Room on the Broom at Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide city – Review
The bestselling picture book and TV short is now a magical theatre show, wowing Adelaide audiences.
by Carla Caruso
It’s great to see theatre venues opening up again after a difficult year. And kids’ show, Room on the Broom, is a fab way for theatre lovers to […]
Santa’s Wonderland at Wayville, from 10 – 28 December 2020 – Review
Amusement rides, stage shows, an ice-skating rink, tobogganing slides, and an activity trail … even the ‘grinchiest’ grinch will feel like all their Christmases have come at once at this festive spectacular.
by Carla Caruso
Maybe it’s because 2020 has been such a challenging year, but […]
South Australia’s first LEGO® Certified Store at Westfield Marion
Follow the yellow brick road (or at least, the colourful floor tiles) to an iconic new LEGO® store celebrating one of the globe’s most loved toy brands.
by Carla Caruso
Were your kids glued to the couch whenever LEGO Masters (and Hamish Blake) was on the telly? Then they’re […]
New-look Marion Outdoor Water Park with Pool and Waterslides
The Marion Outdoor Pool has been transformed into a $4.5 million water park including waterslides and super-fun water play.
Review by Carla Caruso
The new-look Marion Outdoor Pool has flung open its doors for spring-summer – and, as we found, time there now feels like a ‘mini holiday’ in […]
Me & My Shadow by Patch Theatre – Review
by Carla Caruso
Been a while since you’ve gone to a theatre show, care of COVID-19? Well, now’s the time to revel again in that feeling of sitting among other art lovers in a darkened theatre as colour and action unfold onstage – with groups socially distanced, of course.
Adelaide […]
Weekend in Wallaroo, including stay at Tarnasey Farm – Review
From farm tours to historic mines and beach fun, you won’t be short of things to do in this Yorke Peninsula town.
by Carla Caruso
I’d only ever bypassed the holiday town of Wallaroo before, never stayed. So, when a mum friend invited us along on a farm […]
Hahndorf Farm Barn at Hahndorf, South Australia – Review
Enjoy an overload of cuteness at the Hahndorf Farm Barn, which, uniquely, blends a children’s farmyard with a wildlife park.
by Carla Caruso
For a slice of farm life, close to the city, the Hahndorf Farm Barn is the place to be.
There’s just something about getting up close and […]
A self-guided tour of the City of Adelaide Clipper Ship – Review
Do you have a Titanic fan among your crew? They’ll love experiencing being inside a genuine 1864 sailing ship, right here in Port Adelaide.
by Carla Caruso
Port Adelaide is home to the world’s oldest surviving clipper ship, City of Adelaide. Yup, the world. And after […]
Hiking and biking at Mitcham’s Randell Park Reserve – Review
Sea views and quarry cliff faces are just a few of the things you’ll encounter at this reserve along the Mitcham Trail Network.
by Carla Caruso
There is nothing better than discovering new places to explore near home – and Randell Park Reserve is one I recently added […]
Tennyson Dunes Discovery Trail at Tennyson – Review
You’ll feel further away than the western suburbs when meandering through these ancient dunes … taking you direct to the beach!
by Carla Caruso
I’ve been wanting to check out Tennyson Beach for a while. So, when I was at a loose end one weekend, I found time to tick […]
Walking along the dam wall at Mount Bold Reservoir – Review
After a moody spot to revel in while the weather cools? This amazing feat of engineering is one of Adelaide’s best-kept secrets.
by Carla Caruso
Editor’s note: Thursday, 4 June 2020 – Mount Bold Reservoir has reopened following completion of SA Water’s dam safety upgrade.
There’s a spooky […]
Be a mini MasterChef with Sprout’s popular cooking classes at home
Run out of ‘isolation’ dinner ideas? SA cooking school Sprout Cooking School & Health Studio (run by MasterChef All-Star Callum Hann and mate Themis Chryssidis) has launched online cooking classes, Sprout at Home.
It’s like having the friendly Sprout demonstrators in your own kitchen, walking you […]
Hiking at Sturt Gorge Dam and Sturt Gorge Recreation Park | Review
After a low-key weekend activity? Try a walk to one of Adelaide’s biggest man-made structures.
by Carla Caruso
Often, we travel far and wide to experience awe-inspiring sights, not realising there are many hidden gems right near home.
Enter the Sturt Gorge Dam. When I read about […]
Brownhill Creek Recreation Park at Mitcham | Review
Looking to escape somewhere quiet? Try a nature hike at Mitcham’s Brownhill Creek Recreation Park.
by Carla Caruso
Last weekend, my family and I headed to Brownhill Creek Recreation Park for a leisurely hour-long wander. We parked just past the Brownhill Creek Tourist Park and road bridge and stuck to […]
Onward movie review | in cinemas 2 April 2020
Primary schoolkids – and beyond – will love Pixar’s latest original feature, starring two teen elves and celebs like Chris Pratt, Tom Holland and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
by Carla Caruso
Onward is the latest offering from Disney and Pixar (think Toy Story, Cars, Finding Dory), so you know you’re in […]
The African Elephant of My Heart: Dance Extravaganza kids’ show at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★ 4 Stars for animal-tastic fun for juniors
Ever wondered what your ‘animal spirit guide’ might be? While it sounds a bit Hollywood, the concept actually stems from a Native American tradition.
‘Totem animals’ are said to be animal guides […]
Nath Valvo’s Chatty Cathy comedy show at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★ ½ – 4.5 Stars for relatable LOLs for parents
I can thank my mum for putting me onto the comic fun that is Melbourne’s Nath Valvo. She cracked up over a TV skit he performed about his own mother saying, “I just […]
Funtopia Prospect in Sefton Park | Adelaide Indoor Playground Review
From a rock-climbing arena to an action-packed playground, Adelaide’s newest indoor adventure park and cafe has it all.
by Carla Caruso
Funtopia definitely is a utopia of fun, with a capital F.
The indoor adventure park – SA’s largest! – officially opened its doors in February 2020 and has […]
An Andrews Sisters Tribute at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★★ 5 Stars for wartime nostalgia
The forties are very much in vogue right now, with World War II books and movies (hello Jojo Rabbit) in the spotlight.
But for the Adelaide vocal trio, Three Little Sisters, taking inspiration from this era is nothing new.
For a […]
Matt Hale’s Feelgood Factory at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★½ – 4½ stars for energetic fun!
When I told my husband we were heading to a live hypnosis show, his first reaction was: “Oh, no, I don’t want to get picked out of the crowd!” His fears worsened at the theatre when he saw the […]
The Extraordinary Guests of Hotel Richmond at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★ 4 Stars for immersive illusion
My kids are fans of Netflix’s Magic for Humans, so I thought seeing a magic show during the Fringe would be just the ticket.
And The Extraordinary Guests of Hotel Richmond offers added perks – the chance to […]
Don’t Mess with the Dummies at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★ 4 Stars for ‘cool bananas’ circus comedy
When you walk into a theatre and find rolled-up socks and undies on the seats, you know you’re in for a different sort of show. (These, as we soon found out, were for throwing into the […]
Amity Dry’s Highway Superstar show at the Adelaide Fringe – Review
by Carla Caruso
★★★★★ 5 Stars for feel-good fun
Amity Dry gave a shoutout to all the “suburban mums” at her Adelaide Fringe show’s opening night (after revealing she drives a “daggy RAV4”).
And Highway Superstar feels designed exactly with suburban mums of my era in mind. (For the […]
Step back in time at some of Adelaide’s historic cinemas, from The Capri to the Mainline Drive-in
by Carla Caruso
Keen to check out all the latest Oscar-winning films? For an extra-glam outing, do it in style at one of Adelaide’s retro movie theatres.
Who doesn’t love a glitzy Hollywood awards night, from the SAGs to the Oscars […]
Happy Birthday Play School Exhibition at the SA Maritime Museum, Port Adelaide – Review
by Carla Caruso
Do names like Jemima, Big Ted and Bananas in Pyjamas take you back in time? Then you won’t want to miss this birthday exhibition while it’s in town.
Editors note: the exhibition has been extended until 31 January 2021.
I’ll be honest, […]
A day out in Glenelg, South Australia
by Carla Caruso
There’s no need to travel interstate for amusement fun – this bayside suburb has it in spades.
South Australia’s favourite palindrome is definitely G-L-E-N-E-L-G.
While I spent a lot of weekends there as a youngster, since having kids, it’s sometimes fallen off my radar … But not this summer!
With […]
Summer holiday escape to the Mornington Peninsula & Melbourne in Victoria
Australia’s answer to The O.C. (or The Hamptons) is just across the border – and you can combine it with a trip to Melbourne’s CBD.
by Carla Caruso
Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has been whispering to me for some time.
TV shows like Secret Bridesmaids’ Business and The Cry […]
Road trip to Port Augusta, South Australia
by Carla Caruso
Port Augusta proves a surprise winner for a quick getaway – and the towns along the way only add to the adventure.
I’ve always thought of Port Augusta as more of a gateway to the Outback and less of a travel destination. That was until I tagged along […]
Day-tripping in Marino, South Australia – including Marino Conservation Park and the new-look Bandon Terrace Reserve
by Carla Caruso
The suburb of Marino has it all for a day’s adventure, from a lighthouse hike to a rocky beach and a new seaside-themed playground.
For some reason, the suburb of Marino has always called to me like a sea […]
Marion Holiday Park – A Family Resort Holiday in Adelaide
by Carla Caruso
Escape the city at at this family-friendly resort, featuring pools, waterslides, palm trees and entertainment galore.
One of the less fun things about holidays can be the ‘getting there’ bit … from airport queues to the “Are we there yet?” cries from the back […]
Meet Alan the Alpaca – a star of Brownhill Creek Tourist Park
Not many local tourist parks can claim a pet mascot, except this one.
by Carla Caruso
*Editor’s note: Since posting this story, we’ve heard the sad news that Al passed away unexpectedly from a short illness in January. He’s much missed locally.*
From alpaca-themed kids’ parties to […]
Unley Museum’s New Touchscreen & Fun Exhibitions
Community museums are like ‘secret’ suburban gems. If you’ve got one nearby, it’s well worth dropping in … and it’s often FREE to do so, as with the Unley Museum.
by Carla Caruso
This treasure trove, run by the Unley Council, brings to life the area’s past and people via 12,000-plus […]
Mitcham Memorial Library & Brownhill Creek in Hawthorn
If you thought libraries were just for bookworms or cranky types who like to ‘shh’ your kids, think again. Libraries aren’t what they used to be – particularly Hawthorn’s Mitcham Memorial Library.
by Carla Caruso
Following a $6.5 million rebuild, the new-look Mitcham Library flung open its doors in January […]
MJ McInerney Reserve at West Croydon – Review, July 2019
by Carla Caruso
Just in time for the winter hols, the new play space at MJ McInerney Reserve in West Croydon has opened – and it’s a corker. Those out north-west, rejoice!
The revamped playground offers something for every age range, interest and season, and it’s all FREE […]
Winter holiday escape to the Grampians in Victoria
by Carla Caruso
For many, the winter holidays are a good excuse to jet off somewhere warmer like the Gold Coast or Bali. But for something a little different last-minute (and, okay, chillier), have you considered the Grampians, just across the border?
A mum friend suggested the Victorian region when […]
Nellie’s Garden, Mitcham Railway Station – Review July 2019
There’s nothing better than stumbling across hidden gems locally. And Nellie’s Garden, alongside the Mitcham Railway Station, is exactly one of those kinds of places…
Whether you’re in the area to catch a train or cycling with the kids to the nearby Barrens Reserve playground, it’s worth dropping […]
“One Tree Hill” hike from McElligott’s Quarry Reserve, Mitcham – Review July 2019
by Carla Caruso
It’s hard to believe that this nature hike, offering jaw-dropping Insta-worthy views, is only minutes from the city of Adelaide.
I’m a keen jogger … well, I was keener before I had my twin boys. Now the juggle of child-minding and work […]
Cunning Little Vixen | Review
Fun opera caper in forest.
Cunning Little Vixen is opera like you’ve never seen it before, with magical forest creatures, child performers, bright colours, and comedy – in a non-traditional setting.
As a parent, you hope to raise well-rounded children. And one way to help do that is to immerse them in […]
Newman’s Nursery Ruins Walk
Some mums on Mother’s Day like pancakes in bed or the latest celebrity fragrance. I alternatively used the day as an excuse to drag my family of four on a hike. But as I knew would happen, they enjoyed the experience just as much as I did!
I stumbled across information about the […]
MeowMe Cat Café in Parkside – Review
Editor’s Note: This café has unfortunately shut down as of 14 September 2020.
However, since August 2017, the cafe owners have found new homes for over 700 animals and they are continuing to rescue, foster and rehome cats, kittens, dogs and puppies in need through Paws & Claws Adoption.
If […]
