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The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Australia
Written by Emily Jacobs
Make your next family holiday the best yet with a stay at these fun-filled, child-friendly escapes.
From rich red deserts to white-sand beaches, there’s a new memory to make in every corner of Australia for intrepid families. Here’s our selection of top family-friendly hotels in Australia that the whole crew can enjoy, from waterpark resorts in Queensland to fun-filled nature retreats in New South Wales.
The best family-friendly hotels in Queensland
InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
Australia’s most iconic private island resort is a playground for adults and kids alike, situated in the heart of the sun-drenched Whitsundays. Families with older children will love direct access to the Great Barrier Reef, perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving, while little kids will adore spending hours splashing away in one of the nation’s largest pools. The InterContinental Planet Trekkers Kids Club is perfect for all ages, with educational programs on local marine life and guided nature walks, plus daily activities like music bingo, fish feeding, slime making and arts and crafts.
Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Treat your family to the ultimate getaway at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, voted Australia’s Best Family Resort for 12 consecutive years by leading family travel platform Holidays with Kids. Located minutes from Surfers Paradise’s spectacular beaches, the resort boasts an ice-skating rink and a thrilling three-storey water park packed with slides, cannons and climbing frames. The unparalleled kids’ club caters for babes to tweens, with sports courts, character meet-and-greets, an indoor jungle gym and outdoor adventure playground. That’s not all – a pamper parlour puts hair braiding and glam services centre stage, while the lagoon pool is the perfect spot for the whole family to splash about.
Sea World Resort
No list of family-friendly hotels in Australia is complete without Sea World Resort, the accommodation of choice for those looking to explore Gold Coast’s famous theme parks. Drop your bags off in your contemporary and spacious room before popping over to experience Sea World, Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and Paradise Country. After a busy day, pull up a seat at the resort’s Shoreline Restaurant for a seafood buffet, or Melrose Italian for pizza you won’t want to share with the little ones.
The best family-friendly hotels in Victoria
The Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort
When ski season hits, escape to Victoria’s High Country for an alpine retreat at The Sebel Pinnacle Valley Resort. Book the family into a Two Bedroom Chalet, complete with a fully equipped kitchen, ski-drying cupboard and private patio, before hitting the slopes of Mount Buller for days of family fun. Splash around in the heated pool and challenge the kids to rounds of 18-hole mini golf, pool, table tennis and arcade fun. Visiting in summer? Take a rowboat or canoe on the lake, swing and serve on the tennis court or hire bicycles to explore the Great Dividing Range region.
The Sands Torquay
Ready for a road trip? Start your adventure down the Great Ocean Road with a stay at The Sands Torquay. This family-friendly hotel is all about new experiences: after a day exploring the local region, return to cool off in the indoor pool, engage in a little friendly competition on the tennis court or even give golfing a go at the driving range. Every appetite is looked after across various dining options – start the day strong at Spike Cafe, or finish with pizzas at the alfresco Bunkers.
The best family-friendly hotels in Tasmania
Mövenpick Hotel Hobart
Situate yourself in the middle of Hobart’s vibrant waterfront precinct with a stay at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, taking your chance to explore the Emerald Isle’s capital city with the whole family. Book a Deluxe Two Queen Beds Harbour View for up to four guests and spend every waking hour discovering Hobart’s rich culture and history. Just make sure you’re back for the hotel’s famous complimentary ‘Chocolate Hour’ every day, with the addition of free Movenpick ice cream for kids 12 years and under.
The best family-friendly hotels in Canberra
Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Creature comfort takes on a new meaning at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, a five-star retreat hidden within Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium. Stay in safari-style rooms with views over the enclosures of slender-tailed meerkats, lions and ring-tailed lemurs. With two guided tours included in your stay, expect plenty of opportunities for interactions with rhinos and cheetahs in their open-range enclosures. For the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience, opt for a stay in the Giraffe Treehouse, which overlooks the long-limbed animal’s night yard.
The best family-friendly hotels in South Australia
Miller Apartments Adelaide
Exploring Adelaide as a family is stress-free wiht a stay at the self-contained Miller Apartments Adelaide. Located in the city centre, these top-rated, ultra-stylish apartments have everything you need for easy everydays, including fully-equipped kitchens and separate living areas. Enjoy a family breakfast at home before hitting the pavement, exploring all that the capital city has to offer, including Glenelg and Brighton beaches, Adelaide Zoo and Adelaide Oval.
The best family-friendly hotels in Western Australia
Bayshore Beachside Resort
Bayshore Beachside Resort’s two- or three-bedroom villas are the perfect family base for stays in the stunning Margaret River wine region, with fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and complimentary car parking. Wander along the sands of Geographe Bay, just a two-minute walk away, get the whole family involved with a game of backyard cricket on the large lawns, or discover the town of Dunsborough, where family-friendly cafes, pubs, wineries and activities await.
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region
Luxury and family aren’t mutually exclusive – in fact, at the five-star Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region, they go hand-in-hand. Saunter from your spacious villa to the powder-white sands and turquoise waters of the secluded Bunker Bay, where both young and old can splash about. A heated infinity-edge swimming pool is a great alternative to the sand and sea, while a BBQ area makes it easy to cater for the whole family come mealtimes. Visit during the state’s school holidays for additional children’s activities at the Pullman Kids Club.
The best family-friendly hotels in the Northern Territory
Sails in the Desert
Create new memories with the whole family at the iconic Sails in the Desert, located at the foothills of mighty Uluru, Australia’s most important cultural and spiritual site. Every day brings a new activity – listen to stories of Indigenous culture as part of a bush food presentation, watch as ancestral stories come to life in the night sky via choreographed drones, lasers and projections, learn about the didgeridoo and visit the iconic Field of Light installation from artist Bruce Munro. In between experiences, the kids can splash about in the gum tree-lined pool.
The best family-friendly hotels in New South Wales
Wildes Boutique Hotel Kangaroo Valley
Escape to the Southern Highlands for a family-friendly stay at this boutique retreat, perfectly placed for days spent exploring Shoalhaven’s stunning landscapes. Kayak through the gentle waters of the Kangaroo River, check out local ice creameries, learn to ride with an equestrian lesson or hike to Fitzroy Falls, just a 20-minute drive away. Return to your Lorikeet Suite, boasting two bedrooms, a courtyard and an expansive living area.
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park is a playground for the whole family when staying at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery. Just 90 minutes from Sydney, this serene retreat is a bounty of activity: explore the stunning landscapes via bushwalk or mountain bike, learn to glide at the onsite 600sqm ice skating rink, or splash around the heated indoor pool. Should you be visiting during the school holidays, expect an extended program of kid-friendly activities, including face painting, magic shows and cupcake decorating.
Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges
Embrace a family-friendly coastal getaway at Sails Port Macquarie, where modern luxury meets the glorious beaches and lush hinterland of the NSW North Coast. Kids big and small will love the chance to look for dolphins and whales on a cruise, fish off the private jetty or take to the water with complimentary kayaks. On quieter days, curl up in the shade of a private cabana by the resort-style pool, explore local markets or engage in friendly competition on the tennis court.
Discover Australia
Looking for more inspiration? Read our guide to the Best Luxury Resorts for Families.
