Great Australian family holidays made easy

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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Family Holidays are one of life’s great joys; spending time away from the distractions and dramas of day-to-day life and reconnecting with each other, as well as the simpler things in life. Whether you’ve got toddlers or teenagers in tow, a family adventure need not be stressful, given there are so many options to choose from, both in our own backyard and further afield.

This handy guide has got something for everyone, whether you are longing for a tropical island getaway, a glamping adventure in the great outdoors or an activity-filled city break. The common thread throughout though is that each and every destination will provide the perfect setting in which to enjoy each other’s company and make some lasting family memories.

Mirage Whitsundays

Get away from it all with a trip to one of Australia’s most luxurious resorts, the multi-award-winning Mirage Whitsundays Resort. Located on the serene waterfront of Airlie Beach, Queensland, Mirage Whitsundays offers guests a choice of opulent five-star waterfront apartments, villas and penthouses that provide luxurious contemporary living.

 

The spacious self-contained serviced apartments enjoy access to the best in resort facilities, ensuring that you will want for nothing during your stay. There are 2 lagoon  swimming pools, a gymnasium and a luxurious day spa.

 

Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Airlie Beach offers breath-taking panoramic views of the Whitsundays archipelago, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your premium accommodation.

 

So, whether it’s luxurious break for the whole family or a romantic getaway, Mirage Whitsundays Resort is the perfect choice.

 

PHONE 1300 088 988 | WEB miragewhitsundays.com.au

Eurobodalla

From Batemans Bay to Moruya and Narooma, Eurobodalla is a stunning stretch of coastline boasting uncrowded beaches, river estuaries and ancient headlands. One of Australia’s best holiday destinations, families can discover 83 beaches, four major river systems, islands, vast tracks of national park and state forest, and an abundance of wildlife.

 

Cruise the Clyde River, the cleanest of all the major rivers on Australia’s east coast and famous for its oysters. Fill up on cheese and fresh farm products that are a highlight of these parts. Explore historic villages like Central Tilba, Bodalla and Mogo, where you can relax in cafes, wander through craftgalleries and snap up local artworks.

 

Just off Narooma’s coast is Montague Island, a haven for mammals and birdlife, where the clear waters teem with fish and a huge colonyof fur seals entertain snorkellers. Potato Point and South Durras are meccas for kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas.

 

Discover Eurobodalla and bring out your better nature.

 

PHONE 1800 802 528 | WEB eurobodalla.com.au

Doma Hotels

If you’re wondering what to do on your next short break that promises something for the whole family, look no further than Doma Hotels’ VIP Kids package.

 

Designed for even the most discerning of children, the package includes:

Overnight accommodation

VIP kids check-in with Experience Passport

A kids tent with bedding set up in the lounge area of your room

Buffet breakfast per adult booked

Kids under 12 eat breakfast free

A popcorn machine for use during your stay

Secure undercover parking for one car

Free wifi and on-demand movies

Late checkout

 

Once you’ve settled in, some of Canberra’s best-loved attractions are easily within reach, from the fascinating Questacon to the Australian War Memorial’s vast and moving collection to go-kart racing. And when you are finished with all of these, there’s a fabulous selection of galleries, restaurants, shopping and parks close by to enjoy as well.

 

PHONE 02 6163 1888 | W E B domahotels.com.au

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Noonaweena

Noonaweena is an eco-certified bush retreat nestled in the New South Wales Central Coast hinterland.

 

Situated just an hour from Sydney means there are no long car rides to endure, yet the tranquility of the 100 acre property provides a much-needed escape from city life.

 

Its four elegant group-accommodation lodges cater to everyone from couples to large family groups of up to 32 people.

 

Guests can choose from self-catered or catered stay options, and have access to the restful Nourished Day Spa for pampering massages or facials.

 

There are also plenty of activities to d onsite including tennis, bush walking, mountain bike tours, swimming pools and outdoor Jacuzzis, ensuring lasting family memories will be made at Noonaweena’s unique ‘resting place in the bush’.

 

PHONE 02 4376 1290 | WEB noonaweena.com.au

Rottnest Island

Located 19km off the coast of Perth (and just 25 minutes from Fremantle), Rottnest Island feels a million miles from everything. Rediscover life’s simple pleasures as you follow a sandy track, run barefoot through the waves or experience intriguing wildlife along the Wadjemup Bidi, a network of picturesque walk trails.

 

As an A-Class Nature Reserve surrounded by the sparkling Indian Ocean, Rottnest is home to 63 beaches and 20 secluded bays, as well as its most friendly resident, the quokka; the cute marsupial has made the Island is world-famous (Huffington Post recently dubbed the quokka the “happiest animal on earth".

 

Relax beach-side, snorkel through vibrant coral reefs and shipwrecks, climb a lighthouse, or fish for delicious local seafood. Bicycles are the most common mode of transport which makes it perfect for families wanting to stay active and get back to nature.

 

PHONE 08 9432 9300 | WEB rottnestisland.com

Wilpena Pound Resort

Only half a day’s drive north of Adelaide, Wilpena Pound is an extraordinary 800-million-year-old natural amphitheatre situated in the heart of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, traditional homeland of the Adnyamathanha, or Yura, people.

 

The Wilpena Pound Resort serves as the only accommodation within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and includes hotel rooms, ‘glamping’ safari tents and campsites, as well as scenic flights that provide breathtaking views of Wilpena Pound and the surrounding National Park.

 

As one of only a few Aboriginal owned and operated resorts in the country, the hallmark feature here is its Aboriginal cultural experiences; visitors to Wilpena Pound Resort set off on a journey with the Traditional Owners to uncover the rich history and mystique of ancient and contemporary Aboriginal culture. Yura guides provide unrivalled insight into their timeless land, which is one of Australia’s true natural wonders.

 

PHONE 1800 805 802 | WEB wilpenapound.com.au

Holiday Haven Tourist Parks

Only two to three hours drive from Sydney or Canberra, Holiday Haven’s 12 tourist parks make escaping to the scenic South Coast of NSW a breeze. With beach, lake and riverfront locations, the parks are conveniently located in or close to major South Coast townships including Kangaroo Valley, Berry, Huskisson and Ulladulla.

 

With easy access to waterways and national parks, guests can explore ample bush walking trails, enjoy more than 100 unspoilt beaches or make a splash at surfing, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding.A full range of accommodation options are available from campsites to luxury camping with ensuite facilities, glamping in safari tents or fully self-contained cabins with water views.

 

The are a variety of onsite recreational facilities on offer including jumping pillows, splash pads, swimming pools, children’s playgrounds, mini golf, and organised school holiday activities. There really is something for all the family at Holiday Haven Tourist Parks.

 

WEB holidayhaven.com.au

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Kingfisher Bay Resort

Kingfisher Bay Resort is the perfect base for your next family adventure, with World Heritage-listed wilderness to explore, endless activities to enjoy from the resort, and immersive nature experiences for all ages.

 

Fraser Island offers breath-taking scenery guaranteed to impress, outdoor options that get teens away from their screens, and picture-perfect moments for the whole family. The resort’s renowned Junior Eco Rangers program is as popular with parents as it is with the kids; mum and dad can relax with a drink as experienced rangers take their children out on an interactive nature experience.

 

In fact, the entertainment options at Kingfisher Bay Resort are endless:

Junior Eco Rangers program

Canoe paddle

Archery and laser skirmish

Ranger-guided walks

Hiking and fishing

Bush tucker talk & taste

Whale watching cruises (Aug-Oct)

 

PHONE 07 4120 3333 | WEB kingfisherbay.com

Noosa

You can’t help but fall in love with Noosa, the relaxation capital of Australia! From beautiful beaches to jumping headfirst into a new adventure each day, it has everything you need to relax.

 

Explore bays and rock pools along Noosa National Park’s coastal tracks – you might even spot dolphins, turtles or a koala up in the tall eucalypts. Australia Zoo, Aussie World, The Ginger Factory, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium and Big Kart Track are all within easy reach, or discover the beautiful Noosa Everglades and World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. The whole family can learn to stand-up paddle along Noosa’s river, try surfing at the calm Noosa Main Beach or learn to sail.

 

Accommodation here caters to all budgets, from riverfront camping to five star beachfront properties, family-friendly apartments to hinterland B&Bs; there are even houseboats!

 

A Noosa holiday will create moments and memories the whole family will treasure.

 

PHONE 1300 0 NOOSA | WEB visitnoosa.com.au

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Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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    The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns. 

    It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach, the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.  

    Bells Beach
    Bells Beach is known for its epic surf break and is at the start of the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet 

    Split Point Lighthouse
    The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road. Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.  

    Split point lookout
    The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.  

    This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities. 

    Lorne to Birregurra 

    Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.  

    Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.  

    From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.  

    Erskine Falls
    Erskine Falls is one of many falls within a day trip of Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae, helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.  

    Brae restaurant
    Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Apollo Bay to The Otways 

    Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.  

    A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.  

    Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles 

    Twelve Apostles
    One of the famous Twelve Apostles, limestone sea stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. (Image: Ben Savage)

    The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.    

    It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.  

    The Grotto
    The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

    Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.  

    Port Campbell to Timboon 

    Timboon Fine Ice Cream
    Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

    Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.  

    Warrnambool to Port Fairy 

    Warrnambool building
    A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

    In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.  

    Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.  

    The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.    

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there

    Oak & Anchor
    The Oak & Anchor in Port Fairy.

    The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit. 

    The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip. 

    Eating there

    The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.  

    Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.