Tallebudgera Creek Camping

We chose to travel with friends for Easter 2014 and headed to Tallebugera Tourist Park on the Gold Coast.

This was our set up from one side.  The site we had was really spacious and we had a couple of big shady trees to cool our area which was really handy on the day we had 35 degrees.  The grass was green and healthy and there was plenty of room for the clothes line and the kids totem tennis etc.

What's to do?

Plenty!  A short couple of minute walk or ride under the bridge in one direction and you have the surf beach for swimming or the surf club for an afternoon drink or dinner.

The view from the deck at the surf club

In the opposite direction, the creek and all it has to offer.  

The water is the most gorgeous colour and so clear you can see the bottom.  We spotted so many fish and a stingray too.  Emma loved playing on the beach here and swimming in the calm water.  She also had a turn at stand up paddle boarding and Nathan loved kayaking along the creek.

We took a daily bike ride to the point where the creek and the ocean meet.  We would watch the sunset and enjoy the view to Surfers Paradise and Cooloongatta.  It was a very easy ride for everyone (very flat) and the kids often brought their scooters or you could walk.

Burleigh Mountain gave us the perfect place to walk each day and the scenery was beautiful.  

We rode to Burleigh Heads as well, a great ride especially along the waterfront.  We found some great places to stop for coffee or ice cream and we ventured over to Burleigh one night for dinner as well.  It is so close and offers an array of activities, dining options and shopping.  

On Saturday morning we drove to Burleigh and went to the local farmers market where we picked up some delicious organic meat and fruit and vegetables.  Oh and the organic sour dough bread was to die for!

The kids were catered for well.  It was during school holidays so I would expect this from a good tourist park.  They loved the activities on offer.  You did have to pay for some of the activities although this I don't mind if they are good quality.

The kids made canvas art, made candles, had face painting, went to discos, watched big screen movies, rode bikes and go carts and swam, swam, swam. 

We also enjoyed the wood fired pizzas that were on offer a couple of nights during our stay and the crepes from the crepe van.

There really was so much to do and see during our 10 days that we were not bored for a minute.  The kids came home asking how long until we visit again which is always a good sign! 

A Weekend at Dicky Beach

We have had a couple of camping trips lately with one of them being a weekend (2 nights) at Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

I have to say that I loved this caravan park for a break.  The park was lovely and not too big.  The amenities were spotless and the kids enjoyed the pool and the recreation room.

We booked a premium ocean view site which had a concrete slab and power and water and this was the view from the caravan.  You can't really beat it.

A few steps the the right of here and there was a small skate park where Nathan spent most of his free time.

And a few steps forward from the fence and this was what you saw, the inlet and then gorgeous surf beach.

On the surf beach there is a shipwreck, although there is not much left of it these days it is still good to see and very close to the swimming section of the beach.

The beach is patrolled which is excellent and Emma and I spent a lot of time here.

A few paces over the inlet to the right of our van was the surf club.  We went here for dinner on the Saturday night and we were impressed.  The dress code was not fancy which is perfect while camping and the meals were very reasonably priced and huge and delicious.  When you camp at the caravan park you get a sheet of discounts for the club which is great.

If you walk in the opposite direction you will come to a little row of shops including a butcher, convenience store, fish and chip shops and cafes.  We had a huge serving of fish and chips one night which was really good value for money and we also had breakfast at one of the cafe's which was a little bit more expensive but a lovely dining experience.

This park is going on our list of favourite caravan parks and we will be back to stay soon.  I don't think you can get a better spot.   It's a park where you can park the car and not have to get in it again until you leave with everything at your doorstop.

If you are considering a trip to the Sunshine Coast consider Dicky Beach, it's worth it.  You can find the link to the website here.

An amazing day with the elephants in Pattaya, Thailand

During our cruise stop in Thailand we spent a day at an elephant village which was an unforgettable experience.  You can find the website here.  We arrived at about 10am and left at 3pm so we had lots of hours with the animals.  

We first had an elephant ride through water and bush.  Emma and I went first.  I have to say that riding an elephant is not a very comfortable ride, it's really bumpy and whenever I tried to take a photo it was fail due to the movement.

When we got to the other end of our ride we were given quite a bit of time to just pat and feed the elephants. We bought bananas for them at the entrance.  A treat they really love.  The elephant that walked behind us could smell Emma's bananas and keep nudging her with her trunk so she could have one!  Nathan's driver let him back on the elephant to feed it from above. I will also say that elephant's slobber and Emma and I ended up with quite a bit of it on us!

Then we went for a walk through some bush to find out about what the locals do and how they live.  We saw silk worms and a lady making thai silk by hand.

We got to go on this boat which then took us to the other side of the river.  It was just set up on a thick rope which the men wind by hand to move you to the other side.

Once on the other side of the river, these guys below were our transport back to the elephant village.  We sat in wooden carriages with wooden wheels.  It was an awesome experience, we loved it.  

After all that was done we had a really delicious lunch and then had a good hour to hang out with the elephants again.  You could pat them, feed them or just sit and watch them.  The kids had a ball, I don't think they will ever get this much time with elephants again so we took full advantage of it.

To finish the day we had a talk about the elephants.  We learned so much about how they get to be at the village and the work they used to do.  The elephants show all their skills including an old circus elephant who showed us what she could do including picking up 10c coins with her trunk!

And to finish I had to give this gorgeous little one some apples and a big cuddle, he was absolutely gorgeous/

 If you are going to Pattaya a trip to the elephants is a really good day.