GREAT BARRIER REEF FOR KIDS
The Great Barrier Reef offers the holiday of a lifetime for all family members, but especially the kids!
It’s a family-friendly region with a wide range of activities that will excite and educate people of all ages.
There are water, land and rainforest options that can be relatively relaxing or strenuous depending on your enthusiasm level.
The kids will be excited to check out the mysteries of the ancient Paronella Park near Innisfail. Ride horses along the Cape Tribulation Beach.
Lunch with lorikeets in Port Douglas.
Next, go whale watching near Hervey Bay.
Or go snorkelling in one of the many islands’ shallows.
There are dozens of family-friendly tours to choose from. In all regions, you can find various options, including half-day, full-day and multi-day options.
Next, the kids can try snorkelling, and scuba diving (age permitting). There are also sailing, glass-bottom boats, semi-submersible vessels and even helicopter or seaplane tours.
Tours can be focused on pure relaxation or combine educational elements, which can be great options for kids.
To make memories for a lifetime as part of a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, planning a family trip is often a significant moment in everyone’s life.
Here are some suggestions for how each region of the Great Barrier Reef.
Starting from Cairns to the Whitsundays to the Southern Region may be suited to your family trip to celebrate this special occasion.
Cairns Region
Whitsundays Region
Families looking to visit the Whitsundays can choose to base themselves on the mainland at Airlie Beach or out on one of the islands.
Airlie Beach is an excellent hub for the family with a full range of accommodation options.
There is also a human-made lagoon with gardens, a beach area and a children’s pool for family fun and relaxation.
The tropical urban scene of cafes, markets and local town charm gives families a low-key and stress-free stay.
Hamilton Island, with its airport, and Daydream Island are two of the most popular family destinations in the Whitsundays.
Hotel and resort facilities meet families’ needs with various accommodation options: restaurants, swimming pools and activities to keep them safe and entertained on the island.
Tours and boat trips head out from the islands to reef platforms, other islands and destinations such as the glorious world-famous Whitehaven Beach.
Tour options like Daydream Island’s Living Reef program include educational elements, which can be great for kids.
Other family-friendly islands include Hayman Island, the northernmost of the Whitsunday Group.
There are also scenic flight options by helicopter or seaplane over the area, offering unique sights such as the stunning and famous Heart Reef, naturally shaped as a heart.
Southern Region
The Southern Region is less action-packed but offers quieter, relaxed nature-focused escapes for families, particularly those looking for weekend or short-stay trips from Brisbane.
Main islands Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave can also be less crowded, ensuring less stress when the kids are around.
Staying on the mainland in a coastal town like Bundaberg or the Town of 1770. Families can take a day trip to uninhabited Lady Musgrave to relax and explore.
40 guests are permitted to camp on the island.
The remote Lady Elliot Island is only reached by chartered plane from Hervey Bay, Bundaberg or Brisbane.
It offers snorkelling and diving off the beach and eco-resort accommodation free of television and phones. Both provide a chance to see turtles nesting and hatching from November to March.
Great Keppel Island is well-loved by locals and is a great getaway off the coast from Yeppoon. Accommodation is cabins, camping, private homes, and itineraries focusing on RnR in natural surroundings.
Families may also choose to stay in Yeppoon and take a day trip to the island.
Pumpkin Island is off the coast from Yeppoon.
A small, quiet island that can host up to 36 guests at a time. Cosy cottage and bungalow accommodation and all food and drinks need to be self-catered.