Like many Australians, my childhood memories of family holidays involve being stuck in the back of a hot car for what seemed like days, a caravan park by a sweltering beach and blisters on the soles of our feet from running across the road to buy ice-cream. Pure bliss! But there was also the constant battle with boredom and plenty of fighting with my sister to help pass the time.
The challenge for modern parents is finding enough things to amuse the kids that are fun, affordable and interesting, while still being entertaining for the grown-ups. After all, parents deserve to enjoy their holidays too!
Fortunately, Victoria has plenty to offer in the way of interesting and educational experiences that the whole family can enjoy and is one of my favourite travel destinations.
Whether you fancy hiking through ancient rainforests, playing hide and seek in a haunted gaol or strolling through historical townships, Victoria has everything to entertain, educate and delight parents and children alike.
Here are some tips to get you started planning your next family holiday:
Accommodation
The key to a relaxing and fun family getaway starts with finding the right place to stay. The internet is a one-stop shop for accommodation information so do some quick searching to find the hotel which best meet your family’s needs.
Start by checking the room description.  Hotel rooms can often be made up as a twin room or a double, meaning they have either 2 single beds or one queen or king sized bed. If you want to keep a closer eye on the kids, ask for interconnecting rooms which have an internal door.  These are also great for older kids or teenagers – keeping the internal door closed will give them a sense of privacy and independence. Hotels often have a limited number of interconnecting rooms though, so you might want to book ahead.
Another great option for families is apartment rooms. These have two or more bedrooms opening out onto a shared living space, where families can come together to relax, play games or simply collapse in front of television after a full day.
Also find out whether your hotel offers any in-house activities –you might be grateful for them on a rainy day! A lot of places will rent DVDs, books and board-games for free or for a small surcharge. Some also have separate activities room to help the kids amuse themselves without leaving the complex.
Catering
A great way to save money and enjoy some much-needed family routine on holidays is by self-catering. Plenty of hotels rooms contain partial or full kitchens and all the equipment is provided – right down to the tea towels and washing up detergent – so you can leave the pots and pans at home!
If self-catering is not your thing, check to see if your hotel bring you breakfast before you hit the road for the day. Â Plenty of hotels have kitchens or restaurants that can cater for everything from simple cereal and toast to a delicious cooked dinner, or even late night chocolate thick-shakes!
Activities
Where ever you are heading in Victoria, you will always find some fantastic walking trails. And you don’t have to be in the heart of Gippsland to do it. Ask locally and you will uncover beautiful nature trails, historical trails or other walks taking in galleries, cafes and local sites. Even in middle of bustling Melbourne you can stroll along the tranquil Yarra River, taking in the botanical gardens along the way. Or better still, hire a bicycle! Most places will do deals for families, including multiple day hire, and they throw in the helmets free.
Victoria is also packed with museums and historical sites that will not only educate, but entertain. Try the children’s museum at Melbourne Museum or take a spooky tour of the Old Melbourne Gaol, famous for housing some of Australia’s toughest characters, including legendary bushranger Ned Kelly.
Head into the Yarra Valley for canoeing, bird watching or mountain bike riding on the Warburton Rail trail.  Visit some of wineries and stop in at Yarra Valley Dairy along the way. If you are staying in the region, the Yarra Valley Lodge offers luxury accommodation with two 18 hole championship golf courses. You can also take in day trips to the Dandenongs from here.
Also not far from Melbourne, you can learn about ancient rainforests flying through treetops in the Otways or Victoria’s colonial history at the iconic Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, a living museum and always a hit with the kids. In the past we have stayed at the Ballarat Lodge and Convention Centre. It is in a lovely heritage building opposite Sovereign Hill and also has a day spa for a little parental timeout.
There are plenty of accommodation options for families wanting to stay right in the thick of things. The Victoria Hotel is good for families on a budget with a bar-restaurant and, being on Little Collins Street, is a great place to explore Melbourne’s many vibrant laneways.  For those on a bigger budget, you can’t go past Hotel Lindrum. It has the all-important free wi-fi, a restaurant and is in walking distance of all the city’s major attractions.
Whether you are looking for a short break or longer stay, Victoria has a wealth of fun, educational and rewarding experiences for the whole family.  Start with the right hotel – from your room size and bed configuration down to in-house meals and entertainment – and guaranteed you will be on your way to a boredom busting holiday that is memorable for all.
