Australia’s top family holiday spots

Planning a family holiday is the perfect way to enjoy quality time together and get out into the great outdoors. From endless stretches of pristine coast to wildlife-filled, native bushland, travelling in Australia is an investment towards learning about, appreciating and enjoying nature at its best.

Let’s take a look at our top holiday spots, with smorgasbords of fun for all ages.

Phillip Island, Victoria

You’ll create memories to last a lifetime, with a trip to Victoria’s Phillip Island. The main attractions? The famous Penguin Parade and the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre. If you can’t get enough of Australia’s cute wildlife, get up-close and personal with kangaroos and wallabies at the Phillip Island Wildlife Park. There’s also safe swimming beaches, mini-golf courses, go-kart tracks and the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory.

Coffs Harbour, NSW

The home of the iconic Big Banana pulls out all stops, when it comes to entertaining the kids. Explore the ‘World of Bananas’ with plantation tours, laser tag, toboggan rides and an inflatable water park. The Butterfly House will captivate all ages and Dolphin Marine Magic lets you swim with dolphins and feed cute penguins. For adventure lovers, there’s camel and horse rides on the beach, surf schools and Zorbing.

Gold Coast, Queensland

Chances are a theme park visit is at the top of your child’s holiday wish list. The Gold Coast is world-famous for thrills, spills and screams, with Sea World, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild dishing out the family action. It’s not all about dizzying rides though, with dozens of beaches, rainforest trails in the Hinterland, animals at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and school holiday entertainment in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta. 

Canberra, ACT

Do you want to combine your family holiday with fun learning activities? Canberra serves history up on an exciting platter of museums and galleries. Visit the Old Parliament House, the National Museum of Australia and the Royal Australian Mint to watch some very cool robots in action. 

Of course, there’s a Parliament House tour, but when it’s time for fun you can slip down the slides at Big Splash Waterpark, ride the elephant carriages of the Historic Carousel and delight the littlies with a turn on the Kingston Miniature Railway. 

How do you choose between them? Fun in the sun? Tick. Adventure in the great outdoors? Tick. Thrilling attractions? Tick. Quite simply, you can’t go wrong, so flipping a coin might be your best bet.