With its huge scale and numerous options for exploration, the Great Barrier Reef is a destination that entire families will love – from playing on an island to cruising across the waters at high speeds, there is something to suit all ages, including non-swimmers.
However, travelling to the Great Barrier Reef with kids in tow adds an extra layer of complexity to planning a trip; to lend a hand, we’ve put together a guide to give you an insider’s look at the best accommodation, activities and getaways with children while on the reef.
Accommodation
If you’re looking to stay on the mainland for your reef adventure, there are various towns that act as portals to its wonders – with many affordable accommodation options despite popular opinion. These hotels, resorts and parks each have a range of facilities that aim to make your family’s stay an enjoyable one.
Here are our top picks for family-friendly hotels and resorts along the Queensland coast in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns Coconut Resort | Cairns
Kids will love: The kids club and large play hub
Pricing: Campsites from $41; Cabins/Villas from $115
Activities: Mini Coconuts kids club; Pedal karts; Bocce; Beach volleyball; Mini golf; Adventure playground; 2 x jumping pillows; NEOS Interactive Play Hub; Outdoor cinema; SPLASH Waterpark; Sun Lagoon pool; Garden Pool with Waterslide; Kids wading pool; Snorkelling lessons; Aqua aerobics
Facilities: Clean amenities; Camper’s kitchen; Mini mart; Laundromats; Petrol & diesel station
One of Cairns’ most family friendly holiday resorts, Cairns Coconut Resort is one of the holiday parks under the Big 4 umbrella. Spread over 28 acres of lush land, Coconut is located just seven minutes from Cairns’ city centre.
Rooms
Depending on how much you want to spend on accommodation, the resort has a wide range of rooms from basic to luxury. The luxury rooms include the Coconut Condos and Sun Lagoon Condos, which are perfect for larger families looking to relax in their own private area. Both rooms feature three bedrooms, can sleep up to eight people and are self-contained with a large kitchen, barbecue and dining area.
“We have over 20 free activities so there is plenty to keep children occupied, which means that parents can also relax and enjoy their stay.”
– Kim Thomas, General Manager
For the budget conscious travellers the Ensuite Cabins, Holiday Units and villas are better suited. All of the rooms feature either a kitchen or kitchenette and are great, affordable picks for families. Sleeping from five to eight guests on a range of queen size and bunk beds, these rooms are suited to everyone.
Campers are also catered for with basic grass sites and slab sites available as well as comfortable ensuite sites for those wanting private amenities.
Highlights for kids
The young ones definitely won’t be bored during your stay at Cairns Coconut Resort. The resort is home to Australia’s first NEOS Interactive Play Hub; giving all children the chance to play, it even caters for kids with hearing, vision and mobility impairments. The active youngsters will tire themselves out on the huge adventure playground complete with slides, monkey bars, tunnels and rope climbs.
One of the favourite attractions is the SPLASH Waterpark; waiting for the big bucket to drop is a fun and exciting way to cool off. If everyone has had enough adventure for the day, the whole family can relax under the stars at the outdoor cinema, playing a range of new and old movies.
Townsville Woodlands Holiday Park | Townsville
Kids will love: All of the exciting activities spread around the park
Pricing: Campsites from $35 per night; Cabins/Villas from $115 per
Activities: Jumping pillow; Climbing gym; Swings; Giant chess; Giant connect four; Mini golf
Facilities: Unisex amenity Block; Camp Kitchen; Laundry; Undercover BBQ areas; Saltwater pool; Large campsites
Servicing all your cabin, caravan and camping needs, the Big4 Townsville Woodlands Holiday Park is one of the best holiday destinations in the area.
Rooms
The holiday park has two permanent rental options; the two-bedroom villa and ensuite cabin. The two-bedroom villa is the perfect choice for families staying in the area. This fully self-contained cabin sleeps up to five people with a queen bed, two bunk beds and a trundle. The private balcony is the perfect way for the family to relax and regroup after a long day exploring Townsville.
BIG4 Townsville Woodlands Holiday Park is the ideal Townsville caravan park for all of your cabin, caravan and camping needs – only 16km to the CBD, within 1km of the local shopping centre and only 10 minutes drive to the airport.
– BIG4 Townsville Woodlands Holiday Park
For those that would rather camp or have their own van, there are various site options. Campers can choose to set up on an unpowered site, a grass powered site or an ensuite-powered site, each catering for up to six people. The park allows for pets to reside in the resort, giving them free reign in guests’ personal accommodation (ie. Caravans and tents), however, they aren’t allowed in any of the cabins or villas.
Highlights for kids
If your kids enjoy board games, they’ll love the giant gaming areas at the park featuring a giant chess board and connect four stand. However, the young ones can never usually stay away from the giant jumping pillow, giving them the ability to flip, tumble and bounce all over the place – a popular attraction at most of the Big 4 parks.
Airlie Cove Resort and Van Park | Airlie Beach
Kids will love: Playing on the themed playground and waterpark
Pricing: Campsites from $39; Cabins/Villas from $95
Activities: Big Bucket Water Park; Pirate Ship Playground; Go-Kart hire; Jumping pillow; Morning bird feeding
Facilities: Camp kitchen; BBQ gazebos; TV & Internet room; Laundry; Mini-market; Linen hire; Vehicle storage
Another popular Big 4 holiday park, Airlie Cove Resort offers guests a range of accommodation options with a large variety of onsite activities.
Rooms
Guests looking to camp have the choice of setting up on a concrete slab or grassed area; with or without power. All campsites have access to the resort’s large camp kitchen complete with a fridge, kettle, toaster, toaster oven, gas oven and barbecue.
BIG4 Airlie Cove prides itself in offering a natural and peaceful environment tucked away from the road and home to an array of Australian wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, goannas, possums, scrub turkeys and parrots.
– Airlie Cove Resort and Van Park
Those who would prefer to stay in a cabin or villa are also accommodated for, with Ensuite and One Bedroom Cabins, Studio Ensuites, Two Bedroom Disabled and Family Villas and luxurious Bali Villas available.
Most rooms sleep up to five or six people and are equipped with kitchen facilities, air-conditioning and furnished decks. All of the rooms cater for different budgets and, depending on what time of the year you are visiting, offer affordable prices.
Highlights for kids
One of the resort’s most popular activities is the Big Bucket Water Park; the perfect place to have fun, cool down and make friends. The park is made up of a slow-filling giant tipping bucket, three different slides, a walk through spray tunnel and the biggest Nemo ever. Those kids that would rather stay dry will love climbing aboard the Pirate Ship Playground, where they can climb, slide and crawl around the ‘ship’.
The fun never stops at Airlie Cove and neither will your kids as they start their day off feeding some of the park’s feathered residents. Every morning at 8am you can hold out your hand to feed the friendly (and hungry) Rainbow Lorikeets – a great way to get up close to nature.
Island Gateway Resort | Airlie Beach
Kids will love: The range of fun activities and the daily bird feeding sessions.
Pricing: Campsites from $30; Cabins/Villas from $85
Activities: Bike and Pedal Kart Hire; Children’s playground; Outdoor pool; Daily bird feeding sessions from 4pm
Facilities: Free wi-fi in public areas; Complimentary guest parking; Laundry facilities; BBQ areas; Pet friendly
The closest holiday park to Airlie Beach, Island Gateway resort offers its guests affordable accommodation to suit all budgets and group sizes.
Rooms
There are a range of cabins and villas available catering for two to six guests. Accommodation types include Islander Cabins, Tropical Villas, Deluxe Villas, Stand Alone Cabins and Motel Units, all of which are equipped with either a full kitchen or kitchenette.
Island Gateway offers a fantastic range of accommodation from camping sites to deluxe family villas…even pet friendly camping areas. All this located just a 15 minute walk to town, with a family friendly tavern and bistro across the road, a supermarket just 200 metres walk and only 800 metres to the ferry terminal.
– Peita, Island Gateway Holiday Park
The resort also features a unique Camp-o-tel – a tee-pee style canvas tent with lights, power points and beds. Sleeping a maximum of two people, guests renting a camp-o-tel are required to bring their own linen and pillows. Camping options are also available with multiple unpowered and powered sites as well as some ensuite-powered sites. All campsites are close to amenities and communal dining areas with guests given the option to set up camp in a pet free or pet friendly area.
Highlights for kids
Making your way around accommodation has never been so fun and easy with Island Gateway’s pedal karts. The young ones will have a blast pedalling around the resort racing their friends. However, when the clock hits 4pm, they will want to be ready with a handful of seed for the daily bird feeding session. For the younger kids, the playground provides great, safe fun away from the bustling bigger kids.
Glengarry Holiday Park | Port Douglas
Kids will love: The exciting water park and jumping pillow
Pricing: Camping from $30 per night; Cabins/Villas from $90 per night
Activities: Large pool with waterfall and waterslide; Bike and tag-a-long bike hire; Jumping pillows; Adventure playground; Bushwalking tracks; Bird watching
Facilities: 3 x laundry rooms; 3 x amenity blocks; 2 x camp kitchens; mobile phone reception (for most providers); caravan and vehicle storage
Since 1990, Port Douglas’ Glengarry Holiday Park has offered travellers a beautiful, relaxing stay just a short distance from the busy city centre.
Rooms
Guests can choose from a variety of rooms to suit their family and budget. The Two Bedroom Family Villa is an ideal choice, sleeping up to five people with all linen provided and full cooking facilities. Other options include the two bedroom deluxe villa and family villa both sleeping up to six people.
Enjoy some Family Fun with the new Waterslide into the pool and the jumping pillow will get the beans a bouncing!! Or why not take a tour of the park and hire one of our Pedal carts to ride around in.
– Glengarry Holiday Park
If you have your own camping gear or campervans you can rent one of their sites for the duration of your stay. Glengarry offers spacious grass camping sites (some with power outlets), powered sites on concrete slabs (some with sewerage outlets) and powered ensuite suites giving guests their own private bathroom.
No matter what type of accommodation you have budgeted for or prefer, Glengarry’s range of services are guaranteed to impress all visitors.
Highlights for kids
The water park is the main attraction for visitors to Glengarry; the young ones could easily spend the whole day running around the park and racing down the slides. The water slides are all thrilling with a handful suitable for younger children, however, if your kids aren’t very confident by themselves they can double up with mum or dad for added safety.
The whole family will enjoy lounging around the pool under the shaded areas and the kids will love running around the park and cooling off in the pool. If the young ones want to avoid the water, the park’s inflatable jumping pillowing and playground are great fun; the playground is fit for all ages with rope climbs, slides and ladders.
Activities
While there are a great number of activities and paid tours to take part in on the Great Barrier Reef aimed at the average adult visitor, in this section we’ve picked out some of the top options suitable for those travelling with kids as well. Based on a combination of factors including travel time, fun factor and customer reviews, here are some of the top reef adventures for families.
Green Island Day Trip | Cairns
Kids will love: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef and island
Pricing: Children from $44; Adults from $88; Families (2A +2C) from $220
A short distance from the Cairns coast lays a 6000-year-old coral cay known as Green Island. This National Park is a top family destination for its wide range of activities and proximity to the mainland. One of the benefits of a shorter trip is that the kids will most likely be attentive and excited to reach the destination. Only a 45-minute boat ride aboard Great Adventures‘ catamaran, kids will love shooting across the water and trying to spot some of the reef’s wildlife.
Once on the island you can take part in many different activities and adventures to explore the popular cay. You can snorkel straight off the beach and get up close to some of the creatures that call the reef home or stay dry and jump aboard the glass bottom boat. Visitors to the island gain access to the island’s swimming pool and various walking trails through the rainforest.
Those who packed lunch can enjoy it on the beach looking out onto the water or there are also various restaurant and café style lunch options on the island itself.
If you’re looking for a little more adventure packed into your visit activities such as parasailing, helmet diving, scuba diving and scenic helicopter flights are available for an additional fee upon arrival.
In terms of getting there, Great Adventures transfers visitors to and from the island. Great Adventures leaves the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal at 8:30am, 10:30am and 1pm and returns to the port at 5:20pm. After booking you can choose your preferred departure time, however all day guests must return on the final boat.
Highlights for kids
Kids will love exploring the reef surrounding Green Island, the fact that it is only a short distance from the mainland is another selling point. The young ones can think of the boat ride out as an introduction to the adventure ahead of them on the island. Children with confident swimming abilities can go out on their own to explore the reef, however the younger ones or less confident swimmers can hire floatation vests to use in the water. Life guards are also on duty to monitor swimmers and help those who require it.
If they’d prefer to explore the reef from the comfort of a boat, they can do that too! The glass bottom boat tour provides visitors with a clear view of the reef as it slowly glides around the area. The kids will love trying to spot Nemo and his friends as they go about their business uninterrupted by swimmers.
Kids can also enjoy their free membership to the Turtle Rescue Club, tour of the Big Cat wheelhouse and Cool Cat colouring in sheet while on the island.
Reef Sprinter | Port Douglas
Kids will love: Racing out to the Great Barrier Reef
Pricing: Children (5 to 14 year) $100; Adults $120
Extra Info: Tours depart 9am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm
Long boat rides are always a downfall for family holidays and always tend to put the kids in a bad mood. The team at Reef Sprinter understand this and offer guests a much shorter trip out to some of the reef’s most beautiful destinations.
Departing Port Douglas, you’ll jump aboard one of their three fast boats; Reef Sprinter 1, Jet Sprinter or Reef Sprinter 3, to make your way out to the Low Isles Reef. Reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, you’ll seldom have time to feel sea sick as the boat will get you to the reef in just 15 minutes.
The speed and excitement of the boat ride is half the fun of this tour. Once you’ve arrived at the reef, you’ll spend 1.5 hours snorkelling and exploring the colourful corals and making friends with the wide variety of friendly fish.
Away from large crowds, this personalised service caters for a maximum of 14 passengers. Perfect for beginner snorkellers and young kids, Reef Sprinter provides all of the necessary equipment for no extra cost, including snorkel gear, stinger suits and flotation noodles.
Highlights for kids
If your little ones want to get up close to some marine life in the wild, this is a great choice for your family. The kids will get to snorkel, or dive – if they’re old enough – some of the Great Barrier Reef’s best spots. Previous riders have raved about the marine life encountered on this reef, including Green Sea Turtles and reef sharks from both in the water and on the surface. If the children don’t want to swim they can still experience the reef from the small glass bottom boat.
Reef HQ | Townsville
Kids will love: The predator dive show and animal feeding tour
Pricing: Children (4 to 14 year) $14; Concessions $22; Adults $28; Families (2A + 3C) $70
Extra Info: Predator Dive Show 10:30am; Turtle Hospital Talk and Tour 12pm & 3:30pm; Animal Feeding Tour 2:30pm
This attraction may not be ON the reef but it is one of the world’s largest living reef replicas and an experience the whole family will enjoy. Showcasing a 2.5 million litre coral reef exhibit, Reef HQ will let you experience the vibrant corals and colourful marine life of the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet (and without the large price tag).
The coral reef exhibit is a large viewing area home to a wide range of species including hammerhead sharks, rays, gropers and many different fish species of all shapes, sizes and colours.
The various viewing areas give visitors an up close view of these creatures as they comfortably go about their day in the aquarium. The aquarium also conducts various shows and talks throughout the day such as shark feeding and sea feeding shows.
Visitors can also take a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium’s Turtle Hospital and see some of the sick turtles nursed back to health before being released back into the wild.
If the young ones are getting restless or are looking for a little more adventure on their visit, the reef-themed Play Zone is great for all ages while the Waterview Café is a favourite spot for parents.
Highlights for kids
The curious minds will love touring the facilities and learning about the animals enclosed and their behaviours in the wild. The Predator Dive Show gives audiences the chance to chat to a diver as they swim with sharks and other predators; the Turtle Talk discusses their program that helps sick and injured turtles recover; and the Shark and Animal Feeding Shows give an inside look into dinnertime at the aquarium.
The younger kids can also enjoy the reef-themed Play Zone; an interactive playground featuring a yellow submarine, an audiovisual tour of the reef, a slide for the little ones, puppet theatre and a lot of toys for them all to enjoy.
Magnetic Island Day Trip | Townsville
Kids will love: The wide range of activities on the island especially snorkelling
Pricing: Children (5 to 14 year) $14; Concessions $16.50; Adults $32; Families (2A + 3C) $76
Extra Info: Transfer to the island doesn’t include activities; additional fees apply
Off the coast of Townsville is the popular Magnetic Island (or Maggie to the locals), reached by a quick and easy 20-minute ferry ride with SeaLink. Aboard a state of the art catamaran, you’ll make your way over to the island surrounded by the beautiful colours of the reef.
There are so many things to do on the island, the whole family will likely find something to keep them occupied. If you’re a parent looking to relax, you can set yourself up on the beach or indulge in a treatment at the island’s spa.
Those looking to explore the island and the reef can snorkel straight off the beach or embark on a trek through the bushland.
There is a range of activities available on the island for an additional fee including sea kayaking, helicopter flights, diving expeditions and a visit to the Aquasearch Aquarium. The ferry transfers provide 18 daily return services allowing you to spend as much time as you like on the island.
Highlights for kids
Magnetic Island’s wildlife is always a highlight for visitors, especially kids. See if the young ones can find Nemo amongst the giant clams at the Aquasearch Aquarium – an education and entertaining wildlife centre – or perhaps they would rather try and spot all of the 186 different bird species that visit Maggie throughout the year.
Those kids looking for adventure should take advantage of the wide range of water sports available; play it safe with a kayak or get the adrenalin pumping with a tube ride, the choice is theirs.
Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise | Port Douglas
Kids will love: Exploring the outer reef from the large activity platform
Pricing: Infants FREE; Children (4 to 14 years) $116; Adults $232
Extra Info: Boarding from 9:30am; Departs at 10am; Returns at 4:30pm; Hotel transfers available
If you’re children are a little older or don’t mind longer trips, this is the tour for you. Travel to the outer reef for a full day of exploring with Quicksilver Cruises – a trip of a lifetime.
Departing at 10:30am you will make your way to the gorgeous Agincourt Reef aboard a high-speed wave piercing catamaran. Once you’ve reached the docking point, you’ll transfer onto their large activity platform to begin your full day of activities.
You can snorkel and dive off the pontoon by yourself or with a marine biologist guide, take a seat in the semi-submersible or explore the reef from the underwater observatory. The friendly crew on board include professional marine biologists who are there to answer any of your questions and lead various seminars and presentations throughout the day – one of the most popular presentations is the fish feeding show conducted by the onboard crew.
All meals for the day are provided on board for all guests, including morning and afternoon tea and a hot and cold tropical smorgasbord feast for lunch.
The Agincourt Reef is a must-see ribbon reef stretching along the Outer Great Barrier Reef and if your family is looking for an action-packed day trip, this is one of the best tours available.
Kids will love…
Pontoons at Agincourt Reef (Port Douglas) and at Moore Reef (Cairns) and Fitzroy or Green Island off Cairns.– Amy Mail, Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Highlights for kids
The long trip to the platform is worth it, even if the kids aren’t too happy about the extended boat ride. Once they’ve stepped foot onto the platform, most kids have trouble containing their excitement. There are two snorkel tours available; an introductory and advanced depending on your child’s swimming abilities.
If the young ones don’t want to swim but still want the full reef experience, the Ocean Walker is a great choice. Kids over the age of 12 (an over 135cm tall) can head underwater to walk along the reef platform with a helmet to keep your head dry and breathing regular. No swimming is required and those who can’t swim are more than welcome to join in. Those who conquer the walk will receive a certificate for their dive – a wonderful souvenir for the kids.
This is a great choice for families as the catamaran and platform are pram-friendly with a large amount of room. Quicksilver’s platform is the biggest on the reef, split over two levels and moored in a sheltered lagoon. The crew caters for children and infants by providing free buoyancy vests, noodles and flotation devices for them to use while in the water as well as kids size stinger suits and snorkel equipment.
Daydream Island’s Living Reef | The Whitsundays
Kids will love: Getting up close to some amazing marine life
Pricing: Guided Fish Feed: Children (3 to 14 years) $15; Adults $25; Families (2A + 2C) $60 / Stingray Splash: $38 pp / Cruise Whitsundays: Children (4 to 14 years) from $70; Adults from $105; Family from $315
Daydream Island is a great destination for families for the wide range activities on offer, proximity to the mainland and popular Living Reef. The Living Reef is one of the world’s largest man-made living coral reef lagoons and houses over 140 fish species and 83 corals – another great way to experience the reef without getting (too) wet.
If you want a hands on experience to get to know some of the island’s resident rays, sharks and fish, you can sign up for a close encounter. The Guided Fish Feed will let you feed and touch their huge stingrays, Pancake and Pikelet, barramundi and sharks as well as learn about the many different marine species from the in house marine biologists.
The Stingray Splash gets you up close to their curious baby stingrays for an unique hands-on educational experience. Led by a marine biologist you can hand feed these friendly creatures while they swim around the shallow waters.
You can take a day trip to Daydream Island with Cruise Whitsundays or visit as part of their dual cruise with Hamilton Island or Whitehaven Beach.
We offer family discounts on all our cruises and suggest a family day out to the Great Barrier Reef as a ‘must-do’ for families.
– Alyce Carter, Cruise Whitsundays
Highlights for kids
The young ones will love getting up close to the Living Reef’s resident animals including their stingrays; Pancake and Pikelet. The close encounters are the highlight for kids visiting the island, especially the Stingray Splash experience where they can pat and hand-feed these amazing sea creatures.
The Living Reef Ranger program is another highlight at the reef replica. The kids will be involved in a guided fish feeding, get up close to baby bamboo sharks, feed the barramundi and visit the friendly baby stingrays. The young rangers will also go behind-the-scenes to help prepare food, feed the animals and take on the exciting daily duties of a marine biologist.
Stay & Play
While the Great Barrier Reef has over 900 islands stretching along the Queensland coast, only a handful of those are habitable with resorts and activities – and even few aim to cater directly for families. Here are our top picks for the best “stay and play” islands on the reef for those looking to stay offshore.
Fitzroy Island | Cairns
Kids will love: The giant ocean trampoline
Pricing: Nightly rates differ between room types; contact the resort for accurate prices
Just off the coast of Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a popular family destination with an affordable price tag and wide range of family-friendly activities.
Why Fitzroy Island?
Families love the island’s proximity to the mainland and the exciting activities available for all ages, such as the amazing snorkelling spots and walking trails. The comfortable resort also has self-contained rooms for those who would prefer to cook their own food. Overall, Fitzroy Island is a great island getaway only a short distance from the Cairns port, eliminating those long, uncomfortable boat rides.
Accommodation
The Fitzroy Island Resort is a boutique 4.5 star resort and offers visitors a range of packages so they can make the most out of their visit to the island. The Self Contained Package is ideal for families who don’t mind doing it themselves. Maid services are only on every third day of your stay meaning you are responsible for cooking and cleaning up after your troop. If you’d rather have the rooms serviced daily an additional fee applies. This package is available for guests staying a total of five or seven nights.
The resort offers a range of accommodation styles, however those best suited to families are the Ocean Suite (sleeps up to 4; self contained), Two-bedroom Apartment and the two-bedroom Beach Side Cabins (sleeps up to 4; balcony; close to beach).
Activities
The island has a range of activities available to all guests, however some charge additional fees. Here are some of the activities available on the island.
- Snorkelling and swimming off the beaches
- Bushwalking tracks; Lighthouse, Summit and Nudey Beach trek
- Turtle Rehabilitation tours
- SEABOB underwater jet (dive up to 2.5 metres with ease)
- Glass bottom boat tours
- Free Ocean Trampoline
Hamilton Island | The Whitsundays
Kids will love: Getting up close to a large selection of animals both on land and in the water
Pricing: Reef View Hotel from $370 per night; Palm Bungalows from $370 per night; Holiday Homes from $295 per night
Hamilton Island is one of the most popular islands in the Whitsundays and provides visitors with a variety of activities in a great, friendly atmosphere.
Why Hamilton Island?
Hamilton Island is a popular family getaway in the Whitsundays for its activities, atmosphere and accommodation. The island is its own little town with a large variety of shops, restaurants, bars and resorts open to visitors and guests and perfect for all your holiday supply needs. This is a populated island getaway with so many facilities and perfect for those wanting a holiday with a great, buzzing atmosphere.
Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation options available on the island; the Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Holiday Homes are ideal for families as kids under the age of 12 stay and for free. Certain rooms at the Reef View Hotel can sleep up to six guests with Coral Sea View Rooms providing amazing views of the ocean. The hotel has its own 35-metre swimming pool and eateries including the Pool Terrace Restaurant and Reef Lounge.
The Palm Bungalows are ideal for smaller families, catering for up to three guests per villa. Set amongst the island’s tropical gardens, the bungalows are in close proximity to the resort pools and eateries. This basic accommodation is perfect for those wanting a little privacy to relax away from the busy crowds.
The Holiday Homes are great for larger groups wanting their own space. Certain houses can sleep up to 12 people – perfect for families travelling together. The homes provide guests with a full kitchen, their own 4-seater golf buggy and some with a private pool.
Activities
In addition to the free resort pools and public beach access, Hamilton Island offers a wide variety of activities, classes and rentals.
- Catamaran hire
- Kayaking & Paddle Boarding
- Snorkelling
- Deep water turtle discovery
- Tube Rides
- Mini golf
- Go-Kart racing
- Kids Quad bikes
- Art Classes
- Bushwalking
Extras
Clownfish Club
All of the above-mentioned accommodation has access to the Clownfish Club day care centre during their stay. Children from the age of 6 to 14 can be cared for by the island’s babysitting service. Food is included for stays exceeding 3 hours, with half or full day sessions available throughout the day. The club provides kids with a great variety of activities to enjoy, all they’re asked to bring is a hat, change of clothes and sunscreen.
The Island’s very own wildlife park is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. You can get up close to some of the coolest animals including snakes, lizards, koalas and kangaroos to name a few. You will also get the chance to meet the park’s resident crocodile (from afar) and have breakfast with the cuddly koalas.
Heron Island | Gladstone
Kids will love: The fun and educational kids program and the exclusive, personalised activities.
Pricing: Turtle Family Rooms from $335 per night; Reef Family Rooms from $445 per night; Beachside Suites from $555 per night; The Beach House from $815 per night
A beautiful coral cay, Heron Island located on the southern end of the reef just 80 kilometres northeast of Gladstone. This exclusive island isn’t bombarded with daily visitors, catering only to resort guests, and is a step away from the busy world with no televisions or mobile reception on the island.
Why Heron Island?
Perfect for families with older children who want an exclusive and private getaway without the larger price tag. With some of the best diving spots on the reef, Heron Island is widely known as a diving hotspot, however, snorkelling can be enjoyed straight off the beach depending on the tides. Great for families interested in exploring the underwater world on the Great Barrier Reef.
Accommodation
The resort has a variety of accommodation types, most of which are all suitable for families. All rooms are in close proximity to the beach with great views of the ocean or forest areas. The nightly rates all include breakfast each morning for the duration of your stay. Also, kids between the ages of 7 and 12 stay and eat free.
The Turtle Family Rooms are set amongst the Pisona Forest and sleep up to four people and the Reef Family Rooms sleep up to five and are close to the beach with great water views. Beachside Suites provide great views and direct access to the water. The suites sleep up to four people in the villa-style living space. The Beach House is an exclusive choice; the only one on the island, sleeping up four people with direct beach access and afternoon canapés provided every day.
Activities
The activities are available to all guests and because of the island’s exclusivity personally cater for everyone (some with additional costs).
- Guided reef walks
- Birdlife walks
- Snorkelling and Diving
- Semi-submersible boat rides
- Kayaks
- Guided fishing trips
Extras
Junior Rangers Program
Held during school holidays, this kids program runs nature based activities to help the young ones learn about this natural environment and those that live in it. Throughout their stay and involvement with the program, kids can earn colourful embroidered badges like the Junior Ranger Badge, to congratulate their hard work and diligence.
$20 per child per session
Turtle Breeding Season
Between October and March every year, Heron Island becomes home to large, nesting sea turtles. Depending on when you visit you can witness these creatures beaching themselves to lay their eggs or watch the new hatchlings scurry to the water, either way it is an amazing experience.
Eateries
The island’s great restaurant; Shearwater Restaurant has an idyllic setting and delicious menu the whole family will enjoy. The large menu that caters for all from those looking for healthy alternatives to guests wanting to indulge.
Daydream Island | The Whitsundays
Kids will love: The beach activities and open air cinema
Pricing: Rooms from $200 per night
What Daydream Island lacks in size it makes up for in fun and adventure. One of the most popular family destinations, the whole family will be catered for with all of the activities on offer, which Is all only 40-minutes from the mainland.
Why Daydream Island?
Another one of the Whitsundays’ prized possessions, Daydream Island provides visiting families with activities perfectly suited for the kids. The wide range of activities focus on making the little ones happy while parents can take full advantage of the resort spa or relaxing beach. Perfect for families wanting to give their kids a little freedom to enjoy a wide range of activities while they relax and embrace the beautiful Whitsundays.
Daydream Island is a family focused resort style destination.
– Tiffany Brett, Ocean Rafting
Accommodation
Daydream Island Resort and Spa has a total of 296 rooms and suites with a majority perfectly suited for the travelling family. Most rooms sleep up to four people with great views and some with private balconies. Suitable room types include the Standard Garden Room, Garden, Ocean and Coral Balcony Rooms and the Reef and Daydreamer Suites. The resort also offers family rooms for up to eight people with interconnecting rooms to cater for the larger families.
Activities
Many of the activities are perfect for the young ones and aim to get the whole family involved. Here are a few of the activities on offer.
- Aussie Cricket
- Beach Volleyball
- Waterpolo
- Giant Chess
- Sand Castles
- Scavenger Hunt
- Coconut Bowls
- Paddle Boards
- Open Air Cinema
- Live entertainment
Extras
Skippers Club
Catering for kids as young as 6 weeks to 12-years-old, the Skippers Club has age dependent activities the little ones will love. Kids up to 5 years will enjoy the arts and craft and imaginative play sessions as well as treasure hunts, fish feeding and an exclusive outdoor playground. The older children will love all of the fun outdoor games and activities designed to help them make friends with other kids on the island.
Living Reef
Get up close to some of the Great Barrier Reef’s friendliest creatures at the island’s very own living reef. Feeding sessions are held twice a day to educate visitors on the marine animals that live on the island. Night tours are also conducted to feed and touch some of the resident sharks, stingrays and fish while you learn about their interesting nocturnal behaviours.
Night Tour
$25 per person
$70 per family (2A + 2C)
Eateries
There are several dining options on the island including their signature Mermaids Restaurant serving fresh seafood, steaks and salads prepared by their world-class chefs. The Boat House Bakery is a great pit stop during the day for the family to refuel after a big day on the island. Also, Fishbowl Tavern is a casual dining option is a bistro style meal served from 5:30pm on various days throughout the week.
