 New Zealand is a country known for it's thermal springs and mineral waters that have medicinal and cultural importance which is why this all new spa in Rotorua on New Zealand's North Island is going to drive tourists to the lakeside town. There are lots of fancy spa's in the world, however this one really is quite different - you will not want to leave. The attention to detail, the uniqueness of the experiences and the quality of the spa were all outstanding you could not help but be impressed from the moment you walk into the building. We visited and indulged in both the Sanctuary and the Restorative Journey, spending some four hours in pure relaxation bliss! Here are my top 5 reasons to visit Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand. 1. Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa is brand new! The spa has only been open since June 2023! Everything is brand new and it is in immaculate condition. Your friends may have travelled to Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand - but unless they have been there since June 2023 they have not been to Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, you will be the first to go! 2. Wai Ariki is locally owned The spa is owned by local iwi, Ngāti Whakaue, which means a visit here is supporting the local people continue to succeed. Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa takes visitors on a cultural experience whilst reviving the senses - it really was a blend of the two which I found unique and different. The journey started with a guided tour of the cultural experience as you are walked through the Restorative Journey before you dive in. 3. A visit to a spa is forced relaxation Wai Ariki is a great place for a relaxing break on a travel itinerary - I am normally flat out on overseas adventures packing my itinerary with as much activity as I can possibly squeeze in. Up early and out late my travels are normally go, go go! It was great to slow down the pace and take a moment to refresh. And with a visit that combined both the Sanctuary and the Restorative Journey I was in relaxation heaven for a good three hours! 4. Amazing saunas The sauna room, a part of the Restorative Journey, included three options being salt, aromatherapy and hay - yes hay! I had never even heard of a hay sauna, let alone been in one. It was relaxing and unique and followed by a visit to the refrigerator room where you could pour a bucket of ice cold water over your body or scoop up a handful of fresh ice to bring your temperature down. Whilst that may not sound like something you may want to do - trust me it was invigorating! 5. Smooth your skin with mud The final part of the Restorative Journey involved taking a bowl of mud and covering your body and face to cleanse and heal. Now we all may have done a face mask at home - however this is not something you can do every day at home where you can cover your whole body and then soak in the experience. I visited with a friend and we looked quite the pair lazing on the tiled heated lounge chairs whilst covered in local Rotorua mud! The steam room that followed the mud soak was the perfect end to the Restorative Journey and a great place to spray off. I visited in October 2023 where I enjoyed both the Sanctuary and Restorative Journey. If you need to choose only one I would definitely recommend the Restorative Journey for the unique experience. However if you have less time the mineral baths at the Sanctuary have fantastic views over the lake and offer a great option for some relaxing soaking time. Penny Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were hosted on this visit by Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa . Find details of how to book this experience at their website www.wai-ariki.co.nz Other blogs you may enjoy:
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I have had some adventures in my time – but this was probably one of the most indulgent and unusual experiences to date. A helicopter pub crawl from Darwin, Northern Territory. The Northern Territory is a unique place to visit. The land is red and sparse and not very densely populated. A lot of the townships are isolated and the humid, tropical, weather makes it a tough place to live. It is a unique destination where it is laid back, locals are very casual and they love a cold beer to beat the heat. The helicopter pub crawl allows in one day to visit a number of unique local pubs that would otherwise take hours to reach by land. And who otherwise would not receive very many tourists. The helicopter air strip was located approximately a 45-minute drive out of Darwin and on arrival we were met by a young pilot and what I considered a rather small helicopter! Up we went and over the sparse red land we flew travelling at some 200km per hour to reach our destinations. The scenery was diverse and spectacular – we saw wild buffalo roaming, crocodiles on the riverbanks and miles of harsh red land. The locations for our visit were Crab Claw Island Resort, Darwin River Tavern, Goat Island Lodge and the Noonamah Tavern. Upon arrival at the remote pub locations, we were greeted by the locals who – at whatever time we landed – seemed to be already drinking cold beer – and by bar staff who were happy to share a yarn. The most unique destination on the itinerary was a stop at Goat Island. Owned by an eccentric Danish man who goes by the name King Kai! He lives alone on the island with his pet crocodile Casey and his dog. Signs at the property entrance warn that “You are now entering a politically incorrect area” and King Kai makes up his own rules on this island.
Despite the isolated location of Goat Island, and the amazing fact that our pilot managed to land on the tiny island, there were cold beers waiting to be drunk and stories to be told. The helicopter pub crawl is essentially a taxi service – the tour includes the transportation, all drinks and food for the day were at our own expense. We booked through Heli Fish. It was a magical day out – a completely unique experience – and one I would highly recommend when visiting the Top End. Penny Itchy Feet Family Bali is known for it’s beautiful instagrammable locations and the North of the Island doesn’t disappoint if you want to chase waterfalls. On our most recent visit we booked a Bali Hai Adventures day trip to seek out some of the island’s waterfalls. Sekumpal is known as one of the most spectacular – it is a long drive from where we were staying in Seminyak, but it gave us a good opportunity to see some of the beautiful countryside and villages. The great thing about doing a private day trip is the flexibility it offers. The drive to the North was about three hours so having a private guide meant we could stop whenever needed to stretch the legs or see some of the sites on the way. When we arrived at Sekumpal there were two options offered to us to get to the waterfall. Option 1, jump on the back of a motorbike and be driven as far down as they could get us. Option 2, be guided by a local on the walk. The path was quite steep so whilst a motorbike sounded appealing – it also seemed a bit scary – we opted to walk. As we were going down – all I was thinking about was the fact that we would eventually have to come back up! The walk down gave us an opportunity to be amongst the locals, we passed through local shops, houses and farming areas. Although it was steep and many steps, it was a great opportunity to be out amongst it all at the grass roots level. To reach the first waterfall we had to take our shoes off and walk through a rocky river but it was only about 10 metres wide so quite easily done. The second waterfall location also required walking through a river – this one a bit wider and had a rope in place to guide us through.   The waterfalls are pretty packed with tourists, upon arrival people take turn to find their instagrammable photo spot and get that ultimate profile picture. Some people climbed over rocks to actually swim in the river – we opted to enjoy the view. It was about an hour walking to get down and see the waterfalls and once we got our pictures it was time to take the journey up. A level of fitness is required and on a really humid day I can imagine it would be a bit tough. But there are plenty of stops along the way that you can buy a drink, take a pause and refresh before finishing the journey. The next stop on our day trip was lunch – but if you are visiting independently there are also restaurants in the area to grab some local fare. If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, are looking for a way to see the landscape of the north - this is a great day trip to take. Bali Hai also took us to a coffee plantation, rice fields, lunch and water temple on this day out and it was a full day with pick up at 8am and drop home back at the hotel in Seminyak at 6pm. Penny Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were hosted on this tour by Bali Hai Adventure Tours. Find details of how to book this tour, and other Bali Adventures, at their website www.balihaitour.com If you are heading to Bali and are looking for something active to do - there are plenty of options when exploring this island. With two teenagers in tow on our most recent trip we planned full day activities every second day of our holiday to make sure everyone was entertained in between rest and shopping days. One of out best day trips was a packed adventure with Bali Hai Tours that included rafting down the Telaga Waja river in the morning followed by a downhill bike ride in the afternoon. They call it a combination tour Rafting and Downhill Cycling. The team from Bali Hai took care of all the details, we were collected from our hotel early in the morning and they packed the day with adventure and activities to take us all of our devices for the day!  Cycling is a great way to see a destination at a slower pace and provides access to areas that you otherwise would not see. What I loved about this cycling trip is that it was mostly downhill which meant although we were in the saddle for a few hours it was more of a roll rather than a demanding pedal challenge. The tour takes you through the back streets of the villages, through rice fields, on the streets, to temples and even through bamboo forrest. And with your hand on the brake, the bike just rolls you through the scenery - really you just need to be able to balance. The tour came with two guides, one at the lead and one at the back, and on our tour it was just the four of us out on the adventure. One of the stops on the tour was at Penglipuran traditional village where we were able to walk into the homes of the locals and chat with them. They were very open to welcoming tourists into their homes and showing us how they live - the local children loved the opportunity to practice their English. We met the local school teacher who was more than happy to chat and show us his home.  Although mostly on smooth downhill paths, the tour takes you through varying terrains. There were a few steep descents and rough tracks throughout the bamboo forrest, and you do ride along a couple of busy roads, but we are not a family of regular cyclists and we all enjoyed the day. The tour ended at Taman Narmada water temple where we could dismount and enjoy a freshly picked coconut as we enjoyed the view. The coconut juice refreshing the palette after the day's adventure.  If you like being active and getting out and seeing more than just the pool at your hotel - we can highly recommend this tour. Penny Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were hosted on this tour by Bali Hai Adventure Tours. Find details of how to book this tour, and other Bali Adventures, at their website www.balihaitour.com Other blogs you may enjoy:
A visit to Bali normally includes an itinerary of day trips and activities and rafting is one of the fun family adventures on offer when visiting the island. We took the two teenagers to Bali for a week in January 2023 and included a combination day out tour of rafting and cycling - this was definitely one of the highlights of our week and an adventure we all enjoyed. We have been rafting in Bali a few times before, but this time we went with Bali Hai Tours who took us for an adventure at Telaga Waja river. In the past we have been out of Ubud down the Ayung river - this river to the East of Bali was far more adventurous!  As it was rainy season there was plenty of water flowing down the river which made for some fun moments on the two hour 18km down stream adventure. It was definitely all hands on deck paddling, ducking to go under low bridges and hanging on when we took on a 4-metre drop! At the 6km mark we stopped at a waterfall for some photos and the chance for a bintang and a rest - this activity is not for anyone wanting a peaceful paddle down a stream. 
If you are looking for a day out for your trip to Bali - this is something you can add to the itinerary for the whole family to enjoy. Have you been rafting in Bali? Which did you prefer Ayung of Telaga Waja river? Penny Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were hosted on this tour by Bali Hai Adventure Tours. Find details of how to book this tour, and other Bali Adventures, at their website www.balihaitour.com Other blogs you may enjoy:
My first post-pandemic overseas adventure and I wanted to do something off the bucket list. I had seen amazing pictures on Instagram of the Mt Batur Volcano Sunrise Trek in Bali and decided that I wanted those images on my feed. But sometimes reality really does not replicate what you see on the Gram! When the alarm went off at 2:45am in our Ubud villa the rain was coming down hard. We ran through what felt like splash buckets at a water park dumping on our heads to get to our driver who collected us at 3am for our magical insta worthy adventure. Bali Hai tours website refers to the trek as a way to enjoy "Glorious sunrises and stunning morning views" - we were in! A one hour drive through heavy rain and then thick fog was a miraculous feat by our driver - I closed my eyes and just hoped we would get there alive! At least there was very little traffic on the road which is an insta worthy moment in Bali of itself. By 4am we had met our trek guide, donned a plastic poncho and a head torch, and the adventure began. The rain had reduced to a drizzle and we held hope for our sunrise as we took off in a single file along with hundreds of other hopeful sunrise seekers. For two hours we ascended in the dark, one step at a time in a single file with anticipation for the summit. The climb is not for the faint hearted - it was definitely a steady challenge with uneven surfaces and a rudimentary track. At no point did I think I was not going to make it - but it certainly put a burn in the legs. We passed a 20 something who perhaps had been out on the local cocktails the night before who had ended up in a bush just off the track - not sure her or her group made it. A boozy night before this trek is not something I would recommend. When we arrived at the top our guide seated us on a bench, prepared us a small breakfast and left us to enjoy the sunrise. It was cold and the fog so thick we could barely see in front of our faces. The insta worthy sunrise was an epic picture of thick fog and me in a plastic poncho!  Our poor guide barely had time to catch up with her fellow guides for breakfast - we knew the fog was not going to clear, it was cold and we were ready to descend. We never imagined a trip to Bali we would regret not packing our thermals! The track on the descent, in the daylight, was a surprise. I think if we ascended in day light and could see the track we were on we may have thought twice! It was rocky and uneven, no tourist dollars have been spent here on any fancy walkways. We had a glimmer of a sunrise on the way down, our guide desperately trying to get us an image but by the time we got the phones out it was gone. We met with our Bali Hai Tour driver at the base and he delivered our weary bodies, along with our non gram worthy photos to the local hot springs where we soaked and debriefed our morning adventure. So it's not always like it is on the gram! But no regrets - we still have a great story to tell and memories to relive. And who knows - maybe we will try again. Penny Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were hosted on this tour by Bali Hai Adventure Tours. Find details of how to book this tour, and other Bali Adventures, at their website www.balihaitour.com A trip to Queensland's Gold Coast doesn't feel right without a trip to a theme park. No matter how many times I have visited this location, I can't resist the draw of a thrill ride, a photo with a superhero and an overpriced lunch to make the trip feel complete. So when is the best time to visit a theme park? In the summer you have great weather - but with that comes the crowds. So what are the pros and cons to visiting in low season? We recently escaped for a cheeky weekend away and here are our thoughts on a visit to Movie World on the Gold Coast in low season - June 2022.  CROWDS
The number one pro of visiting in winter is there are much less people in attendance. Try to go when there are no school holidays in any Australian State and guaranteed the crowds will be at a much lower level than they are in winter. Absolutely a plus. MAINTENANCE If you have your heart set on a particular ride - be sure to check the Movie World website before you book your tickets because the low season also means maintenance season. The good thing is that they do at least publish a list of rides out of order due to maintenance on their website - the bad thing for us is that we didn't find that fun fact out until we got there! On our visit in June 2022 there were major maintenance activity underway which included DC Rivals Supercoaster, Wild West Falls, Road Runner Rollercoaster and Doomsday Destroyer. And on top of that The Superman Ride also had some technical issues on the day we visited and Scooby Coaster had a delayed opening. For someone looking for thrill rides, that was a big bust for our visit. A con for a winter visit. PRICING Given the above, the pricing of your entry ticket does not reflect these outages. Movie World has the same price for it's tickets no matter what time of year you go. One the one hand you have less rides to choose from, but on the other you don't have to queue for as long so get more opportunity to go on more rides. Pro or Con? I'm undecided. EASY PARKING With low crowds, it means less chaos in the car park. There was no need to get to the park much before opening time and we were easily able to find a car park, head to the gate and scan our tickets for no fuss entry. And with the ability to scan in and out of the park as many times as you like - another bonus was that we could pack our lunch, leave it in the car for the morning and then run out to the car to get it at lunch time. No need to carry around big bulky back packs with snacks and lunches - the car was easily accessible when we needed to refuel. Tick for another pro! NO WAITING FOR THE BATHROOM There is nothing worse than leaving your visit to the bathroom to the last minute as you cram in your day full of activities - only to be faced with a lengthy queue. In the low season we could duck in and out of the bathrooms as often as required and with minimal wait times. Tick! MILD WEATHER In the high season the weather can be quite hot and often humid. A Queensland winter on the other hand is mild in comparison to other parts of the Country. Shorts with layered t-shirts, jumpers and jackets were common amongst visitors providing what we found to be perfect weather for a day at the theme park. Tick! What would you add to the list of pros and cons? Have we missed anything major? Regardless of the pros and cons - any travel experience is a pro in our eyes and a visit to Movie World is a fun day out no matter if you are young or old, hot or cold! Penny Itchy Feet Family  Noosa, located on Queensland’s sunshine coast, is a great destination for families, solo travellers, couples and everything in between. There is a bit of something for everyone - and great weather most year round to greet you. On a recent visit we discovered the Noosa Heads Coastal Walk - one of the great coastal walks in Australia, up there with the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk in New South Wales. If you like getting outdoors and experiencing amazing scenery, this walk ticks those boxes. Starting from Hastings Street, the main street of Noosa, the start of the walk is easily accessible. Grab your morning coffee from a Hastings street cafe and then meander north in the uphill direction and you will join the boardwalk path. There are a number of walking tracks to take in this area that allow you to discover the National Park, we opted for the Coastal Track - but an inland track is also available for those that like to discover that sort of terrain.
Accessible Path The walk starts out as a beautiful wide boardwalk path making it accessible even for those with strollers or wheelchairs. Most of the path is accessible - up until Dolphin Point where we saw those with strollers turning around as it gets a bit narrow with rougher terrain. The coastal walk is a great fitness track and many locals use it for their regular routine, however as tourists we took the opportunity to do a slow meander and enjoy all the scenery had to offer. Rugged coastline, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches, this is a stunning part of Australia. Wildlife Spotting There is a look out called Dolphin Point - where I did not see any dolphins, but at another stop along the way I watched a pod of some 15 dolphins playing in the waves - it was amazing. If you have the time to enjoy the walk at leisure, be sure to take some regular stops to soak it all in. Whales are regularly sited in-season (August to November) and Koalas can be spotted in the trees. We walked as far as Hells Gate, about a 3.7km walk from Hastings Street, there is an option to follow the heads around to Sunshine Beach and then grab a bus to return - we opted for the return walk from midway point.
Take a Swim If you love the surf, there are plenty of opportunities to stop off for a swim or catch some waves at quiet secluded beaches. The crowds at Noosa Main Beach are overwhelming during peak seasons, the beaches along this walk offer a much more isolated experience. The sands are white, the water is clear and they offer welcome relief from the crowds. However look out for the stingers - Queensland beaches can be unforgiving when it comes to marine life that sting and the beaches in Noosa are no exception. Picnic There are plenty of picnic spots along the way with welcome shade from the harsh Australian sun. There were very limited toilet or water spots along the trail so be sure to pack a backpack with the essentials - hat, sunscreen, water - and if you have the time pack a picnic and enjoy one of the many stops along the way to soak it all in this a great place to do it. Have you ever taken this walk? Leave us a comment about your highlight of the experience. Penny - Itchy Feet Family Other Blogs You May Enjoy:
- Snorkel the Wrecks of Moreton Island - 24 Hours in Sydney with Kids - Cycle Berlin with Fat Tire - San Diego with Kids - Christmas Cruising: Pros and Cons  If you are visiting Port Villa, Vanuatu for an extended stay, or on a cruise port day visit, and are looking for something adventurous to try a fun activity is Zip Lining through the jungle! Popular with both locals and visitors, this is a great way to see the lesser visited areas of this destination. We have only ever visited Port Villa on cruise ship port days and have tried a few of the excursions on offer, for our Christmas 2018 cruise visit we opted for flying through the jungle on a zip line. From the cruise port we joined 10 seater vans for the 30 minute journey out to the location. Along the way there was plenty of opportunity to see a bit of the town and our driver provided commentary as we passed a local school, the prison and drove through the main street. As the activity is up in the mountains we were transferred at the base of a very steep driveway into 4WD vehicles with a bit of grunt for the descent up. A narrow and windy road took us to the top - a drive I would not like to attempt in my city SUV.  Upon arrival we were strapped into harnesses, given gloves and hard hats and triple checked to make sure we were secure before heading into the jungle. As our guides pointed out - the equipment is faultless the only thing that can go wrong is human error. They were very thorough in checking the equipment, something I was very thankful for once I was in the air! Before we took our first leap of faith we needed to climb a few flights of stairs of a man made platform to our first launching point - from then on in it was all zipping through the jungle from one tree to another like Tarzan! There were a couple of short lines to get us warmed up and used to the experience before we crossed a rope bridge to our first serious experience - and what an experience it was. As we came out of the jungle we were zipping across a ravine with views of the beach to the right, beautiful cliff faces to the left - and a massive drop beneath our feet! (This is where I was thankful for the triple check of the equipment.)
The great thing about the experience is all the landing platforms are built into the jungle trees. You really do get a Tarzan like experience as you fly from one tree to another. Generally people were propelled as single fliers, however on one of the longer lines our 12 and 9 year olds were clipped together to ensure there was enough weight to get them all the way across to the other side. An experience they enjoyed!  There were six lines in total and a couple of rope bridges hanging amongst the trees to walk across. Definitely not an experience for anyone afraid of heights - a great experience for travellers that like to do more in a city than just sit in a bus and see the sights. At the end of the experience there was a bit of a walk through the jungle, including one steep climb of stairs, but there were some great views along the way to take away from the burn in the legs! We booked our tour through the P&O excursion desk onboard. Tickets were priced at $129 per adult and $99 per child. We got lucky when we booked - they had kids fly free so it only cost us $258 for the family of four.  There are some great youtube clips showcasing the experience if you are after a visual of this fun activity take a look.
Verdict from our family - mum, dad, 12yo boy and 9yo girl - would definitely do it again! Another great experience added to our travel memories. Penny - Itchy Feet Family.  By Guest Blogger: Vixen Mixer Food and holidays certainly go hand in and hand, following Itchy Feet Family’s review of Juan More Taco’s Walking Foodie Tour in San Jose I happened to be in Cabo San Lucas so decided to try Juan More Taco’s Cooking Class. Each day the cooking class’s food agenda changes and whilst I was pretty flexible on what I cooked my inquiry to join the class the following day was promptly responded to by Issi with encouragement to do hold out for Thursday Paella Day. With the weather looking average for the next few days I locked in his suggestion and waited hungrily for Thursday to arrive! The cooking tour is a small group activity with no more than 10 people. The tour starts by visiting a few local shops, including a tortilla factory where the majority of the town’s tortillas are produced. The group were able to sample the tortillas whilst they were still warm, crisped up and touched with salt. We knew the day was looking good after the first salty bite! We also visited a local grocer and fish supplier and Issi quickly moved through the stores making sure we had enough time to see a little part of daily life, but respecting that cooking was our main game and reason for joining him.  The actual class is conducted in Issi’s home with a converted area as a work kitchen (separate from the main area of the home). Around a long table the other seven tourists I’d just met became friends as we squeezed limes, seeded chillies, chopped seafood and vegetables and listened to Issi share his tips on preparation and Mexican cooking. This tour is just as much for kids as it is adults. On our tour we had a father and daughter enjoying the day and Issi confirmed that many children come along, mostly over the age of 10 years old. The class is as ‘hands on’ as you wish. We were all keen participants and I was particularly pleased when the first item we made and shared was a Margherita – certainly I can make that! My view on tequila quickly changed as Issi introduced the higher grade of tequila and shared his prepared recipe. Of course you can enjoy the virgin version as well, for the children and non-drinker just as much fuss is made to make special drinks sans alcohol in keeping with the family friendly activity.  Moving into appetisers we chopped and diced and the plain tortilla chips were transformed into taste sensations as we enjoyed a range of salsas. There were lots of variations on what you find in traditional eateries which highlighted the delight of home-made food. We had to forcibly stop snacking so that we could enjoy the paella in the next phase of our class! Over the stove we stirred, fried and watched our paella come to life, with lots of wonderful spice tips. Whilst some of us stirred, others pressed dough into small tortillas and flipped them on a hot grill. When the main meal was served a quiet calm came over the room whilst we all savoured every bite and nodded a lot, motioned to each other to ‘try a bit of this’ and generally just enjoyed food in the way we genuinely should. After lunch we were chatting so much dessert was nearly forgotten, but Issi quickly rectified this and his generous assistant whipped up a delicious finish to our incredible meal.  In such a wonderful atmosphere the group shared stories of home, travel, love and more. At the end of our several hours together we left not only full of amazing food but also with some new friends from around the globe and memories that are deeper than just a good feed.
The warmth of Issi’s home makes this experience something more than just a tour and as the food changes daily you could easily do more than one day – if you’re not committed to weighing in on your return home! Until the next adventure…..The Vixen Mixer  If you have been to the Gold Coast or Brisbane and done all the run of the mill attractions, here is a day trip with a difference: Get Wrecked with tour operator Sunset Safaris. So long as you don’t mind a full day out - getting off the mainland and onto the world’s third largest sand island - Moreton Island - is a great adventure for the whole family. With a 5:45am pick up from the Gold Coast we boarded a tour bus via Brisbane to catch a catamaran across to Moreton Island that departed at 8:30am. It is a long morning, but with a bus driver at the wheel we took the opportunity to catch a few more moments of sleep before our big day.
The ride across to the island took about an hour and was fairly smooth sailing. We were fascinated that the catamaran just pulled up onto the beach, put down it’s front and off drove the 4WD vehicles ready to explore this amazing island. Upon arrival at Moreton Island this tour kicks into action - the group was split into snorkelers and kayakers and we were kitted up with wetsuits and life vests to hit the water and explore the Moreton Island wrecks. There are 15 ships purposefully wrecked at Moreton Island that are home to a myriad of sea life, including coral. From the top of the water, through the transparent kayaks, we got a glimpse of what lied beneath.
The sea was a bit rough, this activity is not for anyone afraid of being out on the ocean, but the current was strong and you could go with the flow most of the way. We have done a few kayak tours as a family, most recently in the Norwegian Fjords at Olden, so were excited to try out a translucent kayak - it was fascinating! Once we had kayaked we were kitted up with wetsuits and snorkelling gear and a Jet Ski ferried us out to the wrecks. Again, the sea was quite rough and the current strong which meant we pretty well had to just go with the flow, fighting against the current was fruitless. Snorkelling the wrecks is an amazing activity. There is an abundant amount of sea life to swim amongst and the coral forming near the wrecks was impressive. This is the southern most part of Australia that you will see Great Barrier Reef coral. The kids love the experience of snorkelling and although the seas were rough and it was hard work, the tour guides were great in providing a buoyant ring to just grab onto when we needed a break. We all wore life jackets so although we couldn’t dive down into the sea, not having one in slightly rough waters would have been a struggle.
Post water activities we refuelled with the provided lunch of salad rolls, potato chips and oranges before boarding a 4WD tour bus that took us out onto the bumpy roads/ tracks of the Island towards the Desert. A 20 minute ride along a one way 4WD only track brought us to a sandy oasis of dunes just begging to be conquered. With our primitive bits of plank wood we hiked to the top of the dunes to take on the mounds head first! Again, not for the faint hearted, this is an adrenaline run launching yourself off the side of that dune head first with only a thin plank of wood between you and the sand. “Arch your back, feet off the ground and elbows up” the tour guide suggested as they pushed us off the edge. The comment “Or not” generally followed as tourist after tourist our elbows hit the ground, followed by our faces, as we rolled or tumbled near the bottom of the dune! It is amazing how sand can find it’s way into every crevice of your body, every pocket on your clothing, every inch of you - following a face plant and tumble in a sand dune at high speed!
Covered in sand and still shaking it out of our ears, hair and nostrils we head back to the beach to catch a 3:30pm ferry back to Brisbane and a long bus ride via Brisbane CBD to arrive back on the Gold Coast at 7:15pm. This day tour absolutely exhausted our family of four, Miss 8 slept most of the bus ride back to the Gold Coast and she NEVER sleeps in a car! Master 11 stayed awake but was very hungry and tired by the end of the trip. The time on the island was absolutely jam packed and we were constantly on the go - but with so many activities to get through it had to be that way. There was very little, if any, time to just chill on the beach and enjoy the surroundings. Leaving from Brisbane would cut out the early start and late finish but would still be a full day. If you have never had the opportunity to visit Moreton Island this is a great option to squeeze in a visit when next in Queensland. For more details, visit the Sunset Safaris website and check out their Get Wrecked tour. Penny - Itchy Feet Family *Itchy Feet Family were guests of Sunset Safaris on this day tour. Other blogs you may be interested in:
- Taco Walking Tour - San Jose - Kayaking the Fjords in Norway - Aussies on a British Cruise Ship - Pros and Cons of Christmas Cruising - Hard Rock Hotel Bali  A great way to explore a city is to take a guided tour with a local and what better way to do that than walking from restaurant to restaurant trying the local food. When we heard about this walking food tour in San Jose it ticked all the boxes for an authentic Mexican experience. Whilst in Mexico we wanted to explore the local streets and try the food the locals eat, but were also cautious and hesitant as to where we could explore safely. With the help of a local, in our case Francisco, we were guided through a culinary journey sampling tacos, tamales, ice-cream and more at local restaurants and street vendors that we otherwise would not have known existed. In fact on our first night in San Jose we had visited the same local area the tour took us through but had stopped one street short of all the great restaurants as we had questioned the safety of the area. If only we had done this tour earlier in our itinerary! Francisco ensured us all the places we visited were places he has taken his family providing an authentic local experience. Each location served us the specialty of the house and provided plenty of variety and options to step out of your culinary comfort zone. The first three restaurants on the tour all served a variety of tacos in the options of either a corn or flour soft taco or a crispy flat tostada. As we restaurant hopped we tried tacos filled with smoked Marlin (our favourite), Sea Bass and then a marinated pork. A fresh condiment bar at the first restaurant provided plenty of local flavour and the second restaurant offered a fiery sauce to sample - Miss 8 was brave enough to try but instantly regretted the choice. I wish I had videoed her facial expressions they were priceless! One of the great insights was to discover that real Mexican food rarely includes cheese! And Mexicans do not eat hard shelled Tacos! Clearly our love of Mexican food comes from the American version of Mexican cuisine that has filtered across the world. Can you imagine Nachos without cheese! The three hour tour included visits to four seated restaurants as well as stops at a Pearl Shop and Tequila Tasting Bar. At the pearl shop Miss 8 picked the lucky door prize and was rewarded with a pearl which was opened in front of us, fresh from the pearl farm. Our final two destinations of the tour were a Tamales street vendor followed by a local ice-cream store. Whilst the Tamales were not to our taste we were grateful for the opportunity to try them. We had always wondered what Tamales were - and to try them from a street vendor that was being frequented by locals was a great authentic experience. The Tamales, in my non culinary layman terms, are a thick wrap made from maize stuffed with a choice of filling that come in both savoury and sweet. The wrap is steamed in a maize husk or banana leaf and has quite a distinctive flavour. We tried both a pork and a chicken and neither really kicked goals for our tastebuds. Overall we were really glad to have chosen this experience. The group of five ladies from the US East Coast that joined us on the tour brought some great interactions to the table and made us feel welcome. The kids appreciated the authentic experience and we all enjoyed trying something new. Find out more details here at Juan More Taco Tours. Penny - Itchy Feet Family Other Blogs You May Enjoy
- San Diego - Five family friendly activities - Christmas Cruising Pros and Cons - Sydney with Kids - Kayaking Norway - Sitka Alaska on a port day visit  Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to have a great family adventure and there are things on your own doorstep that can create special family moments and memories. We are fortunate enough to live in Adelaide, South Australia, which comes alive in the month of March for what is commonly known as “Mad March”. There are a myriad of activities that fill the city every night providing a plethora of entertainment options for all ages. One such highlight is the Parade of Lights. When I told the kids about this activity they remembered a similar experience we had in San Antonio Texas where a central building was projected upon each night on a half hourly rotation depicting the story of The Alamo. If the kids thought that one building was great - the Adelaide Parade of Lights was going to take that entertainment value to a whole new level.  Part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival the Parade of Lights is an open air free exhibition projecting imagery, short film and laser displays onto the buildings of North Terrace. Eight buildings along North Terrace feature in the spectacular each providing a unique exhibit captivating the strolling crowds of the balmy Autumn evenings. A special highlight was the Northern Lights display where a mixture of laser light and a smoke machine provided a rough replica of the Aurora Borealis. Given the distance between Adelaide, South Australia and Iceland, the art display provides a glimpse into the northern lights that many South Australians will most likely never actually experience.  The thing we loved about this activity is that it was free, we were outside enjoying an awesome Autumn evening and the displays were captivating for all ages.
We also opted for a pre Parade of Lights dinner in North Adelaide, left the car a little out the city and walked a 5km loop. A great option as it turned out the traffic in Adelaide at this time of the year is CRAZY! The Parade of Lights runs from 8:30pm - 12am each night of the Adelaide Fringe from February 16 - March 18, 2018. If you are in Adelaide during March be sure to check this activity out. Penny - Itchy Feet Family  Cycling tours have become a bit of a staple activity for us on our travels. So when in London we decided to join Fat Tire Tours London on a four hour Royal London Bike Tour. Advertised as a tour to show us the main sites with a traditional pub lunch in between, we were in. And, given the awesome tour we had done just the week before in Berlin, we did not hesitate to book with Fat Tire. However cycling in London is quite a different beast to cycling in the rice fields of Vietnam, the temples of Bali or the bike friendly city of Berlin. I think we failed to factor in just how BUSY London is! London Not Exactly A cycling Town London is not exactly what I would describe as a cycle-friendly town. Well, lets be honest it is hard enough as a pedestrian to get around the major attractions - try and do it on two wheels and the challenge increases - even more when you are only seven years old. And with tourists in all the major hot spots coming from every corner of the globe, the acceptance of cyclists and the patience and courtesy offered varied depending on who you ran into! We did get to see all the major royal sites Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Marble Arch and the commentary offered by our guide Paul was informative. Cycling through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens offered relief from the major tourist hubs. In fact, even though we lived in England before the kids, there were corners of the parks explored on this tour that we had not discovered before. The gentle ride through the parks was some of the most enjoyable moments of the tour. English Pub Lunch Our anticipation of a traditional English Pub lunch was squashed when our guide took us into the centre of Trafalgar Square and gave us 25 minutes to find lunch, go to the bathroom and return to our bikes to continue. “Don’t order food at the pub” we were informed “We have English people serving and you will never get your food in time.” A sandwich from Boots, a queue to use the bathroom at the pub and we stood shovelling food in our mouths before jumping back on our bikes to continue - not exactly a relaxing quaint English pub meal. Fat Tire offer a variety of kids bikes, as well as child seats - so they are a great option for families. On a stop in the park, passers by were asking which tour company we were with as they were pleasantly surprised to see so many children on the tour. The Verdict Would I recommend a London Cycling Tour? Well as long as you know what you are in for. Our seven year old was probably a bit young to be cycling on her own, our ten year old however handled it pretty well. It was a pretty stressful experience constantly watching the children weave in between the hoards of pedestrian tourists - but as long as you are prepared for that I say go for it. You can find more details of Fat Tire London Tours at their website. For more ideas on things to do in London check our this Visit London guide that has a packed 3 day itinerary. Penny Itchy Feet Family Other blogs you may enjoy: - Christmas Cruising: Pros and Cons - Getting Dirty in Vietnam - 24 hours in Sydney with Kids - Cruise Ship Lingo - Understanding the Cruiselings
 Travelling Europe with kids has it’s challenges. Whilst the adults marvel in the history and architecture - it does not quite hold the appeal a Disneyland holiday has for a 7 and 10 year old. Keeping the kids entertained whilst also giving them a historical and cultural lesson can be tricky. Our kids hate doing bus tours, they simply don’t enjoy any part of them. Before children we would always do a hop-on-hop-off tour to orientate ourselves in a new city. However our kids simply whinge the whole time - trust me we tried it! It is for this reason we have started to opt for city cycling tours. We have done a few in places like Bali, Vietnam, New York and now have added to the list with the Fat Tire Berlin Day City Tour. Range of Kids BikesDepending on the tour company, kids are catered for in a range of ways. Child bikes, child seats for the adult’s bike - or as we just tried in Berlin, tag-along bikes. Essentially a tandem bike, the child has their own seat and pedals but the adult bike brakes and steers from the front whilst the child tags along. We started with a child’s bike for our seven year old however as we were cycling on roads through some traffic we opted for the tag-along for safety. Whilst she can ride confidently on the open parks and walkways at home, we decided she probably was not really confident enough to ride through Berlin traffic. For the most part the tour was in parks and on cycling pathways, however there were occasional stretches of city traffic to manoeuvre. Our 10 year old on the other hand relished the freedom and cycled up the front of the group right alongside the tour guide. Berlin City Highlights The beauty of a cycling tour is that you get to see all the main attractions - we visited Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, The Berlin Wall, The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and more, all the sights you would see on a bus tour - however the kids (and adults) were being active and having fun. Our tour guide, Alex, was fantastic and kept both the kids and adults fascinated at each location. Although it was quite a heavy history lesson to digest, the kids took in bits and pieces and we were able to discuss further after the tour where they had questions. Great Tour Guide There is definitely something to be said for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide - Alex was a great story teller and was animated in his delivery. A Canadian, he had a clear passion and enthusiasm for the city and it’s history which he shared with us all. As well as the major sights the tour also took us through a large stretch of Tiergarten, Berlin’s premier city park. We covered ground that we never would have seen by foot and visited a Beer Garden tucked away in a corner of the gardens that only a local would find. The tour took a total of 4.5 hours and included a one hour stop for lunch. The kids loved every minute of it and not once whinged are we there yet! If you are travelling with kids and see a city cycling tour - give it a go! For details or to book this tour, visit Fat Tire Berlin City Tour. Penny Itchy Feet Family Other blogs you may enjoy:
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