Okay so normally we head over to the Gold Coast but wanted to go somewhere different. To show our kids the country. I was thinking Manly Beach for a few reasons. I like some kind of control and i know the area well enough. Also its good with public transport via ferry to things of interest.
Zoo, aquarium, Darling harbour that type of thing. ALso thinking ill sneak in a board or maybe hire (not sure yet) so days on the beach sounds like fun. Down time just cruising around the mall eating ice-cream and maybe a few day trips in hire cars to a few other spots. Palm beach, southern beaches..
But struggling with booking companies, finding good spots to stay that stuff.
Looking for a two adults and two kids (12 and 9). Using frequent fliers so can travel anywhere really in Australia.
Mid April too, so school holidays. 
Would really like self accommodation to be able to cook sometimes...
Please any suggestions that i might reconsider.
Sunshine coast? Maybe?
Im lost and have no bloody idea
I reckon you are on a winner with Manly. Sydney has heaps to keep the kids entertained and even in darling harbour your going to find eating and drinking cheap compared to Perth. I freakin love the Sydney fish market too.
Select to expand quoteMackerel said..
I freakin love the Sydney fish market too.
I reckon you must love flirting with danger Mackerel -- hanging around a fish market has gotta be bad for YOUR health I reckon.....
Thinking the Novotel but it really doesn't have the family set up..More just rooms with little cooking facilities..
Any thoughts on Board hire? My kids surf too so they will want to have a play as well? 
Select to expand quotepatsken said..Mackerel said..
I freakin love the Sydney fish market too.
I reckon you must love flirting with danger Mackerel -- hanging around a fish market has gotta be bad for YOUR health I reckon.....
Ha ah yes mate your probably right!
But in all honesty I thought that place was awesome, ate some much seafood I thought I would burst!
Funny seeing Western Rock Lobster cheaper there than here though....
I s this the type of thing you mean by family?... http://www.bbhp.com.au/ its a holiday camp with cabins.
This is 15Km north of Newcstle. Newcastle has inter-city electric trains take and hour to two hours to Sydney Central station.
That area around Newcastle has a large number of these. Depends where and if you bring your car accross.
I travel a lot and find Meriton and Quest to be the consistently, clean and modern apartments.
Quest have a place at Manly
www.questapartments.com.au/properties/nsw/manly/quest-manly/overview
Meriton have Bondi as a beach location in Sydney
www.meritonapartments.com.au/sydney
Meriton tend to be exceptionally good with their rates but not sure how Bondi fits with your plans.
Manly is a great family friendly beach unlike Bondi where you have to be one of the beautiful peole to fit in. Also the surf is not that special at Bondi, Manly has a lot more with lots of places to hire a board for all surf levels. Accommodation is plentiful in Manly and the prices are not that bad. Plus I like the ferry trip over watching the bridge and opera house from the water as well as all the activities going happening in the harbour.
If you're going to Manly beach you might as well go to NZ
NSW South coast or Mid North coast is heaps better.
Select to expand quoteStuthepirate said..
If you're going to Manly beach you might as well go to NZ
NSW South coast or Mid North coast is heaps better.
I don't disagree with you there but he is flying over from WA, South coast and Rivers/North coast are beautiful but absolutely painful to fly to
back packers have some great facilities these days. check them out. Cronulla has a good one. family friendly as well.
The sunny coast is beautiful. Nice waves and still warm that time of year. Noosa could be pumping. You really want a car boat and boards though. Outside of the beach, surf etc there is not much in the way if theme parks.
Thanks Brewman ill look into those ones. Sydney i like because its got a lot of Australian History for the kids.
Finding it hard to get people to email back with quotes and find it frustration trying to spend money in this country. 
NZ other than snow doesn't really hold my interest but the Sunshine Coast looks nice. We've done the Gold coast often and loved, looking for something similar, so this is more a family vacation than my surfing requirements.
Having said that the boss and kids are back harping on about Hawaii.
Of beat but for April would that be suitable
I can never decide and so just always end up doing nothing..
