Top 10 ideas to make the most of summer
Island adventures, movies under the stars, flying through the trees – summer is the season to do it all, and all inside Australia!
Longer days means more time outside! Make the most of this summer season by discovering fantastic seasonal activities to keep everyone smiling.
GO SNORKELLING IN AQUAMARINE SEAS
Credit: Tourism WA
Prepare for the grooviest rainbow you have ever seen – underwater! Explore the world beneath the surface with creatures of all shapes and sizes swimming beside you.
Snorkelling is an affordable way to experience life under the sea. No need to worry about scuba diving equipment for this adventure!
Get some much needed facetime with a leaf scorpionfish at Julian Rocks Marine Reserve in Byron Bay, follow a mapped out snorkelling trail in the Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve in Tasmania, or say G’day to all manner of tropical fish at The Basin on Rottnest Island.
VISIT AN AUSTRALIAN NATURAL WONDER
Image: The Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park
While some folks overseas might scratch their heads in bemusement at why any of their mates would travel 48 hours to visit a country full of deadly snakes and spiders, we know why they do!
From coral reefs, and pink lakes, to ancient gorges and centuries-old boab trees, there’s so much to see and do in Australia!
How about exploring the sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle Range in the Kimberley? Or if you prefer being grounded, peer out over the 12 Apostles as you venture along the Great Ocean Road. Murphy’s Haystacks in South Australia and K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) off Queensland's Fraser Coast are another couple of beauties worth getting to as well.
GO GLAMPING
Getting back to basics in a pitched tent can be fun but if you’re ready to swap your swag for some swagger, then it’s time to go glamping!
Glamping at our Byron Bay, New South Wales park offers the kind of amenities you'd expect for any Australian holiday (including air-conditioning), just add tented walls and kookaburras singing you a song each morning.
Our NSW holiday parks in Harrington and Dubbo in also offer their own safari tent accommodation. Think the simple life, without needing to brave the elements!
ESCAPE TO AN ISLAND
If there’s anything recent experiences have taught us, it’s that parts of Australia are worth re-visiting!
Discover a hideaway in the Southern Great Barrier Reef at Great Keppel Island - where you’ll quickly locate some of the dreamiest beaches in the world!
Looking for something with a little more adventure? Tasmania provides a whole host of rugged adventures in the wild. Try a canyoning tour in Cradle Mountain or white water rafting on the Mersey River.
Alternatively, why not travel up to northwest WA where you’ll find the Mackerel Islands off the coast of Onslow? No distractions, just relaxation, wide open spaces and some of the best fishing anywhere!
Need some road trip inspiration? Read one family’s adventure along the Warlu Way in Northwest WA.
GO HORSEBACK RIDING
Ever thought of swinging yourself onto the back of a horse and going for a trail ride?
With Horseabout Tours in northern New South Wales, you can experience a sunrise, sunset or moonlight ride through beach and bush!
Go horse riding in the Snowy Mountains in NSW, or if you’re out west check out Forge Farm Riding School outside of Perth for trail and pony rides.
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS
With a picnic blanket for four, a backpack full of snacks, you’re ready for a night under the stars and a classic movie on the big screen.
Look out for movie nights at our Discovery Parks over the entire summer season! We love hosting our guests under the moonlight.
Stay updated with in-park activities by following us on Facebook and Instagram, where we regularly post upcoming events and the latest activities!
ENJOY A SPLISH AND A SPLASH
Busy the kids with a few hours of splash and dash!
There are some amazing outdoor waterparks near our properties around Australia including Wetside Water Education Park in Hervey Bay, Queensland; Big Wedgie inflatable waterslide in Glenelg, South Australia; Ron Barassi Snr Park in Melbourne; or Rainbow Waters in Perth.
Sometimes the best things in life come for free though and it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to have fun and stay cool in the summer!
If you’re staying at one of these Discovery Parks, you’re able to use their waterparks for nothing. It’s not always about splashing out this summer!
PLAY, NATURALLY
Turn play inside, out.
Exploring and playing in the outdoors is an invaluable part of any summer holidays. Being outside with friends can provide kids with an appreciation for their natural environment. From spotting as many possums as you can to packing a picnic breakfast and watching the sunrise, there’s plenty of nature play activities to do with the kids this year.
Nature playgrounds are also a chance for kids to get dirty and burn off some energy. With nature-inspired equipment, these spaces offer an alternative to your traditional public playground. Try Discovery Parks – Robe in SA on for size!
CYCLING TRAILS HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE
Life is better on two wheels! Hop on a bike and explore the town.
Most urban and regional centres have established networks of cycling trails for recreational and avid cyclists alike.
On a bike, you’ll be able to cover more ground while taking in the fresh air and sunshine. Want some inspiration? Here are some of our gnarliest mountain biking trails across Australia. Alternatively, for some of the best cycling trails around the country check out this list of family-friendly cycling trails!
ADVENTURE UP HIGH
Have you ever heard or seen anyone speed down a zipline?
It may seem like something only adrenaline junkies would do but adventures up high are for everyone!
It doesn’t require a high level of fitness, either but can still offer enough of a challenge to make it fun. Forest Adventures South West in Busselton, WA, Hollybank Treetops Adventure Park in Launceston, Tasmania, and TreeTop Adventure Park on the Central Coast of New South Wales all offer high ropes courses with that unbeatable birds-eye views.
