Excursions to excite the imagination, tune into nature, and experience new adventures together.
While the Margaret River Region is a renowned playground for its local produce, it’s also a perfect playground for little ones ready to burn some steam.
Once the parents have sipped their vinos and the bubbas’ have slurped their babyccinos, here are a few ideas for where to take the crew next – from encounters with native wildlife to whale-spotting from WA’s tallest lighthouse.
Stroke a dragon lizard, pose with a python, and watch turtles devour cubes of kangaroo meat. It’s all possible at Discover Deadly reptile centre, where lizard-loving owners Becca and Kim are on a mission to shine light on Australia’s most scaly inhabitants. Home to more than 40 reptile species, the sanctuary’s inhabitants have been rescued from bushfires, seized from illegal trafficking, or turned in as unwanted pets. Western Australian species are well represented, from friendly skinks and bob-tail lizards to venomous dugites and tiger snakes. And with exhibits largely inside, this is a great rainy-day activity – just be sure to time your visit with the twice daily reptile talks (10.30am and 1.30pm). These are a real highlight, offering an up-close look at the creatures in action.
It took six months for owners Mark and Heidi to craft this 40 x 50-metre maze nestled amidst the wineries of Caves Road. Hand-made from pine, the Yallingup Maze has five watchtowers and four interlinking bridges, with colourful murals and local Noongar words painted intermittently on the timber panels. The aim is to find the towers, which is more challenging than it sounds – especially since Mark occasionally mixes up the arrangement to keep repeat visitors guessing. Once you’ve cracked it – or admitted defeat and exited via the bridge – head to the puzzle café for hot chocolate and wooden brain games. The adjoining mini golf is a great family activity too, with waterfalls, landscaped gardens, and ‘easy’ and ‘difficult’ holes to suit different levels.
Tip: Squeeze in a little wine tasting at the newly opened Jilyara cellar door, which is located at the entrance.
With interactive 3D art, mirror mazes, and wacky optical illusions galore, both kids and adults will love this temple to trickery and practical joking. You can make a mould of your body in the life-sized pin art frame or capture a funny photo of your head served on a plate. Toilet humour is a common theme at WOW Illusions too, with urinal photo ops and what they describe as the ‘wackiest toilets in the Southern Hemisphere’. Head to the café and gift shop afterward to blend your own muesli or make yourself a fruity ice cream.
Tip: Stop by Margaret River Chocolate Company just two minutes down the road for free tastings, chocolate-making demos, and cocoa-based gifts aplenty.
When it’s wet outside and your toddler is on the brink of meltdown, head to Ninjas in Mocean, a multi-level indoor playground in Margaret River town. Ball pits, trampolines, tunnels, slides, and soft foam obstacles are just the beginning of the fun! There’s a baby and toddler area with soft seesaws, padded building blocks and climbing frames which is perfect if the older kids are running amok elsewhere. The Ninja Zone is great for preteens who want to build strength and agility with Ninja-Warrior-inspired setup of rings and bars to navigate. Join in or take a breather at the café where owner Clare serves up coffee, bakes, and local kombucha.
Tawny frogmouths, black kites, and albino sooty owls are just a few of the intriguing birds you’re likely to meet at Capes Raptor Centre. Set within two hectares of native bushland, Eagles is one of the country’s largest bird of prey sanctuaries, and has been rehabilitating injured and orphaned raptors since 1987. These days, the grounds are home to more than 40 feathered friends, from giant wedge-tailed eagles to hawks, falcons, and owls. Enclosures are dotted around a scenic 1-km loop through the forest and twice daily encounters (11am and 1.30pm) offer an opportunity to learn about the hunting prowess of the resident raptors.
Situated on Australia’s most southwesterly point, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse towers 40 metres above the crashing Southern and Indian Oceans. Built from limestone, it’s the mainland’s tallest lighthouse and has been helping mariners navigate the tumultuous seas surrounding the cape since 1896. The rocks, reefs, and tricky currents here have claimed 23 ships – though only one, SS Pericles, has perished since the lighthouse has been operating. Climb the 176 steps to the viewing platform for sweeping ocean views and the region’s fiercest winds. During the whale-watching season (June – December), keep your eyes peeled for migrating minke, humpback, and southern right whales. And sea bird colonies just offshore are home to shearwaters, terns, and little penguins.
Next Level Monkey Business is a thrilling zipline and ropes course situated in an idyllic setting amongst the beautiful trees in a valley just outside Dunsborough. Monkeys of all ages can choose their level of excitement with the mini zipline course or the entire monkey business experience. With swinging bridges and balancing obstacles, twisty ladders and tiny tunnels, hanging poles, ziplines, a gigantic climbing wall and a unique 100+metre long mega zipline across the lake – this is a must for all Great Gorillas craving that extra adrenaline rush.
Tip: When it’s time to refill empty bellies with ice-cream fuel, take a short 7-minute drive to Simmo’s Ice Creamery in Quindalup. On top of the 60 unique ice-cream flavours, Simmo’s family fun park provides loads of open space, several BBQs, an all-weather mini-golf course, a playground, and of course, Edward the Emu.
