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March 20, 2016 10 min read

Are you off on a family trip this easter holidays??? The South west makes for such a fun and relaxing family trip with many amazing beaches, family fun activies, relaxing resturants and all this not far from perth. Here are our Top 10 things to do in the south west we highly recommend.

 

Busselton Jetty

Stroll over ocean and walk underwater without getting your feet wet! Extending 1.8 Kilometres over the protected waters of Geographe Bay, the heritage listed Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Only 2.5 Hours drive south of Perth, in the popular seaside resort town of Busselton (three times judged Western Australia’s Top Tourist Town), the Busselton Jetty attracts over 400,000 visitors per year. As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Western Australia, it is a must see for any visitor to the Margaret River wine region.Children young and old enjoy the Jetty Train experience. With 50 seats available and trips leaving throughout the day, the Jetty Train is the perfect way to experience the Busselton Jetty. From glimpses of dolphins frolicking to spotting local fishermen snaring their catch of the day, the Jetty Train trip promises to deliver something for everyone. Located 1.7 Kilometres from shore at the end of the Jetty, the Underwater Observatory has been designed to accommodate up to 40 people at one time. Descending 8 metres beneath the waters’ surface, visitors can view the amazing corals and fish life through eleven viewing windows, at various levels within a 9.5 Metre diameter observation chamber. Described as Australia’s greatest artificial reef, the Busselton Jetty, with more than 300 individual marine species, is host to an awe inspiring “forest” of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates. All money raised goes back into restoring and maintaining the Jetty.

Country Animal Farm Dunsborough

1694 Caves Road, Dunsborough Western Australia

Bring the family to Country Life Farm and let the kids hand feed the friendly farm animals!  Rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, geese, ducks, donkeys, ponies, sheep and lots more. You will not know where to start your day  with so many fun activies with a Huge infatable slice and 2 huge bouncy castles. The grounds offer large grassy areas with bbqs and out door equitment to kids the kids busy.

The merry go round goes every hour to ensure all kids get a ride. Make sure you try oput the large indoor play centre offering a toddler section and a big kids section, all kids and adults must wear socks inside the play centre or if you forget you can buy socks there for $3. Mums and dads can enjoy FREE tea and coffee. There is paddle boat rides which the whole family will enjoy. So many things to do you will never run out of things to do at country animal farm.

Meelup Beach

Meelup Beach is a place that features in many a happy holiday memory.

The gentle calm water, spacious white sand beach and the big shady park with barbecues and picnic benches makes it a favourite spot for family picnics and swimming. It would be hard to find a beach more perfect for families with little kids!

On most days – especially hot summery days – Meelup Beach is completely sheltered from wind and waves. The water is crystal-clear and calm as a swimming pool. The white sandy seafloor slopes away gradually into the deeper water where you can anchor your boat, if you have one.

Meelup is the sort of beach where you can easily while away a whole day swimming, reading, relaxing and picnicing. Immediately behind the hot white sand of the beach there’s a grassy park, much of which is shaded by a woodland of beautiful tall jarrah trees. So you can always escape the sunburn and harsh blazing summer sunlight if need be.

The park behind the beach is the perfect place to kick a ball around or to sit on a picnic blanket with with a glass of wine and some local gourmet treats.

You can cook lunch or dinner on one of the park’s barbecues and sit down to eat at a picnic bench in the shade under the trees.

The Berry Farm Cafe and Cellar Door

Established in 1986 the original settlers Cottage Cafe is a wonderful place to relax over Devonshire tea or a superb casual lunch as you sit surrounded by cottage gardens abundant with native birdlife. Offering a  large play ground with slice, sandpit and climbing equitment to entertain the kids while you sit back and enoy the taste testing and lunch.

The Cellar Door and Tasting Room is absolutely brimming with delectable products including; jams, preserves, sauces, vinaigrette’s and gift hampers alongside ciders, wines, sparkling fruit wines, ports and liqueurs all produced on the farm.

Visitors to The Berry Farm are welcomed by tastings of their scrumptious range of fruit jams, preserves, sauces, condiments and vinegars, alongside the truly unique range of fruit wines, sparkling wines, liqueurs and fortifieds all crafted in on the farm.The original settlers Cottage Cafe oozes character with its delightful garden setting, wide verandah’s and timber floors inviting visitors to enjoy alfresco dining amongst cottage gardens brimming with bird life. Fresh Cafe style lunches are served daily including perennial favourites such as the Beef and Red Wine Pie, Roasted Veggie Tart and ever popular Scones with Berry Farm Jam and mouth-watering Boysenberry Pie.This is definitely a family friendly Winery & Cafe that offers a range of children’s activities such as; a large chalkboard in the Cellar Door, a huge covered playground, fun bags, bird feeding and a kiddies menu. All bound to keep them well entertained while you relax and enjoy the lovely garden setting.With suriping pickings on offer The Berry Farm has blossomed into one of the regions must visit destinations, so be sure to put us on your itinerary when you next journey to the the South West.

Cellar dOr Winery Tours

Best value tour in the Margaret River Region.

Cellar dOr Winery tours run every day from 10.30am to 5.30pm and includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation, visit 5 pre-booked award winning wineries, beer tasting and gourmet platter lunch at a unique microbrewery, a side trip to the Natural Olive oil Soap Factory, delicious cheese and local produce sampling at renowned venue plus premium quality chocolate tasting.To insure a memorable tour, throughout the day guests are presented with several complementary souvenirs including a special personal wine record card and pen, a decorative bookmark and group photo plus a daily mystery raffle. All guests are provided with chilled bottled water.

Only $88 pp fully inclusive. The fleet of modern, clean, and comfortable fourteen seater buses feature air-conditioning, belts on all seats, tinted windows, pleasant back ground music and are operated by Nicole and Simon White who are dedicated to providing guests with the very best in friendly professional service and exceptional value. They are proud of their safe driving records and hold Police Clearance and First Aid Certificates. Such a fun way to see nd enjoying your day and have a few wines and dont have to worry about driving.

Simmos Ice Creamery

There is no secret to our great tasting ice cream. The magic happens when you take the best ingredients, mix it with wonderful local milk and cream and freeze with the love and passion that only an ice cream lover can understand, and you get Simmo’s!

We scoop the classic and traditional flavours; Vanilla, Chocolate, Bubblegum and Strawberry. But our sense of adventure and passion have guided us to create some new very unique (and popular!) flavours; White Choc Maltese, Whiskey Prune, Apple Pie, and Burnt Caramel with a Salty Caramel Swirl.

Enjoy over 60 award winning Delicious Dilemmas, sundaes, hot waffles, coffee and toasted Paninis. There is something for the whole family.The park and grounds have become almost as famous as our ice cream at Simmo’s Icecreamery, Dunsborough. Expanses of grass and open spaces give the kids the chance to run and play, shady trees allow Mum, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa sit and relax, the adventure playground is the perfect place for the kids imagination to run wild or you can challenge the family to play 18 holes of mini golf.Ice cream is for everyone 0-100yrs of age so if you’re in The Margaret River Region come and stay a while, enjoy a coffee in the gardens or an entertaining round of mini-golf.You also must try our “Simmo’s to Go” take home range. These are available from Simmo’s Icecreamery Dunsborough as well South West and Metropolitan stores (and some even further afield). Our single serve 125ml and family 825ml tubs are the perfect excuse for you to enjoy your favourite Delicious Dilemma from your own freezer at home!The world may have changed almost beyond recognition during the past 21 years, but Simmo’s Icecreamery remains true. Life is too short, eat dessert first! Life is better with Simmo’s Ice cream.

Margaret River Chocolate Factory
The factory is a very large chocolate shop with a café and viewing window where you can watch the chocolate being made. There is even a platform for the kiddies to stand on so they can see it too. Sometimes there is a lot going on through the window but sometimes there isn’t, so it is luck of the draw. You can have a free sample of chocolate buttons/pastelles in white, milk and dark flavours at the counter. The café is at the far end of the building and there are tables and chairs inside and out. They do a selection of hot and cold drinks (a good choice of hot chocolate!), lunches (including daily specials) and ice-creams.The outdoor area is great for the kiddies. There are tables and chairs under cover along the length of the building so you can sit outside even when it is wet (bring a coat/jumper if it is cold).
Swing and roundabouts Winery

Swings Taphouse & Kitchen is the latest addition to the Swings family. You can find us on the main street of Margaret River open from noon serving lunch & dinner.

You will find Swings & Roundabouts award-winning wines on tap, delivered by ‘sight glass fonts’ – a world first – and served in the glass, half carafe or carafe. We also offer a selection of wines from ‘Guest Backyards’ and an eclectic offering of cocktails and beers.

Our menu is designed for sharing – simple and rustic – with an emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable produce. Our newly imported wood fired oven is also producing our signature Italian wood fired pizzas for take away or dine in.

Relax outside under our cascading grapevines, or cosy by the fire in winter.

nniebrook Wine and Flower Emporium

Anniebrook Wine and Flower Emporium is nestled amidst the inspirational, beautiful surroundings of the Carbunup River that features a colorful display of flora and fauna. It is the natural ambiance of the location that has encouraged the company to provide customers with a collection of artificial native Australian flowers and plants, so that they can bring a feel of country WA to their house or office. Coupled with great wines, lots of space and many gifts (more than flowers!), a great stop for the family.

 

Cheeky Monkey Brewery

We’re blessed with an idyllic location on the famous 4259  Caves Road Willyabrup. It’s a location that affords the kind of space that lets kids play free whilst you relax, kick back and enjoy a long lunch. There is a new large kids outdoor playground and lots a beatuiful green grass and lots of space for the kids to runn around while you sit back and enjoy the fantastic lunch menu and  local beer.

Bootleg Brewery

The Brewery is set in a lovely location, surrounded by trees and fields, with a large lake in the grounds. It is about 20/25 minutes from Yallingup/Dunsborough and about half an hour from Margaret River. The Brewery also sometimes has live bands and there is a gig guide on their website. There is a decent playground and a large grassed area for kiddies to run around in. There are some outdoor tables close to the playground so you can keep an eye on the kiddies as they play. There is a large covered alfresco area near the bar if you don’t want to be out in the open. The up to date menu is on the brewery website, including children’s options. There is a limited wine list for those who are not keen on beer. We really liked out food. On this occasion my husband ordered the duck, I ordered pasta with prawns and my mother ordered a salad with apple and walnuts. Most main meals vary from about $20-30 and they have daily specials too.

Xscape At The Cape Fun Park

I love the way the Margaret River appeals to all members of my family.  We try to mix the wine tastings and breweries with equal amounts of fun activities for the kids.

There is so fun to be had the Xscape at the cape fun park offering wacky putt jokes and pranks, train rides every half hour, mine shaft maze, inflatable bouncer, large trampolines.There were two different combo packs available for the kids depending on their height. One combo for kids under 120cm, and another for kids over 120cm.  The taller kids were allowed on “Jungle Mountain”, but not allowed in the “Kid Zone” and vice versa.  I loved this feature, as it meant my younger son was not going to be trampled by bigger kids, and my older children could play on “big kid” stuff without the worry of stepping on the little ones.
The Mine Shaft Maze, Wacky Putt, and Jump ‘N’ Tramp Trampolines were allowed with both combo packs, so the kids enjoyed those activities together. The kids were each given a wristband that gained them entry into each activity.

The size of the Fun Park was perfect.  There was plenty to keep the kids busy for a few hours, but the park was small enough to feel at ease with three kids running in separate directions.

The grounds were lovely with plenty of shade trees and places for parents to sit while the kids burned off steam. The kids did not stop from playing long enough to enjoy anything from the cafe, even though I offered several times.  I did however glance at the menu and was delighted to see a nice selection of “homemade” food with very reasonable prices. Xscape at the Cape serves local Yahava coffee and straight from the cow ice cream from Millers Ice Creamery. YUM!

We hope you have a fantastic trip in the South of Western Australia and let us know if you loved our recommendations.

 

Enjoy, Katie xx