The very best of Maui for families

It has a reputation for being Hawaii’s romantic island but there are plenty of reasons families will love Maui too.

There are gentle beaches great for snorkelling, bustling farmers’ markets where you can introduce kids to Hawaiian flavours, and plenty of places to grab an easy bite to eat. So, book your flights and hire a car to hit the highways of Maui.

Where to stay on Maui

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

If you love all the bells and whistles, you can’t go past Hyatt Regency Maui in Lahaina. This luxury hotel has been newly renovated and ticks all the boxes across its 16 hectares of ocean frontage. There’s a fabulous kids’ pool with a toddler and tube waterslide, a waterfall and a fun grotto (and adults’ bar) to swim to (plus other pools).

Multiple restaurants ensure you don’t need to leave the hotel; for a special meal, reserve a table at Asian-Hawaiian restaurant Japengo for dishes such as coconut and lemongrass mahi mahi.

The hotel also runs numerous daily activities, such as a penguin-feeding show, wildlife walk and ukulele, hula and coconut-weaving lessons. There are even lessons on how to swim like a mermaid, complete with costume tails.

For adults, there’s a full gym and regular yoga classes, while an on-site lu’au is a fun way to learn about Hawaii’s Polynesian heritage.

Coconut and Lemongrass Mahii mahi, Japengo Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Maui, Hawaii, USA — Try the coconut and lemongrass mahi mahi. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Aston Kaanapali Shores

If you’d rather stay somewhere more low-key, Aston Kaanapali Shores is a three-star apartment hotel, which means you have the benefits of a hotel (with check-in, activities desk and shops) and a private apartment. This is a great mid-range option for families who want to spend a few nights cooking for themselves and perhaps want to do a load of washing as well.

The two-bedroom suites are dressed in charming old-school Hawaiian decor and are perfect for parents with small children who need to go to bed earlier than the rest of the family. Book an ocean-view room so you can watch the sun rise and set over the main pool area and beach beyond.

Children at the Aston Kaanapali Shores Main Pool, Maui, Hawaii, USA — Kids will love taking a dip in the main pool. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Beaches of Maui

Ka’anapali Beach

The most famous beach on Maui is Ka’anapali, a 4.8-kilometre stretch in the heart of the West Coast’s tourist strip. Hyatt Regency Maui is on a narrow section of this beach, while further north, near Black Rock, families have plenty of space to spread out. Black Rock is also famous for cliff jumping and snorkelling but there can be strong currents.

Room view, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Maui, Hawaii, USA — Hyatt Regency Maui is on a narrow section of the Ka’anapali Beach. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Honolua Bay

Further up the West Coast is Honolua Bay, a hugely popular spot for snorkelling. A lot of people take boat tours here, but more independent travellers will prefer to park alongside the road and walk through an ethereal patch of tropical forest to the rocky bay.

You won’t find sand here but there is plenty of space to spread out next to an old boat ramp. The only reason you come here is to snorkel, and because of sea urchins, you’ll need flippers or booties (or both). This beach is best suited to families with primary-aged children or teenagers. Keep your eyes out for the green sea turtles while snorkelling.

Aerial shot, Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii — Honolua Bay is a rather special snorkelling spot.

Baby Beach, North Shore

If you’re keen to spend a morning somewhere gentle and suitable for toddlers, Baby Beach on the North Shore is a fabulous spot. It’s easy to reach off Hana Highway, and there’s a shallow rock-pool area that’s perfect for splashing about in. You’ll also be surrounded by plenty of local families. Take a picnic or head into the nearby town of Pa’ia for lunch – and a cup of shave ice (like a slushie).

Baby Beach, Maui North Shore, Hawaii, USA — Baby Beach on the North Shore is a fabulous spot. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Maui attractions

Haleakala volcano

One of the most popular attractions on Maui is Haleakala Crater, a dormant volcano in a region known as Upcountry. A lot of people wake early so they can reach the viewing area by sunrise and if you’re keen to do so you’ll need a reservation with the National Park Service.

It takes around an hour to reach the summit from Pa’ia, so sunrise can be out of reach of families with small children. If that’s the case, visit at sunset. You won’t need a reservation and if you pack a picnic dinner (to eat in the car on the way up or down) then the kids will stay happy.

There is a vehicle entry fee (US$30) and be sure to heed all advice to dress warmly. It’s hard to imagine you’ll need jackets and beanies in Maui but it gets very cold at the summit, especially for kids.

Sunset, Haleakala Crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA — One of the most popular attractions on Maui is Haleakala Crater. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

Upcountry Farmers’ Market

If you love mixing with locals while travelling, the Upcountry Farmers’ Market on Saturdays in Pukalani is a great place to do so. Not only will it give you insight into Maui’s rich agricultural industry, but it’s a fun spot to spend a morning trying all sorts of coconut, mango and liliko’i (passionfruit) treats, as well as tacos and kombucha. It gets busy so arrive early and carry cash.

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Eating on Maui

Café des Amis

In the heart of Pa’ia, is the wonderful and always bustling Café des Amis. This is a local institution and you’ll find a stream of diners of all ages enjoying a meal here.

Kids will love the giant sweet and savoury pancakes, with flavour combinations such as pork and pineapple, ham and cheese, and strawberries and cream.

There are also Indian curries and salads, all of which are enjoyed in a fun, family-friendly courtyard. They don’t take reservations, so turn up around 6pm. Afterwards, grab a gelato from the attached bar.

Pa’ia beach, Maui, Hawaii, USA — Find the wonderful Café des Amis in the heart of Pa’ia.

Tobi’s Shave Ice & Poke

When you need something quick and easy, call into Tobi’s Shave Ice & Poke takeaway shop. It’s also in Pa’ia and is an easy spot for a meal pre- or post-beach swim.

Poke is diced raw fish and at Tobi’s it’s served on salad and/or with rice. Shave ice is similar to a slushie but not as wet; it’s doused in syrup and can include ice-cream. You can also order acai bowls and hot dogs.

Poke bowl, Maui, Hawaii, USA — “Poke" is diced raw fish usually served on a salad or with rice.

Umalu

Back on the West Coast, Umalu offers families a tasty mix of calamari, pizza and salads beside one of the pools at Hyatt Regency Maui.

The relaxed setting and friendly waitstaff make this a top dining choice for families in search of American-style cuisine with an island influence, such as spicy ahi poke nachos. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and evening reservations are recommended.

Umalu restaurant food, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Maui, Hawaii, USA — Umalu is a top dining choice for families in search of American-style cuisine. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

The writer travelled with assistance from Hawaii Tourism Oceania.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.