We’ve rounded up our favourite playgrounds, from Busselton to Yallingup, Cowaramup to Augusta and everywhere in between.
Holidaying with kids means looking out for fabulous new playgrounds, and there are some beauties to explore in the Margaret River Region. We’ve rounded up our favourites from Busselton to Yallingup, Cowaramup to Augusta and everywhere in between.
And a bonus – some terrific family-friendly places to stay – and play!
It’s the crowning jewel in the Busselton foreshore redevelopment; a magnificent shipwreck adventure playground between Busselton Jetty and The Equinox.
Inspired by the city’s maritime history and coastal landscape, it features a wrecked clipper ship beautifully crafted in timber, with cargo holds, climbing nets, telescope, cannons and a crow’s nest children can climb. It was inspired by the Halcyon, an American whaling vessel wrecked near Quindalup in 1844. On a sunny day you’ll find it swarming with children climbing, ringing the jetty bell and pumping water and families picnicking under Norfolk Island pines.
A huge whale’s tail spouts water, and swings hang from a giant squid emerging from the sand.
Another brand-new playground opened at the same time at Sea Play on the Bay, and it’s just next to the Busselton Visitor Centre and Skate park. Highlights include a refurbished carriage from the Busselton Jetty Train, rainbow chimes, crazy mirrors and a digger.
This skate park has proved popular with both young and older skaters since it opened in 2015. It has a smooth surface with two bowls: one is WA’s deepest bowl at 3m deep. It also has four interconnected street areas ranging in difficulty allowing progression from beginner to advanced. Tip: Grab a coffee from Shelter Brewing Co or The Equinox.
Shaded by Norfolk Island Pines, and with BBQs overlooking the jetty, this has been a favourite of ours since it opened 3 years ago. There’s an Ability Whirl (wheelchair accessible roundabout), climbing spider web, equipment that spins and more. Superb location, and probably much quieter since Sea Play on the Bay opened just 100 metres away.
An indoor play centre in Busselton, local mums sighed with relief when it opened a couple of years ago – somewhere we can be warm and dry while the kids tumble over brightly coloured obstacles, through ball pits and down massive slides. Bring your own snacks or buy from the simple café.
Entry fee for children, parents free.
Tucked away in the new Vasse residential estate is this great nature-based play space made of wood, limestone with young peppermint trees dotted throughout.
There is a channel of water flowing through the playground, inviting kids to splash and control the flow. There are stepping stones and planks for balancing on, and plenty of cargo nets and forts to climb, a fireman’s pole and a slide.
BBQ facilities and shaded tables.
Set in a reserve (possum central) you’ll enjoy the shade provided by peppermint trees. Best suited to younger kids aged 2-5, this playground has swings, climbing equipment, slides and plenty of sand. It’s right next to Dunsborough beach – a calm swimming spot perfect for youngsters. Also, a 5-minute walk to the centre of Dunsborough town.
Bring your bathers, it’s hard to resist a swim! Small but perfectly formed, this little playground has sweeping views of Geographe Bay and the boat ramp. This playground is better suited to babies and toddlers, with plastic equipment such as a slide, seesaw and swings. In front, a protected beach is circled with a shark net in summer. Silver Bullet Espresso is often here serving coffee from their vintage Airstream caravan, and the Spice Odyssey curry van is here three evenings a week.
Don’t love sand in your shoes? This is the playground for you! It’s a modern playground with brightly coloured equipment, popular with local families who ride their bikes in. There’s a tall spider’s web style climbing frame, monkey bars, a nest swing and an Ability Whirl – a wheelchair accessible merry go round. Also, plenty of grass to kick the footy, and a short walk to the coffee shops.
An indoor playground – Hallelujah! Finally, we can stay warm and dry while the kids play, in winter. It’s big, bright and visible from the roundabout entry to town, the Tav playground is a favourite amongst Dunsborough kids. That and the generous kids’ meals. Snag a table near the playground – the wine list and extensive craft beer selection is a bonus.
Dunsborough’s Indigenous-inspired nature park, Djiljit Mia, is newly open. It’s pronounced Jill-jit My-ah and is a grass-roots community collaboration to enhance the public open space, Dugalup Brook, adjacent to Hannay Lane Dunsborough. The nature park acknowledges the heritage, history and Aboriginal culture of the area and features tree rope swings, cubby house making, and sensory play with water.
Designed with Yallingup’s surfing history in mind, this nature-based adventure playground gives a nod to our surf heroes with a spring-loaded board and a tube wave. Younger kids might need a hand, and it offers plenty of climbing challenges to toddlers and pre-schoolers. There’s a pirate’s cubby, a climbing net, nest and baby swing, plus logs to balance, step and climb on.
Bring your bathers for a summertime swim in the lagoon, or grab coffee or a meal from the nearby Lagoon Yallingup kiosk – they serve delicious food. Public toilets, showers and water fountains nearby.
Sometimes the best playground is the one where you use your imagination. There’s no equipment here, but sprawling gardens can keep the kids entertained for hours. Our kids love exploring and looking for fairies, you can walk to Ngilgi Cave or Yallingup Beach within 5 minutes or bring the dog for exercise.
Caves House Hotel has a great beer garden and family friendly meals.
This isn’t a playground, but it’s an awesome way to wear the kids out on a rainy day! Adventure underground into an ancient cave, and as long as your kids are old enough to walk and tackle the stairs (300 or so stairs) they should sleep well after this activity. Kids love the crawl tunnel near the cave entrance and will want to do it over and over again, adults not so much, as it’s hard on the knees. Bonus points for the science and history educational element; the cave is estimated to be a million years old, and the crystals about half a million years.
Entry fee for kids and adults aged 4+. Bookings recommended during school holidays and long weekends.
Yallingup’s craft brewery has some epic mural art and a pretty good playground to boot. It’s made of timber and set in a sandpit, and while not huge, it keeps the kids entertained. Delicious deep-fried pickles and a roast chook make it the perfect family destination.
Dogs welcome on a leash.
A trip to Aravina might bring back memories of times “BC” – before children. There are people on the Hamptons-esque balcony supping on fine food and wine, while you’re pushing kids on a swing in the excellent enclosed playground. There’s swings, slides, sand and stuff to climb. Bring your Keep Cup and grab a coffee, better still, stay for lunch if your kids will behave. They often have live music and a burger van on the grass in warmer months.
Anyone else with runaway children? You’ll love Cheeky Monkey’s playground – it’s fully fenced. Particularly good for younger kids, there’s loads of sand and quality equipment to climb, slide and play on. When everyone’s hungry, snack on pizza, wings, ribs or burgers. Kids meals come with a drink and activity pack.
The local’s favourite, and bit of a hidden gem, this play space is guaranteed to put a smile on your dial. From the quirky public art to the criss-crossing paths perfect for scooting and cycling, the dog friendliness and proximity to the beach, this playground is a winner.
There’s the usual swings, slides and climbing frames with a soft fall base rather than sand, plus expanses of grass, perfect for picnicking, cricket and footy.
Look out for the oversize man and dog sculpture by renowned artist Russell Sheridan.
Dog-friendly, BBQ facilities and water fountains all right next to the beach.
At the entrance to town, just before you cross the river, is the popular Rotary Park. Kids flock to the heritage steam engine ‘Old Kate’, climbing over her and her log wagon. It’s a relaxing shady spot to while away an hour while kids enjoy imagination play on a ship, rocking horses and a digger. There’s also monkey bars, slides and climbing frames.
Adjacent to beautiful forest thick with native birds, there is a bush track (40 minutes) you can walk where the kids can climb on fallen logs, cross over bridges and admire ducks and wildlife.
BBQs, picnic tables, public toilets and plenty of shade.
Bring your skateboards, scooters and bikes, as the local shire did a superb job on the new(ish) skatepark. Young and old feel welcome here, with an inclusive skate culture and facilities to suit beginners and experienced riders. There are undulating trails, plenty of different types of challengers and an adventure playground.
BBQ facilities, toilets, a kiosk and shaded chillout spaces.
Sometimes simple is best, and a big grassy space is just what the kids need. Yahava KoffeeWorks, Vasse Virgin and The Fodder Shop share this space, so you can observe the coffee roasting process, peruse the local gourmet produce and gifts, and treat yourself to handmade soaps, then play tag on the lawn.
Fill up on boysenberry pie while blue wrens vie for crumbs and the kids go nuts on two playgrounds. There’s a traditional playground and two nature-based ones (one for toddlers and one for big kids), plus plenty of lush gardens to explore.
Augusta got a superb new playground late in 2018, featuring a jarrah pirate ship on the banks of the Blackwood River. There’s a timber car, a teepee tunnel and mushroom picnic setting, a jetty and logs to step along.
BBQs and toilet facilities.
Right by the sandy shores of Geographe Bay with fabulous facilities for families. There’s a giant jumping pillow, a bright playground, a fancy NEOS360 machine, water play zone and heated pool. Bring the kids bikes and scooters, and hire a pedal cart for fun. So good, you don’t even have to leave the park. If you do, hire a family set of mountain bikes or a stand-up paddleboard and enjoy the bay.
On-site accommodation plus camping and caravanning options.
The playground is basic, but the big drawcard is feeding the animals each morning – kids absolutely love it. Put your gumboots on and prepare to get grubby feeding peckish emus, slobbery Scottish Highland cows, goats, sheep, chickens and more.
Get back to basics and give the kids an appreciation of the natural beauty around us. There’s a simple birds nest swing, climbing forest and sensory trail, but the real attraction is the proximity to walking trails, mountain bike trails and that the park is walking distance to town.
