This tiny island just 2 hours from Melbourne has soo many things to do for a fun weekend or holiday with the family. There are of course the Penguins to see, as well as a small theme park, farms and incredible nature parks too! But if you are after some FREE fun in Phillip Island, there are also so many things to explore here that are completely FREE! These are my Top 5 Free Things to do in Phillip Islands with kids.
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5 Free Things to do in Phillip Island with kids
Antartic Journeys and Boardwalks at the Nobbies
Boardwalk at the Nobbies overlooking Seal Rock
Without a doubt one of the most scenic places to see on Phillip Island. Located right on the south-western tip of Phillip Island, just a few minutes away from the Penguin Parade (the Top Attraction to see in Phillip Island!), the Nobbies can’t be missed!
The name ‘Nobbies’ comes from the dome-shaped rocks, which you can see from the view-point near the car park, called Seal Rock.
The Nobbies Centre
The main standout feature of the Nobbies is the long boardwalk that you can walk across to a few parts of the area. It’s almost a chilometer long and worth the walk for the incredible views.
Here, you can also spot a lot of wildlife. Fur seals make an appearance on the rocks (hence the name, Seal Rock), especially during the summer months of December to March, which is peak breeding season.
Cape Barren Geese
The area also has a lot of birds that nest here, so many seagulls and the beautiful Cape Barren Geese can be seen along the drive there.
You may also see little fairy penguins in the man-made borrows along the boardwalk! Kangaroos, wallabies and even whales can also be seen during the winter when they are migrating.
A fairy penguin hiding in the burrows at the Nobbies
The Nobbies Centre, next to the car park is also worth a visit. Antarctic Journeys is a cool place to learn more about conservation and sustainability, and the kids will enjoy the interactive displays.
Interactive and hands-on displays at the Antarctic Journeys exhibit inside the Nobbies centre
There is also a gift shop and a coffee shop. The views are incredible and make it a great spot for lunch, no matter the weather!
View from the cafe’ overlooking Seal Rock
Forrest Caves
The sea cave at Forrest Caves
A popular spot especially during the holidays and weekend is Forrest Caves. Just off the main road near Cape Woolamai, these stunning rock formations and caves sure are worth a visit!
Reaching the top of the dune overlooking Forrest Caves Beach
The rocks are a red & black colour originating from volcanic eruptions and wave erosions. The beach is endless and pristine, with walls of sand dunes alongside it.
Rockpools at Forrest Caves
Once you reach the car park, follow the steep stairs to reach the top of the sand dunes and see Forrest Caves Beach.
Continue walking on the left side for about 500 mt to reach Forrest Caves and explore the red caves, rocks and crystal clear rockpools.
Forrest Caves
NOTE: Swimming is NOT advised at this beach due to strong waves and rip currents. This beach is stunning but it is not patrolled and can get extremely rough! As it’s part of a conservation area, dogs are also not allowed here.
Pelican feeding in San Remo
Pelicans getting their lunch
An amazing activity to do either when going or leaving Phillip Island, is seeing the Pelican Feeding! This takes place daily in San Remo, near the jetty, just before crossing over the bridge to Phillip Island.
Every day at 12 o’clock, crowds gather to see the pelicans gobble down some fish from the nearbyFisherman’s Co-Op (which also does a great fish & chips).
The Fishermen’s Co-Op in San Remo
This daily feeding has been going on for over 30 years, started by local fishermen feeding the wild pelicans their fish offcuts. The pelicans now come here daily to get their lunch! The fishermen also provide insightful information about the pelicans and how to look after the environment for them too. It was one of my favourite Free things to do in Phillip Island with Kids!
Pelicans patently awaiting their daily feed
The numbers of pelicans vary from groups of 5 up to about 35. It has become quite a popular attraction for visitors coming to the area! Expect quite a few people during the holidays and get there 10-15 minutes early to get a good view.
Phillip Island Beaches
Cowes beach
There are so many beaches on Phillip Island! The island has volcanic origins so many of the beaches have black and red-toned rocks. The list below is just of SOME of the many beaches on the island:
Cowes Beach is a popular beach with families that is shallow and protected from the surf. Nearby Erehwon Point Playground is located west of the jetty too.
Smiths Beach is 10 minutes south of the island, another popular one with its gorgeous crescent-shaped beach.
Cowes beach and pier
Both these beaches have facilities and are next to food outlets. There is car parking and are both generally patrolled in summer, but they do get busy during peak periods!
For some quieter beaches, head over to Kitty Miller Bay or Sunderland Bay. These do not have facilities but are more secluded than the other beaches if you are after some more peace!
Sunderland Bay
Sunderland Bay is similar to Forrest Caves (minus the crowds) with the rock formations in a red colour and lots of rock pools. We also found so many sea sponges here that the kids loved.
Sandboarding at Cape Woolamai
Cape Woolamai Surf Beach
A fun thing we did on our last trip to Phillip Island was sandboarding the steep sand dunes at Cape Woolamai.
It’s a bit of hard work to reach the sand dunes and to climb up them but it was 100% worth it! The kids loved the adventure so if you have bodyboards, bring them with you here.
‘Norman Hill’ is located on a tucked away path just before you access the car park at Woolamai Surf Beach. You can only access this place by walk and it is a bit tucked away!
Climbing the sand dunes at Norman Hill
How to get to Norman Hill:
Park at the Woolamai Beach car park
Walk back for a few minutes on the road you came from to access the path
The path has a map pointing to Cleeland Bight Track. The sandy path is around 300 mt till you reach the beach.
Once at the beach, take a right for a few minutes and you will see the huge hill. Climb up and have fun!
Budget Friendly Accommodation in Phillip Island
BIG4 Ingenia Phillip Island
Located in Newhaven, just across the bridge from San Remo, BIG4 Ingenia Holiday Park has everything you need for a family-friendly holiday. The park has a variety of cabins to suit all budgets, from basic to fully renovated cabins. The park also has a playground, BBQ facilities and beach access.
I hope you enjoyed this post on 5 Free Things to do in Phillip Island with Kids!
Want to read more about Phillip Island? Check out my other post on the Top 8 Things to do with the family in Phillip Island as well as recommendations on Where to eat in Phillip Island coming soon!
If you are looking for a Brisbane hotel with a view, Meriton Suites is the place to go! Meriton Adelaide Suites is located in one of the tallest towers in the city offering comfortable serviced apartment accommodation. The standout? Staying on a high floor for the most incredible 360-degree views over Brisbane and the Brisbane River!
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A Brisbane Hotel with a view: Things to love about Meriton Suites Adelaide Street
Incredible, uninterrupted views over the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge
Fantastic location a few minutes from the river and only 15 minutes walk from the city centre
Comfortableand Spacious Apartments fitted with everything you need!
Views of the Brisbane Story Bridge from Howard Smith Wharves
View over the Brisbane River and Story Bridge from the Altitude Apartment
Opened in 2012, the towering 243 mt, 74 floors skyscraper that is the Meriton Suites Adelaide Street is one of the tallest towers in all of Brisbane, and was at one point, the tallest building in Brisbane!
Part residential and part serviced apartments, the building can’t be missed! It has enviable views of the nearby Story Bridge (and is one of the only 5 bridges IN THE WORLD that you can climb!).
Meriton Adelaide Suites is located near Fortitude Valley, which luckily is not an area filled with skyscrapers. That gives this building the advantage of having uninterrupted views over the city, river and beyond.
The comfortable apartments are fitted with everything you need. Read on below to find out more about Meriton Suites Adelaide Street and why this hotel is one with the best views in Brisbane!
Rooms: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Review
The Meriton has several apartments on offer, these vary by different number of bedrooms and on which floor the apartments are.
Studio Luxury Suites: Studio-style accommodation for 2 people on the lower floors (2-4)
1 Bedroom Luxury Suites: Self Self-contained apartment accommodation for 2 people on the lower floors, up to level 42.
2 Bedroom Luxury Suites: Self Self-contained apartment accommodation with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for 4 people from level 6 up to level 58.
2 Bedroom Altitude Suites: To have a guaranteed, amazing hotel room with a view in Brisbane, the Altitude apartments are on high floors from level 63 up to level 74. Self Contained Apartment accommodation with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for 4 people.
3 Bedroom Altitude Suites: This is the largest apartment type measuring at just over 100 SQM. This popular apartment type is perfect for wedding parties and for checking out the amazing views of the New Year fireworks over the city. Apartments are located on the top floors from levels 64 to 74.
2 Bedroom Altitude Suite Review: The Best hotel views over Brisbane!
On our trip to Brisbane, we stayed in a 2-bedroom Altitude suite that was located on level 69. First entering the room all you see is the view!
Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the whole lounge and bedrooms and have the most epic views over the river. On a clear day, at sunset or nighttime, the views are incredible!
The rooms are extremely comfortable and suit perfectly for long stays too. The bedrooms are spacious with plenty of storage. In the 2-bedroom apartments, you will find a full-sized kitchen, 3 A/C units (in each bedroom and the open plan lounge) and 3 large flat-screen TVs with in-built Chrome Cast for easy streaming.
Room Amenities – Kitchen / Dining
The Altitude Apartment was well fitted with everything we needed including a full kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, full-size fridge/freezer.
Full Kitchen in the Altitude Suite
In the kitchen, you can also find an espresso machine with pods, a kettle and a toaster.
A small laundry cupboard had a washer and separate dryer too.
Laundry Cupboard in the Altitude Suite
A 4 seater, round marble top table in the main dining table.
Dining Area
Amenities such as dishwashing tablets & washing detergent are replenished every 3rd day or weekly depending on the rate purchased.
Room Amenities – Bedrooms
In the bedrooms, King-size beds are provided in the 2 bedrooms. At the time of booking, you can also request to have these set up as single beds or 1 king and 2 singles.
The rooms are of generous size with blackout curtains and full-size wardrobes. There was A LOT of storage space with hanging space as well as shelves and drawers. Perfect for longer stays!
Views from the Altitude Suite Bedroom, level 69
A safe is provided in the master bedroom as well as a laundry service slip (provided by the property at an additional cost).
Safe & Wardrobe
A/C Unit in each of the bedrooms for cooling/heating.
A flat-screen TV fitted with Chrome Cast is provided in each of the bedrooms making it super convenient for easy streaming!
Room Amenities – Lounge Room
As you enter the Altitude Suite the lounge room has a small 2 seater couch, and 2 armchairs facing the sweeping views from the high floor.
Lounge Room
A flat-screen TV fitted with StayCast (Chrome Cast) is provided for convenient streaming. Large desk/workstation as you enter the lounge too. A/C for heating and cooling.
Unlimited WIFI is provided during the stay.
Workstation in the apartment
Room Amenities – Bathrooms
The Altitude Apartment has 2 bathrooms. One central bathroom with vanity, toilet & shower, and the second bathroom is an ensuite – with a bath and separate shower. Hairdryer & Kevin Murphy Toiletries provided.
Central Bathroom with Shower in the Altitude Suite
The bathrooms are spacious, but I did find them a bit dated eg. the vanities had some cracks in the porcelain and the showers were not as sparkling as a new hotel.
Hotel Facilities: Meriton Suites Adelaide Street
In addition to 24-hour reception/guest services, Meriton Adelaide Suites also has parking and fitness facilities located on level 5. These are open from 5 am to 10 pm, every day.
Lobby – Meriton Adelaide Street
Car Parking at Meriton Suites Adelaide Street
If driving into Meriton Suites, convenient onsite undercover car parking is available at the property. Note that this is limited and subject to availability, with the rate per night at 40 AUD. Entry is via Arch Lane, located at the rear of the property.
Swimming Pool, Hot Tub & Sauna
On level 5, guests and residents can access the fitness facilities.
The pool area is very spacious, with some bench space to sit and store belongings. Towels are NOT provided so you must bring your own. The pool is heated all year round, and the depth is 1.2 metres on the deepest end.
A large in-ground hot tub is also in the same area as the pool.
Hot Tub & Pool Area at Meriton Adelaide Suites – Image courtesy of Expedia
Unfortunately the the time of our stay the Sauna was not operational. We enquired with reception and they explained it was a long-term issue. I was a bit disappointed that this was not advised at the time of booking, as we chose the hotel based on the facilities too!
Pool Area
Gymnasium
Large gymnasium with workout equipment and weights.
Gymnasium
Family Friendly Facilities
Children are welcome at the hotel and the kids were given activity packs at check-in too which was a nice touch. If travelling to Meriton for a special occasion for a birthday, it’s worth mentioning too! The room was set up with balloons, bubbles and a card as we arrived.
The pool was very enjoyable for them and there were lots of other children using it too, especially during the weekend.
Cots can be arranged in advance for a cost of 10 AUD per night and include a baby amenities pack.
Location of Meriton Suites Adelaide Street
Hotel Entrance from Adelaide Street
The Meriton Suites Adelaide is located at 485 Adelaide Street in Brisbane.
A Foodworks to buy essential items is also located on the ground floor of the building which was very handy as we arrived late on the first day! A larger supermarket (Woolworths Spring Hill) is located just a 5-minute walk away too.
We found the Meriton to be in a very good location as you can reach the river and city centre very easily on foot. To reach South Bank, it is a longer walk so we generally opted to take an Uber or the ferry!
Brisbane River Boardwalk (restaurants/dining) – 5 minutes walk
Queen Street Mall (main shopping district) – 15 minutes walk
South Bank (dining/entertainment precinct) – 35 minutes walk
Brisbane Sign in South Bank
Final Thoughts – Meriton Adelaide Street
Although the building and some of the facilities do show that they are 10 years old, we overall had a good stay at Meriton. The location was great for us as we ventured out for walks every day and the ferry access at Riverside was so handy. Would I stay again? Yes. The views from the 69th floor were unlike anywhere I have ever stayed before!
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Hope you enjoyed reading this Meriton Suites Adelaide Street Review, of the the best Brisbane Hotels with a view!
Healesville is a fantastic destination perfect for a weekend away. Kids and nature lovers coming to Healesville will fall in love with the peaceful surroundings of Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, the ample green spaces and even it’s own vintage railway. A thriving dining and café scene and a short drive away from many other small towns like Marysville and Warburton, make Healesville a perfect country escape with kids.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!
Where is Healesville?
The quaint town of Healesville is nestled in the Yarra Ranges, just over an hour drive north of Melbourne, and a short 15 drive from the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley vineyards. The nearby popular town of Marysville is 30 minutes drive from Healesville.
Top attractions for kids in Healesville
Healesville Sanctuary
This park has a different feel from your average zoo and showcases the distinctive Australian wildlife and vegetation!
Located just a 5 minute drive from the centre of Healesville, Healesville Sanctuary is a wildlife park surrounded by natural bushland. Full of Australian wildlife, be ready to see koalas, kangaroos, emus, platypus, dingoes and more!
There is a strong focus on conservation especially on koalas, which you can see so many of at the sanctuary in the Koala Forest section. Don’t miss the Keeper Talks at 11 am and 2 pm to find out everything you need to know about this beautiful native animal.
There are also other Keeper Talks throughout the day at different times and about different animals. You can view the full schedule here.
Spirits of the Sky bid show at the Arena in Healesville Sanctuary
The other highlight of Healesville Sanctuary is the Spirits of the Sky bird show in the Flight Arena, one not to be missed when visiting the sanctuary, on daily at 12 o’clock. The 30 minute presentation showcases a number of native birds like eagles, owls and parrots, who are flown over the crowds by the birdkeepers. It was truly amazing and a hit with the kids. A must do when in Healesville with the kids!
DETAILS: Open daily 9 am to 5 pm , 53 AUD per adult, 26.50 AUD for kids 4-15 yrs. Free under 3 years old. All Kids are FREE during weekends and public/school holidays. More info on the website for up to date times on Keeper Talks and what’s on.
Yarra Valley Railway
Yarra Valley Railway
This incredible vintage train station can be easy to miss (it’s tucked away off the main street) but it’s a must visit if you happen to be in Healesville on a Sunday.
The original 1950’s single carriage train takes you on a 4 km journey through the vineyards towards Yarra Glen and back. The scenery is fantastic and the highlight is going through a 100 year old tunnel. The trip all up is just under an hour so it’s perfect for the kids to enjoy!
The volunteers running this railway are also extremely knowledgeable and will explain some interesting facts about the railway and the history of the area. The train driver will also let the kids in the drivers area too.
DETAILS: Open Sundays Only 9 am to 3 pm , 50 AUD for a family ticket or individual tickets 18 AUD per adult, 12 AUD for kids 4-16 yrs. Free under 3 years old. Trains run every 45 min – 1 hour. Entirely volunteer run so they do also operate on other days occasionally. More info on the website.
Apex Park Playground
Located just beside the Yarra Valley Railway, this cute little playground is of course, all train themed! Perfect for younger children, this park has slides. Along side the playground, there is also the Healesville Labyrinth Garden which was great for the kids to run around in!
DETAILS: Open everyday – FREE
Queens Park
Queens Park Grounds
Located right in the centre of Healesville this playground and park is amazing. Surrounded by nature and built using a lot of wood and reclaimed logs, it blends in seamlessly with the beautiful surroundings.
There are plenty of things to do for the kids to be entertained for a while! With a smaller toddler playground, larger climbing structure, swings, slides, a double flying fox and and much more. The garden itself very spacious, with lots of shaded areas & picnic tables. Grab something to eat from nearby Beechworth Bakery and the morning is sorted!
DETAILS: Open everyday – FREE
Other places to visit with kids near Healesville
Marysville
Drive just 30 minutes from Healesville and take the incredibly scenic Black Spur drive (an attraction in itself!) to Marysville. This gorgeous little town is surrounded by mountains and has soo many things to do! The now thriving town was almost all completely rebuilt after the devastating 2009 Black Saturday Fires and is now a popular weekend destination in the Yarra Ranges.
Don’t miss visiting Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden, to see this enchanting forest filled with a myriad of hand made (and many full sized) clay, wood & brass sculptures. Bruno himself is usually around too!
Nearby, Gallipoli Park, has a wonderful playground as well as a a memorial built by Bruno, called New Life to represent the rebuilding of life in Marysville after the fires.
Steavensons Falls is a must see attraction in Marysville and a very easy trail to do with little ones. Located just 15 minutes drive out of town, the 700 mt walk is very accessible, fenced and takes you to the lookout of the waterfall.
In winter time from Marysville, you can also easily access to Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, to see the snow and do some tobogganing. More on that below!
Warburton
The Warburton Redwood Forest
About 40 minutes drive from Healesville, you will find the quaint town of Warburton, surrounded by green and lush forest. A must see attraction is the Warburton Redwood Forest. Huge Californian Redwoods are planted in perfect rows and you can wonder in the forest, which also takes you to a river covered in ferns.
The forest in Autumn
It really is a magical place to visit and the kids will love wondering and exploring the tree art scattered everywhere!
Heads up, this place gets BUSY especially on weekends, holiday periods and during summertime as it’s now a popular spot for day-trippers. If you can, head there early (before 10 am) or out of peak periods.
Lake Mountain
If you are heading to Healesville in wintertime and want to see some snow, Lake Mountain is just 1 hour away by car from Healesville and 30 minutes from Marysville.
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is set up with 3 tobogganing tracks, cross country skiing and lots of snow play areas. You can read more about Lake Mountain Alpine Resort with kids on my other post here.
In the summer time and outside the snow season, you can access the mountain to go for bushwalks and hikes too.
Where to stay in Healesville
There are several accommodation options to stay in and near Healesville, here are some of my favourites:
Yarra Gables
The Lodge – Renovated accommodation at Yarra Gables – Image Courtesy of Expedia
Centrally located just a 10 minute walk from the main area of Healesville, Yarra Gables offers modern accommodation in rooms and self contained cottages. Family rooms are also available.
Balgownie Estate
Pool at Balgownie Estate – Image Courtesy of Expedia
Just 10 minutes drive away from Healesville surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, Balgownie Estate has had extensive renovations in recent years and now has some beautiful renovated suites and restaurant. 2 Bedroom Suites are perfect for families and the restaurant caters for children also. A pool, hot tub, gym and full spa are also available in this resort.
Family Friendly dining in Healesville and the Yarra Valley
Bee Sting Cake at Beechworth Bakery in Healesville
There are so many great places to eat in Healesville so you will be spoilt for choice! These are just some of the places:
Beechworth Bakery: A classic country bakery which is the perfect stop for a pie (they have a very extensive menu!) or baked goods. My personal favourites, Sri-Lankan Beef Curry & the Bee Sting cake (Open 6.30 am to 5.30 pm everyday)
Innocent Bystander: spacious restaurant and cellar door, serving wood fire pizzas. Kids menu available (Open 11 am to 4 pm everyday, open till 9 pm on weekends).
The Bodhi Tree: family friendly dining with pizzas and modern australian classics in charming setting
Chachi: A quirky little spot tucked between the shops on the main street. Pizzas and homemade pastas. Open for breakfast and freshly baked cookies too (Open Fri-Sun only).
Four Pillars Gin Distillery: for any gin-lovers, no trip to Healesville is complete without a stop at Four Pillars. They have a bar with tasting paddles and small snacks as was a store to purchase any of the full range of gins they produce (Open 10.30 am to 5.30pm everyday, open till 9 pm on weekends).
The wine region of the Yarra Valley is located just at the doorstep of Healesville, just within 15-20 minutes drive. There are plenty of family friendly dining options for a winery lunch that the whole family can enjoy:
Zonzo Estate:Kids menu, plenty of place to run around outside
This once sleepy little seaside village is now a bustling town and loved by families! Only 1.5 hours from Melbourne, with a shallow calm beach and kid-friendly attractions, Portarlington is a fantastic weekend escape destination with kids!
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Portarlington: A popular family destination on the Bellarine Peninsula
Located in the middle of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, Portarlington has always been well known as a popular fishing destination and famous especially for it’s fresh Portarlington Mussels.
It has in recent years gained more popularity with families holidaying and day-trippers. The town centre in the last 10-15 years has expanded, there are lots of dining options, family friendly caravan parks and a fantastic shallow beach. The popular Mussel Festival (January) and Celtic Festival (June) are extremely popular events that run once a year and defenitely put this town on the map!
Getting there
You can reach Portarlington by car in just over 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne. The nearby city of Geelong is just 30 minutes away, and historic Queenscliff just 20 minutes away, also worth a visit!
Ferry Crossing from Docklands to Portarlington
Walking the long breakwater on Portarlington Pier
In recent years with the main pier re-development, there is also now a passenger (no cars) ferry connection to Melbourne Docklands direct to Portarlington, and is popular for day-trippers. The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes and runs once or twice per day depending on the day of the week.
Prices for the 1 way crossing start are 18.50 AUD per Adults and 11 AUD for kids. Kids under 3 travel FREE but must still hold a ticket. Check on the Port Phillip Ferries Website for more information and updates.
Top 5 Things to do in Portarlington with Kids
Portarlington Park
Portarlington Park
This amazing playground had a major upgrade in recent years and looks AMAZING. It’s very spacious and has amazing wood-carved sea creatures scattered throughout the park.
Portarlington Park
Perched at the top of a hill with fantastic view over the sea, it’s a firm favourite every time we visit Portarlington, There are heaps of climbing structures, as well as a small water play area with a pump and river, swings, slides, trampolines and a flying fox too!
Tuckerberry Hill Blueberry Picking
Blueberries: Image by Jan Temmel from Pixabay
If you are planning to go to Portarlington over the summer holidays, a favourite place to visit near Portarlington with kids is Tuckerberry Hill to pick the freshest and juiciest berries!
Located only 10 minutes away by car from Portarlington just outside Drysdale, here you can eat fresh berries straight off the tree and pick your own blueberries and strawberries.
Strawberries: Image by Robson Veneziani from Pixabay
Eat away as you pick and you pay per kilo for what you take home (around 20 AUD per kilo) before leaving. Tuckerberry Hill is Open 26 December to late January, 9 am to 5 pm, check on their website for opening days and times, café on site also.
Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway
Portarlington Miniature Railway
This cute miniature railway is located just outside the caravan park in Portarlington is one of the most popular attractions for young children. It’s been running for over 20 years and a favourite with locals and tourist visiting the area.
Entry to the Railway
Rides start from 4 AUD per person, kids under 2 ride FREE. There is also the option to purchase a Family Pass for 35 AUD (2 adults and up to 3 children) for unlimited rides! It’s a 10 minute ride that does 2 laps of the parklands riding the miniature train.
Playground onsite
Onsite, a café and BBQ area selling cold drinks and sausages & burgers starting from 3-4 AUD each make visiting this miniature railway a very affordable outing with the family. There is also a little playground, plenty of seating areas outdoor and undercover, as well as toilets and a giftshop.
Outside of school holidays it runs on Sundays only usually – but do check their website for opening times and days as they vary depending of the time of year.
Fishing
Fishing on Portarlington Pier
Portarlington is a really popular place for fishing and a great place to introduce fishing to young kids! Walk along the pier at any time of day or night and you will see sooo many people having a go at catching something! The updated pier has plenty of spots to fish from, some also gated making it safer for younger children.
Portarlington beach – right side of the pier
Popular catches in the area include Australian salmon, flathead and snapper. In the evening you will also see people trying their luck to catch flatheads directly from the beach too.
Portarlington Beach
Portarlington Beach
This beach directly across from the main caravan park is very popular with families as it’s a shallow, calm beach with no big waves, making it perfect for little ones. With easy access to the town centre and Portarlington Park, it’s popular over the summer months especially. There is plenty of parking right near the beach on both sides of the pier and closer to the park too.
Another nice beach nearby with lots of shaded areas for the little ones is Indented Head, just 7 minutes drive from Portarlington and has facilities and a small playground too.
Where to stay in Portarlington with Kids
Budget Accommodation – Dylene Caravan Park
Located just outside the main town centre towards St Leonards off the esplanade, Dylene Caravan Park offers basic cabin accommodation as well as some upgraded cabins. The facilities at this caravan park include a small playground, BBQ area, games room and a small outdoor pool.
Midrange Accommodation – Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park
On an enviable location right in the centre of town and right on Portarlington Beach, this caravan park is a popular choice for travellers. Offering self contained cabin style accommodation ranging from standard to spacious family cabins, as well playgrounds, games room, camp kitchens and plenty of outdoor seating and BBQ areas.
Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park: Image courtesy of Expedia
Luxury Accommodation – Oxley Estate
Only 3 minutes from the centre of Portarlington near the golf course, Oxley Estate is set on 10 acres of land among manicured gardens, orchards and farmland with animals. The estate offers a total of 5 accommodation options that include rooms, as well as cottages that are fully self contained. A small playground as well as an outdoor pool looking over the gardens will keep the kids entertained!
Pier St (recently renovated): Modern Brunch, Lunch & Mussel restaurant on the water, kids menu available!
The Bakehouse Portarlington: Classic country bakery
Devils Donuts: Look for the van (and the queues!) on the left side of the car park facing Portarlington pier. THE most delicious, classic hot jam donuts, dusted in abundant sugar. A firm favourite when visiting Portarlington.
Portarlington Food Park: Permanent rotating food trucks set up with a variety of foods, ice-cream and coffee. Seasonally opened for lunch and dinner, has outdoor seating.
Staple Eatery and Deli: Deli-style café with italian style gourmet sandwiches & pizza.
Devils Donuts near Portarlington Pier
Want to read more about Portarlington?
Looking for more kid friendly adventures near Portarlington? Adventure Park Geelong is only 20 minutes away!
Nestled halfway between Melbourne and Sydney – the town of Merimbula is perfect for a week’s escape along the NSW coast. Breath-taking scenic hikes, fishing and sampling the freshest oysters are some of the best things you can do in this fabulous town. These are my Top 7 Best Things to do in and around Merimbula.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!
Reasons why to love Merimbula
Beautiful, unspoilt expansive beaches and shallow boardwalks along the lake to explore.
A great dining scene with lots of choice of restaurants and eateries specialising in fresh seafood and of course, OYSTERS!
A proper town centre well equipped with everything you need and with things to do for the whole family.
Merimbula Main Beach
These are 7 Best Things to do in and around Merimbula
Merimbula Boardwalk
Located alongside Merimbula lake, walking the Boardwalk is a must do activity. The walk runs along the water from Market Street, all along a wooden boardwalk through oyster farms, mangroves and gum tree forests. The boardwalk is shallow and great to explore and see what is in the water too! Signs along the way explain how the oysters are farmed too.
The walk is about 3.4 km return so allow 1.5 hours. At the end of the boardwalk, Sunny’s Kiosk is perched over the lake and a great place to stop for breakfast / lunch.
If there is something you have to try in Merimbula – it’s the seafood! This town is especially well known for producing plenty of Sydney Rock Oysters. These are a MUST TRY when visiting Merimbula and readily available to purchase from local fishmongers and a staple menu item across restaurants and cafés in town.
Oyster Farms along the Boardwalk in Merimbula
Look around the water in Merimbula and you will notice the Oyster farms are everywhere. Millions of Oysters are harvested here each year, with the peak producing months from October to June. You can read more about Merimbula Oysters and where to get the BEST ONES in my post HERE!
Go Fishing
No matter if you are a beginner or a pro, this is the place to give a go at fishing! Merimbula is a renowned fishing destination – recreational fishing as well as game fishing are a popular thing to do in the area. Several fishing charters organize fishing trips starting from AUD 100 per person for a half day of fishing.
Tathra Wharf
Some popular catches include flatheads (from Merimbula Lake) as well as salmon, whiting, bream, trevally, tailor and kingfish. Mitchies Jetty & Merimbula Wharf are where most people fish from. The nearby town of Tathra is also a popular fishing location on the historic, heritage listed wooden pier, the Tathra Wharf. Fabulous views to look at too!
Whale Watching
Another drawcard for the area is seeing the whales during migration season. Huge Humpback Whales make their way down from the Barrier Reef to Antarctica with their baby whales and they can be seen splashing around the water! Taking a charter will give you an even closer look at the whales as well as other animals like dolphins. Prices from AUD 75 per person for 2 hours of whale watching.
Eden Lookout
The best time to view these beautiful animals is September to November and can be seen during other times also, but not as frequently and can be harder to spot. The nearby town of Eden also has a long running history with whales and runs a yearly Whale Watching Festival.
The best spots to view the whales during migration season are Short Point Beach in Merimbula, Eden lookout and Tathra Wharf.
The Pinnacles Loop
An incredible, and easy scenic walk nearby Merimbula that is an absolute standout is the Pinnacles Loop. Tucked away off the main road in the Beowa National Park the scenery when you get to the Pinnacle lookout, with its incredible rock face in bright red and orange colours, is amazing to see.
The Pinnacles
The easy walk is just 1.1 km and takes around 30 minutes. It’s a loop walk from the carpark through pine and gum forest to reach the Pinnacle viewpoint and you can also venture down to the stunning unspoilt Pinnacle beach. A must-see and only 25 minutes drive from Merimbula.
Pinnacle Beach
Take a day trip to Eden
A short 20-minute car ride away from Merimbula and you can reach Eden, and this little town has a mighty history of whales and whale hunting. For many years in the 1800′ local whalers had a working relationship with killer whales (Orcas) to hunt other whales for their blubber to use as oil and for some ‘interesting’ experimental medical treatments, such as curing arthritis when standing inside a whale carcass. Yes, you read correctly!
Old Tom – One of the most famous Killer Whales in Eden
TheEden Killer Whale Museumin Eden is definitely worth a visit to learn about the whaling history of the town. It has been operating for over 80 years and showcases many artefacts as well as full-scale skeletons of some of the killer whales. A great way to spend the morning / afternoon while in Eden.
A short drive from the museum in Eden is also the incredible Aslings Beach and Rockpool. The natural landscape and rock formations change from golden to pink depending on the time of day, are a photographer’s dream. Park near Bass Street, head down to the beach and walk about 200 metres to reach the rockpool. You will need to climb over a few rocks to reach it but It’s incredible with amazing views over the coast.
Aslings Rockpool in Eden
Visit the Bega Heritage Centre
With a long history of dairy making dating back to the 1850’s, Bega is the home of course, of popular Bega Cheese, a staple dairy and cheese readily available in all Australian supermarkets. Only 30 minutes drive from Merimbula and you are transported from sandy beaches to a scenery of rolling green pastures that never seem to end.
Bega Valley Lookout
Head to the Bega Valley Lookout for great views, then head to theBega Heritage Centre, onsite where the Bega Factory is to see the wonderfully recreated farmhouse and machinery, eat some Bega cheese toasties at the in-house buzzing café or stock up on local goodies and cheese for a picnic.
Where is Merimbula
Merimbula is located in NSW, 75 km from the Victorian Border, and approximately 7 hours drive from Melbourne. From Merimbula, you can reach Sydney in 6 hours drive, and Canberra in a 3 hours drive.
Merimbula is also served by Merimbula Airport that has local and charter flights operating across regional cities as well as Melbourne and Sydney (just one 1 hour flight time).
Merimbula
Where to stay in Merimbula
Accommodation is plentiful in Merimbula and with lots of different types of places to stay to suit different budgets.
Luxury
Coast Resort Merimbula is a great accommodation option for couples & families. The resort offers luxury townhouses and apartments with its own private parking, as well as 2 swimming pools and a tennis court. The resort is also in an enviable location right next to the main beach in Merimbula and a short stroll from the centre of town. You can read my full review HERE.
Pelican Motor Inn offers quality motel style accommodation located right in the centre of town. The rooms are comfortable, clean and within walking distance to the shops and dining in the centre of Merimbula.
Budget
Chapman Holiday Unitsoffers basic apartment style accommodation in the Fishpen area, a short walk from Merimbula main beach.
Want to read more about Merimbula?
Hope you enjoyed this post on 5 of the best things to do in and around Merimbula!
Mount Gambier is jam-packed with natural attractions that the whole family will enjoy! Wander through limestone caves or marvel in the hidden gardens inside sinkholes or head for the white pristine sands and rugged coastline along the Limestone Coast. These are the top attractions to see in Mount Gambier with kids.
The gardens in Umpherston Sinkhole
Why Choose Mount Gambier for a family holiday?
These are my top reasons of why Mount Gambier is a great place to take the kids:
Lots of impressive Natural Wonders like sinkholes & caves all over town. The kids will love venturing inside the sunken gardens and exploring the limestone caves!
Family-friendly: Many accommodation options are suitable for families. These include farm stays, motels, apartments and caravan parks to suit all budgets, as well as updated, accessible playgrounds and family-friendly pubs
White limestone sand at Port MacDonnell
Where is Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier is in the state of South Australia, and the 3rd largest city of the state. It’s a 4.5 hour drive from Melbourne if coming from Victoria and roughly the same distance from Adelaide. Mount Gambier is a popular stopover destination on the way to and from Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.
How long to stay in Mount Gambier
People generally stop in Mount Gambier for 1-2 nights. But if you want to see more of the sights even outside Mount Gambier, 3-4 days is perfect!
Umpherston Sinkhole
Top Attractions to see in Mount Gambier with kids
Mount Gambier is the 3rd biggest town in South Australia and with so many things to see, these are my top picks when visiting with kids, and if you want to read more about Mount Gambier you can also check out my other post with a comprehensive list on the Most Popular Sinkholes and Volcano craters to see and snorkelling spots too!
Umpherston Sinkhole
An absolute must-see when visiting Mount Gambier with kids. Travel down the steep stairs that go 20 mt below the road to these beautiful manicured gardens & tall palm trees.
In the evening, the kids will enjoy seeing the local wildlife come into the sinkhole. Lots of local possums come out at night in the sinkholes and you can feed them too (fresh fruit only)!
Another smaller sinkhole located right in the middle of Mount Gambier is Cave Gardens.
Cave Gardens is a bit smaller than Umpherstom Sinkhole with a depth of around 30 mt. It has gardens around it, and stairs to travel down the sinkhole and a viewing platform over the lowest point.
The viewing platform over Cave Gardens
Opposite Cave Gardens is the main library, which is very well equipped for children and has a cave-inspired area for kids too!
Mount Gambier library apposite Cave Gardens in the city centre
Engelbrecht Cave
The underground lake
A must-see attraction to see in Mount Gambier with kids is Engelbrecht Cave. This large sinkhole and the caves beneath it can be explored by guided tour only. The tour takes you through to visit an impressive crystal clear underground lake, as well as the western cave located alongside it.
The fully guided tour takes around 1 hour. The knowledgeable guides take you through the very interesting history of the cave, and lots of fun facts kids will enjoy.
Cave shaft
There are some steps down to access the caves and not too much walking so it’s suitable for young children also. The temperature in the cave is at around 16 degrees. It’s a great thing to visit Mount Gambier with kids on a hot or rainy day! Just be mindful of the rules when entering the cave, they are quite strict about them.
More info at: www.engelbrechtcave.comCost: AUD 15 per Adult, AUD 9 per Child, Free under 4 yrs
Blue Lake
Blue Lake views
This dormant volcano crater has the most beautiful shades of blue, unfortunately, the day we visited we did not have the best visibility but on a clear day the lake is a bright blue colour.
Even thought you cannot swim in there (it’s Mount Gambier’s water supply) you can hike/walk all along the crater. The popular Blue Lake Circuit walk is around 3.5 km long, and is pram friendly too!
If you just want to take a look and not hike, there are lots of viewpoints. The Blue Lake lookout has a small carpark and has a convenient viewing spot accessible via a tunnel below the road for photos or you can also go up a set of steep stairs to see the lake from higher up.
A popular attraction for families. Echo Farm is a historic 1920′ farmhouse where you can see farm displays and see and feed lots of different animals like ducks, chickens, alpacas, sheep, guinea pigs and rabbits.
More info at:echofarm.com.auCost: AUD 21 per Adult, AUD 18 per Child, Free under 2 yrs
Little Blue Lake
Sunbathe area and pontoon
Very popular with families and teenagers, this sinkhole that you can swim in is called Little Blue Lake. Located about 15 minutes from Mount Gambier, in nearby Mount Schank. The Little Blue Hole is stunning, and worth a visit even if you don’t plan to swim in it.
Heads up, it’s as deep as a 15th storey building (47 metres) so the water is quite cool and it’s not easy to float as it’s freshwater. Lots of people had inflatables for easier floating.
Note: Although the Little Blue Hole is a very popular attraction for families and teenagers, due to the steep stairs, depth and access to the sinkhole, in my opinion this place is NOT suitable for swimming for toddlers and very young children (under 6).
Hop in the car and a short drive from Mount Gambier there are many other great towns to explore with kids along the Limestone Coast.
Port MacDonnell
Beach at Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnelland its stunning white Limestone beaches is just 30 minutes away! Also the known as the Rock Lobster Capital of South Australia, it’s a great half day trip from Mount Gambier. You can read about Visiting Port MacDonnell on my other post HERE.
Millicent
Just 40 minutes drive north from Mount Gambier is Millicent. Famous for its local museum that displays historical farm machinery and artefacts, it also has a fantastic, toddler friendly swimming lake, Millicent Swimming Lake.
Millicent Swimming Lake and playground
This large, half moon shaped man-made lake has a sandy ‘beach’ and lots of shaded areas. There is also a small playground facing the lake as well as a cafe/takeaway shop on side also. For picnics, a large grass area is very well maintained. The shallow end with the sand make it ideal for toddlers and young children, and the maximum depth of the lake is 1.8 metres. Note: entry to the lake is free and open only during swim season, no lifeguard on duty
Sandy, shallow shore at Millicent Swimming lake
Closer to town, the Millicent Domain Playground and Skate Park and Nature Playground are also great for children. One part of the park is a bit older, but extremely well maintained and completely fenced. Some of the facilities include tunnel slides, tractor bouncy rides, a flying fox, a liberty swing & gym equipment.
Domain Playground in Millicent
Just outside the fenced park, a new nature playground has recently been added with a tall tunnel slide as well as tunnels underneath that the kids loved. A skate park is also just outside the playground with a spacious shaded grass areas, BBQs and toilet.
Nature Playground just outside Domain Playground
Naracoorte caves
Another popular cave that the children will enjoy is Naracoorte Caves – located 1.5 hours drive from Mount Gambier. This dry/wet cave is most famous for its fossils and is South Australia’s only World Heritage Site. More information on Naracoorte caves can be found HERE.
Family Friendly Dining in Mount Gambier
These are some popular dining spots in Mount Gambier:
South Eastern Hotel: Fantastic bistro serving Australian food, very family friendly with a large indoor playground. Kids meals are offered at AUD 15 per child, and Adult meals range from AUD 25-45 and include with each main a salad buffet, which has hot and cold salads, sides as well as fruit and bread rolls. More info at www.southeasternhotel.com.au
Singapore may be expensive but there are also so many FREE things that are guaranteed to keep the kids entertained, and cool! Check out 5 of the most popular and FREE attractions to see in Singapore with kids.
Top 5 Free Attractions in Singapore with Kids
Marvel through Gardens By the Bay & Marina Bay Sands
Alongside Marina Bay, you can stroll for hours in Gardens By the Bay where you can walk under the incredible supertrees.
Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay – Image by Scott Bentley from Pixabay
There is a fantastic playground and waterplay area for kids at Far East Organization Children’s Garden open Wednesday to Sundays till 6.30 pm. Pack your swimmers parents – you will get absolutely soaked!
Waterplay at Gardens By the Bay
It’s just paid entry is if you want to walk across the skybridge or enter the domes, you can book tickets for those with tour provider Klook Singapore HERE.
NEW!: Currently on display FREE at Gardens by the Bay till the end of May 2024 – a beautiful art display of 62 bronze live-sized animal sculptures called ‘Love the Last March’which is a real hit with little ones!
‘The Last March’ Art Sculpture display at Gardens by the Bay
There are also free lightshows every evening that are fun to enjoy with the whole family!
Click HERE to find out more about Spectra at Marina Bay Sands – 15 minutes every evening from 8 pm.
ClickHEREto find out more about Garden Rapsody at Gardens By the Bay – 15 minutes every evening from 7.45 pm and 8.45.
Gardens by the Bay by night – Image by Suyash Dixit from Pixabay
How to get there
Nearest MRT Stations to Gardens by the Bay: Bayfront (Downtown, Circle Line) & Gardens by the Bay (Thomson-East Coast Line)
Visit the Unesco World Heritage Singapore Botanical Gardens
Singapore Botanical Gardens
A Unesco World Heritage site – the Singapore Botanical Gardens is one of the must-see FREE attractions to see in Singapore with kids!
This British tropical colonial-style garden was established over 160 years ago. It’s meticulously landscaped making it one of the best botanical gardens to see in the world!
Beautiful historical buildings are dotted throughout the grounds of the gardens to explore.
Ponds at Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Jacob Ballas Children’s Gardenis the area of the park dedicated to young children and the largest children’s garden in Asia!
Complete with lots of separate sections to explore, it includes a forest, ponds, an orchard, and a farm, with of course lots of adventure play and a flying fox. Suited for children up to 14 years old.
National Orchid Garden
Although entry to the most of grounds of the Botanical Gardens of Singapore is free – the only paid section is the National Orchid Garden(SGD 15 pp). This section of the garden boasts an impressive collection of 2000 types of orchids.
How to get there
Botanic Gardens MRT (Downtown, Circle Line)
See the world largest indoor waterfall at Jewel in Changi Airport
Labelled as one of the best airports in the world, Changi is not only an airport, It’s a destination in itself!
Jewel at Changi (located in Terminal 2) is a shopping and entertainment precinct and the key attraction is the HSBC Rain Vortex– which is the largest indoor waterfall in the world!
You can see this amazing attraction for FREE as well as the Light and Sound light show that is on every evening from 7.30 pm.
Indoor waterfall at Changi – Image by VacacionesPagodasBlog from Pixabay
Within Jewel there are also playgrounds, dining options and promotions for children that are posted frequently on the Jewel website.
There are also several paid attractions within Jewel. Canopy Park includes a Mirror Maze, a Hedge Maze, a sky bridge over the waterfall, a bouncing net and more!
You can book attractions at Jewel through Klook Singapore HERE.
Canopy Bridge at Changi – Image by Time from Pixabay
Located just outside Changi Airport is also the new bike path that is called Jurassic Mile. This is also a FREE attraction to see in Singapore with kids and features 20 full-size dinosaurs over a mile of the cycle/jogging path that connects Changi to popular East Coast Park.
All you need is to hire a bike – Changi Airport sometimes will have some deals HERE too with Bike Hire company GoCycling.
How to get there
Changi MRT Station or 15 minutes in a Taxi from the city centre of Singapore
Visit the palm lined Sentosa Beaches
Over in Sentosa, one of the most popular FREE attractions to see with kids is to visit its fabulous palm-lined beaches.
Palawan Beach is one of them and it also has a footbridge to cross to tiny Palawan island for some great sea views.
Palawan Beach in Sentosa
A 7-Eleven is located right on the beach for an ice cream or cold drink, or you can head to many of the popular beach clubs (Paid entry) all along the beaches of Sentosa.
Other popular beaches for families visiting Sentosa include Siloso and Tanjong Beach that are located on either side of the island.
The Big Bridge across from Palawan Beach to Palawan Island
How to get there
Sentosa Express from VivoCity Mall in Singapore to Beach Station
Stroll along Chinatown and Visit the Tooth Relic Temple
One of the largest historical districts of Singapore, visiting Chinatown is a must-see FREE attraction to see. Start by checking out the largest Hawker Centre in Singapore. The Chinatown Complex Hawker Centre is one of the best in Singapore and has over 200 food stalls.
On the basement of this complex there is also one of the largest wet markets in Singapore. Here you you can see a traditional working market with lots of live animals like seafood and frogs too!
The colourful Chinatown Shophouses
Venture outside and take a walk along the lined streets of souvenir shops. Look up to see the colourful shophouses that still retain a lot of charm as some date back as far as the the 1840s.
The golden interior of the Tooth Relic Temple
Located also in the heart of Chinatown is the beautiful golden interiors of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. A must see FREE attractions to see in Singapore with kids to learn more about the culture of Buddhism and a popular place of worship.
Proper attire is required to enter the temple (covered shoulders and legs) and coverings are provided upon entry as needed.
How to get there
Chinatown MRT (Downtown, North East line)
Looking for Discounted tickets to popular attractions in Singapore?
Planning to head to other attractions in Singapore like Universal Studios Singapore or the S.E.A. Aquarium? Choose in advance the key paid attractions you want to visit, read reviews to see if an attraction is suitable for your family and shop around for discounted entries!
Universal Studios Singapore – one of the most popular paid attractions on the island of Sentosa
Entry tickets can sometimes be purchased on discounted rates on a site like Klook in Singapore. If you are wanting to visit several attractions, a Klook Multi Attraction Pass is worth it to save some money rather than buying individual tickets.
Best Family – Friendly Accommodation in Singapore
Singapore
Shangri-La Singapore – Click HERE to Check Prices
Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay – Click HERE to Check Prices
Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen – Click HERE to Check Prices
Sentosa Island
Village Hotel Sentosa – Click HERE to Check Prices
Shangri – La Rasa Sentosa – Click HERE to Check Prices
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa – Click HERE to Check Prices
Family Movie Nights by the pool at Village Hotel Sentosa
Want to Read More?
I hope you enjoyed this post on The Top 5 Free Attractions to Visit in Singapore with Kids. You can read more of my Singapore post in my posts here!
Heading to Singapore with the family and don’t want to break the bank? Check out these 9 Tips on How to Save Money when Travelling to Singapore with kids.
How to Save Money when travelling to Singapore with kids
Singapore is one of those places that has it all when it comes to family travel. A bustling city that is very safe, kid-friendly and easy to get around. A huge array of food options. Amazing kid-friendly resorts, world-class attractions to suit kids of all ages. Shopping in malls that never end.
View over Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion
But, it is also costly, and saying yes to doing everything in this place also makes it for one very pricey holiday. Read on to learn more and on 9 Tips on How to Save When travelling to Singapore with kids.
Is Singapore expensive?
If you compare it to other cities in South East Asia, the answer is yes.
A taxi ride in Singapore will set you back more than double what a taxi will cost you in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
Resorts World Sentosa
A burger in a decent family-friendly restaurant will cost you around SGD 25 per person. A small glass of wine will also cost as much as that burger. Yes, you read correctly.
Hop over to the glitzy island of Sentosa and an ice cream can set you back a whopping SGD 9 per scoop and paid entry to pretty much everything you see, including playgrounds.
But, a bit of research and planning can go a long way, and save you HUNDREDS, while still having an amazing holiday with the kids.
Lau Pas Sat – The most popular Hawker Centre in Singapore
9 Tips on How to Save Money when Travelling to Singapore with Kids
Head to convenience stores for snacks, ice creams and drinks
If you are out for the day and need a cold drink, snacks, or ice creams, head to many of the local convenience stores like 7-Eleven that are all over Singapore to buy what you need with prices as little as SGD 2-3 per ice cream or drink. Most of these also sell light lunch options, and in some, some hot food to-go that you can heat up in-store.
7-Eleven on the beach in Sentosa
Top Tip: There is No need to buy any water! Tap water is SAFE to drink in Singapore so take your water bottle and fill up at the hotel before you head out to do sightseeing.
Skip the Breakfast Buffet and check out the local malls & supermarkets
Unless the breakfast is already included in your room package – paying for the buffet for a whole family can be expensive. Most family resorts charge around SGD 35-40 per adult and SGD 15-20 per child which can add up to over SGD 100 for the average family of 4.
Instead, Stock up at a local supermarket or bakery for your breakfast foods. There are several FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant & Market Place throughout all of Singapore that have a vast variety of baked goods and pre-cut fruit, snacks, and drinks.
Popular bakery chain BreadTalk also has stores around of Singapore selling a huge range of freshly made pastries for SDG 3-4 per piece.
One of the many FairPrice Supermarkets across Singapore
If staying in Sentosa, head over for anything you need to VivoCity – it’s the largest shopping mall in the whole of Singapore.
It’s just a short few stops away on the monorail (ViVoCity Station on the Sentosa Express or HarbourFront stop on the MRT) – it has over 100 food stalls, as well as supermarkets, and was our go-to to stock up on anything we needed as a fraction of the price of what you can buy from Sentosa.
Use Public transport
Local taxis and the now widely used ride-sharing service Grab are popular options to get around and still quite affordable compared to other countries – but if want to travel on a budget and avoid the traffic jams – use the MRT (Underground Metro of Singapore). It’s clean, fast, and a very efficient way to get around in Singapore.
All the stations have easy access to the platforms for strollers and children below a height of 0.9 m (or 7 years old), can travel with their parents for FREE on the MRT.
To access the MRT, just tap your credit card on and off at your last stop. Depending on how far your are travelling each trip costs between SGD 1.50-2.50 per person.
Cut back on alcohol
Alcohol is taxed heavily in Singapore so the cost of any alcoholic beverage is pricey compared to other countries. Beers and wine can be purchased for cheaper from the supermarkets. A good alternative is also to head over to a hawker centre, which usually has beers for sale at SGD 7-8 which is just over half the price of the average beer in restaurants and bars in the city.
Plan your visits and shop around for discounted entries to key attractions
There are of course some attractions that are must-see in Singapore with kids, like Universal Studios, and are indeed paid – but well worth the money. Do your research before your trip, read reviews, and see if it is indeed an attraction that is worth it and suitable for the ages of the children.
Universal Studios Singapore
Entry tickets can sometimes be purchased at discounted rates on a site like Klook in Singaporeor if you want to visit several attractions on your visit, a Klook Multi-Attraction Pass is worth it to save some money rather than buying individual tickets!
Connect to many of the Free Internet Hotspots
Free Wifi is widely available all over Singapore and you can easily connect to public wifi (Wireless@SGx) at malls, MRT stations, museums and many more places. This can save you lots rather than spending money on expensive overseas roaming charges! You can find more information on how to stay connected in Singapore on the Visit Singapore Tourism Page.
Laundry Service the resorts/ hotels in Singapore can be extremely expensive – the items washed are usually charged per item, and when travelling with kids the reality is that the washing doesn’t stop.
If you can manage to wash your own items in the room, or even better have a communal laundry you can use that’s great.
If not, a very affordable option is to find a coin laundry. The cost to wash and dry a large load of laundry is around SGD 10. Ideally, find a laundrette that is near your accommodation, a lunch stop or something to visit so you can easily drop off and collect the laundry when done. There is a handy guide HERE on the popular coin laundry stores in Singapore.
Eat at hawker centres
Hawker centers are absolutely fantastic places to try the amazing food that Singapore has to offer. Very popular with locals and tourists, you are bound to find dishes that everyone in the family will love as there are many stalls selling a variety of dishes all under one roof.
Hawker Centre
At prices as little at 4 SGD per dish, the food is very affordable and extremely tasty. It’s defenitely a top tip on How to Save money when travelling to Singapore with kids.
You can check out my other posts on some of the most popular and unique dishes to try in Singapore, Here on Uniqueand Classic Dishes you have to try at hawker centers!
Hawker Food
Visit and cool off at some of the many free attractions in Singapore
Sightseeing and visiting some of the popular attractions in Singapore like Universal Studios or Singapore Zoo is not cheap – but there are several things that you can do that are completely free too!
Free Waterpark at Gardens by The Bay
Take a stroll around Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay and cool off at the huge splash park. Visit the pristine beaches at Sentosa or wander in the manicured Botanical Gardens. Admire the shophouses in China Town and wonder in the many souvenir shops. The Tooth Relic Temple around the corner is a must-see and also free.
Read more on the Top 5 Free Attractions to see in Singapore Coming Soon.
Palawan Beach in Sentosa
Best Family – Friendly Accommodation Options in Singapore
Located in the heart of the fun island of Sentosa in Singapore, Universal Studios is a must-see attraction when visiting Sentosa for anyone with kids! But with toddlers? All your questions will be answered in this post about visiting Universal Studios with toddlers and young children.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore is an attraction that you DO NOT want to miss if travelling to Singapore! Filled with loads of areas to explore, rides, shows and of course plenty of places to shop and eat. There are things to do here that the whole family will enjoy, no matter what age!
Must Do Experiences at Universal Studios Singapore
Sesame Street in ‘New York’ at Universal Studios
The little ones will love having adventures in the Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase and meeting their favourites characters from Sesame Street!
The Jungle Rapids ride will have you thinking that you are right in Jurassic Park escaping a flood surrounded by dinosaurs!
Stroll around the park and rub shoulders with all your favourites like the Transformers and the Minions at the Character Meet and Greet for each themed zone of the park.
Check the times and don’t miss the Live Stunt Show based on the movie by the same name WaterWorld. Incredible stunts and the stage will blow our mind (spoiler…get ready for a plane to crash land!) and the performers are amazing. Get ready to get really soaked if you sit in the ‘Splash Zone’. One that the whole family will enjoy!
The grown ups will LOVE the 3 thrilling rollercoasters of the park: Battlestar Galactica Human & Cylon and Revenge of the Mummy.
The incredible stage for the stunt show WaterWold
Getting to Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore is located within the Resorts World Sentosa Complex, on Sentosa Island. Here, as well as Universal Studios, you can find a numbers of attractions such as the S.E.A Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark as well as hotels, restaurants and a Casino.
To reach Universal Studios from mainland Singapore, you can easily hop on the Sentosa Express from HarbourFront MRT (Metro station at VivoCity Shopping Centre) and alight at Resort World Station, that is just outside the Resorts World complex.
You can read more on this on my other post coming soon about Getting Around in Sentosa.
Resorts World Sentosa
Entry Tickets to Universal Studios Singapore
Entry Tickets for Kids at Universal Studios can be purchased directly at the gates, or for ease you can also purchase them online from Klook. You can also buy here online the Express Pass in Advance to save time and skipping the queues on the rides!
Adult tickets are charged at prices starting from $82 SGD for Adults and $61 SGD for Children Aged 4 to 12 years old.
FAQ: Is a toddler free for Entry at Universal Studios Singapore?
We travelled when our toddler was just under 3 and his entry was FREE. So despite not being able to go on many rides because of the minimum height requirement, as a toddler he still got to do quite a bit at the park and his entry did not cost us anything!
Zones of the Park
The park made up of 7 different ‘zones’ that are each themed differently:
When you enter the park at the big Universal Studios dome, you go straight into HOLLYWOOD. If you then continue walking anticlockwise you will get to NEW YORK (Sesame Street Characters), onto SCI-FI CITY (Transformers), then moving onto ANCIENT EGYPT (The Mummy), to the LOST WORLD (Jurassic Park themed) and finally into FAR FAR AWAY (Shrek). Each zone has also its own themed walkway, souvenir shops and eateries.
The Minions are coming at Universal Studios Singapore
And stay tuned.. there is one more epic theme coming to Universal Studios in Singapore! Minions Land, is due to open at the park in 2024. At the time of our visit (late 2023) a section of the park was closed off, it was the former Madagascar Zone, and that is where Minions Land is due to open.
Universal Studios Singapore for toddlers and young children
Height requirements
There is a variety of rides and shows that the whole family can enjoy at Universal Studios Singapore, but as a general note most of the rides have a minimum height requirement of 92 cm. The bigger rides and rollercoasters usually have a minimum height requirement of 122-125 cm.
Note that for all the rides, children under 122 cm need to be with an accompanying adult. For some rides, hand held infants are also not allowed for safety reasons.
View of the huge rollercoasters
At the time of our trip our toddler (almost 3 yrs) was around 90-92 cm and could only go on a handful of rides. These listed below are the popular ones for small kids with relevant height restrictions, plus noted some favourites:
FAQ: What rides can toddlers go on at Universal Studios Singapore?
New York Zone and the Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase ride
Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase (New York Zone) – Min 92 cm but we were allowed on. This one moves quite slow compared to most other rides but was still great fun for the little ones seeing their favourite Sesame Street Characters ***Highly Recommend***
Lights, Camera, Action! (New York Zone) – No min height
Accellerator Ride (Sci-Fi City Zone) – No min height
Treasure Hunters (Ancient Egypt Zone) – No min height. This ride was heaps of fun. The kids can pretend to drive a jeep into the desert uncovering hidden treasures! ***Highly Recommend***
Dino-Soarin’ (The Lost World Zone) – No min height
Shrek 4D Adventure (Far Far Away Zone) – No min height
The Enchanted Castle at Far Far Away
So if you are visiting with a toddler below the min 92 cm height you will likely be doing some of the same rides over and over. There are although other things to do, such as the Character Meet and Greet that happen all day at the park and lots of exploring.
Popular Rides for Young Kids
For older kids higher than the min 92 cm, my older child (5 yrs) was around 110cm, he was able to go on these:
Transformers the Ride – the Ultimate 3D Battle (Sci-Fi City Zone) – Min 102 cm. Walk through a Sci-Fi lab and be submersed in a 3D experience with the Transformers escaping from the evil guys ***Highly Recommend***
Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (The Lost World Zone) – Min 107 cm ***Highly Recommend***
Canopy Flyer (The Lost World Zone) – Min 92 cm. Rollercoaster.
Puss in Boots (Far Far Away Zone) – Min 100 cm. Rollercoaster. ***Highly Recommend***
Enchanted Airways (Far Far Away Zone) – Min 92 cm. Rollercoaster.
Transformers Ride
Handy Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with toddlers
Get there early – plan to spend a full day there
The park is usually open from 10am to 6pm, but on some days it open a bit later at 11am. Check the website for the most up to date information.
Allow to spend a full day there as there is so much to see. With kids you will need to take lots of snack/drinks/ice cream breaks if it’s a hot day, and most days are.
If you only have half a day to visit the park – I would opt to go in the afternoon from 2pm onwards. We went mid week and a lot of the bigger crowds had left by mid afternoon and the morning was a lot busier as the crowds entered when the park just opened.
Ancient Egypt
Go midweek and outside holidays if you can
The park gets very busy – we went on a weekday and still some rides had some very long lines of 1+ hours wait. If you can, visit midweek and outside of popular holidays!
There is also the option to pay extra for an Express Pass to skip the queue once per ride (Universal Express Pass starting at SG50 pp) or as many time as you like (Universal Express Pass Unlimited starting at SG80 pp). Note the cost in additional to the Entry ticket.
I can see that it would be totally worth it to purchase the Express Pass if you are visiting during busy periods like a weekend or school holidays, as waiting in the long lines in the heat with young kids is defenitely not fun!
Leave the most popular rides for early afternoon or just before closing time
We noticed that as we got in as the park opened, the most popular rides had long queues almost immediately, some with waits of 45 min to over 1 hour.
But in the afternoon at around 2pm a lot of the queues had gone and we managed to do quite a few rides. That was the same at around 5 – 5.30 pm just before closing time, a lot of people had left already and we could go on several rides one after the other with no queue.
Puss in Boots Rollercoaster
The other tip for parents is to make use of the Single Rider lanes if you are tag teaming to watch the kids. These lines are usually shorter and there was no queues on these towards the end of the day!
Bring a pram
There is lots of walking and it’s hot, so the little ones get tired very easily! Prams can also be hired from Universal Studios Singapore at the entry.
Venture outside the park if you need to stock up on drinks or snacks
Universal Studios has heaps of places to stop and refuel for drinks or snacks but it is very expensive! Get a pass out and venture just outside the park to the 7/Eleven around the corner to stock up on cold drinks and Ice cream for a third of the price of what you would find inside the park.
Where to Eat and Stay when visiting Universal Studios Singapore
Eating in Universal Studios Singapore
There are several eateries withing the park as well as several snack and food stands to grab drinks. Some popular eateries include Goldilocks, KT’s Grill & Loui NY Pizza Parlor for some classics like pizza, burgers & fried chicken and Shrek themed waffles.
But note that, for the convenience and experience of eating inside Universal Studios Singapore, you will be paying a premium for it!
If you want to venture outside the park for a lunch for some more choice on what to eat, you can also get U/V light passouts (yes very cool…as we thought!) and check out the eateries just outside the park within Resorts World Sentosa.
Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa
The popular ones are Malaysian Food Street, which has a lot of different Hawker street style classic dishes (around 10-12 SGD per meal). For a fancier feed, also across from Universal Studios, check out Gourmet Park, for some seriously gourmet food trucks.
Around the corner there is also a 7-Eleven convenience store, if you need to stock up on cold drinks and ice creams to cool off with prices from $1-2 SGD, a fraction of what the same would cost inside the park.
Best family hotels near Universal Studios Singapore
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa
The ultimate family resort in Sentosa is the well knows Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa. Located at Siloso beach facing the sea, the resort is complete with it’s own water play area with slides and water sprays, as well as a state of the art Kids Club. This family resort is perfect for families travelling with young children.
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc
Village Hotel Sentosa
This recently opened hotel is a stunning complex with over 600 rooms, most of them interconnecting so perfect for families. The Pool deck on level 3 is the highlight of the resort with 4 themed pools, including it’s own lazy river and many shallow kid-friendly pools! You can read my full review of Village Hotel Sentosa HERE
This large, expansive complex is located on the south of the island, in the cliff above the trendy Tanjong Beach. For families there are a variety of accommodation options that include rooms as well as villas. The Kids club and glamping options for the rooms are particular popular at this luxurious resort!
On a recent family trip to Singapore we stayed on Sentosa island at the Village Hotel Sentosa, a stunning family friendly resort complex, located right next to Resorts World Sentosa and all it’s attractions. Worth the long flight? Absolutely! This is my Village Hotel Sentosa Review.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!
What you are going to love about Village Hotel Sentosa
The amazing 4 pools and gardens at the pool deck. Heaps of space and a real relaxed vibe.
Perfect for families with young children. Clever room design with interconnecting rooms and shallow pools.
In a great location in Sentosa. Close to the beach, as well as to Resorts World attractions and a short monorail ride into Singapore to connect with the Metro (MRT) .
Village Hotel Sentosa is located on the island of Sentosa, a man made island just off the coast of the south of Singapore. Within a short walk from the hotel you can reach the beach, as well as the many attractions within Resorts World Sentosa like Universal Studios & S.E.A Aquarium.
Universal Studios in Singapore is located just a short walk away
The closest monorail station is 5 minutes away, Imbiah station, which can take you directly into VivoCity shopping centre in Singapore. From there you can take the Metro (MRT – HarbourFront) into anywhere you need to get to in Singapore!
Getting to Village Hotel Sentosa from Singapore Changi Airport
Taxi / Grab
The easiest and quickest way to reach Sentosa is with a taxi from Changi Airport. The trip is around 20 minutes and it costs around 25-35 SGD depending on the time of day. Taxis are available at the airport, and if travelling with children, they can travel on the parents lap on the back seat.
Changi Airport
Ridesharing company Grab (think Uber for South East Asia) also widely operates in Singapore and can be more cost efficient than taxis.
If travelling with young children, you must book a Grab Family. Grab Family generally has car seats and boosters installed for young children.
If arriving by taxi and visiting Sentosa for the day, an Entry Fee to the island is added to the taxi fare.
If you are staying on Sentosa, you will just need to show your accommodation confirmation letter or QR code provided by the accommodation to enter Sentosa and you/the taxi driver won’t be required to pay the Entry Fee.
The fee is between $2-$6 SGD to enter the island, depending on time of day that you enter.
You can read more on this on my other post coming soon about Getting Around in Sentosa.
Facilities & Rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa
Pool at dusk
Village Hotel Sentosa is a large resort complex with onsite restaurant, a stunning pool deck on the 3rd floor with 4 pools, including it’s own lazy river, swim up bar and gym.
Dining
Dining Options – within the hotel
Native Kitchen, Ground Floor, open 7am-11am, 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm
This is where breakfast for Village Hotel Sentosa is served. We did not have breakfast included in our room price so I cannot comment on the food.
It is although a buffet style breakfast serving Western and Asian dishes. It’s also open for lunch and dinner with an extensive a-la-carte menu.
Native Kitchen, on the ground floor
Supply Depot, Ground Floor, open 8am to 6pm
Located at reception and is available for snacks and light refreshments.
Supply Depot opposite reception
Poor Bar, Pool Deck, Level 3, Open 12pm to 5pm
Located by the Pamukkale pool on the Pool Deck, you can get drinks, cocktails, Pizzas and light snacks.
Pool Bar at Pamukkale Pool
Dining Options – At Mess Hall complex, located directly across from the Hotel
The gorgeous white colonial building was once a Military outpost, now hosts stylish restaurants and a convenience store. It’s located right across Village Hotel Sentosa, as well as being very easily accessible from nearby Hotels The Barracks & the Outpost Hotel.
Mess Hall, located across the road from Village Sentosa, opposite Native Kitchen
7/11 Convenience Store: Proved to be extremely convenient to pick up some snacks for the room and ice creams when it got too hot. Located just outside reception on the ground floor.
Want to explore other dining options in Sentosa? Check out my other post coming soon on Where to Eat in Sentosa.
Swimming Pools
The Pool Deck on level 3 is the jewel in the crown of this resort. Lush greenery and coy ponds surround the pool deck and there is plenty of space to have a lounge or curl up on the many round pods to read a book. All the pools are located on Level 3 via lift or escalator from reception. From Level 3 you can get a great view over the sea.
Relaxing pods in the Pool Deck Area on level 3
Adventure Pool: the largest pool in the centre of the resort with a shallow end and terraced higher end.
Adventure Pool
Pamukkale Pool: A stunning infinity pool that looks over the sea, with terraced shallow pools to resemble Pamukkale in Turkey. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views over the water (and the monorail depot, the highlight for the kids!)
Pamukkale Pool
Children Play Pool: shallow and with 2 small water slides and water sprays, this pool is a real hit with the little ones.
Children Play Pool
Lazy River: so refreshing and surrounded by lush greenery and mangroves. You can grab one of the bright yellow pool floats from the resort and be carried along the river for a float.
Gym: located on level 3 on the pool deck. Well equipped with modern equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, bench press and weights. Open 8am to 10pm.
Complementary Resort shuttle to Beach Station & VivoCity running every half hour from 8am to 21.30pm
Tour desk
24 hour reception
24 hour reception at Village Sentosa
Rooms at Village Sentosa
This hotel is a large complex with 606 guestrooms. The resort is largely catered to families with lots of rooms set up as interconnecting family rooms.
Room Corridor
Room types
There are just 3 room types at the resort. Deluxe Rooms (for 2 people), Family Rooms and Deluxe Family Rooms (both family room types are 2 rooms interconnecting). Deluxe family rooms are slightly larger than the family rooms and have a bathtub in one of the rooms. We stayed in a standard Family room.
Family Rooms
Family Room
Many of the rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa are Family Rooms. The Family Rooms are essentially 2 rooms interconnecting with 2 doors, which you can keep open or closed for privacy.
Family room with open interconnecting doors
Each room has it’s own 49 inch TV, bathroom, shower and storage. There is also a safe to store valuables. The bed configuration can be set up as 2 doubles or one double and 2 singles.
We opted for 2 doubles and had a bedrail on one side of the kids bed (3 and 5 yrs old).
Room amenities
Family room
The rooms are compact, of minimalistic design and with neutral colours. There are large windows facing either the pool, island or sea. The windows have curtains and some great blackout blinds which made it easy for the kids to get to sleep.
Luggage Storage, tiny robes for the kids and amenities in the rooms
The rooms are very well designed with smart use of space, but keep in mind, they are very compact. There is no wardrobe, just a shelf to store a suitcase and a few drawers and hangers to store belongings.
A kettle, mugs, glasses and a jug for ice/water in the room as well an a small fridge (provided empty).
Luggage storage and small fridge upon room entry
No tea or coffee is provided in the room. Instead, on each floor, there is a vending machine for snacks and drinks, as well as a communal Tea / Coffee station.
Vending Machine and Ice Machine at each lift
Here, you can take what you need for your room and there is also a water / ice machine, which proved to be extremely handy to fill up water bottles with ice on our way out for the day or in the evening to have a cold drink.
They have the same set up at every lift and floor and everything was always well stocked.
Communal Coffee and Tea Station
Rooms are serviced daily and we found it to be very good with the rooms thoroughly cleaned each day.
In Room Dining is available across day and night and the menu can be seen on the hotel TV.
Bathroom
Bedroom with sliding door to the bathroom / luggage storage area
A clever feature in these rooms is that instead of plastic water bottles, each room is fittet with a Hyflux filtered water tap so it was great to refill our own water bottles. The water in Singapore is perfectly safe to drink anyway but this was a nice extra touch!
Hyflux Filtered Water Tap
The wash basin is located at the hallway, next to the luggage storage as you enter the room. The rain shower & Japanese Toto Washlet are in a separate cubicle.
Rain Shower and Toilet
Family Friendly facilities at Village Resort Sentosa
Despite being a hotel that is very geared around families – there is no kids club at this resort. That said, the hotel is very comfortable for families travelling. These are some of the family friendly facilities at Village Hotel Sentosa:
Shallow end of the Adventure Pool, at 0.50 cm
Convenient interconnecting room layouts, which was hard to find for a similar price point in Sentosa. While researching we found that most of the other larger resorts in Sentosa offered family rooms with all the beds in the one room, one bathroom and one tv, rather than in interconnecting but separate rooms.
Blackout blinds in the rooms
Bed rails and cots available upon request for smaller babies and infants (up to 9 kg only)
We found that the Swimming Pools were fantastic for kids, especially young ones. The Children’s Play Pool and part of the Adventure Pool are very shallow, between 30-50 cm.
The restaurant Native Kitchen has plenty of high-chairs, as well as a kids menu
Family Movie Nights at Village Hotel Sentosa
Family Movie Nights on Friday and Saturday nights by the Adventure Pool was a highlight and a great family activity organized by the hotel. They set up bean bags and provide you with mosquito patches and overall had a really great atmosphere.
At our time of stay there were no other kids activities running so it would be best to contact the hotel ahead of time as some activities may only run seasonally during the holidays.
What is nearby Village Hotel Sentosa
Attractions nearby Village Hotel Sentosa
Resort World Sentosa
Village Resort Sentosa is conveniently located a short walk away from Resort World Sentosa (10 minute walk or 1 stop on the Sentosa Express Monorail). At Resorts World Sentosa you can find Universal Studios, S.E.A Aquarium as well as many eateries, shopping outlets and the Casino.
There is so much more to the above though and so many attractions to suit all ages. Some popular ones include Adventure Cove Waterpark, Madame Tussauds as well as go karting at Hyperdrive, Indoor Skydiving at Ifly, ziplining at Mega Adventure Park and the night show at Wings of Time.
For a lazy day by the beach, walk at the back of the hotel to reach Palawan beach and stroll along to cross over the Big Bridge. There are many beach clubs along the beach to relax and have something to eat too.
Palawan Beach and the Big Bridge, only a few minutes walk away
Catching theSingapore Cable Caracross Sentosa and at the top of Mt Faber across to Singapore is also a must do attractions and a great way to see the island from a high viewpoint.
Singapore to Sentosa Cable Car – Image by Cedric Yong from Pixabay
VivoCity Shopping Mallis a huge shopping centre (the largest is Singapore) only 2 stops away on the monorail. From there you can catch the MRT (metro) into anywhere in Singapore.
Hotels nearby Village Hotel Sentosa
Sharing the same complex and pool as Village Hotel Sentosa (and part of the same hotel chain) is the Outpost Hotel. This hotel is more geared for couples / friends and has its own stunning Adults only Sky Pool and Bar with cool beats playing throughout the evening, called 1- Altitude Coast.
The Barracks Hotel – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc
Village Hotel Sentosa Review – Final thoughts
All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at Village Resort Sentosa! Would I come again to Village Hotel Sentosa? Absolutely YES! Would I recommend it for families? YES.
I highlighted the things that I loved about the Hotel and some things that I didn’t love so much about our stay below.
The standout feature for this resort is without a doubt the Pool Area. It is the most impressive pool set up that I have ever seen in a hotel. I loved that there were so many areas that you can go to, always sunbeds, you can move across to the 4 pools and they are all so different.
The design with immaculate gardens, coy ponds to the side and greenery that is on top over the roofs of the pool too, make this the highlight of the stay.
The greenery overtaking the roof of the Pool Deck on Level 3
Location we found to be really great. It was so easy to get around in Sentosa or into Singapore with the the Sentosa Express Monorail directly into Vivocity Shopping Centre and from there hop on the MRT.
What I didn’t like so much about Village Resort Sentosa
The main thing that we found a bit challenging during the stay was the size of the rooms. The rooms are quite compact and as we stayed just over a week – we had quite a bit of luggage and the lack of storage just meant we had things lying around everywhere.
We also had quite a bit of laundry to do (always the case with young kids) and there was little or no space to dry it. There was a laundry service at the hotel but it was quite pricey (charged per item) so we did not use it and arranged our own washing.
I think perhaps the room set up for this hotel is more geared towards guests staying for a short stay, rather than longer stays hence the smaller rooms.
Want to read Read More on How to Save Money when Travelling to Singapore? Article coming soon.
