Sometimes the best memories come from short breaks close to home. As spring settles in, the days get longer, the flowers brighter and the weather warmer — it’s the perfect season to pack the car, load up the kids, and take off for a few nights of adventure. Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory are brimming with holiday parks where playgrounds, pools and beaches meet natural wonders and cultural events.
Spring is a gorgeous time to explore WA, when the coastlines are alive with wildflowers and the weather is perfect for outdoor adventures. In Albany, BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park keeps families smiling with mini golf, a playground, jumping pillow and games room. A short walk takes you to Emu Beach, where little ones can build sandcastles while parents relax by the shore.
Closer to Perth, Discovery Parks – Bunbury Foreshore is right on Koombana Bay, famous for its wild dolphins. The park offers cabins, caravan sites and a camp kitchen, while close by, the Koombana Bay Foreshore Playground and Sykes Splash Park provide endless fun for kids. After a day of play, wander into town for fish and chips along the waterfront.
Make it extra fun by planning around the Perth Royal Show (27 Sept–4 Oct 2025) with its rides and showbags, the Bledisloe Cup at Optus Stadium on 4 October, or WWE Crown Jewel: Perth at RAC Arena on 11 October for something totally different. Beyond the city, the classic agricultural show season brings crowds and family fun to Esperance (17–18 Oct), Busselton (31 Oct–1 Nov) and Albany (7–8 Nov).
Spring brings Tasmania’s landscapes to life, with crisp mornings, bursts of wildflowers and perfect conditions for outdoor exploring. On the east coast, BIG4 St Helens Holiday Park is a family favourite with a kids’ playroom and jumping pillow. It’s just a short drive to the Bay of Fires, where kids can scramble over orange-lichen boulders, dip their toes in turquoise waters, and parents can enjoy some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Australia.
On the Tasman Peninsula, about 90 minutes from Hobart, NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park offers cabins, powered sites and safari tents tucked among bushland. Families can mix history and adventure by visiting the Port Arthur Historic Site, taking a boat tour to spot seals, or exploring the peninsula’s rugged cliffs and beaches.
For added excitement, time your adventure with one of Tasmania’s much-loved show days, held in towns and regions across the state. These annual agricultural shows are family favourites, filled with livestock displays, carnival rides, wood-chopping competitions and the kind of showbags kids will talk about for weeks. The Royal Hobart Show (23–25 Oct 2025) is the biggest drawcard, while other community shows like the Brighton Show (9 Nov 2025) and the Huon Show (15 Nov 2025) keep the festivities rolling right through spring.
Spring in the Top End means balmy evenings, vibrant sunsets and outdoor living at its best. Just outside Darwin, BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park is packed with fun: three pools, a splash park, waterslides and playgrounds. Parents can relax under the palms while the kids burn off energy, then take a short drive to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets for dinner with a view.
Head inland to the Red Centre, where days are warm and clear and nights cool enough for campfires. Discovery Parks – Alice Springs has pools, jumping pillows, playgrounds and pedal go-karts with the MacDonnell Ranges as a stunning backdrop. Families can meet local wildlife at the Alice Springs Desert Park, ride bikes into town, or take an easy walk through Simpsons Gap to spot black-footed rock wallabies.
October also brings plenty of family-friendly events. Try the Darwin International Laksa Festival Food Tour (1–31 Oct), the AFL Masters National Carnival (28 Sep–4 Oct), or the Beach Bash at Darwin Waterfront (3–4 Oct). Down south, the Desert Mob exhibition (11 Sept–26 Oct) in Alice Springs is an inspiring chance to introduce kids to contemporary Aboriginal art and culture.
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From dolphins in Bunbury to the fiery boulders of the Bay of Fires, from splash parks in Darwin to starlit nights in Alice Springs, these mini escapes pack the perfect blend of fun and discovery. You don’t need long holidays to make big family memories — sometimes a few days away in spring is all it takes.
Did you know that if you take a camping holiday between October 1st and February 28th, you could win a shot at one million dollars? Find out more!
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