Family in Palm Cove

Family & Kids Activities

Fun for all

If you’re looking for the ultimate family holiday, Tropical North Queensland should be at the top of your list. From the hundreds of golden beaches fronting onto the calm waters of the Coral Sea to the lush green rainforests and national parks, there’s always something to do outdoors. You can explore from a kayak, canoe or paddleboard, race around on mountain bikes or hike up to secret lookouts.

Splash around in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, go waterfall chasing in the Atherton Tablelands, spot cassowaries at the Djiru National Park and feed a big reptile at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.

There’s a large selection of resorts with great facilities for families, like huge swimming pools, playgrounds and special kids’ menus. If your family needs more space, self-contained apartments are a great option or you can check in to one of the excellent caravan parks in the region, many of which have pools and even waterslides.

Bonding time

Capitalise on quality family time with these family-friendly activities.

marine biologist on sunlover reef cruises
Cairns & Northern Beaches
Things to do near Cairns these school holidays

It’s that time of year again! School’s out and kids all over the country are begging to get out and explore. From wildlife to waterslides and everything in between, this is your ultimate guide to the school holidays near Cairns.

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child running along kewarra beach
Cairns & Northern Beaches
What to do in Cairns With Kids

Looking for what to do in Cairns with kids? This natural adventure playground is jam-packed with activities that are perfect for the whole family.

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ideas for rainy day activities in cairns
Cairns & Northern Beaches
Ideas for a rainy day in Cairns with kids

Kids restless and suffering cabin fever? Let them release that pent-up energy by ziplining over a crocodile, exploring underwater coral gardens or venturing through the Southern Hemisphere’s largest butterfly sanctuary.

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Great Barrier Reef
8 reasons to take the kids to the reef with Quicksilver

Riddle us this: what is the most complex natural system on earth, World Heritage-listed, and found in Tropical North Queensland?

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crocodile jump hartleys
Port Douglas
Things to do with little travellers at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

When you want to see Australian natives up close, it pays to visit an animal sanctuary who have perfected up close and personal experiences for more than eight decades, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.  

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kids playing at ellis beach
Port Douglas
Why Port Douglas is the perfect spot for a family holiday

Port Douglas is the perfect getaway for kids and parents alike, with everything from adrenaline-filled rainforest adventures and awe-inspiring wildlife tours to top-end eateries and bustling local markets.

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family at cairns lagoon
Cairns & Northern Beaches
8 Free ideas for family fun in Cairns

Outdoor loving families will have a tonne of fun in Tropical North Queensland and the best part about holidaying in the tropics is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy yourself. Here are our top 8 free things to do as a family in TNQ.

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Kuranda
5 places to spot animals in Kuranda

Kuranda, the picturesque village on the Atherton Tablelands, is home to many of our tropical wild friends, so where better to go animal-spotting than at one of Kuranda’s many wildlife gardens and sanctuaries.

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Red Peark Station boardwalk at Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Kuranda
6 reasons to see the rainforest with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Welcome to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, an aerial experience through Australia’s most famous rainforest, the Wet Tropics.

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Children play in Palm Cove
Palm Cove
Palm Cove: a family affair

Make beautiful memories with a stay at this chic, laidback village just north of Cairns. Here’s 10 reasons why kids and grown-ups love Palm Cove.

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Beach and sunrise
Uncategorised
5 Family-friendly camping spots near Cairns

Whether it’s time spent outdoors, the excitement of exploring a new landscape or just sleeping under the stars, my time camping as a kid has meant a desire to share similar experiences with my own children.

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Mission Beach MTB Park
Uncategorised
Six family-friendly mountain biking trails

If you have children in tow on your next Tropical North Queensland adventure, add these family-friendly trails to your itinerary.

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pullman palm cove
Port Douglas
Dive into this guide of swim-out hotel rooms

Walk in: swim out. For that added splash of luxury to your weekend getaway, family holiday or romantic retreat the following hotels will get you as close as you can to the most convenient and luxurious pools in the region.

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lorikeet at birdworld in kuranda
Cairns & Northern Beaches
A wildlife warrior’s 3 day guide to the tropics

Love animals? Love nature? Love khaki? If you answered yes, this guide has your name written all over it, and we’re calling you a wildlife warrior from now on. Trek to the tropics for three days of nature in the north with this itinerary.

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Daintree Discovery Centre
Uncategorised
The Wet Tropics’ Famous Five Precincts and a guide to exploring them

If you’re looking to connect with nature and discover a rainforest that’s the oldest, longest and largest in Australia, go behind the foliage with this guide to the five precincts of the Wet Tropics.

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Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
Uncategorised
5 things you didn’t know about crocodiles

They may have a reputation as one of the planet’s most powerful creatures, but crocodiles are equally as fascinating as they are fearsome.

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Rex Smeal Park
Port Douglas
Things to do in Port Douglas

Don’t let its flop and drop reputation fool you, there are many things to do in Port Douglas. From hunting with Traditional Owners & exploring the Great Barrier Reef, to river floats & wildlife parks. Here’s how to spend your time in Port Douglas.

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Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival
Uncategorised
8 unmissable Indigenous events in Tropical North Queensland

From Cairns to the Cape, you’ll find an annual program of Indigenous events that bring to life a culture 60,000 years in the making. Your ticket not only grants you entry, but a backstage pass to the stories and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation.

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emerald creek falls mareeba
Atherton Tablelands
10 things near Mareeba worth the drive from Cairns

If your ideal holiday involves roaming from providore to providore, seeing 400-million-year-old rock cave formations and exploring waterfalls in between, there’s a town on the Atherton Tablelands you’ll want to get to know.

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Family Activity & Attractions

With countless activities on offer, here are some of the best places to take your family.

 

Book now and save $100 on tours

Are you visiting Tropical North Queensland soon? Take advantage of our Tropical Dollars and get $100 off tours and experiences* when you book through Experience Oz! Use code TNQ100

*Min spend $200. T&C’s apply. Travel by 21 June 2024.