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1 – Last call! The Sydney Royal Easter Show

If you haven’t taken the kids to the Sydney Royal Easter Show yet – well, you’re really missing out! This year you can walk through the actual Big Brother House, do the animal walk to see chickens, sheep, horses and feed and pet all the animals in the Farmyard Nursery (get a photo of the kids holding a baby lamb there!).

Then go watch impossibly muscled up men at the wood chopping arena – where else can you see it, after all?!  Eat your fill of the most incredible array of (absolutely delicious) show food, watch the street parade, check out the crafts where you’ll find incredible cakes, pet all kinds of dogs (maybe not the cats!), visit the Lifestyle Pavilion to have scones with the CWA ladies, sit atop a Police motorcycle, get a free RAT test from the NSW Gov stand and lay in a row of massage chairs. Aaah!

Then maybe stray to the different ride carnivals, ride the big wheel, buy copious amounts of showbags (Bertie Beetle bags are the cheapest at $3 but the big name bags such as Sonic, Paw Patrol & CoComelon are in the $20’s) and finish off the day with some Didgeridoo Fireworks! Phew!

Don’t forget to buy tickets online before you go as they do sell out. Public transport is included in your ticket, or if you’re driving be sure to book first – P1 is your closest Sydney Olympic Park Easter Show parking station choice.

NSW Government Discover NSW & Parents NSW Vouchers may be used when purchasing Carnival Fun Pass Credits via the Carnival Fun Pass App but not entry tickets into the show

Suitable for: all ages
How much: Standard $41, Concession $31, Kids Day Tuesday $12,  Buy tickets at Ticketmaster here
Where: Sydney Olympic Park
When: Ends Easter Tuesday, 19/04/2022
More info at the official website here

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2 – Sydney Tower Eye Sydney’s Highest 80s Arcade event

It’s time to party like it’s 1981 – a time when perms were socially acceptable, as were bubble gum jeans and enormous hoop earrings. Yes, that was me – and not that much has changed! Take a ride up the Sydney Tower where you will find it has been transformed into an 80s video arcade for the holidays! You get to play on 80’s arcade games to your heart’s content – what’s not to love? No coins required, because it’s included in your general entrance ticket. If ever you needed an excuse to visit the Sydney Tower Eye, then this is it! Table Top Pac Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Upright pin ball machines, twin car racers, twin motor bikes, dance video games and heaps more are all there for the playing.

Checking out the amazing 360 degree views of Sydney city and beyond from the massive windows is pretty cool too.

There’s even an over 18’s night time bar sessions – how fun that would be (I can dream)!

Grab your 80’s fluro (okay, so you don’t need to go QUITE as over the top as we did at the media event) and get UP there!

Suitable for: school age children to (tragic 80’s!) adults
How much: Family daytime access inc. 80s game play: Adults $31.50, Child $23 (ages 3-15yrs), Student or Senior $24, Children under 3 are free
Night-time bar event for over 18s inc. 80s game play: Standard Entry: $55 and Premium Entry $65 which includes a cocktail, hotdog, icecream and glow accessories (Wow!)  Book online at the official website
Where: Sydney Tower Eye, Sydney CBD
When:
Daytime: 1st to the 30th April 2022 (stay as long as you like!)
Night-time: April 8, 9, 22, 23, 29, 30 (two sessions, 6pm and 9pm)
More info at the official website here

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

3 – Sydney Raging Waters are open during April holidays!

Sydney Raging Waters is awesome fun, and you may not realise that they are still open these April school holidays! We had the best time when we were invited there earlier this year so I just couldn’t leave it out of our list when they invited us back again these holidays. There’s a special discount on right now too, which is buy one single ticket and get one half price – too good to miss!

Sydney Raging Waters is such a fantastic day out for the whole family. Take my advice and book a VIP Cabana so you have a cosy base to leave your gear in and order food from too. (I love that lazy factor!)

Ride the thrilling water slides (there are just so many of them!) for big kids, teenagers and parents or the scaled down version for the little kids. There’s water play areas for the non-swimmers, tiny tots and toddlers too. Catch some waves in the massive but gentle wave pool beach as lifeguards keep an eye out, or just go for a never ending floating ring circuit on the Dinosaur Lagoon. (Possibly the most relaxing heated pool activity ever!)

You can use your NSW vouchers to buy normal priced tickets here

Suitable for: all ages
How much: Save $10 by purchasing tickets online. Current offer buy one ticket get one at half price.
Adult $49.99 online (2 for $74.99 – can’t use NSW vouchers on this offer), Kids/Seniors (over 60yrs) $44.99 online  Buy tickets at the official website here
Parking: $10 per car
Where: Blacktown
When: Saturday 9th April to Sunday 24th April
More info at the official website here

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4 – Sydney Aquarium & Sydney Zoo Peppa Pig event

Invited and we couldn’t make it to this one too, but we’ve seen the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo pics for this event and can’t imagine any toddler, preschooler or kindergarten Peppa fan wouldn’t want to get to this event in a hurry!!

Even if they’re not keen on Peppa (as if!), it’s the Sydney Aquarium and Zoo, which are epic Sydney School Holidays ideas anyhow. We never, ever get tired of visiting Sydney Aquarium!

Join Peppa Pig on an interactive adventure at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium & WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo from the 1st – 30th April 2022!

Suitable for: small children
How much: Adults $58, Child $41 (ages 3-15yrs) Children under 3 are free, for two attractions – so BOTH the Aquarium and Zoo  Buy tickets at the official website
Where: Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour
When: 1st to the 30th April 2022
More info at the official website here

5 – Disney+ Drive In at Openair Cinemas

Throw up the hatchback, pull out the fairy lights and cushions and sit back in your car for a Disney classic movie at the Openair Cinema’s Drive In. I don’t remember Drive ins ever being as fun as this one, with roller skating snack delivery waiters and a huge light-up mickey ears installation to take your own super-cool Instagram shots beneath. Don’t worry if you don’t have a car – couples can snuggle down in the red bean bags of the Doordash “The Park” and watch the show with their very own volume-controlled radio! Order your dinner with Doordash for a 30% discount and have it delivered to you without even lifting a finger thanks to QR codes. Supermarkets and cooking are soooo last school hols!

Drive In patrons (and mums and dads) never had it so good.

Suitable for: all ages
How much: Check website for next year
Where: Commbank Stadium, Parramatta
When: Ends Easter Sunday
More info at the official website here

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

Need more ideas? Check out our Australian school holidays movie reviews here

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

All information is correct as at April 2022 – please check the official websites as linked above for relevant, up to date information and prices.

We were hosted or invited guests to all of the above activities and speak from experience or trusted sources. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

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We’ve just attended the coolest party in Sydney – literally! The Sydney Sea Life Aquarium Penguin’s have just celebrated their 1st Anniversary.

These super-cute, formally attired little fellows are stars in their own right. They are otherwise known as the Real Penguins Of Sydney – the hilarious penguin reality hit series that everyone is talking about! With over half a million views, it’s safe to say that these cool little characters have a lot to celebrate!

Sydney’s coolest party

Helping to celebrate 1 year of the fantastic Gentoo and King Penguin colony at Sydney Aquarium was a real delight.!

There were yummy snacks on offer for both humans and penguins alike, and everyone was thrilled to receive goody-bags containing all sorts of penguin toys and treats. Formal speeches were given by the Aquarium General Manager and the head of Penguin management.

A special screening of the finale of the Real Penguins Of Sydney was shown to the avid audience, resulting in lots of laughs! Then it was on to the most important part of the ceremony – the big penguin celebration cake!

This was no ordinary cake. Stacked layers of blue and red jelly decorated with fresh fish was just the thing for a colony of party-loving penguins. Add one of their extra-favourite toys – a motorised bubble-maker – to it and you’ve got a Penguin anniversary cake made in heaven! With the penguin keepers looking on affectionately, the little penguins hesitantly approached the strange object at first. But they soon broke into a full-on waddle once the bubble machine sprang into action. You couldn’t hold them back!

The Sydney penguin anniversary party – watch the video

Play the video below to see what the Sydney WildLife Aquarium penguin party was like, plus a quick look at a trip in the Penguin Experience boat ride…

Sydney Aquarium is the perfect school holidays activity

Located in the beautiful Darling Harbour in the centre of Sydney, Sea Life Aquarium is one of Sydney’s top family attractions. It offers several themed areas housing a huge range of Australian sea and water creatures. These include a large number of fish species, sharks, rays, dugongs and many more. A year ago the Penguin Expedition feature was added to their already amazing line-up, and it is now one of their most stand-out attractions.

The Penguin Expedition boat ride is included in the general admission ticket, making the Sydney Aquarium entrance fee even better value than ever. Climb aboard the penguin boat-ride to travel to “Macquarie Island”. Gently float along through the resident Gentoo and King Penguin colony. At the end of the boat ride, you can view the penguins at close-quarters thanks to specialised viewing areas. It’s all great fun, and at a chilly 4 degrees inside the Penguin Expedition, literally the coolest ride in town!

Sydney Aquarium opening hours & discount ticket prices

Visit the Sydney Aquarium for yourself – it’s the perfect Sydney school holidays activity!

The aquarium is open every day from 10am to 7pm (seasonal hours) over the summer school holidays.

Admission prices start from $42 adult and $29.50 child online. Children under 4 are given free admission. Discount tickets are also available online to enter multiple attractions. These can include the Sydney Wildlife Zoo and Madame Tussauds – both are located right next-door, making for a great day out!

How to get to the Sydney SeaLife Aquarium

The Aquarium is located on the Sydney City side of Darling Harbour.
Catch a tourist bus to the Aquarium, a Ferry to Darling Harbour, a train to Town Hall Station or simply walk straight down from the city centre (5-10 minutes walk).
Drive and park in one of the many surrounding car parks – many of which are Sydney Aquarium partners.

Validate your parking ticket

If you are driving to the Aquarium, you can park within two minutes walk. Validate your parking by presenting your admission ticket together with your parking ticket at the Aquarium gift shop. This will give you a significant reduction on the price of several surrounding Darling Harbour partner car parks. Car park locations are listed on the Aquarium website.

Further Aquarium information

You can book tickets online and find out more information  at the official website here.

All prices are correct at January 2018. Check supplied website links for any price and availability changes.
Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. All opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited Sea Life Aquarium? Tell us in the comments below!

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Located in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Madame Tussauds is always an exciting attraction to visit. Now it has even more fun on offer with its new party area. Interact with the stars for some fabulous pics and a whole lot of fun!

As always, this popular Sydney tourist attraction has lots to offer visitors. There’s a huge number of fantastic wax models – which of course also means a huge number of cool selfie opportunities!

There are always fun new wax figures to see, and experiences to try out as you traverse your winding way through the museum. Brush shoulders with royalty, movie stars, sports stars and much more.

This wax museum is the perfect place to visit during the school holidays. It will keep the kids (and you of course!) amused for hours.

To take a look at the latest Madame Tussauds Sydney fun zones, check out this new video we made on our most recent visit.

A super-fast tour – watch our Sydney Madame Tussauds video

Play the video below to see what the Sydney Madame Tussauds museum is like…

Book tickets to Madame Tussauds Sydney

You can buy tickets at the door, however booking online will save you money. Discounted tickets start from $29.40 each if you book online, or you can buy a multi-pass to visit several Sydney attractions with one discounted ticket.

You can find out more, or book at the official Madame Tussauds Sydney website here.

All prices are correct at December 2017. Check supplied website links for any price and availability changes.
Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Sydney Madame Tussauds. All opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever been to a Madame Tussauds museum? Tell us in the comments below!

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Located on the NSW South Coast at the Dapto Showground, this exciting new attraction is just a a few minutes drive from Wollongong, and a couple of hours drive from both Canberra and Sydney.

The water park is made up of several themed pools and slides. They range from a baby pool (no big kids allowed!), right up to a super-fast giant Polar slide!

Some of the other fun pools on  offer  include a dinosaur pool, an Ice Age fun park pool and an African themed pool. All have different fun features, and are generous in size. There’s plenty of room for everyone at this super-fun family attraction.

Laid out in a lovely shady setting, there are plenty of picnic areas surrounding the swimming pools. Bring your own picnic along with you, or you can purchase meals, snacks and coffee from the on-site cafe.

The water park caters to all ages – from babies and toddlers, to school aged children, teenagers and adults. This is a great summer school holiday activity for the whole family to enjoy together!

Check out the fun – watch our Wollongong inflatable water park video

Play the video below to see what the Dapto inflatable water park is like…

Safety first!

Trained life guards and attendants are on duty at all times to make sure children and adults are using the equipment safely, but as always, parents do need to supervise their children.

Where to get tickets

Sessions run for two or four hours depending on the day you go, and online discounts do apply. So be sure to book online before you go for the best ticket price.

A four hour ticket (in the form of a wrist band on the day) is $23.80 for children (aged 4 and up) or adults.

Children 3 and under are free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Spectators receive free entry.

You can book or find out more information about the Waliscags Water Worx inflatable water park at their official website here.

All prices are correct at December 2017. Check supplied website links for any price and availability changes.
Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of the Waliscags Water Worx. All opinions remain firmly our own.
Swimwear – Speedo Australia – Let’s go Mum are proud ambassadors for Speedo Australia.

Have you ever been to an inflatable fun park? Tell us in the comments below!

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The girls and I have been on a lot of bushwalks together – it’s a great way to escape the everyday, relax and have fun together in the great outdoors.

You don’t need any special equipment, fitness or know-how to go for a family bushwalk – just pack the essentials (which you probably already have – see our 5 essentials for a fun family bushwalk infographic here), grab the kids and go!

That’s just what I did when we were lucky enough to be invited to spend some time at Wombeyan Caves recently – and experienced an extra-special bushwalk which we want to share with you!

Read all about how to get there, where to stay and what to do in our Wombeyan Caves feature article here

Our chosen hike, the Mares Forest Creek Track, is one of the best bushwalks we’ve ever done. It has everything a great bushwalk should – plus three special reasons that set this bushwalk apart from all the others.  So without further ado, here are our top three reasons why you need to take your kids on the Wombeyan Caves Mares Forest Creek bushwalk!

1 – Native animals are everywhere at Wombeyan

Kangaroos and wallabies and lyrebirds….oh my! You are going to see so much native wildlife in and around Wombeyan you simply won’t believe it – and most of them are really quiet!

We started out on our hike fairly early in the morning – be sure to grab a free map of the walk from the Wombeyan Caves information centre before you go. The complete bushwalk is 3.2kms long, and  takes around one and a half hours return, which is the perfect amount of time for the whole family to enjoy themselves and not get too tired or worn-out.

Leaving from the Wombeyan Caves Visitors Information Centre, by now you will have already seen a lot of kangaroos – they are all around the camping and cabin areas, near the visitors centre…even as you cross the footbridge and head up the wide hillside path (which also leads to all of the Wombeyan Caves entrances – buy a ticket before you leave to see these magnificent caves).

As well as kangaroos and wallabies, there are some really wonderful views back over the valley from this hill path, and a lookout with seats part of the way up.

From the top of the hill, follow the sign to the Mares bushwalk. The track is easy to follow, clear and good underfoot. There are some ups and downs, but mostly the path is undulating with beautiful sweeping valley views.

As you approach the end of the track, the going ranges from easy to moderately steep, but with a helping hand and close supervision, school age kids can manage perfectly well.

2 – The Tinted Cave

The Tinted Cave is a beautiful family-friendly cave close to the end of the Mares Forest Creek bushwalk track. This lovely little cave is open to the public and requires no admission ticket or token to enter.

The cave has push-button timed lighting installed, hand rails or cables, and is easy to navigate. It can be handy to have your smart phone along to use as a torch for the darkest sections, but it’s really not essential.

An important note – if you see any “wild”, or unlit, caves in the Wombeyan Caves Karst Reserve area they are not open to the public – for your own safety and the cave’s preservation, please keep out!

There are some lovely, illuminated stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Tinted Cave, but perhaps it’s biggest feature is that when you emerge from the other end, it opens out onto a natural rock balcony which overlooks the Limestone Gorge (otherwise known as the Marble Canyon).

Once you catch sight of the Marble Canyon, you’re probably going to want to get down there as quickly as possible – because it is just spectacular! You’ll need to retrace your steps back through the Tinted Cave to continue on down to what has to be one of the most beautiful natural swimming spots in New South Wales.

3 – A stunning natural swimming spot

When you have finished exploring the Tinted Cave (it’s so much fun, we went back into the cave on the way back up, too!), continue on down the path to access the river and the Marble Canyon.

The trail down involves a steep-ish descent. Take care with your younger children here, as there are no hand-rails. There is a flight of concrete stairs situated at the bottom section of the trail to help you negotiate your way down and back up more easily.

Once you reach the bottom, there is a raised metal walk way running alongside the river for a short distance.

The Marble Canyon is such a beautiful place – a tumbling, bubbling river strewn with large boulders – very wide and shallow in some parts, narrow and rocky in others with crystal-clear, clean water. Soaring rock walls on either side make this a particularly spectacular bushland swimming spot – don’t forget your lilo in summer!

The kids can climb and explore to their hearts content at the Marble Canyon

The return bushwalk

When it’s time to set off back, you can either return back along the same bushwalk trail, or add a bit of variety and turn right at the sign post to hike across the valley and join up with the Junction Cave Track which runs along the other side of the valley. This effectively turns your bushwalk into a loop.

Returning via this linking trail is very scenic and doesn’t add much distance on at all, however it does involve another short but steep-ish descent/ascent through a dry river bed. Therefore, parents carrying or assisting very young children at this point may perhaps prefer to return using the same bush track they came along, as it is easier going.

Oh, and one extra reason that mum and dad are going to love – this bushwalk doesn’t cost a cent. It’s absolutely free!

The Mares Forest Creek Track is a really enjoyable bushwalk with the reward of a fun cave to explore at the end and a fantastic swimming canyon river – your family is going to love it!

Wombeyan Caves is located in rural NSW, Australia – a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney or 2.5 hour drive from Canberra. You can do this one-and-a-half hour bushwalk easily during a day trip, but I recommend you consider making a weekend of it – not just so that you can take it easy, but also because there’s so much to see and do at Wombeyan – 3 big caves to tour, 3 separate bushwalks and beautiful camping grounds or cabins to stay in (You can read more about Wombeyan Caves accommodation and activities in our feature here).

The Let’s Go Mum family were invited guests at Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. As always, all opinions are our own.

Do you like to go bushwalking with the kids? Tell us your best spots in the comments below…

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We’ve just spent a wonderful few days at Wombeyan Caves, located in NSW. Run by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, this gorgeous little valley is truly a secret treasure for Sydney, Canberra and surrounds families to discover – it’s the perfect place to go play with the family exploring caves, bushwalking and swimming, or just kick-back and relax surrounded by beauty!

Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve

As we drove down the windy little road into the valley that is the Wombeyan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve, we were struck by its astounding beauty. Tall poplars (amazing right now, as they turn golden in autumn) and old gum trees combine with rolling green plains for a stunning effect.

Among the trees, cosy campsites are scattered about. Not only does Wombeyan feature caves and bushwalks, it also has beautiful campgrounds for tents and caravans, plus on-site cabins to stay in. All of this makes for the perfect weekend getaway from Sydney or Canberra.

Kids play, ride bikes and wander about unhindered. This is family holidaying at its best – far away from civilisation, and in its own little world of nature – plus caving and bushwalking adventures to be had!

One of the best places to see wild Kangaroos in Australia

If you’ve always wanted to see, or show your children kangaroos in the wild, this has to be one of the best locations in Australia to see them. Quiet, almost tame family mobs of kangaroos, and even wallabies, graze around the edges of the idyllic camping area. You can literally stroll right up to them and watch them at close-quarters. They are always there, rain or shine, grazing, sleeping and…well, hopping about! It’s a real treat to have these furry neighbours living right alongside of the campers!

The Wombeyan Caves

Without a doubt, the Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is most famous for its incredible caves. The limestone and marble Wombeyan Caves system is a natural marvel, and you can walk and climb right through the three caves which are open to the public for admission price.

An important point to mention here, is that entry to any wild (unlit) caves at Wombeyan is illegal and highly dangerous without an experienced guide  – both to the trespassers and also the caves. So make sure that you buy an admission ticket, and only stick to the official caves!

It’s historically known that the outer areas of the caves (at least) were frequented by local Aborigines for thousands of years, and the caves were first European-discovered by John Oxley in 1828. In the early days, cave tours were done by candle-light!

To access any of the Wombeyan Caves, it’s a ten minute walk from the Visitor Information Centre to the top of the hill where the guided tours meet, or in the case of the Fig Tree Cave, another five minute stroll over the hill and down to the cave entrance. As you walk up, you may be lucky enough to hear the bellbirds like we did – here is a short video so that you can have a listen…

The path up the hill features spectacular views back over the valley. As with any of the high paths, it’s a good idea to closely supervision younger children as you walk up, due to the steep sides.

Native wildlife is everywhere at Wombeyan, and the path up to the top of the hill is no exception. Bell Birds call to each other in the trees. Kangaroos pop up everywhere. Lyrebirds rustle through the undergrowth. We even came across a pair of Red Necked Wallabies right next to the path. The best of it is that the wildlife is all so quiet and accepting of people – you can get quite close before they even think about moving away.

At the top of the hill is the meeting spot for the two-guided tour caves.

Three caves are currently open to the general public to view and explore, and we test-ran all three of them for you so that you can choose which cave best-suits your family.

Cave no. 1 – The Fig Tree Cave – allow about one hour – self-guided

Difficulty: Easy
Cave Ladders: 0

Especially suits: families with very young children or visitors with limited time at Wombeyan

The Fig Tree Cave is the only Wombeyan Cave which visitors explore via a self-guided tour. This means you pay admission at the Wombeyan Caves Visitors Centre first ($20 adult/$13 concession-child) and are given an access token. You then walk up and over the hill to the cave entrance, located approximately 15 minutes walk away, where you can access and explore the cave unaccompanied by a guide.

The cave entrance is an iron door with a token slot – insert your token, and pull open the door, and you’re presented with a narrow, rocky set of stairs descending into the cave!

The children were just astounded with this disappearing-into-the-side-of-a-hill act. They couldn’t believe they were actually going to walk inside a hill – just like an adventure story! It was wonderful fun to watch their reactions and excitement.

Inside this beautiful cave are several chambers containing well-lit spectacles of limestone splendour. Enormous stalactites, stalagmites and columns are all the way along.

Being a self-guided tour, there are points to stop and listen to an audio commentary. This coordinates with a clever lighting system which highlights special features – and reveals amazing spaces, such as the “Opera House Cavern”. In the Fig Tree Cave you’ll also find amazing stone formations such as the Colonnades, the Galleries and the Marble Way.

The trick of the whole adventure is getting the kids to slow-down and actually listen to the fascinating audio – we probably achieved this…well, maybe half the time!

The cave is brilliant for families with young children because it is so easy to navigate, and feels very safe. Walkways are well-lit, smooth and even, and are lined with continuous chrome-metal handrails.

The handrails also help with negotiating several short flights of rock/cement stairs, and narrow – sometimes low-hanging – rock passages. The constantly winding, climbing and descending passageway is actually a lot of fun!Eventually – perhaps 45 minutes after entering the cave – we reached the bottom to emerge inside of the magnificent Victoria Arch – a natural rock arch of astounding size and beauty. We were initially all struck speechless at its wonder!

From Victoria Arch and the cave exit, it is a mere two-minute, level walk back to the car park. The funny thing is, once you emerge from the Figtree Cave, you feel like turning around and going back in – it’s that fascinating!

Cave no. 2: The Wollondilly Cave – 1½ hour guided tour

Difficulty: Moderate
Cave Ladders: 5

A little about cave ladders and kids

Cave no. 3: The Junction Cave – 1½ hour guided tour

Difficulty: Moderate
Cave Ladders: 4

Especially suits: families with school aged children, up – visitors with more time (due to cave’s slightly farther-away location)

Bushwalking trails

The caves aren’t the only fun family activity to do together at Wombeyan – there are also several bushwalks! There are three marked walking trails radiating out from the Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve – the Waterfall Walk (4kms, 2 hours), Mares Forest Creek Walk (3.2km, 1.5 hours – includes a crystal-clear river swimming area, which is great for the summer months) and the Karst Walk (a shorter loop near the valley).

To learn more about bushwalking safely with children, see our 5 essentials for a fun family bushwalk in Australia article here

We decided on bushwalking the Mares Forest Creek Walk – and it would have to be one of the best family bushwalks in NSW, if not Australia. This picturesque bush walk took us through beautiful bushland along well-formed trails with stunning views, all the way to the fascinating Tinted Cave and the Limestone Gorge (otherwise known as the Marble Canyon). The river running through the Canyon makes an amazing natural Summer swimming spot. (You can read all about our Wombeyan Caves Mares Forest Bushwalk in our up-coming special feature).

Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve Accommodation

Wombeyan Caves Reserve is a simply beautiful place to stay, and there are several accommodation options to choose from. The perfect weekend getaway from Sydney or Canberra, staying a night or two at Wombeyan Karst Reserve is the perfect way to see the caves and do one or two bushwalks as well. Plus you’ll have some time to take it easy and just enjoy being there. Huge trees, masses of native wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and lyrebirds to name just a few – this is a hidden paradise, unspoiled by modern times. As in all National Parks, no pets and no smoking are allowed.

The Wombeyan Caves Caravan and Cabin Park

Our two-bedroom cabin

Wombeyan Caves budget accommodation – the campground camping area

The Wombeyan Caves camping area is just a little farther down the road from the caravan park. Tent and caravan campsites are located next to a large clearing where families of kangaroos and wallabies graze day and night.

There are limited powered sites at the campground which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Whilst you don’t need to book for unpowered tent sites, you do need to book if you are bringing a caravan or camper trailer – particularly in the school holidays (see the telephone number in info at the end of this article for bookings).

There are formed campfire sites to sit around and toast your marshmallows over too, but you do need to bring your own firewood in with you.

The Camp Kitchen

Wombeyan Caves Campground is very well serviced. There is an attractive stone camp kitchen and dining room building available to all. The communal kitchen contains large ovens, cook-top stoves, kitchen sinks, a hot water urn, jug and a fridge. The large dining room next door features a large wood-fire, and provides a place to eat and relax out of the weather.

No, or limited mobile phone service – welcome to a genuine holiday getaway!

As we drove up, out of the valley, campfires were springing to life as the evening closed in, their hazy smoke snaking up into the valley sky. Kangaroos peacefully grazed in the twilight. It was a surreal scene of family camping bliss which we were very sorry to be leaving. We certainly look forward to our next visit to Wombeyan Caves.

Wombeyan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve useful info

Wombeyan Caves is an excellent New South Wales destination for a day-trip, weekend getaway or  relaxing holiday where you can escape the rat-race and get back to nature – with some fun adventurous exploring on the side. The Caves, wildlife and bushwalks will keep you and the family as busy as you want to be – or just take it easy and soak up the peacefulness and beauty of this magical location. You can choose your own family adventure!

Run by NSW National Parks, Wombeyan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve is open year-round, weather permitting (with the exception of Christmas Day for the Visitors Centre).

Accommodation booking and price information

Camping fees information
Unpowered camp sites for tents and caravans (no prior booking necessary) are from *$15 per adult or *$39 per family per night.

Cabins pricing information
Standard cabin 2-night school holidays or weekend stay: *$272 for 2 adults, *$289 per family (2 adults, children up to age 16). *$103 per extra night. Cheaper off-peak.

Caves information

Fig Tree Cave self-guided tour prices
$50 per family
or
$20 per adult
$13 per child/concession
$17 seniors

Junction Cave and Wollondilly Cave guided tours prices
$60 per family
or
$24 per adult
$19 per child/concession
$22 seniors

Wombeyan Passes for discounted multiple entries are also available.

*All prices are correct as at May 2017

For information and bookings
Wombeyan Caves Visitors Centre
Tel: +61 (02) 48 43 5976
Email: wombeyan.caves@environment.nsw.gov.au
You’ll find more information at the official NSW National Parks website here

How to get to Wombeyan Caves

Wombeyan Caves Reserve is located inland, in-between Sydney and Goulburn.

We approached Wombeyan Caves from the direction of Goulburn, NSW, taking a sealed bitumen road to just past Taralga, then turning right onto Wombeyan Caves Road. Only the last 15kms or so of the trip being dirt/gravel unsealed road. The last couple of kilometres do return to bitumen for a steep-ish, narrow descent into the valley where the caves are located. Normal 2 wheel drive cars can easily access Wombeyan Caves.

Access from Sydney also includes unsealed road, and takes around 3 and a half hours from the Sydney CBD, via the Hume Highway to Mittagong, then turning right onto the Old Hume Highway which becomes the Wombeyan Caves Road. Progress along the Wombeyan Caves Road (from the Mittagong end) is winding and slow, and at one point passes through a historic sandstone tunnel.

The Let’s Go Mum family were invited guests at Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. As always, all opinions are our own.

Do you like to go camping with your family? Tell us in the comments below…

The post Sydney family camping getaway – Wombeyan Caves appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Spending time together as a family in the beautiful Australian countryside is a fantastic way to reconnect with each other whilst have fun – and getting some healthy exercise at the same time! You don’t need to be super fit – many bushwalks can be as short as fifteen minutes, which you can easily do with younger children before or after a picnic.

Bushwalking usually doesn’t cost anymore than your transport to get there, plus a small National Parks entrance fee – it’s even free in many areas! You don’t need to buy anything to do it, either – you probably already have everything you need at home right now.

Bushwalking with the kids can be an opportunity to discover new places, spot native wildlife and enjoy amazing views together – whether you are walking in the bush block out the back or circumnavigating Uluru!

First things first – plan ahead

Google your bushwalking area before you go – spare ten minutes to check out where you are going in advance to make sure that it is family friendly – you don’t want to end up scaling the side of a cliff with toddlers! Most bushwalking areas in Australia are well documented, well mapped and sign posted along the way. Don’t forget to pick up a map from visitor information, or print out a map off the internet to carry with you on your bushwalk. Also, consider telling a friend where you’re going – or even post your intentions on Facebook in advance -just so someone knows where you are, just in case!

Bushwalking is a budget family activity

Bushwalking usually doesn’t cost anymore than your transport to get there, plus a small National Parks or Nature Reserve entrance fee – it’s even free in many areas! Plus you don’t need special equipment – probably already have everything you need at home right now. Take a picnic – there are usually picnic spots or even barbeque areas. You were going to have lunch anyhow, just pop it into a supermarket insulation bag – and throw in some sweet treats for afters.

Keep your family safe

With the help of common sense, bushwalking doesn’t have to be dangerous.

• Some bushwalks have a sign in/sign out book at the start of the trail to record you are there – use it!
• Stick to the marked paths to avoid getting lost.
• Don’t attempt to feed or approach native wildlife – especially any snakes that may cross your path in summer – they usually want to avoid you just as much as you wish to avoid them!
• Discourage children from racing ahead – or at least keep them in sight – particularly in snake-prone or steep country.
• Treat any swimming areas with ultra-vigilance – watch for strong currents, deep water and unseen obstacles.
• Avoid going far in the hottest months of the year – National Parks may close due to high bushfire danger, plus summer is snake season. If you do walk in summer, walk early in the day when it is cooler. Don’t leave late in the day- it’s far easier to get lost in the dark, plus many National Parks and Reserves close at sunset.

Wear comfortable, sensible clothes

Dress appropriately. You don’t need a heap of specialist gear – just some comfy, sensible clothes and shoes. Wearing or carrying hats is a must, and we’ve found it’s really helpful to carry a light jacket for everyone, no matter what the season – sudden weather changes happen often in Australia. Of course, don’t forget to slip-slop-slap for sun protection. Sunscreen and/or insect repellent is always great to have along.

Tip!

Keep a change of clothes and shoes in the car – my kids nearly always get covered in mud from climbing, sitting in the dirt – or falling in small creeks when rock-hopping! You don’t want uncomfortable, unhappy kids for the trip home, trust me!

Carry water – and snacks!

Carrying water with you is essential – and as with travelling with kids anywhere, take along the snacks – trail mix usually has something for everyone – a piece of fruit can fill up a little tummy if they were too excited to eat during your picnic – even a vegemite sandwich in a zip lock bag can taste like heaven when your half an hour away from the car – or civilisation!

Take it easy – you’re meant to be having fun!

Wander along – don’t power-walk. This is nature at its finest. Look around, soak it up – let the kids adventure and discover at their own pace. This way, everyone will be eager to do it again – and you can all relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of every day life at the same time.

Above all, don’t forget the mantra, leave only footsteps, take only memories – and family photos – lots of ’em – have fun!

Here is a printable infographic to help you prepare your fun bushwalking day out – the Let’s go Mum! Top 5 essential must-haves for a fun family bushwalk in Australia!

Click on the infographic to download and save or print it

What are your essential family bushwalking must-haves, or tips? Tell us in the comments below…

The post The 5 essentials for a fun family bushwalk in Australia appeared first on Let's go Mum.

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is currently offering some wonderful Disney experiences for the family.

A magical Disney Beauty and the Beast experience

The Sofitel Sydney Beauty and the Beast High Tea is a dreamy Disney delight! This special Disney-Sofitel collaboration has resulted in the transformation of the entire hotel lobby into a magical Beauty and the Beast world.

Bunches of red roses are everywhere. TV screens feature Beauty and the Beast scenes. A stunning Belle gown replica is on display in a giant glass case, and there is even a “Belle’s Reading Corner” – a cosy area to sit in a comfy arm chair and read your favourite Disney story book.

The Beauty and the Beast High Tea

The High Tea itself is held in the Soiree, located just inside the hotel, next to the main front entrance. We were warmly welcomed upon arrival, and shown to our elegant table.

Our table was situated next to floor-to-ceiling windows, which gave us a fascinating view of the bustling city outside. Nearby another mother and daughter were also enjoying some special time together, sharing a Beauty and the Beast High Tea.

The beautifully set table was completely charming – a delicate gold runner stretched the length of the table. Red napkins rolled into the shape of roses were tucked into gold-gilt, whimsical tea cups and saucers.  A red rose encapsulated within a glass dome rested on a pile of leather-bound books – inspired by the Beauty and the Beast movie. We almost expected Belle to appear and pull up an arm chair!

The service was indulgently attentive – orders were taken for our choice of beverage. The girls chose hot chocolates and soon these, and a coffee for mum, were on the way. We were being thoroughly spoiled – and we loved it!

The drinks arrived, and then a three-tiered cake plate was presented, loaded with an abundance of scrumptious delicacies. The girls could hardly believe their eyes – was all this truly for us?! They were thrilled!

A very helpful wait-staff attendant described each delectable treat to us, and then we tucked-in. All of them tasted just as gorgeous as they looked.

Here is a short video to show you what our Beauty and the Beast High Tea was like…

There were warm scones, savoury tarts, and Angus beef and salmon sandwiches to start with. Then we moved up a tier into the sweetest of yummy treats. Cheese cake morsels, cream-puffs, strawberry tarts and macaroons. Pink and red, some even topped with gold flake, soon disappeared – popped into the mouths of little girls.

There was so much variety and number of savouries and cakes. We all summarily disposed of such a lot, yet somehow there was still a respectable amount left over!

We chatted, giggled, nibbled and sipped, watching the world go by. It was a lovely, pleasant time to share together as a family.

What a magical Beauty and the Beast High Tea experience we had with Sofitel Sydney!

You don’t need to end your Disney adventure here – why not delight your family and make a weekend of it? Read about our next fun Sofitel Sydney Disney experience – the Disney Family Fun Package here.

Sofitel Sydney Beauty and the Beast High Tea useful info

We experienced a Beauty and the Beast High Tea
Priced at *$69 per adult and *$29 per child, including a Beauty and the Beast activity set.

*All prices are correct as at April 2017

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000
Tel: +61 (02) 9228 9188
Fax: +61 (02) 9228 9133

Parking is available beneath the hotel at an additional cost.

You’ll find more information at the official Sofitel Sydney Wentworth website here

The Let’s Go Mum family were hosted as invited guests of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. As always, all opinions are our own.

Do you have any little Disney fans at your house? Tell us in the comments below…

The post Sofitel Sydney Beauty and the Beast High Tea appeared first on Let's go Mum.

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is a five-star hotel located right in the centre of the Sydney CBD. Heritage-Listed, this deluxe hotel is offering some very special family packages right now!

“Be Our Guest!”

From the moment you enter the Sofitel Sydney hotel lobby, you can’t help but notice that the hotel has been transformed into an elegant Disney wonderland.

A decorative, beautifully set tea-table complete with romantic roses, fine china and gold embellishment, features in the centre of the lobby – a reminder that the Sydney Sofitel is currently featuring yet another Disney treat for families – the Beauty and the Beast High Tea.

Next to the reception desk, a mystical red rose housed in a glass dome – just like the one in the Beauty and the Beast movie – takes pride of place. The children were drawn to it like moths to a flame.

A beautiful Belle ball gown dress replica can be found on display in one corner of the lobby, and Belle’s Reading Corner, complete with comfy arm-chairs, dress-ups and story books in another.

The Sofitel Wentworth Sydney has really gone all-out with its amazing Beauty and the Beast theme – and it’s just fabulous.

The Disney Family Fun Package

More delights awaited us in our luxurious Disney Family Fun Package room – an accommodation package inspired by the classic Beauty and the Beast tale. This was a fairy tale family getaway indeed.

The girls were excited to discover gorgeous pink cup cakes, topped with red sugar-roses. Beauty and the Beast story books and colouring book gifts were laid out on one of the tables. More surprises were to come – the most enchanting Bluetooth speaker-come-night-light was part of the room decoration – here is a video to show it to you!

You can connect to the speaker with your smart phone via Bluetooth, or just play the built-in Beauty and the Beast theme music. (This high-tech Disney marvel was available for purchase from the front desk for $249).

The extra fun of the Disney-Sofitel family package is a real delight for any little Disney princess or prince – and even us big Disney fans!

Our Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Superior hotel room

Take a walk around our Superior hotel room by watching the video below

Our room itself was beautifully decadent. The twin double beds were plush and comfortable, and the furniture was modern and elegant. There was a large flat-screen TV, a desk and a lounge situated by the window.

The view from the 9th floor window was a sky-scraper city-scape leading down to the hotel roof-top gardens. Even though you are staying in the Sydney CBD, the rooms are well sound-proofed – we couldn’t hear any street noise at all.

Tea and coffee items were supplied in a fold-away cabinet, and a mini bar-stocked fridge was located beneath it. A large cupboard offered hanging space for clothes, and contained luxury bathrobes, a safe and an iron.

The Superior Room ensuite bathroom

The bathroom ensuite was perfect for our needs. Ultra-modern and clean with a good shower, bath and plenty of vanity space.

There were fluffy towels, a hairdryer and complimentary luxury toiletries provided.

Belle’s Reading Corner

We had been so charmed by Belle’s reading corner (the historic Wentworth library) when we first arrived that we decided to head back downstairs and spend some time there.

The girls enjoyed getting into the Beauty and the Beast spirit by dressing up in the supplied Disney Belle dresses and reading the Beauty and the Beast story books there.

Belles Reading Corner is also a great place for parents to relax with a tea or coffee – you can order café items via an elaborate antique telephone on one of the tables there – perfect!

Eventually we headed back up to our room where we all had a very sound sleep (beautifully comfortable hotel beds – bliss!) until we had to be up at 5am for an early spot on the Today Show (watch it here). After the show, we headed straight back to the hotel for breakfast.

Superior Service

The staff at the Sofitel really are a cut above. From the warm welcome from hotel reception to the breakfast room staff, we were so well looked after by polite, caring and attentive staff – we wanted for nothing our entire stay. The children were even given a gorgeous teddy-bear each by the breakfast manager as a cheer-me-up when one of the girls took a tumble on the way in to breakfast – they were very thoughtful and kind.

Breakfast in the Garden Court Restaurant

The Garden Court Restaurant was a very pleasant place to eat Breakfast. Staff welcomed and seated us straight away, and before I knew it I had been furnished with a hot cup of barista coffee.

We were all well-provided for with a great range of breakfast food choices. Cereals (including Cocoa Pops for the kids), juices, fruit, cheese, yoghurt and a hot buffet – complete with Chef! (Don’t miss the honeycomb honey collector too!)

The outdoor courtyard gardens

Immediately outside of the breakfast room we found access to the courtyard rooftop gardens. This was such a unique feature of this historic hotel. Geometrically laid-out, we had been able to see it from our room, and now the gardens served as a place for the children to explore while I got to finish my coffee and catch-up on some news.

After we had all re-charged and relaxed at breakfast, we were able to return to our room to unwind for half an hour, thanks to requesting a late check-out at 12pm – again, Sofitel staff couldn’t be more facilitating.

The Sofitel Disney Family Fun Package had been a wonderful experience for the whole family. What a magical Disney stay we had had with Sofitel Sydney!

You don’t need to end your Disney adventure here – read about our next fun Sofitel Disney experience – the Beauty and the Beast High Tea here.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth useful info

We stayed with Sofitel on a Disney Family Fun Package
Priced *from $379 per room, per night
Includes Superior class accommodation, welcome gifts, buffet breakfast and free dinner for one child per room under 12

*All prices are correct as at April 2017

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000
Tel: +61 (02) 9228 9188
Fax: +61 (02) 9228 9133

Parking is available in a parking station underneath the hotel at an additional cost.

You’ll find more information at the official Sofitel Sydney Wentworth website here

The Let’s Go Mum family stayed as invited guests of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. As always, all opinions are our own.

Haveyou ever visited Sydney on a family holiday? What did you enjoy doing there? Tell us in the comments below…

The post Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Disney Family Fun Package 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!

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