seaworld

Overview

Australia is what you would a family friendly country. In other words, the people are super friendly and everyone is made to feel welcome wherever they are from. Even better is that we have some of the most beautiful coast in the world. The miles and miles of beaches will bring smiles and smiles for a lifetime. Read on to see where my best 3 coastal holidays destination are for families!

QUEENSLAND

Below are my top Queensland holiday spots for families.

1. Gold Coast

Probably the most popular family destination in Australia. But look beyond the theme parks of Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet n Wild and MovieWorld to explore the hinterland as well as the magnificent beaches.

I recommend staying in an apartment where you cater for yourselves but I also suggest trying some of the great family friendly restaurants dotted all throughout the coast.

If you don't have transport I recommend getting a hire car as the buses and train services are not as good as Australia's capital cities.

Take he kids shopping to Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre as well as Harbour Town only 15 mins from the Gold Coast.

2. Sunshine Coast

Less crowded than the Gold Coast the Sunshine Coast is a big win for families. Of course the big attraction is Australia Zoo. The kids will love the bird and crocodile shows and there are loads of animals to get up and close personal with. The Zoo is constantly getting updated and is a far cry from the the Reptile Park days. Steve and Terri Irwin have poured millions of dollars into the park and it really worth spending the whole day there!

Probably the most family friendly place on the Sunshine Coast is Caloundra. Great protected water and beaches of the Pumicestone Passage Marine Park, and fun water activities at Kings Beach makes this a winner with kids.

Surrounding the Sunshine Coast are family attractions such as Aussie World and the leaning Ettamogah Pub, The Big Pineapple, the Ginger Factory, Underwater World at Mooloolooba and Montville in the hinterland.

TRAVELER TIP Avoid driving to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane on a Friday afternoon, the traffic is a nightmare.

3. Far North Tropical Queensland

26km of beautiful beaches just north of Cairns gets far north Queensland on the list. Visit Yorkeys Knob, Machans, Trinity, Holloways and Ellis beaches, or Palm Cove, which is absolutely charming with its panoramic beachfront, flanked by chic boutiques, colourful galleries and classy coffee shops.

Port Douglas famous with the rich is worth exploring with the kids for a few hours. Probably the pick though is taking the scenic railway from Cairns to Kuranda and spending the day exploring the markets. The kids will love the stuffed cane toads on display or taken them to the bat sanctuary. Then get the skyrail back down to Cairns.

Not to be outdone is the Cairns Esplanade lagoon. Millions of dollars have been spent on this family and the kids will love splashing about in this picturesque setting.

Perhaps book a mini bus tour for day trip up to Mossman gorge and the Daintree. You might just see crocodiles in the wild....don't tip the boat!

Highly recommended is a trip out to Green Island for some snorkelling fun...

Cairns is a 24 hours drive from Brisbane or a 2 hour flight. Cairns itself has an international airport and takes flights from brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.

NEW SOUTH WALES

1. Sydney

Not really considered a family holiday destination Sydney has loads of attractions for kids. Get a ferry from Circular Quay over to Taronga Zoo. Spend the day at Bondi Beach or Manly which is home to Oceanworld. Why not take the kids to the Powerhouse Museum. Climb the AMP tower building (used to be called Centrepoint) to get a birdseye 360 degree view of the city.

2. Northern NSW

Top 10 things to do:

Visit Timbertown, a heritage village at Wauchope.
Take the Yamba-Iluka ferry to the whale-watching platform on Bluff Beach, Iluka.
Visit the Pet Porpoise Pool at Coffs Harbour.
Do a night tour to see koalas at Pine Creek National Park near Coffs Harbour.
Take the Everglades Waterbus Tour in Port Macquarie.
Brave the Skywalk in Dorrigo National Park.
Have a choc-coated banana at the Big Banana after you do all the rides.
Try go-kart racing at the Raleigh International Raceway.
Paint the breakwater at Nambucca - it's legal!

3. Port Macquarie and surrounds

Port Macquarie, is about four hours north of Sydney on the New South Wales North Coast.

About halfway between Sydney and Brisbane Port Macquarie offers a top spot for families of all sizes.

There are no less than 15 beaches, long winding rivers, rainforests, breathtaking mountains, and a very friendly year long climate.

You could try:- horse riding, cycling, sailing, cruising, wind surfing, paragliding, waterskiing, kart racing, and tennis.

Why not take a Camel rides on Lighthouse beach.

Cuddle a koala at the Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park, do some dolphin spotting on the Hastings and Camden Haven Rivers, whale watch, relax on a Barbecue Boat or get some blood pumping by hiring a jet ski.

Take a river cruise, cast a line from any number of local "spots" or enjoy a swim or walk at one of the many beaches.

Top family beaches: Shelly Beach, Dunbogan's Pilot Beach, and the beach inlet at Lake Cathie are more protected and ideal for young children and so is Settlement Point with its river frontage, play area and barbecues.

So there you have my top 3 Australian East Coast destinations for families. I trust you found this information helpful for your next holiday and I hope he kids will never say "I'm bored!"

Visit : seaworld Beach holidays