How to travel to North Queensland with a baby

The news is a buzz for travel to Queensland right now with borders down and travel vouchers being offered, giving Queensland a much-needed boost for tourism. Now with so many opportunities for families to take trips and travel again if you've got a baby in tow, there's no reason for you to miss out on the adventure. Here are some tips on the best places to go and things to do with a baby on board.

Where to go

When you've got little ones or babies, you want to take out any of the stress and plan your holiday with their sleep-in mind and the easiest ways to get around. Make sure you choose a holiday spot that has everything you and your family need close-by.

Here are some location ideas to get your baby brain started:

Best Beaches

Surf Life Saving Queensland has a list of their top-rated beaches in Queensland with rankings based on patrol times, service, incident history, coastal conditions, safety signage, access to amenities, parking and public transport.

1. The Strand Net 1 - Townsville
2. Alma Bay - Magnetic Island
3. Cylinder Beach North Stradbroke Island
4. Kings Beach Sunshine Coast
5. Palm Cove North Queensland
6. Torquay Beach Hervey Bay
7. Mooloolaba Beach Sunshine Coast
8. Coolangatta Gold Coast
9. Burleigh Heads Gold Coast
10. Kirra Gold Coast

Chasing Waterfalls

Waterfalls and rainforests can be a wonderful adventure with a little one; just make sure you've got the right hiking baby backpack to get them around.

Some of the best waterfalls to see near the Cairns region are:

• Stoney Creek Falls
• Josephine Falls
• Millaa Millaa Falls
• Emerald Creek
• Davies Creek Falls

Country escapes

Kids love the country, and farm stays are a great way to have a holiday in a country town and explore the local country hospitality, feed the animals on the farm and swap the city stress for the country life for a short escape.

Island vibes

North Queensland has plenty of island getaways for your family to enjoy, and most will offer car seats on their golf buggies for your little ones to be strapped in so you can buzz around the islands with ease. Check for accommodation that also includes bassinets, babysitting and kids club options.

How to road trip with a baby

Driving for hours on end with a baby to reach North Queensland towns may seem like a nightmare, so a quick flight to either Cairns, Townsville or Mt Isa and hiring a car from there can take all the stress out of road tripping with a baby and allow you to get the best out of both worlds.

Here are some more tips for road tripping with a baby:

• Time the drive around their sleep - If you're in the passenger's seat, you'll get a nice stretch when you need to manoeuvre your body to deal with your backseat passenger's needs.
• Pack their favourite cuddle toy - But get them hooked on a safe chain link so they can't throw them or drop them while you're driving. Trust us, you'll love this simple tip, and it will stop you pulling over every 20 minutes to find the toy.
• Food and drinks - Depending on your baby's age and where they're at with feeding stages, either pack bottles or a non-spill sippy cup with water and not-so-messy snacks. Consider sultanas, grapes, pre-made sandwiches, corn thins or rice cakes.
• Hire car - Check that your hire car company also hires baby seats for your trip.
• Plan to stop frequently - While your baby sleeps, take advantage of more time on the road but once bub is awake, plan your stops so there's lots to see and do to keep everyone entertained and fed.
• Use Google Maps - Google Maps can find you petrol stations, cafes and restaurants on your trip but, it can also find playgrounds and parks. This can be a godsend on the way to your destination to break up the journey if bub has woken and you need a quiet place to feed or they want to have a play if they're old enough for a slippery slide.

1300 Meteor has an extensive range of quality and reliable vehicles for rent to suit any sized family. There is something for every family from minivans, bus's, utes, vans, or recreational 4WDs. With free pick up and drop off from Cairns, Townsville or Mt Isa airport* and car seats available, you can have a fly in and road trip holiday with your baby all in one holiday!