Awesome August value at Luna Park Sydney!

Clown Face Luna Park

With a grin from pylon-to-pylon, Luna Park Sydney is thrilled to introduce even more great value offers for its guests this August, with five new deals available at the iconic Sydney attraction.

Stretch your dollar and your grin with these fun-filled offers:

Mini Money Mondays – Here’s a reason to smile on Monday! Mini Money Mondays now saves guests $10 on their Unlimited Rides Pass. It’s ideal for stay-at-home parents, students, tourists, shift workers and day-trippers and will add a bright spark to the first day of the week.

Luna Lunacy after 6pm – Create a date with a difference or catch up with friends and have a laugh after dark with Luna Lunacy. Available any evening Luna Park is open after 6pm, Luna Lunacy now boasts a fantastic Buy-One-Get-One-FREE offer on Unlimited Rides Passes.

Online Only Value Deal – For guests who think an action packed day at Luna Park will give them an appetite, this Value Deal is the solution. Priced between $29.95-$49.95, depending on your height, the Value Deal gets you an Unlimited Rides Pass, Lighthouse Combo Meal and two sideshow games of your choice. That’s a saving of up to $17.50!

VIP Games Pass – Think you’ve got what it takes to dominate Sideshow Alley? Make it official with Luna Park Sydney’s VIP Games Pass. The best part? For just $22.95 you get over $50 worth of value including a Luna Park cap and a turn at each of the Sideshow Games including The Crooners, Bush Buckets, Hi-Striker, Basketball, Shooting Gallery, Laughing Clowns, Buster and Fishing.

Annual Passes – For unbelievable value grab an Annual Pass for just $99.00! Having one of these will mean you can go on as many rides.

There’s always something new at Luna Park. A new Shooting Gallery sideshow game has just been introduced where guests can take aim and fire at clay ducks with a laser gun. Plus, the recently launched “My Experience” interactive entertainment system is also available at the Park so guests can find out how extreme they are and share their experiences with friends on Facebook in real-time, via a RFID wristband.

Visit www.lunaparksydney.com for more information.

*Mini Money Mondays are not available during peak periods or Public Holidays.

Win an amazing JoinUs Backpack Carrier!

JoinUs Backpack Carrier

Congratulations to Michelle from Sydney who has won our JoinUs Carrier Competition. Thank you to everyone for entering!

We are offering you a chance to WIN one of the amazing JoinUs Carriers (value $199.95), a sleek backpack carrier perfect for the urban parent which gives your child a superior view of the sights!

This backpack is amazing as it will enable you to stop lugging the pram around to places that are really not pram friendly, and because your child sits high on your back, it also gives your child a great view of where they are, rather than looking at legs and fences!

The JoinUs will enable you to explore the zoo, the beach, the parks, the city without the limitations of a pram. JoinUs has all the adjustments and safety features you would expect AND looks like a modern back pack – not a hiking device, which is perfect for us fashion conscious parents. It is a compact size to keep in the car so get out there.

To enter with a chance to win, describe a time this amazing backpack could have saved your day, when your pram or your child just would not go where you wanted them to!

Thank you to Danish by Design for kindly donating this fantastic prize!

JoinUs has amazing features

Terms and Conditions:

  1. You must be an Australian resident over 18
  2. To enter comment below this post and describe a time this amazing backpack could have saved your day
  3. ‘Like’ our Facebook Page. Our fans get facebook only specials and are the first to hear about other great competitions we are running
  4. Subscribe to the newsletter of Danish by Design – the very generous supplier of the JoinUs backpack who has kindly donated the backpack for this competition
  5. The winner must provide a product review on their new JoinUs Backpack for us to use in the marketing of the product
  6. The competition is being run on www.kidstravelblog.com.au by Haggus and Stookles Pty Ltd ABN 97 129 933 106
  7. The Retail value of the prize is $199.95, a DadaNana JoinUs Backpack. The winner can choose a colour that is available at the time of the draw.
  8. The competition runs from 11am Thursday 4th August and closes 11am Thursday 18th August 2011
  9. The competition will be drawn at 1pm on Thursday 18th August 2011
  10. The Prize winner will be notified by email and results will be published on our website

JoinUs Backpack Carrier

Chocolate Festival at Hunter Valley Gardens promises a sweet weekend

Hunter Valley Gardens is proud to announce that on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of August, the fourth annual Chocolate Festival will take place. Proudly sponsored by Callebaut Chocolate this year is gearing up to be bigger, better and sweeter than ever, where visitors are invited to enjoy ‘the sweet life’ at the Gardens. The event will feature plenty of chocolate, breads, pastries, desserts, cakes, truffles and a number of sweet celebrities too including;

Adriano Zumbo

Adriano Zumbo (Masterchef and Zumbo on SBS) Saturday 9.30-11.30am, Sunday 12-2pm

Adriano is best known for his famous macaroons. His creations have gained him the highest respect from food critics and the public. The Champion of Patisserie will share his knowledge and dessert inspirations in the Live Kitchen over the two days, and he will also judge the showpiece competition.

Justine Schofield

 

Justine Schofield (former Masterchef contestant) Daily at 10am and 1.45pm

Justine is a favourite from the first series of MasterChef, and since leaving the show has expanded on her knowledge of food by working in some of Australia’s top restaurants. Justine will share her love of all things sweet at the Chocolate Festival.

Ed Halmagyi

Ed Halmagyi (Better homes and Gardens) Daily 11am-1pm

Fast Eddy, who is a whiz in the kitchen, believes ‘when you do less, the ingredients can do more.’ This fast cooking chef will share his encyclopaedia of knowledge on chocolate and food when he hosts the main stage over the weekend.
 

 


Celebrity Cafe

Visitors can sample their favourite celebrities’ delicacies at the Celebrity Café, where a two course menu will be designed by Justine and Ed. 

Degustation Dinner – Saturday 6th of August from 6.30pm
For the true chocoholics, why not indulge in a special chocolate inspired degustation dinner prepared by award winning Hunter Valley Gardens Executive Chef Nick Vivian and award winning Dessert Chef Anna Polyviou from Bathers Pavilion Sydney.  The mouth watering 7 course degustation dinner will be hosted at The Barrel Room at Tempus Two Winery on Saturday August 6.  Tickets cost $150 per person, and bookings are essential.

Chefs and industry experts will perform demonstrations at the ‘Live Patisserie Kitchen’ giving guests a special insight into how the professionals operate in a commercial kitchen. 

The Callebaut showpiece competition, now in its 2nd year, will challenge competitors to build works of art using chocolate. Visitors can also tempt their sweet tooth by visiting the Chocolate Pavilion, which will feature many of the Boutique Chocolate providers within NSW.  Best of all visitors can sample and stock up on all the chocolate products.

Kids can also join in the fun and participate in an ‘Ice cream sundae eating competition’, and create and decorate their own cupcakes at the cup cake kitchen

Entry to the Gardens is $24.00 per adult, $20 for Seniors, children aged 4 – 15 are $15, with children 3 years and under admitted free.  For further information please call 02 4998 4000 or visit www.hvg.com.au

Win a $500 Shopping Spree!

Win a $500 Shopping Spree!

Congratulations to Amy from the Gold Coast who has won our $500 Shopping Spree. Thank you to everyone who provided some amazing feedback on our products. Donna and Andrea

Enter our competition to WIN a $500 shopping spree from Haggus and Stookles!

We are looking for lots of product feedback to add to our website, www.haggusandstookles.com.au. As you know when you can’t touch or see a product it is harder to make an informed decision. But real feedback from people who use a product makes it that bit easier!

So as an incentive for you to take some time to give us your feedback, we are running a competition with the prize being $500 to spend online at Haggus and Stookles!
 
To enter:
 
1.       If you have one of the products we sell (either bought from us or elsewhere), provide us with your feedback about the product in your entry below -  1 entry. Make sure you include the name of the product with your comments! :)

2.       Go to the product on our website and click the facebook icon under it and share this page / link with your friends  -  1  entry

3.       A bonus entry will also be given to anyone entering who makes a purchase during this promotion – 1 entry. Enter code WIN in the coupon box in the shopping cart.

So you can earn up to 3 entries! You can enter this competition with all or only one of the above ways. But to enter you must enter your full name and tell us how you’ve entered in the comments below.
 
The competition is open until 5pm Sunday 31st July and will be drawn at 5pm Monday 1st August. The competition will be drawn by randomly drawing out one name from all entries.

Terms and Conditions:

1. You must be an Australian resident over 18
2. All product feedback is available to Haggus and Stookles to reprint on their website
3. The competition is being run on www.kidstravelblog.com.au by Haggus and Stookles Pty Ltd ABN 97 129 933 106.
4. The Retail value of the prize is $500.00 to be spent online at Haggus and Stookles. The prize can be used in 1 or several transactions over a 12 month period. (note postage to send prize out is a part of the total spend)
5. Competition closes at 5pm Sunday 31/07 /2011
6. Competition will be drawn at 5pm on Monday 01/08/2011
7. Prize winner will be notified by email and results will be published on our website

Brisbane – Prepare for the Magic of Cirque Du Soleil

 

Chinese Poles

The Baron. The Dreamer. The Ringmaster. The Child. The Cavaliers. La Belle. Vers Multicolores*. Vers Masques*. The Baroques.

These are the characters of Cirque Du Soleil’s magical and inspiring Saltimbanco, set to open this Friday, July 8 for a limited season at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Saltimbanco, from the Italian “saltare in banco” which literally means to jump on a bench, is the show which started Australia’s love affair with Cirque du Soleil when the internationally-acclaimed entertainment company first toured here in 1999.  Directed by Franco Dragone, Saltimbanco features a 50-strong international cast of kaleidoscopic talent from more than 20 different countries.

Set inside an imaginary metropolis of colourful inhabitants, Saltimbanco features breathtaking acrobatics and unbelievable athleticism during solo spotlights and epic ensembles.  Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show’s eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world where diversity is a cause for hope. Technical expertise and extravagant design are woven together with spectacular costumes, amazing lighting, humour, and enchanting live music. Overflowing with colour, amusement and amazement, Saltimbanco inspires, amazes and

Child King

creates wonder. It is the Cirque Du Soleil experience of a lifetime.

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators (almost 12 millions on Saltimbanco since 1992) in 300 cities on five continents. In 2011, Cirque du Soleil will present 22 shows simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com Optus is the presenting sponsor of the 2011 Saltimbanco Australian Tour, which is the fourth consecutive Cirque du Soleil tour that Optus has sponsored.  Oaks Hotels & Resorts is the official sponsor.
 
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – SALTIMBANCO
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Melaleuca Drive, Boondall   from 8 July 2011
Show times *: Tuesday to Thursday 8pm, Friday to Saturday 4pm & 8pm, Sunday 1pm & 5pm  *show times may vary

Dreamer Duo

Tickets: Adults: $69-$119, Children (2-12 years): $55-$95
Premium: $149-$159, Tapis Rouge VIP Experience $325

Bookings: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/saltimbanco

1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia

A great family travel guide

Do you find even contemplating a family holiday exhausting? With kids and their myriad needs in the equation there is so much more to take into account that, sometimes, you end up wondering when the stress and planning ends and the holiday actually begins!

Whether you’re travelling with babies, young children, tweens or teens, 1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia is the answer to every travelling parent’s dream: a comprehensive, interactive and portable guide that will not only save you time and money, but will also show you how to have your most enjoyable and stress free family holiday ever.

Featuring an invaluable ‘theme index’, this unique book allows you to customise every aspect of your trip, actually involving the kids in the planning process and therefore adding to the excitement and anticipation. You’ll also discover tips on absolutely everything from finding accommodation to suit the ages of your children, to pre purchasing tickets so you avoid nasty queues with restless kids. There are also lots of ‘Fabulous Facts’ and ‘Kid Quests’ which will educate and entertain the whole family on everything from convict ghosts to how to help a blind penguin build a nest.

Compiled by children’s author and illustrator – and seasoned family traveller – Anna Ciddor, the book has been rigorously researched and is bursting with listings for kid friendly attractions and activities (anyone game to taste a honey ant, or would you prefer to cuddle a wombat?) as well as places to eat and stay. Whether you’re travelling around the corner or around the country, there is something to suit every budget and holiday taste, 1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia is the ultimate holiday handbook.

About the Author

Tree Top Adventure Park, NSW

Anna Ciddor is loved by children and parents around the world. She is the award]winning author of more than 50 books on topics as diverse as travel, toilets and Australian history, but is most well known for her Viking trilogy Runestone, Wolfspell and Stormriders. In 1000 Great Places to Travel with Kids in Australia she combines her understanding of what kids find fun and entertaining, with her passion for travel, history and all the gems (hidden and otherwise) that make up Australia

Available now from Haggus and Stookles for $34.95.

Scitech, WA

Sovereign Hill, VIC

WIN – 1 of 5 sets of Cosy Grips Doona Clips

We are giving away 5 sets of these fantastic Cosy Grips Doona Clips.

Why? well because we know kids keep kicking off their doona and blankets and we have the solution :)

Cosy Grips Clips

How to enter:

1. You must be an Australian resident to enter.

2. You must comment below this post and tell us your favourite bedtime routine with your kids, whether its a favourite story, song or another idea or tip you can tell us that has your kids nodding off to sleep happily.

3. “Like” our Facebook Page. Our fans get facebook only specials and are the first to hear about other great competitions we are running. Our next competition in June has a $1000 prize value!

The competition runs from Wednesday 18th May until 10 pm Sunday night 22 May. The 5 winners will be chosen randomly by the owners of Haggus and Stookles and the winners will be contacted by email on Monday 23rd May.

Please share this little competition with your friends and good luck!

 

Cycle the ‘blues’ away at the Xstrata All Spokes Festival 2011

All Spokes Festival

This year, cyclists of all ages will meet again in the beautiful wine country to participate in The Xstrata Great Hunter Cycling Events on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of May. Not only will they be improving their fitness, but this year participants will also be cycling to support beyondblue (www.beyondblue.org.au) and men’s health.

Depression affects around one in six Australian men at any given time, which is why this May; the Xstrata All Spokes Festival has chosen to lend a helping hand by donating part proceeds of entry fees to beyondblue. beyondblue is an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of people with mental disorders. The Xstrata All Spokes Festival is the perfect reminder of the value exercise, fun and fresh air, can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Matt Farley, Event Organiser states “We are really encouraging local riders of all levels to get involved this year.  And the best thing is that this year you can register on the day, so no-one has to miss out!”

The Great Hunter Grand Prix: Saturday 21st of May
New to the cycling festival this year is The Great Hunter Grand Prix, a criterium event which will be staged at The Tempus Two Vineyard on Broke Road, Pokolbin. Family, friends and spectators will be encouraged to come along, bring a picnic and indulge in some of the Hunter’s best wines whilst enjoying some exciting criterium racing.

The Great Hunter Cycling Classic

The Great Hunter Cycling Classic: Sunday 22nd of May
The Great Hunter Cycling Classic is perfect for cyclers of all levels, from serious to touring and recreational riders. This event offers cyclists the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of individual and team challenges circumnavigating central Pokolbin. There are a number of rides available, depending on fitness level. These include the 20km Fun Ride commencing at 7.30am, 60km Short Ride starting at 8.30am or if you’re up for the challenge, the 100km Long Ride departing at 8.20am.

Given the vast spectrum of cycling experience expected at the event, riders can choose a fun, team, short or long course ride, with the flexibility of the course encouraging both non-competitive participation and elite competition options. The cost to cycle on the day depends on which category you wish to enter. Prices start from $10.

Many of Australia’s well know cyclists will also be there to lend their support.  This includes Eddie Salas former Olympic Representative and 7x National Road Champion, Nathan Hass who is a Silver Medallist in the 2011 Road Championships and Jackson Leigh Rathbone and Ben Harvey who are in the NSWIS National Road Series Team. Also several of NSW’s best up and coming riders will be cycling on the day including  Joshua Blick, April and Brooke Langereis who will line up for the Racing Kangaroo’s development team which is supported by Nathan Tinkler and the Tinkler Sports group.

The Xstrata All Spokes Festival also welcomes spectators and encourages competitors and their families to make a weekend of it, taking in all that the breathtaking Hunter has to offer. Accommodation packages are available at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.  For further information regarding accommodation packages visit www.harrigansirishpub.com.au or call 02 4998 4300.

So dust off your runners, pump up those tires and register your interest to participate in a fun event that will also be helping out a wonderful cause: www.allspokesfestival.com.au

Footy Hero Wendell Sailor and chef Darren Simpson Kick-Off a Recipe of free fun for Sydney kids

Wendell Sailor

Looking for a fun and free way to get your kids active, and teach them the basics about healthy eating?

A new initiative by leading Australian food processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak, called Tetra Pak Kids, will give Sydney kids aged six to ten the opportunity to meet football hero Wendell Sailor and celebrity chef Darren Simpson at four FREE events in Sydney during April.

Designed to educate kids about the importance of exercise and nutrition, parents are encouraged to register their kids to participate and be a part of a great family day out.

Footy fans will delight as Wendell Sailor puts kids through their paces, including a circuit of child-friendly exercises such as skipping, balance, strength, coordination and team work.

Celebrity chef Darren Simpson will whip up a storm in the Tetra Pak Kids Cooking School. Parents will learn quick and simple healthy lunch box/snack ideas from Darren that can be easily re-created at home.

What:
Tetra Pak Kids Events. Wendell Sailor and Darren Simpson will teach kids and adults alike about fun and healthy exercise and eating habits at this FREE event.

When and Where:

Blacktown
Saturday, 2nd April, 2011
Blacktown PCYC
30 Second Avenue, Blacktown
12-4pm

Marrickville
Saturday, 9th April, 2011
Marrickville PCYC
531 Illawarra Road, Marrickville
12-4pm

Penrith
Saturday, 16th April, 2011
Penrith PCYC
100 Station Street, Penrith
12-4pm

Campbelltown
Saturday, 23rd April, 2011
Campbelltown PCYC
95 Minto Road, Minto
12-4pm

For further information please head to tetrapakkids.com.au

Sydney Comedy Festival for kids!

This year the Sydney Comedy Festival has two hilarious kids shows on the programme.

The Gigalees

THE GIGALEES Crazy Circus Show

WINNER – Best Kids Show, Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The side-splitting acrobatics, juggling, slapstick and music mayhem of The Gigalees returns to Sydney after sellout crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe and recent Adelaide Fringe. Over the years, the Gigalees have toured with and supported some of the biggest international names in children’s entertainment including Barney the American dinosaur and the British superhero car “Brum”.

 The Gigalees characters, Wilma and Daisy, are two of the most experienced children’s entertainers in the country, their humour incredibly physical as they bring vaudeville back to a whole new generation.

Mixed in with this bag of energetic humour are many other skills. Daisy is a trained acrobat, Wilma a trained musician. They share fantastically funny and skilled juggling and know how to entertain the youngest of audiences.

With boundless energy, rivalling a 2-year-old on red cordial, Wilma & Daisy have become the comedy for kids specialists. Combine their national & international touring with a bag full of skill and craziness and you will get Australia’s top, non-stop and hilarious physical comedy show for kids of all ages.

“The show is right out of the 1920’s vaudeville… a bit like Benny Hill for kids” – ArtsHub

Venue: Parade Studio @ Parade Theatre, NIDA
Dates: Mon 11th – Sat 16th April
Time: 10:30am
Tickets: All tickets $17 / Family of 4 $60
Bookings: 02 9020 6966 www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au  

 
 

The kids comedy showcase

KIDS COMEDY SHOWCASE

Back by popular demand, the Kids Comedy Showcase is bringing loads of laughs to Parade Studios and just for kids!

Sydney Comedy Festival proudly presents an assortment of our best stand up comedians, offering up family friendly humour for little gigglers everywhere. Each comedian is professionally trained to tickle funnybones of all ages and guaranteed to have you and your child in stitches long after the car ride home.

Why should grown-ups have all the fun?

Venue: Parade Studio @ Parade Theatres
Dates: Mon 11 – Sat 16 April & Mon 18 – Thu 21 April
Time: Midday
Tickets: Full $17/ Concession $13/ Groups 6+ $13
Bookings: 02 9550 3666 www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au