There is so much happening this Easter weekend in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½! There are Easter markets, family friendly days out at wineries, fundraisers & more! Visit one of our regional chocolate factories, such as Melbas or Barossa Valley Chocolate Company. If you fancy an Easter Market, there’s plenty to choose from. We recommend a visit to Meadows Easter Fair which spans over the whole long weekend! Which 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Easter events will you be hopping into?

No matter how you celebrate Easter in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ over the long weekend with your family, we hope it is fun, safe & delicious! If you’re looking for the best Easter events in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ for kids, we’ve rounded up the top family-friendly things to do this Easter long weekend.

Easter Long Weekend Events in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½

What’s Open this Easter in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½

TreeClimb

Open Easter Saturday & Easter Monday at all 3 locations; 91¹û¶³´«Ã½, Salisbury and Kuitpo Forest. 
Closed Good Friday & Easter Sunday

Laneway Boulders

Open everyday over the Easter weekend. Take part in the laneway Easter hunt where you can find an egg and claim the prize inside. Everyday eggs will be hidden around the gym with each egg containing prizes such as coffee, merch, day passes, chalk refills and the Golden Ticket! 

KIIS 1023 Skyline Giant Ferris Wheel

Open every day of the Easter Weekend from 10am-9.30pm.

Tada Kids Cafe

Open Saturday 4th April.

Closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday.

Woodhouse Adventure

Open all weekend 9am – 5pm. Camping and day adventures with plenty of outdoor screen-free fun and some great EGGSTRAS for Easter. 

Bounce

Open all weekend from 10am each day. Located at both Marleston and Greenacres. 

AFL Max

Open Saturday and Easter Sunday 10.30am-2.30pm.

Closed Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Monarto Zoo

Open every day of the Easter Weekend. Families can explore while taking part in our Giant Easter Egg Trail, enjoy creative colouring activities, Melba’s chocolate giveaways on Easter Sunday *stocks are limited and the chance to win some great prizes.

91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Zoo

Open every day of the Easter Weekend from 9.30am-5pm. Enjoy special Easter activities including celebrating the Greater Bilby, craft workshops and activities, as well as a chance to win a hamper. Visitors are strongly encouraged to prebook tickets prior to your visit.

Hahndorf Farm Barn

The Farm Barn is open everyday from 10am-4pm over the Easter Weekend.

Hey Caddy Easter Hunt

Join the fun these school holidays at the Hey Caddy Easter Hunt, included FREE with any mini-golf booking.
Search the course for hidden Easter surprises and enjoy a prize for every participant, plus the chance to win a giant Easter egg.

A great activity for families this Easter- book your round and start the hunt! Available at West Lakes and Marion Hey Caddy/ X-Golf.

Closed Good Friday. Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Little Rockets Play Cafe Barossa

Open everyday. Good Friday 9am-2pm. Easter Saturday 9am-2pm. Easter Sunday 10am-2pm.

Get ready for an egg-citing Easter long weekend packed with fun, games and sweet surprises.

Bazinga

Munno Para and Barossa open Saturday and Easter Sunday 10am-3pm. Closed Good Friday and Easter Monday. 1/2 price arcade tokens and they will double your tickets for double the prizes!

Lenswood Pick your own

Apple Picking- Open everydayover the Easter Weekend. 9am-4pm. No booking required. 

SA Museum

Closed Good Friday.

Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 10am-5pm.

Fox in a Box

Open everyday over the Easter Weekend from 10am-10pm. Bookings are required.

91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Cup Day long weekend happens every March. In 2026 it falls on Monday March 9 giving us a long weekend!

It’s not called “Mad March” in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ for nothing! There are PLENTY of family friendly events happening across the state at this time of the year, including of course the 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Fringe. If the weather is still warm (likely!) maybe check out one of our favourite beaches or secret swimming spots (but shhh!). It’s also a great time for strawberry picking, heading on a bit of a road trip to do some camping or even just have a day trip with the family. A long weekend is also a great time to take the kids to one of those places you have been promising you’ll go to for forever – TreeClimb, The Farm Barn or perhaps a round of putt putt? It’s also a great time to tick some spots and activities off of our Familiy Bucket List

Find inspiration for your perfect 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ March long weekend adventure by checking out our top picks for families in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ below!

91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Fringe

The March long weekend sits right in the middle of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Fringe, making it one of the best times to experience the festival with kids. Across the city and suburbs you’ll find family-friendly comedy, magic shows, circus performances, interactive theatre and outdoor entertainment designed especially for younger audiences. Festival hubs are buzzing during the day and come alive at night with street performers, live music and plenty of food options.

get all the fringe for kids info here

WOMADelaide

WOMADelaide returns across the March long weekend, transforming the beautiful surrounds of Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla into a colourful celebration of music, culture and creativity from around the world. While it’s known for its incredible global music lineup, families love WOMAD for its relaxed atmosphere, wide open spaces and dedicated KidZone packed with hands-on workshops, performances and interactive activities. Think roaming performers, delicious international food stalls, shady picnic spots and a festival vibe that’s surprisingly family-friendly. Pack a picnic rug, take things at your own pace and let the kids soak up one of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s most unique festival experiences.

more info here 

Take a Spin at Glenelg

Add a little wow-factor to your March long weekend with a ride on the KIIS 1023 Giant Wheel at Glenelg. Sitting right by the beach, this family-friendly attraction offers sweeping views across the coastline, Jetty Road and out over the ocean. We love it at sunset. The enclosed gondolas make it suitable for all ages. Whether it’s your first ride or a family tradition, it’s a fun way to see Glenelg from a whole new perspective.

info here

Find a new playground

If your kids measure weekends by playground quality, this is the perfect time to try somewhere new. 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ is packed with incredible destination playgrounds featuring giant slides, nature play areas, climbing structures and splash zones. The cooler autumn weather makes park hopping much more enjoyable, so grab a coffee, pack the scooters and turn the long weekend into a mini playground adventure.

check our playground map here

Strawberry Picking at Beerenberg

Strawberry picking season is usually in full swing over the March long weekend, making it the perfect time to head up to Beerenberg Farm in the 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Hills for a classic family outing. Kids love wandering the rows searching for the juiciest berries, and there’s something pretty special about picking your own fruit straight from the farm. After filling your basket, stop by the farm shop for fresh produce, jams, sauces and sweet treats, or relax on the lawns with a bite to eat while soaking up those beautiful Hills views. It’s an easy, wholesome day out that ticks the boxes for fresh air, fun and delicious rewards.

more info here

Go for a Round or Two

Mini golf is one of those easy win activities that works for all ages, making it perfect for the March long weekend. Across 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ you’ll find colourful themed courses, indoor glow golf experiences and outdoor family-friendly layouts where kids can practise their putting while parents join in the fun. It’s relaxed, a little bit competitive and whether you’re chasing hole-in-one glory or just laughing your way around the course, mini golf is always a crowd-pleaser.

find mini golf in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ here

Long Weekend at Woodhouse

Woodhouse Adventure Park is gearing up for three epic days of adventure over the March long weekend
From twilight Laser Skirmish and Tube Slides to photo hunts and camp-style fun, camping at Woodhouse means the adventure doesn’t stop at 5pm… it keeps going all long weekend!

Whether you visit for the day or book a few nights camping, you’ll have access to all the classic Woodhouse adventure activities including the tube slides, challenge hill, maze, bouldering, orienteering, disc golf and so much more! We love Woodhouse!

Morphett Vale Railway Miniature Trains

Head to the Morphett Vale Railway at Wilfred Taylor Reserve on Sunday March 8, where miniature trains offer a charming ride experience perfect for families. Run entirely by passionate volunteers, this community railway lets kids (and adults!) hop aboard scaled-down trains for unlimited rides during open sessions. With a relaxed park setting, refreshments available and plenty of space for a picnic or play afterwards, it’s a simple but memorable way to spend a long weekend afternoon.

more info here

And if you’re looking for events happening this long weekend in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½. There’s plenty to choose from below

A Very Jonas Christmas

Runtime: 79 minutes
How to watch: Disney +
Rating: PG
Short version – Are we Jonas Brothers fans now? Seems like we are.
Suitable For: Everyone. Jonas fans will love it of course and non-fans probably won’t hate it.

Everyone knows the Jonas Brothers right? This generation’s version of the Hanson brothers have gone a step beyond being one hit wonders with long hair, to branching out to movies, solo careers and now are taking over Christmas. Join the talented trio as they finish a European tour and struggle to get back home in time for Christmas. Road trip hijinx ensue, with a few gags here and there and boom, Christmas is saved.

Now the die hard fans will eat this up but for the non-fans, this is surprisingly enjoyable. The trio make a few funny pot shots at themselves and their very public personal lives, and are not afraid to look like idiots, which in fact makes it a nice laugh at times. In saying that, the musical numbers that scatter the movie are well and truly skipped through, which is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. In fact if you don’t skip these, then I have concerns.

The plot isn’t really much to write home about, but with a bunch of celeb cameos throughout to drag you away from doom-scrolling long enough to go ‘oh hey its that guy from that show’, we actually think the whole fam will get around this one. Give this one a go to break up the Hallmark repetition of ‘Big city corporate girl goes to small town, finds hot guy who runs a bauble painting/pottery/xmas tree farm and join forces to save the big christmas fair/ruin the developers plans for a condo complex’.

2.5 out of 5 Jonas Brothers – Apparently there is a 4th brother. Who knew hey!

A Merry Little Ex Mas

Runtime: 91 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – Melissa Joan Hart AND Alicia Silverstone…..if your back hurts on a cold night, this one is your era.
Suitable For: The whole fam. Its not quite Hallmark level on the inoffensive scale, but this is good clean fun for all ages.

Gee has it been a year already? It feels like only yesterday we were gorging on mince pies, trying to convince ourselves that the pastry wrapped morsels of mince are going to help us shred for the summer. Suppose we can’t go to the beach this year so may as well smash them down by the dozen. Anyway apart from food, Christmas movie season is our favourite part of the holiday season so lets kick it off.

90s cult icons Alicia Silverstone and Melissa Joan Hart supplement their residuals by teaming up in this Netflix special. Old mate Cher Horowitz has split with her husband in a ‘conscious un-coupling’ (a nod to the Martin/Gwyneth split), but when he hooks up with the super talented Jameela Jamil (If you haven’t seen her in the Good Place you haven’t lived….soooo good), the green eyed monster arrives and you can guess the rest.

Funny and with an awesome cast, this won’t take home the Golden Santa for best xmas movie this year, but it is a solid start that will make you forget that you went and saw Tron Ares.

2.5 out of 5 Mince Pies…….which coincidentally is significantly less than were consumed whilst watching this one.

Christmas with You

Runtime: 89 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – Is it any good? No. Does Freddie Prinze Jr look exactly like he did back in ’98? Also no.
Suitable For: Its actually perfect family fare. Freddie Prinze fans will also think they are right back in the late 90s….a simpler time.

And we are back with our first review of the 2022 Christmas movie season and what a way to kick things off but with a Freddie Prinze Jr led movie no less! You remember FPJ right? He was the heart throb in every teen movie of the mid to late 90s and married the one and only Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar! They have turned into being the most wholesome Hollywood couple, defying the odds to be together to this day (if this review jinxes that and they split…soz). Now rumour has it that Freddie, who has basically vanished from movies following his iconic turn as Fred in Scooby Doo, took this role to show his daughter the reality of acting so could see it for herself. Dammit Freddie, stop being so perfect.

So did Freddie return in an Oscar winning epic? No. In this standard Netflix Christmas Movie fare, he plays a widowed dad (now this is a bit morbid but in these movies there is always a dead parent. Always. Plus a sassy in-law) whose tween daughter DMs a pop star on the brink of being ‘past her prime’. Basically Madonna….but like late 90s Madonna. Not current Madonna. That is scary. You can kind of guess where this goes, they meet and realise that Freddie is a music teacher who never fulfilled his dream of performing (because of course he is) and bing, ba-da boom, movie magic is made.

This was actually bloody good value for a Sunday night family movie night, snuggled up with some snacks and a blanket. For our snack of choice we currently can’t go past lindt chocolate balls. Haven’t always been a fan of old lindt, but they stuck around and have worn me down.

2.5 out of 5 Christmas Trees…..because like every great Netflix Christmas movie, about 287 Christmas trees were used in the making of this movie.

Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star

Runtime: 106 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – By 2028, Princess Switch 9 will see an army of Vanessa Hudgeons, leading to a collapse of the Hudgeons Multiverse.
Suitable For: Everyone. It is THE pinnacle of ‘get your family around to enjoy the trashiest of all the xmas trash…together’.

This is the one we have been waiting for. Netflix have pulled out all the stops for what will (please god let it be) the last chapter in the Vanessa Hudgeons cinematic universe trilogy. Haven’t seen the first 2? No matter. The movie spends a few minutes reminding you anyway, but Hudgeons’ OG character is a baker, who competes in a baking contest in Bulgravia or some generic invented European Monarchy. She looks identical to the Queen, trading places (but not terrible accents) and hilarity follows. THEN they added a third Vanessa Hudgeons in the second installment, this time a blond Russian version. So many outfit changes. So many atrocious accents.

The plot here doesn’t matter, someone stole a jewel or something. It makes no sense but that is half the fun. Mocking the ridiculous plot, the dialogue that makes no sense and my personal favourite…..counting Christmas trees in each scene. Try it. There would actually be 4 Christmas trees in every scene, to the point where this palace would likely require a storage facility as big as Ikea just to store their trees each year. Does any of it make sense? No. Is it one of the highlights of our family Christmas calendar, stocking up on all the snacks and everyone laughing their Hudgeons off at the sheer madness of this movie? Yes. Yes it is.

We do have to give Hudgeons some credit here, she has made herself sort of the Eddie Murphy of bad Christmas movies and we are down for it. In fact we were a little disappointed we didn’t have at least one of 2 more Hudgeons in this movie…..we would have killed for an Australian accented cousin, probably named Sharon, who needed to help rescue the stolen star. Speaking of which, we have to point out our favourite plot mystery…..its a spoiler but stuff it. 24/7 high end security guarded this priceless jewelled star, yet in the end they just leave it high up on a tree as a Christmas Star for everyone to have access too. Why use a priceless jewel for a star? Just grab some light up stars from Bunnings and lock away the jewel for safety! These and a hundred other questions will bother you for days after you watch this piece of cinematic history.

3 out of 5 Vanessa Hudgeonses….Whats the plural of a Hudgeons? Hudgii?

Love Hard

Runtime: 104 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: M
Short version – Its no Holidate but its a good opener to the Netlifx Crap Xmas Movie Season.
Suitable For: Teens and over….but most kids saw Squid Game so stuff it. Let everyone watch it.

Welcome to the 2021 Netflix Christmas Movie Season! To get things rolling Netflix have released this Tinder/Stalking themed tale, with a cast full of ‘where do I know them from’ types. Its the tale as old as time this one, boy meets girl (on tinder), girl flies across the country to surprise him for Christmas after having never met him, realises boy has catfished her, concocts cunning plan to find true love…..hilarity follows. Sort of. If you have ever watched the show ‘Catfish’, this is like that, except with a happier ending and less trailer parks.

Join Natalie, who has made a journalism career out of her bad dating stories, but now is sort of exploited by her boss into constantly going on bad dates to keep that good content coming. Wonder what her job title would be on her email signature? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when you watch these movies. Why are there 3 Christmas Trees in that room? How many gold medals have Bulgravia won at the Olympics? But we digress. So Natalie, after chatting to Josh (because its always Josh isn’t it) for about a week finds out he was actually using the photos of a guy named….get this for the best name in Netflix Christmas Movie History…..Tag! T-A-G! Let me know what you think Tag is short for. My best guess it is short for Staggering….meaning ‘it is Staggering you would use Tag for a name’.

You sort of see where this is going, leading to the sort of final act ‘life lessons learnt’ that seasoned Netflixers will see a mile away. So where does this sit amongst of our Netflix Christmas Faves? It isn’t a ‘so bad its good’ fave like Princess Switch, and it isn’t anywhere near as funny as Holidate…..so its just sort of ‘meh’. We watched it with tweens and teens, who after having been recently desensitised to life after watching Squid Game (jokes…they didn’t watch it. Don’t cancel me), didn’t have too many ‘cover your ears and eyes’ moments. Little kids will neither be entertained or grossly offended, so chuck them to bed before you crank out the movie snacks and tiny hands try and steal your fruchocs.

2.5 out of 5 Bags of Fruchocs…..Because that is best movie snack. Period. Also, why wasn’t Dolly Parton in this? We want Dolly!

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square

Runtime: 98 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – Dolly is an icon. The Steve Irwin of country music. She is also immortal.
Suitable For: Everyone. Except people who hate Dolly Parton, which is of course, nobody.

To be fair, this is a tough movie to review because on one hand Dolly Parton is such an ageless icon (seriously…she is immortal. Have a look at her pic and then guess her age. She looks 23) that you can’t criticise anything she touches, but on the other hand this movie is hilarious and not always in a good way. Dolly is brilliant as always, this time playing a homeless angel who is either dressed in rags or floating around in a sparkly white dress on a cloud. There is no inbetween with our Dolly. She is either a homeless wreck or a cloud angel. Sort of sums up this year nicely. I have either been dressed up and off to work, or a homeless hobo hitting up the zoom calls working from home.

Be warned, this is a Christmas musical (plenty of original Dolly songs for the die-hard fans), where a greedy developer returning to her home town wants to evict everyone on Christmas Eve so she can build a mall. Now here is where the plot gets murky. If she evicts the whole town, who will actually be around to go to the mall? These are the things that keep me awake at night. Most of the cast are hilariously camp and over the top, but the pastor and his wife just hit it out of the park every scene with Meryl Streep level acting (joking. They are atrocious but also hilarious) and an ability to create accents never before heard on screen. The highlight for me was Dolly floating on a cloud, in a never-to-be-repeated take on the Ebenezer Scrooge tale (wonder if Dickens imagined this version when he wrote it?).

It obviously didn’t have a budget much bigger than a public school Rock Eisteddfod performance, but a lot of people will love it for the good vibing story, others will love the over top acting and others will just fast forward to the Dolly songs. What was most remarkable was how friendly the towns folk were with someone who was essentially making them all homeless with 24 hours notice. Can’t say my first response would be to break out in song with a bunch of my mate but, this is Dolly’s world and we just live in it.

How good is it? Well it will make you feel good. Probably. Unless musicals make your skin crawl with anger, then maybe not so much. But it has such an upbeat and happy feel, that even if you hate it more than pineapple on a pizza within the first 5 minutes, by the end of the first hour you will be genuinely concerned about where these poor people will live after the eviction. Give it a try. Try it with wine if necessary. In fact, that is a direction.

3.5 out of 5 floating Dolly’s on a cloud – She is 74. 74 years old! What the actual fire truck!

The Christmas Chronicles 2

Runtime: 115 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – Kurt Russel is officially Santa forever. Sorry Tim Allen but you’re outta here.
Suitable For: At a nudge under 2 hours, its long. Little ones will get restless but nothing scary to worry about. The CGI elves are interesting enough to keep them entertained. Older crew who aren’t teenage grinches will be all over it like Santa on a cookie platter.

Didn’t see The Christmas Chronicles 1 a couple of years ago? You missed out. It was a beauty. Probably the best Christmas movie since The Santa Clause series back in the late 90s. Kurt Russel was an awesome Santa, because he kind of had a hard streak which made him scary AF but also kind of magic and awesome. Pretty tough mix to nail to be honest….a bit too much angry and suddenly he is Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa!

The first movie was about a couple of kids, one true Santa believer and one who stole cars, who steal a ride on Santa’s sleigh, ruin Christmas and then have to fix it again. Standard Christmas movie fare really, but it worked. Harry Potter fans (me) will be excited to know that Chris Columbus directs this one, and he pretty much just cut and pasted the feel from Harry Potter 1 and 2 into a Christmas movie with a bunch of elves. Not complaining mind you. Love me some Harry. They have added in Goldie Hawn as Mrs Claus, because well she is awesome and Tyrese has shifted gears from the Fast and the Furious (see what I did there) to be the new step dad.

What I loved about this, without spoiling the plot (come on, what do you think happens? Santa, kids, something bad, christmas threatened, fixed, happy days), they turned this into a sort of Santa superhero origin story which was kind of cool. Who would have thought Santa was just some dude doing his thing in ancient Turkey until he was given some sort of magic star or something. Personally, his choice to use that power to create a magical toy factory at the north pole so he could live with a million tiny elves and deliver presents once a year was an odd one. I would have just gone down the Aladdin path and made myself Sultan and married Princess Jasmine. But whatever Santa, you do you.

So is it good? Yeah it rocks. Best family Christmas franchise in ages. Get the whole fam around this, rewatch the first one and roll into this one. Eat all the mince pies, just really go all out and see how many you can smash in The Christmas Chronicle movie double. The record is 8.

4.5 out of 5 sort of angry Santas – If you are wondering, which you would be, you know the angry elf as the funny kid from Hunt for the Wilderpeople. You’re welcome.

The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again

Runtime: 98 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – The Nutty Professor…..if Eddie Murphy played a heap of Christmas princesses in the same movie.
Suitable For: 10s and up will love it more than the younger ones, who will get bored and wonder why all the actors are the same person.

Covid has hit every industry hard. With budget cuts now in full effect, poor Vanessa Hudgens has had to cover about a third of the cast herself, even playing a large letterbox seen in the background during the first half hour. This is the movie equivalent of the group project in high school where one kid does all the work (Hudgens) and everyone else in the group (rest of the cast) ride off her work and get all the glory. What am I on about? Glad you asked. In this sequel to Princess Switch, Hudgens plays a baker who looks identical (because you know…its the same person) to a Queen of Bavarian or some other cheesecake sounding made up country. So they swap for reasons….blah blah true love.

In this instalment, the lookalike baker and the Queen find yet more people who look like them and hilarity follows. Well by hilarity I refer mainly to Hudgen’s attempts at a posh Euro accent. It comes across a bit like a fancy Borat, but she is playing 94 characters so good on her for giving her all. In the scheme of cinematic history, this won’t be saved to the National Archives alongside Citizen Kane and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, but in a lockdown themed bullcrap Christmas, it is a good family night in. It won’t be the best Christmas movie you watch this season but it won’t be the worst either (Christmas Made to Order….thats your prize)

For my Netflix Christmas Nerds (big shout out), pay attention to the crowd in the end scenes because the Netflix Christmas Cinematic Universe is NOW A THING!…you will recognise some familiar faces from other Netflix Christmas movie trash and your mind will be blown by the cross over opportunities this presents!

3 out of 5 Vanessa Hudgens – She got a point for every character she played.

Alien Xmas

Runtime: 42 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: G
Short version – Space Grinch who stole Xmas
Suitable For: Nailed it for the perfect xmas flick for the under 7 crowd. Older ones will get bored without their phone.

Its funny how movie plots could either be a horror movie or kids xmas classic, just with a tweak of the tone and some bright colours. Alien forces invade the Earth intending to steal the planet’s gravity and steal all of the presents from the North Pole. Sounds almost like a Will Smith movie from the mid 90s but this is in fact a claymation (you know, Shaun the Sheep, Wallace and Grommet etc) kids xmas movie! There you go.

Remember that old Rudolph claymation from 1980 they played every xmas? This is way better than that. Alien Xmas, brought to you from the maker of The Mandalorian (so you know it will be good), revolves around a race of thieving aliens (Kleptos….because Kleptomaniac….I see what they did there) who have pretty much stolen everything worth stealing and decide that Earth is their next target. Cue little alien meets loving elf, discovers love and friendship and all the feels. It is short, sharp, very well made little kids fare that they will actually bloody love. Mr 6 couldn’t get enough of it and watched it twice in 2 days.

Unlike a lot of little kiddie flicks, the ‘message’ (because there always is one) isn’t shoved down your throat in an annoying way so you will be able to explain to your kids the perils of consumerism and the importance of friendship and love at the end if you so desire. Or you can give them a biscuit. Each to their own. I chose the biscuit.

4 out of 5 alien grinches – Fun Fact….the claymation is done by the same crew who did the claymation for the classic Elf!

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Runtime: 122 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: PG
Short version – The Greatest Showman – Christmas Edition.Runtime: 122 minutes
Suitable For: All ages. Little ones will enjoy the colour and magic.

Dear Netflix. Thank you for releasing this epic Christmas movie for the whole family right when we needed it most. Turns out we didn’t really need a $200, 000 shiny metal giant pigeon to make us smile, but we instead needed the most magical Christmas movie since Die Hard (yes. yes it is a Christmas movie yippee ki yay).

Jingle Jangle is the story of Jeronicus Jangle, a toy maker/inventor and probably a wizard if we are honest, who in the 1800s owned a lot of very bright clothes and defies the laws of physics…a lot. But within the first 5 minutes you will just be in love with this soon-to-be family classic. This is the classic Christmas story, wizard toy maker creates an evil ‘Chucky’ style doll that happens to have fantastic ability to dance whilst being evil, which is in turn stolen by his scheming apprentice. Yada yada yada, journey to re-discovering magic, yada yada yada The End. Roll credits.

This has an all star cast and is a big budget extravaganza which is a feast for your eyes. Also have a feast for your stomach at the same time because Covid YOLO. My snack of choice is Pringles, which are specially designed to make it impossible for you to eat too many, because your big old fat hand won’t fit in the tiny little tube anymore. Perfect snack for the diet conscious. (Pringles hack: Tip them out onto your stomach). Starring the always awesome Forest Gump Whitaker, plus “you done messed up A-A-Ron” (google it. Best comedy skit ever) and some fab supporting peeps including the Earl of Grantham himself! This really is one of the best family Christmas movies in years and the whole clan will get around it.

4.5 out of 5 magical flying toys – They also sing. A lot. Fast forward those bits. You won’t miss much.

Operation Christmas Drop

Runtime: 195 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: pg
Short version – Based on a true story too! Not the love part. Love always fails. But the Air Force dropping of presents thing. Which was nice.

Netflix Christmas season is in full swing with the release of this pearler. Starring, Cato the evil district kid from The Hunger Games as a ‘heart of gold military pilot guy’, along with ‘I think she is probably famous but I never watched the Vampire Diaries’, these two star in what turns out actually to be not too bad a Christmas flick.

Some of these B grade trash Netflix movies seem to have the budget of an SAFM Rock Eisteddfod show, but they have really stretched the dollar here with exotic location shoots on the tropical islands of Guam. Join Erica, a career driven politics type who is hell bent on closing down Andrew’s Air Force base because….reasons. Her angry boss said so? Either way the best way to save money is to send someone on a tropical holiday for a week it seems, and low and behold who should chaperone Erica around the base but old mate Andrew. Yada yada yada, true love blossoms which was as anticipated as Trump going loony after losing the election. The Christmas Drop thing revolves around the dropping of supplies at Christmas to the surrounding islands. Go good guy Andrew…. you show Erica the true meaning of Christmas!

These certainly aren’t M. Night Shyamalan twist style movies. You can predict the plot from the opening credits. That isn’t where the fun is with these movies, it is the low budget and corny thrill ride where we arrive at the expected destination of true love. Thankfully this is no different but it really isn’t as corny and shite as some others I have watched this season on Netflix and chosen not to write about (Christmas Made to Order….what the actual shizenhouse was that? They literally went out and cut down a live tree and put up a fake one! Like we wouldn’t notice! Then there was literally 5 Christmas trees in EVERY room of the house. At all times. Madness)

So if you have watched Holidate, this is more of the ‘romantic’ and less of the ‘comedy’ but you know, 2020 has been anubis horribilis so lets enjoy every light hearted movie that comes out because it really is all we have at the moment!

3 out of 5 Tributes – I will never watch The Hunger Games and be angry at Cato again.

Holidate

Runtime: 103 minutes
How to watch: Netflix
Rating: M
Short version – Don’t watch it with the family. Unless you are the Addams Family

2020 has taken away so much from us but they won’t take away our goddam Netflix B Grade Christmas trash movies. Our guilty pleasure, with all those actors that sort of ring a bell but you can’t quite put a name to the face. They suck so hard but at the same time they are so bloody good. Holiday In the Wild has to be the best Netflix Christmas movie ever….it is the tale as old as time. Divorced New York vet travels to Africa for a solo safari after her husband leaves her, and ends up living in a tent on an elephant reservation …..over Christmas! Anyway moving on….

Holidate stars an unknown Aussie hunk dude who could well be a lost Hemsworth….lets call him Steve Hemsworth, paired up with an Anna Kendrick’ish lead as they play 2 singles who can’t be bothered finding dates over the holidays, so they promise to be each others plus 1 for different events. Sounds fairly shite right? Here is the real Christmas miracle, it is absolutely hilarious. I mean it is crude as all hell, so please don’t sit down and watch this with your 15 year old daughter unless you want to have some REALLY awkward conversations within the first 3 minutes and then pretty much every 7 minutes after that. Really awkward.

These movies are supposed to be terrible, which is half the fun. The fact that this is surprisingly probably the best romantic comedy of the year is harder to believe than the fact the Crows finished last this year. Surely that was a dream right? The trailer is linked below but don’t watch it, just go into this colder than your mother in law and ride it out. You won’t be disappointed. Unless you don’t like crude humour, in which case prepare to be extremely disappointed. Like a Crows fan every year since 1998. The leads are brilliant and we laughed the entire way through, even through the usual romantic boring bits at the end when they kiss and blah blah love blah blah. The supporting cast are also fabulous and honestly, it is almost worth a rewatch.

If you need to sell this to an unwilling partner….describe it as a bit of American Pie and Hangover mixed with Bridesmaids and a dash of Love Actually. I would almost guarantee they will like it.

4 out of 5 Ugly Christmas jumpers – Watch the first scene or 2….you will know what we are talking about.

We recently spent a few days exploring the recently opened and , and let’s just say… the bar for “family day out� has officially been raised.

Marine Safari Bali

If you’ve ever been to an Aussie zoo and forked out $50 just to look at a kangaroo from 10 metres away, this one’s for you.

Marine Safari Bali is a full-on, hands-on adventure that’s actually affordable and it’s more than just a day of fun. Part marine park, part conservation centre, it offers experiences that are interactive, educational, and designed to give kids a real connection with animals.

Spread across six immersive zones – Wetland Wonders, Rocky Shores, Ocean Odyssey, Lumba Lagoon, Jungle Odyssey, and the Interactive Program – there’s something new to discover around every corner. With over 10,000 fish from 300 species, plus marine mammals, land animals, and birds, kids can explore touch pools, enjoy Humboldt penguin encounters, feed rays, meet sharks, watch piranha feeding, and even get up close with dolphins. All of this comes at a fraction of the cost you’d pay for similar animal interactions back home in Australia or elsewhere in the world. There are also keeper talks, seal shows, and Pachamaya, a 25-minute traditional Balinese performance that adds colour, culture, and a short break from all the excitement.

For extra thrills, the Fun Zone offers rides like a spinning coaster and a flume ride, while Coralbay Waterpark is perfect for cooling off in the Bali heat, featuring a kids’ water play area, slides, and an infinity pool. Need a break? There are a couple of fab cafes and a restaurant onsite, ideal for a relaxed pit stop or, of course, a sneaky Bintang (when in Rome)!

For families who love a peek behind the curtain, the marine education team runs back-of-house talks, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the-art facilities and operations that ensure the animals are happy and well cared for. The conservation work is on full display, from marine labs and a veterinary clinic to breeding programs for animals in need. Families can see how water quality is checked, how filtration systems work, and how training helps animals stay calm during check-ups. Keeper talks even touch on ways your own family can make a difference back home like using reef-safe sunscreen or cutting down on single-use plastics.

One of the best things about Marine Safari Bali is how the park prioritises conservation and animal-led care. During our visit, the animals were healthy, lively, and full of energy, thanks to the dedicated teams ensuring their wellbeing. Of course, this is just our opinion, and we totally respect that others might feel differently.

General admission tickets for Marine Safari Bali are IDR 650,000 for adults (ages 12–99) and IDR 520,000 for children (ages 3–12)… roughly $65 per adult and $52 per child, depending on the exchange rate at the time. Or, opt to pay a little extra for a combo ticket that includes both the Safari Park and the Marine Park. Either way, it’s a day packed with hands-on experiences, laughs, and memories the kids will talk about long after the plane ride home.

Family fave: Ray feeding was my kids’ absolute highlight, they honestly could have spent all day there.

Top Tips for Families

1. Pack a change of clothes – the waterpark and pool are an absolute must for cooling down from that Bali heat.
2. Arrive early – mornings are cooler, quieter, and give you time to explore everything without rushing.
3. Stay hydrated – it’s hot and humid, so keep the water bottles handy (and maybe a few snacks for the kids, too).

Animal Care & Conservation – By Ken Kwan, Curator Marine Safari Bali

1. Are the animals at Bali Marine Safari Park taken from the wild?
   At Marine Safari Bali, the majority of animals are captive-bred, reflecting our commitment to education and conservation. Most of the animals come from local captive-breeding farms that meet strict welfare standards, from other facilities where they were born and raised in human care, or are rescued animals deemed unsuitable for release into the wild. Only a very small number of “least concern� species are occasionally collected from the wild to support research, breeding, and rewilding programs.
2. How does the park make sure the animals are healthy and well cared for?
   Our Life Sciences Department is made up of experienced managers and veterinarians with expertise across various fields. They oversee the welfare of our entire animal collection, carrying out regular husbandry care and assessments. The team also trains our animal care specialists to maintain international standards, ensuring each species receives the right diet, enrichment, and minimal stress for optimal wellbeing.
3. How do you make sure the animals aren’t overexposed to visitors or stressed by interaction?
   All of our habitats are designed to closely mimic natural environments, with both open and secluded areas that allow animals to roam freely and choose whether or not they wish to interact. Our animal care specialists and guest service teams are always on hand across every zone to explain this to visitors if an animal isn’t visible. We never force any animal to participate in interactions or exposure, their comfort and wellbeing always come first.
4. Does Bali Safari contribute to wildlife conservation or education?
   One of our biggest goals in opening the park here in Bali is to showcase the incredible aquatic life that surrounds the island. We want people to see that Bali isn’t just a destination for beaches and hospitality—it’s also home to a breathtaking variety of marine life. We’re proud to work with local and international organisations to promote conservation, collaborate on research, and be part of outreach programs that inspire people everywhere to protect our oceans.
5. What’s being done to ensure the park operates ethically long-term?
   Our managers regularly inspect their areas to plan upgrades, replace worn equipment, and provide ongoing husbandry training for their teams, ensuring the highest standard of care for all our animals. We also engage with the international zoo and aquarium community, hosting tours, workshops, and sharing sessions with industry leaders. Accreditation with organisations like SEAZA, WAZA, and AZA further ensures that our facility meets and maintains world-class standards in animal care and conservation.

Varuna Bali

If you want to really up the “wow� factor, is the place to be. It’s Indonesia’s first underwater theatrical dining show, a one-of-a-kind experience where mermaids, performers, and sea creatures put on a show while you enjoy your meal.

Located at Taman Safari Bali, Varuna is an experience like no other, with incredible food, mesmerising performers, and storytelling that keeps everyone from toddlers to grandparents completely engaged. The story follows a young prince on an epic underwater adventure. As a child of both land and sea, he discovers his inner strength and royal destiny, surrounded by majestic sea creatures. Told through stunning visuals, shadow puppetry, and Balinese storytelling, the show blends wonder, culture, and a touch of marine conservation.

Spoiler alert: toward the end of the show, you are greeted by a massive, actual aquarium with mermaids. Yep, real mermaids. The kids were glued to the glass the entire time, mouths open, eyes wide, and yes, Ivy woke up the next morning declaring she is going to be a mermaid when she grows up. And rightly so, because another spoiler alert, guess how long the mermaids can hold their breath? Three minutes. Seriously, THREE MINUTES…. I can barely hold mine long enough to find my kid’s other shoe.

The staff are exceptionally warm and welcoming, as we have come to expect in Bali, and the whole experience is very family-friendly. The food, a three-course meal fit for the Prince of the Sea himself, was delicious. Fine dining, Balinese style.

You can choose between lunch and dinner sessions, or if you are keeping an eye on the budget, opt for show-only tickets. But if you can stretch it, go for the full dining package. It’s totally worth it, I promise!

There are three ticket tiers, Regular, Deluxe, and Premium, and no matter where you sit, the view of the underwater show is spectacular. Expect beautiful costumes, a talented cast, and a mix of traditional and modern storytelling with a Balinese twist. It is theatrical, engaging, and truly unforgettable, with no screens in sight, just live performance.

The venue is also wheelchair accessible, spacious, and comfortable for families with little ones. Everything runs smoothly (and on time – a Bali miracle) so if you’re planning a trip to Bali, put Varuna on your itinerary, it’s one of those experiences that reminds you why travel with kids is so worth it. Magical, immersive, and so beautifully done.

Top Tips for Families

1. Opt for a premium package and thank me later!
2. All dining tables seat four guests so you may share with other people
3. All regular day tickets include admission to Marine Safari Bali

Location: Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra No.Km. 19, Serongga, Kec. Blahbatuh, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80551, Indonesia
Opening times: 9am – 5pm 7 days a week
Phone:
Find them on , or

Located at the end of the Mundy St in Robe and located right on the foreshore surrounded by grass this playground has a magical view. Robe is a magical place and this fully fenced playground aimed at the under 8s is the ideal spot to let the kids run around whilst you soak in the epic views. Featuring a small climbing tower and slide, plus swings, check this one out on your next weekend away down the South East.

It’s not too late to book a June long weekend camping trip, or you could plan a family bushwalk, bike ride, visit a new playground, get through a list of classic family movies you never get around to watching, get stuck in to the garden or get busy in the kitchen with the kids (that’s code for they make mess and you clean up – you have been warned).

If the weather is looking a bit gross (highly likely!) then check out our Indoor Play Guide – many of these places stay open on Public Holidays or maybe take the chance to visit a Museum or Art Gallery? A long weekend is also the perfect time to tick off some of the places and activities on our 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Family Bucket List.

From events to activities, places to visit and things to do we’ll make sure your 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ June Long Weekend is a good one.

The Wild Weekend – Pop Up & Play Event *cancelled

Edit: this event has unfortunately been cancelled due to the weather

Get ready for a Wild Weekend this June long weekend!

Head to Festival Plaza for a free, hands-on nature play event hosted by Climbing Tree. Kids aged 2–12 can explore cubby building, nature crafts, a fairy village, junkyard play, and more!

Happening Saturday 7 – Monday 9 June, 10am–3pm.

Rug up, grab a coffee, and let their imaginations run wild!

find all the event info here

Celebrate the King’s Birthday with a Royally Good Time at Woodhouse!

Shake off the winter blues and embrace crisp air, crackling campfires, and epic outdoor adventures at Woodhouse this King’s Birthday Long Weekend! 

Choose the  option for unlimited access to our site and a kingdom of outdoor  from 9am to 5pm across the three-day weekend (with the Tube Slide operating Saturday, Sunday and Monday, weather permitting), or…

…pitch your noble tent or roll up your royal caravan for the ultimate !

There’s NO MINIMUM BOOKING PERIOD, so whether you’re staying for one night or holding court all weekend, you’re in for a Royally good time. With unpowered and undesignated sites, you can create your own cosy camping village with friends and family.

PLUS, by popular demand (and royal decree!) LASER SKIRMISH will make it’s triumphant return to Woodhouse!

WHERE: Woodhouse Adventure Park, 37 Spring Gully Road, Piccadilly
WHEN: Kings Birthday Long Weekend – 7-9 June, 2025
TIME: All day
COST: From $20 per person | under 5 free

 

Blast off into the long weekend at this epic play cafe

Little Rockets Play Cafes at Munno Para and Barossa Valley are open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. They’re the ultimate indoor play destination for little ones aged 0–12. With huge soft play structures, dedicated toddler zones, and even train rides throughout the day, it’s the kind of place where kids can burn energy and parents can relax with a coffee. Add in a big, family-friendly menu and the option to pair your visit with Bazinga Arcade or Barossa Ninja next door, and you’ve got a full day of fun sorted – rain, shine, or winter chill!

Find out more here

Swing into the long weekend at Shanx

Shanx Mini Golf is flipping the script on traditional mini golf, offering an experience that mirrors real golf—just in a more compact, fun-filled format. With two standout locations in South Australia—Regency and Little Para—these inclusive courses are designed for players of all ages and skill levels. Open every day over the long weekend.

AFL Max is open all long weekend and it’s the perfect indoor option—rain, hail or shine. With a huge new upgrade, the venue now features a trampoline zone, bouldering walls, warrior course, interactive gaming zone and a dedicated toddler space. There’s something for all ages, plus a licensed café and kitchen for the grown-ups.
or

Find a new playground

Celebrate the King’s Birthday by discovering one of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s incredible local playgrounds! From the grand towers of Marshmallow Park to magical adventures at St Kilda, our city is brimming with play spaces fit for young princes and princesses. Pack a picnic, gather your royal court (aka the family), and enjoy a day of outdoor fun, laughter, and memory-making in some of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s most enchanting playground kingdoms.

click here for our playground map

Visit a Museum

Step into history with a visit to one of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s museums—where treasures of the past await curious minds and noble hearts. Wander the hallowed halls of the South Australian Museum or marvel at the regal locomotives at the National Railway Museum. From ancient artefacts to royal relics of industry and nature, it’s a journey through time fit for kings, queens, and their clever young squires. click here for museums in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½

Head to Victor Harbor for the Winter Whale Fest

Winter Whale Fest is making a splash this June!

Celebrate the arrival of the majestic Southern Right Whales with a month-long program of over 25 events in Victor Harbor. From science talks and storytelling to art, workshops and coastal fun, there’s something for all ages.

Don’t miss the Welcoming of the Whales and Smoking Ceremony plus the Winter Whale Fest Expo & Artisan Market this June long weekend!

find out more here

Swinging in the rain? not at Hey Caddy

If you’re looking for something a bit different that’s also open late this long weekend, Hey Caddy is calling! With both the West Lakes and Marion venues open 10am to 10pm all weekend long, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ offering this much fun over such generous hours.

Tee off on a mini golf course that’s as fun as it is photo-worthy, then swing by the café for tasty food and drinks. It’s easy, entertaining, and indoors, so the kids can play rain, hail or shine.

Step into the adventure at Fox in a Box 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ , where families work together to crack clues, solve puzzles, and beat the clock in an unforgettable escape room experience.
Each game is designed to spark imagination, build teamwork, and create moments you’ll be talking about long after the doors unlock. With dedicated Game Masters guiding you along the way, it’s a fun, safe, and engaging activity for all skill levels.

Whether it’s your first escape room or you’re seasoned puzzle pros, there’s something for everyone, making it the ultimate family outing

more info here

Play in the Autumn Leaves

Take a majestic journey to the 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Hills, where the trees don their richest robes of gold, crimson, and amber. Stroll through the leafy villages of Stirling, Hahndorf, and Mount Lofty like lords and ladies of the realm, basking in the splendour of autumn. With cosy cafés, charming markets, and scenery fit for a royal portrait, it’s the perfect countryside escape for your noble household.

click here for 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ hills adventures

All aboard for the 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ Model Railway Show!

This June long weekend, head to Greyhound Park to explore over 30 incredible model train layouts, live demos, free kids competitions, and more.

With licensed catering and free parking, it’s a fun, family-friendly day out for train lovers big and small!

Open Sat 7 – Mon 9 June from 9:30am daily.

event info here

Embark on a grand Animal Adventure

Mingle with your favourite majestic creatures this King’s Birthday Long Weekend. Whether you’re feeding gentle kangaroos at Humbug Scrub, cuddling a cow at The Farm in Clarendon, or wandering among exotic beasts at Monarto Safari Park, there’s a wild kingdom waiting to be explored. Don your explorer’s crown, rally your royal family, and enjoy a day where nature meets nobility! find an animal adventure here

Get ready to rev your engines this long weekend with The Bend Kartdrome’s All-You-Can-Drive special! For just $99, you can race all afternoon on Sunday 8 June — perfect for challenging your mates or chasing your personal best. Spots are limited, so book now and get set for a high-speed day to remember!

You’ll be baz-ing(a) this long weekend

Bazinga is one of 91¹û¶³´«Ã½â€™s best-kept secrets for indoor play! Located in the Barossa and at Munno Para. Far more than just a trading card shop, Bazinga combines retro and modern arcade games, air hockey, comics, collectibles, and pop culture merch in a fun, family-friendly space above Little Rockets Play Cafe. With token-play machines, ticket prizes, and a welcoming vibe, it’s a must-visit for gamers, comic fans, and anyone chasing a bit of nostalgic fun this long weekend. Open 10 – 4:30 at both locations on saturday and sunday, monday closed. Discover more info here

Bouncing into the long weekend like…

Bounce is open all long weekend, including 10am–6pm on the monday public holiday – so crown yourself the king or queen of flips and come rule the trampolines! it’s the ultimate royal playground for big energy, big air and big fun. long live the bounce!

Go Regional

Make the most of the extra day off and venture into regional S.A. Check out a waterfall, go for a bushwalk, visit a chocolate factory, have an animal experience or spend the day on the coast.

There’s plenty of regional ideas on our website

take a look here

And if you’re looking for events happening this long weekend in 91¹û¶³´«Ã½. There’s plenty to choose from below

If camping is not your thing, or if you’d just rather the convenience of a house and comfort of amazing instant ducted heating/cooling then this is your place. Every thing is provided, from crisp white bed linen and lush fluffy towels to a coffee machine and pods. No need to pack the car with the kitchen sink – or unpack it again when you return home.

Sleeping up to 10 people comfortably across four bedrooms, you won’t have to fight for the bathroom, with not one, not two, but THREE full sized bathrooms – including a double spa bath in the master. Trust us the kids loved warming up in here after wearing them selves out at the beach.

Perfectly situated on the beachfront, the real highlight is the spectacular water views from the huge balconies. Rug up with a glass of red wine or hot chocolate in winter and watch the weather roll in, or enjoy alfresco dining and entertaining in the warmer months. We guarantee you’ll be swept off your feet.

If you are not familiar with Port Hughes. it’s located on the Copper Coast, an easy drive that will take you less than two hours from 91¹û¶³´«Ã½, even with a Port Wakefield bakery stop! You’ll land just a few minutes from Moonta Bay and a short drive to costal towns like Wallaroo and Port Broughton.

With the popular ‘Walk the Yorke’ trail passing along the esplanade, why not throw in the bikes or scooters and leg it to Port Hughes General Store for coffee, ice creams, hot donuts or a meal! The Tavern is also in walking distance, and in the warmer months you can visit the entirely FREE Splash Town water slides – it’s less than five minutes in the car and a Copper Coast institution for kids.

The house is split over three levels, so prepare for some stairs (and some epic games of hide and seek). Upstairs, an airy, open-plan living area commands the most breathtaking ocean views – whether you are lounging (yes hello Netflix and massive smart TV), dining, enjoying happy hour while the sun sets over the water or preparing meals. We loved the fully equipped kitchen and massive fridge.

Open up the back door and step out to a practical sheltered deck featuring a Family Weber Q—perfect for an easy BBQ or roast. You’ll also appreciate the fully enclosed, grassed yard and we noticed a fish fileting table out there, so it seems timely to drop in that this place has quite the reputation for excellent fishing, crabbing and squidding. Hit up the jetty (walking distance) or launch your boat at the all weather, all tide boat ramp. You’ll be living like a local in no time!

These guys go above and beyond to cater to your family’s needs. Inside the walk-in robe, you’ll find a clean modern porta cot ready for the smallest holiday makers nap time. There is a child gate installed at the top of the stairs for added peace of mind and the massive kitchen table (seats 12 easily) has a nice clean highchair stored nearby.

The house is pet friendly (on application).

At the time of publishing there is currently plenty of winter / weekend and July school holiday availability. Owners Inga and Craig have also told us that this place is available for a week over Christmas (December 18-27th) and again in the January school holidays 20-25th January. Can we tell you that is unheard of for Yorke Peninsula Accommodation. Jump on that for guaranteed core childhood memories. Minimum two night stays apply and it goes with out saying ALWAYS book direct with any accommodation. You’ll not only get the best rates because they wont be paying commission to third party sites, but you will deal with owners/managers direct. Honestly the photos in this website need updating and don’t reflect the modern updates this house has had over the past year or so.

Phone enquiries encouraged on 0415 056 611

Location: 42B, Dowling Drive, Port Hughes SA 5554
Find them on or

Location: 42B, Dowling Drive, Port Hughes SA 5554
Find them on or

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 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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 91¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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.

Located in prime position overlooking the harbour at Robe, a mere 2 min drive from main street (or a 10 minute walk…but you know how hard it is to walk home after pizza right?), it is really hard for my basic grasp of the English language to do it justice.

It boasts 3 huge bedrooms, 2 with king sized beds (have you ever tried to tell a 14yo girl who had a king sized bed that she had to leave? It is easier to get a toddler to eat vegetables or me to do ironing) and an open plan living room/kitchen with wide ranging views onto the harbour. That sounds all well and good, but without sounding like a real estate agent on The Block, this place is just the bees knees (Probably not a legit real estate agent phrase)

My kids just loved this place. It has all the comforts of home (and to be honest a lot more because this is waaaaay better than my house) like wifi, big screen TV’s (with Netflix on each I might add!) and all that jazz. But for me, my favourite memory of my stay at Tempest was waking (involuntarily…thanks Mr 5) at about 6am and sitting in the lounge room watching the sun rise over the harbour while drinking a coffee.

We didn’t want to leave. If that isn’t a ringing endorsement for a holiday home then I don’t know what is.

You’ll find Tempest Robe at
15 Lake Road, Robe
For more info and to book visit

For other places we loved in the Limestone Coast, be sure to check out our Limestone Coast for Kids post for heaps of other cool tips: /limestone-coast-for-kids/

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Our family visited the Big4 Barossa Tourist Park recently for an easy weekend getaway and had an absolute blast. There is HEAPS for the kids to do there, with a great location for checking out all that the Barossa region has to offer nearby.

Ideally situated in Nuriootpa, the Big4 Barossa Tourist Park caters perfectly for short or long stays with the family and is ideal for to use as a base for exploring Australia’s premier wine region. On check in, be sure to ask about the current activities, and check out the Kids Corner and kids packs right up front!

First off I feel I have to point out that the Barossa Tourist Park is home to 3 pedal go karts which our kids absolutely ADORED. With one for smaller kids, one that can suit 5 years to adults and even a 2-person option, there should be a kart setup to suit just about every family! We hired them *twice* in our weekend stay – and even the promise of a visit to the Barossa Chocolate Factory couldn’t get them to finish their ride early on the final day!

Ok, now you know about the go karts, onto the rest! Barossa Tourist Park has lots of accommodation options. There are plenty of lovely, grassy camping sites – with shade, easy access to the bathrooms and other facilities. They also have a number of great cabins to suit different sized families and we found their cabins to be perfect for a weekend stay – clean, comfortable and right next to the pool and grassy area! We recently spent a couple of nights in the Parkview Deluxe cabin below and it was perfect for our family of 4.

The nearby park is great for a morning walk or cycle with the kids and, if you do bring the kids bikes, be sure to head into the Nuriootpa town centre for a morning coffee and cake! Adults and older kids could even ride around the region, stopping off at some wineries and parks along the way!

In warmer months be sure to bring your bathers as Barossa Tourist Park has a lovely swimming pool. Fully fenced, the pool includes a toddlers area and super cute mushroom water splash area, and with plenty of grass area alongside (plus a spot to play ball outside the gates, but where parents can keep watch). Alongside the pool is a covered area and the Games Room which is a great spot if the weather plays up or to entertain the older kids – plus the nearby BBQ area caters well to ensure fun afternoons all around!

Outdoors is where it’s at with our family and Big4 Barossa caters really well to active families. In addition to the go karts, and pool, our kids enjoyed shooting hoops on their brand new half court basketball. The tourist park also sits around the oval as an excellent space to kick the ball, and the smaller family members enjoyed the onsite playground too.

If you need a hand working out what to do on your trip to the Barossa, the friendly team at the front desk are great to provide you with all information you need on what to do in the Barossa Valley. There really is something for everyone here!

Big4 Barossa Tourist Park Highlights

• The pedal karts!
• Swimming Pool
• Ovals, tennis courts and plenty of open space to play right onsite
• Half court basketball court
• Location in Nuriootpa is perfect for exploring the region
• Great camping spots and lovely cabins
• Free BBQs

You’ll find BIG4 Barossa Tourist Park at
Penrice Rd, Nuriootpa South Australia 5355
Phone: 1800 251 643
For more information visit their website at

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