There’s no doubting that we all love our kids to the moon and back. But sometimes the relentless grind of parenting can leave you feeling e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d, right? But what if we said there is a family friendly resort that’s only a short drive away, where you can completely relax, reconnect with your partner… and the kids will love it too?
Surrounded by national parkland and only a stone’s throw from the gorgeous beaches of Northern NSW, multi-award-winning North Star Holiday Resort is one of those family-friendly resorts most parents have dreamed about during those midnight feeds and supermarket meltdowns. But what is it that makes it so unique?
Accommodation for every budget
Travelling with a family can be expensive, but North Star Resort has something for everyone. Love camping? There’s powered sites ready for you to pitch up. Prefer a little luxury? The large villas sleep up to 10 people and are equipped with full kitchen, TVs, air conditioning, outdoor patio with a BBQ, some even have a spa bath. If you are travelling on a budget, the economy lodges are perfect for a family – with two bedrooms, TV, air conditioning and open-plan kitchen.
The resort itself is 10 hectares of sub-tropical, manicured gardens with palms, pools and playgrounds. Even at peak season, thanks to the low-set design, the resort never feels busy or noisy, and they have a strict quiet after 10pm rule.
Sammy’s Adventure Lagoon water park
North Star’s main attraction as a family friendly resort has to be the HUGE water park, called Sammy’s Adventure Lagoon. With something for every age to enjoy (and even the adults!), there’s splash-tactic fun for everyone.
For the little ones there’s a kids’ aqua playground, lagoon swimming pool and wading pool.
The two-storey aqua playground has 65 interactive water features including mini slides and a colourful maze of water cannons.
The bigger kids will love the ‘Big Dripper’, a 600-litre bucket that gradually fills before dumping a cascade of water on those below. North Star has also recently opened its new Super Slides – two 8-metre-high tubular water slides spiral more than 60 metres through a rainbow of technicolour light features, down to poolside landing platforms below.
All the pools and lagoon area are covered in a non-slip ‘softfall’ ground covering, so you can rest assured the kids are safe.
Neptune’s Castle Kids Club
The value of a good kids club can never be underestimated. After all, we want to holiday as a family, but the boundless energy that kids have make it really hard for mums and dads to also get that essential downtime they crave, if they are also to recharge enough to give the best of themselves once more.
Offering bundles of fun for children aged aged 3-12 years, Neptune’s Castle Kids Club is a free (yes FREE) fully supervised Kids Club available every weekend and daily during school holidays.
With a three level spiral slide, ball pit, mirror maze, flying fox, themed activities and arts and crafts, Neptune’s provides hours of holiday fun.
“The kids club is amazing,” said Helen who was visiting with her husband and twin three-year-olds. “It’s clean, really well organised with activities all set up, and the staff are all so lovely… I felt really at ease leaving the kids there and they had such a fun time – it really made the holiday!”
With indoor and outdoor activities, the kids club operates whatever the weather.
Adults only
Wondering what reeeeally sets North Star Holiday Resort apart as a family-friendly resort? Sshhhh, there’s an adult only area. AtSeascape, you can treat yourself to a relaxing massage or beauty treatment, enjoy a warm spa, swim some leisurely laps in the lap pool, or simply enjoy the peaceful surrounds. Providing the perfect respite for exhausted parents, it’s right next door to the Kids Club so you can drop the kids off for a session and indulge in some guilt-free downtime knowing the kids are having the best time.
Ripples Cafe
Even if your accomodation has a fully-fitted kitchen, who wants to cook whilst on holiday?
The on-site licensed Ripples Cafe is fully licensed and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The breakfast is a delicious all you can eat buffet, and lunch and dinner has a yummy (and very affordable) menu of seafood, pasta, snacks and share plates. There is also a good selection of kids meals, and Tuesday nights kids eat free.
Other facilities at North Star Resort
If all that still isn’t enough to keep the family entertained, North Star Resort has plenty of additional activities to choose from.
The Marine Environment Museum is a educational facility with a large range of marine exhibits on display and insightful audio visual presentations. The state-of-the-art teaching centre is open once a week for guests at the resort, with additional opening times during school holidays. The Marine Centre is also open to school groups and field trips.
For kids with energy to burn, North Star has a fully fence, shaded playground with soft fall underfoot. Little ones will love the slides and climbing equipment and the bigger kids can test their skills out on the trick skate and spinner.
And for the tiny ones, Little Treasures play corner is an all weather, fun space for children under three years old, with a colourful ocean mural, toys, and climbing equipment designed specially for toddlers.
There is also a full site tennis court available to guests free of charge, a games room with pool tables, air hockey, table tennis, arcade games, library and a TV.
The resort also offers complimentary WiFi during your stay. Prefer to cook for yourself? There is a camp kitten with indoor BBQ facility, full-size fridge, full-size oven, cooktops and microwave, and indoor and outdoor seating. There’s also a service station and convenience store on site with basic groceries, ATM, gas bottle refills, and newspapers.
With so much to see and do at North Star Resort (as well as the very rare opportunity for parents to do NOTHING but relax), the hardest thing to decide on is how long to stay… as a weekend really isn’t enough!
Inspired to book your next holiday? Visit www.northstar.com.au or call 1800 645 790.
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