Things To Do In Hunter Valley With Kids

Are you planning a trip to the Hunter Valley with your family? Before you book it all in, read this so you don’t miss out on the must see and do activities.

You have saved your money and can finally afford that family holiday; the Hunter Valley is full of excitement for both adults and children. Although the Hunter Valley is well-known for its gorgeous wines and delicious food, it has so much more to offer. Here are some of the top things to do in Hunter Valley with kids.

Hunter Valley Attractions

If you are looking for places to see and things to do in the Hunter Valley region, than you will not be disappointed. There is an abundance of options for you and your family to enjoy a weekend away, annual family holiday or even for locals to explore.

1. Hunter Valley Gardens

The Hunter Valley Gardens are more than just perfectly manicured grounds. Throughout the year they host some of the Valleys’ most exciting exhibits, extravaganzas and shows. Regardless what you and your family are interested in, the gardens will have something that takes your fancy.

In November – January they display the Christmas Lights Spectacular and New Year’s fireworks, Winter calls for Snow Time in the Gardens where families enjoy playing in the snow and ice skating, along with a many other exciting activities throughout the year.

Across the road from the Hunter Valley Gardens, there is an array of fun family activities. You can enjoy the children’s park, putt putt and aqua golf along with some of the Valley’s best hot chocolate.

Located: Broke Road, Pokolbin, New South Wales 2320, Australia.

2. Hunter Valley Zoo

Located just out of Cessnock and only 45 minutes from Newcastle, the Hunter Valley Zoo will have your kids learning, laughing and enjoying nature’s beauty and amazing animals. There is a vast range of animals located at the zoo so there is something to suit everyone.

With the option to participate in interactive encounters from farmyard animals, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, birds and much more your children will be talking about it for years to come.
Make a day of it and take time out to enjoy a picnic or BBQ lunch. The zoo offers families free BBQ facilities so you can bring your esky and feed the family whilst you are there.

Located: Lomas Lane, Nulkaba, Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.
Open: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Open 6 days (closed Wednesday, excluding school holidays)
Cost: Family (2+2) – $65, Adult – $22, Child (3-15) – $13, Child (under 3) – FREE.

3. Speers Point Park

There will be no need for electronic devices; your children will have hours of fun at Speers Point Park. This well designed park has everything you and your kids could want in one vicinity, it is fun for the young and old. It features flying foxes, large slides, climbing equipment, water features, swings, age appropriate sections and so much more.

With plenty of free parking close by, toilets, shelter facilities and BBQs you can enjoy a cheap lunch and a great day out with the family.

Located: Park Road, Speers Point, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.

4. Nobbys Beach

In the mood to relax and breathe in the fresh ocean air? You cannot go past the soft sanded Nobbys Beach. It is clean and the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy some lunch and build sandcastles with the kids. If going for a swim is more your style than it is an ideal beach for the kids with amazing views for that walk to dry off.

On occasion you will be lucky enough to sight dolphins and whales coming in close.

Located: Nobbys Road, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

5. Inflatable World

What could be more fun than a building jam packed full of bouncy, inflatable floors and walls? Inflatable World will keep you and your family entertained for hours on end with obstacles, activities and the ability to fly, jump and bounce.

Designed to have parents enjoying the fun, the whole family will leave exhausted after their two hour session.

Location: 1/10 Glenwood Drive, Thornton, NSW 2322, Australia.
Open: 7 days – 10am – 4pm.
Cost: Adults – $15.00, Child (5 years+) – $15.00, Child (4 years and Under) – $8.00, 1 Adult + 1 Child (4 Years and under) – $15.00, Spectators – Free.

Hungry?

We all get peckish and over-eat whilst on holidays and the Hunter Valley has that department covered. Don’t feel that just because you have children you cannot enjoy a nice meal in a beautiful location. There are plenty of family friendly restaurants, cafes and take-away stores at your convenience.

6. Beaumont Street

The alluring smells of food will have you coming back so you can try it all. Beaumont Street, Newcastle, is home to some of the most delicious and surprising cuisines.

Enjoy the flavours of Germany, China, Thailand, Itlay and much more. Just make sure you save room for the desserts, pastries and good coffee!

Located: Beaumont St, Newcastle, Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia.

The Hunter Valley is a well-known holiday destination not only by Australians but travellers worldwide. Having an insight into what you and your family can discover while visiting the region will not only maximise your time but will also save you money.

Want more information on what the region has to offer visit? Check it out here.

Enjoy your vacation and ensure your children do as well by considering these top 5 things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids.

What are your favourite things to do in the Hunter Valley with kids?

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With the festive season well and truly upon us many families have to travel to get to their Christmas or holiday destinations. With extra traffic on the roads also comes an increased risk of accidents and when you have children in the car you want to make sure they are in the safest possible car seat. You may have seen the new Safe-n-Sound Platinum SICT convertible car seat in stores and online; they are suitable for newborn – 4 years and are Britax Safe-n-Sounds safest seat yet. I have been reviewing this specific car seat for the past few weeks with my almost 6 month old daughter and when it’s said how great this seat is they are not exaggerating!

 There are so many things to tell you about this car seat that I don’t even know where to begin! So I’ll start at my favourite features and then move to the safety side of things. The car seat is padded enough that it is soft and comfortable for babies/kids to sit in for long periods of time and remain extremely supportive on their little backs. I love the thick fabric behind the buckle (also known as the EZ-Buckle System) because Hadley is at the ‘big chubby thighs’ stage and this prevents any digging in of the buckle and straps or accidental clipping of the leg and it also retains the buckle in a forward position for easy access.

The fabric used in this car seat is also breathable unlike a lot of others on the market. While it is wonderfully padded and soft they have managed to do so while using a material that breathes which is great especially now that we have hit summer. Hadley hasn’t come out of the seat sweaty or hot once which is the complete opposite to what happens when she gets out of her other car seat in Mr Dads car.

The Platinum SICT has deep side wings that provide side impact protection and when it’s accompanied by SICT (side impact cushion technology) and AHR (active head restraint) which provides head protection and grows with your child you will not have to be concerned if this provides enough impact safety for your child. The SICT is positioned in Torso and Headrest region to minimise the energy generated in a side impact crash.

There are two other little features that they have been added to make parents lives just that little bit easier. One being they have included harness holders to help keep the harness out of the way while placing your child in the seat and the other is the easy adjust which automatically re-positions the shoulder straps. They have truly thought of everything!

The Platinum SICT comes in 3 colours (silver is my favourite), has 4 reclines options for forward facing use and shoulder pads for extra comfort. While it is a little dearer than many other car seats on the market it is worthy of the price tag that comes along with it. The peace of mind knowing my child is safe is worth it. The RRP is $659. For more information and to see stockists please visit http://britax.com.au.

Disclaimer: I received a Safe ‘n’ Sound Platinum SICT as shown above for the purpose of this review. As always opinions are my own.

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Australia is an amazing place for the four wheel drive enthusiast. The harsh landscape lends itself perfectly to the adventurous pursuit of four wheel driving. The advancements in four wheel drive technology mean these journeys are no longer quite so perilous, but they are still loads of good fun. The new discovery 4 is a great example of modern four wheel drive technology, it’s a solid 4×4 and features advanced traction and terrain handling systems, making it perfect for off-road enjoyment. There are so many infamous four wheel drive tracks in Australia, here are 10 favourites.

The Birdsville Track

This one isn’t for the feint hearted or the inexperienced, passing right through the Sturt Stony Desert. It is famous for its challenging conditions. Starting in South Australia, this track finishes in the outback town of Birdsville. This one is better undertaken in the cooler months.

Cairns to the Tip of Australia

The Cape York Peninsula Development Road is only accessible in the dry season. It’s one of the best known four wheel drive routes in the country. You’ll meet lots of fellow travellers and have fun with tricky creek and river crossings as you drive through lush rainforest.

Anne Beadell Highway

Travel from Laverton in Western Australia right through to Coober Pedy in South Australia. Crossing the edge of the Nullarbor, this trip is very remote. You need a travel permit.

The Canning Stock Route

This is one of the most difficult four wheel drive journeys in Australia. It has all the ingredients of a tough challenge: sandy dunes, rocky outcrops, saltpans and much more. It will take you from Wiluna to Halls Creek in Western Australia.

Kings Canyon to Palmy Valley

This Northern Territory trip can be difficult in the wet. You will find some great camping spots along the Finke River and the scenery is amazing.

Gibbs River Road

From Derby to Kununurra in Western Australia, this is one of the most spectacular four wheel drive expeditions you can take. It passes through the awe-inspiring Kimberley region. You will strike some pretty heavily corrugated roads.

Cape Arid

This track starts at Cape Arid National Park near Esperance and ends up about 30 kilometres East of Balladonia on the Eyre Highway. It’s about a 2 day journey.

Fraser Island

Fraser is the largest sand island in the world and is perfect for four wheel driving. The island is criss-crossed with four wheel drive tracks. This place is a beautiful spot to explore and camp. You do need an official permit though.

Winton to Lake Constance

This trip will take you into the Bladesburg National Park, on to Gragg’s Grave and to the Diamantina National Park and the Diamantina Lakes. This journey is really scenic and you will see many creeks and rivers. There are plenty of great camping spots along the way.

Mount Mee State Forest

This one is close to the city of Brisbane so is great for a day out in the four wheel drive.

The post Top 10 Best Places to Take Your 4WD in Australia appeared first on All Mum Said.

One thing I didn’t think about too much when having baby number 3 was that I only have 2 hands. How am I supposed to carry a baby and hold the hands of my boys at the same time? By using a baby carrier is how. Shortly after my baby girl was born I realised that I didn’t want be loading and unloading the pram in and out of the car all the time so I invested in a Baby Bjorn Miracle carrier and I couldn’t have been happier. Baby carrying is not only convenient but it allows me to be close to my baby as well. I leave it in my car so it’s always there when I need it; unfortunately I keep forgetting to take it with me when we venture out in my husbands’ car and ended up having to hold her resulting in aching arms.

So when I received an email from BabyBjorn asking if I wanted to try baby carrying with their new Baby Carrier ONE I couldn’t type the response email fast enough! Of course I did. This baby carrier is a little different to the one I use as it is a multifunctional front and back carrier for newborns – 3 years. It can be used 4 different ways – newborn position, carry facing inwards, facing outwards or on your back. We have this carrier set to my husbands size but it is very easy to adjust should I want to use it. As I mentioned this carrier has a range of different features and positions to suit each childs individual age and needs.

Close to heart for newborns which is a popular choice for my bubba and me. She is comforted by the sound of my heart and she is close enough that I can kiss her head. We haven’t yet tried out the other positions on this carrier as Hadley is only 11 weeks old (geez it has gone fast!) but I have faith and trust in BabyBjorn that they will be as good as I have come to expect from this brand. I love that instead of having to upgrade as bub gets bigger this carrier does it all! One is all I will need. You can find more information about BabyBjorn carriers including ONE on the website here.

As you can see from the pictures she is comfortable and happy. If she’s happy we’re happy!

Did you or do you use a baby carrier? What features do you look for? Are you pro baby carrying?

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So much has changed since my boys were babies and so I’m learning about all the new products on the market. Now I know baby capsules have been around forever but I never used them, I always went straight for the convertible baby seat that was suitable for newborn to 3-4ish years old.

 You have probably seen around the internet lately about BOB strollers, well they also make baby carriers (capsules). Britax Safe-n-Sound has released the all new BOB Unity Infant Carrier that is Australia’s only infant carrier that is suitable for newborn to 12 months of age. I am not entirely sure any of my kids would fit this at 12 months but I do seem to breed them big; I’d think it would cater them until approx. 6-9 months but I can only judge from the size of my kids.

 I do love that it is quite a compact design which is great for smaller cars. I can fit this BOB carrier along with 2 booster seats into the back seat of my 2012 Toyota Corolla. Obviously there is a lot more space in my husbands’ Nissan Pathfinder that the requirement to have compact seats aren’t as important.

The design is great as it is so easy to use and the base adjusts for levelling when installing. It is easy to clip in and out of the car – even for a first time capsule user like myself. The rotating carry handle allows for that extra comfort when carrying and the high side walls provide additional safety. I did think it would have more padding than it does but as I mentioned before this is the first capsule I have ever had so I don’t really have anything to compare it to. That is not to say there is no padding at all – there definitely is and it appears to be quite soft, comfortable and safe (technology has undeniably advanced in the way of padding).

The BOB Unity Infant Carrier comes in 2 colour options – Black/Blue & Orange.

They can be purchased from:

babyschoice.com.au

belly2baby.com.au

babysavings.com.au

Prices range from $299-$399

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Port-a-cots are one of those things that most families have somewhere in their homes taking up valuable storage space; just in case they go away and need it one day. I am no exception. Our youngest is 4 and we still kept ours just in case a friend came around who has a little one, which none of them do! I must say that they are great to have when you have a baby or infant and go to a barbeque or away for the weekend but seriously the amount of space they take up is ridiculous!

That is until BabyBjorn saw this problem and they came up with a solution. The BabyBjorn Travel Cot Light is exactly that, a travel cot that packs light! It takes up next to no room when being stored. It measures a tiny 60cm x 49cm x 14cm when folded!

The benefits to this port-a-cot don’t end there! It is so easy to set up, it can be done by pretty much anyone (mums, dads, older siblings, grandparents) and all with ease. It takes approximately 25 seconds to fully set up and that’s if you take your time. It is no harder to pack it away either, no annoying buttons that you have to push 6 in at once for it to fold. Just pull and fold each leg back up.

Like I said so simple!!

The mattress cover and cot fabric are removable so they can washed and in the washing machine too! I know it is sounding more and more appealing. With its sturdy design and mattress that contains a built in base I am a huge fan of this travel cot. It is great quality and does not feel flimsy in the slightest. Perfect for newborns to approx. 3 years. These cots retail for $395.00 but you can often find them on sale online.

For more information on the Travel Cot Light or where you can purchase them, visit BabyBjorn here.

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