Our first stop on the What’s Up! Downunder Summer Series was Merimbula. The last time we visited Merimbula was a few years ago when Kate was still in my belly! Our family holiday back then was enjoyed with my sisters and we lapped up the gorgeous beaches and beautiful township.
Merimbula 2011 – Kate is busy cooking in my belly!
This time, we stayed at the Tween Waters Holiday Park and we were very impressed! The facilities were neat & clean and we were set up with all the other vans in the convoy. Great job from the staff there to keep us all together. The BBQ area was fantastic, loads of room and undercover, which was perfect as we had a little bit of rain while we were there.
The kids loved the huge jumping pillow, which was next to a fabulous splash park area, which was next to a ripper pool with two water slides, which was next to another pool and toddler splash area! Yes, you did read that right! Tween Waters has all this and more…a great games area and cabins for all sizes of families. A park that is well maintained and places the utmost importance on the comfort and safety of the families staying here. We will be back!
A trip to Merimbula with the kids would not be complete without a visit at Magic Mountain, a classic adventure park with old school FUN and some new additions that will knock your socks off. We remember our last trip here thinking how they really don’t make them like they used it, it had everything there to make for a fun filled day for the whole family plus MORE! Once again, we loved the taboogan ride and this time we watched Kate go down with Wayne and loved it just as much as Ashlee did 6 years earlier! Ashlee and Wayne also took on the super fast waterslide again and it was tough to get them off that! We were back on the go karts and this time, without Kate in my belly, I could fit in and give them all a run for their money…
New additions were the tube ride and the ropes course – both so much fun! A few things we love the most about Magic Mountain – the shade: loads of trees and shaded areas, which we appreciate – the location: it is only a few minutes from Merimbula – the variety: there is so much to do for ALL ages and kiosk and BBQ areas are all at your convenience. Pack a picnic and enjoy what Magic Mountain has to offer.
WHALE WATCHING:
Merimbula is renowned for Whale siting’s as they travel down the east coast . Our visit with the Whats Up! Downunder crew coincided with the perfect time to spot them and our family were lucky enough to join a watching tour. It was a tour to remember with Fishpen Charters! The winds had picked up and the further we went out the choppier it got. Despite the wind, it was a ripper day and we enjoying chatting with the crew and checking out the gorgeous coastline. Then the sea sickness hit Ashlee, followed by Wayne and I joined in just to keep them company. Tania & Angie looked after Kate while we all fed the whales some of our breakfast! In between hanging off the side of the boat, seeing the whales was spectacular and a fantastic experience.
Yup…thanks to Macca for this photo of Wayne and I feeding the whales. hahahaha
This is the only aquarium on the south east coast and it is well worth a visit. There are over 200 varieties of sea life and the girls loved getting up close and personal with a few exotic creatures. Obviously nowhere near the size of the big ones in the CBD areas, we loved that it still provided our family with the opportunity to see, explore and learn! All followed by one of the best iced coffees we have had! The Wharf café caters for all tastes and the food was delicious! If the kids are not interested in the fishes, then definitely pop in for a meal or a cuppa. Gorgeous views!
THE BEACHES
During our previous visit, the beaches around Merimbula stood out as some of the best we had seen. Perfect for our young family as on one side of town they were calm, plenty of sand banks and so close to town. One the other side, you get waves, miles of sand and more fun! Merimbula really is a fabulous family destination.
When Ashlee was 3 years old she had the experience of a lifetime – up close and personal with kangaroos and emus. Potoroo Palace is only a few kilometres outside Merimbula. We had a blast and loved how there was so much fun to be had, so close by. Here are a few words from the Potoroo Palace – “About ten minutes from Merimbula in the beautiful Bega Valley, savour the rare opportunity to see a koala, wander among the kangaroos, touch a snake, stroll through the cooling mist of the walk-through aviary, go for a ride on the mini train or have lunch and really good coffee at the Blue Wren Café. You can get up close to our kangaroos, emus, peacocks and ducks who roam the park freely and hand feed them with an Animal Feed Bag”
Merimbula…a fabulous family holiday destination!!
Here a few words from Merimbula Tourism
Merimbula – derived from the Aboriginal word for ‘two lakes’ – is known as the ‘Heart of the Sapphire Coast’ and today a mecca for tourists far and wide. The attraction is its lakes and beaches that provide for all types of water activities, whether the visitor is experienced or a novice.
There’s also plenty on offer, just a short drive from of town. Visit a winery or an oyster farm, one of the neighbouring national parks, or tour amongst the hinterland, rolling hills and small country towns nearby – where you can learn more about the early pioneers in this district.
Close by are national parks offering a range of possibilities or special events that draw you to the area – the annual jazz festival, orchid shows, fishing competitions or the Merimbula Malibu or Classic wavesailing, kitesurfing and SUPs (stand up paddle) local festivals.
And, of course, there is wonderful seafood. Don’t miss out on locally grown oysters, mussels, crayfish and prawns – they’re good for body and soul! Too much indulgence on holidays? A gentle swim or walk along one of Merimbula’s many beaches, or a stroll along the boardwalk should help keep everything in balance. The Merimbula Boardwalk skirts the northern shores of the Top Lake section of Merimbula Lake and is a 3.5km round trip, broken by a coffee or icecream at the café in the middle!
Merimbula truly does have something to offer every visitor. From the kids’ delights at Magic Mountain, Mandeni, Merimbula Aquarium and Potoroo Palace, to grown-up pleasures – good wine, great food, galleries and golf – as well as the tranquil pace that clears the stresses of the world from your heart and mind.
The What’s Up! Downunder Summer Series was proudly supported by CIA Vic – Go Make Some Memories
If you missed the first episode – click here to watch it on Ten Play.
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Tween waters is a great park – just big enough that you don’t feel squished in and the kids have plenty of kids to meet and make friends with and yet you don’t feel squished in 🙂 we love their facilities great for all the family ! And the best bit is you’re close enough to town to walk in (about 10 minutes easy walk) yet far enough away that it’s still peaceful.