Travel guide Western Australia

  It seems when you go on holidays that Mum’s handbag turns into everyone’s bag! The Annabel Trends Shoulder Bag was given a very good road test on our recent family holiday to Lithgow in the Blue Mountains.     When we travel we do a lot of walking with the kids. Everyone has their own camera (around their neck) and their own drink bottle; I make sure I carry snacks and treats to keep everyone going, too. Then there are the beanies, jackets, towels, sun cream and everything else that you carry just in case you need it! That not only weighs you down, but also makes it hard to find something at the bottom of the bag, with all the other stuff on top.   However the Annabel Trends handbag is extremely lightweight, yet strong and features long shoulder strap... Read more

  The Magna Play Magnetic Puzzles from Haggus and Stookles is a cute little metal suitcase that opens to reveal magnetic pieces in all shapes and sizes, designed to get kid’s imaginations working, as they create all manner of objects from fairies to robots to animals. To help them along, there is a booklet with easy to follow designs, but we found our girls got the hang of it quickly and were soon making up the most intricate things.   Each brightly coloured magnet is quite thick so they are easy for little fingers to gently put into place and pick up. When we covered over 1,700kms in three days, we found the Magna Plays to be the most popular toy, and the one that kept the kids the quietest as they thought about what to make next.   The girls would open the suitc... Read more

Lisa Monk is a marketing communications writer with a diverse background that includes experience in travel, hotel, finance, public relations and advertising. She has worked with Club Med, the Holiday Inn group and on a number of other travel projects on a freelance basis. Lisa has travelled throughout Australia, Asia Pacific, North America and Britain. Lisa now works with occupancy.com, which powers both takeabreak.com.au and rentahome.com.au, as the editor of the Holiday Inspirations website and newsletter, and other e-publications. She lives in Sydney with her husband and sons.   Kylie-Jane Degeling is a freelance writer who has lived in Adelaide,Yulara (Uluru), Alice Springs and Canberra, as well as five different countries throughout the world. After backpac... Read more

  We all love to relax and get away from the stresses and responsibilities of everyday life, but more and more we realise the fragility of the many wonderful eco systems that comprise the Australian continent. We want to be able to leave our troubles behind and there is an inspiring way to do that, make memories and leave only footprints on our stunning landscape.   We have rounded up five of the top eco-friendly destinations on takeabreak.com.au to help you choose a holiday that leaves you – and our country – in good shape.   Anketell Forest, NSW Anketell Forest has history, location and eco awareness all rolled into one lovely property. All the timber used in the extensions, fittings and furniture was salvaged from fallen trees and milled and handcrafted ... Read more

  There’s an old saying that 'good things come in small packages' and when you look at the humble size of Balingup’s population, you can rest assured it’s all good. This delightful rural town in the southwestern part of Western Australia is a rare gem, filled with friendly people, fun-filled festivals and events, and beautiful scenery.   Situated on the edge of Balingup Brook, close to the Margaret River, the town is a part of the world famous Bibbulmun Track, where you can pack your bags and trek for weeks between Kalamunda and Albany. If you prefer to stay closer to town, there are plenty of festivities, ranging from the annual Small Farm Field Day in April, to a Medieval Carnival in August and the Bibbulmun Track outdoor concert in November. But even if yo... Read more

Once upon a time, planning a holiday was both time-consuming and expensive. It could involve a lot of map reading, phone calls and visits to bookshops or the library. Doing all that research and then developing an organised system to record all your findings was a major trauma. Thanks to the internet, everything is now so much easier - and often cheaper, too. For our Great Ocean Road accommodation, I went to the local travel agency and picked up a few tourist brochures on the areas we intended to visit. These are useful to get an idea of the significant sites and tourist spots, so I can choose to include them in our itinerary – or, in some cases, avoid them.   I then worked out a route using the NRMA Trip Planner, www.drivethere.com.au, which gives you the distance betwe... Read more

A recent visitor to the area referred to the town as “Pamperton” and for those who enjoy the finer things in life, like wine, art, spas, and gourmet food, a trip to Pemberton is a dream. Yet for those who prefer simple pleasures, like a walk through a forest, throwing a fishing line or swimming in a dam, Pemberton is a relaxing yet exhilarating break. Located in a region of Western Australia known as the South West, Pemberton is a delightful town close to the Margaret River. Like many towns in this region, it has gone through a series of changes, having first been settled as an agricultural town. Later, it became known for its timber, while today tourism and wine are its lifeblood.      Things to do:   Indulge:  Local spas offer relaxing treatments ... Read more

Pemberton Farm Chalets has a little bit of everything for the whole family, no matter what the age. First up in the morning (not too early!) is the farm animal feeding frenzy. The kids (and big kids) will love hand feeding the chickens and ducks and collecting the eggs. Next is a little cuddle with the rabbits and guinea pigs and then bottle feeding the calves is fun. Then down to the paddock to feed the horses, sheep and goats. After farm feeding, take a short walk through the national park to the famous Gloucester Tree to challenge the keen climbers and perhaps return to have a refreshing swim in the pool. There is also a children's adventure playground, tennis and a trampoline. There are laundry facilities available, as well as catering for babies with cots and high chairs. We supply ... Read more

Karrak Reach has been delighted to host pets of all shapes and sizes. We have had cats, rabbits, and even a family of four joeys. We specialise in providing affordable boutique pet friendly accommodation. Karrak Reach is committed to ensuring dogs and their people have a fantastic time when they stay with us. Dogs are very welcome to sleep inside and have access to a giant karri forest right on the doorstep. The forest has walking trails and is full of interesting smells. Karrak Reach provides a personalised dog-sitting service, free of charge. If guests need to visit a place where dogs are not allowed such as a national park, then dogs have a choice of a comfortable and secure 8x15 metre run with shelter and shade, or they can stay in the bigger yard with the property’s friend... Read more

Woollybush Guest House, an “Adult Retreat” nestling in 3 acres of tranquil bush, invites you to relax your body, ease your tension and forget your stress. From the moment you drive through the gate you’ll soak in the peaceful ambiance of this ‘Gem in the Bush’. Chloe the Joey, joins your hosts Phill & Annette McKean in welcoming you at the front door and after showing you to your room, you’re invited to join them on the patio to enjoy a wonderful homemade afternoon tea. You’ll find your room has a wonderfully comfortable bed, soft fluffy pillows and the softest, silkiest Egyptian cotton sheets. What’s more, to allow you to sleep at a temperature to suit you, there’s a doona, minky blanket and cotton blanket, as well as reve... Read more