Family Holidays Australian East Coast

Overviewthe kids will love splashing about in this picturesque
Australia is what you would a family friendly country.setting.
In other words, the people are super friendly andPerhaps book a mini bus tour for day trip up to
everyone is made to feel welcome wherever theyMossman gorge and the Daintree. You might just see
are from. Even better is that we have some of thecrocodiles in the wild....don't tip the boat!
most beautiful coast in the world. The miles and milesHighly recommended is a trip out to Green Island for
of beaches will bring smiles and smiles for a lifetime.some snorkelling fun...
Read on to see where my best 3 coastal holidaysCairns is a 24 hours drive from Brisbane or a 2 hour
destination are for families!flight. Cairns itself has an international airport and
QUEENSLANDtakes flights from brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.
Below are my top Queensland holiday spots forNEW SOUTH WALES
families.1. Sydney
1. Gold CoastNot really considered a family holiday destination
Probably the most popular family destination inSydney has loads of attractions for kids. Get a ferry
Australia. But look beyond the theme parks offrom Circular Quay over to Taronga Zoo. Spend the
Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet n Wild and MovieWorldday at Bondi Beach or Manly which is home to
to explore the hinterland as well as the magnificentOceanworld. Why not take the kids to the
beaches.Powerhouse Museum. Climb the AMP tower building
I recommend staying in an apartment where you(used to be called Centrepoint) to get a birdseye 360
cater for yourselves but I also suggest trying somedegree view of the city.
of the great family friendly restaurants dotted all2. Northern NSW
throughout the coast.Top 10 things to do:
If you don't have transport I recommend getting a- Visit Timbertown, a heritage village at Wauchope.
hire car as the buses and train services are not as- Take the Yamba-Iluka ferry to the whale-watching
good as Australia's capital cities.platform on Bluff Beach, Iluka.
Take he kids shopping to Pacific Fair, Robina Town- Visit the Pet Porpoise Pool at Coffs Harbour.
Centre as well as Harbour Town only 15 mins from- Do a night tour to see koalas at Pine Creek National
the Gold Coast.Park near Coffs Harbour.
2. Sunshine Coast- Take the Everglades Waterbus Tour in Port
Less crowded than the Gold Coast the SunshineMacquarie.
Coast is a big win for families. Of course the big- Brave the Skywalk in Dorrigo National Park.
attraction is Australia Zoo. The kids will love the bird- Have a choc-coated banana at the Big Banana after
and crocodile shows and there are loads of animalsyou do all the rides.
to get up and close personal with. The Zoo is- Try go-kart racing at the Raleigh International
constantly getting updated and is a far cry from theRaceway.
the Reptile Park days. Steve and Terri Irwin have- Paint the breakwater at Nambucca - it's legal!
poured millions of dollars into the park and it really3. Port Macquarie and surrounds
worth spending the whole day there!Port Macquarie, is about four hours north of Sydney
Probably the most family friendly place on theon the New South Wales North Coast.
Sunshine Coast is Caloundra. Great protected waterAbout halfway between Sydney and Brisbane Port
and beaches of the Pumicestone Passage MarineMacquarie offers a top spot for families of all sizes.
Park, and fun water activities at Kings Beach makesThere are no less than 15 beaches, long winding
this a winner with kids.rivers, rainforests, breathtaking mountains, and a
Surrounding the Sunshine Coast are family attractionsvery friendly year long climate.
such as Aussie World and the leaning Ettamogah Pub,You could try:- horse riding, cycling, sailing, cruising,
The Big Pineapple, the Ginger Factory, Underwaterwind surfing, paragliding, waterskiing, kart racing, and
World at Mooloolooba and Montville in the hinterland.tennis.
TRAVELER TIP Avoid driving to the Sunshine CoastWhy not take a Camel rides on Lighthouse beach.
from Brisbane on a Friday afternoon, the traffic is aCuddle a koala at the Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park,
nightmare.do some dolphin spotting on the Hastings and
3. Far North Tropical QueenslandCamden Haven Rivers, whale watch, relax on a
26km of beautiful beaches just north of Cairns getsBarbecue Boat or get some blood pumping by hiring a
far north Queensland on the list. Visit Yorkeys Knob,jet ski.
Machans, Trinity, Holloways and Ellis beaches, or PalmTake a river cruise, cast a line from any number of
Cove, which is absolutely charming with its panoramiclocal "spots" or enjoy a swim or walk at one of the
beachfront, flanked by chic boutiques, colourfulmany beaches.
galleries and classy coffee shops.Top family beaches: Shelly Beach, Dunbogan's Pilot
Port Douglas famous with the rich is worth exploringBeach, and the beach inlet at Lake Cathie are more
with the kids for a few hours. Probably the pickprotected and ideal for young children and so is
though is taking the scenic railway from Cairns toSettlement Point with its river frontage, play area
Kuranda and spending the day exploring the markets.and barbecues.
The kids will love the stuffed cane toads on displaySo there you have my top 3 Australian East Coast
or taken them to the bat sanctuary. Then get thedestinations for families. I trust you found this
skyrail back down to Cairns.information helpful for your next holiday and I hope
Not to be outdone is the Cairns Esplanade lagoon.he kids will never say "I'm bored!
Millions of dollars have been spent on this family and