Christine Knight, Author at Adventure, baby!

Christine Knight

Christine is the editor of Adventure, Baby!

12 Fun Things To Do In Coffs Harbour

September 4, 2018 / Australia, Coffs Harbour, NSW / 0 comment

Coffs Harbour is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, making it a popular stop on the quintessential coastal road trip. While the mid north coast town might be just a convenient place to stay a night or two for those making the longer journey, we were pleasantly surprised to find so many things to do in Coffs Harbour, and would recommend it for a holiday destination.

Things To Do In Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Jetty

Take a stroll along the Jetty Strip. The path next to the beach and park area is cement, flat and great for scooting. There is also a range of cafes to choose from and a great gelato shop.

Wander around the jetty to see the incredible variety of sea life living in the harbour. We took very slow stroll along the jetty and spent a lot of time watching the fish swirl in the water beneath us.

Jetty Beach

The perfect place for a swim, Jetty Beach is has calm water perfect for kids to splash around in.

Muttonbird Island Reserve

While we didn’t see any muttonbirds on the island we did enjoy the walk to to the top and far side of the island, where we were rewarded with beautiful views of the coast.

Muttonbird Island Reserve is home to the wedge-tailed shearwater birds, their nests easy to spot as you walk around the island.

Park Beach

We stayed right on Park Beach and loved walking down to the beach in the evenings to watch the sunset and paddle in the water. Coffs Creek runs through Park Beach, providing a nice current to swim down between two beaches. It’s possible to swim across the creek to the other side and continue walking up the beach to Coffs Harbour Jetty.

The Big Banana Fun Park

It’s not an Aussie tourist attraction if there isn’t something big to photograph! The Big Banana is a fun spot not just to pose for a photo, but also to enjoy one of the seven attractions it now boasts.

Choose between the Water Park featuring four thrill slides and a kids’ aqua play area, a six-lane giant slide that’s the biggest slide of its kind in Australia, a 600m Toboggan ride, Laser Tag, Mini Golf, Theatre and Plantation tour, ice skating rink and Candy Kitchen, where you can see candy being made.

Get more info on visiting the Big Banana Fun Park online.

Coffs Harbour Butterfly House

Step inside an aviary filled with hundreds of live butterflies. What an amazing experience to walk among these delicate creatures and watch them flutter, sip nectar and lay eggs. We even saw butterflies hatching from their chrysalis and had a few land on us.

Tip: wear bright colours if you want to make friends with butterflies! The scones from the on-site cafe are amazing.

Before leaving the Butterfly House, take a wander through the maze and see how quickly you can find your way out again.

Get more info on visiting the Butterfly House online.

Sawtell

This pretty little town is just south of Coffs Harbour. It has pretty beaches to explore, excellent cafes and is also right by the Bongil Bongil National Park. We loved dining at Treeo, recommended to us very correctly as the best cafe in the area. Excellent food and friendly staff made for the perfect cafe experience.

Bellingen

A 30 minute drive south-west of Coffs Harbour will bring you to Bellingen, a pretty little town filled with excellent cafes and boutiques. Bellingen likes on the Banks of the Bellinger River, which lends itself to plenty of water activities.

You must stop by the Sweet Bellingen candy store! The locally produced chocolates are delicious

Dorrigo National Park

Another 30 minutes past Bellingen, or an hour from Coffs Harbour, is the town of Dorrigo. Dorrigo is home to the Dorrigo National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. It’s a stunningly beautiful rainforest with waterfall walks and a wide range of wildlife, including red-necked pademelons (they look kind of like quokkas), the regent bowerbird and wompoo fruit-dove.

Start your visit to the Dorrigo National Park with a visit to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and Canopy Cafe. Staff at the Rainforest Centre will give you a map and tips on areas to explore. Before embarking on your bushwalking adventure, stroll out on the Skywalk, a 70m boardwalk through the treetops, 21 metres above the rainforest. The view from the lookout at the end of the boardwalk is stretches over the Bellingen Valley and is just spectacular.

Get more info on visiting the Dorrigo National Park here.

Dangar Falls

This 30-metre waterfall is a 2km drive north of the Dorrigo town centre. Dangar Falls is really a winner if you need a waterfall that is accessible without a long walk to reach it. The car park is right next to the viewing platform, making it the most easily accessible waterfall I’ve ever seen.

There is a walking trail that leads to the river at the bottom of the waterfall if you’re feeling more adventurous. We stayed at the top and enjoyed the little playground before hopping back into the car.

The Honey Place

Located in Urunga, south of Coffs Harbour, The Honey Place is a delightful detour on your drive into or out of Coffs. The glass display beehive lets you get as close as possible to a working hive with no risk of being stung.

Friendly Australian native bees (non-stinging) also fly around the outdoor area although they were hiding on the day we visited. Try a range of locally made honey – it’s so good you’ll want to take it all home with you!

Get more info on visiting The Honey Place here.

Urunga Boardwalk

This 1km boardwalk starts in the town of Urunga, passes along the Kalang River to where it meets the Bellingen River and the ocean. There are stunning views over the entire length of the boardwalk on both sides up to the Great Diving Range and Nambucca Heads.

An abundance of wildlife lives in the water and mangroves. We only saw a pelican but if you’re lucky you’ll see more! The entire boardwalk is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

More info about Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is 540 km (340 mi) north of Sydney, and 390 km (240 mi) south of Brisbane.

Where to stay in Coffs Harbour

Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park

We stayed at the Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park, right on Park Beach, Coffs Harbour. The Holiday Park has caravan and camping sites, as well as self-contained cabins. We stayed in a two bedroom cabin and were happy with having plenty of amenities at our fingertips, such as a full kitchen and seperate lounge/dining area.

The holiday park has plenty to entertain the kids, including a resort-style pool with slides and splash features, and a large inflatable jumping pillow that would have entertained my six-year-old all day, ever day, forever.

Other amenities at the Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park include a kitchen and dining area for those camping, bathroom blocks and clean BBQs.

The two playgrounds for big and small kids and games room are also popular for the junior set.

Get more info on the Big 4 Park Beach Holiday Park here.

Looking for more things to do in Coffs Harbour?

Heading down to Sydney? Check out things to do in Sydney with kids and the best free things to do in Sydney here.

“Low Tea” at Daisy’s Milkbar Petersham, Sydney, Australia

August 18, 2018 / High Tea, Inner West, Petersham, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Low Tea at Daisy’s Milkbar in Petersham is reminiscent of a school fete or bake sale. It’s like every childhood party you attended in the ’90s before Pinterest and the rise of fancy desserts took over. In other words, it’s completely YUM and will take you right back to the 3rd grade with every sweet bite.

Daisy’s Milkbar has been a fave of ours since it opened, thanks to it’s cool 1950s vibe and extremely kid-friendliness. You can read about a previous visit to Daisy’s Milkbar here.

The Low Tea has got to be a new fave of ours both because of it’s fun, nostalgic design, but also because the food is delicious and the value is incredible.

The photos you see are of a Low Tea for two people. Thankfully we didn’t order for three, as we has to take most of the sweet stuff home with us as it was.

Each Low Tea costs $45 and includes a non alcoholic drink (tea, coffee, milkshake etc) and an alcoholic drink (cocktail or boozy shake) for each person plus a selection of sweet and savoury bite-sized treats.

The food in the Low Tea may change but at the moment it includes: mini sausage rolls, veggie quiche, mini pavlovas, cheese and tomato sandwiches, French onion dip and Jatz, mini mac n cheese, honey joys, chocolate crackles, pikelets, pink jam lamingtons, lemon bars, vanilla slice, rocky road, fairy bread and assorted iconic Aussie biccies like Iced Vovos.

As well as looking beautiful, the food tasted great. Highly recommend for freshness and flavour.

It’s worth noting that Daisy’s is a fantastic place for families in particular, and we saw a lot of mums, dads and their kids enjoying lunch together while we were there. There is a large selection of board games that can be borrowed and played at the tables, as well as card games (we spotted UNO) and drawing materials.

The Low Tea costs $45 pp and is on offer Fridays to Sundays, 10am – 2pm, bookings essential. Groups of groups of 2-8 people only.

Daisy’s Milkbar
340 Stanmore Road
Petersham NSW 2049
Ph: (02) 8065 3466
Prices: $$
Online: daisysmilkbar.com
Get Directions

Sir Stamford at Circular Quay Hotel High Tea

August 6, 2018 / CBD, Circular Quay, High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Enjoy traditional high tea in the understated elegance of the Sir Stamford Circular Quay Hotel. A Sir Stamford High Tea is the perfect afternoon indulgence and can be catered to suit all special diets.

The Sir Stamford Hotel is located at Circular Quay, a few steps from the Sydney Opera House and a short walk to the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. It’s an elegant hotel, full of old world charm.

Sir Stamford High Tea

The Sir Stamford high tea is unique in that several variations are offered. This makes it much easier when dining out with a larger group who have different dietary requirements. Our group ordered two traditional high teas, two deluxe Devonshire teas and one children’s high tea.

A gluten-free high tea is also available, as is a “guilt-free” high tea, served with fresh Vegetable juice & Dilmah Tea Selection. All items on the guilt-free high tea have low saturated fat (no butter, cream) and are low sugar.

We really enjoyed looking at the curios around the dining room, such as a hand-made model ship. This is a hotel that embraces its history, and a visit is like a trip back in time.

Traditional High Tea
Served with a glass of Australian Sparkling Wine and coffee or tea

Savoury

Curry Egg Sandwich
Chicken & Shallot in Tomato Bread Pinwheel*
Tuna & Celery Sandwich*
Prosciutto & Persian Feta on Baguette*
Cucumber with Dill Cream Cheese Sandwich
* I was given vegetarian substitutes for these items

Sweet

Yellow Peach Yoghurt Dome
Blueberry Cheese Cake
Passion Coconut Verrine
Explosive Raspberry Marshmallows
Assorted Macaron
Lemon Scented Scones with Clotted Cream and Mixed Berry Jam

Deluxe Devonshire High Tea
Served with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea

Savoury

Curry Egg Sandwich
Chicken & Shallot in Tomato Bread Pinwheel
Tuna & Celery Sandwich
Prosciutto & Persian Feta on Baguette
Cucumber with Dill Cream Cheese Sandwich

Sweet

Brownie with Fresh Berries
Lemon Scented Scones with Clotted Cream and Mix Berry Jam

Kids High Tea (5-12 years old)
Served with a glass of juice or hot chocolate

Savoury

Ham & Mayo Sandwich
Cranberry & Turkey Sandwich
Roasted Chicken Pinwheel in Tomato Bread
Tomato and Cheddar Sandwich

Sweet

Chocolate Brownie
Strawberry & Lemon Cheesecake
Dark Chocolate Mousse Cup
Assorted Macaroon
Lemon Scones with Clotted Cream and Mix Berry Jam

We really enjoyed the Sir Stamford high tea. With many hotels and restaurants gearing their high teas towards a more modern audience, it’s really lovely to be able to enjoy a high tea that harkens back to a time gone by.

Sydney High Tea served from
11 am – 4 pm Monday – Sunday

Sir Stamford Circular Quay Hotel
93 Macquarie Street
Sydney, NSW
Phone: +61-2 9252 4600
Online stamford.com.au/sscq/restaurant–bar/sydney-high-tea

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sydney Restaurants: Petty Cash Cafe, Marrickville, Australia

August 6, 2018 / Inner West, Marrickville, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

A cosy, retro cafe in Marrickville, Petty Cash has become a go-to for inventive vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes in Sydney’s inner west.

Petty Cash is a low-key spot, located directly across the road from the playground in leafy Enmore Park. As such it’s a great spot for families to dine in or pick up some take away and eat it in the park.

We dined in and enjoyed the vintage, mismatched chairs, tables and crockery. The cafe has a slightly hippy feel to it and is a bit disorganised. This either adds to its charm or can be irritating, depending on how hangry you are.

Petty Cash is a popular spot with locals, and the Sunday we visit it’s packed with diners. We nab a table inside but there’s a long line at the counter to order food. We’ve arrived at rush hour and the cafe is hectic.

As a vegetarian I find cafes that cater to vegan and vegetarians hard to find. I loved the menu at Petty Cash as I could eat almost everything on the menu. I would have liked to have seen a kids’ menu as well.

We chose the Big Brekkie with free range eggs on toast + avocado, tomato, hash brown, haloumi and house beans ($17.90), pumpkin & ricotta lasagne with burnt rosemary butter and salad ($17.90) and the free-range eggs on toast ($9.90).

When ordering at the counter we weren’t given a number or asked where we were sitting, so I was curious to see how our meals would find us. I was pleasantly surprised to see they they did find their way to us very quickly – the servers asked the person who took the order where to send the meals. What an incredible memory!

The playground across the road has some shade cloth over parts of the equipment, and a really cool space ship climbing structure. There are plenty of trees for shade and wide grassy spaces for running around. There are public restrooms at the nearby aquatic centre.

Petty Cash Cafe
68 Victoria Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Hours: Daily 7:30am–3:30pm
Phone: (02) 9557 2377
Prices: $$
Online: facebook.com/Petty-Cash-Cafe

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sydney Restaurants: The Cove Dining Co, Abbotsford, Australia

August 5, 2018 / Abbotsford, Inner West, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

A busy road in a residential area is not the location you’d expect to find the beautiful Cove Dining Co cafe. Located inside the community hall of what was once the Abbotsford Nestlé factory site, the building is heritage-listed and gives a lovely insight into a time gone by.

Walk inside to find a spacious dining room with long tables perfect for big groups or sharing and meeting new friends. There is also an outdoor verandah with alfresco seating and a lovely view of the lush gardens surrounding the building. The verandah is my pick for seating if you’re visiting with kids as the gardens provide the perfect place for kids to play.

The Cove Dining Co is a small, family run business. Almost everything is prepared onsite, including smoked goods, cheese and jam. Free range and organic ingredients are used where possible.

The menu has a lot of variety as well as some familiar favourites to fall back on. The dishes we order arrive pretty quickly for a busy day and are fairly busting with colour and flavour.

Honey Spice Granola with Almonds, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut and Sultanas, served with Yoghurt and Preserved Fruit ($16).

Bubble & Squeak with Fried Egg, Speck, Cabbage, Peas, and Potato with Sourdough ($20).

Boiled Egg and Sourdough off the kids’ menu ($6).

There is a decent-sized kids’ menu with enough options for picky eaters as well as those who will try something a bit more substantial. Boiled Egg and Sourdough ($6), Pancake with Maple Syrup ($6), Scrambled Egg and Bacon on Sourdough ($8), Toasted Cheese Sandwich on Brioche with Fries ($6), Crumbed Fish and Fries ($14), Crumbed Chicken and Fries ($14).

This is one incredible family-friendly cafe, as evidenced by how accessible it is for strollers and wheelchairs, and provide use of highchairs, baby change tables, toys and colouring in equipment. There is also free wifi!

The Cove Dining Co
378 Great N Rd, Abbotsford, NSW
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat & Sun 8am-3pm
Phone: (02) 9713 7896
Prices: $$
Online thecovediningco.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sydney Restaurants: Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour

July 30, 2018 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the perfect spot for casual dining, particularly with the family. Enjoy vibrant, affordable Italian food and family-friendly menus in a bright, large dining area.

With the tagline: “Fratelli Fresh, A Place For Everyone”, you’d expect no less, and the restaurant offers up delicious food with enough variety to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Located directly underneath the ICC building, Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the ideal location for a meal when seeing a show, or visiting the nearby Darling Quarter playground.

While we were sorely tempted by the hand-tossed Neapolitan pizzas (they looked amazing), we were having a light lunch and chose a build-your-own salad and kids’ pasta.

Fratelli Fresh frequently has excellent deals such as kids eat free on Sundays and school holidays, plus daily deals for the adult menu. On the day I visited, the build-your-own salad was $10 ($15 with soup) and kids ate free as it was school holidays, so our meal cost only $15. Crazy cheap, especially considering the excellent quality and generous portions.

There is a games area that would suit older kids. During the school holidays Fratelli Fresh puts on free kids’ activities too, making it a no-brainer in my opinion!

We loved the gelato and dessert bar and indulged with truly delicious gelato after our meal.

The Darling Quarter playground is only a few steps away, making this our new fave restaurant when visiting the area.

Get more info on the Darling Quarter Playground here.

Fratelli Fresh
2/14 Darling Dr, Darling Harbour
Phone: 02 9259 5600
Hours: Daily, 7am-12am
Website: fratellifresh.com.au/venues/darling-harbour

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

13 Must-Do Experiences at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Qld, Australia

July 30, 2018 / Australia, Gold Coast, Queensland, Travel / 0 comment

The iconic Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on Australia’s Gold Coast is a heritage-listed zoological garden, built in 1947. Set on 27 hectares of Currumbin rainforest, you’ll need to dedicate a full day to exploring.

My family visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary several times when we were kids, so revisiting as an adult held a lot of nostalgia for me. It had been a long time since I’d visited, so I really enjoyed learning more about the sanctuary as an adult. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a not-for-profit organisation and reinvests all proceeds back into wildlife and conservation programs.

Whether it’s your first time, or you’re re-visiting like I was, here are 13 must-do experiences at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Feed the Rainbow Lorikeets
Australia’s most colourful bird species are a spectacular sight to behold, particularly when they arrive in a flock for their 8am and 4pm feedings. The lorikeets are wild birds who founded the sanctuary 70 years ago, and generations later they are still visiting every day at the same time to get a feed from their adoring public.

Prepare to be pooped on and have birds land on your head. So incredible we did it twice! We found the 8am feeding less busy in terms of people so we had more time with the birds.

No entry to the sanctuary is required for the bird feeding. A gold coin donation is required for participation in the feeding.

Enter the Lost Valley
A new exotic precinct features five hectares of rainforest with lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, red pandas and the adorable capybaras to meet. Free-flying birds soar around the enclosure, which is so cleverly created that it feels like you’re in a rainforest not an enclosed area.

Open 10.00am to 3.00pm daily
Lemur lunch break (not on display) 12.30pm – 1.30pm

Go behind the scenes
We found this to be a really interesting experience. For an added $15 pp (at time of publication) you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience in the Training, Rehabilitation and Wildlife department with an animal trainer. We met some of the stars of the Free Flight Bird Show, toured the wildlife rehabilitation centres and learned more about how Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates.

Watch the Free Flight Bird Show
We highly enjoyed this entertaining show, featuring some of Australia’s most beautiful birds in flight. The pelican, parrots, birds of prey and wedge-tailed eagle all make an appearance. Watch your head, the birds swoop very low!

Visit the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital
Drop by the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to see animals who have been rescued and treated that day. With over 10,000 animals a year admitted, you’re bound to see a patient or two when you visit.

The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital treats, rehabilitates and releases sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.

Meet the wildlife
Get an up-close experience with a koala, tamarin, echidna, dingo, wombat or bird training. Did you know that Queensland is one of only two states in Australia where visitors can hold a koala?

Ride the Segway Safari
For something a bit different, take a guided Segway tour with a wildlife officer. It’s a great way to cover a lot of ground and learn about animals such as the Tasmanian Devils. Participants need to be 45kg or heavier.

Take the TreeTop Challenge
This is a must if your family are tall enough to participate! Cheese was just a tiny bit short of the 160cm reach required to take part, but we will definitely be having a go next time. The TreeTop Challenge is located inside Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and includes 80 huge challenges, including 11 ziplines. As well as being able to reach 160cm comfortably, participants need to be aged 6+.

Jump aboard the train
The miniature train was built in 1964, and is the best way to cover the large distances for little legs – as well as being a really enjoyable ride.

Go wild in the playground
The Wild island playground is exceptional.

An outdoor-themed playground, there’s plenty for kids to climb and explore. You’ll be hard pressed to get them to leave!

Feed the kangaroos
I’ve never seen such docile kangaroos as these. We had a great time feeding, patting and yes, even cuddling the kangaroos (feed must be purchased separately. Do not feed them your food).

Pick up a kids’ sticker map
These are a great way to engage kids. The map is a trail around the park and at each location they get a sticker. Educational and fun!

Meet Blinky Bill
There are lots of Blinky Bill statues around the park for fun selfies, and we also enjoyed the Blinky Bill home tree and slide.

Catch the live Blinky Bill’s Studio Adventure musical show and meet Blinky afterwards for a photo opp.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
28 Tomewin St, Currumbin QLD
Daily, 8am-5pm
Website: currumbinsanctuary.com.au

We were guests of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. All opinions are my own.

The Tramshed Cafe, Narrabeen Lake, Sydney, Australia

July 29, 2018 / Narrabeen, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Jump aboard a beautifully restored 1930s tram at The Tramshed Cafe on Narrabeen Lake, an approximately 40 minutes drive from Sydney’s CBD.

The tram is open for visitors to walk through, including the drivers’ areas. You can even order your meal to go and eat it on the tram if you can persuade the kids to go inside and sit at a regular table.

This old tram, number 1753, carried passengers between North Sydney and the Spit Bridge from 1933 until 1958.

Inside the actual cafe, you’ll find a brightly lit, open space, with plenty of tables and booths. The cafe serves up Modern Australian breakfasts and lunches, specialty roasted Little Marionette coffee and a very decent kids’ menu.

The Tramshed Cafe ie licensed and BYO. Breakfast is available 7-11.30am and Lunch 11.30-3.30pm.

Alec and I both ordered The Tramshed Big Brekkie (Eggs your way, bacon, roast tomatoes, mushroom, hash brown, avocado, chorizo, tomato relish and sourdough, $20). I asked for mine with vegetarian substitutes. Cheese has the kids’ eggs on wholewheat toast ($8).

Our food was delivered to us quickly by the extremely friendly waitstaff. We were pleased with the portion sizes and how fresh the food was. Beautiful bright colours, really delicious flavours. Note: If ordering toast and you like butter on it, you’ll need to ask for it.

The Tramshed Cafe has a number of environmental initiatives in place that I really appreciated. They use BioPak Green packaging for takeaway orders, which can be recycled, they use only paper straws, compost as much as they can, recycle where possible and support local suppliers to reduce freight.

While the cafe itself sits on an extremely busy road, it’s positioned next to Berry Reserve, which has a large playground and the beautiful Narrabeen Lake.

At the lake is an entry point to the 8.4km Narrabeen Lagoon Trail that can be walked, biked or scooted. A bit far for us to complete, we walked and scooted the 1.2km to Bilarong Reserve, which has an excellent playground with play equipment and mythical beast sculptures.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

The Tramshed Cafe
1395a Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
(02) 9970 7486
Hours: Daily, 7am-5pm
Online

Wild Ropes at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia

July 22, 2018 / Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Is your family looking for a thrill on their next outing in Sydney? Take adventurous kids and adults to Wild Ropes at Taronga Zoo for a challenging walk among the trees, with the best view in Sydney to boot.

Wild Ropes is located right in the heart of Taronga Zoo Sydney, winding through the treetops above the Australian Walkabout. It’s seperate entry to the zoo, however, so if you want to visit the zoo as well, you will need to buy a combined ticket that includes entry to both.

The entry to Wild Ropes is right through the historic Taronga Zoo entrance on the left. Look out for the big signs, you can’t miss them.

There are six courses, two children’s courses and four adult / junior courses.

Children’s Courses

The two children’s courses, Koala and Possum, are suitable for kids aged 3 – 8, up to a height of 140cm. Children are allocated one hour to complete both courses as many times as they like during the session. The Koala course must be completed before kids are allowed to attempt the harder Possum course.

The hour time session includes briefing and being fit with safety gear, so actual climbing time is around 45 minutes.

Parents can observe their kids from a viewing platform but are not able to assist kids if they get stuck. Kids should feel confident about being separated from their parents in order to complete the courses by themselves.

Cheese was a month shy of her 7th birthday when completing the Wild Ropes Children’s Courses. She found the Koala course easy and Possum challenging in places. She repeated the courses over and over again until her time was up and we had to make her stop.

She loved the courses and has enthusiastically recommended them as a fun activity for kids. Two thumbs up, five stars.

Adult and Junior Courses

Juniors aged 8 – 17 and adults aged 18 + can take on the four full Wild Ropes courses. There are two low and two high courses to complete. The two low courses are slightly easier than the high ones, and the courses sit above each other, so the “high” ones are a few metres higher than the low ones.

When signing up for the courses you can choose between the Adventure Package, which includes one low course and your choice of a high or low course, and the Ultimate Challenge, which includes entry to two low and two high courses.

If you decide to do more courses you can add them on when you are there, but it’s always cheaper to buy things in advance!

Juniors must be at least 8 years and 140 cms tall. Juniors aged between 8 and 13 years old must be accompanied by a climbing Adult on the course. There is a minimum ratio of 1 x Adult per 4 x Juniors allowed.

A low course must be completed before climbers can take on a high course. Each course contains approximately 17 challenges, including bridges, tunnels, aerial rock climbing walls, flying fox and even a hover board (I found this particularly nerve-wracking!).

Depending on your group size, allow around 60 minutes to complete two courses. If there aren’t any people ahead of you and your group is particularly agile, it can be completed in about 30 minutes.

I did the two adult / juniors courses while Cheese was taking on the kids’ courses and I found it an exhilarating challenge. Physically, muscles I hadn’t used in years were required to come out of retirement to complete the various challenges, but the biggest challenge I found was mental. It’s quite mentally challenging to get over a fear of falling, even though your rational brain is telling you that you’re hooked up to a harness and completely safe!

The courses were incredibly fun and I would absolutely return to do the other two courses. I enjoyed feeling challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone. I’m usually watching from the sidelines these days instead of participating in activities like this, so it was really fun and exciting to take on a physical and mental challenge for the first time in years!

Information about safety

All safety equipment is supplied and participants must complete a safety briefing before beginning the course. Safety equipment includes:

Harness
Continuous belay system
Pulley
Helmet
Once fitted with all necessary equipment participants will receive a comprehensive safety briefing from an instructor. Once you have demonstrated that you are safe to go, you will be allowed onto the courses.

What to wear / bring

Fully enclosed shoes with rigid soles must be worn on the courses.
Hair should be pulled back.
Jewellery (including piercings) must be removed or taped over.
Glasses, including prescription glasses, may only be worn with a strap.
You must remove anything that could fall off or out of your pockets before accessing the Wild Ropes course. This includes: keys, coins, phones, cameras, bags, watches, loose jewellery. Free lockers are provided to participants.
Genuine Chest and Helmet Go-pro mounts are the only attachment allowed for actions cameras on the courses for safety reasons.
No exposed skin from the ankle down.
Your waist should be covered and any piercings should be taped over or taken out.

Plan to arrive at Wild Ropes at least 15 minutes prior to your session start time. If you are entering Taronga Zoo from the ferry allow an additional 20 minutes to ascend to the top entry where the entry to Wild Ropes is located. A trip on the Sky Safari is included in your Wild Ropes ticket. Note the Sky Safari operates from 9.30am and may not operate due to bad weather. Please note that Children 15 years or under must be accompanied by an adult on the Sky Safari Cable Car.

Opening Times
First session starts at 9.30am
Last session starts at 3.00pm (May – Aug) and 3.30pm (Sept – Apr)

Wild Ropes is open 7 days a week, 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day).

Wild Ropes is open during wet weather, but activities may be cancelled in cases of heavy winds or lightning. Please arrive 20 minutes earlier than your booked session time. Your Wild Ropes challenge can be completed on it’s own or added to your same-day Zoo experience.

Prices

Head to the website for the latest prices and to book. I highly recommend booking online as it’s cheaper, and you also don’t have to worry about sessions selling out.

Get more info on Wild Ropes at Taronga Zoo online.

We were hosted for our visit to Wild Ropes. All opinions are my own.

The Hunting of the Snark: Theatre Review

July 18, 2018 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

Come on a voyage of the ridiculous in the weird and wonderful world of Lewis Carroll. Will our fearless adventurers find the mythical snark on their voyage? Or will they find something else more important instead?

From July 7 – 22 at the Sydney Opera House, the entire family can enjoy searching for the legendary snark in this hilarious quest adapted from Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark.

Life-like puppets, fantastical creatures, lively songs and a knitting beaver sidekick will enchant the young and young at heart in this modern adaptation that blends a classic tale with current and local references. We couldn’t help but be swept up on this silly but heartfelt journey.

Join Boy, the Banker, the Butcher, the Baker, the Bellman and the Beaver as they sail across the ocean to Snark Island in search of the mythical creature. Can the snark be caught? And should it be caught? Are there more important things than the money to be made from such a capture?

This fast-paced show will please little ones and their adults alike with its humour, catchy songs and colourful puppets.

Cheese, who is almost 7, and I saw the show and both really enjoyed it. As we left the theatre she turned to me unprompted and said, “I loved it!”. You can’t get a better review than that.

Before and after the show, kids will enjoy the free, immersive Creative Play that has returned to the Western Foyers with Reach Out Sounds. This interactive installation encourages kids to make music through connections. Complete a circuit with your little one to create fun noises on the sound pods.

The Hunting of the Snark show days and times:

Tuesday, 17 July at 2.30pm
Wednesday, 18 July at 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Thursday, 19 July at 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Friday, 20 July at 10.30am and 12.30pm
Saturday, 21 July at 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Sunday, 22 July at 10.30am and 12.30pm

Show runs for apprx 70 mins (no interval)

Appropriate for ages 6+

Get more info and tickets for The Hunting Of The Snark here.

Presented by Sydney Opera House, RG Media and Alice House Theatre.

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point Sydney

You can reach the Opera House by:

Car – park in the onsite Opera House car park. For discounted parking, book online with Wilson car parks and check the Sydney Opera House website for any current promo codes.

Buses, trains and ferries – all service nearby Circular Quay which is an easy 5-10 min walk to the Opera House.

A huge thank you to the Sydney Opera House for hosting us on this fantastic day. All opinions are my own.