Australia with a 6 and 3 year old

[Rabbitswhiskers]

So wise travellers of Mumsnet, we’re off to Australia next August for 2-3 weeks. Me, DH, DS6 & DD3.

What would you recommend as must do’s? Definitely going to spend a week in Sydney. Would love to do Melbourne or Kangaroo Island but think it might be a bit chilly in August.

Obvious choice is Goldcoast, but would like to do things that are unique to Australia not just theme parks.

Think the kids are a bit young for barrier reef/ far North Queensland. I’d love to see Uluru/ Red centre but think a bit boring for young kids.

WA seems a long way away and Darwin/NT again doesn’t look great for very young kids.

So has anyone been with kids this age? What was a must see?

We have been to Australia in August with a 11 and 12 year old and spent a week around Port Stephens/Sydney and a week around Cairns/Atherton Tablelands.

It was their hottest winter for a while and temps around Sydney were around 20C and sunny but more typical is 17C and rain. Further south will be colder and that's why we decided against. Of what we did Featherdale would be good for children that age you can have breakfast with a koala. We did a whale watching trip from Port Stephens on which we saw whales, dolphins and seals though is 3 hours so maybe too long for 3 year old, also can get similar trip from Sydney. I preferred Cairns / Tablelands area, this was around 27C which is typical - did Great Barrier Reef - they would probably be too young to snorkel and definitely for scuba diving but there's a glass bottom boat tour - I would maybe go to one on the Low Isles or somewhere like Fitzroy Island were you can play on the beach, there's an ocean trampoline. In Kuranda we all cuddled a koala at Koala Gardens and went on a crocodile boat tour, 45 mins and very suitable for young children. We have stayed with a lady here who looks after tree kangaroos and the children have fed pademelon, possum, tree kangaroo and a bettong here. Magnetic Island would also be good around 800 koalas there, around a 5 hour drive and ferry from here so would be best with a 2 night stay. There's also Daintree Rainforest.

Does it have to be August? I am in Sydney and it is a cold Winter here (we were happy to be in Europe for three weeks in July 😁). The weather used to warm up in August but not for the past couple of years. It's 16-19 max with lows down to four which is really unusual around here. If you are happy to rug up it is worth visiting the Blue Mountains (kids love Scenic world - google it - and the scenery is spectacularly Australian). Darling Harbour with Wildlife World and Sealife Centre would also be good for that age. Get a ferry to Manly (actually a ferry anywhere, great fun for kids) and think about hiring a car so you could check out Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park or get the L90 bus that takes you up to the Northern Beaches for a great family day out. I was in Melbourne this week and tbh I wouldn't do it in Winter with small kids. If you want good weather definitely head North but I can't advise. I haven't made it to Uluru yet in my eleven years here but would love to. Summer in Sydney is a whole different ballgame, loads of outdoor free stuff for families, beaches, picnics, very family friendly. We just tolerate Winter to get to the good stuff 😁

I’ve just done Melbourne/Sydney/Gold Coast with 6yo DS.

I’m really not a theme park fan but went for a day trip to Dreamworld in the Gold Coast and it was good to do lots of tickbox ‘Australian’ things in one place.

We fed kangaroos, cuddled koalas and tried digeridoos etc. The beaches are also beautiful and it’s that wee bit warmer than Melbourne was.

It was their hottest winter for a while and temps around Sydney were around 20C and sunny but more typical is 17C and rain

To be fair, rain is not exactly typical of Sydney in winter. The vast majority of the time it is clear and sunny.

OP, just remember that Australia is roughly the size of the mainland United States. You are only there for 2-3 weeks and are already spending one week in Sydney. You won't be able to do everything you want. It simply isn't possible. You would be pushing it to even do two states in that time.

In such a short time I'd say Sydney and Cairns.

You said the children are too young for the barrier reef but maybe not. They obviously won't be diving but the boat out to the reef is fun and so is the semi submersible.

Cairns also has the rain forest, and loads to do for adults and kids. It would make a good contrast to Sydney.

WA is a LONG way, if you go by train it takes something like a week from Sydney.

Don't forget to adding in rest days, the flight is 20 hours or more and you can get delays.

Personally I would fly via Singapore, there is a hotel and swimming pool at the airport, pack your swim stuff in your hand luggage.

Oh and I was once told off by immigration, apparently 2 weeks wasn't long enough - this was my third visit.

I second @ToesInWater about winter being chilly. Yes, it is usually sunny and clear, but it is mid winter and does rain. I am currently in Perth (WA) and am so so so sick of winter! We are heading north for some warmth this week (Broome, well worth a visit, but a 5 hr flight from Sydney).

That said, when we first moved from England we joked that August here and in London are about the same weather wise...
I would recommend you spend one week in Qld, further north. The best Australia has to offer for kids is the outdoor lifestyle (beaches, parks), which isn't at its best in southern Australia in August.

August is a great month for Qld and the red centre. Sydney will be ok for a city break. Melbourne would likely be cold, grey and miserable. September would be better for Sydney but there is still a good chance of wintery conditions.

Ps - the Gold Coast is dire. Australian Vegas, high rises galore.

Much better small wildlife refuges on the Sunshine Coast.

I would stay for 5 nights near Noosa, go to Fraser Island for 3 nights, Hamilton Island or Cairns and then 4 nights in Sydney (one of which at the Roar & Snore at Sydney's Taronga Zoo).

Do take the kids up to Queensland (or maybe Brisbane).
My 7 year old adored Port Douglas- reef, rain forest and beach this July. Karunda, Hartleys croc centre, inner reef boat trip to an island, maybe the aboriginal centre, beach (NB no beach in Cairns- amazing splash park tho).
Sydney -Taronga Zoo, Aquarium if there isn't one near you, Blue Mountains,

Personally, skip Melbourne. Lots of people will disagree with me - most people love it, I was a bit 'meh'.
I loved the out back, kids didn't really get much out of it.

2-3 weeks, with flying time to/from UK, I'd stick with a week in Sydney, and a week based around Brisbane or Cairns. Not necessarily staying in those places, but fly into them, and then drive out a bit.

Enjoy!

Why don’t you fly to Perth for a couple of days. Shorter flight from uk . It’s bloody cold here at the moment but a day in Kings Park and then some time in Fremantle ( the prison is cool).
Then fly to Sydney.
I really enjoyed the Gold Coast. We hired a car over there and drove to Brisbane for the day, Byron bay and went upto the hills.
North is certainly better if you want warmth.

We did this last Christmas. We spent four nights in Sydney which in hindsight was too long. Would recommend spending just a few night there if you must go and then more time in Port Stephens and Melbourne. It was the best trip we have ever done and are planning to go again next year. You’ll love it.

Sorry, re read your post. Our trip took us from North Queensland to Sydney and Melbourne. Our kids were six and four. Cairns was by far the best part of the trip - we didn’t do the main reef but opted for Frazier Island which was perfect. We did the rainforest, Skytrain, Port Douglas. It was the most exciting part of the trip.

Right. So I am Australian. The first thing I am going to say is: do you realise how far apart stuff is/what a faff getting to airports/checking in is even for domestic flights?

So. Sydney should be warmish but not warm. Lots to do around there. I would just hire a car/use the trains and stay on that area. There is a good rail connection with the blue mountains (which will probably be a bit cold) but will have interesting natural attractions like the three sisters and cute hippyish towns. Also a good selection of museums, galleries, zoos etc in Sydney itself and some will be free.

Melbourne I fine but pretty pointless if you are already going to be in Sydney. Weather is usually quite poor.

Kangaroo Island is wonderful but very difficult to get to from Sydney (you will either have to try to find a flight or fly to adelaide then drive which will take up a whole day). It may also be a bit chilly.

Goldcaost. The weather will be great. If you decide to go to theme parks I would only go to dreamworld. This us the most interesting and most Australian one. Cumbrin wildlife park/zoo is also nice. You will need a car at the gold Coast if you don't want to rely on shuttles. It's OK but not amazing tbh.

The most interesting stuff about Australia is the outdoor/outback stuff. The cities are all really lovely and livable but boring as a tourist destination.

Everything Racecardriver says. If you travel around much you will lose heaps of time in transit and faff. Keep it simple just a couple of locations. Kangaroo island is lovely in a sleepy fShion, but way oversold as a tourist destination. In August the tropics are a better bet. Cairns, Airlie beach etc.

Be careful with the kids inflatable foot rests - they aren't approved for use by some airlines.

oh yes i completely agree, but it wasn't inflatable, it attached to the seat like a hammock

Thanks for all the advice. Think we’re going to do the tried and tested Sydney—Uluru- Far North Queensland route. It looks like there’s a lot more to do for kids in FNQ than I first thought.

Has anyone stayed in Palm Cove? Is it nicer than Cairns/ Port Douglas? Any recommendations for reef trips with kids? Or even babysitters so we can do a reef trip on our own?

I’m not sure how much the kids will enjoy the red centre but we really want to see it. Anyone done it with young kids? What’s a must see and what should we miss? Looking at the cabins at the Ayers Rock resort camp site. Anyone stayed here? Is it worth spending more on a Hotel?

Sorry for so many questions but loving hearing all your advice.

Uluru will be cold in August, was fecking freezing when I did it in July. I disagree with Racecaredriver saying if you're doing Sydney no need for Melbourne, they are very different, Sydney is tacky and touristy and Melbourne is more cultural.

Your dc could really enjoy great barrier reef, it's amazing, Magnetic Island may be good for some heat.

As others have said, you're only going for 3 weeks, you're not factoring jetlag into that time and it's a BIG country.

Personally I think Dec/Jan is a much better time to come and even I don't go home for a visit in August.

Palm Cove is stunning, much smaller and prettier than Cairns. Lots of restaurants/cafes, palm trees, everything’s in walking distance, beach is pretty and very kid friendly. Cairns is bigger and tourist/backpacker town - it has a raffish air and I like it a lot but I’d prefer to stay at Palm
Cove given the choice. We stayed at www.melaleucaresort.com.au, not luxurious but bright, cheerful, clean and right across from the beach.

Palm Cove is half an hour north of Cairns, you’ll want a car to get to all the attractions.

Alternative is to stay another half hour north in Port Douglas - bigger than Palm Cove, smaller than Cairns, very attractive and upmarket, heaps of restaurants and good shopping. Reef tours also leave from PD (the marina is very pretty).
This would be great accom for families: bytheseaportdouglas.com.au/
Right on stunning 4 Mile Beach and metres from the main shopping street. They also provide free anything you or your kids might need for the beach - towels, beach chairs, inflatables etc.
I sound like an advert! Have stayed there and thought it was fantastic that’s all.

You’re making a good move going North. I’m Australian (live near Canberra) and am fed up with the cold at this stage of the year - you really do need to go that far north to get reasonably warm water to swim.

Palm Cove or Port Douglas over Cairns any day.

Uluru: all the accomadation is in one place, and you can use any of the facilities- so actually, apart from the bed, and distance to stuff, it's just different levels of accomadation in one massive resort. Go to the Astronomy centre on one of the kids afternoon drop ins. Loads of stuff put on, as there is little to do!! It is Freezing at sunrise. Warms up over the day. Visitvthe camel farm.

We roughly based our trip round this blog

Enjoy.

I live in Oz. Are you visiting anyone there? If not, I'd delay for a few years. The plane trip is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO long, even for adults.

Cairns would be good at that time of year and lots to do with little people.

Sydney is particularly grim weather wise, mystery why anyone would come here in August. We all go overseas or to far north QLD if we can at this time of year.

Trying to think of the name of the place in Cairns. I think it’s Karunda. We took kids there when younger and they loved it and even as teens were always keen to go back. It’s a ‘rainforest journey’ complete with indigenous display etc and has an Aussie animal zoo which is boring for us but would be good for your kids. The other thing they loved and made us go back to ad nauseum as teens was Hartleys crocodile farm, half way between Cairns and Port Douglas.

We always stay in Port Douglas but there may be more day stuff for the kids to do in Cairns if they are not going to the reef??? There are reef trips from both Cairns and Port Douglas. Bonus is this time of year is not stinger season up there but there are crocs. We always see visitors doing really weird things up there considering the crocs.

I’m a Sydneysider and love Melbourne. I prefer it over Sydney (apart from the lack of an amazingly harbour and a zoo with the worlds best view). However, I’m yet to meet anyone from overseas that ‘got’ Melbourne and liked visiting it. Overseas visitors seem to prefer Sydney with the opera house, the bridge, Taronga (must do bird show as not only is it fantastic but you sit with the most spectacular backdrop ever), ferry to Manly going past the house, bridge and out the heads and the Blue Mountains.

Sydney is odd, very flashy exterior but no substance. Melbourne is great for substance but for overseas visitors who lack time it’s hard to experience the culture (as in contemporary) it has on offer, they seem to prefer the quick flashy exterior of Sydney. Must say as much as I would prefer to live in Melbourne in a beautiful summer’s day and on a harbour beach I would not prefer to be anywhere else in the world (until I have to sell a kidney to pay for the parking and toll road to get to/from beach, traffic snarl on way back etc).