Tania McCartney: Far South Coast of New South Wales

Tania's getting around - she's covered a lot of the South Coast with kids in January ...

Kidaddle to Tidbinbilla

Photo courtesy of kookr.

If you're like me, your anxiety has been growing since Christmas about the prevalence of indoor entertainment and how you must do something about getting the kids outside.

We've made a resolution: an active outing every weekend. Note the emphasis on the active. And we started with Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. The kids have always enjoyed the fantastic playground there, complete with flying fox, water course and super slides, but we're branching out. The Sanctuary was built after the fires in 2003 and it's wonderful - a series of ponds attracting and nurturing birdlife.

There's no need to do a four hour "challenging" hike up front: just take the kids on the hour walk around the Sanctuary, and don't miss the side walk up the rocks (an extra ten minutes) or the kids' river crossing. We'll aim to up the ante each time, but this was a good start. Admittedly, there was plenty of whingeing initially, but as soon as we stumbled on something slightly interesting, they forgot their pain (!). We repaired to the playground afterwards for a simple sausage sizzle - if the BBQs are as oversubscribed as they were today, keep going past the playground, there are more electric BBQs down at Webb's.

Note: While I think of it, for the family who wants to get out and about beyond the heavily serviced, an investment in a trangia is worth it. Means a cup of coffee is a cinch, but extends your lunch repertoire to anything that can be heated in a small bowl: we've done hot dogs and instant noodles in winter.

Kidaddle to the Namadgi

Every time we head South, we go through the Namadgi National Park, and we ALWAYS stop at Brayshaw's Hut, at the kids' insistence. Something about the historic alpine huts really fires the imagination - the fireplace, the verandah, the story board about Stephen Brayshaw living there into his seventies (and a macabre interest in the fact that he fell from a horse while visiting his brother and died of exposure not far from home).

We had to laugh last time we were there: they careered down the paddock to the hut - first time on their own - and came back with a chorus of "look what we found!" They'd purloined the visitor's book, not having the slightest idea why there might be a book and a pen there.

It's a beautiful atmospheric part of the country, and makes for a pleasant, yet thoughtful, stop on the road to Adaminaby. We can't get enough of the High Country, nor can the kids. If you're Canberra-based, explore the alternative route South. It's worth it.

Kidaddle to Wiseman's Ferry

Hot and not a lot for kids to do here. The ferry provided four minutes' entertainment ... and I can see how a dip in the river, a boat trip ... and the odd ice cream would be amusing, but this would not be my destination of choice with children under ten.

Kidaddle for Christmas

One doesn't need to be the original earth mother to feel like one's made an effort for Christmas. A few gestures have set the tone for me, and made me satisfied that I am putting the spirit back into the occasion:

Make simple things like rum balls and cheese biscuits with the kids.

Let the kids decorate the Christmas tree, and only fiddle with it after they've gone to bed.

Hand make the gift tags (this year: paper patchwork and they look beautiful).

Wrap the presents in brown paper and let the kids decorate the packages.

Take the mother-in-law and kids for a drive around the Clem Hill Christmas lights.

Talk husband into putting up a few token lights on the front verandah.

Organise home Carols by Candlelight - a few candles in paper cups, a song sheet of the kids' favourite songs and get the kids to dress up and act out the Nativity (easy plays for kids downloadable off the internet ... and one feels so pure for teaching them the story of Christmas).

Purchase of a Nativity set for the lounge room coffee table (last time I looked, all was in place in the barn, except for the animals who had migrated to a nearby coffee table and were standing one on top of each other in a circus formation!).

Kidaddle to Wee Jasper

http://the-riotact.com/?p=16918

Eye Like Carrots has drawn my attention to Wee Jasper ...

Kidaddle to Narooma

OK so it might involve driving a bit further along the coast from Bateman's Bay, but my summation is that it is worth it. It was late November, just before the surprise cold snap, and we were staggered to find ourselves the only people on the beach at 10 o'clock in the morning.

Narooma seemed to me to satisfy all tastes:

Children: interesting board walk, "Australia" rock, spotting a seal lolling beside the breakwater,

helping Dad scrape oysters off the rocks, really good fish and chips, playgrounds ...

Dad: eating oysters straight off the rocks, great fish and chips, the steak at the aptly-named Steak & Oyster Bar at the top of the hill on the main street, bracing surf.

Mum: fresh air, sand-between-the-toes, oysters, oysters, oysters, interesting shops.

We stayed at the Island View Resort (Big Four Caravan Park) and we wanted for nothing - which at $208 for four people in a cabin for two nights was pretty impressive. Do it - but take our advice - go in February-March or October-November if you want to avoid crowds and high season pricing.