DOROTHY THE DINOSAUR AND FRIENDS HEAD BACK TO THE BUSH THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

From Saturday 12th until Sunday 27th April 2008, Hunter Valley Gardens Kidspace program will go ?Back to the Bush? with exciting activities and a Dorothy the Dinosaur Dance Party, which will guarantee the most memorable school holidays for all children and their families who will attend.

Enter for your chance to win one of 5 family passes (includes 2 adults & 2 children) for some great school holiday entertainment.

During this time, Hunter Valley Gardens will be transformed into the Australian Outback with bush activities such as obstacle courses, whip cracking and reptile encounters amongst some of the great entertainment which will be available for the whole family to enjoy.

With fun filled activities keeping the kids entertained, adults will be able to roam through the gardens and enjoy the spectacular surroundings. The display gardens which include themed areas such as the Oriental Garden, the Rose Garden and the European Formal Garden are one of a kind in Australia and provide an environment for the whole family to relax and unwind.

Activities and entertainment to be hosted throughout the school holidays include:

Bush Obstacle Course:

Every day from 10am to 2pm children will be able to participate in an exciting eight station obstacle course with the assistance of their very own ?Bush Man?. The eight stations are as follows:

1. Skip rope: Each child will be given a skipping rope and they will have to skip twenty times before moving onto station two.
2. Tyre maze: Children will navigate their way through a tyre maze, once completed they will move onto station three.
3. Sack race: All participants will jump in their own sacks and race their way towards the finishing rope.
4. Balance beam: Children will test their balancing skills by making there way from one end of a beam to the other.
5. Bush foot race: Children will be sorted into groups of four and participate in the traditional bush foot race using batons.
6. Hula hoops: Each child will be given a hula hoop to keep off the ground for as long as possible, with the best swinging hips keeping their hoop alive the longest!
7. Star jumps: Once they reach this station children will complete 10 star jumps before reaching the final station.
8. Quoits game: At the final station all children will be given a stick in an attempt to throw and hit a set of quoits which will be place in the middle of the circle.


Whip Cracking:

Families will be able to enjoy whip cracking demonstrations by Bruce McCumstie, one of Australia?s favourite bush experts. Bruce will then assist adults supervise children as they put their whip cracking skills into practice! Whip cracking will take place daily from 11am to 12pm.


Crocodile Encounters - Reptile and Wildlife Show:

At 2pm every afternoon Mark Richmond from Crocodile Encounters will feature an educational and engaging reptile show in the Gardens Amphitheatre. Children will be able to get up close and experience reptiles first hand as well as receive valuable information regarding reptile species and bush conservation issues.


Dorothy the Dinosaurs Dance Party:

Dorothy the Dinosaurs Dance Party will thrill and excite all children who attend the concert at Hunter Valley Gardens. Special guests Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword will join Dorothy in performing children?s favourites such as 'Fruit Salad', 'Romp Bomp A Stomp' and 'Hot Potato' to name a few. The concert will be held in the Brumby area of Hunter Valley Gardens at 10:30am on Saturday 26th April.


Tickets to the concert are $19.90 per person and are available at Ticketek, visit www.ticketek.com.au or call 02 4921 2121.

Entry to the gardens is $19.90 per adult, $11 for children between 6 - 12 years of age with Under 5?s for free. For more information about school activities at Hunter Valley Gardens (Broke Rd, Pokolbin), visit www.hvg.com.au or call 02 4998 4000.