
Get exclusive travel offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
If your kids (or you) are likely to go stir-crazy staying at home the duration of the school holidays, or if you feel a family getaway is on the cards, these are the domestic locations that offer family-friendly activities to please all. Plus, our favourite sites to find a deal on your next holiday.
A visit to the Cairns and Tropical North Queensland is a fundamental part of any Aussie childhood. From snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to a day trip through the Daintree, it's an eye-opening experience that offers endless fun. It's warm year-round, so is perfect for any of the school breaks.
It's not called paradise without good reason. The sun and surf at the Gold Coast's Surfers Paradise could be classified as "pristine". It has plenty of theme parks in one space, with Dreamworld, WhiteWater World, Sea World, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild available to keep kids entertained all holiday long.
Coffs Harbour is right up there with other coastal holiday escapes for families from Sydney or Brisbane searching for a fun road trip. Naturally, you can fly into Coffs as well. The kids can encounter sea lions and dolphins at the marine park and spend their days playing along the beach.
Kangaroo Island is a short flight from Adelaide or a short and scenic ferry from Cape Jervis. You'll find everything paradise is expected to inhabit, from resplendent vistas, native wildlife and powder soft sands. Exploration by quad bike or boat is a must, as is marine-life watching.
Browse hotels Compare flights to the Kangaroo Island
Tip: If travelling as a whole family, it may be cheaper to fly into Adelaide and transfer to Kangaroo Island by ferry.
Canberra offers a laid back, quiet city break with more than a dash of culture and education attached. Visit the War Memorial, Parliament House, National Gallery and Questacon, and then take a foodie break at the Old Bus Depot markets while you wait for your Brodburgers to fry. Canberra is also a good gateway to get to ski resorts like Thredbo and Perisher during the winter months.
If you're heading to Western Australia, or planning to explore your own backyard, a definite contender for family-friendly adventure is Rottnest Island. Teeming with marine life and water activities, kids can splash around at on one of 65 pristine beaches if the weather is warm enough, or hop in a kayak and paddle about from sun up to sun down.
Head inland for a historical and cultural adventure through Kakadu National Park. Start in Darwin and make your way down to explore the unique landscape. It's hot all year round in the Top End, so to cool down, make a well-deserved pit stop at Leanyer Water Park.
Head to the big city over the school holidays and visit Australia's most popular icons. There are always child-friendly activities in Sydney throughout the school holiday periods, be it the Easter Show or Cool Yule during winter.
Rent a car or campervan and drive around Tassie. Hobart is the ideal starting point, as the city offers a more vibrant atmosphere than Launceston and features the Salamanca Markets and spooky ghost tours. Venture further to see Port Arthur and hike through the lush bushland of Cradle Mountain, Freycinet National Park and Tahune Forest.
Family snow and ski holidays are best had at one of Australia's most popular ski resorts. On top of Jindabyne, Perisher and Thredbo, Mount Hotham is a child-friendly resort ideal for anyone coming in from Melbourne. Family activities occur all year round, with the DP Tube Park being a hot favourite with the kids during Easter.
You don't have to travel halfway across the world for a snow and ski holiday. Australia offers numerous ski resorts, the most popular being Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek.
Snow season in Australia is fairly short, beginning around early June and closing off late September/early October. Book your holiday early and you can cash in on early bird ski lift and hire discounts. If you're looking for deals on packages and stays, check out our ski deals roundup.
Sand is practically synonymous with summer, so you shouldn't overlook a family getaway to one of Australia's many enviable beaches.
The east coast of the country offers more than its fair share, with stretches of sand from the Gold Coast and Cairns in Queensland to the Central Coast and Bondi Beach in New South Wales.
Head to the other side of the country for Rottnest Island and Eighty Mile Beach in WA, or travel south for Glenelg in South Australia and the Bay of Fires in Tasmania.
As you can tell from our top holiday destinations list above, Australians are spoiled for choice when it comes to beach breaks. Now it's up to you to decide which one you'll visit during the school holidays.
Hoping to take the family away during school holidays? Check when they are in your state here.
A name that should be on every budget savvy parents' radar, Groupon is a daily deals website that sells it all - from household goods to holidays - and all at a bargain price.
Holiday packages come and go on the site - so keep your eyes peeled because big discounts for large parties are plentiful.
Practically a household name, Flight Centre is one of Australia's biggest travel agencies. What we love about it is that he has a special "family holidays" section online with discounted breaks during those peak school holiday periods.
100% Australian owned and based, TravelOnline understands Australians and their family's needs with holiday packages to suit every budget and family size. Many of its holiday packages include resort beach-blessed locations in or near Australia, such as Hamilton Island, Fiji, Bali and Vanuatu.
Thinking of changing up the usual fly-and-stay holiday this year and taking the family for an adventure? We've put together some of our favourite road trip itineraries with details on where to stay and what to see along the way.
Up to 15% off Mighty Campers rentals with code
Ends
Available on rentals from 10 January - 25 March 2021. Destinations include Brisbane, Cairns, Perth and Sydney. T&Cs apply.
Up to 40% car hires + an extra up to $50 off with code
Ends
Available on Express Deals on all rental dates across Australia, including Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 30% off experiences + Extra 5% off with code
Ends
Available for use on select travel dates and experiences. Activities include hot air ballooning, admission tickets and more. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 10% off Hotel Express Deals
Ends
Available on stays from 1 June - 30 September 2021 across Australia, including Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Melbourne and more. Maximum discount of $50. T&Cs apply.
$20 off Hotel Express Deals with code
Ends
Available on stays from 25 January - 1 March 2021 when you spend a minimum of $150. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 50% off solo travellers
Ends
Available on tours when you select My Own Room. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, USA, Vietnam, Iceland and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to $40 off skydiving with code
Get $40 off per person when you book for 8 or more. Destinations include Sydney, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Cairns, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
Gold Coast: 3-day pass with unlimited entry from $147
Ends
Available for use on select travel dates. Sample price is for entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild. T&Cs apply.
Up to 25% off worldwide trips + $99 deposits
Ends
Available on select travel dates from 2021-2023. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Croatia, London, USA and more. T&Cs apply.
Get $20 merchandise voucher
Receive a $20 merchandise voucher when you book for a skydive in Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 50% off Valentine's Day gift ideas
Ends
Available on select dates across Australia, including Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Hunter Valley, Brisbane and Sydney. Activities include getaways, sightseeing cruises, hot air balloon flights, exotic car rides, dining, spas and more. T&Cs apply.
Australia family holidays from $50
Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Perth, Noosa, Blue Mountains and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 23% off Australia flight experiences
Available on select travel dates on hot air balloon flights, scenic flights, aerobatic flights and more. Destinations include Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Sydney, Whitsundays, Gold Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 12% off Australia sightseeing tours
Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and more. T&Cs apply.
24% off hot air ballooning in Gold Coast
Ends
Available for use on select travel dates. Includes vineyard champagne breakfast and hotel transfers. T&Cs apply.
Australia skydiving experiences from $279
Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Yarra Valley, Perth, Melbourne, Uluru and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 40% off Australia resort getaways
Available on select stay dates until December 2021. Destinations include Cairns and Port Douglas. T&Cs apply.
Australia-wide flights from $65 return
Ends
Available on select flights in 2021 to Sydney, Hobart, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia and Qantas. T&Cs apply.
Australia hotels from $37 per night
Available on select travel dates to Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Darwin, Perth and more. Sample fare is for a stay in Sydney. T&Cs apply.
2+ nights Australia getaways with flights from $200
Available on select travel dates to Gold Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and more.
10% off skydiving in Great Ocean Road
Ends
Available for use on select travel dates. Includes up to 15,000 ft tandem skydive, safety equipment and free roundtrip transfers from Southbank to Great Ocean Road skydive centre. T&Cs apply.
Sydney: 20% Off Madame Tussauds entry
Ends
Available for use on select travel dates. Sample price is for entry to Madame Tussauds Sydney entry ticket. T&Cs apply.
Up to 70% off worldwide getaways
Ends
Available on stays until 30 April 2021. Destinations include Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bali, USA, Singapore, Peru and more. T&Cs apply.
Extra $50 off Queensland getaways
Ends
Plus get up to 19% off stays from 6 January - 30 June 2021 when you spend a minimum of $250. Destinations include Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Townsville and more. Exclusive for Trip.com members. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.
Brisbane car hire from $32
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations from Brisbane include Gold Coast, Moreton Island, Sunshine Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
Melbourne car hire from $31
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Budget and more. T&Cs apply.
Sydney car hire from $37
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Budget and more. T&Cs apply.
Cairns car hire from $32
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Cairns include Palm Cove, Mareeba and more. T&Cs apply.
Perth car hire from $34
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Perth include South Perth, Subiaco, Yokine and more. T&Cs apply.
Hobart car hire from $34
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. Destinations close from Hobart include Port Arthur, Tasmania and more. T&Cs apply.
Adelaide car hire from $26
Ends
Valid for travel on select dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Sixt, Europcar and more. T&Cs apply.
Up to 15% off Australia tours
Ends
Available for travel until 15 April 2021 to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Darwin, Uluru, Cairns, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
Qantas flights from $111 each way
Ends
Available on select travel dates until December 2021 to Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Up to 15% off with code
Ends
Available on select rental dates across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Northern Territory activities from $36 + and extra $10 off with code
Available on select dates when you buy 2 or more vouchers. Activities include sightseeing tours, zoo and wildlife experience, spas, sailings, hot air balloon flights and scenic flights. T&Cs apply.
Australia: Romantic getaways from $150 + an extra 10% off with code
Available on select travel dates when you buy 2 or more vouchers. Destinations include Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Cairns, Yarra Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Dining experiences at home from $32 + an extra $10 off with code
Available on select dates when you buy 2 or more on experiences including wine tasting, cheese making, and cocktail making. T&Cs apply.
Up to 20% off Apollo campervan hires
Ends
Available on select rental dates across Australia. T&Cs apply.
Up to 28% off Australia-wide staycations
Ends
Available on select stay dates in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns and more. T&Cs apply.
2 days free on Let's Go campervan rentals
Ends
Available on select travel dates across Australia. Minimum rental nights may apply. T&Cs apply.
Today's best Finder Daily deals include: 50% off car essentials at Catch, half-price meat thermometers, eBay Plus tech sale.
We compared hundreds of customer reviews and found the five best carpet shampooers you can buy online in Australia.
These are the six best bike lights you can buy in Australia right now.
These are the best PS4 headsets you can get your hands on right now in Australia.
These are the 7 best toys you can buy for 1-year-olds in Australia.
From the best overall face moisturiser for dry skin to the best body moisturiser, hand moisturiser and tinted moisturiser for dry skin, these are the best 7 moisturisers for dry skin you can buy in Australia right now.
These are the six best laptops for students available to buy in Australia for a range of users and categories.
These are the 6 best French door fridges you can buy right now in Australia.
These are the 6 best Ukuleles you can buy right now in Australia.
These are the seven best white sneakers in Australia right now.