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Learning to play at Kids Tennis Day at the Australian Open

January 13, 2013 in Everyday, Family with 0 Comments

Its January which means the Australian Open – the first grand slam of the year – is on.

Saturday before the tournament’s start is now traditionally Kids day where kids of all ages are encouraged to try tennis and take up Tennis Australia’s Hot Shots program.

Hotshots learn to play tennis

Its all fun and games as Nickelodeon’s partnership means that Sponge Bob, Dora, Captain Feathersword and a host of comic characters are also there to be part of the fun.

Characters take court

Highlights for my kids was the balloon artists who for my three made respectively a flower, tennis racket and butterfly.

Balloon artists rule

They enjoyed their hit of tennis as well but probably the most fun was seeing the pros play a fun match where Novak Djokovic danced Gangum style with Serena Williams and Roger Federer was a ball boy.

Amuse on court

And for me, I got a short at Cardio Tennis (a new idea to get people fit and into tennis – combining loud music, a work out and tennis rackets)… well I was sweating after it.

The Pros can PLAY

 

While the dancers dance and singers sing

 

Exploring a touch of History Colorado

June 16, 2012 in Everywhere, Family, Travel with 0 Comments

I’m in Colorado for TBEX2012 which is giving me a great taste of Colorado. To get a good intro to Colorado I went to the newly opened History Colorado museum (opened 28 April 2012) and for you or with the family its a great place to get some new experiences of Colorado’s past.

The unique approach here is all the exhibits aim to put the visitor in the story, and like Colorado be immersive.

On the floor of the main hall is a huge map of Colorado with various points you can use a time machine to check out the history of each place, moving back and forth through time.  Being interactive you move the time machine around the map to find out new things.

Colorado Stories then tells eight different stories, try each of them and spend some time getting to know some of the history

From life in an old mining town, to learning how to ski jump ( a fun one for the whole family) there is something to pique the interest for everyone.

 

Destination Colorado then provides experiences on the frontier, for all ages interactive exhibits allow you to get a taste of life on the frontier.

Located in the Civic Center district close to most of the main Denver museums, make sure to visit during your stay.   And ever family friendly they provide lots of activities for everyone.   And look out for the next phases of the development of the museum, up next A to Z of Denver, looking into the iconic sights in Colorado’s capital.

 

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Why we love airplanes, airshows and all things flying? Our afternoon at RAAF museum Point Cook.

February 20, 2011 in Family, Inspiration with 1 Comment

The same reason why many of us harbour the desire to have the secret ability to fly. 

Its Freedom, Speed, Diving,… 

and there we were listening to Darcy O’Connor, a retired Air Force pilot now flying Airbus jets for Jetstar, one of

Mustang at Point Cook

Mustang from RAAF Museum air display

Australia’s budget airlines. But on weekends he still gets a buzz talking to groups of kids and adults and putting on a short display of aerobatics at the RAAF Air Force base at Point Cook, just outside of Melbourne – the longest continuous operational Air Force base anywhere in the world.

The plane being put through its paces today was a Mustang, built at Fisherman’s Bend in Australia in the 1950’s as the only place outside of the USA licensed for production.  With a huge 12 cylinder Merlin engine, this plane had speed and endurance and as it completed loops and high speed rolls above us as a dad I couldn’t help wish that I had learnt how to fly as a kid. As Darcy returned to the ground in the Mustang my 7 year old daughter asked “Dad, when can I learn to fly”

Flying

Mustang in flight

I imagine amongst the group there to watch the display this weekend, it was a common thought for kids and adults alike. 

The air displays are a regular (and clearly popular) attraction at Point Cook with displays at 1pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Sundaythroughout the year with regular aircraft featured including the Winjeel, Harvard, CT4A, Sopwith Pup replica, Tiger Moth and Mustang. In addition visiting aircraft such as the DC3, Bird Dog or even a modern PC-9 can sometimes be seen. 

RAAF museum

RAAF Museum - military transport display

The adjacent museum capped of the display with some history of the RAAF and several hangars of aircraft. Next door was a hangar showing how restoration of these historic aircraft takes place. 

Flying boat at RAAF Museum

And if you really want more then airshows featuring military, commercial and historic aircraft and aerobatics and regular events at cities around the worlld including world famousFarnborough show in England or the Paris (Le Bourget) show in France.  The USA also has a long season of shows including for example Miramar Airshow in October or Aviation Nationat Nellis AFB every November.  In Australia try catching the Avalon airshow held every 2 years and just down the road from Point Cook towards Geelong.

The RAAF Museum is a 25-minute drive south-west from Melbourne. Air displays and museum entry is free and the museum is open Tuesday to Friday: 10am–3pm;  Weekends and Public Holidays: 10am–5pm. 

If you want to extend your day the point cook area just next to the Air Force base is the Point Cook Coastal Park, with walking trails and great views across Port Phillip Bay back to Melbourne as well as a wetland area teeming with bird life.  Not far away is Weribee park and the open plains zoo.

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Want fast fun in New Zealand? – for all the family – try the Luge in Rotorua

February 18, 2011 in Extreme, Family, Travel with 5 Comments

When people think of New Zealand they tend to think of either the sheer natural beauty of the country (Lord of the Rings landscapes et al) or the array of adventure sports you can partake in (while surrounded by natural beauty) such as bungee or jet boating.  If you’re with kids though you’re options for adventure might be a bit more limiting – height, age restrictions – and all.

On our recent trip to new Zealand, a few family friends told us the highlight of a visit to Rotorua was to spend a day at the Luge.  For me luge conjured up the Winter Olympics image of a head to toe spandex bodysuited person laying flat down on a board attached to some skates inches from the smooth cold ice hurtling like a torpedo down a mountain.

 Sounds like Fun!!         But does that sound safe for the kids?

The Luge, Rotorua

 Well the Skyline complex including a gondola ride, luge, restaurants and great views over Rotorua provided the answer. Their luge, proudly claimed “a world’s first” and designed and built in Rotorua, involves no rock hard ice track, bodysuit or lying inches from the ground.  Instead sitting in specially designed 3 wheel carts (with room for the kids between you and the steering) with easy to control steering and braking meant an exciting ride whether you’re 6 or 60 years old.

With three levels of track (slow, intermediate and advanced) each with respective increases in terms of speed, we spent the better part of the day going down the hill and again and again – kids couldn’t get enough.  While you have to be six years of age to go down by yourself, (and my 7 year old daughter Leila had fun learning to control the luge even at slow speeds) it was my five and two year olds that had the most fun, sitting in front of me or my wife, while we hurtled down the hill.

Opening at 10am I suggest you get there early as by lunch time lines had grown quite long but even so they moved pretty quickly.  Price wise its not a cheap day out, the cost of the gondola comes first but a family pass can come with 6 or 8 luge rides included and then you may purchase additional packages of rides. Of course for adults or teenagers an unlimited day pass might be a better option.  Also if you pick up a Rotorua/ NZ brochure they frequently have a 10% discount option as well

Enjoy!

Kids after a day at the luge, Rotorua

Sunday Session of Family Fun at Melbourne’s Ripponlea Gardens

February 13, 2011 in Family with 0 Comments

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Boat house on the lake at Ripponlea

Ever struggled to come up with something that’s interesting but a little different to do on a Sunday afternoon with the kids?  Of course there are playgrounds, parks, museums, playcentres and the like.  But have you ever considered the historic and heritage societies like National Trust who manage historic mansions, castles, and other properties of note in your area?  They are starting to turn on the fun for kids and families to attract a younger (in this case very) crowd.

While living in the UK I belonged to National Trust (mostly historic houses) and English Heritage (mostly castles) each for a year so I could take in these famous places.  While like any good gallery or museum these days they all have the obligatory colouring tables for kids to keep them busy while you rush around the historic site the move is towards big event days usually during holidays to attract big crowds (sometimes too big) of locals as well as tourists.   The same can be said in the USA, Europe and elsewhere where there are some many options for leisure that it important to stand out and be noticed for special activities. 

And now living in Melbourne, while there is no where near as many historic houses as in the UK the selection rests well on the impression of Melbourne as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Well kept gardens and well thought through activities are the order of the day for enjoying the outdoors with the historic house/ building a bonus if you have the time.  Places like Como House and Rippon Lea estate have beautiful gardens close to the city and are easily accessible, while National Trust has recently reopened the Polly Woodside, a famous sailing ship set outside on the Yarra River with set days of great activities for the kids.

Ripponlea House, Melbourne

 

Conveniently I’m living around the corner from Ripponlea Estate, which for over a century was occupied by only two families but is now owned and run by the National Trust Victoria.  Famous both for the expansive and beautiful gardens and the Ripplea Bear (based on the teddy bear of one of the girls who first lived on the estate over 140 years ago) Ripponlea is a tranquil oasis close to the city.

Today I took my three kids to Ripponlea for a “Summer Session” held every Sunday from noon-4pm until the end of March.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon as my kids tried croquet and mini tennis on the lawns in between making badges and getting their face painted and other supervised craft activities.  And all the time a band played some soothing Jazz while families and friends sat on picnic blankets relaxing.

Sunday session at Ripponlea

An afternoon very hard to beat so if in Melbourne or anywhere around the world take another look at National trust or those heritage societies near you  – they probably have some events on that are fun for you and the family! And the bonus is that you help preserve the wonderful historic buildings and gardens in your area so you can keep enjoying them for years to come.

Note: Ripponlea estate is free for National Trust members but otherwise costs for garden only ($7 Adult & $2 child) or for garden and the house ($12 Adult & $6.50 Child)

Ripponlea is open 10am – 5pm seven days a week.

A Teddy’s bear picnic is another big event popular with the kids held every year in February.  For 2011 its Sunday 27 Feb from 10am – 4pm.

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