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What’s on at Merlin Entertainments Group Attractions

June and July School Holidays 2014

Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck and SKYWALK

School Holiday Fun at Sydney Tower Eye

June – July 2014

Calling all Loomatics!  These school holidays Sydney Tower Eye invites kids to get crafty and help build a loom band the same size as Sydney Tower - 309 metres! Instructors will be on hand every day during the holidays to help kids add to the ever-growing chain and help create one of the longest loom bands Australia has ever seen.  Kids will be able to create their own designs to add to the artwork and can even bring in their own piece to incorporate into the work. They'll even be able to teach mum and dad a thing or two about the activity that's taken Australia by storm! The ultimate kid's social activity will take place 11am-3pm every day during school holidays.

Where: Westfield shopping centre, Level 5, 100 Market St

Opening hours: 9am – 10:30pm every day (last entry 9:30pm)

Contact: 1-800-258-693

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Sound the Octo-Alert! Meet the Octonauts at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

28 June – 20 July 2014

Explore the great big ocean with the Octonauts at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium from 28 June to 20 July 2014! With daily appearances by Captain Barnacles and Kwazii from 11am to 2pm kids are guaranteed the ultimate Octonauts experience.

As well as fun crew meet and greets, kids will embark on an underwater adventure discovering plenty of Octonauts themed activities including an Octonauts activity corner.  Little Octonauts fans will also go on an exciting mission to find Octonauts characters in displays throughout the aquarium and test their knowledge on the Explore, Rescue, Protect quiz trail to win an exclusive sticker.

And if the kids can’t get enough of the Octonauts, the all-new SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Annual Pass is perfect for endless undersea adventures with the Octonauts crew and the aquarium’s 13,000 ocean stars.

Where: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour

Opening hours: Open daily from 9am to 7pm (last entry at 6pm).

Contact: 1-800-199-657

Madame Tussauds Sydney

Who do you want to meet at Madame Tussauds Sydney?

There’s something for everyone these holidays at Madame Tussauds Sydney.   Beatle-maniacs can relive Abbey Road and create their own album cover photo with the Fab 4 taking up residence in Sydney for 3 months only.  Soccer fans who can’t get enough World Cup action can jump on the field to take on Beckham and Ronaldo in our interactive soccer set.  And A-List show stopper, Katy Perry, is back at Madame Tussauds Sydney!  Dressed to impress in a head turning heart shaped dress, recreated exclusively by Katy Perry’s costumiers, the iconic pop star invites guests to jump on stage and belt out any one of her many number one hits.

At Madame Tussauds Sydney visitors can step back in time and join Captain Cook’s first voyage to Sydney Harbour, challenge fan favourite Aussie sports heroes, sing along with music icons and star in one of Australia’s most popular television shows before arriving at the biggest celebrity party ever staged. So, who do you want to meet?

Where: Madame Tussauds Sydney, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour (right next door to WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo)

Opening hours: 9am – 8pm daily (last entry 7pm - Please note; opening times may vary due to private events).

Contact: 1-800-205-851

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

WILD Animal Adventures at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

Featuring over 25 keeper talks and animal encounters, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is the place to visit these school holidays for people looking to get up close to Australia’s most loved and feared animals.

From meeting Rex, the huge 5 metre crocodile in Kakadu Gorge to cuddling up to koalas at Koala Encounters and not forgetting to bravely hold a python in Kangaroo Walk-about or to meet our new superstar Ringo the Wombat, there’s so much to see and do at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo!

And with interactive displays, captivating daily feeding sessions and enhanced walk-through habitats, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is a fun day out for the whole family, conveniently located right in the heart of Sydney on Darling Harbour.

Where: WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour

Opening hours: Open 9am-5pm (last entry 4pm)

Contact: 1-800-206-158

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

The Rise of Reptiles at Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

28 June – 13 July 2014

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary is turning cold-blooded and scaly these school holidays as our resident turtles and lizards are joined by four baby freshwater crocodiles!

Having dominated the Earth for over 200 million years, reptiles are one of the most diverse groups of animals and continue to inhabit every continent on Earth except Antarctica, and from 28 June are taking over Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary!

Visitors over the school holidays will have the opportunity to watch the brand new crocodile feed show, get creative with croc art and craft sessions, put their Reptilia knowledge to the test with the new quiz trail and learn how Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary is helping critically endangered animals through their Breed, Rescue and Protect program.

With a whole aquarium to explore featuring one of Australia's biggest oceanariums and over 4,000 animals, free guided tours and a hands-on interactive rockpool, Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary offers a fun packed day for all ages!

Where: West Esplanade, Manly, NSW, 2095 (only 200m from the Manly Wharf)

Opening hours: 9am – 4:30pm during school holidays. .

Contact: 1-800-199-742

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventure

Step Back in Time with Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventure

Back by popular demand!  During the July school holidays, Erth -Visual and Physical Inc. will be presenting their extraordinary Dinosaur Zoo show.  This bushwalk and treetop experience brings dinosaurs to life!  Hunt for stegosaurus tracks on the ground, track a life-size T-Rex throughout the attraction and creatures both big and small among the treetops!

The Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventure, located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, is one of Australia’s premier rainforest experiences. The elevated steel walkway features two gently swaying cantilevered arms and a central spiral tower raised nearly fifty meters off the forest floor. The stunning views take in everything from the rainforest canopy to Lake Illawarra and out to the South Pacific Ocean.

Where: 182 Knights Hill Road, Knights Hill NSW 2577

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm

Contact:  1300 362 881

Baby wombat Ringo is the new star at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

A ten month-old bare-nosed baby wombat made his first appearance at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo today and was welcomed to the family by three Junior Conservationists.

The adorable furball named Ringo was found as an orphan and has been looked after by his keeper and surrogate mother, Erin Costelloe for the last three weeks. Erin feeds him the bottle every eight hours and puts him to sleep at night. For a nap during the day – when Ringo joins Erin to work – he climbs in a pillowcase that imitates a pouch.

“The orphan was adopted into the WILD LIFE family three weeks ago. At the moment I’m looking after him 24/7 as a baby wombat usually spends up to 18 months of its life with its mother. Sharing my apartment with Ringo has been a really fun experience. Ringo follows me everywhere we go”, says Erin, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo Keeper.

About Ringo:

• Ringo is a bare-nosed wombat. He is 10 months old and weighs 6 kg
• When he was found he was three months old and weighed 900g
• Baby wombats usually stay in the pouch for five months until they are around 3.5 to 6 kg
• Ringo loves human company and exploring his surroundings
• The size of the average adult bare-nosed wombat ranges from about 90 to 115 cm (length), 36 cm (height) and from 22 to 39 kg (weight)
• Their natural habitats are the coastal regions of south-east Australia and Tasmania
• Bare-nosed wombats are herbivorous, living off grass, snow tussocks and other plant materials. They usually forage during the night

For more information or to arrange an interview or request further photos, please contact me.

For a video of Ringo playing with puppy dog Elke please click here: https://db.tt/oqrnBTfL

Wild Life Sydney Zoo's Two Newest and Cutest Residents

Come take a peek at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo's two newest and cutest residents

Ringo, our adorable bare-nosed baby wombat (pictured right) who's just 10 months old, and our yet-to-be-named baby girl koala who's just seven months old.

Visitors over the school holidays can enjoy over 25 keeper talks and animal encounters, perfect for families looking to get up close to Australia's most iconic animals.

Visitors also have the chance to come face-to-face with our resident koalas and take an amazing photo with them

A Beach In The Centre of Perth

Brisbane has one, Cairns has one, even Darwin has one - and Perth is set to get one within a matter of years.
A man-made beach in the heart of the city will be a feature of the Riverside Project and one that Perth-based planning expert Garry Middle welcomes.

With much of the city's focus on the Elizabeth Quay Project, the Riverside Project which aims to transform the eastern gateway to the city into a vibrant destination has not received as much attention.

The project is being overseen by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority and developed by Lend Lease.
It is split into a number of different areas, including one to be known as Waterbank.

Lend Lease project director Tim Urquhart said while the master plan for Waterbank was being finalised, stage one development applications would commence later this year.

“The man-made beach is part of this development and it aims to provide a relaxed urban waterside experience with public access, including for watercraft,” he said.

Mr Middle, a Curtin University adjunct researcher, said a man made beach created as an addition to the Swan River was a good idea.

“We need to make the foreshore diverse, we don’t want so much sameness, so this is something I’d like to see,” he said.

The concept of a man-made beach worked really well in other places, he said, singling out Brisbane’s beach in the Southbank area.

“When you go there you see it’s pretty family oriented and the way it is constructed was done really well with kids playgrounds and fountains," he said.

Mr Middle said while there were a few small beaches along the river in the South Perth area, generally there was not a lot of beach area on the Swan River.

He said issues that would need to be considered would be water quality and depth, ensuring the water did not drop off too quickly.

Mr Middle imagined the water would mostly be used for wading and as a launch point for paddlers.

He said while some in Perth were wary of swimming in the river, it was mostly a preference thing.

“There’s a spookiness about the seagrass and the water is not always exactly clear, there are jellyfish as well, and a sense of the unknown about swimming in the river,” Mr Middle said.

He said that much of the river was busy with boat activity as well, so an area set aside for people to use without too much other activity would be useful.

While the exact plans for the Waterbank area have not been finalised, Mr Middle said he would like to see a grassed area near the beach included.

He said “soft edges” such as grass were a good idea considering the other nearby river areas such as the Claisebrook Cove had a lot of concrete and “hard edges” suitable for walking but less suitable for children.

Mr Middle said the area would likely be most popular with locals rather than tourists.

”Our beaches are so good so tourists would still go to Cottesloe or Scarborough, this wouldn’t be an attraction in itself for tourists, he said.

The Riverside project is expected to be completed by 2020.

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/the-beach-comes-to-perths-centre-20140619-zsf56.html

Cool Yule at Darling Harbour Brings the Magic of a Northern Hemisphere Winter to Darling Harbour

IMAGINE walking through a Narnia-like frozen forest with 350 white fir trees standing seven metres tall, a flurry of snow bursts, icicles and ghostly lighting, right in the middle of Darling Harbour.

The enchanted forest installation is one of the corner pieces of the inaugural Cool Yule, a month long winter festival.

Project manager Cathy Levins-Byres, from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, said she wanted everyone to rug up and “come out and get cold”.

“We wanted to really go a step further and create a winter playground to really get the message out there – winter is only beginning and we will take you through it,” she said.

“There are snow cones and snow pits, a giant inflatable iceberg floating in the middle of Cockle Bay Wharf and a giant snowflake.

“It’s all about cold and celebrating everything that is cold. We want you to get out, have fun and get your adrenalin going.

“A lot of families cannot afford to bring their children to see snow so we are trying to bring the snow to Sydney.”

The foreshore authority is also bringing in a snow-making machine – using a white vapour refrigeration system – to make real snow which will be released in blasts along Cockle Bay Wharf, the Harbourside promenade and the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge.

Ms Levins-Byres said activities were either free or very affordable, such as a cover charge of $5 for 20 minutes of play in the snow pits.

Cool Yule highlights also include an ice rink, firework displays and the Ice Men of Colorado, who will be chiselling away at huge blocks of ice creating extreme sculptures every evening in a show set to rock music.

“We are encouraging people after work to come out and have some fun,” Ms Levins-Byres said. “You do not just have to go home miserable because it’s winter.”

One of Cool Yule’s big drawcards will be an ice rink at Tumbalong Park featuring an Après Skate bar serving gourmet winter delights.

There will be a 25m Thredbo snow slide and a snow pit at the Australian National Maritime Museum’s forecourt to delight visitors.

Snow pit session times will be divided into age groups for two to six-year-olds, seven to 12-year-olds and everyone over 13 to ensure safe fun for everyone.

If you’ve ever wanted to fit inside a snow globe and let’s face it – who hasn’t? – then why not try out the life-size Air New Zealand Snow Globe which will provide an incredible backdrop for winter selfies.

There is plenty of entertainment for younger children, including the Monkey Baa Story Theatre which runs every Sunday.

As part of the festival, Cockle Bay will feature an inflatable iceberg, Palm Grove will be lit up with a giant snowflake and there will be an incredible frosty firework display featuring blue and silvery lights every Saturday.

Restaurants throughout the Darling Harbour precinct have also got on board and will serve wintry meals and drinks including mulled wine and hot toddies.

Spend $15 in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe or marquee to get a ride in one of the huge Lindt Lindor Zorb Balls at Darling Harbour Marina.

This is the first Cool Yule and is hosted by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority with partners and will be held at various spots in Darling Harbour from June 13 to July 13.

Find ideal Winter Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels 

Cool Yule at Darling Harbour Brings the Magic of a Northern Hemisphere Winter to Darling Harbour

IMAGINE walking through a Narnia-like frozen forest with 350 white fir trees standing seven metres tall, a flurry of snow bursts, icicles and ghostly lighting, right in the middle of Darling Harbour.

The enchanted forest installation is one of the corner pieces of the inaugural Cool Yule, a month long winter festival.

Project manager Cathy Levins-Byres, from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, said she wanted everyone to rug up and “come out and get cold”.

“We wanted to really go a step further and create a winter playground to really get the message out there – winter is only beginning and we will take you through it,” she said.

“There are snow cones and snow pits, a giant inflatable iceberg floating in the middle of Cockle Bay Wharf and a giant snowflake.

“It’s all about cold and celebrating everything that is cold. We want you to get out, have fun and get your adrenalin going.

“A lot of families cannot afford to bring their children to see snow so we are trying to bring the snow to Sydney.”

The foreshore authority is also bringing in a snow-making machine – using a white vapour refrigeration system – to make real snow which will be released in blasts along Cockle Bay Wharf, the Harbourside promenade and the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge.

Ms Levins-Byres said activities were either free or very affordable, such as a cover charge of $5 for 20 minutes of play in the snow pits.

Cool Yule highlights also include an ice rink, firework displays and the Ice Men of Colorado, who will be chiselling away at huge blocks of ice creating extreme sculptures every evening in a show set to rock music.

“We are encouraging people after work to come out and have some fun,” Ms Levins-Byres said. “You do not just have to go home miserable because it’s winter.”

One of Cool Yule’s big drawcards will be an ice rink at Tumbalong Park featuring an Après Skate bar serving gourmet winter delights.

There will be a 25m Thredbo snow slide and a snow pit at the Australian National Maritime Museum’s forecourt to delight visitors.

Snow pit session times will be divided into age groups for two to six-year-olds, seven to 12-year-olds and everyone over 13 to ensure safe fun for everyone.

If you’ve ever wanted to fit inside a snow globe and let’s face it – who hasn’t? – then why not try out the life-size Air New Zealand Snow Globe which will provide an incredible backdrop for winter selfies.

There is plenty of entertainment for younger children, including the Monkey Baa Story Theatre which runs every Sunday.

As part of the festival, Cockle Bay will feature an inflatable iceberg, Palm Grove will be lit up with a giant snowflake and there will be an incredible frosty firework display featuring blue and silvery lights every Saturday.

Restaurants throughout the Darling Harbour precinct have also got on board and will serve wintry meals and drinks including mulled wine and hot toddies.

Spend $15 in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe or marquee to get a ride in one of the huge Lindt Lindor Zorb Balls at Darling Harbour Marina.

This is the first Cool Yule and is hosted by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority with partners and will be held at various spots in Darling Harbour from June 13 to July 13.

Find ideal Winter Sydney Accommodation at Metro Hotels