If there is one place to visit when you’re holidaying on the largest sand island in the world (K’Gari!!), it would have to be Lake McKenzie.
Where is Lake McKenzie
Lake McKenzie has the ‘WOW’ factor. There is no doubt about it. Firstly, the sand is pure white. Secondly, the water transitions from crystal clear, to light blue, to dark blue. It’s fascinating.
Likely the most visited tourist attraction on Fraser, it is easy to see why.
Located in the Great Sandy National Park, it is 6.2km southeast of the well-known Kingfisher Resort. We stopped in at the resort for lunch after our visit to the lake.
Why is it so unique?
Lake McKenzie is what they call a ‘perched’ lake. This means it actually only contains rainwater. No groundwater and it is also not fed by streams or flow through to the ocean. I didn’t even know that was a thing!
The beauty of a natural phenomenon like this is that it’s hard to believe nature created something so awesome. To stop the rainwater from draining away, the sand and other organic matter at the base of the lake actually create an impervious later. As a result, it prevents the rainwater draining away! Mind blown!
The sand is super white. It’s pure white silica and is really soft to walk on. It also acts as a filter which helps create that crystal clear water to look at. Because of how pure it is, the lake can’t actually support much life at all. This is due to high acidity levels. However, I have read that there are Fraser Island Short-Necked turtles and fish that swim around the reeds at the lake.
It is also super large and is over 1.2km long and 930m wide. It works out to be around 150 hectares in area!
Can you swim there
Yes!! We visited in September and the water temperature was pretty cold… but how can you not swim in such a beautiful lake! Take an inflatable to relax on the water.
Facilities
Parking is available onsite. It does get busy so avoid peak times if you can to save time waiting for a park!
There are toilets and cold shower facilities available. You will also find a fenced seating area for you to have some lunch if you wish.
Top 3 things to remember before visiting Lake McKenzie
- No food is allowed down at the lake. This is because of the Dingos on Fraser Island. If you want to grab some lunch or a snack, you will need to utilise the fenced section near the carpark.
- Take your inflatables. It’s so nice to relax on the water!
- There is a bit of a walk from the carpark down to the lake – you will need to wear some footwear (thongs/flip flops are acceptable)
Visiting Fraser?
Take a look at our other Fraser posts on our Queensland page for some inspiration!
Quite possibly the best theme park we’ve been to that is suitable for a 4 year old! We’ve visited a few theme parks over the past 6 months. We were impressed with how many rides are available for kids in this age bracket. Aussie World was a win for us!
Where is Aussie World
The park is located in Palmview on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, around 1hr 15m north of Brisbane City.
How much does it cost?
I would recommend pre-purchasing your ticket online – it’s cheaper! If you’re going in a group, you can save some money by purchasing group tickets. Under 3’s are also FREE!!!! You’re given a wristband at the entrance which means you can duck out for lunch and get back into the park easily.
Rides
I often question how practical it is taking a small child to a theme park. We’ve been to a few only for our 4 year old to be disappointed that he’s too small to ride most of the rides. Or, the one that is ‘fun’ is closed for maintenance. It’s happened too often.
Aussie World caters for small kids incredibly well. There were around 13 rides that were suitable for our son (he was 102cm at the time of our visit). In addition to the rides, there is also sideshow alley, Illusionarium, Leak’n Logs as well as some other games such as mini golf.
The Park Map is provided to you when you arrive. What’s great about this map is that it tells you what rides are suitable based on height.
Our son loved his visit so much that he’s been asking to visit every single weekend since.
Where to grab lunch
We ate lunch at Mango’s Bar & Grill located upstairs at the Banana Bender Pub. The service was really good and the food was delicious and came out quickly.
I’d recommend booking a table as they get super busy.
The venue itself is so unique, bright and captures the Queensland culture perfectly – in my opinion!!
Tips to prepare for your day
- There are lockers so you can keep your personal belongings safe
- Each ride also has pigeon holes to put your phone, sunnies or bags in for the duration of the ride
- You will find drink refill stations so bring your own drink bottle
- Hat & sunscreen. It’s Queensland after all and you should always be sun smart!
- Change of clothes for the kids – they might get wet!
The only downside
The only downside is that they don’t currently have annual passes!
Hotel: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Location: Denarau Island, Fiji
Room: Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Oceanside
Perfect for: Couples or Couples with 1 small child
Category: Luxury
Located 30 minutes from Fiji’s Nadi International Airport, Denarau Island is filled with resorts with something to suit everyone.
The recently renovated Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa was an easy choice for us when booking our trip to Fiji. Click here to view their website.
We have previously been Platinum Accor Plus members which we have found super beneficial when staying at an Accor property and love the dining benefits in particular! We didn’t have our membership for this particular trip, but quickly regretted that decision. You will see why further down in this post.
Click here to find out more about claiming your FREE night with Accor Plus and here to read more about the Accor Live Limitless ‘ALL’ loyalty program. Click here to go directly to their website.
Our welcome experience…
BULA!!! Our welcome experience was fantastic. We arrived by taxi from the airport (around 30 minutes) and were greeted by staff and quickly learned that Bula is the greeting that we would soon be saying ourselves. Our check in process was quick and easy and the staff took our bags to the room for us.
The Room…
The rooms have been nicely renovated and felt spacious. Equipped with a large bathroom, king size bed and lounge (which if needed can be made into a sofa bed). There is also a table with two chairs and a nice balcony overlooking the grounds of the hotel.
To take a walk through the room – check out our short video.
Meals…
Our booking included daily breakfast and half board. The way it works at this hotel is each adult receives $100 FJD per day towards food and drinks and this comes off your total bill at checkout.
Solis Restaurant & Poolside dining: We ate lunch every day by the pool. The poolside food was good and came out pretty quickly too. They had a range of meals for adults and kids. It’s nice to be able to eat by the pool and not have to pack up and head to a table.
We also dined at Solis restaurant each night with the exception of two. Although we didn’t have the best experience the first evening, we did return to give it another go and was impressed with our other dining experiences there. We put it down to bad luck our first evening.
To view the menus click here.
Bazaar Kitchen: Bazaar is where the buffet breakfast is located each morning. The variety of breakfast foods was great and what you would expect at hotel.
They also host the buffet dinner each night at this restaurant. We joined the Fijian night buffet for our first dinner due to Solis restaurant being fully booked. The atmosphere was great with a traditional Fijian show throughout the dinner service. However, the drinks took quite some time to come out and the price was $99 FJD per person, including our 4 year old. Whilst the food was good, it was expensive. That being said, we aren’t big buffet fans.
Suka Bar: Located on the beach front, it’s the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the sunset! We spent a bit of time here waiting for our reservation at Solis restaurant. The great thing about the bar is that there are seats on the sand, which is not only relaxing but the kids can be entertained while you relax with a refreshing beverage!
Room Service: We had room service for one of our dinners. The menu can be found on the TV (in case you are like us and can’t find the menu anywhere!). We ordered burgers and they were actually super tasty and the delivery time was pretty reasonable too.
To read more about Accor Plus and how to get 50% off your dining, click here.
Hotel Grounds
The grounds are really beautiful and spacious. Plenty of space for the kids to run around, or to enjoy a morning or afternoon walk. The grounds lead directly to the beach.
The pool area is incredible! The pool itself is huge! The best part of the pool is that it’s suitable for babies and toddlers. There are shaded areas of the pool where the depth is no more than around 30cm. Other parts of the pool were shallow enough for Henry (4 years old) to stand and walk in the pool. This gave him so much confidence and us a break from holding him for the entire duration of his swim!
Tip: Bring your own inflatable if you can! If not, you can pick one up at the local supermarket for around $30 AUD.
Health and Fitness…
For those who like to stay active on holidays, there is a gym onsite and additional group fitness classes you can book in for.
Good to know…
Filtered water station: You receive a large bottle of water in the room when you arrive. Each level has a filtered water station for you to top up your bottle of water. This will save you purchasing additional bottles of water.
Convenience Store: The hotel has a convenience store which is located on the pool level. When you walk down the stairs from reception, the convenience store will be to your left. They sell a range of items from snacks, drinks, medicine to souvenirs and beachwear. You can also get your Bula Bus tickets from here.
Bula Bus: The Bula Bus takes you around Denarau Island to each of the hotels and also stops at the Marina. The Marina has a convenience store, liquor store, clothing and souvenir shops and a heap of restaurants. It is also where most of the boat day trips depart from and you can take a look at what’s on offer and book on the spot. You need tickets to ride the Bula Bus and you can buy these from the convenience store.
Restaurant reservations: I would 100% recommend you pre-book your dinner reservations for each evening ahead of time. The restaurant was fully booked every night so it pays to book ahead. However, it’s worth noting that if you cancel last minute or don’t show up, they charge a cancellation fee.
Niu Kids Club: The kids club looks fantastic! You can see their prices here. However, it is worth noting that if you’re Gold or above with ALL, Kids Club is free. There are always a number of staff on duty and plenty of things to keep the kids busy. Plenty of shady areas means the kids aren’t always in direct sunlight. They held the Little Warrior Experience from the kids club each evening – this needs to be booked in advance (it’s free) and such a great experience for the kiddies!
Check out Henry’s Tiny Warrior experience!
Here are some other kids activities we participated in!
Adolescent Corner: We stumbled across this when we were exploring the hotel grounds. The staff person at the gym told me about it and to show Henry. It’s located behind the gym and has free games for the kids to play.
Beach: If you’re looking for a beautiful beach and crystal clear water, you won’t get that on Denarau Island. The sand is dark and course and the water is not clear. You will need to make your way to one of the beautiful islands for beaches like that!
Waitui Beach Club
Waitui Beach Club is an adults only part of the resort. You need to have booked a certain package for access to this section of the resort.
Checking out…
It was a quick and easy process to checkout. The staff who collected our bags arranged for a taxi for us to the airport. Prices are fixed and pre-agreed so you don’t need to worry about being ripped off.
Above and beyond…
Shazia at the tour desk was beyond helpful. She booked our scenic helicopter flight over heart island. In addition, Shazia booked and confirmed our private island hopping tour at around 7pm for the next morning. The service she provided was excellent!
The not so good…
We had a couple of issues at the start of the hotel. We had pre-arranged a cake for Henry’s birthday and pre-selected the time for delivery. There was confusion around it and I had to chase a couple of times to get the cake which was late afternoon instead of the morning. It wasn’t the end of the world, but we were keen to celebrate in the morning! That being said, the cake was beautiful and delicious! It was great we could specialise a cake order prior to arrival.
The verdict…
If you’re looking to stay in Fiji on Denarau Island, I would absolutely recommend this hotel, particularly if you have kids. There is plenty to do to keep busy. Keep an eye on our Fiji page for some of our other recommendations.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Relaxing by the pool at our hotel on Denarau Island, we were considering the best way to see what Fiji has to offer without spending an entire day out and about with a 4 year old. We thought it would be an awesome experience for Henry to have his first helicopter flight and celebrate turning 4!
Heli Tours Fiji has a variety of scenic flights to choose from, there is something for everyone! We chose the scenic flight over Heart Island. Take a look at our video below!
Where is Heart Island
The heart-shaped island is called Tavarua Island. It’s an island resort surrounded by Coral Reef and is located not too far from Nadi or Denarau Island.
Transfer Options
We pre-booked our scenic flight a few days beforehand. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Heli Tours Fiji picked us up from our hotel and took us to the helipad, the journey took 10 minutes at most. The waiting area has toilet facilities and a waiting room with lounges. If you are using Heli Tours Fiji as a transfer option, they can meet you at the international airport and whisk you off to an island resort on the Mamanuca & Yasawa Islands, Vanua Levu in the North, the Law Group, Suva and the Coral Coast.
After our flight, they offered to drop us at either the Marina or the hotel- we chose the Marina to pick up some supplies from the supermarket.
Scenic Flight to Heart Island
They don’t call this their “most popular” scenic tour for no reason! I lost count of the number of times I said ‘wow’! Before you get to Heart Island, you are stunned by views of your very own hotel (if you’re staying at Denarau) which was something in itself. The hotels are expansive! We stayed at the Sofitel and you can see from the photo below just how large the grounds are!
When you then get out towards the picture-perfect reef you will soon start to see what all the fuss is about. Water that ranges between deep blue, turquoise, sky blue and crystal clear, pictures don’t do it justice.
We flew over Malamala Island and our pilot recommended visiting the island for a few hours. We took him up on the advice and went the next day on a private boat trip, run by one of the locals!
The journey also took us over Sandbar, which is a great swimming and snorkelling spot as well as many other beautiful islands.
As we approached Heart Island you could quite easily see what all the fuss was about. It is, of course, in the shape of a heart. What you might not realise, depending on the time you visit, is that it is also a famous surfing destination with world-class reef breaks!
We flew around Heart Island before starting the journey back to Denarau.
Exhausted from his big adventure, combined with the motion of of flight it was a perfect time for a snooze.
Helicopter with a toddler
We chose a helicopter flight to get the most out of our time without having to worry about our 4 year old getting bored on a full-day (snorkling and swimming at this age for extended periods of time is quite a challenge!). Henry was old enough to sit on his own and have his very own headphones. Not only was it exciting for him, but the whole experience was also done in an hour. For us, that was perfect as we spent the rest of the time by the pool.
Staying in Fiji?
We stayed at the Sofitel Hotel on Denarau Island when we visited Fiji. Keep an eye out on our Fiji page for upcoming posts on other activities and our hotel recommendations!
Hotel: Peppers Salt Resort & Spa Kingscliff
Location: Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia
Room: 1 Bedroom Spa Suite
Perfect for: Couples & Small Family
Category: 5 Star
We were looking for accommodation suitable for a toddler – one who doesn’t like to sit still and who also likes to swim! Peppers Salt Resort & Spa Kingscliff had everything we needed for our stay, and most importantly Henry loved it! Click here to view their website.
We are Platinum Accor Plus members which we find super beneficial when staying at an Accor property and love the dining benefits in particular!
Click here to find out more about claiming your FREE night with Accor Plus! Click here to read more about the Accor Live Limitless ‘ALL’ loyalty program. Click here to go directly to their website.
Our welcome experience…
We arrived prior to check in time, but the staff gave us some pool towels and a keycard to access the carpark so we could enjoy the amenities prior to getting the room key.
The Room…
The room was spacious and had everything you would need for a holiday. What I loved most about this is what it was an apartment so there was a fridge, microwave, cutlery and anything you would need to enjoy some meals in the room. This is helpful in saving some money when you’re away for a holiday.
You will also find a laundry with washer and dryer. This is probably the most helpful thing when travelling with a small child – you never know when you might need to do last minute washing!!
The lounge room was large and opened up onto a balcony, ours looked over the pool area.
The bedroom had plenty of room and also cupboard to store your luggage and clothes in.
The space in the bathroom was really helpful, especially with a toddler. He loves his baths and this was perfect for him.
Meals…
Poolside Menu: We ate lunch by the pool on the first day. The food was good and service was quick. Henry enjoyed his kids meal as well which was a bonus. We were able to get 50% off at the poolside (but only because there was no availability to be seated at the restaurant).
Season Restaurant: We booked in for dinner at the restaurant (they were fully booked the night prior and at lunch too so book to avoid disappointment). We were entitled to the 50% off with our Accor Plus membership. The food was delicious and once again, Henry enjoyed his meal as well.
To read more about Accor Plus and how to get 50% off your dining, click here.
Hotel Grounds
The pool area is perfect, especially for families with kids. It is a beach / lagoon style pool so the smaller kids can walk in comfortably and independently without the need for a parent to hold their hand every second. We all know how small kids like to be independent! The sand is also a winner – so pack a bucket and spade as well!
Health and Fitness…
For those who like to stay active on holidays, there is a tennis court available to use during your stay.
They also have bikes available to hire if you want to explore the local area.
Good to know…
There is onsite parking which is free of charge for one car.
Checking out…
Quick and easy! No complaints here.
Above and beyond…
Nothing exceptional to note.
The not so good…
Nothing to complain about here!
The verdict…
We would absolutely visit again. The location is great with the beach on the doorstep of the hotel and it is super family friendly and the pool is appropriate for young kids.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Trying to find things to do that are local and toddler friendly can be quite difficult. We decided to check out Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to see if it was toddler friendly, Henry loved it!
About Lone Pine
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened back in 1927 as a safe refuge for sick, injured and orphaned koalas. This was at a time where Koala’s were being culled for the fur trade.
Where is it?
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is located at Fig Tree Pocket, around a 20 minute drive from Brisbane City. There is plenty of free parking so you can get there and leave in your own time which is helpful when getting out and about with a toddler.
You can also take a boat to Lone Pine, information can be found here.
Tickets
We chose to buy a yearly pass because we knew visiting with a toddler meant probably leaving in 1.5 hours! Because of that, we didn’t feel a one off admission was worth the money. I would recommend buying your tickets online as it is significantly cheaper! If you choose a yearly pass, they then take your photo and print your passes out when you arrive.
Is it toddler friendly?
We found the park to be pretty toddler friendly. We took our huge Bugaboo Donkey 2 pram and had no issues with it. The walkways are fairly wide so pulling over to look at enclosure was pretty easy.
There was just one direction we took which resulted in a small staircase, otherwise everywhere else was find. It wouldn’t hurt to check out the map to be sure (which we obviously didn’t do!)
To be honest, the park probably isn’t the most exciting for adults. There are a lot of koalas and kangaroos and not a lot of anything else. In saying that, it was great for our toddler. He was able to safely walk around the grounds and look at the animals.
You can purchase feed for the kangaroos and your little one can enjoy feeding them up close!
Cuddle a Koala
There is also an opportunity to cuddle a Koala! We didn’t take up the opportunity because the line up was so long, there is no way my son would have patiently waited. We did go on a weekend though, so perhaps the weekdays are quieter?
Our twins were born at 30+4 and were both in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or also known as Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU), Henry only for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks in Special Care and Archie was in the NICU until he was term and then transferred over to Queensland Children’s Hospital for the remainder of his short, yet inspiring life.
You can read more about Archie’s Story by clicking here.
What is NICU?
The NICU is not something I had ever heard of before I needed to know about it. The NICU is dedicated primarily to premature babies that aren’t quite physically and developmentally developed and are unable to transition to the outside environment as well as full-term babies. I say primarily because during our time in the NICU we did see a couple of term babies who required additional support.
Looking for gift ideas for parents with babies in NICU?
This is a question we get asked a lot now. Reflecting on our 5.5 months of living at a hospital, there are a number of things that made that journey that little bit easier, and it was thanks to those family and friends, and sometimes strangers who gave us the most useful gifts.
NICU Milestone Cards
I would recommend Miracle Mumma. We were gifted some by a complete stranger and they became so very special to us. It is not normally something you buy in advance of having a baby, but when your baby hits those incredible milestones, it’s nice to have a card for your pictures and memories.
thewelltravelledfamily kangaroo point Brisbane inner-city dog-friendly beach 
Parking vouchers
Parking at a hospital costs an absolute fortune. After my cesarean, catching public transport or walking to the hospital was out of the question for a month or so. We were paying $110 every 5 days for parking and the costs added up very quickly.
Meals
After you’re discharged and you are spending every single day at the hospital, you head home in the evening to try and get some sleep… in between pumping every 3 hours for your baby/babies… and it is hard to think about yourself and your nutrition. We had friends deliver some frozen meals to us so we just had to reheat when we got home. We were also given vouchers for Deliveroo (this link will give you $12 off your first four orders) and Uber Eats so we could get some meals delivered.
Outfits
Most NICU babies aren’t wearing outfits for a while, but when they do, I can nearly guarantee you that unless they were expecting a premature baby, they will not have the right size clothing. I had a bundle of 00000 size outfits, which were still too big for my boys when they were able to be dressed, but it was so nice to have something for them. They will need to be outfits that have buttons to allow for the numerous medical leads that are attached to the little one. Also check out Miracle Mumma who have specially designed little outfits that are suitable for the cables too.
Premature Baby Record Book
When we purchased ours, there was nothing out there! We had to order our book from the US and is called The Littlest Peanut Book. Now, Miracle Mumma has tapped into what is very much needed and has her own range of record keeping books for premature babies. Check out her books here.
Birth Poster
We were gifted ours by a wonderful group of preemie parents after we lost Archie. It was arranged through Miracle Mumma and is absolutely perfect.
Premmie Dolls
I ordered a Premmie Doll for each of my boys. It is really nice to see how far they have come since being born as such an early gestation. Miracle Mumma sell these and they are a really great quality. There is usually a wait list (as you can imagine these are very popular). The dolls are the exact height and weight as your baby when they were born.
Pram Tags
When you are finally able to take your baby outside, you need to be super careful as their little tiny bodies are prone to picking up every infection going around. These pram tags by Miracle Mumma are a wonderful addition to your pram.
Lactation Cookies
I know this one sounds a bit weird. But I was pumping for twins and was barely getting enough milk for the both of them. In addition to medication, a friend told me about Lactation Cookies and made me a double batch of cookie dough I could just pop into the oven when I was ready. They helped me a lot with my milk supply and saved me heaps of time by not having to make heaps myself. They cost quite a lot of money to buy packets from the shop so I found it cost effective to make them myself. Here is a recipe I used.
Support
Just be there. Send a message every now and then so they know you’re thinking about them. They may not have time to reply but knowing they have a huge support crew ready for when they need is so important. Quite often bubs born early don’t get the typical congratulatory start to life as term babies. Friends and family are likely to be unsure of what to say to new parents of a prem bub as their journey can be so uncertain. Remember to acknowledge the birth of their baby/babies and congratulate them. Normal happiness tends to be forgotten.
Reusable Drink bottle
Staying hydrated is so important and often forgotten. I would recommend a reusable 1L or 2L drink bottle, like a Tupperware one that they can take with them every day, or leave at the hospital for each morning.
Cleaner/Housework/Washing
The simple things that just can’t be done. After spending all day at the hospital, it would be so nice to come home to a clean house. Either a cleaning voucher, arrange someone to come around, or offer to do this yourself (but instead of asking, just say you will be at their place at say 7.30am before they head off and will leave the keys in a safe space). Try not to let them say no! They will thank you for it in the long run.
Babysitting
If the family has a toddler at home, offer to babysit or take the child for a sleepover.
Grocery / Coffee delivery
Dropping off a ‘real’ coffee at the hospital, a sandwich for lunch or snacks for the day would be really helpful. Also offer to do a grocery shop so they have fresh groceries for at home.
Handsfree pumping bra
Something that most will need to rush out and buy. Check the sizing first as that is pretty important but I used the Medela one and it was a critical item that is used every 3 hours for up to months on end.
Do you have any suggestions of items that should be added to this list? Please let me know in the comments below.
To read more about our family, some tips and tricks if you’re travelling with a family, click here!
Looking for a Dog Friendly Beach in Brisbane where you can take your toddler?
If you don’t want the hassle of driving for over an hour to the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, only to stay for less than an because your toddler is tired, then you should consider this, not so secret, inner city dog friendly beach!
We had a lovely time, Millie was able to play with all of the other dogs and Henry was enjoying playing in the sand and getting his feet (or entire body) wet!
Where is the Dog Friendly Beach in Brisbane?
Located along the Brisbane River, just around the corner from the iconic Story Bridge, it is easy to get to, street parking, coffee shops and plenty on offer for everyone.
Getting there
On the weekends, street parking in most streets are free (be sure to check the signs or risk getting a fine!). Alternatively, you can take free ferry (the city hopper) to Holman Street wharf and wonder through the park until you reach the stairs down to the foreshore.
What to do
There are relatively flat walking tracks to go for a cycle, walk or run and enjoy the views of the city and river at the same time.
There is also Captain Burke Park where you can enjoy a picnic, the kids can play on the playground or you can have a BBQ at one of the setups there.
We went with Henry (nearly 2 year old) son and Millie (nearly 1 year old) Cavoodle puppy. It is safe to say they both loved it! Personally, I wouldn’t recommend swimming in the river, but I did enjoy walking along the river’s edge, Henry on the other hand couldn’t get enough and was drenched from head to toe!
Looking for something to eat?
There is a gorgeous little pet friendly cafe you can grab a take away coffee, or sit down for something more substantial if you wish. It’s called Medley and it has a great outlook over the Brisbane River.
Planning a day or so in Brisbane?
If you’re looking for other things to do around Brisbane, check out this page.
Looking for something different to do with your young children? The Bribie Island Butterfly House is a fun way to spend a morning.
Where is it?
Located on Bribie Island, it’s around an hour or so drive north from Brisbane City. The most convenient way to get there would be by car, which means you can also stop somewhere for a bite to eat before or afterwards as well.
What to expect
Butterflies of course! Unless you’re a huge fan of butterflies, I would only recommend this to entertain young children/toddlers for about an hour.
It’s a relatively small butterfly enclosure, which you walk around at your own pace. You are not allowed to reach out and touch the butterflies but a tip is to wear white, the butterflies are attracted to white and will likely sit on your shirt!
Opening Hours & Entry Fee
The Bribie Island Butterfly House is open on Wednesday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm. It costs $12 per adult and $7 per child (4 – 15 years of age). Under 4’s are free. This information was correct at the time of writing the post, being June 2020.
Looking for lunch at Bribie Island?
We picked up some take away fish and chips from Savige’s Fish and Chips and at it by the beach, not too far away from the Butterfly House. It was quite busy (which is a good indication that it is worth the wait) but you can get a cold drink while you wait for your food.
Planning a day or so in Brisbane?
If you’re looking for other things to do around Brisbane, check out this page with some useful tips and tricks.
Living in Australia, we find ourselves out and about a lot…. either at the beach, camping or at a park. We realised quickly that everything you need to take with you for a day was starting to add up… in size, weight and space. And to add to that, we now have to take stuff along for Henry which means an extra couple of bags with everything he needs.
So, when it came down to looking for the right chairs, we wanted something lightweight and compact so we can store it easily (we live in an apartment) and also it doesn’t take up much room in a bag, or on our shoulder like the traditional beach or camping chairs.
We were sitting in a park one day, and these people sat down behind us and set up these chairs. They were in the smallest bag, and when set up, they were close to the ground and low, meaning those behind you wouldn’t lose their views either. And, they looked super comfy. The brand is Helinox.
Chair One & Chair One Mini
We quickly jumped online to see what they had on offer. We opted for the Chair One and the Chair One Mini (for Henry). We also ordered the Ground Sheet for the Chair One’s so they are suitable to be used on the sand. Once they had arrived we knew we needed the table to match so ordered ourselves the Table One.
The Chair one weights only 0.96kg with a weight capacity of 145kg and the Chair one mini weights a tiny 500g and a weight limit of 90kg. The Chair One mini is suitable for kids aged between 2 – 6.
Everywhere we go, someone asks us about these chair and where we got them. They are so unbelievably compact and perfect for anyone who gets out and about, especially those with a family who struggle for space with everything else!
