By Nimesh – Travelling with Nikki, Yathaarth and Kshitij

From the moment our plane touched down in Melbourne on 4 May 2025, we knew this family trip to Australia would be special. As a family of four – myself (Nimesh), my wife Nikki, our elder son Yathaarth and younger son Kshitij – we had dreamed of seeing kangaroos up close, watching penguins waddle home at sunset, and standing before the dramatic cliffs of the Great Ocean Road. What we experienced over the next two weeks far exceeded those dreams. It was a perfect blend of wild nature, thrilling adventures, starting from Melbourne to Tasmania and going upto Great Barrier Reef.

Here’s our story – a heartfelt recap of our 14-day journey from Melbourne to Tasmania, the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays and Brisbane.

Arrival in Melbourne! No Luggage Arrived. Night Shopping upon Arrival

When we arrived in Melbourne, the first thing that took us by surprise was the biosecurity check at the airport. Dogs were sniffing the bags to check if we had carried any fruits, nuts, or dairy products from India. We had 2 bags full of food items, and we were really scared that the biosecurity check might catch it and we would have to dispose of all the items. But we had another surprise waiting for us. While we were waiting for our checked baggage, we were called to the office and informed that none of our luggage had arrived and it could only come the next day. The officers of Singapore Airlines were kind enough to give us a Rs 40k worth voucher to arrange for clothes and essentials in the meantime.

We were in a state of shock for a few minutes and panicked as we did not know where to go for shopping. We were all very hungry as well, but due to the paucity of time, we had to first go to the nearby Woolworths to do essential shopping and then only go for dinner. We quickly passed through the biosecurity check as we did have only hand luggage and picked up our rental car. We headed to the nearest Woolworths and quickly finished shopping in 2 hours.

We checked on the nearest Indian restaurant, and Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar popped up. It was quite late, and we were not sure if it would be open by the time we reached there. We arrived by 9:30 PM, and the restaurant staff were just closing the restaurant. I requested the owner to kindly open the restaurant for us, as we were really hungry. The owner agreed and asked his team to make hot chapatis and dal for us. It was the best food we had during our entire trip to Australia. I am really thankful to the owner of the restaurant. He was really kind.

With the Owner of Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar

In hindsight, I feel that what happened with us upon arrival was in best interest for the family. If luggage would have arrived it would have gone through Bio-security check and we might have had to dispose lot of items which was our lifeline.

Melbourne Arrival & Phillip Island Magic (4–5 May)

After landing at 5 pm, we checked into Pegasus Apartment Hotel, picked up essentials at Apna Desi Indian Grocery and enjoyed a relaxed dinner at Gopal’s Vegetarian. The next morning we were up at dawn, heading to Moonlit Sanctuary by 9:30 am. The boys’ eyes lit up as they hand-fed kangaroos – Yathaarth gently offering pellets while Kshitij beamed with pure joy. We then drove to Phillip Island, hired bikes at Cowes Bike Shop and pedalled the scenic Rhyll Inlet Walkway with the sea breeze in our faces.

Afternoon treats included the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, followed by the Nobbies Centre where we marvelled at the rugged coastline and Antarctic Journey exhibit. The grand finale was the Penguin Parade at sunset – hundreds of little penguins waddling up the beach after a day at sea. We ended the day with dinner at Jaimals Bhojan Bhandar and freakshakes at Three One 2 One. A perfect introduction to Australia’s wildlife wonders.

The Great Ocean Road: Kangaroos, Koalas & Iconic Coastline (6 May)

Our Great Ocean Road day was pure bucket-list magic. Leaving Melbourne at 8 am, we first stopped at Anglesea Golf Course where wild kangaroos grazed peacefully on the fairways – a surreal sight captured perfectly in our photos. We climbed the historic Split Point Lighthouse, enjoyed a delicious lunch at Ras Leela Restaurant, and then drove to Kennet River for the famous koala walk. Spotting sleepy koalas high in the eucalyptus trees felt like a dream.

The highlight? The Twelve Apostles and London Arch emerging from the misty ocean. Standing on Gibson Steps with the waves crashing below, we felt small yet incredibly connected to this ancient landscape. Dinner with friends at Laddu Gopal Pure Veg was the perfect way to unwind.

City Vibes, Puffing Billy & the Spirit of Tasmania (7–8 May)

Back in Melbourne, we parked at Docklands for a morning walk and cycle, then hopped on the free City Circle Tram (#35) for a relaxed city tour. We visited the ISKCON Temple for a peaceful lunch and later explored Waratina Lavender Farm. The real highlight was boarding the Puffing Billy steam train at Belgrave for the scenic ride to Lakeside – the boys loved waving to passengers and feeling the historic engine chug through the forests.

That evening we drove to Geelong and sailed overnight on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, arriving refreshed in Devonport the next morning.

Tasmania: Misty Mountains, Rail Rides & Glow-Worm Nights (9–12 May)

Tasmania stole our hearts. At Cradle Mountain we hiked the Enchanted Walk and Dove Lake under dramatic mist, spotting wombats along the way. A guided mine tour with Roamwild Tasmania followed, then stops at Ironblow Lookout, Nelson Falls and Lake Burbury. We stayed at the charming Derwent Bridge Chalet and enjoyed dinner at Pumphouse Point before a magical Platypus Bay walk at Lake St Clair.

The next day we experienced the unique Railtrack Ride through the forests to Queenstown, visited Westerway Raspberry Farm, and reached Hobart in time for the vibrant Salamanca Market. We stocked up at The Spice House grocery and treated ourselves to ice cream at Van Diemens Land Creamery before a night view from Rosny Hill Lookout.

The following days were equally packed: the quirky Pooseum, Huon Valley Orchard, Saffron Farm, Geeveston Platypus Walk, Hastings Caves (complete with a thermal spring bath), and an unforgettable Glow Worm Tour at night. We capped our Tasmanian chapter with a sunrise at Mount Wellington, a visit to MONA Museum and a quick bite at Chaat Corner before our night flight to Brisbane.

Gold Coast Thrills & Tamborine Mountain (13–14 May)

The Gold Coast brought high-energy fun. We headed straight to O’Reilly Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park for short walks and the Mountview Alpaca Tour – the boys were in heaven feeding and petting the fluffy alpacas. We explored Tamborine Mountain’s skywalk, enjoyed fudge at Granny Mac’s, and joined a magical glow-worm tour.

The next day started with the quirky AquaDuck amphibious tour, followed by parasailing over Surfers Paradise and jet-skiing on the sparkling waters. A quick visit to The Spice Trail grocery and lunch at Sankalp Indian Restaurant kept our tummies happy before our evening flight to Mackay.

Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef: Pure Paradise (15–16 May)

The Whitsundays delivered postcard-perfect moments. A scenic flight over the famous white-sand islands was breathtaking, followed by a full-day Great Barrier Reef tour with snorkelling among colourful fish and corals. We relaxed at Airlie Beach Lagoon and enjoyed dinner at Lovely India before our evening flight back to Brisbane.

Brisbane Finale: Bridges, Wake Parks & Last-Minute Memories (17 May)

Our last full day began with the thrilling Story Bridge Adventure Climb at 8 am, followed by wakeboarding at Bayside Wake Park. We refuelled at Govinda’s, explored the Queensland Museum and shopped at DFO before hiring Lime bikes for a sunset ride along the Kangaroo Point Bikeway. Dinner at Sankalp was the perfect finale.

Reflections from a Family That Travelled Well

Fourteen days, countless smiles, and memories that will last a lifetime. Watching Yathaarth and Kshitij feed kangaroos, spot koalas in the wild, ride steam trains through misty forests and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef was priceless. Nikki and I loved every scenic drive, every vegetarian discovery (from ISKCON temples to Sankalp restaurants), and every quiet moment watching the boys marvel at nature.

Australia welcomed us with open arms – its wildlife is friendly, its landscapes dramatic, and its people warm. If you’re planning a family trip Down Under, our advice is simple: rent a car, book wildlife experiences early, pack layers for Tasmania’s changeable weather, and always leave room for spontaneous ice-cream stops.

Thank you, Australia – we’ll be back.

Have you explored Australia with kids? Which destination would you add to our itinerary? Share your thoughts in the comments!

All photos by Nimesh & family. Follow us for more family travel stories.