where should I take my 5 and 7 year old kids on our upcoming trip to Australia ?

Wow, what an open canvas.

It really depends on where you are headed. If you're travelling in April, I'll assume you have your destination and itinerary somewhat sorted. I’ll comment based on my own experiences while I lived there with my family and two young sons for 4 years.

We decided not to do the ‘World’ thing while we were there. If you’re coming from the States, you’ll discover about the same thing as the Disney, Sea World, and Wet-n-Wild parks. Why Fly for a full day to get the same old commercial theme parks? These parks are great for Aussies (why would they want to fly a day to the US to get the stuff that is available to them in Southern Queensland, right?).

If you’re in the Brisbane region I highly recommend the Science Centre for you and the kids. I went there on a (rare) rainy day, and it ended up being one of our holiday highlights. It was a completely engaging place for all ages. And the centre assistants/employees were perfect – challenging us adults and the kids to figure out the puzzles etc – giving tips just before we were about to give up. We spent the whole day there.

Also near Brisbane is the Australia Zoo (yes, Mr. Over the Top, Steve Irwin’s place). When we arrived in 2002, most Aussies seemed to be embarrassed by his ‘not so quiet achiever’ ways. But the place is excellent, clean, well presented, and you have to love the way Mr. Irwin treats his animals, his employees, and his quests. The food and gifts were not overly priced and it was also a surprisingly entertaining day. Most Aussie's I know who have gone there, quietly admit they enjoyed it as well.

If you’re headed to Sydney, there are options galore. Beaches and mountains. If you have access to a car, I recommend nearby Jervis Bay and Murray's Beach, but there are many very nice beaches closer to the city (avoid Bondi unless you want to go there for bragging rights – you can get everything else close by for less money – only Bondi charges – and less stress). Manly, to the north and Cronulla and Kurnel to the south are nice options (assuming things have calmed in Cronulla, which I believe they have). There's a very good spot near a park and playground in Cronulla a bit past the train station (beach, picnic & play). The water should still be warm-ish in April.

In/near Sydney, there’s also the Blue Mountains and Royal National Park for walks and views. Both excellent.

Mellbourne’s very nice as well. Frankston is a good place for the kids. It’s a smaller coastal town with friendly restaurants and a calm beach. With kids your age, you'll want calmer beaches in inlets etc. Ocean beaches may be a bit dangerous for the kids to go in alone.

I’ve never been to Adelaid, Perth, Allice Springs/Ularu, or Darwin; but I really don’t think you can go wrong with a holiday to Australia – there’s plenty to do everywhere. We even found some cool stuff in Canberra – but I doubt you’ll have time for a trip there.

Our secret spot was an annual camping trip to Smuggler’s Cove in Forster. Quiet, beautiful near a mile long beach with a sand dune large enough to ‘sled’ down (on cardboard if you have any).

Enjoy your trip.

Have them do slightly issues that would easily help you to boot, yet turn it right into a recreation; manage or sparkling out the refrigerator windex the television reflects or homestead windows in the homestead fold the laundry recreation (tournament up socks, etc) what percentage lines are you able to create in the carpet with the vacuum cleanser who can airborne dirt and mud one room in less than 3 min etc etc...those are all "chore" video games more beneficial or a lot less. Now, as for issues such as what you listed: putting puzzles jointly unscrambling words play a recreation of your brothers determination with them write a tale with all of you because the characters and so etc.

it starts to get cool by that time of the year and i suggest the goldcoast in queensland is your best bet, dreamworld, movie world, sea world and wet n'wild are very, very popular with kids. You can get a three park pass which is more economical.