There are hundreds of cool spots around Australia that kids and their parents can both enjoy. Source: News Limited

There are plenty of options around Australia for families of all ages, with a range of budgets.

Queensland

Gold Coast theme parks are hugely popular for families — screams included. Source: News Limited

The beaches and theme parks of the Gold Coast are one of Australia’s top family holiday spots — and for good reason. There’s plenty to do for people of all ages; whether it’s Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, Movie World, or for the more adventurous, White Water World.

This might be scarier than a roller coaster for some ... but kids of all ages love the Currumbin Bird sanctuary. Picture: Geoff McLachlan Source: News Corp Australia

If you’re looking for something a bit more low key, other areas of Queensland might suit your family. The Sunshine Coast has plenty of options — from the Glasshouse Mountains, to Noosa Heads you’ll find a place for a relaxing break here (and you’re still close to plenty of theme parks for the kids. Aussie World anyone?)

The lagoon in the middle of Cairns is a great place to cool off after a day exploring Far North Queensland Source: News Corp Australia

Far North Queensland is also hugely popular for families. Cairns is a great place to base yourself — not only is there a fantastic lagoon and playground on the waterfront, you’ll be within an hour’s drive of the up-market resort towns of Palm Beach and Port Douglas. Fitzroy Island is popular for families, as it’s only 45 minutes from Cairns. You’ll be able to hire snorkel equipment on the island itself, and spend the day exploring the great barrier reef before jumping back on a ferry to Cairns at the end of the day. Exploring the rainforest is also easy from Cairns — with Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest not too far away. For those looking for something less ‘touristy’, Crystal Cascades is a popular local waterfall and swimming hole which is a perfect place to cool down.

New South Wales

It might be Australia’s most populous state, but there are many beaches like Pambula where families can escape the crowds. Source: Supplied

You won’t know it looking at Bondi, but there are plenty of beaches perfect for families of all ages along the NSW coast.

From the Sapphire Coast in the Far South, towns like Merimbula and Pambula have been popular for Victorians looking to escape icy southern waters for many years. Both towns have inlet beaches as well as surf beaches — so they’re good options for families with different aged children. There’s even a nearby fun park — Magic Mountain — if the kids tire of endless days of on the beach, and want to try tobogganing down the hill on a giant metal slide.

Another option on the south coast is Kioloa Beach Holiday Park. Spend your days exploring rockpools, spotting kangaroos and playing on what is essentially a private beach. You can camp or stay in cabins, and there will be plenty of other families to make friends with too.

It’s not too early to start planning your winter break. Selwyn snowfields in southern NSW is one of the most child-friendly snow resorts in Australia — with easy access to tobogganing and snow tubing. Source: Supplied

If you’re looking to plan your winter fun, Selwyn snowfields are a great family option. It’s great value compared to some of the other ski resorts, there’s an easily accessible toboggan run (which is a cheap way of sampling the snow), there’s great cafes, and the mountain roads are an easy drive.

On the north coast, Jetty Beach at Coffs Harbour is popular with families. There’s great parks here, and a safe beach for the kids to swim in.

For families looking to get away from larger beach towns, Seal Rocks is a perfect hideaway for a family. There’s a fantastic caravan park opposite the Number One Beach, and lots of little rock pools for the kids to explore. There’s also a lighthouse — there’s a pretty steep climb to the top, which might rule out little kids — but the view is worth it.

If you’re looking for a country holiday, maybe try Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo — where you can camp out, and really experience the safari atmosphere.

The Jenolan Caves might be a bit much for little kids — but older kids will love exploring the huge underground world. Source: Supplied

Alternatively, Jenolan Caves on the western side of the Blue Mountains is great for older kids (you’ll struggle dragging toddlers and babies up and down the stairs). The caves are the largest in Australia, and the oldest in the world. There are plenty of accommodation options on site (or you could explore the region as a day trip from Sydney — although it’s about 3 hours from the city).

Victoria

There’s many places along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria for families to stop and explore. Source: Supplied

There’s plenty of diverse holiday options for families in this compact state.

The surf coast, west of Melbourne is famous for the Great Ocean Road, Bells Beach, and Torquay. Venture a little further, and you’ll find some fantastic family friendly towns such as Aireys Inlet and Apollo Bay.

Further west, kids will get a kick out of the Shipwreck Coast — where you can explore the 12 Apostles plus other limestone formations such as London Bridge. The western Victorian town of Warrnambool even has a ‘Shipwrecked Sound and Laser Show’, telling the stories of the many shipping disasters of the region.

The penguin parade on Victoria’s Philip Island attracts thousands of visitors, but you can still get up close to the action. Source: Supplied

If you’re looking for a quiet beach escape, head to South Gippsland. The region is generally less developed than the coast west of Melbourne, and includes Phillip Island, home to a nightly penguin parade, where hundreds of little penguins come in from the surf and waddle up the sand dunes every evening. The island is also home to a koala conservation centre, as well as the Nobbies — home to hundreds of fur seals.

There’s a number of perfect hidden bays along the Bunurong Coastal Drive in Gippsland. Source: Supplied

Further east, Inverloch is a great town for families, with a wide surf beach, plus an inlet beach for younger kids. It’s close to Bunurong Marine Park, with plenty of stunning hidden beaches to explore (beware — many of them are only accessible by steep stairs — not great with prams).

There’s also many inland options for Victorian holidays too.

Ballarat is a great place to base yourself for a family getaway. The centre of the Victorian goldfields, kids (and adults) will enjoy exploring Sovereign Hill, which is a recreated 1850s gold rush town. There’s also a sound and light show run every night which tells the story of the Eureka Stockade.

Sovereign Hill is a recreated 1850s gold mining town where kids can even pan for gold. Source: Supplied

The Murray River is also a popular holiday spot, with many camping options. Yarrawonga on the shore of Lake Mulwala is a favourite spot for families who enjoy water skiing.

Northern Territory

It’s a long drive, but sunrise over Uluru is worth the journey. Source: Supplied

The remote Territory is a brilliant place for a family holiday. It’s vast — and people often base themselves either in Central Australia (to explore Alice Springs, Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta), or Darwin (Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine and Darwin itself).

If you’re basing yourself in Alice Springs, kids will enjoy checking out the Alice Springs Desert Park, or even see how remote kids go to school, with the Alice Springs School of the Air open to the public.

Uluru is about five hours from Alice Springs (depending on how fast you drive). But many people head to Kings Canyon to explore, before heading to Uluru itself (be aware — for families with little kids, an overnight stop is recommended if you’re doing this). Uluru and Kata Tjuta (formally known as The Olgas) are less than an hour apart, and can both be easily explored if you’re staying at the Ayers Rock Resort (a collection of hotels, hostels and a camping area not far from Uluru itself).

Mindil Beach sunset markets in Darwin are open twice a week through the dry season. Source: News Corp Australia

If you’re basing yourself in Darwin, be prepared for the seasons. The dry season is May-September, and is very busy with other tourists, but families will probably find it most comfortable. The heat and humidity often starts building up from late August / early September, and the rainy season starts in November / December.

Darwin itself is fantastic for kids. They’ll love checking out the crocs in the middle of the city at Crocosaurus Cove, grab some dinner at Stokes Hill Wharf and look at the huge fish in the water below. If the kids (and you) are up for hand feeding those fish, head down to Aquascene, where the fish swim right up to the shallows to eat out of your hand.

You can’t feed all of the aquatic life in the territory — there is the danger of a croc chomping your arm — off — but fish will eat out of your hand at Aquascene in Darwin. Picture: Jennie Groom Source: News Limited

Everyone will enjoy Mindil Beach markets, where you can feast on a huge variety of food while watching a spectacular sunset. And older kids especially will especially enjoy the Deckchair Cinema — a spectacular outdoor cinema (you’ll be able to grab a cheap meal there too).

The best way to escape the heat is to head to one of the huge and free water parks — both Leanyer water park and Palmerston water park have huge water slides and play areas to suit both younger and older kids.

The Leanyer Water park is one of two free water parks in Darwin — both have play areas designed for all ages. Source: News Limited

The more adventurous will love heading out of town to the jumping croc cruises — huge crocodiles lurching out of the water to attack a lump of meat hanging from the side of the boat. It’s as scary as it sounds.

About 90 minutes south of Darwin is Litchfield National Park. It’s a great day trip from Darwin — with lots of stunning swimming spots such as Florence Falls, great walks, and some bizarre landscapes dotted with termite mounds.

You won’t go swimming in a Territory river after checking out the jumping croc cruise. Source: News Limited

Three hours east of Darwin (and worth an overnight trip at least) is Kakadu. This huge national park is very different in the wet and dry season — so do your research before you head off. If you’re there in the wet, much of it is inaccessible, but taking a scenic flight over the park will be spectacular.

Explore the dramatic gorges of Nitmiluk National Park. Source: Supplied

Around three hours south of Darwin near Katherine, is Nitmiluk National Park (also known as Katherine Gorge). The spectacular gorge system can be explored via tour boat or kayak (but watch out for the freshwater crocs if you go for a swim!).

South Australia

There’s plenty of wildlife to meet on Kangaroo Island. Source: Supplied

This huge state has some incredible holiday spots for families to explore.

Get your adventure on and check out Robe on the south east coast of the state. Long Beach is one of the few beaches in Australia that you can drive along. The 12km stretch of beach is great for 4 wheel driving and fishing and surf kayaking while other beaches in the area are great for smaller kids.

Kangaroo Island, which is accessible either via ferry from Cape Jervis, or short flight from Adelaide is known for its remote scenery, incredible wildlife, and stunning beaches. Parents will enjoy the local food and wine grown in the region, while adventurous kids will love the adventure side of the island — explore the island via a quad bike or boat, where they’ll be able to spot dolphins, seals and whales.

Horseshoe Bay on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide is a popular family camping spot. Source: Supplied

Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide is popular with families. This beach is safe for little kids, but often has enough surf for fun boogie boarding. There’s also some great walks and stunning scenery to explore, plus a good range of cafes and shops in the town.

For kids that want to imagine they’re batman living in a bat cave; a trip to the underground town of Coober Pedy will be a hit. Source: Supplied

If you want to experience something completely different, check out Coober Pedy in the far north of the state. Many of the buildings in this outback opal mining town are underground to escape the heat. Kids will love the novelty of sleeping in dug out bedrooms, and you can explore some of the mines too.

Western Australia

Greens Pool near Denmark is a sheltered beach perfect for kids. Picture: Stewart Allen Source: News Limited

Australia’s largest state is worth the trip.

If your kids won’t sit long in the car, don’t think you can’t get out and explore Western Australia.

The southwest region isn’t far from Perth, and there are plenty of stunning beaches, plus stunning inland regions (such as tree top forest walks) to explore. Valley of the Giants near Denmark will give you the chance to explore ancient forests from the tops of the trees to the forest floor.

If your family is free of vertigo, checking out the bush from the Valley of the Giants walk will be a hit. Source: Supplied

Greens Pool within William Bay national park near Denmark is a popular sheltered spot for families. The beach is surrounded by sloping rock formations, which create small pools — perfect for young children.

North of Perth, the Coral Coast is a hugely popular region for families of all ages. Swim with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef, feed dolphins at Monkey Mia, and watch migrating whales from Coral Bay. The town itself is a great place to base yourself, as everyone (including small kids) will be able to enjoy snorkelling on the reef.

Check out the whale sharks off Ningaloo Reef on Western Australia’s Coral Coast. Source: Supplied

In the far north of the state, Broome’s famous Cable Beach will captivate people of all ages. Take a camel ride along the wide sand, hovercraft on the low tides of Roebuck Bay, or sail along and enjoy the sunset.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure (and the kids aren’t ones to ask ‘are we there yet’ every five minutes), a trip along the Gibb River Road could be a great option. Picture: © Catherine Sutherland / Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine Source: Supplied

For the more adventurous — those with a 4WD can drive the Gibb River Road between Broome and Kununurra. It’s a 650km dirt road, with many scenic waterholes to stop and explore. You’ll need to be confident in driving off road, as the road includes river crossings, and isn’t open during the wet season. But if you’re still keen, there are plenty of places to camp for a memorable family holiday.

Tasmania

Port Arthur is a great way for school-age kids in particular to learn about Australia’s history. Source: Supplied

There’s plenty to offer families in this compact state.

In Hobart, kids (and their chocoholic parents) will love the Cadbury Factory, where visitors can sample raw ingredients and the finished product. Salamanca Markets, open every Saturday should be on the itinerary too.

About an hour south of Hobart, Port Arthur is window into the convict heritage of the Island. The site is quite large, and covers all areas of convict life, including housing and different types of work. Because of this — it would be difficult to take little kids in a pram. Older children will enjoy the ghost tours which are held after sunset each evening. There is also a memorial to the victims of the massacre that occurred there in 1996.

It’s a walk to get there, but the views of pristine Wineglass Bay are spectacular. Source: Supplied

While it’s not often thought of as a beach destination, Tasmania has some of the most stunning beaches in Australia. Wineglass Bay on the east coast is a perfectly round bay which can be seen from a lookout above. The hike down to the beach will test young kids though, so best left to older families. Further north, the Bay of Fires is surrounded by spectacular ‘fire’ red rocks which are great for people of all ages to explore.

The town of Bicheno is also on the east coast, and is a great stop for families exploring Tasmania. The small town is home to a penguin tour, where little penguins will waddle right past you on their way from the beach each evening. The town also features a huge blow hole, which can be viewed from the carpark (if you’ve got runaway toddlers), but older kids will love climbing on the rocks to have a closer look.

Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park is a good option for an active family holiday ... but might be best to wait until the kids are out of a stroller! Source: Supplied

For more adventurous families, there are stunning walks in the Cradle Mountain Lake St Claire national park to explore. While a five-day hike might be too much, there are a number of shorter walks which will give you the chance to sample the stunning park.

ACT

Getting hands on with science. Picture: Questacon, Canberra Source: Supplied

Canberra is home to some of the nation’s most interesting museums, and is a great place for a family to explore for a few days.

Questacon is the national science and technology centre, and is a great place for kids to get a hands on education about how scientific stuff works. With a dedicated miniQ area for toddlers and young children, to exhibits such as playing music using light beams — great fun for older kids — there is plenty to do for families.

The Discovery Zone at the Australian War Memorial will help kids learn about our military history. Source: Supplied

The National War Memorial is a constantly evolving museum honouring Australia’s involvement in conflicts starting from the Colonial era, through to current battles. You can even discover your own family’s war history. There’s a dedicated ‘Discovery Zone’, giving kids of all ages the chance to explore everything from a trench on the WW1 Western to a submarine, a and a helicopter from Vietnam.

Taking a tour of the Australian Institute of Sport will show you just what it takes to become an elite athlete. You might even get to see some of our top athletes in training.

Older kids will get a kick out of a trip to the mint, where they can mint their own dollar coin; and a trip to Parliament House is interesting — especially during sitting.

DAY TRIP IDEAS

Sydney

• Taronga Zoo’s new Wildropes Course

• Watch planes take off and the ships leave Botany Bay from Bare Island at La Parouse

• Check out the exhibitions at Australia’s National Maritime Museum

• Go for a walk, or have a picnic in the Botanic Gardens in the heart of Sydney

• Head down to the southern highlands to check out the brilliantly interactive Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral.

• Check out Australia’s largest slot car centre in Penrith

Melbourne

• Lego fanatics can check out Brickvention, a Lego convention in January 2015

• The National Sport Museum at the MCG is an interactive museum for sports lovers of all ages.

• Galactic Circus — Australia’s largest indoor interactive theme park

• Collingwood Children’s farm

• The Grid — Simulated F1

• Wonderland fun — Funpark in the Docklands

• Go on an African safari at the Werribee Open Range Zoo

Brisbane

• Fans of The Lion King will love the free Art of the Lion King exhibition, which traces the journey of the story from animated movie to touring musical. It’s open until late January 2015.

• The State Library has set up The Corner — an area for 0 — 8 year olds to explore through creative play, reading and online games.

• North of the city, Settlement Cove Lagoon in Redcliffe is a huge lagoon perfect for kids who enjoy shallow water play. There’s also a water play area and picnic areas.

Adelaide

• Saint Kilda Adventure Playground — Free park with flying fox, giant wave slide and maze

• Cleland Wildlife Park — Native animal centre, many roam free around the park

• Bounce — huge indoor trampolining centre

• The Beachouse — Take the kids on the tram to Glenelg, and check out this fun park

Perth

• Learn about the world of science in your backyard at Scitech

• Waterslides and crazy rides at Outback Splash

• Kids will love learning about how our world works at the Gravity Centre

• City Beach and Hillary’s Boat Harbour and beach both have playgrounds and safe swimming areas for young kids.

Hobart

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) offers programs for families such as art workshops and kid-friendly audio tours.

• Tasmazia and the Village of Lower Crackpot will keep kids of all ages entertained all day. There’s a collection of eight mazes (including one designed for toddlers), and a miniature village to explore.

• Check out the free Phenomena Factory, an interactive science centre for kids of all ages.

Canberra

• Learn about some of the work our top scientists are doing at the CSIRO Discovery Centre

• Wander around a miniature village at Cockington Green Gardens

• Head for a walk around Lake Burley Griffin; or even hire a boat or bike to explore.

Darwin

• Learn about Cyclone Tracey, crocodiles and indigenous Art at the The Museum and Art Gallery of the NT

• Have a swim among the pandanas at Berry Springs, about 45 minutes out of the city (dry season only).

• Enjoy the sunset, a bite to eat, then a movie at the Deckchair Cinema (dry season).

• Learn about the bombing of Darwin during WW2 at the Darwin Military Museum.