Eight affordable destinations perfect for family holidays
If money’s too tight to mention, these budget-busting destinations make for the perfect family getaway both at home and overseas.
Bali, Indonesia
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Year-round balmy weather, family-friendly beach clubs, gorgeous beaches – not to mention affordability – see tens of thousands of Australian families flock to Bali annually (boy, did we miss it during border closures). Even sprawling luxurious resorts can be booked at beer budget prices. Villas are also a great option allowing for self-catering and most come with staff to shop and cook for you. Ideally opt for villas with a pool, air-conditioning and wifi (Netflix is desirable) for when you want to escape the tropical heat. Choose stays with easy access to restaurants, bars, beach clubs and shops to avoid spending too much time and money getting around and avoid peak periods of July, August and December to save on accommodation and flights. indonesia.travel/au
Fiji
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.
With tropical fish-filled waters, warm weather and locals who adore kids, Fiji’s a no-brainer for families. While luxury resorts abound, affordable family-friendly options do too – often with kid’s club included in the tariff. To ensure holiday costs don’t spiral, look for resorts offering meal packages, kids stay and eat free deals, avoid school holidays and stay on the mainland of Viti Levu to avoid expensive boat or flight transfers. The Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Shangri-La Yanuca Island and Radisson Blu Resort Fiji are all well priced for families. If your heart’s set on the islands look at Toberua or Plantation Island Resorts. You’ll be snoozing in a hammock before you can say Bula. See fiji.travel
Yeppoon, Queensland
The idyllic Great Keppel Island off the coast of Yeppoon in Queensland. Credit: Tourism Queensland
Tipped as a destination to watch with Bonza launching new direct flights to Rockhampton Airport (30 minutes drive away), Yeppoon is low-key family destination. Take a dip in the free infinity-edge lagoon or let the kids loose on the nearby Keppel Kraken zero-depth water park. Great Keppel Island is a 30-minute ferry ride away for snorkelling off one of 17 beaches. Or take your pick from mainland stretches of sand including Main Beach, Cooee Bay, Kemp and Lammermoor. The Beachside Holiday Caravan Park is ideal for families on a budget, or pull up at the laid-back boho Surfside Motel on Yeppoon’s beachfront with its colonial-meets-the-tropics aesthetic. All 12 rooms come with ensuites, kitchenettes, air conditioning, wifi and smart TV. The pick is the newly built Pandanus Room with sparkling ocean vistas and the newly opened beachfront house – perfect for families. From $170 per night. yeppoonsurfsidemotel.com.au; beachsidecaravanparkyeppoon.com.au; visitcapricorn.com.au
Port Stephens, NSW
Port Stephens.Credit:
Generations of Sydneysiders come again and again to this coastal hotspot with the southern hemisphere’s largest coastal sand dunes and azure water lapping 26 beaches. Families can dune surf, take camel rides and even swim with wild dolphins. Steer clear of summer and Easter as prices can get eye watering; winter is particularly affordable. Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort with the southern hemisphere’s largest swimming pool and glamping at the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary are two family-friendly options. Nelson Palms Motel, meanwhile, is strolling distance to three of Port Stephen’s most beautiful beaches. Think Hamptons-inspired drive up rooms, including a three-bedroom family suite, manicured gardens and swaying palms. From $185 a night. portstephens.org.au; nelsonpalms.com.au
Queenstown, New Zealand
Holiday Inn Remarkables Park, Queenstown.
It’s possible to visit New Zealand’s adventure capital – strewn with luxury hotels and lodges, swanky wineries and heart-pumping, budget busting activities – without burning a hole in your wallet. Hike the Ben Lomond Track, walk or cycle Lake Hayes, wander the Queenstown Gardens and try frisbee golf (free) before picnicking by the lake. Catch the bus to Arrowtown (just $1 with a Bee card; $2 without) offering half price fares until June 30, and explore the historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement before panning for gold in the Arrow River. Finish the day with free fudge tasting at The Remarkables Sweet Shop. Queenstown’s autumn and spring shoulder seasons are by far the most affordable times to visit. Base yourself at the new Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park located five minutes from the airport without mortgaging the house. The 182-room property offers a ‘Very Important Kids (VIK)’ program whereby guests 12 years and under stay and eat free, as well as receive discounts at attractions including SITE Trampoline, Game Over indoor karting and Basecamp Adventures. See queenstownnz.co.nz; queenstownremarkables.holidayinn.com
Vanuatu
Iririki Island Resort & Spa.
Close to home (just 3.5 hours from Sydney) with crystal clear waters, welcoming locals and Melanesian culture, Vanuatu is a winner for families. Island hop, see the world’s most accessible volcano and swim in blue holes the colour of sapphires. Many accommodation options offer self-catering cooking facilities or are based near downtown Port Vila, so families can save by eating at markets or small restaurants serving fresh, locally grown fare. Resorts including Iririki Island Resort offer savings on stays of four nights or more while Matevulu Lodge on Santo offers a package of $997 for four people for four nights including a family photo shoot. See vanuatu.travel and vanuatu.travel/au/deals
Gold Coast, Queensland
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa.
Sun, surf and theme parks makes the Gold Coast a bucket-list family destination. A vibrant new arts precinct, burgeoning food scene, stunning beaches, rainforest and wildlife offer seemingly endless kid-friendly fun. Breakfast with koalas at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, learn to surf, journey with a traditional custodian on Gold Coast’s Jellurgal (‘Dreaming’) Mountain or picnic with an alpaca. To save on theme parks book a multi-day pass, BYO snacks and purchase refillable drinks. Family-friendly accommodation abounds including the multi-award-winning JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa, fresh from a $35 million rebrand, or head for the World Heritage Lamington National Park where tree top, glow-worm and nocturnal walks await at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – which has been welcoming families since 1926. See destinationgoldcoast.com; marriott.com; oreillys.com.au
Vietnam
Lanterns in Hoi An, Vietnam.Credit: iStock
Explore hawker markets, slurp pho, ride a buffalo or take a fun cooking class. Vietnam’s not only a fun, adventurous family destination – it also offers terrific value thanks to the strong Aussie dollar and cheap flights with airlines including Bamboo Airways, Jetstar and newly launched VietJet Air. Take a Vespa tour through bustling streets, cycle rice fields and swim at languid beaches dotted along the country’s gorgeous coastline. You can dine for next to nix at street stalls and small shops selling banh mi, Vietnamese pancakes and noodles, and live like royalty at luxurious hotels and resorts offering bargain rates. See vietnam.travel
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