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!
Taking out first place for its eighth consecutive year, there are a few reasons why Paradise Resort keeps proving itself unbeatable. Not only does it boast rooms that can cater for families of up to six children just a few minutes’ walk to the heart of Surfers Paradise, but it’s also packed with facilities unrivalled by any other resort in the country. There’s a water park, ice rink and kids’ club, rock climbing, laser tag and an adventure park all on site. For parents, cooking demonstrations, wine and beer tasting and live music round out a family stay.
Maintaining second place for a second year, perks of a family stay in the recently refurbished Oaks Oasis Resort in Caloundra include a putt-putt golf course, sandpit, giant Kangaroo Jumper and a thrill-packed water park, with extra points awarded for its kids-eat-free policy on the resort grounds for MyOaks members. While kids splash away, adults can relax in the heated pool and Jacuzzi, or enjoy some family bonding time with salty hair and sandy toes at nearby Golden Beach. Accommodation is airy and contemporary, with studio, apartment or villa options available for families to choose from.
Making a strong comeback in 2018, Novotel Twin Waters Resort has firmly re-established its place among the best family resorts in Australia this year. With a prime beachside location, the resort offers family comfort within easy reach of Australia Zoo, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and the beautiful Glass House Mountains. After breakfast overlooking the lagoon, kids can laugh the day away on the floating trampoline or head on a kayak expedition to explore the hidden wonders of the Sunshine Coast. The kids’ club caters for kids between the ages of three and 12, and babysitting is available on request.
The Reef View Hotel gives your family the perfect place to stay for your Hamilton Island adventure. Located opposite Catseye Beach, the hotel is close to many restaurants and activities, as well as offering plenty of facilities of its own. Kids will love the buffet breakfast at Pool Terrace restaurant, as well as the 35-metre swimming pool. Parents will enjoy the Reef Lounge and Spa Wumurdaylin and the hotel’s ‘kids stay and eat free’ packages. Spacious, comfortable rooms have private balconies with sea views or views of the island and in-house movies are available on demand.
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Surfers Paradise, The Mantra Crown Towers family-friendly haven offers plenty for sun-loving clans. A choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments each come with self-catering facilities and their own balcony, many with ocean views and all with cots and high chairs available to boot. Enjoy some ‘me’ time at the day spa while kids frolic around the pirate ship and water slide, or join them for a relaxing dip in one of the resort’s various pools. If you’re hankering for a romantic date, child minding services are available.
Mantra Towers of Chevron is a unique accommodation option for families in Surfers Paradise. Stay in stylish one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments located right above Chevron Renaissance shopping and dining precinct and next to Chevron Lane street food eateries, bars and teahouses. The kids will want to spend all their time in the Sky leisure area with its pools, subtropical gardens and sandy beaches. For parents, there’s a gym, sauna, and indoor and outdoor lap pools and the hotel’s 18-seat theatre with surround sound. All apartments come with kitchens, laundries and living areas.
This eco-resort couldn’t possibly have chosen a better location, propping itself in the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. Here, the kind of rugged beauty you can only get in such an untouched natural environment inspires holiday perfection, and for families, it’s made easy with an array of self-contained villas on offer. With full kitchens, large balconies, and maybe even a spa on your deck, there’s plenty of space for families to spread out in these homes away from home. Take a whale watching cruise, go on an educational tour or explore the island’s most beautiful spots by 4WD.
Whether staying in an apartment overlooking the lake or your own mountain-view chalet, there’s endless opportunities for fun at this great snow destination. In the winter, it seems obvious – strap on your skis and hit that powder! But whichever time of year you visit, you can enjoy family-friendly activities. In summer, outdoorsy families will love river sled tours, segway eco tours, hiking and biking, and included in your stay are opportunities for archery, golfing, a low ropes course and heaps more.
Right in the heart of Noosaville, this resort is equipped with the lot. You’ll find three swimming pools (one heated to a blissful 29 degrees year-round), two tennis courts, three spas and a games room on site – not to mention Noosa River on your doorstep. Take the five-minute stroll to the nearby shops for a relaxed cafe breakfast, or if you’re hunting some surf, Noosa Beach is a ten-minute drive away. Families can enjoy secure and well-appointed villa accommodations, each one air-conditioned and offering its own underground parking space.
Escape to the famous Hunter Valley region, filled with vineyards and abundant wildlife by staying at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley. Try your hand at the 18-hole golf course, have a game of basketball or do your best Lleyton Hewitt before retiring to comfortable, spacious sleeping quarters. Larger families will be thrilled to know that some of the villas offer three bedrooms, sleeping up to six people, but if you don’t need quite that much space there are smaller ones plus a number of well-appointed rooms and suites. The Kidzone is amazing, with an on-site mini train kids can ride and carousel, and a kids’ club is staffed by experienced childcare professionals, so you can enjoy a glass of one of the region’s amazing wines guilt-free.
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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