Where are you spending Christmas in 2012?

And so this is Christmas and what have you done? Another year over...
Every time I hear this song I can't believe that another year has gone by and it always gives me a lump in the throat.
Life is short.
If you have a dream to travel around Australia, make it happen. If you give in to procrasination and excuses how many years will go by before 'the time is right'?

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone”
― Pablo Picasso

 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, safe travels,  and health & wealth in 2013.

 

Jacqui and Family Road Trip Australia :)

Road Trip for a Great Cause

ROADTRIP TO END POVERTY - The Oaktree Foundation

We’re hitting the road with over 1,000 young people to ensure our government does its fair share to end extreme poverty.

Poverty is a crippling injustice for over 1 billion people around the world. Someone living in extreme poverty lives on less than $2 a day and has to make impossible sacrifices each day.

We have the power to change this. The number of people living in poverty has halved in the last 30 years and, through the Roadtrip, we can help finish the job.

We’re currently searching for young Australians to be Ambassadors on the Roadtrip. You can be part of the Roadtrip by applying here now.

From 9-16 of March, 2013, the Roadtrip will depart from capital cities and travel through communities across Australia to Sydney, capturing the voices of over 100,000 Australians to ask our government to live up to its commitments to the world’s poor.

In the towns and cities we visit we’ll speak to people in schools, universities and on the streets. We’ll run media stunts and community events. At the end of the week, we'll meet in Sydney as over 1,000 passionate young people from across Australia to campaign as one and celebrate our wins.

We know the Roadtrip has the power to create significant change in the lives of people living in poverty within our region. We know that it is a life-changing experience for every young person involved. Now we need you to help make the Roadtrip as successful as we know it can be. 

Apply now for the Roadtrip by December 10 at www.roadtrip2013.com.au. 

There’s are less than 300 seats left on our buses setting out to Sydney from cities across Australia. Don't miss out on a place! This is your chance to get on board - apply now.

Carrara Markets - Family Day Out

Carrara Markets on the Gold Coast is a popular day out for the whole family with hundreds of stalls and eateries, buskers, pony rides, merry go rounds and bungy trampolines.  Shoppers will be kept busy with more than 500 stalls across 10 acres offering everything from fashion and jewellery to pot plants and crafts – perfect for finding arts and craft ideas for kids during the holidays.

Plans for an 1100 sqm mini golf development have just been announced, with the mini golf development set to open early 2013.  The development will feature two 18-hole mini golf courses, one indoor and one outdoor, and will operate seven days a week.

The markets’ recent launch of the Fresh Food and Produce Markets offers everything from crisp carrots and organic lettuces to homemade spreads, cakes and free range eggs every Saturday morning from 7am.

Carrara Markets is open every Saturday and Sunday 7am-4pm, with plenty of free parking and entertainment. For information on Carrara Markets visit www.carraramarkets.com.au

How to Prepare for an Outback Driving Holiday

With so much amazing countryside to explore, choosing to take a driving holiday within Australia is a fun and often cheaper option than heading overseas. There are so many beautiful natural wonders to discover within a few hours drive of each of our main cities, and it is important to support our local tourism industry and businesses.
According to News.com.au, Tourism Queensland is trying to increase the number of Australian tourists staying in the country, hoping that Australians will recognise the great travel adventures in their own country.
Once you have decided where you want to go, you then are faced with a big challenge — what are you going to pack? When planning on driving for hours, the last thing you want is to be squished between suitcases, fishing rods and Eskies. It is important to plan your trip in advance to make sure your holiday is as fun and carefree as possible.

Before You Leave

Make sure you inform family and friends of where you are planning on going and for how long you expect to be away. Make sure your car has recently been serviced, and it is important that you have sufficient car insurance in case of an accident. Many insurance companies offer good deals that will give you peace of mind when driving on country roads without breaking the bank.

Do Your Research

Before you leave home, research into where you are going. There are hundreds of websites and blogs that offer great ideas on interesting activities , beautiful areas to discover and fabulous food to try. Learning about your destination to get more out of your holiday is possible if you do your homework.

What to Pack

It is good idea to pack your car light if you plan on being in your car for a good portion of the trip. If you need any extra items, you will most likely be able to find a shop on the road. Overloading your car can result in excess wear on your car tires, limited visibility of the road and can be dangerous in the event of an accident.
If necessary or possible, strap extra items to the roof racks and make sure they are well-secured and do not add too much extra weight to your vehicle. If you are planning on travelling in remote areas, make sure to have extra water and food in case of an emergency.

Travelling With Children

Family holidays can be great fun, but the car trip can be stressful for both parents and kids. Make sure you have plenty of entertainment for your children for long drives and try getting them interested in the countryside — family games like "eye spy" or a list of things to spot through the window can keep kids entertained for hours.
By being organised and planning your trip in advance, you are guaranteed to have an exciting and adventurous holiday on our great Australian roads.

Guest post by Kate Myers

100th ebook SOLD!

Thank you Brian Moffatt for being the 100th person to purchase a copy of Discover Australia Kids 'n' All!! I hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

I am always interested in hearing what the readers have to say (good or bad) so please everyone email me your feedback.

Cheers
Jacqui

Lewin, Kelly & Jacqui

Hobart makes Lonely Planet Top 10 City Destinations for 2013

Wowed by dining hot spots, natural beauty, friendly locals and the marvellous MONA, Winsor Dobbin says the time to visit Hobart is now.

While the rest of Australia expressed amazement at Hobart being named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 city destinations for 2013, there was no such surprise among the capital's residents, who have long known they are on to a good thing.

There is a real vibrancy about Hobart these days.

According to Lonely Planet, Hobart's "allure has always been its natural beauty ... but the arrival of the world-class MONA museum has the waters rippling, hip tourists flocking and Hobart rousing from its slumber".

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/travel/all-hip-and-happening-20121109-292ym.html#ixzz2CphVNCIq

ActiveActivities is an Australian website for Australians with the sole aim of bringing the widest range of kids activities, events, resources and kids activity providers together for mums, dads, grandparents, step mums and dads, aunts and uncles, carers or just about anyone looking to entertain a child.

Activeactivities.com.au has over 50,000 listings across Australia and growing, and our focus is only on kid’s activities for young children. We are continually expanding our listings, events, venues and resources guides as well as adding new functionality to bring you, the user the best possible experience.

Heading Off the Beaten Track

Each year hundreds of 4WD vehicles leave the bitumen for an offroad adventure! If you are looking to take on one of Australia's most challenging 4WD tracks, here are seven of the best:

The Cape-Telegraph Road / Penninsula Development Road, QLD

• The route to the northern-most point of mainland Australia
• Starts at Lakeland
• 743km - five days or more
• Best travelled April to October
• Archer River to Bramwell Junction is the longest distance between fuel and supplies (162km)
• Hard, rugged drive.
• Highlights include ancient Aboriginal art and the ruins of Somerset.

Simpson Desert, SA & QLD

• Birdsville to Dalhousie Springs
• 440km - four days or more
• Closed from last week in Nov until the end of Feb
• Always check conditions before setting out
• Mt Dare to Birdsville is longest distance between fule and supplies (511km)
• Extremely remote drive, crossing hundreds of dunes separated by salt and clay pans.
• Attach a flag to your aerial at all times for visibility in dunes. Dunes continualy moving with some steep drop offs. The grow in height as you travel east so crossing from west to east is best.
• Highlights include old ruins, The Knolls, Poeppel Corner (meeting of 3 states), Big Red highest of the sand dunes.

Binns Track, SA & NT

• Mount Dare to Timber Creek
• 2191km (at least 10 days) or break into four separate sections
• Always check road and weather conditions before trip
• Attach flag to your aerial in the dunes
• Longest distance between supplies and fuel - Mt Dare to Santa Teresa (344km)
• Highlights include Gregory National park, Simpson Desert, Old Andalo Homestead, rare acacia peuce trees, ancient rock carvings, Santa Teresa Aboriginal community, gem fossicking, Devils Marbles and more.

Lower the bar from 5 star

You might think that you cannot manage a road trip around Australia without an expensive rig and all the creature comforts....

 

Okay, so you may not need something quite so luxurious but you don't need a new Landcruiser or late model caravan either. There are plenty of bargains to be found when buying a second hand caravan or camper trailer. Our caravan was a 70's vintage, old but still robust. We had it serviced and made a few upgrades but it was still very basic and small, 12 ft small! Our car was a '94 dual cab Ford Courier 2 wheel drive which proved to be very reliable. We added an annexe and a tent for extra space when setting up camp for more than a few days.

My point is, don't wait until you can afford the rig of your dreams, not if it means taking on a large debt or years and years of saving. Spend as much as it takes to get a reliable, fuel efficient vehicle that can tow a well looked after second-hand house on wheels and just go....

How to Survive a Road Trip with a Toddler

Spida and Sheree Everitt have a great TV show and website The Great Australian Doorstep. Check it out for heaps of travel tips and adventure stories.

How to Survive a Road Trip with Toddlers is just one of their helpful articles...

* Try and choose caravan parks where kids can get physical! Most parks these days cater enormously for kids. Plenty of space to run about. If not, tackle a beach or big town park, and really wear them out. Try to do this every day. Kids will get grumpy and irritable if they don’t have adequate outside running around time.

* Make a set time every day for ‘fun time’, one parent get washing in and start on dinner while the other does fun time with the kids. Run them ragged, then put them in the shower (always best in daylight with little ones) then have them ready for bed when they sit down for dinner. With tired legs and a full tummy they will fall asleep before you know it.

* Rewards – reward the kids when they are good. Extra play time is always a great option!

* Dirty nappies, dispose of them as far away from your campsite as possible! Double bag, put them in a plastic container with a lid and pour Listerine mouthwash inside the tub. Keeps ants, cats & dogs away.

How to Keep Preschoolers Busy on a Road Trip Without Using a Screen

There’s little that causes more angst in parents than the thought of taking a road trip with a preschooler in tow. The never ending chorus of “Are we there yet?” coupled with nonstop requests to use the toilet or stop for food is enough to make even the most joyful parent sing along to the blues.

While it can be tempting to put a DVD in and loop it continuously for the duration of the trip, or give your preschooler unlimited access to the iPad, using a screen to entertain your preschooler isn’t your only long-ride entertainment option.

Before pulling out the electronics, try these low-tech ways of engaging the kids.
Find a few good tips here

The Facts on Shark Attacks

As another ocean loving man is fatally attacked by a shark off a WA beach, the topic is again up for debate. Are shark attacks increasing? If they are, why? What should be done about it? Do we cull them or accept that entering the ocean is a risk?
Everyone thinks they're a shark expert at the moment but what are the real facts? I decided to find out.

Sharks live in all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats around the 35,000 km of Australia's coast.
As the population of the country increases, many more people are entering coastal waters for recreational and commercial reasons throughout the year.

Although Australia has had a bad reputation concerning the threat of shark attacks to swimmers, the statistics do not support these fears. The Australian Shark Attack File (ASAF) has been managed at Taronga Zoo for over 30 years and aims to gather all known information on shark attacks in Australian waters, provide source material for research and education relating to the causes of attacks on humans and publish analysis of the acquired data.

Human Population increase since 1900:
1900 = 3.7 million
1950 = 8.3 million
1990= 17 million
2011 = 22.7 million

10 Great Ways to Kill Time in the Car

Boredom, the silent enemy of family road trips, is a constant threat to ruin an otherwise fun vacation. Keeping the kids entertained on those long drives can be a challenge without some planning and a little imagination. Fortunately, there’s a great variety of activities for kids that can make your family’s summer road trip one to remember for all the right reasons. Here are ten great ways to kill time in the car on family road trips.

Domestic Tourism Filling the Gap

Aussie caravanners and road trippers are propping up the Australian tourism industry in the face of a downturn in European visitor numbers. Thousands of international holidaymakers are staying home, spooked by the global financial crisis. Alice Springs has seen a drop of 22.8% in international visitors for the year, Darwin fell by 20.4%,  QLD by 7.1% and SA by 11%. While the number of overseas visitors has dropped, an increase in grey nomads and other domestic travellers has helped to soften the blow.
So do your bit to help Australian tourism. Now is the time to hit the road!

Info from The Weekend Australian June 30 - July 1 2012

Highway One Australia: The Mother Road

Looking to do more than get from A to B on your Aussie road trip?
At over 14,500km, Australia's Highway One is the world's longest national highway and one of the world's GREAT road trip adventures.
Travel with the Highway One Travel Companion and its unique "red route" system; the one must-have guide book for "grey nomads", backpackers, caravan treks, motoring club road trips and tourists of all kinds when planning and driving Australia's classic "mother road".
In the tradition of the great Route 66 road trip adventures, the Highway One Travel Companion is your guide to the best attractions, great detours, history, unforgettable varied natural attractions, cosmopolitan world cities, heartland small towns and nostalgia this unforgettable drive has to offer.

David Taylor from Murwillumbah NSW, is the author of Highway One Travel Companion. Volume One: Melbourne to Tweed Heads, is available now from his website www.highwayone.net.au

What's inside?

• A5 size for easy glove box storage
• 256 information-packed pages (Volume One)
• Unique "red route" system for easy navigation
• More than 2,000km of classic highway covered
• Detailed directions to over 1,000km of bypassed Old Highway One
• Over 150 colour-coded custom maps to find and navigate the old road
• Over 120 illustrations
• Over 45 suggested detours to scenic attractions
• Detailed info on hundreds of historic places, buildings, bridges, etc.
• Meet Highway One's famous roadside giants
• Investigate 8 famous, touching, memorable or downright weird roadside icons
• Comprehensive indexes
• Built tough with quality section sewn binding

Road Trip phone apps

Road Trip HD

This great new app is not just for those hitting the road on holiday. Depending on how much data you feed into it, the app will keep track of expenses associated with your car, from service reminders to letting you know where the cheapest fuel is.

Multi platform app for iPhone or smartphone. Costs $4.99




Road Trip Bingo

Back-seat blues got you down? Need something to keep the kids entertained in the car? Try Road Trip Bingo for hours of fun and a few minutes of peace!
Road Trip Bingo keeps kids looking out the window on short or long car trips. Make the miles fly by as you watch for vehicles, road signs, animals and more.

For iPhone or iPad. Costs $0.99

Win a 28-day road trip with Apollo!

If you dream of a road trip around Australia but finances are an issue, there might just be another way!

A competition by Apollo Campers involves a bit of work but the winners get a luxury six-berth Apollo motorhome on a 28-day road trip following the itineray of their choice.

Entrants have to post blogs, photos and videos of their fantasy motorhome holiday for a shot at winning the $23, 000 holiday.

The prize also includes flights worth $5000, whale-shark diving in Ningaloo and trps to Kangaroo Island and Tasmania.

Yes Please!

www.facebook.com/ApolloCamper

Increasing number of families hit the road

Motorhome and campervan holidays are more popular than ever.
Research shows a steady increase in tourists hitting the road, with families leading the charge.
A recent survey by the Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Association of Australia (CRVA) found that:

• Visitors to campgrounds and caravan parks increased approximately 8% between 2008 and 2011.
• 7 million Australians have visited a camping ground or holiday park in the past 2 years, up from 6.5 million between 2006 and 2008.
• There was an increase in Australian families taking motorhome or campervan holidays, from 3.9 to 4.5 million visitors.
• 54% of visitors to caravan parks are holidaying with children
• Families with oldest child age 6 - 12 years found camping holidays the most relaxing.
• 58% believe these holidays are good value and the least expensive holiday you can have.

Kids Road Atlas - for the fun and the facts on your road trip

This fun atlas is designed for families by people with families to ensure it includes everything you need for travelling with kids. It doesn’t matter if you are planning a big road trip or a short break away, this atlas will help kids realise the journey from A to B isn’t just a mundane part to get through before you hit the fun stuff – it is part of the adventure.

No more choruses of “are we there yet” because each simple, fun atlas page is brought to life with a puzzle or game to help children pass the time. And every page wipes clean so the kids can use them again and again. Although the maps are easy for children to follow, they also show plenty of places of interest to younger travellers, including zoos and Australia’s famous ‘big’ things. It’s a chance for the whole family to stop at different places along the way and discover things they may not have known were there before.
Keep the kids involved in the progression of the trip by allowing them to keep track of the journey on their very own map. They can point out upcoming towns or attractions too. This atlas will make the idea of a family road trip less daunting and help you get your family out on the road making memories that will last a lifetime.

Features:
• 20 atlas pages covering all of Australia featuring zoos, theme parks and Australia’s famous ‘big’ things.
• Puzzles, activities and games to help children pass the time.
• Wipe off pages and a free reusable pen so the kids can use the book again and again.
• Suitable for children over four.

Purchase for $14.95 from the Exploroz Shop

Family Friendly Cafe open for Easter on Hume Hwy

On the Melbourne / Sydney route, Barney’s of Bookham is a kid friendly and pet friendly diner-style café located off the Hume Highway between Yass and Gundagai. It will be open throughout the Easter holiday to make sure that holiday-makers and locals have a place to stop and get some good, homemade food and coffee, rather than having to resort to the usual fast food.

Barney’s will be open every day from 9am-4pm including Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The café will be offering some special Easter treats including a Smoked Salmon Brekky Stack; a mouth-watering Smoked Salmon Baguette; Whiting Fillets and Chips served with a fresh side salad and for those people looking for a sweet alternative, special Easter Chocolate Muffins, all homemade on the premises.

The main menu offers a wide range of mouth-watering salads, sandwiches, homemade cakes and coffee, all made from locally sourced produce and freshly prepared in the café. Barney’s gourmet pies have been a firm favourite with visitors, offering a tasty range including Lamb and Rosemary, Pepper Steak, Curry Beef as well as a traditional Aussie Mince Pie. In fact the food has become so popular that it received a mention in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2010 and 2011.

For customers wishing to take a piece of the country home with them, Barney’s stocks a wide range of some of the region’s best produce including La Barre olives and oil, Bush Roses and Barney’s own range of chutney’s, sauces and jams.

For further information on Barney’s at Bookham, call 02 6227 7220, visit www.barneysofbookham.com.au
Barney's of Bookham is located on Fagan Drive, Bookham, NSW 2582. 

Checklist helps to avoid disasters

The simple act of packing up and locking the fridge door is often overlooked by caravanners and can lead to one big mess when you end your journey.It's one of the tips within a comprehensive book on caravanning by noted tourer John Bashman. His book, Caravan Survival Guide, includes the raft of do's and don'ts, advice and hints and even cooking tips within its 320 pages. He has also included a check list to ensure everything is in order before setting off on your trip.

Available for $29.95 from www.exploreaustralia.net.au

The 10 Best Australian Islands

Nothing says summer holiday more than swinging in a hammock on a sandy island. Australia - the world's biggest island - is surrounding by 8222 smaller ones. That's a lot of islands to choose from. Here are ten of the best:

Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Rottnest, or Rotto as it's called locally, is just a short ferry ride from Perth. It's home to some of Australia's best beaches, as well as unique plant and animal life, including the quokka - a small kangaroo-like marsupial. The island is a car free zone and the best way to get around is by bike. You can also explore colonial buildings, the lighthouse and visit the Rottnest Museum to learn about the island's role in World War I and II.

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales
The island, which is about two hours by plane from Brisbane and Sydney, is a World Heritage-listed wonder. One of its 11 beaches, Neds Beach, is part of a marine reserve and was voted Australia's cleanest beach in 2004. To get close to hundreds of fish all you have to do is step into the water to see them swimming around your ankles. You can hire snorkelling equipment from the shack on the beach, which operates on a honesty system.

Cockatoo Island, NSW
If you feel like escaping Sydney then Cockatoo Island, the largest island in Sydney Harbour, is a great places to visit. The island's prison buildings were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list along with ten other Australian convict sites in 2010. Large workshops, slipways, wharves and residences retain the texture of the island's industrial past.

Bruny Island, Tasmania
Pristine and remote Bruny Island is surprisingly easy to get to - just 60 minutes by car and vehicle ferry from Hobart. On the island you can venture into the wilderness on one of the many Bruny Island bushwalks. You can also take a cruise to explore the island's dramatic coastline. Look out for fur seals, fairy penguins and white wallabies.

Great Australian Road Trips

Want to experience a road trip in Australia but don't have months to tackle the whole country? Check out Great Australian Road Trips to help you decide and plan which route to conquer.

The Red Centre

North Queensland

The Great Ocean Road Victoria

Time to Celebrate all things Australian!

JUST a few weeks ago we celebrated New Year's Eve, that time of year when we reflect on the year that's been and make resolutions for the year ahead in our personal lives.
Now we're coming up to Australia Day, a day which is a bit like that for our national life. In between the barbecues and the fireworks, we have a chance to reflect on what we are as a nation.
On Regatta Point in Canberra stands the National Capital Exhibition, a building that honours the story of our nation's capital. Just inside the doors, you'll find these words: "A nation is an act of the imagination and will. In this act we create a place to which we belong. A part of the earth for which we have collective responsibility. A place of memory and tradition."

I think those words are very powerful indeed. They reflect beautifully what it is that we're here to celebrate on Australia Day. They remind us that Australia isn't just a landscape, but rather something that we create together. Each and every one of us will play a part in shaping the Australia of tomorrow, whether you are one of the thousands of people who will take out citizenship this Australia Day, or whether you were born here. Together, we get to imagine and invent the nation of our dreams. It's a pretty high ideal, and one that comes with a great deal of responsibility, both for the land and for each other.

 

Australia has grown over the years into a strong and vibrant community that I for one am very proud to be celebrating on Australia Day.

Our challenge for the years ahead is to continue to build on this grand tradition of Australia - acknowledging both the good times and the bad - and to put our own stamp on the Australia of tomorrow.

 
Adam Gilchrist, chairman of the National Australia Day Council