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Four Stunning NSW Road Trips To Start Planning Today

May 1, 2020 / Australia, NSW / 0 comment

Stunning NSW Road Trips To Start Planning Today

Dreaming of hitting the road? Us too. Start planning your NSW road trips that will take you to beautiful beaches, lush wineries, and cosy country towns.

North: Sydney to Coolangatta

It’s about nine hours to drive straight from Sydney to the northernmost coastal NSW town of Coolangatta, perched on the NSW/Qld border. Along the way are some of the prettiest coastal towns you’ll ever see, each one worth a trip to alone.

Only an hour north of Sydney you’ll find the beautiful Central Coast, followed by Newcastle, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and plenty of tiny little towns in between until you hit Coffs Harbour. Further north is Yamba, Lennox Head, Byron Bay and then Coolangatta.

I highly recommend a few days in the stunning Hunter Valley region, which is north-west of Newcastle, and renowned for its wineries, cheese and chocolate.

Plot your route and plan your future northern NSW road trips between Sydney and Brisbane / Gold Coast with these tips.

North-West: Sydney to Dubbo

Go west and head inland to Dubbo (approx 5 hours direct), and stop off at some of NSW’s best country towns along the way. Head to the Blue Mountains and spend a few days exploring the stunning bush, flowing waterfalls and cosy cafes, then take the route that goes through the historic wine town of Mudgee in one direction, and return via the route with Orange (another great wine town), Bathurst and Mayfield Garden.

When you get to Dubbo, spend a few days exploring the town (including the famous Dubbo Goal), and of course, Taronga Western Plains Zoo! If it’s on your budget, glamp overnight in a Zoofari Lodge.

South-East: Sydney to Albury

It will take around 5 and a half hours to drive direct to Albury, the town perched on the Murray River at the border of NSW and Victoria. Keep going to hit Melbourne, or just enjoy the little towns along the way such as Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn and Holbrook.

Plan NSW road trips, with tips on where to stop inland between Sydney and Melbourne.

South: Sydney to Eden

This spectacular road trip down Sydney’s south coast takes around 6 and a half hours if you do it all in one hit. We highly recommend taking at least a week however to do this stunning drive, which winds down through some of Australia’s most beautiful white sand beaches.

Start with a few days in Kiama and Jervis Bay, home to the world’s whitest sand beach, then stop by Mollymook, Ulladulla, meet the friendly kangas at Pebbly Beach, Bateman’s Bay, nearby Mogo Zoo, inland cheese town Bega, popular beach town Merimbula and Tura Beach, ending in Eden and the stunning Ben Boyd National Park.

Plan your NSW road trip, with tips on where to stop between Sydney and Melbourne.

Want more ideas on NSW roadtrips? Get ideas from the Destination NSW website.

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park: Central Coast NSW

March 13, 2020 / Australia, Central Coast, NSW, Travel / 0 comment

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park: Central Coast NSW

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is a wildlife sanctuary on the Central Coast of NSW. It is located in Calga, which is about an hour to an hour-and-a-half from Sydney’s CBD.

The park is a sanctuary for animals who are unable to be released back into the wild. Also on the property are several Aboriginal sites with ancient petroglyphs.

Walkabout Park provides refuge for a animals that have recovered from injury but have some residual problem that makes it impossible for them to be returned to a completely wild environment. The park also breeds endangered animals for release back into the wild and provides an experiential learning space for students.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park has plenty of free roaming animals to meet, including some very friendly kangaroos, wallabies and emus.

There are range-led activities from 10am to 4pm daily, included in the entry fee.

Typical Daily Activities

09:30 Meet “Waffles” the Pig

10:00 Emus & Kangaroos

10:30 Dingo Encounter

11:00 “Tonka” the Teenage Wombat

11:30 Boomerang Throwing

12:00 “Kambala” Koala

12:30 Pat a Python

1:00 Echidna Encounter

1:30 Bush Tucker Walkabout

2:00 Cockatoo Encounter

2:30 “Gumnut” Koala

3:00 “Ally” the Wombat

3:30 Devil Encounter

4:00 Kangaroos & Emus

4:30 Flying Fox Feed Time

If you want a personal tour with a ranger, this can be arranged for an additional price.

Animal Loop

The Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is a large property that includes the animal walk loop, plus longer walks that go to the Aboriginal sites. The animal loop can be completed in about 10 mins if you walk very fast and don’t stop to look at the animals. It can take all day if you go slowly and participate in the ranger talks.

The animal walk loop starts at the Visitor Centre, which is where the cafe, bathrooms and animal camps are located, along with the majority of the free-ranging animals.

The animal loop is pram and wheelchair-friendly but be warned it is a dirt track with rocks and twigs etc.

Aboriginal Sites

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is on Darkinjung and Guringai land and features sites with ancient petroglyphs. The Aboriginal Sites Walk takes about 45 minutes and is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

This walk takes you past ancient petroglyph sites and to the hand stencil cave dated at more than 4,000 years old. Please be respectful of these sites if you visit them.

The Mt White Lookout Walk

A longer bushwalk, the Mt White Lookout Walk takes about a hour and 15 minutes to complete and is also not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. The walk goes to the highest point on the ridgeline where you will be able to look south and see Mt White and all the way to the Blue Mountains on a clear day.

Visitors Centre

The visitors centre is where you’ll find maps, the shop to buy souvenirs and animal feed, bathrooms and a cafe.

There is a baby change table available in the bathrooms and also a disabled bathroom.

You will also find a few residents in the visitors centre, including the park’s eldest resident, an 18-year-old wallaby named Matilda, who gets a special feed from staff to keep up her health.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park Rules

There are lots of rules for the safety of the animals.

When touching the free-roaming animals, pat them on the back, not the head, neck or chest.

Remember the animals are wild, not domesticated, so approach with caution.

Do not feed the wildlife.

If you wish to feed animals, buy some bags of feed at the front desk (3 bags for $5) and feed the alpacas, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Be respectful of the Aboriginal sites and don’t damage them.

You may bring your own food into the park but please eat it in the enclosed picnic area only.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park: Central Coast NSW
1 Darkinjung Rd, Calga NSW
http://www.walkaboutpark.com.au/

More things to do in Sydney and beyond

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Things to do on the Central Coast.

Tips for visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne

February 3, 2020 / Australia, Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Tips for visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne

History of the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne

The Heide Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Bulleen, around 30 minutes drive from the Melbourne CBD, Victoria, Australia. The museum was established in 1981, and is home to a collection of houses modern and contemporary art in three exhibition buildings. Set within sixteen acres of heritage-listed gardens and a sculpture park, the Heide is the perfect Melbourne day trip offering an experience that includes art, architecture and nature.

After purchasing the property in 1934, owners John and Sunday Reed opened their home to artists including Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester, John Perceval and Danila Vassilieff. The Reeds established the Museum of Modern Art of Australia in 1958, which became a public art museum in 1981.

Visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne

While entry to the grounds, sculpture parks and gardens is free, there is an entrance fee to visit inside the galleries. The best option is to purchase a museum pass which is valid for an entire day and allows multiple entries and exists from the galleries, allowing visitors to explore the galleries, park and cafe in their own time. Museum entry is free for children under 16.

Heide Gardens

The beautiful gardens at the Heide offer a free space for the public to enjoy the sculptures and several of the original gardens, which are now heritage-listed.

Wandering through the kitchen gardens will lead to discoveries of birds such as rainbow lorikeets, various flowering plants and trees overflowing with fruits.

The gardens are a beautiful place to picnic, so pack a blanket and food for the day and set up under one of the many beautiful big trees.

Connie Kimberly Sculpture Park and Tony and Cathie Hancy Sculpture Plaza

More than 35 permanent sculptures have been placed around the 16-acre property, with a focus on Australian artists and a selective group of international works.

Pick up a map at the entrance or take a look at the informational boards set up in various spots to locate the sculptures.

Heide Market

On the 2nd Saturday of every month, the Heide Museum of Modern Art and The Rose St. Artists’ Market collaborate on a beautiful collection of stalls that offer visitors the chance to purchase skilfully created handmade goods. Jewellery, clothing, baked goods, and more are on offer.

Visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne with Kids

The Heide Museum of Modern Art is the perfect family outing. Entry to the galleries is free for children under 16, and there is a range of activities to keep kids engaged while visiting.

Pick up a Heide Detective sheet from the Heide III information desk, at the main entrance to the museum. Follow the clues around the gallery and sculpture park to solve the puzzle.

The Heide also offers facilities including a cloakroom and baby changing.

While the onsite Café Heide offers kids meals and treats, visitors can also bring a picnic and let the kids run wild around the sculpture park.

There are plenty of great trees to climb, too!

Locals can get involved with family-focussed programs such as Heide Art Kinder or Art Babies. The Heide also offers creative programs during the school holidays.

Be sure to take kids on a stroll through the kitchen garden so they can see where there fruit and vege come from!

Café Heide

We dined at the onsite Café Heide, which is located at the main entrance.

The cafe serves simple, fresh food, using fresh produce from the Heide kitchen garden.

There are plenty of options for kids as well as options for dietary requirements. Our group ordered the Asparagus and Broccoli Risotto, $24, Kids’ Pasta & Tomato Sauce, $15, Kids’ Calamari, $15, Wagyu Burger, $25.

There are also plenty of baked treats to choose from. The scones looked amazing.

Getting to the Heide

Get info on getting to the Heide by car and public transport here.

For more things to do in Melbourne with kids.

Find the best places to stop on a Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive.

Find the best places to stop on a Sydney to Melbourne inland drive.

Treat yourself to the Langham High Tea Melbourne.

Get tips for visiting the Rain Room Melbourne.

Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen VIC
Hours: Tue-Sun and public holidays, 10am-5pm
Heide Cafe Opening hours: Tue-Fri: 9-4.30pm, Sat & Sun: 9am-5pm
https://www.heide.com.au/

Tips for Visiting SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

January 20, 2020 / Australia, Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Meet over 10,000 animals at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. The aquarium is located in central Melbourne, Australia, on the banks of the Yarra River.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is home to some of the the world’s most incredible animals. Visitors can get up close to penguins, sharks, sawfish, stingrays, seahorses, tropical fish and more!

Tips for visiting SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Book your tickets online

Save between 5% and 15% when you book your ticket online in advance, and even more if you bundle your ticket with another Merlin Entertainment attraction such as the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne. You have 90 days to visit the second attraction once you redeem your aquarium ticket, so it’s a great deal.

Follow the map

It might sound obvious, but pick up the map at the entrance and follow the trail. It’s the most comprehensive way to see everything. The aquarium is over several floors, so it’s easiest to go around the exhibits in an orderly fashion.

Make the most of the photo ops

Aquariums are generally a bit tricky to take pics of your kids inside as the lighting can be quite dark. the aquarium has several really cure photo ops with decent lighting around the aquarium so you can come home with a few decent family shots.

Take a food break early

We pretty much arrived and needed a snack break to fuel us for our visit. The cafe is centrally located and has a huge fish tank in the centre, with plenty of tables around the edges and restrooms.

You can buy reasonably priced meals such as pizzas or nuggets and chips, or bring your own feed and eat it at the tables. We also used this time to make sure everyone had used the bathroom before heading deeper into the aquarium.

Mix it up

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium does a great job at mixing sea life exhibits with interactive zones, which are a great way to entertain kids. If you’re not short on time, I suggest letting kids enjoy the interactive areas and taking a break.

The brand new Interactive Wonder Wall is a fantastic spot for playing. It’s an all-new immersive, digital installation inspired by underwater movement.

Learn lots

My mini explorer is wild about sea life, so a trip to the aquarium for us is a learning experience. The best way to do this is by speaking with the staff around the aquarium. They are so happy to share their knowledge.

There are plenty of feedings and talks on throughout the day to attend, too. Check out the timetable to see what’s on when you visit.

Meet the jellies

The brand new Ocean Invaders section of the aquarium is excellent. There are three interactive zones to explore, filled with creatures such as upside down jellies, blue blubbers and sea nettles.

We loved seeing teeny tiny jellyfish babies in the lab.

Meet the animals up close

For a special occasion, check out these thrilling experiences – such as getting face-to-face with sharks or penguins!

Head back to the Ice Age

Enjoy a 4D cinema experience with Ice Age: No Time For Nuts, included in the general admission fee.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
King St, Melbourne VIC
1800 026 576
https://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au/

Find more things to do in Melbourne with kids.

Enjoy a Langham High Tea Melbourne.

We were hosted by SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. All opinions are my own.

Rain Room Melbourne: Tips For Visiting

January 15, 2020 / Australia, Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Rain Room Melbourne at the Jackalope Pavillion

Information about the Rain Room

The immersive artwork Rain Room has found a permanent home in Australia at the Jackalope Pavillion in Melbourne. Making its Southern Hemisphere debut in August 2019, the Rain Room Melbourne has captivated over half a million visitors worldwide – with no signs of slowing down.

The Rain Room is a 100-square metre field of continuous rainfall housed inside a purpose-built pavilion in St Kilda. The Rain Room Melbourne is a responsive environment, meaning as you walk through the room, the rain response to your movement, and ceases to fall.

The clever technology behind the Rain Room has created a completely immersive experience whereby the visitor is able to walk though the rain – and not get wet.

The pavilion is located on the rooftop of a building – follow the signs to the elevator and take it to the top. The building and elevator are both well signed.

On the rooftop, umbrellas are set up for small amounts of shade, and there is a ping pong table for entertaining those who need it while they wait for their session.

Restrooms are temporary facilities on top of the roof, accessible by a ramp. There are no restrooms inside the Rain Room.

Bags and strollers are not permitted inside the Rain Room. Bags can be checked into free lockers just outside the entrance.

Expect to be mustered around five minutes before your booking time and to enter right on time.

Inside the Rain Room

We booked our tickets in the first session of the morning, at 10am. The session was fully booked, however some ticket holders didn’t show up, which meant our session wasn’t technically full. We had approximately 10-15 people in our session.

While the pavilion is large, with a group of people inside it, it feels quite small, as the rain responds to all the people in it – meaning if there are lots of people in the rain, more rain will be turned off, and less will be falling.

The staff let us know that in fully booked sessions the group is often split into two smaller groups, to allow each group to fully enjoy the Rain Room.

Since our group was not full, we entered as one group, with the suggestion that we didn’t spend all of our time actually in the rain but divided our time between being in it and standing on the wall in the dry area so that there as more rain falling for those in the rain.

Each session runs for 30 minutes, which includes time that is spent waiting inside the entrance for any ticket holders who are late. We probably spent around 20 minutes actually in the Rain Room Melbourne.

Getting wet – or staying dry

While the premise of the Rain Room is that visitors can walk through the rain without getting wet, the reality is that you can expect to get wet, no matter how hard you try to stay dry. We were instructed to walk slowly and not to walk near other people as moving quickly and groups of people confuse the technology and make it more likely that you will get wet.

We found that no matter how slowly we walked, we still got wet. If this is something that bothers you, take a change of clothes and shoes to change into afterwards.

Photography inside the Rain Room

Photography in the Rain Room is tricky. The room is extremely dark except for the one bright light shining from the back wall, and there are a lot of people also in the rain. I took many, many bad photos that were out of focus or filled with other people to get just a few that I considered great.

My best photos were taken at the end of the session after everyone else had left and we were the last people to leave the room.

The Rain Room Melbourne offers school holiday kids sessions, designed for families with kids aged 12 and under to experience the Rain Room in an interactive and fun format. We did not do one of these sessions however, and our session was full of kids, so it’s fine to do either session. If you want to do a kid-friendly session during the school holidays, look for times marked ‘KIDS SESSION’ in the session times. Kids under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Rain Room is a flat, even surface, with good sized doors and no steps or bumps, for those interested in a accessibility. The grates on the floor are very small and would accommodate a wheelchair.

I highly recommend booking tickets at least a week in advance.

Rain Room Melbourne at the Jackalope Pavillion
Corner Jackson and, Acland St, St Kilda VIC
https://www.jackalopehotels.com/art/rainroom
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RAINROOM19

Find more things to do in Melbourne with kids.

Enjoy an elegant afternoon with the Langham High Tea Melbourne.

The Langham High Tea Melbourne

January 8, 2020 / Australia, Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Enjoy an elegant afternoon tea experience with The Langham High Tea Melbourne. The Langham and Wedgwood have collaborated to present a special experience, “The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood”.

Wedgwood specialty teas are served up in tailor-made “Langham Rose” Wedgwood tea ware, alongside a with special menu created by the hotel’s pastry chefs.

Boutique Morsels

Gin & Kaffir lime cured Tasmanian salmon, crème fraiche, Rubicon River salmon pearls on blinis*
Queensland Yeppoon Spanner crab, Marie Rose sauce & cucumber, mini choux*
Yarra Valley Persian feta crostini with micro basil and confit tomato
Bendigo chicken and chive sandwich, Birch & Waite mayonnaise*

I received a mix of vegetarian sandwiches instead.

Savoury

Summer truffle and King Brown mushroom, gruyere bechamel crepe roulade
Quiche Florentine, pencil leek fondue

Sweet

Saffron panacotta with spiced figs, apricots and long pepper
Victorian summer berries tart
Lemon and kalamansi meringue tart
Blackcurrant cremoux chocolate tulip
Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or whisky chocolate torte with wild morello cherries
Jasmine tea and blueberry dome

Scones

Raisin scone and plain scone

Served with rose preserve, Yarra Valley pure cream and lemon curd

Espresso coffee, tea and hot chocolate

A delicious and generous high tea. The scones were serves fluffy and fresh, and I enjoyed the wide variety of savoury items. My vegetarian substitutes were delicious!

As always, The Langham staff prove themselves to be efficient and elegant, providing a five-star experience that I always expect from The Langham hotels across Australia.

Prices
Served with a glass of sparkling wine, Wedgwood tea, Langham Blend tea or espresso coffee
$75 per person

Twilight tea bookings may enjoy either a glass of sparkling wine or a Wedgwood tea infused cocktail served with free flowing sparkling wine
$88 per person*

Served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne
$95 per person

Available Monday to Friday

Valid from 28th December 2019 and onwards
10:30am until 8:00pm

*Served for a period of 2 hours. Free flowing sparkling wine is only available if all guests are partaking.

+$5 public holidays. Excludes special events. Prices, times and menus subject to change without notice.

The Langham, Melbourne
1 Southgate Ave, Melbourne
1800 641 107
Online
Book your high tea online
Get directions.

Find more things to do in Melbourne with kids.

We were hosted for this high tea. All opinions are my own.

Peppa Pig High Tea at the Langham, Melbourne

January 8, 2020 / Australia, Melbourne, Travel, Victoria / 0 comment

Swap muddy puddles for finger sandwiches at this delicious Peppa Pig-themed high tea at The Langham, Melbourne these school holidays.

Weekdays from Friday December 27, 2019, until Friday January 24, 2020, The Langham, Melbourne is offering the most delectable Peppa Pig-themed high tea for little piggies and grownups.

My little piggy was a huge Peppa Pig fan when she was a wee thing, so was absolutely delighted for the opportunity to enjoy this darling pink high tea, filled with all tasty things that I’m sure Peppa herself would have approved of.

Peppa Pig High Tea Menu

Savoury buffet with hot chips, chicken nuggets, carrot and cucumber slices and dips.

Sweet buffet table with cupcakes, mini MnMs, strawberries, chocolate fountain and scones.

Three-tier cake stand that includes:

Peppa’s shortbread cookie
Muddy puddle dip cup
Strawberry and marshmallow fruit skewer

Fairy bread
Cheese and vegemite brioche

Chive and Parmesan Quiche
Honey and soy chicken skewer*

Cordial

Hot chocolate

Our vegetarian stand included a mushroom crepe instead.

Little Piggies will also be given a plush toy, colouring activity and Peppa Pig ears.

There is also a little play area with Peppa Pig toys that was a smashing hit with the kids, and also encouraged social interaction. How lovely to make new friends at a high tea!

Parents and grandparents can enjoy the hotel’s signature Wedgwood high tea for $69.00 per person, including a glass of sparkling wine, coffee or tea.

Read more about the Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood here.

The Peppa Pig High Tea is available at 10am until 11.30am and at 12.30pm until 2pm and costs $69.00 per child.

Bookings may be made via melbarestaurant.com.au (here) by contacting 1800 641 107 or by email to rest.res@langhamhotels.com.

The Langham, Melbourne
1 Southgate Ave, Melbourne
(03) 8696 8888
Get directions.

Find more things to do in Melbourne with kids.

We were hosted for this oink-tacular experience. All opinions are my own.

The Canopy Treehouses: Unique Hotels In Cairns

November 11, 2019 / Australia, Cairns, Queensland, Travel, Tropical North Queensland / 0 comment

The Canopy Treehouses, Cairns

Stay in a treehouse nestled in the rainforest and get up close to Australian wildlife at the Canopy Treehouses in the Cairns Highlands, Queensland, Australia.

The Canopy Treehouses offers six extremely private treehouses set in 100 acres of rainforest, teeming with wildlife.

In the rainforest, visitors can find wildlife such as cassowaries, rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroos, endangered green possums, platypus, turtles, red-legged pademelon, wallabies, coppery brushtail possums, northern bandicoots and birds including Victoria’s riflebirds, king parrots, spotted catbirds, honeyeaters and finches.

The eco-friendly treehouses are perched high in the rainforest canopy on the banks of the Ithaca River.

There are three different accommodation options.

We stayed in one of the five self-contained timber and glass treehouses. Each treehouse has two bedrooms (one on the lower level and one in the “attic”), fully self-contained kitchen, spa bath and balcony with a BBQ and hammock. Other amenities include washing machine and dryer, telephone, DVD and TV. Each treehouse sleeps two to six people.

The bedrooms contain either a queen or two single beds, perfect for families.

Each treehouse is built on stilts, with the washing machine and dryer located on the ground level, where you can park your car under the treehouse, Up the first flight of stairs is the first floor , which contains the bathroom, living area, kitchen and bedroom.

The second bedroom can be reached by walking up another flight of stairs into a kind of garret room. Note that the second bedroom doesn’t have a complete wall (the wall is balcony height so you can look into the living area) or door so might not be suitable for smaller kids or two couples.

The treehouses are thoughtfully stocked with kitchen and laundry supplies, to make your stay that bit more comfortable.

If you need a bigger treehouse, the Bower House is the three bedroom treehouse, located on top of a ridge on the backing onto the rainforest, with valley and rolling green countryside views.

As well as the standard features of the other Treehouses, the Bower House has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, (one including a double spa).

The third accommodation option is the Rainforest Unit which is attached to the main building, looking across the lawn to the rainforest. It has two bedrooms with a queen and single beds and is located at ground level, providing assisted wheelchair access.

Guests can take a walk around the beautiful rainforest and enjoy the serenity of the bush. We particularly enjoyed the river with its abundant turtle population.

We were lucky enough the next morning to meet one of the resident cassowaries as well as the pademelons at dusk.

The Canopy Treehouses is located 90 minutes drive from Cairns.

Check out things to do in Cairns.

Find things to do in the Atherton Tablelands.

Read about things to do in Cairns.

Swim at Mossman Gorge.

Visit the Daintree Rainforest.

Catch a ride to Fitzroy Island Resort.

Swim on the Great Barrier Reef at the Frankland Islands.

The Canopy Treehouses
Hogan Road, Tarzali, Queensland, Australia.
Phone : +61 7 4096 5364
Email : stay@canopytreehouses.com.au
Online :canopytreehouses.com.au

Step back in time at Paronella Park, Cairns, Tropical North Queensland

November 8, 2019 / Australia, Cairns, Queensland, Travel, Tropical North Queensland / 0 comment

Step back in time at Paronella Park

Paronella Park is a heritage-listed tourist attraction. It is located 120km south of Cairns at Mena Creek, in Tropical North Queensland, Australia.

The park has a special story that has to be heard to be truly understood for the visinary project that it was, when its founder, José Paronella, embarked on his dream to build a castle in the 1930s.

When Paronella Park opened to the public in 1935 it was a true marvel for the day, with a hydro electric generator, castle, tennis courts, bridges, waterfalls and a tunnel, surrounded in a range of 7,500 tropical plants, that have since become a lush rainforest.

Paronella Park has been the winner of multiple Queensland tourism awards, is State and National Heritage listed and is a National Trust listed property.

The park is privately owned by Mark and Judy Evans, who bought the park in 1993 and have been slowly bringing it back to life with renovations and events.

To visit Paronella Park is to step back in time and marvel at the ingenuity and determination shown by one man, who had a dream.

On arrival at Paronella Park, visitors are taken on a 45 minute storytelling tour of the highlights of the park. At the end of the tour, visitors are free to roam the grounds and feed the fish and turtles who live in the lake.

At night, Paronella Park shines brightest when the String Family performs original compositions against the magically lit cafe building. Check the website for the String Family’s performance schedule. This inspiring performance is part of the night tour.

Getting to Paronella Park

Self drive

paronellapark.com.au/getting-here/self-drive

Coach tours from Cairns

paronellapark.com.au/getting-here/coach-tours-from-cairns

Where to stay

paronellapark.com.au/getting-here/where-to-stay

Paronella Park
1671 Innisfail Japoon Rd, Mena Creek
Hours: Daily, 9:30am-7:30pm. Closed Christmas Day.
Online: paronellapark.com.au
Get Directions.

Tips for visiting Josephine Falls, Cairns, Tropical North Queensland

November 6, 2019 / Australia, Cairns, Queensland, Travel, Tropical North Queensland / 0 comment

Tips for visiting Josephine Falls, Cairns

Josephine Falls is a tiered cascade waterfall located in Wooroonan, Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland.

The falls are an hours drive south of Cairns, in the foothills of Queensland’s highest mountain range, Bartle Frere.

There is a viewing platform overlooking the cascades and the top pool, where swimming is prohibited. The bottom swimming hole, however, is a large, crystal-clear, pool with a natural rockslide.

To get to Josephine Falls, take the 600m walk from the carpark. The walk is wheelchair and pram accessible up to the viewing platform, however there are steep stairs that lead down to the swimming hole.

At the bottom of the stairs there is a very small area with built-in benches for sitting on, however most visitors choose to walk from here across the rocks to eat their picnic lunch or take a dip in the water.

There are modern, clean toilets in the carpark and picnic tables, both of which are also wheelchair accessible.

Walking Tracks

There are three walking tracks at Josephine Falls. The main one is the Josephine Falls walking track (Grade: easy), distance: 1.2 km return. Allow around 30 minutes if you aren’t planning to stop at the falls.

There are two other walks that start at Josephine Falls: Bartle Frere trail to Broken Nose (Grade: difficult), distance: 10 km return (allow about 8 hours return time) and Bartle Frere trail – Josephine Falls to Atherton Tablelands (Grade: difficult), distance: 15 km one way (allow about 2 days walking time).

Picnic and other facilities

Take your own food and water to Josephine Falls. There are picnic tables, a shelter shed, a coin-operated electric barbecue and toilets available in the area adjacent to the carpark.

Things to know before you go

*Heavy rainfall can cause rapid rises in creek levels and currents.
*There is no mobile reception at the falls.
*Be extremely careful as there have been numerous injuries and even deaths at the falls. It will take at least an hour for emergency services to arrive if something goes wrong.
*For your safety, swimming in the top section of the falls is prohibited.

Essentials to bring

• a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent
• sturdy, reliable footwear
• drinking water

Safety tips for visiting Josephine Falls

*Never jump or dive into water—there may be submerged objects.
*Leave the water immediately if it changes colour or the water levels rise—these are signs of flash flooding.
*Take care around steep slopes and rock faces along the track, and at lookouts.
*Supervise children closely.
*Stay on the track and take care on uneven surfaces, especially in wet conditions.
*Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat and a long sleeved shirt, even on cloudy days.
*Treat all water before drinking.

Looking after the park

*Stay on walking tracks / boardwalks to prevent injuries and also protect native plants.
*Take all litter with you when you leave.
*Do not disturb any native plants or animals – do not feed the animals or leave food scraps behind.
*Domestic animals are not permitted.

How to get to Josephine Falls

Josephine Falls is about an hour and 15 minutes south of Cairns. Take the Bruce Highway/Highway 1 south for around 75km until you reach the town of Miriwinni. Take the Mount Bartle Frere turnoff. Josephine Falls is signposted from here.

More information about Josephine Falls

Josephine Falls is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It is free to enter the park and visit the waterfall.

Read more about visiting Josephine Falls.