The 5 Best Places to Stay With Kids These School Holidays

After the chaos of end-of-year school activities, sometimes the last thing you want to do is pack up the family again and sit in a car for hours. We’ve found the solution, with these luxurious little stays that are (almost) on your doorstep.

COMO The Treasury Perth, WA

The five-star luxury hotel proudly caters to families, with a daytrip to Rottnest Island, available (quokkas!). But if that’s too much of a hurdle for tiny tots, there’s a ‘Holiday With Your Family’ package, which includes complimentary dining at the hotel’s signature Post restaurant for children under 12, where the focus is on seasonal produce and Italian-driven cuisine. Think: spaghetti for the kids; risotto, Shark Bay prawn and bisque for you. There are also adorable in-room amenities for children, including pint-size bathrobes and slippers as well as Play by COMO colouring sets, a playhouse tent (recommended for children up to six years old) and a minibar for kids that includes juice, lemonade, snacks, and books. For infants, a complimentary extra bed or cot is on hand, as is a baby rattle upon request.

Novotel Sydney Central, NSW

The Novotel Sydney Central is offering a slice of the fancy life with a high tea package for kids during the holidays, including beautifully presented chocolate milkshakes and lollies that can be sent to your room. A teepee and activity pack is also provided, but if the little ones get cabin fever, you’ll find a Christmas cake decorating class downstairs which is open to guests and the public and hosted by the hotel’s executive chef.

Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, NSW

Pullman Hyde Park Sydney, Absolute Sweet Candy Hour

Treat your sea-curious kids to a night at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park. The hotel offers a package that includes an overnight stay, buffet breakfast and tickets to the Australian Museum for a day of interactive shark displays and augmented reality that allows you to get up close to an eight-metre-long whale shark. Book on a Friday or Saturday so you and the kids can enjoy Absolute Sweet Candy Hour – it's complimentary for all in-house guests and runs from 3-4pm.

Leisure Inn Penny Royal, Tas

Originally built as a corn mill in the 1840s, this boutique heritage property is now the ideal family getaway. Located only a 10-minute walk from the heart of Launceston, you’re in close proximity to Cataract Gorge, one of the city’s greatest natural wonders. Penny Royal adventure park is also at your doorstep and includes cliff walks, rock climbing and a cruise along the Tamar River.

Hilton Sydney, NSW

If you want to hit the summer sales with older kids, Hilton Sydney is the place to go for a mid-town city staycation as it’s right in the heart of the shopping precinct and, for arty types, it’s within walking distance of Sydney Modern. An excellent family-friendly feature of the hotel is their confirmed connecting rooms, which means mum and dad can sleep soundly while teens stay up and make the most of the free wi-fi.