Best family resorts in Queensland for fun-filled days in the sun

For bucketloads of family-friendly fun on the glittering Gold Coast, head to the four-star Turtle Beach Resort. This laidback hotel has a thriving kids club and activities ranging from tennis to group barbecues, making it popular among Queensland accommodation options for families.

After waking up in your fully equipped holiday apartment, ease into the day with a pre-ordered breakfast starter pack. Wash down eggs and bacon with thirst-quenching juice, then meander 10 minutes to Mermaid Beach for a family sandcastle competition.

For a fresh cool-down, you can dip into any of the resort’s four swimming pools while the kids enjoy an adrenaline rush at the on-site waterpark. Refuel after an afternoon of aquatic action with a squid and prawn-filled Fisherman’s Basket in the all-day eatery, The Deck Restaurant & Bar.

You’ll find the elegant five-star apartments at RACV Noosa Resort nestled among tropical greenery and lily ponds. Six hectares of conservation sanctuary is encircled by hinterland and beach, so children and adults alike can escape into Noosa’s natural wonderland.

The private plunge pool in your luxury villa invites soothing dips as the sun rises, while the hotel’s heated water slides and splash park will tempt younger guests to a morning of fun in the water. Jump on board the complimentary shuttle to Hastings Street and take a family stroll along Main Beach before stopping for scoops of tangy mango sorbet at Massimo’s Gelateria.

Should you need a touch of “me” time, you can treat yourself to an afternoon in the hotel’s One Spa and melt away any aches with a Muscle Ease Massage. Evenings are best rung in with an outdoor family feast of cheesy wood-fired pizzas at on-site Dazza’s Bar.

The four-star Oaks Oasis Resort is chock-full of activities for a first-class family holiday in Queensland. For a chic home-away-from-home amid lush tropical gardens, book a light-filled two-bedroom apartment. You can start each day on your private balcony before rallying the troops for a morning on the resort’s putt-putt golf course.

The kids can keep cool in the heat of the day with a splash under the fountains of the hotel’s waterpark. A timber leisure deck allows sun-seeking parents to recline with an iced bevvie while overseeing the water slide action. As the sun begins to set, migrate to lakeside Reflections Restaurant and Bar for a family feast of fish and chips, toasting the departing day with a crisp glass of Riesling or kid-friendly juice.

The oceanside Coral Sea Resort is a four-star family haven in the heart of Airlie Beach. Feel yourself unwind in the airy white-and-navy décor of a Family Unit, where salty sea breezes waft in through sliding glass doors. Choice rooms even include a decadent spa bath right on your balcony overlooking glimmering Pioneer Bay.

You can captivate your brood with an exhilarating crocodile river tour booked through the hotel’s tour desk, or opt for some underwater snorkelling action or a catamaran cruise. On your return, splash into the hotel’s turquoise pool before calling in at Clipper Restaurant & Bar for a satiating alfresco meal.

Round off spaghetti bolognese with house-made ice-cream, then stroll 10 minutes to the village and select a souvenir from the eclectic shops. Sunset calls for something from the minibar in your private space as the kids enjoy free in-house movies and snacks from room service.

Perched on an island surrounded by crystalline waters is the dreamy Heron Island Resort. Getaways to this nature-rich sanctuary mean waking to the calm of an ancient pisonia forest, then spending sun-filled days on a powder-soft white sand beach. You can also slip away to Aqua Soul Spa to fill an afternoon with a full-body bamboo scrub and candle massage.

Drift out to the tranquil terrace of your Reef Family Room and sip a morning coffee in the company of tropical birds before the kids stir. You can join one of the hotel’s complimentary guided island walks, then refuel with a seafood platter lunch in the airy Shearwater Restaurant. Once satiated, strap on snorkelling masks and chase the young ones into the clear lagoon for a swim with technicolour marine life.

Take a ferry ride to the five-star Fitzroy Island Resort for a family holiday with spectacular scenery. A Butterfly Bungalow offers self-catered seclusion in a tropical rainforest, while the spacious Penthouse is a luxurious suite with views over Welcome Bay.

You’ll want to book a poolside massage while the kids check out the hotel’s playroom or blow off steam in the on-site games room. Regroup for a laidback lunch of grilled chicken and ice-cream sundaes at waterside Zephyr Restaurant, then join a glass-bottom boat tour to see if you can spot wild sea turtles. As night falls, treat younger tastebuds to soft drinks and fries in Foxy’s Bar & Grill as you bask in the balmy twilight with a classic margarita.

Deep in the Gold Coast Hinterland, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat lets you tailor your family holiday to be as tranquil or active as you like. Nestled into the hillside, the resort overlooks the magnificent McPherson Ranges, and huge windows in your Two Bedroom Rainforest Villa immerse you in the lush landscape. To drink in the hinterland vistas from the open air but still in privacy, tuck the kids into bed and slip into the bubbling depths of your veranda’s own spa bath.

During the day, you can explore gushing waterfalls and sun-dappled walking tracks. Alternatively, book your young ones into a wildlife encounter to learn about local critters. A swim in the hotel’s infinity pool makes for a luxurious way to work up an appetite for house-baked pizzas scattered with plump garlic prawns at The Dining Room.

You’ll want to kick off your shoes the moment you arrive at BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort—there’s an epic on-site waterpark with 13 different slides. A fun-packed Kids Club means the smallest members of the family can enjoy arts, crafts and mini golf while parents indulge in massages purposely scheduled to align with Kids Club sessions. The relaxation doesn’t stop there, either—you can arrive in a room already fully stocked with your choice of goodies thanks to the resort’s handy pre-ordering service.

Take in leisurely mornings in your Family Condo with breakfast feasts whipped up in your own gourmet kitchen. Savour each delicious mouthful from your private veranda to make the most of the Whitsundays scenery. For some low-key family activity, take the kids to the resort’s very own Animal Park where they can play with adorable lambs and baby goats. When the sun sinks behind the palm trees, settle in for an outdoor cinema screening in the cool evening air.

At the ultra-luxurious Rumba Beach Resort, you’re just three minutes on foot from Caloundra’s popular Bulcock Beach and Happy Valley park and playground. That’s if you can resist an immediate snooze in your Spa Suite’s King Cloud bed. Mornings here mean light-filled spaces and fluffy linens, followed by complimentary coffee on your expansive balcony.

You can keep everyone entertained with a heart-pumping Mooloolaba Jet Boat experience, booked easily through the resort’s tour desk. Dial things down on your return with a stroll around the Caloundra Street Fair (Sundays only), or with a visit to Hog’s Breath Cafe for steaming platters of seafood and crisp curly fries. As the day turns to dusk, settle the kids in front of your room’s HD home theatre system—leaving you free to enjoy a luxurious soak in the two-person spa bath.