How do you order Starlink?

I ordered our Starlink Kit direct from Starlink – this made the most sense to me for back up and service. The best news is, I have a discount link for one month free Starlink service for both you and me – that’s worth from $139 AUD each!

Use this link to get one month of Starlink free!

For new Starlink customers only buying a Starlink Kit from our referral code above. When the Starlink service is activated, 30 days later both you and I will receive a credit for one month of free Starlink standard Residential or Roam subscriptions.

Why should I get Starlink in Australia?

If you are having any internet service or speed issues, Starlink may just be your saviour like it was for us! Starlink completely changed our home internet for good.

Living in country NSW, we had always struggled to get reliable internet service. I tried every type of government satellite service going – my roof is the testament to just how many!

I tried modems from lots of companies including Optus and Telstra and was assured that I had tried everything possible. Our bad service was always explained to us that we were in a “bad service area”, despite the fact we were just a couple of minutes from a major highway in the countryside located in between two major cities. Nothing – and I mean nothing – reliably worked in decades.

Our country NSW internet continually dropped out

The internet was a constant struggle. The kids could be on the internet so I couldn’t be. School work was often difficult. The internet would just drop out – sometimes for days! We couldn’t stream movies, the kids couldn’t game at the same time – or at all.

For the last few years I tried buying the best Telstra mobile plan money could buy to use the personal hotspot, but even this was useless for us.

By the time I started to hear about Starlink, I was desperate – and a little skeptical – this would probably fail, just like Australia’s best telecommunication companies had…thankfully, I was very wrong. Starlink was our internet saviour!

Use this link to get one month of Starlink free!

For new Starlink customers only buying a Starlink Kit from our referral code above. When the Starlink service is activated, 30 days later both you and I will receive a credit for one month of free Starlink standard Residential or Roam subscriptions.

Does Starlink work in NSW country areas?

Starlink works amazingly for us – and we live in the countryside in NSW. I couldn’t believe that from the moment we switched our Starlink on, it worked! We all tried it and stared at each other in disbelief – everything online was working at the same time – rocket fast!

Now I can stream my favourite tv shows and both my teenagers can game on multiple devices and video chat with their friends. No more frustration! And what’s more, it hasn’t stopped for the entire six months we’ve had Starlink switched on! Starlink WORKS!

How do you install Starlink?

Here is my simple video showing you how I installed our Starlink Kit. I received it quickly, unpacked it, clicked it all together, pointed it to the sky in a paddock and plugged it in! Done!

Have a question? Drop a comment below because I love answering questions! I’d also love to hear about your own Starlink experiences in the comments below!

This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support! Prices are correct as of August 2024 – always check with the Starlink website for the most recent prices and conditions.

The post Starlink Australia NSW home review – plus a one month free discount link! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

We’re the first to admit – we’re probably some of the biggest Disney-crazy fans in Australia (Check out our Australian Disney Lovers Instagram account here) – and that’s a fact! So when Halloween rolls around each year, it’s all about those spooky sweet treats like these easy to make Ghost and Graveyard Cupcakes and Halloween decorations for us!

Of course the Nightmare on Christmas range had us screaming at first sight in BigW this year, but we wanted to add a personal touch to our very-Disney-Halloween…enter our Disney Mickey pumpkin carving!

Here I’m going to share with you the simple steps I used to carve our Halloween pumpkin to get that cute Mickey Mouse-look pumpkin – done in the same style as the ones that are hung along Main Street, Disneyland each Halloween.

I’m also including a child-friendly no carve version too, from the Disney Blog website. A gentle reminder that whilst the no-carve version is child friendly, there should always be adult supervision at all times, as sharp implements such as scissors are still needed.

How do I carve a Mickey Jack-o’-lantern?

Watch our How to Carve a Mickey Halloween Pumpkin video

Our video below shows how I carved our Mickey pumpkin. It’s intended for adults, as I use a small, sharp knife to carve with.

If you want to short-cut the learning process, just watch this YouTube video first!

A step-by-step guide to make a real Mickey Halloween pumpkin

Shopping list

To make your own Mickey pumpkin, you’ll need:

1. One large pumpkin from the supermarket or farmers markets
2. Two smaller pumpkins or plastic craft/decorative pumpkins (for ears)
3. Small kitchen knife
4. Scissors, preferably small
5. A pencil

Optional:

1. A cheap pumpkin carving knife/saw kit
2. A candle or flameless candle to light the pumpkin

You will also need to be able to print out two templates

• • Buy a pumpkin that is uniformly rounded and as orange as possible – preferably with a thick green stem at the top. It will be much easier to work with, and the stem will not only act as a lid handle, the pumpkin will look more authentic too!
  • While you are shopping, try to find two small-medium sized pumpkins for ears. Plastic pumpkins will also do the job!
  • Any basic Mickey Mouse template will do, but we downloaded and used the Disney Blog website Mickey Template by Pretty Providence here – print out 2 copies – one to use for the pumpkin, and one for reference.
  • (Skip cutting a lid for no-carve or no lighting pumpkin) Adults only! Cut your “lid” off the top of the pumpkin with a knife. Plastic pumpkin carving kits can be handy for fiddly shaping bits, but you really need to pull out the big-guns – a proper knife – to cut the large parts of this project. Pumpkins can be tough, and cheap pumpkin carving kits are not very strong, and may bend or break.
  • Kids or adults can scoop out the insides of the pumpkin. Pumpkin carving kit plastic scrapers are useful for scraping the insides clean, but you’re going to have to get your hands in there and scoop it all out! Use gloves or a plastic bag if you’d like to keep your hands clean. Once you’re done, discard the innards of the pumpkin.
  • After it’s all out, scrape the sides down to get rid of any loose of fibrous pieces – especially if you intend to use a real candle inside your pumpkin for a true Jack-o’-lantern!
  • Cut out the eyes, nose and mouth of the template as carefully as you can using small scissors for the next part – the no carve pumpkin, or the carve version!

Kids version – no carve pumpkin!

(For the adult carve version, skip to the next section)

• using double sided tape (easy enough to make out of normal sticky tape back to back) or blue tack, stick the Mickey Mouse features directly onto the pumpkin, trying to keep them centered and spaced as according to the original template. Use the second complete template as a reference guide. Continue to the next part of the kids no carve Mickey pumpkin here.

Adult version – carve it!

• Using double sided tape (easy enough to make out of normal sticky tape back to back) or blue tack, stick the Mickey Mouse features directly onto the pumpkin, trying to keep them centered and spaced as according to the original template. Use the second complete template as a reference guide.
• Use a pencil (not a thick marker, as this may show after you’ve carved the pieces) to trace around each of the facial features. Make sure they are situated in the same layout as the template to ensure that you get that characteristic Mickey-look. If you make a mistake, just reposition them and retrace – because you’re using pencil, it’s not going to show!
• Remove the template pieces and tape from the pumpkin, revealing the traced lines for you to follow with a knife.
• Using a small, sharp knife (remember, adults only, and never cut towards yourself or others!) slowly make indentations (sometimes it helps to puncture small holes with a skewer and then join the dots with a knife) all the way around the shapes first.
• Carve each piece fully out. You can use a plastic pumpkin carving mini-saw/knife once the initial cuts are made if you like. Be sure to go slowly. Some of the shapes are situated very close to each other, such as the nose and eyes. The mouth corners can be fiddly, and do require some patience! Each piece should lift neatly out as you finish each one. The order you do the facial features doesn’t matter, but you may find it best to start with the easiest one – the nose.
• Gently scrape or trim around the edges of each carved out shape within the pumpkin so it has a clean, neat edge – it will look much better, especially when lit at night!

Kid and Adult version – complete your pumpkin with Mickey ears!

• For Mickeys ears, the kids no carve version can simply cut out and stick on the template ears with tape. For a real-life ears look, you’ll need to source either two small real pumpkins or plastic pumpkins to attach to your main pumpkin. Painted foam balls could also be used.
• To secure the ears, first double check the right spot – Mickeys ears are slightly to the side/0ffset of his head, not directly on top! It’s best to check our video, or google up some Disneyland Mickey pumpkin images.
• If using real pumpkins for ears, a short wooden skewer can be inserted through the underneath-center of the pumpkins and then pushed through the top of the main pumpkin, to spike-attach them to each other. You may need to cut a nick out of your main pumpkin lid for a flush fit. Plastic round pumpkin ears can be attached with the help of glue or tape, or just wedged through extra carved small holes by their plastic stem.
• Add a real candle (take all care and give 100% supervision if using a real candle) or a fake flameless candle inside your Mickey pumpkin for a super-spooky flickering affect!
• You can keep your Mickey pumpkin in the fridge if you still have a few days to Halloween, to keep him fresher for longer and to prevent mould or mildew starting to grow on the pumpkin.
• Enjoy your authentic Disney pumpkin!

Watch our Disney Halloween decorations come to life!

We couldn’t help ourselves, and decided to go full-out in our Halloween holiday caravan decorations this year with a special Disney Halloween extravaganza!

Our focus this year was Nightmare Before Christmas, including large life-like decorations of Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town and Sally. Of course, our Mickey Mouse Halloween pumpkin was front and center too, carrying on the Disney Halloween theme. It was all super fun to do – we hope you love watching our indulgent Disney-fan Nightmare Before Christmas glow-up!

Watch our Disney Halloween stop-motion glow up video

If you enjoyed reading this article or found it useful, please consider sharing it on Facebook, or leaving a comment below – thank you!

Pin it for later on Pinterest!

The post How to carve a Disney Mickey Halloween pumpkin – a beginner’s guide appeared first on Let's go Mum.

When was the last time you arrived at your holiday destination completely relaxed and refreshed, ready for the holiday fun ahead? We’ve just returned from a paid-partnership trip with NSW TrainLink to Wagga Wagga NSW, and discovered that NSW TrainLink is a really great family travel option. It’s budget-friendly, stress free and easy on everyone – especially us parents! Because getting there really should be part of the holiday fun.

Family discount deals

There are some really great NSW TrainLink deals available for families, and with so many exciting destinations to explore it just makes sense. Using NSW TrainLink is a very easy way to book a family getaway, anytime!

No time to read? Watch our NSW TrainLink trip experience video here…

$1 kids fares with a paying adult

Kids (ages 4 to 15 years) are only charged $1 per trip with a paying adult. This tiny fare price alone is a great reason for families to travel with NSW TrainLink. The $1 discount fare is also perfect for single parents family holidays, as only one paying adult is required to access the $1 fare for up to four children. $1 kids fares even apply to first class!

Kids go free concession deal

Another excellent value family deal is the NSW TrainLink Kids Go Free deal. After paying for the first two children, any other kids accompanied by a concession fare-paying adult go free. This makes for an excellent all-around concession family saver deal!

Find out more about family discount fares at the NSW TrainLink website here.

Our NSW TrainLink train trip from Goulburn to Wagga Wagga

I found that using NSW TrainLink for our own family trip really couldn’t have be easier. Simply book your tickets online, and then turn up to the station to board your ticketed train!

Our departure railway station was Goulburn Station in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. At Goulburn we parked our car for free, right at the station entrance. It was easy to wheel our suitcases onto the railway platform.

My two girls were so excited for the train to arrive! They were completely enchanted by the idea of a train trip, and told me it reminded them of Harry Potter on the way to Hogwarts! I have to admit I was just as excited as they were.

Our XPT train arrived right on-time and we eagerly climbed aboard into the air conditioned comfort – we were ready for our adventure to begin! The train attendant helped us put our cases on board and stow them in the suitcase racks. We were to be travelling in a First Class daysitter compartment for our four-hour journey to Wagga Wagga, NSW. 

Comfortable and private – First Class daysitter compartments

We were shown to our private compartment where we made ourselves comfortable. Our daysitter compartment was clean and spacious, with three generously-sized seats. They were plush and comfortable, with arm-rests which could be folded back out of the way. There was plenty of leg-room inside the compartment to stretch out, and for small travel bags too. A large mirror hung on one wall, there was a pull-out rubbish disposal in the wall, plus a power point and reading lights. 

Room to relax and have fun together

As we zoomed along I marvelled at how smooth and quiet the train was. Boredom was never an issue, either. The girls could play games, read books, listen to music, colour in and draw. I settled back to relax and unwind with a magazine and a coffee – this was great!  Sometimes we just chatted together, watching the gorgeous NSW countryside pass-by. Green hills, farm houses, cows, sheep, tractors – even eagles! So many things you don’t normally see from a road-level car window were suddenly given a whole new, beautiful perspective, thanks to the large picture windows with elevated views. 

Everything you need is onboard! 

Another big advantage of travelling with NSW TrainLink is that every service you and your family need for a comfortable journey is already onboard and easily accessible. 

Purchase hot meals onboard

After we had settled-in to our compartment, we decided to explore a bit and seek-out the buffet car for some snacks. There were lots to choose from, including sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit salad and all kinds of drinks. A coffee for me and potato chips for the girls later, we headed back to our compartment. It was fun to walk through the connecting train carriage, bringing our little box tray full of goodies back with us!

A little later an announcement for hot lunch orders came across the P.A. system. We headed back to the buffet car to place our orders, and around an hour later they were ready to pick up. We chose spaghetti bolognese, penne pasta and a vegan vegetable and rice curry – they were all hot and delicious. What a treat to have this luxurious option!

It was also very handy to have a drinking water dispenser located at the end of the carriage corridor.

Toilets are onboard

Right outside our compartment was a toilet and shower compartment, which we shared with our neighbouring compartment. Inside the toilet compartment was a fold-down toilet, hand basin and mirror. The kids thought that going to the toilet on a train was a lot of fun!  As a parent, I was glad to not have to make toilet stops along the way like we would normally do on a car or coach trip. 

Why parents love NSW TrainLink

By the time our train pulled in to Wagga Wagga station, I had realised that there are certainly some very big advantages for parents, (and grandparents and guardians!) when travelling with NSW TrainLink.

I feel our holiday genuinely started from the moment we stepped aboard our train.  No driving was a huge plus for me – it was lovely to be able to sit back and let someone else take care of the driving whilst I relaxed and had fun with the kids.

Then there’s the fact that everyone can move around freely on a train. No one is strapped into a seat. No sore bottoms or boredom complaints! The toilet is right outside your compartment, and hot meals, snacks and coffee are all available from the buffet car.

All of these factors make for a very relaxing parent experience, and overall stress-free trip – and after all, isn’t that what family holidays are meant to be about? 

It’s time to plan your own NSW TrainLink family adventure – it’s as easy as booking at the official website here.

*All information and prices are correct as at May 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices.

The Let’s Go Mum family travelled as a paid partner with NSW TrainLink, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever been on a NSW TrainLink trip? Tell us where your family explored to in the comments below…

The post NSW TrainLink $1 kids fares for families appeared first on Let's go Mum.

When was the last time you arrived at your holiday destination completely relaxed and refreshed, ready for the holiday fun ahead? We’ve just returned from a paid-partnership trip with NSW TrainLink to Wagga Wagga NSW, and discovered that NSW TrainLink is a really great family travel option. It’s budget-friendly, stress free and easy on everyone – especially us parents! Because getting there really should be part of the holiday fun.

Family discount deals

There are some really great NSW TrainLink deals available for families, and with so many exciting destinations to explore it just makes sense. Using NSW TrainLink is a very easy way to book a family getaway, anytime!

No time to read? Watch our NSW TrainLink trip experience video here…

$1 kids fares with a paying adult

Kids (ages 4 to 15 years) are only charged $1 per trip with a paying adult. This tiny fare price alone is a great reason for families to travel with NSW TrainLink. The $1 discount fare is also perfect for single parents family holidays, as only one paying adult is required to access the $1 fare for up to four children. $1 kids fares even apply to first class!

Kids go free concession deal

Another excellent value family deal is the NSW TrainLink Kids Go Free deal. After paying for the first two children, any other kids accompanied by a concession fare-paying adult go free. This makes for an excellent all-around concession family saver deal!

Find out more about family discount fares at the NSW TrainLink website here.

Our NSW TrainLink train trip from Goulburn to Wagga Wagga

I found that using NSW TrainLink for our own family trip really couldn’t have be easier. Simply book your tickets online, and then turn up to the station to board your ticketed train!

Our departure railway station was Goulburn Station in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. At Goulburn we parked our car for free, right at the station entrance. It was easy to wheel our suitcases onto the railway platform.

My two girls were so excited for the train to arrive! They were completely enchanted by the idea of a train trip, and told me it reminded them of Harry Potter on the way to Hogwarts! I have to admit I was just as excited as they were.

Our XPT train arrived right on-time and we eagerly climbed aboard into the air conditioned comfort – we were ready for our adventure to begin! The train attendant helped us put our cases on board and stow them in the suitcase racks. We were to be travelling in a First Class daysitter compartment for our four-hour journey to Wagga Wagga, NSW. 

Comfortable and private – First Class daysitter compartments

We were shown to our private compartment where we made ourselves comfortable. Our daysitter compartment was clean and spacious, with three generously-sized seats. They were plush and comfortable, with arm-rests which could be folded back out of the way. There was plenty of leg-room inside the compartment to stretch out, and for small travel bags too. A large mirror hung on one wall, there was a pull-out rubbish disposal in the wall, plus a power point and reading lights. 

Room to relax and have fun together

As we zoomed along I marvelled at how smooth and quiet the train was. Boredom was never an issue, either. The girls could play games, read books, listen to music, colour in and draw. I settled back to relax and unwind with a magazine and a coffee – this was great!  Sometimes we just chatted together, watching the gorgeous NSW countryside pass-by. Green hills, farm houses, cows, sheep, tractors – even eagles! So many things you don’t normally see from a road-level car window were suddenly given a whole new, beautiful perspective, thanks to the large picture windows with elevated views. 

Everything you need is onboard! 

Another big advantage of travelling with NSW TrainLink is that every service you and your family need for a comfortable journey is already onboard and easily accessible. 

Purchase hot meals onboard

After we had settled-in to our compartment, we decided to explore a bit and seek-out the buffet car for some snacks. There were lots to choose from, including sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fruit salad and all kinds of drinks. A coffee for me and potato chips for the girls later, we headed back to our compartment. It was fun to walk through the connecting train carriage, bringing our little box tray full of goodies back with us!

A little later an announcement for hot lunch orders came across the P.A. system. We headed back to the buffet car to place our orders, and around an hour later they were ready to pick up. We chose spaghetti bolognese, penne pasta and a vegan vegetable and rice curry – they were all hot and delicious. What a treat to have this luxurious option!

It was also very handy to have a drinking water dispenser located at the end of the carriage corridor.

Toilets are onboard

Right outside our compartment was a toilet and shower compartment, which we shared with our neighbouring compartment. Inside the toilet compartment was a fold-down toilet, hand basin and mirror. The kids thought that going to the toilet on a train was a lot of fun!  As a parent, I was glad to not have to make toilet stops along the way like we would normally do on a car or coach trip. 

Why parents love NSW TrainLink

By the time our train pulled in to Wagga Wagga station, I had realised that there are certainly some very big advantages for parents, (and grandparents and guardians!) when travelling with NSW TrainLink.

I feel our holiday genuinely started from the moment we stepped aboard our train.  No driving was a huge plus for me – it was lovely to be able to sit back and let someone else take care of the driving whilst I relaxed and had fun with the kids.

Then there’s the fact that everyone can move around freely on a train. No one is strapped into a seat. No sore bottoms or boredom complaints! The toilet is right outside your compartment, and hot meals, snacks and coffee are all available from the buffet car.

All of these factors make for a very relaxing parent experience, and overall stress-free trip – and after all, isn’t that what family holidays are meant to be about? 

It’s time to plan your own NSW TrainLink family adventure – it’s as easy as booking at the official website here.

*All information and prices are correct as at May 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices.

The Let’s Go Mum family travelled as a paid partner with NSW TrainLink, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever been on a NSW TrainLink trip? Tell us where your family explored to in the comments below…

The post NSW TrainLink $1 kids fares for families appeared first on Let's go Mum.

When we were invited to spend the day at the Sydney International tennis tournament at Sydney Olympic Park, we jumped at the chance. We expected tennis, but we got a whole lot more fun into the bargain!

See what it’s like! Watch the video of our Sydney International Tennis experience here

No time to read? You can watch our day at the Sydney International YouTube Video here instead!

What is the Sydney International?

The Sydney International is part of the Australian Open Series, with the Melbourne competition following on straight afterwards. The tournament runs for a week, with multiple tennis matches on each day. If you love your tennis, then this is the place to be – but it’s not just for tennis fanatics! None of us had ever seen a professional tennis competition before, and we all had a wonderful time!

What is there for kids to do there?

Sure, there’s world-class tennis to see everywhere at the Sydney International, but what else is there for kids to do?

Well, first of all, kids go free – that alone is a family budget win! But as an added bonus, they also happen to cater to families in every way! In fact, there is so much for families to do at the Sydney International, you may have difficulty finding time to watch the actual tennis matches!

The Kids Zone was my girls’ favourite area. Packed with family games and activities, there was lots of fun to be had. A GIF photo booth, trampolines, free tennis lessons, a Nine News mock up news report desk, a dress-up competition and lucky wheel….the list goes on. 500 ANZ Hot Shots tennis racquets were given away too! Your kids are not going to get bored in the Kids Zone, that’s for certain!

Then there is the Australian Tennis Museum stand, with the opportunity to take a look at Australian tennis history. Kids can even find out what it was like to play tennis in the past by dressing up in the original standard clothing! Phew, tennis in a long skirt and blouse or blazer certainly would have made playing in the original Sydney International matches quite a challenge!

Is it easy for kids to see the tennis action?

Tennis matches are being played everywhere at the Sydney International, and entry is as simple as waiting for a break in play and then wandering in to take a seat! It’s close-up action, and very exciting to watch in person.

The Centre Court is the place to be for the big matches, and with open-seating we found it very easy to find a front row seat on the first day without any difficulty. The only exception with regards to open seating, is finals day, when seats are ticketed. You don’t even need to go into Centre Court to keep up with what’s happening, with a huge TV screen relaying all the action – complete bean bags in front of it to relax on! Or you can always just watch the multiple screens at every Centre Court entrance door.

Food, glorious food!

At lunch time we found ourselves spoilt for choice with all the food vending caravans on-site. It’s a veritable cultural feast, stretching all the way around the main arena. There is a large bar too, plus coffee, ice cream and cold drinks at every turn. Lunch time is also a good opportunity to flop down in front of the big-screen, or cool off in front of the huge water-mist fans if the weather is warming up!

A crash-course in tennis with Lleyton Hewitt – on the Centre Court!

We also received some surprise news at lunch – the girls were invited to take part in a very special experience! They would be given the chance to try to return tennis super-star Lleyton Hewitt’s serve for a chance to win tickets to the Sydney International final!

Brooke and Samantha were beyond excited – and terrified! Centre Court was a very big audience for two beginner tennis players to play one of the best tennis players in history!

Still, as my girls always do, when the time came they met the challenge head-on, and ventured out onto Centre Court with compere and tennis-great, Wally Masur. There, Lleyton stood waiting at the other end of the court. Wally offered some expert tips to the girls, who listened intently – they were going to need all the help they could get! Lleyton served, and with three chances each, they both took some wild swings at that ball! Luckily, Lleyton was very gentle, and no children were injured in the obtaining of tickets to the final – luckily gifted, despite coming no where near returning the ball over the net!

The Sydney International is a family friendly-hit!

What a great day out our family had at the Sydney International – this is a summer school holidays hit. With free child entry, and so much for families to do, it’s a Sydney summer essential for families. Don’t miss it!

Sydney International Fast Facts

When? Early to mid January – summer school holidays

How much? Up to four kids go free with an adult ticket (Starting from $16)

Where? Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Sydney

For more information on the Sydney International, head to their official website here.

The Let’s Go Mum family were invited guests, hosted on-site by Tennis Australia. As always, our opinions remain firmly our own.
All prices are based upon 2019 prices – for any updates or changes, please visit the official website.

Have you ever taken your kids to the tennis? Perhaps your child has tennis lessons? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Sydney International Tennis Australian Open Series – with kids! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are world-famous for a reason – they’re simply breathtaking to watch. But if you have children, it can seem like a logistical nightmare to get the kids to Sydney City to watch them without either, a) – paying a king’s ransom for a hotel room with a view, or, b) – braving the human-crush of the Sydney Harbour foreshore.

Last year I heard about the Cahill Expressway, and put my name down for a reminder email for this year’s ballot. I entered the ballot, and won a set of family tickets. So this year we spent our New Year’s Eve on the Cahill Expressway and had a really great time. I thought I would share the process with you so that you can enjoy New Year’s Eve from the Cahill Expressway with your family too!

See what it’s like! Watch the video of our NYE Cahill Expressway experience here

What’s the big deal about the Cahill Expressway on New Year’s Eve?

The Cahill Expressway, as the name suggests is a Sydney city road which is closed to traffic and open to pedestrians on New Year’s Eve. It offers a raised view of the Sydney Harbour over Circular Quay, with sweeping views from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Opera House – but you can’t just turn up to watch the fireworks from it on the night. Entry is restricted to ticket holders only, which you obtain through a public draw.

What is available on the night?

Emergency lanes are used to enter and leave, and during the event are kept open and clear. There is wheelchair/disabled access and guest assistance is also available. There is no alcohol or smoking allowed. There is a first-aid station on site. There are toilets located on-site.

Why is the Cahill Expressway such a great spot for families to watch the fireworks?

The Cahill Expressway is located safely above the heavy New Year’s Eve crowds. The complete area is enclosed and patrolled by security, and is a no-alcohol zone.  You are allotted a time to enter, and must queue to pass through a security check. This process takes around twenty minutes, including the walk up onto the Expressway itself from the city streets below.

When you win tickets, you are able to pre-order chair hire and food platters. Alternatively you can take food in with you (some restrictions apply) or buy hot food and soft drinks from the vendors on site. There are a number of dining table and chairs freely available for use on-site.

An excellent view of the fireworks is possible from all areas of the Cahill Expressway.

An excellent view of the fireworks is possible from all areas of the Cahill Expressway.

All of these factors make the Cahill Expressway a great choice for families to watch the fireworks.

How do I get New Year’s Eve family tickets to the Cahill Expressway?

There are two sessions available –  one for the 9pm family fireworks, and one for the midnight fireworks. Each session has room for up to 3,000 people, and although this sounds like a lot it’s not oppressively crowded, and there is room to move around.

To get a set of tickets (you are offered up to five tickets in total if you win) to watch the NYE fireworks from the Cahill Expressway, you need to enter the public ballot. The public ballot is open in early October, with ticket winners being notified in late October. You must be a NSW resident to enter the draw, and you may only lodge one entry.

When is the Cahill Expressway ballot open?

The best way to keep up to date with when the ballot goes live, is to visit the official Sydney New Year’s Eve website and subscribe to their newsletter. This email list will let you know exactly when the Cahill Expressway public ballot is open for you to enter. You can also find out general information at the Roads and Maritime Services website .

New Years Eve on the Cahill Express is a wonderful way to see the Sydney fireworks. It’s great to be able to relax with the family and take part in this fantastic Australian event to ring in the new year – Happy New Year!

Do you have any favourite New Year’s Eve spots? Share them in the comments below!

The post The best spot to see the Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks – with kids! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Play the video to below to watch…

Watch it on the Today Show website here

For more information on each of the budget school holiday activities, see each state listing below!

Australian School Holidays Activities

Brisbane

Activity: Towers of Tomorrow Lego exhibition
Where: Ipswich Art Gallery
When: Until 9th of July 2017
Cost: 4 sessions daily – $5 per person, per session – bookings are essential
For more information go to the website here

Sydney

Activity: Nestle Healthy Active Kids Cooking Sessions
Where: The Royal Easter Show – Woolworths Food Farm
When: Until 19th April
Cost: Free (In addition to entry fees – Adults $38 / Child $23)
For more information go to the website here

Melbourne

Activity: Easter Egg Scramble
Where: The Big Goose Farm
When: All Easter long weekend
Cost: $5 (in addition to farm entry fee – $17 adults/$13 children)
For more information go to the website here

Adelaide

Activity: Playford Alive Colour War & Outdoor Cinema- Minions
Where: Playford Alive Town Park
When: 15th April 2017
Price: Free – register for tickets from the Eventbrite website
For more information go to the website here

Perth

Activity: Animal activities
Where: Landsdale Farm School
When: All school holidays (except Good Friday & Easter Monday)
Cost: $7 entry per person – under 2yo free
For more information go to the website here

Do you have any school holiday budget ideas? Share them in the comments below!

The post Today Show- Australian School Holidays Budget Activities appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Participants will experience an all-new Tropicolor Zone™ on course, where they will be bathed in a tropical array of colors and delicious island scents as they pass through the shade of palm trees, arches, and island-style music.

The post Color Run Canberra – get your discount code here! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

When we were offered the opportunity to go on a Spirit of Gold Coast whale watching tour, we leapt at the chance – and we were so glad we did! What an exciting morning of whale watching thrills we encountered on this brilliant adventure to the deep blue sea!

Spirit of Gold Coast whale watching tours depart every day during whale watching season (June to early November) from Mariners Cove Marina on Sea World Drive. The departure point is just five minutes drive from the Surfers Paradise city centre. There is free parking in the Marina Mirage shopping centre car park, and from there it is a short walk up the Mariners Cove Marina to the boat, right next to the heli-pad. Be sure to arrive by 9am to check-in, in good time for departure at 9:30am.

Our whale watching boat for our two and a half hour cruise was a big, beautiful blue and white catamaran. Friendly crew were there to welcome us, and checked us in. Then we eagerly boarded the Spirit Of Gold Coast via a gently sloping walkway ramp.

If you have a pram, don’t worry – whale watching is very kid-friendly – you can bring the pram along too! Just let Spirit staff know when you book so that they can help you with it when you arrive.

Before we settled down in one spot, we decided to take a quick look around the boat. There were three main viewing platforms on board.

First we climbed up a solid set of stairs (easy for young children or the elderly to manage) to the top viewing deck – the captains control room level.

Inside you were welcome to relax on plush lounges, or you could sit outside where there were several benches, protected from the strong Queensland sunshine by a canopy.

Next we decided to have a look at the main inside cabin downstairs, The inside cabin was very spacious, and had lots of comfy padded seats and large tables for passengers to sit at.

A canteen here was serving a free morning tea with biscuits – a very refreshing start to the day! The canteen was also licensed, so beer and wine were available to purchase, as well as snacks and souvenirs.

I bought the kids a toy whale each, to help them remember this special day. Super-cute and cuddly with the Spirit Of Gold Coast logo on their tummies, these plush toys have become a firm favourite with the girls!

We went outside to take a look at the front of the boat, which you accessed using a small flight of stairs. The front viewing deck of the ship had lots of benches to sit on, or railings to hold onto. This turned out to be a popular place to be when the whale action got going later, as it gave free access to so many directions to watch whales.

More families were boarding by now, but there were plenty of seating and vantage points for everyone to make themselves comfortable for the cruise.

Then the boat set off, pulling away from the Marina and heading up the Broadwater towards the sea, and whale sanctuary.

Everywhere, the crew’s professional attention to detail and safety was evident – from their safety talk at the start of the cruise, to their constant monitoring of safe passenger movements around the moving boat – right down to their care of the few unfortunate passengers who later found themselves a bit sea-sick. This was obviously an experienced and capable crew.

We had decided to settle down up on the upper viewing deck to enjoy the sea breezes, and it was a lovely cruise out. The captain gave a fascinating running commentary all about the Gold Coast waterways and surrounding areas.

As we headed out to the beautiful open sea, almost straight away we were delighted to be informed that that there were dolphins swimming nearby! Sure enough, there they were – it was so thrilling to see wild dolphins frolicking together. What a great start to the cruise!

In no time at all, the first pod of Humpback Whales were spotted, not far from our boat. The boat slowed to a stop and everyone on board cried out in excitement as a massive black fin pounded the surface, soon followed by a tail sliding up, then into the water. It was a fantastic sight that took our breath away – whales!

Soon another pod was spotted, and another off behind that – surfacing, blowing air out of their blowholes, arcing through the water – it was September, and whale season was in full-swing.

The captain kept the boat slowly moving forward at the same pace of the whales, but not encroaching on their space at all. Sometimes the whales themselves would choose to swim over to the boat to check us out! What a thrill it was to see these massive, beautiful creatures so close up. They were obviously not worried about our boat being in their ocean at all – one even popped his head right up to get a better look at us!

Here’s a short video of some of the whales surfacing near the boat.

The crew commentary was both interesting and informative. We learned so much about the fascinating life of whales – their family lives, movements from Antarctica up to Australia, what and when they ate, and of course how they raised their young. There wasn’t much we didn’t know about whales by the end of the cruise!

Whale watching really is such a fabulous activity for families. The kids not only had a brilliant time, but they also learned all about the importance of whale conservation. They can now appreciate first-hand why it is so important that we all do our best to protect and preserve whales, and their precious environment.

Although it’s hard to imagine NOT spotting any whales, if you don’t see any of them on your cruise, Spirit Whale Watching guarantees to give you a free whale watching trip until you do! That way, they ensure that you do get to experience a whale sighting with them.

Eventually it was time to move on from where we had been wandering from one whale pod to another, and the captain decided to take us back along the coast line – parallel to the Surfers Paradise beach. We soon spotted a whale cow and her calf, and we slowly kept pace with them at a respectful distance.

The kids and I made our way down to the front of the boat for a better look at her. The children decided to sit down on the deck, gripping the rails so that they could be closer to the water. Suddenly, a pod of dolphins joined the boat, playing and diving right at the front of the boat, directly in front of the children – it was such a wonderful experience to be in the company of these gloriously joyful creatures for several minutes. We had to tear our attention between the playful dolphins and the slowly progressing whale mother and baby!

Here’s a video of the dolphins playing and swimming at the very front of the boat, and the whale mother and calf off to the side of the boat.

Finally the time came to head back, although I think we all would have kept going along with these beautiful marine animals all day, if we could have! The captain asked everyone to wave good bye to the mother and calf, and we turned from the sea back into the Broadwater.

We settled back for the cruise back in, everyone happily chatting about the wonders they had seen during the tour. It felt like we were back at the Mariners Cove Marina in no time at all!

There was a professional photographer on board during the whole cruise. He had taken photographs of everyone prior to boarding, but had also been taking photos of all the whales we had seen from the top of the boat during the trip – so if you didn’t catch the perfect whale-moment with your own camera, you had the option of buying one of his excellent professional shots.

The boat docked and we all disembarked using the secure gangway to get back onto the jetty. We farewelled the crew, thanking them for their excellent service. We had been very well looked after for the entire whale watching cruise.

We were sad the trip was over as we had had such a good time, but we knew that we had many new and wonderful family memories to take along with us to keep for a lifetime. What an amazing adventure we had experienced with Spirit Of Gold Coast Whale Watching!

Stop Press! We have a school holidays special for you!

We’ve heard the Gold Coast whale action at the moment is just crazy, so we have a great special for you to join in the fun!
Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching are offering adults at kids prices for Let’s go Mum! fans – that’s just $59 (instead of $99!) per adult – just mention “Let’s go Mum!” upon booking.
You can book using their website here:
http://www.spiritwhalewatching.com.au/

Let’s Go Info!

Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching

Admission

Adult $99
Child $59 (3-14yrs inclusive)
Family of 4 $236 (2 adults,2 children)
Seniors & Students $79

Departure location

Mariners Cove Marina (next to Marina Mirage) ,
Berth 95, Arm D, next to Helicopter Pad,
Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Gold Coast

How to get there

By car: Free parking is available at Marina Mirage car park.

Daily tour times

Arrive at 9am for check-in.
Tours depart at 9:30am (returns at 12pm)

You can find out more at the official Spirit Whale Watching website here

All prices are accurate for September 2016
We reviewed this tour as guests of Spirit Whale Watching, however all opinions are my own

Have you ever been on a whale watching tour anywhere, or do you plan to? Comment below!

The post Spirit of Gold Coast Whale Watching Family Review + Discount! appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Download your free printable ride height guide

Our free, printable Dreamworld ride height guide!

Theme park ride access is kept safe using a height measurement guide, to ensure that children are big enough to be secured safely on the ride. I’ve photographed Dreamworld’s ride height guide for you and created a free printable download to help you plan your day at Dreamworld – just click on the thumbnail, or click here to download and print yours!

Have you visited Dreamworld? What’s your favourite rides or shows? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Dreamworld free ride height-guide to print and take with you appeared first on Let's go Mum.