Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Central Australia for Kids
On The Road
As anyone with kids knows, getting from A to B is the biggest threat to having a good
time. Both A and B are fine once you get there, but the long road-tripping hours in
between can be hell on wheels.
For babies and toddlers, time your drives with established sleep times: once they're
asleep the hypnotic lull of tyres-on-asphalt can keep them that way for hours. For older
kids, there's something to be said for technological distractions in the back seat: portable
DVD players or Play Station-type games (with headphones!) can help pass the kilo-
metres, and books-on-CD (available at ABC Shops) are suited to long drives. Factor in
regular pitstops, and bring plenty of snacks, colouring books and crayons, sticker albums,
drink bottles... And a good game of 'I Spy With My Little Eye' never goes astray.
Have a read of Lonely Planet's
Travel With Children
for some more ideas.
At The Hotel
When you're knee-high to a grasshopper, staying at a hotel is an adventure. Kids aren't
fussed about interior design, fluffy bath robes, Italian tapware or the dated tropical-
flower print on the bed linen. The key requirements are facilities-based: swimming pools,
playgrounds, games rooms, in-house movies, children's menus and the presence of other
kids top the list of priorities. If it means your kids will be happier, try to suspend any in-
grained hotel snobberies and stay somewhere where the little ones will be well catered
for.
CHILDREN'S HIGHLIGHTS
Wildlife Encounters
Alic
Alice Sp
t Parrk (
Click here
) Many desert species are nocturnal (too hot
during the day!). This brilliant park offers a chance to see them in action.
SSeal B
e Spriings D
s Desert P
n Parrk (
Click here
) An up-close encounter with Australian
sea lions, on a tour or self-guided boardwalk stroll.
Terriitory Wildlif
al Bay C
y Conservatiion P
ildlife Parrk (
Click here
) A really sophisticated park, with fantastic recre-
ated environments. Don't miss the birds of prey.
