Weird and wonderful Australian lodgings for kids

Weird and wonderful Aussie lodgings that will appeal to both parents and kids…

There are plenty of weird and wonderful lodgings around the country that appeal to kids. Here we find some perfectly bizarre spaces for the ideal fantasy sleep-over.

Inn the Pink
We found one! A pink motel, set among tropical vegetation in Cairns. For kids looking for something totally abstract, The All Round Motel is affordable, family-run, and has flamingo pink facades for the lovers of bizarre lodgings or the next aspiring Australian architect. With self-catering facilities and a crystal clear swimming pool, this pink palace definitely deserves consideration.
phone: (07) 40514800
email: alround@bigpond.net.au

Lighthouse living
Split Point lighthouse in Aireys Inlet, Vic, made famous by the TV show Round the Twist, is open daily for tours. Legend has it that it’s haunted. Go and see for yourself. Unfortunately you can’t sleep on the property grounds or in a keeper’s cottage, but nearby Airleys Inlet Holiday Park (1800 66 88 66, www.aicp.com.au) will look after you. Phone Ecologic to arrange your lighthouse sightseeing trip ([03] 5263 1133, www.ecologic.net.au).
And if you’re certain it’s a lighthouse experiences you’re after, Norah Head Lighthouse in NSW is a heritage-listed beacon with three bedrooms and a sweeping veranda, a garden for kids to play in and other facilities. An amazing place for a family holiday. Free lighthouse trips included, (02) 4385 4430.

Coober Pedy
Underground lodgings are a must in opal-rich Coober Pedy. It’s an experience any explorative little soul would love. Coober Pedy Experience Motel is a prime example of what you can expect: the complex was originally a working opal mine and was only years later transformed into the resting spot it is today. Transport your family to the early 1900s and learn of the original Coober Pedy lifestyle. Today, lucky visitors might still stumble upon an opal or two, but for those less fortunate there are plenty of shops in town selling them.
phone: (08) 8672 5777
website: www.cooberpedyexperience.com.au

Heading to the big smoke? 
We created an entire resource for taking the kids to the city, a Parents Guide to our Cities.