Are you craving some sunshine but don’t want to break the bank on your next family holiday? Then one of Queensland’s many amazing holiday parks is the answer. Here is our list of the best of the best, so you can rest assured you are in safe hands.
Are you craving some sunshine but don’t want to break the bank on your next family holiday? Then one of Queensland’s many amazing holiday parks is the answer. Here is our list of the best of the best, so you can rest assured you are in safe hands.
With the attractions of the Gold Coast on its doorstep, you might think NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort would go easy on the family fun on site. But you would be wrong. Go karts, a tennis court, an outdoor cinema and mini-golf are just a few of the activities for families to enjoy here, not to mention an outdoor gym and complimentary Wi-Fi for mum and dad. A heated spa is the perfect place to recover after action-filled days at one of the nearby theme parks, and you’ll find everything from powered tent sites to riverside villas for accommodation.
This tropical paradise in Airlie Beach has long been a favourite for holidaying families, and we are not surprised to see it once again earn a place among our top holiday resorts for 2018. It boasts its very own animal park, complete with adorable calves, goats and chickens that will enchant little animal lovers. When they tire of that, head to park’s great pool, where there are shallow areas with mushroom fountains for toddlers, and thrilling water slides for the whole family. You can also hit a round of mini-golf for some healthy competition. There are powered sites, three-bedroom cabins and everything in between at this amazing park.
Just seven minutes by car from the city centre, this pet-friendly holiday park in tropical Cairns has a range of accommodation to fit every budget. You’ll find a ball court, mini golf course and even spot Nemo in its large water park, while a kiosk and restaurant make on-site dining easy, if you’re not up to cooking yourself in one of the camp kitchens or barbecues. If the pool and water slides don’t tickle your fancy, check out the nearby Cairns Aquarium or go on a reef cruise. If lush landscapes are more your thing, see the rainforest from above from the nearby Skyrail Cableway.
You’ll find BIG4 Gold Coast just across the road from Movie World and Wet’n’Wild, making it the closest caravan park to the Gold Coast theme parks. You are guaranteed to find accommodation to suit your family with options ranging from camping sites to cosy family cabins to five-star villas – there’s even pet-friendly accommodation! Even though most of your time will most likely be spent at the theme parks, the holiday park also offers a pool, water slide, BMX track and six hectares of grassland to run around in. Parents will love the poolside service from the licensed family restaurant.
Spacious villas can sleep up to nine people at this park, making it perfect for families who don’t fit the two-parents-two-kids mould. There are three swimming pools for splashing around and patrolled beaches an easy stroll away, as well as an adjacent boat ramp for avid boating families. If you’re a land lover, not to worry; there’s a tennis court and playground, too, as well as camp kitchens, barbecues and free Wi-Fi.
Stroll idyllic waterfront paths, splash around with heaps of water-based activities and enjoy the Broadwater Tourist Park’s own boat ramp for a Gold Coast holiday that’s more than just theme parks. Broadwater Tourist Park boasts its own pools, tennis court, playground, recreation room and jumping pillow, and accommodation ranges from waterfront villas to more than 200 sites, some with water views. With a location just five kilometres from Surfers Paradise, families will be spoilt for choice of activities.
In the heart of the Gold Coast tourist strip, it’s no surprise to see Main Beach Tourist Park make the list in 2018. Enjoy days spent in world-famous Surfers Paradise, with its cafes, restaurants and trendy shopping, and a stunning patrolled surfing beach right across the road from your digs. There’s a playground, camp kitchen, barbecues and kiosk, and villas have air conditioning and Foxtel. You can even make theme park bookings from the park’s tour desk.
Although the Gold Coast is just a short drive away, if you’re not feeling up to the crowds you can rest easy knowing there’s plenty of splashing fun available at Ashmore Palms Holiday Village. With two swimming lagoons, two playgrounds, an activity centre and a full-sized tennis court, kids are sure to happily spend hours zipping around the park’s fun features. A tour desk, seven-day reception, guest laundries and barbecue areas are convenient for parents.
Little grommets will love this park’s easy access to Kirra Beach, offering waves that’ll please everybody from hang-ten pros to beginners. Its location on the New South Wales/ Queensland border places it perfectly for day excursions to ever-popular Byron Bay, while on park grounds you’ll find a saltwater pool, children’s play area with bouncing pillow and a recreation room. There’s a dog-friendly area for families bringing their fur babies along.
For fishers and boaters, Jacobs Well Tourist Park is the ultimate getaway. It’s located right on the waterfront, with dozens of islands to explore and abundant wildlife. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect after a day exploring nearby Surfers Paradise, just half an hour away with all the excitement of Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild and more. Choose from caravan and camping sites or family-friendly villas, with a children’s playground and barbecue facilities on site.
As if just one wasn’t enough, this holiday park boasts direct access to both the Maroochy River and the Maroochydore Beach, with perfect conditions for grommets wanting to catch a wave and windsurfing and sailing available. There are 372 powered caravan sites, 24 of which are absolute waterfront, as well as deluxe villas and a beach house. Enjoy riverside barbecues as the sun sets and easy access to restaurants, shopping and bike paths.
It’s a tremendous achievement to have your property recognised by the people who matter most: the families who stay there. We love seeing how many wonderful options there are for travellers with kids in tow all across the world, and every year the list is expanding.
As you can probably imagine, it’s a massive job to compile the Top 10 each year, and the Holidays with Kids team has been hard at work for the last few months compiling all the survey responses and sorting them into categories.
Holidays with Kids was the first travel magazine in Australia to do readers’ choice awards all the way back in 2001, our editors are pretty much certified experts in this field.
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