16 Best things to do in Margaret River with kids

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Okay, so Margaret River is not just about wine and beer. You might be surprised that there are many things to do in Margaret River with kids, as well as without, of course.

When we visited Margaret River, we thought it would be all about wineries. And of course, it’s one of the top wine producing regions in the country, so it partly is, but there is so much more.

There are endless opportunities for bike riding, walking, basking on beaches and exploring historical landmarks. If you’re worried your kids will be bored here, you can think again.

In this guide, I’ve listed what to do in Margaret River with kids (and without) so you can make the most of your trip.

We will be back.

Best Things to Do in Margaret River with Kids

If you’re planning a visit to Margaret River with kids, then don’t worry, as you’re about to discover there’s plenty of family-friendly activities in Margaret River!

1. Check Out The Family-Friendly Wineries and Breweries

Drinking wine is a favoured past time of mine, and when travelling with kids an absolute necessity, lol.

It was after visiting Margaret River that I realised the travels had to wind up soon – I was drinking far too much!

But, wine tasting is one of the best things to do in Margaret River, with or without kids, as Margs is one of the best wine regions in Australia (neck and neck with the Barossa Valley).

What makes Margaret River so bloody amazing, is not just its premium wine and great craft brew, but gourmet chocolate and cheeses, beautiful national forest and stunning beaches!

Perfect for families AND so many of their wineries and breweries have you in mind with their kid-friendliness.

We did our very best to visit all the wineries in Margaret River, but with over 100 cellar doors it was near impossible.

Here are some of the best family-friendly wineries we found…

Colonial Brewery

Colonial Brewery won the award for best brewery in Margaret River in our eyes.

It’s a bit more local and tucked away. It has the most amazing playground – the size of a kids soccer field. And on Friday nights they have $10 pizza night. And I’m talking huge, gourmet, delicious pizza. We were blown away!

Their beer is also very good. My favourite being the Heifnezan.

Bush Shack Brewery

Another local, small-town brewery is Bushshack Brewery. This one is down a bush track and is set up in the front yard of a brick house.

It’s got a cool home-grown flavour. They have live acoustic music, lots of outdoor bush space, and a big sandpit for the kids. They don’t have the playground like the other two breweries but still good for kids.

Our pick is the strawberry beer, the ginger beer, and the nachos!

Swings and Roundabouts Winery

We didn’t stay at Swings and Roundabouts for too long as ironically the kids were not happy!!

Nothing to do with the winery though, which has a huge outdoor area they can play in, a tyre swing to enjoy and a few other knicks and knacks to play with. Pizzas here come highly recommended too.

We managed to sneak in a bit of wine tasting and took a bottle back out with us – always a good sign that it’s good!

Cape Mentelle Winery

Cape Mentelle was one of our favourite afternoons in the Margaret River wine region.

We packed a picnic of cheese, olives, crackers, cold meats and chip and dip and sat in the Cape Mentelle garden with a  bottle of their wine and played bocce.

The girls loved it. We tasted some wine before it with a lovely French sommelier who taught us about the wines.

During the summer, they have outdoor movies. Check the guide for the family friendly ones.

Cheeky Monkeys Brewery

We weren’t major fans of the beer at Cheeky Monkeys, but the outlook is great and the kids playground is awesome.

The food was fairly average and the crowds intense. But, it was a lovely summer’s day when we visited. If your kids are entertained then who cares really. There is a small winery attached as well.

Leeuwin Estate Winery

Leeuwin Estate is the place for summer concerts. We had a great night with our friends, Mike and Ang at the Bernard Fanning concert – former lead singer of Powderfinger!

The wine here was sensational.

I was devastated I chose to drive and could only have one! We brought our own picnic and had a bop around with the girls before they fell asleep on our lap.

2. Visit Yallingup Maze & Mini Golf

What an amazing maze! Yallingup Maze in Dunsborough has to be one of the best we’ve been to in Australia.

The girls had a ball! I snuck into the cafe to work (great views, food, and coffee) while Craig took the girls and their friend through the maze in a race to reach the towers first.

There’s also a lovely outdoor nature space area to play in and lots of board games in the cafe for when you want a break inside!

There’s also a mini-golf course there.

3. Go Ice Cream Tasting in Margaret River

Simmos Ice creamery in Dunsborough is known as the place to go for ice cream in Margaret River. It’s also popular for it’s huge grassed area, adventure playground, and mini-golf.

We preferred the ice cream and experience at Millers Ice Cream located on a dairy farm in Margaret River. It’s a drive to get to, but scenic and worth it.

There is a playground and space for the kids to run around when they’ve finished licking their lips.

It’s one of the most popular ice creameries in the area so be sure to get it out.

4. Visit The Margaret River Chocolate Factory

Be warned – there’s a tasting bowl of small white and dark chocolate buttons. Your three-year-old will climb up to get them and drop trails of them as evidence around the factory floor. I was very happy to drag the girls out of there.

The Margaret River Chocolate Factory was a little too commercialised for me, and I’m just not that into chocolate. I know I’m unusual so I’m sure you’ll love it!

5. Explore Margaret River Caves

The limestone cave network hidden with the karri forest in Margaret River is pretty special. Over 150 highly decorated limestone caves lay beneath the surface of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.

Cave tours range from completely easy ‘at your own pace’ self-guided tours, guided tours along boardwalks with great commentary

The unique feature of Lake Cave is the ‘Suspended Table’ formation, which weighs several tonnes and seems to defy gravity as it hovers above the clear lake water. A pretty light show at the end of the tour will enthral you.

Jewel Cave is the largest show cave in Western Australia.

I enjoyed the guided tour here past unique formations, including the ‘Frozen Waterfall’ and ‘Organ Pipes and beneath coral formations that create the impression of being underwater.

Some other popular caves are Mammoth Cave and Ngilgi Cave.

5. Go Bike Riding in Margaret River

There are many mountain bike trails throughout the Margaret River region.

If you stay at Wharncliffe Mill (see below), the trails are right on your doorstep. Some aren’t suitable for children so do your research. We did a loop from the campsite into town and back along the old trail. It was beautiful and easy to do with kids.

6. Explore the National Parks in Margaret River

The Boranup Karri Forest and Bramley National Park are the places for scenic drives, hiking, quad bike exploring, or, for the more adventurous mountain biking. The forests offer a peaceful, quiet and shady perspective of Margaret River.

7. Check Out Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Augusta

If you love lighthouses and unique geographical features,  Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, in the small seaside village of Augusta, is a lovely day trip down from Margaret River.

You can walk around the lighthouse precinct and listen to an audio tour and hear more stories of the lighthouse and the lives of the Lighthouse Keepers and their families.

If you’ve come this far, it’s worth paying extra to walk to climb the 39-metre lighthouse for some beautiful views over the Indian and Southern Ocean.

This is the most south-westerly point of Australia where the two meet and the guide will point out the currents of the oceans crashing together. It is very windy here.

8. Don’t Miss The Margaret River Beaches

The Margaret River region has some of the best beaches in the world, and they are so uncrowded and have dazzling white sand.

Your kids will love this aspect of a family holiday to Margaret River.

Some of the best beaches in Margaret River for kids are:

• Margaret River Mouth – a calm, sheltered place for swimming with stunning views of the river and mountains
• Yallingup Beach – sheltered by a reef so calm swimming just offshore
• Hamelin Bay – OMG stunning! Also, the place to get up close to sting rays. They’ll come right to shore to say hey!
• Meelap Bay – calm and pretty. You can hire kayaks or SUP boards here.
• Geographe Bay – calm and sheltered waters that are flat, perfect for small kids to swim in
• Eagle Bay – another beach with shallow, calm water

9. Check out Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre

If your kids love wildlife, then a visit to the Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre is a must. It’s home to one of the largest collections of Eagles, Hawks, Falcons and Owls in the country.

You can watch daily flight shows at either 11 am or 1:30 pm, and learn about these amazing birds of prey.

10. Go Horse Riding with Jesters Flat

Another one of the top Margaret River attractions for kids is a horse riding experience with Jesters Flat.

They specialise in horse riding tours of the Margaret River Region, whether you want to explore the beaches or the forest.

They also have a clubhouse with a play area, which is great for the kiddies who are a little too small to ride the horses.

The horse riding tours usually last around one hour.

11. Check Out Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory

There are only six underwater observatories in the world, and one of them is at the Busselton Jetty.

The observatory is located 8 metres below the water and allows you to see what lies beneath the jetty. You can see a colourful artificial reef made of corals and sponges, which is now home to more than 300 species of marine life.

12. Hike the Bunker Bay Loop at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

Cape Naturaliste is a lighthouse located on the headland of Naturaliste, which is great spot for whale watching during the winter months of June to November.

You can hike around the headland on the 3.6 kilometre Bunker Bay loop walk which takes you around the headland and gives you sweeping views from the top of the cliffs.

13. Visit Sunflowers Animal Farm

Located in Ludlow, is the Sunflowers Animal Farm, which is a great place to visit with small kids in the Margaret River region.

They can meet the animals, from kangaroos to ponies to alpacas and baby lambs, as well as enjoy tractor rides.

The petting zoo has hundreds of family-friendly farm animals that your kids can pet, feed, and play with.

14. Learn About Snakes at Discover Deadly

If your kids are brave and love snakes, then Discover Deadly is a great place to visit. Don’t let the name fool you, this is a family-friendly attraction in Margaret River, dedicated to showing the world that snakes are not to be feared.

They have exhibits of several varieties of snakes, from poisonous adders (behind glass, don’t worry) to friendly pythons. They also have a collection of monitor lizards and other reptiles.

Come and learn about these exotic creatures and even have a go at snake handling!

15. Learn to Surf

If you haven’t learned to surf yet, then you need to make it a priority, especially in Australia! The Margaret River Surf School is a family-owned business offering surfing lessons in Margaret River for over 20 years.

It’s the first surf school to open in the area and since the owner and teacher Jarrad Davies has taken his own 6-month old daughter out surfing, knows just how to teach your kids how to master the waves.

The school is located near the Rivermouth car park. If you don’t want to surf, head over to the nearby Surfers Point to watch the pros in action.

Places to Stay in Margaret River with Kids

Finding family-friendly accommodation is always a struggle, so to help you out, here are some Margaret River accommodation options that we loved…

1. Vacation Rental in Yallingup

You cannot get better than a vacation rental in Yallingup. We stayed at a big house in Yallingup that we found on Airbnb and it was our favourite place to stay on our road trip around Australia.

Staying in a vacation rental means you get a whole house to yourself and it feels like a home away from home.

You can cook your own meals, lounge in a living area, or sit out on a terrace and enjoy the forest views. What more could you want?

2. Tasman Holiday Parks, Yallingup Beach

Right across from beautiful Yallingup Beach, situated about a 25-minute drive to Margaret River town is Tasman Holiday Parks, Yallingup. This area has some of the most beautiful beaches in the region.

Yallingup is a family-friendly beach for swimming and has a coastal walking track and morning yoga on the grassed area overlooking the beach. Head south to grab your coffee from the mobile coffee guy on the headland!

The campground is pretty tiny and cramped,  facilities sparse,  and it’s a bit run-down. But, if you love location, you may be willing to sacrifice to be so close to the beach.

3. Wharncliffe Mill Caravan Park, Margaret River

Definitely the cheapest and prettiest camping in Margaret River is Wharncliffe Mill.

It was also one of our favourite campgrounds in Australia. It’s in the National Park, on the outskirts of Margs, just a quick 10-minute bike ride away. The kids will love it!

4. Alouarn Apartments, Augusta

We stayed the night in Augusta on our way to Pemberton at the Alouarn Apartments.

They are modern self-contained apartments with private balcony.

They are very spacious with a gorgeous lux feeling attached and close to Augusta town.

You can see other accommodation options for Margaret River in the map below:

Top Tours of Margaret River

More Tips for the Margaret River Region

Planning to visit other places in the Margaret River Region? Then check out these other posts!

• 9 beaches in Margaret River you must set foot on
• Things to do in Pemberton, Western Australia
• Consider Bunbury your next getaway from Perth
• Top 15 things to do in Perth.
• 7 best things to do in Busselton, WA
• Go to Elephant Rocks and Green Pools in Denmark
• Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk

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