From learning about Aboriginal culture to exploring the oldest rainforest worldwide, Australia is the ideal destination for people of all ages, especially for families with teenagers. There are so many things young adults can do on a trip to Australia that would provide them with exciting experiences and new skills. However, suppose you plan to embark on a journey of exploration and discovery around Australia with your teens. In that case, you should allow them to pick some of the tour’s destinations and activities.
A family vacation can take a temperamental turn when you travel with teenagers and have no idea how to entertain them. Young adults are notorious for being difficult to handle, but it doesn’t mean you should take a break from family bonding during holidays. The chapter when your children grow into teenagers can have all the makings for precious memories. However, parents should learn some teenage-specific lessons before leaving home for a destination like Australia.
Include them in the decision-making
The secret to planning a successful trip with your teens is to include them in the process. When they were children, they left holiday-making decisions to you, but teens usually want to have their hand in planning a vacation because they have their own ideas. Include your kids in the planning process, and consider their thoughts on the places you’ll visit and the means of transportation they prefer. Also, ask them to engage actively in the hands-on trip preparation and assign them the responsibility of packing their belongings. This might excite them about the trip, and they’ll feel empowered to make their own choices.
Also, make sure that you get Holafly’s eSIM for Australia before leaving home because the last thing you want is teenagers disconnected from the internet when traveling. They will definitely want to share their experience on social media, stay in touch with their friends, and entertain themselves while waiting for transportation. Getting an eSIM while at home is also money-wise because you know exactly how much you pay and don’t deal with surprising roaming fees when coming back.
Plan independent activities
Don’t be afraid to give your teenagers some freedom while traveling. Before leaving home, ask them what Australian experiences they’re most interested in and if they want to have them together as a family or independently. Suppose they want to explore some areas alone; allow them to wander on their own and navigate the joy of discovering the world. Encouraging your teenagers to be independent is an essential part of the journey to becoming adults, so allow them the space to be free while you are comforted in knowing that they are safe. Establish some rules for the activities they want to have alone.
Australian destination teenagers love
Canberra
Some people would argue that Canberra is boring for a teenager, but if you pick your activities wisely, it can be a pretty wicked holiday destination. Suppose your teens are into fun science stuff; they can visit Questacon. If, on the other hand, they have a passion for investigating history, they can go to the Australian War Memorial. In addition, there’s a water park called the Big Splash where you can spend some fun times together as a family.
While in Canberra, don’t forget to eat at the Kingsleys because, according to the locals, the place is a combination between McDonald’s and KFC, but better.
Pink Lakes
If your teens left home planning to impress their friends with their Instagram posts, a visit to the Pink Lakes will sound more than thrilling because the water’s unexpected colour will make a great backdrop. The Hutt Lagoon is six hours from Perth, and you can easily reach it by car. The water colour changes according to the time of the day so it’s best to spend several hours visiting the area if you want to take photos with different backgrounds. The pink hue of the water comes from the algae, and it can change shade from pink to purple and even red, according to the weather.
Lake Hillier on Middle Island is also a nice place to visit, but more challenging to reach. You’ll have to get a flight or travel by boat.
Bungle Bungles / Purnululu National Park
The Purnululu National Park is the ideal destination for families that love exploring wild nature. People often compare the striped, dome look of the Bungle Bungle Range with beehives. No giant bees are hiding in the domes, but they look great in Instagram photos. We promise your teenagers will love wandering through the park. However, if you want to add the Purnululu National Park to your itinerary, make sure to rent a four-wheel drive and plan the vacation during the dry season because the landmark sits in the Kimberley, which is challenging to reach during other times of the year.
Suppose you cannot arrive in Australia during the dry season or the Purnululu National Park is too far away from your destination; you can visit the Breakaways, which are a great alternative in terms of sightings. They are located close to the Coober Pedy and were submerged under an inland sea in the past.
Lightning Ridge
If your children tell you that they want a different traveling experience from the ones in the past, adding Lightning Ridge to your itinerary might do the trick because it is a place where they can eat delicious food, explore mines, take photos with cactuses, and marvel at the hot springs. You can engage in different activities depending on the time of the year when you travel. For example, you can access a water theme park and a five-star swimming pool during the summer. During the winter, you can soak in the hot springs, which is both entertaining and beneficial for your health.
Will you manage what seems impossible to travel to Australia with your teenagers and have fun?
