Forget coats and heaters- think t-shirts, thongs, sunscreen and swimming. Whales aren’t the only ones heading north this winter, with Aussies following the sunshine in droves. 

With the winter school holidays fast approaching, family travel planning has become a lot more democratic - with the kids officially calling the shots. According to the American Express 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, 64 per cent of Aussie parents agree their children help inform travel decisions.

As temperatures cool across the southern states, families are increasingly chasing warm-weather escapes, with Queensland emerging as one of the country’s most in-demand holiday destinations, according to Webjet’s Go Somewhere Special 2026 report. For parents looking to keep the kids entertained (without blowing the budget or hearing “I’m bored” every five minutes), Cairns is ticking all the boxes.

Leading the charge is BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, offering a family-friendly base where the fun starts on arrival. Featuring pools, playgrounds, daily activities and a brand-new Splash Park, the holiday park is designed to keep kids entertained while parents actually get a chance to relax. 

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Park Manager, Richard Yazbek says families are increasingly planning holidays around experiences their children are genuinely excited about.

“Family holidays have really evolved - we’re seeing more and more parents planning trips around what their kids are genuinely excited about. Cairns is perfect for that because it’s so experience-driven, both in and out of the park.” said Yazbek. “At Big4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, we’ve invested in making the stay just as memorable as the destination, including launching our brand new splash park last year, which has quickly become a favourite for families wanting that ‘wow’ factor without even leaving the park.”

Park Manager, Richard Yazbek’s top kid-approved Cairns experiences for this winter school holidays:

• The Great Barrier Reef - snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours and island day trips are both kid and parent friendly, with most tours departing from Cairns Marina just 15 minutes away
• Cairns Esplanade Lagoon - a free, safe swimming spot with playgrounds and picnic areas, approx. 15 minutes’ drive
• Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail Rainforest Cableway - an iconic rainforest journey and bucket list experience, located less than 30 minutes’ drive to the Smithfield Terminal
• Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures - up-close wildlife encounters and croc feeding shows, approx. 40 minutes’ drive
• Fitzroy Island - an easy day trip with beaches, snorkelling and walking trails, accessible via a short ferry from Cairns Marina (15 minutes from the park)
• Rainforestation Nature Park - Indigenous cultural experiences, wildlife encounters and Army Duck tours, approx. 30 minutes’ drive
• Cairns Aquarium - a great all-weather option showcasing local marine life, approx. 15 minutes’ drive from Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut

To help families make the most of their tropical escape, BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut offers a Stay 4, Pay 3 deal on selected accommodation, including its popular 3-Bedroom Superior Villa.*

Just seven minutes from Cairns CBD, the holiday park is perfectly positioned for families wanting to explore Tropical North Queensland, from the reef and rainforest to the Atherton Tablelands,  all while enjoying resort-style facilities back at base.

With waterslides, mini golf, pools, school holiday activities and on-site dining at The Palm restaurant, Cairns is shaping up as the ultimate winter escape for families heading north in search of sunshine.



*Price may fluctuate depending on dates; black out periods apply. Check T&Cs for more information.