10 of the best family holiday parks in Queensland

Family friendly holiday parks can even be found on the Great Barrier Reef.  Spanning almost 1500 hectares off the coast of Yeppoon, Great Keppel Island is home to more than 100 species of birds and the crystal clear tropical waters are filled to the brim with fish, turtles, giant clams, corals and other marine life. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a humpback whale!

Great Keppel Island Holiday Village is situated in a quiet part of the bush, just minutes walk from the beach. In fact, you’ll be surrounded by 17 pristine, white-sand beaches and secluded coves which are perfect for exploring all-year round.

Accommodation includes twin-bed rooms; double-bed canvas tents, cabins and campsites. Plus, there are two self-contained houses suitable for families, sleeping five to six people. A fully equipped communal kitchen and barbecue is also on site.

Tip: You’ve got world-class snorkelling on your doorstep. Ask the staff for snorkelling gear and they’ll make sure you’re all set up and ready to go.

Killarney View Cabins + Caravan Park, Southern Queensland Country

Nestled into five acres of countryside, Killarney View Cabins and Caravan Park offers the perfect escape for those partial to spectacular mountain views and built-in serenity. Explore Killarney and the Southern Queensland Country region during the day, then watch the sun set from Carr’s Lookout.

It’s also the perfect holiday park in Queensland if you’re keen on bringing the family pet. You can rest easy knowing your dog is safe and sound because the newly created pet-friendly cabin has a fully fenced yard that your pup can call home while on holiday. 

Tip: Be sure to visit Queen Mary Falls or taste your way through the wineries in Granite Belt.

Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park, Mackay

The ocean and the rainforest converge spectacularly at Cape Hillsborough, but it's not just the scenery that draws travellers here. 

Situated within the national park, Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park is the holiday destination for families looking to unwind from the frenetic pace of city life - and offers prime position for a sunrise stroll down to the beach to meet the wallabies that come here to feed each morning: one of Queensland's best wildlife encounters. 

Choose from a selection of beach huts, houses, or family beach cabins and enjoy the top-notch facilities on offer including a swimming pool with water slides, camp kitchen, barbecues, a reading and tv lounge and a bar.

Tip: Just offshore from Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park you’ll find Wedge Island. On the left side of the island is Orchid Rock and in late September it’s often filled with golden orchids.

Big4 Adventure Whitsundays Resort, The Whitsundays

Picture Queensland's islands and you're probably thinking of The Whitsundays, right in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is one of the most awarded family holiday parks in Queensland and the perfect place for a family trip to this beautiful region. Situated on the mainland, the resort spans across 26 acres of tropical gardens with options for camping and caravanning, as well as beautifully appointed cabins and luxurious three-bedroom condos.

The facilities here is one of the reasons why this is one of the best family holiday parks in Queensland. Once the kids have tired themselves out at the incredible 13-slide waterpark, you can head over to the resort’s own animal park or settle in at the outdoor cinema for a family movie night.

Tip: There’s no better way to truly experience the Whitsundays than to sail. Choose from day sailing, overnight fully crewed charters or a self-catering bareboat experience.

Jacobs Well Tourism Park, Gold Coast

If theme parks are high on the family holiday wish list, look no further than the Gold Coast. Not only do you have stunning beaches, trendy restaurants and subtropical hinterland on your doorstep, you’ll also find Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild and Movie World.

Make a beeline for Jacobs Well Tourist Park and you’ll be just 15 minutes away from the theme park strip. But that’s not the only reason families rush to stay here. It’s also a boating and fishing hotspot that grants access to a myriad of islands to explore. With the boat ramp at your front door and car and boat wash facilities waiting for you when you return from your fishing expedition, this park is perfect for fishing families and outdoorsy teens.

Back at the holiday park you can access free WiFi or hire movies and board games to use during your downtime. Otherwise head down for a swim in the netted enclosed area just off the beach or stroll down to the jetty.

Tip: If you’re a serious fishing family, visit Jacobs Well in spring, when the estuaries and surrounding islands are teeming with flathead, bream and whiting.

Ingenia Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Famed for its first-class access to the nation’s biggest drawcards, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns is a bucket-list destination perfect for the whole family.

You’d be hard-pressed to do better than the amusement-filled Coconut Holiday Resort: it's a kid's paradise. On arrival, you can opt for a tour in their kid-friendly Nemo, Turtle, or Frog buggy, to familiarise yourself with all of the on-site facilities. Once you’ve settled in, the impressive Splash Waterpark will likely be your first stop. Complete with the ever-popular tipping bucket, it’s the best way to beat the heat and keep your little ones laughing and playing for hours.

Once you’re all swum out, watch on as the kids explore the adventure playground, experience the interactive play hub or bounce up a sweat on the jumping pillow. Enjoy your quality family time, and when you’re done, relax and unwind in the adult-only therapeutic hot spa, if you fancy.

Tip: Here's some ideas for what to do when you drag yourself away from the park.

Toowoomba Garden City Holiday Park, Southern Queensland Country

A holiday to Southern Queensland Country is the perfect opportunity for a change of pace and to introduce the kids to the beauty of the Australian country lifestyle. Fun for all ages, immerse yourself in the epic landscapes of national parks, sample paddock-to-plate produce and boutique wines, and catch a glimpse of the rural farming communities that contribute so much to the entire region.

In tranquil Toowoomba, you’ll find Garden City Holiday Park, the classic Queensland environment to let the kids roam free and get back to nature. If you’re a family of swimmers, there’s something for everyone. A shallow wading pool is perfect for little ones, a heated children’s pool for young swimmers, a spa for Mum & Dad, and a giant jumping pillow perfect for all ages. There's even go kart buggies.

Make cooking a family affair and enjoy a BBQ in the elements. Cook up some sausages and pick some fresh herbs for a salad from the free herb garden onsite. If a family movie night is in order, head over to the TV room where you can settle in for the evening.

A variety of accommodation options are available, from cabins to cottages and powered sites.

Hot tip: Head to Toowoomba during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers to watch the Grand Central Floral Parade, enjoy live entertainment, and spoil the kids in the sideshow alley.

Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park, Sunshine Coast

With world-class beaches at your fingertips, as well as an impressive coastal walk which stretches 25 kilometres, Caloundra is the perfect holiday for families looking to do more than lay by the pool.

Perched on one of Caloundra’s most-loved beachfront spots, Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park provides easy access to the patrolled beach and 11 of its caravan sites have complete ocean views, so you can check the waves before heading out.

When you need a break from the sun, the whole family will love the on-site recreation room which has free internet, a TV and computers, as well as interactive gaming consoles and a pool table.

The studio units include a private patio, a double bed and a set of bunks. Most importantly, they’re fully air-conditioned, so you can cool off after a long day outside.

Tip: Make sure the kids pack their skateboards because the Dicky Beach skatepark is just a stone’s throw away.

Tasman Holiday Parks Rowes Bay, Townsville

Located on prime beachfront a stone's throw from Townsville's CBD and The Strand (with its own waterpark), Rowes Bay is a family friendly holiday park that has it all. 

Tow your caravan, pitch your tent, or settle into one of the cabins or oceanview villas, then explore all it has to offer. There's the swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, giant chess and outdoor movies to keep everyone entertained. Want to venture further afield? You can book your Great Barrier Reef tours and family activities right here at the park. 

The essentials are covered too: WiFi, camp kitchen, free gas BBQs, kiosk, coin laundry and three amenities blocks. You might never want to leave.

Tip: Only 20-minutes by ferry from Townsville, Magnetic Island is a playground for adventurous families.