We arrived to our hotel around dinner time Friday night as we left after work. It was a bit of a drive but a fun adventure. Once checked into our hotel my girlfriend and I attempted to have dinner at the resturant but that was not to be as they had hit their limit for diners due to covid restrictions. It was suggested we have room service instead and after a big day, a car trip that was rather a good idea.
The food at the Comfort Inn Mudgeeis fabulous and so yummy! The restaurant is called Palate and if you can have the barrmundai it was AMAZING!
Our room was clean and tidy, and the beds are super comfortable. It was a little older but nothing horrible, we stayed two nights and it suited our needs and was just right. Perfect place for a getaway or a stop over with the family if you are travelling.
My friend booked us into a wine tour for our Saturday and I must say after we got back to our hotel we were rather buggered from all the tasting we had done. A lie down and rest was in order.
We were so exhausted from visiting wineries that we decided to do room service again and watch Netflix. I know this might not sound adventurous but if you are mum to three kids, who also works and has no down time this was just what I needed. Plus my mate enjoyed just not being on call to anyone too.
If you too would love to do a wine tour of Mudgee I would strongly recommend Maritza from Country Escape Tours. Maritza was fun, personable and very knowledgeable about the region and wines. It was a lot of fun and everyone on the bus got along and had a wonderful time.
Sunday we decided to drive to Rylstone to check out the shops and have lunch. It was fun as I bought the kids some fun pants and before we left Mudgee I also got the twins (jackets from a second hand shop) and Alex (hot wheel cars and tracks) some presents .
Our lunch while in Rystone was dumplings…yes dumplings. 29 Nine 99 Dumplings was a great find and I must say we will go back. If you do want to eat at this resturant they only take cash so make sure you have enough on you to ensure you will be able to have enough dumplings…they are yummy and I could have had a few more! We cannot get this in the mountains so it was a great treat. I did send a picture to hubby to make him jealous too.
After lunch, we slowly made our way back home and on the way, I was alerted to the drama that awaited me. One girl had accidentally hit the other in the eye with the Wii controller…this ended up with the injured child having a cut to the top of the eye, it is swollen and very black. Also, the youngest was completely distraught with the fact that mummy went away for two days, and was extremely upset and kept on wanting me.
Coming home was nice but I think I could have done with more than two days away.
Have you enjoyed time away lately? Did you arrive to disasters at home? I do hope that your escape was relaxing. Mine was and I do think I need to go away more to have some time out.
The other weekend hubby and I went away for the weekend.
It was a lovely escape to the city for just the two of us.
No kids were coming!
Yes, you read that right, we finally got alone time.
Before I went away for this magical alone time (well not completely alone, I would be with hubby) I was telling another mum at the school about getting some time away for just us. She was very happy that we were finally getting away. She was as excited as I was.
This other mum then told me that in May that she is off all by herself to a retreat in Bali. Yes, she is going to a different country for a full week all by herself. This mum also has three kids and is desperate for a break also.
My dream holiday alone.
I was happy about our trip away for the weekend, but found myself rather envious of this mum’s trip. I wanted to do the same! Maybe one day???? (I was excited for my friend too, and thrilled she was getting some rest and relaxation)
In the news was an article about another mum that books herself into a hotel twice a year. She does this alone! Yes another person going away all by herself! I read this article before I heard about my mate’s trip to Bali.
The article from Essential Kidssaid that having a break by yourself makes this mum a better parent. I am sure time alone would help any busy parent.
I have caught myself drooling over holidays, trips away, having fantasies about sitting on the beach sipping my cocktail while the kids are entertained in a kids club.
I would just be content in having a holiday at home as long as the following happened; I could sleep in, I would be able to do my own projects and the house was quiet. I think to get my wish list travelling somewhere else might be necessary.
The weekend away with hubby was nice and relaxing. We had a lovely dinner out on Friday night, and finally eating at a new trendy restaurant. It was a nice change to not have to factor in if the food will be okay for kids before we book for dinner.
Not being on call for others was nice, no yelling, nobody saying mumma all the time, or yelling mummy at the top of their lungs. No fights to break up and no issues to deal with. Rather peaceful actually.
Once we got home the tension in my neck and jaw started to set in. The kids started arguing, I found out they hadn’t been very good on the day we came home and then they started harassing me again about everything and nothing.
It did feel like I hadn’t been away at all.
Maybe I need to go away for more than two nights?
I think I need to look into a Bali retreat like my other friend has done. Would a week somewhere relaxing make me feel better?
Would coming home to energetic kids bring all the tension back instantly? I seriously need to look at a week long retreat somewhere…..send in ideas people!
I know the kids were excited to see me and hubby, and this is a nice thing. Cuddles, kisses and more were greatly appreciated. The only thing that I can live without is the chaos.
Do you have time out on your own? If so has it helped you to have more energy and feel better?
Being a full time mum and carer to three kids is exhausting. Any other job you get a holiday, however being a parent there is no sick leave, holidays or breaks.
Down time is needed, but for some a night out or weekend away might the only break they get.
I have managed to be away for a few nights for a blogging conference, basically just a weekend away and then back to mummy duties.
Are you able to manage time away just for you?
How long have you been away for? How did the kids cope without you, were they happy when you were home?
Sign up for my newsletter
Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up for my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.
42,000 years into the past to be precise. How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world.
Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world. Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
Woolly Mammoths Mural. Illustration by Velizar Simeonovski, The Field Museum.
So where are we off to that requires us to flash back thousands of years?
We are having a sneak peek at the Australian Museum’s latest exhibition. Yes, we are visiting a museum and in a way that means we are being whisked away in time. The kids, hubby and I are going to learn about the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age
The Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age is an exhibition that is in partnership with Destination NSW, the Australian Museum (AAM’s) major exhibition will feature Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth, discovered in 2007 by a Siberian herder and his two sons. This will be the first time the near fully intact baby mammoth has been on display in the southern hemisphere.
Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth.
Fancy having history come to life and getting closer to what these animals would have been like.
Australia didn’t have mammoths, so this might be your only chance to see them.
What will you see at the exhibition?
Developed by the internationally renowned Field Museum in Chicago, the exhibition includes a rich collection of fossils, casts and cave drawings showing evidence of how early humans hunted and honoured these massive creatures. Mammoths lived alongside humans for thousands of years and were a source of food for early people, as well as artistic inspiration. Artwork dating from between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago will also be on display in the form of miniature carvings made of bone, stone and mammoth ivory from mammoth tusks. How amazing is it that this artwork has survived.
Did you know? Mammoths are an extinct group of elephants of the genus Mammuthus, whose ancestors migrated out of Africa about 3.5 million years ago.
This image of a human next to mammoths gives you an idea of how big they were. I must say I wouldn’t want to be next to one, it would be rather scary.
I cannot wait to show the kids these amazing and enormous animals. I’m also keen to learn more at the exhibition about what life must have been like alongside this massive creatures. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be close to a mammoth and to learn more about the time, the animals and much more. Make sure that you don’t miss this amazing exhibit from the Australian Museum.
What are the dates of The Mammoths Giant of the Ice Age Exhibit
The Mammoths Giants of the Ice Age is open from 19th November 2017 to 13th May 2018
Book your ticket today to see the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age at the Australian Museum.
Get tickets to see this amazing event
You can purchase tickets online at the Australian Museum website. Online prices: Adult $10 AM Member, $20 non-Member, Concession $8 AM Member, $16 non-Member, Child 5+ $6 AM Member, $12 non-Member. Kids under 5 go free. Having this on the list of things to do for the soon to be summer school holidays is a good idea. I always like to have some good places to take the kids that they don’t normally go to often. A museum is a good excuse to stay in the city, relax at a swish hotel and have dinner out. Follow the blog on Instagram to see all the updates at the exhibition and while we are in the city.
A big thank you to The Australian Museum for our invite to look at the exhibit before it officially opens. We are all very excited and cannot wait.
Sign up to my newsletter
Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up to my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.
I have treated the family to an overnight getaway. I am so excited and for a while it was a mystery to hubby where we were going. However this did not last long as I needed to tell him due to logistics and how we got to our destination.
Where are we off to you ask?
We are going to be glamping on Cockatoo Island this October Long Weekend. We are off this Sunday and back home on the holiday Monday. The twins have no idea where we are going and they will be so excited to find out that are staying on an island in a tent in Sydney Harbour! Cannot wait to see the kids faces.
The tents on Cockatoo Island
Why Glamping?
I have been camping and know that you need to bring quite a bit of stuff with you. With two adults and two kids the things to pack would be extreme. It is just for one night and I wanted to make things easy on us. Especially me and hubby.
The tents are provided as well as the beds, linen, towels, pillows and a couple extra things. This cuts down on what we have to pack. Ideal really for a short getaway.
Why Cockatoo Island?
I wanted to go away but by the time you factored into plane fares, rental car and of course hotel stay it adds up for just a weekend away. Thousands of dollars for say a two day getaway. Nope not interested in spending that much. Cockatoo Island was reasonable in costs and the best thing is that we can drive to the city, park the car and get onto a ferry and be there easily. No extra payments for hire car, or flights. It is a holiday somewhere we have never been. It will be like we have travelled but we are still in the same city.
Cockatoo Island was cheap considering it has wonderful views and has a lot on offer, I wish I could have booked another night time did not let me (I wanted to do it on the long weekend and could only get Sunday night so that is great and happy with that. Was aiming for Saturday but that was full). There are tours that you can do yourself or have a guide, play tennis or just relax. There are also plenty for the kids to do. Check out the video below:
Cockatoo Island also offers great education programs for kids. Below is the video for Primary children but they also have a program for secondary students. This looks amazing and what a great place to make history and facts come to life. I cannot wait to experience it and share it with the kids.
More images and stories to come soon about our weekend away.
Have you been glamping? Did you glamp on Cockatoo Island? Was it for a night or longer? Let us know how it went. The school holidays are nearly over and we have had a jam packed two weeks. This is a perfect way to end the holidays and relax with the family before school resumes.
How were the holidays for you? Hope you are relaxed and have managed okay.
Hubby and I took the kids away for the weekend. Well it was mainly due to winning a competition from BoundRound, but I am claiming it was all me to the kids.
So what did I win?
Well I was lucky to get a family pass to Taronga Zoo and two night’s accommodation at The Cremorne Point Manor. What an amazing prize and how lovely that we were able to stay close by when visiting the zoo.
What was it like?
Hubby took Friday off to make it a long weekend, and after kids finished school that day we continued onto the city to check into the hotel. As we drew nearer to the Cremorne Point Manor the houses got more stately and larger.
I would say they were not houses, more like mansions. Some were just amazing and I was drooling all the way to our destination. When I make it rich, I know where I want to buy some real estate. Pity that my starting bid would never be close enough! I suppose I need to keep on dreaming.
On arrival the staff at The Cremorne Point Manor were lovely and the place, room and everything was just wonderful. The room was amazing and just right for us and the twins.
Our room at the Cremorne Point Manor
We stayed in the family suite and it was just perfect. It gave the kids space and us as well. It was so nice to have our room separate from the kids. The blurb below is from the Cremorne Point Manor’s website:
“The family suite consists of a Queen Bed in one room, and a bunk bed and single bed in the other room. With an ensuite bathroom. This is a perfect room for a family or group of friends. The doors can be closed to allow Parents some peace or left open if you have small children.”
Kids room at the Cremorne Point Manor
Dinner on Valentines
After we settled into our room we rested and then changed to go out to dinner. We decided to have dinner at Mosman Rowers as it was close and caught the ferry one stop and walked the rest of the way.
While we were waiting for the ferry we spied a possum that was not shy about people and daylight. He was busy munching on leaves and other plants and was not bothered by people passing or the kids running around. This possum allowed us to take some pictures of it and seemed to be posing for the camera.
The posing possum
Waiting for the ferry
Waiting to go to dinner
The twins had never been on a ferry before so this was a great experience. It was a shame we were only going one stop but they had fun none the less. Dinner was very tasty at Mosman Rowers and the mains came out fast.
Dinner at Mosman Rowers
However there was a big mix up with dessert for hubby and I and we waited a while and he finally got his and they forgot about mine. We could not wait as it was very late at this stage. When you have kids that are tired and over it, you have to call it a night. On the whole it was good but was upset about missing out on my much waited for dessert. The lady that served us at the bar, gave us a free wine each while we waited, and we thanked her, although we had to leave due to the kids.
Luck or planned? Our number for dinner was 14 and it was the 14th, Valentines actually
We decided to walk back to the hotel and as it was not that far was a good idea. It was a balmy and nice night to have an evening walk. Although kids were tired and whingey they did well to get back to the hotel on foot. I think they loved the adventure.
Our day at Taronga Zoo
The kids were taken with the ferry from yesterday but to get one to the zoo we would need to get it from Circular Quay. As we were only a 10 minute drive and the weather was rainy the decision was to drive. Driving also allowed us to be relaxed at the end of the day knowing that we could get in the car and drive quickly back to the hotel.
Just arrived at the zoo
The twins were very excited about going to the zoo and have told everyone at Kindy that they were going. I also have a song in the car called, “Daddies taking us to the Zoo tomorrow” then it says, “Mummies taking us to the zoo tomorrow” So of course they were singing it all the time. So yes they were very happy to go and see all the animals.
What animals did the kids want to see?
One animal that was on the list to see was a unicorn. I did mention that this might not be there. Yes I know it would not be there, rather than might. I was trying to break it to them gently. So as you probably guessed, we did not see a unicorn. However others that were on the list that we did see were: Zebra, Elephant, Hippo, Monkeys and Crocodiles, and so on.
What was it like when we got to the zoo?
As it was a day of rain and very overcast, I borrowed some umbrellas from the hotel. The morning is when it rained the most but it was mostly heavier drizzle and not that bad. Just enough to get you wet. After a while it passed and most of the day it was not raining so not too bad considering. Hubby purchased a rain coat from the Zoo shop and we were right to go about seeing all the animals.
When we first arrived we went on the sky safari which is the cable car that gives you a bird’s eye view of the zoo and all the animals. The kids loved it and we did a round trip.
What shows/talks did we see?
We went to the elephant talk, the seal show and the penguin talk.
Penguins
How did the kids go walking everywhere?
The kids were very good. I was wearing my fitbit for both days and the day at the zoo I walked well over 10,000 steps so that must have been for hubby and the twins also. Although they were very good they did whinge about their feet and how tired they were. These are the things that were said!
“My feet are sore!”
“My feet are on fire!”
“When are we going back to the hotel mummy?” All while saying what animal they want to see next.
What was the food like?
I did think that it would all be deep fried and little choice of what to get. Mostly my experience with these types of outings I am annoyed at the lack of healthy choices.
Taronga Zoo had plenty of fresh and healthy options. They had yummy and tasty food that hubby and I were raving about how great it was and a pleasant change.
My only disappointment was due to the kids complaining that they were hungry and then not eating anything that was given to them.
We ate at The Taronga Food Market. Hubby and I had the pulled beef chipotle burritos and they were so yummy I could have had another. Kids had a salad and an apple with fruit juice.
There was fruit to pack so you can go and see the rest of the zoo, or you can sit and have lunch if you wish, they have thought of everyone.
Zoo Shop
A word of warning. Make sure to keep an eye on your kids. Mine were so taken with the moving toy animals (tigers) in the window that they fell. One of my girls had to pat them and this made it fall! Yes they are life sized and we had to get two staff members to help us put them back where they should be. Great shop but such a joy for kids. I only took my eyes of them for a second. You have been warned! Staff were great about it, and I’m sure this happens all the time from their reaction.
The kids and I waiting for dinner at The Oaks
Dinner after the zoo
After the zoo we were very tired as you can imagine. We walked all of the zoo and kids were very good although at times annoying due to them whinging but very good considering they are not used to walking great distances.
We got to the car and then made our way back to the hotel. After such a big day, we had a rest and then showered and got ready to go to dinner.
Our dinner destination was The Oaks. It was lovely and although they said they were not very busy they looked hectic. I suppose since there were still tables available in the courtyard and elsewhere that might be the case.
Kids had a cheese pizza, hubby had a steak and I had a burger. I think after such a big day out exploring we were all very hungry. Service was great, and there was nothing to complain about. We had a great time and it was a good place to get a quick meal.
Inside the Cremorne Point Manor
Thanks to everyone for making our weekend getaway possible
I would like to thank BoundRound, The Cremorne Point Manor and Taronga Zoo for making this weekend possible. It was amazing that I won, and could take the kids to the zoo and staying so close made it much easier, especially when we live away from the city. It was a lovely to give the kids this experience and I would love to do it again one day soon.
