The 10 best holiday destinations for families in Australia

If there was one way to sum up the Gold Coast, it would be that it’s Australia’s biggest playground. From amusement park hopping to the strip in the heart of Surfers Paradise that comes alive with street performers, eateries, shops and attractions, this destination is a must-visit for families. Sunny weather is the regular for this pocket of fun in Queensland, so beat the heat in the waves of the beach perched right on the edge of the monstrous skyscrapers or catch the convenient tram line right to the humongous resort-style shopping centre ‘Pacific Fair’ (or Pac-Fair as it’s affectionately known to locals).

Best for: theme parks, beaches, sunny weather, big resorts.

Merimbula might be the crown jewel of the NSW Sapphire Coast, but we’d consider it more of a hidden gem when it comes to incredible family holidays. The chill coastal town has its very own theme park, Magic Mountain, complete with mini golf, a toboggan ride, dodgem cars, a rollercoaster, two summer waterslides and so much more. Animal lovers can head to Potooroo Palace to feed free-roaming kangaroos and reptiles, or check out the impressive 70,000-litre aquarium at Merimbula Wharf. Of course, you can have plenty of fun without spending a cent by hopping between the town’s beautiful beaches and exploring the charming township. 

Best for: peaceful beach days, animal adventures, theme park fun. 

Our nation’s capital doesn’t get nearly enough love as it deserves. Yes, it's perched on its lonesome, but we reckon it's worth the journey. Ponder at Australia’s National Gallery, play at Questacon (a massive science centre for little and big scientists), debate at Parliament House, make bank at the Royal Australian Mint, and travel back in time at the Australian War Memorial. Take the fun outdoors with a hot air balloon adventure or bike ride around Lake Burley Griffin, and be sure to hit up the adorable Cockington Gardens or the Floriade festival in spring each year for a tulip spectacle.

Best for: museums, galleries, outdoor adventures.

It doesn’t matter if you’re five or 50 – you will find enjoyment in taking a selfie with Rottnest Island’s native residents: quokkas. This is the only place in the world to find these adorable little animals who look like they’re permanently smiling. That’s not to mention the pristine beaches with sapphire waters, the rocky outcrops that look like they’ve been dumped there from some Greek Island, and the bikes you can hire to cycle around the whole island. You can day trip to Rottnest Island from Perth or stay the night (or two…) with accommodation options tailored to all budgets.

Best for: bike rides, beaches, outdoor holidaying.

We can’t decide which is better: Cairns or all the extraordinarily lush islands just a ferry ride away. Cairns itself acts as a fantastic landing pad for a wealth of marine life and world-renowned biodiversity (hello Great Barrier Reef). Day trip or extend your Northern Queensland stay at Fitzroy Island and Green Island, which are just a 45-minute ferry ride away from the main marina in Cairns. The islands have world-renowned beaches, turtle rehabilitation centres and challenging yet highly scenic bushwalks, while back on the mainland there’s the Daintree Rainforest to be explored by skyrail and rivers to be rafted (this one’s for the big kids only).

Best for: island hopping, or day trips to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. 

Now, look. It’s no secret that Australia wasn’t blessed with the same powdery snow-capped mountains as, say, Switzerland or Japan, but we do have Mount Kosciuszko. That has to count for something, right? It’s actually Australia’s tallest mountain and the views go to show it. When it is finally time for the snow to make its way Down Under, nearby ski resorts Thredbo and Perisher are the places to be. There are plenty of family pass options for days on the slopes and rides up and down the chairlift. The area is even magical in summer when Mount Kosciuszko turns into prime mountain biking terrain with tracks for all ages and abilities.

Best for: skiing, hiking, mountain biking.

You’re almost too spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly fun on the Sunshine Coast. Sure, it might not have as many theme parks as the Gold Coast, but it’s worth venturing north to Palmview, where you’ll find the smaller but mighty Aussie World. Just down the road, you’ll also find Australia Zoo, an absolutely massive wildlife park bursting with seriously unique animal experiences. Still got energy to burn? Hit up the bustling Eumundi Markets, get lost in the labyrinth at Amaze World, fly like Tarzan on the ziplines at TreeTop Challenge or meet 10,000 marine creatures at Sea Life. 

Best for: beaches, markets, more relaxed theme parks, wildlife encounters.

Stepping foot in Launceston is like stepping back in time to what Australia looked like more than 100 years ago. While it’s got its modern aspects like e-scooters and some delicious contemporary Australian restaurants (like the grain silos-turned-eatery in the Peppers Hotel), almost every second building is made quite solidly of red brick and reads ‘flour mill’ or ‘courthouse’. Plenty of day trips from the town will entertain every member of the family, from picking all the fresh fruit you can eat at Australia's top berry farms to riding chair lifts far above Cataract Gorge and spotting all the peacocks below.

Best for: peaceful parks, cute markets, charming streetscapes.

Despite Melbourne’s reputation for its not-so-optimal weather, you best believe that when the sun comes out, you’ll want to be sitting on the ferris wheel at Luna Park in St Kilda gazing over Port Phillip Bay. This suburb is just a 20-minute drive or a 30-minute tram ride from Melbourne’s CBD, so you can get your art and culture fix in the big smoke, then kick back in this seaside suburb with a feed by the beach followed by a relaxed stroll down the pier where you’ll come face to face with the resident colony of too-cute little penguins.

Best for: staycations, beachy vibes, old-school amusement, penguin encounters.

Though it's pretty spectacular in its own right, Uluru is so much more than a massive rock. Whether visiting from overseas or staycation-ing, learning about the native Aboriginal culture through Tjukurpa stories (song and dance from the Dreamtime) and Tjukuritja (physical evidence left by the oldest continuing culture on Earth), this place truly deserves a spot on the bucket list. Set out on one of the region’s many bush walks and hikes for hypnotising rock formations, meander through the magical four-football pitch-wide art installation of lights in the desert and dine at twilight when the sun casts an enchanting red hue over the land.

Best for: cultural experiences, dazzling light shows, surreal sunsets.