Whether you and your family are after large cities, pristine beaches or breathtaking natural scenery, Australia offers a plentitude of choices, so you are bound to find the vacation spot that has your family’s name on it. Here’s our pick of top family holiday destinations in the Land Down Under.
Cairns
The Queensland city of Cairns, often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Barrier Reef’, is a popular tourist spot for the people who enjoy exploring natural scenery. Owing to a serious influx of tourist in recent years, it is now easy to find kid-friendly accommodation. The city has this relaxed vibe and people often use it as a jumping-off point for different other attractions in the region.
The activities that you can do with your kids include going for a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, taking a leisure stroll down the Esplanade Boardwalk and discovering the beauties of the Cairns Botanical Garden. The Great Barrier Reef aside, Cairns is a great base for exploring the areas like Port Douglas, the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation.
The Gold Coast
Located on the southeastern corner of Australia, the Gold Coast is the ideal spot for the lovers of sun, sand and surf. There are over 50 km of beaches, giving you plenty of opportunities to teach your youngsters to surf.
Apart from surfing, you and your family can set off on a kayaking excursion, enjoy some whale watching or go for an adrenaline-pumping jet ski adventure. The Gold Coast is also home to several exciting theme parks, as the DreamWorld, the Warner Brothers Movie World and the Sea World.
Kangaroo Island
No visit to Australia can be complete without hanging with some kangaroos. And what better place to see Australia’s favourite animal than the island names after it? Kangaroo Island is the third-largest island Down Under, and the easiest way to reach it is by taking a boat from the city of Adelaide. Besides spending some memorable moments with kangaroos at the KI Wildlife Park, you and your family can also enjoy the company of seals, platypi, koalas and penguins, explore the caves in the Kelly Hill Conservation Park or marvel at some truly amazing rock formations found at the Flinders Chase National Park.
Once you’re done discovering all the thrills that Kangaroo Island has to offer, you and your loved ones can head back to the mainland to pay a visit to Adelaide’s top sites like the German Hahndorf settlement and the Glenelg Beach.
Brisbane
The capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city, Brisbane is best explored by embarking on one of CityCat ferries, which can take you literally anywhere you want to go in the city.
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is definitely one of the Brisbane’s major draws for kids. Besides meeting and greeting cute koalas, kids can also learn about the importance of protecting natural habitats and wildlife in general.
The Queensland Museum and Sciencentre and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium are also the places that are bound to keep your kids entertained. And for those who aren’t afraid of heights, both the Story Bridge and the summit of Mount Coot-tha offer some really stunning views of bustling Brisbane.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru, which is the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock (it’s in the local Anangutribe’s language, to be precise), is among the most incredible rock formations on the face of the earth. This majestic sandstone monolith in Australia’s Northern Territory stands 348 metres high, with the majority of its bulk below the ground. So, if there are any budding geologists in your family, a visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is simply a must.
Besides Uluru, you’ll also get a chance to visit Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, which is a group of 36 large bornhardts (domed rock formations). Today there are different tour options available to get the most out of your stay. If you don’t feel up to hiking, you can book a bike, Segway or camel tour of the region. The Cultural Centre, located inside the park, provides an introduction to Tjukurpa (the foundation of Anangu life and society).
Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara, just outside the national park, offers a wide range of accommodation options, from five-star luxury to campsites.
Hopefully, this list will give you some great holiday ideas to keep everyone in your family satisfied. If we tell you that you can now even rent a free campervan, the prospects of having an utterly enjoyable family vacation become even brighter.
