Australia – Family holiday guide

It’s an immense country with every climate from Mediterranean to dry desert, many of the world’s last true wilderness landscapes and vast stretches of completely empty space.

Dipping into the outback with older kids is a thrilling experience, younger children will probably prefer beachy cities and smaller national parks.

But wherever you’re going and however long you’re staying, this is one family adventure that definitely needs a clear plan from the very start.

• Wet ‘n’ Wild, Brisbane
  Queensland’s Gold Coast is theme-park heaven for kids and this is one of the most amazing waterparks.
• Australia Zoo, Queensland
  In a country filled with astonishing wildlife parks, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo stands out for its ongoing commitment to conservation.
• Sydney Sea Life Aquarium
  Even if kids go no further than the city boundaries, Sydney’s fabulous aquarium brings every Australian underwater creature to them.
• Wallandra Lakes, New South Wales
  The ancient heartland of Australia’s native people where history spans 50,000 years of human habitation.
• Valley of the Giants, Western Australia
  A vast 600m walk around the tops of prehistoric looking Tingle Trees – part of the remarkable Walpole Wilderness Area.

• Kamay Botany Bay, Sydney
  Botany Bay is where Captain Cooke first made landfall in Australia, now a fantastic coastal national park not far from the centre of Sydney.
• Australian Museum, Sydney
  Australia’s first natural history museum is a good place to start exploring the country’s unique environment and the world’s oldest living indigenous culture.
• Luna Park, Sydney
  A fun theme park close to Sydney Harbour Bridge – the views from the top of the Ferris Wheel are sensational.
• Tandanya, Adelaide
  One of the country’s most exciting Aboriginal arts centres with a year-round programme of exhibitions, theatre and performance.
• Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin
  Australia has some of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, this accessible park on the edge of Darwin is wonderful for wildlife, birds and spectacular vegetation.

Educational value for kids

• Uluru isn’t a day-trip but it is unforgettable with older kids and can be seen as part of a tour. If the operator is offering an opportunity to walk on Uluru, move on. This is a sacred site and climbing the rock is both disrespectful and potentially dangerous.
• Australia’s 500 national parks are each an entire holiday in themselves and most have excellent educational resources for kids.
• This is surfing country and there isn’t a coast without water sports and qualified instructors.

• Huge Australia is covered in railway tracks and has some of earth’s greatest journeys, both short and very, very long.
• Look out for free guided city tours in the state capitals, they’re entertaining, informative and many are designed just for kids.
• Visit the Darling Quarter in Sydney where younger kids can run wild in the playground and older ones can enjoy everything from art classes to local theatre.
• The more kids know about what to expect, the more fun they’ll have, so get to grips with whichever part of this immense country you’re visiting before you head off.

Getting about with kids in Australia

It goes without saying, Australia’s enormous. Planes here are used like buses and flights across every state are frequent and reasonably priced. If you want to explore outside cities, a car is essential: be aware of exact distances, road conditions and weather before you leave. Thousands of family tour packages are available to explore more remote regions, national parks and places like the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. Don’t drive in cities if you can help it, public transport is always a better option.