π₯ Standing at the edge of the Twelve Apostles as the sun dips below the horizon, painting those limestone stacks in blazing orange and gold, my kids stood silently beside me β and let me tell you, that never happens! Just got back from 10 ripper days road-tripping through Australia with the fam, and honestly, it was one of those trips that’ll stick with us forever.
ποΈ Day 1-2: Sydney – Where the Adventure Begins!
Start your journey in Sydney! We kicked off with a morning climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge β yeah, even the kids (aged 10+) can do it and they’ll reckon it’s heaps cool. Spent the arvo at Circular Quay watching the ferries come and go.
π **Must-do**: Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (6km, allow 2-3 hours with kids)
π½οΈ **Dinner**: Fish and chips at Bondi Beach
π° **Budget**: $150-200/day for family of 4 (excluding accommodation)
ποΈ Day 3-4: Blue Mountains – Fresh Mountain Air!
Drive 1.5 hours west and you’re in the stunning Blue Mountains. We stayed in Katoomba and it was bloody brilliant!
**Morning**: Scenic World β the cable car and railway are a hit with the kiddos
**Arvo**: Short hike to Wentworth Falls (family-friendly, about 1.5 hours return)
**Evening**: Watch the Three Sisters light up at sunset from Echo Point
π‘ Pack layers! It gets chilly even in summer. We grabbed meat pies from the local bakery for brekkie β Aussie tradition!
ποΈ Day 5-6: Canberra – Surprise Hit of the Trip!
Honestly didn’t expect much from Canberra but the kids LOVED it. It’s about 3 hours drive from the Blue Mountains.
**Morning**: Questacon (the science centre) β plan at least 3 hours here!
**Arvo**: National Zoo & Aquarium β you can actually feed giraffes!
**Evening**: Lake Burley Griffin bike ride
π° Questacon: $70 family pass | Zoo: $120 family of 4
π Free parking everywhere (unlike Sydney!)
ποΈ Day 7-8: Melbourne & Great Ocean Road
Flew to Melbourne (2 hours, about $200 each if you book ahead). Hired a campervan for the Great Ocean Road β best decision ever!
**Day 7**: Explore Melbourne’s laneways, grab coffee that’ll ruin you for life, then hit the road after lunch
**Day 8**: Full day on Great Ocean Road
– Stop at Lorne for a swim
– See the Twelve Apostles at GOLDEN HOUR (not midday, trust me)
– Spot wild koalas at Kennett River β we saw 8 in one tree!
β±οΈ Allow 4-5 hours driving time for Great Ocean Road one way
ποΈ Day 9: Phillip Island Penguin Parade!
This was the kids’ absolute favourite! Drive about 1.5 hours from Melbourne.
**Morning**: Chill at Cowes beach, grab some fish and chips
**Arvo**: Phillip Island Chocolate Factory (yum!)
**Evening**: Penguin Parade! Watch hundreds of little penguins waddle up the beach at sunset
π‘ **Pro tip**: Book the Penguin Plus viewing platform β limited to 300 people and you’re right at the front. Costs extra but totally worth it!
π° Penguin Plus: about $45 adult / $23 child
ποΈ Day 10: Melbourne Morning Markets & Fly Home
Last day! Start at Queen Victoria Market for brekkie β the donuts are legendary. Let the kids pick some souvenirs (my daughter got a stuffed kangaroo she hasn’t put down since).
Had a final flat white, said goodbye to the city, and flew back to Sydney that arvo. The kids slept the whole way home β sign of a successful trip!
π° Total Trip Cost Breakdown
Here’s what we spent for a family of 4:
βοΈ **Flights**: $1,600 (Sydney-Melbourne return, booked 6 weeks ahead)
π **Car hire + campervan**: $800 (3 days)
π¨ **Accommodation**: $1,800 (mix of motels and cabins)
π½οΈ **Food**: $1,200
π« **Activities**: $900
β½ **Petrol**: $350
**TOTAL**: Around $6,650 AUD for 10 days
π‘ We saved heaps by cooking brekkie ourselves and staying in caravan park cabins!
π‘ My Top Tips for Families
β **Book early** β especially the Penguin Parade and Sydney Bridge Climb
β **Download offline maps** β reception gets patchy in the mountains
β **Pack snacks** β Australian distances are no joke, and road food gets pricey
β **Let kids have input** β my son chose the science museum, daughter picked the beach day
β οΈ **Watch out for**: Sunscreen is NON-NEGOTIABLE here, even on cloudy days. Our UV is brutal!
β **Don’t**: Try to cram too much in. We left plenty of ‘arvo swim’ time and it kept everyone happy
π Practical Info
π Multi-destination trip: Sydney NSW 2000 β Katoomba NSW 2780 β Canberra ACT 2601 β Melbourne VIC 3000
π Start in Sydney, fly to Melbourne mid-trip (2 hrs). Car hire essential for Blue Mountains and Great Ocean Road.
π° $6,000-7,500 AUD for family of 4 (10 days, including flights, accommodation, food, activities)
π Best time: September-November or March-May (avoiding peak summer crowds and heat)
β±οΈ 10 days (can be extended to 14 for a more relaxed pace)
π‘ Tips & Warnings
β
Book the Penguin Plus viewing at Phillip Island β you’ll get front-row seats to the penguin action!
β
Pack layers for Blue Mountains β temps can drop 10Β°C from Sydney even in summer
β οΈ Watch for wildlife on roads at dawn/dusk β roos are active and can total your car
β Don’t underestimate Australian sun β SPF 50+ and reapply every 2 hours, no exceptions
π Planning your Australia family adventure? Drop questions below! π
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