ISSUE THREE / WINTER 2018
WANDERLUST ISSUE
A FAMILY TRIP TO PARIS FUN IN FIJI
The epic Australian road trip
AFRICAN SAFARI THRILLS AND SPILLS SPOTTING THE BIG FIVE
TWO ADULTS, TWO KIDS AND ONE CAMPER
KIDS' PICKS LITTLE TRAVELLERS SHARE THEIR STORIES
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WELCOME
Welcome The Family Travel team CEO Janeece Keller COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Natasha Keller EDITOR Tatyana Leonov STAFF WRITER Sophie Cullen DESIGNER Caroline Mackay
Contact @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au
There is always that one holiday you think back to and suddenly you’ve got a wide grin on your face. If you’re lucky, there could be a few holidays that get that same reaction. Travelling is by far one of my favourite activities and I wouldn’t be surprised if almost everyone felt the same. There’s nothing quite like jumping in the car or jetting off on a plane on your way to an adventure you’ve been looking forward to. We’ve named this issue our Wanderlust issue – because it’s chockfull of epic holiday ideas for families. We’ve covered everything from safari adventures in Africa (flick to page 26) to Paris with kids (turn to page 58) to the great Australian road trip (you might be inspired to start planning your own after reading this story, from page 32). It’s hard to pinpoint the best holiday I’ve ever had, but some of my most memorable trips include trekking to see the gorillas in Uganda; watching the Northern Lights as Mother Nature’s fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Tromsø, Norway; taking my 70-year-old grandma down the 2.8-kilometre Schatzalp toboggan run on Christmas Eve in Davos, Switzerland; and seeing the autumn colours in New England, USA.
Of course, when travelling as a family kids’ opinions are so important – after all, the best holidays are the ones that every family member enjoys. For us at Family Travel it has always been about listening to the young ones, so in this issue we’ve interviewed Kayla Keelan about her worldly adventures (turn to page 12) and introduced a new section called Kids’ picks (turn to page 66 for more). Talking about new, we’re working on something very exciting – so keep your eyes out for our next issue. The new Family Travel magazine will look and feel different, but like always provide you with a wealth of family travel inspiration and advice. Happy reading.
Janeece Keller
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Watch the series inflight on Virgin Australia.
Let 20 of our local families show you around Australia See all the family experiences online and vote for your favourite to go in the draw to win monthly prizes at: boundround.com/FamiliesOfAustralia
THE BLAIRS
THE LUSTIGS
THE CHISHOLMS
THE O’BRIENS
THE EDENS
THE MACKS
THE EPHRAIMS
THE MITCHELLS
THE FLECKERS
THE NELSONS
THE GIBSONS
THE ROBERTS
THE GLOSSOPS
THE SMITHS
THE HILLS
THE SOLIMANS
THE JOYCES
THE WAINMANS
THE KENNEDYS
In partnership with:
CONTENTS
Contents
44.
36.
Travel wish list The wonders of the world.
It’s a wonderful world The best theme parks. 06.
PINBOARD
Where to next? Travel inspiration through news bites and fun ideas.
11.
WINTER QUIZ
Think you know it all? Take our quiz and find out.
14.
TOP 20 WANDERLUST ADVENTURES
These holidays ideas are as epic as the come.
22.
UNDER THE SEA
A young diver invites us into her magical world.
26.
SAFARI IN AFRICA
Spotting the Big Five is all thrills and spills.
32. 12.
MEET THE SEVENYEAR-OLD WORLD EXPLORER
She travels the world and wrote a book about it.
THE EPIC AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP
A six-month 25-000kilometre adventure.
40.
70.
Bali fun for the whole family.
What’s on around the world.
SURF ADVENTURE
EPIC EVENTS
50.
LANDSCAPES, CAMERA, ACTION! Journey through Hawai‘i’s film history.
54.
THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH Welcome to Japan’s Club Med Tomamu.
58.
A FAMILY TRIP TO PARIS
The kids lead this holiday.
62.
FUN IN FIJI
Get to know this island paradise.
66.
74.
DREAM ITINERARIES Make the most of your time.
82.
TALK TO THE EXPERT
Your travel questions answered.
85.
QUIZ ANSWERS
How many questions did you answer right?
KIDS’ PICKS
Little travellers share their holiday stories.
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P I N B OA R D Magical Maldives The latest exciting news from this grand resort in North Huvadhoo is the opening of two brand-new villas styles. The Deluxe Park Pool Villas each have a 55-square-metre pool with an outdoor cabana where parents can kick back while the kids make a splash. The Two-Bedroom Park Pool Villas offer the same delightful pool-cabana combo but with an extra bedroom that has two single beds and even an attached bathroom – a setup that comfortably fits five. Families can also enjoy a Turtle Quest tour (snorkelling with sea turtles), try their luck at traditional fishing methods, go on the Lucky Dolphin Cruise, and visit a local island.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF RESORTS. WORDS: SOPHIE CULLEN.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Picture the ultimate tropical getaway. Does it include overwater bungalows and private beaches? Island‑hopping and indulgent dinners? With kids’ clubs, water sports, wildlife cruises and chill time available in abundance in the Maldives, there’s no reason you can’t slot your family into the postcard. It’s about time that the couples-only stigma is lifted from these coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, and it’s just lucky that these three high-end hotels agree. A whispered word to the wise: you can still savour a slice of romance and luxury while you’re at it!
Six Senses Laamu
The only resort on the Laamu Atoll, it’s a given that Six Senses is going to be special. A dedicated children’s club known as The Den offers a busy agenda of frisbee games, ropeclimbing, ping-pong, cookie- and pizza-making, crafts, and the option to go snorkelling with parents or parental permission. Included on-site family activities span from volleyball, football, badminton and table tennis to snorkelling, canoeing, windsurfing and treasure hunts on the beach. Plus, seven- to 11-year-olds get 50 percent off meal costs and anyone younger than six eats free! Is there no end to the add-ons?
Club Med Kani
Club Med Kani has the kid-factor down pat with its Happy Children Corner, supervised by specialised staff. Techno whizzes will love the Games Factory, budding performers the Music Academy, and wannabe conservationists the marine exploration room – and parents will love the fact that kids under four stay for free! The all-inclusive resort on two kilometres of private beaches also offers Mini Club, an indoor and outdoor play space with a program that focuses on activities that align with four themes: sports, creativity, expression and games.
NEWS BITES
There’s a rumble in the jungle about something new arriving at Bali Zoo – and it won’t be your tummy! This year, Bali Zoo introduced two amazing animal encounters – Breakfast With Orangutan and Dinner With The Great Elephants – at on-site Gayo Restaurant. Munch on your breakfast in view of the friendly red-headed apes enjoying their playground. Sample a selection of tropical 8 / For families who travel
fruits, fresh bread, fried rice, pancakes and cereals (and some Balinese coffee for mums and dads). Breakfast With Orangutan is followed by an animal show and morning tour timed perfectly as the zoo slowly wakes up. If you’re not an early bird, you can instead opt to dine with the majestic Sumatran elephant. The experience starts with an unparalleled
elephant encounter, including a photo opportunity and the chance to feed the enormous creatures. After a zoo tour and nocturnal encounter, your family can choose from the soups, salads and grill items at Gayo Restaurant’s delicious buffet. You will be joined by the ornately decorated Sumatran elephant herd and witness a traditional Saman dance and Balinese fire dance while you eat.
IMAGES: ARTIST CONCEPT IMAGES © DISNEY.PIXAR.
DINING WITH THE ANIMALS
NEWS BITES
PIXAR FEST Travel to infinity and beyond as Pixar takes California’s Disneyland Resort by storm in 2018, as part of the limited-time ‘Pixar Fest’ launched in April. Follow the familiar bounce of the Pixar lamp through both Disney Parks in the Anaheim resort – Disneyland Park, built by Walt Disney himself in 1955, and the more recent Disney California Adventure Park. The skies over Disneyland Park will be lit up by the 'Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular', a dramatic display of fireworks, music and animations. The Pixar Play Parade is equally impressive and will be led by Wilderness Explorer Russell and Dug the talking dog from Up. In Disney California Adventure, Toy Story tragics and Inside Out enthusiasts will adore Pixar Pier launching 23 June this year. The newest land to open at the resort will have four Pixarthemed neighbourhoods and boast the thrilling re-imagined ‘Incredicoaster’ in time for the release of Incredibles 2. For an equally wild ride with a little less adrenaline, the World of Color extravaganza displays well-loved scenes from Disney and Pixar on a huge water screen. Guests will experience Pixar stories and characters in incredible new ways on this seaside waterfront
at the Disneyland Resort.
DID YOU KNOW? In the 1880s Japanese immigrants (along with the Chinese, Filipino, Korean and Portuguese) came to Hawaii to work in the sugar and pineapple plantations. They brought kimonos, and looking for ways to supplement their income began sewing garments – in particular button-up shirts – from the unused kimono material. Soon everyone wanted in and the shirts underwent mass production. And soon after that the designs started depicting scenes from Hawaii. “They started producing shirts that were relevant to Hawaii. Instead of Mount Fuji it was Diamond Head, instead of pine trees it was coconut trees, and instead of bamboo boats they had canoes. Then came the beach boys and surfers and flowers,” explains Dale Hope, author of The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands.
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NEWS BITES
TRY TOURING
From wildlife spotting in Costa Rica to camel rides in Morocco to exploring New York, family tours are next level exciting.
10 / For families who travel
INTREPID’S COSTA RICA FAMILY HOLIDAY FOR SOLO PARENTS 15 DAYS Intrepid has pounced on a major gap in the travel market, providing a series of specialised itineraries for solo-parent families. One such trip leads you deep into the Costa Rican jungle for a saturation in wildlife and Caribbean culture for 15 days. Start in San Jose, then spot monkeys, turtles, toucans, crocodiles and more in Tortuguero National Park. Jump at the chance to swim in hot springs near Arenal Volcano or on the white palm beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park.
UTRACKS DANUBE CYCLE 14 DAYS UTracks’ selling point to families is its active, outdoorsy character. On the Danube Cycle trip, do as the locals do and experience cultural centres such as Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Passau on two wheels. Rated moderate for confident bike riders, this trip covers 30 to 60 kilometres per day, past floodplains, abbeys, castles, monasteries, and even the fascinating Roman archaeological site of Carnuntum and the sobering Mauthausen Concentration Camp.
IMAGES: COURTESY OF TOUR COMPANIES. WORDS: SOPHIE CULLEN
A holiday that comes with accommodation, activities and transfers sounds like a parental pipe dream, but it’s actually quite achievable when you join any number of tailored family tours cropping up from travel providers across the world. The best way to travel with your brood safely and stress-free, tours will allow you to meet like-minded families, learn from guides and local experts, and visit fascinating destinations you’d shoved in the ‘too hard’ basket.
QUIZ QUESTIONS
TRAFALGAR’S PILGRIMS AND PATRIOTS TOUR NINE DAYS Trafalgar’s newest family deal is an introduction to the history of American independence that will allow you to tick Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Gettysburg and Washington DC off your list. Notable mentions include a tour of the oldest Major League Baseball stadium and home to the Red Sox, a chocolate tasting at Hershey’s, a lunch with three generations of an Amish family, and a snoop around the International Spy Museum.
ON THE GO TOURS’ KASBAHS, KIDS & CAMELS TOUR 9 DAYS Spice up your photo album with the vivid colours of Morocco’s mosques and medinas on a tour for kids (and big kids) aged five and up. Cover Marrakech, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and a special overnight camp in a Berber village. Add an extra three days and head to the Essaouira coast for some swimming.
G ADVENTURES’ THAILAND FAMILY ADVENTURE 12 DAYS Anyone older than six can dive in to this South-East Asian jewel and the accompanying collection of tailored kid-friendly experiences. Catch a longboat tour through Bangkok, swim in the Erawan waterfalls, visit the bridge over the River Kwai, see the ruins of Ayutthaya, and take a cooking class in Chiang Mai.
WINTER QUIZ Think you’re a know it all? Test yourself by taking the quiz below and find out how much you really know. Flick to page 85 for answers.
O1.
06.
How many time zones are there in Russia?
What old Spanish word for ‘large tortoise’ is also the name of tortoiseinhabited islands?
02. Which is the only continent to cover all four hemispheres?
03. True or False: Every inhabited continent in the world has a city named after Rome?
07. What country are you in if you wear a ‘toque’ instead of a beanie when it gets cold? ?
08.
04.
What animal joins the hordes of wildebeest on their Great Migration in Serengeti?
Who wrote the adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days?
09.
05. Of what nationality were the first known Europeans to discover Australia?
Where do Komodo dragons come from?
10. What country is home to the biggest cattle ranch in the world?
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GUATAPE, COLOMBIA
CAM
Meet the seven-year-old travelling the world Travelling opens up new doors and Makyala Keelan (Kayla for short) knows this is true. Since venturing off on her first overseas trip in May 2017 – together with her mum Mel – she has visited 17 countries and can’t wait to keep on discovering new places. So how did it all begin? After a family tragedy Mel found 12 / For families who travel
herself living in a caravan with Kayla, trying to make the best of life. Kayla went to day care while Mel worked nights as a bartender, but Mel quickly realised that this was not how she wanted to live. So, in 2016 she jumped at an opportunity to teach disadvantaged kids in Rio de Janeiro and from there the mum-and-daughter travel adventures blossomed. While in Brazil, Mel realised that she wanted to spend quality time with her daughter and see the world. She spent two years saving money and then her and Kayla set off on an epic
adventure. Kayla loves life in the road – so much so that she’s written a book about her travels. What was the first country you visited and what did you love most about it? The first country I visited was New Zealand and I loved seeing all my uncles and seeing where my family is from. When did you start travelling with your mum? When I was six (Mel: May 2017). How many countries have you visited Can please list them? I’ve visited 17 countries so far:
IMAGES: MEL KEELAN.
A girl with big travel plans and even bigger dreams has written a book about her travels. Here, we chat to Kayla Keelan.
TU
EXPLORE
New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Dubai, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, Iceland, America, Colombia and Ecuador.
BODIA
Which country has been your favourite country and why? Colombia – because the people are so kind. The town of Guatapé is my favourite. My best friend lives there. I want to buy a house there and Mum said we can get two dogs and live there for two months every year and keep travelling for the rest of the time. What has been the biggest challenge of being on the road for the last year? I was sick on the bus to Ecuador and that was the baddest thing.
URKEY
What has been the biggest highlight of being on the road? Making lots of friends and seeing cool places
T EGYP
What is the best bit about travelling with your mum? Me and my mum were jumping on a bed in Romania and she fell on her butt and I laughed so, so much! (Mel: We get to make memories together that she will never forget). Can you please tell me about your book? What inspired you to write and illustrate it? It’s about my travels and all the different things that I have seen in each country. My school made me write a diary every day and my mum
was writing a book at the same time. She always told me that she wanted to show people how to quit their jobs and travel – and to make money to keep travelling. Then, I wanted to write a book that was cooler than my mums and came out before hers and sold more than hers. Do you ever want to settle down or do you always see yourself on the road? I want to travel. I asked my mum if we could please buy a house in Guatapé, so I can go to school with my best friend and I can learn Spanish. Mum wants to stay there for three months every year and Airbnb our house out when we travel and visit my family in Australia What advice would you give to other kids who are dreaming of travelling as much as you are able to? If I can do it, you can do it too. Every day, write what you want to do. Find some pictures to put in your room and ask your parents nicely to please save money. Or you can try to write a book too, because you can do anything. Where do you want to go next and why? I want to go to Antarctica. It is my Nan’s favourite place and she told me lots about it and I want to visit there. I want to see the penguins and find out why everything is melting. What is the best thing about life right now? Playing with dogs and getting free breakfast (Mel: The hostel we are volunteering at has a little puppy – a white Labrador. And they have free pancakes and fruit for breakfast).
The Little Girl Who Travelled the World Available for $14.99 in print and for $6.99 as an e-book via kidexplorer.com.au. familytravel.com.au / 13
TOP 20
Wanderlust ADVENTURES
Dreaming of a lifechanging family holiday? Here are 20 amazing ideas just to get you started, writes Carla Grossetti.
Swim with extra buoyancy in the Dead Sea
01.
Floating belly up in the Dead Sea off Jordan is one of the ultimate ways to unwind. Join visitors from around the world who wade into the water, crunching their way along sharp salt crystals before taking the plunge in the lowest hypersaline lake in the world. Both adults and children (who are old enough to swim) will love the feeling of buoyancy while admiring the desert landscape and backing board of blue sky. Note: this is not a splash pool; if you get the salty water in your eyes it burns.
02. Walk along the Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is a marvel of military engineering, built by successive dynasties between 220 BC to 1644 AD as defensive cordons to protect China’s kingdoms from marauding tribes. Children will be captivated by the wall, which is made up of multiple structures of stone, brick, tamped earth and wood, and runs along mountain passes and ridges like the spine of a slumbering giant. Walking a section of the wall – which snakes more than 6352 kilometres from Shanhai Pass in the east to Lop Nur in the west – is a great way to bring ancient history lessons to life.
03.
04.
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Spend a night in a castle in Great Britain
Take a family cruise around the South Pacific
See giant tortoises in the Galapagos
It’s not every night you get to tuck your children into a fourposter bed in a medieval castle behind thick sandstone walls. Take an after‑hours tour of Warwick Castle, which brings to life the stories of medieval knights, Norman mottes and more, before climbing the 55‑step spiral staircase to your room, which overlooks wooded grounds designed by Capability Brown. BYO tiara.
Travelling on the high seas at around 21 knots a day is truly a different pace of travel for most families. Parents on board the cruise vessels can awaken the gypsy gene in their children by easing them into a foreign culture while they are still in their comfort zone. In addition to all the action on board – from strobe-lit dance classes to waterslides – the family-oriented ships offer shore excursions designed to teach children about different cultures.
While armchair travellers might prefer to Google Street View the Galapagos Islands – yes, it’s a thing – adventurous families who want to follow in Darwin’s footsteps can explore the islands made famous by the scientist. Here, children are encouraged to channel their inner Attenborough to get up close to the Galapagos tortoise and spot sea lions, frigate birds and land iguanas.
16 / For families who travel
HOT LIST
06. Ride the world’s longest zipline rollercoaster on Australia’s Central Coast The TreeTop Crazy Rider is a fairly extreme way to take in a view. Billed as the longest zipline rollercoaster in the world, the TreeTop Crazy Rider sends thrill-seekers zigging and zagging around the trees while attached to a one-kilometre-long cable. It’s one of the star family travel attractions at Treetop Adventure Park, which is located in Ourimbah State Forest on the New South Wales Central Coast. While participants must weigh more than 40 kilograms to ride the zipline, there are obstacle courses on offer for tiny tots aged as young as three.
09.
IMAGE: JAMES.KAISER
Have a white Christmas in Canada
07.
08.
Go rafting in the Grand Canyon
Visit LegoLand in Denmark
Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is at the top of travellers’ bucket lists around the globe. In fact, the experience is so popular that wait lists for the hot spot extend at least 12 months in advance. Outdoorsy families with children over the age of eight will love the experience of rafting down the Colorado River, which carved its course through the contours of the canyon about six million years ago. Best time to go is in summer, when the swirling currents are not too strong.
Make it hot chocolates all round at Legoland Discovery Centre in Billund, Denmark, where the tiny building blocks are so much more than just constructive toys for children. Whether you’re a master model builder or you prefer to freeform with the colourful itty-bitty bricks, Legoland is about inspiring both children and adults to cut loose with their imagination and construct the Lego creations of their dreams. Lego House is the newest attraction at the company’s flagship theme park.
Christmas in Australia is always sans snowflakes. But if all your children want for Christmas is sleighbells and snow, why not whisk them away to Whistler for its annual Santa Day? There’s no hidden Claus: the first 100 skiers or boarders to hit the slopes dressed like Santa will receive a free lift ticket to use for the day at the Whistler Blackcomb Resort, located in the mountains of British Columbia. Winnipeg in Manitoba also knows how to celebrate the Christmas season with its annual Santa Claus Parade.
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HOT LIST
11. Visit Gaudi’s enchanting Park Güell in Barcelona Park Güell is one of artist Gaudi’s major works. Located in Barcelona, the fantastical sprawling garden – much of which is free to the public – is a garish collision of art and architecture with flowing lines, eclectic art and lurid mosaics. Gaudi’s enchanting Barcelona masterpiece was created in 1900 and bought for use as a public park in 1922. Children marvel at the monumental precinct comprising an iconic blue-and-white spire, Hansel-and-Gretel gatehouses, and a forest of columns, which appear as if they have been pulled straight out of a twisted fairy tale.
12. 10. Meet Mickey Mouse in Disneyland Walt Disney wanted everyone who stepped through the gates of Disneyland to feel like a child. More than 60 years since the magical park opened in Anaheim, California, Disney’s dream has come true, with the theme park considered to be one of the world’s most successful tourist attractions. From the smell of fairy floss – which permeates the air – to the soundtrack of children squealing as they encounter characters such as Snow White and Mickey Mouse, Disneyland delivers on thrills for everyone, not just diehard Disney fanatics. 18 / For families who travel
Take a history lesson at the Museum of Natural History in New York The Museum of Natural History in New York City has been captivating the minds of children and adults for close to 150 years. Little ones love the interactive exhibits at the museum, which is dedicated to everything from education to conservation. Highlights of the museum include a frozen tissue lab, rooms filled with fossils and the high-ceiling hall of dinosaurs.
HOT LIST
13.
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15.
Camp out in the desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan
Take a self-drive RV trip around Yellowstone National Park
Enjoy an elephant encounter in Sri Lanka
Introduce your children to the great outdoors with a selfdrive camping trip through Yellowstone National Park in an RV (recreational vehicle). This is truly Yogi Bear territory. Break up the trip through America’s first National Park with a spot of wildlife watching, some white-water rafting, and a hike to a waterfall. Children will be spellbound by the dramatic landscapes, bubbling geysers and hot pools.
In addition to spending quality family time together, having an encounter with elephants in Sri Lanka will help improve children’s knowledge about endangered species. Lonely Planet included a safari tour of the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage in its recently published Travel with Children book because the elephants roam free and the bathing sessions for the baby elephants are hugely popular with kids.
After exploring the Lost City of Petra, spend your first trip to Jordan with the family in a Bedouin desert camp in the Wadi Rum under a sky blanketed with stars. Bunkering down for the night in one of the tents surrounded by the desert’s stone rock formations will give your children a taste of the nomadic life enjoyed by the Bedouin, who historically inhabited desert regions in the Middle East and North Africa. Watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for inspiration.
16. Experience Iguazú Falls Argentina is full of breathtaking landscapes that will impress nature-loving families – Iguazú Falls is one of them. Located on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana, the jaw-dropping natural wonder includes hundreds of cascading waterfalls that stretch for nearly three kilometres. Don’t bother posting an Instagram story; it won’t do justice to the falls, which are surrounded by northern subtropical forest.
HOT LIST
17. Make like an Egyptian Children obsessed with Horrible Histories will thrill at seeing the replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb and its treasures located in Egypt’s Valley of Kings. In addition to seeing some of the world’s most impressive pyramids and monuments, the whole family can geek out at the Egyptian Museum, ride a camel around the parched earth, and be captured by the immensity and wonder of the Pharaonic times.
18.
19.
Enjoy an Go volcano unforgettable boarding in skiing adventure Nicaragua in Switzerland The Cerra Negro Volcano near Switzerland is like a mecca for mountain lovers. Bundle up your little ones for a ride on the world’s first revolving cable car up Mt Titlis where you can stay overnight in an igloo and warm your cockles in a spa. Views from the cable car also improve as you ascend to the Schilthorn, home of the interactive Bond World 007. Those with competent skiers in tow should head to Murren, which offers views of the jagged silhouettes of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, which form part of the Swiss Alps.
the village of Malpaisillo, Nicaragua, is the most active cinder cone volcano in the world. And what better way for families with older children to appreciate this geographical wonder than while whizzing down its vertical face on wooden sleds? After hiking up to the top of the 650-metre-high cone, don your orange safety suit and slide or surf your way down the mountain of volcanic pebbles. Adventurous teens will enjoy this adrenaline-fuelled adventure, which is not for the faint-hearted.
20. Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef Encourage your children to appreciate the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland. The marine life off the coast of Cairns is abundant, making the act of Finding Nemo a cinch. Whether viewing the underwater scenes in a snorkel and mask or a glass-bottom boat, your brood will be transfixed with the watery adventure.
Need more wanderlust inspiration? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 21
DIVING
Under the Sea Thirteen-year-old Audrey Sarin fell in love with the underwater world on her first dive. She’s now a PADI open water diver and working on becoming a junior rescue diver. Here, she shares her story.
On the day of my first dive, what struck me most was that I could 22 / For families who travel
breathe underwater. I could see the surface was a good five metres above me, but I was still breathing. I floated and focused on my breath as I descended into the blue. Everything was behind me now, as if in another life. I couldn’t hear anything but my own inhales, and those were very quiet... although Darth Vader reminiscent. When I exhaled, I could hear absolutely nothing else. I now understand why the
ocean is sometimes called the ‘Silent World’. At first, I saw nothing, but upon closer inspection, I saw spiky red sea urchins on the ocean floor. I had seen similar urchins in the touch tanks at the aquarium, but I had always assumed that they lived in the deep ocean, not right here on the edge of a rock. The sun shone right through the water, lighting up the coral and
IMAGES: KIDS SEA CAMP.
My very first dive will always be in my memory – the very first time I was able to become a part of the underwater world. I had been excitedly waiting for that moment, even before I had stepped off the plane into Grand Cayman’s sun. My parents had always told me elaborate tales of their experiences diving, and now it was my turn to see this wondrous world.
fish around me. I was filled with awe and didn’t know where to look – the deep sapphire blue out in the distance, or the small yellow fish swimming near me. Suddenly I knew where to look. There were brilliant oranges, pinks and reds as far as the eye could see. The sea fans were made of a spider web pattern – lacy strands of vivid coral with little holes in between. The tide washed in and out, swishing the sea fans as it moved.
“The sun shone right through the water, lighting up the coral and fish around me.”
The ocean’s synchronised dancers captivated me: Tide in, sea fans lean towards shore; tide out, sea‑fans lean away. Their routine was hypnotic as they danced to their own silent song. I remember spotting my first lobster, a beady-eyed creature that was far larger than any I had seen lying on the ice in Pike Place Market at home in Seattle. The way it moved was completely alien to me. I had only ever seen a live lobster in familytravel.com.au / 23
DIVING
a tiny restaurant tank, crawling over dozens of its siblings. It’s been years since my first dive, and Kids Sea Camp has given me much confidence as a diver. Each experience has piqued my interests in marine science and I have met other kids and families who share my interest in diving. Kids Sea Camp is very often the highlight of my summer! It’s what I talk about when I go back to school and I write essays about my adventures when we get a free topic. I have received many certifications, such as Advanced Open Water Diver, Drift, Shark Aware and even an Underwater Photographer specialty.
“I am eager for my voice to be a voice of the ocean – to be a protector and advocate for it.”
focusing on the most. While in Palau, I attended a Kids Sea Camp lecture about the value of sharks alive versus deceased. The amount of tourism that sharks create outweighs the profit made from shark finning. I was fascinated by this and I have been driven to do more — to stay informed about shark finning and other sharkrelated issues. Whenever I hear someone make a negative shark comment or reference Jaws, I launch into my mini-speech about sharks and how important they are for our oceans. You see, diving is my passion. It has allowed me see and learn about creatures I never knew existed.
I used to be terrified of sharks, but now that I’ve learnt so much about them (and other marine life) I’ve overcome my fear. I have been diving with schooling hammerheads, whale sharks and Galapagos sharks at Darwin’s Arch in the Galapagos. I saw a giant oceanic manta, floating over and into my bubbles. I’m just not afraid anymore.
We experienced land-based encounters with Galapagos tortoises, marine iguanas, giant Frigatebirds, sea lions and cute little penguins. It’s such a wonderful land of wildlife. I’ve learnt about ocean-related issues, but the declining shark population is what I’ve been 24 / For families who travel
IMAGES: KIDS SEA CAMP.
Galapagos does that to you. It became normal to see hammerheads and Galapagos sharks. It was such an amazing adventure and I became fearless.
DIVING
I love going to Kids Sea Camp and meeting new people and diving with teens my age. I also like that my parents can dive with adults and I can dive with new-found friends. Kids Sea Camp also has fun excursions when we’re not diving. My favourite was Jellyfish Lake in Palau. It was so peculiar to swim with thousands of jellies and be able to touch them without getting stung! I enjoy diving and spending quality time with my family. I don’t feel like I’m on a completely separate vacation. I’ve written and spoken about my diving experiences many times, as I feel it’s important and our responsibility to protect the oceans. I encourage my audience to be active in conservation and consider scuba diving. I believe that one of the most influential things you can do for conservation is to educate the youth. Bring your children, grandchildren, your godchildren, or your nieces and nephews on a dive vacation, and share the underwater world with them. Present a slideshow at a local school or library. Tell families about Kids Sea Camp. Kids aged 10 and over can get their Open Water certifications and younger kids can do SASY (Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth) or Seal Team. Getting the next generation to care about the ocean is crucial! Margo Peyton rocks! Margo is the creator of Kids Sea Camp and gets to know every family and genuinely enriches their experiences. She’s also an excellent dive instructor and
event planner; she arranges fun activities for the whole family. I think that Margo is secretly Superwoman. Since I have acquired all of my certifications and done most of my diving through Kids Sea Camp, I closely tie the camp to my diving ‘career’. I strongly believe that Kids Sea Camp has played a big part of who I am today. I’m more globally aware and confident because of my certifications. For all of this, I also say thank you to my mum and dad for choosing Kids Sea Camp for our holidays. My favourite animal encounters so far have been with sea lions and whale sharks in the Galapagos. I felt very safe and well informed and loved sharing those dives with new friends Melea and JB, as well as my mum and dad. One of my favourite non-dive excursions was in Palau, with Sam’s Tours – bathing myself in a Milky Way mud bath. Each trip includes authentic activities that entail learning about the local culture and people. I am excited to be attending Kids Sea Camp Grand Cayman
next holidays. I’m going to be doing a PADI Junior Rescue Diver course. I feel it will make me a safer diver and a better buddy. I’m very excited because Rescue Diver is the next big step in dive education and my goal is to become a PADI dive master when I’m 18. Remember, the ocean is silent. It has no voice and can’t speak for itself in debates about marine preserves or commercial fishing laws. I am eager for my voice to be a voice of the ocean – to be a protector and advocate for it. I am a certified diver with just under 50 dives under my belt and after every dive I feel a renewed passion towards my goal – to be the voice. I encourage you to travel and to dive with your families, experience the underwater silent world and become a voice too.
Want to explore the underwater world? The next Galapagos Kids Sea Camps will be held on 15-22 July 2018 & 13-20 July 2019. Head to familydivers.com for more. familytravel.com.au / 25
IMAGE: MARK DAFFEY.
SAFARI
Great animal encounters
Being out in the wilderness spotting the Big Five is an incredible way to spend a family holiday, for kids and adults alike, writes Mark Daffey.
We arrive too late to join the afternoon game drive from Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. This, however, proves no impediment to seeing wild animals. Nyalas and warthogs roam freely among the grounds, attracted by the green grass around our suites. Baboons loiter in the trees. And hyenas and leopards are known to wander into the camp at night, lured by the intoxicating aroma of barbecued meat, served nightly in the outdoor boma. In the vast expanses of South Africa’s Greater Kruger region, it seems the animals come to us.
Feasts fit for kings That night, we hear stories about the evening safari we’d missed, over one of the largest buffet dinner selections any of us has seen. Our son, Finn, immediately strikes up a rapport with two similarly aged boys from Sydney, and they laugh and joke around like they’ve known each other for years. They tell him about giraffes as tall as trees, and how warthogs must surely be the ugliest animals on Earth. Completely engrossing is their tale of a cheetah hunting down an impala. Over the following three days, we venture out into the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve on a succession of morning and afternoon game drives in search of the Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. familytravel.com.au / 27
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge EleFun Centre is chockfull of activities for kids; a spotted hyena; giraffes are commonly seen during safaris; craft time at the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge EleFun Centre.
Getting there South African Airways has daily flights from any capital city in Australia to South Africa. Flight services operate between Johannesburg and Sabi Sabi’s private airstrip or to the nearby Skukuza Airport.
Suite tariffs at the Bush Lodge, the most familyfriendly of Sabi Sabi’s four safari lodges and camps, start from AUD$1050 per night, low season. Stays include open vehicle safaris accompanied by qualified rangers and trackers, environmental awareness walking safaris, all meals and a selection of beverages, wifi and transfers from Sabi Sabi’s private airstrip.
IMAGES: MARK DAFFEY.
Staying there
SAFARI
Then hearty breakfasts are served upon our return to the lodge each morning, followed closely by lunch buffets that would feed an entire village. Evening meals include game meats like eland or crocodile, and best of all, says Finn, is that ice‑cream seems to be available all day. The rest of our time is filled lazing about the lodge. Post-breakfast naps allow us to catch up on lost sleep from our pre-dawn rises, while idle moments are best spent in the open-air lounge area, overlooking a waterhole attracting buffalo, elephants and antelopes to drink. Even lions wander in occasionally. Whenever he can, Finn chooses to join the cosmopolitan collection of kids gathered inside the lodge’s EleFun Centre. The childcare facility has obstacle courses, flying foxes, arts and craft tutoring, and library areas for quiet moments. After three weeks touring around South Africa and Victoria Falls with his mum and dad, it’s the best chance he’s had all trip to play with his own demographic. Even better is that Finn mucking around in the EleFun Centre allows us parents to rejuvenate with an Amani spa session, or by loafing around the pool.
In search of the Big Five It’s mid-October and the scrub around us is tinderbox dry. The rains should have come by now and many weakened animals are dying from starvation. The buffalo, especially, are suffering. Lions are picking them off at a rate of one per day. Finn’s eagle eyes come in handy inside the vehicle. Shortly after departing the lodge on our first morning safari,
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FAMILY LODGES Nothing beats staying at a safari lodge and bouncing out in the early mornings and evenings on a safari drive. However, not all lodges are geared towards families. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge is a great choice. Also consider:
Loisaba Star Beds in Kenya welcomes families – and at Saruni Samburu, families are VIPs, with kids able to join the Warriors Academy to learn bush skills, wildlife tracking, how to build a bush camp, and elements of the culture with real Maasai and Samburu warriors.
THIS IMAGE: Child’s play at the Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge EleFun.
IMAGE: MARK DAFFEY.
Jaci’s Lodges in Madikwe Game Reserve is a winner for families, with special Family Game Drives twice daily, jungle drives for kids from aged from three to five, and child-minding for tots. There’s even a special children’s photography tour for budding snappers.
SAFARI
“We stop to watch elephants stripping branches off trees and a yawning hyena escaping the sun in the shade of a thorny acacia.”
he spies a honey badger slinking through the bushes. A pair of rhino is next, hiding behind a termite’s nest. Before anyone else, he spots a hippo on foot. We stop to watch elephants stripping branches off trees and a yawning hyena escaping the sun in the shade of a thorny acacia. Wildebeest and zebra snort and waterbucks prick their ears. Duikers dart through the undergrowth and a brave sparrowhawk mobs a Wahlberg’s eagle that’s three times its size. We also track a leopard through fading light at dusk. Of the Big Five, all that’s left to see is a lion. There’s talk over the radios of a pride of lions taking down a buffalo, and of two adult brothers seen walking in our direction. It’s the latter two we track first. We find them starfishing on their backs on the edge of a clearing. Many of the wild animals we see are visibly jittery whenever we motor close, but these two couldn’t care less, well aware of their place in Africa’s pecking order. Even when our guide parks a single vehicle length from one, neither of them bats an eyelid.
It’s exciting to watch lions in such close proximity, especially when the lodge imposes a rule dictating a maximum of three vehicles around any animal. Even better is observing them when they’re up and about. Eight cubs wrestle each other and nibble from a freshly killed buffalo carcass while five lionesses lie around the periphery, allowing the cubs to climb over them. It’s the sort of event I could watch for hours, but darkness won’t permit that, and one young tummy also needs filling. As eager as Finn has been to see lions in the wild, when the choice is between watching them and eating ice‑cream, there’s really no contest. The writer travelled courtesy of South African Airways and Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.
Want more safari inspiration? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 31
Hanging out with the kids, changing the view from the front door every day, and leaving the daily grind behind sound like a dream? Andrea Rowe and her family hitch the camper and embark on an epic 25,000-kilometre driving adventure. 32 / For families who travel
Around countless Australian kitchen tables today there is a conversation playing out, “Should we, or shouldn’t we?” “Let’s hit the road and travel Australia” is whispered in our house, and as much as we try to shut them out with schedules and mortgage repayments, the voices can’t be silenced. We’re motivated to take the leap with long service leave on the horizon and the knowledge that our two primary school kids still want to hang out with us.
IMAGES: ANDREA ROWE.
THE EPIC AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP
AUSTRALIA
“OUR ROUTE QUICKLY BECOMES LESS OF A LAP OF THE MAP, AND MORE A ZIGZAG OF EXPLORING WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND ICONIC OUTBACK TRACKS.” My own nostalgic childhood memories of travelling Australia in a Holden station wagon, collecting Golden Fleece passport stamps with my brothers is the stuff of family folklore. Now it’s time to create our own.
enthusiasm, adding 1770 and Cooktown to our must-visit list. Little do we know he will become the family expert. A love of birds and native animals for our sixyear-old has us researching koala sanctuaries in Brisbane and adding bird books and binoculars to her personal travel pack. She becomes our official wildlife spotter. Like most Australian dream trips, ours includes the Red Centre and the Outback, as well as waterfalls, rainforests and reefs. Our route, however, quickly becomes less of a lap of the map, and more a zigzag of exploring World Heritage sites and iconic outback tracks.
Once we make the decision to hitch the camper trailer and hit the road, the decisions come thick and fast: What about schooling, the pets, insurance, illness on the road, petrol and mechanical expenses? Should we rent out our house? Is our 4WD outback ready? We soon discover we’re not alone. Many Australians put off travelling till the ‘grey nomad’ years, but there’s something to be said for hiking trails while we still have health and energy, and exploring places with the same sense of wonder as our kids. We decide to join them with our own six-month two-kids-and-one-camper epic trip We join Facebook travel sites, read tourism blogs for weather and road conditions, consult maps and national parks websites, and record finance and vehicle preparation goals. The kids join in the excitement, ears pricking up at the mention of snorkelling and theme parks, camel rides and outback camping, and the hint of no school. We quickly enlist the help of experts and opt for enrolling them in distance education with fortnightly lesson packs and support teachers. A sense of adventure consumes us all the minute the map is unfolded on the kitchen table. My nine-year-old runs his finger along the seam of coastline. He’s exploring Captain Cook’s journey in his mind – and we are fast to pick up on that
THIS IMAGE: Exploring the vast horizons of the Flinders Ranges.
OPPOSITE PAGE: The Rowe family hit the road and tick off the memories.
We feel both exhausted and exhilarated as we squeeze the last of the camping gear into the Landcruiser and hightail it up the highway. “Where are you headed?” becomes the preferred greeting as you seek out other travelling families at petrol stations and picnic spots, in camp kitchens and shower blocks. New faces bring updated advice, instant friends for kids, and reassurance about road conditions. familytravel.com.au / 33
AUSTRALIA
“CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH ANIMALS HAVE US EYEBALLING EMUS AT BALLARAT WILDLIFE PARK, SWAPPING FISHY KISSES WITH SEALS AT SEAWORLD, RIDING CAMELS IN BROOME AND PICNICKING WITH PELICANS AT THE ENTRANCE.”
Our bucket list starts to look like a Vegemite jar of Australian landmarks as the kids record it all in their diaries. My seven-year-old records her birthday at the Dampier Peninsula’s Cape Leveque: “We had hermit crab races by torch light and visited a Trochus shell and fish hatchery that the Aboriginal people take care of.” That’s one for the family vault. We are bringing the kitchen table map to life and – the experiences are coming in thick and fast. Thrill-seeking adventures have us shrieking on rides in Movieworld, tree surfing canopies on the Mornington Peninsula Enchanted Adventure Garden Ziplining and Canopy Tour, snorkelling with 1500 fish species from Reef HQ, canoeing the canyons of Katherine Gorge, and sliding down ski slopes at Falls Creek. 34 / For families who travel
We gobble up history in epic portions gazing at Captain Cook’s giant anchor from the Endeavour at the James Cook Museum, following the footsteps of Burke and Wills, surviving the Cyclone room at Darwin Museum and panning for gold at Sovereign Hill Close encounters with animals have us eyeballing emus at Ballarat Wildlife Park, swapping fishy kisses with seals at SeaWorld, riding camels in Broome and picnicking with pelicans at The Entrance. We howl at the Kiama Blowhole, step onto secluded beaches at Rottnest Island, and swim at sunset in Australia’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Argyle. And we just can’t beat the natural wonder of a starry night in the Flinders Rangers, or floating down waterfalls in Litchfield National Park. Our connection with culture grows. We watch sunset throw its light on rock art at Uluru, hear Dreamtime stories from Indigenous rangers in
IMAGES: ANDREA ROWE.
The campground chatter often turns to stories of how epic trips started for other families. Health scares, work changes, yearning for an escape from the grind, or the drive to see natural attractions before they change. Time and time again we hear our own motivations echoed – so many of us wanting time to stand still and just enjoy making memories with our kids without distractions.
AUSTRALIA
FROM LEFT: Are we lost? Checking in with the Burke and Wills cairn; discovering a whole new world under the sea; camel trek at sunset ticks everyone's list in the family.
FIVE TIPS THAT WILL HELP THE KIDS GET MORE OUT OF IT
Kakadu, and join in dot painting and digeridoo lessons at Ayers Rock Resort. We watch our kids just as much as we watch the scenery. I am captivated by my daughter gazing at ghostly ochre handprints on a Kakadu escarpment, and my son yahooing at the circle of life as a crocodile rises from a billabong to snap at a bat along the Gibb River Road. They are moving their minds beyond the pages of books and glass cabinets displays – and connecting first hand with the landscape and the people who shaped Australia. These are priceless learnings beyond the classroom, and we fast realise that we are right there beside them learning together too.
1. Give the kids tasks – from petrol account keeping, scouting a caravan park for the camp kitchen, or hammering in the tent pegs. 2. National park visitor centres and museums often have kid-friendly activities to enhance the kids’ learning (and yours). 3. Involve the kids in planning routes and destination visits so they have a sense of ownership. 4. Make sure the kids know where the First Aid kit is, and have bush safety knowledge. 5. Create kids’ travel packs with binoculars, pocket knives, compasses, maps, diaries and games.
Australia is quite simply a sensational classroom and playground to explore together as a family. When we examine the contents of this epic trip in years to come we will be sifting through precious memories of time spent together exploring. That’s reason alone to put the key in the ignition and hit the road.
Want to watch other families on their own Australian adventure? Go to the Families of Australia program and watch videos of families exploring many of the destinations mentioned in this story. familytravel.com.au / 35
THEME PARKS
It’s a wonderful world There are thousands of theme parks dotted across the world, ensuring thrills and spills for your little adrenaline junkies. Here, we’ve rounded up 18 theme parks guaranteed to send you and your family around a loop or two.
02.
DISNEYLAND PARK
WALT DISNEY WORLD
CALIFORNIA, USA
FLORIDA, USA
Possibly the most famous theme park on Earth, Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, is Walt Disney’s original theme park, with dozens of rides and attractions that have become household names. Sister park Disney California Adventure Park is themed around the history and culture of California, with live entertainment shows and seven districts to explore.
The mammoth Walt Disney World in Orlando is home to 27 themed hotels, four theme parks and two water parks. As if all that wasn’t enough, a brand-new themed land, Pandora – The World of Avatar, has just opened to up the excitement levels.
03. UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT FLORIDA, USA From the Incredible Hulk and Harry Potter to Transformers and Minions, Universal Studios manages to bring the movies to life with live shows, incredible state-of-the-art rides and immersive experiences. IMAGES: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: ROBERT LINSDELL.
01.
36 / For families who travel
THEME PARKS
04.
06.
07.
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN
HERSHEYPARK
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
CALIFORNIA, USA With 19 heart-thumping, adrenalinpumping coasters, Six Flags Magic Mountain, near Los Angeles, holds the world record for the most rollercoasters in an amusement park anywhere in the world, but there are still plenty of rides for littlies.
PENNSYLVANIA, USA This family-focused theme park boasts more than 70 rides, including kid-friendly delights and more than a dozen wild coasters. As a bonus, visitors can drop in to Hershey’s Chocolate World on site for a chocolate fix.
CALIFORNIA, USA Already one of the most popular parks, its massive expansion and opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with its looming castle and butterbeer on tap, make this one Californian theme park not to be missed.
05. KNOTT’S BERRY FARM CALIFORNIA, USA One of North America’s oldest and best-loved amusement parks, Knott’s Berry Farm offers 40 rides with a great balance of thrill rides, water rides and more gentle family fun.
08. DISNEYLAND PARIS, FRANCE Say bonjour to Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland Paris, where you’ll find two incredible parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. There are also seven Disney Hotels, a golf course and a Disney Village providing even more magic and fun for the family. familytravel.com.au / 37
THEME PARKS
09.
11.
13.
EUROPA-PARK
PORTAVENTURA WORLD
ALTON TOWERS PARK
The truly awesome Europa-Park is Germany’s largest theme park, and the second most popular in Europe. With more than 100 attractions and shows spread across 15 Europeanthemed zones, its 15 rollercoasters (including one that features virtual reality) are sure to get the adrenalin pumping.
SPAIN
ENGLAND
One of Europe’s most iconic theme parks, the colossal PortAventura World, already home to some of Europe’s most intense rollercoasters, has just opened its second speedy theme park, Ferrari Land.
With more than 50 rides and attractions, including water rides and a state-of-the-art indoor waterpark, Alton Towers’ worldclass rollercoasters make it a thrillseeker’s dream come true, but there’s plenty on offer for littlies, too.
10.
12.
THORPE PARK
HEIDE PARK
ENGLAND
GERMANY
Thorpe Park has some of the biggest and most thrilling roller coasters in Europe. Not for the faint of heart, this theme park is better suited to daring teens ready to be sent flying backwards, forwards, upside down and back again.
Heide Park is home to plenty of heart-in-your-throat rides, including the fastest gyro-drop tower in the world (Scream), and the Colossos, one of the fastest and tallest wooden rollercoasters in the world – due to reopen in 2019.
IMAGES: CREATIVE COMMONS, HEIDE PARK.
GERMANY
38 / For families who travel
THEME PARKS
14
15.
SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND
TOKYO DISNEYLAND
SHANGHAI, CHINA
JAPAN
With its enormous fantasy castle, two world-class hotels, six themed lands, dozens of innovative attractions, crazy rides and state-of-the-art special effects, the phenomenal Shanghai Disneyland is the newest and biggest of Disney’s incredible worldwide stable of theme parks.
Acclaimed by many as the best Disneyland park in the world, Tokyo Disneyland offers all of the best Disney rides and attractions, while its sister park – the nautical-themed Tokyo DisneySea – is geared towards older kids, boasting epic thrill rides and a gondola ride along Venetian-inspired canals.
16. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN OSAKA, JAPAN Just minutes from Osaka by rail, the sprawling Universal Studios Japan offers visitors a huge choice of rides, from kidfriendly carousels to thrill-rides and state-of-the-art simulators based on popular movies such as Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and Minions.
17. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE SINGAPORE Head back in time to Ancient Egypt, explore The Lost World, live the fairytale life in Far, Far Away and get intergalactic at Sci-Fi City within Universal Studios Singapore’s seven zones of cutting-edge rides, shows and attractions for kids (and grown-ups) of every age.
18. LEGOLAND MALAYSIA MALAYSIA In Legoland Malaysia’s extraordinary Miniland, 30 million Lego bricks have been used to recreate miniature versions of some of Asia’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll also find a variety of great rides, an assortment of 4D Lego films, and the slide- and wave-pool-packed Water Park.
Looking for more theme park fun? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 39
BALI
FAMILY SURF A D V E N T U R E It’s always possible to catch a lucky break in Bali, writes Carla Grossetti. The skies above us are iron grey and it matters not. We’re in Bali and life is good. Summer and autumn are generally regarded as the off-season for surfing around the mountainous Indonesian island and, as a result, the resorts – and waves – are a lot less crowded than if we were here between April and October. We arrive in Bali late at night during a rainstorm blasting water down in sheets and rattling the rooftops. By morning the rain has retreated and the noise of the waves has risen, filling our family suite at Hotel Komune with an almighty roar from Huey, the mythical surf god. 40 / For families who travel
When my husband and sons trudge off for a predawn surf, I can’t see them but I can hear them move through the resort, their booties squelching on the sodden earth and crunching on the volcanic sand and rock underfoot. With all that water coursing from the rooves and palm fronds overnight, the ground is swollen and the air is sweet. As they paddle out into the line-up, they become neoprene shadows, like a deeper shade of night.
A five-star swell Come mid-morning the sea is a flat metallic grey and I’m sitting in a pool of sunshine at the horseshoe-shaped bar at Beach Club at Komune. I’m joined by several burly surfers, their partners and kids all slurping down kopi (coffee) and nasi goreng (fried rice) and commentating on the
BALI
SL EE P. S U R F .EA T . R EP EA T . conditions. How lucky we are to have timed our arrival to this black-sand beach with a five-star swell.
Cronulla surfer Kalani Vandepolder has been travelling to surf in Indonesia for years.
After three hours in the water, my husband and sons come out burnished and breathless, shovel down a plate of mee goreng with spicy sambal and sit and chill until the tide comes in, the waves jack up and they do it all again. “Sleep. Surf. Eat. Repeat,” raps my 13-year-old son Marley. The last time I was in Indonesia was about 20 years ago, at the start of a two-year honeymoon travelling to surf breaks dotted across the globe. And what is abundantly clear to me on this trip to Bali, two decades on, is that the surf resorts on this island east of Java are now better designed to cater to everyone in the family, regardless of whether you surf or not.
The Komune tribe While moons ago I happily camped in a tent pitched on one of the Hinako islands off the coast of Sumatra, these days I’ve become rather partial to the familytravel.com.au / 41
BALI
@FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au
Komune option of morning yoga and meditation and Buddha bowls. The resort also includes a Health Hub and adults-only lap pool, as well as a salon offering hair crème baths designed to fight the frizz when I emerge from the infinity pool attached to our five-star suite. The fact that this resort has been oriented around a killer break and fashioned into a place where guests mingle while paying meticulous attention to the ocean makes it a very congenial place for non-surfers to stay too. From my Beach Club vantage point, just metres from the silvery gleam of sand, I watch fat bees drone in and out of flowers, observe staff jamming incense into the sand and proffering flowers to the Hindu gods, and watch children running barefoot up and down the beach.
Making a splash Our beachfront suite is one of 38 newly opened rooms at the resort, which contributes to a total of 104. When we are not lounging around the shared infinity pool out the front of our family suite, my husband and sons have access to a wide range of clean, safe breaks within walking distance of Komune. There is also a skate park and trampoline on site, where groms can practise their airs and 180s, and a wifi connection to track the best waves across the island. During our 10-day surf trip to Bali, we also choose accommodation that marries chasing the swell with a comfortable base to chill. On our radar is Anantara Seminyak, just metres away from the shifting Seminyak sand banks, which pick up twice as much swell as nearby Kuta Beach (best-suited to beginners). We also bunker down at sister property Anantara Uluwatu, which overlooks ‘Impossibles’ and is close to breaks such as ‘Chicken Wings’ as well as world-class waves such as ‘Padang-Padang’, ‘Bingin’, ‘Uluwatu’ and ‘Nyang-Nyang’. Although it’s my boys’ first trip to Bali, they are already devoted pilgrims, dreaming of a return visit well before our footprints have faded behind us in the sand. “Mum, can we come back to Bali on another surf trip?” asks my 15-year-old son Fin. “As long as the surf ‘camp’ includes an infinity pool, spa, yoga and cocktails,” I reply.
IMAGES: CARLA GROSSETTI.
Keen to learn more about Bali?
BALI
FIVE FAMILY-FRIENDLY SURF SPOTS IN BALI 01. KERAMAS Keramas is located on Bali’s south‑east coast. It is a world-class right-hander reef break that is suitable for micro grommets (aged 12 and under) who want to improve their surfing. When it’s cranking, the wave is considered one of the best high-performance waves in the world. Night surfing here is one of the novelty options on offer. 02. NUSA DUA ‘Chicken Wings’ is mellow in a low swell and a few feet smaller than the main peaks at Nusa Dua. It’s at the end of the reef and is fantastic for long walling right-handers. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
Marley Moore exiting the wave in style at Keramas Beach, Indonesia.; the Anantara Seminyak is right in position when it comes to accessing surf spots nearby; Keramas Beach is the perfect spot for your family's next surfing getaway; Robin Moore in his happy place after a surf at Keramas.
03. SEMINYAK On its day, Seminyak can be A-frame perfection for experienced surfers, but there are also surf schools here aimed at everyone from beginners to intermediate surfers. Get up early to take advantage of morning glass. 04. PADANG-PADANG RIGHT During high tide, this long wave is perfect for beginners who want to practise their surfing manoeuvres. It’s also a nice place to hang out and enjoy local seafood. 05. LEGIAN Legian is a beach break with fun little waves for beginners during a small swell. Both the Rip Curl School of Surf and the Surf Academy employ surfing instructors who have been accredited by the Australian Academy of Surfing to teach children as young as eight to paddle into the Legian line-up and take off on their first wave.
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BUCKEt LIST ADVEntURES
PHOTO ESSAY
Words by Sophie Cullen.
MAN MADE MARVELS Ceremonial structures, sacred ruins and imperial palaces are more than just great family photo opportunities. Follow the footsteps of the Incas or walk the gardens of India’s most famous mausoleum, and you’ll realise that sites like Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal are powerful symbols of living history.
ANIMAL KINGDOM Encountering animals in their natural habitats will heighten your awareness of our role in protecting and conserving the beauty of the wild. Revel in the gentle might of the humpback whale off Mexican coasts, swing through the trees with orangutans in Borneo, or witness the famous Great Wildebeest Migration across Kenya’s Serengeti.
PHOTO ESSAY
NATURAL WONDERS The might and majesty of the Niagara Falls will take your breath away as hundreds of thousands of litres of water tumble its heights every second. How about the sunny serenity of French Polynesian beaches? Or the otherworldly magic of the Northern Lights? Immerse yourself in the heart and soul of a destination by getting outside and soaking up the stories that nature has to tell.
familytravel.com.au / 47
PHOTO ESSAY
48 / For families who travel
AVENTURE TIME Venture to discover the miracles that await when you journey beyond the familiar. See Turkey’s Cappadocia from new heights in a hot air balloon, explore the final frontier in the Kennedy Space Center in the USA, traverse the vast Russian continent on the TransSiberian railway, or enjoy a sand safari in the UAE.
HAWAI’I
LANDSCAPES, CAMERA,
ACTION !
50 / For families who travel
HAWAI’I
With 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones and some of the most dramatic scenery imaginable, it’s no wonder filmmakers flock to Hawai‘i, writes Angela Saurine. As our helicopter lifts off the ground, the triumphant theme song from the Indiana Jones movies pumps through our headphones, and I feel my adrenaline rising. Within minutes we are soaring past the same volcanic peaks the loveable archaeologist flies through after escaping natives chasing him with poison darts by swinging from a vine into the river where a floatplane waits in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It may have masqueraded as the Peruvian jungle in the film, but the scene was actually shot on the Hawaiian island of Kaua‘i. The scenery is, quite frankly, gobsmacking. On our 45-minute Safari Helicopters flight, we glide over deep, green valleys peppered with hundreds of towering waterfalls and the astonishing rippled cliffs of the Napali Coast, which acted as a natural fortress for the first Polynesian settlers who arrived in Hawai‘i from the Marquesas Islands.
THIS IMAGE:
Waterfalls flowing into the ocean on the Napali Coast on Kaua’i.
IMAGE: SAFARI HELICOPTERS.
Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg was so taken with Kaua‘i’s lush landscapes, he stored it in his memory bank and returned more than a decade later to shoot another blockbuster, Jurassic Park. The first views audiences see of the fictional Central American island Isla Nublar from the helicopter in the movie are also the Napali Coast. Our tour also flies over Manawaiopuna Falls, where a group of scientists land on a helipad built especially for the film, in the Hanapepe Valley. As the waterfall lies on private property, this is the best way to see it. With more than 60 Hollywood movies made here, film sites can be found all over Kaua‘i, which is also known as the Garden Island. Hule’ia National Wildlife Refuge doubled as the jungle in Raiders of the Lost Ark, while Huleia River at Kipu Ranch, just south of the island’s main town of Lihu‘e, provided the location for the temple. Kipu Ranch Adventures offers 4WD familytravel.com.au / 51
HAWAI’I
tours where you can also see filming locations from Outbreak, The Descendants and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The National Tropical Botanic Garden, Allerton Garden, also featured in the latter when Captain Jack Sparrow – played by Johnny Depp – was searching for the fountain of youth, while in Jurassic Park Sam Neill’s character, paleontologist Dr Alan Grant, finds hatched raptor eggs under its giant Moreton Bay fig trees. But when Hurricane Iniki hit Kaua‘i partway through production and devastated the island, Spielberg was forced to look elsewhere to finish shooting. Flying over the most-visited Hawaiian island, O‘ahu, he came across the dramatic Ka’a’awa Valley, at Kualoa Ranch. The crew only spent three days there but it starred in one of the most famous scenes, in which Dr Grant and the children run from a herd of dinosaurs and hide under a log. The spot is the most popular place for tourists to snap photos for Instagram on a 1.5-hour movie sites tour. The valley was also home to Hurley’s golf course in the TV series Lost, which filmed every season there, the ATV jump from Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Godzilla’s footprints, which can still be seen. Bones from King Kong: Skull Island lie not far away. Officers also play golf in the valley on the morning of the Japanese attack in Pearl Harbor, and war planes fly over it. The 1600-hectare working cattle ranch also offers ATV tours, ziplining, food tours and cruises. Around a 30-minute drive away on O‘ahu’s North Shore, the family-friendly Turtle Bay Resort also played a starring role in
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HAWAI’I
IMAGES: HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY: TOR JOHNSON, KIPU RANCH ADVENTURES.
FAR LEFT:
Overlooking Kipu Kai on Kaua’i, where movies including The Descendants and Jurassic Park were filmed. ABOVE:
Children in front of the Jurassic Park sign at Kualoa Ranch on O’ahu. LEFT:
Kaua’i’s famous Moreton Bay figs featured in Jurassic Park.
Little ones may be more impressed by a visit to Hanapepe on Kaua‘i, which provided the inspiration for the town that Hawaiian girl Lilo and the stray alien dog Nani she adopts live in the animated Disney comedy Lilo and Stitch. The main street is lined with colourful plantationstyle buildings that house art galleries and gift stores selling Hawaiian handicrafts. The town is famous for its swinging bridge, which sways when people walk across it. The best time to visit is on Friday Art Night, when the street comes alive with live music and food trucks selling Hawaiian specialties – and you can chat to local artists in store. An underwater film crew was also sent to Kealakekua Bay on Island of Hawai‘i, colloquially known as The Big Island, to collect footage of the pristine reef, which has a sharp drop off, to inspire animators for Finding Nemo. Visitors can snorkel among the bright tropical fish and coral on a tour with Fair Wind Cruises, which also takes in the monument to explorer Captain Cook that marks his final resting place for a bonus bit of history.
• Hawai‘i has six major islands that tourists can visit – O‘ahu, Maui, Island of Hawai‘i (The Big Island), Kaua‘i, Molokai and Lanai. • The main entry point is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on O‘ahu. From there, interisland flights operate between the islands. • Hawai‘i became the 50th state of the United States in 1959. • The average daytime temperature at sea level ranges from 29.4ºC in summer (May to October) to 25.6ºC in winter (November to April). At night, temperatures are around 12ºC cooler. • Most Australian holidaymakers are eligible to travel to Hawai‘i via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system as part of the USA’s visa waiver program. You must apply in advance and it costs USD$14.
Ready to jet off to this island paradise? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 53
FAST FACTS
WITH MORE THAN 60 HOLLYWOOD MOVIES MADE HERE, FILM SITES CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER KAUA‘I, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE GARDEN ISLAND.
the romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, while the mermaid pools that featured in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides were also built on its grounds. Jennifer Lawrence and her co-stars also filmed arena scenes for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at the calm, crescent-shaped Kawela Bay near the resort in a scene in which the tributes appear on top of the lake, ready for battle.
JAPAN
Want a ski holiday where everything is taken care of? Bronwen Gora heads to the new Club Med Tomamu for some seriously fun research. 54 / For families who travel
IMAGE: CLUB MED.
The newest kid on the snowiest block
JAPAN
family’s bucket lists is the jet-lag friendly twohour time difference that makes travelling internationally with children a breeze. Nowhere is the family-friendly attraction of skiing in Japan more evident than during my January visit to Club Med Tomamu, the newest resort for the world’s largest all-inclusive premium holiday provider in the Southeast Asia region. It is located in central Hokkaido, about two hours from either New Chitose Aiport or Obihiro Airport, both easily accessible from Tokyo.
If Disneyland did not have a monopoly on the descriptor ‘happiest place on earth’, it would be perfectly apt here. By day parents ski with their children or watch, glass of wine often in hand, through floor-toceiling windows in the Unkai lounge bar as their offspring take lessons from a United Nations of ski instructors. Elsewhere on the slopes I even spot Club Med staff organising a snowboard race between parents and their kids. It is delightful.
As crazy as it may seem, tens of thousands of Australians prefer to leave our spectacular summer behind for snowy holidays in sub-zero Japan... and I am one of them. Word has spread like wildfire among the skiing and snowboarding fraternity that Japan is a powder paradise, where deep snow is virtually guaranteed with the added experience of an exotic culture like no other. It snows so much in Japan, that people ask when it will stop – not the other way around as is usually the case. Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido benefits most, thanks to being in a direct line with Siberian storm fronts releasing their payloads almost daily during winter across its multitude of resorts. But one of the biggest reasons Japan is ending up on Australian skiing
At night, it is equally normal for mum and dad to be up on the dance floor with their teenagers, kids, and the rest of us adults, as it is for parents to be socialising while their children play ping pong or Playstation elsewhere with new friends from all over the world. Most noticeable are smiling faces – everyone truly seems not to have a care in the world. If Disneyland did not have a monopoly on the descriptor ‘happiest place on earth’, it would be perfectly apt here. “It’s so great to see my mum on the dance floor,” 10-year-old Benji Liu tells me as his mother Fiona, a doctor from the Gold Coast, dances to Nutbush City Limits. Benji’s later up and jiving beneath the disco ball with his brothers, 12-yearold Charlie and 15-year-old twins Tom and Sam, before he takes part in the nightly stage show. familytravel.com.au / 55
JAPAN
When I remark to Fiona how much fun she and her family are obviously having, she tells me one of the most enjoyable experiences so far was the trivia night. “It was hilarious,” she says. “They put all the girls on one side and men on the other, so it was me versus
When not skiing, snowboarding or playing, my favourite activity quickly becomes visiting Japan’s biggest wave pool... Mina Mina Beach makes my jaw drop.
the rest of my family – we’d never done anything like that before.” Later Benji observes (as only children can do): “My mum is always so nice – and then during the (trivia) game she got so competitive!” Tomamu has long been known as one of the best familyfriendly resorts in Japan thanks to its gentle slopes. Its only drawback has been limited accommodation, so last December’s arrival of the luxuriously appointed ski-in ski-out 341-room Club Med Tomamu was warmly welcomed with virtually a full house of mostly Australian families, as well as Asians and Europeans. Ease and fun are top priorities here. The ski room’s automatic doors open onto 29 kilometres of mostly intermediate runs serviced by six lifts. Despite setting foot (or should I say ski) here for the first time, I find Tomamu’s 145-hectare ski field a breeze to navigate. I dip in and out of trees, on and off runs, playing around while knowing exactly where I’m going to end up. I soon find a place to toast marshmallows (atop the Tomamu Express quad lift) along with other delighted families and skiers. This place is fun. It feels like the way a snow holiday should be – easy, entertaining and a joy for everyone involved. I concur with Fiona when she remarks how Club Med’s staff (known as GO’s – Gentil Organisateurs) seem to know what we need before we do. Anything we think of is either there already or simply materialises. We don’t get thirsty on the slopes as there’s an ornate cooler 56 / For families who travel
JAPAN
ABOVE LEFT: Mina Mina Beach, Japans largest wave pool, is right across the road from Club Med Tomamu.
BELOW LEFT: Club Med Tomamu has its own dedicated childrens’ skiing slopes.
filled with orange-and-lemon-infused water right by the door. Toilets are also conveniently located just before the exit to the ski field. On return from skiing a GO awaits to ask us what activities we wish to organise the following day. No-one stresses about losing their room key as we’re wearing them: they come in the form of computer chips on attractive wrist bands. The computer chips also open our ski lockers. Oh, so handy! Feel like a drink or a coffee? Wander to the bar and ask. Life is effortless. I can get used to this. I do. When not skiing, snowboarding or playing, my favourite activity quickly becomes visiting Japan’s biggest wave pool – especially as it happens to be right across the road from Club Med Tomamu’s rather spectacular Japanese spring-blossom-filled foyer.
SKIING WITH KIDS IN JAPAN WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS • Make sure your children and yourselves have a base layer of thermal leggings and top. Essential. • Goggles and helmets are an absolute must due to the trees, immense snowfall and cold temperatures.
IMAGES: HOSHINO RESORTS, KIRK OWERS.
• Windproof ski gear. Winter temperatures in Japanese ski resorts can be mild, but the wind will send them plunging. • Long thick water and wind‑proof gloves and good socks for the same reasons as above. Cold hands and feet equal no fun. • A neck warmer or full-face warmer. • Mid-calf or knee-length snow boots. While many people get away with decent walking boots here, in Japan deep snow is the order day.
Once I discover the ‘Mina Mina Beach’ pool, I go every day after skiing. I have never seen a wave pool before, let alone the biggest in Japan, and Mina Mina Beach makes my jaw drop. Like most things here it also makes me smile (which I later discover is the meaning of the word mina). The sound of waves rushing through the 80-metre long pool fills the enormous hall, its glass sides allowing views onto the surrounding snowy landscape. People paddle board, ride inflatable toys in the shape of dragons or pizza slices, or simply float around in the beautifully clear water. Another highly popular activity at Club Med Tomamu is eating, or more accurately feasting. The quality and quantity of food wows me at every meal. The Asian street market-style buffet dazzles with choice: gourmet pizzas to crab legs to the finest of curries, roasts, a la carte style dishes (chorizo-stuffed duck breast with coffee sauce anyone?), sushi and sashimi and more. Breakfast is equally as large – along with good old oats is a crab porridge among myriad other dishes. Still hungry or miss a meal? I can’t resist the morning and afternoon snacks either. It’s all too delicious, just like everything else at this sparkling new resort to which I – and everyone I speak to – agree we would revisit any time.
Want more snow and ski inspiration? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 57
PARIS
FROM PARIS
IMAGE: UNSPLASH: ILNUR KALIMULLIN.
Millions of tourists flock to the city of love each year to admire the iconic architecture, stylish shopping opportunities AND sophisticated city vibe. Niki Bush lets her kids lead the holiday. Here, the family highlights. Having spent quite a considerable amount of time in Paris in my 20s, I had a feeling the things I enjoyed about the city might not have the same appeal to my nine-year-old or to my 13-year-old. And several weeks in to our European adventure, my husband and I relished in the opportunity to relax and let the kids take control of the itinerary. Turns out, the bucket list items in Paris transcend generational barriers. LEFT: The Siene river and Eiffel Tower in the distance.
F i n d i n g y o u r w ay With the standard traffic troubles of every major metropolis and the sprawling nature of the city, public
with kids
transport is the best way to explore. The metro stops have handy maps to look at, so you can work out where you are and what’s around you. No matter which arrondissement (meaning suburb or zone) you find yourself in, there is always something interesting to see within easy walking distance.
Notre Dame I had forgotten just how beautiful and impressive this cathedral was – its colossal size and gothic carvings on the outside are breathtaking! I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not only free to enter, but the queue moved very quickly. After we’d learnt about the building’s construction, our children gave a coin donation to the nuns who worked with the poor as we left. The photos we took just don’t do the building justice. familytravel.com.au / 59
PARIS
Louvre Museum After a quick lunch in the Latin– quarter lanes, we walked along the Seine and came across the famous lock foot bridge, which takes you into the back entrance to the Louvre. Being one of the most famous museums in the world, you’d be hard pressed to get in without having to line up, but the wait is worth it! Although, if you’re on a tight schedule and don’t have a good five hours to dedicate to exploring this iconic museum, snapping a few photos of the stunning glass pyramid at the entrance is an absolute must. After collecting our reel of typical tourist photos, we moved on towards the Tuileries Garden to enjoy the magnificent weather.
Tuileries Garden The Tuileries Garden (or The Jardin des Tuileries in French) forms an avenue of sculptures, ponds and perfectly-kept greenery between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. Here, you’ll find Parisians relaxing on sun chairs surrounding the pond, which are free to the public. Even in the middle of a bustling city, these gardens house a true sense of joy and love. Perhaps a little too much, as my daughter was a little grossed out by the couples smooching on benches... but after all, Paris is the city of love and the French aren’t afraid to show their passion!
Place de la Concorde The largest public square in Paris, the Place de la Concorde, separates the Tuileries Garden from the start of the Champs-Elysées. A Classic French car was parked at the end near the Luxor Obelisk, so while my husband and I marvelled at the monument’s huge size, the kids marvelled at the strange headlights on the old Citroën 2CV. 60 / For families who travel
PARIS
we learned first-hand that you should avoid visiting during peak hour. The kids were determined to climb to the top, so we jumped in the queue and waited around an hour for a view that was unquestionably worth it. When we arrived at the top, the sun was setting, creating the perfect lighting to capture the stunning sunset, with the Eiffel Tower peeping out in the distance.
The Eiffel Tower Walking from the Arc de Triomphe, we made our way towards Paris’ most iconic monument – the Eiffel Tower – in the hopes of getting the perfect night shot of enormous steel pillar. After navigating the crowds and numerous street vendors selling mini Eiffel tower souvenirs, we got the money shot of the kids picking the Eiffel tower up in their fingers. The following day, we went up to the top floor after enjoying a fairly fast-moving queue thanks to a recommendation to visit mid-week and not during school holiday time. After experiencing the notorious strong winds at the summit, we stopped off on level one for a hot drink – and to enjoy a view of Paris, slightly closer to the ground.
ABOVE LEFT: The unmistakable Eiffel Tower.
LEFT: The French flag flies at The Arc de Triomphe.
ABOVE:
IMAGE: UNSPLASH: JACOB-PETERS.
Tuileries Garden.
Shopping & fast cars My kids love shopping (sports shops in particular), so they were in for a real treat. Both our kids had Euros that were burning a hole in their pockets and because it was low season, there were sales everywhere! My 13-yearold son shot some hoops in the indoor basketball area in the Nike shop and my daughter tried on lots of shoes. After wandering through numerous shops, we went on to check out the expensive cars that lined the Champs-Elysées.
The Arc de Triomphe At the top of the Champs-Elysées, The Arc de Triomphe stands in line with the Louvre. In the distance is the new modern arch, La Defence. Set in the middle of a very busy roundabout,
Seine A 24-hour boat ticket, with a jump-on jump-off concept that stops along the Seine at the main tourist sites, was a perfect way to relax undercover and take in the beautiful architecture of the bustling city. The kids enjoyed not having to walk so much and it also gave us another perspective of the city. It was interesting to see so many large working barges still using the river among all the tourist boats.
Keen on exploring Paris with the family? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 61
IMAGE: TOURISM FIJI: MARK SNYDER.
FIJI
Island paradise Between the beaches, jungles, resorts and marketplaces, kids of all ages will have a ball in Fiji, writes Sophie Cullen. Wait staff in restaurants navigate tables with babies on their hips. Toddlers are quickly scooped up, tickled and serenaded by nannies and passersby. Swimming pools echo with delighted squeals. Grassy spaces are taken over by kids playing soccer and running around. The laidback, kidcentric vibes of this South Pacific island make it a great option for families keen to explore. Here, just some of the fun things to see and do.
Do the dolphin and play with your pod There are plenty of childcare options in Fiji, making it a haven both for lively kids and parents in need of me time. First-rate nanny services, such as Outrigger Resort’s ‘Meimei’, allow Mum and Dad bub-free time while kicking back on banana chairs or at the bar. For primary schoolers, kids’ clubs, such as the ones at Sofitel Denarau or Shangri-la on the Coral Coast, spell a diverse and stimulating activity program. Local kids aren’t shy either, so a village visit is sure to cement new friendships.
Make like a manta ray and marvel at the beaches Made up of more than 300 small sand islands, Fiji has no shortage of brilliant beaches. Viti Levu and Denarau Island promise safe seas and resort pools, while island chains Mamanuca and Yasawa offer secluded swimming away from tourist hordes.
Island-hopping tours are a great gateway to the benefits of both. Float past manta rays and turtles in calm, sheltered waters on a Kadavu Island reef snorkelling tour. Or take a deep breath and delve underwater to uncover the submerged limestone caves on a daytrip with teens to Sawa-I-Lau. Check the itineraries of Captain Cook Cruises and other operators to explore beaches on more distant shores. Sticking to the sand at your front door is equally as rewarding, with many hotels including beach games and water sports.
Take to the trees like a frog and enjoy the great outdoors Hop along to Kula Wild Adventure and Eco Park on Viti Levu to meet some of Fiji’s coolest residents. Animal interactions are free with entry, so pluck up your courage and hold an iguana, pat a Pacific Boa snake, hand feed a sea turtle, or wander through tree frog, parrot, bat and heron habitats. There is also the Kula Kiddies’ Splash Pool onsite, making the park ideal for young kids. Older families in search of natural wonders can wade through knee-deep water by lanternlight in the Naihehe Cave with Sigatoka OffRoad Safaris. You’ll feel like you’re in a beachy desert nearby at Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park. The Tavoro Waterfalls in Bouma National Heritage Park on Taveuni Island are a fabulous place to rest and play. The island is also home to the Lavena Coastal Walk – a picturesque fivekilometre trail that follows the forest edge along various beaches. familytravel.com.au / 63
FIJI
The vibrant traditions of Fiji are a visit highlight, so be sure to check out village performances. Experience a meke ceremony of traditional dance, song and storytelling, dig in at a lovo feast with food cooked in underground ovens, and participate in a kava ceremony where you can taste the unusual pepper root drink (the latter may be one for mums and dads, as kava is a very mild sedative that can have a numbing effect on your mouth). For a hint of history, head to the Fiji Museum in Suva’s Thirston Gardens, or experience it firsthand on a Sigatoka River Safari. The route will typically take you on a billi billi bamboo raft down the river, past caves once inhabited by cannibals, and to the remains of the Tavuni Hill Fort village. For more splashes of colour, in Nadi, stop by Sri Siva Subramaniya, the largest Hindu temple ion the Southern hemisphere.
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Fly like a fruit bat for a dose of adventure If getting active is on your agenda, feel the adrenaline rush as you shoot down a zipline at Nadi’s Zip Fiji or at Sleeping Giant Zipline. Hit new and luxurious heights in a seaplane or helicopter ride with Turtle Airways, Island Hopper or Pacific Island Air. If you have a need for speed, fly along Natadola Beach on horseback in what will feel like a scene straight from a movie. Or race the rapids down the rocky natural water slide of Waitavala near Taveuni.
IMAGE: TOURISM FIJI: CHRIS MCLENNAN & MARK SNYDER, ZIP FIJI.
Cluster like colourful parrots to experience culture
FIJI
Turn in like a turtle and find your home away from home Villas and self-contained options are a great option for large family groups. You get to enjoy privacy, spacious living areas, and can be self-sufficient. The benefits of family-friendly resorts are also extensive, particularly when it comes to kids’ clubs. Popular choices with guests include Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island, Castaway Island Fiji, Sheraton Fiji Resort, Plantation Island Resort and Jean-Michel Coustea Resort.
Unwind like an iguana on island time Staying put at your villa, resort or accommodation of choice and making the most of the attractions nearby will allow for quality family bonding time and immersion in Fiji island time. Explore markets and retail shopping near you for a break from sea and sand – Suva Flea Market, Lautoka Market and Savusavu Farmers’ Market are all good choices. For chill-out time with a difference, visit Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool for a spa experience ‘au naturale,’ or just a really good chance to play with dirt and make mud pies.
Want more Fiji inspiration? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au / 65
K I D S' PICKS
“Why we love to travel”
KIDS’ PICKS
There’s no greater learning experience than physically exploring the world. Six young travellers share their holidays highlights with us here.
WILLIAM JULIAN EIGHT YEARS OLD The best holiday I went on was a trip to the Philippines. I loved it because it was my first time overseas. The people were really kind and I was surprised they could speak English. The Philippines is beautiful. In particular, I loved the island of Boracay because the water is so blue and clear. One of my favourite activities was island-hopping. We travelled on a traditional boat and went snorkelling, which was amazing. I hand-fed fish and the fish were very colourful. I also really enjoyed going on a motorbike taxi and trying a Filipino snack called taho. It was delicious. I love holidays because it means more family time. The next holiday I’m dreaming of is Fiji.
EIGHT YEARS OLD I loved my trip to America. It was the best because I got to see a real orca at SeaWorld San Diego. Orcas are my favourite animal and I had never seen a real one before. We were even able to dine next to the orcas and they swam right up next to our table. We also went to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park and they were better than in my dreams. Another highlight was going to Cars Land at California Adventure Park – it was just like being in a Cars movie. Visiting the Grand Canyon was great too. It’s pretty cool to say I’ve seen something so amazing! I hope my next holiday is to LEGOLAND! I really hope to visit because I’m obsessed with LEGO. My suggestions to other travelling kids is save up all your pocket money to buy cool souvenirs and make YouTube videos of the places you visit.
familytravel.com.au / 67
KIDS’ PICKS
KEIRA TEN YEARS OLD
CHARLOTTE ELEVEN YEARS OLD My best holiday was a trip to the Gold Coast. We stayed at Sea World Resort and we could just go into Sea World whenever we wanted to. I loved being able to see dolphins and polar bears up close. There are also lots of cool rides and shows. It’s amazing on the Gold Coast because there are plenty of theme parks and there’s a Sizzler! I was surprised by how much fun stuff there was packed into the resort – and we got surprised with showbags in our room! My highlights include going to Sea World, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild. I’m dreaming of going to New York City next. The reason I love holidays is because it’s an escape from everyday home life and always fun.
68 / For families who travel
The best holiday I’ve had was a trip to the USA and the Caribbean. It was great because Mum packed in loads of kid-friendly stuff, including trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios. It was very special when it snowed on Christmas Day when we were in the USA. In the Caribbean, I loved making new friends and visiting different islands and doing fun stuff like climbing waterfalls and ziplining in to cenotes (sinkholes). We were able to experience a lot of fun first things, such as snow, a Broadway show and Las Vegas at night. My favourite experience was cruising around the Caribbean islands. My top tip for other kids is to always make the most of it. The next holiday I’m dreaming of is a trip to Italy. The thing I like the most about holidays is having lots of pool time and being with my family.
KIDS’ PICKS
MIA TWELVE YEARS OLD
WILLIAM
The best holiday I’ve had was a trip to Hervey Bay. It was amazing because I went swimming with sharks and turtles – it was fun and scary at the same time. I really enjoyed the holiday because I spent lots of time with family and went to the beach. The next holiday I’m dreaming of is going to Cairns and staying at Green Island Resort.
TWELVE YEARS OLD The best holiday I’ve had was a trip to Fiji. It opened up my eyes to how privileged we are in Australia. One of my highlights was when we went on a tour to a village and met local children on my 12th birthday, because I learnt heaps about Fijian culture. We also enjoyed the weather and spent time at a nice resort.
familytravel.com.au / 69
WHAT’S ON
EPIC EVENTS
From tomato-throwing and rodeos to bonfires on boats and ancient Greek theatre, here’s a rundown of the best events around the world this Australian winter.
24 MAY–9 JUNE, ISRAEL
JUNE
ISRAEL FESTIVAL Innovation, creativity and free expression characterise this international and traditional Israeli line-up of music, dance, drama and multimedia productions.
14–15 JUNE, VARIOUS COUNTRIES
EID AL-FITR Breaking the month-long fast of Ramadan, this important date is celebrated by Muslim communities worldwide in the form of charity, prayer and a focus on forgiveness. Plus, of course, a celebratory meal with family and friends.
1 JUNE–18 AUGUST, GREECE
24 JUNE, PERU & ECUADOR
28–30 JUNE, KENYA
ATHENS AND EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL
INTI RAYMI
MARSABIT-LAKE TURKANA CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Immerse your family in the dramatic arts, right where it all began. This festival of ancient and modern performance is best enjoyed in the 2nd Century BC Odeon of Herodes Atticus, with the Acropolis as your backdrop. Togas optional.
25 MAY–16 JUNE, AUSTRALIA
VIVID SYDNEY Vivid transforms Sydney after dark into a playground of light and music, including interactive displays, sculpture installations, and projections on prized buildings – such as the Sydney Opera House.
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In honour of the Incan god of the sun, this festival occurs across the Andes (predominantly in Cuzco, Peru or Otavalo) as locals dress in full costume and reenact ancient festival rituals to the soundtrack of horns, drums and panpipes.
Fourteen Kenyan cultural communities gather in a spirit of harmony and celebration to share in traditional dance, song and food beside the Jade Sea in the small town of Loyangalani.
WHAT’S ON
J U LY
2 JULY & 16 AUGUST, ITALY
IL PALIO This bareback horse-race in Siena’s main square has been a Tuscan tradition for more than 300 years. It is worth lingering for the banquets, horse blessings, and parades of flag-bearers and costume-wearers!
2–15 JULY, ENGLAND 4 JULY, USA
INDEPENDENCE DAY Stars and stripes abound on this commemoration of the 1776 Declaration of Independence from Britain. Every American neighbourhood gets into the patriotic spirit with picnics, fireworks, carnivals, baseball games, and the odd watermelon or hotdog-eating competition.
6–15 JULY, CANADA
CALGARY STAMPEDE More than a million visitors from around the world descend on Calgary for the ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.’ Think bulls, broncos, barrel-racing, belt buckles and boots. Yee-hah!
WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS Tennis fans from around the world dream of sitting in the stands at the oldest tennis tournament and most prestigious grand slam in the world, watching on as the best international players strut their stuff at London’s All England Club.
14 JULY, FRANCE
14 JULY, AUSTRALIA
BASTILLE DAY
ALICE SPRINGS CAMEL CUP
As military parades, firework displays and general merriment crescendo, you can almost hear the revolutionary echoes of the storming of the Bastille in 1789. A picnic on the Eiffel Tower lawns – or indeed anywhere in France – is a great way to celebrate ‘La Fete Nationale.’
What started off in the 1970s as a bet between two mates has turned into a large-scale camel race in the Red Centre. As the dust rises, enjoy the larrikin humour and laidback vibes of this celebration of all things outback.
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WHAT’S ON
J U LY
11–15 JULY, MONGOLIA
NAADAM FESTIVAL The Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar enjoys their own unique version of the Olympics. The ‘Three Games’ of Naadam are horse-racing, archery and wrestling.
17 & 24 JULY, JAPAN
GION MATSURI The whole month of July brings food stalls and colourful yukata robes to the streets of Kyoto, especially on Yoi-Yama nights. These nights precede the main event on July 17 and 24; a huge procession of giant floats built by hand every year.
LATE MAY–EARLY JULY, RUSSIA
WHITE NIGHTS St Petersburg celebrates almost two months of long, lightfilled days, thanks to a natural phenomenon that sees the sun never setting completely. The highlight event is the Scarlet Sails, where under a sky illuminated by fireworks, a red ship makes its passage to the Winter Palace.
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24 & 25 JULY, JAPAN
26–29 JULY, ENGLAND
TENJIN MATSURI
WOMAD IN THE UK
Osaka’s summer festival claims the title of world’s biggest boat festival. Thousands of revellers in imperial dress process down the streets and then down the Dotombori River by boat, lit up by on-board bonfires and fireworks.
This international travelling shindig hits Charlton Park in Malmesbury in an explosion of live music, interactive art, delicious food and intriguing dance. Fun and multi-culturalism are at the core of the festival.
WHAT’S ON
AU G U S T
3–27 AUGUST, SCOTLAND
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Castles and classical music combine at the closing night of Edinburgh’s biggest program of music and theatre. Watch fireworks synchronised to music set off from the parapets in Princes Street Gardens.
6 AUGUST, JAPAN
13 AUGUST, GRENADA
SPICEMAS GRENADA CARNIVAL Mix steel band competitions and soca (soul and calypso music) dancing, then throw in the colour and sparkle of street parade costumes and you have one of the biggest festivals in the Caribbean.
HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL CEREMONY In remembrance of the 1945 atomic bombing, visitors, locals and dignitaries take part in a powerful promotion of world peace and commemoration of lives lost. Everyone is invited to record messages of peace on a lantern, which is lit and set to float down the Motoyasu River.
29 AUGUST, SPAIN
LA TOMATINA 17 AUGUST–3 SEPTEMBER, CANADA
8–12 AUGUST, SERBIA
GUCA TRUMPET FESTIVAL Tune in to the sound of the trumpet as you watch concerts and band competitions, try local foods, and tap your toes to traditional dances such as the kolo and oro, in the Serbian town of Guča.
CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION You name it and they’ve got it at this enormous carnival in Toronto, with stage shows, stunt demonstrations, ice skating, acrobatics, animals, rides, baseball tournaments, food stalls and a Kids World.
Official, organised food fights are a rare delight, so enjoy getting messy at this tomato-throwing festival on the streets of Bunol in Valencia. Get in early, because you’ll need a ticket to be one of the lucky 20,000 to launch, lob and lever the juicy, overripe ammunition.
25 AUGUST, VIETNAM
TET TRUNG NGUYEN 1–10 AUGUST, COLOMBIA
FERIA DE LAS FLORES This sweet-smelling festival has processions galore – horses, vintage cars and huge floats of flowers forming images and landscapes pass down the streets of Medellín.
24 AUGUST, INDIA
ONAM Welcome the mythical king Mahabali with songs, feasts, games, elephant dancing and flower displays at this festival of the harvest in dreamy Kerala.
Also known as Wandering Souls Day, the solemn commemoration of departed ancestors means family feasts, offerings and pagoda visits for locals, and a special glimpse into Vietnamese culture for visitors.
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FORTY EIGHT HOURS YOU’VE ARRIVED SOMEWHERE AMAZING AND YOU ONLY HAVE TWO DAYS? READ ON FOR HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME IN THESE EXCITING TRAVEL DESTINATIONS.
IMAGE COURTESY CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES..
IN...
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CAPE COD It’s summer in the USA and the movies tell us that’s when the fancy families head to the Cape for their annual summer break. We went for a weekend to see what all the fuss was about.
MORNING: Spend the morning exploring
AFTERNOON: Get among nature and experience
Hyannis, making sure to save about an hour to for the JFK Hyannis Museum to learn all about JFK, the Kennedy dynasty and the family’s history with the Cape. After the museum, wander along Hyannis Main Street popping in and out of the maritime-themed gift and souvenir shops. It’s almost impossible to leave without trying the brightly coloured salt water taffy.
a unique American national park – the Cape Cod National Seashore. With 65 kilometres of sandy beaches, an array of lighthouses, and wild cranberry bogs to explore, rent a bike or head out on foot for an afternoon of fun. Try to spot a seal, learn about surf lifesaving in the USA, or catch a glimpse of what life was like on the Cape in the 1900s. Kids should pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Booklet at one of the visitor centres and complete the activities to attain a Junior Ranger badge to add to their souvenir haul.
LUNCH: Grab a sandwich from The Little Sandwich Shop on the Hyannis Main Street for a hearty meal that you can take to eat right on the beach. Alternatively, for seafood in a relaxed, kitsch diner, try Spanky’s Clam Shack & Seaside Saloon.
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EVENING: Check into the Cape Codder Resort & Spa where the kids will love the indoor water park and parents can relax before dinner at one of the three on-site restaurants. If you’re lucky, there will be live music at the Hearth ‘n Kettle Restaurant.
WORDS AND IMAGES: JANEECE KELLER.
DAY ONE
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DAY TWO MORNING: Drive up to the northern tip of
Cape Cod and Provincetown, the site of the Mayflower’s landing in 1620. Take time to visit the Pilgrim Monument and neighbouring Provincetown Museum. P-town, as it’s known to locals, is an artists’ haven and the main street is full of arts and crafts stores perfect for perusing. LUNCH: Stop at the iconic The Lobster Pot. With
ocean views from three sides of the restaurant it’s hard to dwell on the menu for too long. Our picks are the clam chowder and lobster rolls.
four hours, so be sure to take sunscreen, a hat, extra layers of clothing for warmth, and wear comfy shoes. On board you can listen to whale vocalisations, track the vessel’s movement, and view microscopic life. EVENING: Culminate your weekend with a sunset
dune tour from Provincetown with Arts Dune Tours. As you sit on the sand dunes and watch the sunset over the water, you’ll feast on a traditional New England Clam Bake dinner, served picnic style (vegetarians are catered for too).
AFTERNOON: Head out for an afternoon of
whale watching with Dolphin Fleet. As you head out the harbour, keep your eyes peeled for minke, finback and humpback whales – all playing close to the coast. You’ll be on the boat for three to familytravel.com.au / 77
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CARNIVAL SPIRIT No two days are the same when cruising with Carnival, so here is just a snapshot of how we’d tackle two fun-filled days on board Carnival Spirit.
MORNING: Prepare yourself for the day ahead
with an early morning swim in one of three pools on board or get your blood pumping with an early morning boot-camp session. Afterwards, refuel with breakfast at Lido restaurant and indulge in fresh fruit and coffee, made-to-order omelettes or fluffy pancakes.
views the South Pacific has to offer, after a short boat ride to Turtle Bay. The crystal-clear water makes this location the perfect place to swim with the locals; green and long-neck turtles, dolphins and manta-rays. Be sure to pack your mask and snorkel as your next stop, Brush Island has some of the best snorkelling spots in the sea.
LUNCH: Meeting you ashore at the beautiful Isle
EVENING: After a full day of ocean exploration,
of Pines is the Le Méridien resort. This lavish and intimate boutique hotel is set within 4.5 hectares of coconut grove and faces over the island’s famous pine tree-scattered shores. Once arrived, enjoy a delicious lunch and a local beer while you lay around your very own pool and private beach.
retreat to the Nouveau Restaurant back on board Carnival Spirit for delicate cuts of lamb, grilled fish and your choice of 17 gourmet entrees. Later, show the ship your inner rockstar as you battle it out on Carnival’s very own Lip Sync Battle. Complete with back-up dancers, choreography, music, and props against other passengers to see who’s karaoke king (or queen) of the cruise ship!
AFTERNOON: Explore the white, sandy shores
of Isle of Pines and experience some of the best 78 / For families who travel
IMAGES COURTESY CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES.
DAY ONE: ISLE OF PINES
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DAY 2: MYSTERY ISLAND MORNING: Start your day off relaxed and ready
with an instructor-led yoga session in the ship’s Fitness Centre. Keep the relaxation going by soaking yourself in a hot tub, kicking back in the sauna, or enjoy a hot stone massage.
history of this ancient island. For those who aren’t worried about getting a little wet, have a go at walking on water with a guided stand-up paddleboard tour. You’ll be talked through the basics until you’re paddling along the exquisite sandy beaches with ease.
LUNCH: After tendering to Mystery Island, eat
like the locals do as you stroll through beach-side markets lining the island’s coastline. Fresh lobster is usually on the menu, caught straight from the surrounding reef and cooked before your eyes. AFTERNOON: The best way to explore the
ocean without getting your hair wet is to jump in a glass-bottom kayak and search the surrounding bays for sea life. You’ll have the chance to spot crabs, tropical fish and sea turtles as your local guide shows you the sights and teaches you the
EVENING: After spending a day of splashing and
paddling, jump back on board, relax and sip on a cocktail around the pool or at the Alchemy Bar. Later on, enjoy a taste of Broadway on the high seas with one of Carnival’s very own stage shows. Featuring everything from rock ‘n roll to disco, New York will never be closer.
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ITINERARIES
AN ICE IGLOO IN NORWAY Staying in an igloo and watching the Northern Lights dance as your drift into a deep sleep... it really doesn't get any better. Here's how to spend two days in wintry Norway.
DAY ONE Arctic Circle in Kirkenes in northern Norway, where the sun doesn’t make it above the horizon in winter. With a population of just 3300, including the native Sami people, this charming town boasts an impressive range of attractions and winter activities. The temperature in January/ February is likely to be below -20°C, so be sure to have packed your warmest clothes and rubber‑soled boots. LUNCH: Head to the Thon Hotel Kirkenes where
you can lunch in the warmth by the harbour. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of Norway’s famous Hurtigurten boat, which travels the coast stopping in all the small towns and delivering supplies, mail, locals and tourists. You might even be lucky enough to see the fjord looking like a giant slushie – thanks to the small icebreaker zooming around to keep the water from freezing over. AFTERNOON: Join a bus transfer out to the
Kirkenese Snowhotel to start your ‘overnight 80 / For families who travel
in an igloo’ adventure. After your transfer to this unique hotel, get into layers of warm snow gear and try your hand as a musher for a huskie crew for an exhilarating ride across the frozen landscape. On your return to the Snowhotel’s winter park, you’ll be invited into the cafe to enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks in front of the fire. EVENING: The hotel’s hosts will take you across
to the Snowhotel and show you your igloo for the night. Every room is uniquely sculpted into Nordic themes by artists from around the world. Because of its design, no matter what the temperature is outside, inside the Snowhotel it’s a stable -4°C. The hotel staff will share their experience on how to make the most of the experience and kit you out with extra warm sleeping bags. Dinner is served upstairs in the upstairs annex to the ice hotel (it’s more like a cosy, timber barn) and is a feast of local delicacies. As you’re having dinner, keep your outdoor clothes close as you may see the Northern Lights and want to run outside for a closer look.
WORDS AND IMAGES: JANEECE KELLER.
MORNING: Arrive 400 kilometres above the
ITINERARIES
DAY TWO MORNING: Start the morning with a sauna
to warm you up from the inside out, then head upstairs for a Scandinavian-style buffet breakfast where you can share your overnight sleep story with other guests. Once you’ve packed your overnight bag, take a walk through the winter park where you can feed the reindeer, pat the huskies, or try your hand on a kick sledge around the hotel grounds. LUNCH: Head out on a snowmobile-pulled sledge onto the frozen fjords of Kirkenes and learn how to catch, cook, and – most importantly – eat a King crab. Lunch is served in a rustic restaurant by the fjord, where you will feast on the giant crab, served the Norwegian way and warmed by an open fire. AFTERNOON: Head back to Kirkenese to either
spend another night above the arctic circle, join a Hurtigruten cruise back down the coast, or jump on a plane for the fastest journey south and back to much warmer weather.
• Rooms come in different sizes catering for two to five people, so families can stay in the one igloo. • Children must be seven years or older to stay in the ice hotel. • For those not wanting to sleep in an igloo but still have the experience, there are heated huts available as an alternative.
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THIS IMAGE:
IMAGE: DESTINATION NSW.
Cape Byron Lighthouse sitting on Australia's most easterly point, Byron Bay.
Talk to the expert What are your top overseas recommendations for families and why? For an overseas destination that is not too far away, you can’t beat Fiji – crystal clear water, white-sand beaches, and bungalows nestled among palm fringed bays. There are some great family-focused resorts located on Denarau Island and on the Coral Coast. I always suggest families consider spending time on one of the many island resorts. Just about all the resorts kids’ clubs, and the Fijians love children – so mums and dads can enjoy lots of quiet time while the kids are off on an adventure, playing games or creating a piece of art that can be kept as a holiday memento. What are your top domestic holiday suggestions for families and why? I like the idea of not spending too much time travelling to your destination – so somewhere close to home but still far enough away to feel like you’re on holidays.
I would recommend the Gold Coast, Noosa or Byron Bay. The Northern Territory is also a great destination as there is so much to see and do. Families can spend time in tropical Darwin, be immersed in the beauty and culture of Kakadu and Arnhem Land, and experience ancient landscapes at Uluru and The Olgas. Cruising is also at the top of my recommendation list. There are plenty of options available with something to suit all ages, activities to keep the whole family entertained, and they are great value for money. Do you recommend bundling packages or booking bits separately? Booking travel arrangements as a ‘package’ has its advantages, as you often have access to wholesale airfares and accommodation prices. Quite often there are also other inclusions not available if booking separately, such as stay/pay or discount rate offers and other bonus inclusions (meals, sightseeing or attraction discounts to name a few).
Sharyn Reeves is a cruise and travel consultant at MyDiscoveries, with a wealth of travel knowledge to help people turn their travel dreams into a reality.
We’re thinking about taking our parents and kids along on the next holiday. Where would you recommend for a memorable multi-gen holiday and why? Cruising is ideal for family groups. There are so many destinations and cabin options to suit all family sizes and budgets. Cruising gives large groups of family and/or friends the opportunity to spend their days exploring the ship and participating in the many activities available on sea days – and adventuring ashore when in port. We want to go on a big family trip, but everyone has different ideas on what kind of holiday they want. What is the best way to please everyone? The best way to approach this situation is to agree on a date or time of year when everyone is able to go. Once the time of year is known, destination options will become clearer. We are taking the kids to Walt Disney World. What are your top tips to ensure we all have a good time?
Firstly, do your research! There is so much to see and do and you want to ensure that you are making the best use of the time you have available. Pre-book passes where possible, as this will help with your planning, save you time, and often save you money. Lastly, consider a stopover to break up the flying time. Flying with young children can have some challenges and breaking up the journey can help. Why not consider a stop in Hawaii on the way home? It will be well received after theme park-filled days and nights! We love cruise holidays. What are the best child-friendly options and why would you recommend these? While most cruise lines allow children on board, there are options available that are more family focused than others. P&O Cruises is a great option for the budget-conscious family and caters well to all ages. Carnival Cruise Lines promotes itself as being a family-focused cruise line. Royal Caribbean cruises cater well to all ages – and because of the size of their ships, the activities and entertainment options are many and varied. Can you recommend any resorts that have especially good kids’ clubs? Just about every hotel in Fiji has kids’ clubs and/or childminding available. Club Med is well known for providing amazing kids’ clubs manned by professional staff. Club Med has a large number of return guests and a big part of the reason for
this is because of their kids’ clubs, family facilities and allinclusive holiday options. We are after a holiday that is both enjoyable and educational for our teenage children. Where would you take them and why? Destinations that will keep the whole family active and provide the opportunity to learn are great – places like North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef and the Northern Territory. Tour companies such as Intrepid, are now creating family-only tours that include destinations such as Vietnam and China, so this is another great option. What travel trends are you seeing in family travel at the moment? Bali is always a family favourite. It’s good value for your money, there’s plenty to see and do, and it’s quite easy to reach from most places in Australia. However, the fastest growing sector in the travel market is cruising.
Looking for more travel advice? @FamilyTravel @familytravel.com.au info@familytravel.com.au familytravel.com.au
IMAGE: COPYRIGHT SATC, TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND.
Resorts such as Club Med are all ideal for families, as they offer all-inclusive holiday options and – quite often – the resort is the destination. When staying at a Club Med property, all-inclusive really is all-inclusive – all meals, entertainment and on-site activities are included in the price. Kids are well catered for and most resorts have great kids’ clubs staffed by highly trained staff.
QUIZ ANSWERS
THIS IMAGE:
Children exploring a creek bed at MIllaa Falls in Queensland.
03. 10. WINTER QUIZ ANSWERS Keen to see how many of the questions you answered right? Read on to find out. 1. 11. 2. Africa. 3. True – Italy’s capital of course, Roma in Queensland, Roma in Lesotho, Roma in Texas, La Roma in Ecuador and even Roma in Indonesia! 4. Jules Verne. 5. The Dutch. 6. Galapagos. 7. Canada. 8. Zebras and gazelles. 9. Indonesia. 10. Australia. South Australia’s Anna Creek Station clocks in at roughly six million acres.
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