The best holiday ideas for families with young children

There’s nothing like parenthood to strengthen the lure of a well-earned holiday. Yet the logistical challenges of jetting off to a far-flung destination once kids are in the mix can be a turn off.

Fortunately, Australia’s striking landscapes and laid-back nature mean you need not look any further than your own backyard for family travel inspiration. These are just a few of the best holiday ideas for families with young children.

The island break

Living on ‘island time’ may feel like a distant memory of holidays past, but you can recreate the carefree vibe of old with an island holiday that’s tailored to young families. While the very idea of your island sojourn might conjure visions of the Maldives or Tahiti, Australia boasts a number of stunning isles much closer to home.

Hamilton Island has long held firm as one of Australia’s premium travel destinations, and its credentials only strengthen when it comes to holidaying with kids. Sitting pretty in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Hamilton Island is a postcard-perfect location, ideal for recharging your batteries, all while the little ones run down theirs – in the best possible way.

Go-karting, mini golf, nine-pin bowling and an array of watersports – to name but a few activities – will keep the whole family busy, while the Clownfish Club (Hamilton Island’s childcare centre) is on hand 365 days a year when kid-free moments beckon. Three of the island’s five resorts cater for young children and even include a generous ‘kids stay and eat free ’ offer. Sign us up!

HIE Family running on beach — Recharge your batteries while the little ones run down theirs on a tropical family getaway to Hamilton Island.

The group getaway

You’ve heard the expression ‘safety in numbers’, and that can apply to family holidays, too. More and more Australian destinations have started catering for large groups, making multi-generational family holidays, or holidays with friends, more appealing than ever. Sprawling homes, interconnecting hotel rooms, and side-by-side villas or cabins are all great options, giving big groups space to come together and create treasured memories. A location with plenty of nearby attractions will allow smaller groups to break away and do their own thing, which can help keep potential chaos at bay. Then again, leaning into the chaos could be an adventure all of its own!

For chilled beach vibes, Byron Bay Beach Houses might be up your alley, or perhaps you’d prefer the urban buzz of Sydney or Melbourne, in which case family-friendly hotels such as the Four Seasons, Swissotel Sydney, or Melbourne Marriott Hotel have your back. For the best of both worlds, a luxury villa from Villa Getaways on the Gold Coast has plenty to offer guests young and old.

Byron-Bay-family-on-beach — Rent a house by the beach in Byron Bay and bring the whole family along.

The snow holiday

Experienced ski bunnies might have their sights on ski destinations such as Japan or Canada, but there is plenty of quality powder to be found locally, too. Of course, skiing’s not an easy skill to pick up, but don’t forget how quickly your offspring learnt to speak, walk and defy your every request. They’ve got this. Plus, many Australian resorts offer childcare and snowsport classes for kids as young as three.

In Victoria, Mt Buller has kid-friendly activities both on and off the slopes. The Buller Air Zone includes trampolines and inflatable climbing walls, while dog sledding is fun for all ages. In Thredbo , a kids-only area includes entertainment and a terrain park, and there’s also a 50-metre heated pool and waterslide. Meanwhile, parents can make a splash with a little après-ski.

Mt Buller Ski School — Mt Buller has kid-friendly activities on and off the slopes.

The holiday park

Before kids, you might have been wary of the holiday park. But once you enter parenthood and rearrange your priorities, you’ll soon discover these places are, at worst fine, and at best fantastic. Often taking up prime real estate in picturesque locations where nature is king, holiday parks across the country are well equipped to ensure kids and, in turn, their parents, are catered for. Plus, the range of accommodation styles means there is something for everyone, from happy campers to those who prefer creature comforts.

BIG4 is one of the most recognisable names in the business and Easts Beach Holiday Park , nestled on 14 hectares of parkland just a few kilometres from Kiama, in particular, is a sight to behold. With a stunning beachfront location set against a backdrop of rolling hills, it’s the perfect base for young families on a South Coast road trip. The park boasts an epic waterpark, complete with three waterslides, a giant tipping bucket and an ocean-themed splash pad with interactive features, as well as a pool complex, a shaded jumping pillow, a play corner and games room, and an all-important kids’ activity program that runs throughout the school holidays.

Big4-Easts-Beach — Easts Beach Holiday Park, nestled on 14 hectares of parkland, is just a few kilometres from Kiama.

The wildlife encounter

Notwithstanding the challenges, the magic of parenthood knows no bounds, and watching your kids’ curious eyes widen with delight must be one of the greatest perks of the job. And there is arguably nowhere more likely to entice such bright-eyed delight than in the animal kingdom.

Let your kids get up close and personal with seals, dolphins, polar bears, turtles, penguins and more at Sea World Gold Coast.

Nurture your mini-Attenboroughs with a visit to Sea World Resort Gold Coast , where they can get up close and personal with seals, dolphins, polar bears, turtles, penguins and more. Along with unlimited access to Sea World, some package options will also grant you entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild Gold Coast and Paradise Country. Get a peek into farm life at the latter with lambs, foals, calves and piglets among the adorable residents. Proximity to the Gold Coast’s famous beaches makes this a sweet two-for-one holiday option.

This remote corner of Australia is one of the world’s last frontiers. This is how to see it properly.

Vast, rugged and deeply spiritual, the Kimberley coast in Australia’s North West feels a world away from everyday Australia – and there are countless ways to explore it. But if you want to reach ancient rock art, hidden gorges and lonely waterfalls, it has to be by boat. Whether you’re aboard a nimble expedition vessel or a luxury yacht with all the trimmings, exploring by the water brings exclusive experiences, shows unique views and makes travel easier than any other mode. And that’s just the beginning of Australia’s North West cruises.

The True North Adventure Cruise in between sandstone cliffs. — Adventure starts where the road ends.

1. Discover Broome, and beyond

Explore your launchpad before you set sail: Broome. Here camels and their riders stride along the 22 kilometres of powdery Cable Beach at sunset. That’s just the start.

At Gantheaume Point, red pindan cliffs plunge into the turquoise sea, whose low tide uncovers fossilised dinosaur footprints. Broome’s pearling history runs deep. Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Aboriginal divers once worked these waters, and their legacy lives on in boutiques where South Sea pearls still shine.

If the moon’s right, you may catch the Staircase to the Moon over Roebuck Bay. Or simply kick back with a cold beverage and a film under the stars at Sun Pictures , screening since 1916.

Ride a camel along Cable Beach as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light across the sand and sea. — Ride a camel along Cable Beach. (Image: Nick Dunn)

2. Unmatched access to The Kimberley

Once you’re onboard, expect a backstage pass to some of the most isolated places on Earth. No roads. No ports. No phone reception.

At Horizontal Falls/ Garaanngaddim, 10-metre tides surge through twin gorges like a natural waterpark ride that’ll make your palms sweat. Then there’s Montgomery Reef/ Yowjab: a giant living platform of coral and seagrass, where the sea pulls back to reveal waterfalls, sea turtles and ospreys.

Up north, King George Falls/ Oomari rage 80 metres down red cliffs. Zodiac boats often nudge in closer so you can feel the spray on your sun-warmed cheeks. You might even fly in to reach Mitchell Falls/ Punamii-unpuu, a four-tiered cascade where you can swim in freshwater pools above the drop.

Come spring, some itineraries veer west to Rowley Shoals: an atoll chain of white sand and reef walls. Then it’s up the winding Prince Regent River to King Cascade/ Maamboolbadda, tumbling over rock terraces, and into a Zodiac to view the Gwion Gwion rock art, whose slender, ochre-painted figures are older than the pyramids.

A cruise drifts beneath King George Falls, where sheer sandstone cliffs frame the thunderous plunge into turquoise waters. — Get closer to the Kimberley than ever before.

3. Taste the Kimberley with onboard hospitality

You might spend your days clambering over slippery rocks or charging past waterfalls. But when you’re back on the water, it’s a different story. Meals are chef-prepared and regionally inspired: grilled barramundi, pearl meat sashimi, mango tarts, and bush tomato chutney. One night it’s barefoot beach barbecues with your shipmates; the next, alfresco dining on the ship.

Small expedition ships each have their own personality, but many carry just 12 to 36 guests, making being out on the water a whole other experience. You might sink into a spa on the foredeck or sip coffee in a lounge while watching crocodiles cruise by. It’s choose-your-own-relaxation, Kimberley style.

4. Expert-led excursions through the Kimberley

These voyages are led by people who know the Kimberley like the back of their sunburnt hand. Attenborough-esque naturalists might gently tap your shoulder to point out rare birds or tell the story beneath a slab of rock. Historians can explain exactly how that rusted World War II relic came to rest here.

If your ship has a helipad, you might chopper straight to a waterfall-fed swimming hole. If not, you’ll still be hopping ashore for that wet landing at a secret creek.

Then come the evenings: songlines shared by Traditional Owners under the stars, or astronomy sessions that link what’s overhead with what’s underfoot and what’s within.

A small group glides through Kimberley’s rugged coastline by boat, passing ancient cliffs. — Explore with naturalists and historians by your side.

5. Relax in luxurious lodgings

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to rough it. These Kimberley vessels are small in size, but mighty in luxury. True North’s ships come with their own helicopters and a no-sea-days policy, so you’re always in the thick of it. Try the luxurious offerings from Ocean Dream Charters for exploration in style. Kimberley Quest offers a fast boat for easy, off-ship adventures. On the larger end of the scale, Coral Expeditions has open-deck bars and curated wine cellars. And then there’s Ponant’s luxury yachts – sleek and incredibly stylish French sailing yachts.

A helicopter soars above the sea, with a sleek cruise ship gliding in the distance. — See the Kimberley from sky to shore.

6. The adventure continues with pre- and post-cruise experiences

You’ve already come this far – so, why not go further? Broome makes it easy to ease in before you board, or wind down when your voyage ends, and there is no reason to stop there.

Head an hour and a half south to Eco Beach to stay off-grid and off the clock. Join a Yawuru guide for a mangrove walk or ocean forage. Dive even deeper into Broome’s pearling past at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay, where divers and craftspeople still pull the seawater-slicked gems from the deep.

If you’re still craving adventure, it’s time to go further. Soar over the Buccaneer Archipelago, or detour inland with a 4WD trip along the Gibb River Road. Book a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles. Or – because you never know when you’ll be back – do all three.

aerial of people walking on eco beach in the kimberley western australia — Stay off grid at Eco Beach. (Image: Tourism WA)

Find out more about your trip to Australia’s North West at australiasnorthwest.com .

Five holiday ideas for families with young children