9 family holiday houses you’ll want to rent for your next escape

With four bedrooms across three levels, space is no issue when it comes to this Mermaid Beach holiday house.

Luxury meets comfort in the coastal-themed home tucked away behind tropical gardens, just a short stroll from the beach. There are two living rooms on separate floors, making ‘parent time’ an actual possibility during the holidays. The kids won’t be bored either with a heated pool delivering fun all year-round.

While only a hop, skip, and a jump away from Mermaid Beach, it's a great base to explore bustling Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise too. 

Brisbane

Tangalooma Holiday Houses, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)

For the ultimate island getaway, only 75 minutes off the coast of Brisbane, book into a Tangalooma Holiday House at Tangalooma Island Resort on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).

All six holidays houses sleep between eight and 12 guests, so even bigger family gatherings can be accommodated. Each house looks straight out onto the water, and the breezy verandahs are the best spots to enjoy some downtime between activities.

If your family loves an active holiday, take advantage of the resort’s offerings. Get out on the water and snorkel the wrecks, or hire out a kayak and stand-up paddleboard for the afternoon. Don’t forget to try your hand at feeding the local dolphins at the nightly feeding program, too.

You can also venture inland and head out on a hike, go sand tobogganing, or jump on the quad bikes and follow the tracks around the resort. Here's a 48-hour guide to Moreton Island to keep you busy.

Mount Barney Lodge, Scenic Rim

Kick the usual family camping trip up a notch with a homestead stay at Mount Barney Lodge. You’ll find it at the base of Mount Barney itself, on the edge of Mount Barney National Park, approximately two hours south-west of Brisbane.

If you like camping but want comfort, you’ll be happy to know that as well as camping, camper trailers, and cabins, the lodge offers beautiful Queenslander holiday houses to rent with the camping fun still on tap. We’re talking sitting around a campfire with marshmallows to spending days exploring swimming holes and bush-walking trails.

What makes this one so popular with families with small children is their holiday program where the kids can learn a few environmental skills like lighting a fire, finding bush tucker, tying knots and track animals - while older kids can try rock climbing and abseiling. 

Aquila Beach House, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Leave the city behind and an hour later you can be on island time at Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).

Book into Aquila Beach House for the perfect balance of beachside bliss and homely-haven. The dark shades of the wooden floors, fireplace and furniture create for a cosy retreat, while the light and bright outdoor areas kick the house into its coastal gear.

This is a holiday home for kids who like to let their imagination run wild - you won't find a pool or playground here. Instead, the kids can stay entertained with the in-house library area, and play I-Spy at the whale watchtower between the months of July and November.

It’s also only a short walk to the restaurant strip of Point Lookout and Straddie’s Main Beach, but if you’ve got a couple of days up your sleeve, check out what else to do with this guide.

You can book into the Aquila Beach House online via Discover Stradbroke.

Southern Queensland Country

Misty, Bunya Mountains

Immerse the family in nature in the second-oldest national park in Queensland, the Bunya Mountains.

With over 100 holiday houses to choose from under the Accommodation Centre’s umbrella, there’s more holiday houses than you can poke a Bunya nut at – from smaller cottages nestled in the rainforest to large homes overlooking sweeping mountain ranges.

Most of the houses have fireplaces to cosy up in front of at night and verandahs to chill out on during the day, but you’ll have to search to come across one with WIFI. Families, be warned, this is a digital detox kind of destination so you’ll want a few board games stuffed into your suitcase.

We love Misty, a two-bedroom cottage that sleeps four in its two-storey wooden sanctuary. It’s nestled amongst the forest with walking tracks at your doorstep, while still being close to restaurants and shops.

Got a teenager in the family ? Check out how to spend 48 hours in the Bunya Mountains with a teen (without internet).

Sunshine Coast

Eumarella Shores Lake Retreat, Noosa

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and slow it all down at Eumarella Shores Lake Retreat in Noosa. You'll absorb the relaxed, slower pace as soon as you arrive at this lakeside hideaway.

Each lakehouse comes with all the comforts of home: a fully equipped kitchen (so you can still make the favourite spaghetti bolognese), private barbeque, laundry facilities, as well as a fireplace for wintery nights.

Surrounded by 50 acres of nature refuge (think kangaroos at your doorstep every morning), these holiday houses are for families that want to get back to nature, without the hassle of setting up a tent. There’s even complimentary use of a two-person kayak.

A short drive will get you and the fam to the hub of Hastings Street, where there’s restaurants and shops galore. 

Noosa Avalon Farm Cottages, Noosa Hinterland

Get a taste of farm life amongst the mountains in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Stay a while at Noosa Avalon and you’ll soon understand why it made this top Queensland farm stay list.

Set across 30 acres of bushland, each of the self-contained, 1920’s cottages provide views from mountain ranges to rolling grass plains. The property is also pet-friendly, so the family pooch is welcome to come along on this holiday.

Kick back on the verandah with a cuppa while the kids play around with the animals and learn what’s involved in their feeding and care. Nothing creates a good mood faster than hand-feeding a potty calf - except maybe watching family memories as they're created.

Fraser Coast

Waiuta Retreat, K'gari (Fraser Island)

Not all adventures on K'gari (Fraser Island) mean you'll be pitching a tent in the sand. From resorts to bushcamps and holiday homes, this place has it all.

Located within Kingfisher Bay Resort, Waiuta Resort is a modern 5-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home with a sprawling deck offering water views, in your own slice of peace and quiet.

With all this time up your sleeve, you’ll be ready to explore the natural wonders of the biggest sand island in the world. Relax on the white silica sand of Lake McKenzie, take a dip in Eli Creek, check out the Maheno Shipwreck, or head out on a 4×4 adventure along 75 Mile Beach.

Need more convincing? Discover why this special place should be at the top of your list, and read this family-friendly guide to the island.

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Coconut Beach House, Cape Tribulation

If you can’t decide on what type of holiday to take, enjoy the best of both worlds and explore the rainforest and reef at Coconut Beach House in Cape Tribulation, one and a half hours north of Port Douglas.

Sleeping up to eight guests, the house is built for the tropics and little kids who like to spend more time outdoors – with a barbeque and massive deck for entertaining, hammock for relaxing, and a selection of books and games to keep the kids busy on a rainy day.

Although nestled amongst 17 acres of tropical rainforest, this holiday home is mere footsteps through a private track to secluded Coconut Beach, which makes your backyard that much bigger. It's also the midway point between two World Heritage-listed natural wonders, with the Great Barrier Reef on one side and the Daintree Rainforest on the other.

Spend days snorkelling the fringing reef, jungle surfing through the oldest rainforest in the world and hanging out at the pristine beaches. Discover the tropical north with this local’s guide to Cape Tribulation.

You can book into the Coconut Beach House by giving the owner, Gerry, a buzz on +61 7 4098 0150.