5 Queensland Family Holiday Destinations

Where to go:

You can’t holiday in Cairns without visiting the Great Barrier Reef. An outer reef cruise is a firm favourite amongst tweens and teens, while families with younger children will have a blast at Green or Fitzroy Island. For a taste of the rainforest, catch the Kuranda Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda Village, which is packed with family-friendly attractions, including heritage markets, a koala garden, riverboat rides and a butterfly sanctuary.

Where to stay:

Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns is an excellent option, with three swimming pools, two tennis courts and specially designed family rooms. Families seeking luxury will love Crystalbrook Riley, which spoils with lively dining and a sprawling 1000 sqm pool, fringed by a manmade beach.

Where to eat:

It doesn’t get more family-friendly than Muddy’s Café, which is perfectly positioned right on the Esplanade, within Cairns’ largest playground and waterpark. Another popular choice is Wharf One Café, whose menu suits all taste buds, with a dedicated section to ‘Little People’s’ food and drinks.

Where to go:

No family holiday to the Gold Coast is complete without a visit to its iconic theme parks. Trust that the little ones will love meeting their favourite characters, while bigger kids will have a blast braving the thrill rides! Awe-inspiring animal moments await at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Sea World, and you can’t go past a day at the beach – Tallebudgera Creek is perfect for families, thanks to its clear, gentle waters.

Where to stay:

Australia’s only theme park resort, Sea World Resort, offers the ultimate family-friendly stay, with a water park, character meet-and-greets and six restaurants and bars all onsite. For those wanting to stay amongst the bustle of Surfers Paradise, voco Gold Coast is a superb choice, thanks to its spacious, interconnecting room options and convenient onsite dining.

Where to eat:

A surf club feed is a Gold Coast must-do, and Mermaid Beach Surf Club is particularly good for families, with an indoor playground allowing little ones to run free while mum and dad dine oceanfront. For fresh-made pastries, all-day brunch and excellent coffee, Custard Canteen is the ideal pitstop before hitting the sands of Tallebudgera Creek.

Where to go:

World-famous Whitehaven Beach offers a fantastic family day out. Sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef, the calm waters provide safe swimming conditions, while the soft silica sands are perfect for sandcastle building. Back on the mainland, Airlie Beach Lagoon is the ideal spot to cool off from the tropical sun, plus it’s surrounded by playgrounds, barbecue areas and grassy sunbathing spots.

Where to stay:

Daydream Island Resort abounds in kid-friendly amenities, like water sports, sparkling swimming pools, rainforest treks and a dedicated kid’s club, plus the unique Living Reef, brimming with over 100 species of sea creatures. Reef View Hotel is another popular choice, as it provides access all that Hamilton Island has to offer, including beach sports, tennis courts, mini golf, bowling, go-kart racing, ATV tours, a wildlife park and more.

Where to eat:

With kids eat free offers at both Daydream and Hamilton Island, you can trust that you’ll have plenty of options for a family-friendly feed. The Pool Terrace at Reef View Hotel serves lunchtime snacks and a la carte evening meals, while Daydream Island’s Graze Restaurant offers the perfect start to the day, with breakfast overlooking the Living Reef lagoon.

Where to go:

It’s not a Sunshine Coast holiday without some serious beach time. Noosa Main Beach and Mooloolaba Beach are favourites amongst families, while Coolum offers the perfect conditions for surf lessons. Australia Zoo is another family must-do on the Sunshine Coast, where the kids can get up close to over 1,200 incredible animals, including tigers, elephants, cheetahs, kangaroos and, of course, crocodiles!

Where to stay:

Coco Mooloolaba is a great choice for families of all sizes, offering convenient self-contained apartments, all just moments from restaurants, cafes, shops and the beach. For a resort-style experience, Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort is teeming with amenities, including a swimming pool, golf club, aqua park and all-day restaurant and bar.

Where to eat:

When it comes to breakfast bites, it doesn’t get much better than The Velo Project in Mooloolaba, with a dedicated kids menu of crepes, toasties and smoothies, plus a shaded area out back packed with toys and cubbies. Meanwhile, Noosa Boathouse is the perfect sunset picnic spot – simply grab a family fish and chips pack from the takeaway window and find a spot along the sandy riverbank.

Where to go:

Brisbane is famously home to Bluey’s World, a once-of-a-kind experience that immerses you in the playful world of the beloved character. Then, catch the CityCat to the cultural hub of Southbank and allow the kids’ to ignite their imagination in Queensland Museum’s SparkLab, an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths space, before cooling off at Streets Beach.

Where to stay:

Mercure Brisbane Spring Hill boasts a central city location, within easy distance of Brisbane’s best shopping, dining and entertainment. Every room comes complete with a balcony, plus the hotel boasts convenient amenities, like an outdoor pool, fitness centre and restaurant.

Where to eat:

After a dip in Streets Beach, head to the neighbouring Southbeach, a coastal-inspired eatery where every kids meal comes with ice cream. And no family holiday to Brisbane is complete without hitting up the iconic Eat Street Northshore, a lively night market with over 70 vendors to choose from – even the fussiest eater will find something to love here.