Hosier Lane : Melbourne Street Art – The Graffiti Artist Place

Hosier Lane : Melbourne Street Art - The Graffiti Artist Place

Hosier Lane in Melbourne’s CBD has fast become an iconic lane-way renowned for its amazing wall art created by some of the country’s most talented graffiti artists. When we headed to Melbourne over summer I knew we had to walk down Hosier Lane at least once. But was it all it’s cracked up to be? I imagine …

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Turret Cafe and Catering : Eating Out in Ballarat

Turret Cafe and Catering : Eating Out in Ballarat

When heading to a new town to explore its many sites I highly encourage researching the cafes and restaurants that the locals recommend. On our trip to Ballarat, I threw caution to the wind and didn’t actually prepare any lists at all. As a result, my little family and I found ourselves driving around Ballarat without …

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Studio Cats at the National Gallery of Victoria : Introducing Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei to Kids

Studio Cats at the National Gallery of Victoria : Introducing Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei to Kids

Melbourne is such an amazing place with a plethora of attractions and sites to visit with kids. On our recent trip last month I had the grand plan of sending T and the kids off on an adventure to one or two of these while I made a sneaky visit to the National Gallery of Victoria …

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Lake House Daylesford : Tasting Menu Experience

Lake House Daylesford : Tasting Menu Experience

As the new year clocked over, T and I left the kids with their grandparents and headed off for a magnificent tasting menu experience at the Award Winning Lake House Daylesford, our Christmas present from my parents (oh the delight!). The Lake House Daylesford has a very impressive pedigree with two hats via the Age Good Food Guide and …

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Old Castlemaine Gaol : A Tour Behind the Walls

Old Castlemaine Gaol : A Tour Behind the Walls

Standing prominently upon a hill overlooking the country town of Castlemaine stands an old sandstone gaol that is regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in all of Victoria. Within its walls ten prisoners were hanged for their crimes. Each were buried somewhere on the grounds – standing up so their souls would never be …

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State Library Victoria – A Visit to Australia’s Oldest Public Library

State Library Victoria - A Visit to Australia's Oldest Public Library

During my days at Melbourne University I spent countless hours researching at the State Library Victoria. Sometimes I just went for a little down time. It’s that type of place. When Master R became unwell on our recent Melbourne trip, Miss N and I took a stroll up to the library while he slept and …

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Ballarat Wildlife Park : Up Close With Australian Animals

One of the first things I taught my children when we started visiting my parent’s farm, which backs on to the Wombat State Forest, was to admire the native animals from a distance. I warned them not to walk up to the kangaroos that feed in the top paddock every afternoon. I said no to sticking their heads in the …

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Eureka Skydeck 88 : The Highest Public Vantage Point in the Southern Hemisphere

Eureka Skydeck 88 : The Highest Public Vantage Point in the Southern Hemisphere

Scaling the Seven Summits is on the Bucket List of adventurers worldwide. Our family has declined the challenge and skipped adding it the kid bucket list, preferring to focus on climbing (via elevator) the tallest buildings in the cities we visit. It involves less preparation and our fitness levels are rarely tested. On our recent trip to Melbourne, …

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Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium : A Snap Shot of Victoria’s Waterlife

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium : A Snap Shot of Victoria's Waterlife

With 71% of the Earth’s surface covered in water, it is no surprise that it contains a multitude of ecosystems where plant and animal life is flourishing. My children are water babies who would totally go Kevin Costner if they could and live in a Waterworld. Whenever we are travelling we try to visit a …

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The Swanston Hotel Melbourne Grand Mercure – As Central As It Gets

The Swanston Hotel Melbourne Grand Mercure - As Central As It Gets

I’m notorious for leaving things to the last minute although I am trying to reframe it as the more positive and endearing “spontaneous” quality.  So of course, when it came to booking a few days in Melbourne in the New Year, I left the booking until a handful of days before we were due to arrive. Using …

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Daylesford Lake : A Family Fun Weekend Adventure

Daylesford Lake : A Family Fun Weekend Adventure

At the foothills of the Great Dividing Range there lies the town of Daylesford which is famed for its naturally occurring mineral springs. It is a town with a rich Swiss-Italian heritage with many of the early gold miners who arrived in town coming from Ticino region in Switzerland. We visit annually with my parents farm a short …

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Werribee Open Range Zoo : An African Safari Adventure in Australia

Werribee Open Range Zoo : An African Safari Adventure in Australia

While a visit to the amazing African continent is just out of my family’s reach right now, introducing my children to the animals that roam the savannah is indeed possible thanks to the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Situated 35 kilometres west of Melbourne’s city centre, the zoo is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that focuses predominately on African species. It was …

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Collingwood Children’s Farm : A Farm Adventure in the City!

Collingwood Children's Farm : A Farm Adventure in the City!

Melbourne is a vibrant city with the bonus of having a multitude of hidden delights awaiting your discovery. It was only last year that I heard about the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Suddenly it was appearing in my social media news feed with many of my Melbourne based friend’s regularly visiting and singingits praises.  T and I didn’t …

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