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