Australia with Kids: A handy holiday guide
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Explore Australia with your family
There are literally thousands of awesome family friendly holiday destinations to be discovered across Australia.
It’s a truly breathtaking roll-call of experiences on offer for everyone: intimate encounters with our unique wildlife, stunning wilderness adventures, educational activities and authentic Indigenous experiences that offer insights into the world’s oldest living culture.
Of course, there’s always time for some good old-fashioned family fun with countless kid-friendly beaches, parks and playgrounds around the country.
What would you like to do in Australia?
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New South Wales
Look beyond spectacular Sydney and discover all the joys that New South Wales have to offer. We’ve uncovered (and road-tested) the state’s most memorable family travel experiences, from rustic barns in the Hunter Valley to farm stays in the Central West and classic coastal road trips. Plan your best-ever school holiday adventure with our fabulous guide to NSW.
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The ACT & Canberra
Australia’s capital city is packed with fun for the whole family. Canberra has museums galore, so get ready for hands-on science at Questacon and prehistoric encounters at the National Dinosaur Museum. More lively critters can be found at the National Zoo & Aquarium, or take a guided ranger walk at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve… come for a long weekend and you’ll wish you had a week!
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Queensland
Can’t wait for a balmy escape? It’s time to clear your schedule and book a Queensland getaway with the kids. Our guide to the Sunshine State’s holiday hotspots will help you plan the ultimate vacation. The perfect blend of natural beauty, culture, food and theme park fun can be found along the coastline, from the Goldie up to tropical Cairns. Dive into our Queensland travel guide and start dreaming today!
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Tasmania
Add Tasmania’s food, wine and culture to breathtaking spans of scenic wilderness and you have one incredible family holiday. Everything on the Apple Isle feels fresh and unique— visiting seaside Bicheno for a little penguin encounter, meeting Tassie Devils at Cradle Mountain and cruising with the dolphins to Bruny Island. Outdoor activities abound here to keep all ages busy, from toddlers to teens.
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South Australia
Explore the best of South Australia with its remarkably family-friendly wine regions, farm-to-table experiences, incredible landscapes and scenic coastal towns. Given that Adelaide sprawls along the SA coast, you’re never far from a picture-perfect beach. Embrace a coastal getaway in one of many untouched destinations or make it a day trip between kid-friendly cellar doors in the Barossa, Adelaide Hills or McLaren Vale.
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Victoria
From hiking in Victoria’s national parks to meeting the wildlife on Phillip Island, there’s never a dull moment to be found in this state. You’ll be itching to explore some of Australia’s best scenic road trips, including the world-famous Great Ocean Road. As a bonus, everything is within driving distance—so whether you’re travelling with toddlers or teens, Victorian family getaways are easy-peasy.
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Western Australia
We’ve been saying it for years: Western Australia is one of the nation’s coolest places for family fun. If you’ve never been to WA, it’s time to add this vast state to your bucket list—and if you’re a seasoned adventurer out west, it’s no wonder you can’t wait to go back! Spanning over 2.5 million square kilometres, from Perth all the way up to Broome and the Kimberley, there’s always something new to discover.
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Northern Territory
Darwin is fantastic for families—it’s both a destination in its own right and a starting point to explore all the delights of the Top End. The Northern Territory is a great backdrop for a family road trip, and there’s stacks of outdoor fun for kids to have among its sprawling red desert and dramatic rockscapes. Kakadu, Katherine and Uluru are calling, so start planning your very own NT adventure.
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Australia’s Island Territories
Australia’s lesser-known territories happen to be excellent family travel options. Get off the beaten track and discover what Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands have to offer.
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Australia with kids: A family travel guide
Explore the Aussie Outback
There is something magical about getting outback. The characters are quirky, the scenery sometimes stark but it is always beautiful and the experience unforgettable for kids.
Alice Springs and the Red Centre delivers the magnificent Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Watarrka Kings Canyon. Broome and the Kimberley has the awesome Bungle Bungles, with kids able to enjoy the best everything from camel rides to boat tours, mixed in with outback tours. In South Australia, head for the Flinders Ranges with the spectacular Wilpena Pound or head up the Birdsville or Oodnadatta Tracks for a desert awakening.
Outback New South Wales is different again with towns like Broken Hill, Lightning Ridge and Silverton all offering a range of things to do and see. And in Outback Queensland, catch the Spirit of the Outback train to Longreach and visit the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum.
Whether you fly in for a week here or there or do ‘the big trip’ your family will have a wonderful time reconnecting with each other – and the spiritual heart of the country.
Visit Australia's vibrant capital cities
The idea of an Aussie family holiday usually conjures visions of beachside bliss, country road-trips or outback odysseys. But a trip to the city isn’t just for business travellers; our capitals have endless appeal for families too.
Not only do their public transport systems makes them easy to get around but with so much to see and do including hands-on museums and galleries, sprawling zoos, amazing parks, amusement centres, phenomenal playgrounds, and much, much more – a city escape can make for the perfect family break.
Australia’s biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, have so much to offer the family you could stay for 365 days and still not see it all. Sunny Brisbane is also booming for families with a plethora of great activities and attractions indoors and out.
Australia’s National Capital, Canberra, is kid central with some of the best interactive museums in the country as well as great outdoor spaces. And let’s not forget historic Hobart, appealing Adelaide, picturesque Perth and dynamic Darwin, smaller cities that are all still very big on showing little ones a great time.
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Opening image: Uluru is an Australian icon. © Tourism NT-Shaana McNaught