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.

Serenity Holiday Properties

Choose from over a dozen self-contained holiday homes on Serenity Holiday Properties’ books, from cosy bush cottages to spacious homes with valley or beach views. The Farmhouse in Yallingup is one of the original farmhouses in the region, and it’s just the place for serious rest and relaxation. There’s plenty of space for the whole family to stretch out – pull up a chair on the veranda and watch kangaroos feeding on the lawn, or warm up in front of a roaring fire with a bottle of Cab Sauv.

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.

Explore the glorious Cape Naturaliste today; her bays, beaches, culture and creatures. Grab coffees and breakfast in Dunsborough, or with an ocean view at Bunkers Beach House.

Join cultural custodian Josh Whiteland of Cape Cultural Tours to learn about the deep connection the Wadandi people have to the Cape to Cape region. Drink in amazing views and learn about the flora and fauna of the seasonal landscape on an easy walk. Hold handmade artefacts and hear an incredible didgeridoo music session in the meeting place. He also lights a fire by the traditional way by rubbing sticks – something every youngster wants to see!

Take a tour of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse then have a delicious toastie at the Lighthouse Keeper’s Café. If you fancy a drink with lunch, stop in for a meal at Wise Wine, Eagle Bay Brewing Co or Meelup Farmhouse.

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. See 10 Ways to Rediscover Dunsborough and Yallingup for the low-down on how to enjoy them, but essentially, swim your heart out in warmer months, try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding, and watch for whales at Point Piquet in spring.

Splash out and see the coast by air with a Scenic Helicopters tour, getting a bird’s eye view and awesome photo opportunities above Meelup, Cape Naturaliste and the cliffs.

West Aussie sunsets are the best; take the family to Sugarloaf Rock or Yallingup lookout to watch the sun sink over the Indian Ocean.

Indulge in some of the region’s finest food at Yarri. Foodies, ask to sit at the bar overlooking the kitchen for a view of all the exciting goings-on.

Breakfast in beautiful Australian bushland at Goanna Gallery + Café. Spicy Indo Rice has been on the menu for 10+ years and even 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. In inclement weather, stay inside and enjoy their huge assortment of games and puzzles. Quality coffee and hot drinks, too, plus their licensed if the mood strikes for a late-morning brew.

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 tonne 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 and vintage car collection, 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 local marron or octopus, superb Margaret River venison or pork, 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, Gunyulgup Galleries, The Studio Gallery + Bistro, John Miller and Christian Fletcher Gallery. Look out for young artist Ian Mutch’s work at Yallingup Galleries and on many local walls; 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.

No trip to Yallingup is complete without a visit to The Aquarium or Injidup Natural Spa. Start early so you can enjoy these spots in peace; Instagram has made these natural rock pools popular. Pack a snorkel and be prepared for a 10-15-minute walk to The Aquarium and a bit of rock hopping to reach Injidup Natural Spa.

Adventurous souls will love Margaret River Adventure Company’s coasteering tours where you leap off rocks into the ocean. Alternatively, jump aboard Jet Adventures’ Exhilarator boat for a white-knuckle ride.

Wild Hop Brewing Company is Yallingup’s newest watering hole, just opened in March 2019. 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.

Blind Corner finally opened their Quindalup cellar door this summer after producing superb organic wine for years. Head for a post-lunch tasting of their range of alternative grape varieties such as Aligoté, Sangiovese and Pinot Prigio and Pet Nat and orange styles, then take a squiz behind the scenes into their winery, bee hives, chickens and biodynamic vegie garden. BYO skateboard – they have a skate ramp here – and be sure to ‘gram the excellent mural.

Finally, go back in time – roughly 500,000 to 1 million years – at Ngilgi Cave. Hear dreamtime stories of how the good spirit Ngilgi battled Wolgine, then head deep below ground into the cool 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’ve overindulged and crave a simple dinner, head to Occy’s Brewery, Clancy’s Fish Pub or the new Bayside Burgers are three excellent family options.