Destination: Australia

Itinerary: Childish Delights

There's a plethora of man-made and natural Australian sights and activities to capture the attention of the shrillest, most discerning child.

For irresistible, top-of-the-Richter-scale distractions, head for Queensland's Gold Coast and the feisty rides of several big-budget theme parks. There's more stage-managed fun at period places like the pioneer settlement of Swan Hill, with seats up for grabs on a paddle steamer, vintage cars and horse-drawn wagons. Kids enjoy the larger-than-life cheesiness of the country's 'big' things, like Nambour's Big Pineapple, Ballina's Big Prawn and the Big Rocking Horse in the Adelaide Hills.

With its conspicuous natural assets, Australia is a great place to sit and watch wildlife go by, such as when southern right whales spout their way past King George Sound near Albany between July and October.

A refreshing ocean dip must be near the top of everyone's outdoor activities list, with beaches such as those at Merimbula, in NSW, that are perfect for the occasion. And the West Coast Wilderness Railway is an unforgettable ride across some of west-coast Tasmania's most exhilarating terrain, between Queenstown and Strahan.