Australia

Australia family holidays

Could there be a more perfect place for a family holiday than Australia? Yes, it takes a long time to get there, but once you arrive, there is adventure galore. There are tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife and rugged gorges where rock wallabies hide in the shade. There are cosmopolitan cafes serving up the perfect latte and brick-red desert where wild horses and kangaroos roam free.

This is a country for those who embrace the great outdoors, and any family holiday to Australia is likely to include a dose of adventure, a sprinkling of wildlife, a dash of city and some fantastic coastline. Hotels are clean, comfortable and welcoming, and the food is delicious but easy for fussy palates. There are more beaches than you can possibly imagine, and hundreds of things to do, whether your preference is a quiet trail through the outback or a waterpark on the Sunshine Coast.

Kids snorkelling Barrier Reef on Australia family holiday

Snorkel in the clear shallow waters of the lagoons near the Great Barrier Reef

You can find yourselves snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, riding bikes around the rocky immensity of Uluru or sitting out in the bush in the evening, learning to spot the Southern Cross. You might be watching the stealthy glide of a crocodile into the shallow rivers of Kakadu or leaping into the waves on a surf lesson on the Gold Coast.

Whether your impressions of Australia were forged in a childhood watching Home and Away or Neighbours, or with Crocodile Dundee on repeat, you’ll encounter all the cliches that you want, but also so much more. So sling a prawn on the barbie, grab your thongs (that’ll be your flip-flops) and say G’day to Australia.

Why take the kids to Australia?

The kids are going to love Australia. There’s no doubt about it, the combination of beach, wildlife, adventure and sunshine is an absolute winner. It’s difficult to come up with a shortlist, but our favourite activities on an Australia family holiday include:

Swimming with turtles on The Great Barrier Reef
Riding a segway or bike around Uluru
Climbing into caves covered in ancient rock art
Taking the ferry to Manly Beach
Grabbing a fresh juice in Victoria Market in Melbourne
Encountering your first kangaroo in the wild
Swimming in a natural billabong
Climbing up the iconic Harbour Bridge in Sydney

Scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge for breathtaking panoramic views

Getting around Australia

Australia is huge. It takes longer to fly from Perth to Sydney than it does from London to Istanbul. The scale is vast and the breadth is mesmerising. But this does mean that you have to plan an itinerary with care. You can’t go top to bottom and east to west in just the one trip. And you have to remember to take into account the weather, as when the sunshine arrives in Sydney, the heavens will open in the north.

Our family travel experts will be able to help you craft the ideal itinerary for the right school holiday. Get in touch if you want to have a chat about the options.

Family holiday in Australia, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains

Explore the Blue Mountains on a day trip from Sydney

Once you arrive in Australia, most families will travel around using a combination of convenient domestic flights and self-drive. We will provide detailed route notes so that you can tick off the highlights, but also navigate your way to some less well-known hidden gems. These might be a secret swimming hole for a refreshing dip in Kakadu, the best dumpling restaurant in Sydney, or the most family-friendly route up King’s Canyon.

This is an easy place to travel but no less rewarding for it; one thing that can be guaranteed is that neither you nor the kids will ever be bored on an Australia family holiday.

Hiking in the outback, near Uluru, on Australia family holidays

Stretch your legs, cycle or ride a segway around Uluru

Family holiday itineraries to Australia

All of our family holidays to Australia are bespoke. This means that they are completely tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget, and so on. However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Australia, have a look at our sample itineraries, Highlights of Australia – Outback & Beyond and East Coast Explorer – Sydney to Brisbane.

Also, check out some of the other places you might like to visit on an Australia family holiday and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our gallery (above).

See our When to Go to Australia page to find out more about the weather and what it will be like at the time that you want to travel. Or simply give us a ring and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best holiday to Australia for your family.