If being in the centre of the city isn’t important for your family then head to the luxurious Maryborough Hotel and Spa in Douglas, located about ten minutes outside the city centre.
Family rooms easily accommodate two adults and two children up to the age of 12 years when they are sharing a double sofa bed. For larger families, interconnecting family rooms are available.
The kids wouldn’t even notice but I just love the character of the 300-year-old Maryborough Hotel. One thing they will notice however is the on-site petting farm in the outdoor play area complete with bunnies, ducks and chickens. Just be warned they are so cute, you’re bound to get nagged to bring one home. When they’ve finished cooing over the animals, Mum and Dad can relax in the tranquil Zen garden while the kids play badminton, boules, croquet or tackle the nine hole Crazy Golf course, weather permitting.
If rain does halt play then there’s plenty for the kids to do inside too. There is a super indoor play area too which has plenty of supervised activities in the school holidays like games, art and movie nights.
The hotel may be hundreds of years old but it has a state-of-the-art eighteen-metre swimming pool and leisure centre. I particularly loved the plunge pool and promptly decided that I would be buying one for my own house with my lotto win. If you have some spare time and can take turns looking after the kids, I would definitely recommend checking out the signature facial in the ESPA spa followed by a hydrotherapy bath. There really is no better way to fully relax and unwind.
When it’s time to feed the troops, Maryborough Hotel offers a choice of the more expensive 2 AA Rosette Bellini’s Restaurant or for a more chilled out dining experience bring the kids along to Bellini’s Bar. Just be careful that they haven’t gobbled up all the welcome chocolates and biscuits in the room or they’ll have no appetite for the kids menu.