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 […]
Softfoot Alpaca Farm in Hindmarsh Valley (near Victor Harbor) and Brownhill Creek Tourist Park
Not many local Adelaide tourist parks can claim to have had a pet mascot, except this one. Read about Alan the Alpaca’ who lived at Brownhill Creek Tourist Park.
by Carla Caruso (2019)
*Editor’s note: Since posting this story, we’ve heard the sad news that Al […]
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
by Carla Caruso
The play space at MJ McInerney Reserve in West Croydon opened in July 2019 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 … fun park fees not required.
You know that dilemma […]
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 in Mitcham
It’s hard to believe that this nature hike, offering jaw-dropping Insta-worthy views, is only minutes from the city of Adelaide.
Review by Carla Caruso
I’m a keen jogger … well, I was keener before I had my twin boys. Now the juggle of child-minding and work means pulling […]
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 […]
Touch-a-Truck Marion – Play & Go Review
I never took much notice of the different modes of transport around me on the road … until I had twin boys! My pair are five and I’m now like a bus tour guide en route, pointing out Mack trucks, rally cars and the like in the traffic.
So, when […]
