The best summer family holidays in Australia

Jennifer Ennion Jennifer Ennion
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Rewrite the stars by ending 2024 on a summer holiday high.

There are plenty of epic places to whisk the kids away to for a memorable time these summer holidays. Here are some of our faves.

NSW | ACT | Vic | Tas | WA | NT | Qld

Gerringong, NSW

Paddle sessions, sandcastle building, surf shops, cool cafes and beach houses make Gerringong, on the NSW South Coast, the perfect antidote to an intense year. Whether you want to surf, paddleboard or enjoy a daily scoop of ice cream, this tourist town is a chilled-out option for coast-loving families.

Gerringong on the South Coast
Gerringong on the South Coast is the perfect family escape. (Image: James Horan/Destination NSW)

Pop over the hill into Gerroa to check out Seven Mile Beach, where there’s plenty of space and gentle waves. For a great seafood feast in a family-friendly location, dine at Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club. The Deli Cafe back in Gerringong also does a top healthy breakfast, after which you can hire a surfboard from Natural Necessity Surf Shop a few doors up.

Surf at Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa
Surf at Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa nearby. (Image: Destination NSW)

Why you’ll love it…

Camping is popular but we suggest you book one of the state’s newest boutique properties, SOUL of Gerringong. The luxury accommodation has two properties available to book: the SOUL Farmhouse and the SOUL Cottage. The former sleeps 14 people and features a pool, indoor and outdoor stone fireplaces, an outdoor deck with dining and a lounge. The cottage boasts a full kitchen, an indoor fireplace and a spacious outdoor entertaining area with a firepit. Parents will love the pared-back coastal styling, too.

Canberra, ACT

The nation’s capital might not be the obvious choice for a summer family fling, but it deserves to be, with a tonne of activities for kids of all ages. First up is a visit to the National Arboretum Canberra’s POD Playground, a fantastical world where children are encouraged to climb through giant acorns connected by rope tunnels.

National Arboretum Canberra
Visit the National Arboretum Canberra’s POD Playground.

Hotels are aplenty but if you want to wow the family stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, where you can sleep a few metres from lions, tigers or a sun bear. The Lodge is at the National Zoo & Aquarium and helps fund a program that breeds animals facing extinction.

Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Bed down at Jamala Wildlife Lodge.

Why you’ll love it…

There are plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. Along with the POD Playground, visit Canberra Reptile Zoo, National Dinosaur Museum, Power Kart Raceway, and long-time favourite Questacon.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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The Great Ocean Road, Vic

If there’s one state that needs our tourism dollars this summer it’s Victoria, with small businesses reeling from lockdown. The usually packed Great Ocean Road has been hit hard, with the managers of Cape Otway Lightstation announcing plans to close the attraction by March 2021 unless it receives further financial support.

Drive the Great Ocean Road to support the Cape Otway Lightstation
Drive the Great Ocean Road to support the Cape Otway Lightstation. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Hire a car or RV in Melbourne and hit the Great Ocean Road, stopping in Aireys Inlet, Lorne and at Cape Otway Lightstation,  access to the lighthouse is currently closed but you can still walk around the heritage buildings and stop by the Second World War radar bunker as well as dine at the cafe. Be sure to buy a souvenir or two from the lovely gift shop as well. Stay at Alkina Lodge, a stunning Wattle Hill property designed with sustainability in mind.

Why you’ll love it…

You’ll experience one of Australia’s most beautiful stretches of coastline (including the Twelve Apostles) and surf at some of the famous breaks.

Bay of Fires, Tas

Summer is the best time to visit Tasmania if you fancy a dip in the sea. Although you’re spoilt for choice with empty beaches, rugged wilderness and majestic mountains, we recommend you make a beeline to the Bay of Fires on Tassie’s East Coast. It’s a must-see destination, with pristine beaches dotted with boulders dressed in orange lichen.

Bay of Fires
Make a beeline for the Bay of Fires in summer on the East Coast of Tasmania. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Days are spent beachcombing, swimming and fishing, and the conservation area is best enjoyed while sleeping in a tent or a motorhome. If you love the idea of camping but don’t have the gear or seek something slightly sturdier, check out Bay of Fires Eco Hut. It’s a small, off-grid “shack" where you can introduce the kids to a simpler way of living – perfect for the ethical traveller.

Why you’ll love it…

The Bay of Fires is the very best of a back-to-basics family holiday, where days are spent exploring nature and nights are enjoyed around campfires or a games table.

The Bay of Fires is the very best of a back-to-basics family holiday. (Image: Lachlan Ennion)

Margaret River, WA

We all know some of Australia’s best grapes are grown in the Margaret River region. But did you know there’s a Giniversity and gastro pubs, too? Margs, as the locals call it, has adult offerings down pat, plus plenty of options for kids. Teens will enjoy checking out the surf shops, hitting up the impressive local skate park and tasting their way around Margaret River Farmers’ Market (every Saturday). Toddlers will love the Rotary Park playground near the town centre, and the fabulous timber playground beside Yallingup Beach. Our pick of the world-renowned beaches is Yallingup, with its calm rock pools for little kids, open water for swimmers and reef break for surfers. When it comes to bedding down, don’t go past Smiths Beach Resort, where there are beach shacks, villas and houses to suit different budgets, plus an Insta-worthy infinity pool (and wading pool). The ocean is also across the road.

Smiths Beach Resort
Choose from beach shacks, villas and houses to suit different budgets at Smiths Beach Resort. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

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Why you’ll love it…

Injidup natural spa (not the day spa) is a fun find. It’s a water hole where waves wash over rocks and douse you in sea foam. Keep an eye on the tide and pick a time that suits your family’s confidence when swimming in the ocean.

Swim at Injidup natural spa
Swim at Injidup natural spa. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Darwin, NT

It’s going to be muggy but one thing Darwin does better than any other Australian city is provide plenty of man-made spots to cool down. Base yourself at Darwin Waterfront, where you’ll find several cafes and restaurants, a shaded playground, a sandy netted harbour beach, plenty of picnic spots and – the ultimate attraction – a wave pool.

Darwin Wave Lagoon
Darwin Wave Lagoon is a popular spot for families. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

The Wave Lagoon is awesome fun and suitable for all ages, with shallow splash pools for tiny people, inner tubes for floating and sun lounges to flop on. Two free spots to cool down at are Leanyer Recreation Park and Palmerston Water Park.

Leanyer Recreation Park
Leanyer Recreation Park is a free spot to swim in Darwin. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

You can stay at the waterfront but family rooms are limited, so our pick is Hilton Garden Inn Darwin, which has rooms and suites that sleep up to four people, a great outdoor pool, and an on-site restaurant.

Why you’ll love it…

It’s only an hour’s drive from Litchfield National Park, which is worth a day trip. Check for closures during the wet season (between October and April) and keep crocodiles front of mind when finding refreshing swimming holes to cool off in.

Litchfield National Park
Litchfield National Park (Image: Sarah Mackie)

Gold Coast Hinterland, Qld

The theme parks on the Gold Coast are perennially popular with families. But for those who prefer the bush to the beach, the Gold Coast Hinterland offers a great alternative, too. Challenge your tweens to a turn on the 180-metre zipline at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, before joining a ranger on a wildlife encounter or setting out on a self-guided bushwalk to a waterfall and hidden swimming hole. The retreat, in Lamington National Park, has plenty of room options, plus camping.

O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk
Older kids will love O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk, in Lamington National Park. (Image: Tourism & Events-Queensland)

Why you’ll love it…

You won’t be short on activities in the hinterland. Another fun family outing is an excursion to Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain where you can fossick for thundereggs (nodule-like rock treasures) and give the kids a hands-on geography lesson.

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Jennifer Ennion
Jennifer Ennion is a freelance travel and ski journalist who loves encouraging people to spend more time outdoors. From snorkelling with belugas in sub-Arctic Canada to hiking the Himalayas, Jennifer is constantly searching for stories that inspire readers to push their boundaries.
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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

    The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

    The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

    By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

    North Cronulla beach
    Dive into the world’s best beaches.

    That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

    But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

    Beyond the beaches

    Dining

    the dining room at Pippis Cronulla
    Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.

    The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.   

    By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

    Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

    Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

    Visit Bundeena

    Bundeena Ferry Wharf
    Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

    A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

    Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

    One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

    Pristine walking trails

    Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track
    Cool off with a coastal stroll.

    Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

    Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

    Enjoy whale watching

    humpback whale sighting noosa experiences
    Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

    Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.  Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

    Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

    Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.