Australia is tops when it comes to family destinations. Children are eligible for concessions on accommodation, tours, airfares, bus, rail and train travel and entry fees. Attractions such as zoos, aquariums and theme parks often sell family passes, giving discounted entry to two adults and two children. Savings over standard rates can be substantial.

Many popular Australian beaches are patrolled, making them safe for children. Dolphin cruises are a family favourite.In the migrating season, whales are often sighted as well.

Families touring by car have a wide choice of modern, comfortable motels covering all price brackets. Typically, rooms have private bath or shower, telephone, television, tea- and coffee-making facilities and small refrigerator.

Bed-and-breakfast establishments throughout Australia charge about A$50 to A$100 for a one-night stay. Other options include farmstays, where guests experience the day-to-day activities of a working farm; country pubs (usually older-style hotels with warm hospitality); camping grounds and caravan parks.

In the country, children can enjoy the sights and sounds of the bush, fresh air and the freedom of open spaces. They have the opportunity to see and touch farm animals, milk a cow, collect eggs or ride a horse. In Australia’s north, attractions range from theme parks and surf beaches to the Great Barrier Reef. Tasmania’s wildlife parks are ideal for seeing animals such as the Tasmanian devil. Children are delighted to learn that the devils have jaws as strong as a shark or crocodile.

At family restaurants throughout Australia eating well doesn’t carry an inflated price tag. The country boasts inexpensive cafés, restaurants and food markets where families can enjoy diverse and wholesome cuisine at moderate prices. Staples such as pizza, pasta and hamburgers are served at outlets throughout the country. Large Asian food emporiums, with many outlets under one roof, serve noodle and rice dishes for A$8 or less.

Australia is a great driving country. Motorhomes are a popular family option, generally hired with full kitchen and bedding facilities. Kids love them. Even the remote parts of the Northern Territory can be reached in a standard vehicle, without needing four-wheel drive. Cities are linked by international-class highways.

On-site caravans are another option. Caravan parks occupy spectacular locations across Australia and most offer on-site, stationary caravans, equipped with cooking facilities and beds, which can be hired by the night. This allows families to travel in a standard rental car.

All international rental car companies are represented in Australia, along with home-grown brands. Many offer 4WD off-road vehicles as well as standard models.

Austrailia is a massive country but here are a few examples of things to do with the family.

Luna Park Sydney is a long-established fun fair and entertainment venue in a prime harbourside spot near Sydney Harbour Bridge. In its heyday, Luna Park received approximately 1 million visitors a year and up to 17,000 visitors per day, placing it in the top five Sydney attractions for domestic and overseas visitors. The upgraded Luna Park has kept many of its original rides and attractions.

Sovereign Hill in the historic city of Ballarat is one of the world’s most authentic historical parks. Recreating the excitement of Ballarat’s goldrush era, it attracts between 400,000 and 450,000 visitors a year, many of them children.

Warner Village Theme Parks operates a fabulous array of theme parks on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The group consists of Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World and Paradise Country.

At Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, not far from the theme parks, masses of rainbow lorikeets are fed each morning and evening. Currumbin is home to a large population of Australian native wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, emus and crocodiles.

The Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra runs Sportex, a hands-on interactive exhibition that attracts parties of excited schoolchildren year-round. Everyone gets the chance to have a go!

At Monkey Mia in Western Australia, children shout in delight as friendly dolphins swim in the shallows with humans.

Zoos are a hit with families and Australia has plenty. Melbourne Zoo is one of three great zoos in the state of Victoria, the other two being Healesville Sanctuary and Victoria’s Open Range Zoo at Werribee. Each displays a representative sample of the world’s fauna and flora in bioclimatic zones. The Zoo at Taronga in Sydney is also super and a treat for adults and chidren alike.Other zoos include Cairns Tropical Zoo/Cairns Night Zoo in Tropical North Queensland.

Australia Zoo in Queensland, with over 1000 animals on some 20 hectares, offers a day of wildlife action and excitement for the family.

Sydney Aquarium has a A$2.25 million Seal Sanctuary which is the new home of two Australian fur seals, one Sub-Antarctic fur seal and two New Zealand fur seals, as well as an Australian sea lion. Visitors walk through the underwater tunnels to see the seals racing through the water at full speed or just frolicking around. The stars of “Finding Nemo” turn up too.

Melbourne Aquarium & Underwater World represents two attractions. UnderWater World is located adjacent to Mooloolaba Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Denizens include moray eels, lungfish and giant barramundi; tumbling turtles and friendly frolicking seals. Melbourne Aquarium has launched a new Shark Conservation Project by the Twelve Apostles. It includes a 60,000-litre tank for baby sharks and other aquatic animals.

Puffing Billy Steam Railway, a short drive east of Melbourne, is Australia’s oldest and most meticulously preserved steam train. Running on its original mountain track, the Puffing Billy will take you on a scenic trip in the Dandenong Ranges.

Outback and nature

Territory Wildlife Parks runs the Alice Springs Desert Park and the Territory Wildlife Park, providing essential introductions to the parks and reserves of the Northern Territory. Alice Springs Desert Park attracts visitors of all ages with its achievements in breeding rare and endangered species.

The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory is the site of the Territory Wildlife Park. A six-kilometre path meanders through natural bushland, immersing visitors in a variety of typical Top End habitats.

Phillip Island Nature Park, an easy two-hour drive from Melbourne, delights visitors of all ages with its renowned Penguin Parade. Now, the Ultimate Penguin Eco Tour will take small groups of visitors to a secluded beach opposite the Penguin Parade to see the sunset return of the penguins to their sand-dune burrows.

Busselton Jetty Experience in Western Australia is set on a jetty extending almost two kilometres over the protected waters of Geographe Bay. Visitors can fish, swim, scuba dive, snorkel or catch a glimpse of playful dolphins. An Interpretive Centre adds to the fun. Visitor numbers to the new attraction have surpassed all expectations.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes families in six-passenger gondolas over the treetops of World Heritage-listed rainforest in Tropical North Queensland. Skyrail’s latest packages include a personalised Ranger tour option and a specialist, educational booklet, the Ed-Venture Guide.

Rail Australia – Indian Pacific and the Ghan delivers outback rail adventures aboard famous long-distance trains: the Indian Pacific, The Ghan and The Overland. The Indian Pacific trip, Sydney/Adelaide/Perth and return, is a true trans-continental train journey, running 4352 kilometres. The Ghan now travels all the way from Adelaide to Darwin, the longest north/south rail journey on earth.

Outback Ballooning lets visitors to Alice Springs greet the Outback sunrise from a balloon, with occupants spotting kangaroos and other wildlife as they go. Fantastic! Booth West.

Undara Experience, in Tropical North Queensland, takes visitors into the Undara Lava Tubes. This is the world’s largest, longest and best-preserved lava tube system. The company won the 2003 Australian Tourism Award for Unique Accommodation. Guests don’t sleep in the lava tubes – they stay at Undara Lava Lodge: authentic, turn-of-the-century, restored railway carriages.

Skyway Scenic World in the Blue Mountains to Sydney’s west has a new Skyway horizontal cable. This allows visitors to the popular tourist attraction to experience the World Heritage wilderness in a unique and environmentally friendly way, in conjunction with the existing Scenic Railway, Sceniscender cable car and rainforest boardwalk.

Jenolan Caves, in the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park, offers family bushwalking. These are the best-known limestone caves in Australia and never fail to thrill young explorers.