WInter activity on the Saint Kilda Foreshore
Once apon a time in a the distant past two young lovers posed for their engagement photos on Saint Kilda Pier. Okay, it was only eleven years ago but three rug-rats later it seems like eons ago. This past weekend the time had come for the now slightly older but hopefully not jaded couple to rediscover the scene of their youthful anticipation with their own offspring. It was time for a Saint Kilda Staycation.
It soon became apparent that my bubs and I differ in how we understand the essence of Saint Kilda. When I think of Saint Kilda I think of an edgy bayside dining precinct. To the kids Saint Kilda means one thing and one thing alone – Luna Park. A weekend staycation, rather than just a day trip was the perfect way to ensure that all family members were catered to as we rediscovered Saint Kilda together.
Luna Park Melbourne’s Mr Moon
Day One:
After checking into our accommodation – Novotel Saint Kilda we headed straight to the action of Luna Park. Last time we visited Luna Park I was pregnant and my son was too short to go on the rides he had hoped to. This time he had grown a few centimeters and my uterus is empty so it was game on. By game on I mean being freaked out that my young son was now tall enough to go on this ride by himself.
Coney Island Top Drop
And that we could ride this one – the Spider together.
Luna Park Melbourne The Spider
From my son’s ecstatic response to going on these big kids rides I now know I am in for a life of parental anxiety as the chance of him being some sort of extreme sportsperson is about 95%.
Little man Bub 2 was more than happy with the Little Lunies rides and eating a truckload of fairy floss
Riding the Arabian Merry
It is a tradition dating back to Luna Park’s early years to have a photo taken sitting on the moon
The highlight of Day 1 though for me was being able to stroll back to our accommodation overlooking the Bay, dress the kids in their pajamas and head down to Novotel Saint Kilda’s restaurant for a first rate meal. I haven’t been out for an evening meal since Little Lady Bub was born and staying at the hotel allowed us to do so, particularly as the boys were entertained with activity kits and straw glasses.
Day 2
After a buffet breakfast (pancake machines that kids can operate via a touch of a button are gold by the way) it was now time for the parents to rediscover the Saint Kilda they came for. We had plenty of time to do so as Novotel offers families a late checkout (5pm) on Sundays.
This included strolling along the foreshore and pier. Alas the experience was not as romantic as eleven years ago due to having to constantly tell kids they weren’t allowed to swim in winter ocean while crazy people like this guy were doing so.
Saint Kilda Pier
It was still pretty great though and we quieted the nagging to go for a swim with some active sand play. My apologies by the way to the Novotel Saint Kilda cleaners for all the sand on our carpet.
Remember that I said that when I think of Saint Kilda I think of a bayside dining precinct? I perhaps should have described it as a European cake precinct. Acland Street is home to some amazing cake shops. Our stop for the day was the oldest European cake shop in Acland Street – Monarchs where Bub 2 tried to topple a spectacular stand of cupcakes and I went to town on a traditional European cake called a “Chocolate Kooglehoupf”. And yes I do dare you to say Chocolate Kooglehoupf 3 times fast.
We stopped Bub 2 toppling this stand of yumminess just in time.
The surprise find was Veg Out, a community garden next door to Luna Park which I had spied the day earlier from the top of Luna Park’s Ferris Wheel. Veg Out is one of the most exquisite places to take children that I have discovered in my travels. Open for free to the public it is home to garden plots obviously tended with love as well as bright and kooky artwork. Veg Out was so lovely that it deserves it’s own post so expect one to appear on this site soon.
Veg Out community garden
Our Saint Kilda Staycation worked for us for a few reasons:
-It gave us the sense of a complete vacation in just two days.
-The Novotel Saint Kilda was incredibly family friendly – think activity packs for the kids, toys in the lobby and staff that are clearly happy to welcome kids rather than being horrified by their presence.
-By staying over night all members of the family’s interests were catered for.
-We used it as a reward to encourage good behavior in our kids who are feeling the confines of winter and being mid-term.
Have you taken a staycation? Where did you go?
Many thanks to Saint Kilda Novotel and Luna Park Melbourne for hosting us during our Saint Kilda Staycation.
This post is linked to Friday Postcards at Walking on Travels.
Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. You can join us on Facebook or Twitter to receive updates to your news feed.
You have brought back some memories for us. I lived in Melbourne for a year as a 19 year old. I worked on St. Kilda Road and lived in East St. Kilda. In recent years we revisited St. Kilda and ate at Monarchs. I look forward to your Veg Out post to see if I remember it. It is a great suburb. I remember when the temperature reached 18 degrees (when I was 19) my girlfriend (a native of Melbourne) declared it beach weather and we went to St. Kilda and lay on the sand in our bikinis. If I had been in Townsville I would have had a jacket on 🙂
I tried to keep reading after you said push-button pancake machines but I’m not sure anything went in.
Seriously – push-button pancake machines. I am going to be thinking about that all night instead of sleeping.
Before the pancake machines I was going to get all aghast at that ride (by himself?!)
You haven’t discovered the pancake making machines??? They offer me the closest I get to breakfast peace as my kids love making their own breakfast in hotels and I can sit back and enjoy mine.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I adore Melbourne and have fond memories of St Kilda and Luna Park. What a lovely Staycation.
Love to read more about Veg Out. Sounds wonderful and I’m not a gardener.
xo
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