3 Most Memorable Wildlife Encounters on the Gold Coast for Your Kids

This is a guest post from Theme Parks, your one-stop site for your Theme Park needs.


Australia’s unique birds and animals are splendidly showcased on the Gold Coast. Indeed, once you have had your fill of adrenaline at the Gold Coast theme parks, head off for a fix of nature’s extraordinarily wildlife. It’s great for kids to see these iconic creatures.

Children love these parks. See the stunning lorikeets at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, or the inspirational work at David Fleay Wildlife Park, or perhaps the cuddly koalas and farm animals at Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tour. The choice of wildlife is yours.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Formerly called Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1947. It is somewhat of a rite of passage for Australian families, and is captured in faded family photo albums the country over: the feeding of the lorikeets. Or rather, the photos capture faces filled with delight or tension, nearly hidden by hordes of bright-green lorikeets with their distinctive red, yellow and blue feathered highlights.

Founder Alex Griffiths began feeding the area’s wild lorikeets to stop them from eating his prized flowers. Originally a beekeeper and flower grower, his colourful feeding rituals drew curious locals, then developed into a tourist attraction, which grew alongside the Gold Coast’s burgeoning tourism industry.

Today, the park is a world leader in preserving Australia’s natural heritage. It has more than 1,000 birds and animals in natural habitat, as well as commando training, safaris and survival trips. To date, millions of visitors have passed through its gates.

David Fleay Wildlife Park

A must-see experience for kids is David Fleay Wildlife Park, founded back in 1952. David Fleay was a remarkable man: after leading an expedition in the early 1930s looking for thylacines (Tasmanian Tigers) in Tasmania and photographing and filming the last thylacine in the Hobart Zoo in 1933, he went on to successfully breed platypus in captivity. Yes, this is the only wildlife park on the Gold Coast with a platypus.
Nowadays the park is run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, with a focus on breeding programs and threatened species. It has three distinct wildlife habitats: wetland, rainforest and open eucalypt forest.
Explore the park on your own – there’s plenty of space for kids to run off some energy – or join one of the daily presentations on wildlife. There is a range of environmental educational programs for schools. Visitors can see eagles, brolgas and cassowary, crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, snakes, gliders and butterflies.

Paradise Country Aussie Farm

A fabulous farm experience for the family: see sheep being sheared, cows being milked and, while you’re at it, organise a photogaph of yourself cuddling a koala. This is the ultimate farm fantasy for kids, adults, corporate groups or international tourists.

At the stockman and sheepdog show, watch these amazingly clever dogs herd sheep and see how to show a boomerang, milk a cow and crap a whip. Or take in the traditional Australian sheep shearing show, or catch the stock horse arena, where the actions of skilled horsemen will impress with whip-cracking and riding demonstrations.

From farm animals, to perhaps a glimpse of a platypus and the feeding of the fabled lorikeets, checking out wildlife provides a great family day. And don’t forget – it’s the photos you take with these iconic birds and animals that will stay in the kids’ memories forever.

5 Things That Will Make Your Home More Fun for Your Child

This is a guest post from Super A-Mart, who commenced trading in 1970 and has since grown to be Australia’s largest discount furniture and bedding retailer.


Having a family changes your life forever. Perhaps it should also change your home décor as you now have some little people who need to feel like the house belongs to them too. Creating a kid- friendly environment, where children can be independent and busy, is good for the children. It’s good for adults too as they can go about their routine without continual interruptions from children who need help to do everything from reaching a toy to making a snack.

Kid-Sized Furniture

While most parents will fit out the child’s bedroom with child-sized furniture the rest of the house will usually be dominated with adult-sized things. Kids feel much more at home in a house where the rooms include furniture that is suited to their size and capabilities. Having a kid-sized couch for example, will give kids a sense of pride and they will have a special space to seat their friends when they visit. It will also stop parents worrying about children spilling something on their expensive lounge. Have a look at http://www.superamart.com.au/ to find some kid-friendly furniture.

Kitchen Fun

Most kids love to cook and enjoy spending time in the kitchen helping the adults to make meals. Creating a kid-friendly kitchen will encourage your children to get involved in meal preparation. They will learn lots of handy skills and feel important.

You can set up your kitchen to create more independence for your children too. Place their breakfast cereal and approved snack food on the lower shelves of the pantry. Also have a shelf for your child’s dishes and plates, one they can easily reach. Buy a small stool that helps them reach the bench tops. Assign a bottom shelf of the refrigerator for their exclusive use and fill it with juices, cheese and other healthy snacks.

Dressing

Lower the rods in your kids’ cupboards so they can reach their clothing easily. Being able to choose clothes themselves will make them feel grown up. Add a space for dress up clothes and any fun costumes they have. If you can’t alter the rod, then pop a small stool into the bottom of the cupboard.

Entertainment at Their Level

Create special areas for kids’ fun. Don’t just relegate books and toys to their rooms. Add their books to the lower shelves of your family bookcase. Install some low shelves in the living room where they can have some of their toys and games. This will make them feel like the room belongs to them too.

Cleaning Fun

With privilege comes responsibility, so as well as setting up the house to incorporate the needs of your children, you should also expect them to help with the cleaning of that space. Cleaning up should not be seen as a chore as this will teach kids to feel negative about housework in later life. Make it fun. Give them their own cleaning tools: plastic spray bottles, a microfiber cloth and a special little duster.

5 Sports to Keep Your Kids Active and in the Backyard These Summer Holidays

This is a Guest Post from Mick Simmons Sport, a place where you can find clothing and equipment from many different sports around the world.

© Photographer: Sandy Matzen | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Kids are getting overweight and in Australia the epidemic is more and more evident as time goes on. It’s not getting better and with the internet becoming more and more useful it’s hard to get the kids out into the backyard. Here are a few fun things you can suggest to get them out on the town.

Backyard Cricket

Over the fence is six runs and out! If you’re going to set out and play a game together cricket is a pretty worthwhile choice. Pick up some wickets and a couple of bats and it’s time to have some fun. It’s a game that has some structure, the ability to encourage teamwork and it’s not too athletically demanding or exhausting. Have fun, though you can pick up some pads at Mick Simmons Sport AUS or any other sports retailing website if safety is a concern.

Backyard Soccer

Keep in mind for this one that you’re going to need something to stand in for goals, preferably something you can afford to lose or break without any problems. Someone is going to run into it or slam the ball there and everyone has one story about when they broke something important. This is pretty similar to any other kind of soccer and it should be relaxed fun for everyone.

Croquet

This is a much more relaxed game that the entire family can get involved in. As it’s a game that requires only basic skills and not a lot of strength kids and old people can get involved without any handicaps. This is a great sport for taking the time to bond together and play the game without straining yourself too hard. Besides, it’ll make you feel classy, croquet is a game classy people play, and everyone knows this.

Football

From low to high energy, as Australians a love of football is almost built into our DNA. Some families live and breathe it and it’s easy to see why. Its recommended you go down to a park if you don’t have a big back yard and you want to play two hand touch to prevent injuries and allow everyone to play unless you’re certain there’s going to be problems. It’s a fun fast paced game that’s going to give everyone a bit of fun.

Lawn Bowls

A simple sport that gives coordination, depth perception, tests your arm and your aim and doesn't involve any risk of running yourself ragged or getting hurt in hot weather it’s good to play a sport that doesn't involve you catching sunstroke or stumbling and running into someone’s elbow. This can help your kids and entertain them all at once.

Summer days are a time for fun, for going outside, relaxing, having fun. Sitting in front of the screen feels like wasting a summer once you've really been outside. It’s time for kids to go back to basics, go outside, and play.

5 Australian Thrill Rides You Must Try

This is a guest post from MyFun.com.au, where Australia's favourite theme parks, attractions and experiences come together under one banner.


Do you dream about hair-raising, stomach-dropping adventure, passing another nine to five wishing to be somewhere else more exciting, possibly plotting your escape early Friday morning or finally landing on Australian soil, without a kangaroo escort? Thrills are well within your grasp. If you’ve taken a few moments out of your busy life to explore the visual spoils of the Gold Coast, you are well situated to exploit the mecca of theme parks an hour above its borders – a short car trip or scenic bus ride will soon deliver you to the gates of summer fun, and to the teeth chattering experiences you’ve been craving.

The Superman Escape

Ride alongside Supes and save Movie World from certain disaster. Pulling out of the landing bay into a smoke filled chute will be the final peaceful moment you’ll have all day, as flashing lights and voiceovers build a sense of urgency and THWAK! You’re hurtling toward a vertical climb, punching the pedal from 0-100km in exactly two seconds. The twists, the turns and incisive loops will have you clutching at your chest support, as your body struggles to catch up with the G-Force corners and weightless drops. Don’t forget to breathe!

The Green Lantern Coaster

Though Ryan Reynolds has taken his leave of the man in the green suit (for now), his legacy lives on in the confines of an Australian wonder park. The Green Lantern Coaster is track of surprises and screams. Do you love steep, air-crushing dives? Us too. Strap into this coaster and prepare yourself for bone jarring corners at 66km/h, speedy climbs and the steepest drop in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Buzzsaw

Scary stories and terrifying rides are harmonious bedfellows, teasing the imaginations and sweaty palms of would-be thrill seekers as they line up, twisting through an abandoned woodshed. Hopping into a carriage, you’ll discover only a waist harness between you and a 46m climb; with nothing to cling to, how will you deal with 360 degree rolls, speeds of 105km/h and dangling with fingers tips free, chilling in the air before flipping over into a death drop? Rip it up.

The Claw

A velociraptor claw doesn’t sound particularly spine-tingling, unless Jurassic Park has come to life and you’re stuck in the cellar, trying to turn the lights on. Imagine though, you’re strapped into said claw, swinging nine storeys into the blue, rushing head-first against the sky at 75km/h. Has your stomach rebelled yet? No? Wait until it starts spinning. The Claw is the first pendulum thrill ride in Australia, making friends and frenemies in their droves; after all, who doesn’t love a collapsing floor and the delighted shrieks of less than courageous riders?

The Batwing Space Shot

The black bat is back and rearing to prevent disaster befalling Gotham once more; after battling Bane in the last instalment of the Dark Knight, Alfred has devised an ejection system, in case Bruce ever needs to shoot out of a pitted prison in a hurry. Secure your shoulders and nerves, you’ll need to be cool, calm and ready to pull 4.5G’s of pure inertia as you shoot 60m into the sky. It’s heart thumping and adrenaline crumping ride to the top with the Caped Crusader. Who would have thought the Australian Gold Coast held so many ways to lose your lunch or discover a dormant courage, all without lifting a finger?

What are some of your favourite thrill rides? Tell us in the comments.

Wondershare Video Editor Review & Giveaway

Hi folks!  It's been a while, but I'm still kicking about the place!

I've been busy..  Look at what I made! (Go the crows)


What do you think? Great hey!  Unless you don't know anything about AFL or detest the magnificence of this young Crows player Patrick Dangerfield.

I was approached by the team that make Wondershare Video Editor to give a review of their software.  This video above is the result of my review of the program.

I've really wanted to start making YouTube videos and this program seems simple enough to do exactly that.  Please watch my video, hit like, favourite & subscribe to watch future videos that I will make!

Wondershare though have been kind enough to give you, my lucky readers, the chance to win 1 of 10 copies with free upgrades for life!

Here are a few details I found with the program:

Pros

• Some really cool video effects to imported videos.
• The ability to easily detach audio from video with one mouse click.
• The whole simpleness about the program is really great for the amatuer user. 

Cons

• On install, I didn't see anywhere that I could adjust the software install location on my hard drive.  When trying to exit the install, there is no cancel button, so I just hit the big 'X' to reload and try again.  When opening setup again, it just picks up from where it was up to in the install. Not cool.
• Installs a new Video Player program without your approval. Wondershare Player.  Will add it's self to your taskbar, icon tray and make itself the preferred player on your computer. Not cool and very much acting like a spam ware program.
• Not suitable for the advanced user, with font usage tricky and animation seems a bit limited.

Although it might act a bit spammy, you can relocate the install folder and install the media player afterwards. But it is something I hope the developers look into changing.

Overall though, if you are a blogger or video blogger or whatever, Wondershare Video Editor is a very cheap alternative to use.

If you like to give it a try, as mentioned before. Wondershare have wonderfully given all my readers the chance to win one of 10 copies of the Video Editor.  Competition is open 2 weeks worldwide.

Simply enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh! And don't forget to visit my Patrick Dangerfield High Voltage Highlights video and hit the like button.

Cheers!

I'm Writing a Book! - Sneak Peek

If you have hit like on my Facebook page, then you'd know about my current project in the works.

I'm writing and illustrating my own Dad Jokes book!!

I am truly excited about it.  Writing my own book is a very high thing to do on my bucket list.  Sure, I always thought that I'd be writing my own novel or sci-fi story, but a joke book counts and I really hope that it's something people will enjoy.

I want to give my boy a Christmas present I made, but the main premise behind it is to give something back to the community.  My focus for a long time is to help a charity that provides support to sick kids and their families.  These charities are close to my heart.  I've seen the great support and love that these sort of folk show, especially for my family when my boy was unwell in hospital. I've always wanted to give something back and writing a book with money donated to charity has always been in the back of my mind.

When I was contacted by the people at Blurb to write a book, I knew that it was the push that I need to get the ball rolling properly.  Now, after months of work I am so close to finishing it.

I will be giving info of the book through the Facebook page until it is ready to pass onto the general public.  Here is a sneak peek of the back cover!

Why did the banana go to the Doctor?

Because he wasn't peeling very well!

Hilarious.. I crack me up!


I'll be looking for people to review the book once it's completed.  So if you enjoy crap jokes like I do, please drop a comment below if your'e keen on reviewing my book and I will talk to you about it.  Would greatly appreciate it.

Final touches still to be completed.  Will keep you posted.  I hope some people out there are interested in it! If not, at least I've enjoyed myself and will finish something I've always wanted to do.

Yippee!!!  Talk soon guys.

- tork

SnoozeShade Review for Infant Car Seats

You missed out on this giveaway! It ended. But to catch the next one, subscribe to my Giveaways Newsletter here.

I've got something wicked to tell you.

I GOT FREE STUFF IN THE MAIL!!  Ohh yeah! Suffer in your jocks!

*ahem*

Yeah, sorry about that.  Just a wee bit excited :-)

Thanks SnoozeShade.com.au for allowing me to have a play with one of your products...

The SnoozeShade for Infant Car Seats

What do you do when the sun gets in your child's eyes when you're driving or transferring them between car and house?

Well, the wife and I have had that trouble with our little boy whenever the sun gets in his eyes (as you can imagine), mainly when we are driving about the place. We've used those sun blocks you get in freebie promotional bags from expos, as well as purchasing a large sun block blind for the rear window.

You reckon any of them work?  Only a little bit.

It doesn't completely block out the sun.  Little bits keep peeping its way through, causing our boy not so much to cry, but get really pissed off.

Nothing we have found really does the job properly.  This SnoozeShade though is a real sun blocker.

The Blackout Blind

When they call it a blackout blind, they mean it.  This thing is so dense just looking at it. The mesh is darker than my little boy's mood when his bottle is late!

I guess I could show you a video of how you use it (see below).






Clever hey?  The Australian version has a latte trim to it though.  Here's a few pictures of the one I received.

The Packaging

The bag it comes with

On my car seat

This would be great if we had a detachable car seat, where carrying a sleeping baby from the car to the house in sunlight wouldn't wake him.  Our car seat isn't for carrying, but our boy rarely gets woken by the sun anyway.  It just annoys him when he's awake (he's a strange one I tell you). It's also the sunburn we worry about.

The only concerns I had is that the trim had already started to come away a little (just a little). Saying that, it would still last well beyond the age where a baby would outgrow it.

Also, I was concerned if the baby actually could breathe through it.  It is mesh material, but I did the best thing I could think of.

I put it on my head...

So long as it didn't cover my mouth, all good :-)

SnoozeShade Review Verdict

Overall, this SnoozeShade is a great idea whilst mum or dad is carrying baby out of the car or pushing the stroller down the street. I stared in the sun whilst having it on my head and it worked better than my sunglasses. It works.

Attaching it to the car seat though whilst driving. I would only use it whilst someone else is sitting next to the baby, just to make sure the tot doesn't pull things about the place.  Always good to be 100% sure with these little tackers.

I wouldn't advise using it when you haven't got eyes on your child or unable to stop what you are doing to attend to them.  I don't care what product you are using, no matter how safe they are.  If you're putting something above their head, you make sure you are about the place!


So.. SnoozeShade.com.au have kindly offered my readers (that's you, fyi) a 20% discount if you order from their website or via TheProductStore.com.au (discount code TORKONA2012). The site already includes free shipping too!

Overseas and feel left out?  Check out SnoozeShade.com.  Mention me and see if you can haggle yourself a discount there too ;-)


Thanks so much for SnoozeShade for popping my review cherry.

Psst.. be on the look out for more in the coming weeks, and don't be surprised if I have a few giveaways!!

- tork

Under Construction

The option you've chosen I am still working on providing for you.


If you would like to perhaps provide some content yourself, you're more than welcome to guest post.  Please contact me for further information.



But whilst I am working on writing the content you are after, here is a puppy:

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