The HWK team share their favourite Aussie holiday spots

Raise your hand if you’re keen for a holiday? Us too! Which is why we asked our well-travelled Holidays with Kids team to share their favourite places in the Land Down Under, so you can add them to your Aussie bucket list.

Domestic travel is on the horizon (with intrastate travel already a goer). So, if you are as excited as we are to travel beyond our local supermarket once more, it’s time to start planning a socially distanced Aussie holiday.

Cathy Wagstaff, Kangaroo Island

If your family loves all things wildlife, then why not take the next SeaLink ferry across to one of Australia’s last true wilderness sanctuaries on your next trip? Kangaroo Island is a veritable zoo of seals, birds, dolphins, echidnas and kangaroos, surrounded by untamed coastal landscapes and surging seas. Here, the pace is slow and laid-back – the kind of place where kids still ride bikes to school and farmers wave as you drive on by – perfect for some well-deserved R&R.

Must do

• Get up close to the island’s marine life with KI Marine Adventures.
• Sample the various flavours of deliciously thick honey at Clifford’s Honey Farm.
• Check out the great views of the coastline at the Remarkable Rocks. 
• Search for seals at the world’s third-largest Australian sea lion colony, Seal Bay Conservation Park.

Where to stay: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Natarsha Brown, The Red Centre

There is something about the red sands, starry skies, endless sacred sites and middle-of-nowhere appeal that makes the Red Centre pure magic. The roll-call of attractions reads like a greatest hits list: Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and Palm Valley – to name just a few. A holiday here is a great way for little ones to connect with and learn about Aboriginal art and culture, while also experiencing the wild Aussie outback.

Must do

• Take part in the Desert Explorer Program at Alice Springs Desert Park.
• Be ‘wow-ed’ by the Field of Light art installation.
• Trek the kid-friendly, 2.2-kilometre Karu Lookout walk at Kata Tjuta.
• Wake up early and hop atop a camel to watch the sunrise at Uluru.

Where to stay: Ayers Rock Resort

Aleney de Winter, Tasman Peninsula

The Tasman Peninsula is a real hidden gem. Just one hour from Hobart families will find beautiful coastal landscapes, historic sites and outdoor activities galore – think bushwalking, surfing, sea kayaking and rock climbing – perfect for a day trip, a weekend away or lingering longer.

Must do

• Learn about the World Heritage-listed convict site of Port Arthur on a guided tour.
• Go bushwalking in Tasman National Park, home to Australia’s highest sea cliffs.
• Visit Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, a wildlife reserve home to quolls, pademelons, wallabies, wattlebirds and Tasmanian devils.
• Stop by Doo Town, a collection of fishing shacks that all contain the word ‘Doo’ in their names, such as Doo Me, Love Me Doo and Doo Write.

Where to stay: NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park

Tina Louise Jackson, Blue Mountains

A popular mini-break for Sydneysiders, even at their most crowded the Blue Mountains National Park offers hidden pockets of solitude, and with deep gorges, chiselled sandstone outcrops and a dense canopy of eucalypts exuding a mist of oil that gives them their blue-coloured haze and namesake, it’s not hard to see why is considered one of country’s most beautiful regions.

Must do

• Take a guided tour through the vast network of limestone caverns at Jenolan Caves.
• Snap a selfie with the famous Three Sisters and Wentworth Falls
• Visit the biggest toy museum in the southern hemisphere – Leuralla Toy and Railway Museum.
• Have a picnic next to the fairy-like Leura Cascades and then grab a pie at Bakehouse on Wentworth.

Where to stay: Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley or Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains

Lisa Wagstaff, Litchfield National Park

While Litchfield National Park may not be as well known as Kakadu, the smaller size makes the 1,500-square-kilometre national park more manageable for a shorter visit or a long weekend. The rock formations, waterfalls and crystal-clear (and croc-free) plunge pools are the major drawcard for families.

Must do

• Behold the impressive Magnetic Termite Mounds, which jut out of the flat plains surrounding and measure up to two metres high.
• Take a dip in the stunning Wangi Falls plunge pool.
• 4WD the 10-kilometre track to The Lost City – a series of large sandstone outcrops that look like the remains of an ancient civilisation. 
• Stretch your legs by following the gorge rim walk down to the valley floor of Florence Falls.

Where to stay: Litchfield Tourist Park

Cara Wagstaff, NSW South Coast

NSW’s South Coast holds a special place in my heart. Many school holidays as a child were spent at our family holiday house at St Georges basin, a small lakeside town with friendly locals and plenty of other kids to play with. As an adult, I’m drawn back to the quiet beaches of Malua Bay south of Batemans Bay. It’s the perfect place for the quintessential Aussie beach holiday.

Must do

• Marvel at the white sand beaches in Jervis Bay.
• Make a pit stop in the historic town of Berry for a spot of shopping or lunch.
• Watch the famous Kiama Blowhole erupt (and duck for cover).
• Visit the lions, monkeys, zebras and giraffes at Mogo Zoo.

Where to stay: Holiday Haven Parks

Gemma Kightly, Noosa

It seems the sun is always shining in Noosa, but there’s more to Australia’s most fashionable resort town than near-perfect weather. With amazing seaside restaurants, numerous kid-friendly stretches of sand, plenty of designer boutiques and an array of nearby natural attractions, for me it’s one of those destinations that has it all.

Must do

• Peruse the restaurants, bars and boutiques of Hastings St.
• Take a surfing lesson at Noosa Main Beach.
• Take a walk (and keep an eye out for dolphins and koalas) along Noosa National Park’s scenic boardwalk.
• Take a day trip to Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, the Glass House Mountains or Australia Zoo.

Where to stay: RACV Noosa

Samantha Rowntree, Rottnest Island

The long-time go-to destination for Perth families, this car-free, off-the-grid island haven feels a million miles away from the rest of the world (even though it’s only about 19 kilometres offshore from Fremantle). Ringed by secluded beaches and bays, chock-a-block full of outdoors activities – including cycling, fishing and snorkelling – and home to the cute-as-a-button native quokkas, this slice of paradise is a rite of passage for Aussie kids.

Must do

• Swim and relax on one of the 63 beaches or 20 bays.
• Climb the Wadjemup Lighthouse for the ultimate views across the island.
• Discover the colourful underwater snorkel trails at Little Salmon Bay or Parker Point.
• Join one of the many free guided walking tours of the island.

Where to stay: Discovery Rottnest Island, Karma Rottnest

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