Gino D'Acampo's 'Aussie Escape': WIN Tickets!

Gino D'Acampo is coming to Australia, and we can't wait!

I mean... look at this guy:

The funniest cooking segments we've seen on TV, ever! As seen on UK TV's show 'This Morning' on the ITV network, alongside the hilarious Phillip and Holly in hysterical lost in translation moments, expect more of this fun when Gino comes to town.

Want to win tickets? Scroll down for more below!

So what’s the format of the show? What can we expect?

Says Gino:

"Well the format of the show is... it’s a pretty crazy show! I spend two hours with the audience in the theatre, and it’s a very 'take every evening as it goes' kind of format.

"Nothing is prepared. Apart clearly from the food that I’m going to make of course, and I’m going to show people everything they want to know, and it is very, very free, very crazy, very loud, it’s very: whatever happens at the time.

"If the audience is willing to play, I’m the guy to play with... and you know, throughout the show, throughout the two hours, I have people in the audience with microphones because anyone can ask me a question, any kind of question at any time they want, they can interrupt me at any time they want," adds Gino. We LOVE this! Easy access to a very funny and talented guy.

"That’s what I want to achieve the most; I give myself to the audience, when I come here I’m all yours. Tell me what you want to know, tell me all the things you want, and I will tell you the truth. Whatever you ask me, I will tell you. So if they want to know something about the shows I do, if they want to know something about food, if they want to know something about my family, if they want to know something crazy about me, I don’t care! I’m there to create a relationship with the audience. It’s like going out for a dinner with some friends. Very relaxed, I say and do what I want, and it always ends up being a great night."

Continues Gino: "Usually I call up about three or four people on stage. I don’t mind if there are 10 people on stage! It very much depends on the evening. But mainly it's about an evening with Gino. I’m there to answer all the questions and to create… I’m there to have a night out, really. To be honest with you, it’s my night out, and yes the audience will be all strangers, but within five minutes they become all my friends."

The parts of Gino's appearances on ITV which have gone viral (see video above), is what we all love about Gino, his shining personality is the crux of all of his video snippets, all now viral.

There’s an authenticity about the ingredients that Gino uses for particular dishes and because he was born in Italy, it HAS to be authentic. In his world, you simply CANNOT put cream in a carbonara for example, you cannot bastardise this sacred dish.

Says Gino: "I think the thing that the people who watch my show love the most is the fact that I do not give up. I’m real to the traditions that I have and I try very, very hard to keep these traditions alive. It would be easier for me to just give up: ‘Yeah whatever, you want the real carbonara, yeah that’s fine, or, you want to put cream in the carbonara, that’s fine lets do that.

"But I don’t give up. I’m relentless and I think that’s what people like about me and those clips, they say, wow this is a guy that has been doing this for the last 15, 20 years and they can see that whatever I use in my recipes, say 20 years ago, is still very consistent to this day. So that kind of ‘real’, trying to keep the tradition alive, is what I think they like about it and me. And nowadays we are all kind of losing ourselves into this social media, internet world, not communicating personally with people, and for me it’s all about keeping those Italian traditions alive."

We have just seen Gino with Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix on the show ‘Gordon, Gino, and Fred’ for 3 episodes on the Seven Network, and we loved it. 

"Oh dear, oh dear!", exclaims Gino, laughing.

Apart from the roving campervan, which Gino reveals is "absolutely destroyed", a scene where Gino basically, er, farts on Gordon is... crazy! How DOES he get away with that?

"Well, Gordon and I… we have known each other for a very long time. We opened a restaurant in the UK together and you know we have a very mutual respect. I have many Italian restaurants and he comes to my restaurants, and he has a lot of restaurants and I go to his restaurants, and you know there has never been competition, there has never been any animosity between us. It’s just been a mutual respect for the last 15, 20 years. And that’s why when we work well together, there is no competition, there is no animosity, it’s just a joy. I just do whatever I like to do, I don’t really care about who they are and what they do, I live my life very carefree, let’s put it this way."

Currently writing book number 16, to accompany my new ITV series which is called 'Gino’s Italian Express', Gino was last in Australia over a decade ago, when he filmed ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’.

"I didn’t see much of Australia when I did the show. I won the show. I was the one in the jungle for the most time. So out of 24 days, 21 days go those days I was in the jungle. So I didn’t see Australia at all. I think I am looking forward to the most is the connection with the audience. Australia for me is like another world. It’s something I haven’t discovered yet. And the funny thing for me is they know who I am but I don’t really know about Australian people. So I’m really looking forward to go there and to create this connection, that’s what I want to do," says Gino.

Abstract Entertainment is proud to present this Italian chef, celebrated author and television personality Gino D’Acampo, in Australia in October 2019. Show dates below:

Friday 11 October: Sydney, Enmore Theatre

Saturday 12 October: Melbourne, Palais Theatre

Thursday 17 October: Adelaide, Thebarton Theatre

Saturday 19 October: Perth,Regal Theatre

Gino D’Acampo's books are published in Australia via Hachette Books. 

Gino’s Italian Escape can be seen on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel. 

For socials, go here:

Website: https://www.ginodacampo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinoDAcampo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamginodacampo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ginofantastico

For ticketing and venue information, visit https://abstractentertainment.net/

Now, to enter our competition with ONE double pass up for grabs:

- Share this post on socials - share on Instagram, share on Facebook too

- Like Josie's Juice blog on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josiesjuice/

- Follow Josie's Juice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiesjuicejournalist/

- Tell us in as many words as you like WHY you would love to see Gino in action. The double pass is available to win at ANY of his Aussie shows. Entries must be received by the end of June 7, 2019.

Good luck!

Soothe: Massage To You + WIN + Discount Code

Soothe is the world’s largest and fastest-growing on-demand massage service, and has now arrived in Sydney and Melbourne.

Now, okay... massages.

HOW often have you had them and vow to always have them now regularly, like always, always, always.

But, nope.

Never happens. Until six or 12 months later and you vow the same thing, again.

What stops you from indulging in life's simple pleasure of receiving touch?

For me, and I am sure for many, it's time, distance, time, time, time.

Who has the time to commit to leaving work and deciding that yes, I will relax, yes I will submit to just switching off?

I am sure I am not alone when I saw this is a modern day indictment.

And so, why not get them to come to you?

Genius idea! THIS is the service Soothe provides.

And, it's already a huge success overseas, so now the Aussie clientele gets to benefit.

With the addition of Sydney and Melbourne, Soothe now services 53 cities across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Soothe brings vetted, certified

massage therapists to one’s home, office, or hotel in as little as one hour.

Josie's Juice was lucky to have a one hour deep tissue massage in the comfort of the workplace. AND: readers can WIN a massage here... see details below.

AND, readers can take advantage of a discount offer. 

Simply choose a massage of any kind on the Soothe massage menu, enter this code JOSIEJ20 and a $20 discount will apply to that massage of any length and kind! YESSS!

It was in a separate room of my choice, with my awesome massage therapist Christina. She came upstairs, set up the room, and made my space her space, and I felt completely relaxed in my own environment.

She revealed that she's been asked to do massages in all sorts of places, but late night hotel massages are popular. Imagine, you're in an unfamiliar city, and you'd really like to give those muscles some relief after flying or work meetings all day.

Book the massage on the Soothe app, within the operating hours (it operates between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week) and voila, your massage is delivered to you, and no money needs to exchange hands. It's booked and paid for at time of booking.

Here is the Soothe app: CLICK HERE.

Josie's Juice highly recommends Soothe. There's nothing else to know except... book it. You won't regret it, and you may just finally fulfil that commitment to yourself that you WILL relax regularly.

Here is a pic of my experience:

You guys! The BEST experience in your own home, office, hotel stay, almost anywhere is what's been dubbed the #Uber of #massage - the @sootheapp! A huge success in the #USA it's now in Australia 🇦🇺 people who have used it, love it! That's now me! One hour massage - delivered to my workplace. Obviously my workmates think I should STILL be working. My massage therapist Christina was AWESOME and oh my gosh she gave me that fine line between pleasure and pain feeling 😊🙃😏🙊🎉 #highlyrecommended #download the #sootheapp and get your massage of choice delivered within a mere few hours, from 8am to midnight. Yup, for real. Check them out folks #relaxtime #relaxed #muscles #josiesjuice #blog #watermark 😂😏#sootheyourself

A post shared by Josie Gagliano (@josiegags) on May 3, 2017 at 4:56am PDT

“We’re pleased to serve the residents of Sydney, Melbourne, their surrounding areas,

and their visitors,” says Soothe’s Founder and CEO Merlin Kauffman. “Everyone

deserves to have a massage after a long day at the office or while on vacation, either as

a gift to oneself or to another.”

Soothe offers deep tissue, Swedish, sports, and prenatal massages between the hours

of 8 am and midnight daily, for singles or couples. Massages are fixed-price per person,

and Soothe covers tips, which is very much a US thing to do, but it's good for Aussie clients to know.

“Our growth is really due to the experience our massage therapists deliver,” adds

Kauffman. “They provide spa-quality treatments without the hassle of finding parking or

dealing with traffic. In addition, our massage therapists earn two to three times more

than the industry standard. Soothe is extremely proud to provide flexible work

opportunities for therapists.”

Kauffman created the company in 2013 while at Harvard Business School, a period

when he was frequently travelling, and found it difficult to schedule a massage

appointment outside standard business hours. What started as a solution to his own

problem, however, has grown into a flourishing business, with the number of certified

massage therapists on the platform having tripled since last year.

Soothe currently has a network of over 9,000 certified massage therapists globally. All

Soothe massage therapists have been interviewed in-person and only therapists who

meet the requisite level of certification and have a history of customer excellence are

accepted into the Soothe network.

Clients can book a Soothe massage by downloading the iOS or Android app

(soothe.com/app). 

Prices for massages are:

- $99 + GST for 60 minutes
- $145 + GST for 90 minutes
- and $185 + GST for 120 minutes

Clients may choose the type of massage, the treatment length, and the therapist’s

gender. Those who are unable to download the app can book via soothe.com, or call

1800.838.276 from within Australia, 800.960.7668 from within the US and Canada, or

808 178 0086 from within the U.K. All three booking options are available 24/7.

Soothe.

Here are some more inspo photos featuring the Soothe service:

More about Soothe:

It's the on-demand massage service and app, lets users schedule a same-day

massage in the privacy of their home or hotel. Soothe currently serves the following

cities and regions: Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, London,

Sydney, Melbourne, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Cincinnati,

Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Ft. Lauderdale, Honolulu,

Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Long Island and Hamptons, Louisville, Memphis,

Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Napa/Sonoma, Nashville, New Orleans,

Newark/Northern New Jersey, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Palm

Springs/Inland Empire, Park City, Philadelphia, Portland, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Santa

Barbara, St. Louis, San Diego, San Jose, Scottsdale, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver

(British Columbia), and Washington D.C.

For more information, visit soothe.com, call 1800 838 276 from within Australia, or 
800.960.7668 from within the US and Canada, or 808 178 0086 from within the UK.

And HERE is how to win a massage, just for you to enjoy and see what all the fuss is about!

Here is all you need to do:

YES!

All you need to do is:

- 'Like' the Josie's Juice Facebook page: CLICK HERE

- 'Like' the Soothe app Facebook page: CLICK HERE
- Share this post on your Facebook page

- Comment below or email us at: josiegags@optusnet.com.au and tell us why you'd like to win a massage.

Competition drawn by July 31, 2017.

Want to purchase a voucher now? CLICK HERE.

And here is your Sydney centric booking link. BOOK ONE RIGHT NOW HERE.

And don't forget to apply the Josie's Juice discount code above! ENJOY.

'Barking Dog Man': Ray Martin INTERVIEW 2017

So, this icon of icons is back, you guys.

Only in Australia can we elevate this fabulous man to total ledge status, and yep... he deserves this adulation.

Oh yes he does.

I mean... behold:



And now, another Aussie top bloke who probably says "you little ripper" on loop, all day has interviewed the 'barking dog man'. And that man and that interview is right here:



Onya Ray!

Says the podcast description:

Broadcasting legend Ray Martin joined Bree & Gawndy for a chat and set him the challenge of a lifetime - to interview another Ray - Ray Graham, who was a viral sensation in 2010 for his incredible impression on 9's A Current Affair (a show Ray's been heavily involved with throughout his career) of a couple of cheeky canines next door that were disturbing his peaceful neighbourhood.

The way conversation plays out is astounding! This is 'WHAT DOES RAY SAY'?!

Get up with Bree & Gawndy, weekdays from 5am on SeaFM and Saturdays from 7am across the Hit Network.

Go you good thing!

'Step Brothers' 2: Will Ferrell VIDEO

What is even happening! 'Step Brothers' is getting a sequel?

Well, this is sorta kinda maybe definitely what Will Ferrell said. Watch: 

Here is a reminder of the awesomeness of 'Step Brothers'. I'm sorry, but if you don't find this movie funny, we can't be friends. Kidding. (Not really).

Here are some of Josie's Juice fave scenes:

'Bad Moms 2': TRAILER

It's here.

And it looks bloody good!

'Bad Moms 2' is coming to our screens this Christmas, and if you've watched 'Bad Moms' you'll love this.

The main characters are back - Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn - plus Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon. Oh, and that hottie Peter Gallagher who is now, gulp, 61 and frankly... looking hotter than ever.

Here is the very funny trailer - some parts NSFW:



'Bad Moms 2' - which is titled 'Bad Moms Christmas' in the US - follows on from the 2016 release of 'Bad Moms', a box office hit, spawning not only this, part two, which opens in the US on November 3, and in Australia on November 2, 2017, but an announced spin off titled ' Bad Dads' (yessss, bring it!).

THE line of the trailer:

“You are a mom,” says Christine Baranski, who plays Amy’s (Mila Kunis) mother. “Moms don’t enjoy, they give joy. That’s how being a mom works.”

UGH.

The PR blurb on 'Bad Moms 2':

Bad Moms 2 follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened moms (Amy, Kiki, and Carla) as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of Christmas in hopes of creating a more perfect holiday for their families. And if that was hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their ultimate holiday foes: their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms have redefined how to make the holidays special for their families and it ends up bringing them closer to their own moms.

BAD MOMS 2 was directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and produced by Suzanne Todd, who previously partnered on the first “Bad Moms”. The film stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon. 
'BAD MOMS 2' releases in Australian cinemas on November 2, 2017.

For more on Roadshow releases, go here: https://roadshow.com.au/

Follow them on Facebook here: http://facebook.com/roadshow

Exclusive behind the scenes pics on Instagram here: http://instagram.com/roadshow

Follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/josiegags/

Oscars 2017: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

All the Oscars highlights including this year's host Jimmy Kimmel's monologue. Oh, you want to see the Best Picture stuff up? That's HERE.

Salt Bae: Who and what is it? VIDEO

#saltbae

What the HELL is this madness all about?

2017... meet your first meme!

HERE is the video that started it all:

Ottoman steak 🔪

A video posted by nusr_et (@nusr_et) on Jan 7, 2017 at 2:44am PST

SO. Who is this internet marvel?

He's basically a Turkish chef named Nurset Gokce, and he's a good looking dude minding his own beeswax, who carved up a (bloody delicious and tender looking) steak, and then SPRINKLED THAT SHIT with kindness, I mean, salt... in SUCH a dramatic way it almost (*definitely) seems comical.

With his white, V neck tshirt and uber cool sunnies he salts that steak like nobody's business, and clearly someone spotted this clip from this well known chef and sent his star positively stratospeheric.

Hello: 'Salt Bae'.

Even talk show host James Corden even called it “the most erotic” thing he’s ever seen:



And more salt bae madness before he became salt bae...

YALARIM DEDI

A video posted by nusr_et (@nusr_et) on Dec 24, 2016 at 8:23am PST

Artık Tukiye dıyince Nusret Nusret dıyınce Türkiye dedi🇹🇷 @rogerfederer#birgun#herkes#yıyecek

A video posted by nusr_et (@nusr_et) on Nov 26, 2016 at 9:20am PST

Canberra: Family Trip TRAVEL REVIEW

Canberra!

Have you been to our nation's capital?

If not, you simply must.

If you have a terribly outdated idea that Canberra is 'boring' stop reading!

Actually, keep reading! It's the best thing you could do as a Sydney-ite as this Australian city has so much to offer, and it's under two hours away.

We, and by we I mean my family and a fellow blogger's family in tow, visited Canberra in October and fit in much as we could in a matter of days.

Think: Cockington Green Gardens, Questacon, Floriade, National Zoo and Aquarium, National Arboretum Canberra.

The National Arboretum Canberra is something to see! Not part of our schedule, we kinda stumbled across it while driving past.

It's here you can actually see "the forest for the trees", with its 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from Australia and around the world.

We loved that we could drive up the breathtaking, winding driveway and park, then walk right into the Arboretum, grab a table (try to get one as close as possible to that fabulous view,  although each table has a 360 degree view of the vast expanse of trees), peruse the menu and grab a delicious bite to eat (there is something for all, young palates and more refined palates), then stroll to the large kids 'Pod Playground' just outside, or stay inside the awe inspiring Arboretum structure and have wine and dessert.

You can walk through, drive in, cycle about, or even horse-ride around the 250 hectare site. You’ll be gobsmacked at all its beauty, including the living artworks in the National Bonsai and Penjing collection. 

You can enjoy a free guided and self-guided tours, loads of interactive displays, outdoor sculptures, or pack a picnic to enjoy an outdoor meal with some of the most spectacular views in our capital city.

Download their 'augmented reality' app and listen to soundscapes, interesting stories about the trees, and holograms featuring stories about a fire fighter, harpist, landscape architect, Ngunnawal man, volunteer guide and bonsai artist.

Here is a video round up:

And now, the zoo!

The National Zoo and Aquarium is possibly THE best zoo I have been to.

It's just ten minutes drive from the city (EVERYTHING is easy to navigate and get to in and around Canberra), and it proved a big hit with big and little people.

The zoo itself is super easy to get around, and all its all in the way they've planned out the zoo - it's a clear path between sections and the most popular animals like the majestic lion and the funny meerkats - and you can enjoy the opportunity to help feed animals (including meerkats!), 

AND: it's Australia’s only combined zoo and aquarium. You guys, it's SO good. Families, singles, bunches of friends, first dates, grandparents' days out - it's perfect for all, especially because of way it's set out, and how easy it is to get from A to B.

The zoo and adjoining aquarium is only 10 minutes’ drive from the city, you can go behind-the-scenes at the National Zoo & Aquarium.

You can try: a Zooventure, Family or Walk on the Wildside tour. You can help feed animals, handfeed a giraffe or bear, and at kids over the age of 12 can do the Meet-a-Cheetah encounter and pat a cheetah.

You could also experience a stay overnight here! THE ultimate stay for animal lovers, we saw the precinct from afar and know that you are right in the middle of it all. So fun - imagine waking up to that. Here is more on that: http://www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au/your-experience/

Seriously, get to the zoo as soon as you can! If the last time you went was as a child, and you're not sure you can find interest in looking at animals, no matter how cute, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you'll enjoy it, just as we did.

Next up, Australian Institute of Sport, Cockington Green Gardens and Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre.

Best tip straight up: buy the 3 In Fun pass to get access to all three of the above - AND this means you save more than 25% on the usual price.

And guess what: the 3infun ticket also offers a FREE return visit to one of the participating attractions! Yes.

Yes, before you head to the mini manicured gardens, consider this: the 3infun ticket gets you all THREE attractions:

Australian Institute of Sport, the delightful miniature world of Cockington Green Gardens, or 200 (YES!) exhibits and experiences at Questacon - it's ALL available with ONE pass.

The 3infun ticket lets you save more than 25% on the usual price. PLUS, and I love this, 3infun is offering a FREE return visit to one of the participating attractions. So, go back and  revisit any of the three attractions for FREE!

For more on this 3infun ticket, click HERE.

Another tip: call ahead at Australian Institute of Sport and ask when they are able to host you. The AIS is open daily, but tour times are specific.

Listed on the site, the times are: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm

Tours are closed only on Good Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day, and New Years Day.

The AIS is Australia's premier elite sports precinct, which attracts 200,000 visitors from Australia and overseas.  

Set amongst 65 hectares of native bushland, the AIS offers an insight into Australia's sporting past and shows what our nation is capable of from a sporting perspective.

Like seemingly everything in Canberra, it's only minutes from the CBD, with plenty of free car and coach parking.

Here you can get a sense of what it takes for a high perfomance athlete to make it, with a behind-the-scenes tour of the AIS, where the country's best athletes train.

It's located at Leverrier Street, Bruce and you call for more info here: 02 6214 1444, or go to: www.ausport.gov.au

Here's a video on what the AIS has to offer:

With the tour of the AIS - an award-winning guided 90-minute tour - you even might catch some of Australia's top athlete's in training!

Here you can also challenge yourself in Sportex, one of Australia's leading interactive sports exhibits, set amongst a unique collection of Australian sporting memorabilia - this is part of every AIS Tour. You can even give wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts and much more a red hot go.  

You can also dive into the world-class AIS aquatic and fitness centre which offers both 50-metre and 25-metre heated pools in an indoor complex, plus there is a fully equipped gym with the latest fitness equipment and a range of unique fitness and group training sessions, or you can even hire an experienced personal trainer at the AIS. Fees apply: check the website for times and session and pool availability.

Onto Cockington Green Gardens! One of my fave parts of Canberra!

No way is this miniature world just for littlies, instead it's most definitely for big and little kids.

Created by Doug and Brenda Sarah, Cockington Green Gardens is a family owned and operated attraction, with four generations involved in it’s operation over the past 35 years. It opened to the public in 1979, and has won an Australian Tourism Award and many local tourism industry awards. And you can see why! Step into the world of Cockington Green Gardens and immediately you are transported to another land - a whimsical, very green, perfectly manicured mini world of miniature trains and gardens and immaculately kept flower beds.

Step into Cockington Green Gardens and be seriously dazzled by the attention to detail in each and every section of every themed, manicured garden, completed with doll like elements which genuinely fascinate and engage people of all ages who visit. Our group was two sets of adults and fours kids if varying age, and we were all enthralled and engaged the WHOLE time.

Cockington Green Gardens always has something to see: it's constantly growing with the popular addition of the international display area, which complements the original English Village and the established gardens.

You can also pop into the Rose Room indoor exhibition, featuring ‘Waverley’ a 34 room Dolls House, or have a coffee in the Parsons Nose Garden Café, or bring a picnic lunch.

Don't forgo the cute miniature steam train ride, which goes right around the international display, giving you a complete, leisurely total view of the whole attraction. Awesome fun for young and old!

Here is more on Cockington Green Gardens: http://www.cockingtongreen.com.au

And of course, there is Floriade.

Floriade is now in its decades' long run in Canberra, and is a leisurely way to see flowers in season and clever and beautiful flower installations, for both young and old.

It is set on a huge expanse of land alongside the iconic Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, and has been there since its beginnings in 1988, when Peter Sutton and his colleague, landscape designer Chris De Bruine, developed a proposal for a grand floral display to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday.

Well! Hasn't it grown since! Josie's Juice went along to the very first Floriade that year with nature loving mamma in tow, and it has changed markedly since then, growing bigger and better each year.

There are stunning floral displays of exotic bulbs and annuals, which thrive in Canberra’s cool climate. Every single year, more than one million blooms (yes, over ONE MILLION!) are on show to create a stunning backdrop to a month-long festival filled with music, cultural celebrations, horticultural workshops, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities.

Floriade runs from mid-September to mid-October and attracts almost half a million attendees each year.

While Floraide has free entry for adults and kids, it's advised that families bring some money along for the kiddie rides and of course food, if you like. Or, BYO sandwiches and drinks.

So, where did we rest our heads?

We stayed at the Breakfree Canberra, which is situated at 2 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra.

An older style hotel complex, it has all you need for a family stay with all the amenities you need, lots of room, the opportunity to cook for yourself and your guests, centrally located and a short stroll to shops, Floriade (when it's on in Spring each year - allow for around 15 minutes from your hotel), and cafes and restaurants.

The hotel has a partnership with Bicicletta Restaurant (around five or so minutes away) and here you can  eat your hotel brekkie (there is no other restaurant offering at the hotel), and it is DELICIOUS and has that 'thing' many restaurants around this precinct have: the cool factor. Anyone who rattles of that antiquated notion that Canberra is uncool should be MADE to come here. Cafes buzzing with excellent coffee, a park with shipping containers set up as food truck heaven, and just a cool vibe.

Back to the hotel. Reasonably priced (click HERE for rates), here are some photos of the different room variations the hotel offers:

 And some snaps from my @josiegags Instagram account:

The view from our hotel, Breakfree:

And read more HERE.

To see more and read more about what Canberra has to offer, click HERE.

Want to know where Canberra's most Instagrammable locations are? Visit Canberra has a link for that too! CLICK HERE.

Make Canberra your next family, couple, or solo destination. We think you will love it!

Josie's Juice blog was a guest of Visit Canberra, looking after our passes for each precinct. Josie's Juice was a paid guest at the Breakfree Hotel, Canberra.