Back from holidays! Dad had three weeks off, a big road trip and now back to work. We were trying to stay offline a bit more, so we’re just blogging the whole trip in one post.
Dad finished work in time to make it for the final assembly at the end of Puff’s kindergarten orientation. It’s hard to believe that his whole pre-school life is almost over – where did the time go?!
From there, it was time to pack the car, and try the kids out in the car, in preparation for the road trip.
We stopped off at Woonona, then headed to Canberra for the first leg of our journey. Huff slept in a bunk bed.
We had fun in Canberra, catching up with friends, and hiring a pedal car to ride around lake Burley Griffin.
There was an amazing park nearby, made of rocks. Huff and Puff both enjoyed it in their own way.
Huff never quite managed to get the hang of her travel pillow.
Puff managed a little better.
After Canberra, we stayed in Albury for a night, calling in for dinner at a friend’s house.
We stayed in a motel, with the kids in adjacent single bunks.
From Albury, we played at an amazing playground, then drove a little way on to Milawa where we stopped for lunch – cheese and small goods. The kids were loving another chance to run around before the drive to Melbourne.
In Melbourne, we had a quiet dinner where we were staying, then on the Tuesday we went to the Melbourne Museum. There was lots for the kids to play with, and they had a great time from the moment they arrived. 
This research library was a favourite with its magnifying gear and sample bugs to look at.
The kids section of the museum is great: really hands-on, but with lots to learn.
We managed to fit in Huff and Puff’s first tram ride.
Dad and Puff went out for an early morning exploration of cafes. Lots of coffee and lots of babycinos were consumed.
We bought a travel chess set, and Dad taught Puff how to play chess.
He’s good, and keeps getting better.
The next morning, Huff and Puff both went out with Dad exploring cafes.
Dad also took them on a tram in peak hour, by himself. It was a little tricky, but we all made it where we were trying to go.
Next stop was Phillip Island. The night we visited, 1,230 penguins made the journey from the ocean to the shore.
Photography isn’t allowed outside where the penguins are, but when they came back inside, they were very keen to look at the gift shop. Huff was hugging all the toy penguins she could find!
Puff was a little less obsessed with the toys, but really enjoyed the penguins.
They even sat down to watch the introductory video *after* the penguins had come in.
Huff was madly exploring the space, and enjoying her free popcorn (we were among the last to leave – great parenting we know).
The next morning after everyone had some sleep, we went out to write some postcards about our trip so far.
We saw the pelicans being fed at San Remo (just off Phillip Island).
We went to the chocolate factory on Phillip island and learned how chocolate is made.
We had a family photo together.
We went to a koala sanctuary. Dad didn’t actually explain about drop-bears to them.
Another highlight was Churchill Island – a working, historical farm open to tourists. It’s definitely on the re-visit list.
There was still a bit of time for sitting at home. The kids watched some television, especially in the mornings.
Our last day Puff took his chess-playing skills outdoors.
We went to Amaze and things, looked at a lot of optical illusions, and finished off with the epic wooden maze.
It took a lot of effort to get through the maze. Not sure if Huff understood why we were celebrating, but Dad and Puff certainly were.
The kids didn’t fully understand why they were standing on a rock looking worried, but this seemed a good way to capture the optical illusions we’d experienced.
Puff spotted another chess-playing table in the restaurant afterwards, so we played one last game.
We stopped at the information centre on our way off Phillip Island to get a few more postcards, and give the kids one last stretch before the 4-hour drive to Lakes Entrance. Huff and Puff were making a mess with their “sherbay straws”.
After a quiet wedding anniversary dinner (with the kids) in Lakes Entrance, we slept, and then went to the Buchan Caves with the kids. They enjoyed it, but it was hard to photograph them in the low light.
It was fun walking around the national park a little bit in the gaps between the rain.
The next day we drove to Merimbula – we stopped off in Eden at the whaling museum first, and learned a little more about whales.
In Merimbula, Dad took the kids out for breakfast so that Mum could sleep in.
Huff seemed to enjoy it more than Puff.
The kids both enjoyed some frolicking on the beach – this was the very edge of Dad’s comfort zone supervising them.
Puff’s highlight of the time in Merimbula was playing mini-golf.
Yes, there was a certain amount of watching ABC-2 in pyjamas in the mornings while we were on holidays.
We managed a day-trip to Tathra and Bega. Here are the kids relaxing on some deck chairs. The Bega cheese factory was fun to visit briefly, but without the factory tour, it’s not quite the same.
We also visited Poteroo Palace, a zoo / animal sanctuary that we really enjoyed. We all had the chance to pat an echidna and a koala, and even a snake!
The kids were completely unafraid of the snake, by the way.
Merimbula also has a great little aquarium. Lots of the creatures there have been rescued from the wild, and are returned to the wild. Worth the price of admission – make sure you go during the feeding time, and get the full tour.
Leaving Merimbula we stopped at Central Tilba to walk around, see another cheese place, and even shop for some candy. This was the strangest couch we saw all holidays.
After that, we had one night in Batemans Bay, and then headed back to Sydney. Huff in particular had had enough of sleeping in random places, and we felt it was time to return her to her usual bed.
This let Puff get back to preschool, and so Mum, Dad and Huff went to some Sydney cafes.
Wednesday, we had the chance to try out a cafe that served drinking coconuts. Puff tried at first, but couldn’t finish the coconut.
So Huff stepped up to try as well.
We then went to our surprise outing for the kids – the Peppa Pig show at the Sydney Opera House. Huff loved it.
Puff was more contemplative, but was singing and dancing away by the end of the show.
The kids still had plenty of energy afterwards to run around on the purple carpet.
Puff made Dad breakfast in bed one morning, for no apparent reason.
Thursday we went to the Aquatic centre, and then out for a late dinner. The kids were pretty tired, but trooped through.
Friday was swimming lessons day. We were a bit early, so Puff had a bounce on the nearby trampoline.
He was asleep that afternoon, so Dad had a quick lunch with Huff.
Then on Saturday, Grandragon taught Puff (and Huff) how to use a cherry pipper. They were keen to use it, and to eat the cherries.
Sunday night we showed them Mary Poppins. Huff loved it, then lost concentration, then loved it again (and was singing “let’s go fly a kite” to herself the next day). Puff was a fan too: it was hard to keep him a reasonable distance from the TV set!
Tuesday night, with Dad back at work again, Mum had a short course to go to and so Dad took the kids out for dinner. They had a good time together, but it wasn’t quite the same unhurried pace as the holiday.
Overall, Dad is really glad for all the little memories and chances to spend time together that the holiday afforded.
See you next week!