Planning a holiday getaway for your family sounds ideal; you can get away from the day-to-day stress and routines that you can never seem to shake when you are at home, and you can share a new experience with your children.

But sometimes getting away for a holiday is easier said than done.

Both parents and children have responsibilities that can be difficult to plan around for a vacation. Getting time off from work can be a hassle, and missed school days also mean make-up homework assignments.

Luckily, Australia is filled with hundreds of attractions and wondrous national parks, many of which are likely located near you!

Planning a day trip can be far less stressful than setting up a full-blown holiday.

  • You don’t need to ask for time out of the office
  • Your children will not need to complete make-up assignments in addition to their typical homework responsibilities
  • Day trips are inexpensive because you can pack your own lunches and do not need to get accommodations to stay overnight
  • No one needs to pack a suitcase.

If you’re ready for a quick break from reality and seeking a new adventure to share with your family, look no further than this list of 5 easy day trips for you and your family.

1. Explore the Bunya Mountains National Park

Located only about three hours outside of Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains are one of Australia’s premiere destinations for hikers and lovers of the outdoors.  This park spans over 100 square kilometres and has plenty of room for you and your family to explore.

You could spend the day exploring some of the many rainforests, waterfalls, peaks, and the largest ancient Bunya pine forest in the world.  You won’t be disappointed by the gorgeous scenery on the ground or the spectacular views from the air.

Here are just a few of the things that you and your family can do while visiting the Bunya Mountains:

  • Take in a gorgeous view from the tallest peak in the Bunya mountains, located at the end of a steep and windy drive
  • Have a picnic or a cookout in one of the three designated visitors areas; the Dandabah area also includes coin-operated barbecues that are open to the public
  • Learn about some of the over 100 different species of animals that live in the Bunya mountains, including several endangered species such as sooty owls or black-breasted button quails.

There are so many things to see in the Bunya Mountains that you and your family could come back again and again and always find somewhere new to explore in this magnificent, expansive national park.

2. Take a trip to the beach

Australia boasts over 16,000 miles of coastline, much of which consists of gorgeous, white sand beaches.

If you are looking for quick, no-hassle escape from reality then a trip to the beach could be exactly what you need.

Packing for a beach trip is simple, as you only need a few items:

  • Swimsuits for each family member
  • A change of clothes to everyone to wear on the drive home
  • Towels
  • A beach blanket to set on the sand for lounging
  • Sunglasses, umbrellas, hats, and other ways to protect your eyes and bodies from the sun
  • Packed lunches and bottled water.

And that’s it! All of these items can be packed into a single large beach bag and loaded into the car for your road trip, and the hardest part of packing up will be shaking the sand out of your blankets and towels.

If you have young children, you should also bring life vests or arm floaties to keep them safe while they are playing in the water.

3. Peruse the Eumundi Markets

The Eumundi Markets, located near Brisbane, are one of the largest collections of artisan markets in Australia, and sell everything that you could possibly imagine.

You and your family could explore the market for hours without visiting every booth. No need to pack a lunch either; there are plenty of places to buy delicious, unique cuisine.

Everything sold in the Eumundi markets is handmade, from cutting edge jewelry to skincare products to toys and games. Your children will love speaking to the sellers about how they made, grew, or created their wares.

When you are ready for a break from wandering the market grounds, you can look forward to being entertained my one of the many local performers or musicians. There is never a shortage of things to see at the Eumundi Markets!

4. Hop on a ferry to Tangalooma

Want to escape the mainland for the day? Then take a short ferry ride to Tangalooma!

Ferries leave for Tangalooma from the Holt Street Wharf in the morning and will get you back to the mainland by 4:00 pm. How you spend your day at Tangalooma is entirely up to you, but it is filled with activities that will spark excitement in your children.

Do your children love to swim and be in the water? You could spend a few hours snorkeling off of the coast, which is almost entirely surrounded by beautiful beaches.

Have you ever been sand tobogganing? Or not yet, but you’d like to try? Tangalooma has that too.

You could even interact with the dolphins that swim up to the coast later in the day and watch them play in the water while your children squeal with delight.

5. Take a ride on Puffing Billy

Located just an hour east of Melbourne, Puffing Billy will take you and your family on a ride through the scenic Dandenong Ranges.

From the comfort of your seat on the train, your family will be able to see green valleys, scenic bushland, and luscious rainforest fauna. The train cars are open to the air so you will all be able to breathe in the freshness of the outdoors.

Food options are available on the train if you prefer to avoid the hassle of packing a lunch; however you are welcome to bring your own meal options as well if you’d prefer to save a little extra money on your excursion.

Puffing Billy still runs on its original track, and is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Victoria.  As such there is a wealth of history that you and your children can explore during the trip to learn about the early 1900’s.

If you live near Melbourne and have not yet taken a ride on Puffing Billy, you are missing out on an incredible experience!

New experiences, particularly experiences that bring your young child in closer touch with nature, can significantly enhance their learning potential. That’s why we incorporate outdoor areas complete with real grass, water activities, sand boxes, and realistic terrain for your children to explore at each of our child care centres.

We would love to share our vision for your child’s development with you, and encourage you to contact us to see if Harmony is the right for for your child.

References

www.australia.com/en/places/blue-mountains.html
10mosttoday.com/10-countries-with-longest-coastline/
www.eumundimarkets.com.au/
puffingbilly.com.au/en/about-puffing-billy/
www.australia.com/en-us/places/qld/tangalooma.html
harmonylearning.com.au/nature-secret-enhanced-early-learning/