My husband and I started planning a trip to the land down under no less than six months before leaving. We secured our flights in an epic Cyber Monday deal on Air New Zealand, allowing my 3-year-old and me to sleep comfortably on a skycouch to and from the airport. A skycouch collapses a 3-row seating arrangement into a comfy bed. We slept like kings. So when we arrived, we could tackle some of these big adventures!
I also learned that only .2% of Americans visit Australia yearly, or roughly 650,000. This is surprising when 5% of Australians visit the States. And my kids had so much fun, and it is easy to travel here. So here’s my must-do list for a good family time out in Australia.
Family Activities in Australia to Do with Kids
1. Visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia
The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was a big hit for my kids. We splurged and held and took photos with koalas. The pelican and eel feeding was excellent at the start, and petting kangaroos together is something we will never forget. Locals told us we took photos with “big reds,” which are massive kangaroos in Australia. This one in the photo is just a baby, but some others are massive.
2. Go to Byron Bay with the whole family
First, upon arrival in Byron Bay, our local Aussie friends had handmade the local birds’ favorite seeds, complete with dog food mixed in to help with the calcium needed for strong beaks. Within the first few mornings, birds were eating out of my kids’ hands, and many return customers asked for more.
The Byron Bay Street Fair was also fantastic, and we got something special we needed—granola to help the gut, bug ointments, candles, handmade soap, and custom-made bell bottoms. There are only four a year, so consult local sites to learn when they are and plan a trip around it if you can. The one we went to was the Beachside Market featured on this website.
3. Find your way to the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was an incredible visit for our family and an easy drive from our accommodations in Byron Bay. It features some of the most giant geodes in the world, sacred bodhi trees, a Kora you can walk and pray around, and more. My kids were intrigued as we walked the grounds, enamored by the largest sparkles we’d ever seen and bamboo reeds that reached as tall as buildings. It was something I’ll never forget: praying, giving gratitude, and taking in all the energy of this beautiful place.
4. Take a paddle on Brunswick River as a family
I love standup paddling and reminisced with my oldest that they didn’t even have it when I was growing up. It didn’t take off until the 90s and was attributed to Laird Hamilton when he modernized it as a sport. Either way, I love it. We take turns paddling and taking in the sights. We saw sting rays, fish, pelicans, and kookaburras.
5. Go to The Farm in Byron Bay with your kids
The Farm in Byron Bay was also an excellent visit. There is a great cafe and playground for kids, and my favorite part was learning how to crack macadamia nuts with my kids using rocks. I love learning new things with them, and this was a perfect half-day activity, especially with my son, who loves tractors.
6. Visit some rainforests in Australia with your children
One of my unexpectedly favorite days of the trip was hiking at Mossman Gorge, where you end the easy hike in a beautiful cold plunge. The water is an electric green and so refreshing. The scenery was so peaceful, and the best part was that my 3-year-old could walk the whole thing, swinging from vines and having a blast. My other favorite rainforest destination with kids is combined with a Croc tour in Tip #8.
7. See the Great Barrier Reef — a family adventure!
We went to the inner reef, and it was a rather windy day, but the beauty of the inner reef is that there is a lovely island to hang out on. On one side, it’s very protected even if it’s windy. We saw over a handful of swimming turtles, even without snorkeling. And a rarely-seen heart urchin. We did try with my 3-year-old, but it was too much for him, given the weather. The ride over and back is worth it, as is the glory of this beautiful site.
8. Take a Crocodile Tour with your kids while in Australia
I love the zoos in Australia, and Cairns, the region where the Great Barrier Reef is, did not disappoint. They are far more interactive than ours in the States. The first Croc tour we went to was in open-air boats through Solar Whisper on the Daintree River, where we saw two males duke it out over their territory. From there, we took a car ferry to the oldest rainforest in the world. My oldest ate up the guided tour at the Daintree Discovery Centre. We had never known about Cassowary birds, which are critical to the reforestation of seeds in the rainforest.
On our second day of crocodile fun, we went to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to hand-feed the cassowaries and pet koalas and see no less than three different crocodile shows. The first, they take turns hand-feeding crocodiles in the enclosure with them; the second, via another enclosed boat tour where they feed them off the side of the boat; and the third, where they take some of the most dangerous crocs they have and hand-feed those. It’s lively, to say the least, and leads to a jam-packed day of learning and zoo fun.
Some notes about our family vacation to Australia
The stops on these must-do tips include the Gold Coast, where we flew into Brisbane and drove up to Byron. From Brisbane, we flew to Cairns for tips #6-8. We also rented a car upon arrival at each of these destinations. You must be prepared to adjust to a new way of driving on the opposite side of the car and road. I was grateful my husband did that, playing tour guide through and through.
At the end of our trip, we toured around Sydney, which isn’t included in the list above, but you don’t need a car as it’s a large metro. We visited the Sydney Opera House and ferried around there, and the city is entirely walkable. The Taronga Zoo in Sydney is also a must-see, with a seal show, platypus sighting, and then a bite at the Opera House. Since it’s a big city, the food is also AMAZING! I still hope to replicate the salmon poke bowl I grabbed on our way to Manly Beach.
Some other learnings—honey is healing. People and doctors swear their manuka honey products to cure many ailments. Their long break is during our holiday season, starting December through the end of January; a more minor 2-week break is in July. If going in July, you might want to time around breaks in those areas as the schools stagger them, which is genius but adds additional research you might want to do leading up.
Get in touch for more Australia travel tips with kids
Feel free to message me @momshineco on Instagram for any other specific questions, tips, or advice! I also fully endorse Kristina Watkins (kw_lux_travel) for any travel needs. You can learn more on our episode on family travel here on the pod.