Family Friendly Things to Do in Australia

Australia is a very large country. So large that it could take you months to explore and see everything on your to-do list. Thankfully, you can easily divide Australia into its different states and create your itinerary accordingly. This will ensure you can see the area and attractions higher up on your list in the time you have available. To help get you started with family friendly things to do in Australia, I have created a list of a few of my favorite family activities.

Family Friendly Things to Do in Australia

New South Wales

The bustling city of Sydney is located in New South Wales, Australia. Therefore, you know there must be a ton of family friendly things to do in this part of the country. One of the top family activities in New South Wales is spending the day at Bondi Beach. Swimming in the ocean is fun. But if you don’t want to dip your toes in with all the marine life, you can choose to swim in the Bondi Icebergs Ocean pool instead.

If snow is part of your family’s favorite activities, then planning your trip during ski season in Australia is a must. The Snowy Mountains are perfect for skiing and snowboarding. Just don’t expect as much snow as you would see on the slopes in Colorado.

Ferry rides are an excellent way to relax while seeing the sights. There are multiple routes that leave from Circular Quay. You can choose just one or all of them during your vacation in Australia. And non-relaxing days can include a little bushwalking in the Blue Mountains. There are plenty of trails to choose from in this region. My favorites include the Great Round Walk, Cliff Top Walking Track, and the National Pass. Of course, if you really want an adventure with your family, the multi-day Six Foot Track is always an option.

The most thrilling adventure in Sydney though is climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A climb to the top of the bridge offers panoramic views you won’t be able to see from anywhere else.

Other New South Wales family friendly things to do include:

• Check Out the Whitest Sand Ever at Hyams Beach
• Go Whale Watching
• Catch a Wave or Two at Byron Bay
• Conquer the Waterslides at Jamberoo Action Park
• Visit the Dolphins at the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park
• Ride the Train at Macadamia Castle
• Explore the Jenolan Caves Within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

Queensland

One of the favorite family friendly things to do in Queensland is swim or snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef. This massive reef is home to thousands of marine life species like dolphins, sharks, and turtles. If you want to see this majestic sight without getting wet, I recommend taking a glass bottom boat ride.

More animals can be seen at Australia Zoo, or the other zoos in Queensland. Australia Zoo was made famous by Steve Irwin. It is one of the best places to see crocodiles in the country. However, you must spend an entire day here and take the time to walk around to see all the animals in their natural habitats.

Most kids love dark and creepy spaces, so you may want to add Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park to your list of family friendly things to do. There are more than five hundred caves to see within this national park. However, the caves that are always at the top of my list include Wullumba and Mungana. And if you are not a fan of caves, you may prefer to hike the trails at Carnarvon Gorge National Park.

Other Queensland family friendly things to do include:

• Ride Over Big Red
• See the Gorgeous Views from the SkyPoint Observation Deck
• Wander Amongst the Dinosaurs at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs
• Explore the Capricorn Caves
• Scuba Dive to See the Tangalooma Wrecks
• Ride the Steam Train on the Kuranda Scenic Railway
• Ride Above the Trees on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

South Australia

Hopping into a 4WD vehicle and driving through the Flinders Ranges is a fun way to spend a day with family in South Australia. As you drive around, you can stop at the numerous lookouts to see the spectacular views. A couple of the best lookouts include Station Hill, Razorback, and Wilpena Pound. Make sure you grab some food at any of the local pubs you spot along the way. All the driving will make you hungry!

A visit to the Gorge Wildlife Park will have you cuddling a koala, dodging crocodiles, and feeding meerkats before the day is over. One of your kids may even decide they want to hold a snake during a reptile encounter.

Going back in time is easy when your family decides to ride on the historic Cockle Train. This train dates back to 1887. The ride along the coast will have you wondering how the landscape has changed over the years. And if you aren’t into train rides, you can always take the Horse Drawn Tram over to Granite Island.

Other South Australia family friendly things to do include:

• Walk Through the Tranquil Adelaide Botanic Gardens
• Take a Tour of Haigh’s Chocolates
• Grab Some Local Foods at the Adelaide Central Markets
• Check Out the Waterfalls at Morialta Conservation Park
• Watch the Dolphins at the Whyalla Marina
• Watch the Sunset at Hummock Hill
• Explore Kangaroo Island

Tasmania

At the top of my list of family friendly things to do in Tasmania is Tasmazia. This miniature village will have your kids feeling really big. The model village contains numerous games. You can easily wander along the Village of Lower Crackpot, as you make a few memories together. But it is the eight mazes that will pique the interest of your entire family. The Yellow Brick Road Maze is a favorite amongst past visitors.

Checking out the Doo Shacks in Doo Town will have your kids, and maybe even you, doubled over laughing! One of the residents decided to name his shack ‘Doo I’ back in the 1930s and the quirky idea caught on with other residents. Today, you can drive around Doo Town and take pictures of shacks called ‘Toucan Doo’, ‘Make Doo’, ‘Dr Doolittle’, and ‘Doo Drop In’.

Your kids will also love riding the West Coast Wilderness Railway when you are on vacation in Australia. This train ride is as close to a ride on Hogwarts Express as your child will get. There are half and full day tours, so you can choose the one that works best for your vacation schedule.

Other Tasmania family friendly things to do include:

• Take a Selfie with a Penguin at Penguin Point
• See a Tasmanian Devil at Night on the Road or at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
• Hike the Trails of Mount Wellington
• Be Adventurous on the Tahune Air Walk
• Explore the Hastings Caves
• Take a Dip in the Hastings Thermal Springs
• Take a Cruise on the Pieman River to see the Gumboot Tree

Victoria

One of the highlights of taking a vacation in the Victoria area of Australia is visiting Phillip Island. This island is approximately one hour from Melbourne. More than forty different species of wildlife live on the island. One of the favorite family activities on Phillip Island is watching the Penguin Parade. The VIP area is the best place to sit and watch the parade, because you can see the penguins as they are walking under the viewing platform.

Panning for gold at Sovereign Hill is another activity your kids will love, especially if they actually find gold! Other family activities include walking into the underground gold mine and going on a horse and carriage ride.

You can’t take a vacation in Australia and not visit at least one theme park. Gumbuya Park is a favorite in Victoria. The rides within the theme park will have your heart racing, as will the waterslides in the water park. However, your heart will melt as you feed the kangaroos in the fauna section of this park.

Other Victoria family friendly things to do include:

• Explore Kryal Castle
• Go On Safari at Werribee Open Range Zoo
• Ride on the Portland Cable Trams

Western Australia

One of the best areas to visit in Western Australia is Yanchep National Park. There are approximately four hundred caves within this national park, but only one of them is open to the public. A guided tour of Crystal Cave takes about forty-five minutes. You can walk through the cave on your own, but the tour provides so much more information. Before you leave the park, you must wander along the Koala Boardwalk. This is a great place to spot koalas in the trees.

Over in Karijini National Park, you can hike the trails or check out the views from Oxer Lookout. My favorite thing to do in Karijini National Park though is swimming at Fern Pool. This pool of water is located directly under a waterfall. As an added bonus, there are never any crocodiles in the water, so you are quite safe.

You can spend a ton of time in the water during your vacation in Australia. When you are visiting Western Australia, you may want to consider taking a whale watching tour or entering the water to swim with the whale sharks and humpback whales.

Other Western Australia family friendly things to do include:

• Search for Dinosaur Footprints at Gantheaume Point
• Visit the Quokkas on Rottnest Island
• Gather Shells on Shell Beach in Shark Bay

These are some of the family friendly things to do in Australia. As you can see, you will have more than enough things to do together as a family when you take an Australian vacation. I recommend using this information as guidance, for when we discuss what your family wants to do while on vacation in Australia.

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