There is SO much on these school holidays – why not treat those hard working school kiddos to something more than just the old-faithful video games, arcades or movies?

We’ve recently previewed a whole bunch of family-friendly fun for you these September School holidays, and much of it you can only see during the Victorian, Canberra and NSW September school holidays!

1. – Sydney – WICKED the Musical

WICKED Australia is the smash hit musical now playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

The untold true story of the witches of Oz, this wonderful musical is such a treat to see. We absolutely loved it from start to finish, with its blockbuster musical hits, amazing effects and sets.

Before the show there are even special Wicked themed Green Elixer and purple Ozmopolitan cocktails ($22 each) for Mum or Dad to try!

Wicked makes a great Sydney school holidays outing for families with older kids and teenagers to enjoy together!

What ages is Wicked suitable for?

The official recommended age to watch Wicked the Music is eight and up. There are some scary scenes and loud noises that may frighten younger children. (All theatre-goers must hold a valid ticket.)

How much are tickets to Wicked?

Ticket prices for Wicked Sydney start from $69 each for seats in the Stalls.

When is Wicked on?

Wicked is playing throughout the September school holidays into the Christmas Holidays until 21st of January 2023

Where can I buy tickets to Sydney Wicked?

You can get tickets to Sydney Wicked and find out more information at the official website here

See our Instagram reel of our opening night at Sydney WICKED here

Where is Wicked playing?

Sydney Lyric Theatre is located inside the Star City casino complex, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont NSW – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

2. – Melbourne – LEGO® exhibition – RELICS: A New World Rises

Melbourne Museum is one of Australia’s best. We always try to drop in whenever we’re in Melbourne – they have some amazing exhibits, including a full-size, real dinosaur skeleton!

Right now the Melbourne Museum have another reason to visit. The extra-special exhibit for LEGO® Lovers RELICS: A New World Rises is a LEGO® Minifig bonanza. These LEGO displays look simply amazing but really, we would expect nothing less because they are all created by LEGO Masters TV show 2020 Winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler.

This first of its kind exhibition is definitely one to check out these Melbourne school holidays. Be sure to give yourselves plenty of time to explore the Museum too, it’s brilliant for kids and truly world-class.

What ages is the Melbourne Museum suitable for?

The Melbourne Museum is suitable for all ages.

How much does the Melbourne Museum cost?

RELICS: A New World Rises LEGO exhibition price includes your Melbourne Museum entrance.

RELICS Lego entry tickets cost:

Adult $27.50
Senior $22.50
Child/Concession $17.50

When is RELICS: A New World Rises LEGO exhibition on?

9am – 5pm during the September School Holidays right through the Christmas – Summer School Holidays

Where is the Melbourne Museum?

Melbourne Museum is located at 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053 – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More info at the Melbourne Museum official website here

Melbourne attractions online pass

Alternatively, you can just visit the Melbourne Museum only without paying to see the special RELICS exhibition – buy standard $15 tickets online with standard entry tickets or you can buy a Klook Melbourne Pass starting from $68 which gives you the option to select from a range of Melbourne attractions including the Melbourne Museum at a discounted price. You can see the full list of Melbourne attractions here.

3. – Canberra – Floriade flower festival 2023

If you think a flower festival sounds boring for kids you couldn’t be more wrong! Floriade is an amazing annual festival for every member of the family with its acres of stunning blooms, exciting garden paths to explore, plus more gorgeous photo spots than you can poke a stick at! There’s plenty of retail therapy of the garden variety too.

The kids certainly aren’t left out, and there’s even more than ever this year. The gorgeously decorated children’s gardens are always a hit – this year’s theme is Alice in Wonderland. There’s a super fun comical circus-style performance of Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure in the new Wonderland Spiegeltent plus the essential big Ferris wheel ride and more.

Is there food at Floriade?

You won’t go hungry or thirsty at Floriade! There’s lots of yummy food stalls plus the delicious pop up Agostini’s pavilion Italian restaurant. Bars include the Bentspoke Brewing Beer Garden, Underground Spirits Gin Garden and more.

Is Floriade Canberra suitable for children?

Yes, Floriade flower festival in Canberra is suitable for all ages.

Floriade is free! There is no entry fee for Canberra Floriade.

When is Canberra Floriade 2023?

Canberra Floriade runs from 16 September to 15th of October 2023

What is Floriade Nightfest?

Nightfest is an extra after-hours (tickets required) Floriade event offering running from 28 September to 1 October. There are evening entertainment, food and drink offerings.

Is there a Floriade Tour?

There is a Floriade Tour available. Tickets can be purchased from Klook attractions here.

What time does Floriade open?

Floriade is open from 9.30am – 5.30pm every day (last entry is at 5:15pm)

Where is Canberra Floriade located?

Floriade is located inside Commonwealth Park, off Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More Canberra Floriade info at the official website here
See our Instagram reel of our Floriade sneak peek here

4. – Sydney – Waru – journey of the small turtle – Bangarra Dance Theatre

Waru – journey of the small turtle is Bangarra’s first performance especially for young children. A story of discovery and survival inspired by the lives of green turtles. This charming immersive and interactive Torres Strait Islander culture dance performance is designed for small children ages 3-7 years to enjoy.

The show will also travel to several other Australian cities after the September school holidays, including Geelong, Goulburn, Shoalhaven, Cairns and Darwin.

How much do tickets to Waru cost?

Tickets to Waru – journey of the small turtle are $35 each or $30 each if you are buying four tickets.

When is Waru Journey of the Small Turtle on?

Waru Journey of the Small Turtle is on from 28 September to 14 October 2023

Where is the Bangara Dance Theatre?

Bangara Dance Theatre is located on Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000 – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More info and tickets for Waru can be found on the official website here

5. – Sydney – Jurassic World – The Exhibition

Take a stroll around some of the biggest, most life-like dinosaur robots ever at Jurassic World – The Exhibition.
We got a sneak peek of the new Jurassic World: The Exhibition at Sydney Olympic Park and it’s…huge!

What ages are suitable for Jurassic World – The Exhibition?

Adults and families with school aged children and teenagers – not suitable for kids who may be frightened of big moving robots and loud noises.

What dates are Jurassic World – The Exhibition on?

From September 22nd
More info and tickets at the official website here

See our Watch our Jurassic World Exhibition Instagram reel here

Where is Jurassic World: The Exhibition Sydney located?

 Jurassic World: The Exhibition is located in the SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park – you can find it on Google Maps here.

Special Mention – coming in October….

Sydney (& Gold Coast, Melbourne) – Monster Jam

Rev-heads alert! Monster Jam monster trucks return to Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast in October 2023 – mark it in your calendar for a brilliant night of motorsport awesome stunts and family fun!

Monster Jam® is perfect for the whole family – we absolutely love it, and this year there will be exciting new Marvel monster trucks, including The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther and Thor! Plus the old favourites Grave Digger®, Max-D™ and Megalodon®.

What ages is Monster Jam suitable for?

All ages but consider bringing noise blocking headphones for little ones to help mute those noisy, revving engines!

How much does Monster Jam cost?

Monster Jam ticket prices cost from $27.50 (Child) $42.50 (Adult).

What are the Monster Jam Australia dates?

Monster Jam dates are Melbourne, October 7 2023, Sydney October 14 2023 and Gold Coast, October 21 2023

Where can I buy Monster Jam tickets?

More info and tickets at the official website here
See our Instagram Monster Jam 2022 reel here

Where is Monster Jam?

In Sydney, Monster Jam is held in the Accor Stadium Australia, Edwin Flack Ave. Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney – you can find it on Google Maps here.

Have you attended any of these events or shows, or do you plan to go? Tell me, or ask your questions in the comments below…

All information is correct as at September 2023 – theatre, exhibition, show and event prices may vary accordingly – always check the official websites as linked above for relevant, up to date information and prices.

The Let’s Go Mum Family were invited guests to all of the above shows and events and personally have (or will) attend many of them. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

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We took a mid-week trip flying from Sydney to Melbourne to see the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. On this trip we were delighted to be hosted by the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel.

Watch our Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel tour video

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel here.

Don’t miss another of our Australian family YouTube videos! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here 

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne is pure luxury, yet wonderfully family friendly! From the moment you stroll past the ultra-exclusive designer stores lining the entrance to the crystal lit Main Lobby, you know this is no ordinary hotel.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne Main Lobby atmosphere is one of exclusivity and elegance. The reception desk staff’s welcome is as warm and genuine as can be – you just know you and your family are about to be spoiled!

Modern convenience – five star service

The hotel Concierge had our taxi doors opened and our suitcases whipped away in a flash. After we checked in, we were on our way up to our 17th floor rooms in no time, thanks to the express hotel elevators. We soon learned that whilst this hotel is historically luxurious, it also boasts every modern convenience.

With several lifts available we never had to wait for a lift once during our stay – and indeed this seemed to set the theme of our stay at the Grand Hyatt. We were never inconvenienced by any hotel service. From the health club, to room service, to a simple desk enquiry – everything was attended to above and beyond efficiently – now that’s five-star service!

Our interconnecting family rooms

Watch our Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel interconnecting room tours video!

No time to read? Watch our video tour of our interconnecting hotel rooms at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel here.

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During our stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne we stayed in two interconnecting en suite rooms on the 17th floor.

Room 1708, a Spa King corner room and room 1709, a Twin room.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne Spa King corner room with a view

My corner Spa King room was luxury personified. Whilst the room itself was deluxe comfort and elegance all the way, it was the fabulous sweeping views that were the wow-factor. A stunning Melbourne vista stretching down to Federation Square and beyond, along the Yarra River. I found myself ordering frequent room service just to sit and enjoy the view!

The room’s sumptuous all-marble spa bath ensuite bathroom was just gorgeous, with the bath also serving as a spa bath. There were plenty of large soft towels and luxury amenities included too.

A wardrobe housed all the handy conveniences such as an iron & ironing board, a safe, white robes and slippers.

A large dresser held a flat screen TV, and within was a well stocked mini bar, fridge and tea & coffee facilities. All luxury items of course – every detail had been considered.

Booking a Spa King room at the Grand Hyatt hotel is how to pamper yourself, whether it be on a staycation, a Melbourne weekend away or a Melbourne city holiday.

The Grand Hyatt Twin room

My teenage girls stayed in the adjoining twin bed ensuite room, with a view every bit as gorgeous as mine!

With the exception of the size of the room and the side corner window, their hotel room offered the same luxury features, from the floor to ceiling marble ensuite bathroom (minus the spa bath function) to the tea and coffee drawer and white robes!

Our interconnecting hotel rooms

The best thing about the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for families is the option to expand your accommodation by booking a connecting room.

These interconnecting deluxe rooms mean the kids are close at hand, yet you have your own luxurious space.

With a connecting door between our corner spa room and twin room, I had both privacy yet direct access to my girls.

They had their own accommodation space – and bathroom to mess up! (Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than having to share a bathroom with your kids when you’re on holiday!)

Apart from the bed configurations and size, there was very little difference between the rooms, including the view – this kept everyone very happy.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne City Club

Not just a hotel gym and pool, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne has a fully operating health and well-being club, the City Club. It features day spa treatments, personal trainers, an expansive gym, heated pool and even a rooftop tennis court.

The Hyatt Melbourne Gym

Much more than just an exercise and workout room, the Grand Hyatt gym is huge, extending across an entire floor, and into several levels.

There are specific weight lifting rooms, banks of all kinds of exercise equipment including weight presses and treadmills, a dedicated Peloton cycle class room and open mirrored spaces.

For the travelling dance troupe or cheer squad, there’s even a large polished floor dance studio.

A rooftop tennis court in the Melbourne CBD

Up a staircase you’ll find a full-sized outdoor rooftop tennis court. Surrounded on all sides by both historic buildings and modern city high rises. This tennis court provides a surreal, totally unique place to play a few sets of tennis right in the middle of the city of Melbourne!

Alongside the tennis court is a basketball half court and several golf driving cages too.

The entertainment and exercise spaces available to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne and their guests are simply mind blowing.

The Heated Indoor Pool unique to Melbourne

Inside the Health Club is also where you will find the iconic hotel pool.

With its art deco black and white tiling, a separate plunge pool and spa, this heated indoor swimming pool is totally unique to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

Steam rooms and saunas

Branching off from the pool are the steam rooms, saunas. There are dedicated women’s and men’s separate steam rooms and hot timber sauna rooms located on either side of the swimming pool.

The women’s steam room area includes two stories of facilities, including showers, dressing rooms with mirrors and secure lockers.

Collins Kitchen Full buffet breakfast restaurant

When the Grand Hyatt say full buffet breakfast – they mean it! Anything your heart desires for breakfast is available.

There are dedicated hot food buffets, plenty of fresh cold foods such as fruit and cereal stations  plus yoghurts, juices and pastries.

From chef-curated eggs to a dedicated pancake cook and of course barrista, you’ll start your day wondering if you’ll be able to fit lunch in at all!

Dinner, bars and room service

The Grand Hyatt hotel restaurant Collins Kitchen is also open for dinner, plus there is a bistro bar and lounges on site to grab a bite to eat – or a pre-show or dinner cocktail!

Grand Hyatt room service

Room service is fast and efficient and also offers a range of snacks and drinks to decadent meal cuisines. We rarely had to wait more than 15 minutes for a simple snack or drink order.

Centrally located for the perfect Melbourne staycation

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne is ideally located in the heart of the city, only a few minutes stroll from some of Melbourne’s most iconic tourist spots such as Federation Square, Hosier Lane and Flinders Street Station.

Designer shopping is right at the door on prestigious Collins Street, with major city department stores such as Myer and David Jones, museums and theatres only a short stroll away.

A beautiful Melbourne family holiday

We all loved our stay at the Grand Hyatt – spoil yourself and book a stay now – because all mums and dads deserve to be spoiled like the Grand Hyatt Melbourne spoils their guests – and that includes the kids!

The Letsgomum family partnered with Jetstar Australia & the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel for this Melbourne trip. 

Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel handy information

Grand Hyatt Melbourne Address: 123 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia

Grand Hyatt Melbourne phone number: 03 9657 1234

Grand Hyatt Melbourne distance from Airport: 19.5km – 20 minutes taxi or uber drive

Grand Hyatt Melbourne Valet and hotel parking is available

The number 7 tram stop servicing trams 11, 12, 48 and 109 is located right outside the hotel on Collins Street

To find out more – visit the official Hyatt website here

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Hold onto your hats dinosaur-lovers – there’s a new BIG kid in town! Triceratops Horridus is Melbourne Museum’s brand new – yet prehistoric – exhibition, and he’s unlike anything your or your kids have ever seen before!

A REAL dinosaur skeleton in Australia

Did you know there’s a real dinosaur skeleton in Australia? This month we were really excited to be invited to attend the official opening of the Triceratops Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Melbourne Museum

Watch our video tour of the opening event & new dinosaur exhibition

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs launch VIP Melbourne event and Triceratops exhibition.

Don’t miss another of our Australian family YouTube videos! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here 

The Melbourne VIP celebrity event of the year!

You could cut the excitement with a flint at the VIP opening event of Triceratops at the Melbourne Museum.

Held after-hours in an empty Melbourne Museum prior to the Members preview event, Melbourne’s VIPs, celebrities and influencers – many with excited children in-hand – arrived to find an official grand opening event full of dino fun!

Dinosaur themed launch party fun

Upon arrival to the Museum, guests were directed to the event room fitted-out to Jurassic Park proportions.

Dinosaur themed treats

Dinosaur fans young and old were served with dino-themed drinks, appetisers and snacks. Dinosaur treats such as dinosaur gingerbread cookies and even gold-covered chocolate dinosaur droppings made a really fun novelty, and set the dinosaur theme perfectly.

Dinosaur themed crafts

There were lots of dinosaur themed crafts for the kids at the event too, including a Triceratops hat and mask-building station, and a special photo wall provided the perfect place for some unique dinosaur event Instagram photos.

An expert-manned ancient fossil table

A table crowded with a huge dinosaur skull and dinosaur bone casts offered genuine fossil examples for guests to take part in some hands-on learning thanks to the help of a friendly and highly knowledgeable paleontologist.

A circulating baby Triceratops puppet man kept everyone completely enchanted, particularly the toddlers and babies who were completely convinced they were patting a baby Triceratops!

Official Melbourne Museum exhibition opening

Official ceremonies included speeches and further historic, statistical fun facts and background on just how amazing the new Museum acquisition is. Then it was time for the main event – actually visiting the much-anticipated Triceratops Horridus exhibition – Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs.

Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs

Located in the dinosaur section of the Melbourne Museum where there is already a large collection of impressive dinosaur skeleton cast models, the new exhibition provided a wonderfully interactive experience.

The opening night Melbourne Museum after-hours tour

Opening night visitors found themselves transported to a lost world – immersed into an audio-visual prehistoric jungle and river dating back 67 million years ago.

Dinosaurs roamed and thumped along the exhibition walls thanks to the clever soundtrack and projections that covered not only the walls, but also the carpet below museum visitors very feet.

Whilst it would be easy to spend a lot of time just enjoying the introductory walk-through experience, with the promise of a genuine dinosaur up ahead, people were spurred onward to emerge into the large space that hosted what has to be one of the most spectacular Australian Museum coups of all time – the world’s most complete Triceratops skeleton – Horridus!

Triceratops Horridus display area

Fully re-assembled and atmospherically and dramatically lit with an eerie jungle background audio, this real dinosaur skeleton stands a terrifying 2 metres high, this is the world’s most complete Triceratops Horridus skeleton. It’s mesmerisingly glittering – a product of the type of rock that fossilised the bones.

Triceratops Horridus dinosaurs lived during the Late Cretaceous period, and went extinct half a million years before a mass extinction-level asteroid hit earth. An impressive asteroid representation is installed on one wall of the large display space surrounding the dinosaur skeleton.

Neither a girl or a boy due to the eons of time erasing such details, this Triceratops dinosaur is regarded as a “they”- and what an jaw-dropping sight they are!

Multi-level dinosaur viewing platforms

Multi-level platforms offer different perspectives of the huge dinosaur skeleton. A mid-way viewing platform offers a close-up overhead view, whilst the second floor gives plenty of room to spread out and appreciate this most impressive of dinosaur relics.

Also to be found on the second floor are further fascinating insights into dinosaurs thanks to a detailed bird feature display to accompany the various prehistoric displays spread over the two main floors of the exhibition.

A Melbourne April school holidays must-see

You can visit Triceratops Horridus now at the Melbourne Museum.

With its imposing stature and trademark horns, Horribillis is a spectacular world-class permanent addition to the Melbourne Museum, and truly needs to be experienced in person to be appreciated.

Melbournians and all dinosaur enthusiasts big and small – don’t miss this incredible new exhibit!

Essential info

How much does the Melbourne Museum cost?

Melbourne Museum ticket prices: $15 per person – pensioners and concessions (including single parent concession) and children are free.

Admission to Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs is included in general admission – BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

Where is the Melbourne Museum located?

Melbourne Museum address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053

How to get to the Melbourne Museum

Public transport: Trams, trains and buses all service the Melbourne Museum.

Parking: There is a Melbourne Museum carpark located underneath the Museum.

What dates is Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs on?

Exhibition dates: Triceratops: Fate Of The Dinosaurs with the world’s biggest Triceratops dinosaur skeleton is a permanent exhibit at the Melbourne Museum from March 2022

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If you’re looking for a family-friendly luxury hotel for your next Melbourne trip or staycation, Melbourne Marriott is the one!

We took a trip to see the Christmas lights of Melbourne – and to do a bit of last-minute Christmas shopping – and absolutely loved our family getaway staying at the Melbourne Marriott!

Watch our Melbourne Marriott Hotel room tour video!

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Melbourne Marriott hotel here.

Don’t miss another of our Australian family YouTube videos! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here 

A family-friendly luxury hotel

Flying to Melbourne with Jetstar Australia (our Melbourne trip airline partner), the Melbourne Marriott was only twenty five minutes Uber trip from Melbourne Airport. We were soon receiving a warm welcome at the Melbourne Marriot hotel reception desk.

Our five-star hotel corner suite

Even though we were staying in a luxurious executive corner suite with a a huge master bedroom, it had been adapted to accommodate our family comfortably.

I loved the master bedroom (oh, the stretched-out luxury!), whilst the girls slept in the additional beds in the lounge and had plenty of room for themselves. Our beautiful suite could have easily slept a family of five.

The décor was modern and elegant with panoramic city views from every window. A huge walk-through robe and a stunning marble accent bathroom en-suite with luxury complementary amenities continued the luxurious theme.

Our room had every convenience we could have needed. An iron & ironing board, a safe for any valuables, tea & coffee facilities and a refrigerator mini bar. There were toothbrushes & paste in addition to the luxury toiletries, complimentary slippers, plenty of generously-sized plush towels plus white terry robes to relax in too. The Marriott is geared for relaxation!

As if all that wasn’t enough, the gift of a spectacular welcome platter awaited us in the room loaded with everything delicious – and even a bottle of champagne. My parent luxury weekend was activated! As soon as we had enjoyed a mini-platter feast, we set off to enjoy the delights of Melbourne – and of course some Melbourne Christmas shopping!

A hotel near Her Majesty’s Theatre

Right next door to the Melbourne Marriot hotel we discovered the East End theatre district. Her Majesty’s Theatre (playing Disney’s Frozen the Musical) was mere steps away, as was Chinatown and a multitude of tempting Little Bourke Street restaurants!

A centrally located hotel to make your Melbourne staycation easy

This was a great base to explore the Melbourne CBD from, including the wonderful shopping precinct. From designer to discount, Melbourne shopping has it all, and staying at the Marriot Melbourne meant we didn’t have far to walk to reach any Melbourne  attractions.

From the Flinders Street Station and Federation Square Christmas lights at night, to David Jones, Myer and the Emporium shopping centre, we didn’t even need to catch a tram once during our stay – yet we explored so much! Centrally located, the Melbourne Marriott is such an advantage for a Melbourne weekend or holiday.

This Melbourne city hotel has an indoor pool & gym!

The hotel’s facilities are kid-friendly too.

An elegant indoor pool was a great place to have some fun and unwind. There were pool noodles for the girls to play with and a warm spa to relax in. A motorised chair lift provided accessibility to the pool too.

There was a sauna and a well-equipped indoor exercise gym located off the pool, plus a fairy light-lit courtyard too.

The Melbourne Marriott’s Essence On Exhibition restaurant is located on the ground floor, and is open for both dinner and breakfast.

It was lovely to sit and watch the world go by from the restaurant’s picture windows looking out onto the busy street whilst eating from the self-service full buffet breakfast selections. Enjoying a barista coffee and my favourite (chef-cooked and not me – hurray!) poached eggs and the kids happily munching on Cocoa Pops, it was a beautiful start to our Melbourne day.

Book your Melbourne weekend away

Our stay at the Melbourne Marriott hotel really made our Melbourne trip  – it was lovely to be spoiled! After all, we mums deserve a bit of luxury! You can book your stay at the Melbourne Marriott hotel now at Booking.com .

The Letsgomum family partnered with Jetstar Australia & the Melbourne Marriott hotel for this Melbourne Christmas trip. 

Melbourne Marriott hotel handy information

Melbourne Marriott’s Address: Corner of Exhibition & Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne Australia

Melbourne Marriott’s phone number: 03 9662 3900

Melbourne Marriott’s distance from Airport: 20km – 25 five minutes taxi or uber drive

Melbourne Marriott hotel parking is available

Book your stay with Booking.com here

To find out more – visit the official Marriott website here

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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Melbourne mums and dads – did you know that Jurassic Park exists right under your very nose in the Melbourne CBD?!
Jurassic World by Brickman is the Summer school holidays exhibition for all ages!

The exciting new Melbourne family LEGO exhibition

After some Melbourne lockdown false starts, we were so excited to be invited to visit Melbourne’s exciting new Brickman attraction.

Located in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the first floor, this LEGO display is absolutely huge!

Watch our video tour of the LEGO Jurassic World by Brickman exhibition

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Brickman Jurassic World LEGO exhibition.

Don’t miss another of our Australian family YouTube videos! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here 

Ryan The Brickman has done it again!

You’ll find Ryan ‘The Brickman” McNaught’s epic, world-first exhibition at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Ryan McNaught is of course Australia’s official LEGO certified master builder. He is always coming up with fun new ways for LEGO fans to interact with everyone’s favourite building bricks.

A Melbourne summer holidays must-see

This exciting LEGO show transforms Jurassic World — the blockbuster franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment — into an immersive must-do adventure that will be the largest LEGO® brick experience in Australian history!

We couldn’t believe our eyes right from the very start when we were met with the iconic 4-metre-tall Jurassic World gates (made of no less than 180,000 LEGO bricks!) as we entered the Isla Nublar! We knew from that very moment that we were in for a real treat. After all, this exhibit was made up of two of our favourite things – LEGO and Jurassic Park – what a combination! It definitely didn’t disappoint.

Take a Melbourne Instagram photo with life-sized velociraptors!

You really need to visit this exhibition in person to understand its sheer scale. Inside you encounter over 50 large-scale dinosaurs, props and scenes from the blockbuster Jurassic World movie franchise, including life-size dinosaurs in the petting zoo, a simply enormous Brachiosaurus you can walk underneath, minifig dioramas everywhere, and what has to be some of the best Instagram photo opportunities in Melbourne! Recreating some of the most iconic moments from the Jurassic Park films is so much fun (which of course my girls got right into – drama queens!). These included getting up close and personal with 2 life-size velociraptors! Rawrr!

Lots of LEGO building opportunities

You get to build your own mini Jurassic World and even dinosaur footprints in regular LEGO, but there’s also the opportunity for the preschoolers to join in too, with the more toddler-friendly DUPLO LEGO. Create hybrid dinosaurs, help assemble enormous LEGO® brick mystery mosaics, and even build your own escape vehicles to get away from a one ton T Rex model! (Truly the best LEGO Instagram shot in Melbourne right now!)

Melbournians big and small – don’t miss this special LEGO display!

With huge thanks to Brickman Exhibitions for inviting us to visit, Jetstar Australia for flying us out on our Melbourne adventure and the Melbourne Marriott hotel for giving us the most beautiful stay.

What dates is Brickman’s Jurassic World display running?

Jurassic World LEGO Melbourne is running until 30 January 2022

Book your tickets at Ticketek here

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Tucked away on the New South Wales/Victoria border near Cobram and the stunning Murray River you’ll find one of the sweetest big things around.

The Big Strawberry at Koonoomoo is a three hour drive from Melbourne, or one hour, forty minute drive from the Hume Highway at Albury, NSW.

There isn’t just a big strawberry here – there’s actually a whole strawberry experience!

No time to read, or want a closer look? Watch our YouTube video here

The Big Strawberry rightly takes pride of place out front of a large complex made up of everything that could satisfy your strawberry desires.

A real-life strawberry crop is situated opposite the main building, with row upon row of shaded strawberry plants. For a charge, you can even go strawberry picking.

Whilst posing for the obligatory big-thing family photo out front is hilarious, the real fun here is waiting for you inside – prepare to be confronted with everything strawberry.

Inside strawberry lovers will find a huge combined cafe/restaurant, museum, indoor playground, Man Cave & strawberry-themed shop.

From tea pots to puppets, jam to strawberry wine, this shop is a mecca for all strawberry lovers.

Order from a fun selection of strawberry treats from the cafe such as their famous strawberry pancakes. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a strawberry slider of course!

The Big Strawberry proprietors are very welcoming, and you can even camp here for the night in your caravan or camper. Powered sites are available at the rear of the car park , and if you spend a minimum of $10 in the shop, camping is free!

The Big Strawberry is a rural Victorian tourism treasure to detour towards on your next NSW road trip.

Planning information

Where: The Big Strawberry, Koonoomoo, Victoria – open the google maps location here

Entry: Free (charge for strawberry picking and indoor kids playground)

Opening hours: 8am-5pm – Every day except “some public holidays” (check first, especially during COVID-19 which may affect opening times)

Website:

https://www.thebigstrawberry.com.au/

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Winter is usually the time to batten down the hatches and stay indoors, but the Ballarat Winter Festival is the perfect excuse to take a weekend or winter school holidays trip away, and banish those Melbourne winter blues!

No time to read? Watch our 2019 Ballarat Winter Festival YouTube video

This family-friendly festival offers a whole bunch of wintery fun to enjoy together. Ballarat is an easy two hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD, so it makes for the perfect winter escape.

There are a range of fun activities and attractions on offer, plus plenty of excellent family accommodation options available. The whole city of Ballarat gets into the spirit of the festival. There are special interactive art murals (viewable with a special app downloaded to your phone) to be found down charming paved laneways. A huge range of fabulous family-friendly restaurants are scattered around the city too, featuring delicious, and sometimes quite unusual, menu options – such as these rainbow pancakes!

The Ballarat Winter Festival certainly has a great line-up of stand-out attractions. Let’s take a closer look at some must-see events and locations to visit during your visit…

The Ballarat Sovereign Hill Winter Wonderlights Festival

No time to read? Watch our Ballarat Sovereign Hill Winter Wonderlights YouTube video

First up of course is the big-guns of the Ballarat Winter Festival – the famous Sovereign Hill Winter Wonderlights. Sovereign Hill is a simply brilliant family attraction at any time of the year, but in Winter it comes alive with a magical paintbox of projected colours and animations.

During the day you can visit this wonderfully recreated historical village as normal. There are period shops and buildings to explore, underground mine train tours, creek gold panning, horse and coach rides and so much more. When evening falls, the entire village is transformed into a magically-lit wonderland. Take a walk through long fairy light tunnels lining the lake. Enjoy free craft activities for the kids, and yummy seasonal fare inside the heated pavilion.

On main street, gasp in wonder as flames erupt from the big chimney stack. Your kids will be enchanted by – and perhaps even dance in – the faux “snow” which drifts down around them. Fun, colourful animations light up the buildings in a fantastical display of wonderous proportions, unique to this popular tourist destination. This is a whole new dimension to Sovereign Hill you’ve never seen before – and it will have your whole family wanting to return to, year after year.

The Ballarat Winter Festival Ice Rink

What is winter without going for an ice skate, and in Ballarat you’ll find a great ice skating installation right in the middle of the city! Rug up in your most stylish winter-woollies and hit the The Ballarat Winter Festival Ice Rink for a fun morning or afternoon skate. There are several skating sessions each day of the festival. In addition to standard ice skate hire there are super-cute sliding penguins for the beginners or little kids. There are special strap-on skates available too for even the tiniest of toddlers and pre-schoolers to make it a great fun experience for everyone.

Ballarat Winter Festival 2019 Winteractive Arcade

One of the really fun and unusual Ballarat attractions during the 2019 Winter Festival would have to be the Winteractive Arcade. This high-tech interactive event was open on two weekends during the Winter Festival, and had us entertained for an entire afternoon. Located in the grand old Mining Exchange building, interactive art animates in fascinating ways thanks to a downloadable free app. There’s also interactive fashion you, virtual reality (VR) stations – it’s all awesome fun!

If you have a gamer in your family then they are going to love taking part in playing in the five-player competitions on the big screen, plus there are smaller gaming stations too. A café onsite takes care of anyone wanting a break, or simply waiting for their kids to become bored (here’s a tip – never happens!). Definitely don’t miss this one!

More things to do in Ballarat with kids!

Ballarat Winter Festival useful info

Ballarat Winter Festival 2019 event dates:
June 29-July 21
.
2019 Winteractive Arcade dates:
29–30 June and 13–14 July 2019.
11am– 5pm
.
2019 Winteractive Arcade Ticket prices:
Adults: $10
6–16 yrs: $5
Under 6: Free

Go to www.visitballarat.com.au website to find out more!

The Let’s Go Mum family were paid guests of Visit Ballarat tourism board. As always, all opinions are strictly our own.

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It’s clear from the moment you enter Big4 Yarra Valley Park Lane, that you are entering a nature-paradise.

Nestled at the base of a tree-covered hill, wombats, kangaroos and many other native animals live all around the park. Parrots of many colours flutter through the trees and are so quiet they will even fly down to perch on you arm to eat out of your hand.

A park in the true sense of the word, accommodation options are set within a forest of established trees.

Staying at Yarra Valley Holiday Park can be as relaxing and peaceful as you’d like – or high-energy family adventure and fun – the choice is yours!

Family fun is everywhere

There’s certainly no shortage of fun things to do at Yarra Valley Holiday Park.

A huge supervised inflatable water park is a stand-out feature to keep kids (and adults!) entertained. Floating on a lake surrounded by majestic gum trees, this is an activity you won’t find at your average holiday park. There is a massive inflatable tower to climb and jump off, slides, monkey bars suspended over a water-pit and a whole lot more.

Next to the lake is a set of tennis courts, and just over the hill is a recreation room with games tables and lounge/play area.

In the centre of the park you’ll find a beautiful lagoon pool and a heated outdoor spa, both naturally shaded by towering gums. With a smaller baby pool at one end, this is the perfect place for the younger family members to have a paddle, whilst the older kids can swim and play in the big pool. It’s also a lovely spot to settle down on a lounge with a book, or for mum and dad to cool off in the pool with the kids, too!

At the lower end of the park are large open lawn areas for the children to run and play. There’s a large playground (in addition to the other playground on the hilltop area of the park), jump pad, giant jumping pillow and  a huge koala to pose in for family photos!

Family accommodation options

There’s a large range of accommodation options to choose from at BIG4 Yarra Valley. They range from pitching your own tent or bringing your own caravan or motorhome (there are several drive-through sites), to numerous on-site cabins, condos, villas and studios. Then there are their famous Pods and glamping tents.

Family Glamping Bell Tents

No time to read? Watch our Family Glamping Belle Tent video tour here

These gorgeous Bohemian styled tents aren’t just for couples anymore, with Big4 Yarra Valley offering families a glamping tent experience too!

Sleeping four, this clever family accommodation option consists of two Belle tents linked via a personal lounging deck. Each glamping tent has its own personal ensuite just a few paces away.

All of the glamping tents are individually themed. Ours was “Eclectic Belle”, and eclectic and glamorous it was, with drapes, throw rungs and pillows. Our largest tent was furnished with a king-sized bed, lounge, dining table, flat-screen TV, bar fridge and climate control.

Inside the kid’s tent were two single beds and luxury lounge chairs. My little glampers thought this was all very exciting!

Our mornings were greeted with bird-song – in particular, the parrots eating bird seed on our private deck. Just magic.

Our 2-bedroom Hilltop Cabin

No time to read? Watch our Hill Top Cabin video tour here

Next, we stayed in a beautiful Hilltop Cabin. With scenic views over the creek and bushland hills opposite, this is another great family accommodation option.

Our ultra-modern two-bedroom cabin was fully furnished and fitted out, and could accommodate families of up to six people.

There was a master bedroom and a bunk bedroom sleeping up to four people – great for the kids.  A bathroom with shower and separate toilet were located on opposite sides of the hallway. All linen, blankets and towels were supplied.

A climate-controlled open-plan kitchen-dining-lounge area makes for the perfect family space. There’s all you need for holiday cooking in the kitchen, with pots and pans, crockery and cutlery all supplied. Kitchen appliances included a gas stove top cooker, microwave, full-sized fridge electric kettle and toaster. All we needed to bring to cook our own meals, was the food!

In the cabin’s roomy lounge area there was lots of room for the family to spread-out. There was a comfy corner lounge suite, a large flat-screen TV and DVD player, plus a dining table area.

This size cabin accommodates from small to medium sized families very comfortably. That said, we spent much of our time out on the balcony, taking in the view and feeding the local parrots and ducks. What a beautiful place it was to stay.

Pods – the perfect Melbourne weekender for two – or three!

Pods are scattered across the park, with several located down by the creek, partially secluded in the woods. These tiny timber cabins feature an elegantly arched roof, and have their own balcony.  They are the perfect accommodation for couples, single parent families or parent/child combinations of up to three people.

Pod-dwellers in the creek area also receive a Pod Mobile for their own use in the park during their stay. These little all-terrain electric cars are a lot of fun to drive around, and can even go around the Park’s mountain walking track.

BYO tent, caravan, camping trailer or motor home

With plenty of tree-lined sites for tents, caravans and RVs, these are fantastic family holiday options.

Camp-cooking is covered with a separate BBQ area and a simply huge camp kitchen with everything you’ll need to whip up a family meal. There’s also a large flat screen TV and lounges to relax on.

Nearby is the stylish shared amenities and laundry, with super-fast dryers or washing lines take care of the family laundry needs.

Further Park facilities

There is a licensed kiosk on site, and very friendly, helpful staff with lots of local information and day-trip ideas.

You don’t need to go into town to find a decent coffee either – delicious coffee and hot chocolates are available from the park’s own café – perfect!

Things to do nearby – Yarra Valley family fun

There’s no shortage of family fun in the Yarra Valley, and Yarra Valley Park Lane is the perfect base to visit them.

No time to read? Watch the video here

The Healsville Sanctuary is only minutes away, and is a great family day out. There are many different native animals to see, including a fantastic free bird flight show.

The Big Bouquet Alpaca Café is just a couple of minutes drive away, and features a huge greenhouse full of beautiful Gerberas and quiet Alpacas to feed.

The Hedgend English Hedge Maze is just five minutes drive away, and features a traditional English Maze to get lost in, plus lots of other family activities included.

Ten minutes drive away you will find the charming Yarra Valley Railway with its heritage tourist train ride at Healesville.

45 minutes drive away is the Yarra Ranges National Park and the Instagram-famous, majestic Warburton Redwood forest.

In the other direction, a picturesque 45 minute drive away you’ll find the popular Yarra Valley Chocolaterie with a chocolate café and many scrumptious treats for sale.

Of course a visit to the Yarra Valley wouldn’t be complete without stopping in at a winery or two – the Yarra Valley plays host to some of Australia’s best wines.

 Family money saver – discount Healesville Sanctuary tickets

Guest benefits – when you stay at BIG4 Yarra Valley, not only are you in the Healesville Sanctuary neighbourhood, but you also get a 10% discount off tickets. Just buy your tickets on the day you go from BIG4 Yarra Valley reception.

Nearby services

Just over five minutes drive down the road is the bustlingly charming town of Healesville. Healesville has a Coles supermarket, numerous shops, service stations, an RSL club and many small restaurants, take-away food, wine and café options.

Big4 Yarra Valley is the perfect place for Melbourne families to get away from it all and have a great time together. It’s the beautiful location to have fun, explore the Yarra Valley, relax and reconnect with the family. If you’re heading to the Yarra Valley with the family, this is the place to stay!

Find out more or book your accommodation for BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park at the official website here.

How to get there

All information is correct as at March 2019 – please check the above website link for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices. Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited the Yarra Valley, or do you plan to go one day? Tell us in the comments below..

The post BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park – Melbourne family holidays appeared first on Let's go Mum.

BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park is an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne. Turning in, we immediately knew we were in for a fun time. We could see a huge adventure ropes course, a jumping pillow, a playground and a swimming pool. The kids were already exclaiming in excitement!

The holiday park itself is immaculately kept. Brightly coloured cabins line quiet, paved streets. Beautiful trees, hedges and gardens decorate the park.

We passed motorhomes, caravans and tents. Children rode their scooters along the streets whilst parents lounged in camp chairs, chatting. The atmosphere was one of relaxed family fun. Traralgon Park Lane is a pet-friendly holiday park, so even the family pet is welcome at all sites and cabins.

Family fun and games on-site

No time to read? Watch our park activities video here…

As soon as we got settled in, the kids were very eager to go and explore all the fun of the park  – and who could blame them!

We all went for a bounce on the huge jumping pillow first – it was a lot of fun! But with so much entertainment to choose from at Traralgon Park Lane, it wasn’t long before the Park’s own hire pedal go-karts were calling – and off we went for a few laps around the park. Both kids and adults are welcome to ride on them, and it’s a great family activity to do together.

Almost every day we loved to head to the solar-heated swimming pool for a refreshing swim, or just to relax by the pool. There is an indoor heated spa just next door to the pool too.

The kid’s moulded plastic playground is a real treat for toddlers up to school-age children. It has with lots of different obstacles to climb and slides to try. For peace of mind, the playground, jumping pillow and pool are all protected with shade sails to help keep sun off.

During school holidays and on weekends, the adventure high ropes course, mini golf, laser tag and indoor fun park are all open.

Parky’s Fun Park

We decided to play the 18-hole Mini Golf course first. Fantastically themed with massive dinosaur models, life-sized pirates, Scooby-Doo, the Cars Movie and lots more, it’s a really unique and fun activity – and makes for some really great family photos in front of the T-Rex!

Next we took the challenge, and headed up the exciting adventure ropes course. It’s safety-first, and climbers watch an instruction video, before donning a full harness and hard-hat. All climbers are attached to the structure with metal cables at all times, which starts with easier levels, increasing in difficulty with each level. This was a super-fun family activity, and we all really enjoyed tackling the course.

Next-up, the kids asked me if I was up for a game of Laser Tag? Challenge, accepted! We all got suited up and headed inside the giant inflatable structure. There’s nothing quite as exciting as running around in the semi-dark shooting at each other with laser guns. It was so much fun, and our tactics so hilarious, we couldn’t stop laughing the whole time!

Family money saver – discount entry tickets

Guest benefits – when you stay at Traralgon Park Lane you receive discounted entry to Parky’s Adventure Ropes Course, mini golf and laser tag are all open, and free entry to Parky’s indoor play centre.

Parky’s Wonderland indoor play centre

If the weather looks like rain, Traralgon Park Lane have got it covered, with Parky’s Wonderland – an indoor play centre packed with awesome fun for the kids. With big and small slides, a ball pit, ball guns and big climbing frames the kids will run themselves ragged. For the little ones, there’s a dedicated babies and toddler’s only area too.

Family accommodation options

Cabins and Villas

Traralgon Park Lane offer a large range of villas and cabins. Our accommodation for the week was a Superior Family Cabin.

No time to read? Take a look around our Superior Family Cabin in our video here…

Our cabin had a generously-sized veranda complete with an outdoor table. Inside it featured an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. Elegantly furnished, there was a huge plush corner-suite lounge, full-sized modern kitchen and dining table. A huge flat-screen TV and DVD were mounted in the corner. It was a great family space, with plenty of room to spare. Powerful reverse-cycling air conditioning kept the inside of the cabin at the optimum temperature.

The kitchen was fully fitted out with kettle, toaster, microwave, oven and hot plates, full-sized fridge and dishwasher. A pod coffee maker added an extra touch of luxury. There was an full complement of pots and pans, and plenty of crockery, glassware and cutlery – everything needed to whip up a family meal.

Down the hall, the master bedroom featured a huge, comfortable king-sized bed. All linen and towels were supplied. There was plenty of hanging and drawer space and a large, mounted flatscreen TV on the wall at the end of the bed.

Next door was the second bedroom. It delighted the kids with it’s solid white bunk beds with sky-blue quilts. Underneath the bottom bunk,  a full-size trundle bed was concealed – perfect for those families with three children.

Across the hall was the luxurious double-sized bathroom, with a twin vanity and double shower. A hairdryer is supplied.

The corner of the bathroom served as the laundry,  with a washing machine and dryer. There was also an ironing board and iron. Next door to the bathroom was a separate toilet.

We were very happy with our cabin. A full kitchen made self-catering a breeze, and having a washing machine and dryer made it so much easier to keep up with the family laundry. The dishwasher was another huge time-saver – both children AND parents get to relax on this holiday!

BYO tent, caravan, camping trailer or motor home

There’s plenty of powered sites available for tents, caravans and RVs, and even ensuite sites.

Camping and caravanning facilities include a fully equipped indoor camp kitchen, separate BBQ area, recreation room and TV lounge, shared amenities and a laundry with modern washing machines and super-fast dryers.

Further Park facilities

There is a licensed kiosk on site with friendly staff there to help with any enquiries you might have about the park or Gippsland activities. Plus there’s no need to leave the park in search of a great coffee, thanks to the park’s own coffee bar. It’s the perfect start to the day. You can always work off all those extra coffee-calories in the Park’s onsite fitness gym!

Things to do nearby – Gippsland family fun

With so much to do at the holiday park we spent much of our time there, but we did manage a couple of wonderful day-trips.

45 minutes drive takes you to the stunning Tarra-Bulga National Park. Features include lush rainforest, towering trees, waterfalls and beautiful walks. The short walk to Corrigan Suspension Bridge is a highlight – don’t miss this. There is also a local café which is a great spot for lunch, plus they sell bird seed so that you can feed the local parrots by hand!

A 40 minute drive in the other direction will take you to Walhalla, a beautifully preserved heritage village with it’s own tourist railway, shops, pub and a goldmine to explore. It’s a definite must-see!

Take a quick look at these attractions at the end of our BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park YouTube video.

Nearby town services

A few minutes drive down the road the is the Traralgon town centre. Here you’ll find a single-level shopping mall with a Coles and Kmart, numerous shops including a Country Target and Best and Less, service stations, clubs and many small restaurants, take-away franchises, wine and café options. A few minutes drive in the other direction will bring you to Morwell, another large town with a Big W and other numerous stores and services.

Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park is a fabulous family holiday choice. Well located for local attractions, and with the amount of fun activities for families on site, you  certainly won’t have the kids telling you they’re bored! The park itself is a delight to stay in, with excellent accommodation options. If you’re visiting Gippsland, this should be the first accommodation choice on your list for non-stop family fun, relaxation and adventure!

Find out more or book your accommodation for BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park at the official website here.

How to get there

Find out more or book your accommodation for BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park at the official website here.

All information is correct as at February 2019 – please check the above website link for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited Gippsland? Comment your activity ideas for families below!

The post BIG4 Traralgon Park Lane Holiday Park – Melbourne family holidays appeared first on Let's go Mum.

You may not think it’s possible to take the family on holiday to the Victorian snowfields without spending a fortune on accommodation, but we’ve found a fantastic family budget option for you – without having to compromise on location or comfort. It’s the YMCA Howmans Gap Alpine Centre!

Howmans Gap is the perfect accommodation choice for families heading to the Victorian Snowfields. This comfortable and warm Falls Creek accommodation centre is a beautiful place to stay. Surrounded by stunning mountain ash bushland, it’s hard to believe this peaceful setting is located right before the main entrance to Falls Creek Resort.

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider Howmans Gap for your next family skiing holiday!

Staying at Howmans Gap makes visiting Falls Creek easy

Howmans Gap runs its own shuttle bus to Falls Creek several times a day during the Victorian ski season. The trip only takes ten minutes to get to the centre of Falls Creek Village. Just climb aboard the bus to be dropped off at your Falls Creek skiing area of choice – easy! No need to worry about purchasing a car permit or fitting chains to your car to enter Falls Creek Village. You don’t have to leave your car stranded at the side of the road for a week if you stay at Falls Creek Village, either. At Howmans Gap there is free parking near your accommodation.

Howmans Gap dining hall

Another bonus for staying at Howmans Gap is their big communal dining room. Hot cooked breakfasts are served every morning, and three-course hot dinners are on the menu every night. The dining room is a fantastic place to meet the super-friendly Howmans Gap staff, as well as other guests. There is a wonderful, friendly community atmosphere that will have you all chatting – and the kids playing together – in no time!

Howmans Gap facilities

A large lounge adjoins the main dining room, with plenty of room to relax and unwind after your day in the snow. There’s also a large games room with lounges, board games, ping pong, table soccer, air hockey and more. The kids aren’t going to get bored at Howmans Gap!

Storage rooms for your skis and snow boards are available, plus drying rooms to dry out all of your wet snow gear after all those snowballs, snowy walks and learning-to-ski tumbles! Simply pop your snow and ski gear in at the end of the day, and by the next morning everything is warm, dry and ready for another day of snow fun!

Howmans Gap family accommodation options

There are accommodation choices to suit everyone at Howmans Gap.

Melaleuca Cottage

Take a look inside Melaleuca Cottage

There are two cottages offering accommodation to families or small groups at Howmans Gap, and we were lucky enough to spend several days in one of them – the picturesque Melaleuca Cottage.

This private, secluded cottage is surrounded by beautiful native forest and features stunning mountain views. Sleeping up to eight people, Melaleuca Cottage is perfect for small to large families, or even two sharing families. There are three cosy bedrooms, and a modern bathroom with a shower. A laundry contains drying hooks, and both a washing machine and dryer.

A fully equipped open plan kitchen makes it easy for families to self-cater, and there is an adjoining large dining and lounge area.  A cosy wood fire is located in the lounge room, which also features a large balcony opening off of it. The lounge room has a TV and DVD player, plus family games to play.

Linen is provided for the queen sized bed in the main bedroom, and you will need to bring your own sheets and pillowcases for the other rooms, plus towels and toiletries for the bathroom.

Private group family rooms

Down the hill from Melaleuca Cottage you’ll find the main reception, communal dining room, lounges and accommodation blocks.

There are numerous accommodation bed and bunk configurations to choose from. Private group bunk rooms accommodate small to large families, many with shared modern bathroom facilities. Some rooms have their own private bathroom facilities.

Accessible accommodation

Howmans Gap prides itself on being a fully inclusive community. Their accessible accommodation for the disabled is state-of-the art, and fully caters to a wide range of mobility limitations. All of Howmans Gap facilities are wheelchair accessible.

To find out more about which accommodation option may suit your family, you can find out more at the Howmans Gap family snow accommodation information and specials here .

Howmans Gap Falls Creek Cross Country skiing and snow-fun discounts

Another bonus of staying at Howmans Gap is that you get a 30% discount when hiring snow-shoes or cross-country skis at Falls Creek Cross Country, located at Windy Corner, Falls Creek.

Here you can hire cross country skis, organise cross country skiing lessons for adults or ski school for the kids.

You can also hire waterproof snow boots and toboggans to play with on the family fun area next door.

The cosy Windy Corner Café adjoins the hire and retail shop, and is perfect for a quick snack or delicious hot lunch.

Find out more about Falls Creek Cross Country at the official website here.

For more information about Howmans Gap, you can visit their official website here.

All information is correct as at September 2018 – please check the above website link for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices. Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of YMCA Howmans Gap, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited Falls Creek, or do you plan to go one day? Tell us in the comments below…

The post Falls Creek family accommodation at Howmans Gap appeared first on Let's go Mum.