There are some places that I will never tire of visiting – the Northern Territory is one. I’ve been there four times and each visit offered new experiences and lots of memorable moments.

For a very different and exciting family Northern Territory experience, a stay at Bullo River Station is a must. Located in the north-western corner of the Northern Territory, near the Western Australian border, Bullo River Station covers an astounding half a million acres! The massive property is encircled by the Victoria River, rocky escarpments and stunningly beautiful outback landscape.

Bullo River Station is a working cattle station with more than nine thousand head of cattle. There’s also lots of local wildlife – expect to spot wallabies, dingoes, wild buffalo, numerous species of native and migratory birds, fish and maybe a crocodile!

Bullo River Station offers a comfortable and fully-hosted farm stay experience. Yes, you might be put to work with some cattle mustering or horse riding, but the staff at Bullo River will also tailor a range of activities to suit your interests. There’s lots to do, including fishing, spotting crocodiles, discovering Aboriginal rock art, cruising the Bullo River Gorge or enjoying an exhilarating helicopter flight of the property.

There are twelve rooms at the Bullo River Station lodge. The rooms are simple and practical – each has an ensuite, is serviced daily and thankfully is without a television or phone – at Bullo River, you’re really getting away from it all!

Bullo River Station is open from March through to October each year (it’s closed during the peak of the wet season). Accommodation, including meals and most activities, is $800 per night for adults and $600 for children. Some packages are available. Your Bullo River Station experience and flights to the Northern Territory can be booked online through Expedia.

You can never be armed with too much information when it comes to choosing car seats for your children. Click through to find out what this innovative brand has to offer in the way of safe travel for brand new babies, through to older children. 

When pregnant with my first child I was so overwhelmed with the car seat options, I simply asked our local baby store owner which car seat is the safest. Full stop. And without hesitation he led me to the Britax Safe-n-Sound section. I purchased a Safe-n-Sound capsule then and there, and when I became pregnant with my second child two years later, I knew exactly what to purchase. I’ve never regretted those purchases, in fact I’ve recommended Safe-n-Sound car seats to anyone who will listen. I believe a safe car seat is the most important purchase you can make as a new parent, so here’s the low down on what Britax has to offer.

The Safe-n-Sound Compaq is a great option for those with smaller cars. It can be used for newborns, and will last until the child is four. It can be used rearward facing for babies from birth until they’re about twelve months old, or until their shoulders reach the Lower Shoulder Height Marker. It can then be used as a forward facing seat from about twelve months old until the child is four. The slim design makes it perfect for compact cars, where the front seats tend to be in close proximity to the rear seats.

The safety of the seats comes from its deep side wings, which are really important for side impact protection. It also includes a layer that will absorb energy in a crash. The Compaq also has the Safe-n-Sound sliding retractable stabilising bar to prevent the child from coming in contact with the vehicle seat in a head-on crash (whilst in the rearward position).

One of the clever features is the three recline positions, which includes an upright position, when the seat is in forward facing mode. It’s just awful watching a sleepy little head constantly rolling forward, so being able to recline the seat a little is a bonus on long trips. The Push Button adjusters in these seats are fantastic. If your child happens to be wearing something a little bulkier than usual, it’s so handy to just press the button and loosen the straps a fraction to ensure they fit correctly.

If you’re starting off with a baby capsule (as I did) the next step in car seats is the Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjust. This model is suitable for children from six months through to eight years, and having purchased two of the previous models in this range, I can highly recommend them. It can be used in forward facing mode from six months through to four years using the in-built harness. It can then be used as a Booster Seat with a lap-sash seat belt or child harness and lap or lap sash seat belt – a child harness must be used in a position with a lap-only seat belt.

The latest version of this car seat has some nifty features that make adjusting a breeze, like the Easy Adjust Headrest, which means it can be adjusted when the seat is installed. Just by pulling a lever the shoulder straps can be repositioned. It also has a sanity-saving EZ-Buckle System which keeps the harness buckles from disappearing under little bottoms when children first get into the seat.

Safety-wise, in Booster seat mode the Safe-n-Sound Slideguard clip stops the child slumping and the lap belt rising. I must admit having purchased the Tilt And Adjust model of this seat, I’m very envious to discover this new version includes speakers in the headrest – my boys would adore this! But they are very happy with the two rotating cup holders and arm rests in their Safe-n-Sound car seats, which make them feel very grown-up.

Britax also manufacture the Safe-n-Sound Encore 10, which is a booster for children from about four years old through to 10 years. These car seats are also packed with safety features, including Side Impact Cushion Technology, which Britax says maximises head protection by reducing side impact forces. This seat also has Expandable Side Wings to provide some support when children fall asleep and tend to slump. The Expandable Seat grows with the child and can be extended a further 70mm in length. The seat also has nine height adjustments, and speakers in the headrest. Visit Britax to find your nearest retailer.

When you’re staying somewhere that boasts “Excellence since 1228”, you know it’s going to be memorable. Spend a night in the magical Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. Built by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family on the banks of Lough Corrib in 1228, the castle is surrounded by vast gardens, lush green woodlands and tranquil stretches of water.

The castle is spectacular both inside and out – imposing stone battlements, turrets and a moat is the stuff of fairy tales and legends while inside a wood-panelled great hall, suits of armour and medieval antiques will impress.

Established as a hotel in 1939, the castle has an unsurpassed reputation in Ireland for providing guests with the very finest travel experience. Each of the eighty-three rooms and suites are individually decorated and retain original features (as well as all the necessary modern amenities, of course).

Ashford Castle is a fabulous family destination, offering activities such as family horse riding and fly-fishing classes. However, the main attraction is the Hawk Walk, a personalised falconry lesson in the woods where you have the opportunity to fly your own hawk. After a brief introduction to your bird of prey, the hawks will follow you from tree to tree through the woods before swooping down to land on your gloved fist. Remarkably, no previous experience is necessary to join the Hawk Walk and children and families are welcomed – thrilling stuff!

There’s also golf, tennis, bike riding and boat cruises around the nearby islands of St. Patrick and Inchagoill to enjoy.

There are various family accommodation packages available at Ashford Castle. The Summer Family Falconry Package is €1250 and includes two nights accommodation and full Irish breakfast for two adults and two children. Also included is a family Hawk Walk and dinner in the George V dining room (which helpfully has a children’s menu). Bookings can be made online. For online flight reservations, head to Goldman Holidays.

For a little luxury close to home (well, closer than Mexico, for example!), start imagining some beach time in Vietnam.

Located at the breathtakingly beautiful Con Dao, a sixteen island archipelago in south-east Vietnam, the five-star Six Senses resort offers guests private villas, their own private infinity pool and unobstructed views of the East Vietnam Sea. There’s also a magnificent one and a half kilometre stretch of beach, sloping sand dunes and turquoise waters at your doorstep. Elephant Head Mountain provides a dramatic backdrop.

At first glance, you may think that Six Senses looks more like a honeymoon destination than a place for a family holiday. However, the fifty villas at the resort are designed in various configurations to suit everyone from single-level to duplex and with either one, three or four bedrooms. The villas also feature indoor-outdoor bathrooms so you can zip from pool to beach to villa with ease.

Clearly lots of swimming would be on the agenda at Six Senses (enjoy your private pool, the main resort pool and of course the stunning beach) but there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained.

As well as a day spa, a library and the usual array of water sports, guests can also enjoy movies-under-the-stars, year-round snorkelling and diving, cooking classes and a chance to observe sea turtles nesting. Days at Six Senses wind down with drinks served on the beach – bliss!

Six Senses offers a number of dining options, from traditional Vietnamese ‘street food’ served in a casual, market-style restaurant, a barbeque on the beach, a deli serving light snacks and ice cream or the formal restaurant overlooking the beach.

You can book Six Senses online and organise flights to Vietnam through Goldman Holidays.

(via Bless this Stuff)

With six people around our dinner table each night, the chatter is non-stop. In fact, sometimes it’s hard to get a word in. So what was the recent bit of news that momentarily stopped the conversation? My ten-year-old told us that one of his classmates got a trip to Disneyland for Christmas. The kids were quiet as they digested this information. Then there was a chorus of ‘Wow! Disneyland! Wow!’.

Regardless of how many theme parks there are in the world and regardless of how fabulous they are, Disneyland will remain the ultimate destination. And to cement that title, Disney World, in Orlando, Florida, has just opened its all new Fantasyland.

Stretching over ten acres, the expanded Fantasyland includes two new themed areas – the Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus.

The Enchanted Forest is inspired by Disney classics, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The Forest includes two new fairytale castles, Ariel’s grotto and a ride in giant clamshells.

The Enchanted Forest represents a new style of Disney experience – attractions that are interactive, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the story. Making their way through a forest, visitors enter Belle’s Village where a number of experiences await budding princesses including the highlight, Enchanted Tales with Belle, where visitors play a role in a short presentation of the Beauty and the Beast story.

As you would expect, there’s magical touches all around, from an amazing mirror that transforms into a door to give access to the Beast’s castle (apparently it leaves visitors flummoxed!) to the ballroom that has perpetual snow falling at the windows and a view over moonlit rolling hills – a nice touch in sunny Florida!

The Enchanted Forest also includes a tribute the The Little Mermaid with a clamshell ride through Prince Eric’s castle, which travels past recreated scenes from the movie.

In the spirit of Dumbo, the Storybook Circus section of Fantasyland features all the attractions of a traditional big-top circus combined with some spectacular new rides including more from the flying elephant, The Great Goofini stunt plane adventure and a circus-themed water play area.

Fantasyland brings parental fantasies to reality by cutting out queues. Yes, there’s no need to wait in lines for the exciting new attractions with the queue-lounge. Guests are given a pager and welcomed into a themed, air-conditioned playground – kids can play and parents can take a seat until it’s their turn for a ride. It’s all my dreams come true…

The expansion of Fantasyland isn’t quite finished. Over the next two years, a Princess Fairytale Hall and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be added. Stay tuned!

Book your Fantasyland adventure online through Goldman Holidays.

(via Wired)

Nothing ruins the start of a family holiday faster than realising you’ve forgotten (or run out of) baby essentials and have to scour the streets late at night to find them in an unfamiliar destination. Now imagine that your destination is Sydney, and you flew in, so you don’t even have a car for your late night wanderings. What to do?

Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire has been there, and they’ve created a great new product for anyone arriving at Sydney airport with a small child. Their Arrival Survival pack contains all the essentials you’ll need to tide you over until you’ve shaken off the fog of travel and can get out to buy what you need (preferably not at airport prices!).

With school holidays fast approaching, we know this will be music to the ears of many Babyologists who are planning flights to Sydney with their kids. The Arrival Survival pack is only $24.95 and contains items like dummies, pre-sterilised bottles, nappies and wipes, along with a whole lot more. It’s especially for customers of Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire’s Sydney Airport Concierge Service (which means they will deliver it to your car or your destination along with the car seats and portacots you’ve rented), but they are also very happy to post the pack anywhere in Australia for $4.95, regardless of whether you are hiring from them or not. Head over to Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire to see the full list of what’s included.

It’s taken a few years but my husband has finally come around to my way of holiday thinking which goes something like this – “We’ve travelled this far, so let’s not cut corners on the experience.” I usually follow it up with “When are we ever going to be here again?!”. The Legoland Hotel is one such place where my travel philosophy could be well applied.

If you’re going to do something as exciting as planning a family vacation to Legoland in California, why not go the whole hog and stay at the Legoland Hotel?

Opening in April this year, the Legoland Hotel boasts two hundred and fifty themed rooms, based on three popular Lego lines – Pirates, Kingdoms and Adventure. As well as being amazingly styled, there is careful attention to detail in each room – expect wall murals, Lego constructions and themed bed linen.

Rooms at the Legoland Hotel include two separate sleeping areas, with a queen-size bed for grown-ups and a separate area for up to three children. The children’s sleeping area has a themed bunk bed, a pull-out trundle bed and their very own television.

Amenities at the hotel include thoughtful extras that kids will love, such as hidden whoopee-cushions and themed elevators (I would like to ride in a disco elevator!) though to the ultimate in child-friendly dining experiences, Bricks Restaurant.

While the official unveiling of the rooms is eagerly awaited, we can get sneak peeks of the exterior of the hotel – it’s nothing short of brilliant. Coloured ‘bricks’, massive Lego sculptures and windows and trimmings just like real Lego pieces are all being used.

A stay at the Legoland Hotel also includes special entry to select Legoland rides and attractions before the park officially opens – handy way to beat the crowds if you have a full day of Legoland adventures planned!

Organise flights to California and accommodation online through Goldman Holidays.

(via Mashable)

Imagine having to cancel your trip, because you were unable to source suitable transport for your special needs child. Heartbreaking stories like these have prompted Rock-a-Bye Baby Hire to expand its range and fill a much-needed gap in the baby hire market.

We’ve featured Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire several times on Babyology – their concept is fresh and simple: to provide parents in Sydney the ability to hire contemporary nursery equipment. They also have a Sydney Airport Concierge Service for travellers flying into Sydney which includes the hiring of prams. And here’s where the latest update to the service comes in.

Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire had been contacted by several potential customers wanting to travel to Sydney with their children with special needs. They needed a pram, however the company wasn’t able to cater for their needs. The Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire crew couldn’t let the issue rest, particularly when they heard that one family cancelled its trip because it simple wasn’t an option to travel without a suitable pram.

Rock-A- Bye Baby Hire is now able to provide customers with special needs children a Maclaren Major Elite. This pram can be used for children with special needs, and can cater for a child up to 63.5kg. The pram can be hired for a minimum of three days, for $50, plus bond. And watch this space, as Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire is keen to expand this range even further.

I probably make far too many references to the Brady Bunch and other seventies television shows and music in my posts than I should – it reveals my age! Nonetheless, as soon as I discovered the Top 50 Ranches website I started thinking back to that brilliant Brady Bunch episode where the kids ride with cowboys into the Grand Canyon. If you’re dreaming of a similar family holiday (minus the getting-lost-in-the-Grand-Canyon-like-Cindy element), read on.

Top 50 Ranches is the one-stop spot for the best in horse-riding holidays, whether you want to experience life on a Patagonian estancia in Argentina or ride the open grassy plains of Burnt Well Guest Ranch in New Mexico in the United States.

The website includes ranches in six countries, with the majority located in the US states of Montana, Colorado and Arizona. Helpfully, the ranches are sorted by the type of ‘experience’ you are looking for – this ranges from being a guest in luxury accommodation to joining a muster on a working ranch and of the fifty ranches listed, more than thirty are suitable for families.

An authentic cowboy experience for kids starts at Flathead Lake Lodge in Montana, USA. As well as plenty of water activities on the picturesque Flathead Lake, kids also have the opportunity to camp overnight in a teepee, ride in a kids’ rodeo and try the Junior Wrangler Program.

For pure indulgence, head to Echo Valley Ranch and Spa in British Columbia, Canada (below). While you’re relaxing, kids can busy themselves with all sorts of activities from guided rides to fishing and falcon flying. Finish the day around the campfire.

For families wanting a ranch experience close to home, the Snowy River Horseback Adventure in New South Wales gives you the opportunity to experience a two-to-five-day Snowy Mountains adventure, exploring bush trails and old stock routes against the backdrop of majestic Snowgum and Mountain Ash forests.

A little further afield is Beaumont Station in Southland, New Zealand, a working sheep station where you will saddle up and join the muster, all the while taking in the untamed New Zealand high-country.

Giddy-up! Head to Goldman Holidays for all your online travel arrangements.

While I was getting photos printed this week, a mum arrived at the shop to have some passport photos of her seven-month-old baby taken. The thing with babies of that age is that they tend to smile. At everything. The thing with passport photos is there’s to be no smiling. So the baby smiled. And everyone laughed. And the shop assistant said “Let’s try again!”. And everyone laughed. And of course, the baby smiled. On it went, until the baby was doing what I call ‘whole body smiles’ – arms and legs kicking, gurgling and laughing. So step one of taking a baby overseas – wrangle an acceptable passport photo (you may have to block out a whole afternoon).

I particularly like the story that goes with the baby passport photo shown above!

A couple of weeks ago, Babyology editor Mandi, shared news of her upcoming media trip to Europe with our Facebook fans. She has a little extra ‘luggage’ on this trip – six-month-old Audrey! Mandi asked Facebook fans for any tips for flying solo with an infant. Our readers didn’t let us down and shared lots of great ideas.

One of the toughest parts of travelling solo is managing airports and stop-overs. Most airlines will allow you to take an umbrella stroller to the gate however a sling or baby carrier gives you valuable hands-free time, particularly important if you are also juggling passports, tickets and hand luggage.

While we’d all like to travel Business Class (or buy a spare seat next to us for extra room), the reality is most people travel economy. So how can you make the experience as comfortable and as easy as possible if you are flying solo with a baby?

Firstly, plan your itinerary carefully. Avoid stop-overs and ensure that the longer legs are night flights, maximising sleep time.

Readers agreed that securing a bassinet was important. Even if your baby doesn’t get much sleep in the bassinet it gives the solo parent an opportunity to put them down, if only for a few minutes. It’s fairly important to have some ‘hands free’ time, especially if you need to eat, prepare a bottle or get out the nappy bag!

One reader suggested taking a muslin and some 3D removable hooks so that you can create a screen around the bassinet – handy for stopping light from the TV screen and also for blocking bub making eye contact with people standing in the toilet queue when they’re supposed to be going to sleep!

Keep in mind that bassinets are allocated from the youngest baby to the oldest so depending on how many babies are on your flight you may or may not get one.

If you’re not lucky enough to get a bassinet seat, the next best choice is an aisle seat, simply because it is far easier to get in and out while holding a baby. There are also things you can do to make your space more comfortable. Some parents swear by using white noise on an iPod to help kids get to sleep – no harm in trying if you have a temperamental sleeper! Likewise, the screens built into the backs of seats can be distracting, particularly if they don’t turn off. Bring some packing tape and secure a blanket over the screen while kids sleep. It may also be worth checking out the FlyeBaby, a travel gadget we reviewed last year.

Parents unanimously agreed that you can’t pack too many nappies, spare sets of clothes (for you and your baby), food and bottles. Although some airlines offer baby meals, a long haul flight is not necessarily the best time to try new food. Likewise, if you’re bottle feeding, it’s a wise idea to pack plenty of formula as brands and availability vary in other countries.

One reader wisely suggested leaving toys at home. Instead of weighing yourself down with loads of toys, take a few small favourites. As most parents know, a baby can entertain themselves with any old thing given the opportunity (empty cups, sick bags, the in-flight magazine…).

Lastly (and most importantly) this advice to parents from my friend, a flight attendant who has clocked up thousands of flights with crying babies and children – “You’ll never see these people again and they’ll get over it”.

For more travel tips, see our previous post on plane travel with kids.

Guess which island a National Geographic survey voted as the most appealing island destination in the world?

You may have been thinking about somewhere tropical but the answer is in fact the Faroe Islands which National Geographic identified as “authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”.

The Faroe Islands (there are eighteen in total) are nestled between the Shetland Islands and Iceland, a stone’s throw from Norway and Denmark. Although a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands has its own parliament, flag, currency and language. The Islands also have one of the smallest capital cities in the world, Tórshavn, which is home to approximately nineteen thousand people (below).

There is plenty for families to explore on the Faroe Islands and the best way to take in the dramatic landscape is by car. The Islands have nearly one thousand three hundred kilometres of coastline and regardless of where you are, the North Atlantic Ocean is less than five kilometres away. So take your time meandering around the improbably steep slopes, admiring the unique and historic architecture (including grass covered houses) and hiking cliffs.

Key stops on your roadtrip should include the Viking settlements at Kvivik, Leirvík and Tjørnavík, the rock formations at Eiði, a ferry ride and some bird-watching – it’s your chance to see puffins and storm petrels.

So, where to stay during your Faroe Island adventure? For a little spot of luxury in the middle of the North Atlantic, head to the Hotel Føroyar (above). Designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, the hotel boasts impressive views, rooms for families and the Koks restaurant that serves locally-sourced delicacies including salted fish, lamb and Faroese rhubarb.

Flights and bookings to the Faroe Islands can be organised through Goldman Holidays.

You know when a friend returns from a holiday and is so enthusiastic about where they’ve been and so full of good stories that you immediately want to book the same holiday for yourself? 

My friend and her family recently visited the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Malaysia. She made mention of the fabulous resort facilities, the beautiful beach and surrounding rainforest, the sensational Dalit Bay day spa and the perfectly appointed rooms but actually, the highlight of the holiday was the orang-utans.

The Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort is located on Pantai Dalit Beach, Kota Kinabalu and set amidst a nature reserve. An orang-utan rehabilitation centre, the only one of its kind in the region, is located within the nature reserve and offers a very special opportunity for the resort’s youngest guests. Children are invited to spend half a day with a ranger at the orang-utan rehabilitation centre, participating in daily tasks including feeding the orang-utans. It’s as up-close-and-personal as you’re likely to get.

As well as the orang-utan program, the Rasa Ria Resort has lots of other activities and facilities tailored for children. Many of the kids’ activities highlight traditional Malaysian activities including Batik painting, coconut leaf weaving, kite making and flying and traditional dance classes. There’s also lots on the schedule that allows kids to enjoy the unique surrounds of the resort including pony rides, guided nature walks where the kids get to play ‘nature detective’ and seashell collecting.

The Resort has four hundred and sixteen rooms and suites, decorated in a Malaysian theme. Ground floor rooms have private lanais and upper floor rooms enjoy spectacular views from private balconies.

For online flight and resort reservations, contact Goldman Holidays.

Isn’t this the most divine children’s luggage you’ve seen? This fabulous Australian brand has just launched – and we can’t wait to show you what they have on offer.

We love a good piece of children’s luggage at Babyology. It has to have the right balance of style and function, with that irresistible cute factor that attracts children (so they’re willing to lug it around an airport!). Geelong-based Pack’d has burst onto the market with a flurry, launching this stunning range of kids’ luggage.

The specs are impressive – with each piece of luggage measuring forty-two centimetres high, forty centimetres wide and twenty-two centimetres deep. With the handle extended, the luggage stands at ninety-nine centimetres. There’s a gorgeous range of colours and patterns available, and most are unisex. I love the Dashing Hound, with its long sausage dog snaking down the face of the luggage. There’s also Dot to Dotty, Humbug and Superstar.

The outer shell of the luggage is ABS plastic and is perfect for kids, as it’s strong, light and easy to wipe clean. The interior is lined, also making it easy to keep clean. Each piece weighs just two and a half kilos, leaving plenty of room (and weight allowance) to stack it with much-needed items. These also make perfect overnight bags for children off to spend some school holiday time with grandparents or friends. The luggage can be ordered directly from Pack’d, and each piece costs $159.00.

Some tourism advertisements capture a place perfectly – as intended, the ad makes you want to  stop what you’re doing immediately and call the travel agent. Have you seen the South Australian Tourism Commission’s advertisement for Kangaroo Island? It’s stunning.

Fringed by the dramatic Southern Ocean, rocky headlands, sheer limestone cliffs and stretches of pure-white sandy beaches, Kangaroo Island also boasts some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Australia.

Dubbed the ‘Australian Galapagos’, Kangaroo Island is home to an abundance of native wildlife. More than a third of the island’s four thousand five hundred square kilometres is reserved as Conservation or National Park, providing sanctuary to New Zealand fur seals, koalas, kangaroos, Australian sea lions, ospreys, echidnas and more.

If all of that is not enough to whet your appetite for a visit to Kangaroo Island, a quick peek at the seriously impressive Southern Ocean Lodge will be.

Perched atop a secluded cliff on a rugged stretch of coast, the Southern Ocean Lodge offers a luxurious holiday experience with breathtaking views included.

Located on the cliffs at Hanson Bay and flanked by the Flinders Chase and Cape Bouguer / Kelly Hill National Parks, the Lodge’s panoramic design offers guests spectacular, uninterrupted views of the wild Southern Ocean and surrounding wilderness.

Modern luxe was combined with eco-sensitive design when creating the Lodge. Cantilevered balconies, sandblasted limestone floors, recycled spotted gum walls, sunken lounges and suspended fireplaces provide a fittingly dramatic stage for the breathtaking views. There are twenty-one suites, each with a king bed, glass walled bathroom and outdoor terrace.

Your stay at Southern Ocean Lodge includes guided Island excursions to Seal Bay where you’ll meet the sea lions, to Flinders Chase National Park, coastal clifftop walks and more.

It’s also worth mentioning that with fresh seafood in abundance on Kangaroo Island and South Australia’s Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley wine regions a stone’s throw away, your stay at Southern Ocean Lodge will also be a gourmet delight.

Southern Ocean Lodge welcomes children six years and over. The Ocean Family suite accommodates two adults and up to three children. Travel to Kangaroo Island and bookings at the Southern Ocean Lodge can be made through Goldman Holidays.

Vegas may be a big girl’s holiday destination but it’s got something that little girls will go crazy for too. The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas has a Barbie Suite, perfect for anyone who dreamed of living in Barbie’s Malibu Dream House.

Interior designer Jonathan Adler used Barbie’s signature hot pink as the starting point for the luxurious room which includes skirted, corseted, lace-up “dress” chairs, a sunburst mirror made from sixty-five Barbie dolls and custom wall coverings in Barbie patterns.

Guests in the Barbie suite will enjoy three queen-sized bedrooms (so yes, you can take the whole family), an extra-large jacuzzi tub, a two-way fireplace and breathtaking views of the Las Vegas strip.

If the males in your family find all that pink a little too much, it may be wise to offset your Barbie Suite stay with a night in one of the other themed suites at The Palms – take your pick from the Crib Suite, complete with a DJ booth; the Kingpin Bowling Suite, dominated by its own bowling alley; or the incredible Basketball Hardwood Suite which covers ten thousand square feet and includes an indoor basketball court, professional locker room, scoreboard and NBA-sized Murphy beds…. Huh. The Barbie Suite almost seems tame compared to that!

For more Barbie hotel luxury, see our previous review on Barbie at the Plaza Athenee.

Bookings for flights and The Palms Hotel can be made online through Goldman Holidays.

We all thought we’d died and gone to heaven when we arrived at Club Med Bali for our first family holiday in nearly two years. Our eight-day stay lived up to and surpassed every expectation we had – there’s so much to tell you all about!

That photo up there is of the poolside bar – yes it’s really that beautiful, truly that serene and relaxing, and by night it’s a lively bar with music, offering an array of exotic cocktails (in fact you can order those at any time of day). Here’s a quick rundown of what’s offered in a Club Med package, just so you know what kind of quality holiday you’re looking at:

• All-inclusive (accommodation, meals, drinks, activities)
• Nanny for under twos (optional extra)
• Petit Club (for kids aged two to under four – optional extra)
• Mini Club Med (for kids aged four to ten – included in package)
• Juniors Club Med (for kids aged eleven to under eighteen – included)
• Babysitting (optional extra)
• External tours and activities (optional extra)

My husband and I loved the balance of spending time with our kids and getting to truly relax as a couple. Whilst I did look longingly at the bar and wished I could go windsurfing with my husband while the kids were doing trapeze, bungee, archery and swimming at Kids Club, being twenty weeks pregnant was no real impediment to having a grand time. With a vast array of mocktails, the friendliest, chattiest staff you could possibly hope for, and a lovely, serene air-conditioned room, I soon found my groove of absolute, total relaxation.

As you can see, my boys had a grand time, the grounds were beautiful and Club Med ensured kids of all ages were catered for beautifully. Below are my three taking their first swim in their gorgeous matching bathers.

Beauty was absolutely everywhere – it was like floating through a glamorous film set – a true visual escape from our usual city environment. Long, covered walkways protected us from the heat of the sun as we walked around the vast grounds. Bit by bit, I felt my health returning after a very draining first trimester (and beyond) – the serene grounds had such a healing effect.

The kids and I would go down the pond and watch the amazing water monitors (huge lizards) looking like crocodiles in the water. Wonderful, slow tasks like this could easily use up an hour and we’d talk about all kinds of things and reconnect with each other. Since returning, I have raved about Club Med to friends and family – the all-inclusive aspect is incredibly attractive and the holiday costs no more than if you paid for everything separately. There are no expensive surprises, no unpredictability.

I bet that image above got your attention – that’s the amazing Quiet Pool where parents go to relax and unwind while the kids are doing amazing things at Kids Club, or when baby is with the nanny. It’s adults only and tailored for ultimate relaxation. Next door is one of the prettiest resort spas I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. I had a dreamy pedicure, gently and painstakingly performed by a skilled beauty therapist. Prices were equivalent to Australian spas but for me, entirely worth it just to walk down the corridor and be enveloped by peace.

We’ve all heard the stories about Bali Belly and how ill travellers can get, but not at Club Med Bali. You might think I was hampered not being able to eat the lovely prepared salads and cold seafood dishes in pregnancy, but no, the array of freshly cooked buffet food was quite astonishing and I frequented the Indonesian section with utter delight.

Club Med’s food preparation standards are second to none – the best chefs, using the freshest ingredients and artistic presentation methods make dining there a pleasure for both kids and adults. Below is our favourite dining room; one of three which branch off the buffet area. There’s also an a la carte restaurant, at which we had a wonderful three-course meal with the children, all included in our package.

The nightlife at Club Med Bali is incredibly vibrant – there are nightly stage shows which include performances with your children (practised at Kids Club that day) as well as the huge and very talented staff cohort.

We saw traditional Balinese performers (below) and some amazingly good dancing in the shows which included Peter Pan and a Michael Jackson extravaganza. We couldn’t fail to get caught up in the jovial atmosphere of Club Med – it’s infectious!

The attention given to children at Club Med Bali is amazing. While you can happily go to Club Med as a couple and not be bombarded by children and their activities, so too can families go and their every need and whim be catered for. I give full credit to the energetic staff for creating an atmosphere of inclusivity whatever your age or activity inclination.

My boys took part in a vast array of activities at Club Med Bali, including Balinese craft  and outrageously fun events devised by the trained staff. Below they all have a toothpick and are running after Mr Balloon Man to try to pop all his balloons – even I kept up with that one!

When you watch your only-just five year old mastering an upside-down trapeze manoeuvre at the height of a tall tree, you just know he’s achieved something unforgettable in his life. I never would have thought my youngest would be up for this, but just look at him! Club Med actually has a team of circus trainers and most ages can try. Ok, so I was a bit miffed to be pregnant at this point – I would have tried it too.

Mini Club Med-ers (ages four to ten) come to the purpose-built kid’s facility complete with a shallow pool, play areas and a huge playground. My boys begged to go every day.

Below are the Petit Club Med facilities for kids aged two to under four. Facilities are appealing, clean and bright and the staff all have Early Childhood qualifications. The head co-ordinator of Kids Club (the very wonderful Allyn) had just completed his PhD!

We loved everything about Club Med – the sophisticated concept of an all-inclusive holiday in luxury surrounds worked for us, and best of all… the brother bonding time! Thanks to Club Med Bali for having us as guests – we will be sure to return, next time with a third little boy in tow. If you would like to price and book a holiday with Club Med visit their website directly or contact Goldman Holidays.

Last year I was lucky enough to visit Miami. It was only for a few (magical, memorable, brilliant) days but I was there alone and immersed myself in the Art Deco delights of South Beach. There’s no question that I enjoyed a holiday doing exactly what interested me but during my brief time in Florida, I spotted so many things that had me thinking “My kids would love that!” And the place in Florida with serious wow factor – outer space (almost).

Orlando, Florida is the theme park destination in America, boasting Disney World, SeaWorld, Legoland and Universal Studios amongst its attractions. But there’s one tourist attraction like no other – the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Home to NASA’s launch headquarters, the Kennedy Space Center allows tourists the chance to tour launch pads, participate in astronaut training, walk amongst giant rockets in the Rocket Garden and even lunch with a real astronaut.

The centre hosts various activities and special displays during the year however the highlight is the Shuttle Launch Experience – a way for aspiring astronauts to blast-off as a guest ‘crew member’ on a space shuttle launch replication (note that kids must be taller than one hundred and twelve centimetres to ride the Shuttle Launch Experience – better to know before you go than face the disappointment of your little astronaut falling short!). Needless to say, the experience gives you a vertical and bumpy ride.

Early in 2013, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will become home to the space shuttle Atlantis, one of the four shuttles operating until the end of the NASA shuttle program. Atlantis launched successfully for the final time on 8 July, 2011 and returned to Earth on 21 July, 2011. By the end of its final mission, Atlantis had orbited the Earth four thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight times, travelling nearly two hundred and three million kilometres in space – that’s more than five hundred and twenty-five times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Mind-boggling stuff!

Tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex are available online. Adults are US$50 each and children US$40. Packages are also available, such as the Astronaut Training Experience for families which includes half a day immersed in astronaut training, rides in realistic simulators and building and launching your own rockets. You also get the opportunity to meet a veteran NASA astronaut and work together to perform a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station in a full-scale orbiter mock-up and fully outfitted mission control. Now who’s more excited – the kids or the parents?! The Astronaut Training Experience package includes two day admission to the Visitor Complex and is priced from US$145 per person.

Travelling with kids just got a lot more fun. 

Is it a suitcase or is it a scooter? Well, it’s kind of both. The Skootcase is a clever little contraption which could very nearly save any parent’s sanity in a bustling airport. Your child can pack their favourite bits and bobs in their very own case, then hop on board, while you take the tow strap and drive them through the airport.

The Skootcase has a fully functioning steering column (this can be a good or bad thing, I think!). The design is based on the rather stylish Vespa scooters you see zooming through the streets of Italian cities. It has rubber wheels, and is small enough to pass as carry-on luggage. It comes in blue or pink, and is available from the manufacture, Diggin Active for US$69.99, but you will most likely need a reshipper.

(via Gizmodo)

When I was sixteen, I left the hot Australian summer behind and jetted off to Germany for an unforgettable six months as an exchange student. I have lots of wonderful memories and the very best are of the Christmas celebrations – think night-time Christmas markets, spicy cookies called Lebkuchen, delicious Glühwein (mulled wine) and cutting our tree whilst it was snowing. 

If you’re also dreaming of a German Weihnachten (that’s Christmas), organise a stay at the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg.

Situated on a mountain terrace with a breathtaking view of the cathedral city of Cologne, the Schloss Bensberg was built by Prince-Elector Johann Wilhelm II of Dusseldorf in the early 1700s to impress his new wife. Alas, the Prince died in 1716, before the couple had even moved in, and his widow returned to her home country of Italy. The palace was not properly finished and over time served as a military hospital, cadet school, boarding school and refugee centre.

After centuries of neglect, the palace was bought in 1997, restored and transformed into the regal, five star Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg. Apart from spectacular accommodation (there are eighty-four rooms and thirty-six suites), the hotel offers three Michelin-star dining and an exceptional day spa with various ‘wellness’ packages.

Should I be lucky enough to stay in this particular Baroque palace, I think I’d time my trip to take in the Christmas festivities. On Christmas Eve, children are invited to decorate the Christmas tree and bake delicious biscuits in the patisserie. While they are busy with that, parents can relax with a champagne aperitif in the hotel lounge (a stark contrast to what I’m ordinarily doing on Christmas Eve, which is running around like a mad woman to get everything done).

Late in the afternoon, there’s a visit from Father Christmas, caroling and then a sumptuous dinner in one of the hotel’s two restaurants. The evening finishes with a torchlight procession to the nearby church for Christmas Mass.

Of course, with the centre of Cologne just a five minute walk away, you will also be able to enjoy the Christmas markets and other festive activities.

Suites at the hotel can accommodate two adults and up to three children. A Junior Suite is approximately 290€ per night over Christmas. Bookings can be made online at Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg and flights to Germany can be organised through Goldman Holidays.

The big attraction of a destination such as Thailand for families is proximity. It’s less than a ten-hour flight to Bangkok from most Australian cities and with such exotic, luxurious and affordable resorts practically on our doorstep, it’s no wonder Thailand is high on the list of favourites.

Six Senses and Evason Hua Hin is located south of Hua Hin on the coast of the Gulf of Siam. The extensive resort includes secluded pool villas and luxurious rooms dotted throughout lush, tropical gardens.

As regular readers of the Babyology Travel section will know, I have a penchant for swimming pools – the more lavish and extensive, the better. Imagine how impressed I was when I saw that prospective resort guests could take a ‘virtual tour‘ of the pool at Six Senses Hua Hin – that’s a feature I think all resorts should take note of! Needless to say, the pool at Hua Hin well and truly meets my high expectations and has the added bonus of the beach being just a shake of your towel away (note that all beaches in Thailand are public and therefore chairs, umbrellas and the the like are not generally provided by resorts).

There’s also a separate kids’ pool for more boisterous water play.

While I think simply relaxing by the pool would be on my holiday agenda, there are lots of activities on offer at the resort ranging from private boating trips or Thai cooking classes to golf on one of the seven nearby golf courses or Thai boxing classes. There’s also a kids club, Just Kids!, which runs various activities as well as supervised sleepovers for parents wanting a little alone time. Six Senses Hua Hin also includes a multi-award winning day spa which offers treatments as well as activities such as yoga and meditation.

Rooms are bright, furnished in simple but impeccable style and most have open-style bathrooms – there is something incredibly luxurious about the thought of an outdoor bath!

Six Senses and Evason Hua Hin offer a number of accommodation packages including a Summer Family Fun package. Priced from THB 4,200 (approximately $135) per night, two adults and two children can enjoy a two bedroom villa, breakfast, kids activities, complimentary babysitting when both parents book the spa and more.

Bookings for Six Senses and Evason Hua Hin can be made online directly through Six Senses. Flights to Bangkok, Thailand can be made online through Goldman Holidays.