Planning the Perfect Family Trip this Winter
However, wherever you choose to spend your family holiday, you’ll need extensive planning in order to enjoy the perfect trip. During winter, there’s usually very few bushfires that sometimes plague parts of Australia at other times of the year. Whether visiting the famous Sydney Opera House or touring the stunning Pinnacle desert, there is simply so much to see in Australia.
Melbourne in particular makes for the perfect destination for a family winter trip. Winters aren’t really harsh though, as Australia is generally a warm country. Even during the cooler periods, Sydney tethers around the 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) mark, while it’s even warmer when you move northwards.
Dealing with Jetlag
Australia is a vast country; depending on your point of embarking, you’ll likely have to endure a long flight before reaching your destination. It will be even more challenging if you’re travelling with children. One way to reduce the length of your trip is to fly without stopovers, where possible. This way, you could reduce the total journey time to between 28 and 30 hours (which is still a long time of course). If you have to consider stopping over though, make sure you do so at convenient locations like Dubai.
Children don't usually handle jetlag very well, so you might consider taking some melatonin pills with you. These might be better taken towards the end of your journey, so that your kids can get some sleep once they land in Melbourne. Whether you’re going on a two week winter vacation or actually moving to Melbourne, you’ll need to be well rested to fully enjoy your stay and participate in all the exciting activities you have planned.
Accommodation
Whilst in Australia, you’ll have many options to choose from when it comes to accommodation. For instance, you could stay in an Airbnb or even family apartments in hotels. These are easier to find and not usually as expensive as they may seem. In fact, they represent better value than business styled hotels that don’t specifically cater for families. You can find some with two or three rooms, so that you’ll have some private time with your spouse when the kids are in the other room.
It’s also a good way to save money, as such accommodation usually features kitchens that allow for self-catering. So much so, you can easily dash to one of the numerous supermarkets nearby and pick up a few things for cooking. Family apartments in Melbourne also include washing machines and laundry driers, so you won't need to venture out in the cold for your laundry.
Foods
Australian food is excellent and plentiful year-round. You'll still find kangaroo steaks and many other local delicacies to please you and your kids, even during the winter months. However, if you do happen to be staying on the outskirts of any major town or city, it might be prudent to stock up on food to save you heading out during any adverse weather, should you need to.
Things to do
There’s a whole lot of adventurous activities you can enjoy with your family this winter. So, make a list and plan an itinerary accordingly.
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Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium: Here, you can see penguins, crocodiles, sharks, turtles, and a wide array of fish. It is a great place to take your children - especially if you’re working within a budget. The aquarium is beautifully presented and open year-round to enjoy.
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Open House: Melbourne has lots of historical houses that are open throughout the winter period. You can take your family to see these incredible hidden spaces the city has to offer.
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Great Ocean Road: Bond with your family by taking a long road trip along the Great Ocean Road. This is a 243 kilometer stretch of coastline, along which you’ll get to see the Twelve Apostles, the limestone towers and many other amazing sights.
Conclusion
It can be difficult planning a perfect family trip anywhere in the world - and even more so during winter. However, Australia has something for every member of the family. You only have to find a way to narrow down the options available, so that you and your family can bond and enjoy memorable times together.
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