If you’re looking for an adventure perfect for both younger and older kids, the Whitsundays is the place to be this summer holiday. Sun-kissed beaches, sparkling blue waters, soft white sand, and all the entertainment you could ever imagine, just waiting for your exploration.
A holiday haven with 74 islands to adventure, the Great Barrier Reef hugging the shorelines, and a bunch of activities that are great to keep the kids busy. Here are our best picks on how to keep your kids entertained over the summer holidays.
Beach life
Being in Australia gives us all the advantages of enjoying some of the best beaches on this planet. And no school holiday is complete without experiencing the beach life.
Give your child the best exposure to Australian beaches and the Great Barrier Reef by heading to the Whitsundays. If you’d like to stay on the mainland, it pays to know that no Whitsundays adventure is complete without heading to the magnificent beaches in Bowen.
Home to eight award winning beaches, each offering a unique discovery ranging from coral reefs to giant clams, tropical fishes and white sandy shores, Bowen is an epic playground for children. Whether you’re looking to cast a line from one of the many vantage points, or hoping to go for a dip and even snorkel, or even to just laze on the beach and build sandcastles, there is something to do for everyone.
Horseshoe Bay is the most popular beach in Bowen, thanks to its unique landscape framed by two granite outcrops creating the ideal environment for an abundance of coral and fish. When in Horseshoe Bay, make it a point to check out the Horseshoe Bay Rotary Lookout, which will give you 360 degree panoramic views of the place.
Flagstaff Hill Lookout
The most premium lookout of Bowen, Flagstaff Hill Lookout offers sweeping panoramic views of the region from the Marina to Rose Bay as well as the entire town. Spectacular sights await you under the shelter of a gazebo, so if you’d like to enjoy the views with a picnic, be sure to pack one. The walk up will be a great way for the kids to burn some energy too.
Whitsunday Segway Tours
Instead of exploring the Whitsundays the ordinary way, why not take the kids on a segway adventure instead? The Whitsunday Segway Tours provide a unique experience with morning and afternoon tour options. The morning tours begin from the Conway National Parks through lush, green rainforests followed by morning tea. The afternoon tour is in Airlie Beach, travelling along the Bicentennial Boardwalk by the water’s edge, followed by a dinner during sunset.
Be entertained by appropriate commentary that is fun and interesting while you take in the beautiful scenery that surrounds you. The Whitsunday Segway Tours will have the kids raving about their experience on a segway in the Whitsundays with all their friends.
Mullers Lagoon Park
Located right in the centre of Bowen, Mullers Lagoon Park is set within the 23 hectares that make up a wetland habitat and the picturesque botanical gardens.
Featuring walking tracks that sweep around the lagoon among a wide variety of exotic and native vegetation, the natural atmosphere is magnificent – and a great way to expose the kids to nature away from technology. Mullers Lagoon Park also has a playground for the kids to burn some energy, picnic tables and barbecue pits to cook up a storm.
Whitsunday Crocodile Safari
Take a trip on the wilder side, and show your kids an epic adventure into crocodile territory. Take on the opportunity to let your kids learn about the fascinating facts of these magnificent, prehistoric creatures, while understanding the dangers associated with them.
Venture into the natural habitat of crocs among estuaries and wetlands. Alas, the tour isn’t just about crocodiles – but also other wildlife such as marsupials, birds, fish, and Queensland mud crabs.
Bowen’s Foreshore
Wander among the recreational area that makes Bowen’s Foreshore. There you’ll find an outdoor amphitheater, grassy picnic areas, a skate park, a well-facilitated playground, and the Catalina memorial. The Bowen waterpark is also near the area, so head there to let the kids cool off from the sun and for hours of fun.
Fun and food
Every parent knows that if you want to keep your kids happy, you simply must make sure their bellies are full. A hungry kiddo is a cranky one, so head to the Grand View Hotel for a wonderful family meal. Offering the best of Bowen, the menu here is scrumptious enough to have the kids begging to come back for more. With the freshest locally caught seafood at your whim followed by a wide array of different cuisines such as authentic Italian dishes, mouthwatering burgers, juicy premium steaks, decadent desserts and so much more, a visit to the Grand View Hotel Restaurant is a must when in Bowen.
Kids under 12 have great menu options too, including mouthwatering foods such as chicken wedges, calamari, Hawaiian pizzas, and gnocchi bolognese at affordable prices.
The waterfront view is spectacular, giving you the best of the Whitsundays, while being spoilt with exceptional service and great vibes. A dining experience here will even give your kids some bragging rights of having dined in the place where the blockbuster movie ‘Australia’ starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman was shot.
Banner image credit: Whitsundays Segway Tours
