Do you love white sand beaches?
Heron Island
Heron Island is a true coral cay, located right on the Great Barrier Reef. The island is ribboned by sugar white sands, crystal clear waters and acres of brilliant coral with beautifully coloured marine life – a real nature lover’s paradise.
Heron offers many activities such as guided island and reef walks and semi-submersible cruises. An amazing array of animal and bird life can also be discovered right throughout the year. And of course, Heron is world famous for its scuba diving and snorkelling.
See the turtles hatch on Heron Island
Great Barrier Reef School Holiday Activities
Heron Island offers young visitors a unique range of interesting and educational experiences. Children aged 7 to 12 can join Heron Island’s Junior Ranger Program, which operates during Australian eastern seaboard school holidays (or through prior arrangement outside of this period).
Heron Island’s newly revised Junior Rangers Program has been developed by Heron Island’s experienced team of Marine Biologists and Naturalist Guides, with the co-operation of the University of Queensland, and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Junior Rangers Program offers a range of nature based activities designed to nurture a sense of exploration and caring for the environment, from reef walks, bird-watching and beachcombing through to tree planting and even the opportunity to design and run your own resort island. Junior Ranger activities contribute to the earning of a variety of colourful embroidered badges, from the ‘Three-Kilometre Badge’ through to the highly prized ‘Junior Ranger Badge’.
snorkelling off the island is a highlight
A one-off registration fee (AUD $65) applies for each Junior Ranger participant with fees generating funds for the Queensland Turtle Conservation Program. Registration costs cover the provision of a Junior Rangers Workbook, Junior Ranger Hat, embroidered badges, and Junior Ranger activities throughout the duration of your stay.
Heron Island is a haven of marine colour and relaxation, with magical ocean views from many of the rooms. This family friendly property allows children to stay and eat free, utilising existing bedding. Ask you Travel With Kidz consultant for an update on “whats happening on Heron” in the wildlife department. As you know wildlife is seasonal and Heron is a haven for above water and underwater wildlife. Visit www.travelwithkidz.com.au/agent-finder and to obtain your families quote.
Are You Surviving the School Holidays?
Christmas is now over for another year and the worlds icon buildings including our own Sydney Harbour Bridge have been lit up to celebrate the beginning of another year so now is the time to tell the world about your best/worst/funniest family holiday experience. Having just spent 2 weeks with our 2 year old granddaughter Emily at Nanna and Poppy’s house we now appreciate how hard it is to keep children busy over the long holiday period.
Travelling with children can be fun with research and speaking to an expert. Travel With Kidz has been specialising in family travel for the past 16 years.
Here is our list of top ten things to do with the kids before they grow up:
1) Climb the steps of Angkor Wat Cambodia and view history engraved on the walls.
2) Sit with indigenous Australians at Ayers Rock and learn the art of dot painting.
3) Learn to ski and make snowmen at Thredbo Village.
4) Play volleyball with Fijians on white sand beaches.
5) Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, Hawaii.
6) Walk down Broadway in New York and ride the lift to the top of the Empire State Building.
7) Visit the Pope’s home in Vatican City Rome. Climb the steps of St. Peters and view Rome from its peak.
8) Experience a magical Christmas under the Northern Lights with an unforgettable visit to Santa’s home town in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.
9) Introduce the kids to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland– it never fails to capture their imaginations.
10) Dance with the Masai in the Masi Mara National Park Kenya and watch lions under a tree on the great plains of the Mara.
As today’s children grow up faster and spend less time with their parents than ever before, many families are structuring holidays which offer not only a break from the routine but a learning experience for everyone.
After 34 years’ experience in the travel business – more than a third of that catering to the holiday needs of families – Wendy Buckley, Managing Director of Travel With Kidz, is well placed to comment on how family holidays are changing.
“Many time-poor families are no longer content with the traditional two-week annual holiday to the coast,” she said. “They are beginning to think ‘quality not quantity’ and are demanding more active and interesting breaks.”
“Young children’s brains are more open to learning and far more impressionable than adults,” she said. “Now is the time to spend quality time with your kids before they grow up.”
What is your favourite experience with your kids? Email wendy@travelwithkidz.com.au to post your blogs and experiences.
Happy 2012 from the Travel With Kidz family
Where’s TK? Win a Family Holiday in Phuket
Take TK on your Christmas holidays and be in with a chance to WIN 5 nights in Phuket for your family. TK has travelled the world and wants to come on your holiday. It’s so easy, take a picture with your kids holding TK over these holidays and share click here to enter and read the rules Good luck!
Take TK on your Christmas holiday and be in with a chance a family holiday to Phuket
It’s so easy! Here’s what you need to do:
- CLICK HERE to print the PDF image of Where’s TK?
- Take it on your holiday over December and January.
- Have the kids hold the picture of “where’s TK” in front of where you are ‘holidaying’, for example your local beach, the Gold Coast, Fiji, Vietnam or skiing in Whistler.
- Post on the Travel With Kidz Facebook wall. Go to the Photo Contest on our Facebook Page and upload your entry there.
- Have your friends and family vote for your photo on the Photo Competition tab.
Need help to enter? email wendy@travelwithkidz.com.au
THE PRIZE:
- Peoples’ Choice Winner - The photo with the most votes will WIN 5 nights in Phuket at the Evason Phuket & Bon Island for two adults and two kids.
- Judges’ Choice Winner – Travel With Kidz hamper filled with goodies
Who’s TK?
Travel With Kidz is delighted to introduce TK, the ‘ face ‘ behind fun and safe family travel.
Since 1995 when he was born, TK has been travelling, testing and reporting back on the best, safest and most fun ways to ’travel with kidz’.
TK’s experiences give families invaluable first-hand information on what to expect when they travel worldwide. From a simple beachside holiday through to an adventure in Africa, TK has done it all!
TK is also the voice and representative of the entire Travel With Kidz family, which has built relationships globally over many years with family-friendly hotels, tour operators, airlines, suppliers and companies. These relationships continue to grow and your family now has access to our years of experience through TK.