Port Stephens Dolphin Watching With Tamboi Queen Cruises

When I was doing research for our Sydney Family Trip itinerary in Port Stephens Tourism website, I stumbled on "the top 10 things to do in Port Stephens",  especially for the dolphins. The reason why we wanted to go to Port Stephens was the sandboarding, but seeing the website, I just knew that dolphins watching is also another main attraction in Port Stephens.

We put the Dolphin Watching in our itinerary knowing we could see the dolphin from a boom net. That would be awesome for our Kiddos! Actually, we could also watch dolphin in Lovina Bali, but there is no boom net.

After the cruise in Port Stephens, I asked our Kiddos, which one they like the best, the cruise in Port Stephens or our cruise in Milford Sound NZ? With no doubt they answered Port Stephens. I believe the boom net is one of the reason.

Awesome boom net!

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Sandboarding with Port Stephens 4WD Tour

It was another dream coming true: trying the experience of sandboarding at Port Stephens, which is one hour away from our rented apartment in Jesmond, Newcastle.

In the email, Anna from Port Stephens 4WD, a tour which sponsored our family to do the sandboarding, advised us to do it in the morning. "It's going to be the busiest day of the year. We will be open at 9.30am, just look for the red bus", she replied our email. Yes, we planned to do the sandboarding on 31 December, of course it was a super peak period.

We arrived around 9am, headed to the lower parking place of Birubi beach. Just next to the parking place, there's a beautiful beach called Birubi. Of course Kiddos requested to swim at the beach after the sandboarding. There were many tours providers at the lower parking place. We went to the red bus, as suggested in the email from Port Stephens 4WD.

Kiddos couldn't wait for their turn to do the sandboarding

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Our Amazing Day at Scenic World Blue Mountains

This is our second visit to Scenic World Blue Mountains, and this time we went with our Kiddos. On our first visit to Scenic World, we went with our friend and his family, and I really hope that I could take our Kiddos to Scenic World Blue Mountains. I made my dream come true in 2 years, Alhamdulillah.

As we visited Scenic World on a super peak period (to be precised on 2 Jan 2015), we tried to arrive as early as possible. We had to beat the crowd, and need to park our rented car at the free parking area provided by Scenic World. Another bonus for early riser during the summer school holiday is the discounted ticket price. A normal family pass is AUD88, but if you purchase the ticket before 10 am, it will be discounted to AUD77.

We managed to arrive at 9.30, we could park our car easily because there were still ample parking place available, and the queue to ticket counter was still very short.

The ticket counter at Scenic World

Our plan for that day is to take a return ride of the Scenic Skyway (the yellow sign), go to the forest with Scenic Railway (the red sign), enjoying the Scenic Walkway (green sign) and go back to the Scenic Blue Mountain's main building with the Scenic Cableway (the blue sign). 

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Sydney Powerhouse Museum: Circus Factory and The Exhibitions

The second museum we visited during our Family Trip in Sydney was the Powerhouse Museum. We had seen the roof of the museum many times with "Powerhouse Museum" sign on it, but we had never passed the main gate of the museum.

We were confuse of getting to the museum after visiting Paddy's Market. We thought that the museum was connected with Darling Harbour. But a project called The Goods Line Project was on progress and because of this, the footbridge that connects Darling Harbour with the Powerhouse Museum was closed. Somehow we found our way passing Pier Street, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Center, and voila we finally arrived at the Powerhouse Museum. Yeay:)

Welcome to the Powerhouse Museum

I approached the ticket counter, while Rene was with our Kiddos, because they insisted to take picture with a steam locomotive which is located not far from the ticket counter. 

This Locomotive no.1 first operated in 1855

Our Kiddos with Locomotive no.1

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Australian National Maritime Museum - Sydney

We have seen the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour area on our previous visit(s) to Sydney. But we thought that we would save it until we visit Sydney with our Kiddos. So when we planned our Sydney Family Trip, Australian National Maritime Museum was on the top of our list.

Finally we made it! We took our Kiddos to enjoy the vessels (including the amazing submarine), as well as the exhibitions.

We took bus and train from our rented apartment at Coogee beach. Thereafter we board on the ferry from Circular Quay to Pyrmont Bay wharf. Approaching Darling Harbour, we saw all those beautiful vessels that we would love to visit.

A funny poster welcomed us, and of course we couldn't wait for the submarine!

Lets take the Sub!

We went inside to the ticket counters located in the museum building. Any visitors who wish to get into the vessels, should purchase the tickets at this place. To visit all the exhibitions and also the vessels, the Big Ticket is recommended. It cost AUD27 and AUD16 for an adult and child ticket respectively. Or you can buy a family pass cost AUD70 for 2 adults and max 3 children. 

While if you only plan to visit the exhibitions, the ticket is AUD15 for adult and AUD10 for children. This ticket will give you access to enjoy permanent and temporart exhibitions.

I will share with you how we had explored the museum, by visiting 3 vessels and of course the exhibitions inside the museum:)

Getting our family pass

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