Family-friendly itineraries: Part 2
GUMBUYA PARK TO CAPE LIPTRAP, VIC
Stopovers: Cowes, Inverloch
Itinerary length: 4 days
Travel time: 3 hours (227km)
It’s rarely broadcasted, but if you’re visiting friends in Victoria’s south-east there’s camping at Akoonah Park, 30 clicks east of the fabulous wildlife nature park Gumbuya Park. Littlies will love petting the baby animals, feeding the roos or close encounters with snakes, dingoes or crows, while the older kids can challenge each other on the twin toboggan rides or kick a ball on the vast communal lawns. Next, venture southwards and bunker down at Cowes in Phillip Island for two nights. There’s enough here to entertain the kids for a week but if your stay’s short, milk a cow or crack a whip on Churchill Island Heritage Farm or, for the older ones, conquer the rope course at SkyTrail, and spot penguins nesting at The Nobbies before watching the procession after dark. Then, it’s on to the Bass Coast, where you can stop at Inverloch and inspect rock pools when the tide goes out for miles and the venture east to Bear Gully camp in Cape Liptrap.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1: Gumbuya Park to Phillip Island
Cosy up to a dingo at Gumbuya Park
Enjoy snags and kick a ball with the crew on the vast lawns
Bushwalk the fabulous Glen Forbes before hitting the island
Day 2: Cape Woolamai to Churchill Heritage Island
Enjoy the calm safe waters of Cape Woolamai Safety Beach
Entertain the kids with an afternoon at the Churchill Heritage Island or challenge the older ones on the SkyTrail course
Day 3: Penguin spotting at The Nobbies
Take a leisurely morning stroll on Cowes Beach
Stretch the legs on The Nobbies boardwalk but don’t forget your jacket!
Finish the day with the penguin parade
Day 4: Inverloch to Cape Liptrap
Shell collecting at low tide
Dine out at Inverloch pub before setting off for seclusion
ATHERTON TABLELANDS TO DAINTREE NP, QLD
Stopovers: Kuranda and Mossman
Itinerary length: 4 days
Travel time: 4 hours (192km)
Few destinations in Australia are jam-packed with such an amazing variety of awe-inspiring natural wonders than the short journey from Atherton to the Daintree, which will have you mesmerised from start to finish. Starting your tropical drive in the Atherton Tablelands, you’ll have to spend at least one day exploring the myriad of lakes and waterfalls before making the short trip to the magical town of Kuranda. Take the kids on an exhilarating ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – a combination of both is sure to tick everyone’s boxes. The next stop is Mossman where a visit to the spectacular Mossman Gorge is compulsory. The final journey to Cape Tribulation in the World Heritage-listed Daintree NP is short in kilometres but allow plenty of time to absorb this sensational landscape.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1: Atherton Tablelands to Kuranda
Explore the Waterfall Circuit near Atherton
Enjoy the serenity of the volcanic crater lakes
Take the short drive to Kuranda
Day 2: Kuranda
Experience a round trip on the Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway
Find unique souvenirs in this village in the rainforest
Visit spectacular Barron Gorge
GERALDTON TO RED BLUFF, WA
Stopovers: Kalbarri and Hamelin Pool
Itinerary length: 3-4 days
Travel time: 8 hours (780km)
If snorkelling, surfing, paddling, fishing and bushwalking are the kinds of things that keep your family holidays humming, then this strip of World Heritage-listed paradise will make you want to head west to WA’s Coral Coast right now. Throw in wild dolphin feeding, dune-sliding, thar-she-blows holes and some very holiday-sassy seaside towns and you’ve got a trip to please everyone on board.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1: Geraldton to Kalbarri
Feed the pelicans that gather on Kalbarri’s foreshore
Hire a kayak to explore the Murchison River
Peer through Nature’s Window, an easy 500m stroll in Kalbarri National Park
Day 2: Hamelin Pool
Check out weird and wonderful ancient marine stromatolites
Swim in the super-saline sea
Day 3: Tour Francois Peron National Park
Snorkel Gregories Beach and climb the big red dunes
Spot eagle rays and shovel-nosed sharks from Cape Peron’s clifftop lookout
Day 4: Hamelin Pool to Red Bluff
Brave Quobba’s booming blowholes
Snorkel the colourful coral garden off protected Point Quobba
Surf the world-famous Bluff Barrel
SYDNEY TO DORRIGO, NSW
Stopovers: Coffs Harbour and Nymboida
Itinerary length: 4 days
Travel time: 6 hours (600km)
The North Coast has so much to offer within a day’s drive of Sydney. Coffs Harbour is where the mountains meet the sea and a wonderful campsite is never far away, whether by a river or the deep blue. From beach driving to stunning rainforest pockets within World Heritage-listed national parks, this part of the world has the lot. The kids will love the safe swimming in the clear waterways while mum and dad can surf, explore on a SUP or kayak up one of the many creeks.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1: Sydney to Coffs Harbour
Plenty of waterfront camping areas to choose from
Surfing beaches, safe creeks and plenty of patrolled beaches to get wet at
Make sure you bring your swimmers, fishing rod and/or a surfboard
Day 2: Explore Coffs Harbour
Check out The Big Banana
Visit the Pet Porpoise Pool
Swim or collect shells at one of the many pristine beaches
Go jetty jumping off the jetty
Walk over Muttonbird Island
Day 3: Coffs Harbour to Nymboida
Escape to the hinterland
Stop for lunch at Ulong at the old Old Post Office Cafe
Explore waterfalls and stunning rainforest
Riverside camping at Platypus Flats in Nymboida
Day 4: Nymboida to Dorrigo
Head to the Norm Jolly memorial grove
Walk amongst 800-year-old Tallowwood trees in World Heritage-listed areas
Stop at Dangar Falls for lunch and a swim if you’re brave enough
Spend time at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
Check out the article about Secrets to sucessful family vanning!
Don't forget to read the Family-friendly itineraries Part 1.
The full feature appeared in Caravan World #568. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!
