Long Weekend Getaways for the Whole Family

For many of us, a long weekend is a sacred thing that gives us a minute to relax, unwind and let loose after a weeks of working a 9-5 grind. For parents, long weekends pose a unique challenge: trying to relax and enjoy themselves while keeping their little ones equally entertained.

Luckily for us, Australia is a veritable wonderland of breathtakingly beautiful and family-friendly getaway destinations. Start planning your next long weekend with our list of the best long weekend getaways for the whole family.

Central Coast

With unbeatable serenity and enviable proximity to Sydney, the Central Coast is the perfect spot for a long weekend getaway with kids. From beautiful beachside getaways like Avoca and Copacabana, there are so many charming coastal spots to explore at the central coast. 

With a couple of days to kill over the long weekend you could check out the Amazement Farm & Fun Park, just a short drive from the glamorous enclave of Killcare, there are petting zoos, pony rides and mazes for little ones to explore. If your catering for tiny thrill seekers then Treetops Adventure Park in Wyong Creek offers an exciting high ropes courses, flying foxes and suspension bridges. If your kids are troupers and don’t mind a long walk, head to Bouddi National Park and follow their coastal walk down to Putty Beach. 

Best Place To Stay: Central Coast

For luxury boutique accommodation and family-friendly cottages, check out Bells at Killcare.

Best Family Activity: Central Coast

Let your tiny thrill seekers loose at Treetops Adventure Park.

Best Natural Beauty: Central Coast

From beaches to native birdlife, there's a lot to love at Bouddi National Park.

Best Places To Eat: Central Coast

The Boathouse Patonga, come for the stylish aesthetics stay for the $2 potato scallop and some of the freshest seafood on the Central Coast.

South Coast

The South Coast of New South Wales is one of the best spots for a rejuvenating and tranquil getaway. With so many great towns to choose from you can’t go wrong with any of these small towns.

Kiama is unmissable for both its heritage and mind-blowing natural beauty, with the Kiama blowhole and Carrington Falls which is one of our favourite waterfalls in NSW. Hyams Beach with their world renowned white sand and calm waters is a great spot for a beach day with the family.

On the foodie front Berry is full of artisan treats and charming cafes. Bannisters in nearby Mollymook is the go-to spot for local fine dining with Bannisters being the regions gold standard for luxury accommodation and world-class eats courtesy of Rick Stein. 

Best Place To Stay: South Coast

With Rick Stein food and ocean front views, what's not to love about Bannisters?

Best Family Activity: South Coast

Let your little animals run wild at Mogo Zoo!

Best Natural Beauty: South Coast

Whitest sand in the world, need we say more? Hyams Beach. 

Best Places to Eat: South Coast

Explore the foodie wonderland that is Berry. 

Blue Mountains

Perfect for those crisp wintery mornings when a breakfast isn’t complete without a hot chocolate or bowl of coffee, the Blue Mountains offers a charming escape from the bustle of Sydney and the opportunity to wind down amongst nature.

When visiting the Blue Mountains taking every advantage to lookout at the Three Sisters and the dramatic Jamison Valley below is absolutely mandatory. Missing it would be downright sacrilegious! Check it out from Echo Point or make the kids day by taking them to Scenic World where you can checkout the Skyway, cableway or Scenic railway.

Be sure to carve out some time to spend at Lilianfels. The luxury resort that welcomes kids is the perfect way to keep the whole family happy. Make sure you give your best to Sir Fred, the teddy bear mascot who has been a friend to many of Lilianfels’ littlest guests over the decades. Another major win? Lilianfels offers in room babysitting and childcare for parents in need of a kid-free night.

Best Place To Stay: Blue Mountains

Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, luxury accommodation and on-site babysitters? Yes, please!

Best Family Activity: Blue Mountains

Scenic World because no trip to the Blue Mountains is complete without a cable car  ride.

Best Natural Beauty: Blue Mountains

The stars of the show, check out The Three Sisters & The Jamison Valley.

Best Places To Eat: Blue Mountains

Did you know that Darley’s, a very high-end, hatted restaurant with a three-course set menu for adults, also has a children’s menu? Score a world class feast while your kids enjoy some more age appropriate feeds. 

Hunter Valley

Yes, we understand the confusion at first glance but hear us out. The Hunter Valley has long been known for its vast vineyards and fine dining, but who’s to say that we can’t fashion this type of trip into one that suits the whole family? Really, it’s child’s play.

If you’re planning your getaway during the warmer months, knowing where to find the best swim spot is crucial. Lake St Clair, 30-minutes north of Singleton, is the perfect location for relaxing days by the water; with sailing, water skiing, camping and fishing there is an activity to keep everyone happy. The Hunter Valley Gardens are an enchanting place to explore with 25 acres of immaculately manicured garden and themed feature gardens that will get the kids’ imaginations running wild.

If you’ve reached your limit with activities, hotels like the Crowne Plaza are more than happy to lend a hand with a kids club and games room. To keep planning check out our family friendly guide to the Hunter Valley.

Best Place To Stay: Hunter Valley

For family-friendly accommodation, check out Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley in Lovedale

Best Family Activity: Hunter Valley

With imaginative gardens and a dinosaur night safari with fossil dig, the Hunter Valley Gardens are the perfect spot for a family fun day.

Best Natural Beauty: Hunter Valley

Marvel at the natural beauty of Lake St Clair.

Best Places To Eat: Hunter Valley

For hatted dinning with a $30 two-course kids menu, check out Circa 1876.  

Bells Beach

Bells Beach is an unmissable surfer’s paradise and the perfect spot for your next family mini-break. Located along the iconic Great Ocean Road, this is destination for your next epic road trip. With great places to stay, gorgeous beaches and nature reserves, great family friendly restaurants and just one and a half hours southwest of Melbourne, this spot ticks all the boxes. 

Best Place To Stay: Bells Beach

Castaway Cove is one of the very best accommodation options in Bells Beach. Sleeping up to 11 people, this expansive property offers treetop views along with a pool, decks, outdoor fireplace and a chef’s kitchen. It’s just minutes away from the surf but, with amenities like these, you might never want to leave the house.

Best Family Activity: Bells Beach

If there's anything parents have in common it's a healthy respect for a good playground and Torquay Foreshore Play Park is a truly great playground.

Best Natural Beauty: Bells Beach

Bells Beach: truly beautiful!

Best Places To Eat: Bells Beach

Check out the Beach Hotel for fancy pub feeds and a kid’s menu that serves up everything from dino nuggets to frog in a pond.

Phillip Island

Ninety minutes south of Melbourne, Phillip Island, with its turquoise waters and famous penguins, is the perfect family getaway. With long stretches of pristine coastline and a cute-as-a-button family destination at Churchill Island Heritage Farm, Phillip Island is full of Instagrammable hot spots. Though, without a doubt, the main drawcard is Penguin Parade where you can see the famous little penguins make their way up the beach. With so much on offer, you might not even have to pull out the ultimate kiddie treat, the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. 

To learn more or to keep planning this getaway, check out our guide to Phillip Island. 

Best Place To Stay: Phillip Island

Add a bit of luxury to your family camping trip with Phillip Island Glamping.

Best Family Activity: Phillip Island

Watch Phillip Islands most famous residents strut their stuff at the Penguin Parade.  

Best Natural Beauty: Phillip Island

Check out the beautiful Cowes Beach.

Best Places To Eat: Phillip Island

Delicate dishes, local artisan ingredients and a kids menu? The Cape Kitchen is the absolutely perfect spot for a family getaway.

Busselton

With calm blue waters, white sand beaches and a legendarily long jetty, Busselton is perfect Perth spot for a long weekend getaway. The 1.8km jetty has six underwater observatories, a jetty train, underwater restaurants and scuba and whale watching activities. Honestly, you might be able to spend the entire long weekend at Busselton Jetty alone! So, book your next long weekend family getaway at this quaint Western Australian town. 

Best Place To Stay: Busselton

For family accommodation in an enviable location, check out Broadwater Resort. 

Best Family Activity: Busselton

Enjoy days worth of fun at Busselton Jetty.

Best Natural Beauty: Busselton

Check out 400-year old trees at the Tuart Forest National Park.

Best Places To Eat: Busselton

Kids and parents will both be ecstatic at Match Restaurant, Capel Vale Winery.

Rottnest Island

The 19-kilometre-squared island is the gem of Western Australia. Their most famous residents are, of course, the Quokkas! Perfect to explore by bike, with a stroller or by hopping on and off the Island Explorer bus, the jaw-droppingly beautiful island is accessible by ferry. Bring your snorkels and explore Little Salmon Bay which is full of plentiful reef pools, cliffs and rich in colourful marine life.  With calm waters, Rottnest is the perfect place for kids to try snorkelling for the first time!

Take a selfie with cheeky, friendly quokkas or join the free daily quokka tour which leaves from the Salt Store each day at 1pm. Explore the 63 secluded beaches and 20 pristine bays and see if you can catch a glimpse of the friendly fur seals that bask on the warm rocks. Make sure you get yourself something delicious to eat before you head back to the mainland or stay the night on the Island and prolong your stay in paradise!

Best Place To Stay: Rottnest Island

Depending on what your family needs, there are a whole range of accommodation options available on the island. You can check them out here.

Best Family Activity: Rottnest Island

Let's be honest, if you're planning a trip to Rottnest Island, you're doing it to hang out with these guys: the quokkas. The whole family will be able to enjoy the island's free daily quokka tour.

Best Natural Beauty: Rottnest Island

Honestly, this entire Island is a major hit of natural beauty but, if you're lost as to where to start when exploring this natural masterpiece, check out Little Salmon Bay or any of the other secluded bays or beaches.

Best Places To Eat: Rottnest Island

After a day of exploring, you'll have definitely earnt a delicious feed. Check out Hotel Rottnest.  

Kangaroo Island

Perfect for a family getaway, Kangaroo Island is renowned for its abundant native wildlife and picture perfect scenery. Although nearly half of Kangaroo Island’s landmass was burnt during the devastating bushfires of January 2020, this island getaway is still one of the most beautiful places in Australia. With wild sand dunes, the bold and dramatic Remarkable Rocks and gorgeous snorkeling opportunities over the Kangaroo Island Shipwreck Trail as well as friendly wildlife like the famous (and endangered) sea lions at Seal Bay or the eponymous kangaroos – this gorgeous spot should be at the top of any destination bucket list.  

If you’re coming from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island is just 30 minutes by plane or a 45 minute ferry from Cape Jervis. This truly is the perfect family getaway so, what are you waiting for? We promise you won't regret it.

Best Place To Stay: Kangaroo Island

There are so many beautiful places to stay on Kangaroo Island. If you're travelling with multiple families but want your own space, head to Middle River Beach House or check out our edit of all the best places to stay on Kangaroo Island for other great options.

Best Family Activity: Kangaroo Island

Get back in touch with nature and teach your kids about conservation by visiting the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, where a huge amount dedicated professionals are working to rehabilitate animals injured in the bushfires.

Best Natural Beauty: Kangaroo Island

Don't miss out on the breathtaking beauty of Vivonne Bay.

Best Places To Eat: Kangaroo Island

If your kids are adventurous eaters then you absolutely must stop by the scrumptious and sustainable Oyster Farm Shop but, if you’re looking for something equally delicious but a little less challenging for young taste buds, check out Millie Mae’s Pantry.

Barossa Valley

Similarly to the Hunter Valley, you wouldn’t think that this wine region was a good spot for family holidays but there are actually a lot of family-friendly activities. Just an hour from Adelaide City, the Barossa feels like a world of it’s own with artisans, breathtaking beauty and, of course, wine. Make a weekend of it by checking out the famous rolling hills and then stuffing yourself silly at local restaurants and gourmet food shops – if you get too full you can always roll down into the Valley! 

Plus, because we firmly believe that wine is a must for parent’s holidaying with their kids, make sure you check out the region's best vineyards.  

Best Place To Stay: Barossa Valley

There are a whole host of wonderful accommodation options in the beautiful Barossa Valley. Check out our accommodation recommendations.

Best Family Activity: Barossa Valley

Check out the epic playground at the Barossa Adventure Station in Angaston which is just walking distance from the delicious Barossa Valley Cheese Company where you can even order petite plates for cheese-loving kids complete with gingerbread. 

Best Natural Beauty: Barossa Valley

Stop to smell the flowers at Lydoch Lavender Farm.

Best Places To Eat: Barossa Valley

The Grain Store is a gourmet pie spot within the Pindarie Winery. There are lunchbox options for kiddos and, of course, delicious and well-deserved wines for all the parents. 

Feeling inspired by our edit of family-friendly long weekend getaways? Excited to keep planning your next long weekend? Check out our kid-friendly guide to Canberra or if you're looking for a resort-style getaway, check out our list of family-friendly resorts.