School Holiday Activities Recipe for Success , Just Add Fun, Family and Fondue!

Another Christmas over and done and dusted.  Then there's is the dilemma of keeping the kids entertained and active over the school holidays.  Here are my picks.

Gold Coast City Council have a great "Active & Healthy Holiday Program" running each day over the holidays for all ages. Visit www.gcparks.com.au and click on "check on what is on offer here".  I was really surprised, there are a lot of fantastic activities this year for everyone for very little cost if any (a lot are FREE) from art workshops to skateboarding and slack lining and the new and "parkour" (great for my eldest who loves to run and jump obstacles) at the Southport Broadwater  Parklands to Sushi making, film making, bongo drumming, tie-dying and group fitness.  There is also a parents bootcamp twice a week.  My youngest, the budding master chef, is sushi making tomorrow.

"Flip Out" is  a massive trampolining playground at Tweed Heads.  Full of trampolines everywhere, this will get the heart rates pumping.  Heaps of fun. www.flipout.net.au

Gold Coast Iceland is the place to go to cool down.  Strap on a pair of skates and off you go.  Great prices and great in the fact that you only pay if you are skating.  Remember to bring warm clothes and for the adults not skating - grab a Zarraffas takeaway coffee just down the road. www.goldcoasticeland.com.au

Gold Coast Compound is the skateboarders and scooters paradise.  3 hours of jumping off ramps into foam pits is heaven. www.gccompound.com

Jigsaws are an awesome rainy day activity.  Kmart have 500 piece jigsaws for $1.00. Lay them out on the dining table and the whole family can enjoy the moment as they stop and place their pieces in the masterpiece.

Doodle Art is a great idea. A hive of busy activity these posters are.  I wouldn't know where to start.  They come with poster, and pens and keep kids busy over time. Eckersleys at Labrador, www.eckersleys.com.au have a good supply.  A vibrant store full of  arts and crafts supplies.  They do run workshops there as well.

Fishing, my favourite.  Grab a couple of fishing rods, bait and pack a picnic.  There are so many great fishing spots on the Gold Coast.  Pack swimmers and towels for a swim afterwards.

With beautiful weather and many of us going back to work  it is nice to catch up at the end of the day.  
Grab that esky, picnic rug and head to the park with skateboards, footballs  and dog etc in tow.  Pack some wraps, cooked chicken and salad and drink.  It is a beaut way to relax at the end of the day.   And for dessert, bring along fondue set with tea light candle (these can be bought at many kitchen shops or department stores).   Have the kids chop up strawberries, marshmallow, banana bread and of course bring along the chocolate to melt.  Enjoy xx

Chocolate Fondue

1 250 g good quality milk or dark chocolate
1/3 cup of thickened cream 
Strawberries, husked and sliced
Bananas or Kiwifruit, sliced
1 packet of marshmallows
Banana bread cubed


Place chocolate and cream in fondue bowl, light burner and stir until smooth.
Dip strawberries/marshmallows/banana bread in chocolate, yum (make sure you have plenty of forks!)