The kids and I boarded a plane last week.  Bound for warmer climes in North Queensland.  We were all sick, cold and in need of fresh air.After a couple of uneventful hours – courtesy of complementary in-flight TV for the boys and a pile of magazines for me – we arrived. 

THE WHITSUNDAYS: THE PERFECT PLACE TO RELAX AND UNWIND

Now, I will reveal that The Whitsundays is our second home.  We visit each holidays and my Mother lives in the area. 

Our Terrace in the City is truly Urban.  Strolling distance to fabulous restaurants, shops (my third home I admit), galleries, libraries, school, friends, parks and the harbour.  The trade off being a compact house with a handkerchief sized back yard.

Sydney is where I fled to at age 21, declaring my favourite sensation to be the feel of concrete between my toes.  And that – as they say – is how I blissfully remained.  Until – the pitter patter of little feet with tiny toes arrived nearly nine years ago. 

BUT wonderful as the bright lights are I need to get out of the fast pace every now and then.

Kids (and their parents) need a sensory download.  No computer (I write this hidden in my room as they believe we have no internet connection).

Up here in The Whitsundays, they roam free like I could never comfortably let them in the city.  They spend days unscheduled, floating around in their pyjamas, pottering in the shed, biking, sailing, swimming, bush walking.  Boys own paradise. 

No reason they can’t do this in Sydney, no doubt you are wondering.  Except life gets in the way.  Swimming lessons, play dates with friends (when did that term become de rigueur – what happened to simply going to play with a friend)?  Oh and horrid parking issues and did I mention – no backyard.

So with a vision like this Sunrise greeting me each morning I give thanks to Mother Nature and the opportunity to get my family to a quieter environment.  Do you go to special places to unwind with your family? 

PS  They are both still starving but meals on holidays are languid unstressed events too.  That and the packets of crackers and dips on tap that nestle next to my Champagne.  The Urban Mum has got to have a holiday too…