Living in Australia, we have adventure right on our doorstep in every state. No matter which direction you choose to travel, there is sure to be a family friendly holiday perfect for your and your family.
The ACT is a wonderful place to take the kids on a short or long break. According to Kidspot, some of the highlights of our nation’s capital include; Gooromon Park, which is great for horse riding and also has an incredible restaurant, Rock Rats Kids’ Rock Climbing Club at Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing Centre, dirt bike weekends, orienteering clubs and so much more. When the kids have had a few days of outdoor adventure it wouldn’t seem too much of an ask for a morning at the National Gallery either, if you were so inclined.
For parents with older kids, Jenolan Caves on the western side of the Blue Mountains makes a wonderful adventure holiday destination. They are said to be the oldest caves in the world and the largest in Australia. For ambitious Sydney-siders the trip is only 3 hours, so you might be tempted to do a day trip. If not, there is plenty of options for accommodation, including those on site. There are a number of different walks you can do through the caves so depending on what your kids can handle, you can tailor the experience. It’s not only fascinating and exciting, but also subtly educational which is always a bonus.
Located off the coast of Melbourne,Phillip Island is one of Australia’s coolest destinations for a family holiday. If the nightly penguin parade isn’t enough to get you excited, it’s also home to hundreds of fur seals, and there is a koala conservation centre on the island. This is a beautiful place for a family holiday with lots of animal spotting and outdoor adventures to be had.
Within New South Wales, right by the Queensland border, is Byron Bay – a great destination for parents of tweens and teens. The Main Beach is wonderful for longboard riders and there are plenty of other little gems dotted along the coastline nearby. Head inland to Bangalow and enjoy the beauty of the Hinterland and just a short drive from Byron’s town centre is a fantastic place called The Farm. This is wonderful for children of all ages as they can enjoy checking out the farm animals and then tuck into some local produce after.
NT is a brilliant place to take the kids for a holiday. There’s two places people will generally base themselves from, depending on what they want to visit while there. By basing your family in Central Australia you can take time to explore Uluru, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs. Otherwise, you can base yourself in Darwin and visit magical places like Kakadu, Litchfield and Katherine. If you decide to spend time in Alice, the Alice Springs Desert Park is great for kids. It’s approximately a 5 hour drive from Alice Springs to Uluru so most people will detour to Kings Canyon on the way, and if you have young ones, it’s a good idea to find overnight accommodation. The Ayers Rock Resort is made up of hostels, camping areas and hotels not far from Uluru. For those who base themselves in Darwin, Crocosaurus Cove is another place the kids will love.
Kangaroos Island can be accessed either by plane from Adelaide or via ferry from Cape Jervis. It’s renowned for its incredible wildlife, beautiful scenery and stunning beaches. Kids will love the fact that they can explore the island with mum and dad on a quad bike, or by boat, and it’s common to spot whales, seals and dolphins all while you’re out and about. The local food and wine grown in the region is well known, so parents will also have plenty to enjoy in this picturesque part of the world.
With it’s rugged wilderness and incredible history, Tasmania is listed as one of the top 10 family holiday destinations in Australia according to Lonely Planet. It makes the perfect place for a driving holiday, where you and your family can enjoy the abundant wildlife by camping in Freycinet National Park. Sea-kayaking around Coles Bay also makes for a wonderful day out, as does taking to the treetops with the Tahune Forest AirWalk. For older kids, the spooky tours of Hobart, Launceston and Port Arthur will give them a serious thrill as they learn more about the history of Tassie after dark. If you get rained out and are unable to enjoy some outdoor adventuring, you can always check out one of Hobart’s museums including the Maritime, History and Antarctica museums.
The Great Barrier Reef is another amazing place to take the kids. There are plenty of options for snorkelers and divers of different levels, so you can take a day trip out to the reef that suits you and your family. For really little ones, there is still plenty of fun to be had and reef to be seen with the abundance of glass-bottom boat rides. Once you’ve enjoyed a day on the reef, the many resorts in far north Queensland have a distinct family feel and cater to families of all ages with structured activities, pools and plenty of kid friendly food options.
We truly are spoilt for choice when it comes to family friendly holiday options in Australia. With so many different places to explore, there’s no chance of a dull holiday moment, so start planning your next holiday to one of these amazing destinations.
