Here's what some of Holidays with Kids' readers are saying about their holidays. If you have a review of any location, you can send it to Holidays with Kids through this form.
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I just wanted to provide some quick feedback on accomodation places that we stayed at recently, on our trip to Queensland. These were found through your magazine/website.
The first place was Ashmore Palms Village. We loved this place. The price was fantastic. We stayed in a three bedroom cabin, which was great with our three boys, one of which is 6mth old. The facilities were lovely, from the Macaw range to the heated swimming pool and fantastic play equipment. The staff were very helpful and shopping centre was within walking distance.
The last place was Pelican Beach Resort Australis, in Coffs Harbour. We only stayed one night here, as it was a stop over on the way home, but we wished we could have stayed longer. Value for money was great. Facilities were lovely and our room was very nice.
Thanks for the valuable information that helped make our holiday planning easier.
Elissa Koman
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We recently returned from a lovely, albeit short stay at Kangaroo Valley. We stayed at the Crystal Creek Meadows, which was absolutely devine. The two bedroom cottage was exceptional, with little touches from the owners making it very comfortable. There are four cottages on 16 acres and are fully self contained. The kids had a ball exploring the property, but they also had outdoor chess, free indoor games, free dvd/video hire and cd use. If you get up early enough, you can get yourself freshly laid eggs to enjoy with the scrumptious two loaves of fresh bread provided. The fresh cut flowers, cupcakes, toy box, incense candles, fluffy bath towels, spa bath and lovely chair swing out the back and little extra's really make it a unique and enjoyable experience.
We stayed in the Fleur Cottage. The cottage itself was immaculate, with a king size bed in the main, with the softest linen. The other room had a Queen bed. There is a slow burning combustion fireplace, but also heating/air conditioning. The owners have gone to alot of trouble to make it a very special place, and nothing is missed. You can't help but relax. There are different package deals with options to suit everyone. We will return and I will definitely try one of the Day Spa treatments.
If you are afer a place where you can feel at home and enjoy some quality family time together, then this is the place. The website is www.country-accommodation.com.au/index.html
Chris
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Albany, Western Australia, is a great place to take children. It is not over populated, so it’s easy to travel around. A lot of low priced accommodation and family packages are available. With sandy beaches, beautiful scenery and endless picnic areas plus children’s play houses, like Wiggles and Giggles play centre, what more could you want? I would recommend family holidays in Albany to any family. It truly is a wonderful place, and not too far away is Denmark, which is nice for a day out!
Melinda Wilkinson
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Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast. This resort was excellent. We stayed in a King Suite and this was definitely worth it. The resort had a wonderful pool (which had a toddler wading area) and there were 3 different types of restaurants. The Kid’s Club was also a great feature, which allowed us to have a nice romantic dinner. The kids had an absolute ball, as this resort is very family-orientated. It was actually nice to have other parents there with younger kids who could all relate and understand each other at dinner time.
Chrissy Fuda
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We visited the River Inn at Thredbo during the Queen's Birthday long weekend in 2004. The owners have young children themselves and were very relaxed about having other children around. My children enjoyed swimming in the indoor heated pool and having a soothing massage after being out on the slopes. The motel is right next door to Friday Flat which is where the children have skiing lessons. While the restaurant offered excellent cuisine for us adults, the chef was quite happy to serve the great kiddy favourites such as chicken nuggets & chips, etc..
Jenny Blanch
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| You can't go past the Mercure Resort Surfers Paradise. It has everything that you could want in a holiday for both adults and children. With 4 children, we usually never rest when we go on holidays. We just change location from home. But at the Mecure, we all enjoy our holiday and all get to do what we enjoy. We come back feeling refreshed and ready to deal with our hectic life again, whereas before, we would come back from holidays and feel like we needed a holiday from our holidays.
Tracey Cant
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Bright is beautiful - any time of year. Our family of 5 (3 children 9, 7, 5 yoa) stayed at The Bright Resort in June 2003. The company, countryside, cafés, cuisine, cute craft shops and comfort of our 2 bedroom self-contained unit made a thoroughly relaxing and wonderfully enjoyable week. The resort's facilities were excellent, and they offered activities for guests, including pancake/cooked breakfast, and tourist information sessions. Our children experienced their first taste of snow at Buffalo with a snowman and toboggan rides. The fully sealed, easy level 'Rail Trail' afforded the whole family bicycle rides, winding past a golf course, historic train stations and through the most gorgeous countryside and settlements. We now have marvellous memories of Bright - and quite a few stray golf balls!
Neville & Joanne Shand
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I stayed at Rosalie Cottage, Port Fairy, Victoria (rented through Garry Lockett Real Estate 03 5568 1066). It is a beautiful little cottage, and has been fully restored. It has a short walk to beaches, shops, restaurants, and the port itself. It is in a Norfolk Pine lined street and the ocean can be heard from the bedroom. There are not a lot of kid specific things to do, BUT all kids, including mine, enjoyed the beach, rock pools, and walks on sandy trails. All other facilities, such as cinema are close by in Warrnambool.
Alex Burk
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Last year we visited Daydream Island. It is such a pretty location. You can fly to Hamilton Island and get the ferry over. There are plenty of free activities for the kids: a great mini golf area, an outdoor movie area under the stars. You get to hand feed the tropical fish and there is a fantastic spa complex for the adults to unwind in whilst overlooking the Whitsunday Islands. It has everything a family could want. We had a great time and would love to return.
Debbie Dowel
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| The last property we stayed at was the Mercure Resort at the Surfers Paradise. My kids loved the Gecko club. There was a lot of activities for the kids and meals were great. This was a fantastic holiday as the kids had a ball and even we had time to ourselves.
Robin Dean
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| I took my family along (2 adults and a 2 yr old) to the Novotel Palm Cove Resort in Palm Cove. The suite was a great size for us. Harry slept in the cot (provided free) in the bedroom dureing the day and then we moved him out of a night time into the lounge room. My husband & I took a full day tour out to the reef & Harry went into the day-care centre. We dropped him off very early to a lovely team of experienced girls just waiting to take him - they bonded straight away. The resort’s and the centre’s facilities were outstanding. Harry loved to slide into the water and we could not keep him out of the pool. I think we tried all seven of them. The staff were great and the food was delish. Must try the seafood buffet.
Lindi Dunn
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O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse in the Lamington National Park, Queensland. Spent some 6 days there with the family. Lots of short and long walks for the family. Great meals (buffet style, so our 2.5 year old daughter could pick what she liked). On top of that, the staff were really great and actually took a genuine interest in getting to know her. The family had a ball and will be back there shortly.
Stephen Yam
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My favourite is on the Queensland Gold Coast. It is Suncity Outrigger Resort Surfers Paradise and it is a great place for families. Accommodation is 5 star, restaurants are 5 star and the facilities are most definitely 5 star. The beautiful lagoon themed with 2 towering water slides on either side looks fantastic. Under the waterslides are the gym and sauna with a steam room and change rooms. The indoor pool and spa are ideal for the winter period. All in all, an ideal family getaway with the best facilities and plenty for the whole family to enjoy.
Martin Kalaja
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It’s not Easter if we do not spend time at Kerriley Park Farmstay in Busselton, Western Australia. Our three children love the Easter egg hunt in the chook pen and getting up every morning to feed the vast range of friendly animals. A cup of Milo and fresh milk squirtted directly from the cow makes a frothy drink that must be experienced. It is also the only time we can snuggle up by a real fireplace and spend evenings torch-spotting for possums. Being regulars, we are made to feel like family and we know the children are in a safe environment.
Helen Smart
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Sunraysia Resort, Mildura. Excellent accommodation - all units are air-conditioned, cable TV, dishwasher, landscaping, activities for kids including 18 hole Putt Putt, 2 indoor heated pools plus a huge outdoor shaded pool with hot spa, tennis courts, games room and free movies. Close to town and Murray River cruise boats. Recommend a visit to the Yabby farm (7km towards Sydney) and township of Wentworth (30klm towards Adelaide) where the Darling and the Murray meet - even in drought, it's a spectacular sight to stir all Australians pride.
Scotty Slaney
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Last January, we spent a week at the Breakfree Caloundra and it was a winner! Our immaculately kept sixth floor apartment was modern and new, had fabulous views and everything worked perfectly. A great start to any holiday! While our 2 boys were impressed with the air-conditioning, private spa and free Pay TV, it was the fabulous pool which stole their hearts. The beach is across the not-too-busy street, shops are right outside, heaps of kid-friendly restaurants nearby and we didn't need to drive anywhere for the whole week. Try It!
Alison Cavanagh
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The Gemini Resort, located at Golden Beach, Caloundra, is where our family spent a wonderful 5 day holiday last year. Located on the beautiful calm waters of Golden Beach, The Gemini Resort is a beautiful place for any family to have a relaxing and luxurious holiday. Our three bedroom unit had a large living/dining area with comfy lounges and throw cushions giving it that 'home away from home' feel. The main bedroom and the second bedroom each had their own balcony with views of Caloundra. The third bedroom at the back of the unit, also had its own balcony with views of the Glasshouse Mountains. The resort has the most enormous swimming pool I have ever seen, with a great shallow end for parents with toddlers. There is a games room for the older kids, tennis courts, canoes for hire, a spa/sauna room, restaurants. The staff are warm and friendly. We cannot wait to go back to The Gemini Resort.
Leigh Edwards
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| Hamilton Island is a great place to take holidays with the kids where both adults and kids enjoy it. Advantages are the direct flights, and the family apartments with separate bedrooms and kitchen facilities. Kids under 14 'play, stay and eat free'. T here is a free Clownfish Club for kids with lots of activities such as zoo visits, mini golf and ferry trips. Some of the things to do there are using the many swimming pools and spas, watersports, paintball, hire a buggy and take a tour of the island, go-karts and the wire flyer, which is like hang-gliding on a rope.
Christine Lee
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We had a lovely family holiday at Queenscliff - it was so relaxing They had a horse and cart in the Central Town which took us around Central Queenscliff and up to where the ferries depart. They also had a 'swim with the dolphins' outing where you could go out on a boat, with all equipment included in the price, but you need to book in early because it does get booked out. We stayed in a caravan/cabin park which was quite cheap but a very nice place for accommodation.
Anne-Marie Looyestyn
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| We love staying at the Diamond Beach Resort in Broadbeach, Queensland. My husband and I used to go there before the kids came along and now everyone goes including Grandma. The pool is perfectly set up for as young as a 1 year old up to Grandma’s age. It’s close to everything you need on the Gold Coast (including walking distance to an amazing pizza place). The resort has apartment style living with its own kitchen, laundry, living room and private bathroom for that bubble bath when the kids have retired for the night. It's friendly staff make it the most kid-and-adult-friendly place ever.
Vicki Riley
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| Plantation Island, Fiji. We visited this island with our, then, 3 year old son. The island is beautiful and relaxing, with very kind and friendly people. We had a beachfront bure with the waves lapping at our door. The bure was comfortable but air-conditioning would have been nice. The overhead fans helped make the room comfy. The food was very basic and western. It would have been nice to experience more of the local flavour. The resort activities for both adults and kids were great as was the Kids' Club.
Lydia Bresolin
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