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    Family Holidays

    NSW has plenty of family-friendly holiday destinations within driving distance of Sydney, from easy beach weekends to longer coastal breaks.

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    Your guide to family-friendly destinations

    These selections focus on places with kid-friendly activities, casual dining, practical accommodation and outdoor options that work for families. We’ve included a few of our favourites below, and some of the reasons why they work so well for a family getaway.

    Plus at the end you’ll find full itineraries for family-friendly road trips to explore several destinations on your next escape.

    Next Escape is your guide to real places and real experiences, with practical, independent travel advice based on first-hand visits: the places we’ve explored, the restaurants we’ve eaten at and the walks we’ve done. This page may contain affiliate links; if you book or buy through them, Next Escape may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Popular Guides
    Terrigal Beach

    Central Coast

    Weekend Escape Guide

    Your guide to selecting the perfect Central Coast town for your family getaway.

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    Kiama Surf Beach

    South Coast

    Weekend Escape Guide

    Weekend escape guide to pick your family-friendly destination on the near South Coast.

    GET THE GUIDE →

    NSW Central Coast

    The Central Coast is an easy choice for a family weekend around 90 minutes from Sydney, with beaches, lagoons, playgrounds, casual places to eat and plenty of apartment or holiday-house options.

    • Avoca Beach

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Avoca Beach keeps family holidays simple and easy with the beach, rock pool, Avoca Lake kayaking and SUP hire, relaxed cafes and holiday houses close to the water.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Avoca Beach
      Avoca Beach, NSW

    • Ettalong Beach

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Ettalong is great for low-effort family downtime, with calm shallow bay water, a foreshore playground, casual restaurants and the Galleria nearby.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Ettalong Beach
      Ettalong Beach, NSW

    • Terrigal

      Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours

      Terrigal is the easy family all-rounder: patrolled beach, sheltered water at Terrigal Haven, lagoon activities, playgrounds and casual beachfront dining.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Terrigal
      Terrigal

    NSW South Coast

    The NSW South Coast works well for weekends and longer family breaks, with patrolled beaches, ocean pools, wildlife experiences, easy walks and relaxed towns spread along the coast.

    • Batemans Bay

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 3.5 to 4 hours

      Clyde River activities, nearby beaches, Mogo Wildlife Park and relaxed waterfront dining make this an easy family destination.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Batemans Bay
      Batemans Bay

    • Bermagui

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 5 and a half hours

      Bruce Steer Ocean Pool and Blue Pool's calm water and a patrolled Horseshoe Bay Beach make Bermagui a relaxed coastal escape for young families.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Bermagui
      Bermagui

    • Culburra Beach

      Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 45 minutes

      Culburra Beach is an easygoing family pick: patrolled summer swimming at two beaches, a gentle lake walk, and a bowling club dinner to finish the day. It works particularly well for a family holiday with self-catering holiday home accommodation.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Culburra Beach
      Culburra Beach

    • Gerringong

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 2 hours

      Gerringong works for families who want a slower beach base, with Werri Beach, the rock pool and lagoon, casual food options and Jamberoo Action Park a short drive away.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Gerringong
      Gerringong, NSW

    • Huskisson

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 2 hours and 30 minutes

      Calm bay beaches, the sea pool, dolphin cruises, the Mangrove Walk and nearby Booderee National Park give families plenty to do.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Huskisson
      Huskisson

    • Kiama

      Drive time from Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours

      Kiama is an easy family pick with patrolled beaches, the Blowhole, the rock pool, coastal walks and plenty of casual places to eat close to town.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Kiama
      Kiama, NSW

    • Mollymook

      Drive time from Sydney: 3 to 3.5 hours

      A patrolled beach in warmer months, the Bogey Hole rock pool, casual dining and nearby Ulladulla and Milton make Mollymook easy to shape around a family weekend.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Mollymook
      Mollymook

    • Narooma

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 4.5 to 5 hours

      Narooma has the wildlife factor kids remember, from Montague Island dolphin, seal and penguin tours for older kids to Australia Rock, Seal Rocks and kayak hire on Wagonga Inlet.

      GET THE GUIDE →: Narooma
      Narooma

    • Ulladulla

      Drive time from Sydney: Around 3 hours and 15 minutes

      GET THE GUIDE →: Ulladulla
      Ulladulla Cover Image

    NSW North Coast

    North of Sydney, these family-friendly destinations combine beaches, wildlife experiences, easy walks, casual dining and enough activities for a longer weekend away.

    Road Trips

    We have two ready-made suggested road trip itineraries that work well for families heading off from Sydney. Both are on the NSW South Coast.