I thought this would be a good thread to swap ideas for great family holidays. Hopefully ones that are not too expensive!

So feel free to share your experiences. I'm always on the look out for fun things to do as a family.

Susana & DH Chris[size=1] aka GoateeCat
DD Delia Jade 13/11/02 & DS Darcy Cole 2/11/04

Guess I'll go first.

We spent the weekend in Dubbo. We purchased a Zoo accommodation package through the Golden West Motor Inn. Included in the package was two day zoo entry, 2 days breakfasts, one 3 course dinner in their restaurant and the accommodation. It cost us $132 per adult and $20 for DJ. The complex had a pool and the motel itself was quite clean and tidy The staff were also very friendly! So we needed to buy our lunches and one dinner

So all up was a very cheap 'mini' break! We had fantastic traffic (non existant) and got to Cowra really early so we visited the Japanese Gardens which were stunning. Being spring everything was flowering and gloriously green.

Spent all day Saturday at the Zoo which was again in full bloom and very beautiful. We joined in with the tour program were we could. We got to see the Meerkat, Rhino, Girrafe and Elephant 'Talk & Feed' sessions. We also saw lots more animals but by 3pm DJ had had enough so we left.

On the way home we visited Wellington Caves and the Phosphate Mine. After a quick and again traffic free trip we were home by 3pm.



Details:
Golden West Motor Inn
Phone: 02 6882 2822, Fax: 02 6882 6800
87 Cobra Street, Dubbo NSW 2830.
Single: $70, Double: $70, Extra Person: $10
Zoo Package was $132. Was a shop a docket deal.

Susana & DH Chris[size=1] aka GoateeCat
DD Delia Jade 13/11/02 & DS Darcy Cole 2/11/04

We've only had one family holiday so far, but Joalah Holiday Park at North Durras is very good. We stayed at one of the ensuite cabins, but they do ordinary caravans too.
We took DS to Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach and he saw the kangaroos and we had a very relaxing time. Out of season it is nice and quiet, so DS wasn't disturbed and he didn't disturb anyone either!

We have had many mini holidays (mostly camping). WE have camped at Depot Beach, Pretty Beach, Shoalhaven Heads, 7 mile beach (Geroa). Just recently, we stayed at Ulladulla (Bungalow Tourist Park) which also has discount for defence families and also NRMA members.

If I think of any more, I'll come back.



Thanks

Rohan & Harley 1 Oct 02

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We are into the caravan park holidays - either in our camper van or in cabins (often so much better than motels with kids).

We stayed at Narooma at Island View Beach Resort which was lovely! A nice little park, inground trampolines, lovely pool and toddler pool.

We are staying soon at Holiday Hub Pambula so I will get back to you on that one.

We have been to a few other places - I cannot think at the moment - I will have to get back to you.

Jo2+2<BR>Rachel - born still 21/11/00 (23 weeks)<BR>Matthew & Erin 7/11/01<P><BR>

Keep them coming guys.

Julie is Durras near Turros/ South Coast? I have heard there is good fishing down there and that they have dog friendly accomodation. I bet Magnus just loved watching the Kangaroos.

Rohan does the camping go well with Harley? I bet my two would escape the tent!

Jo those websites look fantastic. You have great taste. Will have to check them out tomorrow when I'm not exhusted.

I'm hoping to convince DH to get a camper trailer when the tax refunds come back. I'm just not willing to have an 18 mth old and 4 week old in the 2-man tent with us.

We've had a couple of good holiday house short breaks.
One was at Mystery Bay, we found the holiday house through a website called "Stayz". Mystery Bay is just past Narooma, very quiet with bugger-all to do apart from wandering through the nature park or fishing/swimming at the beach (ahhh relaxing!). Lots of easy hills for pram walks to settle overtired babies who've spent all day playing with grandparents.

Other holiday house is my mum's! She has a holiday house in Albury, when we visit we get to stay there (if it's not already booked). Has a 5-person spa in the gazebo, everything in the place is perfect. It's an easy half-day drive to get there, with a convenient stop at rellos on the highway at Gundagai for nappy changing. Albury is a good base for sightseeing - lots of tourist towns within an hour of there if you're into wine, cheese, bakeries, antiques, craft shops, etc. Plus I like the Hume Weir in summer for swimming.

We have had lovely holidays twice now at Merimbula. The first time we stayed at a great caravan park which is now gone to make way for a big apartment complex, but there's one across the road (Tween waters I think) which has a waterslide etc, and seems pretty cool. The second time (last week) we stayed at the Peninsular apartments which were also very nice.
The beaches are nice (there's a lot of calm ones and also some wavey ones!); there's a wildlife park (pretty shabby but you can hand feed kangaroos etc and handle snakes); there's an amusement park with waterslides and a roller coaster (not quite movei world but nice); there's lots of cafes and restaurants; you can walk everywhere; it's an easy drive to Bega or to Eden (this time of the year you can see whales), and is all round a great place.
Mel

Me: 31
DP: 33
DS Samuel 5/3/96
DS Oliver 14/10/03

Susana, the camping went fantastic with Harley. He absolutely loves it. I guess the only issue that we had with him was sleeping. When it was time to go to bed, we had to lie down with him so that he would relax but I think that was just a age thing. We have a huge tent that we can do the zips up to near the roof so that he couldn't get out. Our tent also has screens inside so he would have to guess which zip to open as well and by that time,we would have heard him. The other sleeping issue that we had was the time he woke up due to the sun but we took a laptop with us so he could watch a dvd and not wake everybody else up.



Thanks

Rohan & Harley 1 Oct 02

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North Durras is north of Bateman's Bay (about an extra 20 minutes drive to the turn off). It's on the same road as Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach.
One very small shop that does sell ice creams and not much else!