Travelling with Kids – Adventure isn't just about the plane trips!
As a young girl, one of my favourite books was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, The Secret Garden. I would often whittle away an afternoon or two rereading the pages of my copy, transporting myself into the garden with Mary, Dickon and Colin where I would join them as they played within the walls. I even tamed a magpie, …
Over two hundred years ago, Major-General Lachlan Macquarie’s second wife Elizabeth would leave her house each day and take a walk along a small peninsula where she would find a ledge to sit and watch for ships sailing into the harbour from Great Britain. By 1810, convicts had hand carved her a chair into the sandstone. It has become …
Parramatta is an ancient place. While British settlement spans right back to 1788, the Burramattagal clan of the Darug Aboriginal people have been living in the area for 60,000 years. Look carefully enough and you’ll find evidence of where they met and traded for thousands of years. When I arrived in Sydney, my first teaching …
It’s unpopular to say, almost unforgivable to mention, but beaches can be a horrible place for families to enjoy. Sydney’s more famous beaches: Bondi, Cronulla, Manly are crowded, lack shade and have little in the way of amenities without a walk. I know, I know, it’s almost sacrilege to actually put this in writing but I …
When I first arrived in Sydney I went straight to Bondi Beach. I think most tourists do. I wanted to see the great Aussie wonder for myself and feel the sand between my toes. It was truly delightful. Fast forward a decade and a half, and I’m raising my kids in this very city, providing the …
What does one do when their partner is called away to help renovate his house? Certainly not spend it at home! When this happened to us last weekend the kids called up one of their cousins and we headed to Homebush to explore the Brickpit Ring Walk an area which has been on my bucket list …
Our little family has become incredibly curious about the source of the water that comes out of our tap. Earlier this year we ventured off to the West Ryde Boiler House where we learned how water is pumped and gravity fed around Sydney. Our next step was to head to the water source itself. T and I had already …
Some of Sydney’s most unusual and awe inspiring marvels are often overlooked while its inhabitants go about their daily routines. It’s only since my children have arrived and we have begun adventuring off the beaten track that I, myself a resident for the last decade and a half, have started to discover some real delights. Today’s Hidden in Plain …
“What can we do?” “What can we see?” “Where can we go?” The questions were delivered in fast succession. “But we haven’t been anywhere for ages?” “My passport hasn’t been used for months!” With school in term, a spout of illness on my part for a week or two, and only the weekend free (and …
Sydney has so much to offer for the family looking for a little adventure. From museums to parks, zoos to aquariums, beaches to the bush – we have it all. Many are unaware that scattered throughout the CBD and suburbs are numerous historic sites hidden in plain sight awaiting discovery. Our little family of four have …
After a fun trip to Bare Island earlier this year we decided to do a little research about fortifications in and around Sydney and were surprised to find how many there are! Wow – what an eye opener! This has put in motion an entire list of new sites to visit and explore. Our latest …
Our lighthouse obsession continues with a Sunday adventure planned to climb yet another. This week our plans took us to Macquarie Lighthouse (also known as South Head Upper Light) at Dunbar Head, Vaucluse which is Australia’s first and longest operating navigational light. The current lighthouse was built in 1881, although a navigational aid has been at the site since 1791 – within a …
Early last week we posted our June/July Adventure Bucket List on our Facebook page. We received a number of suggestions on what we could add on our Sydney adventures. The suggestion of Barrenjoey Lighthouse was a standout, especially with our fondness for lighthouses since visiting Cape Leeuwin. So with a blue sky forecast for Sydney …