There’s something for everyone in Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. Give the parents a lounger at Crystalbrook Riley’s lagoon-style pool while the kids cannonball to their hearts’ content and the grandparents settle in for lunch at the breezy Calypso Club, which overlooks the whole scene. Reconnect with a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway through World Heritage-listed rainforest (family passes are available) before tucking into a group-sized platter of Moreton Bay bugs, prawns and oysters at the marina’s Prawn Star.

Melbourne’s mostly flat CBD, designated bike lanes and first-class tram network make it easy to explore, regardless of agility. Open daily, the National Gallery of Victoria has everything from kid-centric installations to teen-only events as well as a café that serves high tea featuring locally made tea blends. A 30-minute drive from the CBD, the Werribee Open Range Zoo runs free safari-style buses around the grounds and has educational talks throughout the day. When energy gets low, the two-bedroom family suites in the CBD’s Movenpick Hotel on Spencer are a welcome retreat, with half-price breakfast for the kids, plus the famed daily Chocolate Hour buffet for sweet tooths of all ages.

Though this city on the South Island is walkable, why not take the heritage tram, which offers a live guided tour of the city and a daily hop-off-hop-on service. It’s a great launchpad for exploring Riverside Market or the leafy Botanic Gardens before heading out to the He Puna Taimoana thermal baths (15 minutes from downtown), where a sauna and five pools overlooking the ocean and New Brighton Pier await. Dine on shareable grilled asparagus and wild venison at Tussock Hill, a family-run eatery and vineyard that overlooks snow-capped mountains before you lay your heads at Drifter, which has two-bedroom family rooms and communal kitchens for extra convenience.

An 80-minute flight from Sydney, Coffs Harbour is ideal for multigenerational travel on a budget, with easy access to world-class beaches and perennial favourite The Big Banana. Once you’ve got the requisite happy snap at the yellow icon, wander through the Butterfly House or take a 2.5-hour First Nations paddleboarding tour with Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours. If you’re in town on a Saturday (except the third of every month), check out the Bellingen Growers Market in the Coffs Hinterland, about 30 minutes away by car. You can pick up staples before heading back to your two-, three- or four-bedroom family villa at the BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort, where you can have a hit at tennis or dip in the pool.

A huge Metro train network makes for speedy, affordable travel across the ever-beguiling City of Light. Book a small-group macaron-making class; wander the grounds of the Jardin des Tuileries (or nab a couple of seats near the fountain) before snacking on French cheeses and baguettes on a family picnic; and get your fill of amazement at the Cité Sciences et Industrie, where immersive exhibitions and an entire Children’s City of sensory set-ups and hands-on activities will entertain everyone. Call it a day at the laid-back Mob Hotel, near the Saint Ouen Flea Market in the city’s north, which is home to an organic restaurant and huge courtyard for outdoor movies and live music.

Family travel in Indonesia can be refreshingly simple: villas here are generous and in many cases, come complete with incredible amenities from private pools to in-house chefs. If you stay near Kuta Beach, you can make the most of the gentle, beginner-friendly swell during surfing lessons with instructors certified from the Australian Academy, at Odysseys Surf School. Further afield, a stay in the three-bedroom villa at Cap Karoso, an hour north of Tambolaka Airport on the island of Sumba, comes with kids toys, a kitchen with complimentary mini-bar for the adults, daily breakfast and a sun-drenched private pool. Back in Bali, Tides Echo Beach in Canggu is built around a central, private pool with a location that’s hard to beat, just a ten-minute walk to the over-the-top milkshakes and festoon-lit courtyard at Penny Lane’s.

Find sparkling beaches and a dazzling array of marine life in Cape Range National Park on WA’s north-west. Turtle breeding season on the Coral Coast, a two-hour flight from Perth to Exmouth, is from October to early April: outside of that, you can catch up on shell intel at the Ningaloo Aquarium & Discovery Centre, with a family pass for up to five. Those who prefer a slower pace can stop for gelato at Sweet Ningaloo or a crisp schooner at craft brewery Froth or, after a 45-minute drive south-west of town, snorkel through the five islets that compose Oyster Stacks just south of Turquoise Bay. Fall asleep to the sound of pounding waves at off-grid retreat Sal Salis, where stays include all meals, drinks and national park fees, as well as unlimited access to SUP boards, snorkel gear and guided activities.

No-one will complain about being hungry on a trip to this food capital. There are thousands of eateries in the city, from fine-diners to hawker-style stalls. Indulge at Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Food Street while surrounded by the hustle and bustle or, for somewhere you can take your time, try the urban regenerative farming destination Open Farm Community, which offers lunch and dinner plus a farm tour exploring the lush, verdant grounds. Retreat to Sentosa Island’s Capella Singapore, situated on 12 hectares of greenery overlooking the water, where two-bedroom villas with private plunge pools and terraces suit families. Don’t forget an excursion to Gardens by the Bay, blooming in the centre of Singapore’s downtown with more than 1.5 million plants and 40 sculptures from around the world.

Want to take the planning part out of your journey to Japan? Abercrombie & Kent’s signature Private Journeys are the ultimate in bucket-list family travel. Led by a dedicated local, English-speaking guide; the nine-day Private Japan tour includes a bullet train to Osaka, a Japanese tea ceremony and a stay in one of Hakone’s traditional ryokans. Intrepid’s specialty Family Tours cater to travellers as young as five, with activities including calligraphy classes, a trip to Hiroshima’s Peace Museum and an optional visit to Osaka’s Universal Studios theme park. 

To keep the family together – while giving everyone the space to pursue their own interests – it’s hard to top a cruise. So much is customisable, from the length of your journey to your onshore activity roster, as well as where you’ll all meet for evening meals. (Adjoining cabins can be organised, too). For families with older kids, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ international voyages always include unlimited dining and drinking options, a wide array of shore excursions and complimentary spa treatments so the older generations can wind down after a busy day. Groups with little ones will love Celebrity Cruises, where no two days — or hours — are the same. Destinations (which span Croatia to the Caribbean) are as varied as the onboard activities. Expect glittering evening shows, eateries to suit every taste and mood, as well as the requisite array of pools for plonking down beside.