travelling australia with toddlers

Why Australia is one of the best places to visit with kids

Nov 10, 2023 • 8 min read

Find the best activities for all ages with our guide to family-friendly Australia © Rafael Ben-Ari / Getty Images

One of the best countries on the planet for kids is Australia .

It serves up a diverse range of experiences , with something to appeal to everyone from the youngest to the oldest member of your family.

From the northern tropics to the southern coastlines, this vast island is bursting with that rare double whammy: kid-tastic activities paired with a long pour of adult soul juice. Whichever way you spin in Australia, you’ll hit the family travel jackpot. 

What makes Australia good for kids?

Many of the best experiences for families in Australia are free; sharing the beach with kangaroos, for example, costs nothing more than a sand shovel. 

And Australians love kids, especially your kids. They’ll want to know where you come from, point you to the closest playground (even the smallest of country towns will have one) and there’s always a reasonably clean loo (bathroom) easily found at train stations, parks and restaurants.

Regarding those eateries, come hungry . Australia is ground-zero for kid-friendly smashed avocado on toast, which you can adult-elevate with some chili flakes. Even isolated areas aren’t chicken nugget-less for one-track eaters – but wait until your family discovers the crowd-pleasing sausage roll (meat mince in pastry). Wherever you are, there’s also always a pub; considered adults-only venues in many other countries, in Australia they welcome the family mealtime circus with open arms. Some even have dedicated playgrounds where little ones run barefoot and free, a reflection of Australia’s relaxed approach to parenting.

It’s a safe country, but dangers do exist – and we’re not just talking snakes and spiders. One is death by extreme boredom getting to Australia on what, for many visitors, will be a long flight or two (plan a stopover) or attempting long in-country distances in one hit. Australia is also not the cheap haven it once was; your foreign currency will likely go far, but budget for your must-do experiences.

Where are the best places to travel in Australia with kids? 

Mini wildlife warriors will love Queensland ’s lush Sunshine Coast , where they’ll find slithering, swooping and jaw-snapping animals at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo . Meanwhile, parents might froth over the most craft breweries per capita, some boasting on-site playgrounds (try Your Mates Brewing Co . in Warana) or even petting zoos with farm animals (like at Terella Brewing in North Arm). 

Budding paleontologists will dig (literally) South Australia's  Naracoorte Caves (rated by UNESCO as one of the world's 10 greatest fossil sites) and Outback Queensland's Australia’s Dinosaur Trail , where they'll learn about Gondwana species they may have never heard of before. Queensland’s  Gold Coast is also a favorite with Aussie families. This is where you’ll find amusement and water parks, golden stretches of sand, and rainforest retreats a toe-tap from the coast. 

Future marine biologists can dive into the waters on Western Australia’s Coral Coast to swim with manta rays and the gentle giants of the seas: whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef.

The best things to do in Australia with kids

Imagine lying sundrenched on a pontoon boat, listening to your kids squeal through snorkels at underwater coral on the Great Barrier Reef; counting stars through the opening of an outback desert tent; splashing beneath a tropical waterfall or walking hand-in-hand amazed in world-class museums. This is just the start. 

To discourage overwhelm, here are some of our top recommendations for all age groups.

Best things to do in Australia with babies and toddlers

Visit one of australia’s 12,000 beaches.

Beaches come with the inbuilt entertainment of water splashing and soft falls for little learning legs. The most popular stretches of sand have barbecues, water fountains, public restrooms and on-duty lifeguards. (Remember to only swim between the red and yellow flags.) Situated oceanside, surf clubs are also ubiquitous across the country. They typically have family-friendly cafes attached and bottles of sunscreen on-hand, in case you forgot your own.

Australia has over 12,000 beaches spread along roughly 60,000km (37,285 miles) of coastline, resulting in staggering diversity. Standouts include the red cliffs at Maslin Beach in South Australia (where you can pass nap time by strolling through the multiple McLaren Vale wineries close by) and the car-free Rottnest Island in Western Australia (where you can hire a child trailer and bike from beach-to-beach). Also not to be missed are the country’s unique ocean pools (there are 35  ocean pools in Sydney alone), all offering sanctuary from rip currents and surf. 

In areas where the ocean is unsafe for swimming due to crocodiles or jellyfish, you’ll find resort-like public pools (called “lagoons”) with ocean views and splash parks. And on the Great Barrier Reef , tour operators will provide you with a stinger suit to keep your family safe.  

Visit one (or more) of Australia’s quirky “Big Things”

Australia is home to over 150 toddler-impressing "Big Things" (there’s even a Big Things of Australia  map ) including the Sunshine Coast’s three-storey-high pineapple, a walk-through Big Banana in Coffs Harbour or Ballina’s 35-tonne Big Prawn . More than just a photo opp, many have adjoining fun parks geared to the under-five set.

Best things to do in Australia with kids aged 4 to 11 

Learn more about australia’s indigenous people.

It’s never too early for a cultural deep-dive into Australia’s ancient and living Indigenous cultures. Dreamtime storytelling keeps kids enthralled, with a multitude of offerings in the Discover Aboriginal Experiences collection. Your family can learn to make traditional dot paintings near Uluru or dig for mud crabs on a Daintree Rainforest coastal walk. Or head to the Tiwi Islands , where your offspring will be doted on, as you meet local artists and partake in “billy” tea, prepared over a campfire.  

Go wild with wildlife

Wildlife encounters at this age are forever tattooed on impressionable minds, so don’t be surprised if your critter-obsessed kid turns into a conservationist after visiting Australia.

Opportunities to learn more about the country’s endemic and sometimes unusual species are countless. At the Wildlife Retreat at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo , koalas appear right at your room’s window, while night tours and harbor views come as part of the package. At Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll find manta rays and turtles, while the jumping crocodiles in the Northern Territory’s Adelaide River take the cake – or rather the bait – for show ‘n’ tell school reports. 

But even just wandering at the local park or along a bush track will result in free wildlife sightings , especially at dawn and dusk. Even in densely urban areas, brush turkeys, kookaburras, rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos are a dime a dozen, while further out you’ll find brush-tailed possums, wallabies and kangaroos in the wild. 

Take advantage of Australia’s top-notch museums and science centers

Your kids may be loath to “learn” on holidays, but they’ll change their tune as soon as they step into one of the country’s world-class museums. Case in point: Questacon , in the capital city of Canberra is an “edutainment” science-based extravaganza. Learn about energy, then unleash it by planting yourself at the National Arboretum Canberra’s POD Playground .

With the exception of charges for special exhibitions, admission is free for children at many museums, galleries and science centers, including Sydney’s dino-tastic Australian Museum and Melbourne’s Scienceworks . 

Best things to do in Australia with tweens and teenagers

Catch waves in an insta-friendly surf town.

Celebrities aren’t the only ones won over by the lure of Australia's seaside escapes. A once-tiny surf town near the New South Wales–Queensland border, Byron Bay now has international cachet, drawing high-wattage residents like Chris Hemsworth. Your teen will say “it’s a vibe,” especially when you check into a retro-cool motel like The Sunseeker , with its complementary skateboards and nature-inspired playground for younger siblings. Sign them up for surf lessons and you’re set. Equally TikTok-worthy are Noosa ’s buzzing beaches in Queensland, or the steamy sunset backdrops of Broome in Western Australia.

Take the family on a hike

Older kids may appreciate exploring one of Australia’s many multi-day trails , such as Tasmania ’s Three Capes Track . Just as spectacular are the hikes that can be tackled in a day, like the walk to Kakadu National Park ’s Jim Jim Falls through monsoon rainforest and over boulders to a plunge pool surrounded by dramatic 200m-high (656ft) cliffs. Before you head out, download the free Australian Bites and Stings app as a handy “bushwalking” (Aussie for hiking) prop.

Planning tips for traveling in Australia with kids  

The nuclear-grade Aussie sun means you’ll want to lather on the sunscreen (reef-friendly brands if swimming or snorkeling), hats and long-sleeved rashguards or swimsuits. All can be easily purchased in Australia on arrival. For longer days spent oceanside, consider renting a beach shelter. Portable and offering 50+ SPF, CoolCabanas are the most popular brand, but you can also purchase knock-offs at retailers like Kmart Australia. 

Like anywhere, formal dining and kids don’t mix, unless you’re eating at 5pm. Instead, look to RSLs ( Returned & Services League of Australia ) and surf lifesaving clubs, which are beloved by communities, and serve cost-effective meals in often spectacular locations, such as Sydney’s Bondi Icebergs or Melbourne’s St Kilda RSL . 

Outside of major cities like Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, pharmacies (called "chemists") close by 5pm and may not be open on Sundays. Supermarkets also carry basic medication and baby supplies, but may not be open in the evenings in regional areas.

Public transportation and pathways in urban centers are usually pram (stroller) friendly. (Although sidewalks can be narrow in city's historic areas.) Some major beaches even have access mats that create a pathway across the sand, which make it possible to push a carriage or pull a wagon down to the water. However, a baby carrier for adventures further afield and to most beaches is a good idea.

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Australia with Kids: Our Experience & Family Travel Tips

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 9, 2024

Are you thinking of traveling to Australia with kids, but are not sure what to expect? In this article, you can read about our experience visiting Australia with young children. We also included some practical tips for traveling Australia with kids. Find out!

We made a 35-day long trip to Australia with our three children. Our oldest son turned 5 the day we arrived in Sydney, and his twin brothers were just 3. Many people said we were completely out of our minds taking kids for such a long trip on the other side of the world, some others wished us courage…

If you are wondering whether you can travel to Australia with kids, and in particular with young kids, my answer is yes, absolutely! There are some places and some trips that you better postpone until the children are older, but Australia is a perfect choice when it comes to family travel. The country is so diverse that you can easily choose your destinations and activities in such a way that it would fit your family’s interests.

Before we jump to the practical tips for traveling to Australia with kids , I want to share a short story – what happened just before our family trip to Australia and what we learned from it. Read on!

Australia with kids – we also had our concerns before the trip

A few days before our trip, the biggest bushfires in 50 years were raging through the Blue Mountains – our first destination of the 5-week Australia trip with children.

We were glued to our TV and were seriously starting to wonder if it was a good idea to travel to Australia with toddlers. But just the day before we left, there was some good news at last: the fire was somewhat contained and the place where we were heading to in the Blue Mountains would be open for tourists…

That was not the only worry we had before the trip. The morning before our flight, one of our 3-year old twins woke up with a high fever. But as it often goes with children, he got much better after taking some medicine, and so we packed some antibiotics with us and left for the airport… With a 28-hour travel time ahead of us. The fact that he was sick was actually a blessing because he slept a lot and that made the flight so much easier for everyone. By the time we got to Australia, he was completely healthy again.

I’m only telling this so that you know that all kinds of things can happen when you travel. Just as anything can happen at home. Also, there is always a good excuse not to travel with kids . But as long as you keep an open mind and are prepared to deal with whatever comes your way, you have nothing to fear when visiting Australia with children.

Australia is an amazing destination and it’s perfect for a family trip! Find out!

Practical information and tips for a family trip to Australia

Below you can find some experience-based tips and practical information for traveling to and around Australia with kids.

Long flight to Australia with kids

Depending on where you are coming from, traveling time to Australia can be extremely long. We chose to fly without any stopovers (apart from technical stops). It resulted in a total traveling time of more than 28 hours.

When it comes to flying, we always prefer to keep the journey as short as possible. I rather have a day or two extra at the beginning of the trip at our destination than all the hassle of a 1-night stopover.

Of course, we could have chosen for a longer stopover somewhere in the Middle East or Asia, but then we would have had less time in Australia. If you decide to make a stopover, I can really recommend Dubai. It’s a great place for families with kids. Here you can read more about how to make the most of your Dubai stopover .

We also have an article with tips for flying with young children . Our flights to Australia were not very different from our other flights, and the kids handled long hours on the plane very well.

Dealing with jet lag when traveling to Australia with kids

The only thing we did on this trip that we have never done before, was taking some melatonin pills with us (melatonin is known to aid in reducing the effects of jet lag). We took the medicine on the last flight from Dubai to Sydney at the time when it was evening in Australia. That helped us and the kids to get some sleep, but of course, we were still exhausted when we landed in Sydney early in the morning.

We paid for an upgrade to a bigger room at the hotel just to be able to go to sleep as soon as possible (as it often happens, only the biggest suites were ready…). Later that day we forced ourselves and the kids out of bed and went to dinner, even though all we wanted to do was sleep…

We took melatonin for two more days at bedtime and that was it – none of us really had any serious difficulty adjusting to the 9-hour time difference. Here you can read more about how to beat jet lag .

Bringing food to Australia

There are lots of customs regulations in Australia, but here I’ll just mention one that everyone who is traveling to Australia should know. You are not allowed to bring ANY fresh food with you when you arrive in Australia (infant formula is ok).

On top of that, some states and territories prohibit the entry of fresh fruit from other parts of Australia.

There are quarantine bins provided at the airports where you can dispose of any food left in your hand luggage. Use them as the penalties can be harsh, even if you just have one apple with you. Here you can find some more official customs information on what you can or cannot bring to Australia.

Safety in Australia

Australia is a pretty safe country, as long as you don’t go swimming with crocodiles, go looking for snakes, or drive through a bushfire. Recently we saw a documentary about Australian wildlife and all the dangerous species that we never knew existed. My husband said something like, ‘It’s a good thing I didn’t see this one before we went to Australia, or I would have been terribly worried in the outback’.

The truth is, we never felt unsafe in Australia with kids – not in the city, and not in the outback.

We never saw a single dangerous animal (except for that one snake that happened to be crossing the road as we drove by). Now that I think of it, the only wild animals we saw in the Red Center , were a camel and a rock wallaby. But it’s wise to wear covered shoes in the outback rather than sandals – just in case.

One thing you should be very careful with in Australia is the sun. Sun is very dangerous Down Under and you can get burned in no time. The warmer it is, the more covered your body should be.

SPF50 sunscreen is essential, as are sunglasses and a sunhat. I advise wearing long-sleeved shirts, maybe even long trousers if you stay outdoors for a longer period of time.

Medical assistance

Medical infrastructure is supposedly very good, there is even the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the outback. Of course, that’s something you hope you’ll never need.

We were lucky and didn’t need any medical help during our trip, but it didn’t take us very long to find a pharmacy when we needed some medicine for the kids in Tasmania.

TIP: Make sure you have good travel insurance when traveling to Australia with kids. Some places are so remote that it will cost you a fortune if something were to happen!

Buying baby products when traveling in Australia with a baby

You can buy infant formula, baby food, and diapers pretty much anywhere in Australia. Of course, you should check in advance in case your baby has any specific needs.

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t count on finding everything you need in the outback, so stock up in bigger towns.

The food choices are plentiful in Australia and we never had any problems finding something the kids would like to eat, even in the most remote places.

In fact, our kids often preferred kangaroo steak to spaghetti (this is not something they would do at home – traveling does that to children).

None of us experienced any stomach problems or anything like that. So there is nothing to worry about when it comes to food when traveling in Australia with children.

Family accommodation in Australia

Australia has a lot of choices when it comes to family accommodation, so look for hotels with family apartments rather than regular hotel rooms. It’s not necessarily more expensive. Actually, it can be much cheaper to stay at a family-friendly hotel with 1-3 bedroom suites than in a big business hotel with regular rooms where you hardly have space to move.

There are several advantages of staying in an apartment. First, you usually have your own kitchen which can save you lots of time and money. Most hotels in Australia don’t have breakfast included in the rate or they simply have no breakfast at all. So it’s easier if you can get some food at a supermarket the evening before.

Second, you have some you time in the evening when the children are in bed since you are not cramped in a hotel room with the whole family. On top of that, the kids have more space to move and play.

Another advantage is that many apartments have a washing machine and a laundry dryer which is something you will appreciate a lot when traveling with the family for a longer time.

Most hotels in Australia have free laundry facilities, but it’s much easier if you can do your laundry without having to leave your room. Don’t forget to buy some washing detergent at a local supermarket as it’s not always provided.

Here are some examples of the family-friendly accommodation we stayed at during our trip to Australia with kids:

• Sydney: Mantra Sydney Central .
• Blue Mountains: Old Leura Dairy .
• Alice Springs: Alice on Todd Apartments .
• Glen Helen: Glen Helen .
• Kings Canyon: Kings Canyon Resort .
• Uluru (Ayer’s Rock): Emu Walk Apartments .
• Adelaide: Majestic Old Lion Apartments .
• Kangaroo Island: Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat and Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge .
• The Grampians NP: D’Altons in Halls Gap.
• Great Ocean Road: Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs in Warrnambool and Cumberland Resort in Lorne.
• Melbourne: Seasons Heritage Melbourne .
• Tasmania: Salamanca Terraces in Hobart, Freycinet Lodge in Freycinet NP, Leisure Inn Penny Royal in Launceston, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village in Cradle Mountain NP, Strahan Village in Strahan.

Playgrounds and swimming pools in Australia

There are plenty of playgrounds in most places throughout Australia, and a lot of hotels have swimming pools.

Furthermore, there are also beaches, public swimming pools, and even some natural waterholes where it’s safe to swim. Australia is great for kids!

TIP: Limit driving times – Australia is huge

Australia is bigger than you think and if you are not careful in planning your itinerary, you may find yourself driving 400 – 500km (250-320 miles) a day.

That’s ok when you are just trying to get from one place to another, but don’t do this every day. Not with the kids, and not on your own.

If you have to drive longer for a few days in a row, consider flying instead. It will be easier and probably even cheaper in the end.

Child car seat requirements in Australia

You can find more detailed information online, but here is a summary of child car seat requirements you should know when renting a car in Australia with kids (this information was accurate at the time of writing, but may have changed, so double-check):

• 0 to 6 months: Approved rearward-facing baby seat.
• 6 months to 4 years old: Rearward-facing or forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness. We rented car seats for our 3-year-old twins as it was too much trouble taking them with us from home. That’s a very expensive option if you fly between destinations as you have to pay for the car seat every time you rent a car (otherwise there is a maximum fee of 7 or 10 days, no matter how long you use them).
• 4 to 7 years old: Forward-facing approved child seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat. We took our own travel booster for our 5 year old and it saved us lots of money.
• 7 to 16 years old: Children who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted should use a booster seat.
• If your child is too large for the child’s car seat specified for their age, they may move to the next level.
• Children under 4 years old are not allowed to travel in the front seat of a car with two or more rows unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child restraint or booster seat.

Australian wildlife is what makes Australia great for kids

For us, Australian wildlife was one of the most important deciding factors when we chose a destination to go to with young children. In Australia, there are so many places where you can visit a zoo or a wildlife sanctuary where you can feed kangaroos or cuddle a koala or even a Tasmanian devil.

One of our favorites was Featherdale Wildlife Park near Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Also in the city, you can visit WILD LIFE Sydney or Taronga Zoo .

But that’s not all, of course.

No zoo can compare to seeing animals in the wild. Our kids loved running behind kangaroos, feeding the parrots, and touching an echidna (Ouch, that was sharp!). We saw so much wildlife in Australia! It was great fun for the whole family and one of the best experiences of visiting Australia for kids.

It might be a good idea to check which species can be approached safely and which not. If you are not sure, better keep a safe distance.

For example, our kids were very enthusiastic when they saw a wombat for the first time, but were warned by the locals that these animals can bite if they feel threatened.

So, this is our experience when traveling in Australia with kids and practical tips for your trip. I hope this information will help you prepare for your family trip to Australia and reassure you that traveling Down Under is something that can be done with children of any age.

We have many more articles about our trip, so make sure to check them for more inspiration. Here you can find our Australia itinerary and here you can find practical tips for planning a trip to Australia .

Here you can read more about some of our favorite places when visiting Australia with kids:

• Kangaroo Island
• One Day in Sydney
• Great Ocean Road
• Kennett River Koalas
• Things to Do in Hobart
• Uluru and the Red Center
• West MacDonnell Ranges
• One day in Melbourne
• Darwin Itinerary

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Tuesday 19th of March 2024

Hi Jurga, I really enjoyed reading about your trip! I will be visiting Sydney for a week in April with my 4yo. I applied for our visas through the Australian ETA app and was notified that both our visas were granted. However, I read in their Government website that I would also have to submit Form 1229 for my daughter, but there is no place to add it in the app.

Did you have to do this when applying for your kids?

Wednesday 20th of March 2024

Hi Nihan, we personally never had to do this. My understanding is that if parents travel together with the child, it's not necessary. I'm also not sure what the requirements are if only one parent travels. The best thing to do in situations like this is to check the official sources. If you are not sure where to look or can't figure out what the rules are for your specific situation, you can always contact the embassy. Good luck!

Wednesday 22nd of November 2023

We are looking to travel to Australia with our 3 year old next October but due to restrictions with work and home we will only get 15 days. Controversially, we want to stay in one location. Which area would you advise? We were considering Sydney due to the ease of being in a city and stuff to do with our little one but open to any tips!

Thanks so much this was an amazing read with great tips!

Thursday 23rd of November 2023

Hi Nic, Sydney is definitely a nice choice because you have a combination of city attractions (also lots of things for families - a zoo, a wildlife park, aquarium, etc.) and lots of nice beaches, some beautiful pools too. In addition, you can visit the Blue Mountains for a day or a few days. And there are lots of flights from everywhere. So if you are just looking for one location for two weeks, sure, it could be a very good option. Depending on the season and what you want to see/do, you could stay closer to the beach or in the center. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

Hi Jurga, Thanks for sharing this experience. We are planning a trip of a life-time with my 5yo and almost 1 yo before they start school in Sept. We flying in and out of Sydney around mid-May to mid-June for about 3 weeks. Love all the recommendations and want to go to them all - esp i think the kiddos will be excited to see all wildlife. But with our timeline, I am struggling to decide which region we should go to. What do you think are the best places in Australia to visit for May/June travels with littles for 3 weeks? Not sure if it is easier to do road-trip or fly --- we have so much luggage with the crib, formula, diapers and car seats. :( Thanks so much!!

Thursday 9th of February 2023

@Jurga, thanks so much. That’s great suggestion and advice.

Thursday 19th of January 2023

Hi Ed, that's a bit difficult one for a few reasons: mostly the season when you go (it's not ideal for the south where we always saw most wildlife), starting and ending in the same place, and all the stuff you are planning to pack...

First, maybe you should reconsider what you pack. Car seats can be rented (we never took them when our kids needed big car seats. We started taking this booster seat/backpack after they were older than 4). Cribs are usually available at all hotels/accommodations. Diapers and baby food can be purchased there (Australians have babies too ;). With our 3 kids, we took just 2 suitcases for 5 weeks. So it's doable to pack lighter - also because so many accommodations in Australia have washing machines. And if you pack smart, you really don't need that much. Take clothes that dry quickly and don't need ironing (fleece, sportswear, etc.). If you are going to more remote places, be sure to stock up on diapers/food in the bigger town where you start that part of the journey.

Anyway, I think I'd put all the practical issues aside for now and try to decide which parts of Australia you want to see. Do some research about the weather so that you know what to expect at that time of the year. I think I'd still opt for a few areas (flying between them) rather than a road trip of 3 weeks. You will see much more diverse scenery that way. With just three weeks, it's the best way to get a much better view of how diverse Australia is. I do see advantages of a road trip too, so it's really up to you. But having done a long road trip in Australia once, we really much more preferred the fly&drive approach.

As for where to go, the north of the country is perfect at that time of the year and also the Red Centre should be just fine. You can also stay in Sydney (and its surroundings) for a few days - there is a lot to see and you will find wildlife too, e.g. in the Blue Mountains. If you decide to go towards the north, you could potentially start with a few days in Sydney, then fly to Darwin for 5-6 days, then Cairns/Port Douglas area for another week or so, and back to Sydney. Another option is the combination of Sydney, the Red Center, and either Cairns or Darwin. If you opt for fly&drive approach, I think I'd do 3 areas - so Sydney and two more, also because you also have to get back to Sydney at the end.

An alternative is to fly up to Cairns or Port Douglas and then drive back towards Sydney following the coast (this is the trip we once did in about 3.5 weeks, starting in Cairns and ending in Sydney). But there will be lots of driving and not always much to see (+ you'll have to be selective what you do with just 3 weeks for the entire trip).

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck with the planning!

Sunday 31st of January 2021

Hi Jurga, thanks a lot for sharing your experiences! how long was your roadtrip in total and what your itinerary?

Friday 5th of February 2021

Hi Rebecca, this trip we did with kids was 5 weeks and you can find our complete itinerary here. As you will see, we visited many different parts of Australia in one trip. You can easily pick the places/areas that interest you most and make your own itinerary based on ours, to adjust it to your interests and the time you'll have. Hope this helps.

Thursday 8th of October 2020

Hi Jurga, Thanks for sharing your experience in Australia. I'd love to take my kids to these places. They would love it for sure. But for now, we're just in the dreaming phase.

Wednesday 14th of October 2020

Hi Art, yes, traveling to Australia for holidays from abroad isn't for any time soon it seems. Hope you can make it happen. It's a wonderful destination for a family trip. So much diversity!

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Spain family vacations, japan family vacations, australia family vacations, a perfect 2-week itinerary for australia with kids.

• By Leslie Rich
• March 5, 2024

Australia is a vast and beautiful country. In two weeks you can see a lot, but you won’t have time to see it all. With everything that Australia has to offer (and not knowing if you’ll ever make it back because it’s so far away), creating the right itinerary for your family can be daunting. Here are our planning tips and a great 2-week itinerary that helps you maximize your time Down Under.

Best 2-Week Itinerary for Australia with Kids

To get started, decide how many moves you are comfortable making during your holiday. Australia is renowned for its beautiful beaches, rugged outback and cosmopolitan cities. The formula for the perfect 2-week Australian itinerary with kids incorporates all three of these elements: city plus beach plus outback or bush. In that spirit, Sydney , the Great Barrier Reef and  Uluru are a fantastic combination for families. This does require a significant amount of moving around, though, so I’ve included alternate options for those who want to simplify their travel plans or want to pack in a bit more.

TIP : The outback typically refers to Australia’s more remote areas, whereas the bush encompasses rural areas closer to civilization. The bush, which includes more accessible rainforests, countryside and mountain ranges, makes for a great substitution or addition to the outback component in our recommended itinerary.

Ready to start planning a fabulous getaway to Australia with kids?

That's what we do! Our Family Travel Advisors can help you book vetted accommodations, design a custom itinerary, arrange private tours and activities, and more. Click to send us a request!

Sydney (4-plus nights)

Sydney is a great place to begin your holiday and a must for first-time visitors to Australia. Regularly found at the top of “World’s Best” lists, Sydney is a laid-back city with top-notch restaurants and plenty of activities to keep families happy. Our 72 hours in Sydney guide provides details on where to go and what to do with kids. Highlights include the coastal walk from Bondi Beach toward Coogee, family surf lessons and climbing over the Harbour Bridge.

TIP : Sydney has great public transportation, so being close to a ferry and/or a train station will serve you well. Most international flights arrive into Sydney in the early morning. Make arrangements for an early check-in at your hotel so that you can hit the ground running. If visiting in the summer, pack swimsuits in your carry-on luggage. In the event your luggage is delayed or your hotel isn’t ready, you can start your vacation on the beach without missing a beat.

Blue Mountains — Bush (2 nights)

The Blue Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about two hours by car from Sydney. The scenery is spectacular and dramatically different from the city. Go for a ride on the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest incline railway, or the Scenic Skyway, a glass-bottom sky tram that offers stunning views of the Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls and the Jamison Valley. A bit further afield are the Jenolan Caves, also well worth a visit if you have the time.

Uluru — Outback (2 to 3 nights)

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is in the Northern Territory, about a three-hour flight from Sydney. It’s home to the iconic red monolith known as Uluru or Ayers Rock. A rock may not seem like much of a reason to board a flight and consume precious vacation time, but it’s a magical place, and the landscape is what everyone imagines when they picture the Australian Outback. If you are able to stay at Longitude 131 , do it — this property will take your visit to another level. In addition to guided tours of Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), I recommend the camel rides and sightseeing by helicopter.

Great Barrier Reef (3-plus nights)

The Whitsunday Islands are a gorgeous group of islands set on the fringe of the Great Barrier Reef.  Just eight of the islands have hotels, and these are only accessible by infrequent flights or boat launches. Getting here will require patience and time, but the sugary white beaches, amazing resorts and proximity to the reef make it worth the effort. Every water activity imaginable is available on the reef; sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, submarine sightseeing and, of course, scuba diving are family favorites.

TIP : If you fly, be first to call the window seat — the views coming in are fantastic. If you are planning to visit the Daintree Rainforest as well, staying on the mainland may be preferable. Both Cairns (pronounced cans ) and Port Douglas are gateway towns to the reef. I’d opt for Port Douglas, as it is more relaxed and less touristy than Cairns, and also closer to the rainforest.

Daintree Rainforest — Bush (1 to 2 additional nights as part of Great Barrier Reef visit)

If you want to check yet another World Heritage Site off your list, include a visit to Daintree National Park, home to the oldest rainforest on the planet. The Daintree Discovery Centre is an excellent way to start your exploration. Here you can learn all about the region, wander the forest from elevated boardwalks and take in scenic views from the canopy tower. Other family activities in the region include zipline tours, horseback riding, and duck boat and 4WD adventures. If staying in Port Douglas, visit the Wildlife Habitat, where you can have breakfast with the birds and visit with kangaroos and koalas too.

Relevant Links:

Browse all family-friendly accommodations and things to do in Australia on Ciao Bambino

An adventurous 10-day family road trip in Western Australia

Thala Beach Nature Reserve: Oceanfront luxury next door to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest

Essential tips for climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Best of Australia: Kids share why they loved their trip Down Under

72 hours in Sydney with kids

Start a Discussion

Australia was one of my favorite trips! When we travel as a family, I love to find engaging books for the kids to read before and during the trip. As a librarian, educator, and mom – here are some of my choices that other travelers to Australia might enjoy! http://storybooklists.com/country/storybooks-with-australia

I love Australia and can’t wait to go back.

That’s a great itinerary! Western Australia, although more remote, offers a lot of great places and beaches to visit, especially when traveling with kids! And for the little ones I put up a list with some great, fun fact about our county: https://worldoftravelswithkids.com/fun-australia-facts-for-kids/

I just booked some tickets for my family of 5 to Australia on the whim. Wasn’t sure if I would keep my plans because Australia is so huge. This guide is great and I will likely follow it. thanks!

Australia is among the most incredible places I have visited in the last year and indeed these places mentioned in the post are very good for sightseeing and sightseeing. I like the region because of the variety of options for having fun with friends. I also recommend the local restaurants where they offer different kinds of different foods and very tasty. I loved the post 🙂

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🚙 23 Tips for Travelling Australia With Kids

Travelling around Australia with kids can definitely add an extra complication to the travel lifestyle or experience, but it’s certainly not impossible. In fact I found that travelling with kids made things so much more fun!

Travelling Australia with kids gives you the perfect excuse to stop and say hello to farm animals, check out all the cool playgrounds and just generally slow down and be more present in the moment.

But, let’s be honest. Travelling with kids can be exhausting. The key to success is in being super organised and allocating plenty of rest days so that everyone has the chance to recharge.

The best experiences and learning opportunities in life exist beyond the four walls of a classroom. For kids who travel, the world around them becomes their school, just the way it was always meant to be!

Here I share some useful tips to help make travelling Australia with kids easier and more enjoyable. If you’re keen on getting your little ones super excited about travelling around the country, these Australian facts for kids are really fun.

We are a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to ebay.com and other affiliated sites. We may earn a commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our disclosures here .

Packing For Kids

When it comes to packing for travelling Australia with kids, try to keep things as simple as possible.

Here are 3 things to remember as you’re packing for the kids:

• Your towing weights will add up very quickly
• Space is at a premium, so use it wisely
• The kids won’t use as much as you think

The best rule of thumb is to make sure you’ve got enough outfits for 7 days. That way if the weather is horrendous or you’re too busy having fun to get the washing done, you know you’ll be covered for a week.

7-day Clothing Checklist:

• 7 x Short-sleeved shirts
• 5 x Long-sleeved shirts
• 7 x Shorts/ skirts
• 3 – 5 x Leggings/ tracksuit pants
• 3 x Jumpers
• 2 x Swimsuits
• Beanie, gloves & scarf
• Walking shoes

Caravan Packing List

Never forget a thing with the ULTIMATE Caravan Packing List!

• Pre-filled with 600+ items
• 17 categories
• ‘Weight’ column (to organise payload)
• PRINTABLE – fully customisable
• DIGITAL – completely interactive
• Download once, use it over-and-over

Again, keep things simple. The good old favourites are usually the only toys that will get played with. Sticks, water, trees, hills, dirt and rocks are everywhere – they always make the best kids entertainment!

Simple Toys to Pack:

• Special teddy for the car & bed time
• Lego/ blocks (small bag)
• Bike or scooter
• Boogie board or pool noodle
• A few trucks or cars
• Scrap paper
• Crayons or pencils
• Colouring-in books
• Reading books

There’s no getting around it, technology is part and parcel of modern life. Having a tech device for the kids can make travelling Australia with kids much easier for all involved once you get a good routine down pat.

Before you even hit the road, figure out when and how much screen time you would like to limit the kids to and set the expectation right from the beginning. Maybe it’s no more than 1 hour in the car or 15 minutes at night while you get the dinner sorted.

It’s important to be flexible and open to adjusting your expectations once you get on the road. Coming up with a system that works for your family may take some time and practice.

Tech Item Options for Kids:

• iPad/ Tablet
• Kindle/ eReader
• TV with DVD Player

Food & Drinks

Kids just seem to eat incessantly. As anyone who’s every gone on a road trip with kids will know, taking plenty of food is key!

Here are some easy lunch and snack ideas to get you going. Just to be clear, my kids are fussy eaters – I wish they ate half of this stuff! We just stick to the tried and tested basics.

Snack Ideas

• Sliced or dried fruit
• Nuts & Bolts (mixed nuts, dry cereal & dry fruit)
• Hard boiled eggs
• Hommus with carrot sticks or crackers
• Muesli bars
• Chips, pringles, pretzels, bean snaps
• Salami sticks or slices
• Yoghurt drops
• Cheese sticks
• Sesame snaps
• Cold pancakes
• Dry noodles
• Yoghurt cups
• Bliss balls & slices

Lunch Ideas

• Devon & sauce sandwiches
• Cheese & avocado crackers
• Chicken/ tuna wraps
• Lunch meat & salad bread rolls
• Vegemite/ peanut butter rice cakes
• Cheese & bacon rolls
• Ryvitas/ cruskits with cream cheese, cherry tomatoes & shallots
• Hommus & salad wraps
• Hotdogs or frankfurts
• Bunnings special (sausage on bread with sauce)
• Egg & mayonnaise sandwiches
• BBQ chicken rolls
• Cold pasta dishes (spaghetti bolognese/ ravioli/ basil pesto)
• Corned beef sandwiches

Water Bottles

It’s super important to make sure that everyone has their own water bottle for car rides and day trips.

I recommend ensuring that your drink bottles are all insulated as the hot Australian sun will heat up water bottles very quickly otherwise. A few pieces of ice in the insulated bottle of a morning will help to keep the water cool, even when you’re topping it up.

We always carried a spare 10L water container in the back of the car. This was handy if we ever run out of water in our bottles and couldn’t find anywhere suitable to refill them.

Adventure Awaits have a fantastic range of insulated bottles of various sizes and colours, which are perfect for travelling Australia with kids.

Road Trip Tips

Let’s face it, those long car rides can be exhausting on travel days. Here are some tips to help make the time more enjoyable for everyone.

Get on the Road Early

As the day wears on, everyone’s patience and energy will also be rapidly depleting. When you know you’ve got a big travel day ahead (even just a few hours to the next camp), hit the road as early as you can.

The sooner you can get the car trip out of the way, the sooner everyone is able to relax at the other end of it.

However, if your kids are still young enough to be taking daytime naps, it might be wise to travel during nap times.

Get the Kids Involved

Chat to the kids at the beginning of travel days and let them know exactly what they can expect throughout the day.

When it comes to stopping along the way, give them a choice between two different rest stop options (if possible). Maybe there’s a lookout or a playground in town to choose from. That way, they’ll feel like they’re a part of the decision-making process and won’t feel so out of control.

Plenty of Snacks & Water

Pack a good variety of snacks for the car ride because no one wants to deal with a hangry child in a small, confined space!

You could opt for a compartment lunchbox with all lots of food for them to pick at. Or, you might prefer to have the bag of snacks in the front with you and pass them out as needed.

Make sure everyone has an insulated water bottle and there is spare water in the back, just in case anyone runs out.

Let the Kids Pack Their Own Bags

Get the kids to pack their own bag in the morning, filled with their choice (within reason) of activities and toys to use during the car trip. Think fidget toys, teddies, colouring-in books and any other special toys they’ve got.

• Spotto (1 point for regular cars, 2 points for road trains, 3 points for emergency vehicles)
• Licence Plate Game (making up words from other cars number plates)
• Here are some more road trip game ideas .

Share the DJing

Get everyone to take it in turns with picking the next song. If you’re travelling through areas with no reception, you may have to create some playlists before you leave civilisation.

Try listening to some adventurous, age-appropriate audiobooks to help keep the crew entertained. You could even pause the book every now and then to chat about the story and keep everyone involved.

Rest Stops & Playgrounds

Plan to stop at least once every two hours during long car rides. The kids will need to stretch their legs and burn off some pent up energy. It’s a good chance to make sure everyone is going to the toilet and that the driver can recharge their batteries.

Playgrounds are a great way for everyone to have a break from the car. Even the simplest playground can seem exciting because it’s somewhere new and unexplored.

Find Extra Activities Along the Way

While you’re sitting in the car, use WikiCamps to look ahead to the places you’ll be passing through. Are there any short walks or activities that you can stop at along the way to make the trip more exciting?

Reward Good Behaviour with Treats

Everyone loves to feel acknowledged, especially kids who sit in a car for long periods of time without killing their sibling/s!

Pack a bag of snakes (or whatever treat your kids love) and randomly hand them out while letting them know that you’re super proud of how well they’ve been doing during that day’s car trip.

Pack a Surprise

If you’re planning on having a particularly long travel day, it can help to have a surprise up your sleeve if the day become too tiresome for the kids. This could be a new activity book and pencils or a movie that they’ve never seen before. Whatever it is that will reignite some excitement in the kids to keep them going a little longer.

BYO Toilet Paper

Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on the public toilet you’re visiting to have plenty of toilet paper left. It always pays to have a roll or two of your own in the car.

While we’re on the topic of public toilets, be aware that many rest stop and National Park facilities will be drop toilets.

For the adults, that’s fine because we just get in, do our business and get out. For kids, it’s a different matter entirely. My daughter was so scared of falling into the drop toilet and not being able to get back out, that she’d hold it for hours rather than use one.

I guess the moral is, make full use of Service Station, shopping centre and fast food restaurant toilets whenever you can!

Hiking with Kids

Hydration Packs

While travelling Australia with kids we each had our own 2L Water Hydration Pack for hiking and bush walks.

A Hydration Pack is basically a backpack with a water bladder inside and a long straw to sip from. They come is various sizes from 2 litres to 5 litres. Obviously, the more water in the bag, the heavier it will be.

I found that the 2 litre Hydration Pack was perfect for the kids to be able to carry, plus I felt comfortable knowing that they’d have plenty for the walk.

The great thing about the pack is that there’s also room to add in some snacks and a sandwich for lunch.

When each family member has their own pack it means that everyone is responsible for their own supplies while hiking, which saves Mum or Dad from having to be the packhorse.

Hydration Pack Benefits:

• 2L – 5L of water per person
• Space for lunch & snacks
• Each person can carry their own supplies

You can pick up Hydration Packs on eBay from about $17 each.

First Aid & Medical

First aid kits.

When travelling Australia with kids, it’s extremely important to always carry a First Aid Kit with you. In fact, I always recommend travelling with three First Aid Kits.

Three First Aid Kits to Pack:

• SMALL First Aid Kit with Snake Bit Bandages – for your Hiking Pack
• REGULAR First Aid Kit – for the camper or caravan
• VEHICLE First Aid Kit – for the car

Check out the ready-made Survival First Aid Kits on eBay as an easy way to ensure that you’ve got all of your First Aid needs covered.

To get our FREE Printable First Aid Kit Checklist and Travel Planning Kit, feel free to sign up below.

Australia Wide Ambulance Cover

Most people don’t realise that once you leave you home state of residence, you may no longer be covered for Ambulance costs in case of emergency.

In fact, Queensland is the only state that covers its residents for Australia-wide Ambulance cover. Tasmania does cover its residents for some of the other Australian states, but not all.

To find out what your home state Ambulance Membership covers you for and if you need to take out additional cover, check out the guide below.

Schedule Down Time

One of the most important components, when travelling Australia with kids, is to make sure you schedule in plenty of down time. That includes down time throughout each day, plus entire days where you don’t do anything too strenuous.

Being on the go all the time is exhausting and most kids just won’t cope with it.

We generally liked to back up a busy day with a relaxing day if we could. It gave us all time to chill out and not have to be running full charge ahead day after day.

We also used our down days to catch up on school work, washing, blogging and just generally enjoy our surroundings. Consider getting baby monitor for younger ones who will be sleeping inside the van while you’re outside or chatting to the neighbours.

Being with each other in tight quarters can have its own challenges, so it’s equally important to set aside time for yourself. Whether you go off and read a book by yourself for an hour, go fishing, watch a movie or even do the grocery shopping by yourself! We all need time out to stay sane and healthy.

It’s equally important for some kids to have their own time out, especially introverted kids. Dom often needed time by himself to recharge. He would usually watch a movie or play a game in his bunk for a while and then he was good to go again.

Education on the Road

If you’re planning on travelling Australia with kids for an extended period of time, you’ll need to look at the options for keeping up with their education.

After much research, I decided to Homeschool my two kids, mainly for the flexibility if afforded us all.

Our Routine

I aimed to do about an hour of ‘formal’ schoolwork each morning, 5 days per week. That included English, maths, reading and anything else that we were focussing on at the time.

The exception were the days where we were travelling to a new location or when we went out for the day (we considered that to be an excursion with multiple educational opportunities).

Along with the formal work, I was always working to incorporate everyday experiences as learning moments along the way.

Homeschooling vs. Distance Education

With Homeschooling, you generally need to submit an annual report and can set your own workload and curriculum.

Distance Education is much more structured, with all work being provided for you. However, with that comes weekly Skype sessions with the teacher as well as due dates for work submissions.

In the article below, you can read about six different travelling families who roadschooled their children while travelling Australia. Learn about which style of education they each chose, plus the pros and cons they encountered along the way.

Each State and Territory has different rules and hoops you need to jump through for registration. Contact your local state education department for further information.

Educational Highlights while Travelling

The thing I loved most about the kids being educated on the road is that they had the opportunity to learn so much through life, nature and discovery.

Amazing educational opportunities the kids had while travelling:

• Fossicking for Sapphires
• Building dams in natural creeks
• Panning for tin
• Catching Redclaw Crayfish
• Learning about Australia’s Standing Stones as an ancient calendar
• Experiencing weather extremes and witnessing how they affect the land (drought, flood, wind storm)
• Prepping for a cyclone in Townsville
• Witnessing bush fires and watching Aerial Fire Fighters waterbombing the area
• Spotting crocodiles on the banks of a river
• Learning about the pioneering history
• Walking the Mayall Creek Masacre site
• Chasing dinosaurs through the outback and so much more!

It’s those random, unplanned moments…

In all honesty, some of the best learning moments for the kids were many of the incidental conversations that naturally go on throughout each day. You know the ones where you’re driving along and then find yourselves talking about frogs or street signs. Or cooking dinner while talking about bodily functions and Minecraft (yes, Minecraft featured a lot in our van!).

Travel Journal

Whether you decide to take education on the road or not, getting the kids to fill out a travel journal every other day is great for many of them.

Keeping a travel journal allows kids to get their thoughts out onto paper in a creative way. From writing to drawing and gluing in souvenirs found along the way. Whatever they feel like contributing.

The best travel journal that I’ve found for kids travelling Australia is the Travelling With Kids Travel Journal. It has sections for the kids to fill out, which is much more fun and achievable than a blank page. Plus, there is a kids Packing Checklist and some games to play.

Check out the Travelling Australia with Kids Travel Journals to see what you think.

Brush up on some road tripping with kids tips to make those travel days easier. If you’ve got toddlers on board, you may want to consider some extra toddler road trip tips .

All the best with your travel planning!

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Top 10 hacks for travelling Australia with kids

Carla Grossetti

Sub-Editor & Journalist

04 November 2022

Here are our top 10 tips for keeping everyone in the family happy while travelling with kids from A to B.

Travelling with kids, whether they are toddlers or teens, doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. In fact, regardless of whether you’re on a road trip or travelling by plane, or train, you have an opportunity to create family holiday memories to treasure and have a relaxing break to boot if you plan ahead.

1. Play a few games

Travelling on a highway for hours on end with children can be lots of fun. Said no one ever. No, really. A road trip doesn’t need to drive you around the bend. But you do need to be organised.

Is the goal to limit your children’s screen time? Keep it old-school with a few rounds of 99 Bottles of Milk on the Wall. Or play memory games, such as I went to the market and what did I see ?, with each member of the family adding something – a hat or a harpsichord – to the list of things to remember. Spotto is always a favourite as members of the family compete to add to their tally of yellow cars. If energy levels are low, tune in to podcasts and audiobooks too.

Think of something fun to ease boredom during your long and exhilarating road trip. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Ask your children to DJ

If you’re feeling harrowed ahead of your holiday, forget I Spy and fast-forward to Spotify . Start recruiting your kids to curate a playlist before you pull out of the driveway. It will keep them occupied while you try to pack.

Parents with younger children can tailor the playlist toward their own taste to avoid inflicting earworms for days. Rather than just defaulting to cheesy songs for children, try to introduce them to some of your favourite bands.  Blasting out songs you all like to listen to makes for a fun dynamic on a driving holiday .

Spectacular sea views await you. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Plan to put on the brakes a lot

It’s important that you veer off the highway often so the family can stretch their legs. Find an attraction you want to visit and then drop a pin on the map to find nearby parks, playgrounds, or a safe spot to swim or surf.

One of my hottest tips is to pack a sturdy picnic blanket, such as these beauties from Miss Amara Rugs , which you can actually hose down after a gathering on the grass. You can also scope out family-friendly wineries such as Scarborough Wines, in the Hunter Valley , which has giant checkers and Jenga to keep the kids happy while you’re sipping and swishing.

Places like Treetops Adventure , which has 15 locations across the country, are also great places to press pause .

Let your kids have fun for a while. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

4. All the gear and a few ideas

A hot tip when it comes to engineering a happy family holiday is to introduce your children to things you like doing. Think surfing , kayaking, bushwalking and skiing .

It’s a great idea to pack a Penny skateboard or scooter in your luggage to make it more fun for kids with little legs to go the distance, regardless of whether you’re travelling by car or plane.

Enrol your kids in safe and fun surfing lessons. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Packing a frisbee may also inspire children to get from A to B. Three points to get it to that tree. Two points to hit that sign. Bush walks can also be incentivised by the promise of a swim at the end.

Making kids in charge of their own Wheelie Bag is also a practical way to get them to help lug all your gear around bus, plane or train terminals. And if all gets too much, a SleepKeeper pillow carrier is a compact and comfy sleep aid.

Treat your family to a well-deserved beach getaway. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Encourage them to keep a journal

It’s a great idea to encourage your children to write in their journals when you’re on the road. They might not always be motivated. But when they go back to read their diaries, it will be a great trip down memory lane. It’s a creative way for them to remember the best bits about a holiday and to get an insight into their younger selves.

It can also buy you some much-coveted hammock time when travelling with kids. Paste in relevant postcards or tickets to amusement parks, or gigs, which serve as visual reminders of all the fun you’ve had.

Speaking of fun, limit your time in art galleries or at music festivals to focus on your favourite exhibit or band. There will always be times things will go to hell in a handbasket, so be prepared to pull the pin and pivot.

Introduce the wonders of travelling to your kid early on.

6. Fill your Esky with healthy snacks

The most relaxing way to spend a few weeks on the road with children is to have a stash of snacks on standby. Opt for a beautiful bento box from Majime Life which has lots of little compartments to keep them occupied with cheese, crackers, fresh fruit and sandwiches.

You can also make up a big batch of pasta alla Pomodoro and freeze it ahead of a road trip so it doubles as an ice pack for the day and then is defrosted by the time you arrive at your destination with hungry travellers in tow.

Pack healthy and delicious meals for your kids before travelling.

7. Reward good behaviour with an occasional treat

Research conducted by Holiday Inn recently found that 91 per cent of parents travelling with kids said if their child has a terrible holiday, they will too. The study also found that three-quarters of kids admit they are most happy when they enjoy foods such as pancakes and ice cream. Holiday Inn took the findings to heart, offering 24/7 free ice cream for all Holiday Inn Kids’ Critics (for a limited time only).

Of course, one of the best things about a family holiday is rewarding your children with an ice cream, pie , or fish and chips by the sea. Travel in style with beach chairs such as these retro-cool ones , and a posh picnic hamper to make an occasion of it.

Two kids eating ice cream by the seaside promenade. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Have balls, books and surfboards

Demarcate the space between children in the back seat with a flexible fold-up bag of books. Regardless of their age, a huge pile of their favourite books is bound to keep them entertained. If you’ve done a lot of walking, swimming, skating or surfing, then you can also find a shady spot to kick back in the open air and read books together.

Having an ongoing UNO competition with a score sheet that lasts for the entire holiday is another low-fi way to keep everyone entertained. Nurture your children’s love of travel with books such as Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel Quiz Book  and Ultimate Travel Crosswords .

Father and son kayaking along the emerald blue waters of Coral Bay. (Image: ©Tourism Western Australia)

9. BYO chargers but limit screen time

It’s not a great idea to stick your kids in front of a device at every turn. It will alter their mood for the worse and that peace and quiet in the short term will adversely affect their behaviour over the course of the day. You don’t need to be Mary Poppins. Everything in moderation.

On that note, make sure you have enough portable chargers in case of emergencies – cancelled planes, traffic delays – but also engineer your day so that the most amount of fun is not found staring at a screen. Keep your kindles and iPads charged for a more hi-fi holiday. Check out this guide on how to pack a tech survival kit put together by Express VPN .

Unplug your devices to stay connected with your loved ones. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

10. Book family-friendly accommodation

According to the latest research from Holiday Inn, more than half of Australian parents said they would consider changing their hotel accommodation when traveling with kids if their children were unhappy.

Given the findings, it makes sense to do your homework when it comes to choosing accommodation.

The brand is so heavily invested in the findings it is calling on kids to review its hotels as part of its Kids Critics program. In addition to ensuring the kids are happy, there are many hotels and resorts like the Holiday Inn that offers Kids Stay & Eat Free packages. We’re looking at you Hamilton Island.

Stay closer to nature as you bond with your family. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

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Thanks for mentioning the SleepKeeper, perfect for kids travelling with their pillow

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• Getting Started
• Home Schooling and Travelling
• Activity Sheets for the Kids
• Homeschooling
• Homeschooling Options
• Homeschooling Hints and Tips
• Roadschooling
• Roadschool or Homeschool?
• The Planning
• How much do we need?
• Must have items for Kids
• Things to Consider
• Budget Tips
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The Best Things to Do in Australia With Kids — From a Safari Sleepover to a Waterfront Theme Park

Australia is an immense and diverse country with endless possibilities. You can go from marveling at the dazzling coastline to exploring the Outback to hanging with some of the world's most fascinating animals (we're looking at you, echidnas) without leaving the country.

And if you're headed to Oz with kids, you're in luck: There are countless experiences that take advantage of the best Australia has to offer while remaining accessible for the smallest of travelers. You can meet real-life Tasmanian devils (not just the Looney Tunes kind, though he's fun too) on the island of Tasmania. And young children can explore the Great Barrier Reef without even getting wet thanks to an underwater observatory.

Traveling with kids can bring the whole family together (plus, it can help them in school) — and arguably no destination does it better than the hands-on friendly land Down Under.

Try these nine kid-friendly experiences on your next trip to Australia for the chance to combine educational opportunities with straight-up fun.

Snooze With Animals

Head out on a night safari to see some of Taronga Zoo Sydney's 4,000 animals from more than 350 species during their Roar and Snore program . You'll help out during feeding time, get some up-close-and-personal encounters with the zoo's animals, and enjoy incredible harbor views from the safari-style campsite (talk about glamping!).

The next day, you can see some of the zoo's cutest furry residents by daylight — like the red kangaroos and koalas — with complimentary admission.

Find it: Roar and Snore at the Taronga Zoo Sydney ; Sydney, New South Wales

See the Little Penguin Parade

Phillip Island is home to tiny penguins (known as Little Penguins) who take part in a nightly penguin parade when they waddle up the beach and back to their burrows at sunset after a day of fishing.

Kids can watch these little penguins (they weigh just about two pounds and are about 13 inches tall) from eye-level when you book an underground viewing experience .

Find it: Phillip Island Nature Parks ; Phillip Island, Victoria

Feed Wild Dolphins

You don't often get the chance to be close to wild animals, let alone feed them. And while it is not advised to do that on your own, the Monkey Mia Reserve offers a program that allows visitors to get up close while ensuring the area's bottlenose dolphins stay wild.

The dolphins at the reserve are free to come and go as they please (more than 3,000 live in the bay) and are offered food three times a day between 7:45 a.m. and noon. And you and your family could be the ones to feed them — a limited number of fish are handed out to people standing in the shallow water. The number of fish is limited because staff still want the dolphins to forage for a large amount of their food.

Find it: Monkey Mia Reserve ; Denham, Western Australia

Hang Out at Bondi Beach

Ana Alarcon/Travel + Leisure

Heading to the beach is one Australian experience that's hard to miss — the country has more than 31,000 miles of coastline. However, for younger swimmers (and older ones too, for that matter) rip currents are a legitimate fear.

Thanks to Bondi Icebergs Club — with two pools (one for adults and one for kids) — you can put safe swimming first without giving up great views of one of Australia's most popular beaches. When you're done swimming, head down to the beach for a little people watching on this iconic stretch of sand.

Find it: Bondi Icebergs Club ; Sydney, New South Wales

Cuddle a Koala

There's nothing as iconic as cuddling a cute koala in Australia — and there's no better place to do it than the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (which opened in 1927 as a refuge for orphaned, sick, and injured koalas).

Kids can pet or hold the fuzzy animals — there's around 130 of them — or check out one of the other 70-plus animal species living at the sanctuary (think kangaroos, platypuses, and dingos). Plan your visit around one of the hand-feeding times for the kangaroos, wallabies, and lorikeets for an extra dose of fun (and photo opportunities).

Find it: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ; Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland

Get Up Close and Personal With Tasmanian Devils

Kids may know of the Tasmanian devil from the Looney Toons cartoon, but the real-life version is so much cooler (and cuter too). There are no cages and barriers at this "unzoo" which is focused on saving the devil, offering visitors "nose-to-nose" encounters, and the chance to feed wallabies and kangaroos.

After spending time with the animals, kids can play on the Little Devil's Playground, which includes an interactive display about Tasmanian devils.

Find it: Tasmanian Devil Unzoo ; Taranna, Tasmania

Experience Vintage Thrills

Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure

Modeled after Luna Park in Coney Island, this theme park first opened in 1935 and features the era's vintage styling. Kids will love a spin around the hand-painted carousel that features 1,640 lights or the challenge of balancing their way through the Barrels of Fun feature. Later, take in the view of the harbor from the top of the ferris wheel and play some classic carnival games.

Find it: Luna Park Sydney ; Sydney, New South Wales

Go Underwater at the Great Barrier Reef

No trip to Australia is complete without a visit to the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef . And while there are numerous ways to see the colorful coral, one of the best options for kids is from an activity platform. Hop aboard Quicksilver Cruises and travel to the Agincourt Reefs where kids will be able to snorkel (there's small snorkels and masks for toddlers) from a submerged platform that helps them get into the water.

If your child can't swim — or has had enough — there's an underwater observatory where they can watch the fish without needing to get in the water. The company also has a submarine that ventures out to the reef's lagoons for extra viewing opportunities.

Find it: Quicksilver Cruises ; Port Douglas, Queensland

Learn About Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage

One of the best parts about traveling is learning about the cultures of the places you travel to. And one of the best places to do that in Australia is at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Here, kids (and their parents) can take in the Aboriginal heritage through traditional dance and demonstrations like spear and boomerang throwing.

In the evening, participate in a night fire where you'll get traditional face paint, learn Aboriginal songs, and watch the ceremonial fire light up.

Find it: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park ; Smithfield, Queensland

Australia with Kids: 8 Amazing Family-Friendly Destinations [2023]

Taking a trip to Australia with kids is one of the best ways to bond and spend time together as a family. With Australia’s modern amenities, English first language and well-developed tourism trail it is a suitable destination for almost anyone – even those travelling with kids.

Regardless of age or interest, a family trip to Australia is sure to be a hit. From golden beaches, cosmopolitan cities and interesting animals, you will be spoilt for choice and will come away with a lifetime of memories. 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my  full disclosure  for further information.

Top Places to Visit in Australia with Kids

The following are some of the best places to visit in Australia with kids:

#1 The Great Ocean Road

Located just 90 minutes from Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road is a legendary drive one of the best places to visit on a family trip to Australia.

This picturesque road is 243 kilometres in length and dotted with iconic attractions like the Twelve Apostles and the Grotto , pristine beaches , and waterfalls. 

Given the plethora of outdoor activities, this destination is well suited to active families. If your little ones have never seen a koala before, we suggest you embark on the Kennett River Koala Walk . This short trail is known for its abundance of wild koalas which can be spotted in the trees above, as well as native colourful birds.

Located in Western Australia and known as the Rubibi among the local aboriginal people, Broome is a remote beach town known for its incredible scenery, rich history, and a plethora of outdoor activities. 

Cable Beach is a 22-kilometre beach in Broome and one of the town’s main attractions. You can swim or relax on the beach here, and there are even sections of the beach you can drive on to with an appropriate vehicle. However, one of the most iconic things to do at Cable Beach is to take a camel ride at sunset. 

For a bit of culture, stop by the Broome Historical Museum . Here you can learn all about the town’s pearling history. You will be shocked by many of the stories. Otherwise, just 6 kilometres from the town is Gantheaume Point . Here you can climb along the rocks and at low tide, see real dinosaur prints etched into the rock.

Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and perhaps Australia’s most well-known city. From the iconic Sydney Opera House to Taronga Zoo with it’s Sky Safari cable car , there is something for every family holiday to Australia. The Art Gallery and Powerhouse Museum are all children friendly. 

For an inner-city beach day , head to Bondi Beach in Sydney. Lounge on the beach, try local restaurants or go surfing. If you don’t feel like going out into the open ocean, then stop by the Bondi Icebergs pool.

Related Post | Where to Stay in Koh Samui, Thailand for Families

#4 The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known the world over for its diverse marine system. Found off the coast of Queensland, near Cairns, it has over 3000 independent reefs making it the largest coral reef in the world. 

With that being said, it is an excellent place to experience snorkelling and scuba diving. However, if you are travelling to Australia with kids too small to don a snorkel set, then you can take a glass-bottom boat ride instead. 

#5 Kangaroo Island

The exploration of Kangaroo island is perfect for wildlife loving families travelling to Australia with kids. Here you will find everything from kangaroos to sea lions, koalas, and native birds all living within less than 4500 square kilometres. 

Don’t miss visiting Flinders Chase National Park. It is one of the best things to do on Kangaroo Island. Here you will find interesting geological attractions like Remarkable Rocks and Admiral Arch . The latter is known for its stalactites.

If you or your kids are up for an adventure, then Little Sahara is a must-do. This dune system is the ultimate place to try sandboarding.

Lorne is a polished beach town found along the Erskine River in Victoria. Here you will find a diversity of restaurants, shops, and art galleries, as well as lots of Great Ocean Road beaches to explore. 

Main Beach is located in the centre of town and has plenty of social amenities like free parking and picnic areas with BBQs. The waters are typically calm here, but for added safety, the Life Saving Club patrols the beach in the summer.

Active families will like walking along Lorne Pier or up to Shelly Beach. Otherwise, surfing is a popular sport in Lorne. Just outside of town is Teddy’s Lookout. This incredible lookout point has sweeping views of the surrounding hills, the ocean and the St. George River emptying into it.

#7 Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a picturesque island located just off the coast of Western Australia. It is a short boat ride from Perth and boasts 83 spectacular bays and beaches. The Basin is one of the best points for snorkelling.

Besides its natural beauty, Rottnest Island is known for being the home of the “happiest animal on earth”. The quokka is a small marsupial that has an ever-smiling face. They are abundant around the island, and often you will see tourists stopping to take a selfie with them. 

There is not a lot of infrastructure on the island and cars are forbidden so prepare to take the public bus or go on two wheels. Most visitors rent a bike to explore at their own place. 

#8 The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a haven for theme parks, beaches and nearby hiking trails. Here you will find Dreamworld, Movie World , and Wet’ n Wild among other top theme parks in Australia. They are great to visit with little ones.

Some of the most famous beaches are Surfers Paradise, Nobby Beach and Main Beach . They are characterised by their white sand, turquoise waters and upbeat vibe. 

When you need a break from the beaches on your family trip to Australia, visit Lamington National Park. It is carpeted in an ancient rainforest and has a ton of great hiking trails.

It doesn’t get much better than a family trip to Australia. If you are visiting, don’t miss these top destinations to maximize your family fun. 

Plan Your Trip

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The Great Ocean Road Collective

Henry is of the Great Ocean Road Collective. A website dedicated to sharing the beauty of the Great Ocean Road in Australia with travellers far and wide. If you are planning your trip, need some inspiration or looking for authentic advice on Aussie travel, visit our website The Great Ocean Road Australia or check us out on Instagram .

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Momma Wanderlust - Curating Cultural Travels for Families

How to Travel in Australia with Kids

Sydney Opera House from the Harbour

We took our first international family trip to Sydney, Australia !  When we arrived, our son was 4 years old and our daughter was 14 months old. But getting around in Australia with two small kids was not the easy undertaking I thought it would be.  Since we were only planning to be in Sydney for five full days (we had three additional days already earmarked for day trips), we wanted to have the ease of renting a car without the hassle of trying to figure out how to drive on the right side of the car, on the left-hand side of the road.  So, we planned to use cabs and ride-share during our time Down Under.

We discovered shortly after landing that you canNOT hire a taxi, or use Uber with small children unless you bring your own car seat in Australia. Bringing your own car seat seems like an easy fix, but who wants to have to lug around a car seat while sightseeing? I didn’t.

[This post on How to Travel in Australia with Kids was originally published in December 2019, and updated in July 2022.]

I’d like to be clear, I’m all for transporting children in the safest way possible. The purpose of this article is to ensure that parents are informed.

The kids’ first look at Sydney from our hotel.

Like in the States, child safety laws are strict in Australia and the penalties are applied to not only personal cars but also taxis and ride-share vehicles.  I had never encountered this issue when catching cabs and using ride-share companies in cities like Washington, DC, and Miami. Needless to say, I was surprised to learn that in Australia, strict child safety laws apply to all vehicles, including cabs and ride-share vehicles.

The Centre of Road Safety spells out Australia’s laws as it relates to children riding in taxis or ride-share vehicles. This is why most cab drivers we encountered were leery of giving us a lift without a child safety seat.

Austen enjoying Sydney during a ferry ride.

Solutions to Travel Around Australia with Kids

If you’re planning a visit to Australia and need to get around the city with your children by taxi or Uber, you can either rent a car and child safety seat or bring your own to use in the rental, take public transportation, or use a private taxi service that is equipped with child safety seats.

Rent a Car to Travel Around Australia with Kids

Renting a car is probably the fastest way to get around.  But if you’re staying in a major city like Sydney, there might be hotel parking fees. We decided not to hire a car because the idea of driving like an Aussie was daunting.  Both my husband and I were afraid to drive on the right-hand side of the car on the left side of the road.

Private Taxi Service

If renting a car is not a desirable option for you, there are a number of private taxi companies for families in Australia.  These companies supply child safety seats.  But you have to reserve the taxis in advance and specify the age of the children riding and how many car seats you’ll need.  Here’s a list of some of the taxi companies that offer child safety seats:

Sydney Baby Taxi

Use Public Transportation

Unfortunately, we didn’t know about the private taxi service until the end of our trip. So, we decided to use the public transportation system in Sydney that includes trains, buses, and ferries. The transportation system was pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.  Just like in the Metro system in Washington, DC, charges are based on distance.

To use public transportation, you’ll need to get an Opal Card, which is Sydney’s Public Transport Smartcard. The card is free if you load the minimum amount ($10 AUD or $6.85 USD) on it.  We were able to purchase our Opal Cards and add money to them at a convenience store.  Commuters have the option of paying for a day pass to ride the system all day for a set fee.  While we were Down Under, a day pass cost about $10 USD a day for every day of the week except Sundays.  The fee to ride Sydney’s transportation system all day on Sunday was roughly $1.70 USD for each of us.

Sydney Transportation Map (Courtesy of transitmap.net)

Despite our son’s grimace in this pic, the kids enjoyed riding on the train.

At the end of our trip, we decided to go out and purchase a car seat to ensure there wouldn’t be any issues with us getting to the airport for our flight home… We weren’t playin’!

Grandma with a new car seat in her cart at the Kmart in Sydney.

Takeaways for Traveling Around Australia with Kids:

Again, we are all for the transportation of children in the safest way possible.  However, we did not anticipate that we would not be able to use cabs or ride-share as transportation options because of it. So, for my fellow parents planning a trip to Australia, please plan ahead.

Also, stringent child safety rules are not just a Sydney thing. We encountered the same issue when we flew to Adelaide (in South Australia) for a side trip.

If you found this post on how to visit Australia with Kids helpful, you might also like:

How to Plan a Family Vacation

International travel checklist for families, how to apply for a us passport for kids, pin for later:.

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Adventure Family Travel

Australia Itinerary 4 Weeks with Kids

In: Australia , Blog , Itineraries , Oceania by Nicole Last Updated: June 23, 2021

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A month in Australia is a good amount of time for you to see plenty of the highlights and experience some of the best things to do in Australia. Visit Sydney, Gold Coast, Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island to name a few.

There are so many great places to see in Australia and planning a month can be overwhelming and confusing to know where to start. 

If you are looking to plan your Australia itinerary 4 weeks, you have found the right post to help you plan, decide and outline your Australia family trip. But, don’t worry hopefully after reading through this post your Australia travel plans will come together with a clearer understanding of the places to go!

For us, Australia was a much needed familiar type of culture for our family after spending 5 months in South East Asia on our 1 year of full time travel and being away from Canada for 8 months. We were getting a little homesick and Australia helped us feel at home. Oh, how I wish I could live in Aussie!

How to plan a trip to Australia

This is going to be fun, you get to be the Australia trip planner for your family, friends or that solo trip you are planning to take. Although our Australia trip was a family vacation, any of the destinations are geared towards anyone and everyone.

After reviewing the entire itinerary make some notes on which places you want to see and decide if you want longer or shorter in each of the destinations.

If you have less time like 3 weeks in Australia or 2 weeks in Australia you will just have to shorten up the time in each place and/or choose which ones you don’t want to visit as much. Not to worry, I would take any amount of time… even 1 week in Australia would be amazing :)

Please keep in mind that Australia is a very large country and almost impossible to see the entire country in 4 weeks. I am also in the mindset of not racing through the places just to say we have been there and not have enough time to really enjoy ourselves. 

The east coast travel route is a common path that many people take to travel in Australia, and this was the route we decided to take.

In my opinion, for your first visit to Australia, the east coast trail is the best Australia itinerary to start with. 

Top 7 places to visit on your 4 week Australian itinerary !

Ultimate australia itinerary 4 weeks :, 1) day 1 – 5: gold coast (brisbane, byron bay, surfers paradise, broadbeach).

The Gold Coast is located in south east Queensland (halfway up the east coast) and is a great place to start your Australia trip with kids. Depending on where you are travelling from, your family will most likely have jetlag and a few days of soaking up the sun on the beaches in the Gold Coast will probably help.

As far as the eye can see beaches line the coastline. White sand beaches, chill vibe and a few day trips from our home base in Broadbeach was just what we needed to settle into the Aussie life. 

Best Things To Do In Gold Coast

We spent one day and drove out to Byron Bay to visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse and hike around Cape Byron. Byron Bay is approximately 1 hour drive from Broadbeach so makes for a quick and easy day trip. 

We also spent one day walking along the beach and in the area of Burleigh Heads, which a very cool area. If there is one spot I would love to live this may be it!

Although we did not take part in any of the amusement or theme parks, one of the best things to do in the Gold Coast is to visit these theme parks that are scattered in the Gold Coast:

• Australia’s Sea World
• Warner Bros. Movie World
• Wet’n’Wild Waterpark
• Treetop Challenge
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

One thing we wish we would have done was to go to the Skypoint Observation deck. It would have been amazing to see the coastline from this view.

Best Places to Stay in Gold Coast

We stayed at this Apartment in Broadbeach only a few minutes walk from the beach. We didn’t have a pool or other amenities, so it all depends on what you prefer.

If you are looking for hotels in the Gold Coast area here are some current deals.

Travel Tips

• We flew into the OOL airport, some flights are cheaper flying into Gold Coast versus Sydney or Melbourne so check it out to save you some money.
• The Gold Coast can be a great central spot to use as a hub to start travelling the east coast of Australia. Depending on how much you want to do in this area your days can go by very quickly. I would suggest that if are thinking about going to any of the theme parks those will take up a day on their own, so plan your Gold Coast Itinerary around that.
• Don’t forget to have travel insurance for when you are visiting from out of the country. We use World Nomads for our insurance and highly recommend it. Really easy to get a quote! You can read our entire review of World Nomads for travel insurance here .
• Another area if you prefer a busier more happening spot to be would be in Surfers Paradise. Jamie had stayed there years before on a backpacking trip to Australia, but for our family, we preferred to stay in a quieter area. All depends on what you like.
• We rented a car for our stay to get around the Gold Coast and to drive to Fraser Island .

NOTE: We spent 5 nights here but I think we could have reduced it to fewer days, especially since we didn’t do any theme parks. But, flying the red-eye into the area we wanted a couple of days just to regroup on the beach.

2) Day 6 – 9: Fraser Island

Fraser Island is one of Australia’s east coast must-see! Fraser Island made up entirely of sand and a UNESCO site. I would highly recommend if you can squeeze this into your itinerary you will not be disappointed.  We stayed at Kingfisher Bay Resort and highly recommend this resort! They have all the amenities you’ll need for touring around Fraser Island.

You can read our guide about all the things to do on Fraser Island for more details.

Best Things To Do in Fraser Island

• Island 4WD Adventure Tour
• Lake McKenzie
• 75 Mile Beach
• Airplane ride over the island
• Whale Watching
• Wanggoolba Creek

A Fraser Island tour can usually hit many of the things to do on Fraser Island with kids! Although the price can be expensive for the day, it is well worth the value in our opinion. Here are some other tour options for Fraser Island to consider:

Best Places to Stay in Fraser Bay

We spent 2 nights at Kingfisher Bay Resort which was perfect for families. We loved this resort, set up perfect for families with cool activities for the kids in the evening and Jr. Ranger program.

There are a few other hotel options to choose from on the island including:

Best Places to Stay in Hervey Bay

We stayed the first night in Hervey Bay at the Ramada Hervey Bay . The kids loved the pool and we wanted to stay the night before to ensure we were on the first departure to Fraser Island so we had most of the day on Fraser Island. 

• Book your Fraser Island in advance and try to schedule around this for your east coast itinerary. There are a limited amount of places to stay on the island and the tours get booked up early.
• You get to Fraser Island from Hervey Bay, there is a regular Fraser Island Barge that departures throughout the day.

3) Day 10 – 13: Sunshine Coast

Our next few days were spent on the Sunshine Coast. Another area that is lined with beaches and has a much more relaxed vacation destination atmosphere over the Gold Coast. We felt like this is the spot that locals go to get away from all us tourists :)

Our highlights from Sunshine coast included hiking the Noose National Park, one of our best hikes we did in Australia! We were also on the lookout for Koala bears and trying to smell for them, but we weren’t lucky enough to spot any at this place. But, this kept the kids entertained for the entire hike.

The best place to visit in Sunshine Coast with kids has to be the Australia Zoo . Crikey, it was great! This is the ultimate zoo to visit with your kids because it teaches them about protecting the animals. The values that have about the rehabilitation of the animals provides so much for the kids to learn. It is also the home of Steve Irwin – The Crocodile Hunter! Our kids favourite was visiting the animal hospital and feeding the kangaroos. 

If hikes or zoos aren’t for you or your family, the beaches will be the next best place to visit. Lots of water activities available for you to spend the entire day at the beach.

Best Things To Do In Sunshine Coast

• Australia Zoo
• Noose National Park
• Beach activities

Best Places to Stay in Sunshine Coas t

We stayed in this apartment which was close to Noose National Park because that was one of the major things we wanted to see.

Otherwise, there are plenty of hotels in the area to choose from:

Travel Tips:

• The Australia Zoo is a full day, so plan to spend most of your time here walking around the zoo and going to live events they have in the park. 
• Bring plenty of water on your hikes, the forrest can be sheltered from the sun but the humidity can dehydrate you very quickly.

4) Day 14 – 17: Airlie Beach (Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef)

After Sunshine Coast, we continued to drive south and then caught a flight from Brisbane up to Airlie Beach which is located in northern Queensland. If we had more time we would have done the drive all the way up to Cairns, but within our month in Australia, this wasn’t going to be an option for us. 

A bucket list item – snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef ! You have to go and see the Great Barrier Reef when you are in Australia. To me, that would just be silly if you went all the way to the other side of the world and not see this massive reef that can be seen from space. It is a must-see in Australia! Hopefully, you are catching onto not missing out on this!

I got to do my first 30 minute dive with our day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. While the kids and Jamie snorkelled from the main boat. Both were spectacular experiences on one of our best moments of the year !

Another reason why we chose Airlie Beach versus flying up to Cairns was that we wanted to visit the Whitsunday Islands and walk on Whitehaven beach. We took a fun speedboat experience out for the day to these spots and was one of our best days in Australia.

Whitsunday Islands will blow your mind away on how beautiful this Australian beach is. This may be the softest sand we have ever seen in the world!

Also, wildlife is a major part of travelling with kids and Airlie beach was our first spotting of a wild kangaroo! When we landed and left the airport, we saw kangaroos in the wild jumping along the road. Its a smaller center so with that comes more wildlife spotting opportunities. 

Best Things To Do In Airlie Beach

We took a day tour of both the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The Whitsundays Ocean Rafting Tour was a full day and absolutely loved it, you can check out this page for more details. The kids loved the super-fast boat and loud music to pump them up. Not your typical boat tour!

We also took the tour for the Outer Great Barrier Reef to the ReefWorld Pontoon, check out what the boat looks like and more info here .

• Dive or Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Visit the Whitsunday Islands
• Spend the afternoon on Whitehaven beach
• Take a speed boat or sailboat through the islands

Best Places to Stay in Airlie Beach

We stayed at the BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort , you have to check out this place to stay. Our best stay in all of Australia, the kids loved the pool, waterslides, mini-golf and so much more. We stayed in a little bungalow. Loved it…. this is how Aussie’s camp – WOW! This is my one and only recommendation for where to stay in Airlie Beach.

• Plan for an extra day if you can to allow for some leeway for the ocean swells and weather. When we were there we had some big swells and had to go regardless because we only had a certain number of days. 
• Take the motion sickness pills if the boats provide them. Really people… if the captain is giving out motion sickness pill before we leave the harbour please listen to him/her to make your trip more enjoyable. We weren’t ill from the boat trips (because we took the motion sickness pills the boats provide), but many others were if you are not used to the ocean.
• The cost of the flight can be pricey, so weigh the extra cost if you are able to spare a few days on the road travelling versus flying. 
• Book your tours in advance if you can so you are not disappointed upon your arrival and things are all booked up.

NOTE: We stayed in Airlie Beach for 8 nights, this much time is not needed. Have 1 day for Great Barrier Reef and 1 day for Whitsunday, and 1 day free is the perfect amount of time. Our family also wanted to have some free days at our amazing resort we stayed at. We also met some amazing families that we still keep in contact with for Aussie.

5) Day 18 – 21: Melbourne

Melbourne is a city that is full of so much life and a melting pot of so many places from around the world. We found Melbourne to have so many familiarities and influences from around the world from the people who have immigrated to Australia. There are European touches to the buildings and architecture, Chinatown and Little Italy districts areas that are must to go see and eat at.

There is also a great vibe to Melbourne that made me love it with all their street art, a lively university city and sometimes an eastern European forward thinking atmosphere. 

Melbourne is also known for its food scene and they did not disappoint! We ate our way through Melbourne and enjoyed every minute of it. Queen Victoria market was one of our favourite spots with great food selections, coffee and atmosphere that we loved as a family. I would visit Queen Victoria market every week if I lived in Melbourne. 

Best Things to Do in Melbourne

You will have no problem finding things to do for a Melbourne 3 day itinerary. Here are some more ideas for the family:

• Queen Victoria Market
• Riding the city circle trams
• Federation Square
• Scene Worlds
• LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne
• Walk along the Yarra River
• National Gallery of Victoria
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Flinders Street Station
• Day Trip to Brighton Beach (the colourful beach huts)
• Check out the Melbourne cricket ground or go to a cricket match

Best Places to Stay in Melbourne

We stayed at the Ibis Hotel , which was a two-bedroom apartment. We really liked this area since it was close to the Queen Victoria market and fairly accessible to all the spots we wanted to go see in Melbourne. Some other hotel options for Melbourne:

• We didn’t need a car rental in Melbourne, public transportation was great.
• We rented the car for our Great Ocean Road drive from the airport we were going to fly out of, this kept the cost down since we were picking up and returning the vehicle to the same place.

6) Day 22 – 24: Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road (GOR) is one of the best drives in the world. The twists and turns that hug the south eastern coastline of Australia let you get some amazing views from the road. It’s also known as the Surf Coast Highway. 

The Great Ocean Road is 243 KM highway in Victoria, it officially starts from Torquay and goes to Allansford. We only travelled from Torquay to Port Campbell, which is the most popular route since at Port Campbell is where the Twelve Apostles rock formation is.

Here is a quick overview of the road trip to give you an idea of what you can expect in each city along the way.

Great Ocean Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: drive from melbourne to lorne.

Starting from Melbourne stop at Torquay and check out Bells Beach where the world renowned Rip Curl surf competition is held every year. Another amazing spot to stop is at Teddy’s lookout in Lorne for an up high place for everyone to have a really good look at the road below.

Day 2: Drive from Lorne to Apollo Bay

Halfway between Lorne and Apollo Bay is Kennett River, which is a well-known place to spot Koala bears in the wild. If you have kids, you know this is a highlight to see these animals in the wild. In Kennett River, look for Grey River Road by Kafe Koala or go further along Grey River Road if you want to walk to see them. This is also a good opportunity to break up the drive and have the kids stretch their legs from the drive.

Day 3: Drive from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell

Port Campbell area is where you will find the famous limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, and London Bridge rock formations. All of these spots will take a few hours to explore and check out.

On the way, we stopped at Great Otway National Park for a short hike. If you have some extra time you can also try going to see if you can spot some more koalas at the Otway Lighthouse Road.

Day 4: Drive from Port Campbell to Melbourne

If you didn’t get a good look (or it started to rain the day before like us) at the Twelve Apostles you can check out Port Campbell National Park before you drive back. It is approximately a 3 hour drive back to Melbourne but expect some slower travel along this highway. 

For more detail on all the best places to stop along the Great Ocean Road with full itinerary check out more details here .

Best Places to Stay in Lorne

We stayed at this apartment in Lorne , walking distance to the beach so we didn’t have to drive anywhere in the evening. But there are many hotels or bed & breakfast to choose from, go here for more hotel options in Lorne .

Best Places to Stay in Apollo Bay

We stayed at the Seaview Motel & Apartments , some other hotel options for Apollo Bay are here .

Best Places to Stay in Port Campbell

We stayed at the Southern Ocean Motor Inn with some other Port Campbell hotel options here that you can check out . We didn’t spend too much on accommodation since we were really just sleeping, packing and leaving the next day.

• Take your time driving TO Port Campbell. The drive on the left side of the road is the best because you are on the side closest to the ocean.
• If you are really short on time and/or want to condense this part of the trip there are GOR day trips that you can take from Melbourne. Buses that are a full long day that drives you out to Port Campbell and the Twelve Apostles with a few stops in between. You don’t need to worry about driving the road either. We preferred the slow travel of driving with the kids and taking our time in the smaller towns along the way. But, a day trip is an option if you don’t want to miss out!

7) Day 25 – 30: Sydney

Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is blessed with having ocean views forever, stunning bridges, endless waterways and architecture to line the Sydney harbour. Not to mention the most iconic building that is associated with Australia, the Sydney Opera House. 

There is no doubt that you must have Sydney on your trip around Australia. It is a big city with lots to do – the options are limitless here. Anything you want to go see or do is available. 

We spent one day walking around the Sydney Opera House , the Royal Botanical gardens and around the harbour. Lots of great views of the Sydney bridge ate at some of the cafes and wandered through the streets.

Another day we took a day trip out to Manly Beach and walked along the path, went to the beach and enjoyed a more suburban feel to Sydney.

We spent a day at Bondi Beach and watched the surfers, boogie boarders and played in the waves. We enjoyed the chill vibe of Bondi Beach and the kids loved saying that they had been to where Bondi Beach Rescue tv show has been filmed. They watched a few episodes while in Aussie! 

We also really liked the Sydney coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte. Walk all along the water with some great views.

Always great food in big cities and Sydney has some great options to choose from. Choose your cuisine of choice and search up on TripAdvisor for some best places to eat in Sydney for the most recent options.

Best Things to Do in Sydney

• Sydney Opera House
• Walk around Cirquay area
• Royal Botanical Gardens
• Sydney Bridge
• Darling Harbour
• Bondi Beach
• Sea Life Aquarium
• Taringa Zoo

Day Trips from Sydney

• Manly Beach
• Blue Mountains (we did not do this, but wish we would have)

Best Places to Stay in Sydney

We stayed in two different areas while we were in Sydney.  We first stayed at this apartment in Bondi Beach , which was great to visit the beach and relax.

We also stayed downtown, at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay, prior to our departure on our Royal Caribbean South Pacific Island cruise . Downtown was awesome for checking out things close to the harbour, easy access and all fairly close. The hotels are generally more per night versus Bondi Beach, but you get the close proximity to the harbour. 

• Consider looking into day tours that make your life easier to plan, plus usually, the cost isn’t too much more. When we were looking at the Blue Mountains day trip this is the way we would have went.
• Take the local ferry to different spots if you want to feel like a local, it’s a fun way for the kids to experience it and see the city from the water.

Places on our Next Australia Itinerary

As I mentioned before Australia is a massive country and next to impossible to see all the highlights of Australia in 4 weeks. So these were the spots that were on our list that we had to scratch off until another time. 

If you have any extra days to make it 5 weeks Australia itinerary consider the following top spots to see in Australia that weren’t covered in this above itinerary:

• Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, Northern Territory
• Alice Springs, Northern Territory
• Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
• Perth, Western Australia
• Tasmania Island

Transportation in Australia

• We rented a car for driving around Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island and the Great Ocean Road . We found in those areas we needed to have a vehicle for our family. Although there were places we could walk to we found it easiest to drive and public transportation wasn’t a cheaper option.
• Don’t forget for all you North Americans, driving is on the left side (steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle)!
• We flew most of our flights with Jetstar Airlines within Australia.
• Australian’s generally do not tip! This threw us right off when going out with locals for supper and they told us not to tip.
• We looked into the train that could take you in one direction from all the way from Cairns to Melbourne, but for us, with the cost of 4 people, it was actually about the same to fly and rent cars for the spots.

Australia Travel Tips

• Feel free to change up the order of the destinations. We flew between most of the cities because we wanted to save travel time. You could also do a road trip and drive from Cairns to Melbourne or vice versa. 

• As noted for some places, we stayed for a bit longer in some spots for certain reasons. We also were trying to plan our Australia travel around a cruise that we booked out to the South Polynesian islands of Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. Sydney Harbour has so many great cruises you can add onto if you want to go out to spots here. New Zealand, South Polynesian, Tasmania island and a few others. Maybe consider adding a 3 or 4 day cruise onto your trip :)

• School vacation days in Australia. If you are trying to plan around the school vacation days to help with getting better prices or more availability… good luck – lol. I found it very confusing to try and figure out each state’s school terms. But, for most the majority of the kids are off school for most of December and January. This is considered their summer holidays (I think – lol).

• Australia Weather Look into the weather in each of the places to find out when the best time to go to Australia is for you. We were there towards the end of February and into March. The east coast was comfortable weather for hiking, going to the beach and walking around. We happened to hit bad ocean weather up in Airlie beach at that time, but it was still warm enough for beach weather. In Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, during the time we were there, it was more light jackets or sweaters and pants for the most part. For Sydney, we had great weather, very comfortable for touring around and going to the beach too!
• States visited within the 1 month itinerary of Australia: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

• Australia is not a cheap country to travel to. It is about the same as travelling in the USA and Canada for the most part. We tried to keep to a budget and as you can tell spent our money on experiences and once in a lifetime opportunity versus theme parks. But, it just depends on what you like. We only had so much money to spend on the trip so for us spending it on snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, airplane ride over Fraser Island and a boat tour to see Whitsundays island were well worth the dollars spent.
• Data cards and phone – when we landed in Gold Coast, we bought a prepaid SIM card from the newsstand and registered online for the card. The prices weren’t too expensive for the amount of limited data that we needed. The process to register was a bit more time consuming than in other countries we visited on our world travels. I would still recommend buying an old-fashioned map though for your highway travels since data reception can be spotting in some areas.

• Wifi was available mostly everywhere including hotels, restaurants, and cafes for free.
• We found pricing of the food and drinks to be about the same as North America, but we did notice that any kind of junk food was definitely more. Fewer chips and pop for us on this trip, which is a good thing anyways!

We enjoyed travelling along the east coast itinerary and loved our month in Australia. Australia is truly an amazing county with a wide range of places to visit and experiences for families to have. We found Australia to be a very easy country to travel around with kids with no barriers.

So, if you are thinking of doing Australia for your first long term trip with your kids then this itinerary of Australia will hopefully be a good guide for you to feel more confident about booking that trip!

Are there any places that we missed on our Australia travel itinerary? Any tidbits about Aussie to share?

We travelled to Australia from February 22 – March 28.

Our kids were 5 (turned 6 in Sydney) & 8 years old.

Looking for more travel inspiration?

• Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruises : Vanuatu, New Caledonia & Loyalty Island
• Review of Explorer of the Seas Cruise Ship from Sydney
• New Zealand Itinerary 4 weeks with Kids

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Lorena says

December 30, 2020 at 5:57 pm

What a great itinerary! We live in WA and plan to do our fare share of traveling on the other side of the country so I’ll make sure to use your tips and advices! Thank you for r the great read

The Passport Kids says

January 4, 2021 at 7:07 pm

Awesome – I am so glad it was a helpful itinerary!

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21 Best Places to Visit In Australia with Kids

Australia is huge and you’ll need multiple trips to see what this country in Oceania has to offer. It’s impossible to compile the ultimate guide to Australia with kids. This post covers a selection of 21 best places to visit in Australia with kids. The list covers some of the best cities in Australia to visit and the best islands in Australia for families. In addition to that, historical and national parks are also amongst the best places to go in Australia with children.

Getting to and around Australia with kids

When booking international flights, we always use  Expedia . We also used them for our flight to Australia with kids. And we use 12Go  to book domestic flight, bus, train and transfer tickets.

Australia is a great country to road trip through by RV. And there’s also the awesome option of renting your own car for your ultimate family road trip from Perth to Darwin or along the East Coast of Australia. We always opt for  Discover Cars .

Book your rental car here

How to plan a family trip to Australia

Like I said, Australia is a relatively easy destination for families. There’s so much to offer for parents as well as kids of all ages. When thinking about traveling to Australia or when you’re already planning a family road trip to Australia my free ultimate beginners guide to planning a family road trip  might be helpful.

Best spots to visit with kids in Australia

Now without further ado, let’s dive into this list of 21 best places to visit in Australia with kids. From North to South and from East to West our contributors share the family friendly destinations you should visit when on a family vacation in Australia.

Book your tours and entrance tickets for Australia here

21 Best Places to Visit in Australia with Kids

Cities and towns.

Margaret River

Mount Gambier

Nature and National Parks

The Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)

The Blue Mountains (New South Wales)

Uluru (Northern Territory)

Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory)

The Gippsland Lakes (Victoria)

Kangaroo Island (South Australia)

Fraser Island (Queensland)

Phillip Island (Victoria)

Norfolk Island (external territory of Australia)

Tasmania (Tasmania)

Brisbane – Queensland

Contributed by Lanie from Make More Adventures

Here are your accommodation options for Brisbane

Top tours in Brisbane with kids

Sydney – new south wales.

Sydney has so much to offer for young and old that everyone in the family will have a great time in Australia’s most visited city. You’ll find lots of family friendly activities to do in Australia’s largest and oldest city. With some beautiful harbors, lush green parks and amazing beaches it’s easy to find things to do for kids of all ages.

One of the best things to do in Sydney with kids is wander around Sydney Harbour . Not only will you find world famous sights like the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge here, but this is also the place where you can hop on a ferry to explore one or more islands. The Museum of Contemporary Art is also located here, entrance is free and there’s lot to enjoy for kids ages 5 and up.

A family trip to Sydney isn’t complete without a visit to Bondi Beach . This beautiful sandy beach is a great one to spend a day at. Roll out your beach towel, build sandcastles, admire the surfers and go for a swim. Bondi Beach is buzzing with people from early morning to night. A great way to relax during your family visit to this city.

For the best views in Sydney, visit the Sydney Tower Eye . Sydney’s tallest structure and that’s why this is the place to be to admire the city from above. And an activity that most children will love.

It’s hard to write such a small piece about such an amazing and kid friendly city as Sydney. Sydney is a personal favorite of our family. It’s one of the most culturally rich cities in the world and we can’t wait for our next visit.

Read more >> 10 Things to Do In Sydney With Kids

Here are your accommodation options for Sydney

Top tours in Sydney with kids

Gold coast – queensland.

Contributed by Holly from Four Around the World

Melbourne is known as the cultural capital of Australia. But culture isn’t the only reason you should plan a family trip to Melbourne. Here are some of the top things to do in Melbourne with kids.

Let me start with a visit to a place every kid wants to visit: Legoland Discovery Centre. Check out miniature Melbourne landmarks made from Lego bricks, play with Lego in one of the many indoor playgrounds and go on rides, like Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice.

The Melbourne Museum is also great with kids. There are interactive activities to enjoy, view skeletons of dinosaurs and check out the displays filled with hundreds of bugs. For small kids there’s the Children’s Gallery, an indoor discovery playground.

A must is a trip in the City Circle Tram. It’s an old school tram like they don’t make them anymore. You can hop on for free when you remain in the Central Business District.

Visiting Melbourne was one of the highlights of our family road trip through Australia . It kind of felt like home, we felt a European vibe we didn’t encounter anywhere else in Australia. And we loved that we could enjoy food from all over the globe, every nationality can be found in Melbourne and that’s very noticeable from all the world kitchens you can enjoy here.

Read more >> 10 Things to Do In Melbourne With Kids

Here are your accommodation options in Melbourne

Top tours in Melbourne with kids

Margaret river – western australia.

Contributed by Donna from Accommodation Margaret River

Book your flight tickets here

Coral Bay – Western Australia

Contributed by Natalie & Steve from Curious Campers

When craving a city trip while in Western Australia with family, Perth is the top choice. This metropolitan city is the capital of WA and there’s lots to do for kids in Perth. Think theme parks, museums, shopping and amazing food.

We loved wandering around Kinigs Park. one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. A quiet oasis in the heart of the city with some of the best playgrounds. You can enjoy yourselves for hours here, when you combine your stay with a visit to the Botanic Gardens, also located in Kings Park. Don’t skip a visit to the DNA Tower for great views of Perth.

Our second tip is to see Perth from the water. Take a ferry ride from Elizabeth Quay or Barrack Street Jetty and enjoy the views of the city. Or take a day trip to nearby destinations like Fremantle, the Swan Valley Wine Region and Rottnest Island. Kids will definitely enjoy Rottnest so they can hang with the cutest locals in the world: quokka’s. While in Fremantle we highly recommend an educational family visit to the Fremantle Prison, built by British convicts in the 1850’s and in use until 1991.

But, back to Perth! A fun thing to do in Perth with kids is a trip to the Perth Observatory. Here you can learn about astronomy in the oldest observatory in Western Australia.

Perth is also a great starting point for a family road trip through Western Australia .

Read more >>   10 Things to Do In Western Australia with Kids

Here are your accommodation options in Perth

Top tours in Perth with kids

Broome – western australia.

Kakadu National Park – Northern Territory

If you’re in Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park is a definite must-see! Kakadu is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Where else in the world can you find Aboriginal Rock Art, six different types of terrain, watch unique Australian wildlife and swim in waterfalls, waterholes and billabongs?

There’s so much to see and do that your family can easily spend 5 days here. Let me share our family favorites with you. Start your exploration of Kakadu NP by visiting Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre. This centre is built on land owned by the Murumburr clan and is developed by the Bininj and Mungguy people. Here you can find the necessary information about local Aboriginal culture and gain understanding about the connection of the Bininj and Munnguy with Kakadu.

After absorbing this necessary information it’s time to wander around the park. Our top tip is to take a Yellow Water Cruise at sunset. Spot crocs, wallabies, and colorful birds while the sun goes down and the sky turns red.

Other amazing things to do in Kakadu with kids are swimming in a few of many waterholes, like GUnlom Falls and Maguk. And definitely check out 20.000 years old rock art at Burrungkuy and Ubirr.

Read more >> 8 Things to Do In Kakadu NP With Kids

Top tours in Kakadu NP with kids

The gippsland lakes – victoria.

Contributed by Bec and Mark from Explore Victoria Australia

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Australia with Kids

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Australia with kids. What does it have to offer? Is it worth the mammoth flight to take your kids to Australia from the US, UK, or Europe for a family holiday? If you’re already in Australia, where are the best places to take kids? What should you see in Australia and what are the practicalities of visiting Australia with kids? We talk about some of the epic, unique, and awesome things your kids can experience in Australia. Australian fun things, educational things, and, are there any negatives other than drop bears?

Travelling Australia with kids is incredibly popular, plenty of families are on the road at any given time with camping set-ups doing a “big lap”. If time is limited, what does Australia offer in terms of vacation or holiday travel and things to do with kids that are fun and uniquely Australian?

Most overseas visitors stay in hotels and resorts, so where are the best child-friendly places to stay in Australia?

A lot of your choices in organising an Australia itinerary for your family will be based on your flights. More flights arrive in Sydney, The Gold Coast and Melbourne than in places like Cairns (Far North Queensland). There simply aren’t as many direct flights into the more out-of-the-way places and internal flights in Australia are long and expensive.

So where you can fly to, will be a big consideration in planning your family vacation.

It’s common to fly to Australia via Singapore. This is a good route and if you can, have a few days stop over to see Singapore, it’s small and doesn’t take long to see. We have a guide to Singapore with kids too.

The other big consideration is what do you want to see? Do you need to see The Great Barrier Reef? In which case you’ll likely need to fly to Cairns. Do you want to see Uluru? That’s an expensive flight into the heart of Australia. For Kakadu, you’ll need to get to Darwin.

Australia is a very big country, don’t underestimate the distances involved.

Our history of travel in Australia is as follows, just so you can be sure I know my topic. In 2001 I toured The Great Southern Land as a young (ish) backpacker on my first RTW.

It was an awesome experience, camping at Uluru, taking The Ghan, diving on The Great Barrier Reef , and patting my first kangaroo.

I made 2 more trips to Australia from the UK over the next few years, after I married the Aussie Chef .

When my first child, now a teenager, was born in London he had to go and see his relatives, so I made the trip to Australia with an 11-month-old baby.

Three years later we moved to Port Douglas, Australia with our second 11 month baby plus a toddler and spent 6 glorious years living in Oz with the kids. We later took off to travel the world for 6 years, before returning and buying 5 acres of tropical paradise in Far North Queensland. My husband works as crew on a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling boat, so reef visits and marine conservation are a major area of expertise for us.

Australia is a great place for kids and for families, so here are some reasons to visit Australia with kids. Maybe even reasons to consider moving to Australia with young kids.

Australia is a great place to take kids with plenty for them to see, do, and enjoy. However, Australia is expensive, there’s no real way to make it a budget destination, but we’ll try to help.

Australia is very child-friendly but you may find long distance drives between cities difficult with kids. Also, for overseas visitors, the flight is a long one, be prepared.

The Flight to Australia with Kids

I know everybody thinks flying for 24 hours plus is tough, but honestly, it’s not so bad flying with kids.

The flight is normally broken up into manageable chunks with a change in between.

We flew to Dubai on Emirates, that’s just under 7 hours, then carried on into Sydney that first time with baby D.

These international flights are really quite comfortable for me, they feed you well and the in-flight entertainment is fantastic. I would not be happy to take a budget airline on these routes, we’ve done it, many times, on Air Asia. Air Asia are great for short flight but these longer flight are hard with no comfort.

If your child is old enough to watch movies or read, you’re good, nothing to fear on long flights.

Hotels and Accommodation in Australia With Kids

Australia has a lot of resort-style hotels, near beaches, which are great for kids. Kids clubs aren’t as common as in Asia or Europe but you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding family rooms and family-friendly hotels. What might be difficult is finding cheap family hotels or accommodation. Even Airbnb can be very expensive in Australia. We found you a few kid-friendly options below.

• Sydney . At the budget end the Sydney Central YHA has affordable family rooms and a superb location. Look here. Novotel (this chain is usually superb for families) also have a very well located Sydney property right on Darling Harbour with family rooms (the price isn’t bad!), check it out here. For a two-bedroom luxury family suite, this one fits the bill.
• Brisbane . For a family apartment, with kitchen and laundry, right in the heart of Brisbane, don’t go past this one, Macarthur Chambers. This building has a very interesting history too. The other side of the river, closer to the very kid friendly pools and playgrounds, there is Rydges South Bank, with American style family rooms. For Brisbane on a budget, there is also a YHA with family rooms. That’s pretty much as cheap as you’ll get and they have private quad rooms.

Australian Wildlife and Nature Parks Kids Will Love

You really can see kangaroos, cockatoos, galahs, possums, crocodiles and wallabies wild.

You’ll see them from your car, from the train, even in suburbia. I’ve been lucky enough to see wombats, echidnas, dingos and cassowaries on the road, too.

If time is short and the children want to get up close and personal with Australia’s fauna, there are wildlife parks and local zoos everywhere.

My personal favourite is the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, my children used to go every week and never got tired of hand feeding the wallabies and lorikeets (top picture).

You will find wildlife parks like this all over Australia, plus there are several zoos that also have petting areas for native animals.

Taronga Zoo in Sydney, New South Wales, is a good one, as is Australia Zoo near Brisbane, Queensland.

Swimming and Snorkelling in Australia With Kids

Australia is famous for beaches and surfing. and has miles and miles of glorious coastline. You will likely stay near a beach in Australia with your children.

Sydney has Bondi, plus some less famous beaches, The Gold Coast has miles of sand and surf, but usable beaches stretch all the way up the East Coast to Port Douglas in FNQ.

North of there the crocodiles get too bothersome.

The west coast, around Perth and further north also has swimming beaches.

But is it safe to swim on the beaches in Australia? Big surf can be dangerous for anyone, particularly kids.

There are sharks, jellyfish and various other marine creatures to worry about. In the north there are crocodiles. There are also lifeguards, netted swimming enclosures, shark protection devices and hundreds of other people swimming in the sea at any given time.

I’m not going to guarantee safety but my kids survived just fine.

The Great Barrier Reef is a must-see for many people and fleets of boats take visitors out to the marine park pretty much daily.

A big storm can cancel trips, but you can visit The Great Barrier Reef with kids year-round.

I’m not suggesting you take the kids scuba diving (my kids scuba dive, they had to wait until they were 12), but even young children can enjoy a day on the  Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

They can snorkel and use flotation devices such as lifejackets and pool noodles, as can adults. You do not have to be a great swimmer to see the Great Barrier Reef for yourself.

My boys truly started snorkelling at 6 and 8 years old, but I know kids who started younger. Before that we still went, the big reef operators have mini-subs and underwater viewing areas that are great for kids. The boys would splash about on the sidelines and watch the huge maori wrasse coming for food.

A day on the GBR really is a day like no other.

Aboriginal Culture and History For Kids in Australia

I really think children should find out about Australia’s history and the incredible culture of the Aboriginal people.

If you can’t make it out to Uluru, which would be my choice, there are plenty of places to meet Aboriginal people and learn about their world.

Everything from the didgeridoo players at Sydney’s Circular Quay to ancient cave paintings, guided cultural walks and Aboriginal Culture Parks.

We had a wonderful day at Tjapukai , a culture park just outside Cairns, learning about dance, music, weapons and medicines. This park has now closed sadly, but nearby there are opportunities to interact with Australia’s original inhabitants through Dreamtime Tours at Mossman Gorge, part of The Daintree Rainforest.

Australian Museums, Zoos and Aquariums for Kids

As part of your Sydney itinerary , don’t miss Taronga Zoo.  Taking the ferry from Circular Quay across the harbour is an iconic trip. The water sparkles beneath the Harbour Bridge and you can see dolphins sometimes.

The zoo itself is excellent and has the best view of any zoo in the world, right across the harbour to the CBD. You’ll find Australian wildlife along with the usual zoo animals.

Canberra has Questacon , the National Science and Technology centre. It’s a full, hands-on day for curious little scientists.

Townsville , Perth, Sydney and now Cairns, have excellent aquariums, sorry if I missed out your favourite, these are the ones I know and highly recommend.

As you travel around the country you’ll find smaller, more quirky museums, like  Herberton Historical Village  on the Atherton Tablelands or the Old Melbourne Gaol.  Ned Kelly was executed there.

There are still plenty of unique tourist attractions, restaurants, and sites to see aside from the smaller museums of Melbourne. If Melbourne seems like a place that you want to check out, then by all means you should try to visit at least once in your life. And it’s a great place to take the family, too!

Just Google museums and attractions for whatever part of Australia you’re visiting, there are some fascinating places to visit.

Australian Beaches with Kids

There are 11,011 beaches, in total in Australia.

Seek out the quiet calm beaches for smaller children, Australia can have some pretty powerful sea conditions.

Port Douglas ‘s Four Mile Beach is sandy, gently sloping and calm and has a stinger net for the summer months .

You could check out iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney and see if you can spot the Bondi Rescue crew. Or head to The Gold Coast for Surfers Paradise.

There is a beach for every age group and every activity in Australia.

Swimming Pools and Water Parks for Kids in Australia

Australia does water attractions really well. In Far North Queensland, where we have a few issues with stingers and crocodiles , there are plenty of places to take the kids for a swim or a splash around, best of all, they’re free.

Try The Lagoon or Muddies Playground in Cairns or the Esplanade in Townsville.

If you’re looking for big water parks, The Gold Coast has Whitewater World and Wet ‘n Wild. Perth has at least ten water parks, you’ll find them dotted all over the country.

What to Pack for Australia With Kids

A wide-brimmed sun hat is essential for your kids at any time of year. We have incredibly strong UV Downunder and you need to protect your children’s skin and stop them from getting heat stroke.

Most kids in Australia wear long-sleeved, long leg swim gear in Australia, it protects them from the sun and any possible jellyfish.

My son recently had heat stroke while wearing a hat on a beach conservation project. Keep your kids in the shade as much as you can.

Waterproof shoes, Crocs, or Flip Flops (thongs) are a good idea because your feet are likely to get wet. Also, bring comfortable shoes that you can walk in.

In winter don’t underestimate how cold southern and central Australia can get (winter being northern hemisphere summer, of course). Australian homes have aircon, but good heating is rare.

You’re very likely to be cold indoors down south. A good fleece should be all you need unless you are heading to the ski slopes.

Wet season in the tropical north can bring torrential downpours but it’s very rare that we wear a waterproof jacket, it’s too hot. Skin is waterproof.

This is where waterproof footwear is essential.

Also don’t underestimate how hot Australia can get in summer. The heat may force you to take part in activities early or late, full afternoon sun can be too much.

Bring whatever clothes you and your kids feel comfortable in. I wear jeans and running tights, others prefer shorts and dresses. It’s really up to you. There’s no pressure to be “dressed up” in Australia but some establishments have dress rules, for instance, no baseball caps, no shirtless men, no singlets (vests) for men and no bare feet.

Yes, Australians do go barefoot in the supermarket sometimes, and on the street.

Swim shorts are common for women, as are bikinis. A long-sleeved rashie (rash vest or swim shirt) to keep the sun off is a very good idea.

Bucket List of Things To Do in Australia With Kids

You won’t be able to fit all of these into your vacation, but here are some of the best things to do in Australia with kids and for families:

• Pat a kangaroo, cuddle a koala.
• Learn to surf.
• Snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.
• See as many of Australia’s “Big Things” as possible.
• Go to Bondi Beach and see the guys from Bondi Rescue.
• Go camping in the bush and admire the Milky Way.
• Swim with wild dolphins
• Visit Australia’s Gold Coast theme parks.
• See wild crocodiles and visit a crocodile show.
• Visit Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin’s legacy to all kids.
• Visit Questacon Science Museum in Canberra.
• Visit a sheep station and see shearing.
• Attend one of Australia’s iconic local “shows”.
• Play the didgeridoo and throw a boomerang.
• Pan for gold.
• Walk in the world’s oldest rainforest. (The Daintree Rainforest )

There are many more things to do in Australia that kids would love, what would you add?

Australia With Kids – Practicalities

Australian English is spoken in Australia, it has similarities with both American English and British English.

The currency in Australia is the Australian dollar. Australian money is waterproof, which is handy at the beach.

The American dollar is not accepted in Australia although American visitors do tip in US dollars sometimes, these notes then have to be exchanged for Australian currency.

Tipping is not expected, as it is in the US, but it’s nice to reward good food and service where you receive it. Tips are normally split fairly between all staff at the restaurant, it’s not for the server. The chefs deserve praise too!

Don’t forget a power adaptor or two for Australia, electrical sockets are different. This is an international adapter for Australian sockets.

Food in Australia for Kids

Australian cuisine is very Western, expect all the usual burgers, fries, pizzas, salads and ice creams.

A few unique Australian dishes may include local wildlife like kangaroo, crocodile, camel and emu.

You can dine in Australian pubs with kids, in restaurants, cafes and bakeries.

Australia is famous for the Aussie meat pie, and these come in many flavours. It’s traditional to put a dollop of ketchup on the top.

Australia is also very fond of barramundi (Asian sea bass) and reef fish like coral trout and snapper.

Prawns (they’re not shrimp) are often served cooked (boiled or steamed) and cold, with mayo of some kind.

My kids’ favourite foods in Australia are chicken parmie and fish and chips. Alcoholic beverages are only for big kids over 18 in Australia.

Do try some Australian grass-fed beef, it’s good. I’ve also just been told that Tasmania is the only place where they produce grass-fed wagyu beef.

You can also find Indian food, Thai, Mexican, Vietnamese, and just about any country’s cuisine, represented in Australia.

More Reasons to Love Australia for Kids

How am I doing? Is that enough reasons?

Do I need to mention the climate, you’ll always find somewhere that’s just the right temperature for you.

You can enjoy just about any sport or activity you like, including skiing, or sample the incredible food and wines Australia produces.

The children should enjoy Australia’s chocolate, tropical fruits and dairy products, some of them will enjoy the fantastic seafood.

Camping is immensely popular, in a tent or a mobile home, facilities are great. You can even find free camping and public gas barbecues are everywhere, often in the many kids’ playgrounds.

I hope I’ve convinced you, go on, take your kids to Australia, click “like” if you want to go! Want more info on Australia with kids – head to our main Australia Travel Blog page and start planning your itinerary and figuring out the logistics. If you haven’t booked flights yet, open our Skyscanner post here and use our tips to find the best route. Also, ask me anything in the comments, I’m here to help you organise your dream family trip to Australia.

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Alyson Long

Our laos budget. we’re spending $40/day, sort of.., vang vieng, laos with kids, 29 thoughts on “australia with kids”.

Australia was one of my favorite trips! When we travel as a family, I love to find engaging books for the kids to read before and during the trip.

That’s something we always did when they were small, too. I have my own list and collection! As they get older we dive into history and culture, more adult topics, but we live in Australia so we reached full immersion!

Hey Alyson,

Your arktickles are so great! They are helping me a lot to organize and have a courage to travel the world with our three kids 😉 we are planning a trip to Australia, we will travel in campervan but i am little bit nervous of all the wilde side of Australia ( of cours snakes, spiders, scorpions 😬🫣)do You have any advice for traveling safety with kids around this beautiful country? Thx a lot! Mirka

HI Mirka, well we live with them, so yes! My biggest fear in a camper van would be the heat though. Don’t even think of being in the hot parts in summer. We’ve done Far North Queensland in a camper van in February – don’t even think about it! So now we live in the countryside on 5 acres, we see A LOT of snakes. Mostly tree snakes and pythons arnd they are totally harmless to us really. Although we’ve had pythons take guinea fowl and even adult geese. In cities and busy camp sites you’re very unlikely to see one at all. We do have taipans and eastern browns in our area, but I’ve only seen one or two on the road, not on our land, ever. But we just try to remember there always could be a snake if we have to go anywhere overgrown or not on the lawn, sort of thing. Now I’m an arachnaphobe, I really hate spiders. I’ve seen two huntsman spiders in Australia – EVER! The spiders in the UK are way, way, worse. I think because we have a lot of chickens, they take care of them for us, but in and around cities people use surface spray and get their homes treated so that the spiders just die. We don’t have redbacks up here, they do down south, but I’ve never seen one. There are scorpions, but again, you never see them. The only time I’ve seen scorpions is when we go out in the dark with a blue light and shine it around rocky walls with cracks, they’ll be in the cracks and they glow in the dark. We do have various tarantulas, I’ve seen 2, both times cats had got them. Be aware there could be crocodiles in any body of water up north. They say to keep 10m from the edge of rivers etc. And also be aware of marine stingers. Drop bears aren’t real. And while you’re not going into overgrown / bush areas because of snakes, you’ll also be avoiding gympie gympie, stinging plant. We do have a post called stinging plant and other dangers of Queensland on here somewhere. We’ve had gympie gympie on our farm, it’s quite common on rainforest areas. We take campers here sometimes, give us a shout when you’re up this way. Personally I just supervised the heck out of my kids for their own safety. Ticks can also be a problem, and leaches. On the whole though, we very rarely even think about any of those things, but I totally get why you’re worrying because I used to be the same. Once you’re here and see for yourself you’ll be good. I do make my husband check public bathrooms in bush – like areas for spiders before I’ll go in though 🙂 And always keep all doors and windows closed. Windows have screens here, so you can open them for air and not let anything unwanted in. You’ll see lots of people and kids barefoot, that’s something I’d never do.

I would like to visit Australia with my kids . my kids re very young , pls where can we visit nd av much fun

Well it depends what your kids find fun. Do they like beaches, would they like to meet Australian wildlife? Are you more interested in attractions like theme parks? Sydney, The Gold Coast, Cairns or north Queensland for snorkelling on the reef.

Hey, Alyson What a fantastic Post! This is so chock full of useful information, most concise step-by-step guide, I was looking for some places around Australia, and your blog really helped me. Thanks for sharing the information.

Glad to be helpful. Thanks.

We have set the goal of visiting in March 2020. Our twin boys will have just turned 5. Travelling from England seems a bit daunting – we will have 4 weeks. We love taking our children on holiday with us – its amazing how much they remember…. I’m conscious of wanting to see and do so much – but not wanting to rush the kids around so they dont have time to just be – and enjoy. Being in England, i need to get my head around how long it will take and the best ways to travel from one place to the next in Australia. Do you have any recommendations for sites or companies who can help with planning. Its been such a huge dream for me – i really want to make sure i get it as right as i possible can for our family. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom.

No, but what do you want to see in 4 weeks? In 3 months we only did the East Coast, Uluru ad the famous train journeys up the middle, how far do you plan to get? I’d say that in 4 weeks…presuming you’re flying into Sydney, you’d want maybe 4 days in Sydney, then what? will you fly? Or are you planning on bus / train / hired vehicle? These are the sort of posts I’m working towards creating now, as we’re actually based up in Queensland again for a while. You managed to find a very old post!

Well… Google found the post for me – and I’m greatful for that. I’d love to take a train, and travel in an RV, camping for a little bit, if that’s possible. We want to do Sydney but thinking of flying to Perth as we have a friend there. Apart from that we love nature, culture and beaches. I’ve only just started the journey to research exactly what and how so all suggestions greatly received. Many Thanks….

Would you take a tent or prefer to hire a camper van? If you had your tent would you need a hire car ?

I would defiantly prefer a camper van – I love the idea of driving and stopping at different places and staying wherever you want to. But in England your not allowed to just park and camp anywhere so I’m not sure if that’s possible. Also not sure on dear laws for the kids ext…. so much to look into.

Dear laws? You can’t just park anywhere, it’s against the law, but there are free camps and some people just do it anyway and get away with it. But I know the cops here in Port check because we’ve historically had a big problem with this around town.

Oops.. sorry. Car Seat laws for chilren. Good to know camper vanning isn’t like in the movies – lol. Same as the UK.

They’re pretty tight. We brought our UK car seats over and used those, or you can hire one with the car. You’d need to check weights and heights.

Yes, Australia is the best place for the kids, also it has some amazing local playground which is best for the kids to play in free time

I want to bring the kids to visit Brisbane.. any suggestion to plan to routes.. First time trying to worldschool the kids

Sorry Fancy, I don’t know Brisbane well at all, we lived in Far North Queensland and only went to Brisbane for the airport usually.

It will be better that i wont teach anyone math 🙂 maybe hebrew

Plus we are super-friendly, amazing people!

Yes, I should have mentioned, because Ingrid will crack open a bottle of bubbles and cook you dinner if you turn up on her doorstep with your kids. And teach them maths.

I think you forgot one BIG reason-the oz people! I traveled in Australia many years ago and i promised to come back with my family.hopefully it will happen soon LOVE AUSTRALIA

Wish I had taken them years ago. My daughter went before we did and loved it especially Sydney. I ache to go back with the now grown up kids. 🙂 We fell in love with Melbourne. If I went with kids I would take them out of school for a year and they would learn more in a year there than they would at school.

What a wonderful comment Coral! I’m all for taking kids out of school, mine love their freedom and their way of learning.

Ok I’m sold 🙂 We’re going.

Glad to hear it Sarah! Take plenty of sunblock and watch out for drop bears.

Australia is a great country in many aspects, culture, beer, history, landscape and not least cricket. So would love to visit Australia with my kids. The under sea life something that my kids would like.

I forgot to mention cricket! I have to say, I’m not a fan of Australian beers at all Shalu, I’ll get in trouble for saying that. Thanks for commenting and I just followed you on FB and Twitter, India is very special to me, we’ll be there next year.

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Hellfire Bay, Esperance, Western Australia © Tourism Australia

The best family road trips in Australia

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Pack up the car – and the kids – for a road trip they’ll never forget.

By Leah Dobihal

With wild dolphins and white-sand beaches, this New South Wales road trip is as picturesque as they come. All ages will no doubt be mesmerised as you curl your way down the South Coast from Sydney , but frequent stops at beach towns make this a great road trip with toddlers in tow. Little ones can spot kangaroos grazing near the beach and eat their fill of local fudge and ice cream.

Family road tripping on the South Coast

Touring a dazzling coastline and looping back through bush-edged hinterland towns, this New South Wales South Coast itinerary has a little something for every family member – even the furry ones.

Read time • 5min

One of Australia’s most picturesque road trips, a drive through Queensland’s Sunshine Coast offers nature and wildlife in abundance. Think walk-through aviaries, vast wildlife parks and easy walks to waterfalls. The kids will love climbing in shallow rock pools, spotting koalas in the treetops and trying their luck at surfing, while parents will appreciate the region’s relaxed feel.

Sunshine Coast: 8-day family road trip holiday

Home to some of Australia’s best beaches and a hinterland full of hidden gems, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast offers families the perfect driving escape.

Read time • 6min

In Victoria , the Grampians National Park is a natural playground for all ages. It’s not just beautiful hikes and dazzling waterfalls on offer here; families can explore the waterways by kayak, play with dingoes and even rock climb along tall cliffs from the safety of a harness. With so much adventure and wildlife to discover, this is the perfect road trip for young families.

6-day Grampians National Park family itinerary

From hiking to horse riding and hand-feeding kangaroos, the Grampians National Park in Victoria offers up adventure, scenery and wildlife in abundance. It all makes for a jam-packed – but fun – six-day road trip perfect for the family.

With its jaw-dropping scenery and aquatic activities, the route from Perth to Esperance is perfect for school-aged kids and teens alike. There’s nothing like splashing around in Esperance’s aqua waters, but beyond the beaches, you’ll find grand national parks and quirky attractions – like a full-size replica of Stonehenge. Plus, your kids will never forget sharing a sandy stretch of coastline with sunbathing kangaroos.

From Perth: A 10-day trip of colourful attractions

Pink lakes, black flowers and bright yellow moonscapes: Western Australia might be best known for its gorgeous beaches, but this trip will have you seeing the whole rainbow.

Read time • 11min

The perfect combination of city and country, a trip from Adelaide to the rugged Eyre Peninsula is a true adventure for families. The childhood memories on offer are second to none. Imagine playful sea lions swimming around your snorkel, or descending in a cage to admire great white sharks in their natural habitat. When you’re not coming face to face with wildlife, take it easy with fish and chips on the beach and days spent exploring the outback.

9-day family road trip from Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula

Get the best of city and country on this family friendly road trip full of tasty treats, thrilling underwater adventures and untamed coastal scenery.

Read time • 8min

Ready to take the road less travelled? Perfect for adventurous families, a trip through Tasmania’s west offers the chance to unplug from smartphones and lose yourself in the region’s epic nature. Hike through Cradle Mountain National Park , have a blast on a white water rafting trip and marvel at misty waterfalls. You likely won’t have Wi-Fi for Instagram, but you’ll have plenty of incredible photos for your personal collection.

Four days in Tasmania’s north-west

https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/things-to-do/itineraries/ww-4-days-in-the-north-west/

Wild crocodiles, freshwater swimming holes and spear throwing lessons – it’s enough to keep even the most active families entertained. A road trip through Kakadu National Park is ideal for older kids and teens who can enjoy the full array of Kakadu activities. This national park boasts an enticing mix of ancient culture and breathtaking billabongs just begging to be explored. Easy access from Darwin makes this a dream family holiday.

Ultimate 6-day Kakadu family road trip

A family adventure to the spectacular Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory will not only amaze, but also teach invaluable lessons and create ever-lasting memories, too.

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Last Updated on July 1, 2019

Travel Australia With Kids

If we can travel Australia, you can too! Everyday Aussie families are hitting the road to spend quality time together to travel our amazing country, we’re here to help you do the same.

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From The Blog

Stories from the road, inspiration for changing your life to have more freedom, great places to visit and explore… We’re currently re-designing our site, but you can still find some of our blog posts right here… Enjoy!

Life After Travelling Around Australia

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It's been a ridiculously long time since I've posted anything here. Truthfully, I've thought about closing this travel blog down many times, but the wanderer in me hates the thought of it disappearing altogether. Every time I go to delete it from the internet, I...

The Best Travel Gifts For Kids & Teens

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There is so much excitement for kids who are heading off to travel, and often friends and family want to buy farewell gifts for kids or their parents to send them off. What many people don't realise though, is that space is really limited for travelling families, and...

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We're really blessed with so much variety available for Australian holidays with options available for beach side fun to dry deserts, but one of my favourite things to do when travelling is to visit our National Parks. Obviously because we are travelling Australia...

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We are an everyday Aussie family, just like yours. We’re not rich, we don’t come from money, nobody handed us a magic ticket, but… we may have been just a little bit crazy!

We decided that time spent together meant more to us than ‘stuff’ we owned, and so we sold most of our possessions and set off to explore Australia. 

We also decided that if we could do it, anyone could do it, and we wanted to inspire people to have the time of their lives and explore Australia together. It’s more than just the scenery, it’s all about togetherness!

Now we’re on the next part of our life journey, settled back down, living on our dream acres… But we can honestly say, travelling together was THE most amazing thing we’ve done as a family, and we’re here, still updating this site so that we can help you and your family hit the road and experience the magic that we did.

No trip is perfect, no experience is the same, but EVERY moment on the road is worth it!

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Travelling with children.

This page is for Australian parents and children travelling overseas.

Read this page to learn about:

• what to do before you travel
• children travelling without one or both parents
• child custody
• international child abduction

What to do before you travel

• Read the  travel advice for your destinations  and  subscribe for updates . Also read about your transit locations.
• Buy  travel insurance  that covers your whole family. Read the fine print and know what it covers.
• Look online for tips on travelling with kids in the country you're going to.
• Leave an itinerary with someone at home. Plan to keep in contact.

Local laws and culture

Research the local laws and culture where you're going. They may differ from what you're used to in Australia.

• Check the safety standards of any equipment you'll use. This includes pools, balconies, car seats, cots and play equipment.
• Find out local attitudes towards breastfeeding in public.
• Learn the laws around disciplining children. In some countries, physical punishment is illegal, including smacking.

Research any childcare you plan to use overseas. Standards in other countries may vary.

• the accreditation of providers
• the provider's child abuse prevention plans
• how they screen their staff, including police checks and qualifications
• the ratio of staff to children
• staff training, including first aid and emergency processes
• security on the premises
• their injury liability insurance.

Staying healthy

Take your children to a doctor or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave.

• Get a basic health check-up.
• Ask if your travel plans may affect their health.
• Plan any  vaccinations  they need.
• Find out if there are common health risks for kids where you'll travel.

Check if your child's medicine is legal where you're going. For example, some countries control or ban ADHD medicines.

Some over-the-counter medicines are also banned overseas.

• Check the 'health' section of  your destination's travel advice .
• Talk to the  embassy or consulate of that country .

See our advice on  taking care of your health . And read  more about travelling with medication .

Children travelling without one or both parents

There are laws around children travelling without both parents. Airlines also have rules you must follow.

Travelling with only one parent

You may need extra documents if only one parent is travelling. Particularly if you don't have the same surname as your child.

For example, you may need:

• proof of the other parent or guardian's consent for the child to travel
• proof of any custody agreements
• proof of guardianship
• adoption papers
• a certified copy of their birth certificate. Particularly if it doesn't list the travelling parent.

Travelling without parents

Most airlines have rules for children under 15 who travel alone. You may need to fill out a permission form. Contact your airline for details, including in-flight protocols for kids travelling alone.

The country your child travels to may also have forms you must complete. Contact the  embassy or consulate of the country they're going to . Find out if there are entry rules for children before they travel.

Child travel consent

Your child may need a consent letter if they travel:

• with someone who isn't their parent or guardian, such as a school group or grandparent.

The letter usually states:

• the child's name, gender and place and date of birth
• who the child is with
• where the child is going
• the child's passport information.

The letter should be signed by the parents and  witnessed by a public official .

Child custody

Before taking your child overseas, you must get consent from anyone with parental responsibility for them. Or get a court order to let them travel. You may be breaking the law if you don't.

Many countries recognise Australian parenting orders. Some will not.

Read  more about international family law and children  (Attorney-General's Department).

Child support payments

Your child support payments must be up-to-date before you can leave Australia. Services Australia can stop you from leaving if they aren't. If you have overdue child support and haven't made a payment plan:

• call 131 272 to discuss your options
• visit  the Services Australia website .

Dual nationality and child custody

Some countries don't recognise  dual nationality . This can affect how local authorities make custody decisions.

Get legal advice before travelling with children who may be dual nationals.

Stop orders on women and children

In some countries, husbands or relatives can place a 'stop order' on women and children. A stop order can stop a person from leaving the country, regardless of nationality.

Contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate if you or your child are being stopped from returning to Australia.

International child abduction

If you think someone may try to take your child out of Australia without your consent, report it. Get legal advice, they can help you:

• get a court order to register your children on the Australian Federal Police's  Family Law Watchlist
• submit a Child Alert Request with the  Australian Passport Office .

Learn more about  international child abduction  (Attorney-General's Department).

Help from the Attorney-General's Department

The Attorney-General's Department may be able to help if someone has taken your child overseas without your consent.

Contact the International Family Law Section:

• 1800 100 480 (within Australia)
• +61 2 6141 3100 (from overseas)
• [email protected]  

The help they can give you depends on where your child is taken.

Help from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

If someone has taken your child while you're overseas, contact the  Consular Emergency Centre .

DFAT can give:

• a list of local lawyers
• information on local child welfare agencies or organisations
• consular help to the parent who is left behind.

You may also find a lawyer overseas through:

• International Academy of Family Lawyers
• Find out more about buying travel insurance .
• Check which vaccinations you should get .
• See our advice for  pregnancy ,  adoption  and  surrogacy  overseas.
• Carry-on luggage restrictions  (Department of Home Affairs)
• Separated parents  (Services Australia)

Related content

Read more about the legislative protections designed to prevent child sex offences abroad.

In many countries age, gender and sexual preferences can pose challenges. Understanding the culture and laws in your destination will help things go smoothly.

If you're pregnant and planning to travel overseas, research your destination before you go. Being informed about the risks will help you manage them.

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Little tracks & co.

Travel Journal for Kids

Keeping young minds moving

At Little Tracks & Co we believe that experiences are the most significant gift you can give your children as part of their development. We have a strong passion for travel and adventure and believe it’s important for families to share this with each other. We aim to ensure that children are capturing the most of their adventures and that is why we created the Travel Journal for Kids.

10 weeks worth of journal pages allowing lots of room for you kids to write their daily entries with questions to prompt their writing, details, memories, how they feel, locate where they are and so much more!  

Many pages to encourage critical thinking while travelling. Teaching them to broaden their learnings and think about what they are seeing and learning while travelling Australia

Activities to keep the kids occupied, including games and  colouring in as well as many hours of fun to pre-occupy your little one while on long trips.

It's a journal for keeping your little one’s outdoor adventures together and encouraging life experiences

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.

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Australia has a food allergy crisis impacting 10 per cent of infants, but critical research is underway

When Rupert Hastings first tried peanut butter at just six months old he reacted almost instantly.

Within 20 seconds, he had hives all over his face, which spread to his body. Then his eyes and lips started to swell.

"My friend's a nurse and I messaged her pictures of Rupert's reaction. She said I'd probably take him to hospital, so that's what we did," Rupert's mother, Emily says.

"It was scary."

Now, Rupert is 15 months old and is severely allergic to peanuts and egg, and mildly allergic to Brazil nuts and sunflower seeds. 

Emily says the journey has been "incredibly hard".

"We found the information hard to gather and then decipher what was the best course for Rupert and we still don't know what the best course of action is," she says.

They had been seeing an allergist in Brisbane, but are now travelling 1,000km to Sydney to see a specialist in oral immunotherapy. 

It's a treatment for allergies, not currently approved in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

"But reading through all the research papers and speaking to some other families who have had really great results on it, I think it's something that we definitely need to explore," Emily says.

"That's something that we have to weigh up as his parents.

"Do we strictly avoid the allergy and the peanut, and he lives his life for the rest of time with an Epipen, constantly avoiding 'may contain' or anything that has peanuts in it?

"Or do we try something and in the process risk anaphylactic reactions, but potentially desensitise him to peanuts so that he has a freer life?"

'We've got a big problem'

Allergic disease is one of Australia’s greatest public health challenges, with one in 10 children developing a proven food allergy in their first year of life.

The most common in the first twelve months is egg, but generally it is outgrown by six years old.

However, three quarters of those with an allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and seafood carry the allergy into adulthood.

According to data released to the ABC, the number of children being admitted to hospital with anaphylaxis is also rising.

In Queensland alone, there was a more than 300 per cent increase in the number of children between 0-17 years who were admitted to hospital with anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock due to adverse food reaction in the past decade to the 2022/2023 financial year.

Queensland Health says it is unclear whether this reflects a true increase in allergy prevalence or improvements in awareness, diagnosis, and healthcare practices in the past 10 years.

However, national figures from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care also reflect a rise in emergency presentations for anaphylaxis — 51 per cent in the five years to 2019/2020.

But there is still a lack of specialist services available to families, and the Australian Department of Health says the only approved treatment available for severe food allergies is adrenaline in emergencies.

The current advice is still strict avoidance of the allergens. For families like the Hastings, it means constantly being on edge.

"It's always on our mind, we have to watch what we eat if we go out to restaurants," Emily says.

"And obviously, we have to pack an Epipen for him wherever we go, so it's something that you can't forget about.

"I'm now back at work, and that's something to consider when he's not in my care — about what can potentially go wrong.

"All those things that you think about normally as a parent, it's then heightened by the fact that this is something that is severe.

"You think about allergies and you think, 'Oh yeah, that would be hard', but until you're faced with it, and it's your own child's life, it's a whole different ball game."

Paediatric immunologist and allergist Dr Jane Peake says Australia is known to be the “allergy capital of the world”.

“We've got a big problem in Australia,” she says.

“There’s still a lot of work to do, but I do think that there’s a lot of inroads starting to happen.”

In Queensland, the only public paediatric multidisciplinary specialist immunology and allergy clinic is at the Queensland Children’s hospital.

In 2023, QPIAS Specialists saw almost 7,000 patients from across the state — 1,595 of them were new patients.

Riley Bloomfield has been travelling from Rockhampton with his mum Nicole for years to see Dr Peake — first for a dust mite allergy, and now for dairy and beef.

"We’d have to come back to Brisbane every six months while he was undergoing that desensitisation [for dust mites] and that lasted three to four years," Nicole says.

"It’s definitely made a difference to his day-to-day life, just for that dust mite allergy.  To get rid of that at least has been huge, and that’s all thanks to the clinic here."

Dr Peake says work is underway to educate and upskill general practitioners, paediatricians, nurses, pharmacists and dieticians, to help manage mild allergies, or allergy concerns across the country. 

"We do need more allergists and immunologists in Australia and there is a number of doctors in training," Dr Peake says.

"[But] we need to continue to look at how we make best use of our time and so we're always looking at new ways of managing patients.

"One of the positive things that came out of COVID is the fact that we can now do a lot of telehealth consultations. So we're often doing that with patients for the first time, particularly if they live in rural or remote areas."

Inquiry recognised Australia's allergy problem

The exact cause in the rise of Australia's food allergy is still unknown.

Placed under the spotlight in a 2019 bipartisan parliamentary inquiry, 24 recommendations were made to address the critical need for a national action plan.

In 2022, federal government funding saw the establishment of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) and the National Allergy Council.

The NACE, now the country's peak allergy research body, will help accelerate research and streamline the start-up of clinical trials across the country.

The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, which hosts the NACE, has become the lead site for several allergy trials, and Professor Kirsten Perrett is the principal investigator on eight.

"For the first time we have an Australian allergy research body, bringing together experts in drug, food, insect and respiratory allergic disease to address this national critical problem," Professor Perrett says.

"This is a critical step forward in our fight against all aspects of allergic disease.

"The clinical trials network helps to give Australian families faster access to emerging treatment options, many of which are already under investigation overseas."

Fifteen-year-old Ted Wardle is taking part in one of the multi-centre national trials called Aravax, which is investigating a novel immunotherapy injection.

He's struggled with a peanut allergy from birth, and says it impacts his daily life.

"If I'm hanging out with my friends I always have to double check what I'm about to eat or sometimes I won't be able to eat the same things that my friends will have," he says.

"It's always a presence… I've got to be careful, I've got to check what I'm about to eat.

"[Otherwise] I get rashes, my throat can close up, I get really itchy – I could die."

The trial is currently looking for four to 11 year olds in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia.

The injection aims to retrain the immune system to tolerate peanut allergens and reduce the risk of severe reactions. 

At MCRI and Queensland Children's Hospital, another peanut trial is underway using a drug patch, VITESSE.

"Which has been very promising," Dr Jane Peake says. 

"That was in young children aged one to three. We're now enrolling patients from four to seven."

It works by exposing a small amount of peanut protein via the skin, designed to desensitise a person through repeated exposures.

The trial is currently recruiting four to seven year olds in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. 

'People are looking for that holy grail'

Researchers hope with ongoing support from the Australian government, community and industry partners, they can keep the "momentum going".

"To change the trajectory of allergic disease in Australia, it’s going to take a collaborative approach," Professor Perrett says. 

Dr Peake says people often look at Australia as being very "conservative" in the way it manages allergies.

"I think that's because we do seem to have allergies in the more severe end of the spectrum," she says.

"But more importantly, I think we're really very keen to be sure that we're doing safe evidence-based care."

Dr Peake says it isn't a "one size fits all".

"And I think we have to be really careful to select the right patients for any treatment option, and to consider always the pros and the cons of those treatments," she says.

"I think we have a lot of people looking for that holy grail, the cure of their child's allergies, and I think that that's still probably a little bit elusive."

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