A relaxed afternoon by the river turned into a gentle celebration of love, inclusion and community. The Melt Festival’s River Pride Picnic wasn’t about big stages or loud crowds - just sunshine, laughter and the peaceful rhythm of Pride flowing along the water. A Gentle Morning by the River Some days just have a peaceful kind of magic about them. The sun was out, the sky was clear, and the river shimmered like a ribbon of light - the perfect setting for the Melt Festival’s Ri

There's something magnetic about Banksy - the mystery, the rebellion and the way he manages to turn a wall into a wake up call! His art stirs up such a mix of emotions - humour with heartbreak, beauty with despair, hope with devastating loss. Ever since I watched a few documentaries about him, I'd really wanted to see his artwork in person. First Impressions At first glance, the exhibit didn't seem like much walking in, but it kept expanding as you moved through it. It was tw

Supernova is a fun day celebrating all things nerdy, geeky, movies, TV shows, gaming, and pop culture - and the best part is, it’s FREE for carers/companion card holders when attending with a paid ticket! We went back in 2023 and had an absolute blast. It is coming up again this year from November 7th-9th and tickets are already on sale. As a massive Star Wars nerd, I was thrilled to hear that the 501st Legion would be there. I’ve seen them cosplay many times before, but it

Love thrills and chills for a fantastic price and excellent value?! Aussie World is really fun, and has a lot to offer for an adventurous day out with your support person. We were enticed by the Inclusion Day hosted by The Ability Collective . I saw their post on Facebook about it, and I wanted to go and support others with disabilities. They had little stalls all set up for disabled persons selling their hand crafted goodies to buy, which was really cool. You could enter t

The Hologram Zoo is a walk through experience full of epic animal holograms that feel like the animals are right there with you! You go...

🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! I was so excited to go to my very first pride festival. I'm in my 40s, but hey, better late than never, right?! This awesome festival is on annually at Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine. The festival is filled with nothing but good vibes and colourful fun! There were fantastic markets to explore and many community services offering cool, free activities. We made some pins, a bracelet, got stickers and I even brought home beads to make another bracelet. I

A trip to the Golden Circle Factory Outlet is a great outing for bargain hunters! Located in Morayfield and Capalaba, this fantastic store offers clearance stock from Heinz and Golden Circle, allowing you to find items at prices much lower than in supermarkets. They also have a pensioner discount on the first Tuesday of the month! You'll find everything from snacks, chocolate, and confectionery to canned goods, drinks, cleaning supplies, and even affordable toothbrushes! It'

Had a bad day? Had a bad week? GO SMASH ALL THE THINGS!! Rage Cage Smash Rooms are so much fun to de-stress, release pent up anxiety, shout, smash and laugh. You can even take your own items if you want to smash them up too! (within reason - please see website for details). We did the twenty items for twenty minutes option. They do accept companion cards and offer free entry for your support person, they just can't smash. My support worker decided to pay and smash with me to

Bowling is not just a game; it’s a social experience, a delightful outing, and a chance to engage in light exercise. For individuals with disabilities and their support workers, bowling presents an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and enjoy themselves. The ambiance is relaxed, and the rules are simple. You don’t need to be a pro to have a great time. With its casual setting, bowling allows you to engage without the pressures found in some other activities.

Exercise that I found actually fun, and it's for any level of fitness! Bounce has a range of trampolines for a casual bounce or if you have some sick tricks you want to try on "The Wall". There was also an X-Park at our venue for thrill seekers wanting a challenge. There was a great play area for the little kids in the miniBOUNCE zone, as well as catering for adults on the huge amount of large trampolines. We spent most of our time on a large trampoline, then we braved a wal

Love puzzles and looking for a challenge?! Red Lock Escape Rooms are so freaking awesome! They are located on the Sunshine Coast and at North Lakes. We went to the North Lakes one. Each escape room can be played with two - six players and you need to find clues and solve the puzzles in order to escape. They have five cool rooms to choose from and two new ones coming soon. The Wizard's Apprentice, Area 52, The Lost Jungle Gemstone, Game of Stones and Aunt Annie's Asylum are g

One of the most beautiful performances I've witnessed was a string quartet, surrounded by candles in a huge cathedral. Hosted by feverup in the Uniting Church on Albert St Brisbane, they perform quite a range of concerts suiting your musical tastes. I decided to go to the 90's unplugged concert and it was EPIC! My favourite was 'Zombie' by The Cranberries - it gave me goosebumps! 'Under the Bridge' by Red Hot Chili Peppers was surprisingly pretty, and 'Smells like Teen Spiri

This is a place you need to go more than once! The food choices are epic and plentiful and everything looks delicious. I would put this in the under $20 category, but it is very hard to keep to a budget here. There are so many varieties of food from all over the world. So many choices. They also have free entertainment on stage you can enjoy, whilst you devour your feast. How cool. Once we finally decided on what we would like for dinner, we sat by the river to get out of the

We visited the Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Temple for our very first time and what a beautiful and serene place. It felt so calming and an honour to even be there. The temple, gardens and statues spread throughout made you feel like you were in another time and place. There is quite a lot to see and do, with free activities and entertainment, classes or even a tea meditation you can pay to attend. We did a little calligraphy and played a new Buddhist card game with one of the d

Nestled amongst the sweeping country landscapes of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, is Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World . Full of super lush gardens, waterfalls and overlooking the magnificent Glass House Mountains. What a view! This place has so many gorgeous picnic spots and many walking trails amongst the flowers and lakes. Perfect way to unwind and feel like you're in another world. They have two major attractions here which are Farm Friends and Bird World. Farm Friends

The Hijinx Hotel is a really fun venue full of challenge rooms. It is made up of multiple sets of 5 rooms designed for 2 - 6 players. I went with just my support worker and I think we did ok considering there was groups of parents and kids, and people who'd been before! We did struggle with some rooms as a group of two, but we were laughing so much and being so competitive that we didn’t care! You need to score as many points as you can in the time limit. You can play as ca

An Unforgettable Experience The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland is a hidden gem that I stumbled upon while browsing online. It offers an exciting mix of burlesque, cabaret, and circus performances in both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. From the moment you arrive, you feel like a VIP. The vibrant atmosphere, with its bright pink décor, sets the tone for something truly special. You can’t help but feel a buzz of excitement for the show ahead. Circus Funhouse Show We attended the Circu