Queensland’s best luxury stays for families

One of our most exclusive islands has thrown down the white sand welcome mat, inviting children from as young as three to shuffle ashore alongside well-heeled parents to play on Lizard Island. Petite guests will be treated to chef-curated five-star cuisine, have their little body and souls soothed with modified treatments at the Essentia Day Spa and choose any one of 24 private beaches (complete with picnic provisions) to tote buckets and spades.

The Junior Rangers program will keep them busy learning about the marine life buzzing on fringing reefs and essential island ecology with gentle education imparted about the critical role kids play in conservations in a fun, immersive, nature-led classroom.

There’s swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear waters too, dinghy rides with mum and dad, plus private pool soak sessions followed by family mock-tails at sunset to get into the groove of luxe island living. Family time on Lizard island is from 26^th June to 11^th July commencing in 2021, however we have a feeling more island playdates will be released soon.

Fun family facts: Lizard Island has a no plastic straw and plastic bottle policy. There's no phone coverage and limited wifi to ensure quality family time can be screen-free.

Mosey on over to Mount Mulligan Lodge

Pack their cute little Akubras and treat yourselves to matching Blundstones before heading 150 km north-west of Cairns to the luxe-meets-magic outback playground of Mount Mulligan Lodge.

The kids will love whizzing around this 28,000-hectare working cattle station riding on private electric buggies (driven by mum or dad) and can even try their hand at mustering in-season. The weir provides the perfect outback swimming pool, and comes complete with paddle-boards and kayaks, plus it doubles as a top fishing spot to land a barramundi too. Catch your dinner or let the little tummy rumbles be silenced by a selection of delicious local cuisine sprinkled with native bush tucker ingredients prepared by the chef.

The sprawling Outback Pavilion easily accommodates families with two bedrooms, a lounge area and separate bathrooms, plus a pair of corrugated iron bathtubs where you can go to soak in a sunset over the escarpment while washing off the happy dust collected from a day well spent.

With only 16 guests in residence at any one time, you’ll savour semi-exclusive outback living and as guests, glean first-hand insight into a history of pioneers who etched the now-retired township of Mount Mulligan as settlers, but also coal and gold mining prospectors too.

Fun family facts: Fifty dollars from every stay is donated to the Morris Family Foundation Reef Keepers Fund that protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef in collaboration with James Cook University, World Wildlife Fund and the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Sleep on the reef

There’s no place more magical for a family sleepover than hovering above the underwater world buzzing beneath on the Great Barrier Reef while a blanket of a trillion stars twinkles above. But that’s what families sign up for joining Cruise Whitsundays Reef Sleep to spend a night moored 40 nautical miles offshore on Hardy Reef in the sublime Whitsundays.

You’ll camp out cocooned in a custom-built reef-bed-swag, and after a BBQ dinner, make regular visits to an ever-changing under-the-sea world via a submerged viewing chamber. Watch as giant gropers and wrasse emerge from the shadows and bigger more predatory fish and sharks go on their nocturnal feeding hunt before snuggling into bed to stargaze.

After a spectacular sunrise over the sea and watching the reef change back to its peaceful day persona, indulge in a leisurely breakfast before jumping in sans crowd for a private snorkel before the day guests arrive.

Fun family fact: Reefsleep underwent a refurbishment in 2019 and now also boasts ReefSuites, Australia’s first underwater accommodation. Reefsuites is available for two persons only (but one guest can include a child aged 6 years or over) but ReefSleep accommodates families, with children welcome who are aged 6 years or more.

A date with the world’s oldest living rainforest 

If you’ve ever fancied trying a Swiss Family Robinson existence, we’ve found just the place. Nestled deep within the verdant World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, the Daintree Ecolodge is a wonderland of elevated tree house style accommodation in Far North Queensland, county of the Kuku Yalanji people.

Just 90 minutes north of Cairns, you’ll feel another world away from civilisation, as you learn about the plants and animals that thrive in this shaded oasis, an area of great cultural significance and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples. Share their story on local guided tours to discover the culture, mystery and beauty of the rainforest and the reef as told by traditional custodians who have called the Daintree home for over 50,000 years.

An indoor heated pool will offer the kids a reprieve between sessions of rainforest bathing, and bring their wildlife spotting wish lists as a menagerie of birds, frogs, reptiles and mammals can be spotted in and around the property too.

Fun Family Fact: The rainforest is home to many edible species of plants and animals, and many feature on Julaymba Restaurant’s menu including crocodile ceviche and delicious tangy finger lime pearls that explode on your tongue when you eat them.  

Glamp it up in the Scenic Rim

If camping is not your thing, and you prefer to sleep in a hotel quality bed, but you love the idea of bonding with the kids over shared hiking adventures, toasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate around the campfire - one word: Spicers.

You will be in a tent - but it’s glam safari style, complete with king or twin single beds, a private deck with comfy chairs and an exclusive steaming hot tub to enjoy as you gaze across the magical Scenic Rim mountains or up into the starry skies above. Spend some time with the kids in the outdoor lounge complete with a fire pit and a pizza oven and indulge in the outdoorsy life without foregoing any creature comforts.

A two-day itinerary makes it easy to be your best camping self without doing any prep with guided family walks in Main Range National Park, morning tea and lunch provided on the trail and when you return to camp, fresh scones with jam and cream will be waiting.

Learn some bush survival skills in a beautiful nature refuge alongside the kids, and have plenty of time to relax and share quality family time in the outdoor lounge, siesta in the tent or soak in the hot tub before dinner under the stars. Your camping ground is a 5000-hectare private country campground inclusive of all meals, select beverages and activities. Suggested ages for the kids is 6-16 years and a maximum of 20 like-minded family-guests will join you to bond in the bush too.