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Summer holidays are over, which probably has you thinking: phew. No more trying to come up with activities to keep kids amused for months on the trot.
It’s also, however, time to plan your future adventures. Because 2026 stretches out before you, ripe with possibility, the chance to travel with your family and create amazing memories.
Travel brings families together. It allows for shared experiences, for joy and wonder and probably a few happy accidents that will form part of family lore.
Whether your children are seasoned travellers or first-timers, whether they are toddlers or teens, there are plenty of reasons to travel in 2026. You can catch natural phenomena, see global sporting events, get away from it all on an island or watch as an architectural icon is finally completed.
AUSTRALIA
Digital detox in Cocos (Keeling) Islands
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Best for Pre-teens, teens
The lowdown Parents, good news: there’s no mobile phone reception in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Wi-Fi only in your accommodation. Aside from that you’re cut off, music to the ears of those whose kids are surgically attached to their devices. This tiny Indian Ocean atoll is a safe place for youngsters to explore and enjoy, to get around on bikes and swim and enjoy the simple things.
Need to know There are two seasons here: May to October is windy season, perfect for kite surfing; November to April is the doldrums, great for diving and snorkelling.
Essentials Qantas has twice-weekly direct flights from Perth. See qantas.com; cocoskeelingislands.com.au
Isle adventure on Hamilton Island
Best for All ages
The lowdown Queensland’s Hamilton Island recently unveiled The Sundays, a boutique hotel designed for families. All rooms are decked out for those with kids, with baby essentials like portacots, high chairs and prams included. Older children will appreciate the Catseye Pool Club, with food by Josh Niland, plus poolside mocktails.
Need to know One of the perks of Hamilton Island is the direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne. The island also has day trips to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.
Essentials Qantas has direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne (seasonal). Family-sized rooms with kitchenettes at The Sundays start from $927 a night. See hamiltonisland.com
Luxury and quokkas in WA
Best for Pre-teens
The lowdown Is there ever a bad time to see quokkas? This year there are more reasons to take the family to Rottnest Island. Two Indigenous organisations, Dooga Waalitj Healing and Koorda’s Crew, are offering new cultural experiences designed for children, while Rotto Rickshaws has new guided tours. Check out the refurbished Stay Rottnest units too.
Need to know On your way to Rottnest, stop at the Ritz-Carlton Perth to experience Ritz Kids, a set of child-friendly amenities and experiences (ritzcarlton.com).
Essentials Qantas flies direct from Sydney and Melbourne to Perth, with ferries to Rottnest Island. See rottnestisland.com
Indigenous tourism, Australia-wide
Best for Pre-schoolers to teens
The lowdown Though it’s important for Australian children to connect with First Nations culture to understand the country they’re growing up in, the best reason to book an Indigenous tourism experience in 2026 is that it’s just really fun. There are some great tourism providers who take kids out on Country and show them amazing things, from bush tucker to storytelling, art classes to camping.
Need to know This is something to bear in mind on every holiday around Australia – there will always be a local Indigenous tourism experience.
Essentials For information on family-friendly Indigenous tourism experiences, see discoveraboriginalexperiences.com
Family fun on Brisbane River
Best for Primary schoolers
The lowdown There’s a heap of family adventure along Brisbane River in 2026: Bluey’s World, the riverside Bluey experience, is open until mid-March; at South Bank there’s the man-made Streets Beach, the Wheel of Brisbane, and Queensland Art Gallery (QAGOMA); and beneath the Story Bridge, the Crystalbrook Vincent has family rooms, free bike hire and unlimited popcorn and ice-cream.
Need to know Walking tracks and riverside boardwalks link Brisbane City with New Farm and Tenerife, perfect for a day of exploration.
Essentials All Australian carriers fly direct to Brisbane. Stay at Crystalbrook Vincent from $276 a night, see crystalbrookcollection.com; blueysworld.com.au
Paddle on Glenelg River, Victoria
Best for Primary school, tweens
The lowdown There’s something wholesome about a canoe trip down a gentle river, and that’s what you get on the Glenelg River Canoe Trail, a 75-kilometre journey from Dartmoor to Nelson with seven dedicated campsites. This is typically a four-day journey, with several companies hiring out canoes and camping equipment.
Need to know Those who don’t want to commit to a multi-day journey can hire canoes for half- or full-day trips from Nelson.
Essentials Nelson is a five-hour drive west of Melbourne, or a five-hour drive south-east of Adelaide. See parks.vic.gov.au
No-frills harbour adventure, NSW
Best for All ages
The lowdown A Sydney waterfront getaway may seem out of reach for most families, but budget-friendly options like Currawong Beach Cottages exist. Accessible by ferry from Palm Beach, Currawong is a secluded area where visitors can swim, fish, play tennis, roast marshmallows or explore the bushland. The cottages have a rustic charm (and no TVs) and sleep between four and 16 people.
Need to know There are no shops at Currawong Beach, so take everything – food, drinks, firewood, child essentials – with you.
Essentials It’s a one-hour drive from the Sydney CBD to the Palm Beach ferry wharf. Cottages cost from $210 a night. See northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Road trip in Tasmania
Best for Primary school, tweens
The lowdown For a great road trip with children, you need beautiful scenery, good roads and frequent, interesting places to stop – which makes Tasmania ideal. Rent a campervan and explore the likes of Port Arthur, Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, Bruny Island and Cataract Gorge. You can see a lot in a short time.
Need to know Tasmania is beautiful year-round, though winters are not the time to campervan in the highlands. Go for shoulder seasons.
Essentials All the major domestic airlines fly direct to Hobart. See discovertasmania.com.au; apollocamper.com
ASIA-PACIFIC
Celebrate Lord of the Rings, NZ
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown This year marks the 25th anniversary of a moment that changed New Zealand forever: the release of the first of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. The official birthday for Fellowship of the Ring is December 26, but there will be plenty of events in the lead-up in Hobbiton and around New Zealand.
Need to know Specific events have yet to be announced, so keep an eye on the website below, though any visit to Hobbiton will be memorable.
Essentials Hobbiton is a two-hour drive south of Auckland. See hobbitontours.com; newzealand.com
Get festive in Japan
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown While conventional wisdom will tell you that summer is the worst time to visit Japan, for families in 2026, this season can represent the best value. Summer in Japan is festival time, with Aomori Nebuta in the north, Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka, and Sumida River Fireworks in Tokyo. Flights to Japan are also cheapest in summer.
Need to know While you’re in Japan with the kids, book a few nights in a ryokan, an immersive cultural experience.
Essentials Qantas and Jetstar fly from Australian ports direct to Tokyo. For information on summer events, see japan.travel
Off-roading in Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Best for Primary to teens
The lowdown The Cook Islands is a peaceful place with plenty of outdoor activities and budget-friendly accommodation. One of the highlights, for those with children six and over, is Raro Buggy Tours, a bush-bashing dune buggy ride that only takes two hours and gets everyone muddy.
Need to know While you’re in Rarotonga, take a day tour to Aitutaki, a truly amazing atoll (see airraro.com).
Essentials Jetstar flies direct from Sydney to Rarotonga See cookislands.travel/au; rarobuggytours.com
Hunt demons in South Korea
Best for Tweens
The lowdown Your kids are no doubt obsessed with the movie KPop Demon Hunters, and Inside Asia sees you. The company’s 13-day Korean Wave tour taps into the world’s obsession with K-pop, Korean film and TV with a tour that moves from dance classes to the Hapcheon Movie Theme Park to filming locations in Jeonju.
Need to know If you’re travelling independently in South Korea, the country has a high-speed rail network, the KTX, similar to Japan’s bullet trains, perfect for families.
Essentials Inside Asia’s Korean Wave tours start from $6200 a person. See insideasiatours.com
Family bliss in Malolo, Fiji
Best for Toddlers, primary schoolers
The lowdown If you’re a parent, you know already Fiji is the child-friendly destination of your dreams. One of the highlights is Malolo Island Resort, which has had a series of recent upgrades. Check out the new bedding, the poolside seating and the revamped Tia’s Treehouse, a children’s club with themed days and cultural immersion.
Need to know There’s another great option in Fiji: Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, which provides one dedicated nanny per child, and is being completely refurbished. See fijiresort.com
Essentials Fiji Airways has direct flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Nadi (fijiairways.com). Four-person bures at Malolo Island Resort from $1460 a night. See maloloisland.com
Affordable luxury in Phuket
Best for Toddlers to tweens
The lowdown There’s serious value in South-East Asia, not least at Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. This family-friendly property has an entirely new section, the Vhari Wing, which opened in December, and features spacious rooms, family dining options, a kids club and a water park.
Need to know Katathani enjoys a quiet beachside locale, but you’re also a 10-minute drive from Kata Beach, which has night markets and dining.
Essentials Jetstar flies from Sydney and Melbourne direct to Phuket. Luxury Escapes has a seven-night package at Katathani for two adults and two children for $2099, including three meals a day. See luxuryescapes.com/traveller
Discover Vietnam’s pearl
Best for Toddlers to tweens
The lowdown Vietnam’s Phu Quoc is an island with plenty of family-friendly facilities (theme parks, beaches, cultural villages, night markets) in an idyllic location. The Regent Phu Quoc is also perfectly set up with large rooms, including private villas, plus plenty of included activities, and Regent Kids, a club for those aged four to 12.
Need to know Include a stopover in Ho Chi Minh City for a cultural rush that kids will love.
Essentials VietJet has flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Phu Quoc via Ho Chi Minh City – see vietjetair.com. For the Regent Phu Quoc, see ihg.com
Concerts in paradise
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown Though the glory of the Maldives needs little introduction, this is not just a couples’ getaway – families are catered for. Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma is a relatively affordable venue that boasts all the white-sand beaches you could hope for, as well as a range of room types and activities for families.
Need to know This year, the Holiday Inn Kandooma hosts a series of concerts by the likes of Missy Higgins, The Cat Empire and Icehouse – more than enough reason to visit.
Essentials Singapore Airlines has flights from Australian ports to Male, via Singapore (singaporeair.com). Rooms at the Holiday Inn from $506 a night – see holidayinnresorts.com
AFRICA
Generational joy, southern Africa
Best for Teens
The lowdown Multi-generational travel is huge, and one of the best destinations is in southern Africa. This year, travel agency Collette offers the chance for extended families to book their entire 15-day small-group tours of southern Africa, which includes Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and Cape Town.
Need to know Tack on some extra time at the end to visit Franschhoek, a gorgeous little place north of Cape Town.
Essentials Qantas flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Johannesburg (qantas.com). Collette’s 15-day Exploring Southern Africa, Victoria Falls and Botswana tour starts from $6599 a person, see gocollette.com
Swim to safari in Durban, South Africa
Best for Primary, tweens
The lowdown This July Club Med unveils a new property: Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, a resort split across two venues, one beachside on the Dolphin Coast, the other a private safari lodge. Families are encouraged to spend their time between the two, relaxing by the beach before heading out to catch a sighting of the big five animals.
Need to know The safari lodge, Vikela, will boast Club Med standards such as kids’ clubs and all-inclusive offerings.
Essentials Qantas connects from Johannesburg to Durban. Seven-night, all-inclusive packages for a family of four across the two Club Med venues start from $11,700. See clubmed.com.au
Escape to Egypt
Best for Teens
The lowdown G Adventures, in partnership with National Geographic, offers child-friendly adventures in amazing places. Perhaps the most adventurous is Egypt, where nine-day itineraries take families from Cairo to Aswan, visiting pyramids, ancient temples and museums.
Need to know G Adventures offers only one departure in Egypt this year, but its other family journeys, in Japan, Italy and Greece are worth looking into.
Essentials Emirates flies from Australian ports to Cairo, via Dubai – see emirates.com
G Adventures’ family Egypt tour costs from $4985 a person. See gadventures.com
AMERICAS
White Christmas in Canada
Best for Primary, tweens
The lowdown Kids of all ages dream of experiencing a white Christmas, and Canada has you covered. In Quebec City, there’s statistically a 92 per cent chance of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, and it’s also one of the most beautiful places around. Just pack warm.
Need to know While in Canada, head for a ski adventure at Whistler Blackcomb, which has designated family zones, a free outdoor skating rink and a tube park (whistlerblackcomb.com).
Essentials Qantas has flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Vancouver, with connections to Quebec City (qantas.com). For Quebec City, see bonjourquebec.com
Sports nirvana in North America
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown This June and July the FIFA World Cup is coming to North America, with a massive tournament of 48 teams split over three countries. The Socceroos play their first-round matches in Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco, and while tickets won’t come cheap, this is the family adventure of a lifetime.
Need to know Vancouver would make a great base during the World Cup: the Canadian city is hosting Australia, and provides access to Seattle.
Essentials Air Canada has flights from Australian ports to Vancouver (aircanada.com). For schedules and tickets for the World Cup, see fifa.com
Climb high in Peru
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown This year marks the 20th birthday for Mountain Lodges of Peru, a company that provides family-friendly travel in the Andes. Experience the scenic and cultural wonders of this part of the world as your family embarks on a hike from lodge to lodge, taking in activities such as cooking classes and cultural ceremonies, or just appreciating the view.
Need to know The Andes is high-altitude trekking, so spend a few days in Cusco, 3400 metres above sea level, before setting off.
Essentials LATAM flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Cusco, via Santiago (latamairlines.com). Five-day Andean treks costs from $2305 a person, see mountainlodgesofperu.com
EUROPE
See a solar eclipse in Iceland
Best for Tweens, teens
The lowdown If your kids are interested in the celestial world, they will surely be keen to see this year’s total solar eclipse, a rare event on August 12. Iceland will be one of the few places it’s visible, and 50 Degrees North has an eight-day Solar Eclipse Tour that includes outdoor adventure and prime eclipse viewing.
Need to know The eclipse will also be visible in northern Spain and the Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca.
Essentials Emirates flies from Australian ports to Reykjavik (emirates.com). 50 Degrees North’s Solar Eclipse Tour costs $9586 a person, with 20 per cent off for children. See fiftydegreesnorth.com
Sail away in Croatia
Best for Primary to teens
The lowdown If you’re pitching holiday ideas to your family and say “sailing in Croatia”, you’re going to get it over the line. And you can deliver it in 2026 with UTracks’ Croatia Family Adventure, an eight-day trip aboard a boat in the Adriatic, flitting from port to port, swimming, cycling (kids’ bikes are available), or lazing about on deck.
Need to know UTracks has a host of family adventure tours, including biking and boating on the Danube, and exploring Australia’s Northern Rivers.
Essentials Turkish Airlines flies from Australian ports to Zagreb (turkishairlines.com). UTracks’ Croatia Family Adventure costs from $3590 an adult and $1940 a child, see utracks.com
Sagrada Familia, finally finished
Best for All ages
The lowdown This year, to mark the 100th anniversary of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s death, his masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, will finally be finished. The central tower is expected to be completed in June, making this the ideal time to take the family to view it. There will be a whole year of festivities, including Catalan cultural performances in October.
Need to know Barcelona gets crazy busy in summer so we recommend waiting until October or November to visit.
Essentials Emirates flies from Australian ports to Barcelona (emirates.com). For Sagrada Familia celebrations, see sagradafamilia2026.org
Homegrown hotels for the family
Bells at Killcare, NSW
Just 90 minutes north of Sydney, Bells is a boutique property that offers two styles of family rooms: the three-level lodges and two-bedroom cottages, which can sleep up to 12 people. The hotel has family packages that include horse riding, or four-day guided trekking in Bouddi National Park. bellsatkillcare.com.au
InterContinental Sanctuary Cove, Qld
The Gold Coast has long been a family favourite, with its theme parks and attractions, not to mention accommodation options like the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove. This resort has dedicated school holiday activity programs, plus a kids’ club where children can enjoy themselves while parents relax. See ihg.com
Dairy Flat Farm, Victoria
This is not just for one family but several, given Dairy Flat Farm is a private residence sleeping up to 12 people. Just outside Daylesford, and run by the team from the Lake House, Dairy Flat offers children the chance to embrace life on a farm, checking out gardens, touring the bakery or taking a beekeeping class. See luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au
ParkRoyal Darling Harbour, NSW
Whether it’s a staycation or a city break, the ParkRoyal Darling Harbour is a top spot for families. The hotel has a “Little Explorer” package, which includes in-room amenities for youngsters, plus an explorer pack of binoculars, disposable camera and a map for checking out the city. See panpacific.com
Elements of Byron, NSW
It seems like everyone wants to go to Byron Bay, and why wouldn’t they? This year, the town’s only five-star beachside resort, Elements of Byron, celebrates its 10th birthday, and it has much to offer families, from spacious accommodation to more than 20 hectares of land. See elementsofbyron.com.au
