Summer is such a beautiful time in Australia to be outdoors and enjoying all the beauty our country has to offer but it can also be a little difficult trying to think of child-friendly activities, because let’s be honest, long gone are the days of laying peacefully on the beach and sipping cocktails by the pool. But I know as parents, we just wouldn’t have it any other way than to be taking time out from our everyday routine to enjoy these precious moments with our children, watching them play outdoors until the sun goes down.
I am going to be sharing with you three of my favourite activities to do as a family.
BOOK A NIGHT AWAY
We recently spent the night at Mantra on Salt Beach which is a short drive from where we live which is great because it didn’t involve a long car trip. If time had have permitted we would have loved to stay a couple of extra nights but it was still so nice to break our normal routine and experience a change of scenery for a night.
The hotel sits right on the beach and boasts a huge lagoon pool and children’s wading pool which is so much fun for the little ones (and even us adults). As soon as we arrived we quickly got into our swimmers and headed straight for the pool, which is where we stayed for most of the afternoon. There are plenty of restaurants close by so we grabbed some take away Thai for dinner and sat out on the veranda of our room which was overlooking the pool and the ocean. This was a great option for us as it is so hard to dine out anywhere now with a 2 year old. We woke up the next morning and headed straight for the buffet breakfast and then enjoyed one last swim in the pool before we checked out.
Whether you travel near or far, stay one night or 7, I think a holiday is so rejuvenating and good for the soul. Being at home with children can become so monotonous and it’s always nice to look forward to, and enjoy some quality time away with your family.
SWIM AT YOUR LOCAL BEACH OR CREEK
With so many idyllic beaches and creeks on the east coast of Australia, it would be crazy to not get out and enjoy them during the summer. I know it can sometimes seem a little daunting the thought of packing everything you need for a day at the beach with little ones, but if you prepare yourself before you go and can actually be quite stress free and easy. And the best part about it is, it’s free!
I find that if I dress Sonny in his swimmers and apply his sunscreen before we leave the house than the hardest part is already out of the way. I pack a big bag with plenty of snacks and drinks, towels, a few toys and a change of clothes and I have a plastic bucket in the car for his wet/sandy clothes and toys at the end. If I’m going to the beach during summer and knowing how busy our Gold Coast beaches can get, I always leave early by 8am! This means I can get a park, my pick of a spot on the beach (even a shady one if I’m lucky), we can enjoy the morning at the beach before it gets too hot and windy and then we are home for lunch and a relaxing afternoon spent around home. This to me is my perfect kind of day!
PACK A PICNIC AND TAKE A DAY TRIP
We understand that as parents, constantly eating out or buying takeaway food can become quite expensive, especially over the holiday period. So why not pack a picnic basket and a rug and take a drive to the hinterland, a local rock pool or even just a nice spot under a shady tree by a park or water. Somewhere the little ones can run around while you sit back and enjoy a cheese platter and freshly made sandwiches. This was something my parents always did with us growing up and is one of my favourite childhood memories.
At the end of the day, your children are going to remember the moments you spent with them not the amount of money you spent or the fancy places you went. Childhood is all about simple pleasures and summertime is the best time to get out and create these memories that will last a lifetime.