Last Updated on May 12, 2021 by worldoftravelswithkids
Here at World of Travels with Kids, we embrace active Family holidays – and adventure travel with our kids! From snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and in Fiji to hiking up a volcano in Bali or escaping to the remote coast of Western Australia our whole blog covers some of the best active family holidays you are likely to find across the world!
Active families are ones that like to get out and be physically fit together. Whether it’s walking or hiking, swimming or snorkelling, or doing something more hardcore like rafting or zip-lining. The active family tends to love the great outdoors and the benefits of fresh air and sunshine – though they don’t mind the rain as well.
Family adventure holidays are ones that the kids remember for all the right reasons. They remember them for quality time spent with their parents, as they either learn something together or they share a common goal, like climbing a mountain.
I know that I have got surfing lessons on my radar while we’ve already done some zip-lining, climbing and most recently canoeing. Skiing holidays are also great for active families to get out and enjoy the fresh air in winter. We have our eyes set on Mt. Buller in Victoria, or the New Zealand Ski Fields!
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Active Family Holidays That We Loved
Peru Family Adventure
Peru is definitely a great kid-friendly place to start your South American travels. Sure, we all think of Machu Picchu, the fabled lost city of the Incas, but really there is just so much more to see apart from Machu Picchu. There are stunning mountain vistas at every turn, and the opportunity to meet people who live a traditional way of life, little changed from the time of the Incas.
Peru’s landscapes range from the deserts of the coast, featuring the enigmatic Nazca Lines, to the austere beauty of Lake Titicaca, right through to the lush jungle of the Amazon. We believe that a Peru jungle experience should be on every Peru family holiday bucket list! For families with older kids (tweens and teens), there are plenty of adrenaline-filled activities in Peru like zip-lining, a via Ferrata and white water rafting. For all ages, there is also the question, “Should I Take My Children Trekking In Peru”?
Important To Know – Peru Family Holiday
We have covered everything you need to know about a Peru family holiday for the active family at Peru With Kids. Keep in mind that Latin America is quite far from most places in the world. That means the flights are usually expensive. So this is an adventure travel destination you should try to plan 10 days to 14 days for (at a minimum). All families should plan to acclimatise, which adds a few days to your itinerary, though in the gorgeous Sacred Valley your time will be well utilised.
For more information please read our Tips For Acclimating To Altitude With Kids and Best Things to do in the Sacred Valley Peru With Kids.
Best Age To Travel To Peru
Due to the altitude, and also the adventure rating of many of the activities means that we think Peru is best for older children or tweens (like 8 plus). Our post Trekking The Inca Trail With Kids explains why we think that 10 years is the minimum age you would want to trek the Inca trail with a child.
Best Time To Visit Peru
To start with, Peru has some very distinct weather patterns. If you want to visit Machu Picchu and the Andes area around Cusco (most families do as there are LOTS of family-friendly activities up there!) then the best time to visit is during the dry season, between May and October. While the days are mild and sunny (never really hot!) the night time temperatures can fall below freezing.
The months of December through February are very wet in the mountains, though the weather is great on the coast with blue skies and sunny days (if you want to visit Lima, Nazca or Mancora)!
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Family Holidays
For active family holidays, the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns and Tropical North Queensland tick all the boxes and much more. Obviously, a highlight of such a holiday is exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Whether it is snorkelling, or for older kids scuba diving. We enjoyed our Great Barrier Reef family holiday with kids aged 4 months, 6 and 9 by staying on beautiful Fitzroy Island and expecting the reef and surrounds from there.
However, Tropical North Queensland is not just about the Great Barrier Reef. There is also the ancient Daintree Rainforest to explore – with hiking and cycling options – plus lots of active activities like white water rafting or for smaller kids, tubing down a river!
There are also plenty of educational activities like a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Farm or Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, or a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Check out more in our The BEST Cairns Holidays: Our Ultimate Guide To Family Holidays In Cairns.
Important To Know – Great Barrier Reef Family Holidays
If you use Cairns or Port Douglas as a base, there is so much more to do and see apart from the Great Barrier Reef. We highly recommend spending a day at Kuranda and travelling there on the Skyrail or the famous Kuranda Train. A visit to the Daintree Rainforest is another thing that you must do while in Port Douglas or Cairns. For more information see 17 BEST Cairns Day Trips – Explore Tropical North Queensland.
Best Age To Travel To The Great Barrier Reef
As mentioned above, we travelled to this area with an infant, and two children aged 6 and 9 – and we had an excellent time! In general, the older the children are, the more that they will be able to explore and get more out of the Great Barrier Reef.
What Is The Best Weather For Cairns Family Holidays?
There are two distinct seasons around Cairns – the wet and the dry! The dry (or winter) is actually cooler, and for families wanting to spend a lot of time in the water, it’s important to note that there are no stingers from May through to October. Here are our ideas on the Amazing Great Barrier Reef Tours And Tips For Snorkeling In Cairns.
Why Enjoy Western Australia Family Holidays?
Western Australia is a destination for people who love wide-open spaces. A Western Australia family holiday is the perfect place to delve into Australia’s unique environment. From beaches to forests, to wave-shaped rocks, there are many natural wonders awaiting you and your family in Western Australia!
Western Australia’s southwest coast is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Australia. Due to its proximity to Perth, it is also a very popular family travel destination during the Australian school holidays. The northern part of Western Australia is completely unique. Nowhere else in the world can you experience places like Ningaloo Reef, Karinjini National Park, Broome or the Bungle Bungles. All of these are most definitely places an active family would want to explore!
Important To Know – Western Australia Family Holidays
Western Australia is big – like REALLY big – like as big as all of the West Coast of the USA, or Spain, Portugal, France and the UK combined! That means that to get between the “bucket list places to visit” in Western Australia – like Wave Rock in the outback, the beaches, wineries of Margaret River or Ningaloo Reef in the north – you have to spend many DAYS driving. So if you have a limited amount of time for your family holidays WA you will want to plan carefully.
Best Age To Travel – Western Australia Family Holiday
Western Australia is very organised, and generally clean, with a small population. During the 2019 Covid Pandemic, they never had community transmission – and there are lots of big wide open spaces if you want to socially isolate.
That said; if your kids are not good with long car rides, there are better places to visit with toddlers and small children. We’ll put the best age to travel to Western Australia with kids at 6 plus.
Best Weather For Western Australia Family Holidays
As Western Australia is so big, you have many climates in one state, from the hot tropical north to the wet, temperate south. Most people having Western Australia family holidays will spend some time in the capital Perth. We have put together An Awesome Perth Itinerary For Family Travellers for those wanting to explore Perth.
Typically Perth experiences scorching hot summers from December through February where maximums can reach 40 degrees Celsius for multiple days in a row. It is also extremely hot. Winter is much cooler, with maximums around 18 degrees Celsius and some heavy rain at times.
The best seasons to visit Perth are spring and autumn. In spring there is little rainfall and the days are around 23 degrees. There are a lot of stunning flowers in spring! You can discover more than 12,000 species of wildflowers, which blossom all around Western Australia. Learn more in our guide Where To Find The Best Wildflowers In Western Australia.
Autumn, from Late March through to May, is also a mild time of year when the weather is not extreme and the days often sunny and beautiful.
Fiji Family Adventure
When you think of Fiji you think of lazing on a beach or by the pool. In reality, Fiji is a great destination for active family holidays. In fact, we will go as far as to say it’s amongst the best for family adventure holidays with lots of options for zip lining, surfing, river excursions and some of the best snorkelling in the Pacific.
There are also a lot of options of where to stay in Fiji with family, which we have covered in our post What Is The Best Family Resort Fiji. You can either stay on Fiji’s Coral Coast or head to the resorts in the beauty of The Mamanuca Islands chain.
Important To Know About Fiji Family Holidays!
As Fiji is a Pacific Island, travel here is going to involve flights for pretty much everyone. It’s an extremely popular Australian holiday destination and If you are wanting to escape winter in Australia (eg, from June to September) be aware that this is Fiji’s peak travel season. The July school holidays is the busiest time of the year, apart from the weeks around Christmas.
For those travelling from the USA, a Los Angeles to Nadi flight has an average time of 10h 40m. When you arrive in Fiji, Nadi and Denarau have family-friendly accommodation close to the airport. You can use this as a starting point for further explorations of the islands. There is a lot to see in Fiji if you get away from the resorts on Denarau.
Best Age To Travel For A Fiji Family Holiday
Fiji is a great destination for all ages of travellers. We saw quite a few people on babymoons and it is also a safe destination for babies and toddlers. The older your kids are, the more they will be able to enjoy river rafting, zip-lining and the oceans around Fiji.
More about what you have to know for a successful trip to Fiji with kids in our Fiji With Kids: Things To Know Before Traveling To Fiji.
Best Weather For Fiji Family Holidays
The best time to Fiji for clear blue skies is from May through to September. October through to April is the wet season which is also the time of year most at risk of a cyclone and there are hot, humid temperatures.
The best weather for a Fiji family holiday is the winter from May through to September (same as for Cairns Family holidays above). The wet and humid “wet season” starts in October and gets hotter and humid around January. There is also the risk of cyclones.
Our Next Trip To Fiji
We’re keen for another trip to Fiji in the next few years. Our family will be heading to the Yasawas Islands which are a bit further away than the Mamanuca Island chain where we travelled when the kids were 3 and 7.
As well as snorkelling and kayaking, the Yasawas are a great destination for island hopping aboard one of the small cruise ships. These family-friendly cruise ships are particularly suitable for people travelling with active children and visit a different island each day. The excursions to shore include snorkelling, but also visits to isolated schools as well as fishing and campfires.
You can find more about our experiences in Fiji with kids in Top Things To Do In Fiji For Kids.
Bali Active Family Holiday
Adventurous or active family travellers might think of Bali as a resort based or party destination. I won’t lie –it is. However, when it comes to active family holidays Bali is also one of the best and you should definitely consider it for your next family adventure.
Bali is a wonderful all-rounder destination, and it is also a true tropical paradise. While the beaches are not as white as the Pacific, they are fringed with palms and the beautiful fragrance of Bali float all around you. If you are interested in comparing Bali vs Fiji as a destination, take a look at Fiji Vs Bali: Which Is The Best Holiday In Paradise.
On Bali, there are live volcanos (that you can hike up), hot springs, amazing heritage listed rice terraces and also some truly amazing food! It’s also a famous surfing destination and you can either learn to surf on the beginner waves or head further afield if you have more experience.
Active family holidays might include hiring scooters and zipping around the island, trying out some of the zip lines at the Bali Tree Top Adventure Park, climbing Mt Batur for sunrise, or doing some white water rafting.
Important To Know – Bali Family Holidays
Bali is small. When you look on the map it looks like two places are close together but be aware it can take a long time to travel from point A to point B. If you are hiring scooters or even crossing roads keep in mind that traffic rules are pretty loose on Bali and that riders can make some rather hairy moves!
If you have ever heard of Bali Belly, you will realise how common it is amongst travellers to Bali. When travelling with kids we do avoid tap water, salads, fruits like watermelon and dodgy looking street food. However, even if you take all these precautions you might end up with Bali Belly!
Read More about how to travel to Bali with kids in our post How To Travel To Bali With Kids.
Best Age To Travel – Family Holiday To Bali
Bali is a great first family holiday destination! Take a look at our post 9 Reasons Why Bali Is A Great First-Time Family Holiday Destination.
It is safe enough to be perfect for babies, toddlers and small children, while also offering the adventure of all levels for those with older children. In fact, when my kids are a bit older I plan to take them on a liveaboard around the Komodo Islands across to Flores in an adventure I loved in my early 20s.
Weather – Family Bali Holidays
Bali is best during the June to August period while the days are sunny and dry. It is also the busiest months of the year as Bali is a bustling island that sees a lot of tourism. If your perfect family adventure doesn’t include tourists then you might want to consider another destination.
We’ve found that travel to Bali in the shoulder seasons is the best option. For example, April, May and September, the months bordering the high season might see some rain showers but are generally less busy. Bali experiences the wet season from November to March.
Learn more in our Bali Family Holidays Guide.
Family Holidays To Thailand
Another great place to enjoy active family holidays is in Thailand, the land of smiles. Not only are there tropical sandy beaches, warm waters, and idyllic islands, but some really amazing food. In the north, there are plenty of cultural activities like hill tribe treks and exploration of the bustling markets. Alternatively, you can visit elephant sanctuaries or do a jungle trek. Thailand has got lots to offer the active Family.
Thailand is a very popular destination for Britons who can fly to Bangkok in about 11.5 hours from London, or direct to Phuket in 16 hours. From Los Angeles, it is about 20 hours of travel time, while Sydney to Phuket is about 12 hours.
If you are starting to plan your Thailand Family holiday take a look at our Family Holidays To Thailand, Enjoy Thailand With Kids.
Important To Know – Thailand Family Holiday
Thailand is a substantial flight for most of our readers and we would strongly recommend spending at least two weeks if you can. In addition, we recommend focusing your family holiday on one area, either north or south to reduce travel time and excessive stress on your kids.
For example, on our first Thailand family vacation, we focused on the Phuket and Khao Lak areas, you can follow our itinerary at Khao Lak And Phuket Itinerary With Kids.
Best Age To Travel – Thailand Family Holidays
Wow, do Thai people love children! They especially love babies and our 8-month-old was often whisked away by enthusiastic waitresses or reception staff. In fact, the attention was so great we started being quite protective of her. The older children were aged 9 and 6 and this was a great age for them to travel around Thailand. Obviously, the older and more capable children are, the more that they will enjoy adventurous activities!
Weather – Thailand holidays For Families
It’s possible to visit Thailand year-round, but November through to March is the best, making it a great Christmas or Easter holiday. Keep in mind that these periods are excessively busy in Thailand, especially on the beaches.
The pre-wet season from March to May the temperatures in Thailand can be oppressively hot and humid and probably not a good time to travel with a small baby or toddler. The heat would likely make them pretty irritable. The wet season runs from July through to October when the monsoon can cause heavy rain, and even flooding. We visited in late August and early September and there was rain most days – it did make it quite grey and gloomy. On the other hand, it was not extremely hot and we got some pretty cheap accommodation prices.
Keep in mind that if you are looking for an adventurous family holiday Northern Thailand has some great options and tends to be cooler all year round (than the beach areas.)
Nicaragua Family Travel
Nicaragua certainly comes in high on the family adventure holidays ratings. It has had its share of political instability in recent years and as such remains a destination for the hardcore adventure family looking for a very active family holiday!
Nicaragua ticks all the boxes when it comes to adventure and activity. Plan to spend some time on one of Nica’s beaches learning to surf, and then why not throw in some volcano boarding at Leon? Wherever you look Nicaragua offers adrenaline and adventure. Read all about it in our Adrenaline Filled Activities In Nicaragua For Active Families.
For surfers or wannabe surfers, Nicaragua is a secret surfing destination and has a great beach culture. Learn more with our The Best Beaches In Nicaragua: From The Pacific To The Caribbean.
Important To Know – Nicaragua Family Travel
Apart from the sometimes unstable political situation, you should also be aware that Nicaragua is extremely hot and humid.
If your children are a bit younger, or you are a bit unsure about whether Nicaragua is safe to travel to, then you could also consider nearby Costa Rica. We’ve only been with a baby, and had plans to spend some time in 2020 (which were cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic).
In short, Costa Rica has many large scale resorts which feature a wide range of child-friendly amenities. There is also a wide range of funky alternative styles of lodging which the family looking for adventure travel might relish. There are incredible national parks – and some adrenalin-filled activities like zip-lining, cave tubing and river rafting as well as a place to learn more about sea turtles, and adorable sloths. To learn more about sloths, read our VERY Interesting Sloth Facts For Kids – Learning Made FUN!
Best Age To Travel To Nicaragua
Due to the heat in Nicaragua, and the sometimes shaky infrastructure we would highly recommend taking children over 12 years of age. That said, we’ve visited several times with small children and had no problems. However, we were visiting family and also had experience living in Nicaragua prior to having kids. If you want to plan a family holiday to Nicaragua, but don’t know where to start, please take a look at Nicaragua Itinerary For Families.
Best Time To Travel To Nicaragua
Let’s be honest – Nicaragua is hot all year round, but the dry months of November through April are considered the best. April and May can be extremely hot before the rains come.
Our Plans For Future Family Adventure Holidays
Where next for us, you might ask? Being that we love active family holidays and adventure travel with our kids we are keen to get travelling. With Australian borders still closed, during the rest of 2021, we plan to continue to explore our home state of Western Australia. Australia has done a great job containing coronavirus from entering the community but at the cost of freedom of movement – even travelling interstate is a risky proposition at the moment. Borders are slammed shut without notice and it would mean lengthy quarantines to return home. That means we are going to travel within our home state for the foreseeable future.
Ningaloo Reef At Exmouth Western Australia & Coral Bay
Ningaloo is officially the world’s biggest fringing reef. That’s right it is bigger than the much more famous Great Barrier Reef. It stretches for hundreds of kilometres from Quobba Station near Carnarvon in the south to the Bundegi Reef in the north. Not only does the reef almost reach the beach, but the contrasts between the turquoise waters and red earth are also enough to wow any traveller – big or small. In Ningaloo, you can simply snorkel, or swim with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, humpbacks, dugongs, dolphins plus a wide array of fish.
You will have heard of Africa’s big five – the five animals you want to see if you go on Safari in Africa. Well, Ningaloo Reef has coined a new term “Australia’s big three”. The big three are sharks, manta rays and humpback whales. All of which can be seen on a Ningaloo Reef excursion! It makes me want to jump on a plane and travel there right now!
Important To Know – Ningaloo Reef
Three things that are important to know before visiting Exmouth.
- There are two distinct seasons.
- When the Big Three visit.
- It is 13 hours driving (one way and with no stops) from Perth or a short flight from Perth.
Best Age To visit Exmouth Western Australia
If you fly up to Exmouth and stay at a resort then a holiday to Exmouth is suitable for all ages of children. If you want to get out and about and enjoy the reef, then having them slightly older and able to enjoy the water makes sense. The more confident the kids are to snorkel in the ocean without help, the easier it will be for you.
One of the major “must-do” things in Exmouth is a whale shark tour. You can take babies and toddlers on the vessel but they can get seasick. Operators recommend leaving children under 4 in town if that is possible. If you do take your child who is aged under 4 on the Whale Shark Tour there will need to be a parent with them at all times on the boat. Kids aged 6 and up are able to come on board and snorkel the reef and snorkel with the manta rays if they don’t want to swim with the whale shark.
There are lots of good Ningaloo Whale Shark Tour operators out there. We recommend shopping around and finding one that you feel confident taking your children with. (We will update this with recommendations once we have travelled to Exmouth!)
Best Time To Travel To Ningaloo Reef
The most stunning time to visit Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth are the winter months of June and July. However, in the school holidays, the tiny town of Exmouth is full to the brim, and there will be waits in the shops and restaurants. But – if you are interested in seeing the Big Three then maybe July is the best month to visit, though usually, August is pretty good! August 1st is the beginning of the Humpback whale swimming tours. Until the whale sharks depart, it is often possible to go swimming with humpback whales, whale sharks and manta rays during your visit to Exmouth.
The wet season is extremely hot from November through March. It is also cyclone season in the far north. Sometimes –not often – these cyclones reach as far south as Exmouth. It can be 35 plus degrees in Exmouth in January. However, remember most accommodation is air-conditioned and you can cool off in the pool or at the beach.
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
One of the best active family holidays for Western Australian families. Also one with a lot of bang for your buck is a trip to Rottnest Island. Less than an hour’s ferry ride from Perth and it’s like you are in another world. We love Rottnest for its laid back island feel. There are no cars allowed on Rottnest other than service vehicles and a few buses so most people cycle around the island which is quite small.
There are 65 white sand beaches, fringed with turquoise waters and for much of the year, it is definitely warm enough for snorkelling and swimming. In the cooler winter months Perth experiences a lot of sunny weather so even if your family doesn’t want to swim, Rottnest Island offers plenty of outdoor activities – especially bike riding. There are no cars on this tiny island! You might also consider taking a kayak out and paddling around!
Important To Know
You can visit Rottnest as a day trip and still get a good feel for it. Certainly, if you don’t have much time, this is better than nothing! However, you won’t truly get the full Rotto experience without staying for a few nights. The peak periods of Easter, Christmas through to Australia Day book out about 18 months in advance for the main Rottnest Island cottages. They are old but unique! Don’t visit Rottnest Island during schoolies (leavers week) in November!
Karma Rottnest is the most deluxe of the Rottnest accommodations. Discovery Parks have recently (just before the pandemic) be updated with luxury eco-tents with views of the ocean.
Best Age To Travel
A short ferry ride from home, we would definitely class Rottnest as a great destination for all ages. If you are travelling with a small baby or toddler bring your bike and baby carrier from home, and make sure you are comfortable riding a bike with your little one.
Rottnest is a great place to go with children, and there is plenty to do. The beaches are mostly very calm and shallow which is great for young kiddies. If you are going for the day, it is worth getting as early a ferry as possible as the last ferries go back in daylight.
New Zealand Active Family Holidays – With An Adventure Twist
With Australia and New Zealand enjoying a travel bubble at the moment, making quarantine free travel a reality between the two countries, it makes sense that a family holiday to New Zealand might be our first international foray in some time.
I feel like there is no need to explain here why New Zealand is the perfect family adventure holiday destination. It has lush rainforests, snow-capped mountains, glittering glaciers, fjords and more. With shorter distances to drive than other places (eg, Australia) you can get around easily. Also, New Zealand is famous for being campervan heaven! Yes, we want to hire a campervan when we go too!
High Season: New Zealand’s high season is summer (December-February), this is the busiest time in the country with hordes of international tourists and local tourists alike trying to make the most of their holidays.
New Zealand Family Holidays – Important To Know
The high season in New Zealand is their summer, from December to February. The weather is warmest and people from all around the world flock to see New Zealand’s stunning scenery. The locals too, love to travel around their country at this time – so expect it to be very busy! Keep in mind that it’s never really hot in New Zealand and that it does rain even in summer.
Autumn in New Zealand is dramatic! Think Lord of the Rings with raging waterfalls, ominous skies and the forests coming to life. Keep in mind though, that all of this moody scenery comes with a fair share of rain and cooler weather!
The rainiest period is from May to August, which is also the one with the most frequent rains (11 to 13 days per month) and the lowest amount of sunshine (3/4 sunshine hours per day).
New Zealand is well prepared for winter – think cosy lodges and fireplaces. Of course, if snow and skiing are more your things you’ll definitely make a New Zealand ski trip part of your family holiday. On top of world-class ski and snowboarding, New Zealand also offers some superb winter activities so you are sure to make the most of the impressive Southern Alps.
In November, New Zealand’s famous purple lupins begin to flower. If you’ve seen pictures of these stunning flowers you’ll definitely want to get some photos. They add to the already divine natural beauty of New Zealand.
Best Age To Travel To New Zealand With Kids
New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world, with great systems and peaceful roads. It has a wide range of family-friendly accommodation and activities on offer.
