So many adventures! KID-APPROVED HOLIDAYS

Planning your next big break? Consider this your ultimate month-by-month guide to family-friendly destinations

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JANUARY

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

WHY NOW? Find family-friendly fun in a city abuzz with the Australian Tennis Open.

Known as the “happy slam” for good reason, the Australian Open (AO) has zoned in on families, offering an unbelievable experience for kids that is far from just watching tennis balls fly back and forth. The AO Ballpark on the north bank of the Yarra River, between Federation Square and the courts at Melbourne Park, is a hotspot for youngsters, with a splash zone, zipline, obstacle course, tennis playground and much more - it's literally all fun and games in the sun. Other family drawcards include unlimited rides in the CBD's free tram zone or taking a tram to St Kilda, home of the 1912-built Luna Park. This oldstyle amusement park kicks off with creepy Mr Moon's gaping mouth swallowing you up as you enter, and its heritage-listed wooden rollercoaster is the oldest of its kind in the world.

FEBRUARY

YELLOWKNIFE, CANADA

WHY NOW? The best of times for aurora-watching.

With little light pollution, Yellowknife has been dubbed the “aurora capital of North America” - and it's a top spot to introduce your family to the spectacular Northern Lights, which can be seen here 240 nights of the year. On the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about 400km south of the Arctic Circle, the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories was named after the “Yellowknife Indians”, known today as the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Book ahead for an evening tour at Indigenousowned Aurora Village, and hang out in teepees with a wood stove, games and hot drinks while waiting for the aurora to appear. If your family is up for more action during the day, consider a dog-sledding adventure.