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
Green Island Resort
Sitting on an ancient coral cay just 45 minutes from Cairns by catamaran, Green Island Eco Resort is one of the only islands on the Great Barrier Reef that is also home to a rainforest — which does make it fairly hard to top for novelty. Just 46 rooms split between Island Suites and Reef Suites, the resort stays deliberately small, and complimentary inclusions for guests cover quite a lot of ground: sunset drinks, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours, fish feeding, nature walks, stargazing sessions and kayaking. Dining is anchored by Emeralds, the signature restaurant serving locally sourced tropical produce for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with the Canopy Grill and poolside bar rounding things out.
Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise
What could be better than unlimited entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World, and the SkyPoint Observation Deck? With a prime location on Surfers Paradise (plus both indoor and outdoor pools) this is your ultimate Queensland family stay. Spend your days on the rollercoasters, then return to your serene two-bedroom apartment to unwind and recount stories from a day of fun in the sun.
Essence Peregian Beach – Boutique Hotel & Holiday Homes
The only luxury resort in the coastal village of Peregian Beach, Essence sits on the Sunshine Coast just 12km south of Noosa Heads, backed by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and a short stroll from the beach. Accommodation spans boutique hotel studios and suites — many with biosphere or sunset views — through to 20 architecturally designed three, four, and five-bedroom holiday homes, making it a genuinely flexible option for couples, families, and groups. Onsite facilities include two magnesium-infused pools with a poolside bar, a gym, and Outer Square café next door serving locally sourced produce.
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.
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 South Australia
Safari Lodge at Monarto Safari Resort
This new escape should be at the top of your bucket-list. Here, you can see giraffes, zebras and antelope up close roaming the 1,500-hectare Monarto Safari Park, then return to the comfort of your luxury tent with all the comforts of home. With all-inclusive dining and free-flow drinks, you can get back to spending time together as a family and trying to spot your favourite animal.
Novotel Barossa Valley Resort
Nestled just over an hour from Adelaide in the Barossa Valley, Novotel Barossa Valley Resort earns its family-friendly stripes with 140 rooms and apartments — including one- and two-bedroom configurations — many with private balconies overlooking Jacob’s Creek vineyards. Onsite facilities cover the bases for kids and adults alike: an outdoor heated pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a giant chessboard, walking track, and gym, while The Cellar Kitchen Restaurant serves a paddock-to-plate menu and the adjacent 18-hole Tanunda Pines Golf Course awaits.
Miller Apartments Adelaide
Exploring Adelaide as a family is stress-free with 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 Tasmania
Crowne Plaza Hobart, an IHG Hotel
Sitting in the heart of Hobart’s CBD, Crowne Plaza Hobart puts families within a short stroll of the MONA ferry, Constitution Dock, and Salamanca Place – which means less time wrangling kids into a car and more time actually doing things. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views across the harbour, Mount Wellington, or the city, and Core Restaurant and Bar draws on local Tasmanian produce for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a 24-hour fitness centre and room service rounding out the onsite offering. It’s a city hotel rather than a resort, so families after a pool or dedicated kids’ facilities should look elsewhere – but as a well-located base for exploring one of Australia’s most walkable and culturally rich capitals, it’s hard to beat.
RACV Hobart
Situate yourself right in the heart of Hobart’s CBD and just a short stroll down the waterfront, RACV Hobart is your chance to explore the Apple Isle’s capital city with the whole family. Interconnecting Family Rooms are ideal for those who prefer a little extra space to spread out and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the city and the towering kunanyi (Mount Wellington). Plus, the dedicated kids’ menu at the signature restaurant, Charcoal, will keep everyone happy after a long day of exploring farmers markets and natural wonders further afield.
The best family friendly hotels in New South Wales
voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley by IHG
Just two hours from Sydney and set in the heart of Pokolbin wine country, voco Kirkton Park sits on 70 acres of manicured countryside. Onsite facilities include an indoor pool open year-round, a sauna, fitness centre, outdoor tennis court, basketball, and lawn games, while the concierge can arrange picnic hampers for afternoons out on the estate grounds. The hotel even has a dedicated school holidays program, and with 70 rooms, two restaurants, and complimentary parking, it’s well set up for families who want space, greenery, and enough to keep everyone occupied without leaving the property.
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.
The best family friendly hotels in Victoria
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Phillip Island
Set across 65 acres of bushland in the centre of Phillip Island and just two hours from Melbourne, Ramada Resort by Wyndham is built for families who want space to spread out. Accommodation runs from studios through to fully self-contained two- and three-bedroom cottages, and on-site facilities include two outdoor swimming pools, a dedicated children’s pool, an indoor lap pool, two gyms, sauna, three tennis courts, and seven kilometres of walking and cycling tracks. Kids have access to an arcade and playground, while FlameTrees restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Beyond the resort gates, the Penguin Parade, koala reserves, and fur seal colony are all on the doorstep.
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. Sitting just a 15-minute walk from Whites Beach and ten minutes from the surf breaks at Bells Beach, this family-friendly resort is all about new experiences. After a day exploring the local region, return to cool off in the 25-metre heated indoor pool, engage in a little friendly competition on the tennis court or even give golfing a go on the Stuart Appleby-designed 18-hole championship course – complete with a driving range for those still finding their swing. Families can spread out in interconnecting suites, and every appetite is looked after at the Italian-inspired Sabbia.
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.
Western Australia’s best family friendly hotels
Pan Pacific Perth
Set on Adelaide Terrace in the heart of Perth, Pan Pacific Perth is a five-star city hotel with views across the Swan River and rooms of up to 60sqm. Like Crowne Plaza Hobart, it’s a city base rather than a resort – but its location puts families within easy reach of Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth Zoo, and the Swan River, with Fremantle, Margaret River, and the Swan Valley all driveable. Onsite facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre with steam rooms, and an outdoor pool (the pool area is currently closed for refurbishment and is expected to reopen in approximately August 2026).
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.
Northern Territory’s best family friendly hotels
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.
