Monthly Archives: February 2012

Feb24

Stylish cabins by the sea

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Stylish cabins by the sea

Who remembers family holidays in caravans by the sea? The entire family squashed in to small quarters, traipsing to the amenities block in the middle of the night, sunburn, ice cream and playing by the sea all day. For many, these holiday memories are among their happiest. Wellnow you can return to those simple holidays of your youth, but do it in style. Many caravan and holiday parks across Australia are now providing stylish, cabin-style accommodation including this one that we’ve just checked into with the Frequent Small Flyer (FSF) at Stockton Beach Tourist Park,near Newcastle. Think neutral, beachy interiors, comfy queen size beds, flat screen TVs, kitchens, sparkling new bathrooms and cute bunk beds for the kids. But the best thing is we can hear the waves crashing on the shore just across the dunes on Stockton Beach. Stockton, although just a short ferry ride from Newcastle City, almost appears trapped in a seventies time warp, with a quaint ‘Sea Change’ feel. I half expect torun into Diver Dan down the shops. We’re going to catch the ferry later and have dinner tonight on the harbour at the fabulous Nor’East. Now all we need is a Paddlepop, a couple of ice cold beers on the deck and we’ll be sorted. Have a great weekend everyone.

Feb14

Diving with the Master

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Diving with the Master
On the weekend just gone I held hands with the son of the legendary oceanographer, Captain Jacques Cousteau, and swam through the mythical Alice in Wonderland dive site off the island of Savusavu. Jean-Michel Cousteau, a French explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer and first son of the ocean adventurer, was a true gentleman and an inspiration. He patiently spent hours with me, a novice diver, imparting his passion for this part of Fiji, which captured his heart 25 years ago and for his Ocean Futures Society. We dived from the resort that bears his name, Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Island Resort with L’Adventure doing two magical dives – Alice in Wonderland and Mystery.  Known as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World,” Fiji offers the largest variety of fish and coral anywhere in the world. Together with Jean Michel we spotted reef dwellers and large ocean pelagics (a class of fish that includes barracuda, tuna, sharks  among the colorful reefs near the resort. Two days later we dived Namana, considered by Cousteau to be one of the top 10 dive sites in the world where we spotted grey reef sharks, a hawk bill turtle, schools of barracuda and an inquisitive sea snake.
On land the resort’s Bula Club and full-time marine biologist impart Cousteau’s passion for the ocean to adult and small guests through its excellent dive school, snorkelling expeditions, glass bottom boat rides and educational video presentations. To my great delight the Frequent Small Flyer (FSF) and Jean-Michel became fast friends and he helped her collect stamps (Coral Reef) for her Bula Passport. He also talked to her about meeting Nemo. In Disney’s DVD release of Finding Nemo, Cousteau makes an appearance interacting with the characters from the film, Marlin, Nemo and Dory, and touting the need for better pollution control, showing videos of sick coral reefs. As a I tuck her into bed each night after a fun-filled day with her Fijian nanny, Ella asks me to tell the story about diving underwater with Jean Michel and seeing Nemo. “Tell him we’ll take care of the sea,” she says earnestly. Cousteau has made another passionate young convert and I am thrilled his father’s legacy continues to the next generation.

Feb3

Adventures with Loved Ones

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This weekend the FSF (frequent small flyer) and I are preparing for our next big adventure. Our dream of diving with Jean Michel Cousteau – the son of the famed Jacques Cousteau – has come true. Next week I’ll be diving into the coral-filled waters off Savusavu, Fiji’s second biggest island with the ’Dive Master’himself which I alluded to in an earlier post. I kind of have to pinch myself. It’ll only be my third ever dive and to be diving with someone of Cousteau’s calibre feels surreal. But even more exciting for me is I’ll be diving with my best friend, and one of the FSF’s very special God Mothers. That got me thinking: travel and adventure is always best when shared with people you love and are closest to don’t you think? Sure there are times when we crave solitude, but when we experience something amazing or beautiful, we want to turn around and have someone by our side seeing and feeling what we are. This is how memories are made – through shared experiences. We hope you find your own beautiful adventure with friends and family this year. For inspiration stay tuned, or like the new Five Star Kids magazine’s new Facebook page. More about that new adventure for me and the FSF next time.