It’s bucketing down, and the kids are on a sugar high thanks to those amazing Margaret River Bakery cruffins. You don’t want to brave the weather, but you still want to enjoy your time in the Margaret River region. Tried and tested by Lizzy Pepper, her hubby and kids, here are five awesome indoor activities the whole family can enjoy.
Ngilgi Cave
If Ngilgi Cave offered annual passes, we’d sign up in a heartbeat. This ancient cave is beautifully decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, a fairy cave and a crawl tunnel that our girls go nuts for.
Semi-guided tours depart every half hour, and the guide shares some history and the Indigenous story of Wolgine as you enter the cave. After a 10-minute intro, you’re free to explore the cave at your own pace – perfect for impatient youngsters.
There’s plenty of stairs to wear everyone out. Visiting with a baby? Bring a baby carrier you can wear on your front. There’s a great little shop with science-themed toys and ice creams.
Image Credit (below): Tim Campbell Photography
Discover Deadly (Carbunup Reptile Park)
Enthusiastic staff at Discover Deadly share their love of reptiles and amphibians at this excellent little reptile park. There’s plenty of deadly critters here, like Harry the saltwater crocodile, tiger snakes, red back and white-tailed spiders which are all safely enclosed behind glass. The girls were gobsmacked watching Harry at feeding time.
You’ll also see plenty of non-deadly creatures such as frogs, turtles and geckos, and various animals come out for handling including a variety of snakes and lizards
Test your mettle by holding a non-venomous python; either a beautifully striped Woma, carpet or Stimson’s Python.
Game On and On
It’s easy to spend an hour or two in Margaret River’s new game arcade – Game On and On. There’s a great mix of old and new games the whole family will love – foosball, pinball machines, 80 retro arcade titles and a 4 player Sega Rally, alongside virtual two reality booths. There are 60 virtual reality games to choose from – you could ride a roller coaster or play table tennis – and you’ll find something age-appropriate for your kids.
Keen on golf? They have an indoor virtual driving range, so bring your clubs and practice your swing.
Country Life Farm
There’s so much on offer at Country Life Farm in addition to feeding the many animals. Undercover entertainment comprises a bouncy castle, merry go round and huge soft play area.
Entry includes carrots, and as it was raining we went straight to feed the chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits in their big undercover pen. Roosters crowed, and colourful parrots flew overhead. Outside, a galah and Major Mitchell cockatoo squawked hello, much to our daughters’ delight.
You can pay a little extra for a ride on the dodgem cars or the 12D cinema ride.
If the rain clears take a rowboat on the lake and feed the bigger animals. There’s some gentle sheep, goats, donkeys, ponies plus a cheeky alpaca and llama who may try to steal your carrot bucket.
Pop next door to Clancy’s Fish Pub for a great lunch afterwards.
Gravity Etc
“Are we there yet?” Break up the drive home with an hour at Gravity Etc, an awesome indoor trampolining and play centre near Bunbury.
Pop on a pair of grippy socks and bounce, tumble, balance and flip your way around 1800sqm of wall-to-wall trampolines in seven different zones.
We loved it all – the trampoline zone, the gladiator-style battle above a foam pit, and the flying leap onto a billowy surface.
Tip: either time your arrival for 15 minutes before the hour, as each session starts on the hour. Or, grab a snack at the in-house café while you wait.
This blog has been adapted from an article written by Lizzy Pepper entitled ‘Rain Doesn’t Stop Play’, which was originally featured in Your Margaret River Region Magazine’s Winter Edition.
