Today we have Anna Ciddor, author of the wonderful ’1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia’ on the blog to share her top 10 places to discover with your kids.
I have to confess that the title of this blog is rather deceptive. I’m not going to give you a list of the top 10 places. But I am going to send you off to find your own (with a couple of tips to get you started).
When I started researching for my book on travelling with kids in Australia, I found that, though I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life, there were lots of places I had never visited – and many I didn’t even know existed. For instance, I had never been to the National Sports Museum (which my nephew informed me was absolutely the best place in the whole of Australia to visit), and I had never heard of the Victoria Police Museum (free entry!) where visitors can goggle at real relics from crime, like the remains of a car blown up in the Russell Street bombing. I decided to play at being a tourist in Melbourne for a couple of weeks, and had fantastic fun pretending I was on holidays at home.
I encourage you all to do the same as I did, and start explore your own backyards. To get you started, here’s a list of some of the places you might not have known about, or never considered taking your kids before:
Nutcote, the home of May Gibbs – Sydney
My kids loved trying to find scary banksia men and cute gumnut babies in the garden. (Remember to look at some of her books together before you go.)
5 Wallaringa Avenue, Neutral Bay; open 11 am– 3 pm Wed– Sun; (02) 9953 4453
Calthorpe’s House – Canberra
A lot of historic houses are too museum-like to appeal to kids, but this one feels almost as if you are visiting someone’s home. There are children’s toys and a World War II shelter your kids can climb inside.
24 Mugga Way, Red Hill; 1 pm–4 pm on weekends; (02) 6295 1945
Victoria Police Museum – Melbourne
Indulge their ghoulish interests!
Mezzanine level, World Trade Centre, enter via Siddeley Street; weekdays 10 am– 4 pm; (03) 9247 5214
Hans Heysen House and Museum at Hahndorf – Adelaide
Any budding artists in your family? In the grounds here you can look at prints of Heysen’s paintings while standing in the actual landscape he painted. Bring sketch books and you can all have a go yourselves.
Heysen Road, Hahndorf; 10 am–4.30 pm, Tues–Sun; (08) 8388 7277
The Place at the State Library of WA – Perth
This is a place where you can just chill out together, having a relaxing time sharing books, admiring original book illustrations, playing with puppets and dressing up.
25 Francis Street, Perth Cultural Centre; open daily except public holidays; (08) 9427 3111
Batji Walking Tour – Darwin
Discover some medicinal plants and cultural history hidden in Darwin’s streets.
The corner of Daly St and the Esplanade, Brisbane; 10 am daily; 0416 731 353
Commissariat Store – Brisbane
Hear convict tales and be thrilled by real leg irons when a guide shows you around this historic building.
115 William Street, Brisbane; 10 am–4 pm, Tues–Fri, closed public holidays; (07) 3221 4198
TrikeMania Adventure Tour – Hobart
Ready for a bit of a thrill? Go for a ride on a motor-trike, suitable for kids as young as four!
Murray Street Pier, Hobart (opposite Parliament House); bookings available 7 days a week; 0408 655 923.
You’ll find loads more ideas in 1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia and don’t forget to check what programs are being run in your local art galleries, parks, libraries, and historic buildings this year. Enjoy!
Images: National Sports Museum, courtesy of Tourism Victoria; Landscaping by obskura used under CC BY 2.0
