46 epic things to do in the Margaret River with kids

Three hours from Perth, The Margaret River is a thriving region on Western Australia’s coastline. Here, sandy shores disappear into turquoise oceans, kid-friendly wineries sit on the banks of meandering rivers, playgrounds are to be found all over and natural attractions abound. There are loads of things to do in the Margaret River Region that will keep your family entertained, whether you are visiting on a day trip, flying into Busselton Airport, cruising through on a short break or spending weeks exploring the hidden gems of the Margaret River on a road trip.

Highlights of the Margaret River include visiting wineries, exploring white sand beaches and surfing epic breaks, discovering caves and playing in natural rock pools. Or walking along tracks surrounded by wildflowers and towering eucalyptus trees.

The Margaret River Region consists of the Indian Ocean-hugging towns of Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallngup, Cowaramup, Margaret River and Augusta. Here, we have broken down the best things to do in Margaret River by area. The indigenous inhabitants, the Wadandi people, have resided in the Margaret River Region for over 60,000 years. We pay our respects to all elders, past, present and emerging.

Top 10 things to do in the Margaret River Region

1. Snorkelling and diving: Don a snorkel, mask and flippers and a whole new world will open up before you. With hundreds of kilometres of pristine coastline, the Margaret River Region has an incredible underwater world. Some well-known snorkelling spots are Hamelin Bay, Gnarabup Beach, Castle Rock Bay and Meelup Beach. Busselton Jetty is considered one of the best jetty dives in the world. Advanced divers can check out the HMAS Swan, purpose-sunk in 1997 as a recreational diving site and artificial reef.
2. Wineries: The Margaret River wine region has over 200 vineyards. The area is famous for its Mediterranean-style climate producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Semilon vintages. Top wineries for kids are Swings & Roundabouts, Glenarty Road and Lentedal Vinyard Estate.
3. Beaches: With some of the world’s most scenic beaches, there’s nothing wrong with spending your whole holiday getting sandy and salty. Your eyes will be treated to turquoise waves washing over white sandy shores and lapping over rocks. During summer, the oceans remain mostly calm and perfect for swimming, kayaking, SUPing and snorkelling. There are a number of protected swimming spots and seven patrolled beaches. Busselton Foreshore, Bunker Bay, Gnarabup Beach, Margaret River Mouth, Meelup Beach, Smiths Beach and Yallingup Beach have lifeguards during the summer months.
4. Surfing: When the waves are on, the Margaret River is known as one of the best big wave surfing locations in the world. Especially at Cowaramup Bombora, also known as “Cow Bombie”, located two kilometres offshore. You’ll find kid-friendly breaks at over 75 surfing spots along the 130 kilometres of coastline.
5. Mountain biking is one of the best things to do in the Margaret River. Families love Wooditjup National Park and Dunsborough Country Club because of the plentiful green beginners’ trails.
6. Whale Watching: The Margaret River whale season runs from May to December. You can watch from headlands or jump on a whale-watching cruise from Augusta, Busselton or Dunsborough, spotting humpbacks, southern right and blue whales. On shore, Point Picquet, Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin are popular viewpoints.
7. Wildlife Spotting: This part of Western Australia boasts a variety of ecosystems and protected areas which in turn attract a variety of wildlife. The most popular to see are dolphins, many bird species, kangaroos and rays.
8. Festivals: Head to the Margaret River Wine Region Festival, Margaret River Pro or CinefestOZ film festival, and you’ll find lots of activities for kids.
9. Wildflowers: Visit from August to November to see flowers bursting from their buds. Castle Rock Bay has easy-paced walking trails where you can see several varieties of wildflowers, including spider, mustard, jug, donkey flowers and the rare Cape Orchid.
10. Cape to Cape Walk: The 135-kilometre Cape to Cape track can be broken up into mini-walks. Take a look at AllTrails, where you can set the length and difficulty that suits your family.

Busselton and surrounds

Surrounded by calm waters and white-sand beaches, Busselton has long been a holiday pick for families who love the water. Its outlandishly long jetty is its most famous attraction, but linger longer and you will find many activities for families.

Busselton Jetty

The Heritage-listed Busselton Jetty, extends 1.8 kilometres out into Geographe Bay. It is undoubtedly Busselton’s biggest drawcard. Don’t want to walk? A popular wheelchair-accessible train carries passengers the length of the jetty to the Underwater Observatory at the end. Counted as one of the top ten dive jetties in the world, the picturesque pier provides shelter to colourful ancient corals and an abundance of fish.

Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory

Step into Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory and descend eight metres to the ocean floor via a spiral staircase. You can view the man-made piles packed with soft corals. They attract more than 300 different species of marine life. There are 11 different viewing windows to see the corals from different depths and angles.

Tuart Forest National Park

Tuart is the common name for eucalyptus gomphocephala, a forest giant found in southwest Australia. At Tuart Forest National Park you can stand amongst the only remaining natural tuart forest in the world. The trees here are estimated to be 300 to 400 years old.

Busselton Museum

Trace the history of the Busselton at the Busselton Museum. It’s housed at the Old Butter Factory and features ten display rooms with photos, equipment and memorabilia.

Cycle to Dunsborough

You can follow the sealed coastal bike path all the way to Dunsborough from Busselton. While it may be a little long for little lets, its a great track to do as much as you can manage. You’ll find some fantastic secret beaches along the way.

Dunsborough and surrounds

Castle Rock Bay

Castle Rock Beach is named for the rock formation at the eastern end of the beach. Head here for a day of sandcastles and swimming. You can get to the formation by walking down the beach, then scrambling over some rocks, or via the Meelup Trail. Both take around 10 minutes. Bring your snorkelling gear to see fish, rays and the occasional octopus in the rock pools. The area also has BBQs and picnic tables and is wheelchair accessible.

Caves in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park has hundreds of limestone caves formed approximately 1 million years ago. Six are open to the public.

Mammoth Cave

The multi-chambered Mammoth Cave can be explored via a series of boardwalks and platforms. The cave system is the easiest to access and contains Australian megafauna fossils dating back 48,000 years. Visitors can even see a 50,000 year old ‘’zygomaturus’ jawbone embedded in the cave wall. The self-guided audio tour is very informative. The walk through Mammoth Cave finishes at a winding walk through marri forest.

Ngilgi Cave

Wandering along the accessible walkway to the cave entrance, you will find interactive installations to learn about caves, the 60,000-year custodianship of the Wadandi people and the native flora and fauna found in the area as well as a playground. The self-guided cave has stunning stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and beautifully coloured shawls.

Lake Cave

Lake Cave has a mirror-like lake and dazzling crystal formations along its roof. The entrance to Lake Cave lies at the base of a sinkhole, meaning there are many dripping stalagmites to observe. Daily guided tours are available.

Jewel Cave

Jewel Cave and its enormous chambers are only accessible on a guided tour. It is the biggest show cave in Western Australia and has crystals dripping down from its roof. You will get to see formations such as cave coral, pendulites, a very large stalagmite called ‘The Karri Forest’, and flowstones: The Frozen Waterfall and The Organ-pipes.

The other two caves are Calgardup Cave and Giants Cave.

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is only 20 metres tall but sits 123 metres above sea level and offers panoramic views over the Indian Ocean, Cape Naturaliste, Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and sparkling Geographe Bay. Guided tours are available to learn the functions and history of the working lighthouse, and to shiver at tales of its ghosts and shipwrecks. You can stay for lunch at the lighthouse keeper’s quarters cafe. Devour focaccias, milkshakes and a slab of banoffee pie while enjoying the stash of games, then play in the nearby playground.

Djiljit Mia Community Gathering Place

The kids won’t stop talking about this Dunsborough playground. The nature-based playground is built with natural materials and features a rope serpent, log balance and rope sway bridge, water and sand play, swings, a cubby climber and loose parts for cubby building. Pay close attention to the timbers for carvings depicting the cultural history of the area.

Dunsborough Bakery

Head to Dunsborough Bakery for one of the best pies on the West Coast. Baking since 1941, the bakery has an old-fashioned bakery vibe with daily specials written on a chalkboard and lots of tasty sweet treats for dessert.

Dunsborough Tavern

Affectionately known to locals as ‘The Dunny, ’ this local pub has a fantastic playground. The restaurant area has glass walls that let you see the playground, so you can eat while the kids play.

Keep reading:

• Western Australia family-friendly travel guide
• 40 things to do in Perth with kids

Yallngup

Injidup Natural Spa

Injidup Natural Spa is a beautiful natural rock pool with an ever-changing water colour. Light on days when there is a bit of swell, waves crashing into the rock barrier. This creates a waterfall which you can sit under for a free massage. Thanks, Mother Nature.

Koomal Dreaming

Experience Wadandi country through the eyes of the traditional custodians of the land. Wadandi custodian Josh “Koomal” Whiteland will introduce you to the world’s oldest living culture with his authentic, personal interpretation. Be moved by the skill and intensity of Josh’s didgeridoo playing and fire-making, taste native foods, discover bush medicine and meet the animals, plants and Dreaming spirits that have enriched the lives of Wadandi people since time began.

Swings & Roundabouts Winery

For wine tasting without any whining, Margaret River’s Swings & Roundabouts is set up for families. While mum and dad admire its glorious grape juice, the kids can enjoy outdoor games including cricket, soccer and swing ball, as well as clamber on the tree-shaded playground.

Wild Hop Brewery

In addition to a terrific selection of beers, Wild Hop Brewery has a semi-shaded playground with a sandpit, train, fort, tunnel, climbing frame, picnic tables, and a wide grassy area.

Canal Rocks

Marvel at the narrow channel between the granite and Canal Rocks. The natural wonder is visible via a timber boardwalk. Beautiful anytime but especially impressive during big swells.

Yallingup Maze & Mini Golf

At Yallingup Maze & Mini Golf, families can get lost in its timber two-story maze and play the 18-hole putt putt course.

Yallingup Adventure Playground

Just behind Yallingup Beach, this playground is fantastic for a relaxed afternoon. Beach-themed, kids can play in the ‘surf shack’, wave wall, surfboard-shaped balancing equipment, swings, rope nets, climbing wall and bridges. It’s a really pretty playground made with carved wood, rope and neutral tones. The park also has barbecues, showers and toilets.

Margaret River

Head to the main street to enjoy an artistic atmosphere with galleries, surf shops, chic boutiques, homewares, clothing stores, cool cafes and gift shops.

Gnarabup Beach

I love nothing more than stumbling upon a beach with a pontoon. Spending hours jumping into the ocean, climbing back up and swimming between the craft and the shore. Gnarabup Beach is one of those beaches. It also has a jetty for fishing and snorkelling. Stand-up paddle board tours are also available here. After a swim you can grab lunch from beachside White Elephant Café or enjoy one of the walking trails.

Margaret River Farmers’ Market

Stock up on pastries and seasonal fruit and vegetables while you mingle with locals and other holidaying families at the Margaret River Farmers’ Market. All stallholders are hands-on in the production of the food they sell at the market, no reselling is allowed.

EcoAdventures Margaret River

Ride an electric quad bike through Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park with EcoAdventures Margaret River. It’s seriously fun and the quad bikes have been designed with the environment in mind. The minimum age for children is four and the 90-minute Forest Explorer Tour costs $195 on a bike with a driver and passenger.

Eagles Heritage Bird Sanctuary

Eagles Heritage is one of Australia’s largest bird-of-prey sanctuaries dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of injured, orphaned or displaced raptors.

Horse riding at Jesters Flat

Jesters Flat is named after Jester, the riding centre’s first great Australian Stock Horse in 1977. Today, children aged 10 and over can trot out on trail rides catering from beginners to advanced. The 1.5-hour introduction to horse riding session costs $88 per person. All of Jesters Flat’s tours are a scenic way to explore inland Margaret River farmland and state forest.

A Maze’n Margaret River

At A Maze’n Margaret River, you’ll find a giant hedge maze, an 18-hole mini golf course, and five hectares of wildlife-friendly gardens. Once you have found your way out of the maze you can enjoy the BBQs, have a picnic or relax in the cafe.

Discover Deadly

Head to Discover Deadly to meet over 40 different species of Australia’s favourite scaly, slimy and slithery creatures. The centre has daily talks and reptile feedings.

The Berry Farm

The Berry Farm is a beautiful sprawling property selling homemade jams and sparkling fruit wine. The onsite cafe serves scones with fresh farm jam, berry pies and pastries. Stroll around the gardens and see the berry circle and see the different types of berry bushes, if you are lucky enough to find a ripe one, it is free to have a taste. The best bit is the two playgrounds including an adventure park. Extra points for being dog-friendly.

Augusta

Drive through the Boranup Karri Forest

Wind down the windows as you drive through the Boranup Karri Forest. The smell of eucalyptus will fill the car as you cruise between 60-metre-tall karri trees. From the Boranup Lookout, you can see across the forest to the turquoise waters of Hamelin Bay. Stay for a picnic or follow a track to see wildflowers, and orchids and listen out for native birds. Purple-crowned lorikeets, splendid fairywren, white-breasted robin, crested strike-tit and golden whistler birds have been sighted here.

Boranup Forest Maze

Once you’ve seen the wild flora, check out the Boranup Forest Maze. The maze is grown from native and exotic shrubs. Entry costs $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is Australia’s tallest mainland lighthouse. From the top, you can see where the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean meet. Inside, the lighthouse has portraits of previous lighthouse residents and staff.

Hamelin Bay

Hamelin Bay is not only a fantastic swimming spot but is a popular spot for stingrays and eagle rays to swim right into the shallows and around your feet. The friendly rays are unperturbed by little legs as they forage for buried molluscs and crustaceans in the sand. At one end of the beach are beautiful rock formations and caves, hollowed out by the wind. Take a beach walk and enjoy the crazy shapes and formations of the rocks.

Granny’s Pool

Granny’s Pool in Flinders Bay is surrounded by a rocky outcrop. Making it a safe swimming spot for the kiddies. They will love searching for marine life, above and below the crystal-clear water. BYO snorkel to get up close and personal with the friendly fish.

Margaret River Sculpture Park

Head to Margaret River Sculpture Park to walk among giant sculptures carved from recycled wood, stone and other materials. The kids will love the scavenger hunt and being able to get up close and touch the sculptures.

Keep reading:

• The best holiday parks in Australia
• Feeling lucky? Check out our latest competitions

WA family accommodation