Family holidays ain't what they used to be. I remember a fibro shack on Tugun beach, before the Gold Coast sold its soul. The beach, board games and ball sports were the order of the day. Soon after, resorts had their time in the sun. Then it was Airbnb, especially in big cities where hotels became too expensive. In the past year, cruising has been booming.
Now? Well, families want something different again. Boutique, unique, call it what you will. Nowadays it's not unusual to see families hiking in South America, cycling through Spain, or taking long train trips across the outback. Those who enjoy their creature comforts still stay in resorts, but venture out each day to ride a horse, paddle a canoe, or slide down a sand dune.
Sure, we all go on holidays to relax. But adding an adventure, cultural experience, or challenge is revitalising: you return energised. Animal lovers can trek to remote locations to see endangered wildlife; budding mariners could learn to sail in exotic locations; and star-spotters might take an overnight train trip to a planetarium.
Voluntourism is also popular, with the world's first humanitarian cruise heading to the Dominican Republic next year. If the world really is your oyster, it's time to move on from Kilpatrick. Here are my top 20 trips to inspire, educate – and, yes, challenge – the whole family. Think of them as family holidays right out of the box.
THE EXPERIENCE Learn to sail in Greece off the island of Aegina.
TELL US MORE You sleep on the yacht for five nights, as the instructor explains how to trim the sails, steer and navigate, in between swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing. Bliss.
BEST FOR Kids aged 10 and up, all fitness levels with good swimming abilities.
THE DETAILS A six-day course at the Aegean Sailing School starts from $5964 for the instructor, accommodation and breakfasts. See aegeansailingschool.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Staying with a family in New Caledonia.
TELL US MORE This is part of the homestay program, where you eat and live with the locals. It's only a three-hour flight from Australia to Noumea, with its turquoise waters, French cuisine, and fine (cheap!) wine.
BEST FOR Foodies and Francophiles; kids studying French.
THE DETAILS Bed and breakfast at Lezard Home from $145/night. See lezardhome.ile.nc. For more options, check out new-caledonia.com.au/bed-and-breakfast.
THE EXPERIENCE Wildlife and hiking on Kangaroo Island
TELL US MORE There are dozens of unique animal sub-species on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, because it was separated from the mainland for so long. Go hiking, explore the caves, and watch sea lions, kangaroos and echidnas in their natural habitat.
BEST FOR Primary school-aged children, animal-lovers; any fitness level.
THE DETAILS: Kangaroo Island Tour Passes give you access to Flinders Chase National Park plus four tours, including Seal Bay and Kelly Hill Show Cave. A family pass costs $190. See naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland; southaustralia.com.
THE EXPERIENCE A voyage on the world's first humanitarian cruise line.
TELL US MORE Fathom runs immersive, cultural exchange programs, where passengers spend time ashore helping impoverished communities. You can teach English, or take part in reforestation.
BEST FOR Teens, adult "kids" and extended families.
THE DETAILS From April 2016, Fathom's seven-night cruises, from Miami to the Dominican Republic, are available from $1595 per person, twin-share. See cruiseexpress.com.au.
THE EXPERIENCE Trekking in the Himalayas.
TELL US MORE It's the ultimate adventure escape. Head to Nepal to hike the Annapurna foothills, safari in Chitwan National Park, and explore Hindu villages.
BEST FOR Teenagers with good fitness levels.
THE DETAILS World Expeditions has trekking tours in Nepal, tailored to families, from about $2000 per person. See worldexpeditions.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Exploring Angkor Wat.
TELL US MORE Intriguing temples, delicious curries and fun tuk-tuk rides: Siem Reap and its World Heritage Angkor Wat in Cambodia, really is a family holiday destination that's out of the box. Its harrowing past provides important life lessons for the kids.
BEST FOR Ages 10 plus; any fitness level.
THE DETAILS: Rooms at La Residence d'Angkor, River Road, Siem Reap, start from AUD$320 a night. See residencedangkor.com; tourismcambodia.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Follow the dinosaur trail in outback Queensland.
TELL US MORE Journey through Hughenden, Richmond and Winton in search of bones and fossils. You can also see where Banjo Paterson first performed Waltzing Matilda.
BEST FOR Dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages, who can handle long car trips. It's about 14 hours by car from Brisbane.
THE DETAILS The family Dinopass costs $70, for entry into the Flinders Discovery Centre, Hughenden, Kronosaurus Korner, Richmond and Lark Quarry Trackway, Winton. See australiasdinosaurtrail.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Journeying in Jordan.
TELL ME MORE Jordan has probably never been in your family travel plans, but it should. Floating in the Dead Sea, exploring Roman ruins, riding camels and visiting Bedouin villages will keep your tribe mesmerised.
BEST FOR Ages 5 plus; any fitness level.
THE DETAILS Intrepid Travel runs eight-day tours of Jordan from $1665 per person. See intrepidtravel.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Climb an active volcano.
TELL ME MORE There are few places in the world where you can climb an active volcano. Kīlauea, on The Big Island, is the most active in Hawaii, but you can still get close to the crater.
BEST FOR Ages 8 plus; moderate fitness level.
THE DETAILS Kapohokine runs tours for all ages. The Evening Volcano Explorer, which takes in Kilauea plus the black sand beach, costs $257 for adults and $243 for children under 12. See kapohokine.com; gohawaii.com/au.
THE EXPERIENCE Tahiti by boat.
TELL ME MORE It sounds like something out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, but you can take the family to Tahiti, without it costing an arm and a leg. The best way is by boat. Swim with manta rays or reef sharks, do bombies off the side of the boat, and float through the coral garden off Bora Bora. You can self-sail, or hire a captain/cook.
BEST FOR Ages 7 plus, with good swimming ability.
THE DETAILS Five nights for a family of six on a three-cabin catamaran costs $3985. See moorings.com; tahiti-tourisme.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Driving a motor home through the United States.
TELL ME MORE See the colourful canyons of Arizona, the bright lights of Vegas, and pop into Disneyland on a trip through the south-west. Or head north to the so-called "real America", through the cowboy country of Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho.
BEST FOR Ages 4 plus. It's tough being in a van with younger kids, who often wake during the night.
THE DETAILS An El Monte RV, sleeping up to five people, with kitchen, fridge, hot shower, toilet, heating, air-conditioning, TV and DVD player, costs around $US622 ($865) per week. See elmonterv.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Hiking through the Tasmanian wilderness.
TELL ME MORE It may not everyone's cup of Billy tea, but such an active holiday can really bring a family together. The leech bits fade, but the memories of stories around the campfire, pristine scenery and tackling difficult terrain last forever.
BEST FOR Fit families, with kids over the age of 8, who love the great outdoors.
THE DETAILS Stock up at the Kathmandu sales and go! If you choose the Overland Track, it costs $200 an adult and $160 a child plus national park fees. See discovertasmania.com.au.
THE EXPERIENCE Cycling through the Loire Valley, France.
TELL ME MORE Visiting spectacular chateaux as well as trying canoeing, horse riding and rope courses, while you indulge in fabulous food and wine. And the good thing is, you can ride off all of that excess the next day.
BEST FOR Ages 12 plus; good level of fitness.
THE DETAILS Prices start from $9995 per person through Butterfield & Robinson. See butterfield.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Hike the Great Wall of China.
TELL ME MORE Perfect for an active, and immersive, family holiday experience. Using Beijing as your starting point, intersperse your hiking with educational village visits.
BEST FOR Ages 12 plus; good fitness.
THE DETAILS G Adventures has a 10-day tour, including six days on the Great Wall, from $1599 per person. See gadventures.com.
THE EXPERIENCE A tour of outback Queensland.
TELL US MORE Take the overnight train from Brisbane to Charleville to see the Cosmos Centre, Royal Flying Doctor's Service Base, and opal fields of the south-west. It's magical watching the roof of the observatory roll back to reveal powerful telescopes, telling the secrets of the night sky. (Yep, I'm a bit of a nerdy stargazer…)
BEST FOR Ages 4 plus; lovers of the outback; train-spotters.
THE DETAILS Fares are available at railaustralia.com.au; see queensland.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Tackle the Grand Canyon from all angles.
TELL US MORE Hop on the Grand Canyon Railway, from Williams to the South Rim, to see elk, mountain lions and bald eagles. Hire bikes for half a day to tour the National Park.
BEST FOR: 8 years plus; good level of fitness.
THE DETAILS: Grand Canyon Field Institute runs learning and lodging tours including hikes, meals, hotel and guide from about $700 per person. See grandcanyon.org.
THE EXPERIENCE A Pacific adventure in Vanuatu.
TELL US MORE Vanuatu is back in business, after the devastation of Cyclone Pam. Get your adventure fix by hiking to Mele Cascades waterfall, horse riding on the beach, and snorkelling and kayaking off Hideaway Island.
BEST FOR 5 years plus.
THE DETAILS Holiday Inn Vanuatu, in Port Vila, reopens in June next year, with kids' themed rooms and healthy menus, designed in partnership with Nutrition Australia. See myvanuatu.com.au; vanuatu.holidayinnresorts.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Hit the slopes in Whistler, Canada.
TELL US MORE Take your skiing and snowboarding to the next level. The kids can also try dog sledding, snowshoeing, skating and tubing.
BEST FOR Families with some skiing experience.
THE DETAILS To celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, Whistler Blackcomb is offering an earlybird discount, plus kids 12 and under stay, ski, rent and transfer for free, with a paying adult. See whistler.com; au-keepexploring.canada.travel.
THE EXPERIENCE Glamp it up on the NSW South Coast.
TELL US MORE Just two hours from Canberra, and three-and-a-half from Sydney, The Escape lives up to its name. This is glamping at its finest, on 80 acres overlooking the Clyde River, surrounded by national park. And you don't have to lift a finger. Your host, Colin – who's quite the gourmand – cooks three meals a day in the main house.
BEST FOR Kids 5-12; anyone who loves bushwalking, kayaking and bird watching.
THE DETAILS From $445/night, including all meals and activities. See the-escape.com.au; visitnsw.com.
THE EXPERIENCE Out of Africa, out of sight.
TELL US MORE The WILDChild program in Africa is run by &Beyond, an award-winning company that runs safaris across the continent, including the Masai Mara, home to the Great Migration, and the Samburu. There are plenty of activities for the kids, while you relax in the luxurious tented camp.
BEST FOR Lovers of animals and adventure; ages 5 plus.
THE DETAILS From $5458 per adult and $2853 per child for eight days, including inter-camp flights, accommodation, full board and drinks. See andbeyond.com.
Taking your family holiday to extremes shouldn't mean taking unnecessary risks. Here are some tips to ensure your family adventure doesn't turn into a misadventure.
INSURANCE
Almost all family fun adventures can be covered, except for high-adrenaline activities. "Things such as winged-suit flying, parachuting, skydiving, hang gliding, bobsleighing, snow rafting, heli-skiing and mountaineering won't be covered," according to Phil Sylvester, travel safety expert at travelinsurancedirect.com.au. If you choose to go ahead, check the safety record of the company. Two tourists have died this year on zip lines in Chang Mai, Thailand
VACCINATIONS
A lot of GPs aren't up to date with the vaccination schedule in remote locations. Check out the Australian Government travel safe site, smartraveller.gov.au, for the latest advice. Then, go to the specialist travel vaccination clinic in your city. If you live in a rural area, bring the Smart Traveller information to your local GP.
HEALTH
Keeping families well before, during and after travelling is one of the main roles of The Travel Doctor-TMVC (traveldoctor.com.au), a network of travel health clinics around Australia. There's even an excellent, commonsense guide on the organisation's website with tips for healthy travel for kids.
ALLERGIES
About 10 per cent of babies have food allergies, decreasing to 3-5 per cent of older children. Katrina Roe, author of Marty's Nut Free Party. Her advice is to avoid hotel buffets because of cross-contamination, carry safe or trusted food in case of delays, and buy a good translation app for menus in another language. Some airlines, such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas, will quarantine part of the cabin if you inform them of a nut allergy several days before the flight.
RISK
Sure, it's slightly riskier than taking a holiday "inside the box". But that doesn't mean you're all going to end up in a box. Most of us die from natural causes, not freak events while travelling. However, it's certainly worth weighing up the chance of something going wrong, visiting smartraveller.gov.au and even assessing the World Economic Forum's list of the most dangerous countries to visit. Currently, Nigeria and Colombia top the list.
Here are five more family holiday ideas that can be combined with a traditional "flop and drop" vacation.
RUNNING RINGS
Go white water rafting, pan for gold, drive across raging rivers, and visit scenes from The Lord of the Rings. New Zealand has it all, for the adventurous family. See rivervalley.co.nz; nomadsafaris.co.nz.
TUCKER TIME
Learn about Indigenous bush tucker and medicine on a fascinating Djabugay Aboriginal guided tour of the rainforest at Skyrail's Barron Falls Station in Cairns. See skyrail.com.au; queensland.com.
JOIN THE JET SET
Take a heart-stopping jet boat ride up the Sigatoka river, an hour from Nadi, Fiji, to share a meal with locals in a remote village.See sigatokariver.com; fiji.travel.
GIVE ME A BREAK
Surf on a reef break in the Maldives, off Club Med Kani. Intermediate to experienced surfers will enjoy the challenge of these killer breaks. Beginners can hop on the instructor's board. See clubmed.com.au.
RICE TIMES
Escape the tourist traps of Kuta and Legian to go on a bike tour of Bali, discovering the day-to-day life of the rural rice farmers. This company is 100 per owned by locals. See balibike.com; indonesia.travel.
Here are five more challenging trips for families who may have already ticked off some or all of our out-of-the-box 20.
MOUNTAIN HIGH
Hiking in Patagonia, South America, delivers mountains crowned with glaciers, glistening waterfalls and scrubland spotted with lakes. This is an extreme hiker's dream. See chile.travel; argentina.travel/en.
JUST DESERTS
Camping at La Pause, in the desert outside Marrakech, Morocco, allows you to ride the camels or horses at this Berber desert retreat then watch as waiters, swathed in white, bring tagines to your dining tent. The clicking of the scarab beetles at night is somewhat soporific. See lapause-marrakech.com.
DRAKE'S PROGRESS
Sail on a cruise to Antarctica. across the Drake Passage to see albatross, penguins and icebergs on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. This is a terrific trip for multi-generational families. See oceanwide-expeditions.com.
BORNEO AGAIN
Climb Malaysia's 4096-metre high Mount Kinabalu and watch orang-utans in Sabah, a state of Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This is one of many treks run by Wild Women on Top, perfect for an extreme mother-daughter adventure. See wildwomenontop.com; see tourism.gov.my; mountkinabalu.com.
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
Chase the Northern Lights by taking the kids to Iceland to swim in the thermal pools, see the puffins and witness the Aurora Borealis. The best times of year to visit are September and March. But you have to be patient, so wait until the kids are in their tweens or teens. See visiticeland.com.
