From Burleigh Heads to Agnes Waters, Queensland’s top Destinations for Families

Travelling with family can create life-long memories. However, group travel can be tricky as personalities clash and people want different things on holiday. As someone who loves travelling solo, I know the challenges surrounding family getaways. Every family is different, but these Queensland destinations should keep everyone happy.

Moreton Island

With ferries departing from Holt Street Wharf in Brisbane, Moreton Bay is a great city escape for families. Tangalooma Island Resort, a popular accommodation option, offers everything from feeding wild dolphins to snorkelling the island's shipwrecks or playing basketball with the kids. Day packages are available for those who cannot afford to stay the night, often giving access to the resort's facilities and return ferry transfers from Brisbane.

Moreton Island has always been a fond childhood memory for me. However, fussy drinkers and eaters may become frustrated with the limited dining choices that come with an island holiday. If you are travelling with people whose happiness depends on a cold beer or a gourmet feast, it may be best to stay on the mainland.

Woodgate

A landscape filled with sand, shee-oak trees and kangaroos, Woodgate is a hidden gem close to Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Public transport is limited here, so you will need a car to access Woodgate. With no flashy resorts and few shops or restaurants, this beach town provides a quiet family escape by the ocean.

Multiple hotels and holiday homes are available here, all within walking distance of the beach. However, the NRMA Holiday Park near Sixth Avenue is located among numerous dining options and directly opposite the beach for swimming or access to coastal pathways. Woodgate is primarily a destination for lazy days on the beach. So, choose a different destination if your family does not like dealing with sand.

Lady Musgrave Island

Visiting Lady Musgrave Island allows visitors to snorkel a coral reef and explore an island run by birds. Located in the southern Great Barrier Reef, this island is only accessible via a guided tour from Bundaberg or 1770.

Though there is no accommodation here, Lady Musgrave Experiences offers overnight stays on their floating pontoon.Day trips include a buffet lunch and everything you need for snorkelling or scuba diving. With this in mind, busy families who don't have time to book an extravagant holiday will appreciate this adventure.

K'gari (Fraser Island)

K'gari is another island holiday that embraces Queensland's wild side with towering sand dunes and pristine beaches. Unless you stay at Kingfisher Bay, you will need a 4WD for this holiday. For those who don't want to navigate the island's rough sand tracks, read my guide on how to visit K'gari without a car.

The island is filled with holiday rentals, but the two main resorts are Kingfisher Bay Resort at Kingfisher Bay and K'gari Beach Resort at Eurong Beach. Those who can't live without fancy amenities or easy access to a cocktail bar should stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

However, families with a 4WD looking for a more rugged experience should stay at K'gari Beach Resort, which is closer to Eli Creek, Champaign Pools and other famous landmarks. Regardless of where you stay, K'gari is the destination that creates memories, even if something goes a little pear-shaped.

Burleigh Heads

The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are filled with family-friendly destinations. However, with a mixture of surfers, fussy drinkers and boutique shoppers, this Gold Coast Beach is a favourite among my family. Though there are lots of opportunities to swim, surf or walk along the beach, those who don't like sand can enjoy the beach from afar at a cafe.

If, after a day or so, you tire of Burleigh Heads, you can easily explore the remainder of the Gold Coast via public transport. The construction of a new tram line has caused significant delays for those driving to and from Burleigh Heads. For impatient drivers, I suggest staying at Broadbeach instead, the home of Dracula's Cabarete and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

Agnes Waters

Considered the Byron Bay of Queensland, Agnes Waters is a small beach town situated between Gladstone and Bundaberg. Although there aren't many places to dine or shop, you can easily find a surf shop, fish and chips spot or poke bowl cafe in the town's CBD. For accommodation, you could stay anywhere from a hotel to an Airbnb.

However, the Mango Tree offers basic but affordable rooms within walking distance of the beach and multiple cafes. The budget aspect of this hotel means you can book separate rooms for family members whose personalities clash. 1770, the departure point for Lady Musgrave Tours and the Larc, is also a quick drive away from Agnes Waters.

Elliott Heads

Elliott Heads is a quiet coastal town near Bundaberg and a beach close to my heart. Unlike the neighbouring town of Bargara, there are only two fish and chips shops and a bowls club for eating out. You'll also need to search Airbnb for accommodation unless you book a cabin at the caravan park.

The beach is the main attraction here, so days will be spent at the patrolled surf beach or having sunset picnics. Elliott Heads is one of Bundaberg's lesser-developed beaches. The ample beach space for family football games or fish and chips by the famous rock pools makes up for the lack of shops and restaurants.

Whether the adults complain about hot beer or the kids refuse to eat at the local cafe, family holidays are complicated. However, your family will be smiling soon enough with these locations.