'This small Aussie town is heaven on earth for families.'

I'm the parent of two toddlers, and my travel word for 2025 is "doable".

I know what you're thinking: "doable" is not the type of thing you see in glossy travel magazines. "Doable" doesn't book out five-star hotels. "Doable" is not a concept that drives highly-filtered Instagram Reels.

All things considered, "doable" is not a particularly sexy goal. If I were footloose and fancy-free, I might choose another, more exciting word to direct my travel for next year.

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But I am not footloose and fancy-free. My feet are firmly tied, and my fancies are very expensive, which is another way to say that I am a mother.

So my idea of a good time is dictated by a highly opinionated three-year-old (can speak, will tell you exactly what you've done wrong) and one-year-old (cannot speak, will still tell you exactly what you've done wrong).

I am a mother, and so the things I look for on a holiday are a little less "thriving nightlife" and a little more "will the sleeping arrangements ruin my night and life?"

I am a mother, and at this point in my life, "doable" feels like the best we can do.

If you, too, are a disciple of the "doable" family holiday, then allow me to tell you about one of my favourite places in NSW, site of one of the most "doable" mini-breaks we've done to date: Kangaroo Valley.

How to get to Kangaroo Valley?

The first rule of a "doable" family holiday is that you must say "that seems doable!" at every opportunity (trust me, it's fun). The second rule of a "doable" family holiday is that it must be less than a three-hour drive from my home. I'm sorry! I know there are many wonderful places more than 250kms from Sydney. I just don't want to take my children to any of them, because at the three-hour mark, everyone completely loses their bananas.

Kangaroo Valley is a charming two-and-a-half hours in the car from Sydney CBD. My children slept most of the drive. Go on, say it with me: that seems doable!

Things to do in Kangaroo Valley.

When I told my three-year-old we were headed to Kangaroo Valley for the weekend, he asked some very reasonable questions: Will we see kangaroos? How many kangaroos will we see? When will we see the kangaroos?

I'm pleased to confirm that the answers were "yes", "millions", and "literally as soon as we drove into the valley".

The Kangaroo in Kangaroo Valley is not a misnomer. If you have nature-obsessed kids, or you're travelling with anyone from overseas, or perhaps you, too, are a 31-year-old woman who squeals when she sees a kangaroo, you can't go past the guaranteed opportunity to see kangaroos (and wombats, echidnas, lizards and birds) right outside your door. My kids were mesmerised and, okay, full disclosure, so was I.

What to eat in Kangaroo Valley?

It's rare to hit upon a destination that feels remote but still serves good coffee. If that makes me sound like a snob, I absolutely don't care: part of a "doable" family trip involves a mum who can function in the mornings, and part of how a mum can function in the mornings is a large cappuccino. So sue me!

Coffee at Kangaroo Valley Coffee Co is conveniently situated next to The Hive, where I may or may not have bought a number of clothing items for myself (as part of the holiday budget, you understand). They also have quoits, a giant Connect Four set and chalk for kids to draw on the pavers, making our visit there one of my most peaceful coffees in many months.

Getting a coffee from the Kangaroo Valley Coffee Co. is a must! Image: Supplied.

For larger meals, we had an incredible breakfast at The General Café. The house-made scones were a standout, which is to say that my children ate them all, and I barely got to try them. That's showbiz, baby! Lunch at the beer garden (complete with kids' playground) at The Friendly Inn was also a hit, and we headed a little further afield to wine taste at Silos Estate in Berry too.

With all of that said, nothing beats a glass of wine at sunset as you watch the kangaroos. Guys, I know I'm playing it pretty cool, but I really did like the kangaroos.

Where to stay in Kangaroo Valley?

I've been lucky enough to visit Kangaroo Valley a few times, and the good news is that it's honestly tough to find bad accommodation. It's such a beautiful part of the world that you don't need anything fancy to enjoy it, although there's plenty of luxury to go around if that's more your vibe. When I'm looking for places to stay with kids, my priorities are flat outdoor space (for children and/or kangaroos) and rooms big enough to comfortably configure two travel cots. A pool is a great bonus in summer, and I am a huge sucker for an outdoor firepit in winter.

Never had bad accommodation in Kangaroo Valley! Image: Supplied.

For all of the above — and just about every other creature comfort you can possibly think of — I can't recommend Saddle Ridge more highly. Next on my list to try (you best believe we're going back) is somewhere with farm animals onsite like Barranca.

What to pack before going to Kangaroo Valley?

Fair warning: when it's hot in Kangaroo Valley, it is very hot. When it's cold, it is very cold. When it rains - I think you know where I'm going with this - it is very wet. Because travelling with kids is essentially like travelling with a small circus, most parents are broadly prepared for all weather events anyway, but gumboots, spare socks, insect repellent and a robust sunhat will never go astray.

Seems pretty doable, am I right? 

Want to learn more tips when travelling with kids? Read these stories next:

• 'I just took my 3 kids to Japan. Here's what I wish I knew before we left.'

• 'I travel on the reg with little kids. Here are 12 things I always pack to make life easier.'

• From packing cubes to unlimited screen time: 15 genius hacks for travelling with kids.

Feature image: Supplied.