We have the kids covered while you swirl and sip in the Margaret River Region.
Family-friendly wineries aren’t defined by playgrounds, but by ethos; smiles, tolerance and open space count as much as slippery dips and sand pits.
Trust that these venues will prove accessible and welcoming for families eager to experience not just the region’s wines, but also its own unique and well-developed brand of inclusive hospitality.
Header image: Swings & Roundabouts.
A family farm. A vineyard. A winery. A restaurant. A meeting place. Glenarty Road is the essence of Margaret River Region country hospitality. The food cooked mostly from farm produce is exceptional. Tables outside, plunked between shading trees and the working vegetable patches, are scenic. The wine is delicious.
And the vibe is welcoming for mixed age groups who need multiple requirements fulfilled – peace and beauty for the parents, and adventure for the younger ones. Book a garden or farm tour to peek behind the scenes.
Space is at a premium when it comes to families enjoying a communal cellar door outing – if kids are cramped, it’s a thumbs-down for everyone. This is where the cellar door and restaurant at Swings & Roundabouts come into their own. The ultimate family friendly winery offers a huge adventure playground, acres of space for bat and ball, an ice cream hut and a family-friendly food offering.
Tucked into the rolling hills of Yallingup, Swings is a place made for long lunches and easy afternoons. Our open lawn, giant swings, adventure playground and family-friendly spaces make it the kind of place where kids can run free while you and your dog sit back with a glass (or bottle) in hand.
Pull up a swing chair under the vines, share woodfired pizzas and generous grazing plates, and soak up the best of the South West. Relaxed, local, and always in season.
Leeuwin Estate is one of the region’s higher-end dining experiences, but the enormous expanse of lawn and grounds surrounding the two-storey glass and timber restaurant means there is no dearth of space for restless children. Lawn-sized games are kept on hand at the downstairs cellar door (giant Jenga, anyone?), and the grassed area is certainly big enough to handle ball games.
The restaurant itself offers stunning views over the old karri forest. Wines are, of course, exceptional, with a menu by head chef Dan Gedge to match.
Credaro is a great spot for families, with plenty of features to keep everyone comfortable. Kids can enjoy colouring pages and juice boxes, while parents relax in the pram-accessible space. There’s a shady grassed area out front, plus an enclosed verandah and grassy area at the back of the cellar door. Feel free to BYO picnic, with blankets and tables available for use too.
On cooler days, the cosy fireplace (with guard protection) keeps things warm, and the cellar door is air-conditioned during warmer months. Change table facilities are also available for added convenience.
When it comes to family-friendly wineries, Lentedal Vineyard Estate ticks all the boxes. Perfectly positioned between Busselton and Dunsborough, it’s a delightful stop with kids of all ages and pups on leashes welcome. They have expansive lawns to roam, friendly farm animals to meet, games and colouring sets to entertain, and tasty woodfired pizzas to keep tummies happy.
The whole cellar door experience is designed to be a place where parents can sit back and sip on some of their (award-winning) wines, while the kids have a ball! Visiting over spring and summer? Every Saturday evening, they’ll be showing popular family movies in their outdoor cinema.
With ping pong, giant Jenga and backyard cricket on offer, there’s something for everyone at Lenton Brae, from little kids to big kids. Everyone from young to old is made to feel at home here – fur babies too!
Local musicians play live every Saturday, creating the perfect soundtrack for your family catch up.
Create your own grazing board from their wide range of local produce and linger for the afternoon.
Hampton Beach-style architecture gets a showing at Flametree Wines, an intimate cellar door between Busselton and Dunsborough on Caves Road. An eye to design carries through to the kind of small welcome details that make this cellar door a win for families: pets are welcome, exhibitions of local artworks are of interest to aspiring creative types, the open lawn has room to run, and the build-your-own gourmet platters satisfy any and all “I’m hungry!” moments.
A fire roars in winter and the cellar door team wants you to experience the best this winery can offer in a glass.
A Western Australian surf gallery. Grounds to make a kid’s eyeballs pop. So. Much. Space. Aravina Estate is all things to all family members. The wrap-around veranda is the ideal viewing platform for parents who want to keep an eye on children, thrilled to have so much room to run, especially in the fenced-in playground! The winery produces elegant wines. The restaurant sources local produce, along with farming its own garden, to create a seasonal menu focused on light and textural flavours.
The drive into the winery off Caves Road is beautiful. A lovely Margaret River Region experience from start to finish.
Artistic endeavour is built into the Margaret River Region DNA, and at Happs Wines families are able to witness this first-hand: wander into the gallery and perhaps stumble upon an artist-in-residence producing work as you watch. There are spectacular wines here, too, a wide range catering to diverse tastes at the cellar door. While the adults can enjoy wine tasting, the kids can explore the bush, kick a ball around, or simply relax and enjoy the fresh air. Decide to spend some time, and take your pick from a range of local produce to build your own picnic.
You’ll simply have to mention the nougat tasting, and your kids will be on board. The cute cubby house, swingset, generous lawn, and the sweet treats of course, make Bettenay Wines the perfect destination for a family lunch. The kids will find their favourites on the child-friendly menu, and the grown-ups will enjoy the beautiful wines, scenic surroundings and the popular paired wine + nougat tasting.
Top tip: In the colder months, you’ll make your kids’ day if you take them to Bettenay’s decadent chocolate fondue or nougat toasting by the campfire.
