3 day family holiday in Dunsborough & Yallingup

Pullman Bunker Bay

A luxurious and contemporary resort quietly tucked in the dunes of Bunker Bay, Pullman Bunker Bay looks out over a truly spectacular beach. Go out and explore or relax by the pool (there’s a bar and restaurant adjacent). Book a rejuvenating facial or massage at Vie Spa. A 2 or 3-bedroom villa with full kitchen, lounge/dining, laundry and deep bath is perfect for a family. Dine at the resort restaurant with an ocean view or order room service. Ask about the Kids Club.

Wildwood Valley Cottages

With a variety of endearing self-contained cottages on offer, Wildwood Valley Cottages is a reliable option for sure-fire family fun. Blue Wren Cottage is a timber clad cottage decked with bush poles, jarrah boards, and a wide veranda with ripper views down Wildwood Valley to the Indian Ocean. Relax and watch kangaroos lope past. Come winter you’ll find the wood fire stacked ready for your arrival and the wonderful sound of rain on the tin roof. Originally built for the owner’s young family, there’s plenty of room and it’s safe for kids to run around. A full kitchen makes it easy to self-cater, and there’s a deep bath to wash grubby kids at the end of a busy day.

Bina Maya Yallingup Escape

Located close enough to the beaches and attractions to be convenient but just far enough out that you feel away from the crowds in your own little peaceful sanctuary, Bina Maya has everything you need for a relaxing family holiday. There are bush walks on the property and a grassy lawn to stretch little legs, and a kitchen stocked with all the essentials for self-catering.

Private Properties

Private Properties has 30 holiday homes in and around Dunsborough, all family-friendly. Whether your dream stay is at the beachfront in Quindalup, suitable for pets, walking distance to town or in a rural setting, their holiday homes are perfect for multi-generational families that want to stay and play together.

Explore the glorious Cape Naturaliste today; the bays, beaches, culture and creatures. Grab coffee and breakfast in Dunsborough, or with an ocean view at ilma Beach House. Then join cultural custodian Josh Whiteland of Koomal Dreaming to learn about the deep connection the Wadandi People have to the Cape to Cape region. Learn about the flora and fauna of the landscape, and journey down into Ngilgi Cave for a very special didgeridoo performance. Bookings essential.

Take a tour of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse then stretch your legs on one of the walking trails – the path from Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock is fully paved and has stunning views.

If you fancy a drink with lunch, stop in for a meal at Wise Wine, or Meelup Farmhouse. Eagle Bay Brewing Co is another great stop for a late lunch, with plenty of kid’s food options on the menu and a fantastic playground and massive grassy lawn to run around and burn off some steam while you relax with a glass of something cold and delicious.

The beaches between Bunker Bay and Castle Rock are some of the loveliest you’ll set foot on, with pristine fine sand, crystal clear water and the most incredible shades of blue. Swim your heart out in warmer months, try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding, and watch for whales at Point Piquet in spring.

West coast sunsets are the best sunsets; pack a picnic and take the family to Sugarloaf Rock or Yallingup lookout to watch the sun sink over the Indian Ocean.

Or head to Caves House Hotel, a local institution with a dedicated kids’ menu and plenty of room to spread out. In summer, they often have live music playing, or keep an eye out for the regular events.

Breakfast in beautiful Australian bushland at Goanna Bush Café. Spicy Indo Rice has been on the menu for 10+ years and the kids love it. Stock up on Australian designed goodies as a holiday memento.

Stretch your legs at Yallingup Maze; little kids love the nature style playground and big kids have an amazing time navigating the wooden maze, plus they have added a fantastic new mini golf course. If it’s bucketing down, stay inside and enjoy their huge assortment of games and puzzles.

Or for another kind of active adventure that kids (and adults) will love, check out Next Level Monkey Business. Located conveniently between Dunsborough and Yallingup, this high ropes and zipline course is just the right kind of challenging and will push your limits of balance and coordination while having a ton of fun. There’s a course for little monkeys of all ages and abilities, and the 100-metre-long Mega Zipline over the lake will definitely provide an adrenaline rush!

Dine at one of the region’s prettiest wineries, Aravina Estate. From the abundance of hydrangeas lining the entrance to the awesome surf gallery, Aravina has so much to offer. Choose your favourite wine during a tasting, then sit on the Hamptons-esque deck overlooking the vineyard. Feast on delicacies like Blue Manna crab or octopus, superb Margaret River lamb, but be sure to leave room for dessert! Kids will love the enormous, fully fenced playground.

Choose between an afternoon snooze (you might need it!) or perusing local galleries. Western Australian fine art is well represented by Yallingup Galleries, Yallingup Aboriginal Art, and John Miller Design. Look out for artist Ian Mutch’s work at Yallingup Galleries and on many local walls, including outside the Dunsborough Tavern and Dunsborough Hall.

Blue Manna Bistro in Dunsborough opened its doors in early 2018 and does a roaring trade, showcasing superb seafood with Asian flavours. Dig into prawn-stuffed chicken wings, Singapore chilli crab or Balinese Duck. Neighbours Lady Lola and Yarri are excellent choices as well.

For less sophisticated palates you can’t go wrong with the classic fish and chips at the beach. Pick up dinner from Squid Lips and head down to the foreshore to enjoy the last light of the day.

Hire a bike from the Bike Shed and take to the mountain bike trails around the Dunsborough and Districts Country Club. There are kilometres of trails to explore for all different abilities, and you will get a great workout at the same time as having heaps of fun.

Or explore our beautiful region from a different angle entirely and book a family-friendly boat tour with Oceania Experiences. On the 2-hour tour from Dunsborough to iconic Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, expert guides will take you on a journey through vibrant marine environments, where you’ll have the chance to spot seals, dolphins, whales (seasonal), and a variety of seabirds. You’ll visit picturesque locations such as Castle Rock, Meelup Beach, and Eagle Bay, and discover secluded beaches and hidden caves that are only accessible by water.

Wild Hop Brewing Company is a popular Yallingup watering hole. We love the huge mural art adorning the walls, the awesome playground and superb outlook. Choose from an excellent array of craft beer, guest taps and cider.  Quality brewery food includes Brewers Buns (burgers), plenty of snacks, main plates and our favourite – beer battered pickles.

If it’s time to escape the cold or just a bit of downtime, book in for a pottery workshop at Happs Pottery & Icon Honey. Passionate potters will guide the whole family on the finer details of throwing a bowl, mug or plate and provide you with an abundance of clay. As hands are busy shaping clay, there is time for conversation, laughter and connection.

Finally, go back in time – roughly 500,000 to 1 million years – at Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience. Explore the pathway winding through native bushland, where a series of interactive installations bring the creation of this remarkable place to life, then head deep below ground into the ancient cave. This is a truly superb cave for families; it’s adventurous, you’re often ducking your head, there’s a crawl tunnel kids will want to do multiple times, and there’s the breathtaking science and timeline. The cave itself formed about a million years ago; the calcite crystal formations around 500,000 years ago.

If you crave a delicious dinner with plenty of space for the kids to run off some steam, Occy’s, Bailey Brewing Co, and Southcamp are three excellent family-friendly options.