New tricks in Newcastle: If you’ve ever harboured secret dreams of running away to join a circus you don’t have to run too far. Newcastle has two new adventure and circus skills courses that will teach you the tricks of the trade, from tight rope walking to juggling and riding a unicycle. Both activities are great for adults and kids alike, especially those hard to impress teenagers.
Story by Lee Atkinson

Home away from home: Finding the right place to stay is half the battle in planning the perfect (or near-perfect) family getaway. The kids need space, and so do their parents - so opt for an apartment or better still, a whole house. We've done it from New York to New Zealand and a few places in between - mostly with great success. Story by Lee Mylne

Australian stories

Family-friendly Ettalong: Often overlooked in favour of the busier, bolder and brassier Terrigal, Ettalong is a cheaper, more family-friendly option on the central coast of NSW. The sheltered beach offers great paddling for kids, there are no parking issues and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in the village that offer a decent feed at family friendly prices. Story by Lee Atkinson

Family Fun on Phillip Island: Little Penguins may be the star attraction as they waddle ashore at Summerland Beach each evening, but there's a host of things to see and do on Phillip Island, from koalas to mazes, an animal nursery at the Churchill Island heritage farm, fishing, and of course motor racing (even of the go-kart kind). Story by Lee Mylne

Queensland's Family Friendly Islands: Whether they are sliding down a towering sand dune, or gently cradling a newly-laid turtle egg in their hand, or learning to fly the trapeze, kids of all ages will find something to challenge them on a Queensland island holiday. The waters off Queensland 's coast, from Cairns to the Gold Coast, are studded with islands providing exciting and interesting options for family holidays.
Story by Lee Mylne

Canberra Capers: Hand-feeding a Bengal tiger – even through the fence – is a breath-taking experience. And it's not one you'd expect to have in Canberra . But at the National Zoo and Aquarium, feeding a chicken leg to tigers, lions and cougars is all part of the up-close encounters with Australia 's largest collection of big cats. Visit the national capital and you'll be surprised at how much of it is great fun for kids.
Story by Lee Mylne

Sydney for Kids: There's always something to do, somewhere to go, someone to gawk at in Sydney . So take the kids along and discover the family-friendly side of the big city's myriad attractions and colourful characters. Story by Lee Mylne

School's Out: Don't let the familiar refrain "I'm bored" make the school holidays seem longer than they are. For some advice and ideas on how to keep the kids amused, here's a guide to smooth sailing over the holidays. Story by Lee Mylne

Father's day: Treat Dad to something special on Father's Day weekend. 10 great holidays and getaways your Dad will love. Story by Lee Atkinson

Sydney's family freebies: Christmas sprees can break the budget, but with a little bit of imagination you can enjoy the Harbour city on a shoe-string this summer. A top 10 list of family freebies. Story by Lee Atkinson

International stories

Monks and Manga: nowhere offers instant stimulation like Tokyo, which makes it a close-to-perfect place to take two almost grown up kids who know it all.  From the bright lights of Tokyo’s Shibuya to the tranquil delight of Kyoto’s temples, we spend 10 days exploring Japan’s cultural highlights with two teenagers in tow.
Story by Lee Atkinson

Kiwi Adventures: Quad-biking in Taupo, parasailing in the Bay of Islands, zorbing in Rotorua or horse-riding almost anywhere are just some of the ways to get teens out of the hotel and into the great outdoors. New Zealand has plenty to keep boredom at bay for kids of all ages. Story by Lee Mylne

Around Italy with the kids: Four cities, two kids, several train trips, a bunch of two-star hotels and a lot of worn shoe leather. Gondola rides, markets, pizza stands, street theatre and more. Story by Lee Mylne

Dazzle your teens in NYC: The bright lights of Times Square - just a few blocks from our rented apartment - remain the most dazzling memoriy of New York for my teenage daughters. New York, it turns out, is extremely family-friendly. Story by Lee Mylne

Dropping in on Disney : It's the giant spinning teacups that clinch it. Or Minnie's red-and-white polka-dot dress. Or maybe Mickey's smart little red car. Or my first sight of Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the entrance to Fantasyland. It's hard to pick the moment when a reluctant parent who had never had a desire to visit Disneyland suddenly “got it”. Perhaps, in fact, it was Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams. I'd seen other parades, but never anything like this.
Story by Lee Mylne

Colorado Cool for Kids: Grizzlies, pandas, snow cubs and bears...kids from as young as three will find a ski class for them in Colorado's mountain resorts.
Story by Lee Mylne

Child's Play in Hong Kong : It's hard to impress today's cool kids. So when the jaw dropped and just word came out – Wow! – I knew we'd made the right choice. Hong Kong is one of the most impressive big cities in the world, but it was the culture rather than the skyscrapers that got through to the kids.
Story by Lee Mylne

A Natural for Kids: Even from a distance we could see the seal pup, just minutes old, lying on a rocky headland as its mother dealt with persistent aggressive seagulls. Ten minutes earlier, heading to Westport , we'd detoured to follow a signpost to the seal colony at Cape Foulwind. Long recognised as a great family destination, New Zealand offers quite a few surprises and more than enough to keep kids of all ages happy.
Story by Lee Mylne