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Category: Travel

  • The safest cars you can buy in Australia

    The safest cars you can buy in Australia

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    Driving with kids can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood – especially in hefty ol’ Australia, where we must often travel unreasonably long distances by car.

    Between concentrating on the road, following sat nav directions and trying to keep the kids from killing each other in the back… it can all get a bit too much, and actually quite dangerous.

    Indeed, a 2013 study of Melbourne drivers found that parents who drive with young children in the back seat spent an average 18% of the time with their eyes off the road!

    With this in mind, it’s clear that parents need all the help they can get. The first step is to get a car that’s properly up to the job, so here are the safest cars you can buy in Australia as rated by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

    Toyota Prius

    prius

    The 2016 Toyota Prius combines excellent crash test scores and an impressive range of high tech safety features, making it one of the safest cars on the road in Australia.

    The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded this model ‘Top Safety Pick+’, meaning that there was minimal risk of injury to the driver in a standard crash test. All variants from November 2015 onwards have an ANCAP safety rating of 5 stars.

    Meanwhile, the Toyota’s impressive safety features include a number of automated technologies. The smart cruise control system uses sensors to continually monitor the speed of the car ahead, automatically adjusting your speed so you maintain a safe distance at all times. If an imminent crash is detected, the car will alert the driver and apply the brakes automatically.

    Combine all these features with this hybrid’s fuel efficiency and you have a top pick for a thrifty family car.

    Mazda CX-9

    mazda cx9

    This excellent SUV combines the sporty performance of a sedan with the safety and control of a 4WD, making it an excellent choice for nipping about town with the kids in tow.

    All models from July 2016 onwards have an ANCAP safety rating of 5 stars, meaning that in a test crash both the driver and passenger had a high level of protection and survivability.

    The Mazda CX-9’s enhanced safety relies on maximising visibility for the driver. Controls are carefully positioned to avoid driver distractions and a high tech array of cameras and sensors gives the driver a 360 view of the road at all times.

    The size and space in this Mazda, coupled with its excellent safety record, make it arguably the best choice for larger families.

    Subaru Levorg

    Subaru levorg

    Taking third place on the list is the brand new sportwagon from Subaru – the Levorg – with all models receiving an ANCAP safety rating of 5 stars.

    This is the third Japanese car on the list, showing that the country’s manufacturers are really putting safety as their highest priority. Subaru have succeeded in making one of their safest cars yet, with the Levorg scoring 35.85 out of a possible 37 points.

    All three available models have automated emergency braking built in as standard, activating both in car on car and car on pedestrian accidents.

    With its sleek style the Levorg has got to be the car of choice for those with older families. No teenager would be embarrassed being dropped off at school in this beauty!

    Mercedes-Benz E-Class

    mercedes benz e class

    The final car on our list is the incredibly swanky E-Class from the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. All variants from July 2016 onwards have received an ANCAP safety rating of 5 stars.

    Behind its handsome exterior the E-Class is jam packed with cutting edge safety tech unique to Merc.

    The ‘Impulse Side System’ inflates air chambers to push front seat riders inwards by 50mm in the event of a side collision, lessening the chance of direct impact. Meanwhile, the model series 213 features a system that plays ‘pink noise’ from the car’s speakers just before impact, protecting the inner ear from damage during the crash.

    This car’s the number one pick for the driver that wants a full luxury experience without compromising on safety.

    All images via Gumtree

  • Spirit of Tasmania versus flying: Which do you prefer?

    Spirit of Tasmania versus flying: Which do you prefer?

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    spirit of tasmania
    Right now, as I write this, I’m looking out the window at the Spirit of Tasmania sitting out on the Mersey River. It’s such an awesome sight on a still night.

    It’s one of the reasons we first bought his house. You never tire of watching the Spirit sailing in and out of the mouth of the Mersey.

    I’m going to be honest and say it’s been a while since we last sailed on the Spirit. Pre kids actually. I remember doing a day sailing over and getting to explore the ship, while on the way back we opted for a night trip with a cabin.

    A few years back, just before one of our previous trips to Melbourne, Julian was talking to Ella’s child carer. Ella repeated her usual “yes, we’re going to Melbourne to see Uncle Rick, aren’t we Dad?’’.

    “We hear so much about Uncle Rick. Apparently he has a really big boat?’’ the child carer said.

    Julian then had to explain that the “big boat’’ is actually the Spirit. The child carer had more than a little chuckle at that.

    Due to the boat being so visible, there’s been repeated requests we go to Melbourne on “Uncle Rick’s big boat’’ since instead of the plane.

    Watching this video I’m questioning why on earth we don’t go on the Spirit more often. Especially with trying to organise kids. I know they would think it was such an adventure.

    Tell me: do you prefer to fly or sail?

    DISCLAIMER: I was paid to write this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #117: Surviving the Gold Coast and #PBEvent

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #117: Surviving the Gold Coast and #PBEvent

    PBQLD1

    We’re on the last days of our 10-day holiday in Queensland. It’s been amazing and, like any holiday, I just don’t want it to end. Especially the tanned legs. I hear it’s been snowing in Tasmania. Just the thought of that turns my legs pale again.

    The holiday idea all stemmed from the fact I wanted to get out of my zone and attend Problogger Training (a conference about blogging and “all that new age stuff”, as the taxi driver put it yesterday). The two-day conference finished yesterday, so now I’m itching to get home and start working on this blog and the Kellie O’Brien Media  blog. My head is exploding with ideas. This blog has been a bit lost this year and needs some direction.

    If you’re a blogger, business owner or author and want to hear about the highlights from #PBEvent, you can follow my Kellie O’Brien Media site over the next week or two. I have so much to share!

    Otherwise stay tuned here for some stories about what we Taswegians got up to in Queensland. Expect giggles!

    In the meantime, here is this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup!

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     

    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Zoo versus aquarium Sydney versus Melbourne

    Zoo versus aquarium Sydney versus Melbourne

    When we travel interstate, we are such tourists. We do all the things tourists do – which means every zoo, aquarium and museum have just about been covered.

    In the past two years, we’ve experienced the Melbourne Zoo, Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, the Melbourne Aquarium and the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. If there were such a thing as zoo/aquarium FlyBuy points, we’d have earned ourselves another free visit by now.

    Without dipping into the fiery debate Sydneysiders and Melbournites have over who’s city is better, here’s our take on the four big attractions and what appeals to us about each:

    Melbourne Zoo

    Melbourne Zoo

    We’ve done the Melbourne Zoo so many times I could nearly take over as a tour guide – including a talk on how to navigate a rather muddy section during wet weather. What we love about Melbourne is that it’s flat, which makes pushing a stroller easy. It’s simple to navigate, there’s plenty of shade (a life saver during our last December trip) and there’s a nice open space for eating. Our favourite sections have to be the monkeys and the seal show. Downsides would be that it’s so widespread we’ve yet to be able to actually do the whole thing. The highlight for Ella is always the butterfly house.

    Taronga Zoo, Sydney

    Sydney Taronga Zoo

    Julian and I visited Taronga years ago, but saw it through completely different eyes with two kids in tow. We bought a package via Red Balloon that included a cruise from Darling Harbour to the zoo, a ride on the air bus and admission into the zoo itself. Taronga is beautifully designed, looks a little more polished than Melbourne and has incredibly stunning views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. However, the downside of that is having to push a stroller up a hill at times. There also seems to be quite a bit of backtracking. Our favourite section was the elephants and, during January 2013, being able to see the moving dinosaur models.

    Melbourne Aquarium

    Melbourne Aquarium

    Aquariums are more Julian’s thing than mine. I think if you’ve seen one fish, you’ve seen them all. The penguin area, which is your first impression of the Melbourne Aquarium, is sublime. To see them so clearly walking through the snow and swimming in the deep water, without any barriers obstructing your view, is a real highlight. The underground sections at both aquariums are superb and it’s where we tend to spend the most amount of time. The girls loved being able to pop their head inside hidey holes to get a closer look at some of the species.

    SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

    SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

    While we were a little shocked at being thrown into a photo at the beginning of our tour, we soon got over the camera flash and took the many twists and turns around the aquarium. Around each corner is a different shaped tank that are intriguing in themselves. The girls were slightly spun out by having water all around them in one of the tunnels, as a shark, dugong and stingrays swam over their heads and fish under their feet. Another highlight was the incredible display of seahorses. The one challenge for us was steep inclines in one section of the aquarium. Going up with a stroller was a bit of an effort after a long hot day.

    Overall, it’s hard to compare the four. They all do so much well, all have areas to improve on and each will tailor to different types of people and their needs. To be honest, we’re just happy for the experiences and the educational benefits it provides the girls.

    Have you been to any of the above? What were your highlights?

  • Guest Post: How To Keep Children Entertained When Travelling

    Guest Post: How To Keep Children Entertained When Travelling

    travelling with kids

    (Image: kidstravel2.com)

    Sponsored guest post

    For many, embarking on a family holiday is an exciting time. You and your partner are looking forward to a break away from the daily strains of work and the kids can’t wait to splash around in the hotel pool and make sandcastles on the beach.

    But there’s often one part of the big family adventure that many of us parents dread: the car journey. Why? Because, no matter whether you’ve only got a short drive to the airport or opted for the choice of rental cars to give you more freedom to explore at your destination, you know there’ll be the constant echoing of “are we nearly there yet?!” ringing in your ears with every journey you make.

    So, with the kids being less than sympathetic to your need for concentration and wanting the fun to start right there, right now, you’ll need to come up with some ingenious ideas to save your sanity.

    Well, to help you, here’s my top 5, tried and tested ways to keep the children entertained for the next time you embark on your family travels:

    1. Give Them a Simple Map of The Journey

    Since they’re always asking “are we nearly there yet?”, why not give them their own little map so they can find out the answer for themselves! Before each journey, print off a small simple map of the route you’re going to take and let them track where they think they may be.

    If your children are a little older, and if the map includes any symbols of landmarks they may recognise, give them a little key of what each symbol means so they can keep an eye out for the landmarks as you drive past them. Or, if your children are a little younger, let them draw their own landmarks onto their maps they may spot on the journey.

    This pastime activity is a great way to teach them about what’s around them, will let them be creative and will keep them quiet – all at the same time!

    2. Connect The Dots

    If you’ve got several children, a great way to keep them all entertained at the same time is with the ‘Connect the Dots’ game. Simply draw on a piece of paper lots of rows of dots adjacent to each other in a big square, and give each child a different colour felt tip pen or crayon. Each child then takes it in turns to draw a single line between the dots with the aim of trying to make a ‘box’. The person who makes the most boxes once the whole square has been filled in, wins!

    3. Scavenger Hunt

    Before you set out on a car journey, jot down a list of items that your children have to try and spot whilst you’re driving around – simple things, such as ‘a red car’, ‘a field of cows’, or ‘a church’ are a great way to keep them captivated and quiet!

    4. Duck

    This game can be tied in with ‘scavenger hunt’ and has proven successful with many children I know. If you’ve written out a list of items for your children to spot throughout the duration of the journey, you can make the game more exciting by them not only ticking these off their list, but also ducking and shouting ‘duck’ when they see the item. The quickest person to spot the item and duck, wins!

    5. Next-door Neighbour Game

    If you’re stuck in a traffic jam and the children are starting to get a little fidgety and agitated, then playing the ‘Next-door Neighbour Game’ is a great way to keep them entertained when traffic is at a stand-still. Take a sneak peek at the person in the car alongside (or behind!) you and get your children to imagine what kind of person they are. Make up a name, job, what hobbies they have or what their favourite dinner is. Get the children to be as inventive as possible and you’re all bound to have great fun trying to guess what that person may be like!

    What games do you play in the car?

    Experienced freelance writer, Lara Anderson, wrote this article. Lara specialises in providing travel advice for families!

     

  • What to do in Melbourne with young kids

    What to do in Melbourne with young kids

    Melbourne has become a bit like our second home. We visit so often we nearly need to buy a house – if only they weren’t so bloomin’ expensive. Seriously, I could buy three houses in Tasmania for the price of one in Melbourne.

    Our regular visits also mean we have done, what feels like, most things in Melbourne. This time however, we did get outside the usual Melbourne zoo and aquarium – both of which we love, by the way – to have some new experiences.

    Melbourne With Kids 2

    Here is what we did:

    Build a Bear

    Build a Bear was part of our first day in Melbourne. We headed to Chadstone Shopping Centre and Ella got to make Rabbi (a hugely original name for a rabbit). She chose the bear, gave him a heart, selected a sound (she chose the song Under the Sea), watched him being stuffed, cleaned him and then picked out an outfit. The whole bear cost us $60. It might sound a lot for a teddy bear, but it really was worth the experience. Plus, she gained a bear at the end that holds sentimental value because she created him herself. And it was with less pain than I went through to bring her into the world.

    Scienceworks

    Julian and I went to Scienceworks years ago – pre-kids – and thoroughly enjoyed it. We knew the girls would love it because it’s so hands on. When we got there we were blown away. It was just fabulous, with a Wallace and Gromit display (ending this month). The highlight was certainly Nitty Gritty Super City.

    Collingwood Children’s Farm

    We arrived on a day when the Collingwood Children’s Farm was free and a Channel Nine film crew were there, so it was extremely busy. Ella unfortunately didn’t make an appearance on TV, but she didn’t care – she “got to milk a cow, Mum’’. Her summation was that it was “very wrinkly’’. She also rode a pony, lining up for about an hour for that five-minute ride. I’ve never seen her so patient. Holly, absolutely petrified of animals, was excited by the whole show. Just as Ella dismounted, Holly piped up with: “my turn’’. Maybe next time. By the end of the day, Holly was feeling much more comfortable being around animals.

    Royal Botanical Gardens

    We’d had a picnic dinner in the Royal Botanical Gardens before, but had never had the chance to look in the children’s garden. Super sweet, it gave Ella the chance to learn about The Magic Pudding. She also found a ladybird she was thoroughly fascinated with. The girls were excited to see all the veggies and herbs growing and asking which we were going to plant this year. We also sat by the lake at the other end of the gardens and watched the ducks, geese and a few eels. Eww.

    There were plenty of other smaller things, but that sums up the main attractions.

    What are your favourite things to do in Melbourne?