Relink

Want to spend some quality time with your kids these holidays? The Bunya Mountains is the perfect destination for a child-friendly holiday where you can spend time and reconnect with your kids – here’s how.

Learn

There’s plenty for kids to learn at the Bunya Mountains – and this beautiful place makes learning both interesting and fun.

• Check out the wonders of the night sky and go stargazing in a recognised dark sky area
• Spot some of the many types of local wildlife around the mountain
• Learn about the wildlife at the Information Centre
• Spot wild birds in the rainforest
• Feed wild king parrots and crimson rosellas at the café
• Go spotlighting to see the different types of wildlife you can find at night
• Learn about the ecology and biology of the rainforest
• See some living history in the trunks of the Bunya pines, where the footholds left by the indigenous people climbing for bunya nuts many years ago still remain
• Check out the history of the area at Cedarvale History Cottage
• Take a horse and cart ride and discover all the areas of interest around the mountain

Cook

There are no hotels or motels on the Bunya Mountains, and holiday accommodation is in private rental holiday homes managed by the Bunya Mountains Accommodation Centre (there are 110 different holiday homes, units, cottages, and chalets available here. And while there is a café and restaurant available for lunch and dinner, it’s also a good chance to save some money and self-cater your holiday in your own holiday home. Which also means it’s a great time to do some cooking with the kids.

All the homes are fully self-contained, with crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, kettle, toaster, microwave and basic cooking equipment, so all you have to bring are the ingredients and recipes for the delicious meals or treats you plan to whip up with the kids. It’s the perfect time to introduce the kids to the joys of baking and cooking, and spend some quality time together honing their cooking skills (and enjoying eating the food, of course!).

Spend time offline

We’ve all struggled to get our children off their devices and to be present and engaged in the real world – and failed. The Bunya Mountains provides the solution to this problem, as

none of the Bunya Mountains Accommodation Centre houses supply Wi-Fi. As well, mobile reception can be patchy depending on where you are, so you can count on some offline time while you’re at the Bunya Mountains. And while your kids may grumble initially, it’s a great chance to reconnect and spend some quality time with them without the distractions of technology (and you won’t even have to be the bad guy telling them to get off their devices!).

Exercise

The obesity epidemic for the younger generation is well documented these days, but it’s a huge problem when the youngest generation may well have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Exercise is a vital part of rolling back the potential effects of this epidemic – and luckily, the Bunya Mountains makes exercise fun. There’s more than 40km of scenic walking tracks for families to explore, all with different sights to see and things to do. And each one is chock full of sweeping views, rainforest sights and sounds, lookouts, waterfalls and rock pools to delight the eyes, the ears and the senses. Kids will love walking right through the middle of a giant strangler fig, playing hide and seek in the rainforest, looking for enormous giant barred tadpoles in the rock pools, going worm-spotting after rain to discover the giant earthworms that inhabit the rainforest, and interacting with the friendly local wildlife. There are walks to suit every family too, from easy strolls to serious hikes – you’ll just need to take a water bottle and snacks if you head off on a longer walk.

As well, there’s plenty of space for a friendly game of soccer, cricket, volleyball, tennis or badminton (BYO equipment, apart from tennis gear, which can be hired along with the courts). And the cooler climate at the Bunya Mountains provides perfect activity weather for outdoor sports, away from the heat and humidity of lower-lying areas.

And speaking of outdoor sports, the Bunya Mountains is now home to many kilometres of newly-constructed mountain bike trails ranging in length from 1.3km to 6.3 km. These trails provide riders with an adrenaline adventure experience through stunning scenery – the kids will love it (and you might too!). Trails are rated from easy to intermediate, so are perfect for younger riders to enjoy.

Make memories

And what all this adds up to – is great memories that will last for years to come. Get the perfect family snap inside the strangler fig, drink in the wonder of watching the springtime fireflies in the rainforest, take a deep breath and relax while watching another beautiful sunset, enjoy racing along great mountain bike trails or laugh at the friendly local birds sitting on your head. It’s all part of the iconic Bunya Mountains experience – and it will ensure that you have a family holiday to remember with joy, laughter and fondness.

Have a look at all the Bunya Mountains has to offer here: https://bunyamountains.com.au/explore/