Wild rides and lazy days

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This was published 14 years ago

Wild rides and lazy days

Wheee! ... theme-park thrills.

Wheee! ... theme-park thrills.

Ask adults about their favourite childhood memories and chances are they will think back to summer holidays. While keeping children amused for six or more weeks can at times feel akin to climbing Mount Everest, summer is a favoured time for parents to spend time with the children.

This year is a good one to take a holiday because many hotel packages have been reduced by up to 30 per cent. Some are offering "kids stay and eat free" deals.

There are super-cheap transport options, such as children travelling for $1 on Countrylink trains and for $2 on Traveltrain services in Queensland, along with plenty of new attractions, festivals and activities.

Theme parks

Queensland's Dreamworld has a new, live, 30-minute show called MTV Plugs into Dreamworld. Described as "part stunt show, part game show and full of pumped-up music", it includes extreme bike stunts, break-dancing, quiz segments and pranks and will be on three times a day from Boxing Day to January 22.

Next door, WhiteWater World is bringing back the Nick Slime Fest, a huge hit in the September school holidays. Those who wish to participate can gather for a "mass sliming" - 1000 litres of green goo will be tipped on the crowd at 3pm and 5pm daily, from Boxing Day to January 22.

If you're planning to visit Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World or Wet'n'Wild, Sunlover Holidays has just released an Endless Summer pass with access to two of the three parks for $100 an adult and $75 a child.

At Warner Bros Movie World, singer Kasey Chambers and the Little Hillbillies will be performing twice a day from December 28 to January 3.

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At Wet'n'Wild Water World, pop singer Kate Alexa will perform, a "search for a model" competition is being held and live cricket matches will be on the big screen.

New to Sea World this summer is a Sea Viper roller-coaster, the result of a makeover of the popular Corkscrew roller-coaster.

Meanwhile, the nearby Sea World Resort recently reopened its 1.6-hectare water park and expects to have a multi-million-dollar renovation complete by Christmas.

Events

Hamilton Island hosts a festival from December 19 to January 17; most activities are free. There will be a kids' zone with face painting, arts and crafts and beach games, along with live music at the marina each evening, magic and comedy shows and cooking demonstrations.

Mt Buller, in the Victorian high country, is holding a children's weekend in late January, with rock climbing and abseiling designed especially for the young.

In Queensland, the Workshops Rail Museum has Thomas the Tank Engine on site from Boxing Day to January 31, with behind-the-scenes tours and the opportunity to meet the Fat Controller.

The Metro Hotel Ipswich International has a Thomas package that includes a family pass to the museum, overnight accommodation and breakfast, for $190 (package is for a family of four).

Closer to home, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is planning New Year's Eve and Australia Day fireworks, which are always spectacular. There will also be live music and guest appearances by children's characters.

Kids' clubs

Hayman Island is taking a different approach this summer, with the line-up including etiquette classes for five- to 12-year-olds. Starting with a sparkling organic apple juice, moving on to the private dining room and finishing with a visit to the Hayman chocolate room, it's not your typical kids' club activity.

North of Cairns, the Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club has just opened a Pelicans in Paradise attraction and accompanying adventure playground, 18-hole mini-golf course and a 25-metre pool.

If you're heading further afield, Club Med Phuket in Thailand is the first in the chain's Asia-Pacific hub to offer Baby Club Med, which caters for children as young as four months, in addition to Club Med's traditional kids' club programs for two- to 17-year-olds.

On the Gold Coast, the Australian Stunt Academy is offering a two-day "stunt kids" program (ages nine to 16) on January 5 and 6, with abseiling, motorcycling, tumbling, sword play and stunt theory. Children doing the course film their action scene and take it home on DVD. Circus programs are also available, at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast, Novotel Pacific Bay Resort on the Coffs Coast and Club Med Lindeman Island.

To the zoo

Giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi, the first to live permanently in Australia, are on show at the Adelaide Zoo. Wang Wang is said to have a placid temperament; Funi is more nimble and playful. A family ticket (two adults, three children) costs $68. Book tickets well in advance as the pandas are drawing in visitors from across Australia.

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast has opened a $1.5 million wildlife hospital and is offering behind-the-scenes tours and a treetop ropes course known as the Green Challenge. It's suitable for most ages.

At Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast, children can sign up to be a "zookeeper for a day" and hand-feed animals as well as scrub the shells of the giant tortoises.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo has a new safari park playground with African-themed features including rope bridges, a safari jeep and animal sculptures.

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