Port Douglas is a popular spot for all ages

Summer might be over but we’ve got you covered for the next big family getaway. We’ve lapped the country to find some of the best family-friendly destinations and caravan parks in each state. 

Holiday parks equal holiday heaven, that’s the proven theory when it comes to travelling with children.

The key ingredient for a successful holiday is different for all families. It might be the pools, a bike track, jumping pillows or just camp kitchens, movie nights and lots of other children (and parents) to meet.

Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that — a great destination with lots to see and do is always a winner — but, at the end of the day, when the touring is done, and everyone is a little frazzled, those caravan park distractions are gold.

And sometimes it’s just as good to put the touring aside and kick back and mingle.

No matter where you are headed on the next family trip, here are a few ideas on where to go, what to see and where to stay and play.

Exploring Stanley in Tasmania

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Fleurieu Peninsula, about an hour south of Adelaide, has family fun all sewn up, from long stretches of calm beaches to swimming with super-fast tuna at Oceanic Victor at Victor Harbour, surf spots near Port Elliot and comical close-ups with alpacas at Softfoot Alpaca Tours in the Hindmarsh Valley — a bonus for parents is a drive through the McLaren Vale wine region to get there.

Yorke Peninsula is a hit with families looking for beach and fishing action. Do a jetty crawl from Ardrossan and Stansbury to Wool Bay and Edithburgh then cross country to Port Hughes and Moonta Bay. 

Stay: Moonta Bay Caravan Park; Stansbury Caravan Park; Coobowie Caravan Park; BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park (with pool, giant jumping pillow, mini golf, playgrounds, tennis court & games room); Middleton Caravan Park (for the older kids who just want to surf); or Rapid Bay Campground (for beach frontage and great fishing but limited facilities).

Cycling is a great way to get around Bright, Vic

Take a day trip from Adelaide to Monarto then take the ‘Walk of the  Brave’ right into the lions’ den at Monarto Safari Park. You will be in the cage, surrounded by lions licking their lips and waiting for their next snack.

Head west to Eyre Peninsula for a feast of family fun. Fill your days with fishing at Streaky Bay, check out the oyster farms at Smoky Bay, cruise along the coastal drive out of Elliston and swim with sea lions and dolphins at Baird Bay. 

Stay: Discovery Parks Streaky Bay — the beach-front views are stunning and fish-cleaning bays are dotted all along the shore, so the fishing must be good! Smoky Bay Caravan Park: Right next to the jetty where you can throw in a line for King George whiting, flathead, squid or net for crabs. Elliston Caravan Park: Pool, jumping pillow and bikes, all straight across the road from the jetty. Baird Bay Camping Ground: back to basics and so is the price at $10.

Spend time on the SoftFoot Alpaca Tours

The Coonawarra is about halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne and is a great stop for two reasons – the wine region is compact enough to cover without boring the kids too much (and will provide sustenance for mum and dad) and the Naracoorte Caves are close by. These caves are one of the most important fossil sites in the world and are lots of fun to explore. 

Stay: BIG4 Naracoorte Holiday Park or Wirreanda dormstyle accommodation, campground and caravan park.

Coober Pedy will have a deep impact on the family. Go underground to find the true gems like Faye’s Underground Home and the Old Timers Mine. When you surface, fossick for opals, see where Hollywood has drawn inspiration for movies or head out over the Moon Plains to the Painted Desert.

Stay: BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort. Remember, it’s the Outback so you have to pay for showers and to buy extra filtered water.

Enjoy the BIG4 Narcoote Holiday Park

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

There is so much to see in WA’s South-West, from historic Albany with its whaling and convict heritage, to the world’s longest and highest tree-top walkway at Denmark, and forests of giant karri trees just waiting to be climbed.

Margaret River has something for everyone — wine tasting for the adults and chocolate tasting at Margaret River Chocolate Company for the kids — who am I kidding, chocolate is for the adults, too.

The whole coastline is a jaw-dropping spectacle of beautiful bays, tall cliffs and sensational sunsets. At Busselton, walk or take a train ride along the 1.8km jetty and check out the marine life without getting wet at the Underwater Observatory. 

Stay: RAC Margaret River Nature Park — a  nature-based eco experience in Wooditjup National Park; Albany Gardens Holiday Park; Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park; or RAC Busselton Holiday Village which has mini golf, a BMX track, jumping pillow, electric bikes, pedal cars, free Wi-Fi and camp kitchen. 

Meeting the dolphins at Monkey Mia in the Shark Bay World Heritage area is a special moment you’ll never forget. The dolphins come and go as they please and rangers make sure they’re protected when they do decide to visit. 

Stay: RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort is just metres from all the action.

Take a stroll along Busselton jetty

Coral Bay, 1121km north of Perth, is where you will find a lot of Western Australians during school holidays. There’s not much more than a small shopping complex with a general store and tour operators  running all sorts of water-based activities plus a few restaurants and two massive caravan parks. But what more do you need? The weather is gorgeous and you can snorkel Ningaloo Reef straight from the beach. 

Stay: People’s Park or Bayview campgrounds.

Exmouth is 150km further north and, if you visit from April to August, it’s the perfect spot to swim with whale sharks — the biggest fish in the ocean. 

Stay: Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort.

What’s not to love about Broome? Camel rides on Cable Beach, oyster farm tours, crocodile tours and walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs.

Stay: Cable Beach Caravan Park — 5km from town and a short stroll to Cable Beach; Discovery Parks Broome — right on the beach and you can walk to the night markets.

Ride a camel on Cable Beach

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Let’s start in Darwin to check out Crocosaurus Cove in the middle of town, and the Wave Lagoon on the waterfront. 

Stay: Darwin FreeSpirit Resort — three pools, kids’ activities, a jumping pillow and live entertainment.

Go wild in Kakadu National Park. Take the kids swimming at waterfalls, bush walking, wildlife cruises, fishing, rock art viewing, bush-tucker walks and 4-wheeldriving.

Stay: Cooinda Lodge Kakadu is right next to the Yellow Water Billabong — handy for crocodile cruises.

Sunset at BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday park

Just out of Darwin is Litchfield National Park. Think short hikes followed by long soaks in crystal clear (crocodile free) waterfalls. Florence Falls and Wangi Falls are my favourites. 

Stay: Try unpowered sites at National Parks campgrounds at Florence Falls and Wangi Falls if you can handle the  heat. If you need air conditioning, stick to a caravan park in Darwin and visit Litchfield on a day trip.

Some of the most amazing gaps, chasms and gorges in the West and East MacDonnell Ranges are all accessible on day trips out of Alice Springs. 

Stay: BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park: Take a deep breath … it’s got four amenity blocks, four camp kitchens, free gas BBQs, two baby bathrooms, pools, a waterslide, shaded jumping pillows, supermarket/shop, go-karts and bike hire.

The extra amenities at resorts are a great place to relax

Uluru takes centre stage any time of the year for family frolics. Don’t let the heat put you off from exploring this massive monolith. However, be sensible with the times you visit and what you try to do in one day. Be prepared with plenty of water, protective clothing, sunscreen and a sense of adventure. 

Stay: Voyages Ayers Rock Campground.

QUEENSLAND

Beautiful one day, perfect the next rings true for Queensland.

Far North Queensland is where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, and Port Douglas is smack bang in the middle of both. From here, explore the rainforest at Mossman Gorge and take a snorkelling cruise out to the reef.

Drive 45 minutes north to the Daintree Village for a croc-spotting cruise.

Stay: Near the water: Tropic Breeze Caravan Park or Four Mile Beach Park. Inland: BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park.

Plenty for the kids to do at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort

Cairns has heaps of family-friendly fun including the waterfront lagoon, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Barron Falls, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and day trips up to the Atherton Tablelands. 

Stay: BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut (with a water park); BIG4 Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park (flanked by the rainforest and right next to the swim-friendly waterfalls).

Here’s a gem … Yeppoon in the heart of the Capricorn Coast. 

What is there to do? Endless beach days plus a day trip to Byfield National Park and Rockhampton, duck out to Great Keppel Island, shop at the weekly markets and check out the local cafes. 

Stay: Discovery Coolwaters Yeppoon Holiday and Caravan Park, or NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park.

Cairns’ Esplanade Lagoon

The Sunshine Coast has 100km of pristine sandy beaches to enjoy, from Coolum in the north to  Caloundra in the south with Noosa, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Kings Beach in between. If that’s not enough, there is also Aussie World for rides, Strawberry Fields to pick your own fruit, river cruises, the Ginger Factory, Big Kart Track and Australia Zoo. 

Stay: Take your pick from Sunshine Coast Holiday Parks at Coolum Beach, Mudjimba Beach, Maroochydore Beach, Dicky Beach and the new-look Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park right next to the upgraded boardwalk.

Gold Coast theme parks are still a huge family drawcard. Movie World, Sea World and Wet ’n’ Wild will keep the kids happy (and parents exhausted) for days. 

Stay: NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Park is a 15-minute drive north of Surfers Paradise, central to all theme parks and a short walk to outlet shopping at Harbour Town.

The Discovery Coolwaters Holiday Park at Yeppoon

NEW SOUTH WALES

The whole NSW coast is a mecca for water-based family fun.

Let’s start from the northern Tweed Coast near Hastings Point and Cudgera Creek. Here, there are national parks to explore and kilometres of white, sandy beaches. What can you do? Catch a crab, see whales, make art, tour a fruit farm, visit galleries, learn to surf in small waves, snorkel with turtles, cruise or paddle a river, hire a boat, drive to scenic lookouts, pack a picnic, take the family fishing or catch a movie.

Stay: North Star Holiday Resort; Tweed Holiday Parks; Pyramid Park; or Ingenia Holidays Kingscliff.

Learn to surf at Byron Bay then hire a kayak and paddle next to dolphins. Parents embrace your inner hippie with a visit to Nimbin. 

Stay: Reflections Holiday Parks Clarkes Beach; Discovery Parks Byron Bay (with water park); or Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay (bushland to explore, bikes to hire and 15km cycle ways).

Sealy Lookout provides great views over Coffs Harbour

There are 101 reasons to visit Coffs Harbour — and there’s a Coffs Coast app detailing them all — from coastal walks, swimming with dolphins and, of course, the Big Banana Fun Park. 

Stay: Reflections Holiday Park Coffs Harbour in the centre of town with access to  the creek or the BIG4 Park Beach Holiday Park right on the water.

If you need a break on the coastal drive, stop in at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries, just out from Port Macquarie. Stop for lunch, stretch your legs, pick strawberries from the vertical walls, taste the produce or stock up on fresh fruit and veggies.

Enjoy the facilities at the BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park

On the Central Coast, you can choose between the ocean and lakes at Norah Head. It’s a haven for water sports addicts — no matter your age. 

Stay: Central Coast Holiday Parks Norah Head.

Kiama is a holiday hotspot with lots of beach action, the Blowhole and the Lighthouse. Easts Beach is a short walk from the Little Blowhole and Munna Munnora Creek (at the southern end of the beach) is a good spot for the kids to splash around. 

Stay: Any of five Kiama Coast Holiday Parks or BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park.

Lake Macquarie, 90 minutes out  of Sydney, is home to one of the largest coastal saltwater lakes in the Southern Hemisphere — it’s twice the size of Sydney Harbour. With heaps of parks set up right on the water-front, you can wake up to the sound of water lapping on the shoreline then enjoy 30km of unspoilt coastline. 

Stay: BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Lake Macquarie; Swansea Lakeside Holiday Park; Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park; Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park; Paradise Palms Caravan Park; or Wangi Point Lakeside Holiday Park.

Go on a Tree Adventure at Yarramundi

Lake Conjola is hard to beat on the NSW South Coast with beach, lake and bushland activities. Canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, waterskiing, surfing, hiking, cycling … the list goes on and on. 

Stay:

Holiday Haven has 12 beachfront, lakefront or riverfront properties across the South Coast and Holiday Haven Lake Conjola has cabins and waterfront powered sites with views across the lake.

VICTORIA

The Penguin Parade each night is one of the big attractions on Phillip Island, but there is also the Antarctic Journey to check out, Cowes Beach for swimming, surf lessons, Churchill Island Heritage Farm, the Koala Conservation Centre and eco-boat adventure tours and a chocolate factory.

Stay: Anchor Belle Holiday Park in Cowes; or BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park. 

Ballarat is gold, and it’s where to pan for gold at Sovereign Hill. 

Stay: Eureka Stockade (Top) Holiday Park; or BIG4 Ballarat Goldfields Holiday Park.

Winding around the Great Ocean Road

Hit the snow in Mount Buller in winter for skiing, snowboarding,  tobogganing, snowshoeing and sled dog tours. There’s also a spa, cinema, rock climbing, sculpture park walk, a gnome run, and in summer you can go mountain biking, hiking and horse riding.

Stay: High Country Holiday Park in Mansfield; Mansfield Lakeside Ski Village; or Jamieson Caravan Park.

Beautiful Bright, along the Great Alpine Road, is located between several ski resorts including Mount Hotham, Mount Buffalo and Falls Creek. It has picnic spots, water slides, swimming holes, lookouts and bush walks. 

Stay: NRMA Bright Holiday Park; or BIG4 Bright.

Halls Gap is the gateway to Grampians National Park, known for its natural attractions from waterfalls and mountain ranges, to hidden rockpools and special viewing spots like Boroka Lookout.

Take a hike on the park trails that lead to waterfalls like MacKenzie and Silverband or the short stroll to Venus Baths. 

Stay: Halls Gap Caravan Park; Big4 NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park with heated pools, bouncing pillow, tennis and volleyball courts and pedal go-kart hire; or Top Parks Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park.

Cape Otway Lighthouse

The Great Ocean Road drive is still a favourite for all ages. For some it’s the scenery but for others, it’s all the fabulous stops along the way.

Torquay is the starting point of the 243km road carved by returned servicemen as a memorial to those who served and were lost in WWI. It’s all things surf and sand, food, golf and even yoga.

While you’re in Torquay, visit Bells Beach. Known as a surfer’s paradise, Bells has heaps of kidfriendly fun. They can learn to surf, try their hand at golf, explore the nature reserve or just hit the beach.

Stay: Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park; or Torquay Holiday Park. 

Apollo Bay is the seafood capital of the Great Ocean Road drive, it’s where the 104km Great Ocean Walk starts and is the gateway to the Great Otway National Park. Get a bird’s-eye view of the ranges from the Otway Fly Zipline or from the treetop walk. 

Stay: Marengo Holiday Park or BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park.

Scenery is the obvious attraction at the Twelve Apostles, but look beyond the rock formations into the ocean to check for whales, seals and penguins. 

Stay: NRMA Port Campbell Holiday Park.

Two ‘must dos’ at Warrnambool on the infamous Shipwreck Coast — visit the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and meet the Maremma dogs who protect the Little Penguins on Middle Island. (Remember the movie Oddball?)

Stay: Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park or Discovery Parks Warrnambool.

Follow the Farm Gate Trail in Victoria’s Gippsland and you’ll get to feed your soul with beautiful scenery while filling your bellies with fresh berries, eggs, honey, seafood and fruit and veggies. 

Stay: BIG4 Inverloch Holiday Park — centre of the food action and also close to Phillip Island and Wilson’s Promontory National Park.

Taking in the view of Cradle Mountain

TASMANIA

Tasmania is a scenic wonderland. But does “pretty” cut it with the kids? It certainly does because there is plenty to do and lots of room for children to move everywhere.

Launceston offers easy access to Cataract Gorge with plenty of wildlife and a chairlift ride, Tasmazia with its eight mazes and pint-size Village of Lower Crackpot, and the Hollybank Treetops Adventure Park. 

Stay: BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park.

Climb the Nut or take the chairlift to the top for amazing views of Stanley in Tassie’s north-west corner. Just 50km away is Dismal Swamp. With a name like that you might wonder why anyone would visit but a 110m slide down to sculpture gardens and artwork incorporated into the forest below will change your mind. 

Stay:

Stanley Cabin and Tourist Park.

The chairlift up the Nut

Port Arthur has a dark past but it offers a child-friendly glimpse into Australian history and our convict past. School holiday programs immerse children in the ‘life of a convict’. They can even make bricks — just like the convicts did to build their own jail. 

Stay: NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park.

Cradle Mountain is one of Tassie’s coolest hotspots. It’s worth the windy drive to the high country to take the kids on the 6km (3 hour) Dove Lake walk. 

Stay: Discovery Park Cradle Mountain.

BUSHFIRE WARNING

As we are all too aware, bushfires have ravaged much of the country. Some areas mentioned in this story may have been affected by the fires. Please check fire alerts to make sure the areas you want to visit are safe. And be patient. While our ongoing support will be needed to help rebuild these communities, some areas may still be feeling the brunt of the fires and may not be in a position yet to welcome back tourists

Category: Destinations
Written: Sun 01 Mar 2020
Printed: March, 2020
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