School holidays + Aussie family + a packed esky = some of the best memories any kid will ever have. The trick is picking destinations that balance "great for the parents" with "actually fun for the kids", in places where the school holiday crowds aren't suffocating.

Here are seven Aussie destinations — one for each state and territory — that hit that sweet spot. Each comes with our top tips for what to do once you're there.

Photo by Colin + Meg on Unsplash

Less than 3 hours from Melbourne, on the banks of the iconic Murray. Echuca was once Australia's largest inland port, and the restored Port of Echuca still has the 400m wharf where steam paddleboats unloaded cargo for the Melbourne run.

What to do with kids:

• Hop on a paddlesteamer cruise (PS Pevensey, PS Adelaide) — kids can sometimes have a turn at steering
• Houseboat hire — your own floating accommodation, lazy days on the water
• Murray water sports: swimming, waterskiing, fishing for cod and yellowbelly
• Local wineries and pub-restaurants for the adults; ice-cream shops for the kids

Best season: September school holidays — warm enough to swim, before peak summer crowds.

2-3 hours south of Sydney. Hyams Beach has been measured (Guinness Book) as having the whitest sand in the world. The bay is a marine park with 50+ resident dolphins.

What to do:

• Beach swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking — protected calm bay
• Dolphin spotting (almost guaranteed) and humpback whale watching June-November
• Booderee National Park — kid-friendly walks, native gardens, beaches
• Bushwalking through the Jervis Bay coastal heath

Where to stay: Huskisson and Vincentia have the best caravan parks; Booderee NP has bush camping (Cave Beach, Green Patch). Book ahead — fills fast.

Photo: Colin + Meg / Unsplash

An hour south of Cairns on the Cassowary Coast. 14km of golden beach, sandwiched between Daintree-style rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Less developed than Cairns/Port Douglas — quieter, family-focused.

What to do:

• Day trip to Dunk Island — picnic, snorkel, beach walk
• Snorkelling/diving on the reef
• Whitewater rafting on the Tully River (kids 12+)
• Rainforest walks — keep an eye out for the famously elusive cassowary
• Beach lazing — there's not much else you HAVE to do

Stinger season warning: Nov-May, wear a stinger suit in the water. Otherwise, the dry season (May-Oct) is paradise.

2.5 hours from Darwin. Kakadu is bigger than some small countries, and a self-drive family adventure here is genuinely transformative for kids.

What to do:

• Yellow Water Cruise (sunrise or sunset) — crocs, birds, water buffalo, lotus flowers
• Ubirr at sunset — Aboriginal rock art galleries with views over the floodplain
• Nourlangie Rock — more rock art, ranger-led talks (free, brilliantly delivered)
• Gunlom Falls — natural infinity pool with Croc-free swimming, top of the falls views
• Mamukala wetlands — bird-watching, especially magpie geese in dry season

Best: May-October dry season. School holidays in September are perfect — fine weather, everything open. Critical: heed crocodile warnings, stick to designated swimming spots.

Photo: Colin + Meg / Unsplash

3 hours south of Perth. Famous for wine, but actually built for families — beaches, bush, caves, and a steady supply of free chocolate / cheese / fudge tastings.

What to do:

• Whale watching from Geographe Bay — September to December
• Beach swimming at Smiths Beach or Gnarabup
• Cape to Cape walking trail (sections suitable for all fitness levels)
• Mammoth, Lake, and Jewel Caves — limestone caves kids love exploring
• Free tastings: Margaret River Chocolate Company, Cheeky Monkey Brewery, Bahen & Co Chocolate

Caravan parks near Prevelly and Margaret River township; eco-resorts and B&Bs scattered through the wine country.

45-minute SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis (1.5 hours south of Adelaide). Third of the island is national/conservation parks. Kids see wildlife close-up that they'd see only in zoos elsewhere.

What to do:

• Seal Bay Conservation Park — walk among Australian sea lions on the beach (with a guide)
• Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch — wind-sculpted granite formations on the wild south-west coast
• Swim at Stokes Bay (sheltered) or the calmer north coast beaches
• Cavers love the Kelly Hill limestone cave system
• Local wildlife: KI's unique kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, and the rare KI dunnart

Camp at the Western KI Caravan Park or Vivonne Bay; or eco-cabins for a softer option.

20-minute ferry from Kettering, 30 minutes south of Hobart. 100km long, sparsely populated. Ultimate Tasmanian wilderness experience without the multi-day commitment.

What to do:

• Bruny Island Eco Cruises along the dramatic coastline — sea cliffs, fur seals, fairy penguins
• Bushwalks: the Cape Bruny Lighthouse loop, Mount Mangana, Fluted Cape
• Bird watching — white wallabies, black cockatoos, sea eagles
• Made on Bruny food trail — handmade fudge, Bruny Island cheese, fresh oysters, smoked salmon, premium wines
• Camping at Cloudy Bay or Jetty Beach; cottages scattered across the island

Plan a school-holiday trip to one of these destinations? Browse our Campsite Explorer for current campsite options across Australia, filterable by features (powered, dog-friendly, free).

Open Campsite Explorer →

• Bookings — NSW NPWS: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
• Bookings — Parks Victoria: parks.vic.gov.au
• Bookings — QLD Parks: parks.des.qld.gov.au
• Bookings — Parks SA: parks.sa.gov.au
• Bookings — WA Parks (DBCA): parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au
• Bookings — Parks Tasmania: parks.tas.gov.au
• Bookings — NT Parks: nt.gov.au/parks
• Weather + warnings (BoM): bom.gov.au
• Leave No Trace Australia: lnt.org.au

Pick the destination by what your family loves: water-based (Echuca, Jervis Bay, Mission Beach), wildlife (Kakadu, Kangaroo Island, Bruny), or balance (Margaret River). Book accommodation 2-3 months out for school holidays — popular spots fill.

And don't try to see everything. The kids who fall in love with camping are the kids who get one or two great experiences per trip — not the ones dragged through twelve. Pick a destination, settle in, and let it unfold.