{"id":35277,"date":"2014-10-30T09:17:51","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T23:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/blog\/?p=35277"},"modified":"2015-01-29T10:19:59","modified_gmt":"2015-01-29T00:19:59","slug":"hotel-review-a-family-friendly-escape-to-oaks-oasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/hotel-review-a-family-friendly-escape-to-oaks-oasis\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotel review | A family friendly escape to Oaks Oasis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weekends away used to mean hopping on a flight straight after work on a Friday and escaping to an exotic paradise, shopping and eating or some serious adventure. Since I had my daughter, travelling to exotic locations for the weekends is a lot harder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, not willing to give up our weekends away we have to take trips closer to home.<\/p>\n

Caloundra<\/a> and the recently refurbed Oaks Oasis<\/a> is the next on our hit list. The thought of me lounging by the new pool area with a cocktail while Little Miss runs riot in the (also new) water park seems perfect!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The pool- bliss!<\/p><\/div>\nTrue to its name, the hotel is literally an oasis. All the rooms surround the main restaurant and bar pavilion which leads onto the pool and is surrounded by water. The resident ducklings are super exciting for Little Miss.<\/p>\n

\"Tropical<\/a>

Tropical oasis<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Searching<\/a>

Searching for ducklings<\/p><\/div>\nOur spacious family room has two queen size beds, Little Miss has never slept in a big girl’s bed before so can\u2019t wait to jump all over hers.<\/p>\n

\"Our<\/a>

Our executive family suite<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Hotels<\/a>

Hotels are just the best<\/p><\/div>\n

We quickly drop our bags, get into our swimmers and head to the water park. All my dreams come true and it turns out a kids playground combined with a colourful water park means I can lounge by the pool with my book and forget I even have a child\u2026 well for at least half an hour. Complete with water slides, fountains and other splashables, it’s fair to say we are all super impressed. Who needs Wet’n’Wild when you’ve got this! \ud83d\ude09 <\/p>\n

\"Waterpark\"<\/a>

Waterpark<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Weeee!\"<\/a>

Weeee!<\/p><\/div>\n

The hotel is in a great location and after a big morning at the waterpark we walk along the water to find a nice spot for lunch. There are loads of great cafes and fish and chip shops along the Caloundra Esplanade. It\u2019s calamari and chips all round for us before we head back to the room for a long afternoon nap.<\/p>\n

\"Walking<\/a>

Walking along the Esplanade<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Taking<\/a>

Taking in the view<\/p><\/div>\n

We decide to head out to one of Caloundra\u2019s recommended restaurants for dinner – Blue Orchid Thai<\/a>. It lives up to the reviews and is just delish.<\/p>\n

On Sunday we decide to indulge in the hotel buffet breakfast, which is in the restaurant overlooking the water, a nice peaceful way to start the day.<\/p>\n

\"Oaks<\/a>

Oaks Oasis brekkie restaurant<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Brekky<\/a>

Brekky over the water<\/p><\/div>\n

Keen to work off our massive brekkie, we decided to check out all the great beaches in the area. Taking the scenic road, we end up on Moffatt beach. It\u2019s a long beach with great coffee spots on the water. The beach is uncrowded and we feel like we have the place to ourselves.<\/p>\n

\"Enjoying<\/a>

Enjoying the uncrowded beach<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Moffat<\/a>

Moffat beach<\/p><\/div>\n

We spend the day on the beach and finish off the weekend with an ice cream.<\/p>\n

Yep, it was a great weekend and I didn\u2019t have to rush to the airport, battle the crowds through security and spend my Sunday evening on a plane.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something to be said about weekends close to home. \ud83d\ude00 <\/p>\n

Emma stayed as a guest of Oaks Oasis<\/em><\/p>\n