Family Holidays Down Under – Australia for Family Holidays

From the Great Barrier Reef and the vast wilderness of the Outback to the breathtaking grandeur of Ayers Rock and the cosmopolitan modernism of Sydney, Australia has something to offer for everybody.
According to the Australian Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Australia saw 5.9 million tourist arrivals in 2011. As always, UK was the second largest source of all tourists to Australia in 2011 with 608,000 arrivals, behind only neighbouring New Zealand [1].

Australia remains the perfect holiday destination for UK residents not only because of its many natural and cultural wonders, but also because of the weather: since Australia is in the southern hemisphere, it is summer down-under when it is winter in the UK, and vice versa. Little wonder that tourists flock to the former colony each year.

If you’re on a family trip to Australia, here are a few sights you can’t afford to miss:

1. Uluru and Central Australia:
The imposing Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone formation right in the heart of Australia. One of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks, the Uluru rock has important significance in Australia’s Aborigine culture. It is also a World Heritage Site. The light of the setting sun reflecting off this gigantic rock gives it the appearance of changing colour, which is another tourist draw.

The region around Uluru is equally rich in natural heritage. The Kakadu National Park and Alice Springs are two other major natural landmarks in the region. You can usually get all-expense paid tour of the Central Australia region through a tour operator like ANZCRO [2]. These tours cover the entire Australian outback, including tours of major cities like Darwin and Adelaide.

2. Sydney and Melbourne
Sydney and Melbourne: between them, they house nearly 9 million or 40% of Australia’s 22.8 million population. Although the two cities are separated by a distance of 700km, they are very much like each other in their cosmopolitan character and urban infrastructure.

Sydney’s Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and Circular Quay are among the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Melbourne, on the other hand, is more cozy and intimate, despite being nearly the same size as Sydney. It is the perfect city for walking around and taking in the sights.

While you’re in Melbourne, don’t forget to hire a car for a road trip around the magnificent Great Ocean Road!

3. Skiing in Mount Hotham
Somehow, when you think of Australia, you think of vast stretches of desert and the Australian outback. Unknown to many, Australia is also a terrific skiing destination. Mount Hotham in Victoria, situated at a height of 1,861 metres, is one of the finest ski towns in Australia and a great place to experience a seldom seen side of the country.

4. Meeting Kangaroos in Kangaroo Island
No family holiday to Australia would be complete without an encounter with the country’s most icnonic animal, the kangaroo. Kangaroo Island, located just a 3 hour ferry ride from Adelaide, is the best place to meet some kangaroos. Besides kangaroos, the island is also home to birds like Kangaroo Island Emu, Fairy Tern and Bush-Stone curlew.

5. A Beach Holiday in Brome
Cap off your family holiday to Australia with a trip to the magnificent tourist town of Brome [3] in Western Australia. Located in the north-west of Australia, this is the region where the Outback meets the sea. The region is full of character and culture with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Excellent weather all year round and natural landmarks such as Roebuck Bay and Cable Beach make it one of the best beach holiday destinations in Australia.