Brisbane

The Brisbane man-made city beach. 

Our hotel was near Central Station. On the map I was worried it was too far away from where we planned to spend our time, but it was fine. Everything was within walking distance, even for a 4 year old.

During our visit, we played in the water park at the Southbank; swam at the beach; strolled through the Botanic Gardens; played with the dinosaurs at the Cube; went to the theatre; had a very interactive time at the Science Museum; window shopped at the Arcade and Queens Parade; loved the Regent Theatre building; watched the cricket; hitched a ride on the free ferries; enjoyed dinner at Eagle Street Pier.

Here's the official Brisbane tourist site and below a review of the places where we spent our family time.

Southbank - What's not to love. One of the best features of Brisbane for our family was the Southbank area with its man-made beach, playground, water park, cafes and museums.  We visited there everyday of our stay. Free entry, and even free to get there if you take the ferry.
The water park was particularly welcoming on a hot hot day. The shallow water area has lots of small fountains and water spraying from various points. One corner has a slightly deeper area but mostly the water was below my knees. There's an area for babies to crawl around in. Watch out for water falling from over your head! The downside was not much shade and the queue for toilets, as directly behind the water park there are toilets but a lot of people used them as changing rooms. Quicker to walk across the path to the bigger beachside toilet block.
The beach area was impressive too for a man-made operation. Shallow and deep ends, wide enough to do a lot of strokes; Enough sand to make a sandcastle; Benches dotted around and a few umbrellas; Life guards on duty; Individual showers in the changing/toilet block. It was easy to forget that you were in a city until you looked up and saw the skyline.
There was a craft market in the food area behind the beach at the weekend.
Either side of the beach is a playground with numerous play equipment under sun shades.
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Walking from the beach, through the gardens you'll pass an open-air theatre and then the big wheel. From the wheel its a few minutes walk to galleries and museums.

City Botanic Gardens - A stretch of calm in a corner of the City. The City really does fade away as you walk through the well kept gardens, admiring the colours and designs of the flower beds.

 There is a very good playground with swing area including special needs swing; climbing area; sandpit with fixed diggers; musical equipment and picnic tables. There wasn't much shade but that didn't deter the growing number of families who arrived with their picnic blankets and settled themselves in for a few hours. There is a toilet block 2 minutes walk from the playground. We didn't venture much further than the playground as it was a hot day but we did walk around the pond area. Searching for tadpoles in the pond kept the kids surprising calm and occupied for half an hour.

Science Centre - Just a short walk from Streets Beach is the Science Centre. It is one of the most interactive museums we've ever been to. Countless activities for the kids (and parents) to see/watch/do. We spent a total of 5 hours there over 2 days and still didn't see everything. You can run, jump, climb up the climbing wall, do magic tricks, dress up as a lifeguard, touch, feel and experiment. That's just on one floor.

Queens Parade - The pedestrianised shopping street. It took a while to walk along this short shopping Street with even more shops within the Malls and Arcades to distract you. When you walk along the Street don't just window shop but look above the windows at the architecture. My favourite space was the Regent Theatre, now the Tourist Office. It's a beautiful building. Walk past the stands of leaflets and tourist board desks and go up the stairs to the back to witness the grandeur of this 1920's theatre.

Eagle Street Pier - A Pier on the free ferry route lined with restaurants and cafes with views across the river. Wide choice of food types and price ranges.

Watson's Bay

Watson's Bay is a historical area, being the oldest fishing village and the place where Governor Philip first landed in Australia. As well as that it's a beautiful place to sit back and take in the City views. It can get busy, especially at weekends so consider getting the ferry there or you could spend a lot of time trying to find a parking space.  Ferry's and buses run from Circular Quay. 

Facilities:

- green space

- kids shaded playground

- toilet block

- sandy beach, partly shaded by trees

- swim area (with shark nets)

- restaurants/cafes with indoor & outdoor seating

- picnic benches

- city views in the distance

- ferry and bus stops

- hotel

- walking trails

There is a large green area between the narrow sandy beach and the main road.
There are a few picnic tables and a lot of trees to sit under and escape from the sun.

On part of the green is a children's playground which has sun shades.
The toilet block is beside it.

Within a few minutes walk from the Wharf, next to Vaucluse Yacht Club are the Watson Bay Baths - an open swim area with shark nets, which makes it a popular stretch of water for swimmers, and for those that like to jump in from the walkways running along the left and right side. This stretch of beach was stoney underfoot but with clear water. There is a ramp that leads into the water but slippery with seaweed so be careful. There is a cafe overlooking the baths with outdoor seating.

Back at the wharf you will find Doyle's Fish n Chips. There are a choice of restaurants or a take away. Be warned when we went the takeaway was cash only. On a Sunday lunchtime there were queues for the restaurant, both for reserved tables and non-reserved tables. This made getting a takeaway, finding some shade under a tree and enjoying your lunch while looking out across the water a popular choice.

From Watson's Bay you can take a number of walks. We haven't made the journey to Camp Cove or the Lighthouse yet but its been recommended by a number of friends. Watch out for the nudist beach at Lady Bay.

Oz Slang

Oz Slang
We've discovered Australian's love to abbreviate words.
Here are some slang terms and abbreviations that may help you.
Alternatively you could just watch Home and Away or Neighbours.
And yes, G'day and Sheila are widely used!

Koalanet has an extensive list of words and phrases so start there.

Our most useful ones:
* Arvo = afternoon
* Chook = chicken
* Pom = from England
* Rashi = UV swim top
* Snags = sausages
* Thongs = flip flops (not underwear)

Visitors Checklist

Dear visitors to Australia,

I have started to add tips on what to expect, what to pack and general things to think about for your trip to Australia.

Click places we've visited to see if any of the places we've been to or things we've done are of interest to you.

Lists you can find below so far: 
Flight planning; Visa; What you CAN'T bring; Suggestions for packing; What to do/where to go; Driving tips; Oz slang;

Flight Planning:
Even those of our friends and family who are well travelled may not have completed such a long flight so a few things to think about as you book your flight:
- make sure you search flights for Sydney Australia not Sydney Canada
- search on Skyscanner or similar sites to get a range of prices and airlines
- think about how long you want to spend at your stop over destination
- join the airlines airmiles programme
- book on credit card to get extra airmiles
- check out airport lounge options if you have a long stop over
- check seatguru for tips on best seats on your plane. Not all seat plans will be up-to-date so don't be surprised if the seating plan. is slightly different when you come to select your seats.
- select your seats as soon as you book (majority of airlines allow this) to make sure you get a good selection. Its personal preference if you want to pay the extra for legroom; want a back row so you don't get anyone behind you; want a window or centre row seat etc. The closer you are to the front of the plane the quicker you get out, unless they open the back exit as well.
- Check the airlines baggage allowance. Some have a max weight across all cases, some are per case. Same with handluggage. Some allow 2 pieces, some only 1 including a handbag. I usually have a large shopping bag with me so I can throw coats, duty free and other items in it.
- We have all heard stories of delays and cancelled flights. Be prepared for a long wait but hopefully your flight will run smoothly and leave on time.

Visa:
Unless you are Australian you will need a visa to enter. ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authority. You can apply online and the response is generally quick from 1 hour to a couple of days. Having said that, don't leave it to the last minute as you won't get in without it.
- You can use this site or  this site or search the site of the Australian embassy in your country.

What you can't bring
Australia has a very very strict customs list of what you can't bring in, particularly food and vegetation, so read up before you pack or be prepared to declare it and maybe lose it or get a fine. Expect to see sniffer dogs as you wait in line at customs. 
The Australian government has a comprehensive list of other information. Click here.

Items prohibited include: food and drink (even those from the airplane should be declared or left on the plane); feathers; plants; seeds; untreated wood; mud (they may check shoes and sporting equipment).

Suggestions for packing
- Swimwear * including UV tops * goggles
- Sunlotion
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle * you'll be drinking lots of water and most places have water fountains for you to top up your bottle
- Beach towel
- Beach shoes/sandals
- Travel adaptor plug * the ones with USB slots are useful
- Print out of your itinerary - you will need some details to fill in the customs card which they will hand out during your flight
- Local currency * keep an eye on the exchange rate as it varies a lot
- Camera (large data card and batteries or charger)
- Notepad and pen
- Basic First Aid kit * Flight sickness pills if needed
- Clothing: pack layers as the weather can be varied. In Sydney we've experienced 40' heat during the day and thunderstorms in the evening. Not cold, just wet! If you're coming from Europe you may only need a lightweight jacket and waterproof/umbrella even if coming in winter as it will probably seem warm to you. Join us wearing our Tshirts in the park while all the Australians are in their winter coats!

- Download apps * maps; games; reading, airport; airline etc.

Items to consider packing in your flight hand luggage
For a long haul flight the in-flight entertainment and refreshments are usually pretty good. We still take these items on the plane with us:
- Ipad
- Headphones
- Book/magazine
- Pen (for filling out customs forms)
- Water
- Travel pillow
- Travel size toiletries
- Travel socks
- Boiled sweets (to help with your ears during the flight)

- Wear comfortable clothes (you're going to be sat in 1 position for a long time) and recommend long sleeves as it gets chilly under the planes aircon. 

- Get a local sim card on the plane or when you arrive to save you money on calls/internet browsing

What to do/Where to go
- Do your research. There is so much to see and do whatever your interests are. You can see what we have done here. It may give you some ideas.
- General tourist sites to check: the Official Tourism Site; NSW site; Queensland site; Victoria site; Western Australia; Northern Territory;

Driving Tips
- The rules vary from State to State and depending on what visa you are on so you will need to check with the Ministry for Roads about whether your driving licence is valid.
- When parking on the road you have to park in the direction you are driving in i.e on the left-hand side. e.g. on a 2-way street you can't cross the dividing white line and park on the other side.
- Car park and parking meter costs vary depending on time of day and day of the week. At the weekend the meters may be a lot cheaper than car parks.
- If you see meter signs that have a number below it i.e. 2 or 4, it means you can park up to 2 or 4 hours free. If it has the word ticket below that number it means you have to pay for those hours but they are the maximum hours you can park i.e. 2 ticket = you can pay to park for up to 2 hours. Some High Streets now offer 30mins free but you will still need to get a ticket. Just follow the directions on the meter to print the 30min free ticket.
- Rangers i.e. traffic wardens, regularly monitor meters so don't risk it and make sure your ticket is easily visible from the path or they may still fine you.
- If parking in an underground car park e.g. at a shopping centre or supermarket, look out for red or green lights on the ceiling. The green light shows where there is a space available. It's such a simple idea but saves you driving up and down the aisles, you just look for a green light.
- I've found Sydney drivers to be quite reasonable when it comes to merging traffic so go with the flow and let cars out even if you feel they are pushing in.

Blue Mountains

There is a lot to do in and around the Blue Mountains. From Sydney you can do a day trip (a Funday Sunday transport ticket means you can travel there at low cost) but to really explore the area I would stay overnight.

Do check their website to plan in advance what you want to do. As well as the natural beauty, there are tours, guided walks, spas, restaurants, galleries, shopping, active sports as well as many festivals held there. 

On our day trip we went to the viewing point at Echo Point. It has a clear view of the famous 3 Sisters, even with all the visitors bustling to get to the front of the railings. Once you get your breath back from admiring the views you can set off on one of the short treks. You won't need hiking boots for these trails.

 


We saw a variety of birds and lizards. There are much longer trails you can do but with our 2 kids we opted to undertake those another day when we were better kitted out.
The ground isn't concreted all the way round but it was fairly level. We did see a lot of people with strollers who didn't seem to be struggling too much.

Downstairs at the visitor information centre/car park, we stopped to watch a short performance about Aboriginal music & weapons. Be prepared to queue for the toilets here, if you can wait, walk the few hundred yards up to the viewing point which has more facilities.

Brunch was in one of the many cafes in Katoomba. Katoomba has a large supermarket if you need to stock up or use the toilet.



I discovered a cool street decorated in graffiti - The Street Art Walk. If anyone questions whether graffiti is art or vandalism they should take a walk along here. There are huge scale pieces in a variety of styles. 

 

 

We treated ourselves to afternoon tea at the Hydro Majestic. The views over the mountains equal to the Art Deco interior. An expensive treat and not altogether satisfying. Long wait and the sandwich fillings were quite basic. The dessert plate  pulled back some points.  Interested to go back and try one of their other restaurants. We were lucky to get a window seat with those views as wallpaper, the downside was a few people leaned very close to take photos of the mountains. 

Dreamworld, Gold Coast

After comparing all the theme parks on offer at the Gold Coast we chose Dreamworld. Mainly because it had characters both kids knew and had Whitewater world attached so we had rides, shows and water park in one.

The park was a 30min drive from Surfers Paradise. It was an easy run on the motorway. 

On arrival we put our water gear in a locker and set off  to explore. The main square was as I expected. A huge sculpture of the Dreamworld logo in the centre. Shops and cafes all around and a train that circles a third of the park.

Our first stop - ABC World. We queued for about 15mins to enter the Wiggles House. You sit in cars and they move from room to room throughout the house. Not a lot going on. A Wiggle on video in each room encouraging you to dance or look around. Photo at the end. Not overly impressed with it but our 3 year old was happy. Wiggle boat was a bit more adventurous. It was like a giant swing which moved in all directions. The kids ran through the Bananas in Pyjamas maze quickly and said that was their favourite.

Moving on to Dreamworks and a bit more activity. Went on the little rides in Shreks Kingdom. When we walked towards the carousel Shrek was there but I guess he was a tall scary character for the kids and nobody wanted their photo taken with him. On the way back it was Puss-in-boots turn and we stopped to say cheese. Bumped cars at Kung-Fu Panda's garage.  Had time for lunch before watching the Madagasca show. It was the same show we'd seen in the UK a few years ago.

At Tiger Island we saw the 2 tigers playing with each other and then caught a glimpse of the tiger cub. We must have got there at the end of a talk because he was being carried away by two trainers. We were able to give him a quick stroke.

With 2 hours to go before the park shut, we moved onto the Whitewater World section. We didn't want to pay another $10 for a different locker so kept our dry things in the original locker and just planned to come back to it before we left. At the gateway between the parks we were given waterproof wristbands so we could come and go.

We settled on loungers around Wiggle Bay but after they'd splashed for a bit and went down the watershoots, The kids didn't want to play there anymore so we moved to the wave pool which held their attention for a bit longer. For 2 kids who love swimming underwater, they seem to dislike getting wet! Back we went to the other side and had time to catch a 3D movie of 'How to Train Your Dragon' before the announcement that the park was closing was made.

We didn't go on any of the big thrill rides so can't comment on them, although we heard a lot of screams! There was just about enough to make it a full day out for us. The trouble we have is, once you've experienced the big theme parks in Orlando, others just don't compare.