School holidays are a busy time to get away with the family, but it is possible to find an outback, beach or snowy destination with great value rooms at the last minute.
Empty out the school books and start packing the holiday snacks! We’ve rounded up the destinations with great value accommodation choices, based on what Aussie families spent on average last year * (for two grown-ups and two kids).
Pack up the car and take the family on a road trip to a destination close to you:
SA: Port Augusta – $157
Ever wanted to explore more of your own ‘backyard’? Port Augusta is a quintessential outback town with loads of classic Australian character. Stop off at the Wadlata Outback Centre and take the kids through the ‘Tunnel of Time’, stepping through the giant jaws of Max the Ripper Lizard to learn about fossils and how the Flinders Ranges were formed. Port Augusta is also a great base for a day trip to the Flinders Ranges (less than a two and a half hour drive) with the family.
Image credit: SATC, Adam Bruzzone
VIC: Falls Creek – $162
Don’t want winter to end? Experience the last days of winter wonderland at Falls Creek, a four and a half hour drive from Melbourne. Make a snowman, take the kids tobogganing or snow tubing (a great affordable option) and then sip hot chocolates and treat yourselves to donuts at Snonuts. A great spot for a first snow holiday and you’ll avoid the peak season rush!
VIC: Warrnambool – $167
Located on the Great Ocean Road,Warrnambool is a town with great beaches, parks and activities to keep the family entertained. There’s plenty to do at Lake Pertobe Playground, from finding your way through mazes, zipping along flying foxes and going on a boat ride on the lake. Our beach pick is Lady Bay, it’s great for swimming and kayaking but also as a self-guided tour of the shipwrecks.
QLD: Bargara – $168
Located just south of the world famous turtle conservatory of Mon Repos is the hidden gem beach town, Bargara. Both Nielsen’s and Kelly’s Beaches are great beaches for swimming and fishing. Just 15 minutes away is the botanic gardens where the family can catch a ride through the gardens on a steam train once used to carry sugar cane. For a cool refreshing treat, take the kids to Bundaberg Brewed Drinks and The Barrel where the kids can enjoy a ginger beer and find out how it’s made. Down the road is also the iconic Bundaberg Rum distillery which offers family tours.
QLD: Hervey Bay – $174
September and October are the best months to visit Hervey Bay to see the Humpback Whales as they make their way along the coast. There is also plenty to do on dry land with the natural wonders of Fraser Island located just 30 minutes away by ferry.
NSW: Coffs Harbour – $174
Going to Coffs Harbour to visit the Big Banana is an Aussie childhood rite of passage. The water park at the Big Banana is hours of fun and when the kids get tired of that, go swimming or make sandcastles at Coffs Harbour’s laid back beaches.
TAS: Launceston – $175
Launceston is full of history and interesting places to explore as a family. Places like Cataract Gorge, Brickfield Reserve and Princes Square provide hours of fun for inquisitive young minds. It’s a great spot to relax and unwind.
QLD: Cairns – $177
You don’t need to go far to enjoy a family holiday among palm trees and tropical beaches. Take the kids swimming at Cairns Esplanade Lagoon or get adventurous and take a cable car on the Skyrail, gliding above the rainforest canopy. A hot insider tip is to visit Trinity Beach and have a BBQ along the beachfront or take a picnic to Crystal Cascades (a 20 minute drive from Cairns city centre), a hidden tropical rainforest spot only the locals really know about.
VIC: Ballarat – $178
We think we’ve struck school holiday gold in Ballarat! This historic gold mining town is the ideal holiday getaway for the history buffs in the family. Why not try your hand at panning for gold at Sovereign Hill or visit the museum at the site of the historic Eureka Stockade.
NSW: Ulladulla – $181
Close to some of the best beaches and surfing on the south coast of New South Wales and national parks, Ulladulla offers the best of both. Only five minutes’ drive away, the beach at Mollymook is spectacular and dolphins are often spotted in the surf. It’s a 40 minute drive to the coastal walks of Murramarang National Park. The best part is Ulladulla is only a three hour’s drive from Sydney!
Image credit: Jann Tuxford, Destination NSW
QLD: Airlie Beach – $192
If you can’t wait for summer then Airlie Beach is the spot to go this school holidays. With so many pristine beaches to choose from and temperatures into the high 20’s, this is the ideal getaway for any family looking for an early start to summer. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
*Based on the average daily rate for 3 – 5 star rated and self-rated accommodation bookings for two adults and two children on Wotif.com from September – October 2015 for travel dates 19 September – 10 October 2015 for the described destinations. Prices shown are in Australian dollars and are not the rates displayed on the site. Rates are subject to accommodation selections made.