Things to do in Palmy

If the weather is good the esplanade is great. It has a huge play area with heaps of equipment and also has tracks to walk in the bush. There is the rose garden which is nice to walk around and birds in the averies and the duck pond as well.

You could go into the i-site (its in the square) and get info on any walks there are heaps around Palmy.

As for places to eat. Lone Star is nice, a little pricy but is very yummy. Aqaba is cheap and has just changed their menu so can't really say what the food is like as I haven't tried the new stuff. There is always Cafe Cuba for dinner but they can be a bit funny about young children in there. Cobb'n'Co is still around cheap food and is child friendly.

I went to that Orchid place, Thai food down from Pak N Save - really beautiful food and quite reasonable,. i recommend the stuffed mushrooms! We didn't have the boys with us (well, kinda did, I was two days overdue with Taine and trying to do the "curry" induction), but there were kids there. Food isn't necessarily hot. we ordered a "hot" curry and it was NZ hot not Thai hot.

Bangkok Thai was also good last time I went.

we went to Lone Star for my Nana's 70th and I agree the food was nice.

My gf worked at that italian restaurant on the corner neat lone star...cant remember the name right now. they had lovely risotto and pizza.

Yeah it's been a horrible day for outdoors today but if it does fine up, definitely the Esplanade. Lollipops would be great for your daughter but I don't think there's anything there for a 10yo. There is a rock climbing place around on Featherston St (someone help me here, its near Valentines) which would cater for both ages but it may not fit in your budget, I'm not sure.

There's always Valentines to eat at (buffet), there are always lots of families there. Best to make a booking wherever you go this close to Christmas. Cobb n Co is nice too, so is Fisherman's Table.... I guess it kinda depends what you're looking for. All those places are fairly central but Palmy is generally easy to find your way around.

City Rock is the indoor rock climbing gym... good fun for kids and adults, but Ella would be too young.  $8 a child. 

And mmmmm, the Thai Orchid - beautiful Thai food and great service (good prices too).  Best Indian here is Mr India on George Street, but the best deal on Indian (still really yummy) is Curry Haven on Princess & Main Streets.  Roma is nice too.  Cafe Cuba is a total fave of mine (they were cool about Ella being there, but I'm guessing someone else has had a less favourable experience).  I adore that place - but you do wait a long time when they're busy (and they're busy a fair bit).  Lone Star here has delish meals - huge of course, so not great value for money if you're dining with children there! 

I wouldn't hold out hope for a nice day outside - this is Palmy after all!