Hit the road for a family adventure with these top holiday destinations. Packed full of activities for all ages, to inspire, delight and encourage a love for the NSW coast and countryside.
Coffs Harbour
Why families love it: Glorious stretches of sand collide with ancient rainforests in this North Coast escape that rolls out a surprising array of attractions. Home to the beloved Big Banana, considered the first of NSW's (and Australia’s) Big Things, families flock to this very big and very yellow monument located on a banana plantation to snap a selfie and explore its fully-fledged fun park – we're talking mini-golf, laser tag, toboggan rides and a water park.
Top kid-friendly experiences: There’s so much more for families beyond the Big Banana. Walk among hundreds of native butterflies at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, get up close to dolphins, seals and penguins at Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary, then dive under the ocean at Jetty Beach. Nature enthusiasts can walk among cascading waterfalls at Dorrigo National Park, just a little over an hour’s drive away. Don't miss the Skywalk at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, an easy, elevated boardwalk that lets you look out across the rainforest canopy to the coast beyond. Another breathtaking lookout is the Forest Sky Pier.
Where to stay: Book a stay at the beachside Korora Bay Village Resort or park your RV at Banana Coast Caravan Park which has everything you could need including pools, playgrounds and a games room. Big groups can stay at Barellen Beach House, a stylish oceanfront property in a peaceful location that sleeps 10.
The Big Banana Fun Park, Coffs Harbour
Blue Mountains
Why families love it: With grand gardens and scenic spots, no parent or child will ever grow weary of the Blue Mountains’ majestic beauty. This World Heritage area is deeply steeped in Aboriginal history and filled with ample walking tracks that cater to all levels of hiking prowess and adventure-filled activities that will light up the small faces of your brood.
Top kid-friendly experiences: Tighten those laces and ascend to lookouts for views of the Three Sisters and beyond, before hitting some walking tracks like Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Cliff Top Trail or Pulpit Walking Track. Ride on the world’s steepest passenger train at Scenic World or take in the views from a historic steam train at Zig Zag Railway. Between activities, refuel with lunch and window shopping in the charming town of Leura. For quick and easy access to all these attractions, book a hop-on hop-off ticket with Blue Mountains Explorer Bus.
Where to stay: Meet friendly farm animals on a stay at Duckmaloi Farm, splurge on a room at Ardour Lilianfels or camp under the stars at Coorongooba campground.
Echo Point, Katoomba
Bathurst
Why families love it: Revved engines, railways and gold rushes, the inland city of Bathurst is a brilliant place to uncover history and your inner motorhead. Home to legendary race circuit Mount Panorama, which is adjoined by the National Motor Racing Museum, you’ll be hard-pressed not to imagine yourself as a star driver as you lean (gently) into the bends of the famous course.
Top kid-friendly experiences: Big and small train enthusiasts can marvel at the miniature railway at the Bathurst Rail Museum. Budding archaeologists won’t want to miss the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, where they can see a T-Rex skeleton and rare opalised fossils. Race your little ones on the dual flying fox at Bathurst Adventure Playground, the winner gets a double scoop at Annie’s Ice Cream. Top off your trip with a visit to the preserved gold rush town of Hill End for a fossick, or follow your curiosity deeper into the gold rush era as you descend to a 175-metre-long underground mine.
Where to stay: Families will love the spacious, contemporary rooms at the Littomore Hotel on Stewart or impress your kids with a stay at Rydges Mount Panorama, where all 131 rooms have a bird's-eye view of Mount Panorama.
Annie's Ice Cream Parlour, Bathurst
Kiama
Why families love it: A South Coast retreat less than two hours from Sydney, Kiama is a seaside Adventureland for activity-hungry families. The area features nine incredible beaches to explore by board and body, two beautiful ocean pools to plunge into and the Coast Walk to follow, which unfurls attention-seeking clifftop vistas for 20 kilometres.
Top kid-friendly experiences: Every visit to this long-adored holiday destination must start with witnessing the drama of the Kiama Blowhole, which forces water through the natural rock formation to heights of 30 metres. Nearby, get your heart pumping with thrill-inducing water slides at Jamberoo Action Park, hinterland ziplining at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures and family-friendly walks through Minnamurra Rainforest.
Where to stay: For hotels within walking distance of Kiama's beaches and cafes, book into The Sebel Kiama or Nova Kiama.
Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, Knights Hill
Port Stephens
Why families love it: If sea, sand and scenery sound like the makings of your next family holiday, then set your GPS to Port Stephens, a small slice of paradise in the Hunter region of NSW. The region is home to the incredible Stockton Sand Dunes, where little adventurers can sandboard, ride a camel, horse or quad bike through the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
Top kid-friendly experiences: More than 100 dolphins call the sparkling waters of Port Stephens home, and booking in for a wild dolphin swim with Dolphin Swim Australia is one of the best (and closest) ways to spot them. The wildlife encounters don't stop there: hand-feed kangaroos and farm animals at Oakvale Wildlife Park, wake up next to koalas at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, or wade in with sharks and rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters. You can also stretch out on Shoal Bay Beach or tackle the short, kid-friendly Tomaree Head Summit Walk for sweeping coastal views.
Where to stay: The Mantra Nelson Bay is just a short walk from the beach, making it an ideal choice for travellers. There's plenty of family-friendly accommodation in the area including Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort, which features an array of onsite activities designed for all ages. Or, book a night at Ingenia Holidays One Mile Beach and soak up the beachfront views.
4WD R US, Port Stephens
Dubbo
Why families love it: Getting the balance of fun and relaxation right can be tricky on a family holiday, but Dubbo delivers with natural wonders, outdoor adventures and cosy stays. Located in the Great Western Plains region of NSW, the drive will take you five hours from Sydney or a slightly longer scenic train journey.
Top kid-friendly experiences: If you only do one thing while you're here, make it a visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Home to over 5,000 animals from 350 different species, this open-range zoo is one of the largest in Australia and can be explored by bike, car or on foot. Continue your exploration of the region with a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service to get a first-hand look at their resilience and resourcefulness; step back in time at the Old Dubbo Gaol where interactive displays bring the past to life; or take a guided tour of the Wellington Caves where you'll be awed by crystal formations, intricate cave corals and 400-million-year-old marine fossils. If you plan to hit them all, snap up The Great Big Adventure Pass which offers a discount to four major attractions.
Where to stay: Stay overnight at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in safari tents, cabins or the lodge, or check in to a cabin or campsite at Discovery Parks - Dubbo.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo - Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Lake Macquarie
Why families love it: Beckoning with the promise of days spent barefoot and just 90 short minutes from Sydney, Lake Macquarie is a waterfront playground for families. Australia’s largest coastal lake provides ample opportunity for good times on and above the water, be it quietly pottering the rockpools of Caves Beach or jetboating, sailing or kayaking across both lake and ocean.
Top kid-friendly experiences: A destination that almost seems deliberately engineered as a playground for all ages, kids will love hiking the cool undergrowth of the lush Watagans National Park and plunging into the refreshing water at Belmont Baths, Blacksmiths Beach, Grannies Pool, Belmont and Toronto Baths. Families can kick back on the sundeck of a cruise or take a dip in the boom net. Little ones can burn off some energy at Speers Point Park or Variety Playground.
Where to stay: Pitch a tent at Gap Creek campground, book a pet-friendly cabin at Highway Tourist Village or level up with a beachside luxury stay at Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalow.
Caves Beach, Lake Macquarie
Balliina
Why families love it: Wedged between river, ocean and lush hinterland, the northern NSW town of Ballina puts on a spread of wildlife encounters. With front-row seats to the Humpback Highway, this coastal spot is one of the best places to watch migrating whales while enjoying quiet beaches, sunny days and kayaking adventures.
Top kid-friendly experiences: The calm and clear Richmond River is ideal for novice boaters to putt along, throwing out a fishing line, peeling eyes for passing dolphins, or spotting the 160-year-old lighthouse. There are also opportunities to extend a hand to furrier friends at the nearby Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Summerland Farm. Learn more about the area’s ties to the ocean at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, and, of course, no visit is complete without a family selfie with Ballina’s celebrity crustacean, the Big Prawn.
Where to stay: Ballina Beach Nature Resort is set between the beach and the river and has convenient family facilities like a cafe, water park and swimming pool. Or just pitch a tent at the peaceful Flat Rock Tent Park and get away from it all.
North Creek Beach, Ballina
