 adults + 2 kids in an Ocean View Balcony room. This price covers the room + food from the main restaurants and/or the buffet, unlimited hotdogs, pizza, fish and chips and ice creams + basic drinks (water, filter coffee and juice) + activities onboard including the pools, iFLY, FloRider, Rock Climbing and the North Star. Activities at the SeaPlex which is an indoor sports facility with rollerskating, dodgem cars, air hockey, table tennis. You’ll also get free entry to the live shows AND you also get free access to the kids club! Our cruise left from Sydney so we had to also pay for flights, which brought the total to $8500 which is really not too bad for an overseas holiday for a family of 4.

What’s not included in that price?
– Alcoholic drinks are not included in the price and you’ll need to add a drinks package or pay for them as you go. There is also a kids drinks package for unlimited soft drinks, and a coffee package for the coffee lovers. There is free filter coffee and tea available but if you love your coffee you might want to consider the coffee package so you can go your hardest at the onboard Starbucks.
Look out for the that you’ll be emailed after you’ve booked. You can save heaps.
– Any services from the day spa have a fee
– Extra or extended sessions on iFLY have a fee as well as extended or 1:1 FloRider sessions
– North Star also offers extended sessions at an extra price.
– Specialty Dining – There are quite a few speciality restaurants onboard Ovation of the Seas which come at an extra price. These include Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, Wonderland and Izumi Japanese. Take a look at the menus and if you’d like to try them you’re probably going to save some money by purchasing a

Is there WiFi or Internet?
First of all, these are two separate things onboard. The ship has FREE WiFi which allows you to connect to the Royal Caribbean app on your phone and to make reservations, see what activities are happening for the day. This feature is great and really helpful for planning your day, seeing what’s on, booking shows etc. It also includes a chat function where you can message other members of your group, but we found that the connection for this was really glitchy and we all kept dropping in and out, making it virtually impossible to communicate between the 15 people who were in our group
The internet however, wasn’t great.
To access the internet onboard you’ll need to purchase a VOOM package. The cost varies depending on the number of devices and type of package you purchase but it was roughly $25ish per device per day. I tried one day to connect my laptop and check emails but gave up after a very frustrating 30 minutes of trying. There are locations on the ship where the WiFi definitely works better than others, but when you’re paying a couple of hundred bucks to access it I thought it would be better. Maybe it was just our ship or our destination, not sure but we were disappointed with the internet.

If you’d like to know more specific information about cruising with kids, what to pack, what not to pack, tips, tricks and FAQ check out our Cruising with Kids post here.

Ovation Of The Seas has a range of itineraries ranging across multiple cruise lengths and endless destinations. The Australian Summer Season will kick off from November ’24 next year packed with returning favourites, firsts, and new itineraries across three award-winning ships.

Or for some holiday inspo or just to tease yourself,

We paid for this cruise entirely from our own pocket, but after we had booked we were very lucky to be given 2 drinks packages + 3 restaurant dining package + VOOM internet from Royal Caribbean so we could experience everything onboard and write a full review. I was not paid anything for this review.

If you want to know first hand what it’s like aboard stay tuned in December where one of the KiA Nanna’s takes one very lucky KiA Kid ONBOARD! We can’t wait to tell you more later in the year. But for now, here’s what we know.

There are THIRTY 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 night cruises, leaving from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Auckland. Itineraries, prices and what’s included can be found

Of course you can expect all the magic of Disney for the littlest fans, right through to us adult Disney tragics. Here is some of what you can expect on board:

• Disney entertainment – we’re talking Broadway style musicals, deck parties & more!
• Culinary delights – Disney invites you to BE OUR GUEST & experience dining Disney style – just watch out for poison apples!
• Kids Clubs packed FULL of fun experiences & to balance it out – ADULTS ONLY areas, nightlife & pools
• World Class accommodation on-board
• Character encounters – meet your favourite Disney characters on-board
• Relaxation, fun & of course, Disney Magic!

Tickets for the new season go on sale 10pm AEST Monday 26 June 2023. – click here:
But you’d better bibbity bobbity boo, because we are guessing it will sell out QUICK SMART!

Now, in my opinion, holidays with kids are *always* a good idea, and often it’s the little touches that make a place so special. Queensland is and always will be our happy place and the Gold Coast is no exception. Surfers Paradise beckons families year-round with its sunny weather and gorgeous coastline, but with so many high rises and endless accommodation options, deciding where to stay can be a daunting exercise, or at least, it used to be.

I give you… . Heaven for Kids – Paradise for Parents! An absolute mecca for pint-sized guests (and their paying adults), this large family-friendly property promises a trip here isn’t soon forgotten.

With a range of affordable rooms, Paradise Resort offers a comfortable night’s sleep, catering for families of all sizes. During our recent holiday, we chose to stay in a . Why you ask? Quite simply because, the multi-coloured bunk beds were a hit with my kids (two and four years old) and the built-in gaming console (YUP – you read that right!) was a winner from day one, even if they had no idea how to play them. Larger families will love the interconnecting rooms, guaranteed for maximum space with an adjoining door between them. Or if you want to spread out, check out the newly renovated Dusty’s Deluxe Family Rooms, featuring two bedrooms and sleeping up to six guests. Most rooms are equipped with a small fridge, microwave and toaster; and each features an air conditioner, smart TV (or two) and daily housekeeping. Anyone else love a freshly made bed?

You’ll be able to experience all the city has to offer, being in close proximity to Cavil Ave, a short stroll to the glistening beaches and conveniently located nearby a tram stop, if you want to venture out a bit further.

That said, there are a tonne of action-packed activities right on the property. The kids will make themselves at home hitting the showstopping Z4K Water Park. Complete with multiple water slides and interactive hands-on water play features, this mega aqua zone is a highlight for many and is guaranteed to tire out the kiddos. It’s a bucket load of fun (quite literally) when the giant bucket holding 600 litres (give or take) of water comes crashing down every few minutes. Listen for the squeals of delight but just keep an eye on the younger kids, it can be a tad scary if you’re directly underneath the dumpings. Luckily, these guys have thought of everything and recreated a mini version of the splash park over the other side, exclusively for the smaller tots.

Smack bang in the centre of the resort grounds sits a rather inviting lagoon pool where families can cool off in style, swimming to their heart’s content, or at least until their fingers start to shrivel. Adjacent to that, is an outdoor spa.

“I’m bored!” are two words you won’t hear at this resort. There’s an adventure playground that is fenced off, a miniature train to ride, dunk tanks for some cheeky fun, and a couple of trampolines, just in case the kids don’t already have enough to do. Good luck pulling your kids away from the outdoor features, they’re spectacular. But never fear, there’s also plenty of lounge chairs to sit and relax poolside with a Mojito.

If you need some reprieve from the sunny rays there’s also an indoor play gym to keep the youngsters happy, an epic games room, a nine-metre rock climbing wall and even laser tag. Planet Chill presents more opportunities for family fun with an indoor ice-skating rink, perfect for ages 3 and up. Now, if you’ve ever cruised before, and I say this because this part reminds me so much of cruising (which let me add is awesome), you’ll be familiar with having a daily schedule. A tailored list of activities planned at certain times throughout the day. Well, the same goes for Paradise Resort. There are lots of activities on offer to entertain even the fussiest of families, including cooking classes, hair braiding, slime-making workshops, trivia, organised pool games and more. Feel free to check out the ‘Weekly What’s On’ guide .

Hungry families will appreciate the onsite dining options. Start your day off right with a continental all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Penguins Restaurant. Our kids tasted Coco Pops for the first time, you should’ve seen their eyes light up. If you’d rather have a hot breakfast, you can. I’m a sucker for a good Eggs Benedict, and had to try it – it was delicious! Coffee is good! You can enjoy dinner here too and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality food. The kids’ menu is ample and well-priced, as you’d expect from a resort whose philosophy is family-friendliness. Now, aside from Penguins Restaurant there’s a Burger Bar, a Pizza Shack (do yourself a favour and try the pepperoni pizza) and a Poolside Cafe and Bar. I could list ALL my favourite cocktails enjoyed over the eight days we visited, but let’s keep the focus on the kids shall we?

The resorts Kids’ Club offers parents the chance to relax and unwind, as the youngsters are off making new friends and having the time of their lives. Whilst you’re probably not keen to pack the little ones off for an entrie week, you should totally take advantage of either a morning or afternoon session. There are two specifically designed play areas, one for babies and toddlers and the other for ages 3-12. My kids loved it so much, they ASKED to go Every. Single. Day – and no, I am not exaggerating!

Hats off to the staff, who are brilliant. We were on a first-name basis with most of them and you can tell they genuinely love being there. I mean can you blame them? What a cool place to work!

Our Tips:

• Pack your own towels. Pool/ beach towels aren’t supplied and trust me, you’ll need them.
• Find out what’s on while you’re there and underline the things you don’t want to miss.
• Take floaties or a rubber ring if your littles aren’t confident in the water, peace of mind.
• We hired a double pram from (who partner with Paradise Resort). Delivered and Picked up to and from the resort, this was a lifesaver!

If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort, look no further. The kids may never want to leave, and to be honest, you may not either!

Keep an eye out on their website for special rates/ deals. Sometimes you can snag a package that includes breakfast or credit for Experience Oz, etc which is a great money saver!

122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers ParadiseQueensland, 4217, Australia
For Reservations – call: 1800 074 111 or you can email them here
Find them on or

COVID has been as much fun for travellers as watching footy has been for crows fans this past year, but with life seemingly on the brink of returning to some normality (I mean toilet paper is now on the shelves again and we don’t have to buy the crappy pasta even the hoarders didn’t want) the Federal Government are going to help get us back in the air again!

So how exactly are they doing this? They are pumping $1.2 Billion (that’s Billion with a B…..or what Jeff Bezos has as loose change in his car) to subsidize about 800, 000 airline tickets for flights throughout Australia. With the exception of 91������ý to KI, all of the routes that will be cheap are interstate ones (so far any way), so bring on a trip to the Goldy for theme parks and more with the kids, or maybe stay local and jump on the KI flights. At this stage 91������ý routes that have been announced are as follows;

• 91������ý – Gold Coast
• 91������ý – Kingscote (Kangaroo Island)
• 91������ý – Maroochydore (QLD)
• 91������ý – Alice Springs

The flights will be available to purchase from April 1 for travel after May 1 (until the end of September), with Qantas , Virgin and Jetstar expected to be the main carriers (but smaller ones may jump on too). There may be more routes announced but at this stage, this is what is on offer.

So keep on eye out with your fave airline and good luck!

Grab some more info on Kangaroo Island for Families and Gold Coast for Families,

Where to Stay

Paradise Resort – Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Heaven for Kids, Paradise for Parents – Never a truer word spoken!

There’s a reason this resort has won sooo many awards and if you have kids (which you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be here), you may have heard of it already. Located a stone’s throw away from the heart of Surfers Paradise, this place is sure to put a smile on your face, regardless of age.

A massive water park, an ice-skating rink, and a Kids Club are just a few of the many delights awaiting guests at Paradise Resort. With affordable accommodation and countless family-friendly activities, you’ll want to book in *at least* a few nights here. In fact, we stayed eight nights and had days where we didn’t even leave the resort. The resort and family rooms can accommodate up to eight guests with little extras like footstalls, etc to truly make children and their parents feel comfortable. The food is restaurant quality and the options are plentiful. Lounge by the pool or ride the miniature train, but whatever you do, don’t leave without meeting the Paradise Resort mascots!

Experience a family getaway everyone will remember!

For a full Kids in 91������ý review, click here.

To book visit:

Gemini Court Holiday Apartments – Hayle Street Burleigh Heads

I am actually not sure that I have EVER seen a balcony view as good as this.

is located on the Southern end of the Gold Coast, in the very “cool” suburb of Burleigh Heads. Directly opposite Burleigh Beach, a short walk to James street for some great restaurants and shopping, and no more than 30 minutes drive to pretty much anywhere you’ll be wanting to visit while on holiday.

Choose from 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and if you can, pay a little bit extra for an ocean view. You will not regret that decision! Facilities included a heated pool, spa, sauna and tennis court. There’s also a BBQ area overlooking the beach and free undercover parking, which comes in VERY handy in this area.

Tip – If you book, ask for one of the rooms Kids in 91������ý stayed in!

Q1 Resort & Spa – Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise

If you want to be in the thick of the action and in the tallest residential resort tower on the Gold Coast, Q1 is your place. Call it the mothership of the Goldy if you will. Located right in the heart of busy and bustling Surfers Paradise, we chose this beautiful iconic accommodation for its great value packages for a three-night stay. There is a fantastic selection of apartments that suit families and groups of all sizes. We also thought it had the biggest and best swimming pools of any accommodation that we could find, two outdoor and one indoor and that was high on the kids agenda. The burgers onsite at ‘Longboards’ were pretty epic ….and well yes, the cocktail list wasn’t too shabby either. Our room included onsite self car parking, which is a great value add and an expense people often overlook. We believe there are also cheaper room rate options if you are happy to opt out of daily housekeeping.

The views (check your room type) from our 44th-floor apartment (that’s only about halfway up) were nothing short of breathtaking, and if you are a new visitor to the Gold Coast, a room with an ocean view is a must.

Last of all, we made the trip to the 77th-floor observation deck (charges apply), and enjoyed a happy hour drink up there to watch the sunset. The kids LOVED this and were welcomed with some great free school holidays entertainment. You can also do breakfast up there on the weekends!

View more and book

Where to Eat

The Gold Coast has a huge range of cafes and restaurants to choose from but you can’t go wrong with a local surfie. We visited two of the best ones on the Coast and they both didn’t disappoint.

You’ll find right on the beach in Surfers Paradise, not far from the Q1. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and their award winning restaurant has a fantastic menu with steak, seafood, pastas, salads and a great $10.70 kids menu that includes a choice of pizza, pasta , fish and chips or chicken tenders with a soft drink and ice cream.The staff were so friendly and even let the girls try EVERY flavour of ice cream before deciding.
Tip – bookings are recommended, and ask for a table near the window or on the deck to enjoy the stunning beach view while you eat and bring your bathers for a post meal dip between the flags!

On the southern end of the Coast is . Recently renovated to include a huge deck with views of gorgeous Palm Beach and an excellent playground this makes a great spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This surf club also has a great range of dishes, some excellent daily specials and they also have a kids menu for under 10 bucks. There is also a kids corner with video games and a chocolate machine…..bring your coins if you want to enjoy a meal in peace!
Tip – come here for lunch and ask for a table on the deck where you can sit and watch the kids in the playground. Kids eat FREE on Thursday nights too.

For breakfast on the southern end, try on James Street in Burleigh Heads. Don’t be fooled by the small street entry, this place is huge with lots of room for large groups and prams. We went a bit crazy and almost ordered one of everything from the menu, it all just looked too good and we couldn’t choose. The coffee was excellent and the kids LOVED the great value kids breakfast platter which had fruit, museli and yoghurt and a babyccino. They also do lunch and the menu looks just as good.
Tip – book a table, especially on the weekend, this place gets busy!

How hard is it to find a place to eat that has something on the menu that EVERYONE in the family will enjoy……..almost impossible right? Well, have solved this problem with their fantastic market style concept. FIVE kitchens are within this large two story venue serving up drool worthy American, Italian, Mexican, Asian and Greek dishes. Each table is given an iPad and away you go. Order a bit from here, a bit from there, a burger for you and noodles for me! It’s BRILLIANT (and delicious)
It’s a bustling spot that’s always busy and there were lots of kids and families enjoying themselves. The staff were super friendly and had fun helping the girls choose what they wanted to eat.
Tip – definitely book and if you need large table or have a pram ask for a table up the back. There’s a great back corner table that’s perfect for a large family. Oh, and order the mac and cheese if your kids are into that, it was delicious.

What to do

It’s no wonder they call the Gold Coast “Australia’s Favourite Playground” because there is SO much to do for families that it’s almost impossible to choose. And did you know that the Gold Coast averages 300 sunny days a year. You’d be pretty unlucky to have the weather spoil all of your plans, but just in case you need an indoor idea is the ultimate in indoor fun.

Have you ever wanted to try skydiving, but throwing yourself out of a plane isn’t something that’s ever going to happen? Well you need to get to iFLY indoor skydiving, stat! Suitable for ages 3 and up this is something the whole family can do and it’s something you’ll remember for a long time. After your orientation and gearing up your instructor will guide you into the wind tunnel and be with you the whole time guiding you on how to position your body.
Tip – pay an extra $15 for the “high fly” and Mums and Dads make sure you get in on this one too. The kids were THRILLED that I gave it a go too.

In the same building we were also lucky enough to sneak in a little sample session at . A virtual reality experience for ages 10+. We geared up and took on Ghost Patrol zapping pink and blue ghosts with our lasers and stun guns. I’ve never tried VR before and this was FUN. Older kids will love this and it’s also an option for kids who aren’t keen to fly.

Love art, photography and an immersive experience? Ever experienced a ‘trick art’ gallery? We cant get enough of looking at our photos from our visit to . Conveniently located in Robina Town Centre you will love the experience and photography that you can take of seemingly gravity (and maybe even death) defying stunts and scenes. The entire family will really enjoy this. Not much of a photographer? Never fear, the floor is marked with simple instructions telling you exactly where to stand and how to shoot – or go it your own way and get creative. With eight rooms and over eighty works of art to play in, allow a couple of hours for this activity.

A great spot to start your holiday and get your bearings is , located at the top of one of Australia’s tallest residential building, the Q1, in Surfers Paradise. Ride the elevator all the way up to the 77th floor for a spectacular 360 degree view of the entire Gold Coast, from the beach to the hinterland. Grab a bite to eat, coffee and cake or a cheeky wine and take in the stunning view. If you’re feeling really brave, and aged over 12 you can tackle the Skypoint Climb, Australia’s highest external building climb.

Hard to miss from the highway with it’s huge yellow ball has THREE 18 hole courses that are all themed and very well maintained. Take a walk on the wild side on the Jungle Trail, make your way around the cheeky characters and tricky motorised obstacles on Fun Run or escape to a tropical oasis playing Waterways.
There’s a video game arcade and licenced cafe and plenty of parking. Open 7 days from 9am to 10pm.

You can’t come to the Gold Coast and not surf, or at least learn to surf. It’s home to some of the world’s most famous breaks and to go home telling everyone that ex World Champion and big wave legend, Cheyne Horan taught you to stand up on your first wave is pretty cool!
and his team of qualified instructors run beginner and intermediate surf lessons for kids and adults both in group session and private lessons. We jumped in on a 2 hour session at Burleigh Beach. It was brilliant and the tips and advice was fun, friendly and best of all actually worked – we were all standing up and catching waves by the end of it. The kids were so excited and wanted to keep going for longer.
Tip – do this early in your trip so you have time to book a 2nd lesson before you go home. Chances are the kids will be begging for it.

If animals are your families thing, then plan to spend a whole day at . Feed the kangaroos, hold a koala, watch one of the many incredible animal shows or ride the train around and around (and around). Catch the free wild lorikeet feeding sessions that happen twice daily at 8am and 4pm, enjoy watching and learning from the Aboriginal dance performance, attempt the high ropes course at The Treetop Challenge, visit the animal hospital…..and as if that’s not enough they have also recently opened Wild Island Adventure Splash Zone which includes one of the coolest looking playgrounds we’ve ever seen AND a super fun splash zone with water jets and a tipping bucket. It really is a full day of fun and great for kids of all ages, from babies right up to teens.
Tip – Pack your bathers and a change of clothes and be there for the WildSkies bird presentation, it’s awesome!

And last but certainly not least, and actually one of our favourite activities for the weekend was . This is Gold Coast’s only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre and is fully owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community. We did the 2 hour Jellurgal Walkabout Tour that runs once a week on Thursdays at 10am, or by private group booking. After a short video presentation you are taken on a guided walk around the headland where you learn about traditional life pre-contact, bush tucker, fishing and hunting and the important ecological practices and connection to the land displayed by the Yugambeh speaking people. The tour is best suited for school age children and upwards and we’d suggest you but babies in carriers rather than prams as the track can get quite narrow and busy with other walkers. The kids were given activity books that they enjoyed completing over the duration of the tour. We learnt about areas of significance, heard stories, made ochre and spotted lots of local wildlife including lizards, borobi (koala) and even a group of Tawny Frogmouths which was pretty special. Our kids were fully engaged for the whole tour and our guide was fantastic answering the many and varied questions that were asked. This is a great activity to take the family at the start of your holiday, it will open your eyes to the incredible history of the area and teach your kids about the traditional owners and ongoing custodians of this beautiful place.

We fit ALL of this into one weekend and by the end of it we were exhausted but full of laughs, memories and stories from all the fun. As you can see, there’s MUCH more to the Gold Coast than just the theme parks and beaches and just a 2.5 hour flight direct from 91������ý makes it a great family holiday option for 2021.

It’s time to Play Again!

We were gifted the above from Destination Gold Coast and the businesses mentioned above. No monetary payment was received for my comments and all opinions are our own.

I’ve been to the snow before, but never in Australia and never with kids. I’ve heard some scary stories about how expensive it can be here in Oz, so we’ve previously opted to go to NZ or Japan instead, but this year we decided very last minute to see if we could put together a long weekend for my daughters 5th birthday…..without having to sell all her toys to afford it 🙂

I’m not going to lie, it’s not a “cheap” holiday BUT I did find some ways to make it not quite so ouchy on the bank balance.

Drive there………….or find some cheap flights like we did

We had intended on driving from 91������ý to Mt Hotham which is around 12 hours through Swan Hill, Shepparton and Wangaratta BUT after scoring some super cheap flights and sharing car hire between 2 families we decided the fly/drive option was better. We flew into Melbourne Tullamarine airport, hired a car and made the 3 hour drive to Bright.

I did meet quite a few people from 91������ý who drove over, some who drive over every year for the convenience of having their own car, and not having to lug kids through the airport. Most of them leave really early in the morning to arrive early evening in time to settle into your accommodation and get a good night sleep before your first day on the slopes.

You’ll need to do your own sums and work out which option will work out cheaper for the time you want to go, but worth considering both. If you do decide to hire a car keep in mind that you’ll need something big enough for your group AND your gear so don’t hire anything too small and also it is a legal requirement for ALL CARS to carry chains.

With 3 adults, 1 teenager and a 4 year old in a booster we opted for a Kia Carnivale and hired our chains from (more info below) which was great because they have mobile chain fitters stationed on the way up and down the mountain so we didn’t need to worry about fitting them ourselves.

Consider staying off the mountain

There are lots of accommodation options at Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain but for a family of 2 adults and 2 children in you’re going to be looking at at least $500-$600 a night. OUCH! We decided to stay down the mountain at in the stunning little town of Bright about 55kms from Mt Hotham summit and 65 kms to Dinner Plain.

We stayed in their new . With 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchenette, lounge room, deck with built in BBQ, heating, Foxtel as well as the park facilities which include 2 playgrounds, swimming pool (not for Winter brrrrr) mini golf and go kart hire it is a great option.

In Winter the price per night for our villa is around $22o per night, A LOT cheaper. Visit their to take a closer look and book online

Although you have to make the drive up and down every day if you stay off the mountain (around 70 minutes each way – depending on weather and traffic) you have the advantage of making the most of the many delicious and much cheaper dining options in town including Bright Brewery, Gum Tree Pies, Roksalt Fish and Chips and Ginger Baker Cafe…..as well as pizza, Indian, Chinese and pretty much anything else you might feel like after a fun day on the slopes. There are also supermarkets, bottle shops, petrol stations and other convenience stores available in town that are not available when you get up the mountain. Make special note of there being NO PETROL STATIONS on Mt Hotham, as we very very almost learned the very very hard way (our car literally limped into Bright on less than a whiff of fuel one day – not fun)

Dinner Plain

About 10kms past Mt Hotham you’ll find the gorgeous little town of and if you’re visiting the snow for the first time, have small kids or you’re more after a snow experience than a serious skiing holiday THIS is the place for you!

Scrubbers End has a gentle, easy to use poma lift and very patient lift staff who went out of their way to teach everyone how to use it. Kids can build a snowman, have a snowball fight, toboggan and just play play play in the snow at the Snow Park. There’s cafes, shops, ski hire/lessons and pretty much everything you need for the whole family to have a great time.

Hire your gear if you can’t beg, borrow or steal it

OK obviously don’t steal it BUT if you can’t borrow your gear, or buy some cheap second hand snow clothes online not to worry. can sort you right out! When it comes to equipment (boards, skis, helmets etc) it’s MUCH better to get something that is the right size for you and your kids so if you don’t have your own it’s a very good idea to give the Hoy’s guys a visit. They spent time with all of us making sure we had the right fit, the right size and the right safety gear. The wrong gear can really ruin your time in the snow, so please make sure you get this part right.

Hoy’s have stores located in Harrietville, Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain and don’t forget when you hire chains from Hoys Harrietville – you get your chains fitted & removed for free by their mobile chain fitting service on your way up the mountain. Hoys offer great deals – & receive 25% off ski & board packages. Hoys are a family owned business operating for over 60 years & offer awesome service & high quality rental gear.

Invest in some lessons

There’s nothing more frustrating, or dangerous, than hitting the slopes and having no idea how to control your skis or board. Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain both offer ski school, group lessons and private lessons and I HIGHLY recommend you include at least one of these options into your budget if you’re new to skiing/boarding. We had 2 private lessons with Rosie from Hotham Alpine Resort and she got my daughter from never seeing snow before to turning, stopping, jumping and getting herself independently up and down the mountain in THREE HOURS! Private lessons can be shared between up to 4 people in the same family or group so if your whole family is new you can all learn together. Note: be prepared to be totally put to shame by your kids, their lack of fear, low centre of gravity, agility and just bloody cleverness makes them quick to pick it up.

Save some money on your lift passes

Lift passes aren’t cheap BUT Mt Hotham do have some options to make them more affordable for families.

1. Buy your 15 days in advance and you’ll save around 15%.
2. Opt for and you’ll also save money.
3. Kids 5 and under ski for FREE
4. Check out the which is great for parents who are both wanting to ski/boardAfter one parent purchases a full day or half day lift pass, the second parent can purchase the Parents’ Pass at nearly half the price of a full day lift pass. The Parents’Pass is a 3 hour lift pass valid from the first scan and is only available for those with children three years and under.

to find our more about the lift pass options available at Mt Hotham for 2017

And if you want to splurge on something truly AMAZING check out Howling Husky Sled Dog Tours at Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain

We were SO LUCKY to be given the opportunity to surprise my daughter for her birthday with a Husky Sled ride with the team out of their Mt Hotham location. Our 75 minute session was broken up into 2 x 30 minute rides (2 people per ride) so I went on the first one with her, and my 15 year old nephew went on the second ride with her (lucky girl got 2 rides). Our driver Jake stopped a few times along the trail to tell us all sorts of interesting info about his Husky team. I was so amazed to hear that over half the team are rescue dogs and they clearly love being out there in the snow and are very well looked after.

There is a purpose built track which follows the most gorgeous trail through the winter wonderland scene. The dogs are gorgeous and much to my daughters massive delight, loved being cuddled and cuddled and cuddled.

There is also a at this location run by the same people where kids can play in the dedicated kids snow play area, toboggan area, play snow laser skirmish and even a kids snowmobile area!

The husky sled ride was truly fantastic and my daughter hasn’t stopped raving about it since we got home. If your budget can stretch, please do this it’s such a special memory. Big thanks to the team for this experience.

Disclaimer: Some of the products and services mentioned above were given to us free of charge. We were not required to write a positive review. We did not receive any monetary compensation for this review and all opinions expressed are our own.

Below are some tips for camping beginners that I’ve come up with based on our experience so far. I’m SURE there are many more to add to this list so please feel free to comment below if you have a camping tip or product you think we should try next time.

Get yourself a good tent.

Work out what your budget is and get the best tent you can afford (which by the way, isn’t always necessarily the most expensive one) If you go camping and you’ve got a crappy tent it’s the WORST. So do some research and ask your camping friends what they use, and what they recommend. Or go into your local camping store and ask lots of questions and let them help you find the right tent. Oh and ps – if you buy a new tent PLEASE make sure you have a practice run putting it up BEFORE you go camping. Tent amateur-ness almost resulted in divorce on a trip we did last year (joking/but kinda not joking) Not all tents are created equal!!!!
We bought a  online from .

Work out your sleeping arrangements

Also a good one to ask around about this one. There are lots of options, air beds, camp beds, self inflating mats. Will the kids sleep in with you or will they need their own mattress? Do you need a portacot? How much room do you have in your tent? Is it going to be cold – should you throw in that extra sleeping bag just in case? Nothing is fun when you’ve had a bad night sleep so make sure you’re sleeping arrangements are warm and comfortable and you’ll have happy campers!

Check the weather!

And then check it again the morning you leave. There’s nothing worse than not packing the right clothing to suit the conditions, especially when kids are involved. If it’s looking like cold weather, you’ll never regret throwing in that extra jacket or that extra beanie and scarf. Things have a way of getting wet when we camp so we always take at least two of everything.

Organise your car activities!

Camping normally involves a bit of driving to get to your destination so make sure you have plenty of snacks, water, colouring books or the iPad charged and loaded with movies or games. Google “car games for kids” and refresh your memory on all those car games we used to play before iPads too. Remember spotto, car cricket, animal mineral vegetable, and of course eye spy. These things will also come in handy if you get wet weather and are tent bound. ps – my daughter asked me if we were ‘there yet’ before we had even left our driveway? My face looked a bit like this

Remember the essentials.

Write a list of all your “must packs” include on this list things like first aid kit, dustpan and broom for cleaning out the tent, hand sanitiser, a few toilet rolls, some baby wipes, sunscreen, raincoats or ponchos – so you can still explore in the rain, mozzie repellent, a lighter, torch, spare plastic bags etc. If you need help with this check out the . Not only is it a great way for kids to journal their camping memories, it also comes with a really handy packing checklist! (affiliate link)

Do a bit of research on the place you’re going.

You don’t need to buy the Lonely Planet guide every time you go camping, but make sure you do a bit of online searching for things to do and see in the area. One of the best parts about camping is exploring new places, and sometimes those places can be on the way to the campsite, or just a little drive out of town. Let the kids play! Let them run and climb and explore and dig and get dirty! That’s what camping is all about! Plus it makes for great campfire stories before bedtime.

If you’re looking for ideas on where to go, take a look at our “Camping Near 91������ý” post for some camping spots within a 2 hour drive from the city.

Also, if you’re brand new to camping it might be a good idea to choose spots that are in, or close to town for the first few times. As we are learning, camping is definitely something that gets better with practice and you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere without nappies for the baby……in a tent……overnight……eeeeek!

If you can, have a campfire.

Toasting marshmallows around a campfire is such a great memory for a child. Finding that perfect stick and finding that perfect balance between perfectly gooey and burnt. Just make sure you check with the park you’re staying at if they are allowed, and also make sure you check if there are any fire bans in place.

Get this app

Hopefully you’ll get a clear sky at night and be able to do some star gazing, and if you’re a bit rusty on the old solar system, the is ADDICTIVE!

Camp Chairs

We recently upgraded our camp chairs too and I’m a bit in love. Possibly because our last ones were about 100 years old, falling apart and as comfortable as sitting on rocks, but I can’t recommend a little camping chair splurge enough. Hopefully you’ll get to do a fair bit of sitting and relaxing on your trip, whether it be sitting on the beach, fishing on the lake or sitting around the campfire, try and get yourself a good chair!

have a bunch of camp chairs online and instore at their big new store on Main North Rd at Prospect.

Plastic tubs

I find they make packing SO much easier! We have one long flat one that fits perfectly under the esky in the boot of the car and it fits all of our dry food, cups, plates and cutlery in it. We also have another one we use for clothes, and when we arrive they get transferred to our . Yes, I know the hard core campers out there will be scoffing at my shelves BUT these things are the BEST! They get your clothes up off the ground saving floor space, and also keeping them clean and dry. And the pockets are great for toilet keys (that always go missing for us) toiletries, medicines you need to keep up high etc. If you can afford these, trust me, get them!

Pegless Clothesline! Genius and VERY handy

No pegs, no worries! Hang your wet towels, wetsuits and clothes out with these clever UV protected pegless clotheslines. Wrap the bungee cords around your tent poles, tree or awning and slide your wet stuff in. A great addition to the camping kit. Available online at

The rules, a boring but important one.

When you arrive and set up your campsite make sure the kids know “the rules”. Take a walk around the park so they know where your site is if they get lost, show them where reception is, tell them the boundaries of play, make sure they know not to go near any water unless a parent is with them, make sure they have someone with them when they go to the toilet/shower. Going through the rules as soon as you get there will hopefully make for a safe and fun camping trip for everyone.