Advice on kids things in Australia & Singapore

[Drax]

We are planning a month's trip to Australia next Easter with our two boys (ages 5&7). We think we will be flying with Singapore Airlines stopping for two nights in Singapore. We then fly onto Sydney, Cairns (to visit the Barrier reef and the rainforest) then onto Perth and Denmark and then flying back to London from Perth with only a quick stop in Singapore. Any ideas of good things to do/visit in any of the above or advice/tips on the travelling etc?!

Dear Drax,

we travelled to Sydney with Singapore Airlines via Singapore for a night, there and back, in February with our baby daughter. It was a breeze but if you would like some advice, or to read a short article I wrote for my NCT newsletter, please email me on [email protected] and I would be happy to chat with you about it (or send you the article). I am from Sydney originally, so my Australian insight might be useful for you, if you want to ask any Aussie questions.
Regards
mealneil.

For Singapore, you may want to consider a trip to the Night Safari which is rather unusual. It is basically the zoo at night - apparently the only one in the world. As Singapore can be amazingly hot and humid during the day, doing this at night after sun down is a pretty good idea.

Another day out your boys may enjoy is to visit Sentosa Island. But as you have only 2 nights there, you may not want to spend a whole day in one place.

Hope you have a good time.

Drax, Sentosa Island is probably pretty good for children. It's a man-made island and you have to go over by a pretty hairy cable ride which kids will love. The island then has lots of things for kids from adventure playgrounds to beautiful (fake!!) beaches, places to eat, animals, etc. Also, the night markets and food markets are amazing. All very, very safe and really interesting as its full of locals chopping up huge crabs to eat. The food is REALLY cheap to eat that way too and very, very safe. As a treat you could stop by Raffles Hotel for gin sling, probably one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen but probably wouldn't interest the kids to have too long a look round.
Sydney, well, where to start! I'm sure you'll buy a guide book and head off to the Rocks, try and go to Manly too and really really try to go to the restaurant called Doyles at Watsons Bay - beautiful.
In Cairns try to get up to Port Douglas and then the rainforrest above that. I went on a horse ride through the forrest that the ended up down by the sea and you then took the horses in the sea and swam with them. I'm not sure of the age limits on this though.
Australia is a beautiful country and I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you do.
Very jealous!

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Drax - in Cairns you have to take the boys up to Kuranda - you can do the skyrail both ways ( cable car over the rainforest canopy with stops to get out and walk through the rainforest then join the next car that comes along. OR you can do the steam train up and the sky rail down - spectacular views!! Great fun for all.

Agree with the others - Sydney - have to do a harbour cruise of osme kind - ferries are great and you can go a number of places. We jsut got a guide book when dh and I went for a few days on our honeymoon. Rocks are great. I am sure Sydney has the Easter show as well - kinda county fair - but massive. Perhaps Mealneil can tell you more about it. But as far as I am aware - rides, shows and lots of junk food for the eating. Animals - livestock and others.

Stopped over with ds then 2 for 2 nts in Singapore and he enjoyed hectic time. Did coach city tour and also visited the Asian Cultures Museum and main Singapore Museum, which were really interesting. As they were so quiet, no one really minded ds's antics. Another time, I would enjoy spending longer in the beautiful botanic gardens, and the zoo is supposed to be one of the best most animal-friendly zoos in the world, but we did not have time to visit. I used up my last currency on a reflexology session that I got talked into while walking past the shop. It really hurt, ds was very naughty while waiting, and it meant that we did not have enough cash for snacks in the expensive airport. So don't fall for that!

You're coming to Perth! That's where I live...if you are going south to Denmark you must try to get to Pemberton/Margaret River/Albany too. The Treetop Walk in Denmark is a must-do. Perth has a great zoo (take a picnic - the cafe is very expensive!), and lots of wonderful parks. Kings Park near the city is huge and has two really good kids playgrounds. Fremantle is also a great place to visit - great markets, wonderful food and a new maritime museum with a walk-thru real submarine; the yacht Australia II is on display there. How long will you be in Perth?

The night safari is a must. Can't wait until DS is old enough (currently 7 months) to take him to see it! I'm sure your boys would love it.

Hi Drax. I'm from Perth too...so i can only say good things about it. Mollipops is right - defineatly get down to Margaret river and surrounds. beautiful winerys and restaurants - not to mention the beaches. Depending on how long you're in Perth you could think about going to Monkey Mia - Dolphins really close up in the 'wild'. Whatever you do, have a fantasic time. (where in Perth are you Mollipops - I'm in Morley)

sorry meant to add that there are some great caves in Margaret river area that the kids may enjoy - if they're not too young?

Just thought I'd say how envious I am of you - dh and I have visited Australia and Singapore twice, both before ds and dd - I don't think we'll be visiting again for quite some time!! Have a brilliant time.