We really enjoyed our morning at the Australian Reptile Park. THere are heaps of animal displays of all types, and the park is very large and spread out, so it is not crowded. You can get quite close to the animals for a good look and great photo opportunities. Our son especially enjoyed the Lost World of Reptiles. I would reccommend this to anyone with an interest in animals, or with kids.

Approximate cost: $25.50

We go to this cinema a fair bit on our visits to the Tamworth area. There are several cinemas and they show the most current movies. Usually it has been great. Recently, though we went to a sell-out movie and the disabled seating was taken up by able-bodied patrons, rather than being reserved for those with disabilities. This resulted in us being made to sit in a thoroughfare - me on a fold-up chair for the three-hour movie. We were made very much to feel that we were in the way, even though we paid full price for our movie tickets.

Approximate cost: $16

We needed to visit this nursery on Boxing Day to buy a birthday present while passing through. The owner was very accommodating and happy to meet us at the nursery while he was watering, even though the nursery was closed for the day. We were after an orchid and there were quite a few options - they have a large range of plants at a reasonable price. The knowledgable staff advised on the care of the plant.

Approximate cost: $60

My husband and i have had dinner here a couple of times. The staff are friendly and efficient. There is a huge menu to choose from, and the food is yummy and authentic - many dishes come on a sizzling plate. The restaurant is licensed and has a good wine list. The decor and atmosphere are lovely.

Approximate cost: $20

I went to the Running Edge to find some shoes that i can walk in all day, suitable for orthotics, wearable without socks (ie: with shorts or a skirt). i found a lovely pair of Propets here, they have a great range of walking shoes as well as running shoes. Once an assistant came to help me (having been ignored by the first assistant who was in the shoe area), he was extremely helpful and knowledgable about fitting shoes, especially with orthotics, which are quite new to me. Very happy with my purchase.

Approximate cost: $140

Our dining experience at the Pembroke was a little disappointing. My Vietnamese beef salad was yummy, but tiny. it could have been padded out with more noodles and/or some lettuce to make it more filling. My husband's steak was overdone. I made the mistake (still being hungry) of buying a dessert from the 'pre-made' selection of desserts - a frozen parfait. And yes, it was frozen solid, complete with frozen topping, and difficult to eat. Certainly not worth the $9.50 dessert price. Having said that, the staff were friendly and efficient.

Approximate cost: $20

I've stopped here for a morning tea and a lunch. The food is excellent and there's a wide variety of choices. The place is quite busy but we had no trouble finding a table each time, but it does make the service a little slow. Good prices for a large and filling lunch in a lovely location.

Approximate cost: $10

A lovely shop. i went in search of wool with a particular thing in mind and had no trouble finding it here - they have a variety of plys, textures and mixes. I didn't look at the patterns and books much, but they seem to have quite a range. A little on the expensive side, but not as bad as some shops! The assistant was very friendly and helpful.

Approximate cost: $9

Pandemonium has a range of activities which you pay for separately - we did the Imaginarium and my son and husband did the laser skirmish. We went on a weekday and there weren't many customers, so there weren't many staff members around and we had to wait quite a while to pay for an additional activity. The Imaginarium was fun with a lot of interaction and interesting for adults and children alike. The displays are temporary and therefore change from time to time. The laser skirmish was good - great that it was wheelchair accessible and therefore my husband could also join in the fun.

Approximate cost: $23

A roomy cafe with a variety of takeaways available. The hot chocolate was good, and my friends enjoyed their coffee. The order came quickly, although the staff member was a little confused when taking our order.