It’s great fun, but camping with kids can be a challenge. Caz and Craig Makepeace know this well; the founders of ytravelblog.com recently took an 18-month road trip around Australia with their two daughters. Here they share their camping tips.
1. Nuture nature
Use camping to teach your kids about the natural world, basic survival skills and teamwork. Limit the electronics they can bring; camping is about disconnecting and getting back in touch with nature and family. We choose campgrounds that have a natural bush setting and great facilities for kids.
2. The essentials
Pack baby wipes to clean off the grime and dirt; head torches to help little campers find their way at night; mosquito coils and deet-free repellent to keep the bugs at bay; gum boots for jumping in puddles; and a rug so they always have a place to sit and play.
3. Safety first
Run through campsite safety rules with your children as soon as you’ve set up. We let them know the boundaries of where they can and can’t play. Show them where the amenities are and ensure they know to visit with either Mum or Dad. Also remind them to return to the campsite when it gets dark.
4. Busy bees
Involve your children in exciting camp tasks. Let them collect wood, start the fire and pitch tents. Assign more mundane jobs as well, from washing-up to garbage collection. Our daughters loved winding the legs up and down on our trailer, and building a fire is their speciality.
5. Clean as a whistle
Have a small broom handy to wipe the dirt off before entering the tent. The dewy early morning grass will wreak havoc on your clothes and shoes, and inside your camping home. Kids will love being in charge of sweeping down Mum and Dad before they enter the tent.
6. Room for the whole family
Check to see if the campground has a family bathroom. It makes shower time much easier, especially with little ones. You can clean the whole family at once, the rooms are bigger and sometimes have baby baths. Plus, they are generally much cleaner and less busy!
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From VIP stadium suites to harbour view upgrades, these are the experiences your travel points were made for.
They say the best things in life are free. We say experiences earned with travel points are a pretty strong contender. But judging by exclusive money-can’t-buy experiences available through ALL Accor, we’re not even sure that’s true.
Designed for travellers who know how to make every journey count, ALL Accor members receive up to 10 per cent off at more than 4500 hotels worldwide. You’ll also earn points on hotel stays, dining, partner airlines, car rentals, online shopping and more – and then turn those points into experiences that go far beyond a free night’s stay.
Here’s how to turn your points into the ultimate weekend.
Sydney
Day one
Unlock exclusive experiences with ALL Accor.
Check into Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour and one of the world’s great harbour views. Framed by the Royal Botanic Garden, Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the hotel’s 216 apartment-style suites place you squarely in Sydney’s spiritual heart.
As the setting sun turns the Opera House sails soft shades of orange and pink, settle in at onsite restaurant Acapulco El Vista for a sundowner. Inspired by the golden age of 1950s Acapulco, the rooftop bar channels old Hollywood glamour, while the Mexican spirit runs through the drinks list like a strong shot of tequila. Fortify yourself for the night with Acapulco’s porchetta Cubano sandwich.
Next up, head to the Eastern Pontoon and skip the ordinary by boarding a water taxi. Cruise across Sydney Harbour and up the Parramatta River to Sydney Olympic Park.
Enjoy a VIP experience at Accor Stadium.
The VIP experience continues in Accor Stadium, with suites reserved exclusively for ALL Accor members. Whether you’re there to see your favourite pop star –like Robbie Williams, BTS or Harry Styles – or you’ve snagged tickets to the NRL Grand Final, you’ll enjoy a fully catered experience from one of the best seats in the house.
Day two
Explore Sydney’s arts and history. (Image: Destination NSW)
Do as Sydneysiders do and start the day with a swim: this one just happens to overlook Circular Quay from the hotel’s Recreation Deck. Or save your energy for exploring the Royal Botanic Garden and the Art Gallery of New South Wales next door. Later, wander the cobbled laneways of The Rocks, stopping in heritage pubs and sandstone shops.
Be back in time for a late lunch at Flaminia, located within Pullman Quay Grand. Inspired by the great port cities of Italy, the restaurant celebrates the country’s coastal cuisines, from Cagliari’s spaghetti alla bottarga with spanner crab and lemon myrtle to warm Venetian ricotta fritters with orange mascarpone. All served with a side of Sydney Harbour views.Accor Plus Explorer members receive 15 per cent off the à la carte menu. Molto bene, indeed.
Melbourne
Day one
Stay opposite the leafy Fitzroy Gardens. (Image: Visit Victoria)
Start your weekend the same way you’ll finish it: enjoying your exclusive ALL Accor benefits. This time, it might begin with a complimentary welcome drink when you check in at the five-star Pullman East Melbourne. Perfectly positioned in East Melbourne, the hotel sits directly opposite the elms and red gums of Fitzroy Gardens and is a mere 10-minute stroll from the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Olympic Park.
After dropping your bags in one of the 419 stylish rooms, head down to The Cliveden Bar & Dining for an early dinner. The Mediterranean-inspired kitchen prides itself on sourcing premium Victorian produce, so don’t miss locally driven dishes like the Aylesbury aged duck ragù with pappardelle and macadamia or the butter-braised Lakes Entrance monkfish.
Next, head over to the MCG – lit up like the world’s most enthusiastic Christmas tree – to catch an electrifying session of Aussie Rules football or cricket. If you time your visit right, you might even score seats to the AFL Grand Final. For the ultimate sports enthusiast, the daily guided stadium tours are a rip-roaring crowd-pleaser.
No matter what’s on your hit list, you can secure tickets and experiences through ALL Accor’s Limitless Experiences using your points.
Day two
Fuel up before another day in Melbourne. (Image: Tourism Australia)
The next morning, use the raw throat you earned from screaming along at the MCG to whisper your coffee order at The Cliveden Buffet Breakfast. Here, you can replenish your strength with Victoria’s most-loved morning staples, featuring rich Gippsland Dairy milk and artisanal La Madre Bakery sourdough. If the Melbourne bug has truly bitten, venture out into the city streets to immerse yourself in its cult coffee culture.
After checking out, make your way to Higher Ground. Built inside a 19th-century power station, this popular brunch spot is all about the drama, from its multi-tiered architecture to its high-concept menu, with bites like prawn toast benedict and chilli scrambled eggs with smoked yoghurt and banana pepper.
A coffee shot or two not enough to feed your addiction? The Victorian capital never judges. Take a break from vintage shopping to visit a pioneer of the city’s high-concept coffee culture: ST. ALi Canteen – Collins Street will give you your fix, plus a mac and cheese jaffle seasoned with Vegemite salt if that’s your fancy.
Alternatively, hold out for an Asian-Australian lunch of caramelised pork belly with pineapple or baked scallops in a salted black bean sauce at Miss Mi at the Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne On Spencer.
