Holidays with Kids, Australia’s leading family travel and lifestyle magazine, is proud to announce the Top Ten Resorts for 2004. The Top Ten Resorts have been nominated by Holidays with Kids readers and are based on readers’ favourites resorts, how family-friendly these resorts are and the quality of their service and facilities for families.

This is the third year that these awards have been in place. Families can be confident in visiting any one of these properties that they will be well catered for and that their needs from a family perspective will be met.

Family travel is now recognised as a very valuable component of the tourism market with quality hotels worldwide now implementing programs to train staff in how to relate well to children.

We would love you to write to us and make a nomination too! Please write and tell us about your favourite holiday resort. Where is it? What did you like most about it? What set it apart from other resorts? What did the kids like about it? What were the facilities / meals like for the kids.

See previous winners

2003 winners
2002 winners

The 2004 Top Ten Resorts are as follows:

1. Sea World Nara Resort, Gold Coast, Qld

Sea World Nara Resort on the Gold Coast is this year’s favourite. Ideally located next door to Sea World, with an excellent Kid’s Club, heated lagoon-shaped pool and award-winning restaurants. >>more

2. Mercure Resort Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

The Mercure Resort Surfers Paradise is aptly described as “Heaven for kids, paradise for parents”. The Mercure Resort is the ultimate family destination with Gecko Kid’s Club and Junior Gecko Club to keep the kids happy and the new Junior Bunkhouse Rooms for the family. >>more

3. Blue Dolphin, Yamba, NSW

The Blue Dolphin Resort is consistently named as one of the best holiday resorts for families, with the Kidz Kave soft-play centre for the kids and an abundance of activities for the whole family. >>more

4. Plantation Island Resort, Fiji

Fiji is a very popular family destination and Plantation Island exudes with family-friendly hospitality. >>more

5. Hyatt Regency Coolum, Sunshine Coast, Qld

The Hyatt Regency Coolum entertains the kids in the Possums, Joeys, Kookaburras and Wallabies Clubs and even has a Spa Centre where mum and dad can relax. >>more

6. Couran Cove Island Resort, Qld

Couran Cove Island Resort also makes it debut into the Holidays with Kids Top Ten and with good reason. There is plenty to do with tours, the Kites Kid’s Club and the resort is within reach of the Gold Coast theme parks. >>more

7. Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort, Fiji

Fijians love children and parents will love Fiji. The Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort ensures that the kids are looked after and provide a myriad of activities in their children’s programs while mum and dad relax. >>more

8. Club Med Lindeman Island, Qld

Club Med Lindeman Island will keep the kids occupied with Petit Club Med, Mini Club Med and Junior Club Med and even has a circus school.

9. Shangri-La's Fijian Resort, Fiji

Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort is a beautiful place to stay, with a well protected bay to swim in and the Little Chiefs Club the youngsters. >>more

10. Le Lagon, Vanuatu

Number ten in 2004 is Le Lagon Resort. This is a hot favourite with our editor and a regular in our Top 10. All your stresses will just melt away in the slower pace of Vanuatu. The Kids Only Club will entertain your children and there are plenty of tours to arrange at the front desk. >>more
Photo left: David Kirkland

Highly Commended

Certificates of Recognition have been awarded to the following 5 highly commended resorts that came very close in numbers of votes but did not quite make it into the Top Ten. They are, nevertheless, family favourites.

Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour

This resort has it all - a beachfront location, 9-hole par 3 golf course, tennis courts, spa centre, 7 swimming pools and a great Kids' Club, that operates year round. >>more

Murramarang, NSW

The highly recommended list includes Holidays with Kids Top Ten first-timer, Murramarang Resort, known for its kangaroo and dolphin visitors and great range of accommodation for the family. >>more

Novotel Palm Cove Resort, Cairns

Paradise for parents and children. Located on 100 acres of tropical beach coastline with facilities and activities the whole family will enjoy. >>more

BreakFree Diamond Beach Resort, Gold Coast

Broadbeach's best family resort. Apartments surround a magnificent pool and garden area. There are cascading waterfalls and great facilities for children. >>more