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Category: australia

  • Perth, Australia With Kids

    Perth, Australia With Kids

    Guest Blogger: Clayton is a writer, editor, and devoted family man. A proud husband, father, and grandfather, Clayton enjoys running and cycling in his spare time and is also devoted to supporting literacy and arts programs in his hometown of Worthington, Ohio. To learn more about Clayton, visit his website, Clay Writes.

    On a two-week trip to “The Land Down Under” this past July, my wife and I had the opportunity to observe and learn, finding new things to love before returning to our home in Worthington, Ohio. As an Australian Aboriginal Proverb affirms:

    “We are all visitors to this time, this place…Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love and then we return home.”

    Prior to departure, we alerted our bank that we would be traveling overseas, so they wouldn’t hold up any credit card transactions on suspicion of theft. Each credit card purchase carried an “international transaction fee” (the largest of these was $3.23). We also secured $300 in Australian cash, which cost about $245 in American currency.

    Nine days of our two-week trip were spent in Perth, located on Australia’s southwest coast. Perth ended up being an excellent place to have a multi-generational family gathering with my daughter and son-in-law and their three children, ages seven, five, and two. I say “excellent” not only because Perth is relatively close to their home in Bandung, Indonesia, but also because Perth is an exceptionally kid-friendly city.

    Things to Do:

    #1: Kings Park and Botanic Garden:

    Kings Park and Botanic Garden is not only rich in Aboriginal and European history, but also happens to be one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner-city parks. We enjoyed our first visit to this park so much that we ended up coming back for a second visit! On our first visit, we took a short hike across an elevated walkway that led us past beautiful flowers and towering treetops. At different points, we had panoramic views of Perth’s skyline and the surrounding waters. We also spent some time admiring the Pioneer Women’s Memorial, a bronze sculpture of a woman and infant surrounded by sparkling fountains.

    Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain

    From the Memorial, we visited a children’s discovery play area, just one of many such areas devoted to young ones within the park. My seven- and five-year-old grandchildren had a ball wading in a small pond with other kids, while their two-year-old little brother happily splashed. A small, rocky stream fed into the pond, and I noticed older children using the rocks to build a dam. The play area also featured tunnels; some resembled culverts but others would be better described as climbing tunnels, which require the participant to ascend and then descend a rough-hewn staircase before emerging at the end.

    Pro-Tip: If you’re prone to back or knee problems, I highly recommend that you wait for your children at the tunnel’s end rather than attempting to follow your kids through the tunnel!

    After the kids enjoyed their fill of climbing and wading, we enjoyed a hearty lunch at a nearby cafe. On our way out, I took a moment to study the memorial to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (“ANZAC”) troops who fought and died in WWI. The granite obelisk stands across from an eternal flame with an inscription asking people to “Let Silent Contemplation Be Your Offering.”

    Eternal Flame with State War Memorial

    source

    On our return visit to Kings Park, I again visited the State War Memorial and noticed the names of the fallen ANZAC soldiers inscribed on the wall below and behind the obelisk. The kids again enjoyed wading in the pond and frolicking at the large playground near the park’s entrance. This playground also had tunnels, though not of the climbing kind, as well as a tire swing with an unusually wide arc. While the kids played, little kookaburras flitted about, sometimes coming within just a few feet of visitors.

    Kookaburras near one the Garden’s play areas

    #2: Perth Zoo

    We were fortunate that the Perth Zoo was within walking distance of our rental home. Due to its proximity, we were able to spend a weekday morning at the zoo, come home for lunch, and then return for about two hours in the afternoon. We did not have to pay admission on our return visit – we simply showed our receipt for the morning admission.

    As one would expect, the zoo features a number of animals unique to Australia, including koalas, dingoes, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, and numbats. The numbats are new to me – these marsupials, with deer-like facial features and white stripes crossing their black/brown fur, dwell in woodlands of Western Australia, and each one eats upwards of 20,000 termites per day.

    The zoo organizes many of its animals according to habitat. The native animals were mostly found in the Australian Wetlands and Australian Bushwalk sections, and the African Savannah featured zebras, baboons, and a radiated tortoise. The Asian Rainforest held gibbons, Asian elephants, and Komodo dragons, while Bolivian squirrel monkeys, golden lion tamarins, and South American coatis could be found in the Amazonia section. Not all sections of the zoo were organized according to geography, however. The Nocturnal House covered a wide range of animals – bats, toads, spiders, and owls (to name a few) — all “creatures of the night.” And, the Primate Trail held lemurs, marmosets, tamarins, and other small primates mostly from Madagascar or the Amazon Rainforest.

    sleeping koala

    Of the animals we saw, I was most impressed by the painted dogs in the African Savannah. Their sleek, black, orange and white fur could have been designed by an artist and they moved with a distinctively graceful style. We learned these animals are highly effective predators and their hunts have a 90% success rate, better than either lions or cheetahs. Sadly, like so many other wild animals, the painted dogs are an endangered species.

    Pro-Tip: The zoo has a playground with ladders, bridges, and two slides (including a tunnel slide). There is also a carousel, which provides a more relaxing form of entertainment for children (and parents) after wearing themselves out on the playground. The carousel, however, only operates from 11am-3pm on most days.

    #3: Caversham Wildlife Park

    Located several miles outside of downtown Perth in Whitman Park, Caversham Wildlife Park is the perfect complement to the Perth Zoo as it provides families with the opportunity to have close-up encounters with wildlife. Although there are fewer animal species at the Wildlife Park, we noticed herds of kangaroos hopping free across hundreds of acres of open range just on the drive to the park. Once we were inside the park itself, we were nearly nose-to-nose with echidnas, llamas, koalas, wombats, pythons, possums, and any number of birds. We all enjoyed the opportunity to pet a koala and the kids had their pictures taken with a husky-looking wombat. We also encountered an Australian brushtail possum, which, with its darker fur, bigger ears, and thicker tail, does not much resemble its North American counterpart.

    cockatoo at the animal park’s indoor pavilion

    After getting acquainted with some of the park’s animals, we attended a farm show, which took place in an indoor pavilion. The show began with a demonstration of a sheep dog, controlling the movement of sheep so that they ended up in a pen. The show was followed by a sheep-shearing demonstration with a man, who was clearly a pro, wielding electric clippers swiftly, yet carefully. As large slabs of wool fell to the floor, the sheep struggled but uttered no cries of pain. According to the man, an experienced handler can shear over 200 sheep a day using electric clippers! Previously, only 60 or so sheep could be sheared in one day with manual clippers. Later in the show, volunteers in the audience were given the opportunity to try their hand at cracking whips and bottle-feeding lambs and, at the very end, anyone who wished could milk an artificial cow. My granddaughter took a turn, with her brother abstaining!

    Granddaughter about to feed a wallaby

    When we finished with the farm program, we entered what appeared to be a kangaroo-wallaby sanctuary where kids could feed the animals food obtained from special machines. This seemed like fun and it mostly was, but be advised that because the animals are fed with such frequency, they often aren’t interested in snacking. My granddaughter had to go to several different kangaroos and wallabies before finding one that was halfway interested in the food she offered!

    Volunteer snuggling with a wombat!

    #4: Scitech Discovery Centre

    If your children enjoy science, then Scitech Discovery Centre is a good place to take them, but get there early.  We arrived only a few minutes after the 9:30 opening, and within an hour the place was packed. We visited on a weekday, but evidently some schools were on winter break, leading to larger-than-normal crowds. Still, my family found much to like about Scitech, which is located near downtown Perth. The hands-on displays give children a chance to make science happen right in front of their eyes. Phenomena such as magnetism, gravity, electricity, sound waves, air pressure, and reflection become real, not just concepts in a textbook. But for my grandchildren, fun more than science was the order of the day. My grandson and I enjoyed building a makeshift parachute with string and a coffee filter and then testing it in a wind tunnel. My granddaughter had a great time using a pulley to elevate herself on a chair, while our toddler kept himself busy dropping colored balls into an interactive probability device. There was a special show at the museum’s planetarium, but the long line made us decide against attending. We did see a puppet show on animal and plant nutrition that featured a human performer interacting with different puppet characters and occasionally with members of the audience.  

    Final Thoughts?

    My only regret is that Australia in general and Perth, in particular, are so far from my home in central Ohio, otherwise, I’d be planning a return trip already! If I do venture to the “Land Down Under” again, I am definitely not flying economy. To be sure, my wife and I were treated well on all of our flights, including the 17-hour odyssey from Dallas to Sydney. But sleeping upright with minimal leg room just does not agree with my over-60-year-old body and I would like to feel like a human being next time, instead of a boomerang! That said, Perth was a great place for a multi-generational family visit. Not only were there a number of family-friendly activities for kids and adults of all ages, but the amount of wildlife and the opportunities to get up close and personal were a real treat.

  • Best Science Centers in the World

    Best Science Centers in the World

    Science museums offer interactive and hands-on exhibits to inspire excitement for STEM learning.  Many science museums also participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums around the world.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers for favorite science museums they’ve visited and came up with this list of the best science centers in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program).

    Best Science Museums for Kids

     

    #1:  Arizona Science Center With Kids* (Phoenix, Arizona)

    There are two things that make for a great science museum: interactive exhibits and engaging explanations. We found both of those in spades at the Arizona Science Center! We visited with our 3 and 5 year old children and found meaningful, hands-on stations to suit everyone in the family along with easy-to-understand signage everywhere. There’s almost an entire floor dedicated to the human body, a huge section on mechanics and even a large area covering extreme weather (perfect for my Storm Chasers-loving husband). The Center always shows interesting and age-appropriate films at its IMAX theater and has a fantastic cafe on-site that offers food that is both healthy and fun. A visit to the Arizona Science Center is the perfect way to escape the Phoenix heat with kids, and bring your ASTC member card for free admission!

    Recommended by Melissa Conn from The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about great family activities in Phoenix. 

     

    #2:  California Academy of Sciences With Kids (San Francisco, California)

    The California Academy of Sciences is both a natural history museum and a science museum all in one! The Academy has a rain forest, aquarium (with a touch and feel tide pool), planetarium, living roof, and a section where they provide African wildlife exhibits – including real penguins! The playroom is a favorite with our 1 and 3 year old children, too. Visitors can’t forget the albino alligator, Claude, who lives in the swamp of the Academy. We’ve had a membership to this museum since before we had kids, and we now continue to renew it because there is truly something for everyone. It’s located in a central part of the Golden Gate Park, so it’s a perfect spot to stop while you are exploring San Francisco.

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.  Find out more from Emily about San Francisco with kids.

     

    #4:  Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie With Kids (Paris, France)

    Housed inside a giant concrete block, the Cite des Sciences is the largest science museum in Europe.  It has several permanent exhibits featuring sciences, mathematics and technology.  Visitors can explore the human brain, learn about the origins of the universe and see how man has developed technology, among other things.   Don’t miss the Geode at the back of the museum; this enormous reflective globe contains a state of the art IMAX and virtual reality cinema.

    Children will be especially interested in the Cite des Enfants (Children’s City) where they can join a 90 minute session and explore experiments and interactive tasks, while learning about their bodies and the physical world.  Older children can also play in a TV studio and a garden.  The sessions are split by age: ages 2 – 7 and 5 – 12.  Kids don’t want to leave!

    After exploring the exhibits in the museum, take a walk in the Parc de la Villette behind the museum to see its modern, industrial architecture.  The Cite des Sciences is a little off the main tourist trail in Paris, but it’s reached easily enough from the Gare du Nord.  There’s no general admission fee, but individual exhibits do require admission, and pre-booking the children’s city is a good idea to avoid the long queues.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Paris with small kids.

    #5:  The Franklin Institute With Kids* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

    The Franklin Institute is a science and technology center in Center City in Philadelphia. It’s named for Philadelphia’s beloved citizen and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, who wore many hats but most notably as a scientist and inventor. When we go to Philadelphia to visit family in the suburbs, my children always insist on visiting the Franklin Institute.

    Visitors can easily spend an entire day at this center because there is so much to do. The Institute has special exhibits that rotate regularly. For example, we have enjoyed exhibits on Pompeii and the Terracotta Warriors. There is an IMAX theater, a planetarium and many interactive exhibits. For example, there is a giant human heart that visitors can walk both around and through, while exploring the different parts of the organ. Even though the Institute is very popular, it never feels crowded because it is so large. It’s easily one of the best science centers we have ever visited.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog.

     

    #6:  Luray Caverns With Kids (Luray, Virginia)

    Luray Caverns is basically the Geology Hall of Fame. Located in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Luray is the largest and most visited caverns in Eastern America. This one of a kind attraction combines geology, chemistry and even music. Admission tickets include a guided tour, which departs every 20 minutes after 9 a.m., and access to the The Luray Valley Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum and Toy Town Junction. Families can also buy additional tickets to the Rope Adventure Park and Garden Maze. The guided tour leads visitors through well lit, paved walkways to view and explore towering stone formations and natural wonders. Our family stopped at this one of a kind center on a road trip to Georgia, and I literally had to drag my kids out of there. My science and history loving children were in awe of the enormous chambers filled with towering stone columns, draperies and crystal-clear pools. For visitors looking for a unique science museum that offers hands on and experienced based learning in a stunning environment, Luray Caverns should be on your East Coast itinerary.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    #7:  Magna Science Adventure Centre With Kids (Rotherham, England)

    We love the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, Yorkshire. It’s based around air, fire, water and Earth with different exhibit areas for each. The Centre is set in an old steel works, and the space is massive and actually a little spooky. There is a big melt every hour with fireworks and other sounds to demonstrate how they used to melt the steel. Each of the pavilions has different interactive displays for young and old to play with and explore. Our particular favourites are watching a tornado of fire ignite in the fire pavilion, playing with pretend rocks and blowing holes in rocks in the Earth pavilion and shooting water canons at targets in the water pavilion. There’s also one of the biggest playgrounds I’ve ever seen that has a splash park in the warmer months. The added cherry on top is that once visitors have paid for one visit they can return as many times as desired for the next 12 months without charge.

    Recommended by Suzy McCullough from Our Bucket List Lives.

    #8:  National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci With Kids* (Milan, Italy)

    The National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci is the biggest science museum in Italy. The outside of the 16th-century monastery that houses the museum is nothing to look at, but the inside is amazing. The Museum has a huge collection of sixteen thousand technical scientific objects, dating back to the 19th century. There’s a gallery with drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci and 130 scale models that are based on his sketches. Furthermore, the Museum has exhibits about energy production, communication, computers, iron and steel industry and space travel. The transportation section takes up a large part of the museum, with various (parts of) ships, a collection of locomotives and train carriages, numerous airplanes and even a full-size helicopter. Our son was also really impressed by the huge military submarine Enrico Toti that sits in the garden. We only spent a morning at the museum with our toddler and did not nearly have enough time to see it all.

    Recommended by Lisa van den Berg from Flip Flop Globetrotters.  Find out more from Lisa about things to do in Milan with kids.

     

    #9:  Nagoya City Science Museum and Electricity Museum With Kids (Nagoya, Japan)

    The Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya, Japan houses the biggest planetarium in the world.  The 30 minute planetarium show about the galaxy and constellations, featuring a highly realistic starry sky, will leave the viewers in awe even though it isn’t dubbed in English.   Visitors will also enjoy various exhibits such as the Tornado Lab, Deep Freezing Lab and Electric Discharge Lab.

    For Nagoya visitors who love science, the Electricity Museum is a family-friendly attraction in Nagoya, Japan where kids and adults can enjoy learning how electricity works and its importance to the people of Japan. We toured the museum through the Nagoya Sightseeing Tour Bus, and the entrance ticket is free for everyone. It offers hologram images where visitors can see the pioneers in Japanese electricity and there are interactive tools on display and a science plaza where kids can experiment and be familiarized with different science laws. The main attraction of this museum is the OHM Theater where guests can participate in quizzes and competitions as video game characters on their impressive 29-foot screen.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    #10:  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry With Kids* (Portland, Oregon)

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (“OMSI”) in Portland, Oregon, is not somewhere visitors might think of bringing a child, and we worried whether our son would enjoy it. We wanted to visit the special exhibition OMSI had about Pompeii, but we were delighted to find lots for kids to enjoy. We were totally blown away by it. The Science Playground was by far our son’s favourite section.  Designed for kids ages 0-6, there were water tables, sand pits and lots of different sections for free-play, learning and discovery. The Planetarium was also a hit with our young son, and the rest of the museum was filled with different exhibits for children of all ages. One thing we missed during our visit was USS Blueback, the submarine that was featured in The Hunt for Red October and now permanently docked beside the museum. I was gutted to learn that we had missed it, but it’s a perfect excuse for a return visit!

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.  Find out more from Catherine about the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

     

    #11:  Perot Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Dallas, Texas)

    The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is not merely a science center. This awe-inspiring, 160,000 square foot structure is a state-of-the-art experience intersecting the worlds of engineering, science, architecture, nature and sustainability. With eleven permanent exhibits, six learning labs and one traveling exhibit, the sprawling six floors deliver excitement. My fourth-grader loves the Rose Hall of Birds where visitors can build and fly their own bird. The Leap Frog Forest enchants my toddler as kids of all ages can crawl, jump and play life-size leapfrog. Both kids agree that the top attractions are:

    • Sports: Practice an athletic move then film yourself in “Motion Lab” or challenge a T-Rex, Dallas Cowboy or cheetah in a timed race at “Run.”
    • Life Then and Now: Build your own dinosaur then send it to battle.
    • Engineering and Innovation: Lead pre-built robots on missions or program one yourself using visual coding stations.

    But, don’t forget to squeeze in some other special engagements. Marvel at the Perot Dinosaur, a new species found by Perot Museum Paleontologists. Crack open an Amethyst Geode that stands 5 feet tall. Visitors can also get their groove on at Harmony Park, watch a 4D Film at the National Geographic Experience Theater or view a real brain and stem at “Being Human.”

    Recommended by Brandy from Kid Allergy Travel.

     

    #12:  Science World at TELUS World of Science With Kids* (Vancouver, Canada)

    Science World at TELUS World of Science is one of the best science museums we have visited.  Not only does it stand out in terms of location and architecture, but it also has diverse displays, hands-on experiments and award-winning playgrounds.  Most displays are designed to be intuitive, and children and grown-ups are encouraged to try things out and have fun while exploring the museum and learning. Kids can try to weigh a hippo, climb on a rotating climbing wall and crawl through a beaver lodge. There are regular live demonstrations throughout the day, and we planned to visit for 2 hours and end up staying for 4.5. Science World is one of Vancouver’s must-do kid-focused tourist attractions.

    Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage.

     

    #13:  Scienceworks With Kids (Melbourne, Australia)

    For parents of children constantly asking “why” about everything, Scienceworks in Melbourne feeds the curiosity of young minds.  Offering a wide range of kid friendly exhibits with hands on activities, and live demonstrations, this child-focused museum makes learning about science fun and exciting.

    For little space lovers, the planetarium teaches kids about planets, constellations, and their home planet Earth through a kid-friendly animated film. With reclining seats and a domed roof, visitors can sit back and enjoy the show.  Kids also love the “lightning room” which is a 120-seat auditorium that presents demonstrations to teach children about electricity.  Learn about dinosaurs, the ocean, bugs and insects, and much more.  For those visiting Melbourne, Scienceworks is a great day out for the whole family.

    Recommended by Chontelle from Mum’s Little Explorers.

     

    Best Science Centers For Kids

    There are so many of these best science museums in the world that are now on our travel list.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the Best Natural History Museums in the World!

  • Best Natural History Museums in the World

    Best Natural History Museums in the World

    Our kids love museums, and we often visit natural history museums while we travel, particularly those that participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums.  Natural history museums are a great way to extend classroom learning.  We asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites and came up with this list of the best natural history museums in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program):

    Best Natural History Museums With Kids

     

    #1:  American Museum of Natural History With Kids* (New York City, New York)

    The American Museum of Natural History is the largest Natural History museum in the world and is housed in a beautiful building in New York’s Upper West Side, right outside Central Park. It’s crammed full of artifacts from land, sea and space and is super family friendly for visitors with kids. Our favourite section (and I think the favourite for the majority of visitors) is the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, which contains a huge selection of dinosaur fossils. There is a T-Rex, a stegosaurus, a triceratops and loads more for any dino fans. But it’s not only dinosaurs, the Museum also has a fantastic oceans exhibit – home to the amazing 94 foot long blue whale model, halls featuring birds and reptiles halls (watch out for the 25 foot python!), exhibits about human origins and cultural diversity and a fantastic section about space. All around the museum are interactive touch screens with more information, and don’t all kids love a touch screen?! General admission for adults costs $23 and $13 for children.  The Museum opens daily at 10 am, which is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds.

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    #2:  Denver Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Denver, Colorado)

    We are privileged to have a world-class nature and science museum in Colorado. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has something for everyone with an interest in natural science. The Museum has an IMAX Theater and planetarium with various shows. Traveling exhibits include such divergent topics as Vikings, bioluminescent animals, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The permanent exhibits showcase outer space, animals from around the world, the intricacies of our bodies, Egyptian mummies, and prehistoric dinosaurs.

    But we love bling, so our favorite museum exhibit is the gems and mineral showcase. As self-professed rock hounds, we love to see the awe-inspiring collection of minerals and gemstones. Indigenous Colorado gemstones include aquamarine, amazonite, and the very rare rhodochrosite. The largest gold nugget found in Colorado is also on display. We always learn new things about the gemstones and minerals during our visits.

    Recommended by Lance Hale from Family Well Traveled.

     

    #3:  Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa With Kids (Wellington, New Zealand)

    Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (commonly referred to as “Te Papa”) is mind-blowing and an unmissable stop on a New Zealand itinerary. Perched on the waterfront in Wellington, this 6 story building is stuffed with awe-inspiring exhibitions on Aotearoa/New Zealand’s history, it’s natural world and cultural treasures. Te Papa Tongarewa (meaning ‘container of treasures”) is literally packed with hands on, interactive exhibits, which our kids, ages 6 and 3 loved. Far from dragging them around the museum, they ran from exhibit to exhibit excited and totally engaged. The five main collections are Arts, History, Taonga Māori, Pacific Cultures, and Natural History. From impressive native species such as the pygmy blue whale skeleton and the world’s largest specimen of the rare colossal squid (weighing 496 kg!) to more light-hearted exhibits such as Peter Jackson replicas of Orcs to more sobering inclusions such as the current Gallipoli exhibition, Te Papa is, in our opinion, one of the greatest museums in the world.  FREE ENTRY apart from specific touring exhibitions.  Allow a full day!

    Recommended by Mags Nixon from The Family Freestylers.

     

    #4:  National Museum of Natural History and Science With Kids* (Tokyo, Japan)

    The best museum in Ueno Park for families with kids is the National Museum of Natural History and Science.   This is the huge building with a concrete blue whale on one side and a locomotive on the other. That basically sums up what the museum is about – the encounter of people with nature, which in Japanese culture is a continuum rather than a disruption.

    The Museum tells the story of how people came to Japan (via Okinawa), and how the islands looked before they came. That part of the museum is pretty conventional, although English explanations are limited.  Audio guides are also available.

    The coolest part of the museum is the “global gallery”, which goes down three levels into the ground, with dinosaurs in the middle. The cartoon movie explanation of evolution one floor below is also very interesting, a bit tongue in cheek, although everyone looks like an American cartoon from the 1950s. We were entertained by the exhibit representing the smart phone as the peak of evolution.

    The upper floors of the global gallery contain exhibits about technology, Japanese technology of course. The upper floors are where kids will get their most lasting memory of their visit in ComPASS, the space for children’s play and communication. It was recently opened after a renovation and is really fun for the kids. It is so popular that visitors have to get a queue ticket at the information desk at the first floor.

    Especially on rainy days, the museum can be crowded. Bring a packed lunch and eat it in the lunch space on the basement floor of the old building (the “honkan”). There are two restaurants, but the wait could be as long as several hours to be seated.  Except for the dinosaurs, children do need adult explanation of the exhibits but absolutely love exploring this fact-packed museum.

    Recommended by Wisterian from Wisterian Watertree.

     

    #5:  Natural History Museum With Kids (London, England)

    There is so much to captivate children at London’s Natural History Museum whether they’re into dinosaurs and furry owls or giant whales and tiny insects. Visitors can feel the earth move in the Earthquake machine, play detective games around the museum and visit colorful butterflies in the Butterfly House. The hands-on Science Centre is a great place for children to examine specimens from around the world, using microscopes and other instruments.

    The most popular gallery is the Dinosaurs, where visitors can get up close to prehistoric specimens, including the skull of a plant-eating Triceratops, an Iguanodon, one of the first species of dinosaur, and of course, the formidable Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Hope, a 25 meter long blue whale skeleton, is suspended from the ceiling of the main hall.  The Natural History Museum is open daily and admission is free.

    Recommended by Nicky of Go Live Young.  Find out more from Nicky about London with kids.

     

    #6:  Natural History Museum (Vienna, Austria)

    Vienna’s Natural History Museum was one of the highlights of our trip to Vienna with our kids, aged 3 and 1 years old. We actually pushed this activity as one of the last, since it isn’t specifically geared towards kids, but we are so glad we didn’t miss it! For kids who love animals, this place is a must. We toured the taxidermy exhibit on the top floor of the Museum, where taxidermy of every kind of mammal imaginable was exhibited 3 times and saw every kind of mammals imaginable! The architecture is absolutely breathtaking, and the Museum is enjoyable for adults too. Even our 1-year-old was amazed at all the animals. Families visiting Vienna with kids should not push this museum off – it’s totally kid-friendly and adult friendly too!

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.

     

    #7:  Natural History Museum of Marseille With Kids (Marseille, France)

    There may be countless natural history museums in the world, but not many of them are housed in magnificent 19th century palaces. If you happen to be in the city of Marseille in the south of France, make sure you visit the Natural History Museum of Marseille located inside the Palais Longchamp. Why our family loves this museum:

    • It contains thousands of zoological, botanical, mineral and fossil specimens, some of them long extinct.
    • It has four permanent exhibits: Safari Room, Provence Room, Human Earth and Land of the Living.
    • It has an old-fashioned feel to it. It was founded in 1819, and we felt like we were indeed stepping back to the 19th century when visiting it.
    • There is a great interactive display for kids.
    • It has free admission on the first Sunday of each month.

    Recommended by Bea from PackYourBags.Org.  Find out more from Bea about the Natural History Museum of Marseille.

     

    #8:  Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum With Kids* (Washington, D.C.)

    We recently traveled to Washington D.C. on our recent White Christmas trip to the U.S., and visiting a few of the Smithsonian Museum’s was top of our list. First up was the National Museum of Natural History, located on the National Mall near Capitol Building. I wasn’t sure how interested the kids would be and had expected that we would whip around this museum in a few hours. How wrong was I, as we took a whole day exploring this Museum, and I still feel that we rushed through some parts of it.

    The Museum is reported to be home to approximately 126 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, human remains and human cultural artefacts. The kids most enjoyed the interactive areas, particularly where they were able to place items under a microscope and analysis them. There are a large number of animals from each continent on display, including animals that are now extinct. My son was also very interested in the Egyptian, artefacts including the mummies on display.  The museum is huge, and visitors could spend a week here and still not see if all. A full day gave us a good look around and kids enjoyed every minute of it.

    Recommended by Sally Lucas from Our 3 Kids v the World.

     

    #9:  South Australian Museum With Kids (Adelaide, Australia)

    The South Australian Museum is one of the most visited museums in Australia.  With five floors of exhibits covering fossils, mammals, Ancient Egypt, special exhibition spaces and more plus Aboriginal and Pacific Cultures collections, the South Australian Museum offers plenty for young and old.  With so many interactive hands on activities, kids will absolutely love it here.  No doubt they will love checking out the various world mammals, learning about the various South Australian biodiversity and checking out the giant squid that spans across four floors dangling in an elevator shaft!

    During the school holidays, the Museum has free school holiday programs attracting more than 5,000 school kids each holiday period.  The Discovery Centre Team located on level 1 is more than happy to have a chat about any of the exhibits, and visitors can also see bees making honey, which is sure to keep little, and big kids busy for a while.  The Discovery Centre is open from 11am-4pm weekdays, and 11am-3pm weekends and public holidays.  The Museum is open every day from 10am-5pm, including weekends and public holidays. Entry is free; however some exhibitions may charge an admission fee.

    Recommended by Melissa Delaware of Thrifty Family Travels.  Find out more from Melissa about Adelaide with kids.

     

    We love natural history museums with kids and can’t wait to visit all of these world’s best natural history museums.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the World’s Best Science Centers With Kids!

  • World’s Best Zoos With Kids

    World’s Best Zoos With Kids

    WGWK believes it is safe to say that a day at the zoo is something all kids can enjoy! When traveling, viewing animals in beautiful habitats is a nice break from city sightseeing for the little ones.  We asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites world zoos and came up with this list of world’s best zoos with kids:

     

    Assiniboine Park Zoo – Winnipeg, Canada

    Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, we have been to the Assiniboine Park Zoo countless times. Until recently, it was just another zoo. But in mid 2014, after years of hard work, this Zoo got a makeover and a brand new world class exhibit called Journey to Churchill was unveiled.  Journey to Churchill focuses on Arctic animals and is the most extensive of its kind in the world when it comes to showcasing northern animal species. It has been dubbed “the Gateway to the Arctic”. The animals in this exhibit are polar bears, muskoxen, Arctic wolves and foxes, to name a few. The exhibit occupies ten acres and recreates the landscape of the animals’ natural habitat of the Subarctic and the Arctic. There are currently nine polar bears living at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Most have been rescued as very young cubs after being orphaned in the Canadian North. We all know that polar bears are endangered species. This exhibit not only serves as a new home to these animals that would have otherwise perished, but it also provides the public with educational opportunities on how to protect them. Our son’s favourite part is observing these animals up close as they swim above his head in the aquarium tunnel called the Sea Ice Passage.  Don’t miss this unique zoo experience when in Winnipeg.

    Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags. Find out more from Bea about Assiniboine Park Zoo.

     

    Auckland Zoo – Auckland, New Zealand

    New Zealand’s Auckland Zoo is one amazing zoo!  We love it because the animals are well cared for, and a lot of them are rescued animals that wouldn’t survive in the wild.  Families who visit during the school holidays will also find something different going on as there are special exhibits and learning experiences, including the opportunity to be a zookeeper for a day (for kids and adults).

    Even out of school holidays, it’s great fun. First, we love the vet hospital there, which cares for the zoo animals, but also for injured wildlife. Visitors can see what’s going on through the glass window, and there is usually a zookeeper stationed outside the glass to explain to visitors what is taking happening.  We also love the daily elephant walks that take place every day! As the elephant walks by with its keeper, visitors can view the animals up close. And, of course, in the spring, there is the opportunity to see lots of baby animals! We were lucky to see the red panda cubs, a giraffe calf, and many more during our visit!

    Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries.  Find out more from Thais about Auckland.

     

    Belize Zoo – Belize

    The Belize Zoo started off as a conservation center and still has a huge effort in conservation of animals in Belize. All the animals are native to Belize. They may have encountered issues in the wild and have been rescued by the center. For example, they have a jaguar who they rescued as a cub when she got separated from her mother and a jabiru who fell out of its nest and can no longer fly.  They also have a center for “problem jaguars” – jaguars who hunt too close to human settlements because they may be old and injured. Instead of being shot and killed, these problem jaguars are brought to the center to be cared for and studied. My kids thought the Belize Zoo was very cool especially seeing the big cats – the jaguars and the pumas. We spent two weeks in Belize but never saw many of the native animals exhibited at the zoo in the wild.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Nylon Living.

     

    Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary – Tasmania, Australia

    For families with a young animal-lover in their life, a trip to Australia offers the opportunity to see many unique creatures! The Land Down Under has so much more than just kangaroos and koalas. We spent the first day of our epic two-month visit to Australia at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania, where injured or endangered animals are sheltered and nurtured. During our awesome guided tour (which is included in the admission price), we visited with wombats, echidnas, quolls and the infamous Tassie devil… and of course it was a great opportunity to get up close with koalas and ‘roos as well.

    Recommended by Melissa Conn of The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about family travel in Australia.

     

    Chester Zoo – Chester, England

    We’ve visited a few zoos with our son, but the Chester Zoo, the UK’s most visited zoo, is one that stands out. Not only is it a very large zoo, at approximately 125 acres, with big enclosures for the many species of animals and birds that can be found there, but it is also highly involved in conservation. The most exciting part for us was the Islands at Chester Zoo. This part of the Zoo, opened in 2015, has areas representing six South East Asian Islands including Bali and Sumatra. It is a truly wonderful part of the Zoo and transports visitors to South East Asia with atmospheric music and explorer huts – a true delight to visit. From Sumatran tigers and orangutans, to Visayan warty pigs, the Islands are not to be missed. Chester Zoo has so much to see and do and is best given a full day to explore. Even then visitors may still miss some of the zoo as it’s that big. This is what makes Chester Zoo one of our favourite zoos of all time.

    Catherine from Passports and Adventures.

     

    Cotswold Wildlife Park – Oxfordshire, England

    Cotswold Wildlife Park is one of the star attractions in the Cotswolds.  The Wildlife Park is just outside the town of Burford in Oxfordshire, in the grounds of a manor house surrounded by beautiful gardens.  The Park is home to some amazing animals and is sure to enchant kids of any age.  Visitors can get up close to giraffes in the giraffe house and meet the friendly lemurs and critically endangered Bactrian camels.  The Wildlife Park is probably the only place in the world to see a white rhino grazing in front of a Victorian manor house!

    Don’t miss the daily talks and animal feeding times – visitors can even sign up to be a keeper for the day.  The children’s farm is always a hit as kids can pet some of the more tame animals.  There’s also a miniature train ride, which is a great way to get an idea of the park’s layout and appeals to smaller children. The Cotswold Wildlife Park is a charitable trust and part of several breeding programmes for endangered species as well as promoting conservation in the wild. This means visitors can be sure that they are supporting animals worldwide when they visit.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.

    Dujiangyan Panda Base – Shiqiao, China

    Pandas are the emblem of China and currently considered a national treasure. Only in China do pandas live outside of captivity, yet seeing any pandas in the wild in China is nearly impossible, because it’s a vulnerable species and there are less than 2000 in the wild.  That’s what makes the Dujiangyan Panda Base such a special place.  Although the Center may look like a regular zoo at first look, this non-for-profit, government-funded organization is dedicated to saving pandas from extinction through controlled breeding techniques and specially designed wildlife reinsertion programs.

    We visited Dujiangyan Panda Base on our trip to Chengdu.  At Dujiangyan, along with seeing the pandas up close with few interruptions from other tourists, we learned about the Center’s conservation programs. Best of all, visitors can volunteer for the panda keeper program and spend a day working alongside zookeepers and scientists caring for the pandas.

    Recommended by Daniela Kemeny from A Baby Abroad.

    Melbourne Zoo – Melbourne, Australia

    The Melbourne Zoo’s vision is to be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organization, and it is well worth a visit.  In addition to featuring enclosures with natural habitats where visitors can get close to a wide-variety of international and foreign animals, the park-like grounds are themed to look like different regions of the world.  While seeing the elephants and tigers, visitors will think they are wandering through a safari town in India.

    The Zoo does incredible conservation work through targeted campaigns to teach and educate visitors about sustainability.  The orangutan area has a lot of great information about palm oil products and the threat wild orangutans face from loss of habitat from palm plantations.  Another recent campaign entitled “Wipe for Wildlife” encouraged visitors to make the switch to toilet paper made from recycled materials.  The Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo and has re-invented itself as a wonderful place to learn about wildlife right in the city centre.

    Recommended by Dawn Nicholson from 5 Lost Together.  Find out more from Dawn about Melbourne With Kids.

     

    National Zoo and Aquarium – Canberra, Australia

    Our local zoo, the National Zoo and Aquarium, is the perfect animal experience for young families as it is packed full of cool and interesting animals but is compact enough for little legs. The Zoo itself is beautifully constructed with pretty walkways and creative gardens and enclosures for all the animals. The Zoo offers great memberships where kids under three are free of charge, so when my kids were little for the price of one adult membership, my two young daughters and I had many outings to the zoo.

    Over the last few years the National Zoo and Aquarium has undergone quite a transformation and expansion with the award-winning Jamala Wildlife Lodge opening. Guests can stay overnight in luxury lodgings and be immersed in the wildlife experience as they watch lions, bears and other awesome animals through the floor to ceiling glass windows of their lodges.  As for the animals – a favourite is hard to pick. I love the white lions, giraffes and cheetahs. The kids, are always enthralled by the cheekiness of the otters and the meerkats!

    Recommended by Karen Buffier of Big Adventures for Little Feet.

     

    Ocean Park – Hong Kong, China


    Ocean Park is a part-zoo, part-aquarium, part-theme park and is a favourite day out for Hong Kong’s families.  The two biggest attractions here for animal lovers are the Grand Aquarium and the four resident Giant Pandas. The Giant Aquarium has loads of sea creatures to fascinate children – from hammerhead sharks, to manta rays, starfish and lionfish. There’s also a separate three-level Shark Mystique if they want more. Beyond the pandas, there are also penguins, walruses, sea lions and seals to visit, in addition to rainforest creatures such as the sloth, capybaras and giant anaconda.
    Unusually Ocean Park mixes up animal viewing with thrill rides. There are rides for everyone here – from the carousel and frog-hopper for the little ones, to the floorless Hair Raiser roller coaster that sends you looping and plunging at
    88km/h for the really fearless.  Visitors to Ocean Park should not miss the cable car, which offers some of
    the best views of the south side of Hong Kong Island.

    Recommended by Marianne from Mum on the Move.  Find out more from Marianne about Ocean Park.

     

    Singapore Zoo – Singapore

    The Singapore Zoo is often rated as one of the top 10 zoos in the world, and once we arrived, we could certainly see why. It is well set out, and all the enclosures are open range with no visible fencing or bars. It is spread over 64 acres in the Mandai Rainforest, 30 minutes taxi ride from central Singapore. Singapore Zoo is so large that there is a shuttle bus system to move the 1.7 million annual visitors around the park, which is great for little ones so they don’t get too tired early in the day.

    Singapore Zoo is famous for its orangutan enclosure which is free range and the orangutans move from tree to tree often right above your head. The zoo also offers the opportunity to have breakfast with the orangutans at Ah Meng Restaurant. Visitors sit and enjoy a generous buffet breakfast while the orangutans come to visit and have their breakfast at the same time. After breakfast visitors can stand up close to the orangutans and have their photo taken, but can’t touch them.

    There are various feeding times and educational shows about conserving land and looking after endangered animals. My kids really enjoyed the shows and it was nice that they incorporated an educational message while keeping it fun for the kids.

    Recommended by Sally Lucas of Our 3 Kids v the World.  Find out more from Sally about the Singapore Zoo.

     

    Taipei Zoo – Taipei, Taiwan

    The Taipei Zoo features around 300 animals, including those from tropical, rainforest and safari environments for an admission of about 6 USD. Our Taiwan sojourn became extra special because we got to see a 276 pound panda for the first time. Our little one, Sophia, had a chance to get face-to-face with a panda that had acted aloof because of noisy visitors for a couple of hours prior to our visit.

    Inside the Zoo, we rode the Maokong Gondola up the mountain, and we were mesmerized with the aerial view of the beautiful forest and the city lights. We were waiting for the Crystal Cabins, the glass-bottom cars where visitors can vividly see the breathtaking views from thousands of feet above ground, but we ended up riding a regular cabin. We still experienced the same excitement when the ride reached the highest peak. So far, this is the best zoo adventure we have ever had, and we’ll definitely come back to this astonishing place.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    Taronga Zoo – Sydney, Australia

    Taronga Zoo Sydney is an iconic Sydney landmark. Sitting on the Sydney Harbour, historic Taronga Zoo was officially opened on 7 October 1916 and has become one of the city’s main attractions. Spread over 69 acres and boasting over 350 different species of animals, Taronga Zoo showcases both native Australian animals and a range of exotic animals including tigers, chimpanzees, giraffes and gorillas. A daily highlight for all visitors is the Free Flight Bird Show, which is not to be missed.

    The Taronga Zoo offers visiting families the incredible Keeper for a Day program on weekends and school holidays where children can learn about animal husbandry and the behind the scenes workings of a zoo. Those wanting a once in a lifetime experience can enjoy the Roar and Snore experience at stay at the zoo overnight.  One of Taronga Zoo’s highlights every year is its inclusion in the Vivid Sydney festival in May, in which the Zoo is lit up with a number of animal-themed installations around the grounds and accessed in the evening moonlight.

    Whilst visitors can drive to the Zoo, the ultimate experience is to catch a ferry from Circular Quay across to the Zoo and enjoy the sights of the Sydney Harbour along the way. The Zoo is a not for profit establishment with all money raised funneled back into the Zoo’s important conservation projects.

    Recommended by Leah Smileski from The Kid Bucket List.  Find out more from Leah about the Sydney Zoo.

     

    Toronto Zoo – Toronto, Canada

    SONY DSC

    The Toronto Zoo can be reached with a metro-bus combination from downtown Toronto. With 287 hectares, it is the largest zoo in Canada, and visitors should come prepared to walk a lot. The animals get a lot of space at this zoo, which is nice, but sometimes they are hard to spot, especially for young children.  For the past five years the main zoo attraction has been the pandas, but they were moved to Calgary in March 2018.  There are still plenty of other animals to see and the Zoo’s Africa Savannah section houses lions, zebras and very cute pygmy hippopotamuses. What made the Toronto Zoo special for us was its large exhibit of Canadian wildlife. We got to see grizzly bears, cougars, elk and other animals without having to travel to Alaska or other more remote parts of Canada.

    Recommended by Tikva from Gezin op Reis.

     

    Vienna Zoo – Vienna, Austria

    As we wandered aimlessly around the Berlin Zoo looking for the panda we wanted to see, we grew more and more impatient. Soon as we saw a keeper, we asked for directions and were told that the panda was no longer at the zoo. All four of us were so upset that when we added Vienna on our itinerary, there was one place that was top of the list….the Vienna Zoo.  Little did we know how amazing the entire Zoo would be for our family.

    There was so much to do other than seeing the animals. My daughters were a little younger then and just looking at animals was something that Marley could not always do whereas Willow was amazed by the enclosures and all the different animals that were housed there. Marley could let off some steam in the play areas located all over the Zoo.

    The paths were nice and wide for prams with not many hills to tire out those little legs. What I liked the most was that the enclosures were a sight in themselves. They all looked fantastic and really well-kept. We even got to see the pandas at play while we were there!  We also found a restaurant just inside the Zoo that had a great menu for us to all sit and have a proper meal after wandering the Zoo for a few hours. No deep-fried stuff…we all had a great main meal at a really good price too.

    We went on a cold wintery day, and we didn’t find that we were cold as we were sheltered from the wind by the Zoo.  There was little rain, but there were plenty of places to take cover if we needed to. The Vienna Zoo is the world’s oldest zoo, a great place to visit, and kids love it!

    Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel.  Find out more from Bec about the Vienna Zoo.

     

    Xcaret Park – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

    Xcaret Park has dozens of exhibits, including a huge aviary, a butterfly pavilion, an aquarium complete with big lagoons containing sea turtles, manatees and sting rays as well as Jaguar Island, which includes both black and spotted jaguars. With wildlife around every corner, visitors can spend half the day enjoying the fauna and the other half enjoying the underground rivers, attractions and cultural displays of Mexico. Our family has enjoyed ourselves every time we’ve visited, and the kids always say they want to go back.

    Recommended by Charles Kosman from The Barefoot Nomad.  Find out more from Charles about Xcaret.

     

    Zoo Berlin – Berlin, Germany

    A world-class zoo with respected animal care and preservation programs, Zoo Berlin is “home to the world’s largest variety of species”. The Zoo is extensive and houses nearly 20,000 animals of about 1,400 species, and many of the enclosures appear like the animals’ natural habitat. There is also a petting zoo, a nocturnal house, and a bird house where colorful birds fly freely. Entry to the aquarium portion requires an extra fee.

    Millions of annual visitors enjoy learning about animals and conservation at Zoo Berlin, and they can also view daily animal feedings. Most signs are in English as well as German. An interactive app is available to download, with zoo schedules, map features, and animal information. A variety of food and beverages is available at restaurants and kiosks.  One restaurant looks onto a large playground with a climbing structure for kids.

    Amidst all the activity, there are beautiful, wide, garden-like pathways. These promenades extend along manicured grass and low hedges, interspersed with groupings of roses abloom in summer, and fountains that spout and splash.  Plenty of benches invite a rest under the shade of nearby trees. In the big city of Berlin, the zoo offers a peaceful day out.

    Recommended by Sandy Nielsen from Sleeps5.  Find out more from Sandy about Berlin.

     

    We love visiting zoos with kids, and there are so man of the top zoos of the world that we have not yet visited.  If you want to read about more amazing zoos, check out our post on the Best U.S. Zoos With Kids and other zoos we have visited during our travels.

  • Best Beaches in Australia With Kids

    Best Beaches in Australia With Kids

    Australian beaches are ideal to visit with kids.  There are thousands of beautiful beaches in the Australian continent, which borders the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean.  We can’t believe we have yet to visit one of these stunning beaches and can’t wait for our first trip there.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers to nominate the best beaches in Australia with kids and came up with this amazing list.  (Note that while we realize that New Zealand may not technically be part of the Australian continent, it fit here best.)

    Best Australian Beaches With Kids

     

    #1:  Barwon Heads Beach – Victoria, Australia

    Barwon Heads has always been a very popular place for beach goers in Melbourne. It’s about a 90 minute drive and is located just before the start of the world famous Great Ocean Road. One of the reasons I love it is because the Barwon River connects with ocean and has created a beautiful, safe beach that is perfect to take the kids.

    Beaches off the coast of Victoria can get a bit wild and are often rough.   The water is generally freezing until February, but the Barwon River beach is protected and thus, does not have waves and is really shallow. When the tide is low visitors can almost walk to the other side of the river.

    The local council has done a great job of making this area is all about kids. They have put in an amazing kids’ playground, public bathrooms and a number of barbecues that visitors can use. We spent Easter Sunday down at the Barwon Heads River beach, and the kids played and we put the kayaks in and did a bit of fishing. As per usual, that one nibble got away!

    Recommended by Sally Lucas of Our 3 Kids v the World.  Find out more from Sally about Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

     

    #2:  Emily Bay Beach, Norfolk Island

    When it comes to beaches, Norfolk Island boasts one of the most beautiful in the world. The Island’s Emily Bay features a protected lagoon with a double reef, making it perfect for a family beach adventure. It is safe, gloriously warm in summer and has the squishiest, golden sand to walk upon.

    The reef itself is home to a wonderful array of fish and corals. Lucky visitors may even spot a resident sea turtle on a snorkel excursion or a trip out on the glass bottom boat. Throughout the year, this sheltered reef lagoon offers incredible visibility, warm water and an opportunity to enjoy a glorious natural spot with the kids.

    Free from nasty stingers, and with such spectacular water to swim in, it is no wonder Emily Bay was named one of Australia’s top ten beaches!

    Recommended by Leah Smileski from The Kid Bucket List.

     

    #3:  Fatumafuti Beach – American Samoa

    American Samoa is full of picturesque beaches, some more well-suited for kids than others; Fatumafuti is one of those ideal kid beaches. The beach has soft sand and scurrying hermit crabs, perfect for building sand-castles and crab villages. There are two small islands and a barrier reef, just off the coast, that are teeming with colorful, tropical sea-life. With shallower areas, ready for budding swimmers, and deeper holes adjacent to large boulders, just right for jumping from, there’s something for everyone. Fatumafuti is just off the main road and one of the few beaches on the island that you don’t need to ask permission to use. Also, there are never crowds, so you’re sure to enjoy your day, with plenty of room to stretch out. Just jump out of the car, grab your buckets and snorkels and discover a piece of the South Pacific that most people have only dreamed of.

    Recommended by Melinda Clayville from Traveling Outside-the-Box.

     

    #4:  Green’s Pool, William Bay National Park, Denmark Western Australia 

    Un-touristed and with naturally clear waters, the entire Southern Coast of Western Australia is a traveller’s dream.  For those with kids, there are literally miles of unspoiled pure white sand beaches to explore and really connect with nature.  The naturally protected swimming area at Green’s Pool, in the William Bay National Park ticks all the boxes and makes it a top contender for one of the World’s Best Beaches.   The turquoise waters are naturally clear year round, the beach is protected with no waves, making it easy for small children to paddle and swim, and the sand powdery white sand is completely clean of debris. Perfect for endless sandcastle building! Nearby the stunning Green’s Pool are other coves for beachcombing and exploring, including a mammoth rock formation, which closely resembles a herd of elephants dipping their toes in the ocean.  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending more than a whole day at this extremely kid friendly, yet stunning beach.

    Recommended by Ariana of World from Travels With Kids.  Find out more from Ariana about the Southern Coast of Western Australia.

     

    #5:  Little Beach – Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia

    Little Beach is one of the most stunning hidden gems along the southern Western Australia coast, about 30 minutes drive east of Albany.  It’s remoteness is where it’s beauty lies.  So far from a capital city or major airport, only the most ardent of travellers make it this far along the coast, but they are rewarded with some of the most pristine white sand in the world.

    Sitting in a small bay, the waves from the Southern Ocean are gentle, but big enough for jumping and in warmer weather, swimming (no life guard).  Conditions are perfect for sandcastle building or taking kids off exploring in the rock pools nearby – just be careful, the cliffs to the ocean below are sheer! It’s BYO food and supplies, and it’s in a state park, so remember to take everything away.  Other than the peak of summer, visitors can pretty much secure this little slice of paradise all for themselves. 

    Recommended by Keri from Our Globetrotters.  Find out more from Keri about Albany Beaches. (ask about preview picture)

     

    #6:  Mount Maunganui Beach – Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

    Nestled in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand’s North Island, Mount Maunganui beach is my all time favourite beach with kids. The town of Mount Maunganui stretches along a peninsula, Tauranga Harbour on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. At the tip and overlooking the harbour entrance is Mauao (The Mount), a 262 meter high lush green mountain, an iconic landmark.

    On the ocean side is a long white sand beach starting under The Mount that stretches as far as the eye can see. A strip of cafes serving delicious food, great coffee, smoothies and ice creams are across the road from “Main Beach”. There is also a boardwalk, which leads in one direction to the fantastic Mount Drury playground and in the other to the stroller friendly walk around the base of The Mount.

    Confident kids can body surf and boogie board on Main Beach.  Lifeguards are on duty here. Toddlers can safely paddle in the shallows or head further down the beach where Moturiki (Leisure) Island shelters the beach and tames the waves.

    To avoid waves, walk a few hundred meters across to Pilot Bay. The calm waters of the harbour are perfect for babies to splash and play while the rest of the family can try paddle boarding, kayaking, wind surfing or optimist sailing.

    For visitors who aren’t lucky enough to visit in the warmer months between November and March, head to the Mount Hot Pools, where natural thermal energy heats the salt water in these stylish outdoor pools, keeping them the perfect temperature year round.

    Recommended by Kaylie Lewell from Happiness Travels Here.

     

    #7:  Noosa Main Beach – Australia

    The Noosa Main Beach is one of the best beaches on the Sunshine Coast and absolutely perfect for kids.  Located along the famous shopping strip of Hastings Street and just outside the entrance to the Noosa National Park, Noosa Main Beach offers soft gentle waves perfect for swimming, boogie boarding as well as a great place to learn to surf.  Being just off Hastings Street there are various places to grab something to eat and drink for the kids as well as plenty of places to hire beach equipment like boogie boards and stand up paddleboards.

    In addition to the popular Noosa Main Beach, there are so many other great beaches to explore in the area.  There are numerous beaches in the Noosa National Park such as Tea Tree Bay, Winch Cove, Granite Bay and Little Cove.  The calm crystal-clear waters of the Noosa River are also the perfect place for little ones and an ideal location for getting out and exploring in a kayak.

    Recommended by Melissa of Thrifty Family Travels.  Find out more from Melissa about Noosa.

     

    #8:  Tamarama Beach, Sydney, Australia

    Next to crowded Bondi Beach is Tamarama Beach,  conveniently close while giving the feel of being more quaint and less frequented. We found it to be kid approved with its soft pristine sand that made it easy to move around and play in.  Our kids spent hours building sand castles and taking turns burying each other.  Nearby shallow tide pools made for a convenient way for the kids to get in and out of the water without getting overwhelmed by crashing Pacific Ocean waves. Bathrooms were nearby, which is always a plus when traveling with little ones. The stunning cliff views with charming homes above made it all the more memorable.  As parents, we spent our time playing with the kids and also relaxing while they enjoyed the safe environment.  Definitely a great beach spot for a family getaway.

    Recommended by Anabel Newell from Amor for Travel.

     

    #9:  Torakina Beach – Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, Australia

    The quirky riverside town of Brunswick Heads has been a family favourite for 50 years, but never more so than today. There are so many things to do here with kids, but top of the list is a visit to the safe swimming spot of Torakina Beach.  Torakina Beach is a delightful family beach near the entrance to the river’s mouth.  Protected by giant boulder groins, the cute beach has gentle waves and is the ideal place for beginner swimmers and those who are not so fond of open water.

    The water is crystal clear, as good as any tropical island, except after big storms when the river takes the deluge and debris out to sea. Visitors can see tiny fish swimming around their toes, pelicans above, and the odd dolphin that drops by to say hi.  Visitors can access Torakina by crossing the car bridge and walking through the parklands on the left. There’s a designated car park, but it fills up quickly, so go early.  There’s plenty of shade up along the dunes, or bring your own beach umbrella to set up camp.  Make sure to bring buckets and spades, boogie boards and a picnic to stay all day.

    Recommended by Amber Greene from Roam the Gnome.  Find out more from Amber about things to do in Brunswick Heads.

     

    #10:  Whale Beach – Sydney, Australia

    Visitors looking for a kid friendly beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches can’t go past Whale Beach. More secluded than the main beaches such as Avalon or Palm Beach, Whale Beach on the Southern Ocean is a kids’ delight. There is a small park and BBQ facilities for families, but the rock platform and rock pools are where the best fun lies. The rock pool at the south end is relatively shallow and small, and on either side, there are natural rock pools. The ones before the pool are perfect for babies and toddlers to wade and play in. On the other side, at the base of the rock platform, is a larger rock pool that gets quite full at high tide.  Bigger kids can play for hours as the waves rush in and out.

    The rock platform at the northern end is also a great place to visit. It is accessible either along the beach or down a set of steep stairs, but it has a lot of rock pools where visitors can see a variety of sea creatures, up close and personal (once we even saw a baby shark waiting for the tide to come back in!). At low tide we like to walk around the headland to Palm Beach on the rock platform and pass the car grave yard, where cars went over the cliff (before they made it safe).  Whale Beach has so many areas to explore, visitors could spend days there while visiting the Northern Beaches. 

    Recommended by Maraya, a Northern Beaches local, from Stuff Mums Like.

    Find Out More About Fun Family Beaches With Kids

    Ready to hit the beach right now?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Europe and Central and South America.

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  • Tropical North Queensland With Kids!

    Tropical North Queensland With Kids!

    Guest Blogger: Cris, her husband “J,” and their four kids live in Europe, but have spent the last year traveling the world and have visited over 21 countries. They can be found on Instagram.

    “Hey honey, we’re going to Australia for five weeks!” – J

    When my husband first told me we were going to Australia for five weeks in October, I began researching the best places to visit with our four children, ages 8, 7 (twins), and 6. J had appointments in Noosa, Sydney, and Melbourne on specific dates, but the rest of the time would be dedicated family holiday time. As I started researching Noosa, I realized quickly that it would be a sin not to visit Tropical North Queensland.

    The Itinerary:

    During our five weeks in Australia, we spent one week exploring Tropical North Queensland. Our itinerary was as follows:

    Day 1 – Fly into Cairns and hire rental car

    Day 2 – Tour of Green Island National Park

    Day 3 – Four hour drive, overnight in Townsville

    Day 4-7 – Airlie Beach, including tour of Whitehaven Island

    Day 7 – Depart via Proserpine Airport (also known as Whitesunday Coast Airport)

    What We Did:

    Tropical North Queensland is home to several world heritage sites, including the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world. Queensland itself is a land of white sandy beaches, boasting year round summer temperatures and incredible wildlife. Home to crocodiles, sharks, deadly snakes, kangaroos, cockatoos, and sweet wallabies, my biggest concern was whether I would be able to keep my four children safe! We all know children have selective hearing when it comes to “dos and don’ts” and my worries haunted me even as we landed in Cairns.

    The Cairns Esplanade has been a focal point for locals and visitors in Cairns city since the region was founded in the late 1800s.

    Upon landing in Cairns, I immediately fell in love with the warm breeze, tropical vegetation, and the sweet sound of song birds. After checking into our hotel in Cairns, we took a walk around town in an effort to stay awake until an acceptable time for dinner, thus helping us adjust quickly to jet lag. Beaches are off-limits in Cairns and there are crocodile warnings everywhere, but the town compensates with the most family friendly promenade we’ve ever visited. The boardwalk is elevated above the beach and a perfect place for children to run along and play. There is plenty of free entertainment and, within walking distance from the town center, we found a skate park, BBQ areas, and the Cairns public swimming pool, which is a fantastic amenity for locals and tourists alike.

    The crocodile warnings!
    Walking along the beach in Cairns.

    During our visit, we loved stopping for snacks at Muddy’s café, a nice beach front coffee shop with great food and an incredible playground, complete with a splash area for children. J and I sat outside and enjoyed coffee, while watching our children play on the gigantic hamster wheel!

    My husband and I joked that we need one of these for our yard at home!

    Our stay in Cairns was sadly shortened by a flight mix-up in Bali, so we only had one full day to explore. To maximize our time, we decided to take a boat tour to Green Island National Park.

    Green Island National Park

    Green Island National Park consists of powdery white beaches and tropical trees, thus making it the perfect castaway vacation destination. After being assured by no less than five different people that there was no danger of crocodiles, we set off to explore the deserted white sand beaches. We enjoyed a packed picnic lunch on the beach and also enjoyed a glass bottom boat excursion to the coral reef that my children absolutely loved. They went wild looking at corals, different species of fish, giant starfish, and even a turtle – all without getting wet!

    Glass bottom boat ride.

    Back in Cairns that evening, we did what we always do when traveling abroad: sample the local cuisine! The excitement was sky high when we ordered kangaroo and crocodile skewers – so yummy we had to order more!

    Early the next morning, we headed off to our next destination, Townsville. To get there, we drove for four hours along the infamous “Bruce Highway,” which was lined with mango and avocado trees and banana plantations. Along the way, we pulled into one of the many farm stalls to sample some fresh melon. It was delicious, but also a little expensive! Our decision to spend the night in Townsville was entirely motivated by our desire to give the children a break from being stuck in the car. We spent the night at the Mercure Townsville, after receiving an offer from Emirates and Rocketmiles that would earn me 3,000 miles for a one night stay.

    After our overnight in Townsville, we headed off to our next destination, Airlie Beach. I had tried to get a cabin at the BIG4 Resort, which has water slides and great reviews, but because late September is a popular holiday time for Australians, the resort was fully booked and we ended up staying at the Airlie Beach Eco Cabins nearby, which was an ideal location for my family. Because we had our own transportation, it did not matter that we were located in the middle of an Australian forest/bush as we could get anywhere we needed. The cabins were well-equipped, and included washing machines, WiFi, and small torches that we used to see wild animals at night. The only thing missing was a dishwasher, but we remedied that by purchasing paper cups and dishes when we got tired of washing dishes by hand.

    Our first night at the cabin, as I was unpacking our bags, the owner knocked on our door and asked if the children wanted to see the wallabies! We all wanted to see the wallabies, so we grabbed the torches and dashed out into the gardens. It was pitch dark and we had to be silent so as not to scare the animals away. The owner instructed us to direct our lights towards the bushes, where the wallabies were hidden. The light caused the wallabies to freeze momentarily, so we were able to see them up close before they unfroze and disappeared into the woods.

    Airlie Beach night outing.
    Airlie Beach Wallabies!

    The Airlie Beach Lagoon is located in the town center. The Lagoon is an immense public swimming pool surrounded by sand and patches of grass that are perfect for laying down and sunbathing. What started as a splash break for the kids quickly turned into a whole day of lounging and swimming. The Lagoon has a shallow end, a shaded children’s area, and public toilets and water fountains at every corner. Our children could not get enough of it and J and I took the opportunity to relax and read a book under a tree!

    Airlie Beach Lagoon

    During our stay in Airlie Beach, one activity we signed up for was a guided trip to Whitehaven Beach. If you have older children in their teens, an ideal trip would be an overnight sailing trip to Whitehaven Beach. Our children were too young for an overnight stay, so we booked a day trip on a tour boat instead. The tour company collected us in the morning from the BIG4 resort and drove us to the port. Our tour boat then took us through the Whitesunday group of islands, a collection of continental islands located off the central coast of Queensland. The islands are in varying states of habitation, with Daydream Island still undergoing construction following a hurricane and Hamilton Island being a VIP island where you can stay in a villa that comes equipped with a four person golf cart that you can use to explore the island.

    Whitehaven Beach

    Our tour stopped on Whitesunday Island, the main island around which the Whitesunday group of islands are centered. There is no resort on the island, but Whitehaven Beach will make you blink twice in disbelief. The white sand stretches as far as the eye can see and words cannot describe the way the sand twists into the turquoise sea. While I was hypnotized by the magic of the beach, my children ran along the infinite stretch of white beach. We learned that because the sand is so full of silica, it makes a squeaking noise as you walk!

    Our children playing on Whitehaven Beach.

     

    Picnic lunch on Whitehaven Beach.

     

    The tour boat provided a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed on the beach. There was a bit of friction between the children and the free-roaming iguanas, which resulted in my children choosing to have lunch on the table/bench instead of on the actual beach! We also encountered a small group of starving backpackers who had spent the night sleeping in tents on the island and our guide was kind enough to share food with them. No one is really prepared for how deserted Whitesunday Island can be with no fresh water, no coffee shops – nothing. I guess sleeping under the starry sky on this unspoiled piece of paradise requires sacrifice!

    After lunch, our tour boat took us snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef. All snorkeling gear was provided, including flotation tubes. Unfortunately, my children found the water to be too cold and were nervous about snorkeling in open sea. Luckily, the guide was prepared and took the children on a smaller boat to look for stingray. Although I also found the water to be cold, it’s not every day that you get to snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef, so I held my breath and braved the frigid waters.

    Looking for stingray.

    Whenever I think of North Tropical Queensland, a heart will always appear next to its name. It truly was an ideal family destination. The towns we stayed in had great facilities for children (including toddlers!), and the tour companies are able to accommodate all ages. Because it is summer all year round, the beaches are simply stunning and listed as the best in the world. What makes North Tropical Queensland truly special, though, is how man and nature coexist.

    Travel Tips:

    • The island trips get booked up very quickly, so book in advance, especially if you are traveling during Australian school holidays.
    • We purchased a mobile SIM card for one of our phones and for $50 AUD, we had 3 GB of internet and free local calls for two months. This allowed us to use our phone’s map app instead of paying for an expensive GPS rental.
    • Although there are many islands to visit in North Tropical Queensland and options range from expensive villas and luxury resorts to camping, we chose to stay on the mainland and visit the islands as part of day tours. This was not only a logistical lifesaver, but it was also lighter on the budget.
    • Sailing is an ideal way to explore the Whitesunday islands.

    We hoped you enjoyed the beautiful white sand beaches as much as we did!

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