5 Family Reunion Ideas for After Lockdown
Who needs a big old dose of family time?!
Families across Australia and the globe have spent the better part of 2 years in a situation where family reunions have been largely restricted which means getting the family together again is on the priority list for most extended families. The effects of the states’ lockdowns will be felt for many months to come, financially, emotionally, socially and mentally. But planning the long-awaited family reunion is a great way to get everyone excited and hopeful for the future time spent together.
Families have been unable to visit each other or share milestones such as birthdays, weddings, and other special celebrations. These restrictions forced many people to discover new and creative ways of spending time with their families inside the safety of their homes. Or using other means of communication such as using video conferencing apps like Zoom and other social media platforms.
One thing’s for sure, getting the family together again in person is at the top of the priority list for many families.
With borders starting to reopen and venues and activities open for business again, now is the perfect time to start planning the long-awaited family reunion. This article will look at locations that could offer a fantastic setting for your family reunion.
Reconnect with Family
After all the facetime and zoom calls, it is clear that nothing quite replaces face to face. Celebrating missed milestones like births, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays will see an emotional reconnection between family members. With many Australian families in a similar situation, you’ll want to consider planning your family reunion well in advance to secure accommodation, travel dates, etc.
When considering how to plan a family reunion that will meet the needs of the whole family, there are many options to choose from. Depending on your family’s size, where you all live, the budget, and the preferences of the majority, these are some factors that will determine what kind of reunion is the best for your family.
You can hire a venue to hold a camping holiday for the entire extended family. Similarly, a brief trip to the beach or a quiet stroll in any of Australia’s amazing national parks can also be an excellent opportunity to reconnect with your family.
Australian Family Reunion Ideas for After Lockdown
Whether you want to have an adventurous reunion in the great barrier reef or want to relax by renting a few private cottages in a remote mountain area, it will undoubtedly be a great time to catch up with your family with the main priority being quality time with your family. Here are five family reunion ideas for after lockdown:
1. Great Barrier Reef Family Reunion
After a change of scenery? Escape to the Great Barrier Reef! Domestic flights are starting to reopen to other states, and this incredible location is a fantastic setting for a family reunion.
It is a popular destination with over two million tourists each year prior to the pandemic. And now, with reduced international tourists, it could be a great time to explore the reef with your family and less crowds! In addition, swimmers and non-swimmers in your family can enjoy the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef from vast reef platforms.
The Great Barrier Reef consists of around 2900 different reefs. It also contains over 900 islands spread out over 2,300 kilometres along Australia’s north-eastern coast.
Your family can visit the Reef Fleet Terminal, which is the departure point for trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Every day, high-speed catamarans depart from Cairns Reef Fleet dock for visits to the Great Barrier Reef.
If you are planning a smaller get-together, then organising a trip interstate to the great barrier reef could be an epic way to celebrate being together as a family again.
2. Hire a Venue to Host a Camping Holiday
If you have a larger family and are trying to organise a big group to come together, consider hosting a family reunion closer to home to ease the burden of trying to coordinate it all!
Australia is an excellent camping and adventure destination right in your backdoor, whatever state you live in. You can hire a venue to host a reunion and camping holiday for the whole extended family after the lockdown. By hiring a whole venue, you will have the privacy and flexibility to host the holiday in whatever form suits your family best.
Especially in Victoria, chances are that these venues have been unable to operate at capacity or at all for the duration of the restrictions. Therefore, they might have some great deals to encourage people to book with them. With the summer months around the corner, the type of large group accommodation Victorians opt for vary hugely depending on preference from coastal beach mansions that you can rent out, to secluded mountain retreats with space for the entire extended family, there is a lot of variety on offer not too far from home.
There are unique venues within an hour’s drive of most capital cities. In most of the states, by hiring a venue that is not far from the capital city that you live near, you may be able to host this family holiday sooner without having to wait for all the state’s borders to be open.
3. The Classic Beach Get Together
Beach family reunions are a nostalgic and memorable way to bring your complete family together within one location, especially as we are heading into the warmer summer months. The beach provides a tranquil setting that will make your reunion enjoyable for all ages with activities to do for kids and adults alike.
With the main focus being spending time together, consider bringing all the necessary equipment to ensure a comfortable day at the beach. A way to provide shade such as a tent or pergola, plenty of food and water, and sunscreen! Depending on where you live, remind the troops to bring warm clothing to make sure everyone is comfortable and can stay for a longer time.
Some family members may want to go surfing, others may just want to lounge around and graze in good company, whilst the kids probably want to run around. A beach setting provides the opportunity for all these needs to be met in one, free location.
4. Explore the Vineyards and Olive Groves for a Tasty Holiday Retreat
If your family is predominantly adult, a local vineyard could be a fantastic way to bring the family of grownups together. Good food, good company, what’s more to ask for?
Many vineyards offer wide open spaces with stunning backdrops for those family photos. Eating, talking and catching up will definitely be therapeutic for the adults in the family, but may rather be boring for the kids. Therefore, this suggestion may not be ideal for families with kids.
Select a region to explore, book some accommodation in a township nearby, explore the vineyards, and paddock to plate produce the region has to offer!
5. Farm Stay Family Reunion
If you are looking to experience a lifestyle that isn’t your normal, consider hiring a farm stay location for your family reunion. Spend your next family reunion in one of your state’s farm stays with wide-open areas, surrounded by the great outdoors. Get a taste of the fresh air, rustic ambiance, and locally grown produce. Forget about the stressful environment and enjoy the simpler life of briefly living on a farm.
Many farm stays offer small to medium-sized group accommodation with the added benefit of experiencing what it is like to care for the livestock with the supervision and guidance of welcoming hosts. This could be a great idea for families with kids of varying ages, to keep them occupied whilst also learning valuable skills about the environment and the food they consume.
Conclusion
There are so many options when planning your long-awaited family reunion. Consider the timing of the reunion with relatives from different states, the activities that are available at the chosen location for the ages that will be attending, and the season for which you will be meeting.
The bottom line is that it is an opportunity for families to be reunited, to spend quality time together, wherever you plan to host your family holiday post lockdown!
