7 of the best Long Weekend Family Holidays in Australia

Don’t let the kids stop you from having a weekend break. Megan Arkinstall finds seven supreme long weekend options to keep everyone in the family entertained.

1. Compete in your own amazing race: Swan Valley, WA

The Swan Valley is a great – and very quick – getaway from the city with a premium food and wine trail featuring excellent wineries, breweries, distilleries and a huge range of eateries. So that’s the adults covered for the weekend, but what about the kids? Get them running around and exerting some energy with The Great Valley Rally, aimed at families with children aged from five to 12 years. The race takes three hours and involves hunting for cryptic clues along a route in the valley. They are rewarded at the end with a certificate and a small prize. The Vines Resort is a good accommodation option for families, offering two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Location: The Vines Resort is 25 minutes from Perth. Verdehlo Drive, The Vines; 08 9297 3000; vines.com.au

Details: Accommodation from $310 per night for a two-bedroom apartment. The Great Valley Rally is free – contact Swan Valley Visitor Information Centre for details; 08 9379 9400; swanvalley.com.au

2. Be a reptile keeper for a day: Central Coast, NSW

A family weekend away where the kids will have a ball and you can have a relaxing day to yourself? Yippee! Head to the Central Coast where The Australian Reptile Park offers a pretty special experience for little and big kids alike. The Kid 2 Keeper program is a fully escorted workshop where kids gain an insight into the life of a keeper, study animal behaviour, learn how to handle the animals and visit some behind-the-scenes areas like the reptile room. Children over six can attend without you – so we recommend treating yourself at the Tea Tree Day Spa at the Crowne Plaza Terrigal while you have some quiet moments.

Location: The Crowne Plaza is 1.5 hours north of Sydney. Pine Tree Lane, Terrigal; crowneplazaterrigal.com.au

Details: A winter ‘Discover More’ package at the Crowne Plaza starts from $159 per night. The Reptile Park is at Somersby, 30 minutes from Terrigal. Kid 2 Keeper experience is $35 for 3-6 years, $70 for 7-12 years, $105 for 13-18 years; reptilepark.com.au

3. Make your own chocolate: Phillip Island, Vic

Phillip Island is famous for its penguins, but for something a little different we think Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate is an afternoon that all chocolate lovers, young and old, will enjoy. Learn about the story of chocolate, play games of skill to win chocolate, produce your own chocolate bar filled with any flavour, and see the gallery of vintage advertisements for, you guessed it, chocolate. When you’ve had enough Augustus Gloop fun, Silverwater Resort is a fantastic resort for families – a contemporary retreat for adults, with lots of fun for kids. There is a heated indoor pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, billiard and tennis tables, a children’s playground and hours-of-fun bouncing pillows on their lawn.

Location: Silverwater Resort is two hours from Melbourne. 17 Potters Hill Road, San Remo; 03 5671 9300; silverwaterresort.com.au

Details: Silverwater Resort, from $305 per night in a two-bedroom apartment. Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, admission $45 for two adults and two children. phillipislandchocolatefactory.com.au

4. Go on a ZooVenture: Canberra, ACT

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Zoo in Canberra. Feed a 110-kilogram Sumatran tiger, let Brown bears lick honey from your fingers and tickle the scaley skin of a python. A ZooVenture will certainly give you a thrill; experience up-and-close encounters with these beautiful creatures. The simple and modern Clifton Suites on Northbourne offer one- and two-bedroom apartments and several packages suitable for families.

Location: Clifton Suites Northbourne is three hours from Sydney. 100 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra; cliftonsuites.com.au

Details: Family Breakfast accommodation package from $274 per night. ZooVenture from $145 per person. nationalzoo.com.au

5. Explore Margaret River by horseback: Margaret River, WA

The scenery of Margaret River during the autumn and winter season is certainly a sight for sore eyes – and what better way to enjoy it than on horseback? Losari Retreat, set within 66 acres of stunning landscape, offers a Horsemanship Package that includes accommodation in their lovely villas, gourmet breakfast and a two-hour horse riding experience through the nearby national park – a great package for a family to get outdoors and explore together.

Location: Losari Retreat is 3.5 hours from Perth. 498 Osmington Road, Margaret River; losariretreat.com.au

Details: From $1665 for a Horsemanship Package for four people.

6. Run away with the circus: Sunshine Coast, Qld

Ever wanted to experience the whimsical world of the circus? (Well, the kids probably have…) As well as offering a fantastic kid’s club with craft and cooking lessons, movie nights, discos, face painting and an outdoor play centre, the Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast also has circus classes. Kids can learn juggling and balancing acts, the flying trapeze, the bungee trampoline and aerial tricks. But if you are happy to leave the circus tricks up to the children, head into Maroochydore for a long lazy lunch on the waterfront.

Location: Novotel Twin Waters is located 1.5 hours from Brisbane. Ocean Drive, Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast; 07 5448 8000; twinwatersresort.com.au

Details: Novotel Family Package including breakfast and two kid’s club sessions from $229 per night. Circus Encounter package runs for 2.5 hours for an additional $95 per person; cirqueespace.com

7. Play farmer for the weekend: Robertson, NSW

A tasteful farmstay both the parents and kids will enjoy – who’d’ve thought? Accommodating up to 16 people across three dwellings, this farmstay combines nature, activity and elegance well. The farmhouse is full of character with an open brick fire place, large church doors and windows, spacious kitchen and luxury bed linen. Kids will enjoy the large trampoline, collecting eggs, interacting with the alpacas, canoe rides and roasting marshmallows on the open fire-pit. Parents will love relaxing on the sun-drenched verandah, soaking in the bath, a picnic on the property or a glass of wine by the fire.

Location: Royalla Farmstay is just over one hour from Sydney. 375 Pearsons Lane, Robertson; 0409 294 929.

Details: Farmhouse from $1700 for the weekend, sleeps up to 10; $600 for the Om Barn, sleeps two (or four with extra bedding); $500 for the Loveshack, sleeps two

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten , the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery , a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades .

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho , José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits . At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial , which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections .

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle , ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.