Top Five Places for School Trips in Australia
Pretty nearly anywhere in Australia is good for kids, but for school parties, it needs to be a little bit organised. Here’s a selection of places to go that mix education with entertainment; some are a bit pricey, others more reasonable on the budget.
Canberra
In many ways under-estimated, the federal capital can be a fascinating place to learn about the country’s origins, history and future. It’s also a spectacularly safe and pleasant place to get around.
Canberra is stacked with museums and art galleries, and where better to start that school visit than by visiting the National Museum of Australia. There is a huge amount to see that will fascinate schoolchildren of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Your only problem will be to get the kids out of the museum at the end of the day.
Kakadu
By way of contrast, a much more ambitious and adventurous trip might take in the timeless wilderness that is the Kakadu, Australia’s largest national park in the Northern Territory.
It’s worth the effort to get there because the list of things to do and see is endless try bird watching, fishing and boating. Try an all-day hike through the forests, especially for older children. In the wet season you might even book a scenic flight to view parts of the park that cannot be reached by road.
Ningaloo Reef
Another dream outing, especially for kids who appreciate nature, is this wonderful coral reef off the northwest coast of Western Australia. It’s remote, some 1,200 km north of Perth but this 260 km long reef teems with hundreds of species of fish and coral that can be seen nowhere else in the world. There are many opportunities to learn to dive in complete safety with expert teachers.
Jindabyne
For children in many parts of Australia, snow is something they have only seen on Christmas cards. So for a winter treat with a difference, try a trip to New South Wales’ top ski resort, located by the Snowy Mountains, on the shores of Lake Jindabyne. In fact, Jindabyne acts as a gateway to and accommodation centre for the individual resorts of Perisher Valley, Thredbo, Charlottes Pass, Guthega and Smiggin Holes. Lots of pistes for everyone from toddler beginners to experts.
Uluru
Everyone should at some time visit the centre. Uluru & Ayers Rock has it all: the wonderful visual effects of the rock itself and a host of opportunities to learn about the people who own it and have been in Australia for something like 40,000 years. School parties are particularly well catered for with a variety of programmes presenting Indigenous culture as well as scientific displays highlighting the way the rock came to be so prominent. Unmissable.