Is a holiday really a holiday if the kids come along? A new wave of kids’ clubs is making sure everyone in the family enjoys their break, as Charmaine Yabsley discovers.
Run to Paradise
If you’re searching for the perfect Gold Coast staycation (or have visiting friends looking for a family-friendly resort), then Paradise Resort is just the place. Voted Australia’s Best Family Resort for the 11th year in a row, there is a reason it’s also known as a ‘cruise ship on land’. The resort’s newly added teen zone is a terrific addition to the Kids’ Club (catering for children 0-12 years) and promises to keep the kids happy and parents even happier! There is plenty of holiday fun to be had, with an ice-skating rink, a waterpark, a kids’ club, laser tag, daily activities, and loads of entertainment offered all year round. If that’s not enough to keep everyone busy, the resort is just a few metres from Surfer’s Paradise’s golden beaches. The resort offers a range of hotel style accommodation with 360 guest rooms catering to families up to eight. Brand new deluxe rooms overlooking the new parents retreat join the accommodation options alongside the always popular junior and king bunkhouses. Cost: Kids Club sessions start from $40 per child. Visit https://paradiseresort.com.au/play/kids-club/
Putting on the Ritz
Adventure awaits around every corner at the Ritz-Carlton Perth. The fun-filled programme offers locally inspired environmental and cultural experiences, hands-on cooking classes, kid-sized afternoon teas, nature exploration, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, and much more. The fun doesn’t end when the activities wrap up for the day. With menus tailored to kids’ tastes, destination-themed activity books, playgrounds, family pools, and in-room “camping” experiences, the exploration lasts from morning to night — and from check-in to check-out. The Ritz Kids’ offerings vary by property. Visit the hotel website or contact the property to learn more. www.ritzcarlton.com
Treat your darlings
Novotel Sydney Darling Square will again be running its popular Kid’s Club in the school holidays, providing the ultimate staycation destination for a family escape. After a family outing taking in Darling Harbour, just near the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and other family-friendly activities, you can drop the kids off at the Kids’ Club. They will love the Xbox, board games, colouring, and activity tables, as well as a treat station of juice, water, popcorn, and lollies. Each child will also receive a complimentary goodie bag. There are special movie nights, screening hits and classics, to keep even the littlest ones entertained. Meanwhile, you can head next door to the newly renovated Pumphouse Sydney Bar and Restaurant for a free glass of wine. Then, when it’s time for dinner, the smallest members of the family can enjoy two free kids’ meals for every main dish ordered at Pumphouse Sydney. The hotel also offers free breakfast for up to two children per booking – kids basically eat for free across your entire stay!
Visit: https://www.novotelsydneydarlingsquare.com.au/special-offers/kids-club
Fun for all seasons
The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney makes sure every member of the family has a holiday to remember. Their experienced concierge team goes above and beyond to make their guests’ experiences even more memorable. (In the past, they have arranged a life pony for one of their VIP guests and his daughter!) Even if your tastes are a little simpler to please, you and your children will be treated like the very important people they are. Book the family fun package, which includes an in-room tent set-up, a bespoke movie, and their very own snuggly koala toy. You will also enjoy hotel credit for various dining outlets and amenities, an adventure booklet for children with fun Fynn-the-koala themed activities including colouring pages, scavenger hunts within the hotel and more. Visit https://www.fourseasons.com/sydney/offers/family-fun/
Make it musical
If you loved festivals when you were younger and unadorned with children, then Van Jam may be the perfect way to blend your family with your musical tastes. Van Jam is a brand new music festival and combined caravanning experience coming to Ipswich from September 22-24. The homegrown line-up of talent celebrates Australian rock music, old and new, including Daryl Braithwaite, Eskimo Joe, and Vixens of Fall. A dedicated children’s festival called miniVAN is running concurrently with Van Jam so kids can rock out while participating in a wide variety of crafts and activities, including a meet and greet with Blue. There is also a fully supervised, paid child-minding service to give parents the opportunity to enjoy the music and festivities child-free.
Visit www.discoveripswich.com.au/event/van-jam-2023
Cruising kids
Take the kids for an unforgettable adventure on Celebrity Edge, the brand new ship from Celebrity Cruises. There is plenty of fun for the kids to enjoy onboard, including Camp At Sea, the onboard entertainment centre and programme designed exclusively for kids ages three to 12 years. Open every day from 9:00am – 10:00pm, Camp at Sea offers kids the opportunity to participate in several activities, including treasure hunts, arts and crafts, sports, and theme parties, all under the supervision of experienced youth staff. Celebrity has also collaborated with Reshma Saujani’s Girls Who Code to offer educational coding programmes as part of the Camp at Sea STEM experiences onboard Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge. For teen cruisers, the Teen Club is the place to be. They’ll make new friends and participate in events such as video game competitions, teen parties, and culinary classes.
Visit www.celebritycruises.com/au/
Fun-filled Fiji
If you are looking for a truly relaxing break, then the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is ideal for those looking for an overseas escape. The hotel features an award-winning luxury spa, beach-front location, multiple swimming pools, water sports, exceptional dining experiences across four precincts, an 18-hole championship golf course, and much more. Book your children into the Planet Trekkers, the Resort’s signature Kids Club, where kids will enjoy a wide range of activities while the parents relax. Teens are also able to make the most of Natadola Bay’s beautiful surrounds with Teen Trekkers – a series of outdoor activities, including volleyball and pitch and putt.
Visit www.fiji.intercontinental.com
Go green
Taking the ‘kids’ club’ concept to a greener level, Green Camp AYANA offers holistic, nature-immersed programmes for children aged 7-12. Located on the AYANA Estate integrated resort and surrounding areas, the camp is an experiential programme designed to inspire, empower, and raise awareness of sustainability so children can become future change-makers in their own communities, and beyond. While your children are occupied, you can enjoy room discounts, a one-hour Thalassotherapy pool experience, and a 10% discount on food, selected beverages, and spa treatments. While you are enjoying the local fare or relaxing by the pool, your children can unleash their inner scientist, learn creative design and building using bamboo, explore nature, or hone their survival skills and cooking classes. It’s so much fun that even the adults want to join in!
Visit www.ayana.com/bali/greencampayana/
Kids versus Wild
Learn how to light a campfire, tie knots, build a bush shelter, or search for excellent bushfoods like witchety grubs, just like Bear Grylls at NRMA Park and Resorts. In partnership with the Bear Grylls Survival Academy in Australia, this is the ideal adventure camp for your nature-loving kids (while aligning with parents’ wishes to ‘ditch the devices’). The programme, called Shipwrecked, is specially designed for kids aged 4 to 17. Parents are also invited to join in to learn outdoor survival skills. Available every weekend and during school holiday periods throughout the year, The Bear Grylls Survival Academy will initially be available at selected NRMA holiday resorts.
Visit www.nrmaparksandresorts.com.au
