After a few years of repetitive holidays involving theme parks and noisy kids confined to a 200 square meter backyard armed with sports equipment, most parents are pretty sick of the standard family holiday.
When school holidays inevitably roll around, it can be a hard task not to hand your kids $20 and bury your head in the latest trashy novel and a glass of red.
But luckily for your shrinking attention span and for your cooped up kids, we’ve come up with a list of family holiday ideas that don’t involve too-small hotel rooms, or navigating a new city with excitable kids.
There’s no denying 2020 has been one hell of a year as a result of the dreaded c word. But if you’re privileged enough to still be able to travel within your state, families are in need of a break now more than ever before.
So, the next time you need a COVIDsafe idea for the next school holiday, flip through the gallery below, pick an option, book and forget about it.
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You’re welcome.
Camping. Forget shivering in the middle of the night in a thin tent in the middle of the woods and eating beans out of a can. The newest camping trend is the perfect cross between classic camping and ‘glamping’. Find a spot off the beaten track, pack an air mattress, a roomy tent and a camping stove and spend the next few days exploring, eating and filling up on the fresh air.
Staycation. Want a holiday but don’t want to fork out for airfares or tickets? Why not take a mini-vacation in your own city? Rent out a hotel room on the other side of town, grab a map and spend your time doing all the “tourist-y” things you’ve never bothered to do.
House swap. If you don’t like hotel rooms, why not do a staycation house swap? Rent a house in a different suburb, and see the city with fresh eyes and a new space! Even though you won’t even leave the city, your kids will love seeing things from a different point of view.
Roadtripping. If you can find it within yourself to be in a car with your kids for an extended period of time, try a roadtrip. Let your kids pick a destination, load up the car with snacks, movies and songs and then get on the road again. Shake off the road blues with frequent stops at local attractions and games.
If you’re looking for a reliable option for car insurance while you’re planning your roadtrip, look no further than Stella. Launched in Australia earlier this year, Stella is the innovative car insurance brand that’s rewarding women for being statistically “safer drivers.”
Backyard staycation. Want the cheapest holiday ever? Pick up the biggest tent you can get your hands on (we recommend calling up friends to borrow), fill it up with pillows, snacks, a homemade projector, and fairy lights and spend a sweet weekend in your own backyard. No traveling needed.
Caravan camping. If being crammed into a car for a road trip doesn’t tickle your fancy, try renting a caravan for a few weeks and taking it out for a spin. You can either take it on a roadtrip or park it at a sea-side or park-side caravan park for a quick getaway.
Walking/hiking. If you’ve got older kids in need of stretching their legs and you don’t balk at the idea of an exercising holiday, why not plan a hiking trip? Research your state’s best hiking or walking trails, pack your bags and hit the trail. To spice it up, engage in some group activities like recreating your own ‘Amazing Race’ or completing daily activities.
Outdoor holiday. Need to get your city kids out into the open world? Try an outdoors holiday at a national park or local attraction to get them biking, hiking, camping and exploring.
Train. If you’re looking for a longer getaway and if the boarders allow for it, why not book a train holiday? Book a luxury cabin on the train including local fare and see the most stunning parts of Australia in fast forward. Check out the pit stops, including shuttles and tracks.
