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| OMG! It's a Condor! |
Finally we arrived in Helensvale just outside of Brisbane. It was late so was a quick setup and feed and then to bed. The next day we got to check out our surroundings a lot more. We went to Australia Zoo and the girls tried Bindi’s Bootcamp, listened carefully to the Tiger show and the Otter show and we were all in awe of the main show in the ‘Crocoseum’. It started with a variety of birds, budgies, pink and grey galahs, parrots and macaws flying above and around the stadium and audience. They played Thunderstruck by ACDC while they all flew around it was incredible. The next animal in the show shocked everyone. They told us about this bird which sounded huge and then said it was a condor and on cue this massive bird flew in to the arena. We were totally blown away with how massive it was. It’s wingspan was approximately 3 metres (1 metre longer than Jade is tall). WOW! It would break your arm if it tried to land on it.
Next was the scary alligator (cue Jaws music). The alligator turned out to be a ‘harmless’ 2ft long alligator but with definite predator instincts. Now for the star attraction, a massive crocodile that proved that a little bit of splashing in the water made this animal swim extremely fast and stealthily to snap you up. The keepers never took their eyes off him. A very impressive display and very informative and spellbinding.
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| Family |
Sunday arrived and it was time for family catch up. We caught up with Sarah (Jade’s cousin) and three of her children who were all roughly the same age as ours. The girls all got along so well with second cousins, which made for a great day and so much fun. Unfortunately Sarah’s oldest was out spending the day with his Auntie Ellie and having a great time.
Monday, I got to catch up with a friend I worked with a long time ago and was lucky enough to see last year. This time was different I finally got to see where Suzanne and Ian (who was currently working away) were living and the amazing renovations they have done to their beautiful house, thinking of everything and achieving amazing results. They really think of everything! It was so great to see her, I could have talked for days but alas time is so precious. We did however get the opportunity to also go out to dinner with her which added that extra bit of time.
We also went to Skypoint and rode the very fast elevator to the top, 77 floors in 45 seconds = FAST. Great 360 degree view from the top and all the different landmarks.
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| Emma in pole position for the first ride we went on. So so so FAST!!!! |
Tuesday – DREAMWORLD DAY!!! Finally a chance to have some fun on crazy rides and meet characters. First stop was Wiggly World, we had to watch the Dorothy show and sing some Wiggles songs and then do the Big Car ride and the rosy Tea cup ride. Then it was off to the fun (I would use scary, but the girls thought fun was more descriptive) rides. First Lily wanted to go on a motorbike ride which looked tame…… It replicated the speed at which motor GP riders ride but you didn’t have any control of it and it was a rollercoaster. Needless to say I tried smiling and keeping my screaming to a low surprised sound when it took off so fast. I thought Lily would fly out (she was safely locked in, it’s just you know, a mother’s worry) but she starts laughing going “Wheee” while I just wished it would stop. We ended up going again and again and again after spending 3 days mixing between Dreamworld and Whitewater World next door.
I have since found my daughters are adrenalin thrill seekers and they love nothing more than going at top speed and feeling like they are going to fly out of something. A lot of the rides gave you that feeling so we spend lots of time going on them all. Jade went on the Giant Drop which makes your stomach drop as you watch it drop down, but he loved it. We also visited Dreamworks where there was Shrek rides and Madagascar rides. It was endless. As it wasn’t school holidays no queue was long so waits were short. There was so much to do and see and definitely required a return visit.
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| The stomach dropping waterslide |
The next day we spent at Whitewater World. Well, what can I say, hmm I can say I have never ever been on waterslides this full on and breathtaking (literally!). Again I took Lily up a long flight of stairs thinking we were taking the more sedate tube ride as the rider only had to be 100cm. Was I WRONG! After a second of floating along, no that’s wrong, flying along is a better description, the tunnel suddenly drops down, I mean like standing on the roof of an office building and looking down type of drop. Holy Shit! So we are falling and that’s when I start screaming like a girl not even worrying about my 5 year old in the FRONT SEAT! The slide also pushed us back up hills with bursts of air and then sent you down two more drops. Man I got off that ride and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and then I remembered to check Lily and that she didn’t go into shock. Ha! Of course she didn’t she wanted to do it again. My fear wore off given the amount of times I climbed stairs and went down the scariest slides, however I still couldn’t stop screaming, those drops just do that to you…. OK?!?! It was a great day, trying out all the slides. Jade even tried the Wedgie, given its names because you are placed in an enclosed tube and the floor drops out from under you and you hurtle down this tube that is not big enough to sit in let alone lift your head up while you are lying down. Jade landed at the end with a face I can only describe as shock and exhilaration. And then he said he could do it again! After we got tired of climbing the stairs and headed back the ‘dry rides’ at Dreamworld. Emma decided that this was when she was going on the big rollercoaster which had upside down loops and was taking dad with her. She loved it so much she took Jade back on it the next day.
Thursday we went to Brisbane City and Southbank, it was pleasant but not what we thought, Not really much to do there on a weekday, so we headed to the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, so the girls could get hair beads put in and buy a few things.
Friday we decided to head back to Whitewater world and Dreamworld. At the end of the day we were completed stuffed. We slept really well!
I would definitely recommend Dreamworld and Whitewater World as a place for a family to go, it caters to everyone.
On Saturday we were very lucky to meet Jade’s Aunty Gladys, who recently found out she was a member of Jade’s family after being adopted as a newborn and never knew. Sadly all the family but Gladys have died, so she was unable to meet her parents or siblings to find out more. It was lovely to meet her and her family and now Jade has more family he can add, including four more boy cousins. Gladys also found and invited Jade’s Grandma’s brother and his wife, Ron, whose into his 90’s, could fill in some gaps in the family. They have a beautiful Queenslander home and were the best of hosts.
Now we are off to Woodenbong to catch up with Jade’s Aunty Sandra!
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