New Idea sent the Phillips family of Queensland to check out Wiggles World. Nicki and John and their kids Saoirse, six, and Conor, who turns three this month, had the time of their lives. Here's Nicki's wiggly report.

The best part of the day at Dreamworld was seeing the kids' eyes light up when they first walked into psychedelic Wiggles World. It's quite clever how you come upon it - you walk through a tunnel, and all of a sudden you're engulfed by colour. It's everywhere! There's so much to take in - for kids and adults.

We thought Conor may be too young to appreciate Dreamworld, but both our kids loved Wiggles World and they couldn't get enough of Nickelodeon Central. Saoirse was captivated by Dora the Explorer!

At Wiggles World, they met all their favourite characters - Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Captain Feathersword.

Our worries that Saoirse might be too old for the Wiggles were put to rest as soon as we arrived. She was definitely impressed. Her favourite ride was the new Dorothy's Rosy Tea Cup Ride. It wasn't scary and it didn't leave her feeling dizzy.

We had trouble prying Conor out of the Big Red Car Ride, an interactive trip through Wigglehouse. He was so excited and he kept singing Hot Potato!

Another highlight was the Wiggles Farmyard Friends, where the kids can pat piglets, bottle-feed lambs and goats and learn how to milk a cow. There's also a play centre called The Fun Spot Activity Centre for preschoolers, which is a fantastic place to host a private birthday party.

The kids loved the tigers at Dreamworld, and we were lucky enough to enjoy a special backstage showing with a baby koala and wombat at Australian Wildlife Experience. Later on, brave Saoirse went on a roller-coaster with her dad.

We were really impressed with the customer service at Wiggles World and Dreamworld. Also, the food choices are healthy at Wiggles World, which fits in with the Wiggly way. There's fruit salad (of course) and takeaway lunch packs with Vegemite sandwiches, yogurt and juice.

To Go: For more information, visit Dreamworld, or call toll free on 1800 073 300.

You can keep your children's grey matter working hard with a visit to Sydney Wildlife World in the heart of the city. There are nine natural habitats and ecosystems at Wildlife World, showcasing Australia's unique flora and fauna. You'll see more than 6000 animals and 130 species, from bizarre creepy-crawlies, such as native rhinoceros cockroaches, to everyone's favourite - cuddly koalas.

The kids will be in awe of the two-storey aviary and butterfly house and the largest of the exhibits, a hot and dry Australian landscape, which is home to wallabies and echidnas. Possums and bandicoots frolic in the nocturnal habitat and the endangered Southern Cassowary explores its rainforest.

With big print animal trivia at every turn, the kids won't even realise they're learning!And you can make a day of it, as it's right next door to Sydney Aquarium.

To Go: Sydney Wildlife World, Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour.

The Children's Museum caters to three to eight-year-olds, but if you have older kids don't let that deter you - they'll love it too. It's located in the Melbourne Museum next to Carlton Gardens and has three areas: The Children's Gallery, Big Box and The Children's Garden.

The gallery displays children's artwork, collections and stories while the garden is a protected outdoor area for kids to play. The permanent exhibition in the Big Box, 1, 2, 3, Grow, encourages children to think about how plants, humans and animals grow and change during the course of their lives.

The story of growth unfolds through the themes of size, colour and form, and enables children to make comparisons by touching, looking and listening.

To Go: For more information, visit Melbourne Museum or call (03) 8341 7777.

Just 25 minutes from Perth in the scenic Swan Valley, Whiteman Park offers an array of activities for the whole family. Kids can cool off in a 30cm-deep paddling pool, and for transport lovers there are steam train rides, mini electric cars called Ozzi Bugs and transport museums, including a tractor museum.

There's a Children's Forest, where you can buy kids a share of the forest for $25. They get a certificate and have their name recorded on a personalised tile. Whiteman Park also has picnic areas and bushwalks.

At the adjacent Caversham Wildlife Park, kids can feed kangaroos, wombats and koalas. There are farmyard animals, camel rides and exotic species, such as water buffalo and Asian monkeys. School holiday activities include a Rouseabout Show where you can discover what it was like to be a shearer in the 1950s.

To Go: Entry to Whiteman Park is free. There are various admission prices for activities and Caversham Wildlife Park.

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