From amazing swimming pools to interactive kids’ club that could keep the little ones entertained for days on end, these resorts are the best in Australia for families…. voted by you!
From amazing swimming pools to interactive kids’ club that could keep the little ones entertained for days on end, these resorts are the best in Australia for families…. voted by you!
A round of applause to the team at Sea World: this year marks 10 consecutive years at the top of the Holidays with Kids Readers’ Choice Awards. And with the beach and Sea World marine park right next door, it’s easy to see why it’s such a hit. The resort offers a number of package deals that include accommodation and access to all the best Gold Coast theme parks – which are all, at most, a half-hour drive away. But if you just want to keep it local and stay in the resort, the kids’ club, water park and light shows are sure to keep the whole family busy.
If you’re planning a trip to Surfers Paradise and want absolute luxury, Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is where you’ll find it. Though the big theme parks are just a short drive away, you won’t want to leave the resort and its tropical gardens and lagoon, where you can snorkel with over 300 tropical fish and chill out with poolside games. Otherwise, enjoy the lagoon’s water slide, dry off at the new sports courts or head to the kids’ club, open 365 days a year. If you want to relax, drop in to the Ruby Spa or take a quick walk down to Surfers Paradise Beach and soak up some rays, or jump on a board and enjoy some of Australia’s best surf.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge has shot up seven places this year to round out our top three. And for something a bit different, this is where you want to stay. Nestled within the grounds of the National Zoo & Aquarium, the lodge allows its guests to get up close to a range of wildlife throughout their stay. Depending on your room, you might get views over tigers, Malayan sun bears or cheetahs, and you’ll be joined by some special guests at dinner which, depending on when you visit, may include white lions or hyenas. The lodge even hosts family nights once a month where children as young as four are allowed to visit.
Whatever day you stay at RACV Noosa Resort, rest assured that the kids’ entertainment is sorted. Thanks to the resort offering a different activity every night – from slumber parties to discos and a special performance from Nickleby the Magician – there’ll be plenty of time for you to unwind and enjoy a poolside cocktail or a romantic dinner at Arcuri Restaurant. Whether you fill your days relaxing by the beach, exploring World Heritage-listed Fraser Island or coming face-to-face with some native wildlife at Australia Zoo, the property is an oasis ideal for unwinding amid all the region’s action.
Close to the beach: tick. Four swimming pools including an adults-only retreat: tick. Splash Zone waterpark with four water slides, two toddler slides, dumping buckets and water cannons: tick. The checklist of facilities at Turtle Beach Resort is almost too good to be true. Also in the amenities arsenal are a 22-seat cinema screening four movies a day, 15-hole putt-putt course, arcade games room, day spa, two saunas and eight barbecue entertainment areas . Located a short drive from Gold Coast beaches, rainforest, restaurants, shopping centres and theme parks, this place guarantees there won’t be a bored kid around.
All aboard the Fairmont Express Train, scramble onto the Fairmont Merry-Go-Round, clamber up onto a pony or zoom along in a mini electric car; whatever your preferred mode of transport, Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel has something for you. Kids can zip around the resort in all sorts of ways, and head to the Mirror Maze Arcade, 128-seat cinema or garden maze while parents nourish, restore and rejuvenate at the UBIKA spa. Located on the edge of Jamison Valley, this Blue Mountains retreat offers something unique for everyone in the family.
RACV Royal Pines Resort is home to the 27-hole golf course that hosts the Australian PGA Championship, and when it comes to family friendly luxury accommodation, they’ve hit a hole in one. With kid-friendly food options, in-house movies, a waterpark, shaded playground and holiday program – all located a short drive for Surfers Paradise – the retreat strikes the perfect match between relaxation and exploration.
If an oceanfront resort set among six hectares of sparkling lagoons and lush gardens, connected by a skybridge to the Marina Mirage shopping precinct, is what you’re after, then look no further than Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast. The multi-bedroom villas are perfect for families, as is its proximity to Surfers Paradise Beach, Dreamworld, SeaWorld and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Located on its own island, 99-room Fitzroy Island Resort offers an unspoilt tropical oasis within the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy the seclusion of the resort by the pool or get out on the water on a glass bottom boat tour, kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Snorkel equipment is also available for hire, allowing you to spot fish and coral as soon as you leave the sand.
Luxuriously appointed rooms and world-class fine-dining experiences are all part of the upscale offerings at the Crown Metropol Perth. Parents can relax the day away in a glamorous cabana while the kids enjoy the family-friendly pool, complete with waterslides. After some water-fuelled fun, guests can relax with a poolside smoothie or a range of options from the kids’ corner, or explore the Swan River by bike or foot for a picturesque afternoon away.
Tucked away amid 4.2 hectares of Sanctuary Cove’s lush greenery, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort offers a slice of paradise for kids and parents alike. The Planet Trekker’s kids’ offers a full roster of unique activities, from torch safaris to gold buggy tours, and little tastebuds will be treated thanks to an extensive kids’ menu. Families can spend their days by the expansive lagoon-style beach pool with a coconut drink in hand, or explore the spoils of the Marine Village, just two minutes’ walk from the resort.
Rising 322.5 metres above the ocean, and just 50 metres from the beach, Q1 Resort & Spa is impressive in both size and service. Brave kids’ aged over 12 can enjoy panoramic views during Australia’s highest external building climb, while the faint hearted can enjoy the scenery from the inside of the Skypoint bistro and bar. With a range of rooms and suites available, this sky-high stay will be one to remember.
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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thanks for the information