37: Put your feet up at a ‘something for everyone’ resort or hotel

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It’s a universal traveller’s truth that there are hotels, and then there are hotels. This truth inspires even more meaningful head-nodding when you have a family on board. While self-catering accommodation often becomes the go-to option with kids in tow, sometimes it’s nice to hand over the hard work (and the housekeeping) to someone else for a while.

But there are conditions that must be met. We’re talking the trifecta here: the location must be both scenic and conveniently located for family-friendly activities; amenities must tick the ‘I’m spoiling myself’ box while remaining comfy enough for kids; and service should be warm and welcoming to families with children, but also relaxing enough for parents to feel they’re having some time out. We’ve found three options to help you start your search… Try these

Hayman, Qld

You’re off to a good start with the fact it’s a private Whitsunday island, right on the Great Barrier Reef. Add luxurious amenities and lifesaving services like child-minding, a kids’ club ranger program and junior diving basics courses during school holidays, and you’re laughing (preferably with tropical cocktail in hand). Hayman will close from mid–January til end March before re–opening as One & Only Hayman in April 2014.

Crowne Plaza, Terrigal, NSW

Aesthetic opinions are divided on this pink pyramid-like structure, which dominates the Terrigal foreshore. But there’s no denying its popularity with families. Terrigal has enough to keep everyone entertained, with a great selection of beaches (Avoca, Macmasters, Copacobana) nearby. The hotel has a pool, gym, kids’ club and various dining options, with the beach right in front.

Mantra Lorne, Vic

With hotel rooms or apartments to choose from, a prime beachfront position – not to mention a great base for exploring the Great Ocean Road – and a day spa for mum to enjoy while dad hits the tennis court or beach with the kids, this easy seaside option has ‘happy family’ written all over it.

 

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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

    Ricky FrenchBy Ricky French
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    Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

    From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
    Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

    A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

    Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

    The Capital, Bendigo

    The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

    Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

     Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

    a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
    Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

    It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

    Rex Theatre, Charlton

    the Rex Theatre in Charlton
    The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

    Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

    The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).