Traditionally Australia didn't observe the American and European celebration of Halloween since it signals the end of summer and beginning of harvest time. The original pagan holiday of Samhain is actually a Celtic observance honouring the dead and the start of the new year. In recent years, since Australia has embraced the holiday and it occurs at the start of the summer season, it actually provides a great reason to travel. Here are some travel ideas for those who enjoy the spooky season.

Visit Reputed Haunted Locations

While the kids enjoying dressing up and wandering the neighbourhood to gather lollies, there can be a better way to enjoy the evening. If you're planning on travelling before the summer months begin, pick a reputed haunted location to visit instead of a traditional beach holiday.

Take a look around for open locations such as ghost walks in Melbourne, or historical homes in Victoria that open on Halloween night. You not only get a great tour of a historical home or museum, you just might catch a glimpse of a spirit or two. Oftentimes, these tours are Halloween themed and offer games and lollies for the kids; some offer prizes if you and your family attend in costume.

Explore Historic Cemeteries or Homesteads

It might seem a bit macabre, but it can be exciting and interesting to visit a historic cemetery on Halloween. In fact, in Queensland you can visit a long ago closed prison and explore its onsite cemetery and hear tales of spirits wandering the long abandoned facility. It's the perfect Halloween trip, especially if you enjoy learning about Australia's past and planned on visiting Queensland during the Halloween season.

A popular Halloween treat for the family in America is a visit to a farm or homestead and wander through corn mazes. You can take your family on a similar visit to open working or historical homesteads and learn more about the early settlers of Australia, and maybe hear ghost stories too.

Tour a Closed Lunatic Asylum

Along similar lines to the prison visit, you can take part in a tour of a closed lunatic asylum or institution; during October, many of these tours are Halloween themed.  You might also find tours through long closed hospitals or even abandoned hotels.  If you want to take the kids along, there typically are daytime tours through many of these institutions where the tour focuses more on historical aspects of the location.

Hotel Parties

If you prefer a more family oriented Halloween celebration, then check if your hotel is having a Halloween party. There is a growing trend for restaurants and nightclubs to have parties for adults and children alike where everyone can get dressed up and have some fun. You could also design your own treasure hunt or scavenger hunt and have the kids looking for lollies. You could also use it as a way to discover interesting locations and discover out-of-the-way places tourists might miss otherwise. Contact your accommodation, such as Gunnedah Lodge Motel, before you arrive to find out what Halloween-themed activities they will be having.