road trippin'

Hiding out the back of Geelong is Buckley Falls - a little surprise package of fun, adventure and beauty! These falls are a great way to spend a few hours exploring. Once you have clocked the main area Mamma wants you to head further down the Barwon River… this is where we had our fun. You'll find some of the most gorgeous river pools with plenty of rock hopping and cascading water - sensational!

You are 234 steps away from the gorgeous Erskine Falls from the car park area - Mamma counted. Little legs and old weary ones like Mamma’s might find it tricky but be sure to have some little breaks and a big rest when you get to the bottom! Plus when you do make it down - you get the reward of seeing the waterfalls from 2 different view points - what a magical place this is!

The Otways National Park is just stunning. Triplet falls (more kid friendly) is about 2km and 1 hour return trip. Although it is a short ‘walk’ the stairs leading to the trails feel a little never ending for kids and certainly challenging for grown-ups. We have also taken the trek to Little Aire Falls which is much longer, steeper and a more challenging walk/hike for the family.

Mamma is making it her mission to find lots of fab kid-friendly walks in nature and this is one of the best ones we have come across. The Brisbane Ranges is great. Often the weather, the snacks we take, tired levels of mamma and kids - all have lots to do with the ‘ease’ and enjoyment factor too but this bushwalk is relatively flat, scenic and a quick easy 2 hour loop.

Yes, here is yet another botanical garden to add to the picnic list!

There are lots of shell treasures to collect, cute benches to watch the passing ships, and a picnic table - just made to eat fish and chips on.

This spectacular park has all you need to spend a day in the beautiful outdoors. 

Geelong’s Eastern Beach is a wonderful sunny day destination – midweek it can be a quiet place for you to relax and unwind with your pre-schooler and weekends you’ll find it teeming with kids of all ages diving and swimming in the protected waterfront

Walk, feed and cuddle llamas at a beautiful Woodend farm. A one-hour llama experience with morning or afternoon tea included!

For outdoor adventure lovers, the You Yangs Regional Park in Little River has it all. The beauty of this area is stunning, with those huge rocks, breathtaking views and lovely bushland. There are a few trails and tracks to discover for the wanderers - usually around 1.5 km circuits, but you can choose your own distance (and incline!). Flinders Peak Walk was our favourite by far.

This is the PERFECT place to visit in the warmer months so the little ones can splash in the rock pools while the bigger ones scramble up the impressive rock surfaces. Venus Baths is the destination point to a picturesque and leisurely walk that will have your kiddos skipping over bridges, running down paths, darting around boulders before finally dipping their toes in cool fresh water. How satisfying!

If you have an animal lover and face it most kids are - Ballarat Wildlife Park is an excellent place to get up close with some of Australia's most loved animals. There are 100 Kangaroos that literally 'hop' free, as do the emu's. You can see lots of snakes and reptiles including crocodiles, Tassie devils, wedge tailed eagles, koalas and wombats. Mamma loves to feed the kangaroos - it a fam fav, especially for the minis!

Mamma loves Tuki Trout Farm in Smeaton - this is truly a Pond to Plate Experience! Mamma says: it's not just a great outing; it's an incredibly memorable journey for you and the kids. What’s on the menu? Well, your CATCH! Yes, they can prepare you with a delicious meal of the fish you JUST caught. Or simply choose from some other great dishes made from local produce. Fantastic!

A combination of technology and art creates magical unique auroras over Lake Daylesford. BOREALIS on the lake is back for 2023 and we are excited! Borealis is Happening from July 20 - September 3 it is not to be missed.

Discover Roraima Nursery in Lara, home to exotic plants, stunning sculptures, and even dinosaurs! Our top-pick attraction is a must-visit for plant enthusiasts and nature lovers. Don't miss out – plan your visit today and experience the crowd-pleasing beauty of Roraima Nursery.

Fairy Park is very special to Mamma. We first visited over 35 years ago and now we just keep coming back with our own kids. The amazing Fairy Park was built in 1959 when the displays were predominantly made by hand and despite being updated it still holds its magical kitschy qualities. The park is FULL of fun from over 20 fairytale displays, a Camelot playground, dragons and inspiring castles. Fairy Park really is the ultimate for family fun - be prepared to make some serious memories!

Mamma loves feeling on top of the world! And the VIEW from up here does not disappoint - is absolutely striking. At Reeds Lookout, you can expect to enjoy almost 360 views over the Central Grampians. From there, you can access a 1km shady track to another lookout known as The Balconies - a track perfect for little legs, prams and wheelchairs.

The Nook will make you feel as if you’ve stopped to rest at a quaint country town. A 20 minute walk from the centre of Sunbury, it features Jacksons Creek waterhole and a beautiful, natural open space.

Truly a breathtaking place to take the family. The Grampians is one of our families favourite places to go in Victoria.

Uncover the beauty of Halls Gap in the Grampians! Find the ideal family destination with stunning views, outdoor adventures, and delectable dining options. Start planning your trip today!

The light and sound show at Sovereign Hill is SPECTACULAR and a great family adventure.

The Victorian Goldfields Railway is such a great family outing, to experience the joy of riding in an old steam train and getting a glimpse into life in another time. Hop on to the train at either Maldon or Castlemaine and coast along for about 45-50 minutes through lovely bushland and along trails.

Mamma LOVES a hedge maze, there is just something magical and mysterious about them. Barrabool Maze Estate is NO EXCEPTION. And kids of all ages seem to love getting lost in the never ending pathways.

Strawberry fields forever! Well, until the end of the season anyway! Mamma and co love hunting in these fields of joy for the perfect strawberry - and there are plenty! And even better - this year, there is an abundance of everlasting daisies to pick too! Once you’re finished picking, pop up to the pavilion to grab an ice cream or some of their popular strawberry cups, and play in the sandpit!

We love Hopetoun Falls in the Great Ocean Road as a family adventure! Imagine lush ferns and gorgeous forest greenery on the way, and you can stop and do some rock hopping near the river too. This is a truly lovely place, make sure you take a trip to Hopetoun Falls when you are heading this way. Mamma says take a deep breath while you are here and fill your lungs with the beautiful fresh air.

This has to be our favourite garden to visit - we have been so many times and seen it in all the seasons. It’s magical at any time of year.  

What a gem of a place! Maze House just outside of Daylesford is a magical place to visit.

Mamma is berry berry excited to be able to pick both strawberries and blueberries in one place!
The berry-nice Tuckerberry Hill Berry Farm and café is the perfect place to get your berry fix.

What kind of picking HEAVEN is THIS?

An icon of the West, immortalised in the old TV show Round the Twist and more recently Masterchef. Dubbed 'the white queen', she sure is majestic.

This new free splash park (open Summer 2016/17) is great for the kids to cool off. 

Did someone say FRESH?! Fruit doesn't get any fresher than this.  Mamma and the fam have a ball picking fresh cherries, apples and stonefruits at this 'pick your own' fruit farm.  It's a fun activity that the whole family can get involved in - well you'll need every available set of hands to carry back your booty! 

A few tips were required and a few unorthodox plays were exhibited ...maybe a few holes skipped but overall a great time was had. The Bellarine Adventure golf is old school and cool with lush greenery, and timber structures and lots of secret passage ways and fun places for the ball to travel.

Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong is a fantastic spot to take the family for some adventure and food! It is possibly the biggest and most colourful dining spot you will ever see. The food is scrumptious with lunch favourites and dinner deliciousness - PLUS they have an awesome kids play area for your little ones to explore while you sit and have your favourite brew in peace - PERFECT!

What an awesome spot! Woodend is such a cool little town in its own right and it’s also the perfect pit-stop on the way to and from lots of other great places and we love the great little play area for the kids.

Cliffy's has super friendly staff, kids menu and colouring in - and great food. With it’s old general store feel it is so gorgeous, cozy and full of character. It is definitely one of the icons of the area and a MUST visit!

Mamma says next time you are on the road in the Swan Bay area and you see the big Piknik sign - take it as a GOOD SIGN to stop and drop in for a bite.  This converted old Golden Fleece roadhouse has charm, FANTASTIC food and super friendly service. 

What would you say if Mamma told you there was a cafe with great food, outdoor seating, a playground right next door, an amazing beach over the road and a river full of ducks and their ducklings a few metres away?  You'd say - "point me in that direction Mamma!"  Well that direction is along The Great Ocean Road past Lorne to the divine hamlet of Wye River. A Mamma favourite for many years.

The Wye Beach Hotel overlooks Wye River's gorgeous beach. Offering fantastic views year-round, it's the perfect place to stop for a drink and a bite to take in the most stunning setting. It's the usual pub fare with some fancier options and a separate kids menu offering the usual kiddo faves. A few different eating sections means there's plenty of room to grab a table both indoors and out.  

Millars in Lara (on the way to Geelong in Melbourne’s West) has something for everyone - excellent food and coffee for Mamma, and a breakfast and lunch kids menu. The star attraction is the playground right next door - suitable for both the older kids and the little ones - which means Mamma can relax and watch the kids adventuring all within an arms reach.

Every Sunday
The Daylesford Market is high on the list of Mamma's favourite country markets. The market is on EVERY Sunday rain hail or shine so there's no excuse to miss it. Full of treasures, fresh food and friendly faces not to mention situated in such a spectacular town. This market really does have it all - with over 130 stallholders, you’ll definitely be able to grab something for all of the family!  

Third Sunday of every month
Happening in the quaint town of Talbot, The Talbot Farmers Market has become very popular in the last couple of years attracting thousands of visitors, we know why - it's fantastic. Talbot is fair hike from the West (about 90 minutes, this side of the bridge past Ballarat) so leave early to make the most of it!