Holidays with Kids announces Top Ten best Australian and overseas family-friendly resorts

Travelling  with kids can be great fun, but it can also be a nightmare if you end up in a hotel or resort that is not set up to cater for kids.

Holidays with Kids magazine polled its readers recently to nominate their favourite family-friendly resort within Australia and overseas for the 2006 Top 10 Family Resort Awards and The Mole suggests that if you want to know which Australian and overseas resorts excel at catering for families, the best people to ask are parents!

The readers scored the resorts on:

* facilities and activities for children
* the quality of childcare, crèche and babysitting services
* standard of service and staff hospitality
* standard of accommodation and comfort
* value for money
* the location of the resort
* the reader’s overall experience

Announcing the awards, Publisher and Editor of Holidays with Kids Cathy Wagstaff said readers are being encouraged to keep the list and refer to it when they next make plans for a family holiday, adding, “A great resort can make all the difference between a great holiday and a holiday disaster so if you’re looking for resorts that know how to look after your family, you can’t do better than these.”

The Top 10 J Kids Resorts in Australia

1. Paradise Resort, Gold Coast QLD
Where magical holiday moments create lifelong family memories, Paradise Resort is this year’s Number One with Holidays with Kids readers! With its million-dollar themed Zone for Kids and crèche, tropical pools, restaurants and bar, the whole family will find their perfect holiday haven.

2. Sea World Resort, Gold Coast QLD
Sea World Resort is not only a dolphin’s jump away from some of the Gold Coast’s most popular theme parks, it also features great family-friendly accommodation and facilities including a popular kids’ club.

3. Club Med Lindeman Island, Whitsundays QLD
Club Med Lindeman Island has a huge range of sports and activities, dedicated kids’ clubs and secluded beaches. Club Med’s ‘most-inclusive’ packages mean everything – from accommodation and activities to food and drink – is included.

4. Hyatt Regency Coolum, Sunshine Coast QLD
Surrounded by natural bushland and with a private beach, Hyatt Regency Coolum boasts a multitude of activity options, including Australia’s PGA Championship Golf Course for Dad, the Sun Spa for Mum, and Camp Hyatt for kids aged six weeks to 12 years.

5. BreakFree Diamond Beach Resort, Gold Coast QLD
This resort offers apartment-style accommodation nestled in tropical gardens. Parents can relax in the secluded cave spa while children can have fun on the adventure playground equipped with water cannons and a giant obstacle course.

6. Turtle Beach Resort, Gold Coast QLD
Whether you desire serenity or endless fun, Turtle Beach Resort offers an extensive range of recreational facilities, and spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

7. Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast QLD
Novotel Twin Waters Resort offers many exciting options but if you’re aged two to 12 years, Club Dolfi will give you an unforgettable holiday. For everyone older there are activities such as tai chi, sailing, archery, golf or pampering at the day spa.

8. Couran Cove Island Resort
When it comes to nature, Couran Cove Island Resort has it all. Wake up with a bird walk, go searching for foods of the forest and explore the wonders of the night sky as you are entertained and educated.

9. Rydges Capricorn Resort Yeppoon, Capricorn Coast QLD
Take time to explore the 22,000-acre grounds of Rydges Capricorn Resort Yeppoon, or enjoy the 25 free activities including land and water sports.

10. Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort
Situated on the Clarence River in Northern NSW, Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort offers accommodation to suit every family’s style, lagoon pools, a Kids’ Kave, playground and free activities program.

Highly Commended
Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Gold Coast QLD
Daydream Island Resort, Whitsundays QLD
Mercure Resort Great Keppel Island, Capricorn Coast QLD

The Top 10 Kids Resorts overseas are: –

1. Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort
The recently renovated Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort offers water sports, nature walks and great snorkelling off white-sand beaches. Set on a private island connected to the mainland by a causeway, it has three freshwater pools, a nine-hole golf course, a gym and tennis courts. Children can enjoy their own pool, activities and nightly movies.

2. Naviti Resort, Fiji
If Fiji is a slice of paradise, Naviti Resort is heaven for kids. The Rugg Rats Club offers a huge range of activities, including ice-cream eating competitions and donkey rides. There are also activities for teens, and parents can relax by the pool or play golf.

3. Disneyland Resort, California
A visit to Disneyland is a trip of lifetime for the young and the young at heart. With two theme parks to keep you and the kids amused, three hotels and countless restaurants and eateries, welcome to endless fun!

4. Plantation Island Resort, Fiji
Just a short plane flight from Nadi International Airport, Plantation Island Resort is designed to suit every budget. The children will be happy in the Coconut Club while you try golf, lawn bowls, tennis, water sports or enjoy a massage.

5. Bali Dynasty Resort
Within walking distance of Kuta, Bali Dynasty is perfectly located, but your brood will be happy in the resort with its 56-metre waterslide in the kids’ pool. There’s also a spa where you can indulge yourself.

6. Le Lagon Resort Vanuatu
With newly renovated pools and restaurants, Le Lagon Resort is set near a pristine lagoon. Facilities include tennis courts, a 12-hole golf course, snorkelling, canoeing and a glass bottom boat for coral viewing.

7. Club Med Bali
Designed for family holidays, this resort has a special club for babies and three kids’ clubs to please children from two to 17. Parents can busy themselves trying wall climbing, yoga, wind surfing or an aromatherapy wrap in the Club Med Spa.

8. Castaway Island Fiji
Want to keep the kids happy but also enjoy a little romance? Beautiful Castaway Island delivers both. It offers a great kids’ club and teens are also kept busy with water sports, picnics and boat races.

9. Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa
Set on a stretch of brilliant white sand, the Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa offers activities including snorkelling, fishing, horse riding and golf. And at the end of the day you can relax with a cocktail and watch the sunset over the sea.

10. Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Malaysia
It doesn’t get much better than finding a resort situated where the jungle meets the sea. There are several places to eat, a children’s pool, games room, tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course.

Highly Commended
Club Med Morea, Tahiti
Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji
Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore

Report by The Mole