ANYONE with kids knows there's a period in your holiday history when the entire itinerary is dictated by the little darlings.
Romantic getaways are out of the question, as is anything with a remote sense of sophistication or class.
Travel involving an aeroplane is best avoided, unless you like the idea of being stuck in a confined space and dealing with an overtired two-year-old doped up to the eyeballs on Chupa Chups.
So what's the alternative? Short of staying home for five years and building cubbies out of the furniture, it would seem there's not a great deal out there in the way of weekend getaways for Mum, Dad and those who are short in both stature and attention span. Anglesea could be your answer.
Only a 90-minute drive from Melbourne (plan your departure for when the kids will sleep), the quiet coastal town is more rug-rat friendly than its teenager-riddled neighbour, Torquay, and is bursting with activities for those aged in single digits.
Never underestimate the importance of accommodation when holidaying with toddlers.
They'll inevitably want to be busy every waking moment, but it shouldn't be at the mercy of parents enjoying some sort of downtime.
Keeping this in mind, it's no wonder Anglesea's Big 4 Holiday Park is considered a godsend by many parents.
The accommodation is stock-standard for this type of holiday park, but it's the extras that'll keep the entire family happy.
The toddlers' playroom is littered with books, toys and climbing equipment, and although the adventure playground is constantly teeming with their older brothers and sisters, the huge sandpit underneath (BYO bucket and spade) ensures no one misses out.
The indoor pool is also a hit for young and old, but the Finding Nemo characters on one wall serve as a reminder of this park's target audience.
The park also has a games room, bike hire and an outdoor kitchen, which saves you from being cooped up in your cabin at meal times or taking the family out for what should be a simple bite.
For the inevitable days when cooking is the last thing on your mind, Jum's Chicken on the town's main shopping strip is your best bet for a takeaway meal that'll keep everyone happy.
Our visit included trips to Point Roadknight (otherwise known as Toddlers Beach) and Coogoorah Park, which sits on Anglesea River and has barbecue facilities and playground equipment.
Both places act as child magnets, but while the beach resembled the crowd at a Wiggles concert, the park facilities were spread out and allowed everyone room to play.
As the weather starts to cool, the indoor play centre and cafe Kids Runamuk would be worth a visit.
It's never going to rank up there with exploring Roman ruins or lying the beach in Costa Rica, but surely having the kids distracted and entertained (read: giving you some peace) from dawn till dusk is worth something.
Linley Wilkie travelled courtesy of Big 4 Holiday Parks.
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