Where better to take your kids on holiday than a place called the Sunshine Coast? With its laid-back charm and old-fashioned values, East London is the ideal holiday destination for the whole family.

Situated on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, this little piece of heaven is renowned for its unpolluted, pristine beaches, and with mild weather and a warm ocean - you might never want to leave. Orient Beach is right next to the Esplanade and perfect if you want to pop into a restaurant for a bite to eat. The most popular beach is Nahoon Beach, a 25-minute drive from the East London Airport, you’ll arrive before the kids have a chance to ask you, “Are we there yet?” Ten minutes further on is Gonubie Beach, a gem on the coastline, and a perfect spot where the whole family can relax.

When you’ve had enough sun, bundle your kids into your hired car and head to the aquarium. Said to have one of the most entertaining seal shows in the world – it’s bound to keep your kids busy. They can partake in the daily fish and penguin feeding sessions or walk around and visit the shark tank and the hundreds of different marine and freshwater animals on display. The highlight of your visit will be the wooden boardwalk that hovers above the ocean. It’s the perfect place to see the migrating whales that enter the bay and it’s an experience your kids will not forget.

Want to get up close and personal with a lion? The Lion Park is 10km outside of East London and is a fantastic outing for young and old. Including white lions, there are Bengal Tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, crocodiles, white camels, zebras and flocks of birds. There is a touch farm, so take along some carrots so the kids can feed the animals. With trampolines, climbing walls and jungle gyms you can spend an entire day at the park. Pack a picnic basket and eat an arm’s-length away from an African predator.