Having never been to anything even remotely “Monster Truck” we investigated what we could expect by trawling through YouTube videos. What a spectacle this promised to be.. We were pretty excited to be heading to AAMI Park to see the transformation of the soccer pitch and really see what all the hype was about!!!

The stadium was filled with “super fans”… They all looked and sounded like they knew exactly what was going on, who was who, and what was what! The atmosphere was electric, our hearts were bursting…

‘The 3.5 meter tall, 5 ton machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over or smash through! Monster Jam provides quality entertainment tailored perfectly for your family’s budget, and these colourful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old’

The trucks stormed out onto the dirt track, to pumping music, and fireworks. People were on their feet, waving flags, and screaming!! Time trials began and created mayhem in the seats, the kids were going nuts!   “Who’s gonna win mum?” was shrieked many times over the incredible sound of the revving engines. The noise was unbelievable… You could feel it right inside your chest!

The trucks were as enormous as the sound coming out of them, and to see them gliding through the air and flipping upside down was like nothing we have ever experienced. Honestly, who knew the Wilson’s would become Monster Truck super fans?

The whole show is electrifying; the trucks, the motorbike stunts, the commentary, the crashes, the flips, the fireworks; they all made Saturday a night to remember!

The tour is heading to Sydney next, so all you Sydney siders look out. Arrive early for some photos with the trucks, and to get some autographs! Grab your ear defenders, a wallet full of cash, research your trucks and charge up your phone so you can score your favourite trucks online right there in your seat! (info at the stadium)

Another awesome Expat Adventure Down Under!!

Olivia x

The Wilson’s Reviews…..

★★★★★ “I LOOOOOOVED IT, ESPECIALLY WONDER WOMAN AND THE MOTORBIKES!” POPPY- HEAD NOISE MAKER, WILSONS OF OZ

★★★★★ “CAN WE GO AGAIN, AND BUY A T-SHIRT, AND A SLUSHIE?” MONTY – DIRECTOR OF ENTERTAINMENT, WILSONS OF OZ

★★★★ “THE MOST EXHILARATING SHOW I HAVE BEEN TO IN A LONG TIME” – MRS W – NEWEST MONSTER TRUCK FAN – WILSONS OF OZ

★★★★★ “WOW, I WANT ONE” – MR W – POTENTIAL MONSTER TRUCK PURCHASER, WILSONS OF OZ

All the info

Next stop Sydney – Saturday 21st October Tickets here

“All the access and fun begins with the world famous Monster Jam Party in the Pits where fans can get up close to the superstars of the show, take pictures with the Monster Jam Trucks, get autographs with the drivers & more!”

The truck and driver details so you’re ready for action!

Featuring: Australia’s very first Monster Jam University® trained female Monster Jam® driver – Rhianna Buchanan in Wonder Woman, Grave Digger (Adam Anderson), Max-D (Neil Elliott), Dragon (Jon Zimmer), Blue Thunder (Randy Brown in Melbourne and Sydney and Chad Fortune in Brisbane), El Toro Loco (Marc McDonald), Monster Mutt Dalmatian (Candice Jolly), Monster Energy (Todd LeDuc), Megalodon (Alex Blackwell), EarthShaker (Bari Mussawir). Truck/driver lineup subject to change.

For anyone looking to come to Melbourne on holiday with the kids, this is the article for you! Amanda from Entertain My Tribe has listed her top “sees” whilst visiting the most liveable city in the world!

Melbourne has always been one of our favourite places to visit. The restaurants, the trendy cafes, the laneways with street art, the shopping – we love Melbourne. But taking the kids for a family holiday to Melbourne was certainly a different experience. The kids loved Melbourne just as much as their folks do! If you’re thinking of a trip to Melbourne – here’s the highlights from our visit.

Royal Melbourne Show

If you’re thinking of visiting Melbourne – the spring school holidays are a fab time to go with events like the Royal Melbourne Show taking place. We’ve been to our fair share of shows and showgrounds and we have to say this show was absolutely excellent! We went to Flinders St Station and bought a Myki pass which got us around on the trains and trams the whole week. We were able to board a train that went straight to Showground Station and the absolutely amazing part was we didn’t have to walk far to find the entrance to the show – it was right there on the platform!

We quickly made our way to the Entertainment Precinct where we watched Hi-5 perform and then had a meet and greet with them after the show. In this area we found rides, the Family Fun Pavilion and the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion. We ventured down to the farmyard area and played some side shows along the way. The kids loved patting the baby goats and lambs wandering around the farmyard nursery.

Of course we had to grab some showbags and then we caught a live motorbike show in the main arena before heading back to the train.

Brighton Beach and St Kilda Esplanade

We really wanted to visit the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes and loved spending some time walking along the beach, collecting shells and posing for photos in front of our favourite boxes. The bathing boxes are all painted and decorated in different colours and themes which the kids found delightful.

We caught a train to Middle Brighton station and walked a few blocks down to the beach to check them out. We walked back to Brighton Beach station and hopped off at Balaclava where we navigated our way to a tram that dropped us off at St Kilda esplanade.

St Kilda has markets all along the esplanade on a Sunday so this trip could be best done on a Sunday. If you pack a towel and swimmers it’s a great spot for a dig in the sand. We grabbed lunch on the esplanade at Republica which had a delicious menu and a great kids menu too.

We finished off with a couple of rides at Luna Park and then jumped on a tram that took us straight back to Flinders Street.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

This was high on our list of places to visit with the tribe and it didn’t disappoint! As soon as we arrived at the zoo we found the Safari Station and jumped on board the safari bus to see the animals out roaming around the grounds. We saw so many animals from hippopotamus’, to rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes, camels, buffalo and antelope. We got to get up close to the animals and watch them from the safety of the open air bus which was a fantastic experience.

We enjoyed wandering around the rest of the zoo to see all of the animals, but what made it really great was every area had interactive areas for the kids to stop and play. At the cheetah enclosure they got to draw cheetahs on the chalkboard and see how fast a cheetah can run. At the monkey enclosure they got to be monkeys themselves and swing on the ropes. There was a great playground and some huts to either sit and eat lunch or just play right outside the Australian animals section of the zoo. The best part about visiting Werribee Open Range Zoo was in the school holidays – kids are free making it a really affordable day out for the tribe.

Mornington Peninsula and Royal Botanic Gardens

We decided to hire a car and go somewhere a little further out of Melbourne and for us it was an easy choice – a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula. We drove into Mornington and came across Mornington Park right on the foreshore and much to our tribe’s delight – it was a pirate ship park. This lovely park was a great place to stretch our legs and get some fresh air before a walk along the beach where we discovered some more cute bathing boxes.

We had a delish brunch at Boyz 4 Breakie which was tribe friendly with colouring booklets ready for us as soon as we found a table.

After we’d explored Mornington we decided to head to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne which was about half way between Melbourne and Mornington. We walked to the Woodlands Picnic area which has a great kids park. You could have easily enjoyed a longer day at the Botanic Gardens with lots of interesting walks and exhibits happening.

We had a fantastic time in Melbourne with the kids and loved navigating our way around on the trams to see more of the city.

This article was originally posted on Entertain My Tribe, and has been reposted with permission. 

When your parents announce excitedly that they’re coming to stay, your heart obviously skips a beat! We miss my parents dearly, and really look forward to them visiting. The children are so excited and we’re all looking forward to sharing our new life in Melbourne with them. We get to show them around, send them off on their own adventures, book experiences for them, and show them how best to see what Australia has to offer.

Mum and Dad are coming for ten weeks… Yup, ten weeks….  Ten weeks of 6 people in the house!! My skipping heart turns into a racing heart, racing dangerously fast, so fast in fact that I think it may have turned into palpitations. Where’s the gin?

We’re on countdown… we have a little less than 6 weeks until the folks arrive in Melbourne!! The countdown is a happy one, but I feel like I have so much to do in preparation…. The children’s table manners being the main priority!!!

My parents live a very serene existence on the coast in sleepy South Wales. Typical retirees, they do whatever they want, whenever they want. They eat what they want, snooze when they want and sit in relative silence most of the day reading newspapers and watching tennis, interspersed perhaps with a trip to M&S for a coffee and a mooch. (Well, that’s what I imagine they do..) So, coming here, throwing themselves into the Wilson’s chaotic life, is bound to be a shock to the system. I am however, determined to make it as serene and “holiday” like for them both… for us all…..

The best thing us ‘expats’ can do before guests arrive is plan how it’s going to work; how we’re all going to get along, being thrown together under one roof for an extended period of time.. (I’m sweating again).  I’ve created space for Mum and Dad to use to get some peace and quiet when they need it. They will have their own lounge upstairs, the main bedroom with an en-suite and a dressing room; thinking about it, they could have all their meals served up there too! *Kidding, can’t wait to see you guys!!! 

We’ll share boring tasks like grocery shopping and chores; but most importantly we will share time, and we’ll share the children. The children will love having someone else to watch their dancing, and to read them stories over and over again. They’ll be thrilled to have someone to play board games with, and give them their undivided attention. To have their grandparents drop them off at school and be there to pick them up when the bell rings will be such a treat. They’ll all enjoy those special play times, bath times, and days out that we miss out on being so far apart. It’s not often we get to share family meals, make memories, and be together on Christmas day, but are just a few of the things that make this expat life so worth while; and what goes toward making “expat family” time that little bit more special.

Life is short, we live squillions of miles apart, and we long for the free babysitters to arrive… I mean…… to have this quality time together; it just needs to be planned properly so as we can all make the most of it…. I am determined to make this summer as harmonious as possible for everyone; I’m also determined never to utter the words “when you’re under my roof!!!”

As long as the kids bloody behave we’ll be ok!!! Wish me luck!!

Olivia xx

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humour, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly…. cookies!! – Rudy Giuliani

What have we planned so far? 

Bay Fish N Trips – We have booked a Casual Charter for ‘Grandad,’ departing from the Mornington Peninsula.

Weekday – TRIP TIME 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM (5 HRS) – BBQ included. Adult $85 Senior/Student $80 Child $75 (14 years & under)

Trip to Tasmania – The folks will grab fairly cheap flights over to Hobart with Jetstar (around $350 total).

The famous Melbourne Star  is always on the list for visitors, as is the incredible Eureka Sky Deck  where you get the most wonderful view of the whole of Melbourne!

After reading Miss Morni Penni’s blog post about the Red Gum BBQ we will definitely be heading over there for a feast at some point.

High Tea at the Westin looks amazing and something I am desperate to treat mum to!

I may use the “free babysitters” and head out alone on the Chocolate, Queen Victoria Market, Donuts and Coffee Walking Tour, Unless M+D are really well behaved and then I might let them come…

Anyone with more ideas or tips on places to take the folks, let me know!! We have a good few weeks to fill…

It was always going to happen, but it was much quicker than I expected; after only a few short months in Melbourne, I started to notice that my eldest son (then aged 3) was starting to sound different. His cute little cockney accent (he was born in London) was starting to sound distinctly Aussie. It was a sure sign that he was adapting to his new home. Which is great! But I wasn’t ready for it just yet. We were still new here, we might not even stay!

It’s one of the questions family and friends often ask on the phone; “have the kids got an Aussie accent yet?” And me, in denial, I would say no; but I knew I was lying. Then a few weeks ago, I couldn’t lie anymore. I was on the phone to one of my oldest friends. She has known my son since he was born, so when he asked to say hello I thought nothing of handing him the phone for a quick chat. But when he returned the phone to me she came right out with it: “Oh my God, he’s Australian” she said. “He sounds so different”. And just like that, the game was up.

I was struck by the surprise, almost sadness, in her voice. She didn’t recognize him. And right there and then it dawned on me that my kids are Australian now. Of course, it’s not just the sound of their voices that will make them Australian, but it will be one of the first things that identifies them as such. If any proof were needed that kids are adaptable, moving to another country shows just how quickly they learn and adjust to their surroundings.

Coming to Australia it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that it will be just like home, with better weather. But, of course, it’s not; it’s a foreign country with its own culture, customs, and language. And if any proof of that were needed, pay attention to your kids. Within a few weeks of getting off the plane, they’ll most likely be walking the walk and talking the talk Australian style.

I’m not complaining. It’s great. It tells me that they’re settling in, and they’re happy. But I would be kidding myself if I didn’t admit to feeling slightly sad that they won’t grow up with my Scottish culture (a tiny wee bit of tartan!) in their veins. Classic “grass is greener” syndrome! Really, I think what I miss for them is the connection to my roots. When my dad was alive we all rolled our eyes when he started reminiscing (most memorably over Christmas dinner), recounting the old times, and my mum would groan at the prospect of yet another “history lesson”. Ironically, I would give anything to hear those stories again. And for my sons to experience them, but more importantly to understand them. I’m determined that they will know Scotland, but in reality they will see its customs and culture through visitors’ eyes.

But for any sadness I feel, I’m excited for the life they will live here. Yes, they’ll barrack for a footy team, the Glasgow Patter will be like a foreign language to them, they’ll eat lollies not sweets, Christmas will be in summer, and I will forever nag them to wear their shoes despite their preference for going barefoot with their peers. They will probably even cheer for Australia in the Olympics – not sure if I’m ready for that just yet! The truth is Australia is a great place for kids to grow up. Every time I see them running around on the beach without a care in the world I know that we are lucky to be here. They will grow up with experiences that I would have dreamed of as a child. It’ll be up to me to keep a wee Scottish flame alive within them, but ultimately I know that they’re in the right place – accent or no accent.

Thank you so much to this weeks X-Pat Files guest blogger Samantha Norman.

Samantha Norman is a mum of 2 boys (ages 2 & 4), originally from Glasgow. Her boys were born in London and  last year Samantha’s family packed up their London life and moved to Melbourne where her husband originates from. They are making the most of  life Down Under.

Sunday was a little grey and the perfect day to visit the Aquarium, set beneath the iconic Port Philip Bay.

On the way in we bought the children a $7 Ranger Mission pack each, which turned out to be a great purchase. The packs were filled with activities to complete whilst walking round the aquarium. They encouraged them to learn even more about the underwater creatures we were seeing. They absolutely loved using them, and they earned themselves a cool sticker and a bumper stash of cards.

The Aquarium is set on three levels, with 12 themed zones, including Penguin Playground, a 4D Cinema and Bay of Rays. A particular favourite of ours was Seahorse Pier (OMG amazing); and being allowed to get your hands wet in the Rockpools filled with starfish was a real treat.

The children were amazed walking through the famous tunnels as enormous stingray glided above their heads, and sharks made a beeline for us. What an experience.

If you plan your trip to the Sealife Aquarium properly, you can experience some wonderful keeper talks, and even watch the penguin feeding. We caught an interesting talk on sea creatures and their defence mechanisms. Justin had the children (and parents) gripped as he showed clips of octopus camouflaging themselves, and puffer fish defending themselves from predators. He asked the kids to interact with him, to ask him questions and to see if they knew which creature used what defence. It really was superb!

So, a wonderful day out with lots of fun & learning, all topped off with a 4D movie and an enchanting half hour watching the majestic penguins.

It’s great to be able to visit such an incredible place and to see the hard work being put into breeding programmes, rescue missions and the preservation of all kinds of habitats.

You can read all about it here.

We loved our family time at the aquarium, sharing the wonder of the oceans with the children. We talked about the diversity of what is lurking below the surface, the awesome creatures, the incredible world below the waves; and also made them very aware of just how frighteningly fragile it all is! Such a great day out for all ages.

We will definitely be back again soon, to have some more fun…

All the information

Opening Hours: 9:30am – 6:00pm (last entry 5:00pm)

Location: SEA LIFE Melbourne is located on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street, Melbourne. It is situated on the Yarra River, opposite Crown Entertainment Complex.

Tickets and Special Experiences (like Shark Dive Xtreme): Book here!

The oceans stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul- Robert Wyland

I needn’t even write about this one, I could just show you the photos and that would be enough to send you scrambling for your credit card to book a ticket! Driving into the car park, and getting a sneaky peek of the tulips through the trees, takes your breath away.

Then you go inside…….

This years theme at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival is Over The Rainbow- The Wizard of Oz, and The Wilsons of Oz weren’t going to miss out. I’m a bit emosh about tulips, I have always loved them; so much so that they were the only flower at our wedding; and that mixed with the “Oz” theme, was too much for this woman to bear!

This weekend it was ‘food, wine & jazz” weekend, so we picked a good one! Not only did we get to tip toe through the tulips, we got a tractor ride with a wonderful commentary about the history of the festival, and some delicious tasters too!

Tulips, tractors, tasters… You see what I mean!? Perfect!!!

There’s so much for you and the family to enjoy. There’s a treasure hunt, some beautiful little cubby houses, a great tree for climbing, ice creams, dutch delights, sculptures, clogs, bulbs, and most importantly acres of breath taking tulips for you to meander through.

Take a picnic, pack your camera, pick up your purse and walk down the Yellow Brick road to truly see the colours of the rainbow right there in the Dandenong Ranges… Not to be missed… by a soul!!!!

Tickets and Info

The festival is on now until the 10th October

Coming up: Oct 2-5 Children’s Super Hero Week Oct 6-8 Irish Weekend Oct 9-10 Live Music

Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily

Tickets -Adults: $28.00 Concession: $24.00 Children (16 and under): Free, if accompanied by an adult.

Book tickets here! (The queue was pretty long so it’s well worth booking ahead and printing out your tickets!!

Location: Tesselaar Tulip Festival 357-359 Monbulk Road, Silvan

Tel: 03 9737 7722

Wow! What a day yesterday! As Royal Melbourne Show virgins we weren’t sure what to expect. We’d done a little research, had a few chats with the neighbours and been given some handy tips about show bag buying, but apart from that we were well and truly winging it.

The train took us from Flinders Street directly to the showground gate; we hopped off and were faced with views of the unbelievable rides, the laughter, the air filled with excitement!!

‘Celebrating 162 of years of bringing the country to the city this year, the Royal Melbourne Show is Victoria’s largest showcase of agriculture and is conducted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV).’- Royal Melbourne Show

We headed straight for the Show Bag Pavilion which I was desperate to see. I have never really understood the Aussie Show Bag thing, but if I was ever going to get to grips with it then this was the place to do it. It’s not an exaggeration to say there were more than 300 show bags ranging from $3 upwards. We gave the kids $30 and prayed they’d make a good choice. Monty went for minions (good choice), Poppy (surprise, surprise) went for mega sour lollies! *cue horrified face, and beads of sweat on my forehead.

Once we’d crammed our goodies into a small locker ($10) we headed to see some of the other awesome attractions. The woodchopping was immense, the children screamed wildly at the Freestyle Motorcross Stunt Show, and we all “ooed and ahh’d” over the gorgeous animals in the Animal Nursery.

There is more than you can imagine at this years show, so you need to be prepared with good shoes, a purse full of cash, pre paid ride tickets and be ready for a day of awesome fun.

Our hot tips:

1. Buy your show bags as soon as you get there to avoid the queues later in the day! Lockers are cheap and far better than lining up for hours!!
2. The Nova Sky Wheel is one of the best spots for watching the nightly fireworks!!
3. Take a picnic and top the kids up with hot chips or something delicious from the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion. (Strawberries and Chocolate Sauce is $10 for a small cup!!)
4. Don’t jump on the first ride you see… There are hundreds all over the showground. Make good choices as they’re not cheap!
5. Take hats as there’s not a lot of shade….
6. Plan your day using the Daily Schedule from the RMS website.
7. Travel by train, it’s easy peasy and takes you right to the gate!!
8. Don’t miss the woodchopping, it really is awesome!
9. Make sure you get to the Makers Pavilion to see the astounding work done by some of the handiest people around.. Cakes, crochet, drawing, photography, and much much more!
10. Check the times for the Feature Entertainment as it would truly be a shame to miss out on the stunts, Hi-5, Jessica Mauboy or Australia’s Strongest Man and Woman!!

We had a truly wonderful day, made some unforgettable memories with friends, enjoyed exploring, ate delicious food, rode scary rides, watched some spectacular shows, and had a good laugh at all the animal poop! Another awesome expat adventure down under!!!

The Royal Melbourne Show is on now until the 3rd October. Open 9:30 – 9pm daily. 

You can read all about the show here and use this map to help plan your day!