The Freedom Ride of ’65 : Exploring Australian Civil Rights at The State Library of NSW

The Freedom Ride of '65 : Exploring Australian Civil Rights at The State Library of NSW

Australia has a past that many of us try to sweep under the carpet. While the media is quick to paint modern Australia as a racist nation (and I’m not here to debate whether we are or not), historically we were much, much worse. There was a time when our aboriginal people, possibly the oldest …

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Learning to Ice Skate With Friends : An Ice Skating Party

Learning to Ice Skate With Friends : An Ice Skating Party

Childhood in Australia is likely to be spent outdoors in the sun, in a pool or the ocean (or a dam, if you grow up in the country), or when it’s raining, playing the Xbox or iPad inside. My kids learned to ride a bike after countless opportunities to practise in our nearby park. They …

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The Ginger Factory : Taste Testing and Bees on the Sunshine Coast

The Ginger Factory : Taste Testing and Bees on the Sunshine Coast

Have you noticed the steep decline in food manufacturers opening their doors for organised factory tours? Once upon a time, schools would pack their students into a bus and visit the local biscuit or chocolate factory for a look around. I loved these visits when I was a kid. They are extremely hard to come by …

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Domestic Air Travel : My Travel Essentials When Travelling By Plane With Kids

When my kids arrived I made a vow that we would travel together and we would travel often. I never considered for a minute that they might not be on the same page as me and went to great lengths in the early days to ensure they developed a passion for flight. It paid off with both loving …

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Taronga Zoo : 2016 Education Launch – Celebrating 100 Years of Taronga

Taronga Zoo : 2016 Education Launch - Celebrating 100 Years of Taronga

“We’re all going to the zoo tomorrow, Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow. We’re all going to the zoo tomorrow. We can stay all day” Over the weekend I was invited to Taronga Zoo for the 2016 Education launch along with a number of other Principals and Executives from NSW Government schools. It was an opportunity to hear about the …

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The Broken Yolk : Breakfast in San Diego Gaslamp District

The Broken Yolk : Breakfast in San Diego Gaslamp District

When we were preparing to head to the United States of America, I asked a few friends for some top tips on where to eat as a family in different cities. There were lots of suggestions. When it came to San Diego almost everyone suggested the same place: The Broken Yolk. What I didn’t realise …

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Aussie World : A Theme Park on the Sunshine Coast

Aussie World : A Theme Park on the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is a glorious family destination. Drive a few kilometres from your accommodation and there is no doubt that you will find something new and thrilling every single day of your stay. We had the most amazing time over our Spring holiday. A few days into our trip we headed to Aussie World …

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Surf Ryder : Learning to Surf the Easy Way

Adrenaline Junkie : 6 Things To Do In Sydney With a Dare Devil Child

Some think us Aussies are born with fins and spend all our spare time at the beach. It’s a common misconception which we haven’t really tried to correct. We like you thinking we spend the year with sand between our toes. Truth be told, my kids don’t spend all year at the beach and when …

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Carnival of the Animals : Guaranteed to Fuel the Imagination

Carnival of the Animals : Guaranteed to Fuel the Imagination

The Sydney Opera House has resident sirens that are occasionally glimpsed at the far side of the building. They beckon to me throughout the school term until I can endure their call no more and head to a show or two with the kids, quickly checking if they’re visible for our visit.* As the count down for the …

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Tour the World with Lonely Planet Kids October Releases + Your Chance to Win!

When planning an overseas trip, both T and I kick off the process by purchasing the latest Lonely Planet travel guide for the country we have in mind. With my trusty highlighter in hand, I work through the pages highlighting places of interest and hot tips. It’s only after I work through this process that …

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Strawberry Fields Farm : Pick Your Own Delights on the Sunshine Coast

Strawberry Fields Farm : Pick Your Own Delights on the Sunshine Coast

Last July we stayed in Sydney for the school holidays and quickly declared that we needed to plan somewhere warm for spring. I thought Europe. T was a little more realistic and suggested the Sunshine Coast. Our bank account agreed. When spring arrived, we flew into Brisbane airport, hired a car and headed north. With …

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Smooth Festival of Chocolate : A Yearly Visit With Kids

Smooth Festival of Chocolate : A Yearly Visit With Kids

We discovered the Smooth Festival of Chocolate last year and decided to visit again this year. It was bigger. It was much more crowded. But it was full of delights. Like last year, the weekend proved to be one of the warmest this season so required sunscreen and hats. We arrived as the festival opened and headed …

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The Book of Life : A Friday Night Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration (albeit a month early!)

The Book of Life : A Friday Night Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration (albeit a month early!)

Over the last few months, my kids have somehow wrangled an ongoing date Friday night movie celebration with their cousins. With no conscious effort, myself and my cousin have found ourselves alternating venues (her house or mine) and hosting these little get togethers. It’s an opportunity for the kids to eat a new meal together, watch …

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