Drumroll please … we are ready to announce the winners of Out & About with Kids’ annual Readers’ Choice Awards!
These are the favourite Australian and international family holiday destinations, places to stay, attractions and experiences as voted by the most important people around – YOU, our readers! More than 120,000 votes were cast across over 40 categories in the awards. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote, and huge congratulations from the Out & About with Kids team to all the well-deserving winners! Here they are…
Best destinations
Best Capital City in Australia for Families
Winner
- Sydney sydney.com
Finalists
- Melbourne visitmelbourne.com
- Brisbane visitbrisbane.com.au
- Perth experienceperth.com
- Canberra visitcanberra.com.au
Best Regional Holiday Destination in Australia for Families
Winner
- Gold Coast destinationgoldcoast.com
Finalists
- Cairns tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
- Dubbo dubbo.com.au
- Sunshine Coast visitsunshinecoast.com
- Ballarat visitballarat.com.au
Best International Holiday Destination for Families
Winner
- Hawai’i gohawaii.com
Best International Holiday Destination For Babies And Toddlers
Winner
- Fiji fiji.travel
Best Destination in North America for Families
Winner
- Anaheim, California visitanaheim.org
Finalists
- Orlando, Florida visitorlando.com
- Los Angeles, California discoverlosangeles.com
- New York, New York nycgo.com
- San Diego, California sandiego.org
Best Destination in Asia for Families
Winner
- Singapore visitsingapore.com
Finalists
- Thailand amazingthailand.com.au
- Japan japan.travel
- Vietnam vietnam.travel
- Malaysia malaysia.travel
Best Destination in Europe for Families
Winner
- Italy italia.it
Finalists
- England visitbritain.com
- France ee.france.fr
- Switzerland myswitzerland.com
- Greece visitgreece.gr
Best Destination for Adventurous Families
Winner
- New Zealand newzealand.com/au
Best Destination For Immersing In Culture
Winner
- Japan jnto.org.au
Best Road Trip In Australia for Families
Winner
- Great Ocean Road, Victoria visitgreatoceanroad.org.au
Finalists
- East Coast of NSW, Sydney to Byron Bay visitnsw.com
- Perth to Margaret River, Western Australia visitperth.com.au
- Tasmania discovertasmania.com.au
- Uluru to Kings Canyon and Alice Springs, Northern Territory northernterritory.com/drive
Best Australian Ski Resort for Families
Winner
- Thredbo, NSW thredbo.com.au
Finalists
- Perisher, NSW perisher.com.au
- Mt Buller, Victoria mtbuller.com.au
- Hotham Alpine Resort, Victoria mthotham.com.au
- Falls Creek Alpine Resort, Victoria fallscreek.com.au
Best International Ski Resort for Families
Winner
- Whistler Blackcomb, Canada whistlerblackcomb.com
Finalists
- The Remarkables, Queenstown New Zealand theremarkables.co.nz
- Hokkaido, Japan hokkaidoguide.com
- Aspen, Colorado, USA aspensnowmass.com
- Lake Tahoe, California, USA visittheusa.com/destination/lake-tahoe
Best attractions
Best Attraction For Families in Australia
Winner
- Great Barrier Reef, Queensland greatbarrierreef.org
Finalists
- Penguin Parade, Phillip Island Nature Parks, VIC penguins.org.au
- Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIC sovereignhill.com.au
- Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW scenicworld.com.au
- Fitzroy Island, Cairns, QLD fitzroyislandcairns.com
Best Theme Or Amusement Park in Australia
Winner
- Warner Bros. Movie World Queensland movieworld.com.au
Finalists
- Sea World, Queensland seaworld.com.au
- Dreamworld, Queensland dreamworld.com.au
- Adventure World, Western Australia adventureworld.net.au
- Gumbaya World, Victoria gumbuya.com.au
Best Animal Attraction in Australia
Winner
- Australia Zoo, Queensland australiazoo.com.au Australia Zoo, one hour north of Brisbane on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is home of The Crocodile Hunter ,Steve Irwin. Nestled on more than 110 acres and with more than 1,200 amazing animals, it’s the most interactive conservation destination on the planet!
Finalists
- Taronga Zoo Sydney, NSW taronga.org.au
- Melbourne Zoo, Victoria zoo.org.au
- Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW taronga.org.au
- Werribee Open Range Zoo, Victoria zoo.org.au
Best Educational Attraction in Australia
Winner
- Questacon, ACT questacon.edu.au
Finalists
- Australian National Museum, ACT nma.gov.au
- Scienceworks, Victoria museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks
- Scitech, Western Australia scitech.org.au
- Australia Zoo, Queensland australiazoo.com.au
Best International Family Attraction
Winner
- Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California Disneyland.com.au
Finalists
- Walt Disney World Resort in Florida Waltdisneyworld.com.au
- Universal Studios Hollywood universalstudioshollywood.com
- Legoland Malaysia legoland.com.my
- Tokyo Disney Resort tokyodisneyresort.jp
Best experiences
Best Indigenous Experience in Australia For Families
Winner
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru
Finalists
- Tjapukai Cultural Park, Queensland tjapukai.com.au
- NAIDOC Week naidoc.org.au
- Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu
- AFL Indigenous Round afl.com.au/news/event
Best Family Event in Australia
Winner
- Vivid Sydney vividsydney.com
Finalists
- AFL Game afl.com.au
- Sydney New Years’ Eve fireworks, NSW sydneynewyearseve.com
- Ekka Royal Queensland Show ekka.com.au
- Royal Melbourne Show, Victoria royalshow.com.au
Best accommodation
Best Family Hotel or Resort in Australia
Winner
- Paradise Resort Gold Coast, Queensland paradiseresort.com.au
Finalists
- Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland seaworld.com.au
- Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains, NSW fairmontresort.com.au
- Fitzroy Island Resort, Queensland fitzroyisland.com
- Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, Queensland marriott.com
Best Apartment or Serviced Apartment Brand for Families in Australia
Winner
- Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites oakshotels.com
Finalists
- Quest Apartment Hotels questapartments.com.au
- Mantra Hotels, Resorts & Apartments mantra.com.au
- Meriton Suites meritonsuites.com.au
- Fraser Suites fraser-suites.hotels-sydney-au.com
Best Camping Spot in Australia
Winner
- Fraser Island, Queensland visitfrasercoast.com/fraser-island
Finalists
- Grampians Accommodation, Victoria grampiansvictoria.com.au
- Wilson’s Promontory National Park, Victoria parkweb.vic.gov.au/wilsons-promontory
- Flinders Ranges and Outback, South Australia southaustralia.com
- Jervis Bay, NSW jervisbaytourism.com.au
Best holiday parks
Best Holiday Park Group In Australia
Winner
- BIG4 Holiday Parks big4.com.au
Finalists
- NRMA Parks and Resorts nrmaparksandresorts.com.au
- Discovery Parks discoveryholidayparks.com.au
- RACV racv.com.au
- Reflections Holiday Parks reflectionsholidayparks.com.au
Best Family Holiday Parks Around Australia
New South Wales
Winner
- BIG4 Easts Beach Kiama Holiday Park eastsbeach.com.au
Finalists
- NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Central Coast nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/ocean-beach
- North Star Holiday Resort, Hastings Point northstar.com.au
- Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort, Yamba bluedolphin.com.au
- NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/merimbula-beach
Queensland
Winner
- NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort, Gold Coast nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/treasure-island
Finalists
- BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut coconut.com.au/ingenia-holidays-cairns-coconut
- BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort adventurewhitsunday.com.au
- BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park goldcoastholidaypark.com.au
- Nobby Beach Holiday Village nobbybeachholidayvillage.com.au
Victoria
Winner
BIG4 Phillip Island Caravan Park big4.com.au/caravan/phillip-island
Finalists
- BIG4 Anglesea Holiday Park big4.com.au/anglesea
- BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park big4.com.au/bellarine
- NRMA Echuca Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/echuca
- RACV Inverloch Resort racv.com.au/travel-leisure/racv-resorts
Tasmania
Winner
- BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park big4sthelens.com.au
Finalists
- Discovery Parks – Hobart discoveryholidayparks.com.au/hobart
- NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/port-arthur
- Discovery Parks – Devonport discoveryholidayparks.com.au/devonport
- BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park big4.com.au/launceston-holiday-park
Northern Territory
Winner
- BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park big4howardsprings.com.au
Finalists
- BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park big4.com.au/macdonnell-range-holiday-park
- Darwin Free Spirit Resort darwinfreespiritresort.com.au
- Cooinda Lodge Kakadu northernterritory.com/cooinda-lodge-kakadu
- Tumbling Waters Holiday Park tumblingwatersholidaypark.com.au
South Australia
Winner
- BIG4 West Beach Parks westbeachparks.com.au
Finalists
- BIG4 Renmark Riverfront Holiday Park big4.com.au/renmark-riverfront-holiday-park
- NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park nrmaparksandresorts.com.au/victor-harbor
- Marion Holiday Park marionhp.com.au
- BIG4 West Beach Park – Adelaide Shores big4.com.au/west-beach-parks
Western Australia
Winner
- BIG4 Beachlands Holiday Park beachlands.com.au
Finalists
- Mandalay Holiday Resort and Tourist Park, Busselton mandalayresort.com.au
- RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort parksandresorts.rac.com.au/monkey-mia
- BIG4 Taunton Farm Holiday Park Margaret River big4.com.au/taunton-farm-margaret-river
- Discovery Rottnest Island discoveryholidayparks.com.au/discovery-rottnest-island
Best international hostels and resorts for families
Pacific Islands
Winner
- The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium therarotongan.com
Finalists
- Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu holidayinnresorts.com
- Pacific Resort Rarotonga pacificrarotonga.com
- Iririki Island Resort & Spa Vanuatu iririki.com
- Warwick Le Lagon Vanuatu warwickhotels.com/lagon-vanuatu
Thailand
Winner
- Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/phuket Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is the ultimate family resort – situated right on the sands of Karon Beach, with 3 pools and its very own water park including slides, lazy river, waterfalls and cliff jumps. As well as a full range of activities for the kids and 2 kids clubs, the luxury accommodation allows 2 children under 12 to stay and play for free when travelling with 2 adults.
Finalists
- JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa marriott.com/phuket-resort-and-spa
- Club Med Phuket clubmed.asia/r/Phuket
- Holiday Inn Resort Phuket phuket.holidayinnresorts.com
- InterContinental Koh Samui Resort samui.intercontinental.com
Bali
Winner
- Bali Dynasty Resort bdr.pphotels.com
Finalists
- Hard Rock Hotel Bali bali.hardrockhotels.net
- Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali grandmirage.com
- Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort sofitel.accorhotels.com/bali-nusa-dua-beach-resort
- Holiday Inn Resort Bali Benoa balibenoa.holidayinnresorts.com
Mainland USA
Winner
- Disneyland Resort Disneyland.com.au
Finalists
- Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance, California marriott.com/hotels/anaheim
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida Waltdisneyworld.com.au
- Great Wolf Lodge, Anaheim, California greatwolf.com/southern-california
- The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado broadmoor.com
- LEGOLAND California Hotel, Carlsbad, California legoland.com/california/legoland-hotel
Hawai‘i
Winner
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hilton.com
Finalists
- Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei disneyaulani.com
- Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Waikīkī outrigger.com
- Hilton Waikoloa Village, Island of Hawai’i hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
- Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui kbhmaui.com
Fiji (Mainland)
Winner
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort outrigger.com/hotels-resorts/fiji
Finalists
- Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island radissonhotels.com
- InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa fiji.intercontinental.com
- Nanuku Auberge Resort aubergeresorts.com/nanuku
- The Naviti Resort warwickhotels.com/the-naviti-resort
Fiji (Outer Islands)
Winner
Plantation Island Resort plantationisland.com Plantation Island Resort is a family favourite island resort in Fiji. Just 15km from the mainland the resort offers a wide range of comfortable and affordable accommodation options. Boasting 4 swimming pools, 2 floating waterparks and a 9-hole golf course. There is fun for little kids and big kids alike.
Finalists
- Castaway Island, Fiji castawayfiji.com/fiji-accommodation
- Malolo Island Resort Fiji maloloisland.com
- Jean Michel Cousteau Resort fijiresort.com
- Octopus Resort octopusresortfiji.com
Asia
Winner
- Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia fourseasons.com/langkawi
Finalists
- Shangri La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore shangri-la.com
- Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand shangri-la.com
- LEGOLAND Hotel Malaysia legoland.com
- Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel hongkongdisneyland.com
Europe
Winner
- Cavallino Bianco Family Spa Grand Hotel Oritsei, Italy cavallino-bianco.com
Finalists
- LEGOLAND Feriendorf Gunzburg, Germany legoland.de
- Minoa Palace Resort, Platanias, Greece minoapalace.gr
- Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus marriott.com/parklane
Best Luxury Property
Winner
- Bush Lodge, Sabi Sabi, South Africa sabisabi.com/lodges/bushlodge
Finalists
- Atlantis The Palms, Dubai atlantisthepalm.com
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Kapolei, Hawai’i disneyaulani.com
- Hayman Island by InterContinental, Whitsundays, QLD haymanisland.intercontinental.com
- Six Senses Fiji sixsenses.com/en/resorts/fiji
Best Cruise Line for Families
Winner
- Carnival Cruise Line carnival.com.au
Finalists
- Disney Cruise Line disneycruise.disney.go.com
- P&O Cruises pocruises.com.au
- Royal Caribbean royalcaribbean.com/aus
- Captain Cook Cruises Fiji captaincookcruisesfiji.com
Best Tour Company for Families
Winner
- Intrepid Travel intrepidtravel.com/au
Finalists
- G Adventures gadventures.com
- Trafalgar trafalgar.com
- World Expeditions worldexpeditions.com
- AAT Kings aatkings.com
Best Airline for Families
Winner
- Qantas qantas.com
Finalists
- Virgin Australia virginaustralia.com
- Jetstar jetstar.com
- Air New Zealand airnewzealand.com
- Singapore Airlines singaporeair.com
