So you’ve decided to go on holiday in Australia and you know you don’t want to break the bank doing it. Next step: choosing which resort is best for you and your family. Read our list of the best family resorts in Australia four stars and under to help decide!
So you’ve decided to go on holiday in Australia and you know you don’t want to break the bank doing it. Next step: choosing which resort is best for you and your family. Read our list of the best family resorts in Australia four stars and under to help decide!
A huge round of applause to the team at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, as this year marks a full decade spent in this category’s top spot. Though when you look at the resort’s abundance of family activities and features, it’s really not surprising. It’s the only resort in Australia where you’ll find a water park, ice rink, laser tag and kids’ club, as well as family rooms catering for up to six kids. And it’s just minutes from the Gold Coast’s glorious beaches – but with wine tastings and cooking demonstrations for parents, it’ll be hard to leave the resort.
There’s so much to do at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort. At this this classy, feature-packed resort you can sail a catamaran on the private lagoon, enjoy a round of mini-golf (or 18 holes of actual golf), take a dip in the resort pool, roll out on a Segway tour, or treat mum to a luxurious spa treatment.
If you want to get out and explore, you are just metres from the beach and the Maroochy River. Head out on the water in a kayak, or just spend some time wandering along the beach.
Oaks Sunshine Coast Oasis Resort’s every feature screams kids. From the water park to the climbing frame, putt putt golf and pool, the little ones will have a tough time deciding where to go first. And when they’re all done with enjoying the facilities, they’ll eat for free if you’re an Oaks Discovery member.
Outside the resort, the beach is just down the road and provides ample opportunities for boating and swimming in the sheltered waters of Pumicestone Passage.
The mantra of any good real estate agent is “location, location, location,” and the The Reef View Hotelhas this in spades. The hotel’s biggest drawcard is undoubtedly the to-die-for views over the Coral Sea that most rooms boast, along with a private balcony. And, while you’re staying on Hamilton Island, it’d be a shame not to get in the water as much as you can, whether in the hotel’s 35-metre swimming pool or one of the island’s many beaches, the closest of which is just a few minutes’ walk away.
If there are some little eco-warriors in your family, then a stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort is a perfect choice. Running every school holiday, the property’s Junior Eco Rangers Program provides interactive wildlife experiences for kids aged five to 12, for a small added fee. Activities include fishing frenzies, scavenger hunts, bushwalks, stargazing, plus campfires with stories, songs and marshmallows – kids will have a blast! Meanwhile, parents can relax at the Island Day Spa, go on their own island adventures, or indulge in native delights during the Bushtucker Talk & Taste experience.
If you are on the road with kids, East Hotel has you covered. This chic hotel, located between the vibrant hubs of Kingston and Manuka, is a five-minute drive to all of the top tourist sites in Canberra, including the kids’ favourite, Questacon. The stylish one- and two- bedroom apartments are perfect for families, especially the adjoining Kids Cubbies fitted out with bunk beds, beanbags, toys, games and even a kid-friendly mini-bar. Bikes for both children and adults are available for hire, offering the ideal way to explore the shores of nearby Lake Burley Griffin.
Centrally located and just a short drive from Noosa Beach, The Islander Noosa Resort offers a riverside retreat tucked away amid more than 1.5 hectares of tropical gardens. Take the plunge into one of three outdoor pools, including a Lagoon Pool with a waterfall and bridge – bound to be a hit with the kids. Or, have a hit on the tennis courts; connect with other families at the Clubhouse; and explore the nearby Noosa River, national park and main beach.
Forget VIP – Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific is all about VIK(Very Important Kids). Kids can enjoy the pool, nine holes of mini golf, and arcade games by day, then settle in for their very own happy hour with a free poolside ice block. The child-centric celebrations continue into the night at the Kids’ Zone, where movies, games and karaoke disco nights are on offer during school holidays. Meanwhile, parents can indulge at endota spa or wander through the shops at Terrigal village.
Whether your family prefers a holiday on skis, in hiking boots, on bikes or simply with their feet up, Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa offers an escape that can be as fast-paced or relaxed as you want it to be. The resort is 15 minutes from Thredbo and Perisher, which means you can play the day away in the snow in winter or explore 25 kilometres of mountain biking and bushwalking trails in the summer months. Trampolines, archery, a low-ropes course and a nine-hole disc-golf course will also keep the kids busy while you enjoy the peace and quiet of the Snowy Mountains region.
Relax with a glass of wine in hand knowing the kids are also having a holiday to remember at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, located two hours north of Sydney. The Water Dragons Kids Club, operating over the school holidays, is a mini-resort for children aged three to 12, while a teen lounge, games room and outdoor heated swimming pool provide year-round entertainment. Join in on the kids’ fun and hitch a ride on the traditional mini train that rolls through the streets of the resort, or a go for a spin on the merry-go-round.
Nestled amid 600 hectares of rainforest between the towns of Yamba and Angourie, Angourie Resort is a relaxing oasis near the Clarence River and spectacular surf breaks. The two-bedroom villas can cater to families of six, and a separate childrens’ pool with a small waterslide and animated waterspouts is ideal for the little ones. An outdoor playground will see kids swinging from monkey bars as you prepare a barbecue dinner, while the indoor Fantasy Forest offers a pool table and an arcade-style Pacman for the big kids, and a soft play area for tiny tots.
Pint-sized pirates will feel at home poolside at Mantra Crown Towers thanks to its lagoon-style pool complete with sandy beach, pirate ship slide and hours of water-fuelled wonder. With one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, the resort guarantees that families of all sizes can catch a good night’s sleep before heading down to Surfers Paradise Beach, just 100 metres away. When hunger hits, be sure to try the resort’s award-winning Chiang Mai Thai restaurant for a relaxed fine-dining experience.
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