Paddle sessions, sandcastle building, surf shops, cool cafes and beach houses make Gerringong, on the https://www.australiantraveller.com/nsw/south-coast/ the perfect antidote to an intense year.Camping is popular but we suggest you book one of the state’s newest boutique properties, https://www.thepause.com.au/ The luxury five-bedroom house features a pool and outdoor fireplace. Parents will love the pared-back coastal styling, too.

There are plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained in https://www.australiantraveller.com/act/canberra/. Visit the National Arboretum Canberra’s https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/visit/pod-playground, a fantastical world where children are encouraged to climb through giant acorns connected by rope tunnels. Then there is the https://reptilesinc.com.au/ https://nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/, http://www.powerkarts.com.au/, and long-time favourite https://www.questacon.edu.au/.Hotels are aplenty but if you want to wow the family stay at http://www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au/.

Hire a car or RV in Melbourne and hit the https://www.australiantraveller.com/vic/great-ocean-road, stopping in Aireys Inlet, Lorne and at the lightstation, where you can climb to the top ofhttps://www.lightstation.com/Not only will you get to experience one of Australia’s most beautiful stretches of coastline (including the https://www.australiantraveller.com/vic/great-ocean-road/twelve-apostles-explained/) and surf at some of the famous breaks, but you’ll be able to offer moral and financial support to locals.Stay at https://alkinalodge.com.au/, a stunning Wattle Hill property designed with sustainability in mind.

Make a beeline to the https://www.australiantraveller.com/tas/east-coast/bay-of-fires/bay-of-fires-many-moods-and-hues/ on https://www.australiantraveller.com/tas/east-coast/ It’s a must-see destination, with pristine beaches dotted with boulders dressed in orange lichen.Days are spent beachcombing, swimming and fishing, and the conservation area is best enjoyed while sleeping in a tent or a motorhome. If you love the idea of camping but don’t have the gear or seek something slightly sturdier, check out https://bayoffiresecohut.com/.

Teens will enjoy checking out the surf shops, hitting up the impressive local skate park and tasting their way around https://www.margaretriverfarmersmarket.com.au/. Toddlers will love the Rotary Park playground near the town centre, and the fabulous timber playground beside Yallingup Beach. Our pick of the world-renowned beaches is Yallingup, with its calm rock pools for little kids, open water for swimmers and reef break for surfers. When it comes to bedding down, don’t go past https://www.smithsbeachresort.com.au/.

Base yourself at https://www.australiantraveller.com/nt/darwin/ Waterfront, where you’ll find several cafes and restaurants, a shaded playground, a sandy netted harbour beach, plenty of picnic spots and a wave pool.Two free spots to cool down at are Leanyer Recreation Park and Palmerston Water Park.It’s also only an hour’s drive to https://www.australiantraveller.com/nt/the-litchfield-guide-you-need-to-read/, which is worth a day trip. You can stay at the waterfront but family rooms are limited, so our pick is DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade.

You won’t be short on activities in the hinterland.Challenge your tweens to a turn on the 180-metre zipline at https://www.australiantraveller.com/qld/gold-coast/100-incredible-travel-secrets-42-oreillys-rainforest-retreat-qld/, before joining a ranger on a wildlife encounter or setting out on a self-guided bushwalk to a waterfall and hidden swimming hole. The retreat, in https://www.australiantraveller.com/qld/gold-coast/gday-australia-six-reasons-to-get-up-to-lamington-national-park/, has plenty of room options, plus camping. Another fun family outing is an excursion to https://www.thunderbirdpark.com/ on Tamborine Mountain.